Blonde Ambition 38
I took a little summer break from writing and I didn't go to a party as awesome as Davina's, but I'm back!
You guys, crazy news! Thanks to some readers this story has been nominated for 2 Klaroline Awards! Best Fluffy Fiction and Best Original Story Concept! If you agree, you can vote for it every day from now until August 4th. (Since you're here…another story of mine, Words are Weapons, is up for Best Completed Fiction. I'm really proud of it. If you like that one, you can vote for it too.) I can't post the link because FF deletes them, but the website is the Klarolineawards on Tumblr. Clink on Vote tab. My entries are under Fiction, but you should check everyone out. Thank you.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
While Klaus and Caroline were putting on their very public display of affection, Bonnie made her way to Damon's side. He pulled her into his side and pressed a discreet kiss to her neck, not sure she was into public displays of affection since she was so quiet off stage. She looked beautiful in a purple dress and matching hat. She was certainly a sight for sore eyes. Damon had been waiting for her to finally appear.
Once again though Bonnie surprised him. Her talk with Klaus weighed on her mind and what danger she might face, but in the meantime she had to live and she was happy. Her eyes met his. A breeze sent the skirt of her dress fluttering around his shins. "Why aren't we like that?"
Damon was shocked for a moment, but never one to waste an opportunity, not him, he wrapped his arms around his girlfriend's waist. While Klaus and Caroline's kiss ended, Damon and Bonnie's began.
They got their own round of applause as Damon kissed Bonnie and Bonnie kissed him right back.
In another corner of the yard, Rebekah was relieved to see Klaus made it. It was turning into the event she wanted it to be. She was sharing it with the man she loved too. Oh yeah…and Kol.
"Kiss me," Rebekah told Marcel, moved by the cute displays of affection. She hadn't gotten many chances at all to do the same with her boyfriend. She was going to make up for lost time.
While Marcel kissed Rebekah with all the love he had for her, other couples around the party gave their loved ones a kiss too, inspired by Klaus and Caroline and Bonnie and Damon.
Others kissed the person who was nearby, even if it was on the cheek. It even turned into rough housing for a few former frat boys.
It was an icebreaker on a level none of Davina's other parties ever reached. Caroline's happiness was spreading throughout the party and Davina kind of thought that's how it should be. She saw a handsome guy she didn't know, i.e. her favorite kind of guy. He gave her a flirty look and in turn, Davina reached up and gave him a brief kiss. "Welcome to the party, handsome."
With a laugh, Davina waltzed through her party, giggling at the unusual couples who said hello with the "party kiss." Things were off to a grand start. Her drink was refreshed as she took time to talk with those she only said hello to earlier. So much flirting to do, so little time.
Caroline smiled up at Klaus when she saw the catchy kissing around the party. "Baby, we did that."
His thumb traced along her subtle dimple, not interested in others when he could look at her. She looked so happy and carefree.
When she looked around, he did too. "This house is impressive," Klaus said, approving of it and the grounds. He was used to luxurious standards after all and the Claire summer home certainly fit.
"Don't forget you're my egg," she teased and he smirked. Parched, he took a sip from her drink, comfortable sharing the little intimacies that were becoming more common and meaningful in how easy they fell into them. "Let me get you a drink. I'll be right back."
Keeping him where he was, Caroline walked towards the closest waiter.
"I guess you showed me," Stefan said, coming up behind her. He didn't say it rudely, but acknowledging he didn't really know what had been going on with Klaus and Caroline. He felt like an ass.
"Stefan," she said with a sigh, "you're a wonderful friend, but Klaus? He means a lot to me." She thought the fact that she rarely had actual boyfriends should have signified how different this relationship was, but Stefan hadn't picked up the cue. He was a guy after all who thought he knew best for her. "I know you don't like him. I tried to tell you I can handle this, but I'm not sure you really understood it."
Stefan gave a quick peek to see if appeared Klaus was listening in and he didn't seem to be. "I don't like him because I'm afraid something will happen to you."
"A tree could fall down right now and stake me in the heart too," she told him, crossing her arms over her chest. She didn't live her life in fear. Not any more.
Her tone became softer. "I hope something happens with him, something amazing." Her world was getting bigger and maybe it wasn't safer, but that was what was so great about it! She was going to Paris! Klaus was a vampire almost a thousand years old. He told her he'd tell her all about the hidden world she didn't know about. She was going to write an original story. They were all risks and she was ready to jump in feet first for all of them.
"Did you really break up with him?" Stefan asked, wondering if everything he'd heard had been wrong.
"Yeah," she answered, "but we worked it out. I think we'll always work it out," she said, making her intentions clear.
The something amazing happening to her was falling in love with Klaus.
Her and Klaus were the real deal and she occasionally thought about forever. It was enough to give her a glint of anxiety, that kind of everlasting, immortal commitment, but she was also just thinking about that one beautiful summer day they were enjoying. She was happy and she was happy with Klaus. Love was a wonderful thing.
With a sigh of some understanding he said, "I'm going to keep out of other people's business."
"Except Damon's," she said with a huge smile, touching his arm, relieved.
"Except Damon's," he agreed, happy to be back on good terms with Caroline. He saw that if he made Caroline choose between him and Klaus, she would choose Klaus. Listening more and talking less was something he'd have to do.
Caroline brought fresh drinks Klaus, one in each. She sipped from each cocktail to decide which one she wanted to keep. He chuckled at her and accepted the one she finally handed to him after much taste testing.
"Let's walk around," she said, hooking her arm through his.
They went on a brief tour of the grounds. She showed him all the things they could do that day. Caroline introduced him to the people they crossed paths with, proud to be with him, but also wanting to get him all to herself. He smiled at his social butterfly as he gave the leering men the evil eye. It was a special skill set he honed very quickly.
"Caroline," a huge man said, reaching over to give her a huge hug in one of the few shady spots on the lawn. The leaves left dappled shadows on the ground around them. The big man had a ruddy face and he was sweating. He used a handkerchief to mop his brow quickly. She didn't blame him. In his formal gray suit and the heat, he must be dying. He should be used to playing in the sun though. It was part of his profession after all.
"Babe," she greeted him back. He thought of himself as quite the ladies man and in fact there were three ladies giving Caroline the evil eye for stealing his attention for a few moments. He was rich and famous.
"I told you to call me that in private," he said and then laughter boomed from his big belly.
Klaus rolled his eyes at the display in front of him as Caroline giggled at the terrible joke he used all the time.
"Klaus Mikaelson, Babe Ruth. Babe, this is my boyfriend, Klaus Mikaelson."
"How do you do?" Babe asked, hand extended.
"Well enough," Klaus answered, shaking his hand firmly.
"That's quite a grip you have there."
Then it was Caroline who was rolling her eyes at the macho display. She pulled on Klaus' arm discreetly so he would let go, linking her fingers with hers to keep him out of trouble.
"You don't have a game today?" Caroline asked as she took a sip of her drink, tipping her head to the side. It seemed like every summer day in New York had a baseball game featuring either Babe's team, the Yankees, or the Brooklyn Dodgers or the Giants.
Babe rubbed his huge stomach and finished the remainder of his own drink in one gulp. "Not feeling well. I'll be back though and we'll win another World Series." The season was one of his worst, but his vices of food, drink, and women were too alluring to ignore. He had a stomach ailment keeping his sidelined, but it didn't keep him from Davina Claire's Hampton party."You should come to a game. That will turn things around. I know it. You're my good luck charm, Caroline."
"You say that to all the girls. Take care of yourself, Babe."
Klaus couldn't get her away fast enough.
"Seriously?" she asked with a raised brow, seeing that everyone looked like they were having a good time. She could hear Davina's laugher. She saw Bonnie too and gave her an excited wave. She wanted to talk to her later. "He's not exactly my type, Klaus."
He shrugged. So what if he was a little bit jealous? He couldn't help it.
"There's something about the man from Mystic Falls with the British accent who's stuck in my head," she sniffed.
Klaus grinned and pressed nibbling kisses to her neck, which she generously accommodated by tipping her head to the side, keeping her hat out of the way. "A certain beautiful blonde has been running through my head for weeks," he confessed against her neck.
A voice had Klaus' ears perking up and then his head popped up. It was unexpected and he looked above the crowd to see the source. "What the devil is Kol doing here?"
Caroline's eyes got huge and she began to scan the crowd. A hand rested on Klaus' forearm and she lifted up onto her tiptoes to see over the scattered guests. It was a flurry of colors and voices.
Kol Mikaelson was certainly a mystery and she was very, very curious to meet him. She realized belatedly that looking for him wouldn't help when she didn't know what he looked like. It didn't stop her from looking though. Maybe she'd recognize him as looking like Klaus or Rebekah…or well Elijah, who didn't look like either one of them. Hmmm. "Where? Where is he?"
Klaus peered through the throngs of people near one of the tents. "Somewhere over there." He indicated the area. He didn't see Kol, but he could hear him speaking very clearly.
"I didn't know he was here," Caroline said, looking at everyone closely, still not sure who he was.
Damon thought she was staring at him and signaled her, asking her what was going on so she had to clearly tell him he wasn't her quarry. A roll of her eyes and crossing of her arms did the trick, as well as when she pretended to shoo him away.
"You know I could hear you if you spoke, blondie," Damon reminded her, his quiet voice reaching her ears.
Klaus grinned at her because she got flustered and forgot.
"Then why did you start signing me?" she asked Damon in a huff and he turned around, joining a new conversation that made her giggle.
Someone else caught her eye though. Davina came racing up to them. "Care, can you announce the start of the treasure hunt? I think people are going to start swimming too."
"Did you see Babe's here?" Caroline asked with a laugh, walking with Klaus and Davina back towards the house patio.
"He said I was his good luck charm."
"Hey. He said that to me too," Caroline told her and they laughed. It wasn't the first time Babe told them that and it probably wouldn't be the last time that day either. "Klaus' brother Kol is here."
"I met him," Davina told her.
"What?" Caroline gasped, feeling giddy with the successful start of the party, Klaus by her side, her best friend in front of her, and the never ending alcohol in her cup.
Davina looked at Klaus. "He's handsome, but I told him not to mess with Caroline."
Klaus smirked at her, very amused at the petite witch taking on an Original for Caroline. "I shall tell him the same."
"I can take care of myself, you guys," she reminded them, wanting to be able to tell Kol herself that he shouldn't mess with her, although he hadn't. It was what Klaus did about Kol that bothered her, not Kol.
"That doesn't mean we can't help you," Davina sang and Caroline sighed. It was true and it's what she told Davina and all of her friends a lot. She had friends like Davina she considered family and family protected each other.
Once again Klaus was struck by their relationship. They were partners not out of obligation or biology, but out of love for one other. He might have a version of that with Rebekah, but who else? Where else could he find friends or family who gave him their strength and more importantly loyalty when he needed it? He had plenty to offer in return.
At the back patio, Caroline was ready to start the treasure hunt game. She was handed the stack of flyers from a waitress who grabbed them for her.
"Hello! Everybody!" she yelled, but there were too many people at the party and too much alcohol for her to get everyone's attention.
A shrill whistle pierced the air and there was a deafening quiet except for the waves in the background.
Davina gave a beautiful smile. It was a skill she learned in middle school and she was proud at how very unladylike it was.
"Drama queen," Damon whispered under his breath nearby.
Bonnie laughed quietly and Caroline did too. Davina couldn't help but smile, but she didn't encourage him. It was her party and she'd be dramatic if she wanted to.
"Thanks for coming everyone," Davina shouted so everyone could hear her. "If you need anything, just ask. Caroline put together a treasure hunt."
Caroline held up the papers. "Here are the clues. There are three 'treasures' and they have their own set of clues. Every step leads you to someplace on the property here. You can work in groups or by yourself. I'll leave the papers here on the table. Good luck."
To keep the papers in place, Caroline put a large rock on them although men and women were coming for them as soon as she set them down.
"Klaus," she asked him as they moved out of the way, "do you want to play the game?"
He took her hand. "You are my treasure."
Caroline couldn't deny that maybe her knees got a little weak. "You're quite the charmer, baby."
He grinned and she leaned up to press a kiss to his cheek, getting closer into his side as they walked away from the crowds.
"I was kind of hoping you'd say that," she also admitted.
"Why's that?"
"Well…," she drawled, getting a twinkle in her eye, "I might have used you in one of the clues."
That wrinkled his brow.
Caroline led him around the house back towards the driveway. A handful of the valet drivers were smoking at the end of the driveway, but they had the rest of the yard to themselves.
She pushed him against the house and he gave her a dirty grin. Her hands reached into his inside jacket pocket and she tucked slips of paper in it.
"If people ask if you have a clue, you give them one of those," she told him sweetly.
He lifted a brow, eyes twinkling. "Are you sure you don't want to put them in my pants pocket?"
"You are deliciously scandalous," she told him, reaching up to put her arms around his neck, kissing him briefly. Her fingers played with the short hair at his nape. "We need to talk."
"I know," he said, taking in her beautiful face. He'd been able to be distracted by her and the people around them. "You should enjoy the party. You don't need to worry about me, sweetheart."
"I do though," she said quickly, lightly scratching the back of his head. She lifted a shoulder. "I'm hungry. We can have a bite to eat, talk, and then go for a swim?"
He could only delay telling her the truth so long. "I will get us food."