Disclaimer: I do not own TVD or any of its characters.
A/N: First of all, I just want to thank everyone who's still reading and still reviewing. It means so much to me. There are literally no words to tell you how grateful I am. Second of all, have you guys seen the last episode of TVD?! Feels are everywhere!
P.S. I should be doing my homework right now, but because I didn't get this chapter up yesterday like I promised on tumblr, I'm doing this instead. How's that for priorities?! Also, it's really late right now so this isn't as put together as I'd like. I'm sick, too, and that's affecting my writing more than I'd like.
Anyway, I hope you guys like this chapter, even though it's a short one ( it's also a filler). Wow, I'm really terrible about that. I'm sorry! Hopefully I'll get better about making the chapters longer.
-xxx-
She was going to tell him everything. As soon as class was over, she would tell him about Tyler finding out about them and she would tell the truth about stealing the test answers. It'd been a week, and she couldn't keep this secret buried for much longer. The guilt had been killing her.
The bell rang and she took a deep breath, ignoring the smug look Tyler gave her on his way out. Elena and Bonnie gave her a small wave as they left. They eventually stopped waiting up for her after a while since nine times out of ten she would either take forever gathering up her things or she would stay behind and ask about homework. Caroline normally would've expected them to be suspicious, but they just wrote it off as "the new and focused Caroline staying on top of her work."
Caroline approached Klaus slowly and tentatively. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked.
"Of course," he replied, stepping around the desk.
"I have to tell you something. It's about the test..."
"The one that you failed?"
Her eyes widened. "What?"
He sighed. "You weren't even close to a passing grade."
"How did that happen?"
He shrugged. "You have a poor studying strategy."
"Thanks," she responded sarcastically.
"I could help you."
She scoffed. "We'd get nothing done."
"I beg to differ. I can be professional."
"I beg to differ," she replied with a smirk, turning his own words around on him. Her smile faded quickly, however. She had a reason for needing to talk to him. "But that's not what I'm here for."
"What is it, love?" he asked, sensing the worry in her voice.
"It's Tyler."
He nodded. "I think I know what this is about."
"You do?" she asked incredulously.
"He stole test answers from me."
She narrowed her eyes. "What makes you think that?"
"He's failed every test that I've given this semester except the one that had its answer sheet taken. All signs point to him being the culprit."
Caroline shook her head. "No, I don't think that's it."
Klaus's eyes hardened and he was silent for a moment. "What are you not telling me?"
She sighed and stared at the ground. "At homecoming...Tyler saw us together. He threatened to tell everyone about it unless I took the test answers for him."
He remained calm, and for some reason that made her even more nervous. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want you to be mad..."
"Well of course I'm going to be angry!" He began raising his voice. "He blackmailed you!"
"It doesn't matter anymore because it's done! He's gotten what he wanted and you don't have to worry about losing your job!"
"I don't care about this bloody job! How dare he think he can use this against you?" He was going to hunt down the Lockwood boy and make him wish he had kept his sorry little mouth shut, but as soon as he tried to leave, Caroline gently placed her hands on his chest to keep him from going anywhere.
"Whatever you're about to do, don't," she warned.
He stared down at her into her pleading blue eyes, but the urge to go after Tyler was still there. His mouth was set in a grim line and he tensed up, trying to calm himself down for her sake.
"Please," she added.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "You should've told me," he said.
"I'm sorry. But this is the reaction I was trying to avoid."
Well, he had never been known for being in control of his temper. He acted impulsively, especially when he was angry. It wasn't one of his most positive attributes.
Caroline could tell that he was still cross, so she tried distracting him. "Maybe I'll take you up on that offer you made earlier. I could use some extra help in the academic department."
He looked at her for a second before smiling slyly. "No, you were right. We wouldn't get anything done."
Taking her waist with one hand and placing the other on the back of her neck, he captured her lips with his, catching her by surprise. She responded enthusiastically, grasping his shoulders with both hands and pressing her body closer to his, grateful that things were still good between them, although she was sure he hadn't forgotten about Tyler.
-xxx-
Of course Klaus hadn't forgotten about Tyler. As much as he wanted to hurt him for blackmailing Caroline, she had practically begged him not to, so he wouldn't. That didn't mean he couldn't instill some fear in him, however.
Tyler was heading for the locker room after football practice, completely unaware that he was being followed. Klaus waited until he was alone before cornering him.
Tyler stuffed his shoulder pads into his locker and slammed it closed, jumping back when he saw Mr. Mikaelson waiting for him on the other side.
"Whoa!" he yelled in surprise.
"Hello, Tyler."
"What are you doing here?"
Klaus narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the lockers. "Now is that any way to greet me?"
Tyler rolled his eyes. "Fine, hi. Now tell me what the hell you want."
Klaus pushed himself off of the lockers and took a few intimidating steps towards him, his expression dark. "I think you know why I'm here."
Tyler remained silent.
"Are you really so thick as to believe that I would let you get away with threatening Caroline?"
"Look, I promised to keep your dirty little secret, so don't worry about it."
"I'm not sure you understand the gravity of the situation. You stole from me."
"Technically, she stole from you."
"Yes, under your demand."
"So what are you gonna do about it? Fail me? Would you really risk losing your job to protect some stupid, neurotic—"
He didn't have a chance to finish his sentence before Klaus grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and slammed him against the lockers, effectively shutting him up.
"Don't ever talk about her like that," Klaus practically growled.
Tyler's eyes widened and his mouth fell open, but he was too shocked—and terrified, although he would never admit it—to say anything.
When Klaus eventually let him go, he stepped back and straightened his jacket out. "Now here's what is going to happen," he began. "You can keep your A, as long as you don't bother Caroline again. Don't talk to her, don't go near her, don't even look at her."
Tyler scoffed. "You'll let me keep the grade anyway because you don't want to lose your job."
"I don't give a damn about my job."
"I don't believe you."
"Fine. Don't, if you're that willing to risk your spot on the football team."
Tyler didn't say anything, which caused Klaus to smirk.
"That's what I thought." He began to leave, but he turned back around to add something before he forgot. "This is the third time you've hurt Caroline. That day in class, at the football game, and now this. I wouldn't try for a fourth."
And with that, he was gone, leaving Tyler speechless and without any leverage.
-xxx-
At cheerleading practice that day, Caroline tried once again to make amends with Rebekah, although she was having none of it. During their warm-up stretches, Caroline stood next to her and began by making friendly conversation, which Rebekah usually ignored, but not today.
"Hey, Rebekah," Caroline said, earning and eye roll from the other blonde. "Are you ready for the game on Friday?"
"Caroline, do yourself a favor and just stop talking."
Caroline straightened up and put her hands on her hips. "You know, I'm getting sick of you shutting me out every time I try to be nice to you. I don't know how many times I can tell you that I'm sorry for keeping that kind of secret, but I was doing it to protect your brother. And if you cared about him at all, you'd accept that. But this? Going after Tyler, being rude to me when you're not giving me the silent treatment...it's childish. If you don't want to be friends, fine. But at least have the decency to stop doing whatever this is."
Rebekah stopped stretching and faced her. "You lied to me for weeks. You're still lying to Bonnie and Elena! Apologizing a thousand times doesn't make me want to forgive you any faster, and it doesn't make me childish. If anything, you're the one who's acting childish by making a fuss when I don't forgive you as quick as you like."
"I was doing it to protect him!"
"Yes, I know, I heard it the first twelve times you told me!"
"Then why are you mad?"
"Because you didn't tell me! Did you really think I would turn my own brother in? Do you honestly think that low of me?"
"Of course not," Caroline replied.
Rebekah rolled her eyes and turned back to what she was doing, obviously not interested in continuing the conversation.
Caroline sighed and went back to stretching, too. Rebekah was right. She should've been honest with her, and now she was doing the same thing with Bonnie and Elena. They wouldn't betray her and turn her in if she told them. They may be angry at first, but not as angry as they'd be if she kept it a secret for too long.
She would tell them eventually.
-xxx-
A/N: Short chapter, long wait, not enough Klaroline, I know, I know. I'm really sorry :( BUT, the lack of interaction between Klaroline will definitely be made up for in the next chapter!
So the consequences of Caroline telling the truth didn't seem too bad, but don't worry, dear readers. Actually, worry a little bit because the worst is yet to come! Things are about to get crazy in Mystic Falls! And again, I'm sorry to anyone who likes Tyler and hates seeing him as the antagonist.
As always, thank you for reading. Your thoughts, suggestions, predictions, opinions, etc. keep me motivated, so make sure you leave a review! Feedback helps me determine whether you guys are still liking it or if you aren't! Let me know :)
Much love,
Morgan
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