Secrets

On the first page of our story
The future seemed so bright
Then this thing turned out so evil
I don't know why I'm still surprised

-Love the Way You Lie - Rihanna

xxx

A/N: I know, it's been a long time. We're sorry we haven't updated recently. It's kind of hard to live in different stories. But, here's the next chapter. Also, to all of you who also read The Powers that Bind Us, we'er working on that and hopefully, a new chapter will be up soon. Thanks for reading and reviewing, we hope you like the chapter. Also, if you see anything you recognise, it doesn't belong to us. All rights belong to the original owners.

Caroline tapped her foot impatiently on the concrete pavement in front of Constance Billiard's School for Girls and St Jude's School for Boys. Everyone was late. Now, the Mikaelsons were usually late because both Klaus and Kol took forever in the morning, as Rebekah often told her (though Caroline suspected that Rebekah took quite a while herself). However, it was not usual for Stefan to be late; he was usually here before she was. Katherine sometimes arrived on time, depending on how much she'd had to drink the night before. Everyone else usually arrived just before the bell rang. Caroline was brought out of her thoughts by the Mikaelson limo pulling up in front of her. Out stepped Klaus and Kol and... nobody else.

"Where's Rebekah?" Caroline asked, crossing her arms over her school uniform.

Klaus quirked an eyebrow. "I wouldn't know, I was otherwise occupied last night," he replied smugly, leaning against the limo.

Caroline made a disgusted face and turned to Kol, who simply shrugged. "I haven't seen her since the day before last," he replied. "You were probably one of the last people to see her, she did stay at your apartment after all."

Caroline absently wondered how they could be so calm over the fact that their sister had disappeared when she noticed the slight tension in Klaus' body. So. He wasn't as uncaring as he always seemed to be.

Klaus' head snapped up when another limo pulled up behind the Mikaelsons'. She smiled slightly when Stefan stepped out, looking slightly hungover and ruffled. Behind him, out stepped... Rebekah.

"Hello little sister," Kol greeted cheerily. "Out all night, what a scandal!" Rebekah rolled her eyes and kicked him hard in the shins, earning her a yelp of pain.

"Whatever, Kol," the blonde sighed, running a hand through her hair, which, unusually, wasn't curled.

"I see you've decided to change your look," Caroline commented.

Rebekah looked startled, her hand flying to her hair. "Yes, well, I didn't have very much time this morning."

"Speaking of this morning," Klaus piped up. "Where were you all night? You weren't in your bed, Elijah was worried."

Rebekah looked distinctly uncomfortable and was that Caroline's imagination or did she and Stefan share a look?

Rebekah was saved from answering by the bell and Caroline sighed. Looked like Katherine was going to be late today.

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Caroline and Rebekah walked ahead of Bonnie on the way to Algebra. Once they were sat down, in seats of their choice thank god, Caroline turned to Rebekah. "What's up with you? You've been acting really weird."

Rebekah tried to look innocent. "What? I don't know what you're talking about."

Caroline rolled her eyes. "Where were you all of last night?"

Rebekah seemed to hesitate before she answered. "Matt broke up with me because he needed to 'focus on his studies' and I was upset so I got drunk and went to a hotel and stayed there."

Caroline nodded slowly, placing a hand on her friend's shoulder. "I'm sorry about Matt. That was kind of a dick move."

Rebekah laughed softly. "Well, I'll live. I'm not the type of girl whose life revolves around some guy."

Caroline frowned slightly. "Wait, if you were in a hotel, why did you end up coming here with Stefan?"

"Well, I was walking on my way here and he saw me and offered me a ride," Caroline resisted the urge to scoff. Rebekah? Walking? Outside? If Rebekah Mikaelson had to walk, she did on a treadmill in her bedroom. However, Caroline didn't comment and decided to let Rebekah keep her secrets. What harm could they do?

xxx

Halfway through second period, which was English, Katherine Gilbert finally decided to grace them with her presence. If Caroline knew her friend, then Kat had probably ended up getting drunk because Elena was back. To most people, it would be a good thing to be reunited with a sibling, but Katherine and Elena's parents had always favoured Elena, making Katherine feel worthless compared to her younger twin sister.

Katherine strolled through the door, looking glamarous as always. The teacher merely sighed; he was used to this sort of behaviour. "Good morning, Miss Gilbert. Nice for you to join us."

Katherine mock saluted him and Caroline repressed her giggles. "Well, it was either this or have a dentist drill into my teeth. I have to admit, it was a close choice."

Caroline rolled her eyes at her best friend's antics as Katherine sank into the seat next to her. Unfortunately, she and Rebekah weren't together for English this year. "How bad was it?" She asked quietly.

"It was as bad as you'd expect. Although Elena wasn't around much, she went out to meet Stefan and then came back home with tears in her eyes."

Caroline frowned. What could have happened between them? And if something had happened, why hadn't Stefan told her? As a matter of fact, what was going on with all the secrets Rebekah and Stefan were keeping?

xxx

At lunch, Caroline had the misfortune of having to sit pressed up against Klaus Mikaelson's side. She did her best to ignore him and focus on her boyfriend next to her, but it was difficult to do when Klaus was talking rather loudly about this club, Victrola, that his family had recently bought. Caroline rolled her eyes and then realised that Tyler had been saying something whilst she'd been thinking about Klaus. Damn him. "Sorry, what?"

Tyler sighed, annoyed. "I was saying that maybe after school's over, we could head back over to my place?" He suggested.

Caroline nodded. "I'll meet you outside the school."

xxx

Caroline sighed. Great. Tyler was late again. She was stood outside the school, where she said they'd meet and there was no sign of her boyfriend. Caroline muttered profanities under her breath when her phone pinged. She half expected it to be a text from Tyler saying that he couldn't make it. But it was much worse.

It was a picture. Or, more accurately, a picture of Tyler. Kissing Hayley. And that kiss was most certainly not innocent or platonic. Caroline clenched her fist and at that moment, Tyler came into her view.

"Hey, babe," Tyler greeted, bending down to kiss her but Caroline moved away, revolted. "What's wrong?" Wordlessly, Caroline held up the phone so that he could see the screen and Tyler paled. "Care... I can explain."

"Save it," Caroline snapped, shoving her phone in her pocket. "How could you?" When Tyler opened his mouth to answer, Caroline held up a hand. "That was a rhetorical question. Just... stay the hell away from me," with that, she whirled around and ran off, only stopping when she was hidden behind a wall, out of breath and heartbroken. After several moments, Caroline pulled out her phone, about to call her limo driver. But where would she go? An idea dawned in her head. What was it that Klaus had said? 'Victrola's a place to lose yourself'. Well, she supposed she could put up with the company of Klaus Mikaelson for one night.

xxx

A/N: Well, that's the chapter. Thank you for reading. We'll try to put up some more before the holidays end and I have to go back home. Sorry it was so short, but the next one should be longer.

Thank you!