A/N: So, it's been a while...sorry. I really am. I was on vacation and then I had to come back to school. Please forgive me!
This is a two-parter, so brace yourself for the next update either tomorrow or Sunday. Whenever I get around to editing it.
Anyway, I want to thank you all for your wonderful support! I'm blown away by how happy everyone seems to be with this tiny story. I hope you continue to enjoy this chapter and don't think I'm too much of a tease...
And thank you to MissFullofLight for adding this story to her Klarofics Recs page on her tumblr (cutiepieforbes) along with Before the World Catches Up. You can blame her for this Klaus-filled chapter.
Have fun! (Please excuse all mistakes!)
"I keep telling myself, I keep telling myself,
I'm not the desperate type.
But you've got me looking in through blinds."
7 Minutes In Heaven (Atavan Halen) | Fall Out Boy (From Under The Cork Tree)
"But every once in a while, you find someone who's iridescent, and when you do, nothing will ever compare."
-Flipped (Wendelin Van Draanen)
Hey, That's My Line (AKA: first flip)
After The Football Game:
Darkness surrounded Caroline the second she stepped into her home. The door closed quietly behind her, but her mother was the sheriff. No sound got by her attentive ears. Rolling her eyes, Caroline toed off her shoes and hung her coat on its specified hook, bracing herself for the lecture that was sure to come.
She was only ten minutes late, but that was usually enough to warrant the Do-you-want-to be-kidnapped-and-slaughtered-by-a-stranger-in-the-middle-of-the-night-Caroline? speech from her overprotective, gun-slinging mom.
Sure enough, waiting for Caroline on her bed was the sheriff, still in her tan getup, badge shining like a tattoo above her breast. Caroline's eyes burned when a light flickered to life, bathing her pearly bedroom in pale, smooth light.
"Honey, you're home," Liz said calmly, though Caroline could just see that vein throbbing in her forehead.
My mom's insane, she thought idly. This was not the first time Caroline had come home to this scene.
Smiling tightly, Caroline shrugged her purse to the ground and stood still. She didn't want to spook the hungry lion lazing not-so-casually on her bed. "Hi mom. What're you doing in here?"
"Oh, nothing," she said. Her eyes wandered to the alarm clock on Caroline's bedside table. "What are you doing home so late?"
Caroline held in a sigh. She didn't blame her mother for being overprotective. The world was scary and unpredictable, and the sheriff was alone in taking care of Caroline. But none of that meant it was easy having such an overly cautious parent.
"I'm barely ten minutes late, mom," Caroline said, exasperated. "I have something to ask you, though," she added before the sheriff could scold her further.
Her mother's eyebrows rose slightly in curiosity. "Okay," she said slowly. "What is it?"
Bracing herself for the worst, the fifteen-year-old willed her heart to calm down. It had been battering her bones since Klaus asked her to the dance just a couple of hours ago, the football game going unnoticed below them, their hands clasped and their smiles embarrassingly giddy.
The breath in Caroline's lungs evaporated.
What had happened to her? Where were her annoying inner thoughts, demanding that she immediately stop dreaming about Klaus? Why wasn't she running for the hills, frightened of this budding relationship?
She'd transformed. Clearly. All she could think about—while her mother sat in her bedroom—was Klaus' touch. His sweaty hand curling around hers, his thumb breaking her barriers one swipe at a time. And the breathless way he had asked her to the dance. And further still the warm goodnight he'd uttered before Damon zoomed away from the school.
The beginnings of a smile touched Caroline's lips. "I've been invited to the Decade Dance."
Liz's eyebrows dropped. "What?" She sounded sharp, like Caroline had just announced her plans to leave school and become a stripper.
"The Decade Dance. Someone asked me," Caroline reiterated, worry dropping into her stomach.
"Who asked you?" And so the stony expression/tone continues…
"Klaus," Caroline answered automatically, though her mother probably had no idea who Klaus was. She felt the need to explain, "He's a guy I've been talking to a little bit"—a lot—"and he's really nice. He only asked me tonight, at the game. You can say no."
Please, please don't say I can't go! She begged silently.
Dating was a subject Liz and Caroline didn't discuss on a regular basis. There were no rules, no limits. Nothing but the general idea that Caroline would be careful if ever a boy were to pursue her.
"I know who he is," Liz revealed, and Caroline couldn't help the surprised look that took over her face. "Miranda Gilbert has said he's a good friend of Jeremy's."
Caroline nodded enthusiastically. Did this mean her mother believed Klaus was a good person too?
"Yeah, they hang out a lot," Caroline said, hope replacing the dread dwelling inside of her. "Stefan and him are best friends. I almost never see one without the other."
Liz Forbes loved Stefan Salvatore. Any friend of his had to be welcome in Caroline's life.
"I thought you hated school dances?" Liz questioned, resetting her eyebrows so they sat once again at her hairline.
"I thought so too," Caroline offered. But then Klaus Mikaelson asked me to one and I quickly changed my mind.
Silence met her words. The sheriff looked deep in thought, her fingers stroking her chin as if she were planning world domination and had gotten stuck on which method—atomic bomb, or death by mass lion attack?—she preferred. Not whether she would allow her teenaged daughter to go on a date (is it a date? Oh, God, what if it isn't a date?) to a school-sponsored dance.
Suddenly, there was a voice. And it was soft and it was saying to her, "Okay. You can go."
.1.
Once Caroline was ready for bed wearing her fluffy, Hello Kitty pyjamas given to her by a crazy aunt from middle-of-nowhere America, she sauntered into her bedroom—which was now void of her mother—and grabbed her phone. She watched the screen come to life beneath her touch and forced her shaky fingers to find Klaus' name in her contacts. Sweat beaded beneath her PJs, her finger hovering over the gorgeous letters that spelled his name.
Just do it, Caroline, she scolded inwardly.
Holding her breath, Caroline smacked his name with her thumb and lifted the phone to her ear. It rang a few times, each brrriiing sending more fear and trepidation to her. On the fifth ring, Caroline heard a faint click.
"Hello?"
Caroline almost replied—out of sheer habit—but stopped herself just in time. It wasn't Klaus on the other line.
It sounded like a small girl.
"Hello?" She said again. "Is this Caroline?" The girl asked, and Caroline shook her head.
She pulled the phone away from her ear and checked if she'd actually called Klaus. Sure enough, a picture of him smiling a dimpled smile at her camera, taken during one of their study sessions, wafted into focus.
"Uh…yeah, this is Caroline," she confirmed, putting the phone against her ear again. "Who's this?"
"Rebekah," the girl answered, sounding smug. "I've heard a lot about you. Klaus doesn't shut up about 'Caroline, the most beautiful girl I've ever met' and blah, blah, blah. But anyway, it's nice to finally get a chance to talk to you."
Caroline was frozen in place. So this was Klaus' baby sister? The one he talked so fondly of while somehow managing to make her sound like an absolute miscreant. She could understand the oxymoron. Rebekah came off very mature for a ten-year-old, but she didn't waste any time prying for information.
"Um, okay," Caroline murmured, still very confused. "Hi, Rebekah."
"Hello. Klaus is in the shower at the moment. He's been in there since he got home. I wonder what he's doing…" Rebekah's voice faded, but Caroline's mind filled with an image she didn't exactly want to see.
Damn Elena and all of her boys-do-gross-things-in-the-shower talk.
Caroline cringed inwardly, shaking her head in hopes the picture of Klaus…doing that…would fly out of her ear.
"Did he ask you to the dance? Please tell me he asked you," Rebekah said, interrupting Caroline's idiotic attempts to clear her brain.
Flushing a glorious crimson, Caroline's lips tugged at the corners. "Yeah, he did." And I'm actually excited.
"Excellent!" The girl exclaimed. Caroline could hear her elated smile through the phone. "He was a 1920's guy for costume day at school last year in England, so he's got the perfect clothes for this dance!"
Great. Klaus already had clothes.
Caroline was going to have to borrow something from Elena. Which wouldn't be a problem usually, because Elena's style was impeccable. Unfortunately for Caroline Forbes, Elena was also two sizes bigger than her.
When the brunette insisted on dressing Caroline, she always pulled old clothes out. But, as Elena had said before dropping her off this evening, she had nothing that would fit Caroline for the dance. Which meant she'd have pins and needles sticking into her back and stomach from Elena's attempts at tailoring.
She suddenly was not looking forward to the dance.
"Oh, shoot," Rebekah muttered distantly, bringing Caroline out of her own head. "Gotta go, Caroline. Good luck with my brother. He's awesome, but he sucks."
Caroline started to laugh, but was interrupted by a commotion coming from Klaus' side. She couldn't see anything. Muffled, angry voices met her ear.
"Caroline?" It was Klaus.
Her mouth went dry at the sound of his smooth accent.
"Yep," she said, noticing how croaky the word sounded. She cleared her throat and swallowed. "It's me. Hi."
Klaus huffed a relieved sigh that melted her insides. "Good. I was afraid my sister might've scared you off."
"Nope, no chance of that happening. She's very lovely to talk to. Told me all your dirty secrets."
"I'd be worried, but I don't have any dirty secrets," Klaus countered quickly.
"Doesn't everyone have a dirty secret or two?" Caroline asked, though she didn't exactly have any herself.
"At fifteen? I shouldn't think so. Ask me again in ten years and we'll see where I stand on the matter," Klaus said.
Ten years, Caroline sighed to herself. Will I know him in ten years? Will I be with him? Be married to him?
No, shut up. You're getting ahead of yourself, Caroline. Stop this. Now.
She gulped, trying to reign in her haywire thoughts. "All right," she conceded. "Will do."
"Good." Klaus paused momentarily. "Did you call me, or did Rebekah call you?"
"Um…I called you. Why?"
"Well, why did you call?"
He didn't seem displeased, which was good, but Caroline's heart managed to speed up, worried he was somehow disappointed.
"My mom said yes," she said.
"You're allowed to go?" He asked, breathless. Like with Rebekah, she could hear his smile. His face-splitting grin.
Oh, how she wished she could see him too.
Tomorrow, she remembered. I get to see him tomorrow.
"Uh-huh. She says when you drop me off that you have to meet her, though," Caroline told him, cringing at the thought of her mother conversing with Klaus. Yet another thing to not look forward to about tomorrow.
"Do I?" Klaus said absently, no fear or worry present in his voice. "Will she have her gun?"
His question transported her to the first time they talked.
That was, what? One month ago? Four minuscule little weeks out of their whole lives. But to Caroline it felt like forever ago. Like she'd known Klaus her whole life. That was good, wasn't it?
It felt good. Better than good.
"I hope not," Caroline said, crossing her fingers. "If she does, just run really, really fast in the opposite direction. I've seen her play basketball. Her aim isn't that great."
Klaus laughed, the deep, throaty noise sending shivers down her spine. "I'll bring my running shoes then."
Day of the Dance:
Loud music jolted him awake, snapping his eyes open. He sat straight up in bed and listened as Frank Sinatra crooned beneath Bekah's door.
Good heavens, he'd been having the most wonderful dream.
Pale, feminine skin stood in front of him wrapped in a white dress. He moved forward, breathing in her fruity scent. He skated his fingers down her clothes. Reaching the zip, he tugged, and watched the fabric tumble down her body and land in a heap by her feet. She climbed out, standing naked before him.
And he could not breathe.
Groaning, he laid back down and flung his arm over his eyes. This was the fourth time he'd dreamt the exact same scenario. Only this time he'd managed to actually see the beautiful girl without the white dress.
It seemed that each time he had the dream, he got closer and closer to touching her smooth, bare skin.
He felt the remnants of the dream below his belly, pressing against his trousers. He took a few deep breaths until he'd cleared his mind of the erotic, repetitive image.
"Klaus! You've got to get ready. You're due at Elena's house soon!" Bekah yelled from her bedroom.
Klaus looked at his bedside clock, noting that he only had thirty minutes to get changed into his '20s outfit. He groaned again and slipped out of bed.
"Why did you let me sleep so long? I only wanted a small kip," he shouted back, shucking his shirt over his head. He threw into his hamper and got to work on his jeans.
"You didn't get much sleep last night. You deserved it," Rebekah said. "Besides, Caroline wouldn't want a zombie as a date, would she?"
Klaus had to smile at that as he kicked his jeans off his legs. He was a notoriously bad tired person. Sleep called to him at all hours of the day.
In fact, the only times—in recent history—he'd felt truly awake was when he was speaking to Caroline. But that was silly, wasn't it? And probably a bad sign.
He couldn't help it, though. How his skin burst to life when he caught sight of her. How his brain buzzed when he heard her angelic voice.
How his heart doubled in size when he caught her smiling shyly, lip caught between her teeth.
Maybe he was being stupid, deciding at fifteen he'd found someone that forced him awake. But he rather enjoyed being stupid. Especially with Caroline.
Last night she'd unlocked all of these hidden doors by agreeing to go to the dance with him. This was the beginning of something. Something mysterious and wonderful and utterly terrifying.
Terrifying because he didn't know what was happening, but wonderful all the same because he couldn't wait to see where this—this thing with Caroline—would take him. Take them both.
Klaus nearly tripped over himself as he tried putting one leg through his trousers. He blinked a few times, dazed, and righted himself, hopping over to his bed—with only one leg in his slacks—and sat down. Staring at the wall, he lazily put his other leg through the cream-coloured trousers, slow drops of confusion seeping into his gut.
He was getting ahead of himself, wasn't he? Far too ahead of himself.
He didn't know what he was talking about.
Christ, what was he thinking?
Fifteen! He was only fifteen! A baby, a child. Young, foolish.
Elijah had always told him to be careful in this world. Avoid mistakes at all costs and remember that there is no such thing as a soulmate. Women come and go, just like the sun.
The sound of his bedroom door creaking open startled Klaus out of his anxious thoughts.
"Oh, gross, you're not wearing a shirt," Bekah complained, smacking a hand over her eyes. "And you've not done your trousers up yet."
Stifling a laugh—because he really needed to laugh, just to clear his head—Klaus stood up and buttoned the slacks. He picked his undershirt off the bed, sliding it over his head and tucking it into the waistband of his trousers.
He looked at his baby sister, eyes still covered, and allowed himself to smile.
"I'm decent, Bekah," he informed her.
The bubbly, commanding blonde removed her hand and appraised him carefully. Her eyes landed on his.
"You seem upset," she said, taking a few steps in his direction. Her arm reached out and played with his hair, no doubt taming the rather amazing bed-head he was probably sporting.
Klaus raised his eyebrows. His smile faltered. "I do?"
He wasn't upset. Just…confused. And slightly scared.
"Yeah." Bekah nodded, concern washing over her face. He didn't like the look of that. "What's the matter? Is it Caroline?"
How did she do that? How did his little, ten-year-old sister dig deep into his psyche and pull the problems straight from his head?
"Did she say something to you?" Bekah asked, and he could see his sister getting ready to defend his honour.
"No, not at all," he said swiftly, fearing his sister's wrath. Bekah calmed the slightest bit. "Well, she did say things, but they weren't…bad things."
"Then what's the matter?"
Klaus inhaled sharply and clenched his eyes for a moment. He didn't know what the matter was.
He was excited for the dance. Sickly nervous, but thrilled to get the opportunity to spend more time with Caroline Forbes.
He missed England desperately. He missed familiarity and the scent of London on a cold day.
Caroline had been helping with his homesickness. Her and Stefan, unbeknownst to them, were easing him into life as a legal alien.
Waking up in the morning, knowing Caroline was there in Mystic Falls, made the day instantly better.
It shouldn't be like that, though. Not yet.
Elijah's warnings were meant for an older Niklaus, not the fifteen-year-old version. Because what fifteen-year-old determines that he has already found a girl worth losing sleep and focus over?
Oh, but every time he caught even the smallest glimpse of Caroline he got the strangest, most calming tug deep in his belly. Like something was telling him that this was right. Looking at her, observing her, memorising her—it was meant to be.
Damn it, why did this have to be so absolutely unclear.
"Klaus, you're kind of starting to scare me," Rebekah said, shaking his shoulder. "What did Caroline say that's got you all worked up?"
I don't know why I like you. I just know that I do.
I came to see you.
I'd love to go.
Really, really.
"You like her," Rebekah said firmly, leaving no room for arguments.
He thought about it.
Like…
It wasn't a big enough word for what he felt for this girl. This girl he'd known for all of five minutes.
"You like her a lot," Rebekah reworded, her voice rising at the end to show that it was somewhat a question.
Klaus nodded, not knowing what else to do. Not knowing why this was only now starting to petrify him.
"Mum wants to meet her. So do I," Bekah said. She walked to his desk chair and picked up his white button-up. She came back to him, handing him the shirt. "Don't look so scared, Nik. She likes you too."
Ah, but that was the clincher, wasn't it? She liked him too. That made whatever this was between them so much more fascinating and dangerous.
Slipping his arms through the shirt-sleeves, Klaus buttoned it up and reached for his tie. The costume was a year old, but it still held its pristine cleanliness. His mother was excellent at keeping things clean.
"Honestly, snap out of it, Nik," Bekah barked as he grabbed the costume's matching waistcoat. He froze and stared at her. She was fuming. "Really, Nik. You're fifteen. You're not deciding today whether you want to marry this girl. Just have fun with her. See where it goes. You both like each other. I've read your texts—"
"—What? That's a complete breach of my privacy—"
"—and it makes me sick to read the things you guys say to each other. But honestly. Get over yourself, big brother. You're too young to be having existential crises because of a bird. Mum and I…we're really happy for you. It's nice to see you smile. So don't worry about it, Nik. Just enjoy."
Klaus buttoned his waistcoat furiously, his mind replaying her words. He got stuck briefly on her admittance of reading his text messages, but mostly he was blown away by her fierce speech. He'd said that she would someday be the most powerful woman around so many times, but right now he was really looking forward to his little sister ruling the world.
She was right. Or, maybe she wasn't. But she spoke with such conviction, he couldn't imagine her being wrong.
The only problem he had with what she'd said was her line concerning him not having to decide if he wanted to marry Caroline. One thing that frightened him the most about Caroline Forbes was that when he looked at her, all he saw was his future. Painted so clearly on her face, in her eyes. He felt it when their skin touched—he felt their fate.
"You have to be at Elena's in fifteen minutes," Bekah reminded him quietly, reaching for his creamy jacket.
He put it on and flashed Rebekah a small smile. "How do I look?"
Once again, Bekah appraised him carefully. "Like you're about to go on your first date with a very beautiful girl."
Klaus' cheeks flamed. "Is that good?"
Giving him a sympathetic smile, Bekah nodded. "Yeah, Nik. It's good. Go do something to your hair and brush your teeth."
Rebekah turned to leave, Klaus following right behind. He tapped her shoulder when they were in the hallway. Frank still sang softly around them. Bekah faced him expectantly.
"Thank you," he said sincerely. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
Bekah tapped her chin in mock thought, making Klaus' lips pull into a smile. "Probably die. Of nerves. Or self-inflicted misery."
"Probably," Klaus agreed, and he walked by his little sister and into the bathroom.
He stared at himself in the mirror for a moment, giving himself a once over. He looked pretty good. The 1920s had always intrigued him. He'd always said if time travel were possible, he'd want to go all the way back to the Jazz Age. He felt he'd fit in quite nicely.
He wondered what Caroline looked like.
An angel, most likely.
And though he was minutely scared of the strong, overwhelming emotions burrowing in his heart, he couldn't wait to find out.
A/N 2: Excited for part two?
Anyone else read the book Flipped? I recommend it. It's a kids book, but it's great.
Until sometime this weekend,
LoveIsATemple