Your reviews are awesome guys, thank you! You have made my week :D And new followers and favourites? Pinch me! Okay, here's Chapter 5. I loved this one!

"Maya! Are you getting ready for your wedding day in there? We have to be there soon."

"There will be enough burgers for everyone, Kai. Stop whining."

"You don't know that."

Preparing for the barbecue that was going to start in thirty minutes, I was currently in the bathroom putting on the outfit that Caroline had previously prepared for me on the bed, accessories and all. The purple floral dress had now been paired with a denim jacket and my brown buckled ankle boots, and a simple gold pendant with a delicate 'M' on it. Kai was waiting for me in my room, and he was obviously getting restless.

When I was decent enough for Kai to see me, I went out of the bathroom and saw that he wasn't alone. Enzo was there, having his – can you guess? – daily rendezvous with Damon. Obviously.

"Doesn't my room have any privacy?" I asked to no one in particular, knowing full well what the answer was.

"Nope," Enzo replied bluntly. There it is.

Kai took a good look at me as I made my way to the mirror and said, "Wow, looks like I'm going to have the most awesome date at the barbecue."

Did I hear that right? "What?"

"Excuse you?" Enzo eyed Kai, giving him a glare only my brother could master.

"What? I didn't say anything. What? You know what I mean." If there was one person Kai was afraid of, it was my brother. Although three years had passed since we first met, Enzo couldn't help but truly act like the big brother he is every time Kai was around.

I turned back to the mirror to do my hair, when I promptly heard a whistle.

"Damon, you did not just whistle at my little sister." And he even became over protective when there was Damon, because, well, Damon.

"What? She looks good," he pointed out from the other balcony. "You should wear dresses more often."

"Yep," Kai jumped in, still admiring the dress. Now they were making me feel awkward. I hated having attention drawn to me.

Even Enzo had had enough. "Okay, you," pointing at Damon, "You're done here. I'll see you at the barbecue." He didn't even give his best friend a chance to finish his sentence, as he promptly closed the curtain.

"And you," this time pointing at Kai, "I'm watching you. Take care of her, I need to leave. The mayor wants me to help with something at the barbecue. I'll see you there."

"Didn't know I needed baby-sitting," I said, now putting on some make up. "But okay."

"Your brother scares me," Kai said aimlessly, as Enzo closed the front door.

The barbecue hadn't started yet, but a lot of people had already turned up and were waiting for the festival to start. I couldn't see Caroline, but I could see that she, and the rest of the committee, had done a great job. The park was divided into different sections: on one side, the stage, where the Mayor would give the opening speech, and that would later give welcome to the festival with the kick-off concert; on another, the children's play area, that included a bouncy castle, puppet shows and face-painting; and the actual barbecue area, which had numerous barbecues all set and ready for the afternoon ahead, as well as plenty of seating room for the hungry. The chefs that had volunteered to take part were already preparing their food, setting the coal and making sure that everything was in order.

You could immediately feel how tight the community was through the atmosphere. Children were running around, playing tag and screaming with not a care in the world, admired and beamed at by young and old alike. Friends who hadn't met each other in ages started talking about old memories, reliving them as if it were just yesterday. Families took in the scene, pushing strollers and holding their young children's hands, making sure they don't wander off. Even stray dogs and cats were running around like there was no tomorrow. It was an event that was held once a year, and every year, everyone looked forward to it.

"Maya! There you are, I was looking for you," I heard Caroline say from behind me.

"Oh, hi Caroline. Amazing job, as always. This place looks great!" I complimented her.

"Thanks," she said with a grin on her face. "So, are they here?"

"Is who here?" Kai asked, looking around to get a glimpse at whoever he thought we were looking for.

"Not yet, I think," I replied, ignoring him.

"Who?" he asked again. The guy was determined, I'll give him that.

"My neighbours," I finally answered. "Caroline here wants to meet the Mikealson brothers."

"Ahh, makes sense," he said.

"You're one to talk," Caroline told him, slapping him on the shoulder. "Maya told me you were practically drooling when you saw Rebekah."

"Did not!" he gasped, exaggerating the reaction and going all diva-mode.

"Please, I could practically wipe off the drool from the ground," I said.

"Why? You jealous?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

"You wish," I replied simply.

We all made our way to the main stage as it was time for the opening ceremony. The mayor was now on the stage, along with her son Tyler, who had a face that said there were a million other places he would rather be than up there, but he didn't really have a choice.

"So where's the food?" Kai asked, not really bothered with what Mayor Lockwood had to say.

"Be nice," I said, hitting him in his stomach with the back of my hand. "Pay attention."

"But I'm hungry," he whined. "I can smell it," he said, turning his nose to whichever direction the smell was coming from.

"And without further ado – " the mayor said a few minutes later.

"See, she's done," I said, turning to face –

– A middle-aged man who was in desperate need of a shave.

And he's gone.

As the mayor and Tyler went off stage to make way for the first guest, New Downfall, I scurried around to find Caroline, knowing full well she would want me to help out with something.

"Maya!"

I turned around to see who was calling me, and found Rebekah making her way through the crowd towards me. And I could see that she wasn't alone.

"Hey, Rebekah," I smiled, trying not to make it obvious that my heart had skipped a beat when I saw the person next to her.

"Maya, I've been looking for you everywhere, I don't know anyone! You remember my brother Kol, right? I believe you've met?" she said, gently touching her brother's shoulder, nudging him forward.

"Yes, we'vemet," he said, smiling at me. There was that heart attack again.

"Uh, yeah, hi again," I managed. What was it with this guy?

"Did you get your books to the library okay?"

"Uh-huh." Remember how to speak, Maya. Remember. How. To. Speak.

"Great, glad I could be of help," he said. "I'll leave you ladies to it, best find my brother. Maya." He gently touched my arm as he left, and not to sound cliché or anything, but I totally felt sparks going up my arm. I am sounding cliché, aren't I? Damn it.

"Maya?"

"Hmm?"

"Where did your mind wander off too just this second?"

Oh, nowhere. Just to the Land of Perfection that is Kol.

"What do you mean? I was here, paying attention to you, obviously! Ha!" This was going horribly bad, I could feel it.

"Uh-huh," she grinned. There you have it.

We wandered around the park, checking out what the festival had to offer and trying to find Kai, who still hadn't shown up. Knowing him, he was probably gobbling down a whole steak, timing himself to see if he could break some sort of record. I have my records, he has his. We make a perfect pair, I know.

As we were going round, we met Tyler and the mayor, who graciously welcomed Rebekah to the neighbourhood and asked her to make sure to tell her if ever a problem arose. I could tell that she was having fun. She might not have known anyone, but she definitely had more social skills than I did. For starters, she didn't forget how to function every time someone cute came along. I knew she was going to fit right in.

"Girls! Enjoying it so far?" Caroline came rushing towards us, hugging us both.

"It's amazing, Car. Don't know how you did it," said Rebekah.

"What can I say, I have a gift! Come on, the hot wings challenge is about the start!" Caroline said, eagerly pushing us forward.

"Hot wings challenge?" asked Rebekah.

Ahh, the hot wings challenge. Every year, the committee holds a hot wings challenge, where a number of challengers try to finish a plate full of the spiciest hot wings around in the least time possible. And let me tell you, it does not disappoint. I have never taken part, but it never hurts to watch!

Gathering around the crowd, I looked around to see if anyone I knew was taking part. Tyler, the reigning champion, had already taken his place in front of his plate, and was waiting for his victims, scouring the crowd like a lion stalking its prey. Among the crowd, I saw my brother, Damon and Stefan, so I grabbed hold of Rebekah and moved towards them.

"Enzo, you taking part?"

"Nah, I'm getting too old for this shit. I'd rather watch, anyway."

"I'm going in," I heard someone from behind me say.

"I'd rather watch someone like him, for example," he grinned.

"Kai? You're going to participate? Are you sure you have enough space in there? You reek of barbeque sauce. And you remember how spicy they are, right?" I was sure all this was falling on deaf ears, but I tried anyway.

"I'm not going to let Tyler beat me again!" See? Told you. Deaf ears.

"But Tyler always wins," I pointed out.

"Of course he always wins, he's a hot head," Kai said matter-of-factly.

"Careful, he's the mayor's son! And your friend, last time I checked."

"Yeah, he is. Doesn't make him any less of a hot head. I'm doing this Maya!"

"Uhh, okay then. Don't say I didn't warn you." And off he went.

"Idiot. Does he not remember how hot they were? There's no way I'm participating after last year. I ended up with blisters for four days. It's not worth my awesome lips," Damon shuddered, remembering a time he very evidently wanted to forget.

"Oh boy, look who else joined the party." As we all looked at the table, I could see who Rebekah was talking about. Klaus had joined in too, with a suspiciously smug look on his face.

"Does he know what he's getting himself into?"

"That's Klaus for you. Never backs down from a challenge."

After they had rounded up a few more competitors, the challenge was off, and the screaming started. One by one, competitors gave up and left the table, unable to bear the heat the wings were giving off. Soon, only three were left: Tyler, Kai and Klaus. Kai was off to a good start. Tyler was as cool as ever, clearly having the technique down to a T. But Klaus, Klaus was on a whole other level.

"Drink, you dimwit! DRINK!" I screamed. I didn't know if I wanted to laugh or cry or bang my head against the wall at that point. The sight in front of me was really one not to be missed. Kai's face was on fire, he was just standing there, banging his hand on the table and jumping on the spot like there was no tomorrow. If this were a movie they would have totally special effected some sort of smoke coming out of his ears.

"You know my brother's going to take him down." There it was again. That voice. That sweet, angelic –

Get a grip, Maya.

"Like hell he – mneh, you're probably right. But don't tell him I said that." Hey, would you look at that… I remembered how to speak! Three cheers for Maya, y'all.

"I won't… if you let me buy you a drink."

What now? I could see Rebekah eying me from behind. From what I could tell through the look on her face, the look on my face was priceless.

"Oh, uhh, I'm flattered, but I don't drink when I'm at these events. I keep it strictly G-rated." Was I really saying this? There must be something wrong with me.

"As was my intention, darling. At least for now."

Of course. Damn it.

"Oh. Well uhh, sure, then," I smiled, as he gave me a quick nod and left to get the drink. God, I was hopeless. I mentally facepalmed myself.

"Holy crap, look at that guy, he's a wolf!" I heard Caroline say, and saw that she was referring to Klaus, who was at it like a demon that had just escaped from hell.

"That's one of the brothers," I whispered in her ear.

"Oh, is he now?" Oh dear. This wasn't going to end well.

In the meantime, Kai had apparently had enough, and although still slamming on the table, was now begging for surrender. The war was now between Klaus and Tyler, and by the looks of it, it was anyone's game.

"Told you," Kol said as he reappeared, this time with a coke in hand, which he gave to me.

"Okay, smarty pants, I got it the first time. Poor guy didn't stand a chance," I said, taking the coke. "Thanks, by the way."

"My pleasure," he smiled. Oh, that smile.

"What poor guy?" came Kai's voice from behind. He was evidently sweating like a pig, almost fuming at the mouth. Even his voice came out raspy. He was lifting his shirt, fanning himself with it, desperately trying to let some air pass through.

"Uhhhh…. The guy who lost the winning lottery ticket?" I gave him the cold bottle of water I had been holding for him, as I'd knew he'd need it after.

"What ticket? Oh thank God, you're awesome," he said, greatfully taking the bottle from my hand and placing it on his head. Not what I had in mind, but okay.

"Nevermind. Kai, this is Kol. Kol, meet Kai," I said, introducing the two.

"Kai. That's me. Best friend. Right here."

"Okay, Kai. I think he gets it."

"Always a pleasure to meet Maya's friends. I'm the new neighbour, one of them, at least. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to congratulate my brother, who just won, apparently."

In the midst of all the chaos that is Kai, we hadn't realised that the competition had ended and there was now a new reigning champion. Tyler was not happy about this.

Kol started to walk away, when he suddenly turned back and with a smile said, "I meant what I said before, by the way. About the drink. Expect to hear from me very soon." And with that, he was off.

Someone pinch me?

"Drink? What drink?" Kai asked.

"You ask a lot of questions. It's nothing," I answered abruptly.

"It's nothing my ass. You have a date!"

"Don't sound so surprised. And I don't. Yet."

"Yeah, I'll give it a week."

"What?"

"I don't like him."

"Uhh, again. What? I thought you said you liked that family."

"Yeah that was before I met Prince Cocky over here and the carnivore back there."

"Don't be so over-dramatic." I stopped in my tracks. Something was off about him. I noticed he had slowed down his pace. "Hey, hold on, are you ok? You don't look too good."

"Actually, I don't feel too good either. My body is just oozing water," he said. I touched his face; the poor guy was burning up. He wouldn't stop sweating and I was pretty sure he was starting to feel dizzy. The bottle of water I had given him was long gone.

"Yeah, I don't like the way you're looking right now. Let's get you home and get you an ice pack, yeah?"

Carefully, I draped his arm over my shoulders and started taking him home, making sure to tell Enzo where I would be before leaving, and thanking Caroline for a great event. When I arrived home, I quickly lay him down on the sofa and got him some ice which I draped in a towel. Sitting next to him, I gently lowered his head on my lap and slowly started patting him with the ice, trying to cool him down. That's what you get for trying to act like a hero and eat all the hot wings in the world, I thought. But that's Kai for you.

"You're a huge idiot, you know that?" I smiled at him mockingly, letting my fingers flow through his soft, brown hair.

"But you love this huge idiot, really," he grinned, half asleep.

"How could I not?" I laughed, closing my eyes and dozing off too.

So, what do you think? It's a bit longer than the others, there was so much I wanted to include about the barbecue, I couldn't stop! Let me know :)