Taking Care of the Other One XXXV
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure, Caroline. You're my friend now and you can't get rid of me. You're coming to my party. Bring Klaus," Jill offered.
They were having drinks after work. Caroline was no longer in Jill's classroom, but they stayed in touch, both enjoying each other's company a lot. Caroline thought it was great to expand her circle of friends, especially ones who didn't have a long history of dealing with the Mikaelsons or were Mikaelsons.
"Klaus is going to be so out of place. I'm totally in," she smirked, offering her glass up for a clink, which Jill obliged her by doing. "Tell me about it."
"Nothing formal. My place can only hold so many people and I'm sure some will spill out onto the balcony. I'll have some friends from school and my sister and my cousin's coming."
"Can I bring something?"
"I'll have stuff like chips and drinks, but if you want something in particular bring it. I told people to come around 8."
Caroline was growing up. This party was different than the ones she went to in college and the formal events she attended with Klaus. It was in between. She was already getting excited.
She left Jill after they ended up getting some pizza, soaking up some of the drinks and it was so good. She drove out to Klaus' place in the country that Friday night. He met her there for some privacy and she wanted to work out with him again the next day. When she arrived home, he reached for her in the night over and over. He really was her sex fiend, she teased him again.
The next morning she was in her workout gear ready to go. It was early spring and the woods were quiet.
"Let's do this," she said with a tough voice as he reached down to tie his shoe.
He rolled his eyes at her. "You really watch too much television."
"When are you finally going to let me beat you up as a wolf?"
He gave her his famous, "Bitch, please" face and she laughed, even though he was making fun of her. "When you can stake me three times in a row. Then I'll transform and you can practice that. It's important."
Having a goal like that gave her purpose and she started to attack and counterattack, throwing kicks, knees, elbows, punches, and everything at him. She was keeping up with her kickboxing lessons and adding in the dirty fighting techniques Klaus taught her.
At one point, she got him twice in a row, using her thin wooden stake on the fleshy part of his arm. He wanted her to go for his heart, but even though it wouldn't kill him, she wouldn't agree. Working on her skills and quickness mattered more. She felt confident she'd get her aim correct if needed.
On her next attempt to get the third one she needed, they ended up on the ground and he rolled on top of her, foiling her imminent victory.
"Good form, but not quite, my love."
He jumped up after giving her a kiss on the cheek and offered a hand. She grabbed it and pulled him back down. Then she twisted so she was on top.
"I'm going to do it."
"I know you will."
"Do you think I'm getting better?"
He knew she was.
"Why don't you fight Elena and tell me how it goes?"
She smacked him on the shoulder with her palm and he grinned. He tolerated Elena as one of her oldest friends and was always polite, but felt she, along with everyone, was dull next to Caroline.
She stood up and he got up after her.
"You're definitely getting better at fighting, Caroline."
"Thanks, Nik," she said as she brushed off some leaves sticking to her clothes. "I was invited to a party tonight and was hoping you would come with me."
"I was going to do some paperwork that is long overdue."
She tossed her hair off her shoulder and tried to act nonchalant.
"Sounds exciting. That's fine then, I'll go. Jill wants to introduce me to her cousin."
He immediately backtracked, remembering Jill had a cousin she wanted Caroline to meet. Plus, he'd much rather spend time with Caroline than with some papers on his desk. It was an easy decision.
"Now that I think about it, those papers can wait. What time do we leave?"
She leapt into his arms, crossing her legs behind his back as he lifted her up.
"Thank you. She said to get there around 8. We need to pick up some wine or bourbon to bring." She pouted. "Now I'm tired. Will you carry me inside?"
He smirked and did as his fiancee requested. They spent the rest of the day together. Klaus even did get to spend a few hours working on the papers while Caroline ran to the liquor store for some drinks and to see if she could find something cute to wear. It worked perfectly for them both. They drove to Caroline's apartment and got ready there. It would be a long walk from there, but they could walk to Jill's place without having to worry about driving.
"You look amazing, sweetheart," he said as she finally emerged from the bathroom, hair straightened.
"You say that about everything, but thank you." She walked over to him and smoothed her fingers over his chest, feeling the material of his shirt. "Oooh, I like this one."
He was wearing a light gray Henley with some dark jeans and brown shoes. Necklaces were in place of course. As his hair was back to his curls, he looked like the man who first came to Mystic Falls except somehow a thousand times sexier now that she knew him and loved him.
She was also wearing dark jeans, but had on a dark colored black and blue patterned sleeveless shirt and black leather jacket on top for the weather.
Since it would take a heck of lot of alcohol to catch up to the humans, they drank before they went to the party. It got them just shy of buzzed.
Caroline hadn't told Klaus a whole lot about the party. He met Jill on that one occasion and knew Caroline still went out with her, but he had no idea what to expect.
He looked over at Caroline when he heard the hip hop music coming from Jill's apartment. He squeezed her hand and she smiled at him.
When she knocked, the door was thrown open and Jill was there, huge smile on her face.
"Caroline, you're here." Her arms wrapped around her in a big hug. Caroline handed her the bottle of bourbon they brought with them.
"Hey Klaus," she said as she hugged him too. He wasn't quite sure what to do so patted her on the back once. She obviously started the party early as well.
They followed her in and there were about fifteen people already there, including Jill's older sister. The crowd was diverse and the party was too. The music switched over to some pop and throughout the night there was an eclectic mix of all styles.
Jill's kitchen table was currently being used for beer pong. A keg was out on the balcony. There were bowls with chips in the living room and some veggies out on a tray. She had even made some gumbo people were raiding her fridge for. Everyone was having fun and were so nice to both Caroline and Klaus. Jill introduced them to everyone since it was such a small number. More people were expected as the night went on.
Klaus found a spot on the couch and Caroline perched on his lap as there wasn't too much room. They each had some of the bourbon they brought.
Jill sat next to them and her cousin Derek sat on a chair close by. He was gorgeous. Caroline was already thinking in her head if she had any single friends she could set him up with if he was as nice as Jill told her he was.
"So, Caroline, Jill told me about you."
"You too," she smiled warmly at him. She kept Klaus' hand in her lap, running her fingers in and out of his own. His insane possessiveness was more annoying than amusing sometimes, but she didn't need to rub it in. "She says really great things about you."
Derek was a laid back guy who loved his cousin Jill dearly. He could see why she thought Caroline would be someone he would be interested in, but it was clear she was with this guy, Klaus. He couldn't get a read on him yet though.
"So how did you two meet?"
"Yeah, I haven't heard this story," Jill added.
"Yeah, Klaus. Tell them our story." She grinned, wanting to hear what kind of tale he would spin.
Klaus leaned forward as best he could, resettling Caroline on his lap.
"I spent some years in my youth in the town where Caroline grew up. I returned a few years ago and my sister became classmates with Caroline. She caught my eye from the start." He looked at her and she smiled, encouraging him to go on.
"I pursued her relentlessly and she wanted nothing to do with me. I did have a bit of a reputation," he smirked at Derek.
Caroline rolled her eyes and Jill laughed. "Tell us about that reputation, Klaus."
"That's all in the past, sweetheart," he added quickly so he could move on. "Once she got rid of her terrible high school boyfriend she decided to give me a chance."
"It was put up or shut up time to see if he could be the guy he said he was," Caroline added.
"She came to New Orleans and the rest is history. I love her completely." He lifted the hand with her engagement ring and gave it a kiss. Jill sighed and Caroline's heart fluttered. She caressed his cheek with her hand.
"Are you one of those obnoxious couples with the public displays of affection?" Jill asked, pointing at them both as Derek laughed at her bluntness.
Klaus pointed at Caroline and she laughingly agreed, "Yes. It's terrible, I know, but we can't help. His sister and her boyfriend are constantly ragging on us."
The oven's buzzer went off and Jill asked Caroline if she would help her set up some plates for more food.
"So, Klaus," Derek said. "You look like a guy who knows how to drink."
Klaus stretched back in his seat, putting his arms up along the back of the couch.
"You could say that."
"Up for some beer pong?"
"You're on."
Caroline was so impressed by Klaus and how he got along with everyone. He wasn't the supernatural king of the city that night. He didn't treat them like food as he usually did and she knew part of that was because Jill was important to her. Also, these partygoers didn't want anything from him. They weren't trying to take anything from him. They were just humans who Jill loved and came to have a good time. She saw him playing beer pong with Derek and doing shots with Jill's sister.
She looked over at one point and Derek was clapping him on the back, hysterically laughing. She wasn't paying attention so wasn't sure what he said, but hearing him make someone else laugh like he made her laugh felt good. She wanted more people to see this side of him.
Caroline and Klaus even played beer pong against one another, getting some onlookers cheering them on. More and more people filled in the small apartment.
Someone put on a dance mix and it turned into a big dance party. The alcohol was flowing. Jill had stolen all their keys and most lived within walking distance. The couch was pulled back to clear space so everyone could get a little room. Of course, there were the holdouts along the edges and outside, but Caroline was right in the center as always.
"Caroline, he absolutely cannot dance," Jill muttered when she made it to Caroline's side in the middle of the room. Jill was all over the place being a busy party hostess and danced as she talked to Caroline.
"I know. Isn't he great?"
She had a big goofy grin on her face as Klaus was in his own little world, trying to dance, but without Caroline in his arms he was absolutely lost. He just moved his feet from side to side, glass in hand. At least he was in rhythm she thought.
Jill wrapped an arm around her shoulder and squeezed. This couple was grossly in love.
Caroline patted Jill's hand on her arm and walked closer to Klaus, helping him out.
He reached his arms out to her and pulled her in, doing the same dancing as he had earlier. She did all the dancing for them both.
"Are you having fun?" she asked as her fingers found his curls.
"I beat everyone at beer pong, including you. I think I drank most of the keg and you're here in my arms," he grinned at her. She poked one of his dimples, unable to resist. "That Derek isn't too bad either. I don't hate him."
She widened her eyes dramatically and said, "No," and he pinched her butt.
"So I saved you from paperwork, you overcame your aversion to beer, you met someone you didn't hate, and you're having a good time. I am awesome for inviting you with me."
"And modest," he added and then nuzzled her neck, making her laugh.
"Ready to go home? Wait, were you nice to people because you know it turns me on?"
"Merely a side benefit. I promised Derek I would do another round of shots before I leave. He thinks he can drink more than I. He has no idea. I am the Alpha Male. Want to do them with me and then we can go?"
She was pleased with him and agreed, even if she did roll her eyes at the Alpha Male comment. It was just so Klaus. She didn't think Klaus and Derek would become good friends, but for that night they seemed to have formed a weird bond.
They did their shots and said goodbye to everyone, really enjoying the experience, thanking Jill for inviting them out. They took the long walk home and her favorite sex fiend made his appearance and she snagged a new shirt.
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Something different with their new friends.
Thoughts?