AU/AH. Every single girlfriend Klaus has ever had has hated Caroline. Surely, it's pure coincidence?

"It is not my fault."

Katherine snorts, mindlessly picking at her nails, not needing to look up to know Caroline is sending a glare her way.

"I'm serious, Kat!" Caroline goes as far as stomping a foot on the ground, hands balled into fists at her sides. "Aurora was certified insane and Hayley was kind of a bitch, so, yes, I admit it, I didn't exactly go easy on them, but I liked Camille!"

This time, Katherine does look up, expression a frown as if Caroline has suddenly grown a second head.

Caroline puffs haughtily and amends, "I was nice—"

"—ish—"

"—to Camille."

"Not enough, apparently."

"You can barely stand Klaus," Caroline points out, squinting suspiciously at her best friend. "Here I am, presenting you with the chance to blame him for something on a silver platter. Why are you not taking it?"

"You made me pinky-promise I would tone down the bashing," Katherine's smile is a tad too innocent.

"In seventh grade. It didn't stop you once during the past four years."

A shrug. A sigh. "I just don't think it's him."

"It certainly isn't me," Caroline rebuts defensively.

But, all of a sudden, Katherine is regarding her the way one would reserve for an adorable newborn baby who hasn't got a clue about the world.

She fidgets on the spot.

"It's always you."

:

:

"I'm sorry."

"I'm not," Klaus confesses candidly, making some of the inexplicable guilt Caroline has been feeling fade away. "The relationship had run its course."

She hesitates, eyes flickering up to his, finding him already focused on her face with an intensity that causes a ripple of goosebumps down her back.

"That... seems to happen a lot."

"I guess I haven't found the right girl, yet."

"Or," she persists, "you haven't been able to recognize the right person as your soulmate."

Klaus chuckles, crushing the last of his cigarette against the metal of the bleachers they are currently sitting on. "Pot. Kettle."

Unable to make the connection, Caroline frowns. "I don't—"

"Either way," he lets out a long breath, "only time will tell."

"You could tell me what happened."

"Nothing in particular."

"You forget I can tell when you're lying, Mikaelson."

Except when it came to the most important thing, apparently.

"She wanted me to help out with her candy corn stand during the fall festival, is all."

Caroline pulls a face, mouth pinched, eyebrows knit tightly together, growing even more confused. "Candy corn is disgusting but hardly warrants a break-up."

"Instead of helping you with your pumpkin pie one."

"Oh." That explained the evil eye Camille had started pinning her with whenever their paths crossed in the hallways. "Oh."

Klaus raises one hand to rub the back of his neck, appearing uncharacteristically bashful. "Yeah."

"So, Kat was right," Caroline acknowledges, mumbling almost to herself. "It is my fault."

"What? No!"

"She basically broke up with you because you're my friend!"

"I broke up with her because she was treating you poorly," Klaus corrects. "Plus, I wasn't about to let her bully me into her idea of 'boyfriend duties'," he actually air-quotes, stealing a giggle out of Caroline. "Let me tell you: she's got a hidden mean streak, that one."

"Doesn't everyone?"

"You don't."

"Oh, please!" Caroline laughs to conceal her flushed cheeks. "I'm pretty sure the whole student body would argue your point."

"That's because they don't know you," Klaus replies, easily, "they only see the head-cheerleader ruling them with an iron fist."

"'Ruling' is an exaggeration," Caroline rolls her eyes, but Klaus simply bumps his shoulder against hers with a teasing grin.

"They don't know you, but I do. You're kind and funny and beautiful—"

"Wow!" Caroline laughs again, if a touch breathlessly, as a means to interrupt him.

Their conversation has taken an unexpectedly serious turn, one she is not sure she is ready to embark on.

Many a people, over the years, have hinted at the possibility that there was more between her and Klaus, at the impossibility that there wasn't.

He is, after all, her favorite person. Despite the worst parts of him she has borne witness to. Because of the worst parts of herself he has borne witness to without the mere inkling of judgment or revulsion. And she has thought about it, before, every time she ended up comparing a boyfriend to him only to realize that they couldn't compare. Yet, their friendship is too precious a thing to be risked.

"You really know how to flatter a girl," she tries to joke.

The light in his eyes seems to dim for an instant, as if disappointed.

His answer comes in the form of a whisper that echoes way too loud inside of her.

"Has to be the right girl."

:

:

The pumpkin pie stand is a success, of course. The candy corn one... not so much.

On the spur of the moment, Caroline jumps into Klaus' arms and kisses him square on the mouth.

Everyone around them starts clapping.

It was just a bit overdue.