Part 12

Veronica's first girl's night without Lilly went well. Caroline and Rebekah got along pretty well, they watched movies, ate what her father had cooked for them and did each other's nails and hair. Caroline had been surprised when Klaus didn't go out of his way to spend time with them and as she watched him interact with Veronica, she was seeing a new, improved Klaus.

The girls had fallen asleep in front of the TV and Caroline woke up slightly to see Klaus turning the TV off and placing blankets over them before hushing Kol away.

Klaus cared. He had a heart and he cared. It was going to be harder for Caroline to stay away from him and to stop her heart from falling for him.

To change her mind from her present troubles with Klaus and Tyler, Caroline decided to push Veronica to compete in this year's Miss Mystic Fall's competition and with Rebekah's help she managed to convince her to at least try.

Veronica had her doubt. She wasn't cut out for beauty pageants but Lilly insisted and managed to guilt her into entering the contest.

"I still need an escort. Who am I going to dance with?" Veronica asked.

"Tell you what, if you don't find someone before then, I'll be your escort." Jeremy promised her that day at lunch.

While Rebekah went shopping with Veronica for the perfect dress, Caroline had other problems to deal with. A werewolf named Hayley had arrived in town and intruded herself in Tyler's life. They had apparently met while Tyler worked on breaking his sire bond and Caroline didn't like her one bit. Hayley appeared to be too confident and a bit arrogant, certain she knew what was best.

Of course Tyler assured his girlfriend that Hayley was just a friend but then why was she staying with him and not somewhere else? Why was she always around? Why couldn't they get a moment alone together since she arrived and why did she insist on speaking with the hybrids that were still in town, asking Tyler to find a way to get more of them back?

"I swear we're constantly fighting over this. I just don't trust her and he thinks I'm being silly and jealous." Caroline told Veronica while they looked for the best way to dress her hair for the pageant.

"Are you?" Veronica asked her, knowing her father wasn't far and could hear it all.

"No, I just have a bad feeling about this girl. She has a secret agenda, I know she does." Caroline insisted.

"Maybe dad could try to get the truth from her or something… I find it odd too that she keeps asking Tyler to call more hybrids in town. There were 3 of them before she arrived and now there are 8… What is her goal?" Veronica wondered.

"You've met her too right?" Caroline asked her.

"Yes, two days ago at the Grill. She was rude and arrogant. I definitely didn't like her. I fought myself not to taser her." Veronica replied.

"Well, then this is proof that I'm not being silly. Tyler is just… I don't know… like… under her control or something." Caroline scrolled.

"Do you still love him?" Veronica asked her new friend in a quiet voice.

"I… I don't know… It feels like too much work to just tolerate him right now. I keep telling myself that I need to be patient, that when he realizes that I'm right about Hayley things will be right again but should it be so hard?"

"I don't know… you're asking the wrong person about love advises. I'm not exactly partial either." Veronica replied honestly.

"What do you mean you're not partial?"

"I mean I'm rooting for you to choose my father eventually but it doesn't mean that I don't care about your feelings. I think you might need to listen to your heart here, as cheesy as it sounds." Veronica told her honestly.

"You really think I'd be happy with Klaus?" Caroline asked her.

"Of course."

"He's your father…"

"You'd be like my step mother or something." Veronica giggled.

"Yeah, that might be a bit weird… You think I should break thing of with Tyler and give Klaus a chance don't you?" Caroline asked her.

"I do. But I also think that you need to take some time to yourself after Tyler and before my dad. You can't just jump from one to the other, you need to be completely sure about your feelings."

"How can someone so young be so wise?" Caroline asked in wonder as she looked at her friend who blushed and looked down a minute.

"Tell her to go see Tyler now." Lilly said as she appeared.

"What? Caroline, Lilly just appeared and she wants you to go and see Tyler now." Veronica relayed the message.

"Tell her to be ready for heartbreak." Lilly added before she left again.

"She said you need to be ready for heartbreak… She's gone now." Veronica said and Caroline nodded before she rushed out of the bedroom and out of the house in vampire speed.

.

When she arrived at Tyler's house, Caroline was as silent as possible and heard Hayley talking to Tyler about convincing 12 hybrids to break their sire bond so they could attack Klaus. Tyler wasn't even trying to argue it and when she came closer, Caroline saw Hayley and Tyler naked on the couch of his father's office.

Rushing to the werewolf female and holding her by the throat against the wall, Caroline tried to compel her to tell her what her plans were while Tyler was trying to argue his defense. Of course Hayley was prepared and couldn't be compelled so Caroline took a page out of the Original's book and plunged her hand in the werewolf's chest. As her hand squeezed around her beating heart, Caroline finally got the confession she wanted:

"I need 12 hybrids to go after Klaus so he can kill them and finish the second sacrifice of the expressionism triangle. He's the only one that can get away with it. Shane said that I had to." Hayley explained, tears running down her cheeks.

"Shane is dead and you will be as well if you don't leave town in the next hour. If I see you again, I'll kill you. I'll even use my influence on Klaus to make sure there are always people looking for you. It's a life on the run for you bitch." Caroline said as she released the girl.

Then she turned toward Tyler and rushed to him, snapped his neck and left the room as Carole arrived.

"What is going on in here?" The mayor asked, eying Caroline's bloody hand.

"Ask your son's whore. I'm not his girlfriend anymore. We're over. I'm done trying to help this jerk." Caroline snapped before she left the house and went back to her house.

.

"Caroline broke up with Tyler and figured Hayley's plan. The bitch was going to trick you into sacrificing 12 of your hybrids to complete an expressionism triangle." Veronica informed her father as she came to seat by his side.

"Does she need anything?" Klaus asked, worry in his voice.

"I think she just needs some time alone for now but she did ask if you could make sure that Hayley had to run for a while." Veronica replied.

"Done." Klaus smiled before he took his cell phone out and started making calls to grant Caroline's wish.

So, this is part 12... What did you think?

I hope you like and, please don't forget to review.

Lorelei Candice Black