Caroline kicked a rock that was in front of her, her blonde hair was limply hanging around her face as if all life had gone from it. She would always be second best, with everyone having their eyes on Elena. No one wanted her, even Damon didn't want her he wanted Elena when they had sex it was her name he moaned not hers!
Caroline fell down onto a tree stump, she didn't want to move. Her mother was working all the time doing 'sheriff' and 'council' business. Then when she finally did come home Caroline was asleep, when she woke up her mother was gone.
Her father hadn't been on the scene in years, not since he figured out he was gay and fell in love. Sometimes she wished that he had taken her away with him but her mother had won that battle and that meant she was staying in Mystic falls even though she hated it. The small town made her feel trapped as if she had nowhere to go, and if she could what was stopping her mother from dragging her back?
Caroline shook her head, sure she wasn't sensitive to other people, and yes she did open her mouth before she spoke but that didn't mean that she didn't have feelings as well!
What Carline didn't realise was while she had been going over her thoughts a set of emerald green eyes had been watching her, making sure that she was alright.
Harry had felt the wards go off half an hour earlier, at first he had panicked because he thought it had been Elena. His aunts had offered to go and see who it was, but he had asked them to watch Teddy instead. He had expected more of a fight from them but all he had got was
"Don't put your wand in your back pocket your arse might get blown off!"
He had slammed the door but not before he had heard the laughter from inside, he had used a 'point me' spell to find where he needed to go. Which was how he came across someone sat on a tree stump crying her eyes out, years of manners that had been beaten into him made him ask
"Miss are you alright?"
Caroline's head jerked up, it was the new person in town, Henry? Harold?
She couldn't quite remember his name, but he was the one that Elena kept harping on about. How it was so wonderful that he was raising a baby by himself, and the woman who had left him must of been stupid. She had said it all while Stefan had been sat right next to her.
Yes he had been the talk of the town for weeks, after all he was a single father who was a teenager. He was related to the troublesome duo, who seemed to spend more time been chased around by Sheila Bennett when she was alive.
That was another thing that the town had buzzed over for days, the fact that the three of them had been best friends. They hadn't even known, but then again they must of been careful for none of them to find out.
But still Caroline could see why people were attracted to him, he was pretty in the whole feminine way, if Caroline hadn't known that he was a male she would of thought that it was a very beautiful woman.
She watched as he walked over and sat on the tree stump next to her, his arm wrapped around her shoulders. Caroline burrowed herself into his body as she said
"No i'm not!"
Warm hands began to rub her back in soothing circles, Caroline let the tears fall as he rubbed her back and murmured into her hair
"That's it, let it all out."
Caroline curled her hands into his jacket as he continued to rub circles on her back, his cheek was pressed into her hair. She could smell the ink and paper on his jacket and it reminded her of the library, all the books that would be sat on shelves their pages rumpled for all the use that they went through. People sat around whispering and taking notes on the books, he reminded her of the comfort that she had taken in amongst the books.
Harry looked down at the teen in his arms, yes he was a teenager himself but he felt wiser and more mature than his years. Sometimes he felt like an old man inside of a teenager body, he knew that he didn't relate well to them. After all they spent most of their time talking about boys, girls, sex and when they would next get drunk.
Harry hadn't had time to do that, he still couldn't do it now. Sure his aunts would take Teddy for a few hours but he didn't want to rely on them all the time, they needed time to themselves. Away from him and Teddy, even if they had moved into the house and claimed several rooms as their own.
Soon Caroline had stopped sobbing and was sniffling into his jacket, pulling back she looked at the jacket and shirt that was soaking wet with her tears. Caroline looked at him and blurted out
"I am so sorry!"
Harry chuckled and looked at her before asking
"Are you alright now miss?"
Caroline nodded her head, she was alright for now. It was later that she was worried about, when she had to go and see Elena. She knew that the feelings of been inferior would come back and she would break down all over again, but it was still nice to be put first for a change even if it didn't last.
Harry looked at her, he could see the bags underneath her eyes. Her skin was pale that it reminded him of a sheet of paper, her eyes looked so dull. He had the feeling that if there was some life in those eyes they would remind him of the clear blue sky.
Just as he was about to speak the heavens decided to open up, and the rain poured down. Throwing his jacket over her, he picked her up and carried her back to his home, taking every shortcut he knew about. Soon he had arrived at his home. she was safe and dry in his arms even though he was soaked through to the bone, his hair was dripping wet small rivers of water was trickling down his hair and onto his glasses. His hair was stuck to his face, his lips were tinged blue due to the cold, all in all Harry looked like a drowned rat.
Caroline had clung to him once he had started running, she had been shocked when he had thrown his jacket over her and started running. But when she had looked out from the jacket she had see the rain it was bouncing, she felt touched that he had gave her his jacket even though he would have needed it more. was this what it was like to be put first?
Someone who would listen to her?
Who would take into account her feelings.
She didn't have much time to think on it as the front door was thrown open and a voice exclaimed
"You are soaking! Quick get inside and them wet clothes off now!"
She had been quickly bundled into the house then into a bathroom, Caroline looked around the tiles were a deep blue. The curtains were a seafoam green, then she spotted the giant clawed foot bath. It looked heavenly, would they mind if she took a quick dip? A knock on the door broke her train of thoughts
"Carline, its Angela. I have some dry clothes, with me. Feel free to use the bath or shower which ever you preferr. I have put the clothes on the bed, come down to the front room when you are done."
Caroline unlocked the door and looked at Angela, she couldn't see anything that made her believe that the other was joking. Looking at her she spoke
"Thank you for this."
Angela smiled as Caroline gave her, her soaking clothes, shoes and socks.
"It's not a problem, we will be downstairs should you need us."
With that Angela left Caroline to enjoy the large bathroom.
A hour later Caroline emerged from the bathroom feeling better than ever, the hour long soak in the bath had done her wonders, the dressing gown was made from silk and it glided along her skin. Caroline still had the towel wrapped around her hair, she didn't want to dry it yet as it meant parting with the giant fluffy towel that seemed to be made from clouds.
She stood at the entrance of the front room nervous, should she just walk in?
Did she knock?
Caroline had no idea what to do, she had never been in this situation before normally people would just call her mother, then she would come and pick her up. The last time that this happened she had nearly caught Phenomena and Hyperthermia because she had been in her wet clothes for so long. She had been bedridden for three weeks trying to get better, but now?
Now there were three people that seemed to care about her and not just because her mother wa the sheriff, he could of left her outside in the forest but he didn't. Instead he had taken her to his home, gave her dry clothes, somewhere to bathe and even a dressing gown.
"You know standing in the doorway is considered rude."
Caroline flushed as she walked into the front room, the fireplace was roaring as the fire heated up the full room. She couldn't see her clothes anywhere, but she could hear the sounds of the washing machine been used. Caroline walked to the leather couch and sat down, the leather was warm from the fire. She really could get used to this, would they let her move in?
"Are you alright now Miss Forbes?"
She looked at him and seen the honesty in his eyes, she maybe blonde but that didn't mean she was a airhead, even if she acted like it most of the time. People saw what they wanted to see, and when they looked at her they saw the sheriff's ditzy, airheaded daughter.
A large mug of hot chocolate was placed in front of her she looked up at Sarah who just smiled, Caroline took the mug and allowed the heat to chase away whatever reaming chill there was. Caroline took sips of the hot chocolate and moaned, she heard giggling and looked up
"I was the same when i first tasted it, aunt Sarah makes the best hot chocolate."
Caroline nodded her head, she really couldn't doubt it, not when the chocolatey goodness was right in front of her, with marshmallows and whipped cream. It even had some grated chocolate on top!
"We phone your mother, she said it was fine for you to stay the night as the roads are closed, due to flooding."
Caroline looked up, nor mally her mother wouldn't let her stay at boys houses incase something happened. Something must of shown on her face because Sarah and Angela were giggling like school girls
"You're the wrong gender love."
Wrong gender?
Did that mean?
He was gay!
The glare that he sent his aunts was rather amusing it reminded Caroline of a kitten trying to make itself bigger, The sound of roaring laughter met her ears.
"Kitten!"
"O-o-oh dear god!"
Had she said that out loud?
Judging from the way that they were laughing Caroline felt that the answer would be yes, yes she did say it outloud and not in her head like she had thought. Then she heard him chuckling, he didn't look angry. In fact it looked like he found the whole thing rather amusing, even if he was at the butt of the joke.
Something she was not used to, normally if it was Elena then she would throw a hissy fit and refuse to speak to Caroline until she apologized.
Bonnie would do the whole brooding thing, that was the one thing her and Stefan had in common. They both like to brood a lot.
"Harry Potter."
She blinked, what?
"My name is Harry Potter and you are?"
Oh, he wanted to know her name. Normally people already knew who she was so she didn't bother to tell them.
"Caroline Forbes."
Harry smiled at her, soon all four of them went back to drinking their hot chocolate, Teddy sleeping calmly inside his travel cot.
