After a certain age, the day after Halloween becomes a day of regret. When you're a kid and your parents trust you to sort your own candy, you wake up on November 1 with a stomachache because you ate too much candy. After the age of 16, you wake up with a hangover and a fear that you've done something stupid. After 21, you wake up with a splitting hangover and the knowledge that you've done something stupid.

When I woke up the morning after Halloween, I couldn't move because Kol had fallen asleep on my legs, and my feet were asleep. We had fallen asleep on the couch, and I was still in my costume. By the time I got him up and out and I got ready, I was an hour late for work.

I bustled in with apologies flying.

"It's fine, Caroline," Elena said with a kind smile.

I went to put my purse and coat in Elena's office, and I immediately started to busy myself with my opening chores.

"Caroline, I don't want to get you started, but are you okay?" Elena asked quietly.

I looked up from restocking the sugar. "I've fine," I said simply. I adverted my eyes back to my job.

"You just left really quickly last night," she continued. I noticed she wasn't making eye contact with me. She had her eyes directed at the cash register. She was trying too hard not to spook me.

"Sorry," I said. "I had fun. Tell Damon I said thanks."

"Seriously, Caroline?" Elena said, slamming the drawer to the till and leaning a hand on the counter to give me a stern look.

"What?" I asked, surprised. Elena didn't ever raise her voice.

"You and Klaus have the most sexually charged dance I've ever seen, then you disappear to the bathroom only to leave with Kol?" Elena said.

Had the sexual tension I felt between Klaus and I really been that noticeable? Well, that's embarrassing.

"I don't want to, like, pry," Elena continued, her voice calming, "but if you wanted to share, I wouldn't say no."

"Klaus just said he was interested in me," I said. I continued to fill the sugar.

"And you said…," Elena prompted.

"I said I couldn't, Elena," I snapped. "I basically said I was too messed up to even get involved with a supposed womanizer like Klaus, alright? Are you happy to hear me say it?"

Elena flinched back. "Caroline," she said in a sad way.

"Don't," I said sharply. I pointed a finger at her and stepped back.

"Do you like Klaus?" she asked quietly.

That's when I sank to the floor. "I don't know," I said, resting my back against the counter. I ran a hand over my hair then rested my forehead on my knees.

Elena came to sit by me, and we basically hid behind the counter. She put an arm around my shoulders and rested her head against mine.

"My life is still so messed up," I said, turning my face so that she could hear me. "It's getting better, but I'm in no place to get involved with anyone. But Klaus has this way that makes me want to get to know him. He's always so mysterious, but he always seems so interested in me. He actually walked me home one night. Who does that any more? Then, last night, we danced, and he told me he liked me. All I could think about was how badly he could hurt me. He could be another Tyler. I can't be treated like that again. There's not any further my life can break."

Elena didn't say anything back to me for a while. She just held me while I sobbed silently.

"Klaus isn't Tyler," Elena said. "He may not be the best person, but he would never cheat on you. He's always honest with the women he sees, according to Stefan. That doesn't mean it's always the kind of honest you want, but at least he's up front. In all honesty, he could break your heart; he has that track record. You won't know until you give him a chance."

We sat there while I took in Elena's words. I knew she was right, but I still wasn't sure I wanted to take that chance.

I heard the bell tinkle, and Elena stood up.

"Oh," she said quietly. I didn't even need to stand up to know who it was.

"Is Caroline here?" Klaus asked.

"Uh," Elena sounded. I knew she wasn't sure what to say.

I wiped underneath my eyes quickly and stood up. I might run away, but I wouldn't hide. Those two things were different, right?

Klaus looked at me in surprise. Whether it was because I had actually popped up from behind the counter or was agreeing to talk to him, I didn't know.

"Could we go somewhere to talk?" he asked.

I nodded. "Let me get my coat," I said.

After retrieving my coat, I followed Klaus outside. After a few minutes of walking down Main Street, Klaus finally said something.

"You look lovely today."

"Stop saying things like that," I said, stopping suddenly.

Klaus halted. "Why?"

"Because," I said.

Klaus looked at me curiously.

"You said you liked me," I said. "But you don't know me, and I don't know you. You like what you think I am."

"So get to know me," Klaus said, pulling me to a bench. He sat down and looked up at me with expectantly. "And I'll get to know you. Take a chance. Talk to me."

Take a chance. That's what Elena had said.

I joined him on the bench.

"So what do you want to talk about?" I asked.

"I want to talk about you," he said with a smirk.

I couldn't help but laugh a little bit.

"You're pretty smooth, Mikaelson," I complimented.

Klaus smirked.

"But let's get one thing straight," I said, pointing a finger at him. "I'm too smart to be seduced by your rehearsed lines and hot accent."

Klaus laughed. "I know," he said. "That's why I like you."

I couldn't help it; I blushed. "I'm still not going to date you."

"What are you so afraid of, Caroline?" he asked.

You, I thought. I am afraid to you.

"Nothing," I said with a little bit of anger. "I'm just not dating right now. Anybody. I'm not dating anybody."

"Would you at least agree to dinner?" he asked. "As friends?"

"How exactly is that not a date?" I challenged.

"I won't spend the entire evening trying to get you to sleep with me," he said simply.

I gave a nervous laugh. Klaus winked.

"I'm not sure we're even friend yet," I said.

Klaus looked slightly offended.

"Would you like to come to the bakery at closing time on Saturday?" I asked. "I'll have to check with Elena, but we can eat and get to know one another."

"It's a date," Klaus said.

"It's not a date," I said seriously, pointing at him.

Klaus smiled. "So Saturday at 7?"

I nodded. "Come in sometime this week after I ask Elena to make sure."

"Shall I walk you back?" he asked.

"I'm fine," I said. "I'm not a damsel in distress or anything. I can take care of myself."

Klaus gave me a crooked smile. "You are far from a damsel in distress, Caroline."

I stood up and stuck my hand out to Klaus. "See you Saturday."

Klaus laughed but took my hand. "Saturday."

When I walked back into the bakery, Elena was finishing up with a customer and looked up with wide eyes. After I put my coat back in her office, I walked behind the counter to grab the sugar containers I was filling earlier.

"How was that?" Elena asked before I got too far.

"We're having dinner here on Saturday, if that's okay," I said.

Elena looked at me in surprise.

"It's not a date!" I said quickly.

Elena raised her eyebrow.

"I swear," I said.

"Of course you can have dinner here," she said as another customer came in.

"It's not a date," I said again.

"I heard you," Elena said unconvinced as she turned back to the customer.

A/N: So Klaus and Caroline, sort-of-kind-of have a date. Who's excited? Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Review, if you'd like!