**A/N**Made a slight update to this chapter due to some concerns raised in a couple interviews. Please read the author's note at the bottom if you've already read this chapter. THANKS!
Hey everyone! Happy update day! I feel like I haven't updated in a bit, but it's only been like a week right? :)
Truthfully, I've had a bit of a crisis of confidence the past week. I guess we all have it. I just keep reminding myself that not everyone in the fandom is going to enjoy my writing. That I write for the people (you guys) who do like it and for myself. So extra special thanks to all of you my dear readers and reviewers. I wish I could come to each of your houses and give you and hug and a cupcake or something for just being frickin' amazing!
Anyways, enough sappiness...on with the update.
And just as a general sidenote, which I think I forgot to mention before: Elijah and Rebekah are Klaus's only siblings in this fic :)
Enjoy!
The next morning, Caroline was regretting her decision to consume so much alcohol the night before. Her head was pounding and they had to catch an early flight to Milan. She popped a few aspirins and slipped her oversized sunglasses over her bloodshot blue eyes as they took the taxi to the airport.
"How was the rest of last night?" Elena asked her.
"Nothing happened," Caroline answered just a bit too fast. Elena gave her a suspicious look.
Nothing had happened. Nothing had even almost happened she swore to herself. It was just a product of the alcohol and the energy of the club and the dancing. She didn't almost kiss Klaus. Or he didn't almost kiss her. She had told him that she wasn't interested. She wasn't. She had never wanted him to kiss her. But at the time she couldn't seem to recall the reason why his lips on hers was anything but a good idea. Even though moments of last night were a bit hazy she could remember standing there looking up at his tempting mouth, wondering what it might be like to just let go and have one kiss. Caroline shook her head. No! She had to stop reading so many romance novels.
"What did Klaus do?" Elena prodded.
"Nothing. We really only stayed for like another ten minutes after you left and then we just went back to the hotel." Caroline was glad her eyes were hidden by her sunglasses. It made lying easier. She didn't know why she felt so guilty, but she knew that only meant it was fortunate that they hadn't followed through on that kiss. She couldn't imagine how guilty she would really feel if she had kissed him. Even worse than imaging the 'what-if' was thinking about what she would do when he confronted her. Something told her he wouldn't be letting her off the hook.
She had the entire drive to the airport and trip through security to contemplate what she was going to do. Her first thought was to ignore it, claim that she was really drunk, and didn't remember anything. Her second plan was to just attack head on before he could get to her and tell him that she was glad they didn't kiss because it would have been a bad idea.
Once on the plane, Caroline stretched back in her seat and closed her eyes. She hoped a nap would make her headache go away. There was no time to be sick. As soon as they landed, they would change, and then head out to a fashion show. Front row seats! Caroline couldn't have been more excited. She needed to look fresh and fabulous and not hung-over and anxious while sitting next to Elena and surrounded by gorgeous models.
The airline they were on had tiny touchscreens on the back of every seat so the passengers could watch movies or listen to music during the flight. Caroline popped her white ear-buds into the side of the screen and scrolled through the music selections. Maybe some Chopin would help her headache and lull her to sleep. Her finger swiped across the touchscreen, when she stopped and saw one of Klaus's CDs listed on the 'most popular' menu. She'd never listened to any of his music before. Caroline musical preferences were pop or whatever happened to be on the radio most of the time, and Klaus's music wasn't the type that was played on her kind of stations.
That night he was playing a show that they all would be going to of course; Elena would be playing supportive girlfriend that night. Caroline tapped her finger over the picture of the cover art and pressed play. Her ears were soon filled with the sounds of Klaus's voice, over guitars, bass and drums. She closed her eyes and listened to the lyrics, which were nothing close to what she expected. As the music played, she unconsciously started taping out the rhythm onto the arm of the sear, her head bobbing in time ever so slightly.
Lost in the song she turned her head to the side, her eyes fluttering and caught sight of Klaus sitting in the seat next to her, starring at her with an amused smile on his face. She jumped and ripped the ear-buds from her ears.
"You've got to stop doing that," she said, putting her hand to her chest.
"Doing what?" He feigned innocence. "What are you listening to that put such a smile on your face?"
Caroline tried to reach up and change the screen but Klaus grabbed her hand, holding it back, as he leaned forward to see for himself.
"Hmm, that looks familiar," he teased, "why I think I wrote that one."
Caroline knew she was as red as the dress she had been wearing last night. Not only that, she was all too aware of his hands around her wrist. She tried to calm her heartbeat and appear nonchalant.
"Well you are playing a concert tonight and I've never actually heard any of your songs," she replied.
Klaus nodded and released her wrist. "Fair excuse," he settled back into the seat, "so what's the verdict then?"
"Not bad, it's no Katy Perry," Caroline smiled at Klaus's judgmental sneer, "you don't write any songs about love."
Klaus was taken aback by the observation. "Almost 90% of the songs on that CD are about love."
"Yeah angry, angsty love. Where's the heartfelt ballad?"
Klaus scoffed. "I'm not a long haired 80s rockstar."
"Hey, I like a good cheesy 80s love ballad," she shrugged.
"So an 80s love ballad and a few shots are what it takes to get you hot and bothered," Klaus smirked, "duly noted love."
With a wink, Klaus slipped out of the seat before Caroline could wipe the shocked look off her face. She felt her cheeks growing red again and slumped down in her seat. Would she ever be able to look at him again without feeling like a complete idiot?
Klaus tuned the strings of his guitar, while the rest of his band set up for sound check. The drum symbols clanged behind him as the techies argued over what amp went where on the stage. He chuckled to himself as he recalled the look on Caroline's face earlier that day about getting her "hot and bothered". She looked completely scandalized. Sometimes she seemed so innocent. Usually innocence wasn't something he was particularly attracted to, but then again he didn't spend time around many women who could ever be described as innocent.
"What's so funny," his drummer asked him, twirling his drumstick in his hand.
"Nothing mate," Klaus cleared his throat.
"Niklaus Mikaelson. You bastard."
Klaus's head snapped up and he set down his guitar. "Kol. You have some nerve showing up here after you abandoned me."
The brown haired boy smirked. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans and hopped up the stairs onto the stage. "Well, Brazil was calling to me."
"I think those girls were Columbian."
Kol shrugged. "Either way."
Klaus returned his smirk and gave Kol a friendly hug. Kol stepped back, running a hand through his spikey brown hair. "How long have you been in Milan?"
"I was on tour for a while with this one band," Kol said, "liked it so much I decided to stay."
"I'm touched to know I'm not the only one you flake on," Klaus replied. "Don't think that you can just show up and play with me tonight."
Kol raised his hands in defense. "Not at all, even though you do owe me. I'm just here to see the show tonight, assuming I can score free tickets."
Klaus nodded and the two of the made their way over to the bar. Kol grabbed them a couple of beers from over the bar and cracked them open, tossing the bottle caps aside. Klaus set his bottle in front of him without taking a sip.
"So what's this I hear about a new girl in your life? Someone has finally tied you down?" Kol asked.
Klaus pursed his lips. Of course. He had to keep up with the lie. He liked Kol, most of the time. They had history together but the cavalier guitar player wasn't trustworthy in the slightest. Kol was a rich boy who lived off his parents' dime while he traipsed around the world partying and screwing anything in a sexy pair of heels, but that didn't mean he wouldn't sell a good story to a magazine to make a quick buck.
"She's the light of my life, I can't believe how lucky I am," Klaus said, with a practiced air. Kol completely missed his tone of voice though and raised his bottle up into the air.
"Well cheers to that," Kol said, "when do I get to meet this lovely lady that has captured your black heart?"
"Tonight," Klaus said taking a swig of his drink, "after the show."
"Sounds terrific."
"That was so much fun!" Caroline exclaimed, sitting next to Elena in the limo.
"You are no longer a fashion show virgin," Jenna said from across the car.
"I'm glad you had fun," Elena added.
"The music was the best part," Caroline continued, "I have to download it on my iPod."
"Speaking of music," Jenna said, "you've got about 20 minutes before Klaus goes on stage, so no time to change."
"No worries, I think we're fine in what we're wearing to go to a concert."
They knew before that they would probably be running short on time in between the fashion show and Klaus' concert. Caroline had worn a short, white dress with a leather jacket over it. Elena had gone a bit more fashion forward, with a black lace, single sleeve dress. She took a small compact out of her bag and checked her makeup, applying a bit more lip gloss to her lips.
"I like the pink lip stick," Elena said to her. Caroline had decided to try something new that night, going from bright pink lips instead of her usual nude colored lipsticks. "You pull it off quite nicely."
"Thanks," Caroline smiled, snapping her compact shut.
They arrived at the venue where Klaus was playing with only five minutes to spare. It seemed like the entire show had been waiting for them. As soon as they were seated upstairs in the VIP area, the lights were dimmed and the concert began. From where they were sitting, Caroline could see all of the music fans. It was mostly girls, pressing as close as they could get to the stage. She also had a clear view of Klaus. The venue was a more intimate setting than the few arena concerts Caroline had attended in the past. It was small enough for her to be able to count each of the necklaces wrapped around Klaus's throat from where she sat above it all.
Klaus strummed a few notes on his guitar and the fans cheered. They snag along with every lyric to every song. Caroline's eyes were glued to Klaus throughout the performance. She was mesmerized by the way his lips brushed lightly against the microphone while he sang and the way his fingers moved deftly across the strings of his guitar. His sad slow melodies and angry love songs were drawing her in deeper. They sounded even more intense than when she had listened to the CD on the plane. Every now and again he would stop between songs and speak a bit to his fans, but he wasn't very personable. His performance seemed heartfelt but at the same time he maintained a cold distance from the audience.
At one point in the set, the lights dimmed and Klaus was onstage alone; just him and an acoustic guitar. He sat down on a stool and took a swig of the beer that he had been nursing throughout the night.
"Earlier today," Klaus said into the microphone, "someone told me that I don't sing enough about love." Caroline's eyes widened a bit as the crowd murmured in disagreement. "I thought just for her I might switch it up a bit. I didn't write this song, but I'm sure more than a few of you will recognize it. Especially if you appreciate 80s love ballads."
She glanced at Elena out of the corner of her eye, but her friend just sat there, looking bored with her gin and tonic. Caroline realized that Elena wouldn't know that Klaus was talking about her. She relaxed and turned her attention back to the stage. Klaus began to play the song and even though it was acoustic, Caroline recognized it instantly. Her lips twisted as she tried to hold back the massive smile breaking out across her face.
After the concert, everyone was complimenting Klaus on his performance. Even his band said they thought it was the best show they played in quite some time.
"Well, it's the first time in a long time my brother has showed up to play," Elijah remarked, "rather than sending his drunken, evil twin."
Klaus rolled his eyes but accepted the backhanded compliment. "Well since I've been a good boy, does that mean I can go out and play?"
Elijah chuckled and gave Klaus a pat on the back. "Don't have too much fun."
As Elijah walked away, Caroline and Elena appeared backstage. Klaus couldn't help the way his eyes raked over Caroline. She looked different that night. It wasn't just the way she was dressed, but the way she was carrying herself. Her shoulders seemed a little straighter and her chin a bit higher. She smiled brightly at him as they walked up.
"Great show," Elena said, her voice interrupting his mood.
"Thanks," Klaus replied stoically. His gaze slipped back to Caroline, who was opening her mouth to say something before she was interrupted.
"Klaus! Brilliant show!" Kol said bounding up to the group and brushing past the girls. "Although it might have been just a tiny bit better if I was on bass."
"Sure, sure," Klaus said to him. Kol turned toward the girls, noticing their presence.
"And who might these lovely ladies be?"
"This is my girlfriend, Elena Gilbert," Klaus said taking her hand, he was nothing if not a through actor, "and her friend, Caroline Forbes."
Kol's eyes slid from Elena to Caroline, taking the same path up and down her body that Klaus's just had. He took Caroline's hand and kissed it, oozing fake charm.
"I'm Kol. Pleasure to meet you darling," he said.
Caroline giggled. Klaus seethed. If he had pulled something like that, she would have rolled her eyes or shot him down with some sarcastic quip.
"And how do you two know each other?" Caroline asked.
"I used to play with Niklaus from time to time," Kol explained.
"And by play he means take advantage of free whiskey and try to shag groupies," Klaus interjected.
"Speaking of boozing and shagging," Kol said, "why don't the four of us go out for a drink?"
Caroline and Elena looked at each other.
"I don't have any reason to be awake early," Elena said.
"Then it's settled," Kol clapped his hands together. Klaus tried to hold back his glare as he watched Kol step in front of him and hold his arm out to Caroline. She took it with another giggle and Kol led her away.
"Shall we?" Elena said holding out her hand for Klaus to take it. He snorted and took her hand, appreciating the fact that at least she seemed as miserable as he did.
Kol took them to a large bar not too far away from the concert venue. It seemed inhabited by the same people who had just attended Klaus's show. He got a little bombarded by a few fans when they first entered, but the girls seemed to disperse when he introduce his "girlfriend" to them. At least Elena was proving to be somewhat useful that night. Kol seemed to know the bartenders and had no problem getting them fast drinks and a VIP table.
Klaus kept a close eye on Kol and Caroline. He tried to hear their conversation but it was too loud in the bar and they were on the other side of the table. Elena wasn't very talkative, so he had nothing to do but sit there, sip his whiskey and fume. He nearly lost it when he saw Kol wrap his arm around the back of Caroline's chair and lean in to whisper in her ear.
Klaus leaned in close to Elena. "Is there trouble with Caroline and her boyfriend?'
"What?" Elena said turning toward.
"Did Caroline and her boyfriend break up?"
"No. Why?" Klaus gestured to the couple across the table. Elena just waved her hand. "Oh don't worry, Caroline is just being nice. She would never cheat on Tyler."
He didn't whether to be pleased by that statement or irritated. Elena turned back to her phone and Klaus sat back in his seat continuing to frown as Caroline laughed at something funny Kol had said.
They had been at the bar for a while now. Caroline had kept her drinking on the light side, since she was still feeling queasy from drinking so much the night before. Still, she had sipped through two vodka tonics as she listened to Kol's stories about touring and travelling. It seemed like the guy had done everything. And gotten into a quite a bit of trouble while doing it.
She especially enjoyed hearing the stories that involved Klaus.
"Seriously?" Caroline laughed, "he was naked in Bethesda fountain?"
"I kid you not," Kol replied, "completely passed out. It was actually a couple of bums who alerted the police to the disturbance."
"Oh my god! How did the press not find out about it? I've never heard that story and trust me, I keep up with celebrity gossip."
"It's because Elijah and that bitch that works for them are very good at their jobs," Kol winked, motioning to the waitress for another drink.
Caroline noticed Kol scoot in closer. He had been moving closer since they sat down. He cleverly disguised his intentions of course, but she wasn't dumb. She knew she should have moved away as soon as she could, but at some point she had looked over and noticed Klaus watching them. There was a hard, envious look in his eye that made Caroline want to see how long she might be able to keep this up.
"I enjoy your laugh Caroline," Kol murmured to her, "you have a beautiful smile."
He reached up and brushed his hand across her hair. Caroline tried to give him a friendly smile, but now she knew she had taken things just a bit too far. It was time to ease back a little with the flirting.
"I need to go to the bathroom," Caroline said slipping away from Kol's reach and out of her chair. He seemed undaunted though, smiling up at her and pointing her in the right direction.
She didn't really have to use the bathroom, so she stood at the mirror for a couple minutes, fixing her hair and makeup and eaves dropping on the conversations going on between the stalls. Most of it was in Italian so she didn't understand a word.
When she emerged from the restroom, Klaus was standing there waiting for her. He was wearing that same hardened expression as before. Caroline attempted to sidestep him, but he stepped in front of her blocking her path.
"Was there something you needed?" She asked in annoyed voice.
"What game are you playing with Kol?"
"No game," Caroline said, "just being friendly."
Klaus scoffed. "Friendly? If was that friendly with you I'd be walking away with a verbal slap in the teeth."
"I'm just being nice."
"You're never that nice to me."
Caroline smirked. "Well you don't deserve it. Besides, you have a girlfriend."
"A fake girlfriend," Klaus corrected, "if I remember correctly you have a real boyfriend."
"Why are you so concerned," Caroline asked crossing her arms.
"Don't think you're being a bit of a hypocrite love?"
Caroline bristled at this. "I haven't done anything wrong. There's no harm in a little innocent flirting. Sounds to me like someone is jealous?"
Klaus sputtered a bit and Caroline took the opportunity to step around him and head back to their table. But Klaus grabbed her elbow, gently, and spun her back toward him.
"Just be careful. Kol isn't the type to take no for an answer."
Caroline pulled away from his grip. "And you are?"
That seemed to convince him to let her go. She scoffed and headed back in the direction of the table. As she walked, she spotted Kol at the bar and he waved her over. Caroline changed her path and met him there. He smiled warmly and made space for her to stand next to him.
"I thought we could give the lovebirds some time alone," Kol said by way of explanation. Caroline nodded. If he only knew. "I saw you talking to Klaus, he looked angry."
"Yeah," Caroline said trying to sound casual, "just a fight with Elena."
"Ah, and you're the friend caught in the middle of the couple," Kol said, "that's never fun."
Caroline gave him a half smile and Kol seemed to take that as a cue to slip his arm around her waist. Caroline jumped at the contact. Maybe Klaus was right. She should probably come clean before this whole flirtation thing went any further.
"Kol, I feel like I should tell you I have a boyfriend," Caroline said.
"No worries darling," Kol said, "we're here to have fun and make friends right?"
"Right," Caroline nodded slowly. Kol still hadn't moved his arm, so she backed away a little.
"I apologize if I've overstepped any boundaries," Kol said, his brown eyes reminding her a bit of a kicked puppy in that moment. Caroline's smile relaxed.
"It's ok," she said, "you didn't know."
"Tell you what," Kol said, "there is a special VIP room in the back, wanna check it out?"
"Sure," Caroline shrugged. She didn't know what special VIP meant. She thought they were already sitting in the VIP section. Kol took her hand and led her through the crowd and to a doorway, blocked off by a curtain. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Klaus back at their table next to Elena. He didn't see them walk behind the curtain.
The "special" VIP area seemed quieter than the bar outside. Tables were smaller and the lighting was dimmer. Navy fabric was draped along the walls giving the area a sensual appeal.
"Oh my fucking god, Kol!" Caroline heard a girl shout in a thick English accent.
Kol smiled and waved at the girl, who ran up and wrapped her arms around him. She was short and brunette, with wild curly hair and dark lined eyes.
"What the hell are you doing here?" She asked him, touching his arms as if she couldn't believe he was real.
"Mary," he chuckled, "you just saw me last night."
Mary snickered. Caroline noticed the glassy quality to her gaze. "Oh. Yeah."
"Mary, this is Caroline."
Mary turned to Caroline and the smile dropped from her face. She didn't even make an attempt at introducing herself or being polite. Instead she spun around on her heeled boots and went back to the table.
"Sorry," Kol murmured to her, "bit of an old fling."
He walked to the table and Caroline followed him. Everyone scooted over to make room for him in the booth, but Caroline ended up standing on the outside next to him. The group was talking loudly, everyone shouting over the other person. They all seemed excited to have Kol around, especially Mary. Caroline noticed a couple flat, dust covered mirrors on the table and it soon became clear as to why everyone was so animated.
"Caroline?"Kol said nudging her and shifting the mirror toward her.
Kol had just snorted his own white line of powder through a rolled up piece of paper and now it appeared the next one was meant for her. Caroline was all about new experiences: drinking, partying, VIP rooms, but she drew the line at hard drugs.
"No. Thank you."
"What's the matter sweetheart, never done coke before?" Mary sneered, acting like it was the most normal thing ever to do drugs in a bar.
"No I haven't," Caroline shot back without a hint of insecurity.
"Just go for it Caroline. You're on vacation," Kol urged.
"I'd really rather not."
"Yeah Kol," Mary said mocking Caroline's tone, "she'd really rather not."
Caroline scoffed and turned to go. She'd had enough of the VIP room. If VIP room meant hard drugs and evil bitches, she'd stay out in the main bar with all the normal people.
"Caroline," she heard Kol call behind her. He walked up to her before she could get to the entrance back into the main area.
"Look Kol, I'm really not into all that," she said, "but feel free to go back and have a good time. I'll just find Klaus and Elena."
"Wait no," Kol said, "you and I were having fun." He looked over his shoulder for a moment, seeming nervous, but then gave her a cool smile. "Let's go have a drink at the bar. Forget Mary and those losers in there?"
Caroline wasn't convinced by his sudden change of attitude toward his VIP friends but she agreed and followed him back to the bar. He seemed twitchy and over alert. It must have been the drugs she reckoned. Hanging out with Kol didn't seem like such a good idea anymore. She glanced over at the table, but didn't see Klaus or Elena. Maybe they had left. She reached into her purse and pulled out her phone to text Elena and see where she had gone.
As she texted, Kol slid another vodka tonic in front of her.
"Cheers," Kol said, raising his glass to her. Caroline slipped her phone back into her clutch and grabbed her glass, mimicking his toast.
Before she could take the drink, her glass was knocked out of her hand, the alcohol spilling and glass breaking on the wood floor. She looked up and saw Klaus, glaring daggers at Kol. It wasn't the jealous looks his was throwing at him before, but a look of severe anger.
"What the hell?" She screeched, but Klaus's eyes were trained on Kol.
"Is there a problem mate?" Kol cocked his head.
"He put something in your drink," Klaus said to Caroline without looking at her. The other people around them started focusing their attention toward the drama that was taking place at the bar.
"What?" Caroline gaped she faced Kol. "Is that true?"
A creepy smile stretched out across Kol's face and he took a sip of his whiskey, setting the glass down onto the bar. He stepped toward Klaus.
"Don't stand there acting like you're some knight in shining armor," Kol said, "I believe it was you who taught me that trick."
"Leave," Klaus growled. But Kol continued.
"Put it in her glass when she's messing with her phone or her hair or in the bathroom. She'll never expect it if you get her to trust you first."
"Leave now. Before you regret it."
"Before I regret it?" Kol repeated. "What are you going to do? Hit your best friend over some game playing slut in a tight dress? If anything she deserves it after—"
Klaus lunged forward to strike but Caroline was there, holding her hands between the two of them. Klaus's fist stopped right before it connected with Caroline's face and she let out a slow breath. Relieved that she hadn't regretted stepping between them herself.
Two of the bouncers came up to them then and grabbed Kol, escorting him out and telling him not to come back. Apparently back room drugs were one thing, but date rape drugs were an entirely different ball game. Caroline glanced up to see Klaus frowning at her. She opened her mouth to speak, but he turned away before she could say anything, pushing his way through the gaping crowd. Caroline followed him until they were outside.
Klaus stalked down the street, his long legged stride and Caroline's heels making it difficult for her to catch up to him.
"Hey would you wait," Caroline said, her heels clacking after him as she hurried around the corner and into the alley next to the club.
Klaus rounded on her then and she almost bumped into him. She looked up and saw the angry glare he had been giving Kol directed at her. It made her flinch. She could feel the frustration rolling off him in waves.
"You're mad," she said, "why are you mad?"
"Because I can't believe you protected him after what he was about to do to you," Klaus said.
"You idiot, I didn't jump in front of Kol to save him. I did it to save you."
Klaus scoffed. "I could have easily wiped the floor with Kol."
"Yeah and where would that have gotten you? Arrested? In jail? Worse?" Caroline crossed her arms. "Then all this stuff with Elena and trying to change your image would be for nothing."
"You could have gotten hurt," Klaus said, his blue eyes flicking back to hers, "if I hadn't stopped myself I could have hurt you."
Caroline shrugged. "It's ok. It would have been an accident. I'd have forgiven you."
"I wouldn't," was Klaus's sad reply.
She wanted to reach out and tell him that it was really ok, but something about everything that had just happened stuck in her mind. Something that Kol had said that she noticed Klaus hadn't denied.
"Is it true? That you and Kol used to…" drug girls so they'd sleep with you. Unable to finish the sentence, she let the implication hang in the air.
"Yes," he affirmed. Klaus walked over and learned up against the wall, putting his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "I'm really not worth the effort that everyone makes. Elijah and Elena and you," he said, "I am who I am. That isn't going to change."
Caroline walked over and leaned up against the wall next to him, her arm brushing against his.
"Well no one is perfect," she attempted to joke, but Klaus didn't laugh. Her teeth worried her lip. "Hey Klaus, look at me."
Klaus hesitated for a moment before turning his face to her. She could see remorse in his eyes; something that she hadn't seen at all in Kol's expression when he got caught. Kol hadn't felt the least bit guilty about trying to drug her.
"I don't know who you were in the past," Caroline said rolling her body on the wall so that she faced him, her shoulder against the brick, "but that guy Kol described, I don't see him. Especially not right now."
Klaus's mouth twisted up into a bit of a smile, which satisfied her. She caught herself staring at his lips again and when her eyes went back to his, she realized he had noticed her staring as well. His stare had turned intense again, but not the angry kind of intense anymore. Her breath caught and she looked down and realized that she was lightly gripping his arm. When had that happened? Caroline felt her stomach tighten and the feeling that she had the night before returned. She knew she wasn't drunk this time. There were no excuses for the electricity she was feeling at that moment.
Klaus watched Caroline's eyes, feeling her fingers against his arm. He could almost see every thought she was thinking, as if there was a marquee running across her blue eyes narrating all the things going through her head. She was thinking too much. She wouldn't give in, he knew it. He reached up and cupped her face with his hand and she leaned into it. He counted the seconds until he knew she would pull away. Elena had said it herself. She would never cheat on her boyfriend. Caroline was too good to do anything like that. She wasn't like him, who took whatever he wanted no matter the consequences. That's just who he was. But his thoughts were stopped as Caroline leaned forward and placed her lips on his.
She didn't know what she was doing, kissing him, but it was happening. His lips were warm and inviting and a few seconds later he began to move his mouth across hers. Tiny butterflies fluttered around in her stomach as their lips came together. He turned her around and pressed her against the wall, trapping her between his arms. His tongue slipped past her lips and into her mouth, sending an intense wave of heat that she felt all the way down to her toes. Her hands slid up to the side of his face, her thumbs brushing across the stubble on his jaw. He kissed her once, twice, again, each touch of his lips sending those stomach-butterflies into a tizzy. Klaus pulled back and stared into her eyes, trying to read her thoughts now, but he couldn't. They were as fuzzy as his own.
"Caroline?"
Both of their heads snapped in the direction of the voice. Elena stood at the front of the alleyway, looking over at them. Klaus pushed himself off the wall, away from Caroline. He wondered how long Elena had been standing there and whether or not she had seen them. He could feel Caroline panicking next to him.
"What happened? The bouncer told me he saw you guys run around here," Elena asked walking toward them, "I go to the bathroom for five minutes and then hear that I missed a fight and you two are gone."
"It was nothing," Caroline said quickly, "Kol tried to drug me and Klaus saw him."
"Are you ok?" Elena asked her friend, completely ignoring Klaus. He assumed that Elena hadn't seen their kiss.
"Yeah," Caroline replied sounding a bit breathless.
"Well I'm ready to get back to the hotel if you are."
Caroline nodded, unable to look at Klaus. "Yeah let's go."
Elena didn't seem to have seen the major makeout session that had been happening moments ago. Klaus watched Caroline and Elena walk out of the alley and toward the street to find a cab. He followed them, brushing a hand against his lips and thought he caught sight of Caroline doing the same.
So what do you guys think of Kol's little cameo in this fic? As well as original groupie, Mary!
Note #1: I usually hate it in books when the author's name the specific songs that are playing. It always throws me off, especially if it's a song or band that I LOATHE. But in case you want to know, the 80s ballad Klaus was playing for Caroline was Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns and Roses.
Note #2: That being said, I didn't want to compare Klaus and his band to any certain type because we all have our types of music. But I'd love to hear your thoughts as to what band YOU imagine Klaus's band to be like in this fic!
Note #3: Some of you have been very astute to the blink and you miss it subplot I've got going on. I thought I was being subtle but apparently, nothing gets by some of you ;)
Reviews are love!
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*****SPECIAL NOTE*******
So I can't respond to guest reviews and someone raised concerned about Klaus being a former "rapist" and Caroline being ok with it. Not the case at all.
"Is it true? That you and Kol used to…" drug girls so they'd sleep with you. Unable to finish the sentence, she let the implication hang in the air.
"Yes," he affirmed. Klaus walked over and learned up against the wall, putting his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "I'm really not worth the effort that everyone makes. Elijah and Elena and you," he said, "I am who I am. That isn't going to change."
If you notice, Caroline never finishes her question, so Klaus doesn't really know what she's asking or what he is saying yes to. He is more or less admitting that he hasn't been the most upstanding person when it comes to bedding women. He may get a woman super drunk, but he would never drug or force himself on anyone. But at that moment, he's going through a bit of self loathing and doesn't really see the difference between his past actions and Kol's current attempts (not to imply that there is one).
Caroline is not at all ok with Klaus "being a rapist" however after considering it, she thinks that she doesn't really picture Klaus doing all that because it's clear that he can see that drugging a girl is wrong, that he feels remorse, something that Kol didn't not show an ounce of after he got caught. In fact he went as far as to blame Caroline for bringing it upon herself.
This entire conversation was actually inspired by one that occurred in my real life, between a friend and I. And knowing that sometimes, when a guy feels really bad about something, he tends to make it seem like it was worse than it really was.
I'm a little offended that anyone would think that I would write Caroline, or anything for that matter, condoning rape/attempted rape or brushing it off. So hopefully this clarifies it a little bit and if the anon is reading this, sorry for any offense it may have caused.
I'll probably be adding a little something to the next chapter, to make it VERY CLEAR that Klaus isn't a former rapist.