Based on prompt: Everyone thinks I have a crush on your friend but actually I like you which is even more embarrassing. Klaroline au please
This little thing for Klaroline Valentines - Feels Day on tumblr. Hope you like ;)
One thing everyone knew about Caroline - no one did holidays quite like her. Which in itself, was an understatement of the year.
Weeks before Thanksgiving, she would pester everyone with charts, game plans and assigned tasks, so that everything would go beyond perfect during family/friend dinner.
Christmas was a crazy time, with Forbes' house always winning the contest for the best decorations (numerous but tasteful, Caroline's number 1 rule) and if one even thought of not doing Secret Santa, they got another thing coming.
This year's Valentine's Day, however, did not particularly put Caroline in a jovial mood. And the reason for it?
He had just sat across the table, his dirty blonde hair mussed by the wind, dimples that could only be described as sinful showing as he smiled at her. Caroline could feel this tingling in her lower abdomen, the same one she had been experiencing for some time now around Klaus. The feeling that screamed big time trouble, given that, one - he was one of her best friends, and two - he seemed to suffer from the same affliction as most of the male population of Whitmore College. He had a crush on Elena Gilbert.
Caroline had known Klaus since her first day at the campus, when during his begrudging attempts to help Rebekah move into their dorm room, he also managed to annoy the crap out of her. She was quite adamant in fending him off that time but soon, she learnt that Mikaelson's came in a package deal and if she were to be friends with Rebekah, she would have to get used to all of them. Because as much as this family couldn't go through the conversation without almost (literally) spilling blood, they would always stand up for each other. And gradually, over family dinners, camping trips (she so wasn't fan of those) and vacations at their Hamptons bungalow, Klaus had also snuck up on Caroline. So much, that Rebekah had become pettily jealous of the amount of time her older brother and best friend would spend together.
Their time together, though, had become visibly shorter in the recent weeks, as Klaus had spent every minute between his courses on following Elena Gilbert like a lost puppy. It's a miracle he could spare her a minute now, for their daily coffee routine, Caroline thought bitterly as Klaus told the waitress his order.
"Hello, love," he let out lazily, the timbre of his voice spreading goosebumps on her skin. "I'm so glad we got a chance to meet. I haven't seen you in ages and it's a bloody shame."
Charming, as always.
"Yeah, I wonder why that is," she drawled, her irony too biting to come off as a joke.
Damn, Caroline, keep it together. This is your friend. F.R.I.E.N.D. Nothing more, nothing less.
Klaus met her gaze, guilt written over his face as he said, "I'm sorry, Caroline. I know I haven't been around much lately but I promise I'll make it up to you. I'll even binge watch one of those disastrous reality shows you have such a fondness for with you."
"Well, insulting my tv preferences certainly won't help your cause," she quipped, trying not to sound too happy.
"Come on, love. Tomorrow night, what do you say?" he reached out to hold her hand, his thumb slowly caressing her palm.
There was a moment of deep electrifying silence as she stared at their joined hands, her throat dry and this damn tingling feeling again at the rise.
"I can't tomorrow," she finally said. "It's Valentine's Day, Elena and I are going on a double date with Damon and Stefan."
He let go of her hand. She could tell he was upset.
"Oh. I didn't realize you were into one of the Salvatores. Is it the boring one with perfect hair or the annoying one?" he chuckled but it was stinging with a bite.
"I'm not. Not that it's any of your business. Damon has been asking Elena out for ages but given his reputation, she wants to test the waters first. So she asked me to do this. Who knows, Stefan might turn out to be the one," Caroline teased, trying to drift his attention from Elena with Damon. His clear jealousy over her colleague hurt but she didn't want to see him hurt either. Elena wasn't worth it.
Seeing his pained expression at her words, she knew it didn't work. They changed topic, squabbling a little about Rebekah's latest boyfriend, Enzo and why Klaus should leave them be, but it was clear his mind was wandering elsewhere. Soon, he excused himself and ran out of the coffee shop, leaving Caroline to the turmoil of feeling she did not appreciate.
One thing that sucked more than crushing hard on your best friend?
Being stood up.
Caroline was staring at the fridge, contemplating whether to spend this Valentine's so-not-fine evening with the bottle of wine or a pack of ice cream.
Klaus' angry face as she told him about Damon and Elena appeared in her mind out of nowhere.
Both ice cream and wine. No arguments about that.
Stefan had called an hour ago to inform her that he had fallen ill, the most blatant lie if she'd ever heard one - he sounded fine to her. Even then, it only irritated her because she wouldn't be able to distract herself fror this whole Klaus thing. And also, wasn't it a common courtesy to back out of a date earlier than just before the said date? She had gone through her pampering routine for nothing and now she got no one to show off her new red cut-out dress to.
And it was cute. Like…deadly cute.
Rebekah had gone out with Enzo just after the phonecall and she had to nearly push her out of the door, assuring she was fine to spend the evening alone. It was still preferable to being a third wheel on her friend's date. She had no wish to watch Enzo being all lovey-dovey over Rebekah and vice-versa, only to hear them bicker like an old couple the next minute.
The chirping of her phone broke Caroline out of her sullen thoughts. Her lips turned up in a reluctant smile as she read the message.
Heard about the bloody Salvatore from Rebekah. Say one word and I'll ruffle his hair beyond repair.
And then another one.
On the bright side, we can still have our binge-watching date. Meet me in the art room in 15 minutes, love ;)
Smirking at the thought that Klaus was actually willing to defile his beloved projector with the newest season of The Bachelor, Caroline decided to go. Opting not to change (at least someone would see her in her dress-to-kill and the fact that person was Klaus - an added bonus), she stashed a bottle of wine and some crackers into her handbag and headed to the art room.
Having opened the door, she stopped in her tracks. The room was lit by tens and tens of candles, the soft slow music reaching her ears. Klaus was nowhere to be found but there was something else that drew her attention. Because the projector was on, alright, but it wasn't airing the fine reality tv that The Bachelor was.
It was Caroline. And Klaus.
The sequence of their photos, sometimes with other people, mixed with sketches of Caroline that could be only drawn by Klaus.
Caroline laughing at Kol who got locked out of his apartment.
Caroline and Klaus at their favourite local pub, after winning the pool tournament.
Sketch of Caroline dancing with Rebekah, their faces laughing, full of joy.
Caroline planting a big smoochy kiss on Elijah's terrified face.
Caroline and Klaus playing by the sea, her eyes sparkling with fury after he threw her into the water.
Caroline and Rebekah, piggy back riding Klaus and Enzo after some wild college party on their way to the dorms.
Caroline's smile.
Caroline's hair.
Caroline's hands.
Caroline.
The door behind her crackled and then, his raspy voice, "Hello, Caroline."
She turned around, realizing too late her face was prickled with tears and he would see. Then she thought it didn't really matter.
"Klaus," she barely breathed out. "I…what…how…? How long?"
His crimson lips stretched in a gentle smile. "Forever, it seems. Certainly since the first moment I met you. This atrocious date you planned with Stefan was the last draw. I knew I had to act if i didn't want to lose a chance with you."
"But you like Elena!"
"Where did you get that from?" he seemed genuinely baffled.
"Gee, I don't know, you've been running around after her for weeks now?"
The sound of his loud chuckles reverberated through the room. "Sweetheart, I only pestered Elena for so long because Elijah has the - as you would put it - worst case of hots for Katherine, her cousin. I was trying to get a phone number out of her, that's all. How could I want her when you're…you."
"Oh," for the first time ever, Caroline actually didn't know what to say. Then something clicked in her mind. "So…Stefan's sudden illness is on you, I guess?"
"See, that's one of the reasons I adore you. So much more than a pretty face," Klaus cooed, taking long purposeful strides towards her. "But in this instance, it was actually Enzo that helped me. Worry not, he merely persuaded the younger Salvatore to find another date. I must say, I have rarely approved of Rebekah's boyfriends but this one might be a winner," he said jokingly, his fingers reaching out to her soft curls, the gesture causing shivers crawl from her scalp down her body.
"As if Rebekah lived for your approval. Get over yourself, Klaus," she scoffed, leaning into his touch at the same time.
"And you keep me on my toes. Another reason for my hopeless adoration," he said ardently, his thumb caressing her cheek. "Is it hopeless, Caroline? Will you be mine?"
She couldn't help but swoon at his words but it was the utter honesty in his eyes that convinced her. Still, she wouldn't be Caroline Forbes if she simply gave in.
"Who knows? Keep trying and I just might," she whispered, before leaning into the first of the many kisses to come.
Please let me know what you think :) Did you like it? Was it fluffy enough, haha?
