Chapter 10

Just when he thought they were getting closer she backed out. He didn't know what it was, what was she afraid of?

He watched her in the house as she went out pricing the furniture. She would kneel on the floor and write on her little sticker before sticking it. He didn't want to deny her what she wanted, she was strong and he liked that.

He was getting soft.

She was making him soft

"Where do you plan on selling all this?" she stopped for a while turning round to face him as he sat on the kitchen counter top again. She tied her hair in a pony tail to avoid the heat. The air con was the only thing he could hear now as she went quiet

"This house has gathered a bit of interest of the years, I made a few phone calls and well people will be coming around in about two hours. It'll be like a yard sale but inside" his face dropped slightly which she noted. The time they spent together, she was starting to know more about him, his every feature, emotion but she didn't want to know.

He was Tyler's brother, she couldn't...she wouldn't

"Are you selling all of it?" he spoke now, with a hurt in his voice

"Yes that's the plan. Take off the tags of anything you want but after that it's gone. You can object as much as you want Klaus but it's too late, don't -"

"Okay" she gasped at him, was he agreeing with her?

"What?"

"I'm okay with it. Sell everything, if that's what you want" that did it. He was pulling the guilt trip on her now. It was typical Klaus behaviour

"Don't say that. If you don't want me to do it Klaus, just say. What happened to all that arrogance you had when I first met you. For fuck sake, don't act shy now" he looked taken a back. In truth, she was scared. She was acting the way she was because she was frightened of how she was feeling

"Why are you acting like this?" he caught her red handed. It was like, he could read her mind. He wasn't as stupid as he seemed but she would act in denial, she wasn't ready to admit her feelings, not to herself and definitely not to him

"Why do you care?" he was quiet for a while "You know what don't answer that" she threw her hands up in the air as she stormed off to her room. She didn't need this.

He watched as she walked away I care because I care about you he thought as he stood helpless. He winced as the door slammed upstairs, debating whether he should go after her or not. In movies when the guy never went after the girl, the girl was usually wasn't the only one with a broken heart.

He waited a while before he made his decision.

[Knocking]

"Go away" she shouted but he ignored her opening the door and letting himself in. She sat on the bed with her back away from her, he could see the pile of tissues around the floor and he knew she was crying

"I said Go Away!" she sniffed, he walked in slowly not trying to bombard her

"What do you want me to do, love? I know we didn't get off to a great start but I've been trying to be nice to you and you just shun me down each time. What am I doing wrong!?" her head spun around, her red ringed eyes staring up at him

"Nothing! You're doing absolutely nothing wrong Klaus, that's the problem" He came over now, sitting on the end of the bed. He looked at her as she wiped her nose with a tissue

"You hate me because I'm doing things right?" he smiled, it was a start at least they were talking. Even though what she was saying was making no sense but he would humour her

"I don't hate you" she finally said, still sniffing as she rolled her eyes. She hesitated before she continued "I'm jealous of you" he could help but laugh

"And now you're laughing at me" She held her hand to her forehead "I'm such an idiot, I don't know why I thought you'd –"

"You're right " she looked up "you are an idiot. An Idiot for being jealous of me! It's ironic because here I was jealous of you" he hesitated as he shuffled in, taking her hand in his as he attempted to comfort her. He was shocked when she didn't shudder at his touch.

She looked down, still wiping the tears from underneath her eye. He continued not giving her a chance to react

"You're strong, I admire that about you. You were able to be there for Tyler in his last years when I couldn't. I envy the way you are able to stand up for what you believe in and well you're just exquisite, love" Caroline stared shocked, was he really saying these things to her? The man who acted like he couldn't stand her was confessing to being jealous?

"Don't look so shocked" she laughed now, this was ridiculous her hand clasped her mouth as she giggled "What's so funny?" he smiled

"We're just like teenagers, jealous of things we want but can't have" she realised what she just said and went quiet, blushing slightly. He saw her obvious discomfort

"So you're jealous of me?" he said with a wink as she smiled, blushing even more. She couldn't remember why she was crying but it was more to do with the fact that she was angry, more with herself than Klaus.

She was angry that she was having feelings for him, so soon after her boyfriend died. To make matters worse, it was her boyfriend's brother. She felt guilty and yet she had the urge to follow her heart, it gave that extra adrenalin but she didn't want to.

She wasn't that kind of girl

"You're just so perfect, you can do anything! You're good looking, you can cook and you have a way with the ladies. I just can't compete with you" she smiled wondering how stupid it all sounded. She looked up facing him as he just glowed; she had practically just made his day

"Did you just compliment me?" he winked, as his dimples grew in his face. She rolled his eyes, trust him to pick out that she couldn't help but grin

"I don't know what you're talking about" she laughed as she heard the door bell. She stared down at her phone time "Shit, the people they're here" she took a quick glimpse in the mirror, cleaning her face up as she ran door stairs to open the door

"Hi there, welcome" she smiled staring at the crowd full of people now forming outside the door "Come on in, browse and buy whatever that has a price on it" the crowds came in with a chatter as Klaus made his way down the stairs, politely greeting them

"Quite a turn out you got here" he whispered in her ear as he stood next to her, smiling as the people walked through the door. She turned slightly to acknowledge him as she nodded.

The time had come, when Tyler was leaving her life. Was she ready for that step? She didn't know whether she was ready to go through that step alone?

She bit her bottom lip as she felt a hand weave into hers.

Maybe she wasn't completely alone.

© Ms Zola, Oct 2012