A/N: So, Prom...well Prom, part 1, I guess since Chapter 11 will be a prom-centric as well, haha. Enjoy and, as always, review if you have a second- there was something wrong with my internet this weekend so if I did not reply to your review, I'm sorry! I do really appreciate it:)

Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Diaries

Lessons of Love, Chapter 10: Caroline to Klaus, Part 5

"If you love me, let me know. If not, please gently let me go." Unknown

Caroline was confused, to say the least.

She had stayed late after school to finish the final preparations for Prom, which was only a week and a half away. But, when she had come out to the nearly empty parking lot, she had found her car covered in sticky notes. At first she was frustrated, this was the last thing she wanted to deal with. But then, after furiously pulling off the stickies that covered her windows and mirrors, she climbed in her car and slammed the door only to find a single pink sticky note that someone had written "Prom?" on.

Yes, Caroline had been trying to figure out what to do about a date. She hadn't heard from Tyler in several weeks so she figured that he was not coming home. She thought about Stefan but then heard that he was taking Rebekah since Elena wasn't giving him the time of day ever since she and Damon had become 'official.' And then Bonnie was taking that Jamie guy and Matt was going with one of the girls on the Cheer squad, at least that's what Caroline had heard

It had crossed her mind for a split second to ask Klaus to take her before she realized that it wouldn't make her popular with her group. And besides, Klaus would probably laugh at her. The Original already thought the whole thing was strange and mundane, especially that she was going to a dance for humans.

But now, as Caroline stared at the sticky note, she thought of the guys that she knew. It wasn't in Klaus' or Matt's handwriting, or even Tyler's, for that matter. It was definitely a girl's handwriting which made Caroline panic. That would be so awkward, just thinking about it was awkward enough, so, Caroline quickly pushed the thought from her mind. She was still trying to think of guys when her phone rang, startling her.

She answered without thinking to check the caller I.D.

"Hello?" she huffed.

"Caroline. Hey."

"Tyler," she breathed.

"Hey, um I was wondering if you had any plans on April 28?" He asked sheepishly.

"Um, Tyler, that's Prom…Oh my gosh! Are you coming home?" She asked excitedly.

"If you will go to Prom with me, I will."

"Yes, yes, yes! Tyler, yes of course I'll go with you! Did you sticky note my car?"

"Well, not exactly, Elena and Bonnie helped, but it was my idea."

Caroline could tell he was smiling.

"I can't wait to see you, Care. I've got to go now, but I'll be back by April 28, okay?"

"Okay! See you then, and thank you! I can't wait to see you, I've really missed you, Ty."

"I've missed you, too. See you April 28. Bye." And then he hung up.

It didn't matter how abruptly their conversation had ended. It didn't matter that he had been away for so long. All that mattered to Caroline was that Tyler was coming home and he was taking her to Prom. She drove home with a smile plastered on her face.

She walked inside and greeted her mom, who had an odd day off from work, before gong up to her room. Everything was fine, no scratch that, it was better than fine… until she got to her room and found Klaus lounging on her bed with his eyes closed.

"I was wondering when you would be home, sweetheart," he said with a sweet smile.

"I had to finish a couple Prom plans. I can't believe its almost here!" She said, genuinely excited about Prom now, simply because she had a reason to be.

"Ah," Klaus said, sitting up as Caroline sat down across from him. "How are things on the date front going? Let's go on a walk and discuss it, shall we?"

Caroline gave him an odd look. "Why are you so eager?" she asked with a laugh, but as always, she found herself agreeing to his innocent requests. "Okay, why not."

He smiled again. "I'll meet you outside. I doubt your mother would take to me very kindly once she realizes I've been waiting in your room," he said with a chuckle and then he was gone.

Caroline changed into shorts and a t-shirt before running downstairs. "Mom, I'll be back!" she called in the general direction of the kitchen before walking out the door. True to his word, Klaus was waiting outside, leaning against the trunk of a tree.

"So, your date for this Prom thing," he said, casually swinging into step beside me. "I think I might have an idea."

"Oh, um, actually, I found a date. Today after school."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah. Tyler's coming home to take me!" She said excitedly.

Klaus stopped out of surprise. He had not expected that, not in the least.

Caroline kept walking, not really noticing that Klaus had stopped. When she saw he wasn't beside her, she looked back. "Nik?" she asked. He came back to life and caught up with her in seconds. "Are you okay?"

"What? Yes, I'm fine. Never better," he said with an, albeit forced, smile.

But Caroline saw right through it. "Are you sure? You don't seem like yourself today, Nik."

"We all have our off days, sweetheart. Surely, I thought you would know that," he said with his, much more convincing, signature smirk.

"What are you trying to say?" Caroline challenged.

"Nothing, love. Absolutely nothing."

They walked in an awkward silence for a few minutes before Caroline stopped to look at him.

"Are you okay with that? Me going to Prom with Tyler? I mean, I know we aren't dating or anything and I shouldn't have to ask but I just don't want to hurt your feelings. I was going to ask you to go with me but you thought the whole thing was ridiculous and mundane and human so I didn't but now I feel like I've hurt your fe-"

"Are you happy?" Klaus asked, cutting Caroline's blabbed apology.

"Yes, I'm happy! For the first time in forever!"

"Then that's all that matters. Go to your dance, have fun. I…I just want you to be happy," he said.

Caroline smiled at him. "Thanks, Nik. I knew you'd understand," she said, giving him a brief hug. "Oh my gosh! I have to go tell Elena and Bonnie! I'll see you later, Nik!" she said, letting go of him and running off.

Klaus watched her go and turned in the other direction. With a quick glance he made sure that there were no humans around and took off running. He made it back to his mansion and stormed in the house. He wasn't angry, just disheartened at the turn of events.

"I guess it didn't go as planned?" Rebekah asked snootily from the threshold of the sitting room as he walked briskly past her.

"I'm not in the mood to hear you gloat, Bekah," he ground out.

"I'm not here to gloat, Nik. Do you really think that low of me?"

"Sometimes I can't help it, you little brat," he said as affectionately as he could and walked up to his large room.

Rebekah studied her brother as he trudged up the stairs, thinking about his most recent failure. He did look quite pitiful and, truth be told, Rebekah really did hate to see her big brother so miserable since it was so out of the ordinary. Rebekah knew better than to hound him, though.

"You know, sometimes you just have to tell them the truth. If you don't give it to them, they'll walk all over you, Nik," she said to his retreating figure in her smuggest voice before walking away.