I Surrender

Chapter 3

Caroline

The village was abuzz with news and gossip as Caroline and Elena made their way through it determined to find what they were looking for.

"What do you think they're talking about?" Caroline asked slightly curious and wishing that she could be apart of the conversation. Her family keeping to themselves a little too often.

"Probably the latest gossip. I wonder who it's about this time. It seems like the village can't go a day without getting into someone else's business."

"Sometimes I wish we knew what was going on around this place. Sometimes I wish we weren.t the odd ones out."

"It is better to stand out from the crowd then to blend in with it."

"Says the hopeless introvert who would rather stick needles in her eyes than succumb to a simple conversation."

Elena simply shrugged as she grabbed an apple from a nearby vendor inspecting it for even the slightest imperfection.

"Do you think an apple pie will be suitable for tonight?"

"Who gives a shit, it's only Isobel. I don't know why you and dad are trying so hard to make that bitch happy."

"Don't be so crude Caroline. She makes dad happy and that should be enough for us."

"It takes more than that to replace mom and you know it. How can you act so casual about this? You're the eldest one. You knew mom before I did. Have you forgotten her already? It's only been three years."

"I have not forgotten mom. I just choose to believe that there is life after death. Maybe you should adapt that behavior as well and not act as if you were a child."

"I'm done with this conversation. I'll meet you back at the house."

"Care- "she started, but Caroline ignored her and walked to the group of people who had started to form around the shop.

"Oh, hey Caroline, where have you been hiding out?" Matt asked staring over at Elena like some lovesick puppy. She guessed the breakup wasn't as mutual as Elena had thought it was.

"Oh, you know. Just the house like usual. You should stop by sometime I'm sure dad would be glad to see you."

"Oh, I couldn't possibly intrude like that. You seemed distraught just now. Is something going on?"

"We have a dinner with Isobel tonight. I'd rather eat a bowl of nails than sit by that woman yet again. I don't see what my father sees in her."

"Maybe it's not for you to see."

"Maybe you should fuck off Matt. Maybe my sister was right. Maybe talking to townspeople isn't worth it anymore."

"Come on Caroline don't be that way. I'm sorry I provoked you. If you don't want to talk about it. You don't have to. You can just stay here and hang out for a little while."

"Well it sure beats hanging out with my sister and my dad."

"Fantastic. A few of us are going to the tavern to have ourselves a drink. Come along and I'll get you a seat."

"Sounds delectable. Lead the way."

Following Matt, Caroline walked the streets until they arrived at the tavern and went inside. A few curious faces turned their way but looked away after a couple of minutes leaving Matt and Caroline alone to their own devices.

Sitting down at the bar, Caroline and Matt ordered their drinks waiting for his friends to show up as they passed the time with some ideal chit chat.

"Donavan! There you are!" Tyler Lockwood exclaimed as he made his way to the bar with Olivia Parker by his side.

"Holy shit, you actually got Caroline to come out and see us today. How have you been girl?" Liv asked pulling her into a hug which made her stiffen. Caroline hated hugs especially from people she didn't know.

"I've been better."

"Why? What's wrong?"

"Just family problems. I don't really want to get into it right now, so that's why I'm here."

"Well we're happy that you're here. Now who's ready for drinks?"

Gathering around the bar, they order a couple of rounds laughing and filling good as Caroline felt her anger soften as someone tapped her on the back of the shoulder and she turned around to see one of the most gorgeous men she had ever seen.

"Hi." She said finally saying something after a few uncomfortable minutes.

"Sorry to bother you. I just saw you over there from where I was sitting and I thought I just had to introduce myself."

"Well than I'm Caroline and you are?"

"Nicholas, but you can call me Nick."

"Well it's nice to meet you Nick."

"Care to dance."

"I would love to."

She took his hand as they swayed to the music having a good time. She was wondering why she had never met him until now.

"Are you new here? I haven't seen you around before."

"You can say that. I've been here a while, but I don't get out much."

"I know the feeling. Is your family overbearingly overprotective too?"

"You can say that my brother is. Our parents weren't around much when we were growing up. They liked to go out and do their own things and one night they just never came back."

"Wow. I'm sorry. That's horrible."

"We've learned how to adapt with life without them, so what about you? What are your parents like?"

"It's just me, my sister, and my dad. Our mother died when I was young, but it still hurts like hell knowing I'll never get a real chance to get to know her."

"I'm sorry for your loss."

"Thank you."

"So why are you upset today?"

"What makes you think I'm upset?"

"Because no one steps into a tavern unless they're celebrating something or upset about something. And you seem more upset than happy."

"It's stupid. I don't know why it's bothering me so much."

"I don't think it's stupid. It might help you to get it off your chest."

"My dad's girlfriend is coming over to the house tonight and I don't really like her. I don't think she's right for him."

"Why don't you think she's not right for him?"

"Because she's not my mom."

"I don't think you feeling that way is that stupid. Sometimes it's hard moving on."

"Exactly. Finally, someone gets it."

"Sometimes grief is hard for people to understand. Have you tried telling you father how you feel?"

"I don't want to bother him."

"Sometimes things just need to be said, no matter how hard they are."

"Maybe you have a point. I just don't know how to start the conversation."

"Follow your heart and it won't lead you wrong."

"That sounds like the most cliché advice ever, but I'm glad someone gave me some."

"I'm glad to be of some assistants."

"I think maybe I should go back home. Face my fears head on."

"Good luck to you then."

"It was nice meeting you Nick."

"You too Caroline." He smiled kissing her hand and then before she knew it he was gone, like a shadow in the night.

"Where were you? Isobel will be here in twenty minutes and we still have yet to get everything ready." Elena gripped as she put plates on the table in a hurried fashion.

"I was with Matt and his friends. Excuse me if I want to have a life outside of this house."

"Whatever. Just please help me set up the table before she gets here."

"Fine." She said grabbing a plate of food and setting it on the table.

"There's my two girls. Are you ready for tonight?" their dad asked seeming nervous.

"Of course, dad. We can hardly wait." Elena answered not letting her get a word in.

"Good. Tonight, is important and I'm good you girls are behind me for it."

"What's going on tonight? It's just a dinner after all." Caroline asked confused, but before he had the chance to answer a knock sounded at the door distracting him from what he was about to say as he went to go answer it. Great. The bitch of the hour was here.

"Hello girls. Nice to see you again." Isobel smiled as Caroline fought the urge to roll her eyes.

"It's nice to see you too Isobel." Elena smiled as Caroline wondered how Elena was so good at being fake.

"Should we sit down and eat." Her dad asked as they all gathered around the table eating in silence until their dad started a conversation.

"So, girls we have some important news that we would like to share with you." Their dad said grabbing onto Isobel's hand.

"What's going on here?" Caroline asked feeling uneasy.

"Isobel and I have decided to take our relationship to the next level. I decided that it would be best if she lives here with us."

Caroline's stomach dropped as she felt the air around her start to suffocate her. What the hell was going on here? No. This couldn't be happening.

"No." she answered stoically as Elena, her father, and Isobel looked at her as if she were crazy.

"No, What Caroline? This was a very tough decision for me, and I thought you'd at least be happy for me." Her dad commented making her more pissed off.

"That's just the thing dad, you thought I'd be happy for you, but I'm not. You know how I feel about Isobel, but you chose to ignore that. She's not good for you and you know it, but you chose to ignore that and go forth with this plan to playhouse. I'm sorry, but fuck that. I won't be apart of your twisted games. I'm out of here." Caroline bellowed as she grabbed her coat and walked towards the door as Elena sat up with concern. No. She didn't want her sister to talk her into something that she would regret. Fuck this and fuck them all. She didn't need them anyway.

"Where are you going?" her father demanded as if her anger wasn't his fault and she was acting irrational.

"Away from you." Caroline answered pulling open the door and running into the night not caring if anyone followed her or not.

Branches scraped her bare skin as Caroline ran through the woods desperate to be anywhere but here as she kept running not sure about what her destination was going to be. She must not have been paying attention, because somewhere along the way she tripped over something losing her balance and hitting her head on a rock. Her vision going in and out. Fuck. That hurt like hell.

Breathing in and out, Caroline tried to focus on her surroundings getting startled when a figure appeared coming out of the woods, but the blackness was surrounding her, and she couldn't get herself to scream.

"Help." She managed before letting the sweet black take her away.