Chapter 10: The Phonecall
Caroline's eyes widened and her breathing stopped for just a moment. "Klaus…" she said softly, surprised, excited, and scared to be hearing his voice. "I wasn't sure if you'd call."
Klaus smiled at the sound of her voice and thought about her handwriting from the letter. "When a stunning vampiress sends you a handwritten letter telling you she wants to get together, you shouldn't keep her waiting." He pictures her face in his head and his smile grew bigger. "So, I'll cut to the chase. When can I see you?"
Caroline's heart dropped and the corners of her mouth turned upward. "Ric is taking the girls camping this weekend. They leave tomorrow night and won't be back until Sunday. We can meet up on Friday. Do you want to come home to Mystic Falls and meet at the Mystic Grill? Or I can go to New Orleans and we can meet at Rousseau's?"
"Is Alaric in the loop about us getting together to 'catch up' this weekend? I wouldn't want to meet up at the Mystic Grill and for it to get back to him."
"Ric isn't territorial of me. I only haven't told him because it isn't relevant. We share a business and take care of the twins together. We're great friends and partners, but there's no connection between us other than our girls. I'm sure he wouldn't even care if I did tell him. I'll tell him when he gets back."
"We could meet at Rousseau's. My co-parent encouraged me to call you. Then again, she is in love with my brother, so she has no time nor reason to be territorial with me."
"I don't feel like it something that Ric needs to know, it's my business not his. There isn't even anything to know!" Caroline's voice changed to a hostile tone and she began to get defensive. "You and I are just two friends from the past who are catching up. We shared something back then and since then a lot has happened. It's not a date. It's two friends getting a drink and catching up. And Ric and I don't live together. The only reason we see eachother every day is because of our girls and our business. And now that I'm annoyed by this conversation, I've decided that I'll meet you at Rousseau's. Being seen with Klaus Mikaelson I'm sure will make me the talk of the town. You being the most hated hybrid there ever has been, and all."
"I' glad to hear my reputation is still alive and well in Mystic Falls!" Klaus chuckled, "Okay, so it's settled. Rousseau's, Friday, 6pm. Casual drink with an old pal, dress code is 'Friend Apparel' I won't order you an Uber, old friend, so I hope you have a means of transportation."
"I'm starting to wonder if you've been through any life changes at all. You seem to be the same exact Klaus I remember fromm long before I was a college girl. I hope you're bringing your wallet to Rousseau's. As your guest, you should be treating me."
"You know what, love? I may be over a thousand years old, but I'm almost positive that friends pay for their own drinks. So, I hope you come with wallet in hand, or you'll be awfully thirsty as we catch up."
"I'll see you Friday, Klaus. Wallet and my own means of transportation. I need to be up early to to help my girls pack and finish up any last minute things they need for their trip. Goodnight, Klaus."
"Goodnight, Caroline." He hung up the all and leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees. He opened his Instagram app on his phone, 'Caroline Forbes' he typed. She was the first to pop up, and he clicked to view her profile. 'This account is private.' He locked his phone and put it beside him on the steps. He cupped his face with his hands and ran his fingers through his hair, letting out a sigh. He picked up his phone, stood up, and walked inside.
Klaus laid in bed staring up at the ceiling. He turned to look at his phone and saw no new messages. He put it back down and got out of bed. After brushing his teeth he threw on a pair of slippers and walked over to Hope's room. "Good morning my littlest warrior." He walked up to her sitting on her bed and kissed her forehead.
"Good morning Daddy," she said as she sketched with a pencil on her sketchpad.
"What's that you're working on?" He sat on the bed next to her, one leg hanging off.
"I want to build a playground in the backyard. I'll draw it and you can get someone to build it for me, right?" She looked up at him and smiled.
"I think that's a brilliant idea," he smiled, impressed by his little girl, "can I make a suggestion?"
"Sure!" she exclaimed excitedly.
"What do you think about a tire swing hanging from the large oak tree? And we can make a pond nearby it." He reached out his hand to take the sketchpad, "may I?" She handed it to him with the pencil and began to sketch. The tree fell perfectly into place behind the playground Hope was in the process of sketching herself. He handed it back.
"Yes! I love it! And what if we made a new garden on the other side of it!? We can grow colorful flowers to make the best, brightest paints! And we can put two easels right by it!" She was so excited about the ideas she and her dad were sharing, and she quickly continued to sketch.
"I'll leave you to it, then." Klaus said, smiling. He kissed her head again and walked out. As he was passing Elijah's room, the door opened.
Hayley came out and turned to face the door, Elijah stood in the doorway, propped against the wall with one hand on the door. He kissed her and smiled. "You are ravishing." He kissed her again and she smiled. "I am taking you to dinner tonight on the town. 8pm, don't be late. I'm already counting down the moments." He kissed her one more time and then walked back into the rom, leaving the door ajar.
Hayley turned and smiled like a schoolgirl with a crush. "I take it you had a good night?" Klaus asked.
"I don't think that even begins to describe it." She smiled and they walked down the step together. "Did you call Caroline?"
"I did. And if I'm not mistaken, I believe I may have put my foot in my mouth."
"Oh no…" she sat on the couch in the family room and he sat next to her, elbows on his knees, leaning forward. "So you aren't seeing her? What did you do?"
"It started out great! She got defensive when I made a horrible joke about the relationship she has with the Saltzman fellow. She said that I seem like the same Klaus I was from before she and I shared what we did." He sighed and sat back up, facing Hayley. "We're meeting tomorrow night at Rousseau's and she made it very clear to me that this is not a date."
"You'll just have to show her how much you have changed. If there's ever a time for the two of you, it's now. Peace is in the air, love is in the air, and based off of her school's success rate, she's doing extremely well for herself. So use this chance to catch up and find out who she is now. And figure out how the hell to redeem yourself and act like the Klaus you are now and stop acting like a damn fool."
"I have said it countless times, and I will say it again. I'll wait however long it may take. But if this is my chance, and I do believe it is, and I have ruined it before I actually have the chance, I'm not sure I'll have another."