Hello readers! Thank you all SO MUCH for your wonderful reviews, follows, messages, favorites! You guys keep me writing and feeding my muse with all your feedback!
I want to thank you guys for supporting me through the KC Awards! I didn't win any of my categories, but it was still such an honor to be nominated :)
I hope you guys like this chapter...it's my favorite so far!
Thanks to Gail for the wonderful beta job :)
"Come on, Nik, don't be such a buffoon. It's high time you got out and had some fun," Rebekah griped. She, Enzo, Elijah, and Klaus were all squished in the back of a cab on their way to some new club that she had heard about from one of the many Mikaelson Corp secretaries.
"I have fun all the time," Klaus protested, ignoring her disbelieving glance by staring out the cab window.
"Fun that isn't going to give you sexually-transmitted diseases," she quipped.
"Rebekah," Elijah reproached lightly. Klaus threw her a nasty glare, ignoring the muted chuckle Enzo had released.
"Even Elijah was easier to get out tonight than you were," she continued. "He's even more straight-laced than Finn."
"Excuse me?" Elijah cut in, tugging gently at his tie to loosen it. She pointedly gestured at his suit as if to prove her point.
Enzo placed a comforting hand on Rebekah's knee. "Darling, chastising him while insulting your other brother is counter-productive," he remarked. She glowered at him, pursing her lips while he grinned back.
"I'm just saying. Nik's had a real stick up his arse the past couple days and he's more intolerable than before," she observed, sliding her eyes over Klaus' sullen form.
Klaus rolled his eyes briefly, narrowing them at her. "You're so helpful, Bekah," he sighed, moving to look back out the window.
"I just want to know what crawled up your arse," Rebekah commented, continuing to chatter with Enzo afterward whilst ignoring both her brothers' obvious annoyance with the situation. Klaus concentrated on the bright city lights, his mind trying to distract him from what was really bothering him.
Caroline Forbes.
The blonde journalist had been distracting him for years, but never as much as these past couple of weeks. Her new engagement with Tyler Lockwood had thrown him for a loop. Personally, he and Elijah had heard nothing decent about the silver spoon-fed git that she was hell-bent on marrying. Not that he necessarily cares that much about her personal life.
That he would admit to anyone, that is.
He personally thought he cared way too much.
He'd spent all of last week trying to think of something to help make-up for all the times that he had "accidently on purpose" screwed up her interviews. Tired of arguing with her, no matter how beautifully flushing pink she turned during those times, Klaus wanted to start helping her move past the Herald. The interview with Ayana was the first stepping stone. Dinner started off so well; she seemed like she was having a good time.
Then he noticed the glint in her eye.
It was the same look she got when she was taking notes at a press conference (not that he watches that close). Then he noticed her hands twitching, the nervous ticking of her jaw, and the lumpy napkin.
He shut down towards her, regretting every single thing he'd done for her that afternoon. He didn't know who he was more angry at, her, Jenna, or himself for letting her get under his skin.
His sordid family history was a sore spot with him. Growing up the bastard child between the Mikaelson family matriarch and the bodyguard, Klaus was the odd man out when it came to the man who raised him. Mikael had made it clear growing up that Klaus was not his son, nor would he ever let him spend time with the man who had helped create him. His mother tried to overcompensate for her shortcomings, but when he hit 18, he left the family home and only kept in touch with his siblings and only seeing his parental figures during the holidays.
Propping his head up with his hand, Klaus continued to gaze outside the window. His jaw tightened when he thought of all the information that Caroline had gathered on him. Lots of the information was deeply personal, not something that he was quick to open up about. The fact that she of all people found out his deepest secrets, bothered him more than he was willing to show.
"Niklaus," Elijah interjected his thoughts quietly. He looked up at his dark-haired brother's concerned, inquisitive expression. "Are you all right, brother?"
Klaus nodded, "Ignoring our dear sister's nagging is a process that takes severe concentration."
Elijah lifted his eyes to the ceiling, not bothering to chastise Rebekah as she kicked Klaus discreetly with her stilettos.
Wincing at the deep bass sound, Klaus peered around the dark club. Rebekah had dragged them into the new club, Donovan's, citing the owner as an old high school friend of one of the Mikaelson's many secretaries. Club scenes were not his forte, preferring intimate bars and restaurants over the college-age scene. Skimming his eyes around the bar area, his gaze fell on a familiar flash of blonde hair.
Caroline.
Inwardly bemoaning his lack of luck, Klaus absentmindedly wracked his eyes over her lithe form. Her blonde curls were voluminously perched on her shoulder, the tight sequined skirt showing off her toned long legs. She was animatedly chatting with an attractive raven-haired woman wearing a tight bandage dress. When Caroline turned her body to the side, he got a flash of the pale skin of her lower back. Licking his lips subconsciously, he shifted his feet as his pants tightened a little bit.
She was stunning.
The brunette glanced in his direction, nodding towards him. When he saw her head start to turn towards him, he immediately averted his eyes amongst the crowd innocently. Rebekah and Enzo were murmuring behind him, something about getting a table. In a flash, Caroline's friend was making her way towards his group, her eyes trained on a spot next to him. Confused, he looked next to him to see Elijah innocently scanning through the crowd also. His older brother was oblivious to how the dark-haired woman was eying him predatorily.
He looked up, noticing a familiar pair of blue-green eyes looking in his direction. Roaming his gaze over her unabashedly, he felt a jolt when their eyes connected. She was watching him curiously, her face formed into an almost guilty look. Pursing his lips together, he set his jaw and narrowed his eyes as he looked away.
"Hey there, Handsome," the brunette purred towards Elijah, standing in front of his brother with a hand on her hip. Elijah's eyebrows shot up in surprise, as Rebekah let out a shocked giggle. His eloquent brother was slightly shell-shocked at the sight of the woman.
"Me?"
Klaus rolled his eyes.
Amateur.
"Yes, of course you. I'm Katerina Petrova, also known professionally as Katherine Pierce from the Chicago Herald," she flirted, peering up at Elijah under thick eyelashes.
Klaus' eyes hardened and he leaned in to whisper to his siblings. "Don't tell her anything you don't want published."
Rebekah gave him a confused look while Elijah cocked his head to the side, looking down at the petite woman. "Reporter?"
"Off-duty," she shot back, glaring at Klaus. "Besides, I don't mix business with pleasure."
She whirled back around to Elijah with a smirk. "Can I buy you a drink?"
He looked affronted at the idea of her buying him a drink. "Shouldn't the male buy the lady a drink?"
Rebekah scoffed in Klaus' ear as Enzo chortled behind him. Obviously Elijah was as clueless as he had looked.
"Brother, when was the last time you interacted with a woman?" Klaus remarked, smirking at the dark glare his older brother sent him.
"I'm a 21st century woman," Katherine remarked, tossing her glossy curls over her shoulder. "But if you're not interested..."
She began striding away, the sway in her hips exaggerated. Elijah gaped after her, his mouth slightly hung open.
"Mate, are you blind?" Enzo asked. "The lady wants you to follow her."
Elijah looked dumbly back at Katherine, swallowing. He looked to Klaus mutely, his expression frightened slightly at the prospect of the vixen's interest. Klaus looked back, gesturing towards Katherine's form.
"Brother, if you let her leave, that will be your first and only offer of getting laid tonight."
Elijah's eyes widened and he immediately started after the raven-haired beauty. "Katerina!"
The Mikaelsons and Enzo watched the usual straight-laced Elijah unnaturally fumble after Katherine, chucking and shaking their heads.
"She will eat him alive," Rebekah remarked, taking Enzo's hand with a smile.
"Like a lioness," Klaus smirked, watching his brother interact with the brunette.
Momentarily distracted by his brother, he had almost completely forgotten about the blonde that had been occupying his thoughts earlier. Darting his eyes to the left, he looked for the familiar blonde curls, but was disappointed to notice that she was gone.
Inwardly cursing himself for caring, he nodded towards the bar.
"Drink?"
While she watched Katherine make her move on the clearly oblivious Elijah, Caroline moved her gaze onto the blonder brother. He was watching the exchange, clear amusement on his face. She recognized his younger sister, Rebekah, from her picture. She was affectionately whispering into a dark-haired man's ear that was standing with the group. He seemed far too close to Rebekah to be considered a family member, so he had to be a boyfriend of some sort.
Sipping on her whiskey sour, Caroline watched Katherine slink to the bar. The way Klaus' brother was helplessly staring after her, she knew she'd be on her own for the night. Gathering up her clutch and Katherine's, she began making her way to the bathroom.
Swaying slightly, Caroline studied her flush pink cheeks in the mirror. Her curls hadn't fallen yet and her makeup still looked almost perfect. She was almost pissed that she looked this good and Tyler had ditched her to work on some stupid lawyer case.
She stumbled slightly as she made her way out of the brightly-lit room. The alcohol had gone to her head rather quickly that night. If she didn't get any water in her soon, there would be hell to pay in the morning. She made her way to Katherine at the bar, pleased to see her friend and the formal Mikaelson brother getting along well. Katherine was giggling, flipping her hair over her shoulder as a rare gleam of pure happiness radiated through her eyes. Caroline smiled to herself, almost hating to interrupt the couple.
"Kat," she interrupted, catching the couple in mid conversation. They looked at her, almost surprised to notice that people other than them seemed to exist. She pressed her lips together and smiled apologetically.
"Sorry to interrupt but here's your purse. I think I'm going to head on home," Caroline rambled, weakly smiling at her friend's pout.
"Katerina, who is your friend?" the polite Mikaelson brother asked, cocking his head at her. He was looking at her with a kind smile, completely opposite of his brother (half-brother's) constant thrilling look.
"I'm Caroline Forbes," she introduced, sticking her hand out to shake his. "Katerina's best friend."
She threw Katherine a teasing look, mouthing "Katerina?" at her whilst shaking his hand. Katherine just grinned back at her.
"I must insist you join us for a drink," Elijah ordered, raising his hand to signal the bartender.
Caroline started shaking her head before Matt could even look up. "Oh, no. I can't impose. It's been a really long day at the paper and-"
"The paper?" Elijah asked. "You work at the Herald too?"
Caroline shot Katherine a confused look. Usually Kat was more aloof with men she had just met. "Um yeah, opinion editor."
Elijah looked at her cryptically before realization dawned on his features. "Oh, you're that Caroline Forbes. Niklaus has told me all about you."
Caroline's gut filled with dread and her blood ran cold. "Oh yeah?" she asked, nervously tightening her grip on her clutch.
"Oh yes, he's constantly going on and on about how great of a writer you are," he continued, sipping at the newly refreshed scotch drink Matt had placed in front of him. Caroline looked at him in confusion.
"He has?"
Nodding, he looked around her and pointed towards a private lounge area. "He's over there if you want to say hello."
Caroline whirled around, her heart pounding ferociously as she connected her gaze to Klaus' blue-eyed one. He was perched next to his sister and her boyfriend on a couch, both of them too wrapped up in each other to pay attention to his obvious annoyance. His jaw was set, lips pursed as his stare seemed to burn holes into her. Darting her tongue out to lick her dry lips, she shamelessly looked down his lean form cursing his inability to look anything other than perfect.
"I don't want to impose," she muttered, turning back to apologetically smile at Elijah.
"Nonsense," Katherine winked at her, pressing a full drink into the blonde's hand. "Go tell them that we will be over there soon."
"But-"
"Go," Katherine uttered, pushing her towards the lounge. She threw her nastiest glare at Katherine who blew her a kiss in response.
Wobbling on her heels, slightly from the alcohol and mostly from her nerves, she made her way over to Klaus and his companions. His eyes had widened briefly when he noticed her walking his way, but his face had shifted into a cool mask. She reached the entrance to the lounge, awkwardly pressing her lips together in what she hoped was a kind smile.
"H-hi," she muttered, cursing the way her voice shook. Klaus continued to look back at her, his face void of any emotion.
"Who are you?" the blonde sister, Rebekah, asked abruptly. She unsubtly gave Caroline the onceover, her eyes lingering distastefully over her black heeled-sandals. Caroline felt like she shrunk a foot under her scrutinizing look.
"I'm Caroline-"
"Forbes," the dark-haired man holding Rebekah's hand finished in his lush accent. "I know you."
"You do?" she and Rebekah both asked incredulously at the same time. Rebekah sent her a sharp look before turning to look at her boyfriend.
"Yeah, you're that blonde journalist that Klaus is always riling up," the man continued, grinning at the glare Klaus was currently sending him. "He can't get enough of you, darling."
"Enzo," Klaus muttered darkly to the other man. Caroline shifted her eyes to him, surprised to see the slight annoyed blush spread across his face. Chewing on her lip anxiously, she turned around to see if Katherine and Elijah were following behind to save her.
They weren't.
She hesitantly twirled back around. Enzo was grinning at her whilst Rebekah was looking at her curiously. She didn't dare look towards Klaus, even if she could feel his heated glare wash all over her body.
"Right," Rebekah continued, cocking her head to the side. "Nik had mentioned you once or twice."
Caroline sighed heavily, running a hand through her blonde curls. "You are not the first person to say that to me these past couple of days," she muttered, mostly to herself.
"I'm Rebekah and this is my boyfriend, Enzo Augustine. Frankly I imagined you to be a little more overbearing, but the night is still young," Rebekah cut her eyes at her. Caroline's eyes widened and she scoffed.
"I can really see the charming resemblance between you and your brother," she narrowed her eyes at her, plastering a fake smile onto her face.
Klaus chuckled lowly, the sound sending her pulse into overdrive. She lifted her stare to his, the smile dropping off his face the minute their eyes connected. Rebekah continued to inspect her as Caroline attempted to resist asking if a urine sample would be necessary for the examination. She ignored the three pairs of eyes watching her and drained the glass that she was holding in her hand.
"Impressive," Enzo quipped, lifting the corner of his mouth at her. "Rebekah and I will get you another."
"Oh that-"
"Is totally necessary," the blonde woman smiled at Caroline, her lips plastered in a fake saccharine smile. The couple ignored her protests and got up to leave the lounge, not before ushering her into the couch next to Klaus.
She didn't expect them to come back anytime soon.
Klaus' back was rigid with tension as she plopped herself down next to him. Inhaling slightly, she was hit with a whiff of his delectable cologne. She'd really never noticed before, but he really smelled good, all woodsy and spicy.
"Hi," she muttered, quickly taking a peek at him out the corner of her eye. Klaus' jaw tightened in response before he curtly nodded.
"Hello."
She bit her lip, feeling incredibly awkward. This was probably the most quiet Klaus had ever been around her since she'd known him.
And that's saying a lot.
"Having fun?" she tried again, situating herself to where she could look at him directly. Klaus sighed, taking a gulp out of his drink.
"No."
Well that was helpful.
"Me neither. I'm not one for the bar scene but Kat loves it so we decided to have a girls night," Caroline rambled. "I'm not much of a dancer or anything but the free drinks are nice."
She threw him a tiny smile, her shoulders slumping as he just nodded his head once. Wrapping her lips around the straw of her empty drink, she sucked noisily at the empty glass as she peeked back at him. The corner of his mouth lifted in amusement briefly at the sound before settling down to a stoic glare. She sighed, crossing her legs as she propped her head up by her fist on the couch arm.
"Where's Lockwood?"
His question was so quiet that she almost didn't hear him.
"Don't know," she replied. "Busy with work like usual."
She glared down at her purse, just realizing that he had yet to text her about coming over or whether or not he was still working.
"Pity," Klaus bit out, draining his glass.
"Excuse me?" she asked, cocking her head at him. His tongue darted out to swipe at his bottom lip and her eyes couldn't help but follow the motion.
"Lockwood is a bloody fool if he'd rather spend time working than with his undeniably beautiful fiancee," he remarked, his dark gaze turning on her. She swallowed heavily, his heated stare causing goosebumps to breakout across her arms.
She was so drunk.
"I need a drink," she offered up in response. He blinked, almost confusedly, before motioning for a waitress. Quickly ordering her another whiskey sour and him a bourbon on the rocks, he turned his curious gaze upon her.
"Why are you still here? Checking to find more family secrets?" he mused, a wicked glare in those deep blue pools. She rolled her eyes in response, leaning back against the couch.
"Listen, I know what I set out to do was wrong-"
He snorted into his glass.
"But," she continued, throwing him a sharp look. "You can't blame me for stooping down to your level. You've done stuff like that to me before."
"I hardly call writing an expose on my family and myself the same as messing up a few interviews, love," he bit out harshly, his eyes flashing with anger.
She scoffed, tossing her blonde curls over her shoulder with a huff. "Oh please, I do one wrong thing and you're pissed at me. But it's okay that you do multiple annoying things to me? What kind of logic is that?"
Klaus didn't respond, continuing to stare at her with an unreadable gaze.
"You don't understand," he began. "But I did all of it for you."
"What?" she asked, baffled. "That's utter bullshit."
How is ruining past interviews, making assumptions of her skill level, and being an all around general ass bettering her?
"I may be drunk, but I'm not stupid, Klaus."
"No, you're not. You're incredibly smart, Caroline. That's why it irritates me."
She sighed loudly, collapsing against the back of the couch. "You aren't making any sense!"
Glaring at him angrily, she absently bit her lip. His eyes followed the motion briefly before trailing back up to her eyes. Looking at him pointedly, she raised her eyebrows in impatience. Licking his lips, he opened his mouth to begin.
"Look-"
"Hey guys!"
Both Klaus and Caroline swiveled around, their eyes glaring daggers into the brunette journalist and her equally attractive male counterpart.
If looks could kill, Katherine would be dead and buried.
"Wow, you guys really can't get along can you?" Katherine mused, placing her hands on her hips. Elijah hummed in agreement, putting a warm hand on her lower back.
Caroline dropped her eyes to the floor, watching Klaus drain his glass out of the corner of her eyes at her best friend's comment. She forced a fake smile on her face and went to get up, swaying slightly from the alcohol she had consumed.
"This has been fun but-"
"Shut up, Care," Katherine interrupted. "We are going downstairs to dance and you're coming."
Caroline sputtered in disagreement, gesturing frantically with her hands. "You know, I think I've had enough for the night. Early day tomorrow. The apartment won't clean itself."
Rolling her eyes, Katherine laced her fingers around the blonde's wrist and tugged her forward. "Come on drunky."
"But-" Caroline protested. She looked behind her to see Klaus' being cajoled by Elijah to join them, his dark eyes flashing in annoyance. Her stomach dropped unexpectedly when their eyes met over her shoulder. Pushing her thoughts down, she passed by the waitress with her drink and snatched it up, throwing it down the hatch in one gulp.
Katherine cheered in response, both of them stumbling down the stairs to the dance floor. The area was filled with sweaty, writhing bodies, causing Caroline to wrinkle her nose in disgust. She noticed Enzo and Rebekah grinding in the middle of the floor, their faces pressed together and lost in their own world. The bass was pumping loudly and her ears were ringing slightly at the noise.
Katherine pulled her onto the dance floor, bouncing to the beat. Caroline rolled her eyes as her best friend teasingly rubbed against her.
"Come on," she shouted over the music, motioning towards the sweaty mob. "It's high time you cut loose."
Caroline looked around her, the crowd pumping her with adrenaline. She threw up her hands and began moving to the beat, giggling at Katherine's cheers. She swayed her hips playfully, dancing to the fast song. She felt a heated gaze on her back and she shimmied around to where she could see Klaus looking at her from the edge of the dance floor.
His dark eyes were watching her, raking over her body. She shivered at the heat she saw there, chalking it up to the amount of alcohol she had consumed that night. She continued to dance, training her eyes on his form.
She couldn't stop looking at him.
Biting the side of her lip, she closed her eyes and tipped her head back letting the beat carry her body. Turning around, she was happy to see Elijah join Katherine on the dance floor, even if the formal man was moving rather stiffly. She twirled, moving through the crowd towards Rebekah and Enzo who motioned her over. The blonde smiled slightly at her, turning to where she was facing Caroline. They danced for a little while, Enzo moving behind them.
"My brother is staring," Rebekah shouted over the music. Caroline's cheeks flushed, but she threw her hands up in the air and continued to sway with the music.
"Let him watch."
Rebekah let out a laugh, turning around and pulling her dark-haired boyfriend close.
That woman was going to give her whiplash.
The song changed, moving into a slower song. Looking around, she watched Katherine and Elijah with their arms wrapped around each other. Ditto with Rebekah and Enzo. Peeking at the edge of the floor, her heart sank slightly when she noticed that Klaus had disappeared.
Inwardly chastising herself for caring, she shook her head and began to leave the dance floor. A strong arm wrapped around her middle and she stumbled into a hard chest.
A very familiar looking hard chest.
"Allow me," Klaus murmured, wrapping both of his arms around her waist. She looked up at him, her heart racing in her chest. They looked at each other for a moment, their eyes connected. Caroline's brain was screaming for her to walk away but her arms had a mind of their own as they wrapped around his neck. He pulled her close up against his chest, and she let out a shaky breath. His scent was overwhelming and she closed her eyes to concentrate on breathing.
Their bodies swayed to the beat, both of them in refusing to look at each other. If she wasn't so confused, she would have laughed at the middle school dance-esque behavior She looked over his shoulder at Katherine, thankful that her best friend seemed to only have eyes for Elijah. Her hands tightened around Klaus' neck as the song hit the bridge. Klaus only pressed her more firmly against the solid planes of his chest. They continued to rock gently with the soft beat, both of them wishing and dreading the song to come to an end.
The beat changed into a faster song and Klaus moved to let go of her waist. She caught his wrist before she knew it and placed it back on her waist.
"Dance with me," she whispered, blinking up at him through her lashes. "Please."
If he was surprised, he sure didn't show it.
Boldly, his calloused hand pressed up against the soft bare skin of her back, sending electrifying shockwaves through her body. Her breath caught in her throat, the feel of his hands bringing goosebumps to her skin. She blushed furiously at her body's natural reaction to his touch, flushing even more when she felt his body's reaction to their dancing. Biting her lip, she turned around to where her back was pressed against his front. He pulled her closer, resting his hand on her stomach as their hips moved together.
They danced in silence, Caroline staring at the wall to avoid looking at what was sure to be a knowing look from Katherine. Klaus was looking down at her blonde curls on her neck as if he was mystified by them. His hands stayed safely on her waist until they accidentally made their way to smooth the expanse of her stomach. The warm feeling shocked her core and she jolted out of her Klaus haze.
Turning around, her forehead somehow ended up pressed against his equally sweaty one. His scent consumed her once again and she was drowning in him. She vaguely thought of Tyler and how she had never had such a potent, electrifying feeling dancing with him as she did right now with Klaus.
She laced her fingers into the curls on the back of his neck, sighing lightly in his face. Her eyes were closed, but he was looking back at her like her face held the secrets of the world.
She was stunning.
"I'm drunk," she whispered, her breath mingling with his.
"Me too," he exhaled. She opened her eyes, the gaze in them sending a jolt down his spine.
Their noses were touching and all it would take was one of them moving their lips a centimeter for them to meet.
"I'm engaged," she murmured, almost to herself as a reminder.
Klaus didn't say anything, his grip tightening on her waist. She thought he ignored it and then-
"I wish you weren't."
His words were like a cold bucket of water thrown over her. Her back stiffened and she drew her head away from him. His guarded blue eyes were slightly fearful as they looked right back at her. Caroline swallowed heavily, her tongue unable to find words to say. Her emotions and feelings were scrambled.
"I-"
His eyes gleamed back at her, a tiny bit of hope flashing through them. She was even more confused about him than she was before. She had spent the last two years thinking that her feeling of hatred between them was mutual, and now she didn't know what to believe. The tiny bit of hope and fear in his blue orbs made her stomach drop and her heart pound.
God, what is wrong with her?
It's Klaus.
Tyler is her forever after, no matter what these foreign feelings she has right now are trying to say. She just sees a different side of Klaus, the vulnerable side. The side that she always tried to convince herself didn't exist.
He was still looking at her, his heart pounding furiously through his chest against hers. Embarrassingly enough, hers was doing the exact same thing.
Licking her lips, Caroline drew in a shaky breath. "I think I need to go home."
Klaus' face froze for a half second before a cool mask slipped over it. "Are you sure?"
She tried to ignore the slight hitch in his tone. Nodding her head, she stepped back away from him. He let go of her, feeling cool air touch her bare back where his hands had rested. She strangely felt empty, his dizzying effect on her finally lifting.
"Thank you," she began. "For the dance."
He nodded, shoving his hands in his pockets. His lips were set in a thin line as he dropped his gaze to the floor, displaying a rare show of vulnerability. She opened her mouth to say something to him, anything. The words escaped her and she lost her nerve.
Calling out a meek goodbye, Caroline wheeled around and made a beeline for Katherine who was dancing very R-ratably with Elijah. Klaus' gaze was burning holes into her back, but she kept her head high and strode towards the brunette.
"Kat, I'm going to head out," she interrupted, sending a small apologetic smile to Elijah. Her friend blinked up at her and looked at her worriedly, pulling her to the side.
"You okay?"
Nodding, she forced out a smile. "Yeah, I just drank too much and it really just went to my head."
Katherine looked at her critically, nodding her head slightly. "Did Klaus say something or...?"
"Nope," the blonde responded hurriedly. "I just need to go."
Katherine still didn't look convinced and Caroline threw her a bright, fake smile.
"I'm okay. Promise."
"Let me go say bye to Elijah and-"
"Seriously, stay here. You've been dying to spend time with him and I'm fine," Caroline hastily replied. "I'll catch a cab and call you tomorrow."
"Fine," Katherine huffed. "You call me in the morning okay?"
"Promise," with that, Caroline hugged her quickly, waved politely to Elijah, and made a beeline for the door.
She had almost made it before she was intercepted by Rebekah.
"Leaving so soon?"
Forcing out a tiny smile, Caroline looked at the blonde. "Yeah, it's been a long night and I drank way too much."
Rebekah looked at her critically, almost like she didn't believe her. "You and Nik looked comfortable on the dance floor."
Caroline's heart raced and she drew in a breath to calm down.
"Yeah, well I'm engaged."
"Congratulations," Rebekah replied, shifting her eyes down to Caroline's ring. "I didn't know."
"Well, we just met," Caroline chuckled uneasily. The woman across from her smiled back, oblivious to her discomfort.
"Well, it was lovely meeting you. About time to put a face to the name," Rebekah offered, sticking her hand out.
"Same," Caroline agreed, a tiny genuine smile gracing her features. Rebekah had been a blast to dance with on the floor and if her sense of style was anything like what she was wearing that night, she and Caroline would get along well.
She called a quick bye to Enzo and hightailed it out the club door. She almost ran smack dab into the man she'd been trying so desperately to avoid. Klaus looked almost as bewildered as she felt, his blue eyes masking his shock.
"Fresh air?" she asked. He nodded, folding his arms against his chest.
"It was getting heated in there," he remarked, his slight innuendo not lost on her. She swallowed and threw her shoulders back.
"Yes, well goodnight," she nodded towards him, curtly steering around him. She heard his breath hitch as she accidentally brushed his shoulder as she passed.
She's drunk.
This doesn't mean anything.
Hailing a cab quickly, she refused to look behind her. She was almost positive Klaus was still watching her, whether because he wanted to make sure she was safe or because he just couldn't stop looking.
She knew the feeling.
Once home, Caroline was in a daze as she changed out of her outfit. She kept replaying her dance with Klaus over in her head, almost getting soap in her eyes when she washed her face because she remembered how his hand felt on her back.
She climbed into bed after taking a few Tylenols to offset her guaranteed hangover, her head still spinning with alcohol and Klaus' scent. It wasn't until she laid awake three hours later, that she noticed that Tyler never called or texted her that night.
What was more worrying is that she didn't seem to care.
Wow! A lot happened in this chapter! What did you all think? What did we think of Kalijah? Rebenzo? The Klaroline convo and dance? (which was my fav thing to write, like I'm super proud that it turned out like I wanted it to) Review please and tell me your thoughts! They really inspire me and keep me going :)
Up next chapter...the hangover from hell and a white flag :)
Until Next Time (follow me at she-walked-away on tumblr :))
Kaitlyn