A/N: Another chapter done and dusted! Sorry for the extra long wait guys but I ended up forgetting I actually had a life outside fanfiction and needed a break ;) haha I hope most of you didn't mind. Thanks for my reviews/faves/follows 3 and hope you like this chapter!
Chapter Fifteen – It Takes Two.
Day One:
Klaus blinked once, twice, then a third time to readjust from the light that bled into his hotel room. He hadn't seen the sun this bright for a few weeks now – You didn't exactly move to Mystic Falls for the weather.
He hadn't woken up feeling this low for quite a while. Was it the one millionth new surrounding Klaus would have to get used to? Or was it that he was still no closer to getting closer with Caroline? No. It was his brother – Elijah. Last night's random attack had left Klaus feeling seldom. By all means he knew he was not innocent when it comes to attacking his own brothers but it takes a lot for Elijah to purposely hurt anyone. Maybe his older brother had a lot on his mind? Or maybe Klaus just completely deserved it. Whatever the reason behind it was, Klaus also knew he was way to stubborn and vain to ever apologize – it's a Mikaelson trait after all.
Three loud knocks against his door distracted him from his thoughts. He frowned immediately as he realized how little alone time he was actually going to have during this vacation.
"Nik are you up?" Rebekah voice rang from out in the hallway. At first he didn't reply hoping that would imply he was not, but she continued.
"Please hurry up and answer the door!" Rebekah decided to repeatedly knock, knowing that her brother sooner or later would have to answer. Within seven loud knocks, Klaus shot up very agitated with this disruption and flung open the door as Rebekah fist was in mid air.
"Go away..." He growled and turned back around. He tried to swing the door shut but she saved it with her palm before it could close for good.
"Don't slam the door in my face!" She marched in as she slammed it herself.
"Well I clearly didn't because I can still see your face." Klaus turned his head with stern eyes.
"I'm going to take a wild guess here and say that you are in a bad mood." Rebekah sat down on his bed and watched him carefully.
"No, I just don't like being rudely interrupted by a hundred knocks on my door." Klaus replied as he pulled a white shirt over his head.
"I'm not letting you sleep in all day." Rebekah flipped back her hair as she took a glance out of the window. "Nor am I letting you hide in the dark." She got up to open the curtains. She was rewarded by his eyes automatically squinting and a low growl forming in his throat.
"You could of at least warned me you were going to do that." He hissed.
"Why? You haven't exactly got to worry about making sure your daylight ring is on at all times any more." She scowled.
"What do you want?" He got straight to the point.
"For you to come downstairs for breakfast." Rebekah folded her arms.
"I'm not hungry." Klaus rejected the offer.
"We are always hungry Nik." She wasn't taking any excuses today. Klaus flashed her an unimpressed look.
"You knew what I meant."
Rebekah eyed him carefully before uttering another word.
"Elijah is more than likely not going to show his face after yesterday." She announced.
"And you think he is the reason why I don't want to go and get something to eat?"
"Well if that isn't the reason then tell me?" She frowned.
"Rebekah just go." He sighed gesturing his arm to the door. Rebekah was about to admit defeat as she put one foot forward, she halted.
"No! If you do not come down for breakfast, I swear I will bring everyone up here to you." She stopped for a beat, "And yes that means Caroline can see how pathetic you are acting!"
Klaus was not expecting his sister to react how she did. He could easily just say no he isn't coming but he wouldn't hear the end of it from Rebekah.
"Fine..."
Kol checked his cell for the time what was currently twenty-seven minutes past eight; He had already been up for fifteen minutes laying quietly for Elijah to awake and had enough of waiting for his day to start. He flipped open the cover and climbed out of bed. A tuft of Elijah's hair was the only thing visible out the top of his blanket. Kol took one step in between the two beds and knelt down by the side of his brother.
"Elijah..." Kol sing-songed in a soft whisper into his ear. The cover moved slightly and a grumble was heard underneath. Kol was an impatient type and didn't appreciate the lack of awareness from his brother.
"Elijah get up." Kol's volume was slightly louder and a nudge in Elijah's ribs was added.
The younger original reward was a much louder groan and also a turn, however that wasn't good enough. Kol got his self up and marched over to an empty suitcase leaning against their wardrobe. He lifted it up over his head and lunged it towards Elijah's bed. Suddenly the blanket flew up into the air and Elijah was revealed with his expression clearly not a happy one. He glanced at the case lying half on top of him and then at his brother. Kol smiled sweetly.
"Good morning brother!"
Kol wasn't greeted back. Instead Elijah sat up, rubbed his face and flipped the cover and suit-case off of him. He ignored Kol's innocent façade and walked past him to put on his shirt.
"You're meant to say good morning back when someone says it to you. It's the polite thing to do." Kol sat down on the couch next to him.
"If you're going to throw a suit-case at me every morning during this holiday, you can pack up and move in with Rebekah or Niklaus." Elijah said in a mono-tone voice as he shoved the case back into Kol's hands to make his bed.
"Yes because the both of them would welcome me with open arms if I turned up on their doorstep." He raised one eyebrow and placed the case down next to him.
"Oh I wonder why?" Sarcasm etched in Elijah's voice. Kol shrugged implying he knew exactly why but he really couldn't of cared less.
"So what are we all doing today then?" He rubbed his palms together.
"Well I seem to recall you telling me last night that you have some sort of plan you would like to share?" Elijah remembered while opening the fridge to find a couple of blood-bags he previously packed inside.
"Yeah but that involves everyone and I decided I'm not saying anything until we see everyone." Kol grinned.
"Fair enough." Elijah handed him a glass of a familiar red mixture.
"Haven't you got anything a little bit warmer?" Kol frowned at the cold contents he was given.
"Yes because I have hidden freshly alive humans somewhere in this room for the duration of this holiday." Elijah rolled his eyes and took a gulp out of his own glass.
"It was just a question brother, no need to get all pissy about it." Kol raised one hand and knocked back his own.
"Okay, I'm off to get ready for day one of this vacation, so do not run off anywhere!" He told Elijah before handing him the empty glass and retreating off to the bathroom.
"I'm sure I won't..."
Matt's insides felt rough as he sat upright on his bed. The window of his and Jeremy's room was wide open and the natural light revealed the mess the two of them made the night before very clearly. Beer bottles and food wrappers were scattered over their beds and their luggage still hadn't even been unpacked!
"Um – Jer, man get up." Matt murmured and lightly kicked the Gilbert's head – somehow the two guys ended up collapsing on the same bed. A slow zombie groan appeared from the other-end. Jeremy lifted his head – with a candy wrapper plastered on the side of his cheek – to ask what Matt wanted, however it came out more like:
"Whha-u-ant?"
Matt never replied to the zombie and instead positioned his self properly to lift himself up. Seconds later a prompt knock on the boys front door ended their drunken slumber for good.
"You two better be awake, washed and ready for some breakfast!" Caroline's voice materialized from behind the door. Suddenly, Jeremy jolted up looking a little worse for wear – obviously food was still touch and go for the poor boy's stomach – and ran straight into the bathroom.
"Hello?" Caroline once again clashed her fist against the wood.
"I'm coming Care hold on." Matt knew she wasn't going anywhere. Once he opened the door, the blonde vampire knew one hundred percent that he was hungover.
"I'm taking the bathroom is a little occupado right now?" She wondered straight past the quarterback to enter the bomb-site.
"Well, I wouldn't open the door just in case. You could be walking into anything..." Matt mistakenly mentioned and was very unaware of the underlying meaning. She slowly narrowed her eyes, reminding him.
"Ah, my bad, my mind is a little sore right now." He shrugged.
"You know, this place is disgusting. You're lucky Elena decided to go straight down with Bonnie other wise she would be going crazy on you're asses right now!" Caroline placed a hand on her hip as the other one picked up a half-empty bottle off Jeremy's (un-slept in) bed.
A much more alive but still very tender Jeremy entered their views.
"Um, hey Caroline." He raised an eyebrow at the random guest. She smiled her hellos before handing the bottle to Jer.
"You two don't have to come down for breakfast but we expect to meet you in the lobby at ten. Okay?" She demanded and the two human's heads nodded in sync. Instead of saying goodbye, she turned around moments before opening the door to say,
"Ten o'clock, do not forget." and left without another word...
Hard Rock Hotel Lobby (approximately ten o'clock).
The Salvatore brothers were sat on two different couches patiently waiting for the girls to finish up their first meal of the day.
"What do you think we are going to end up doing today then?" Stefan asked after becoming uncomfortable with their silence.
"I do not know and I do not care, because it's either going to involve that amusement park over there, or that one over there." Damon crooked his head in each direction of the parks.
"Is this you trying tell me you're fear of roller-coasters?" Stefan joked slightly. His brother lifted his head to give a unimpressed expression.
"I'm not scared of anything. I just don't see the point of walking countless hours, in circles to queue up for rides ten times the amount of time you actually get on them."
Stefan shrugged and considered his point.
Elena and the girls were now slowly approaching the Salvatore's with surprising smiles all round.
"Well you three seem in a fairly good mood today, care to share?" Damon asked as he got up.
"There doesn't have to be a reason for us to be in a good mood, Damon." Bonnie retorted, however still smiling slightly.
"Besides, we are on vacation, that's enough to be happy about." Elena chipped in.
"Well prepare for it to be ruined." Stefan muttered and stood up with narrower eyes than before. The girls including Damon glanced at him puzzled until they followed his view, Elijah and Kol were walking in their direction.
"Morning!" Kol cheered.
"We do not want a repeat of last night." Caroline coldly uttered back, and glowered at both of the originals. Elijah winced as the events came rushing back.
"I apologize for the upset I caused and promise a situation like that will not occur on my behalf again." His head was bowed as he spoke his apology. His eyes glanced up quickly to see if it was taken into consideration. He noticed Elena and Bonnie had the warmest glows on their features and Caroline was also half-smiling at his words. The Salvatore's however, looked no different and emotionless.
"Yes well I have an idea remember brother, that will prevent our bickering forever." Kol randomly announced.
"Say that again?" Damon arched an eyebrow.
"Nope, not until everyone is here..."
The group was now in full swing as grumpier than usual Klaus and a bored Rebekah appeared from inside the elevator. The gang had been chatting among themselves (except Damon, whom earlier retreated to the rest-room) as they all waited for the last two vampires to arrive.
"Take you're time why don't you?" Kol complained.
"You try getting Grumpy Gills out of his room." Rebekah interjected. Klaus glared at his sister angrily.
"So are we are finally all here?" Matt distracted everyone.
"Where's Damon?" Rebekah asked realizing the dark-haired man vampire was missing.
"I think he went to the rest-room." Jeremy shrugged.
"Can I start now please?" Kol was eager to press on.
"Well, should we wait for him to get back?" Stefan suggested.
"I'm sure whatever Kol's idea is, it won't take long for Damon to catch up." Klaus eventually opened his mouth to speak and the whole group silenced to listen to Kol's plan.
"Okay, finally!" He began, " Well it comes to none of our surprises that we all hate each other."
He didn't even get a chance to continue before half the group scoffed.
"No, we just don't like you." Caroline sneered.
"Feelings mutual Forbes." Kol argued back before carrying on. "Anyway, as I was saying... Huddling us all up into one big group is pretty much a recipe for disaster, I mean just look at last night for example..."
The gang glanced straight at the elder two Mikaelsons – who also haven't mentioned last night or even uttered a word to each other since.
"Yes but technically that was your fault because if you didn't insist on eating with the rest of us then that more than likely wouldn't of happened." Caroline continued to press Kol. Klaus half-smiled at her persistence to which she noticed and sheepishly smiled back.
"Seriously Forbes, shut the hell up." Kol hissed and her lips uncurled immediately.
"Right, all I'm saying is that today we should pair us up to the ones we least get along with and go from there." Kol was more relieved that he finally got to finish and didn't care if they like his idea or not.
"Well, you have the biggest pick because each one of us don't like you." Jeremy joked and the group began to laugh.
"Yeah, you can't even get along with your own family Kol." Elena questioned with judgmental eyes.
Kol was about to march off in defeat when Elijah spoke.
"Kol this actually isn't a bad idea."
"Well, obviously I came up with it?" Kol sighed.
"Don't push it." Elijah muttered.
"Wait, you have definitely just come up with this plan, to pair us up with the ones we least like, so you can just laugh as it all falls apart." Rebekah thought she had her brother there and then.
"No, I thought of it because I'm actually fed up with the constant hatred." He folded his arms sulkily. Everyone rose an eyebrow to this.
"Seriously, you're the one fed up with it?" Stefan asked but was not answered.
"Okay if we are all going to do this, then firstly, it has to be a majority vote and secondly, you can't pick for yourself." Caroline created her own rules and everyone nodded in agreement.
"Okay, whatever." Kol reluctantly agreed.
"All hands for Kol and Damon!" Stefan called out and within a split second everyone's hands were up as high as they could go.
"Oh well that's just delightful." Kol spat venomously.
"What is going on?" Damon had now appeared.
"Oh brother you're back! Quick put your hand up." Stefan demanded. Damon noticed everyone but Kol's hands were raised and automatically didn't like the look of this.
"Why?" he asked.
"Just do it, pleaseeee?" Elena fluttered her eyelashes mockingly.
"Fine." He did as he was asked and raised his hand.
"Wow, you're an idiot." Kol exclaimed before slumping back into the couch in a mood.
"That settles it, Damon and Kol are our first pair for today." Rebekah told the group.
"Excuse me?" Damon's eyes were wide.
"Oh yeah, sorry brother I forgot to mention we are doing a vote on who is going to be paired up with who for the day." Stefan explained trying not to snicker, however everyone else did except for Kol.
"Great! So who's stupid idea was this?" Damon sat his self on the edge of a couch next to Caroline.
"Mine." Kol looked up momentarily to give the eldest Salvatore a frustrated glare. Damon didn't bother asking what all this actually meant because to be honest he didn't want to know.
"I'm definitely picking now." Kol's rapid mood change silenced everyone as they watched his mind tick curiously.
"Raise your hands for Rebekah and..." he scanned the room quick to pretend he didn't already have someone in mind – he was going to pick Damon but he was now out of play. "Caroline."
Instantly Kol's, Damon', Jeremy's and Matt's hands went up.
"Ha! Only four people have voted, It has to be a majority vote Kol!" Rebekah exclaimed.
Elijah slowly raised his hand next.
"You better put that hand back down right now!" Rebekah pointed to the ground.
"I think you and Caroline could really get along if you both tried." Elijah answered his motives.
Elena's hand hesitated as she glanced at Caroline's glowering eyes.
"Don't you even think about it." The blonde hissed.
"I feel the same Care. Sorry." Elena shrugged before shooting her hand up as well.
"Six votes means you're outta here!" Damon punched his palm. The blondes exasperated dramatically in their seats.
"So we have two pairs now?" Bonnie spoke for pretty much the first time since this game started and a few of them nodded.
"Right my go to pick." Caroline decided. "Hmm, Jeremy and Bonnie." She smirked.
Everyone except the two in question had their arms up in seconds.
"Oh, well that was easy." Caroline looked slightly disappointed.
Jeremy instantly perked up knowing he now had a chance to win Bonnie back, however she kept hushed and showed no emotion.
"Can I just quickly vote Elijah and Klaus?" Elena spoke out randomly. Kol and Rebekah grinned and their hands went straight up. Klaus glared at his younger siblings but that was no use. Everyone including Elijah's arms went up as well and that settled that question.
"You two have the biggest making up to do." Kol winked.
"Matt, Stefan and Elena are left." Elijah pointed out.
"Elena and her two ex's hmm now that's interesting." Kol added.
"My go!" Rebekah called out. Honestly she couldn't care if she had a go or not but spite crept in. Obviously if anyone else had chose they were going to put Elena with either Stefan or Matt but why should she have that satisfaction?
"Stefan and Matt." She simply said. She heard Kol groan under his breath and everyone except him, Matt and Stefan raised their hands.
"Why did you just ruin a perfectly good moment?" He whispered to her.
"Never you mind." She muttered back. She watched as his frown turned into a smirk.
"Oooh I see." He waggled his brows.
"No you don't" She hissed.
"Wait so who am I with now that there is no one else to paired up with?" Elena interrupted.
"You can swap with Damon if you like?" Kol grinned. "You and I could easily get along."
Everyone moaned in disgust at his cheap pick up line.
"Okay fine you can go as a three with Rebekah and Caroline." He brushed her off. The younger blonde grinned quickly at her best friend as the other growled quietly at her brother.
"You did that on purpose."
"Would you rather I paired her with Stefan and Matt?" He smirked and she sank back down into the couch defeated. "Didn't think so..."
Everyone was now paired with their new buddy for the day and it was also a unanimous decision to test this plan out at the main amusement park, however for most of them, this wasn't going to be very amusing at all...