A/N: Finally! I found time for another chapter! Sorry, I know this has been long overdue, but I'll do my best to keep it updated. Please keep reading! :)

"Are you sure about this?"

"Positive."

I was back at the Mikaelsons the next day, gym bag in hand, bottle of water in the other. I caught Enzo having coffee bright and early that morning. He knew I wasn't one to exercise at all, let alone in the morning, but he didn't ask. Based on the look on his face, he was probably just surprised to see me get up and do something for a change.

But enough was enough. I was doing something.

"Maya, finals are in two weeks. Shouldn't you be studying?" Kol asked, eyeing me carefully.

"That's exactly why I have to do this," I sighed. "I can't concentrate since that day. I can't study and jump every time Enzo opens the door. They're in two weeks, and I need to concentrate. I need this. And what's with all the questions, anyway? Weren't you the one who agreed to all this yesterday?" I asked, tying my hair up in a ponytail.

"I know, I know, just making sure. Don't want Enzo to come looking for me if you show up bruised this evening," he said smiling. "Alright, let's begin," he finally said, unzipping his jacket, revealing a black wife beater underneath, which might I add, hugged him in all the right places.

Damn it, Maya, this is not the time. Concentrate.

"Lesson one…" he started, completely catching me off guard as I found myself sprawled on the ground, with him somehow having tackled me.

"…never allow yourself to get distracted," he grinned, offering me a hand.

"Wha – I wasn't distracted."

"Sure. Lesson two… don't lie to yourself," he smirked, still waiting with his hand open.

This was going to take a while.

"Alright, listen to me," he said when I finally got off the ground. "This is serious. Do you trust me?"

"Huh? You saved my life, Kol, of course I trust you." I answered matter-of-factly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"That's not enough," he replied. "What if that was just luck? What if next time, I'd rather save my own life?"

"… I don't know," I answered finally.

"Exactly. You don't know. Now this thing can only work if there's trust between us."

"But now you just made me doubt my trust in you," I replied confused, looking at the ground as he circled around me.

"I want you to truly believe that you trust me," he said. "Go stand on that bench over there."

I looked over the shoulder at him, confused as ever. "Go on," he encouraged, gesturing with his head, and I did as he asked, slowing lifting one foot in front of the other, trying desperately not to get dizzy. This better be good.

When I was on the bench as he had asked, he proceeded by saying, "Now, close your eyes."

"One step ahead of you there," I replied. Please don't let this lesson take long.

"Really? Why?" he asked.

"I'm err… I'm scared of heights," I answered, not sure if I should have said that. My heart was beating louder with every second. Was this really a good idea?

After a moment of silence, I heard him speak. "Fall backwards."

At that, I opened my eyes. "What?" I stammered, looking at him, eyes wide open.

"You heard me."

"Did you hear me? I'm scared of heights!"

"Do you trust me enough to know that I will be here to catch you?"

"Umm…" This was hard. He wasn't just asking me to trust him, he was asking me to face one of my fears. Sure, it was just a bench, but it seemed more than that from up here, and my heart pounding in my ears wasn't doing me any favours.

"Maya?" he asked after what seemed like forever.

I turned back around, focusing on the grey wall that was three inches from my face. Breathing slowly, I closed my eyes, focusing solely on my breathing. I allowed my head to be cleared of everything but pure thoughts. And I let go.

And found myself in Kol's arms, looking up at his chocolate brown eyes.

"Perfect… that wasn't so hard now, was it?" he smiled as he pulled me up to my feet, but not letting go. "Now we can start."

The next few weeks went by quite smoothly, involving a very routine schedule of waking up, going to class, spending a few hours with Caroline in the library to study and self-defense lessons with Kol. Nothing out of the ordinary, just plain and simple, just the way I needed it to be. Concentrating was becoming easier, as well as sleeping at night, but I still refused to sleep without some sort of light in my room. The darkness was still overwhelming. Masked men still threatened to make an appearance in my dreams, three weeks later. But at least I could do it with the door closed now… Enzo deserved that. I know he hadn't been having a good night's sleep either, and it was my fault.

That doesn't mean I wasn't still paranoid. I was on my way to one of my finals, nose in 'The Handmaid's Tale' reviewing some quick quotes, when I stopped cold.

I was being followed, I could feel it.

I tried to ignore it, but the feeling wouldn't go away. I quickened my pace, willing Sanders Hall to just show up in front of me already, but of course not. Why would it? It's not like I had paranoia issues or anything.

I could feel my pace quicken even more, my heart beat even faster. The pounding felt louder in my chest and ears, and cold sweat was starting to make its way down my neck.

No. This wasn't going to take control over me. Not again. Concentrate, Maya. Concentrate. What was it that Kol had told you to do during situations like these?

"Step one: stop walking and think. You cannot walk and think at the same time, not when you think someone's after you."

"Step two: breathe." After a short pause, he came closer, resting his hands on my shoulders. "Maya, I said breathe. You're thinking too much." As my eyes slowly regained focus, I realised he was right. I had been holding my breath.

"Sorry," I mumbled. "Didn't you say I should stop walking and think?"

"We've done the thinking. We've stopped and analysed the situation, that's all the thinking we need to do. Now we need a clear head. Is your head clear?"

No. "Yes."

"Maya."

"Ok no."

Kol sighed. He made his way behind me, his hands still resting on my shoulders. "Ok for one thing, you're too tense. Relax your shoulders, you need to be flexible." No shit I was tense… his hands on my shoulders were sending shivers down my spine. My body felt tingly all over.

"Maya?" Damnit, I really needed to concentrate.

"Right. Relax. Got it." I shook my arms and stretched my neck in an effort to release all the tension from my body. It helped… somewhat.

"Now, close your eyes." I did as I was told. "Focus on your breathing. Listen to nothing but my voice; block out everything else." His voice was velvety smooth against my ear, before I felt a sudden coldness come between us, and I realised he had gone to the other side of the room.

I was about to turn, when he stopped me. "Don't move," he said, almost expecting me to. "Focus only on me. The sounds I'm emitting. Nothing else."

Nothing else. I tried to block out the other sounds: the birds outside, Klaus' classical music while he was mixing paint in the room next door, Elijah talking on the phone somewhere upstairs. I focused on Kol. He had stopped talking now, but his body was still speaking. I could hear the creaking of the floorboards under his feet as he slowly made his way across the room.

He was almost behind me.

I closed my eyes again, took a deep breath in, and –

"OW WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!"

"Kai?" I turned around to look at the victim behind me, and saw no one else but Kai, doubled over, his arms wrapped protectively around his stomach.

"Yeah… what's left of him," he wheezed.

"What the hell are you jumping on me for?! You know I'm all jumpy right now!" I retaliated, placing my hand gently on his back in an effort to make sure he was ok.

He straightened up… or tried to, at least. "I would hardly call that jumping… you just karate chopped me!" He shouted, still surprised his breath had been knocked out of him.

"Sorry," I answered. "Kol's been teaching me…"

"Oh, has he now? Well it's working, I'll give him that… hey, you free after school?"

"Uhh, no, sorry, I have to – "

"– Let me guess, another Kol session?"

Was he seriously doing this? "Um, yes, Kai, another Kol session. It's been helping me." The tone in my voice came out slightly more accusing than I had intended, but still, I didn't like the hidden meaning in that question. He did seem like he was accusing me, after all.

"Yeah ok, sure… doesn't explain why you have to go all awol on me."

"Seriously? Kai, what is up with you, you know I haven't been myself lately. The least you could do is show your support!" I couldn't believe he was doing this. Kai, my best friend, of all people.

He opened his mouth to speak, but I didn't give him a chance to. I started making my way to Sanders Hall yet again, turning my back on him. "You know what, Kai," I started. "I don't have time for this. I have a final to get to. See you around."

"Maya, I'm home!"

No answer. Enzo absentmindedly put his keys in the bowl next to the front door, and started making his way to the kitchen. I had heard him, I just didn't want to wake up from my little cocoon. Damn you, Kai. I had probably failed that final because of you.

I presumed that he had almost arrived at the kitchen and then decided against it, because suddenly I could hear his footsteps changing direction and coming closer. At least that's what I thought, I wasn't exactly looking. I was sprawled on the couch, my back to the world.

And that's where he found me, curled up, head nuzzled between two cushions. It was a wonder I was actually breathing. Stupid Kai.

"Maya?" he asked again. I didn't bother replying – he could see me anyway. I heard him go back to the kitchen and return just as quickly, when I felt the weight on the couch being shifted, and I found myself resting on his lap, covered in a blanket.

"Ok, kiddo," he started, waving a marshmallow in front of me, waiting for me to open my mouth and take it. He always did that when I was sad… bless him. "Tell me what's wrong."

"What do you want, Kai?"

"Enzo… is Maya here?"

"She is."

"Can I…. uhh… speak to her?"

"No, you cannot."

Huh. Straight to the point. Kai just stood there, feeling nothing less than an idiot. Which he was, there was no point in saying he wasn't. He looked back up at Enzo, looking nonplussed.

"Come on Enzo… I just want to talk to her."

"Look, Kai," Enzo lowered his voice to a whisper, stepping outside and keeping the door ajar behind him. "Even if I let you – which I don't – she doesn't want to talk to you. So the best thing you can do right now is give her space."

"I was an idiot, ok? I get that," Kai sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "I said some stupid things, I know Kol is helping her. I guess… I guess I just miss her. I just feel like I haven't seen her in ages. It just came out wrong, and I need her to know that."

"Just give her some time, Kai, ok? I'm sure she'll forgive you, you're her best friend. Just give her time. In the meantime, take care of yourself."

Enzo closed the door on that awkward encounter, looking out of the window next to the door as if seeing Kai out. Kai stole one last glance towards the closed front door and sighed as he put his hands in his pockets and made his way back up the street. When Enzo was sure Kai had left, he returned to the kitchen, where he found me typing away on my laptop. I looked up from the screen and smiled before returning to my assignment.

"He's gone, crisis averted," he said, as if answering the question pondering in my head.

"Thanks," I replied, ticking away.

"You're not being too harsh on him, are you?" he asked carefully before grabbing a beer from the fridge.

I simply looked at him, raising an eyebrow in question. "Excuse you?"

"Right. Sorry. Never mind." He opened his beer bottle, still eyeing me. I shifted between looking at him and the screen, knowing full well he wasn't done yet.

"It's just that –" There it is. He had that look in his eyes, I knew he wasn't going to let it go.

"What is it Enzo? A raised eyebrow usually means stop talking. Wasn't it raised enough?" I closed the laptop screen, giving up. Clearly this assignment wasn't going to be done right now.

"No, believe me, it was. It's just," he started, setting his beer bottle down on the table. "It's Kai. You love Kai."

"Uh-huh. The point? Shouldn't you be on my side?"

"Maya, I'm always on your side. The point," he pulled out a chair, sitting down next to me. "Is that he said he misses you. When is the last time you hung out with him?"

"I – I don't remember," I answered finally, seeing his point.

"He used to practically live here. Now I'm not saying that what he did was right, because it wasn't. He shouldn't have said that; he should've known better. But… cut him some slack. Nowadays you're either stuck here, in the library, or next door. Well technically you always do that, except the next door part. I guess he felt it too."

"But Kol helps me get through this, he should understand that," I countered.

"Yes, yes he does. But Kai could help you get through this too. Did you give him a chance?"

"SUMMER! Oh, I've missed you."

I had been waiting for Caroline to come out of her final exam that finished thirty minutes after mine, when I suddenly heard her distinctive squealing and saw her blonde curls bouncing amongst a mob of students. She was ready for summer alright… she was dressed in the most summery summer dress she owned, brightening up the campus with arrays of flowers on a bright yellow background.

"Yep, it's definitely been missed," I replied, grinning in relief.

"What are you doing today? I already texted Rebekah, we're going to the beach later. You should come with!" Caroline said, practically jumping with excitement.

"I should, but honestly, I'm tired. I think I'm going to skip today," I said, already regretting the look of disappointment slowly showing up on Caroline's face. "Hey, we have a whole summer ahead of us. I promise I'll call you tomorrow to hang out, okay? I just need to rest."

"Boo… okay fine, but take care of yourself okay? And don't be a stranger, I'll come stalk your house everyday if I have to."

"Scout's honour!" I smiled at her before making my way back home. Finally, Summer. Now I could go home, have a nice cold shower and not do anything all day. And read. I could read again! God, I've missed that.

I opened the door to my house, expecting Enzo to be lurking somewhere inside. I kicked off my sandals as I placed my keys in the bowl before calling for him. "Enzo, I'm home!"

"Hi, Maya," came the reply.

Hold on, wrong voice. That wasn't Enzo's voice. Who was in my living room? I carefully grabbed an umbrella from the coat stand next to the door and cautiously made my way to the living room, ready to attack.

I slowly crawled against the wall, feeling droplets of sweat starting to form, creating a little film between the palms of my hands and the umbrella I was so tightly gripping. It's now or never. I gripped the umbrella tighter than ever before, turned the corner… and stopped just in time.

"KAI?!" I yelped, holding on to my chest in fear that my heart would burst right out in fright.

"What the – Maya, did you not hear me say hi?!" Kai was just as equally shocked, defending himself with a cushion he found on the couch. A cushion. Kai, ladies and gentlemen.

"What is it with you continuously trying to scare the living hell out of me?" I yelled, putting down the umbrella, resting it against the wall.

"Well… what is it with you going all Chuck Norris on me all of a sudden?" he countered. "You know what, never mind. I came here to apologise."

"For what, the breaking into my house or the not understanding I needed space part?" I asked. "Where's Enzo?"

"He had a party. He's the one that let me in." You shall pay for this, big brother. "And I was going to apologise for the latter, but I guess I'll apologise for both."

I stood there, arms crossed, waiting for him to continue.

"Look, I was an idiot."

"That is true. Go on."

"It's just… it's always been the 'Maya and Kai Show'. I miss you, Maya. And I want to help you. I guess it hurt me that you would have rather got help from someone you barely know than your best friend. I get it, Kol was there too. But, that day scared me too, May. I thought I was going to lose you. And I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something had happened to you and I wasn't there to help you."

I rested my back against the wall, listening.

"That's why I was so determined to help you get through this. I needed to know that I could do something to help you. But it's ok. If you needed Kol to help you get through this, then I'm ok with it. As long as I get my Maya back," he smiled.

"That, and we have a tradition, remember?" he added. "Slasher movie on the first night of summer."

Oh right, the tradition, how could I forget? For the past three years, we had always watched a slasher movie, even though they always scared the begeezus out of us. The living room always ended up in a mess of popcorn, nachos and a ripped cushion or two (I mean it, they scare the begeezus out of us).

He was right, though. Enzo had told me the exact same thing. I had abandoned him, I hadn't really given him a chance, I just swept him aside, and he didn't deserve that. He had helped me through tough times before, why was this any different?

"Scoot over, you doofus," I said finally, smiling at him. "What are we watching this time?"

"Nope. I am not doing this. Nope."

"KAI don't leave me alone in this. Freddie's about to attack, I know he is!"

"Yeah well, tell him I said hi."

"I'd rather not," I mumbled through the cushion. Yep, this cushion wasn't going to come out of this alive.

"KAI!" I screamed again just as Freddie jumped out of nowhere to attack his next victim. Why do we watch these films? Why? Wasn't I having enough nightmares already?

"Well, on the bright side, I think I'm done dreaming about masked men after this," I half-whispered as Kai came back from the kitchen, before I noticed that he hadn't come back empty-handed. "Uhh… Kai?" I was scared to ask.

"If I'm watching this, I want to be prepared," he replied matter-of-factly, handing me a frying pan and a wooden spoon.

I stared at the objects in my hands. "And what am I supposed to do with this, Kai, bang him to death? You do realise this is fictional, ri- HOLY SHIT STOP THAT!" I yelled at the screen, throwing a fist of popcorn in protest.

"Maya, it is 11pm and I am taking no chances," he yelled back like his life depended on it. "And just in case it wasn't obvious, I'm sleeping over tonight."

"Kai… it's FICTIONAL. It's a nightmare on ELM Street. We don't even live on Elm Street, we live on Amber Mill Street. So would you just relax? Freddie is not going to make his way through my front door. You're giving me a heart att –" I stopped cold.

"What? What is it?" he whispered, oblivious to the massacre that was going on on the screen behind him.

I grabbed his hand. "Tell me you saw that."

"Saw what?"

I slowly turned him around to face the direction of the front door, where I was 99.9% certain I had seen a figure.

"Oh shit… THAT!"

100% certain.

Still grabbing his hand, I put the film on mute and grabbed the frying pan, while Kai grabbed the rolling pin. Maybe these things actually could come in useful.

Slowly making our way in the dark, I felt my way through the corridor with Kai tagging along close behind. Yes, in the dark, because why would it ever occur to us to turn on the lights?

We're the epiphany of idiots.

In the dim glow of the streetlights that were faintly shining through the window, I could make out a figure approximately two or three feet away from me, a figure, which looked horrifyingly like… Freddie.

I must be going out of my mind. Freddie's fictional… right?

Squeezing Kai's hand, I mouthed, "Three, two, one… now!" And we started attacking like our lives depended on it… and were answered with a whole chain of swear words.

And this is when I turned on the lights. I'm a genius, really.

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE –"

Someone kill me, right now.

"SWEET MOTHER OF MOTHERS, ENZO, YOU SCARED THE LIVING DAYLIGHT OUT OF ME! WHY DIDN'T YOU TURN ON THE LIGHTS?!"

"I THOUGHT YOU WERE ASLEEP! EXCUSE ME FOR NOT BOTHERING YOU"

"And what are you wearing that for? Do you want to kill me?!" I wasn't wrong when I thought I had seen Freddie. There he was, my darling brother, dressed up in a Freddie costume, mask and all. My life was still flashing before my eyes.

"Didn't I tell you – him," he said, looking squarely at Kai, "that I had a party today?"

"I think you forgot to mention the part where it was a Halloween party in the middle of summer," Kai mumbled, backing away slowly.

"And what is all this?" he asked, referring to the frying pan in my hand. "You can't just go running around going all karate kid on people… they'll think you're crazy!"

"You can if they're dressed like THAT!"

"You're idiots. Both of you."

Disclaimer: I have never, nor will I ever, watch 'Nightmare on Elm Street'. So what I wrote is purely what I imagined it to be. Just go with it.

Also, I hope you like the chapter! Don't forget to post any reviews :)