Hey guys, so I am finally back with an update. Surprise, surprise, right? I would like to apologize for being so awful with my updates. I just haven't really been feeling so into my writing as of late, but I hope that changes. Now without further ado, please enjoy this new chapter!
After all of the guests left, Klaus and Caroline sat down on the bench and smiled at one another.
"So, how does it feel to be an accomplished artist, Nik? Did you enjoy being the center of attention?"
"It feels amazing," he confessed as he walked over to the bar and poured champagne into two glasses.
He handed a glass of champagne to Caroline and the blonde took a drink.
"I would have never thought my gallery opening would be such a success, to be honest. And to think that I would have probably quit drawing if I was drawn by the NFL." He announced with a shake of his head.
"You may not want to hear this, but I'm really happy that you weren't. We wouldn't have become such close friends if you were."
"True." He agreed. "Friends…" He said as an afterthought, but quickly cleared his throat.
"You okay there?" The blonde asked, the confusion evident in her voice.
"Fine," he reassured as he downed the contents of the glass. "But anyway, are you ready to go to the diner? I'm in the mood for some cheese fries."
"Yep," she nodded.
As the two of them stood up and walked over to retrieve their coats, they didn't speak. Klaus locked up the gallery and then they called an uber.
Five minutes later, they were getting into the car and then driving in the direction of the diner.
"So, what do you think of Aiden, Nik? And please, give me your honest opinion."
"I don't know him all that well, Caroline. He looks like a nice enough guy, but I don't want you to get hurt again, so just be cautious."
"I'm always cautious," she announced as a scoff escaped her lips. "But I love you for caring enough to warn me."
"Of course I care about you." He replied as a smile appeared on his lips. "We're best friends and that's what best friends are for." Klaus added almost as if he was reminding himself that they were only ever going to be best friends.
"Definitely," she smiled, but he noticed that her smile didn't reach her eyes like it usually did.
"What's on your mind, Care? Are you having second thoughts about Aiden?" Klaus wondered, selfishly hoping that she would tell him she was going to break things off with the other man because she wanted him.
"No," she said. "It's just, I don't get why I feel this way."
"What way? It's normal to fancy somebody, love. I know that you've been through a lot, but you deserve the best and nothing but the best. I have no doubt that Aiden has your best interests at heart. He may be a bit of a workaholic, but that's always fixable and he'd be crazy not to realize what a gem you are."
"Klaus, you don't get what I'm saying." She said as a sigh escaped her lips and she looked away from him. Tears prickled at her eyes and she didn't know why she felt like crying. Surely, what the woman told her back at the gallery wasn't true? Surely, she wasn't in love with her best friend?
"Hey," he said as he placed his hand on her shoulder gently. "Tell me what's on your mind, maybe I can help get your mind off of it." He told her as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
Turning to him, she lay her head on his shoulder and he began running soothing circles over her skin.
"Maybe we should just order the food and pick it up. We'll get into our pajamas and find some comedy that'll have us laughing the whole time. How does that sound?" He questioned.
"Good," she admitted, her voice cracking.
"Please don't cry, Care. We'll talk about what's bothering you and everything will be alright in no time." He reassured, his accented voice gentle.
"Okay," she whispered, realizing that Klaus was the only person that remained in her life constantly.
She had her parents and friends of course, but she saw Klaus everyday. She knew everything about him and he knew everything about her. There friendship was a blessing and she was afraid to take the elderly woman's words to heart because she didn't want the friendship that they shared to crumble around them if a romantic relationship between them failed. And really, she couldn't understand why she was thinking of Klaus in a romantic way when she promised herself long before they became friends that she would never give him a chance of something more- not after the stunt he pulled, the stunt that he used to embarrass her and win some competition.
Looking at him now, she noticed that the boy he was five years ago was now a man with actual goals in life.
Klaus smiled at her before he pulled out his phone and dialed the diner's number. He ordered the food and fifteen minutes later, they were heading into the diner.
As Caroline was reaching for her wallet, he placed his hand on her elbow and shook his head.
"Dinner's on me." He told her, his voice serious.
"No, no, no." She started as she began shaking her head. "I can't ask that of you."
"But you're not asking, I'm offering. And you helped me so much tonight, the least I can do is pay for dinner."
"But you've been paying for everything lately." Caroline reminded him, realizing that it was indeed the truth.
No matter where they went, he always paid for her and though she never took it to heart before, she was starting to. Was he paying for her because he liked her as more than a friend?
"It's not a big deal, love. If you want you can buy me lunch tomorrow and we'll call it even."
"Fine," she said as she nodded in agreement.
"Sounds good," he winked before he paid for the food and grabbed the to-go bag.
The two of them left the diner and moved towards their apartment building. Nodding at the security guard who sat in the front they moved to the elevator.
Soon thereafter they were settled on the couch in their pajamas and were unpacking the food and drinks. Then, Klaus turned on Netflix and chose a movie that they both watched, but wouldn't mind watching again.
When the movie started, they dug into their dinners with gusto.
They spent the next hour or so watching the movie and eating their food. There were moments when Klaus felt Caroline's eyes on his profile, but he pretended not to notice. After all, he didn't want to embarrass her with his observation of his gaze locked upon him.
As the movie was going on, Caroline inhaled a deep breath before she put her hand on his arm.
Klaus turned in her direction in confusion and she bit down on her bottom lip before she moved closer to him.
He realized then that she was going to kiss him and he met her halfway. Their lips touched and in that moment they both felt the sparks going off in them.
Pulling her closer, he wrapped his arms around her waist and she straddled him. Changing their positions, he got her under him and gave her a devilish smile that he couldn't contain.
Then, he kissed her again and she moved under him as a moan escaped her lips. Her hand found his erection and she moved it up and down slowly.
"Caroline…" Klaus moaned as the feeling of her hand on his erection drove him absolutely mad.
He kissed her deeper and moved his own hand to cup her mound. They writhed in each other's arms and just as he was pulling up her dress, there was a knock on their door.
With a groan, Klaus removed himself from her person and stood up. He looked down at his tented pants and frowned at the evident bulge there.
Well, maybe he'd just open the door halfway. Walking over to the door with a cringe, he looked through the hole and spotted a middle-aged man standing there.
Opening the door, he watched the man with curiosity and finally spoke.
"May I help you with something, sir?" He questioned, the confusion evident in his voice.
"I am looking for a Miss Caroline Forbes." He replied as he looked into the apartment.
"Why?"
"I have an important matter to discuss with her. If you'd be so kind to fetch her, I'd be grateful."
"Give me a minute." He said before he shut the door and moved towards the living room.
"Who is it?" She asked, sitting up with her clothing back in place and a blush high on her cheeks.
Some man," Klaus announced. "He says that he has something important to discuss with you."
"But it is late in the evening? He couldn't have waited until a better time?" She questioned as a huff came from her lips.
"I guess not. Care, he looked like there was something that he had to discuss with you. I can send him away, but maybe you should talk to him?"
"Okay fine," she finally gave in. "I'll speak to him, but I need a couple of minutes."
"I'll show him into the living room." He said to the blonde.
"Are you sure?" She asked as she looked down at his pants and nodded towards his erection.
Swallowing with embarrassment, Klaus nodded and turned away from her.
When Caroline went into her bedroom, he moved towards the coat closet and took out a sweatshirt and wrapped it around his waist.
Satisfied with the outcome, he opened the door and motioned for the man to precede him into the living room.
The two of them watched each other with curious eyes and soon thereafter, Caroline came in dressed in jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt.
"Hello," Caroline said as she approached the duo and stopped once she was standing beside Klaus.
"Hello," the man said as he cleared his throat uncomfortably.
"May I ask why you are here, sir? It is pretty late in the evening after all."
"Ma'am, I am here because I have something very important to tell you."
"Go on," she urged.
"Five years ago, you were attacked by your unstable ex boyfriend."
"I- how did you know that?" Caroline asked, suddenly feeling her breath coming harder at the horrible memories that assailed her.
"Your father hired me after the incident and I have been reporting to him ever since."
"Okay…? But what does this have to do with me?" Caroline wondered as she felt Klaus move closer to her side.
"I think perhaps it would be wise if you sat down for this next part." The man murmured as he motioned towards the couch that Klaus and Caroline were making out on only minutes ago.
Heeding the man's advice, Caroline did just that and extended her hand for Klaus. He sat down besides her and took ahold of her hand.
"Please go on," Caroline said, her voice devoid of any emotion.
"Ma'am, I am sorry to say this, but Tyler Lockwood is being released from the psychiatric hospital that he has been in these last five years."
"I- I don't understand… The court made it clear that Tyler would never leave the hospital." Caroline cried out and Klaus tightened his hold on her hand.
"They did do that, but there has been an evident recovery in him. The board believes that he may be able to live a normal life."
"But he is a psychopath." Caroline argued as tears came to her eyes.
"There must be a way to assure that the board will have another look at his medical history. The man is sick in the head, sir. Surely, there is something that we can do." Klaus said as he watched Caroline wipe at her eyes. Seeing her so subdued clenched at his heart. He was so used to seeing Caroline in the absolute best spirits and this was unacceptable.
"The best that I can do for your girlfriend is hire men to protect her when she is out and about."
"No, there has to be another way to keep that psychopath in the institution. I refuse to settle for anything less." Klaus said with finality as he stood up and moved in the direction of the foyer.
The man looked down at Caroline sadly before he followed Klaus. Once the man was gone, Klaus returned to Caroline's side and saw an emptiness in her usually bright blue eyes.
"That's it, Klaus. He'll find me and this time he'll kill me." She spoke aloud as a sob tore from her throat.
There you have it, my darlings! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, but the ones that are to come may not be as fluffy as before. Not with Tyler free and up to god knows what.
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~Hana :p
