It's been a long time! I'm so sorry! Enjoy!

Araya twirled out of the dressing room happily. The simple black dress with her hair was stunning. The dress flattered her completely.

Katherine was sprawled out on a chair waiting.

"Mhmmm. You look delish. I think it would look better in green, though. Colors suit you."

"Thanks." Araya sighed as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. "I'm not going to buy it though. I mean, what's the point? I won't wear it anywhere after I'm dead."

"Maybe they can bury you in it."

"Yes, it'll look just perfect in my shallow grave next to Anna, Vicki, and every other person that's ever died in this mess."

"You know they won't let you die. Bonnie will come up with some witchy interference and you'll come back sassing and hating Klaus even more. That's if Klaus even uses you in the sacrifice."

Araya closed her eyes and prayed that Klaus used her instead of Tyler, but Jules . . . that bitch would be fine.

Klaus sat at the bar in the Grille and listened to the conversation between the baby vampire and the doppelganger.

"Raya's been acting a little strange lately," Elena said

"She's like, going at it with Tyler who just got back in town. She has a boyfriend and she is completely falling for said boyfriend's younger douche-y hybrid brother. Plus she is totes playing with Damon. She's a whore. You even said so yourself."

"Caroline!"

"You did. You know you did."

"Okay, I did, but Care, we can't know that she's going for Klaus. The only people that know him and have conversations with him is Araya and Elijah."

"I bet they have some weird group sex thing going on."

Klaus slammed his glass on the bar and found himself growling. He'd been growling throughout the entire conversation.

"Listen to me, blondie: insult my girl again and I'll rip your ugly whorish throat out."

He turned to see the vampire look around utterly confused before he flitted to their table. Both girls gasped.

"What did you mean your girl?" Caroline spat out.

"She's merely the only girl in town I find semi-trustworthy and not a whore—which I can't say about you both."

"Oh my god! It's true!" Elena said.

"Are you completely stupid? Just because we men seem to all be attracted to Ara, doesn't mean that she is sleeping with every one of us. A very honest girl." He didn't approve of them rolling their eyes, but that was quickly pushed aside as he realized that the bar now held her wonderful aroma of vanilla and a little bit of an earthy tone; he smelled Katerina too. The latter wasn't so great. Klaus spun on his foot and stood face to face with the werewolf. "Care for a scotch, min söta varg?"

"No."

"Ooh. Ouch. I'll just be at the teacher's place avoiding any other packages that arrive."

Araya laughed. So Klaus had gotten his little gift and he certainly would be getting more. He slipped past her and made his way away from the girls.

"What were you doing out with her?" Elena seethed glaring at Katherine who stood next to Araya.

"I made her come shopping with me. Klaus let me go and I honestly can't stand you, Elena. Pretty much everyone in town thinks I'm you—and trust me, you aren't any fun anymore—Ray is basically the only one who doesn't hate me."

"Araya, how can you not hate her? She killed me!"

"So, you forgive Damon for all he did to you, but you can't forgive Katherine for making you immortal?"

"No! I can't forgive her for making sure I could never give Tyler babies!"

Yep. Claws had been drawn on both sides by now.

"Tyler doesn't want you. He showed up in my apartment last night and do you want to know what he talked about? A future with me and children, then grandchildren."

"It won't take long for you to have grandchildren because every single one of your babies will be just as slutty as you."

It came from Elena.

"At least I'll live to have babies one day!"

Elena looked taken back and Caroline suddenly pulled the girl in for a hug. "That was a low blow, Araya. To both of us."

"My god! The world doesn't revolve around the two of you! I know it sure as hell isn't about me! Why can't you understand the same concept for yourselves?" Araya took a deep breath. "Caroline, you sure as hell aren't the first vampire that was turned before they did the things they had wanted to do and, Elena, you aren't the first person or only to be used and or killed before the prime of your life. Look, I'm not sorry for saying that, but the other things; yeah. I'm not sorry for associating with people other than you two either. Because I enjoy Katherine's presence over yours after just today. And you know, friends don't do this."

"We aren't friends anymore. You're just some slut that switched sides."

Araya shook her head. "That's your decision, not mine. I haven't switched sides though, so I'll be around."

As soon as she reached home, the sting of losing her friends had settled in. She tossed her bags next to the staircase and walked into Elijah's study.

"You're home early. I thought you were going to the Grille for an hour or so with Katerina."

"Well, we did go, but . . ."

"What's wrong?"

"Elena and Caroline don't want to be my friends anymore."

"I'm sorry. I know how important they were to you."

"Whatever. I'm getting used to this sort of stuff . . ."

Elijah settled his eyes on her. "What stuff?"

"Everyone I love turns on me at one point or another. Everyone in Chicago did too and now it's just starting again." She could feel the rush of blood to her face and the sting of tears threatening to spill over. What she said next, she didn't intend to say at all. "Don't hurt me."

Elijah grew mad at her words. Those three simple words enraged him like no other. Someone had hurt her before. He didn't know how bad it had been, but someone broke her trust and hurt her. Now she was afraid Elijah would do the same.

His now cold eyes looked upon her. "I'm not like the other men you choose to hang around. I don't get mad for any small reason and—"

"You're mad now!"

"Because the woman I love is telling me not to hurt her in the most delicate, scared, and worn out voice I've ever heard! You won't even tell me about your past and you're comparing me to some monster that hurt you!" They sat in silence for a moment before Elijah said, "You should go get ready."

"But—"

"Araya, we have two hours for you to get ready and get to Jenna's." His eyes stayed focused on the papers in front of him.

In that moment she realized that he didn't want to look at her.

"I need to run a few errands. I'll take my stuff with me and meet you there."

"Fine." Elijah walked out of his study and Araya watched him walk up the steps before she grabbed the keys to the Cadillac, the shopping bags containing her new dress and shoes.

With those few belongings she left Elijah's temporary house, internally praying Klaus would have some scotch because she needed it now more than ever.

So, Araya, Caroline, and Elena no more? Are Araya and Elijah going to fix their damaged relationship?

Araya does feel bad about the spiteful things she said to her ex-friends and she doesn't understand why Elijah is so upset.

More soon!