A/N: Here's another update for you all! Last chapter broke 200 reviews so I want to thank you for everyone who has contributed comments. You're awesome.
This chapter broke the 100,000 word mark. That's crazy!
I just want to address those who have commented urging me to keep this story in line with the events of season 4. I apologize for disappointing you, but when I first set out to write this fic that's not something I had ever intended to do. I wanted it to set off from season 3, but then unfold through my own ideas while trying to maintain the characters "in-character" as much as possible. Originally, I wanted to have this fic done before season 4 so that it wouldn't clash with the real story on TVD, but given the fact that it premieres this week, it doesn't look like that will happen. I hope you'll stick around to read this regardless!
With that said, I hope you all enjoy the season 4 premiere! I'm sure you're just as excited as I am. Let this chapter help get you through the next few days. I hope you like it.
As always ignore the grammar and spelling stuff and pass me along your thoughts when you're done reading.
For a few seconds he was taken back to the night she had confronted him at this very bar. She had scolded him for staring so rudely at her.
He turned around to find her standing similarly to how she had been standing that night; an arched eyebrow and a hand on her hip; he noticed the hand on her hip was decorated with his bracelet.
This time she looked unimpressed as well as worried.
She was dressed up for something; which he quickly concluded was the Miss Mystic nomination party - or whatever Tyler's mother had referred to it as. As usual, she looked flawless. She was dressed in a strapless navy blue satin form fitting party dress. Her hair hung in loose curls around her face. Her smoky eyes made her glare more penetrating and her silver open toe pumps brought her nearly to his height as he stood up to greet her.
He cleared his throat to compose himself and hide the fact that he had just shamelessly checked her out.
"I've been texting you all afternoon," she complained.
"I know, I'm sorry," he apologized right off the bat, knowing an apology from the start would do more to put him back in her favour.
Elijah had taught him that trick.
She looked at him confused and unsure, but her facial expression began to soften.
"After everything that happened last night and everything that almost happened, I just needed some space and time to clear my head," he lied.
"So is that why you lied to me about seeing your mother?" she questioned. "I talked to her earlier, she said she hadn't seen you," she added.
He could feel his face draining of blood knowing she had caught him in a lie, but he could still recover from this.
"Yeah...I just didn't want you to get the wrong impression; that I was bailing because of our conversation," he said.
"Klaus," she interjected.
"Yeah, about Klaus," he replied.
"We need to talk about him eventually," she reminded solemnly.
He shook his head.
"I know...and we will," he promised. "I just want one day to enjoy the fact that I'm alive and forget about all the shit that's happened, okay?" he explained.
Really, he just wanted to avoid having to talk about himself while he was in Tyler's body. He didn't want to fake Tyler's reactions.
She nodded hesitantly.
"Okay," she said softly.
He exhaled in utter relief. More than not wanting to fake Tyler's reactions, he was anxious about what she had to say.
"You look radiant," he complimented her, before he had the chance to wonder whether the word 'radiant' was even in Tyler's vocabulary.
That was trick number two. Complimenting a lady was a sure way to regain her favour. It wasn't purely a trick though. She was beautiful.
She blushed and eyed him skeptically.
"I completely forgot that your mother was throwing the Miss Mystic nomination party tonight at the Grill. This was in the back of my closet. I think I wore it to some Formal in sophomore year," she said self-consciously.
"You look great," he reassured her.
She smiled at him appreciatively.
"Thanks," she relented. "I'll have to go shopping before the official nomination ceremony at the Founder's Hall though," she thought aloud
His ears perked up at her mention of the Founder's Hall.
"Isn't this the nomination party?" he wondered, fishing for more details.
She rolled her eyes.
"Tonight everyone is invited to vote for a nominee. The votes are tallied and then the top five are officially nominated as contestants in the pageant at the ceremony at the Founder's Hall," she explained. "I thought I explained this to you a few weeks ago?" she wondered.
He shrugged.
"So when is the 'official ceremony'?" he asked.
"This coming Saturday," she replied. "I was kind of hoping you'd still be my date for it," she admitted as she played with her hands anxiously.
He knew she was referring to the possibility that he'd refuse once she told him whatever she had to tell him about Klaus - er him. But this was too perfect. He needed a way into the Founder's Hall to retrieve his body and now he had it.
"I don't think that will be a problem," he told her, garnering him a look of surprise from her.
"That's good," she said before exhaling sharply.
"So what time does the party start tonight?" he asked.
"Seven o'clock," she told him.
"Then you can have dinner with me first?" he inquired.
She looked over at Tyler's mom and the rest of the people helping to set up.
"I probably shouldn't. I'm already late as it is. I should be helping," she said guiltily.
He looked over at Tyler's mom who was preoccupied by a clipboard.
"My mom probably hasn't even seen you, yet. We'll grab a booth in the corner," he urged, leading her across the restaurant towards an empty booth.
If he was going to be stuck in Tyler's body for at least another day, he was going to take advantage of it and enjoy himself, he thought; only to an extent of course.
Caroline seemed suspicious, but he disregarded it. Her delight over his sudden burst of spontaneity seemed to overpower any concerns she might have had.
The same waitress brought over his plate of nachos and handed them both new menus.
He ordered another whiskey and coke to keep Tyler's mother of his back.
Caroline eyed him in horror.
"Tyler, your mother is right across the room, if she see's you drinking, she'll be the one to kill you," she scolded him.
He laughed.
"Hence the Coke," he smirked at her as he turned to the waitress. "Make that a whiskey and Coke...and...a rum and Coke," he decided finally, recalling the drink she had ordered once he had finally convinced her to have one with him their first night at the Grill.
She was shaking her head, but she seemed pleased that he had ordered her a drink nonetheless.
The waitress returned speedily with their drinks and Caroline eyed her glass reluctantly.
"Live a little," he urged her.
She passed him a half smile but remained hesitant.
"I just feel like we're celebrating, and we shouldn't be, you know, with everything that's happening with Elena," she sighed.
He shrugged.
"Well if surviving the Council is not sufficient to drink to, then I suppose drinking to forget about all the bad shit is just as sufficient," he argued.
Another smile tugged at the corners of her lips and she nodded in agreement, sipping on the drink eagerly.
He followed suit.
"I guess you heard about what happened with the Council then?" she suspected.
He nodded.
"It's ironic that Klaus ended up being the one to save us," he pointed out.
She shifted in her seat anxiously.
"Yeah, it is ironic," she agreed blankly, before taking a long sip of her drink.
The mere mention of him seemed to strike a chord with her.
He would change the subject for now.
"So...how is Elena?" he inquired, curious to know whether or not Bonnie had actually succeeded.
"I went to see her this afternoon," Caroline informed him. "She seemed in good spirits, but I know she's just trying to put on a brave face for everyone. If they can't find a way to reverse the transition process by tonight, she told me she's going to complete it. She doesn't want to become a vampire, but she doesn't want to leave Jeremy alone either," she said.
That was the bond of siblings he supposed. Oddly, his would have seen him desiccated for more than a century in a deal they made with Elena. He supposed he probably had that coming given that he had kept them in coffins for decades at a time.
From discussing Elena they moved on to more lighthearted topics of conversation, mainly revolving around school, graduation, and prom. She had tried asking him questions about the 'football' team, but given his ignorance regarding American football, he was quick to change the subject back to her.
After a second drink and an intense talk about what she should wear to the Miss Mystic nomination ceremony she had loosened up a bit. He never knew someone who could speak that enthusiastically about a single item of clothing, and the fact that she could amused him rather than annoyed him surprisingly. He supposed he was just relieved to see her distracted and seemingly happy about something even though he could tell she was still on edge; that something was still preoccupying her.
They were just finishing their meals when a throat cleared to get their attention.
He looked up to see Rebekah standing at the end of their table.
Caroline's face immediately turned sour.
Rebekah glared bitterly at him.
"What a surprise it is to see you alive and well. How unfortunate it is to discover that the whole bloodline clause was a hoax," she said to him.
He had to remind himself that it was Tyler she was talking to and not him so that he wouldn't take the insult personally.
Before he could respond, Caroline did the honours.
"What the hell are you doing here? Better yet, what the hell are you still doing in Mystic Falls?" she growled.
His sister seemed taken aback by her extreme hostility.
"I live here," she retorted. "I can do that now that Alaric is dead," she said smugly.
Caroline scoffed and slammed her utensils down.
"Well after you killed Elena to kill Alaric so that you could stay here, nobody wants you here," she hissed.
Normally, he would have felt inclined to defend his sister, but his current bodily situation prevented him from doing so and he felt that his baby sister was getting exactly what she deserved. And besides, he was deriving amusement from watching the two bicker back and forth.
If he had been in his own body he would give Rebekah a piece of his mind too. Sure, she had done exactly what he himself had planned to do before his desiccation, but that wasn't the point. The point was that she acted prematurely and impulsively. If anyone was going to kill Elena, it should have been him. Thinking about how much of Elena's human blood was wasted as a result of Rebekah's actions enraged him.
He could tell that Caroline's words had gotten to his sister, but only he could tell that. Her stone-cold demeanour gave nothing away.
"I wonder how my brother would feel about you out to dinner with him," Rebekah said, turning a disgusted stare in his direction.
"Leave, now," Caroline said between gritted teeth as she stood up from the booth.
Caroline was becoming more agitated by the second. He could see the tears in her eyes.
Rebekah smirked.
"First Elijah wanted to flee to spare Elena, and then he gave you that. You have no right to wear that bracelet. Elijah should have never given it back to you," she told Caroline.
And that was the straw that broke the camel's back.
"Shut up!" Caroline growled, backing Rebekah into a corner.
So it had been Elijah who had given the bracelet back to Caroline. And apparently Elijah still had a soft spot for the doppelganger, he mused.
He stood up from the table himself to moderate the situation.
"You have no idea what you're talking about," Caroline spat, pushing Rebekah against the wall.
That final action garnered the attention of the remaining restaurant patrons who weren't already staring.
"Girls!" Tyler's mother scolded, preventing his sister from retaliating.
Both Caroline and Rebekah mustered their most innocent expressions.
"I don't know what the problem is here, but this is not the place to deal with it," she chastised them. "The Council is keeping a very close eye on you both," she said under her breath. "Caroline, I need you at the stage, and Rebekah, I think you should leave."
Caroline nodded as she retreated for her things at the table.
His curiosity had been piqued. The Council had spared Tyler and Caroline in exchange for his body, but how had his brother and sister manage to fall under the Council's good graces?
"Mrs. Lockwood, my apologies. Caroline and I had a small misunderstanding. It's settled now," Rebekah assured Tyler's mom as she glanced sweetly in Caroline's direction. "I was coming by for the Miss Mystic nomination party. I hope to be officially nominated," she informed them.
Caroline's sour expression returned while Tyler's mother seemed appeased by Rebekah's apology.
Of course, the fact that his sister was wearing a dress appropriate for such an occasion should have made the purpose of her presence at the Grill clear to him.
"As you know, my ancestors were the original settlers of Mystic Falls," Rebekah announced proudly.
"Of course," Tyler's mom replied agreeably, but anxiously.
Caroline scoffed.
"Mrs. Lockwood, could you please show me where you enter to be a part of the pageant?" Rebekah asked politely.
"Certainly," Tyler's mom responded as she turned to lead Rebekah away.
"I can't believe her!" Caroline complained, before downing her third drink.
At that point she began to realize that Tyler had been sitting there the entire time; a witness to her entire confrontation with Rebekah, including for the parts about him – Klaus.
She rubbed her wrist adorned with the bracelet self-consciously as she glanced apologetically at him.
"Tyler, I'm sorry," she said. "I – I..." she was searching for an explanation or excuse.
"We'll talk later," he said flatly, trying his best to sound annoyed and bitter. "My mom needs you over there," he reminded her.
She nodded as she reached into her bag and pulled out her Miss Mystic sash.
After she hurried off for the stage, he made his way back to the bar, ordering himself another drink. He hoped the alcohol would prepare him for the acting role he would have later tonight; playing a pissed off and betrayed Tyler. Really, he couldn't be blamed for reacting that way if Caroline ever found out it was him in Tyler's body. Tyler would have reacted that way regardless he suspected. Maybe it was better if they fought; that way he could avoid Caroline until he returned to his body. However, that would mean having to find an alternative way into the Founder's Hall to retrieve his body. This was all under the assumption that whatever Caroline was going to tell "Tyler" about Klaus would upset him.
He paid half of his attention to the stage where Tyler's mom was giving a spectacle of a speech about the importance of tradition and the Miss Mystic Pageant. He could see both Caroline and Rebekah exchanging dirty looks with each other from their respective places.
Smirking to himself, he turned back to the bar to find Elijah standing at the bar stool beside his.
"Is this seat taken?" the well-mannered Elijah asked.
He shook his head awkwardly.
Elijah smiled faintly and sat down beside him.
"Scotch on the rocks, and..." Elijah called to the waitress, eyeing him and his empty glass expectantly.
"Whiskey and Coke," he mumbled embarrassed, jerking his head towards the stage to point at Tyler's mother.
Elijah smirked and nodded in understanding and ordered him another.
He studied his brother closely. Perhaps he knew of the body swap? Perhaps he didn't? He couldn't be sure.
After Elijah's little agreement with Elena, he decided it was best not to inform his brother of his latest reincarnation; at least not until he had his own body back. He had to keep his guard up. He couldn't trust Elijah.
"Before I say anything more, I want to apologize for my sister's behaviour. I assure you I had no part in her actions. I am sorry for what happened to your friends Matt and Elena," he explained.
That he had yet to be completely certain of.
"I'm sure you are," he retorted sarcastically, thinking it would be something Tyler would say.
"I must say, for obvious reasons, I am surprised to see you here," Elijah pointed out, referring to the fact that he was sired by Klaus.
"You and me both," he acknowledged, taking a sip of his drink.
Elijah gave him a knowing smile.
"I'm curious to know what happened to you last night..." he inquired.
He shrugged.
"I felt this excruciating pain; I felt like I was transitioning and then I blacked out," he lied.
Elijah seemed confused.
"I guess that whole bloodline thing was bullshit," he added.
Elijah laughed faintly and nodded. "So it would seem."
"I'm also surprised to see you here given the fact that Alaric exposed you and Caroline to the Council prior to his demise," Elijah stated.
He was under one of Elijah's famous inquisitions he groaned to himself. He could say nothing about his body being with the Council.
"My mother pulled some strings and called in a few favours. I guess the Council wanted Klaus more than us," he said, hoping that would be enough to quench Elijah's curiosity.
Elijah nodded.
"I should be asking you why you're still here since the Council obviously knows that you and your sister are related to Klaus," he countered, eager to find the explanation.
"I guess the Council wanted a balanced municipal budget this year more than they wanted Rebekah and me," he informed him. "I made a generous donation to the town coffers this morning," he explained.
He suspected that some of that money had more than likely belonged to him. He would have to address that matter with his brother when he was back in his own body.
He shook his head in understanding.
"The moral malleability of humans never ceases to amaze me," Elijah observed.
"Well I think it's going to take more than money to get everyone off of Rebekah's back for what she did to Elena," he said, knowing it might be something Tyler would say.
Although it was coming from Tyler's lips, he hoped Elijah would heed his warning. If he knew the Salvatores well enough, he knew they were likely already planning a revenge scheme against his sister. He might have been upset with her, but he was still going to look out for her.
"I know. I hope to redress the situation," Elijah answered.
They sat there together for a few moments in silence, drinking and watching Caroline as she got up to say a few words about the Miss Mystic Pageant.
He watched her in awe as she addressed all the Miss Mystic hopefuls and their supporters. He marvelled at how she could act as though everything was perfect; that nothing was wrong.
"I wasn't aware that Miss. Forbes was Miss Mystic Falls," Elijah noted from beside him. "It makes sense though. She's very charming."
He got the distinct impression that his brother was more familiar with Caroline than he was letting on.
"She is," he agreed.
Indeed, she was. Somehow at some point she had completely charmed him.
"You're very lucky to have her," Elijah added.
Again, he had to remind himself that he was Tyler and not himself.
"I am," he acknowledged.
Once Caroline was done her short – and he suspected slightly improvised – speech, Tyler's mother opened the nomination process.
Elijah finished his drink and placed a few bills on the bar top. Elijah's honesty amused him. He could have easily compelled the drinks for free.
"If you'll excuse me, my sister is counting on me for a vote," he mused as he slid off the bar stool.
"Thanks for the drink," he said as his brother turned for Rebekah.
Upon finishing the drink that Elijah purchased for him, he ordered another. Getting through being in Tyler's body for a length of time was going to require alcohol.
As the actual voting for the Miss Mystic nominees drew to a close a DJ took over and began to play the usual annoying dance music that young people seemed so enthralled with.
He considered that his cue to leave, but he recalled implying to Caroline that he would wait until she was done.
With the ringing of the dance music threatening to make his ears bleed at any moment, he was beginning to prefer the idea of discussing Klaus – him – with Caroline as Tyler.
He noticed his sister making small talk with some of the other girls, but Caroline was nowhere to be found.
His mind began to race as he anxiously scanned the Grill for her. He tuned in his hearing to catch her voice. Relief hit him when she could be heard behind him.
Turning in his seat to investigate, he noticed Caroline at the side entrance to the restaurant in a secluded corner talking to his brother.
She had a drink in her hand and appeared to be emotional.
He was ready to get up and confront Elijah until he noticed him give her a friendly hug which she reciprocated. Unable to resist temptation he eavesdropped in on their conversation.
"Again, I'm sorry for not believing you last night," she apologized.
"There's no need to apologize Caroline, if I had been in your position I would have jumped to the same conclusion. It makes perfect sense that I might want Elena dead. There's no harm done," he assured her. "If you need anything do not hesitate to ask," he told her before saying goodnight and exiting the restaurant.
Not only did Elijah have a soft spot for his doppelganger, he also seemed to have a soft spot for his girl. He found it unsettling, but he tried his best to not to jump to conclusions as Elijah alluded to in his own conversation with Caroline. Elijah was obviously aware of Caroline's relationship with him; perhaps he was simply trying to comfort her in lieu of his death.
He turned away when Caroline started in his direction.
"I'm surprised you're still here," she said as she sat down at the bar beside him.
"Why is that?" he asked dumbfounded.
She shrugged.
"You never just sit at the bar and drink. I thought for sure you would have left for Matt's or something; either because you were bored or because I scared you off," she mused.
He chuckled as he made a mental note to text Matt Donovan. He and Tyler were friends. It would be strange if Tyler avoided him, especially after what happened the night before.
"Well I'm still here," he reassured her.
She smiled appreciatively.
"Someone had to keep an eye on you and Rebekah," he joked.
She scoffed.
"Don't even get me started on her. I need another drink," she complained as she swirled the straw around in her nearly empty glass. "This whole night feels like it's been a disaster," she groaned.
"You did well," he reaffirmed as she signalled to the waitress for another drink.
"I'm glad the fact that I completely winged that speech wasn't noticeable," she laughed, accepting a full glass from the waitress.
He took a drink as she did.
"I noticed you talking with Elijah..." he started.
She paused with her glass raised and looked at him curiously.
Setting her drink down, she shrugged off his question.
"He was just apologizing for Rebekah," she informed him.
She was neglecting to add the part about her own apology; their apparent meeting last night; or Elijah's polite offer of assistance.
"He talked to me too," he responded.
A panicked look swept across her lovely features.
"He did? What did he say?" she asked.
"Just wanted to know what happened to me last night...he was curious to know how we got the Council off our backs...he so much as admitted that he blackmailed them into getting them off of his..." he recounted.
He could see her body relax.
"You know, when I first got here I was dead set against drinking or enjoying myself, but I really just want a few moments to forget about all the bad stuff too. I mean, I think we deserve to celebrate the fact that we're both still here and we no longer have to worry about the Council," she argued.
She seemed like she was forcing her excitement; trying to bury her pain.
"I know you'd probably rather be at some house party with a keg, but would you stay here with me?" she said, almost pleading. "We'll deal with everything tomorrow?" she proposed hopefully.
He really wanted to get their conversation about him – Klaus – over with, but again, he couldn't seem to resist her charm.
"Okay," he relented.
Her expression widened into a smile.
"To forgetting the 'bad stuff'" he raised his glass.
She touched her glass with his before finishing the rest of her drink in one final swoop.
Indeed, she was trying to bury something, he thought.
They drank casually a little longer, with no more talk of the Council, Elena, or Klaus – him. They talked about prom, graduation, and next steps, but he felt like she was holding back with him – with Tyler. Truth be told, he was holding back with her.
As the night progressed and Tyler's mother left, both he and Caroline consumed their fair share of liquor; although he felt relatively sober; Caroline less so. The alcohol was definitely beginning to outweigh the blood in her system. He could tell by her movements and giggles; and the way she kept bringing up old memories that he had no recollection of.
"And remember that time in elementary school when you put glue in my hair? I was so mad at you," she laughed.
He smirked and nodded, trying his best to play along. Really, he was just admiring the sight of her happy, even if it was alcohol induced.
Her laughter began to fade as she realized he wasn't as amused by the memory as she was.
"What's wrong? Something's wrong. You usually love talking about all the times you tortured Elena, Bonnie, and I in elementary school," she said worriedly.
"Nothing's wrong. I'm just wondering how someone so awkward in middle school became as beautiful as you..." he admitted, hoping that his joke didn't backfire on him.
Her eyes widened and her mouth went agape. She seemed surprised, impressed, and annoyed by his backhanded compliment.
"Shut up!" she said playfully. "Don't make me remind you of how awkward you were in middle school. One word: puberty," she snorted.
He snickered as she climbed off the bar stool.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
She grabbed him by the hand.
"You owe me a dance for that so-called 'compliment'" she chided him. "I know how much you love dancing," she mused sarcastically.
He followed her reluctantly. He wanted nothing more than to dance with her, but not like this; not as Tyler.
He tried his best to keep his distance from her on the dance floor without appearing to be rude. The crowd was not as big as it was the last time he was here with her so they didn't have to be as close, although her efforts to dance with him kept bringing them together.
It was short-lived though.
The DJ's set quickly broke into song that had played the night they were here together and both of them tensed awkwardly as they recognized the beat.
She eyed him questioningly as she stepped back.
"I need to go home," she declared.
With that, she turned hurriedly back to the bar and he followed her.
Tyler would have asked her what was wrong, but he never did. He had a pretty good idea of what was bothering her.
She pushed her way through the crowd of smokers gathered around the side entrance of the bar. Her eyes were glassy with tears but she managed to hold them back as Tyler followed her into the parking lot.
The cool spring air sobered her up, but only slightly. She was still buzzed.
She didn't feel bad about drinking. If she was being honest it had helped her get through the night. It had helped her forget for a few brief hours.
The song had brought her back to reality.
Her guilt and heartache had instantly returned as the memories she briefly shared with Klaus were retold with the music she had danced with him to.
How could she be here pretending to be the happy Miss Mystic Falls? How could she be here with Tyler? Drinking, dancing, and fooling herself into thinking she could just forget as if it was that easy.
She felt like she was suffocating. She was being suffocated by her despair and her guilt. Moreover, she was being suffocated by Tyler. He had been off all day. Something was up with him. She had a feeling it had to do with what she had to tell him about Klaus but she couldn't be sure. He was being so attentive and understanding despite everything. It didn't make any sense. It only made her feel guiltier. She had come so close so many times to being honest with him today it wasn't funny. She knew she would have to sooner or later.
Rebekah's words were haunting her too. Maybe Rebekah was right. Maybe she didn't deserve to wear the bracelet.
She reached her car in the parking lot and fumbled around in her purse for her keys.
"Caroline!" Tyler called after her worriedly.
He grabbed her wrist before she had a chance to open the driver's side door.
"Let me drive you home. You're in no condition," he protested as he draped his jacket needlessly over her shoulders.
"Tyler I'm fine. I only had a couple drinks. Besides, it would take a lot to kill me," she remarked, referring to her vampire state.
"All it takes is a piece of wood to pierce your heart," he reminded her.
She knew he was right. She was not completely immortal.
As she considered that fact she wondered if she would meet Klaus again in death. The distant sound of his voice telling her how completely stupid she was for even thinking that prompted her to relent to Tyler.
"Fine," she agreed.
He exhaled in relief and took her by the hand.
She wanted to pull away. She wanted to scream at him right here in the parking lot. Why the hell was he being so nice to her? Why did he care so much? She held back though. Maybe Tyler was turning over a new leaf? Maybe coming so close to death had changed him. Why was it such a concern to her? Why did she want him to be angry with her?
He helped her into the car and she slouched in the passenger's seat.
He said nothing more to her. He didn't even ask her what had provoked her sudden change of mood on the dance floor.
Maybe he was in denial. He had been avoiding the topic of Klaus all night. He claimed it was because he wanted to enjoy the night; to appreciate the fact he was still here to enjoy it. She respected that. But maybe he simply wanted to avoid the topic because he knew what she would say would destroy him and them.
When they arrived at her house, it was completely dark and her mom's car was gone.
She sighed and climbed out of the car.
Tyler was once more by her side, leading her into the house.
"Do you need anything?" he asked her.
"Tyler, I'm fine," she assured him as she stumbled into the front hall. "Trust me, the heels make me appear more drunk than I actually am," she laughed as she stepped out of them, granting her feet instant relief.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Yes!" she snapped, tearing his jacket from her shoulders.
He looked at her wide-eyed, completely surprised by her outburst.
More guilt; he was being nothing but nice to her and she had thrown it back in his face. She was completely unjustified. If anything, she should have been on her hands and knees endlessly thanking him for not abandoning her; for understanding.
She needed to stop pretending that Klaus was still alive; that at any moment he'd come through her front door and be standing right in front of her. She needed to focus on what she did still have. Sure, Klaus had changed how she felt about Tyler, but he was still here. In her buzzed state of mind she believed he could make her forget.
She leaned against the wall and eyed Tyler apologetically.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
He nodded.
"I do need something," she confessed.
"What?" he asked concerned, stepping towards her.
"Don't let the night be over yet," she said shakily. "I don't want it to be over. I need to forget about all the bad shit," she continued, referring to his earlier words. "Just for a bit longer," she said. "Please, just help me forget," she said pleadingly, on the verge of tears.
He looked at her confused and unsure.
"How?" he asked.
She practically fell into him and kissed him desperately.
He pulled away instantly and stared at her questioningly.
She kissed him again hoping to convince him.
He deepened the kiss as she stepped backwards towards her bedroom.
They were kissing frantically as if both wanted the same thing; to forget.
Her efforts to forget were so successful that she didn't even feel like she was kissing Tyler anymore. His kiss had changed; it was more possessive and longing; it was familiar, but different.
She kissed him harder and suddenly he recoiled.
He stepped back and eyed the floor shamefully.
"I can't do this," he admitted. "We can't do this."
She struggled to catch her breath as she stood there in confusion.
"Why not?" she questioned.
He shrugged.
"Because you're drunk," he said.
"I'm not!" she argued. "And even if I was, that hasn't stopped you before," she pointed out.
"You're buzzed enough to think this is what you want, but it's not," he argued.
She scoffed as she grew angrier.
"Don't tell me what I'm supposed want," she told him. "I want this," she declared as she reached for his arm.
He stepped back in response.
"You don't want me!" he shouted, grabbing her wrist and holding it up.
The bracelet slid down her wrist and fell against his fingers.
Tears hit her cheeks.
She ripped her arm from his grasp.
"So this has nothing to do with the fact that I'm drunk," she said bluntly and hurtfully. "It has everything to do with Klaus," she concluded.
He didn't deny it.
She knew this was it. She would tell him. She had no other choice.
"I slept with him," she admitted, tears falling freely.
She expected him to explode, but he stood there frozen and awkward.
"More than once," she continued.
"Caroline..." he hesitated.
"No. You're going to hear it all. I'm not going to stop," she protested.
She had begun a process of confession that she couldn't stop. She would tell him everything.
"I swear I tried to resist him at first...all his advances; saving my life, the bracelet, the drawing, the dress, everything. But I felt something; something I couldn't just send back to him. Then one night, I just stopped resisting," she explained. "My dad was dead, you were gone, everyone else was preoccupied with Elena and he was there...the only one there who listened to me; who cared about what I was going through, who could make me forget," she sobbed.
Still, he remained stoic and unflinching.
"I tried so hard to end things. I wanted so badly for you and I to pick up where we left off when you came back, but it wasn't working. My feelings changed. I didn't care about you the same way I did before him," she said.
She paused for a few moments as she examined the bracelet on her wrist.
"I hate him!" she confessed angrily. "He's hurt everyone I care about..." she trailed off. "But I hate him most for making me love him," she breathed.
She covered her mouth with the slip of her admission. She had intended to tell Tyler almost everything, but not that.
"I'm sorry," she cried. "But he's dead now Tyler. He's gone!" she sobbed angrily as she tore at the clasp of the bracelet.
She tossed the bracelet onto the dresser.
He winced.
"He's gone, and he's not coming back," she cried.
He eyed her nervously. He swallowed hard before releasing a heavy breath.
"I'm not gone, love" he said finally.
She scowled at his cruel attempt to console her.
"What? Tyler why are you talking like that? What's going on?" she demanded.
"It's me, Caroline, Klaus," he continued.
"What? Tyler Is this your idea of revenge? To play some sick joke on me?" she wondered.
"I'm alive," he said.
She stood there in disbelief, waiting expectantly for Tyler to reveal the truth.
"Bonnie put me in Tyler's body before Alaric staked mine," he explained.
"You're lying. Tyler stop it!" she begged. "I know I hurt you, but don't do this to me," she cried.
"I'm not lying," he replied. "That night at the Grill you told me you've always wanted to go to France... and I told you to do things that scare you. And at the decade dance you asked me if I could love you..." he reminded her.
Her eyes widened in shock and she stepped back from him, staring at him with a horrified and stunned expression.
"Klaus..." she whispered.
She brought her hand to her mouth in surprise before swiping it across his face in one swift motion.
A/N: So Caroline found out...love it? Hate it? She basically admitted to "Tyler" Klaus that she loves him. I feel like it might have been too premature, but as I wrote it just kind of came out...just like how it happened in the chapter. My reasoning is that she didn't know it was Klaus when she said it.
Also, I'm not sure how the real Miss Mystic Falls pageant works on the show. I just remember there being five contestants or something like that at the end when the episode from season 1 aired. This is how it works in my fic, so if you don't like it, it's not my problem :D
And in terms of actual season 4 TVD, my story is definitely departing from that. In the season 4 premiere the Council appears to be after the vampires of Mystic Falls from the get go. I worked around that a little bit. That's not to say that the Council has been permanently dealt with in my story though...dun dun dun.