A/N: Enjoy and review!

The days passed in a blur of movements. Ryan's body had been discovered and the funeral was held the other day. I avoided looking directly into his parents eyes for obvious reasons. To me Ryan was a monster but to his parents he was there baby.

On a side note my foot had healed wonderfully. That paste Kol had made was amazing, truly it was magic and it just so happened to be precisely that.

I was in my room waiting for Madison to come over. It had been sometime since we last had a girl day together and I needed it more than she would ever really know. Madison could tell something had ben up with me recently but she had no idea of the magnitude of the situation Kol had put me in.

The doorbell rang and raced down the stairs to get it. Opening it I found Madison with her arms filled with various bags. "Hey! Help me out here!"

I reached for half of her bags and nearly fell over from their weight. "What do you have in here, bricks?" I joked and she stuck her tongue out.

Madison went straight to my room and started to unpack everything she had a brought. The classic nail polish, hair accessories and romantic comedies. "Well we our having a full girl day and night." She said proudly.

A buzzing sound went off on my bedside table. It was a text from Kol, Coffee? Now-ish? I decided to ignore the man child today and deal with the consequences later on.

"Who was that?"

I rolled my eyes. "Kol."

Mads eyes lit up like a christmas tree at my response. "So...how are things with the two of you?"

"There isn't anything going on." I stressed to her.

Another buzz went off and I glared at the offending phone. "I think you should give Kol a chance." Mads said hesitantly.

"What? Why?" I spluttered at her.

Madison dropped an outfit she had been expecting before stomping her foot down. "Because he can't keep his eyes off you for starters!" She shouted and started to wave her arms around wildly. "And Sally was all over him at the grill but when Kol saw you he rushed to you as soon as he spotted you." She stressed the you's at me and waited quietly for a moment and allowed her information to sink in. "Maybe's he's not so bad." She said as she picked up my phone.

"He's not a good person Mads." She looked down at me in concern for my voice had turned somber. "Kol, he is cold and ruthless and he cares only about himself. He only sees me as a toy, like a game of cat and mouse and I'm always the mouse."

Madison sat down beside me and rested her arm over my shoulder. "I think your more of the cat when it comes to him." I gave her a disbelieving glare, "What you are. You say jump and he says how high." I laughed small. "Come on! Time to get ready!"

"Ready for what? We usually stay here?"

"Yes but that will be another time, you have to get ready for your date with Kol."

My face fell. "What do you mean?" She showed me the text from Kol. "Can I make it up to you over dinner?"

"Call him up and say you'd go to dinner." When I made no move to do such a thing she huffed. "Just this one night and I'll never ask again. Kol will permanently be in the don't-mention-ever-again-pile. I swear." Mads held up her hand in oath pose. "Let yourself be happy Cas. I saw the two of you that night you guys were at the bar. I haven't seen you that happy since..."

Madison trailed off because of the sore subject. I hadn't been that happy since my brother, Ash. Ash was the type of guy that was everyone's friend, the guy who always made you laugh, that could be found surrounded by people, the one that treated me with respect. Ash had been like a brother to Madison as well and when he died she cried as much as I had. Madison only wanted me to be happy and she had seen Kol do that. She didn't know he was a vampire that had nearly killed me. All she saw was her closest friend having a good time.

Taking in a deep breath and slowly letting it out, "Give me the phone."

She squealed ecstatically and embraced me tightly. She shoved the phone in my hands and watched with baited breath. The phone only rang twice before Kol picked up. "Calling to apologize? Unless it involves lingerie, I don't accept."

"What are you doing tonight?"

"Nothing much love, why? Do you want to spend time with little old me?"

"I...wanted to see if you wanted to grab something to eat?"

"So you're agreeing to go out with me. I'll meet you at the grill at seven."

"See you there."

"Do I get to see apology lingerie?"

"No. And there was never going to be any! And what would I have to apologize for anyway?!"

"For avoiding me for the last few days."

"I'll see you at the grill." And with that I hung up and nodded to Madison who screamed with joy and hugged me tightly.

"Come on Cassie! We need to make Kol's jaw drop." She winked and tugged me to the vanity and started her magic.

I was standing in a denim shirt dress that had a tie around the waist and ended mid-thigh. I wondered if Kol would even show. This was me agreeing to go on a date with him willingly, perhaps that made me no longer of a challenge. Briefly I thought that Kol would find some other poor girl and play his games with her, or would he kill me first?

But soon after the thought crossed my mind it was erased by the appearance of Kol. Dressed in his usual dark Henley shirts, jeans, expensive jacket and boots with tousled hair. His strides were long and in no time at all he was standing in front of me, looking down. Kol seemed dazed for a moment, drinking in my appearance. While I didn't really dress like this that often it was Mads favorite thing to do and judging by Kol's reaction he liked it quite a lot.

"Ready kitten." Kol grinned down at me charmingly with his head cocked to the side.

I rolled my eyes in playfulness but nodded all the same. "Yes. And will you be calling me kitten from now on?"

"For now."

Kol took my hand and led me inside, walking straight to an open table in the middle of the room. How predictable, the man child wants to be the center of attention. What surprised me was the fact that Kol actually pulled out my chair for me, manners like that were usually only at the events I was dragged to. I sat down and in no time Kol was across from me with his jacket off and his hands propped on the table.

"So you finally agreed to a date, well, it really was only a matter of time. I mean, look at this face! How long could you possibly resist?" Kol teased me smugly with a smirk to match.

"Your right, how could I resist an arrogant womanizing prick like you." I mocked him and saw his eyes narrow at the jab.

Our waitress came up then dressed in the classic grille's uniform with her red hair pulled back in a bouncy ponytail. "Hi! I'm Meagan and I'll be your server for the night there gorgeous."

Kol looked up at her then and noticed the way she eyed him like an hungry animal seeing a piece of steak. "We'll take your best bottle of bourbon for now." And with that he made a casual flicking motion over his shoulder at the girl, dismissing her without feeling the need to say it. She balked in offense and stormed off after gaping like a fish for a good solid minute.

"You've offended our waitress."

Kol gave a casual shrug. "She'll get over it." Kol leaned forward more on his arms so part of his body was over the table. "Let's get down to business shall we. Tell me about yourself."

I looked at him perplexed. The way he talked to me it sounded like I was nothing more than a conquest. I squirmed at the feeling. "I already did over absinthe." I seethed out.

Kol's eyebrows shot up but he didn't say a word and when he finally did it was only to tease. "No, that was just the surface. I'm talking more the hopes and dreams."

"Again you already know that."

Meagan came back over then with two glasses and the bourbon. As soon as it touched the table I snatched the bottle and took a large swig from it before filling my glass. Kol looked on in a sort of awe before he came to his senses. "Okay. Why don't you ask questions for the night and I'll answer."

I glared suspiciously at him through my narrowed eyes. "Any?" Kol nodded. "Nothing off limits?" Again he nodded in confirmation. "Tell me about your family."

Kol coughed up his drink on that. "My family? Oh, no. They're all crazy as loons. How about your family?" He asked deflecting the conversation back to me.

"You know this was your idea." I venomously spat at him.

Kol narrowed his eyes and seemed unsure to answer but he reluctantly did so and shook his hand in a motion that indicated I was right. "My parents are both dead again. My eldest brother was murdered by the Mystic Falls gang. My bastard brother is running around like he owns the town. And the rest of my siblings that are alive bow to him." Kol muttered out bitterly.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat at his honesty and wondered why he had such a bitterness towards them. He gave the impression that no one was on his side of things or didn't see things like he did. I cleared my throat before speaking, "Not much to say. I had an older brother. An eccentric grandmother. My dad was distant to say the least, which is a lot better than my mom."

"Mommy issues, eh? Bet she's a control freak, right?" I nod. "Yeah, same as mine, except yours is a dragon lady too." We were silent for a moment, I was processing the new information. I was shocked that we had something - anything remotely similar. Our personalities couldn't be more different. "Don't look so surprised, love."

"Hard not to. Never would have guessed we had something in common."

"I didn't just ask you out because you're gorgeous." Kol sent me a wink, "No, we're, uh... we're kindred souls."

"What do you mean?" I asked as I finished my drink.

Kol finished his drink before he picked up the bottle and poured another. "I know your story, Cassie. I mean, you're practically famous." Now I was really confused as to what he was talking about. And frankly with the mischievous grin that warped his features, I didn't really think I wanted to know. "You're the girl who told all those old folks all to shove it and had a threesome in the bathroom and later on blew the host."

My eyes widened into saucers from mortification. Mortification over the fact that he actually knew. He really knew. Every detail there was. No lies or gossip rumors. "Yeah...not really my finest moment."

Kol stayed quiet and watched my reaction with amusement before he became thoughtful. "I'm a lot like you. Don't really believe in rules and authority." He refilled my glass and raised it to me to take and held my gaze as he raised his own. "Your courage, it should be celebrated not unsung."

And with that we clinked our glasses and swallowed the contents back. Kol's words were so oddly sincere that it was unnerving. Kol was only ever like this when I was around. Santiago had said that I had him wrapped around my finger, I had brushed it off at the time but now, I wasn't so sure. "Why did you really save me the other night?"

Kol froze. "I already told you."

I nodded in agreement. "I know, but that can't be all there is to it, that I'm irritating and interesting. What is the real reason?" Kol opened his mouth to answer but I cut him off, "And I know when your lying." I warned.

Kol gulped and stayed silent. His one eye started to twitch at one point but that had since relaxed. I was guessing this was one of those moments were his eyes were showing the war inside but it was too dim in here for me to properly see them.

Suddenly Kol's brother Klaus walked up to us with a smile that made him look devilish. "Kol! Ah, I see your on a date. Well sorry but we have to cut it short. Family business and all sweetheart." Klaus said down to me rather condescendingly.

"Get lost Nik." Kol seethed from his seat with a simmering rage.

"Can't little brother, I need your help and since your such a happy homicidal maniac, well I thought who better." Klaus reasoned. He certainly was different from the night I met him at the ball.

"It's needs to be done now."

"Yes. The sooner the better." Klaus said while stealing Kol's drink and disappearing into the crowd.

Kol turned to me and looked at a loss for words. "Sorry Cassie. I'll make it up to you another time. I promise."

"It's ok. I'll see you around homicidal maniac."

Kol tensed at the dig but decided to say nothing, but his eyes were having this was within them again. It was like he was fighting himself on what he would normally do and what he chose to do around me. He got to his feet and quickly escaped thru the back of the restaurant.

I sighed and got up myself and started the walk home. A pair of arms banded around my frame and a scream tore out from my throat. Large hands clasped over my mouth and I was being dragged into the alley. Not this again. Nothing good ever happens to me in alleys.

"Hello love."

Getting a good look for the first time at my attacker I saw that it was Klaus. I would have thought he be with Kol after he insisted Kol leave. "What do you want?"

"I want my brother's attention on his family but as of late he seems distracted." Klaus looked pointedly towards me. "Kol seems to have found something to entertain him for the time being I see though. The art girl from the ball."

"So you do remember me?"

"Mm. Fondly." Klaus' gaze moved down to my neck and he watched the pulse point beat erratically. "Kol, the wily troublemaker, out for no one but himself. I'd be careful little one, you'll get hurt."

"I know that."

"And yet, here you are, playing with fire. Kol has a notorious reputation for being a selfish, manipulative menace and holds an intense deep hatred for humans. In addition he is rather fond on toying with women," Klaus leaned in close so his breath ghosted along my cheek, "especially the innocent ones."

And with that he sped away leaving me gasping for breath I didn't even know I needed it. I hadn't realized that the moment I saw Klaus' face I had stopped. Whatever was going on with Kol's family I decided it was best to stay out of it, getting in the crossfire was dangerous and deadly.