So thank you to all my readers who enjoyed this new venture, it's insanely awesome of all of you! :))
3 Months later
"Nik, please I never ask you to do anything for me." Rebekah whined into her cellphone as she walked down the street next to her old apartment. Her former roommate was currently tossing her very expensive clothes out of her old bedroom window.
Needless to say Rebekah wasn't welcome in any shape or form and really needed her brother to do her this favor. She was willing to beg on the street for it. Her old roommate had kicked her out after Rebekah slept with her boyfriend on her birthday it wasn't like it sounded either.
The blonde had no idea that he was her boyfriend, honestly. He said he was a friend when she walked in, "Please!" she cried into her phone hopelessly waiting for her brother to respond and give her the reply she wanted and knew he would give her any moment.
Klaus rolled his eyes as his baby sister spoke sighing in frustration with the words seemingly spewing from her mouth. She always asked for favors from him that he would grant to her even on his worst day and he was afraid today was it.
It was this on top of weeks of frustration drawing and painting the same woman over and over burning the pages to try and rid himself of her captivating image. Trying to forget the blonde woman who had invaded his dreams was starting to weigh heavily on his work.
His sister was no help and avoiding his family had become a tedious task for Klaus as well he just wished that woman would come back to him. he wanted to see her even if it was just for a moment to make sue she was real. That she wasn't a figment of his imagination.
While Klaus understood the reason his sister didn't see why she had to move because in all honestly it wasn't her fault her roommate boyfriend made a pass at her while she was drunk. His little sister was always so willing to love or be loved always needing to feel accepted.
It was her weak point, and thinking about the blonde that had all but vanished from his life he understood how addictive feeling something even something as basic as a connection could be. His sisters squeaking voice drew him from his thoughts, "It's just an interview," she assured him.
Rebekah began stomping her foot like he could see her, "Please. I can't make it!" she said begging her older brother. She was incessant just like him having been at this for an hour and since then he hadn't gotten any work done so she had to make another point. "She said it was her only free time from work."
He scoffed openly before a smile came to his lips, "She actually works for a living," Klaus rolled his eyes messing with the first canvas he had to have finished soon it was still blank and his paint was nearly dry. "That should be new for you," he said sarcastically.
Rebekah stopped to look at her reflection in a store window adjusting her shoe strap as she continued her somewhat explanation, "This was the only time I could get her to meet me and show me the place." She still couldn't believe she was lucky enough to find a nice high end place in the middle of the month and she needed it.
Klaus however had a deadline and these portraits had to be done before the next five days were up or he'd lose his client and future contacts with the clients friends. That meant he was done with this conversation, "Fine," he growled hating having to be the bigger person, "Text, me the address and details."
He hung up but not before he heard her excited squeal, he had lost basically two days' worth of work on his sister alone. Today with the constant calling and tomorrow with the meeting he ran a hand down his face frustrated once more when he realized he had wet paint on it.
How was he supposed to figure out a way to work his sister's life into his schedule while trying to find an object of light for the joint portraits he had to get done? He began pacing the room a hand on his neck the other on his hip unclear as to what would happen to him next.
Turning he knocked over a work he had lying on the table next to his couch he bent over to pick it up the shadows of the now retreating sun contrasting with the darker design. He moved to get to his feet but he saw another poking out of the bottom of the old couch.
His hand instinctively reached for it at tucking his hand underneath the frame he had made his eyes met the subject of the portrait his other hand reaching behind him to rub his back. "Most days I can try to forget you," he murmured sliding the frame back underneath the couch.
Caroline brushed her teeth even with Stefan mimicking her weird noises next to her, "Stop," she swatted him making him laugh as she finished up. After rinsing her mouth and toothbrush she turned on him, "I really need a new roommate, I can't keep paying these bills."
Stefan backed out of the bathroom as Caroline continued to drone on throwing her hands in the air dramatically while drying her hands and face. "I'm sorry," he offered uselessly knowing she wasn't looking for an apology just someone to vent to.
The blonde finger combed her hair in the mirror a bit making sure every curl was in place before disconnecting her iron. "Why did you move out again?" she asked tossing him the hand towel when she caught his expectant face. She asked it almost every day.
Stefan crossed his arms leaning against the shower door raising an eyebrow at her, "I don't know Caroline," he crossed his arms his eyebrows knitting together. "I have you to keep me company and an empty bed to lay down in if I so choose." He mocked as she pursed her lips at him.
"Oh yeah for the love of Elena Gilbert, I tell you if she wasn't my friend." She sighed laughing a little, "What am I gonna do?" she shut the bathroom door behind them, "It's the middle of the month." She recited her rant to him as he walked into the hallway along with her.
Caroline knew he wasn't really listening anymore anyway, "No one rents in the middle of the month Stefan, no one except murderers." She threw her head back in defeat thinking there was no way she would afford another month by herself and she didn't do handouts.
Just as Stefan was about to say something Caroline's voice machine blared, "Damn machine. I hate these...Oh. Hi I'm Rebekah Mikaelson, I was wondering if you room was still available please call..." Caroline and Stefan exchanged looks both mirroring their shock.
She clutched his shirt excitement shinning in her eyes as she was practically climbing over him as she ran into the living room pushing her friend out of the way. She dove for the phone landing on the ground, "Hi this is Caroline, yes the room's still unoccupied."
Caroline looked up at Stefan just as he snapped a photo on his phone she gave him the dirtiest look she could muster as the woman continued to yak in her ear about her last roommate. "Wow that's just great," Caroline said pulling together a cheery tone.
She looked at an observing Stefan mouthing, "Chatterbox." Moving her hand open and closed with her fingers motioning to him. She managed to set up a time however, "That's great, okay then." She droned as he snickered across the room.
"You would know," he mouthed back her mouth scrunched up as her hand turned into a fist looking directly at him. He watched in amusement as his best friend played the southern belle humoring the woman on the other end merrily as she pretended to hang herself on this end.
She used her fake laugh looking back at her friend, "Way to not sound desperate," Stefan whispered giving her a thumbs up as she chucked a pillow at him shushing him, "Fine, I know where I'm not wanted." he called after her as he grabbed his work bag and left. "See you at work."
"Yes, can't wait! Tomorrow don't forget!" Caroline hung up shaking her head, sheer dumb luck were the words on her mind. "Okay great bye then." She looked up to tell Stefan but he was already gone. "Humph," she grunted letting herself fall back on the floor.
Caroline felt her back hit the decorative rug one of her hands landing on her couch the other behind her head as she thought about her life. She shut her eyelids the sun hitting the tops of her lids creating a warmth on her face as she thought about the last time she wasn't stressed.
A small smile formed on her face at the image of a tall british man sweeping her off of her feet in a club months ago. She moved her hands to come to rest on her stomach folding together she pictured him her in her apartment and wondered what it would be like to know him.
His name even or to hear him say hers in that incredible accent of his, she sighed knowing it was all her fault anyways. Another thought struck her, the woman on the phone was foreigner, Rebekah, she even spelled that funny. She had no clue why the girl insisted that she meet her for lunch though.
Didn't she have an actual job like Caroline did? She tried not to let the woman from earlier affect her instead focusing on getting herself off of the floor. They had at least set up a meeting during Caroline's time off though so yay.
"This could be a good thing," she thought even if she wasn't about to get her hopes up noticing the clock she grabbed her jacket and bag careful not to mess up the case files she had taken home with her. She couldn't be late today or she wouldn't make it to her appointment tomorrow her boss would see to that.
She hastily locked her door pulling her bag over her shoulder as she ascended the short flight of stairs to the town building she called home. Taking a deep breath she stormed the sidewalk with purpose walking the half a block to her usual muffin place.
Quickly hailing a cab had been easy it wasn't until she got in that she realized he was the same driver from that night. "Hello again," he said from behind the divider through the mirror but his tone implied he didn't remember her he was just being courteous.
She gave him a small smile as she said, Good morning," crossing her legs as she instructed where she was going and how little time she had to get there. The back of her head hit the seat as she sighs having avoided Kol and his friends since that night but she still found herself thinking about him. Yet again.
Caroline hated that she couldn't shake those piercing blue eyes and those incredibly soft lips as her mind wandered again. She ran through her many scenarios about seeing him again but she never went back to his place, ever.
No matter how badly her dates went or how good her day at work was she still wanted to feel his body close to hers when she woke. She still wanted his lips to be the ones colliding with hers when she dreamt. She still wanted to feel like she did when he wrapped his arms around her and fell asleep.
"Caroline," the blonde in question's head shot up as her boss walked passed her office in the hallway using his hand to join him for a stroll. She internally groaned as she stood pulling out her best teeth baring grin as she shut the door to her office and followed him.
The news wasn't good, she had been put in charge of yet another meeting set up because of her amazing organizational skills, whatever that meant. She had to be back from lunch early to get the whole thing going a mind panic was taking place in her brain as her boss dismissed her.
Just when Caroline had to think fast her mind was all muddled and it was nearly noon she quickly ran downstairs to where Elena worked at the coffee shop. She bid the brunette a good day as she fled the ground floor for the elevators in search of one particular person.
"Please!" Caroline pleaded after she threw her best friend into a wall of the hallway they were walking through, "I have to get to this appointment." Stefan knew that it was important and he felt kind of bad for leaving her with the lease in the middle of the month.
It was like her boss knew she couldn't work through lunch for once and just had to pile up her work load today. "Can you just look over my desk?" Caroline asked Stefan knowing the man would say yes but still putting on her best pout. "Pretty please!" she said.
She batted her lashes and even waved a coffee in his face that she had got him still on the carrier with a happy face drawn on the cardboard heat shield. "You know you want it," she teased taking the coffee from the carrier and removing the lid about to take a sip from his favorite coffee.
He shielded his eyes but it was too late for him now his hand reached out to grab the coffee before he could stop himself. A sigh later he grunted out a "Because we're friends," taking his coffee and the lid still lodged in her other hand. "That's mine," he said in abject to the mid-morning coffee problem he had.
Caroline squealed kissing his cheek he sighed knowing he shouldn't have so guilty about ditching his best friend but he hoped this would make up for it a bit. Caroline was gone in a flash, "I'll be right back," she shouted as she ran for the elevator.
The doors slide open right away making her giddy, "I swear," the blonde added as the door began shutting behind her hopefully her boss wouldn't ask where she was. "Please work out," she said to herself praying though not sure to whom.
Klaus threw his pencil down as he checked his watch for the tenth time in the last two hours his face twisting when he saw there was less than an hour. His body froze before he quickly bolted from his chair knowing his work would have to wait.
He exited the room stripping out of his shirt and pulling at the buckle of his jeans. A fast shower would have to do. Making his way to the bathroom he almost tripped on the rug he had in the living room his foot getting caught at the end of it before he caught himself on the couch.
The door slide open as he set to work on the nozzle setting it dead center so that his shower would be tolerable considering the temperature and water pressure. Letting his jeans fall to the floor he climbed into the painted over and peeling white tub letting the cascading water warm up his body.
He leaned his forehead against the shower shutting his eyes as the hot water shot down his back shivers running down his spine. The shower was more contemplative than not as he thought about how he should've taught Rebekah how to take care of her business herself instead of always relying on him.
Still being called the best brother ever wasn't that bad on the ears which was always something he could rub in his brother's faces later. He decided that this was the best thing for his sister, for him to step in for the interview she could come off a little mean.
Finishing up he grabbed his black towel from the rack lined up next to his shower wiping his face off first his arms next and stepping out of his tiled shower before wrapping his towel over his waist. He walked across the small bathroom walking out. He didn't bother with doors considering he lived alone.
Walking over to his room he went to his closet the old shelf barely hanging on, chipped paint along the sides, people would think he would fix it. But he liked it that way, old and worn he smirked as he grabbed boxers and another sweater.
Pulling his jeans from the hanger he walked to his bed tossing them their as his phone rang he walked over dropping his towel as he reached for his phone. His mouth twisted in dislike when he read Kol's name on the screen. They hadn't really been on good terms since the night with the blonde.
"What," he answered knowing he had to be direct or Kol would go on and on so he placed him on speaker as he began to dress himself. "Kol, I don't have time for this so let me make it easy, No." he said after his younger brother asked him to be his wingman tonight.
"Why the bloody hell not?" exclaimed Kol from the other end of the line, Klaus grabbed his towel and his phone racing for the front door. "As if it wasn't obvious," he thought as he ran the towel over his curls a last time.
"Because I don't want to," Klaus told him instead off the truth hanging up so he could pull on his jacket and shut the door behind him. He had twenty minutes to get to the nice side of town for Rebekah's interview he pushed his phone and wallet into his back pocket exiting the old building.
Caroline had just enough time to change out of her work clothes, brush her teeth and retouch her make up feeling more comfortable in her sundress and flats. She felt it was less intimidating than her pencil skirts and stilettos rushing to the kitchen.
She quickly made some iced tea mixing up the pitcher with the powder that would have to do for today before placing it on a tray with two glasses. Reaching for freezer she used her ice scoop to place some ice cubes to cool the tea down and added some fresh lemon slices.
Caroline then pulled out the cookies she baked the night before from the Tupperware and placed them in the microwave for a bit. She wanted it to seem like she wasn't trying that hard to win over her prospective new roommate but she was still desperate.
Taking them out when they were just warm enough she placed them on a plate spreading all ten out neatly then placed the on the tray along with the pitcher. The door buzzer rang then making her nearly jump from her skin, "Shit," she muttered after almost dropping the tray.
She lifted it up moving out of the kitchen into the living room to answer the buzzer by the door, "Come in," she said buzzing the girl in without asking who was there. Her hands trembled as she placed the tray on the coffee table next to her couch where the interview would take place.
There was a knock at the door just as soon as she straightened herself walking over she took a second to look at the mirror she had placed by the door checking her hair. She smiled content with her appearance before opening her door.
Klaus wheezed unattractively as he continued down the sidewalk thinking about how he should work on his cardio more often than not having had to run the last few blocks due to traffic. His sister owed him big time after that he needed to replenish but afterwards he looked at his phone finding the address.
He had stopped right in front of the building sighing gratefully, "Thank God," he huffed leaning a hand on the bricks of the building as he pressed the button next to the apartment number. He read the name in elegant script Caroline Forbes, thinking nothing of it.
He heard a slightly pitchy voice inviting him in before the door clicked open to let him in, he shrugged entering the building. Very strange indeed, he was happy to live in his box of an apartment but Rebekah was used to living in luxury he figured this would have to do, middle-class suburbia.
He then marched up the stairs to the third floor looking for apartment 229, guessing that it made sense since there was a small flight of stairs past the first floor he began his trip. He wondered how his sister would take to having to use stairs as he knocked on the door hearing light steps a few moments later.
A shadow was cast from behind the door where the woman had paused he smirked wondering what she was up to, there was no hole in the door to see who was on the other side. He stood up straight hands at his sides as he heard her grab the door suddenly feeling nervous.
What if she expected to find Rebekah on the other side and instead found him. It's not like he was there to kill her but what of she thought so. No Rebekah would have called to tell her he was going to come instead right? He wasn't that confident about his idea but he hoped for the best as the door opened.
"You," was the only word he could articulate as his eyes raked over her form as if accessing that she was actually standing in front of him and this wasn't a full on delusion. She looked as he remembered if not better he now knew his sketches hadn't done her justice. He would see they were all properly burned for that.
"Verona?" she said before smacking her hand to her lips mentally face palming herself for saying her secret nickname for him out loud and worse directly to him. He was no different from the image in her mind, she had to say though that he looked even better in person which was just fan-freaking-tastic.
So I hope you enjoyed! Sorry about the minimal contact!And thank you to the people who continue to inspire me to write. :))