Just wanted to restate this again for everyone - while we do have familiar names and faces in this story from the TVD universe, we wanted to say again how that doesn't mean they are the same person in this story. For example, Kol is NOT Klaus' brother, but someone else entirely. We use him, yes, but not in the same was as TVD canon.

Anyway, enjoy and review!

Kisses, K&K

Caroline

My phone vibrates in my purse for the billionth time. It's Katherine, asking where I am. She's at the theatre now and she's sorry for being late. But I ignore her. I'm having a better time now, out with Kol.

We're a few drinks in and I'm feeling tipsy. I've stepped into the ladies room to freshen up and check my hair. I should probably stop drinking. He's cute and I think he likes me, but I don't know if I should sleep with him. I want to. But maybe I should wait. I don't want to give anything away too soon. But just in case I swipe on some lip gloss and head back to our high top.

Kol is smiling, he already has another drink waiting for me when I come back. God, his eyes are amazing. Maybe one more drink won't hurt. We talk some more. He asks me about my cheerleading days and I ask him about private school in London and what brought him to the states.

"The girls are too uptight there. American girls are much better," he smirks. "I like pretty little things with sharp tongues."

I smile and we finish our drinks. Kol offers me a ride back to my car.

"I promise darling, I'm not even buzzed."

I concede and climb into the passenger side of his unassuming Toyota. Truthfully, the whole world has gone a bit fuzzy. Strange. I only had three drinks and they were all fairly weak. I could understand being buzzed, but I feel as if I've been knocking back shots of Tequila for the past two hours.

"Hey you passed the theatre," I say. My voice sounds weird. Slurred. Kol doesn't reply. I turn my head toward him but things don't seem to be in focus. "You passed it." I repeat. I hear the power locks on the doors click loudly and Kol steps a bit harder on the gas.

"We won't be going back to the theatre," he says to me, "I have other plans for you darling."

I wake up with a jolt. It takes me a few moments to realize that I'm in the back seat of a car, speeding down the highway. Klaus banished me here when we left Texas. I sit up and look at the green numbers on the clock. We've been driving for hours already. I wonder where we are. I can see Klaus glaring back at me through the rearview mirror, but he refuses to say anything or let me talk at all. Eventually I lie down on the seat and fall asleep again.

I wake up a second time and the car has stopped. I sit up in the seat and notice I'm in the parking lot of a convenient store, just off the highway. Klaus is nowhere to be found. I panic. I think about how I tried to kiss him last night and he completely shut me down.

I jump out of the car and run into the store. I don't see him anywhere.

"Did you see a man come in here? Blonde hair? English accent?" I ask the clerk. The fat, bald man shrugs and I run back outside.

He's left me. Klaus has left me. I've made him mad enough where he's just given up and abandoned me in the middle of nowhere. My chest tightens and I feel like I can't breathe.

"Get back in the car." I hear behind me.

I turn around and Klaus is standing there. He's glaring at me still, but I'm so relieved I don't even notice.

"Where did you go?"

"Caroline, you can't just walk around in the open, you're still covered in blood," he chastises. "Come on."

He grabs my hand and leads me around the back to where the restrooms are. He practically shoves me in and shuts the door behind us.

"Where did you go?" I ask. He doesn't answer. He turns on the sink and puts my hands under the water, pouring some pink liquid soap on top and lathering it up. "I thought you left me."

Klaus sighs. Well, it's more like a groan. "Why would you think that?"

"Because you're so mad at me."

"Don't be stupid."

"Stop talking to me like I'm a child," I say, avoiding the urge to stomp my foot.

"Then stop acting like one." He looks up at me and stops. His brows knit together and his hand grabs my chin, gently, turning my face to inspect it. "Where did you get that?"

I shoot him a confused look in reply and he turns me toward the mirror. There's a purple and yellow bruise under one of my eyes. It's faint, but noticeable enough. Further down, I notice more bruises on my neck. Fingerprint shaped ones. I didn't even realize they were there. I hadn't felt them but I also hadn't looked in a mirror until this moment.

"What happened last night?"

"That's what I've been trying to tell you," I say. "The guy attacked me. It was self defense."

Klaus is still frowning, but it seems like his anger is lessening a bit. "Why were you outside in the first place?"

"I went out to find you. And then I saw the guy beating up his girlfriend. I couldn't just stand there and let it happen."

Klaus doesn't say anything. He goes back to cleaning my hands. Once all of the red is gone, he dries off my clean hands with a few brown paper towels.

"You shouldn't have gotten involved," he says.

"Did you see him?" I ask. "He looked like—" I stop and I remember the man's face. Truthfully he looked nothing like him. Maybe their hair was similar, but that was it. I was being stupid. Klaus is right.

"I'm sorry," I say for the billionth time. But this time I mean it. I put us in jeopardy because I'm an idiot.

Klaus pulls me into his arms and hugs me tight against his chest. I hold him just as tightly, grateful that he's finally easing up. "That fucker is lucky you killed him. I would have torn him apart if I knew he had laid a hand on you."

I smile into his chest, glad to have my knight in tarnished armor back. He pulls away slightly and looks down into my eyes. "But I'm still angry with you."

"I know," I nod, "it won't happen again."

He nods and leans his head down, pressing his lips to mine.

We walk back to the car and I take the keys from his hand. "You sleep for a while, I'll drive."

He gives me a skeptical look, but hands over the keys. He chooses to sleep in the front seat next to me. Apparently he doesn't trust my driving that much. I pull out of the parking lot and Klaus is out before we even hit the highway again.

A few hours of driving pass and my stomach starts growling. Klaus is still sleeping in the seat next to me, his hand on my thigh. He had reached out and held on to me in his sleep. I look down at his hand and it makes me smile.

I notice some signs for food so I take a random exit and decide to breeze through a fast food place. I turn in and park the car, opting to go inside and use the restroom really quick.

I unbuckle my seatbelt and lean over to Klaus, giving him a peck on the lips. He hums, half asleep.

"Hungry?" I whisper, he makes another noncommittal noise, that I take for a yes and I leave him in the car to go grab some burgers.

I hit up the bathroom first, checking out my face in the mirror. I look like a battered woman. I hope the bruises and the black eye go away soon. There's some foundation in my purse and I put some of it on, attempting to cover up the red and purple on my face. It's not perfect, but it's a little bit better.

At the counter, I order two cheeseburgers, two large fries, and two sodas. As I wait for our food, I peruse the condiment counter and notice a few random neon fliers lying out. A couple hideous neon ones advertising a new go-kart park, a few with coupons for local stores, and another that catches my eye. I pick it up and read the information on it.

"Order 47," the cashier calls and I walk up to grab the food. I show him the flier.

"Hey how far is this from here?"

He looks at the flier and replies, "Not far, about 5 miles maybe. Just take a left outta here, then a right on county road 19, it's a straight shot."

I smile at him. "Thanks."

I get back in the car and set the bag in Klaus's lap. The smell of the grease wakes him up and he lifts his seat so he is sitting up again. I pull out of the parking lot and follow the cashier's directions as he opens up the paper bag.

"Highway is there other direction," he says.

"I know that. We're taking a small detour."

"Detour?"

"Here." I had him the flyer I found in the restaurant.

"Bungee jumping?" he reads.

"Yep."

"Sweetheart, you're afraid of heights."

"It's not about me it's about you," I say. "I remember you said you always wanted to do something like sky diving or bungee jumping."

"When did I say that?"

"A week after we met. You took me out to dinner and it was the first time I tried scotch and you gave me this whole lecture about trying new things and mentioned that you've always wanted to bungee jump."

Klaus chuckles next to me. "You remember that?"

"Of course," I reply, "I remember every single moment I've ever had with you."