10.
hit me with your best shot
November is even worse than October. It's raining all the time, wind is trying to blow you off the street, and honestly, who said that drumming of the raindrops against your window is romantic?
Caroline is sick and tired of romanticism. Mostly because what she gets is always a far cry from it. She prefers hot cocoa with whipped cream and cinnamon. It's a more reliable remedy.
It's been two weeks since she left London. No, since she left Klaus. He doesn't seem to be looking for her. Of course Stefan's back in town, which is why she's constantly thinking about Klaus, but Damon tells her that Stefan is practically 24/7 with Elena (to Damon's utter discontentment, but oh well, he knows there's now way he's getting Elena back), so Caroline assumes Klaus gave up on her. Like every man in her life, like Tyler, like her father.
Not that having nothing to do with a serial killer worries her. No, that's not the case. It's just that feeling of loss, again. She keeps making wrong decisions and it takes its toll on her.
She trusts a stranger who smiles at her and tells her she's beautiful.
She lets him in, she lives with him under the same roof.
She sleeps with him when he gives her a simple drawing.
She doesn't even ask him a few basic questions. He is, indeed, a stranger.
He's also a murderer. And a thief. And maybe a psycho, too, because the way he manhandles her and ties her to the radiator doesn't reflects well on him.
The way she surrenders to him doesn't put her in a good light, either.
Oh, and she kills one of the most dangerous men in Britain. Nothing but triviality.
A cup of hot cocoa keeps her company on a Monday night while she's watching a new TV series. It's pouring with rain, so she doesn't want Damon to come over. The whole Klaus thing brought them closer, took their relationship to a new level. Now Caroline can admit without her nose getting bigger that they are friends. Damon's back to his snarky self, still calling her Blondie or Barbie, but there's something brotherly about him that makes Caroline feel safe.
She's getting warmer and happier with every sip of cocoa she takes, so when she hears knocking at her door she shakes her head in amusement.
"I knew you'd come anyway." She calls as she saunters towards the door. "You're lucky there's still some cocoa in my— Tyler!"
Tyler smiles sheepishly at her. He's soaking wet.
"Sorry. My car broke down."
"Really?" She stares at him disbelievingly. Tyler gulps and lowers his eyes.
"No. I just wanted to give it to you." He takes a small sack from his pocket and hands it to Caroline. She unwraps it revealing a delicate charm bracelet.
"Um. Thanks, but... Why are you giving it to me?"
"I'm going back to Boston. I won't be here for your birthday so I thought I could give it to you a bit earlier."
"Tyler— "
"Just take it. Please." He looks so... sad. Caroline gives up and puts the bracelet on her wrist. It's tacky but nice.
"Thanks." She can't stand the silence between them so she gestures at him to come in.
"Well, at least I can give you a cup of cocoa."
They sit in the kitchen sipping their hot drinks. Caroline feels weird, but it's raining heavily, and Tyler's looking really miserable.
"You've changed." He says eventually, his eyes observing her every move.
"The last few years have been quite difficult for me." She clenches her teeth at the understatement of the year that has just escaped her mouth.
Eager to change the topic, she asks, "Why do you move to Boston again?"
Tyler stares down at his cup. He realizes its his cup, the one Caroline bought him so he could have his own cup in her house. At that time it meant more than having his own toothbrush in her bathroom.
"I'll be honest with you, Care. I came back to Mystic Falls to sweep you off your feet, make you forgive me. I wanted to propose and ride off into the sunset with you." His eyes reluctantly look at her, afraid of Caroline's reaction. Well, this is quite unexpected, she thinks. He should have done this years ago instead of dumping me like a useless toy.
"Now, when you turned me down, there's nothing much for me to do here."
"Tyler," Caroline starts, feeling almost guilty, seeing him like that, "I don't know what to say, really."
"You don't have to say anything. I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry. If I hadn't left you like I did, maybe you wouldn't be burdened with so much problems now."
You have no idea how burdened I am, Caroline thinks, but she's grateful that they both can finally talk like adults, without aiming any reproachful words and accusations at each other.
"It's okay, really. Maybe we weren't meant to be together." She tries to be comforting, but it sounds somewhat cheesy anyway.
"I want you to know that if you need any help, just tell me. We sold the old Lockwood mansion last week, so if you need money, I've got some."
"No, Tyler, I really don't— Wait. Did you say you sold that old mansion across the woods?" Caroline's so surprised she almost knocks the cup off the table.
"But I thought we were going to organize the New Year's Eve party there. Your mother didn't tell me the place was off limits."
"The truth is we can't afford two mansions." Tyler fiddles with his cup. "And now when I'm going away again my mother doesn't need two houses. One is enough for her to get lost in it like in a labyrinth."
That is actually right. Their house is enormous, and Caroline remembers she needed to draw herself a map to get to Tyler's room during the first few months of their being together.
"Who bought the old mansion then?"
"Some family from Europe," Tyler shrugs, "with a weird last name, but I don't remember it."
Caroline wonders who's crazy enough to move to Mystic Falls — a godforsaken town in the middle of nowhere. Those Europeans, she smirks, always after an odd stuff.
"So it seems that I don't get to organize the party this year," she sighs. Caroline has been counting on it, because unfortunately she's running out of money. Although she's sure Damon, her dad, or even Tyler would help her if she asked them to, she doesn't want anyone's pity. Caroline Forbes needs to stand on her own two feet, to find a stable financial footing. She will reinvent herself if she has to.
(Her morbid sense of humour tells her to put 'shooting a mafia boss' into her CV. What, too soon?)
"I'm sure you'll find another place." Tyler smiles and gets up from his seat. "It's time for me to go." He straightens and follows Caroline to the door.
"Thanks for the cocoa."
''Thanks for the bracelet.'' She sees he's hesitant to touch her, but whatever, he's going away, she can give him one last hug. And she does. Tyler's arms wrap around her, hugging her tightly.
"Take care, Caroline."
"You too." She smiles at him, touched by the whole 'birthday gift before birthday' stunt.
When he's gone Caroline sits back with the rest of her cocoa, pondering about the plans Tyler made. About them together again, working things out, getting married, living in Mystic Falls, having their happily ever after. She doesn't love him anymore, but last time she checked she was in love with Klaus and it didn't end well. Maybe it's better to live following your reason rather than your heart. Maybe she should stop him, tell him that she still wants this, that they could try again.
But then what? He left her years ago because he didn't want to deceive her. It might have been a little harsh, but when you really think about it, he was honest with her. He didn't want to lie to her, having fun in Boston, cheating on her with other girls, then come home from time to time and play a flawless boyfriend. He did a crap of a job breaking up with her tactlessly, but all in all, he spared her lies and tears.
He doesn't deserve to be lied to. He changed, he should have a nice, normal wife that would love him and give him a kid or two, not a broken girl with so many mistakes chalked up to her.
Caroline puts the cup in the sink deciding to wash it later, and goes straight to her bathroom to take a long, hot shower. She needs to relax and wash all those stupid thoughts of marrying Tyler away.
She turns the red tap on and waits for the water to get warm. But it doesn't. The water runs cold. Ice cold. In the middle of November. What the hell!
She runs down the stairs and gets outside, checking her mail box.
Bills, bills, bills, she muses. She forgot to pay them on time. Or she didn't, she just didn't have cash.
"Goddammit!" Caroline shouts to no one in particular, tearing her hair out.
She needs a stable job. Now.
On Thursday morning, after showering at Damon's (Stefan was at Elena's so the ground was clear) Caroline heads to the Grill. Damon has lent her some money to pay the bills, but she doesn't want to depend on anyone for long, she'll pay him everything back as soon as possible. She walks in, confident and determined to win this battle... at least until she sees Matt behind the bar counter. Damn it, it's his shift. They haven't been talking much since she almost run him over. Well, every journey begins with a small step, Caroline sighs.
"Um. Hi." She stutters when Matt walks up to her. "Can I... talk to the manager?" She asks shyly.
"You're talking to him." Matt's expression is unreadable, but even if Caroline could read his thoughts she would probably learn something unpleasant. So she keeps her neutral face on and inhales deeply.
"Iwantedtoapplyforajobhere." She lets it out in one breath.
"What?" Matt gapes at her.
"I wanted. To apply. For a job. Here."
Matt looks like he's just seen a unicorn.
"Come again?" He coughs.
"I make great drinks. I have a lot of ideas. I know how to run this place so your takings double. You need me."
"Double? Really?" Matt doesn't seem convinced.
Caroline's jaw tightens.
"Please? I'm stony broke."
He looks at her, not with a hateful look as he usually does, but with understanding.
"Okay. One month trial period. If you're good, you'll stay."
"Oh my God, thank you!" She beams at him and — acting on an impulse— she bends over the counter to hug him. When she realizes what she's doing, Caroline releases him quickly and scratches her head.
"Sorry." Her cheeks go red.
"No problem." Matt mutters, but soon he regains his composure. "I'll see you today at six o'clock with your plan. I want every detail listed and prepared. Don't be late."
"I won't!" She waves at him and dances towards the door."You won't regret that!"
When she's finally outside, Matt grimaces. "I hope so."
Caroline is so excited she's almost running home, thinking about her ideas and solutions for the Grill, singing Glee to herself, not caring if anyone hears her.
"Hit me with your best shot! Why don't you hit me with your best shot! I'm gonna getcha getcha getch-AAAAAAAAAAAAh!"
Somebody slams on the brakes.
Caroline screams.
A black Aston Martin Rapide stops abruptly inches away from the blonde that is paralysed with fear, her heart racing, her blood rushing to her head.
"What are you doing you idiot! Are you crazy?" A young guy — probably around her age— gets out of the car. Or, he rather storms out of it fuming with rage, slamming the door shut.
"I could have killed you! Are you suicidal or just plain dumb?"
"I— I'm sorry." She gulps, still frozen in her place. His aura is overwhelming and freaking her out. (But hey, his accent is nice. Does she sense a Brit here?)
"For fuck's sake, girl."
"I said I was sorry." Caroline scowls at him.
"You would be even more sorry if you were dead!" The stranger runs his head through his messy brown hair, and mutters, "All I need right now is a police tail."
There's something strange about him, something is off, Caroline thinks. Maybe it's the accent, or maybe she's just oversensitive when it comes to strangers, but he seems... odd. Peculiar.
"Are you okay?" She asks, walking up to him.
"Yeah. I just don't know this town. I've been wandering around for the last hour. It's driving me crazy."
"Where are you going? Maybe I can show you the way."
"The old Lockwood mansion?" He cocks an eyebrow, confused.
"It's just across the woods. Turn left and go straight ahead."
Then it hits her. "Wait a minute! So you're the new one in town!" She says kindly and extends her hand towards him.
"I'm Caroline."
The man eventually brightens up and shakes her hand.
"Kol."
"Nice to meet you, Kol." The blonde flashes the most welcoming smile she can come up with. The name sounds familiar, but she can't figure out why.
"Oh, the pleasure is all mine." He grins at Caroline, his dark eyes piercing through her, making her shiver.
Although it feels strange, Matt likes Caroline's ideas. Karaoke nights, new types of drinks, events, theme parties. She has it all planned, he has to admit it. If she takes good care of the promotional campaign, they can bring this place to life.
"You really have a head full of ideas." Matt laughs. Caroline's elated. It's the first time he smiles at her, and it makes her feel better. She will revive the Grill and restore it to people's favour. Maybe she can even make Matt smile more often at her.
She'll make it all work.
The Saturday Cover Fever is her first shot. Damon does a good job hanging the promotional posters all over Mystic Falls. She even got a band to come and perform.
Everything's prepared, when on Saturday morning she receives a call from the band leader that they have to cancel the show.
"I'm screwed, Damon!" She cries on the phone. "They won't come! And I have the track list and all, and people are actually coming! And— "
"So do it yourself, Barbie." Damon cuts her off.
"What? You're kidding me, right?"
"I know you've got a kick-ass voice. Just do it."
Caroline is about to pass out from the emotional overload.
"I can't— "
"Yes, you can. I'll take care of the tracks, just send them to me."
"We'll do this together?"
"Oh Blondie, we could do so much mo— " He laughs wholeheartedly, but she groans at him, irritated. "Just kidding, babe."
"So meet me at the Grill at five. We'll do a rehearsal."
When Damon hangs up, she lets out a breath of relief. If she manages pull this off, there's nothing in the world that can beat her tonight.
Her knees go weak when she sees the bar is full. She notices Kol sitting at one of the tables near the scene, so she sends him a keen smile. There's Elena, Bonnie with Jeremy (they've been dating on and off; currently their relationship seems to be on), Jenna Sommers with Alaric Saltzman, and some other familiar faces. And a lot of others who came here to judge Caroline.
She starts with Madonna, because come on, it's old good Madonna. Damon laughs when she sings 'Like a Virgin' in a tongue-in-cheek style. People seem to be quite amused.
For the next cover she chooses 'Hey Soul Sister'.
The smell of you in every single dream I dream
I knew when we collided, you're the one I have decided
Who's one of my kind
She feels it's more personal than it should be.
Then it's time for something lively and upbeat, so she chooses 'Firework' by Katy Perry, and the whole bar is singing with her. They dance when Caroline performs 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody', Jeremy and Bonnie doing some crazy moves in the middle of the Grill.
Jenna sniffs when she hears Caroline sing 'Big Girls Don't Cry'. Caroline wants to cry too, but she knows the show must go on.
Then go 'Single Ladies' by Beyonce (Elena is singing along mocking Stefan playfully) followed by 'Sunny' by Boney M. They can't find fault with the songs she's chosen. There's a bit of everything. She even sings 'Fire' by Bruce Springsteen while Matt accompanies her on the guitar.
When the show is over the crowd can't stop shouting and calling her name. She receives a lengthy applause. People are actually giving her a standing ovation. It's her moment of glory.
Then everything she's hearing fades somewhere in the back of her mind as her eyes go wide with fear. Her heart stops for a second. All she sees now is his face in the crowd, his smirk aimed right at her, his gaze locked on her eyes. She stands on the stage puzzled and unable to move, staring at no one else but Klaus himself who's clapping his hands in recognition of her talent.
She darts to the backstage as quick as lightning, then she falls on the bathroom floor, gasping for air.
It's impossible, he can't—
"You were fantastic. I'm impressed, love."
She looks up to see him leaning against the wall, his arms crossed.
"What are you doing here?" She breathes heavily as she gets up from the ground.
"Moving in." He shrugs.
"I'm not letting you into my house again." She threatens, but he just smirks at her.
"No need to get all defensive, Caroline. I've got my own house now. Does the old Lockwood mansion ring a bell?"
He enjoys seeing her shocked expression.
"You're lying." Caroline snaps. "I've met the guy who's living there. His name— "
"Is Kol. Yes, love, I know. He's my little brother after all." Klaus winks at her.
Now it all makes sense.
Now she's more than scared.
TBC
A/N: So, my Dear Readers, hit me with your best shot now! :)