Chapter 3: Walk a moonlit mile

Don't do this, don't do this, don't do this said her conscious on constant replay. He told her to stay away, but how could she, feeling the way she did about him, knowing how much pain he'd be in? She couldn't.

She loved him, and that was a fact. It was real, all consuming, and visceral and because of that, she couldn't let him suffer alone.

She found an old quilt in the Forbes' attic along with her favorite book, The Great Gatsby. Okay, it was cliché, but the idea of someone holding onto that kind of love forever was romantic. She wanted someone to love her that fiercely. It was apparent Matt hadn't, but maybe with Tyler it would be different. It felt different and she couldn't pinpoint why. It just did.

But that's also the way she thought about their relationship. It just was.

Placing the blanket against the door so she could hear Tyler's wolfy whimpers, she sat down. About three chapters into Gatsby sleep came upon her. Suddenly she's eight and it's Valentine's Day at Mystic Falls Elementary School, and though too young to know the truth about love, Caroline dreams and hopes and wishes for her own special Valentine.

She sees Elena and Bonnie sitting in the schoolyard. Elena all ready has five red heart shaped cards. Figures.

"Hey Elena, Bonnie. Happy Valentine's Day," she says, giving her two best friends specially designed Valentine's Day cards that Martha Stewart would have been impressed with.

"Thanks Caroline," said Elena.

"Yeah, Caroline, thanks," countered Bonnie. Caroline looked at Elena's stack of cards.

"Wow, someone's popular today." Elena blushed.

"Yeah! It's funny, I didn't think I'd get any." Caroline rolled her eyes. Even at eight she was astute enough to realize that Elena would never had a problem getting boys. She had that way about her that made young boys even flock to her. Especially Matt.

"Oh, please. Of course you were going to get one. Everyone knows how much Matt likes you. I hear he's going to ask you to be boyfriend/girlfriend." Elena and Bonnie giggled.

"Really?"

"Yes! What would you say?" Elena shrugged her shoulders. Typical Elena.

"I don't know. Matt's been my friend for like, ever."

"Elena, you've got to say yes! You'll be the first one of us to have a boyfriend. On television, it's so romantic. Maybe he'll even kiss you."

"Ew, gross." Ugh, Typical Bonnie.

"It's not gross. It's amazing. Wait and see. One day we'll be grown up and you'll want boys to kiss you."

"I doubt that." Caroline sighed and rolled her eyes. Her best friends would never get her the way she wanted them to. Just then, the bell rang, and Caroline jumped up, not being able to wait to go to her school cubby and see the number of cards she would get. After all, she was Caroline Forbes.

But when she got there, her cubby was empty. No cards of any color.

Oh well, she was sure she'd get something by the end of the day.

But again, the end of the day came and nothing was there. Of course, Elena got three more cards by the day's end. Caroline was so upset and hurt that she went to the bathroom and cried her eyes out. By the time she was done, school had let out and she was stuck waiting for her mom in the playground where who else was there but Tyler Lockwood.

Ugh.

Stinky Tyler Lockwood. She hated him! He was so mean to her, always. She was in a bad mood and she didn't need him to make her feel even worse, so she walked by him and sat down by the chain linked fence facing the basketball courts where Tyler was playing by himself.

But today something was different with the young Lockwood. He could sense the disappointment and loneliness Caroline was feeling, and instead of ignoring her or just being a jerk, he tried talking to her.

"Hi Caroline." Caroline looked up from the ground, tears in her eyes, her golden blonde curls drooped beside her.

"Hi Tyler."

"What's wrong?" Caroline shrugged. "It's stupid."

"I'm sure it's not stupid."

"I didn't get any Valentine's Day cards."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"Well, who cares? It's just a stupid day." Ugh. She knew she would regret this.

"It's not a stupid day! It's a day about love and showing someone that you love how much you love them."

"Ew."

"You would say that." Tyler shrugged. "So, you're never going to fall in love?"

"With a girl? No way. I don't want to be in love." Caroline snorted. "What?"

"So, you don't want to have anybody? You just want to be alone?"

"I'm alone all the time anyway, why should this be different?" Caroline noticed Tyler for the first time in a different way. She'd seen Mayor Lockwood and how he acted around Tyler. Tyler's daddy was always so mean to him, and his mommy never had time for him. She was always shooing him off and telling him to behave.

Caroline knew what that was like. Her mom never had time for her either, and neither did her dad.

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah, well don't be. I don't need anybody feeling sorry me, especially you."

"Fine!"

"Fine!" Caroline sat in silence as Tyler resumed his game. But then he stopped and looked at Caroline. "I just mean, well, if you love someone, shouldn't you show it all the time? Not just on one day? And you should do it in many ways."

"Yeah, I guess so." Just then a car beeped and Caroline realized it was her mom. She picked herself up and then picked up her book bag. "Well, I gotta go. Thanks for talking to me, Tyler."

Tyler nodded and waved back after Caroline waved at him.

The next day in Caroline's cubby there was a folded card made out of construction paper. Inside it read:

Dear Caroline,

Happy Valentine's Day.

Sorry I was late.

P.S. I know one day you'll have tons of Valentine's Day cards.

The card was unsigned, but she knew who it was from.

After that, she and Tyler went back to their old ways, but she never forgot that special card.

It must have been nearly morning when she awoke. She couldn't hear Tyler's cries, so she figured he was probably asleep.

Sure enough when she opened the door there he was lying on the ground, sleeping, but peaceful. She took her quilt and covered him. He must have felt her, because he woke. First confusion on his face, then a smile.

"I knew you wouldn't stay away."

"How could I?" She helped him get up and get dressed, though she will admit she took a bit of pleasure in the show.

"I hope you at least stayed outside."

"Of course I did."

When he was fully clothed, he came and wrapped Caroline in his arms and kissed her.

"Thanks." She smiled and returned the kiss.

When they were about to leave the cellar, she turned to him.

"Hey, Tyler?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you." He looked confused.

"For what?"

"For that Valentine's Day card. I know it was from you." Tyler chuckled.

"What made you think of that?"

"I don't know. I just did. Who would have ever thought, you and me?"

"I did. When I wrote the card, I did."

"You did not. You always thought I was annoying." Tyler laughed again.

"Well, you kind of were, but I liked you. You never noticed I spent more time picking on you than anyone else?" This time Caroline laughed.

"Yeah, I guess I did."

"That's how I showed my affection." Caroline rolled her eyes.

"I'm glad you can show it other ways now."

"Me too, Forbes. Me too."