Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews! I appreciate it, hope you guys like this chapter big drama.

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Chapter 5: Flashback

"Jeremy," Caroline giggled falling backwards onto the mats in the gym. He climbed on top of her and kissed her gently.

"Caroline," He mumbled, kissing down her neck. She liked that he almost never called her "Cara," not so much because she disliked the nickname, but mostly because it made her feel grown up to have a boyfriend who called her "Caroline." "God I want you."

"Not like this," She shook her head and kissed him. He sighed and sat up. "I just, can't, right now."

"Are you nervous?" He whispered and started nibbling her ear. "It's not like it's,"

"Stop," She said, "OK? I just, need some time alright?"

"Alright," He whispered and kissed her. "Do you like want to talk about it or whatever?" She looked at him.

"No!" She shook her head. She hated talking about it. She hated thinking about how ridiculous the whole thing had been. How stupid she was. Everything just added up to be horrible, "I mean, there's not a whole lot to say."

"He was a dick about it," Jeremy shrugged. Caroline nodded.

"Well, he got expelled and I didn't," She sighed, "So you know, I guess there's justice." He kissed her.

"There sure is." He laughed and kissed her. "You know that's when I realized that I liked you. When you almost got kicked out and I realized that you weren't going to be around anymore." She smiled, he was being really sweet. She kissed him again.

"So," Pam asked that afternoon as she and Caroline sat in the paper office, "How'd it go with Jeremy?"

"Fine," Caroline shrugged, typing her latest article about the school's decision to start serving vegetarian chili, "Tofu or not Tofu?" It was corny but well, it was a high school paper. "You know whatever." She sighed and Pam looked at her.

"Did you?" She asked. Caroline sighed and shook her head. "Why not? He's so hot Cara."

"Yeah, but I don't know," She shrugged, "After last year, I think I might cool it." Pam rolled her eyes.

"Whatever, I'd give my left arm to be you right now," Pam sighed, "You're dating the hottest guy at Eden Hall, and because of that internship you get to spend more time than ever with," She nodded towards Mr. Tierney's desk. They both giggled. The prospect of as much one on one time with Mr. T as possible was a nice thought. "When do you start anyway?"

"Tomorrow," Caroline said, "My parents are like uber tense about it. Even Rick is like all freaked out."

"Whoa," Pam said, "So how weird was it that Emmy thinks that Jack Germaine is hot?"

"Weird," Caroline nodded quickly. Almost too quickly, trying to cover that she'd had the same thought on Saturday night.

"And this," Mr. Tierney walked over, "Is someone you must know. Our paper's star, Caroline." Caroline looked over. Her jaw dropped. "Caroline, you obviously know Mrs. Vanderbilt."

"Of course," She said, "Um, hello."

"Hello Caroline," Kathy Vanderbilt nodded. Mr. Tierney walked away quite confused, he knew this wasn't the way a grandmother and granddaughter typically greeted each other. "You've grown up quite a bit."

"It's been six years," Caroline said simply, "That happens." She'd only met her grandmother once, at her grandfather's funeral six years before. "I'm sorry that was rude."

"How are your parents?" Kathy asked.

"They're fine," She said, "And Richie too."

"You have a lot of your mother in you." Caroline smiled. She knew this. She also knew that Kathy didn't mean it as a compliment. "Your father's eyes though." Were they really going to dissect her facial features? "I've been meaning to call. We recently came across a trust your grandfather set up for you and Richard." Caroline raised her eyebrows. Money, the reason these people weren't in her life. "Two million for each of you."

"Two million dollars," Caroline dropped her jaw. Kathy nodded. "I um,"

"You wouldn't get it until you were eighteen of course," She said casually, as if this was normal, "And I expect that you'd use it for college. My lawyer will contact your parents soon I'd imagine." Caroline nodded still speechless. "It is good to see you."

"You too," She managed. "I'll give my parents your best."

"Would you like to get something to eat?" Kathy asked. "I have always wanted to know you Caroline."

"Nothing ever stopped you," She said quietly. Kathy nodded.

"Your parents stopped me," She said simply. "Well, your mother did." Caroline tightened her lips and closed her eyes. "Is something wrong?"

"My mother wanted you to be a part of my life," She said shortly, "It was my father who kept me from you. And if you had maybe come to a single important event in my life, all of which we extended invitations to, he would have been more receptive to your involvement."

"You are your mother," Kathy nodded. Caroline smiled defiantly, she knew it wasn't meant as a compliment, she suddenly got a flashback, they happened occasionally spotty, memories from when she was little.

Four year old Caroline sat on her bed pulling her pillow over her head, trying to drown out the yelling. Who was that lady? And why was Mommy so upset? She knew it had something to do with Daddy not being home, but she also knew that if she asked Mommy would cry again, and she hated seeing Mommy cry.

"Like hell I'd give up my daughter," She heard her mother's elevated hysterical voice


"Well, you could take it to court," The new lady said so calmly it was scarier than Mommy's yelling, "But I doubt you could afford that. Have you found work yet? I'm sure that English Lit degree is proving helpful."

"I think you should go," Mommy said. "If Scott wants to discuss this with me he can. I'd rather you not come back here." Daddy! If that lady took her away would she get to see Daddy! But then she'd have to leave Mommy, the whole thing was not what she wanted at all.

"I'll take that as a compliment," Caroline said crossing her arms, "I don't need your money, we've gotten this far without it. I'll pay for college without that trust, thank you." Kathy laughed, and Caroline suddenly got quiet.

"Caroline," She said simply, "You don't really think you escaped expulsion last year because they actually believed that poor boy took advantage of you. You are a Vanderbilt, and I had to see to it that the family name stayed clean." Caroline swallowed, "There was a sizable donation made in your name to this paper actually." Kathy pulled a pair of leather gloves out her purse and put them on, "That is the kind of thing your father would keep from you. He's such a child about unpleasantness. You can thank me some other time dear. It was good to see how you're growing up." Kathy walked out the door.

"Is everything OK Cara?" Mr. Tierney looked at her. She nodded. "You look pale, you should go back to your room, you can get your story to me tomorrow, and don't forget about your internship."

"Right," She nodded and walked outside and swallowed. How could they not have told her? If her grandparents money saved her ass, she'd always just thought she was lucky. She felt like an even bigger idiot than when the whole thing happened. She took a deep breath and walked towards the boys dorm, what was the point now? She was a total fraud.

"Hey Caroline," He smiled, "I knew you'd change your mind baby." She kissed him. He pulled her close.

"We don't have to talk do we?" She asked softly.

"No honey," He smirked, "We don't have to say a word." They kissed each other and she moved over to the bed. She lay under him, not really moving or reacting much. To be honest he wasn't much good at it. The whole thing was terribly awkward. After she lay quietly holding onto him. "Is there anything you want to tell me?"

"No," She shook her head. She just couldn't tell him what had happened, it was way too pathetic. It was nice though, the way he was holding her.

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