Dreams and Happy Places

Chapter 17

Author's Note: This chapter is reuploaded because I was so tired when I posted it that I forgot to edit it, so here's the edited version.

Three Weeks Later

"You know you'll be okay right?" Elena asked turning her head over to see how Caroline was feeling as they waited at a nearby stoplight. Her stomach queasy at the thought of what she was about to do.

"How could you possibly know that?"

"Because therapy sessions are designed to help you not make you feel worse. Why are you so nervous anyway? I thought you trusted this doctor to take over your sessions."

"I made that decision three weeks ago if I knew it was going to take this long to get an appointment with her then I probably would have just waited until next year to do this."

"With everything happening right now do you really think waiting longer is a smart idea?"

"Things have gotten better in the past few weeks."

"Then there's really no harm in attending the session anyway. Just try it and if you don't like it then you can pretend to go to your sessions, and we'll hang at the mall instead. With Friendsgiving approaching you know I have to prepare as much as possible."

"How can I possibly forget. Thanksgiving with friends to avoid unnecessary family drama and immediately afterwards to the mall to go black Friday shopping. It'll be good to get a distraction from everything and everyone."

"Don't worry about that. Just worry about getting through your session and we'll go over the guest list and the plan when I come to pick you up."

"Sounds like a plan."

"Now go kill that therapy session girl." Elena smiled as Caroline exited the car feeling confident that this session would bring her an odd sense of satisfaction even if it was fleeting.

"How is your sister?" Dr Fell asked as Caroline stared at the clock willing time to move faster.

"My mother and I just dropped her off at the treatment center Monday, she doesn't really have the means to call us right at this moment."

"Understandable. How did it make you feel?"

"It was hard to say goodbye to her, but I know it's what best for her and her recovery."

"How are things going at home with your sister at the recovery center? Are things difficult with your mother?"

"Truth is I've hardly been home for the past couple of weeks. I've been staying with a friend trying to give my mother some space, I think it's what's best for the both of us this moment and she doesn't seem to mind, it means that her boyfriend can stay at the house more and I'm okay with that. It's a win-win for everyone."

"What do you think of your mother's new boyfriend?"

"He seems nice enough, but between you and me, he'll never be my dad and I stand by that."

"Do you feel like sharing about your father? You haven't talked about him yet."

"I don't feel like unfolding all of this yet, at least not in this session that is."

"Understandable. How is school going? I know you're getting closer and closer to midterms."

Averting her eyes, Caroline bit the inside of her cheek fidgeting nervously as she pulled down her sleeves. This was not something she wanted to talk about.

"School is stressful. Like always."

"Care to elaborate?" Dr. Fell insisted as Caroline sighed and swept her bangs to the side tucking her hair behind her ear. Anything she could to avoid eye contact with Dr. Fell. Why the hell had she agreed to come to therapy again?

"There's just a lot of things going on with midterms, the showcase, the holidays, friends, and exes of course."

"Senior year tends to go by fast, but it can be stressful at the same time. How is studying going?"

"Well when me and Elena aren't planning Friendsgiving we're studying. I need to ace all these test if I plan on keeping my dreams and getting into one of my dream schools."

"Dream schools?"

"I've narrowed it down to either Berkley or Cornell, Emerson didn't really seem to like the perfect fit to me, so it's something."

"Is there one you're leaning more towards?"

"I guess it depends on if I get accepted into wither of them. It's up to the colleges after all."

"What happens if you get accepted into both?"

"That's something I'll have to deal with when the time comes. Right now, I have a lot to deal with."

"How is the showcase coming along?"

"It's a lot more difficult when I'm avoiding two different guys."

"We haven't talked about your love life during this session, care to share?"

"Not really. I don't seem to have much of a love life now."

"Why not?"

"I'm focusing on myself right now. After all that's happened, I think it's for the best."

"That's a good mindset to have. We'll wait until another session to talk about the boys you're avoiding at your practices."

"Is our session done for the day?"

"It is, but I think we've made some real progress. We still have a lot to work on, but I have a feeling we'll achieve a lot in the next upcoming months."

"That's good. I guess I'll see you next week."

"I will see you then." Dr Fell smiled as Caroline let her office ready to conquer the rest of her day.

"How did the therapy session go?" Elena asked as Caroline shut the door to Elena's room and flopped onto Elena's bed pulling out her notes to study for her economics midterm.

"It went okay. All she did was ask me basic questions, we didn't get into the deep stuff today, which I appreciate. I can't deal with that kind of stress right now."

"Speaking of stress, I have some news."

"What's up?"

"Before you get mad hear me out- "

"What did you do Elena?"

"I might have invited Stefan and Klaus to Friendsgiving."

"You what now?"

"Before you get angry and yell at me, remember that it's the season for forgiveness and you and Stefan were good the last time you talked so why the hell are you mad at him?"

"I'm not I don't mind him coming to Friendsgiving, I'm more concerned that you invited Klaus when you know how I feel about him right now."

"You may be pissed at him right now Caroline, but it is the season of forgiveness and I feel like this is the perfect opportunity for you to talk things out. I'm not saying get back together, I think he fucked that up for good, but just because you two aren't together doesn't mean you can't be friends. Plus, Rebekah will only come if he does and I would think you would want her there as well."

"Fine. He can come, but I'm not fixing things with him just yet. I'm not to that point yet. It has only been three weeks after all."

"I guess that's something." Elena sighed grabbing her history book rendering this conversation over as Caroline tried to calm her racing thoughts. Klaus. Here. Sher couldn't think of a worse way to spend Friendsgiving. She just hoped that everything would be okay whether Klaus was there or not. Lord help her.