A/N: shit is about to go down :D
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Anyone who saw Caroline on the dancefloor dancing to her favourite song, wouldn't think she had just cried her eyes out. She was young and free and she would enjoy it, damn it. Never mind that she would be young forever. Ric had smiled at her encouragingly, before walking away. Probably to pour himself another drink. He couldn't exactly join her for a dance, could he? He was her teacher after all.
Once 'her' song had ended and another song started to play, Caroline took notice of the room again. It would be nice to seek out some company now, she thought.
Caroline started looking for her friends. Luckily, not too far away she noticed her favorite Salvatore brother. Stefan was trying his best to blend in. Caroline couldn't contain her laughter. It was a good attempt, but he was way too broody and attractive to pass as a high school student. She made her way over to him.
'Hey stranger,' Caroline said tapping him on his broad shoulders. He turned around greeting her with a big smile.
'Hey,' Stefan said as he pulled her into a dance. It's always fun dancing with Stefan, he is good at it.
As he should be after years and years of practice. 'Any updates on Klaus?' Caroline asked as Stefan twirled her.
Stefan shook his head, his concern showing on his face. 'I had expected him to act earlier,' He said.
Caroline frowned and asked if he was worried.
Stefan tried to reassure her, 'Nah, it's just confusing.'
That answer did not reassure her at all. Something wasn't right. She scanned the room as they danced.
Stefan squeezed her shoulders. 'Really. It will be fine, Bonnie has the power to channel all those witches, remember.'
Caroline nodded slowly. Though, an uncomfortable feeling started to enter her stomach as she realised she couldn't see any of their friends.
Stefan noticed how tense she was and said, 'She will take him down.' But then his posture changed, 'Though, at what cost,' He muttered, his shoulders dropping.
Caroline let go of him.
'What do you mean 'at what cost?'' Caroline asked.
'It could kill her,' Stefan said.
'No, no, no, no…. Oh my god. We have to stop her. We can't let her do this. It's Bonnie.' Caroline said with desperation in her voice.
Caroline saw the sadness on Stefan's face.
'When did you last see her?' Caroline asked. She had a feeling she wouldn't like the answer.
The expression on Stefan's face confirmed her suspicions.
Caroline grabbed his arm and they started making their way through the moving crowd.
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In the hallway, Caroline and Stefan were shocked to find Jeremy on the floor. He was unconscious with wounds all over him. Caroline ran towards him. 'He still has a pulse,' She said with relief in her voice.
Caroline was surprised to hear footsteps and stood up ready to fight. Thankfully, it was only Damon. Wow, this is probably the only time she was glad to see him.
Damon had a smirk on his face as he moved towards them.
'This was Klaus' doing. He compelled himself some pets to do his dirty work,' Damon said as he pointed at three bodies further down the hallway.
Stefan grabbed his brother by the collar, 'Did you kill them?' Stefan demanded.
Damon's expression was blank, not giving anything away. He totally did, Caroline thought.
Stefan shook his head in disgust at his brother's actions.
'Seriously, we don't have time for this,' Caroline said with her hands on her hips. She knew Bonnie would die if it meant saving Elena. They had to stop Bonnie and had no time to spare.
'Thanks, Blondie,' Damon drawled as Stefan let go of him.
'Don't.' Caroline said as she moved away from them.
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Caroline scanned the hallways using her vampire speed. A couple of moments later Damon had caught up with her and pressed her against the wall. He had superior strength and Caroline hated him for it. Any attempt to get away was useless.
'What are you trying to do?' The older Salvatore brother asked.
'What do you think?' Caroline spat in his face. 'We need to stop Bonnie from killing herself.'
'No, we need to kill Klaus,' Damon said.
'You knew this is what it would take?' Caroline hissed. She felt sick.
'Fifty-fifty chance and Bonbon is fine with it,' Damon shrugged keeping her in place. 'Will you be good now?' He asked.
Thankfully, that was the moment Stefan came to her rescue. He startled his brother by quickly moving behind him and grabbing him by the neck. It threw Damon off balance allowing Caroline to slip away.
This time the Blonde knew where to go. With her vampire hearing, she could hear loud noises coming from the other side of the school.
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As she looked inside the classroom, Caroline saw Bonnie before she saw Ric. Bonnie's nose was bleeding and Ric was on the ground between the mess of papers. Why was Bonnie attacking Ric? Then it hit her, oh my god, Klaus was inside Ric's body. She didn't allow herself time to process this. She had to stop Bonnie from killing herself.
Caroline entered the room and screamed, 'Please, Bonnie stop!' Klaus noticed her and looked searchingly at her. Caroline ignored him. She wrapped her arms around the witch, urging her to stop.
Bonnie didn't want her there. Such power surrounded Bonnie that Caroline bounced off the witch with force. The blonde flew through the air against the wall. And finally, she dropped to the floor with a thump. As Caroline lay there panting, she could hear footsteps running in this direction. Caroline hoped they would be more successful in their attempt to stop Bonnie. They weren't. Bonnie stopped Elena and Stefan by using her powers to close the door right in their faces. Then Bonnie continued her attack on Klaus. Klaus was still alive, the magic didn't seem to do much. Caroline could see the energy drain from Bonnie's body before she fell down. 'Bonnie!' Caroline screamed.
The light turned off, the doors opened and Klaus was gone. With the doors open, Elena and Stefan quickly walked in. Caroline had regained enough energy to stand up again and she stumbled towards Bonnie's body. She checked Bonnie's pulse. 'No, no, no…' Tears came to Caroline's eyes. 'It can't be.' Caroline could hear Elena cry next to her; she couldn't find a pulse either.
They just sat there, in their collective pain and grief, until Damon walked in. Seeing him, triggered Caroline with such anger that she hit him right in the face. What if he hadn't stopped her? Would Bonnie still be alive? To Damon's credit, he didn't retaliate.
The people in her life disappeared like flies. Her dad, Matt, and now Bonnie. How many more losses could she handle.
At some point, Damon mentioned he would take care of the body. That was the point that she couldn't stand to be around them anymore. Caroline knew that it wasn't Elena's fault. But Bonnie did die for her. It's always about Elena. Caroline stood up.
Stefan walked her out of the building. 'Will you be alright?' He asked.
'I am not sure,' Caroline replied.
Stefan nodded in understanding.
Caroline managed a small smile. He cares, Caroline thought.
Then she left.
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Caroline listened to the cars pass by as she walked home.
Her brain was spinning. The memorable encounters with Ric had in fact been with Klaus. And she didn't know what to think of that. She remembered how he had thrown quotes at her like, 'I admire you.' And how he had held her while she was crying. How he had called Matt a fool for not accepting her as she is. How he had complimented her. How he had actively sought out her company. It didn't make sense, wasn't he the enemy? Still, those thoughts were easier to bear than thoughts about Bonnie. Those crept in too, and they hurt a lot. All the memories they had shared. And their plans, they were supposed to grow old and have their own families. And their children would obviously be friends with each other, just like they were. That can't happen now. It will never happen.
'What a fucking mess', Caroline whispered to herself. She kicked a stone, not caring what it might hit.
'Ouch,' Caroline heard a familiar voice say. She looked up to see who she had hit. The blonde stood dead in her tracks. Her first thought was Ric. But the real answer came right after. It was Klaus. Klaus in Ric's body.
'Klaus,' Caroline said. No fear in her voice. What did she have to lose? And he said he wouldn't hurt her. That is if his earlier words still counted.
Klaus smiled, hearing his name on her lips. 'You know, then,' He said.
'Yup.' She said popping the 'p'. She felt hollow.
'Why did you try to stop her?' Klaus asked, with a hint of emotion in his voice.
'Not to save you if that's what you mean,' Caroline said as she held his gaze.
Klaus didn't look surprised. 'To save the witch,' He guessed.
'That witch was my friend.' Caroline said quietly. She looked away from him then. He didn't deserve to see her emotions.
'I did warn her, that her attempts would be fruitless.' Klaus provided, 'I have my own witches.'
Caroline closed her eyes and said, 'Look, today has been a long day…'
She hoped he would take the hint. The blonde just wanted to go home and for this day to be over.
Klaus nodded and moved out of the way. Caroline was surprised by his compliance.
As she walked past him, heels clicking, Klaus said one last thing, 'I meant everything, you know.'
It fell into place for Caroline why he had come to find her. To let her know that it had been real and not just in her head.
'Thank you,' Caroline whispered.
Klaus squeezed her hand and then he was gone.
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Stefan was waiting on her porch. Caroline felt a sense of dread upon seeing him. Why was he here?
'Hey,' Stefan said as he walked up to meet her. 'I had expected you'd be home already.'
'I needed a walk,' Caroline said. 'Why are you here, is something wrong?'
'Let's talk inside.' Stefan looked around. Paranoid much?
Caroline nodded.
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They sat down on her bed and Stefan explained everything to her.
Caroline laid down on her back. 'Is it true? Is Bonnie really alive?' She desperately wanted to believe it, but she had to hear it one more time.
Stefan smiled down at her and nodded, 'Yes, she is alive. Klaus just needed to believe that she is dead.'
Then he laid down on his back as well. Together they stared at the ceiling. 'Apparently Damon and Bonnie had plotted this together. They succeeded.'
Tears started to appear in her eyes again. 'This is the third time I cried today. But this time they are tears of joy,' Caroline said. 'I can't believe she is alive.'
Then Caroline turned her head to face Stefan and said, 'Thank you for telling me.'
'I saw in how much pain you were. It would be cruel if I kept the truth from you,' Stefan said. 'Just don't tell anyone else, Bonnie is our secret weapon, remember.' He winked at her.
'My lips are sealed,' Caroline said with a laugh.
They could laugh again.
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Hey, so what did you think. Do you like how I write the characters? xxx knuffel
