Oh gosh, guys, I'm so sorry. This took WWAAAAYYY too long because I was on spring break and didn't have a computer and had to edit a manuscript and then this week was crazy homework, and yeah. SORRY! I love you all for being so patient.

On another side note, Caroline's feelings progress so fast because that's how I feel most teenage girls feelings go. Like, a boy picks up your pencil or something then, WHAM! Five minutes later you're hooked on the dude. (Maybe that's just me because I'm lonely and desperate ;) )


A House Call

All through the night, Caroline was pacing. She'd start at the door, brush past her bed, pause at the window, turn, and then go back the way she came. The added affect of vampire speed and her ability to stay up all night led to some wear and tear on the hardwood flooring. When the sun rose, Caroline could see her pathway carved through her bedroom.

"Oh crap," she muttered as she searched through her closet for a rug to cover the damage. She could only find beach towels and decided those would do for now. She had to see Klaus as soon as possible so the anxiety that was pumping through her veins could slow to an acceptable rate.

Caroline's thoughts, as per usual, were OCD to the extreme. Every little detail was screaming for attention so they could tell her all the things that might go wrong. She was especially despising the ones commenting on her looks, saying that skipping sleep was a bad choice if she's trying to connive her way into a relationship, because there was no way her looks were an asset today. Of course, she actually looked as gorgeous as ever, but the insecure voices don't just go away when you die, they follow you into the afterlife.

Finally tossing her insecure thoughts out the window, Caroline began her way over to Klaus's residence. It was quite the elaborate mansion and Caroline wondered if he had it built in the past, long ago when he originally lived there, or if it was just an isolated foreclosure that he had stumbled upon. The landscaping was beautiful with roses blooming everywhere and a lovely lake nestled amongst some trees, which made it very apparent that this home was not being neglected. The front of the house was very regal, with columns the thickness of trees and elaborate doorways that were artfully decorated by some outstanding artist, Caroline was sure.

But as she was taking all this in, she noticed something else. There was a car parked in front of the house with an open trunk that was full of suitcases. For a moment, Caroline was confused. Her first thought was wondering where Rebekah was planning on going, especially without Damon, but then she saw a pairs of loafers.

It hit her like a lamppost in a Final Destination movie. She staggered backward in shock and whipped her hand up to her gaping mouth.

At that very moment, Klaus exited the house with what appeared to be a final suitcase. With an air of complete indifference, he glanced up at the girl in shock before him.

"Hello, Caroline. I'm sorry, but whatever you came here for, I'm afraid I will be unable to assist you," he said to her while she made an attempt to compose herself.

"Oh. Um, well, why is that?" Caroline asked meekly and the proceeded to bite her lip.

"Well, I've decided that I'm through with Mystic Falls for the time being, so I've decided to move to Australia for the time being," He said nonchalantly as Caroline gasped.

"But… but don't you need to have Elena to make your creepy hybrid friends? How will you make any on the other side of the world without her blood?" Caroline said, grasping for anything to make him stay.

"Ah, Caroline, you neglect my ability to think ahead. Since I have found out that Elena's blood is the special ingredient to my hybrids, I've been saving her blood. By now, I have plenty to last me at least a year. But, I don't actually plan on using it because I'd like some alone time. You'd think I'd have more of it in my many centuries, but strangely, there has never been a week spent without a companion or friend," he replied as he put his bag into the truck and closed the hatch.

Caroline just stared at him in shock.

"My god, is it really that shocking that I had friends? There are many people out there who are just like me, Caroline, as I'm sure there are many people out there just like you," he smirked.

"It's not shocking you have had friends, you have lived forever, one would think you'd have acquired some people skills; it's shocking that you're willing to just pick up and move around the mood because it sounds fun. And I'd like to think I'm an original, thank you very much," Caroline said as she crossed her arms.

"That's great, sweetheart, but are you ever going to tell me why you came here? Or is my absence going to throw a wrench in those plans?"

"I actually came here to see where we stood," Caroline said.

"Stood how? I'm an old man, I don't necessarily do well with this modern lingo," Klaus said with another smirk.

"Oh, you know what I mean. Where do we stand on a relationship level? Are we friends? Frenemies? Enemies? I guess it doesn't matter now that you're leaving, but I was just confused."

"I thought you chose that we remain enemies because you thought I was vile and not worth you friendship, but lucky for you, I have decided to overlook that and not kill you before my departure," Klaus said as he opened his car door and hopped in.

"Klaus, I never said you were vile. I just told you that you were going about your relationships with people incorrectly. You can't buy people. But that's not why I came. I came to tell you that I have feelings for you and to see if you still felt the same way," Caroline said through the car window and began to bite her lip again.

Klaus laughed. In his mind, he was thinking of the irony that had just occurred. Only hours ago, he had decided he would no longer care about Caroline because she refused to care for him. He packed his bags and got ready to leave Mystic Falls mostly to avoid her, although he told himself otherwise, and now she wants him.

Naturally, Caroline wasn't reading his mind, so she assumed he was laughing at the audacity of it. She crossed her arms and settled into a look that clearly read: pissed as hell. On the inside she was mortified. She had just told a mass murderer that she had feelings for him and he had just thrown back his head and laughed. It was probably the most embarrassing moment of her life.

Once Klaus looked up to see the girl's expression, he realized something. He had all the power here. Of course, he still fancied her, even he wasn't that good at suppressing human nature, but he had to remain true to his nature. She was going to have to work for it, just like she had made him work for it.

"Oh darling, I know you're in love with me these days, I could see it all over your face as soon as I exited the house. But I should let you know something now; for me, it's always just about the chase. There is no pride in having something that just falls into your lap; you have to work for something to truly own it. You're only worth my time when you don't want anything to do with me," he said over the voice jumping around in his head, yelling at him to stop being a fool and kiss the girl before she loses all interest. But she was right; being around for so long had fine-tuned his people skills and he knew just how to make someone do what he wanted. This would work.

Caroline was still extremely embarrassed, but found the courage to ask, "Then what are you still doing here?"

Klaus then slowly smiled and motioned with his hand for Caroline to step back. She complied and watched as he got out of his car. Once he had closed the door, he turned toward her and said, "Well, now that you are interested in me while I am no longer interested in you, it should quite entertaining to see how you try to win me over. And I can't exactly do that from Australia, can I?"

Caroline rolled her eyes and replied, "I wouldn't expect anything from me after the way you've acted today. I've realized what a colossal error in judgment I made by coming here and thinking you were an actual person, so you can get on with your trip to Australia. Don't bother writing." Then she sauntered away with a swing of her hips.

Klaus just smiled after her. She would be back, of that he was sure.


Caroline was back to pacing. At first she was thinking of what a jerk Klaus had turned out to be. Like, who does he think he is telling her that she's not worth his time? Not worth his time? She was the best person he had ever met and they both knew it. He drew her horses and gave her gifts, which is far too much effort for someone to put in when, as soon as you returned your affections, they would just mock you and laugh at your gullibility!

Then, she really thought about it. Klaus hadn't felt anything for someone besides himself for centuries, she was sure of it. And he did really know how to manipulate people… That's it! He was manipulating her. If she could just prove to him that she had legitimate feelings for him, he would see she was someone to be bargained with. Caroline was sure he still felt something for her; she knew from experience that you never stop caring for someone once you start.

Then a floorboard cracked and she decided she might have to find a new pacing route. Then, feeling entirely overwhelmed with the day, she plopped down on her bed and stared at the ceiling. In a slightly childish train of thought, Caroline wished that the ceiling could tell her the answers to all her problems. When no words appeared after a few moments, she shook her head and sighed, frustrated that she was getting no help from the spirits on this one.

Deciding to get help from a less mystical force, Caroline called Elena. It rung eight times before her answering machine picked up. Caroline left a quick message about needing help with a Klaus situation, then looked at the clock for an answer as to why Elena had not answered her cell phone. She realized that it was eight o'clock and Saturday, so Elena was probably at the grill, spending time with her friends and having a great time, instead of pacing the floors to death and thinking about a boy so much that his name played as constant background music in all her thoughts.

She then thought about calling Bonnie, but then concluded that Bonnie was sure to be with Elena and she didn't want to look desperate by calling them both within minutes of each other.

The she sat up in bed with a start. Why hadn't they invited her?They were all still best friends, after all. What was happening to the world today? Caroline got rejected by not only a boy (even though he hardly counted as a boy), but her best friends too! She had no options of people to talk to because she wasn't exactly comfortable talking to Tyler because she'd be forced to tell him she was actually interested in Klaus and there was no telling how that would turn out. Matt would be with Elena and Bonnie, Damon's also a no on all counts, and Stefan's still mean, unhappy Stefan and he would definitely not understand her new crush.

Caroline sighed, defeated and decided to save her dilemma for a later date. She then drifted off into the first sleep she'd had all week.