Chapter 21

Misunderstanding

Chloe bit her bottom lip absentmindedly while reading a takeout menu in a Chinese Restaurant. It had been a while since she had eaten Chinese food. The place seemed very nice, but she would have to settle for takeout. Not that she was complaining, at least the Mikaelsons hadn't insisted her to wait in the car. She wouldn't have agreed to that, not after spending so much time in their house. Sure it was a nice house, but she couldn't deny that she was glad to be outside for a change. She was so concentrated on the menu that she didn't notice three girls staring at her.

"Fowler?" one of them said.

Chloe froze when she recognized the voice. Ashley Corbett. One of her meanest bullies from the school. She was the first one who had started to call Chloe "the lazyass Fowler". According to her, Chloe had missed so much school because she was lazy. And stupid. Not to mention a weirdo. A pathetic loser who had no friends.

"Well, well," Ashley said smiling. "It really is you. We heard that you were 'kidnapped'."

The other girls burst into laughter.

"Sure she was," Jessica Martin giggled. "Or maybe she didn't get enough attention from mommy and daddy."

"It was a misunderstanding," Chloe stated as calmly as she could. "I wasn't kidnapped."

"Sure, 'a misunderstanding'," Shelby Andrews mocked. "Where have you been then?"

"With friends."

"Right, sure," Ashley mocked. "Are they imaginary friends? Or did you pay someone to spend time with you?"

All the girls burst into laughter again.

"Darling," Kol's voice suddenly said as he wrapped his arm around Chloe's waist.

The girls weren't laughing anymore, they stared at Kol disbelievingly. He glanced at them and smiled.

"Are these skanks bothering you, my love?"

The girls looked stunned.

"Excuse me?" Ashley snapped.

"Would you mind, Little Miss Bimbo; I'm talking to my girlfriend." He paused and kissed Chloe before glancing at the girls again. "Are you still here? I thought that this was supposed to be a classy place."

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" Ashley snapped, clearly she was furious. "Do you have any idea who my dad is?"

"Well, I'm guessing that he's beating himself up for failing to use a condom," Kol replied.

Ashley seemed shocked and even more furious.

"You and your freak girlfriend are going to be very sorry…"

"What?" Kol cut in loudly. "No! I'm not going to pay you 5 dollars for your used panties, that's disgusting! Waiter! Waiter, what kind of a place are you running here?"

Everyone in the restaurant was staring at the four girls now. For the first time Chloe could remember, Ashley and her friends were actually speechless.

"They made me the same offer," Klaus stated innocently as he stepped next to Chloe. "Not very classy."

"You're lying…" Jessica started.

"Girls, please," Klaus hummed. "Do you really want to embarrass yourself more? These nice people are trying to eat here; they don't want to see this. Take your business outside; I'm sure you'll find some customers. This however is a decent place. At least so I thought."

"Ladies," the waiter said. "I'm afraid I will have to ask you to leave."

"What?" Ashley snapped. "You think I'll take orders from some loser who serves people for living? Do you have any idea who I am?"

"A bitch?" Kol suggested.

"That would have been my guess as well," Klaus added and looked at Chloe. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart; you shouldn't have to see this. Next time we'll go somewhere classier, I promise. Only the best for you."

Chloe couldn't get a word out; she was stunned by the whole situation. Ashley was shouting at the waiter while her friends stared at Kol and Klaus.

"Chloe?" Elijah said. "Perhaps we should leave? You shouldn't have to deal with trash like these…'ladies'."

Jessica gasped disbelievingly.

"What… Are you all blind or stupid? Who would seriously want the lazyass Fowler?"

"Well," Elijah started smiling. "What kind of an idiot would ever choose any of you over her? Shall we go, Chloe?"

"Yeah," she replied and straightened her back. "I think I'm done here."

She marched outside without looking back. Kol Klaus and Elijah were right behind her.

"I can take care of those little tramps," Kol snorted.

"That's really not necessary," Chloe replied. "But thanks."

It was strange, but she had noticed that those girls didn't mean anything to her anymore. What they thought of her made no difference; they had no power over her. They couldn't hurt her anymore. The realization made her smile.

"Chloe?" Elijah said. "Are you…?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Really. I'm still hungry though."

"We can't have that now, can we?" Klaus said. "Do you still want Chinese food?"

"Yeah."

"Then you shall have Chinese food."

They went to another restaurant and she ordered everything she felt like eating. As they waited for the food, she noticed that many men in the restaurant were looking at her. She frowned and rubbed her cheek again. Seriously, did she have something on her face? One man winked at her. Why? Was he making fun of her? She looked up as the waiter placed a cup of tea in front of her.

"I'm sorry, I didn't order…"

"It's on the house, miss," the waiter replied smiling. "A traditional Chinese tea, I hope you'll like it."

"Oh, thank you…" she started, but Klaus took the cup before she could even touch it.

"I'll take this if you don't mind, love," he stated. He probably suspected that it could be poisoned or something. The waiter's expression spoke louder than any words.

What a jerk.

Chloe couldn't help but smile.

"Thank you," she said to the waiter. "He was just trying to be polite," she continued after the waiter had left. Klaus didn't reply, he was sniffing at the tea. Kol on the other hand was glaring at the man who had winked at Chloe. What was going on here? It had been very kind of them to defend her earlier, but she didn't need to be defended right now.

Elijah had excused himself right after they had arrived here; he was probably in the kitchen, observing the chef. That Chloe could understand, better safe than sorry. She was glad when her food arrived; she wanted to return to the compound already. She was very hungry.