Hi... err... sorry for this late upload :) life got in the way... and lots of tvd disappointments... oh well, i hope it gets better though :(

Anyway, here's the next chapter! :)

"Are you ready Care?" Bonnie asked.

After a whole week of grinding herbs, drying out weird looking leaves, mixing some gooey liquid, and more of other witchy stuff, the potion has now been completed. Thanks to Bonnie's mom who checked if the potion is mixed the correct way. Bonnie, quite embarrassingly, made a few errors during her earlier attempts. Nonetheless, it's now finished. And that night, with only Bonnie, Elena and Abby in her room, was the night Caroline chose to drink it.

"Yes"

Day 1

Caroline has been making so many calls the whole day. Organizing the prom dance isn't exactly an easy task, especially when it's their last and it's supposed to be the best one. But if the prom is going to be amazing, she has to look amazing as well.

"You look hot Caroline" Bonnie told her, eyes gazing at Caroline's entire appearance.

Picking prom dresses with friends is so much fun.

"And you look so beautiful too Bon" Caroline smiled back at Bonnie who was wearing the prom dress she picked.

The store's doors flew open as Elena went in.

"I'm sorry I'm late... Wow. You two look gorgeous" Elena greeted and the two giggled with excitement.

"So Bon, friend prom, right?" Caroline asked while she continues to view herself in the mirror. "God, I can't believe the two of us don't have a proper date for the prom. Damn Tyler, I already had plans way before." Caroline rambled.

"Friend prom sounds fun." Elena stated. "Matt will have the hottest prom night with you two" she winked.

Caroline beamed. "But Bon, what about Kol?"

"Kol? What about him?" Bonnie asked, turning her head to Caroline.

"Ugh, Bonnie, I'm sure Kol asked you to be his date, hasn't he? I mean, he's been hitting on you for like, weeks already."

Elena and Bonnie looked at each other. Caroline is supposed to forget about Klaus only, not Kol or any of the other Originals.

"Well, he tried to." Bonnie answered. "But he knows I'm not going to say yes so he didn't insist on it. Anyway, Elena, aren't you going to try your dress? I'm starving"

"Uhm..." Elena started. "About that, it's okay, Damon already picked it up for me this morning."

Caroline raised an eyebrow. "Damon" she muttered, with a blank face. "So he's going to be your date right?"

Bonnie threw Caroline a look. Elena only heaved a deep breath.

"What?" Caroline said as she watched their expressions. "Sorry Elena but I still can't get over it."

Caroline couldn't help herself. She noticed how Elena only remained silent. She bit her lip and sighed. Was she a bit hard on her?

"Elena, I'm sorry." Caroline apologized at once.

"It's okay Care, I understand."

Caroline doesn't understand though. She and Stefan is epic and learning that she had fallen for Damon this whole time is quite a shock to her. Maybe she'll understand it eventually. And Elena's her friend. Caroline feels sorry for Stefan though.

"So...!" Bonnie spoke next. "Can we take these off now? I really am starving"

Caroline exchanged a smile with Elena before they finally took the dresses off to pick up later.

At the Grill, Klaus watched as Caroline entered with Elena and Bonnie. Caroline hasn't called him this morning so that means the potion has taken effect. Klaus felt a little strange to see her not giving him a smile, much less a glance.

But she did throw him a look though, a guarded, cautious one.

Klaus smirked.

"And there's your girl" Rebekah commented as she joined her brother at the bar looking at the blonde one among the happy three friends across them. "I can't see any difference though. I mean, the two of you are such great actors I was completely shocked to find out about you two. And here you are, being played at. You really like Caroline so much, don't you?"

Klaus only ignored her.

"I was wondering. What if that potion doesn't wear off after three days Nik? What would you do?" Rebekah flashed her a taunting wide grin.

"What do you need Bekah?" Klaus asked with a bored and a pretty irritated tone.

Rebekah smiled at her brother. "I need entertainment... And I think I just found one." she winked.

After Klaus raised his eyebrow at her, Rebekah stood up and went straight towards Caroline, Elena and Bonnie.

"Hello girls, what do we have here?" Flashed in Rebekah's face is her childlike charming smile. She pulled a chair and sat with them.

Caroline smiled back. "We're having a snack. Thanks, bye." Caroline said sharply.

Klaus couldn't help but chuckle on his seat as he listened.

Rebekah made a fake surprised look. "Oh Caroline, that was a bit rude don't you think? I don't think my brother would have liked that."

While Caroline responded with a confused look, Elena spoke.

"What do you want Rebekah?"

Again, Rebekah smiled. "I want to chat with Caroline" she continued. "You know my brother Nik, right? There he is, right there at the back."

Caroline rolled her eyes. "I know Klaus, Rebekah"

"Good! So, what do you think about him?" Rebekah asked.

Caroline immediately knitted her eyebrows.

"What do I think about Klaus? Is that what you're asking me?"

Rebekah's smile is unwavering.

Caroline then glanced at Klaus, who held her eyes for a moment before she turned back to Rebekah once again. It was quite weird how Klaus was looking intently at her though, as if he's waiting for her answer.

"What is this, a game? Sorry but I'm not playing." Caroline said, now becoming more wary of Klaus, who she knew, is still looking at her.

"Just leave us alone Rebekah, you're not helping." Bonnie frowned.

Rebekah laughed in utter amusement.

"My brother likes you Caroline." Just like that, Rebekah told Caroline, who coughed the water from the glass she was drinking from. "What do you have to say about that?" she said with much more interest.

Elena sighed in irritation. "Rebekah, can you just please leave us alone?"

"What did you say?" Caroline asked Rebekah immediately after. "Okay, you know what Rebekah? Klaus is a monster and so are you and I'm not going to play any of your games. And please..." Caroline turned to look at Klaus. "...could you tell your brother to stop staring? It's making me uncomfortable."

With that, Caroline stood up and gathered her bag.

"Come on" Caroline said to her friends. "Let's just go eat at my house, I don't want to waste any more time here, the prom is already enough to stress me out."

In another more minute, they were gone, leaving Rebekah at the table. Klaus didn't fail to notice though, how Caroline threw him an irritated look before she walked out the door.

Klaus drank all the liquid in his half empty glass of scotch as something ached in his chest.

"Nik" Rebekah was suddenly beside him again, her voice a bit less confident and somehow, it was apologetic. "I uh, I'm sorry that wasn't what I was-"

Klaus cut her off with a sudden laugh. "Why don't you just find Kol and go have your fun. I would be surprised if you think I was hurt."

Rebekah stared at her brother for a while before she smirked.

"But you are, aren't you?" Rebekah said, eyeing her brother carefully. "Who are you fooling? What would you do if Caroline remained this way towards you after three days?"

Klaus stared back at his sister. His face defiant, eyebrows raised in confidence.

"She won't" He said.

Rebekah never left her curious gaze upon her brother. It was a little amusing how she can see from his eyes that he is not, in any way, accepting the possibility that this could be a stunt. Elena and the others had just planned to ruin him by trying to un-sire his hybrids and here he is, still playing along with their little games.

"My, my" She chuckled. "You really are in love Nik." She said slowly, as if she has just realized it. "Oh well, it won't hurt to be ready for what might happen right? Anyway, I'm sure you can make her fall for you once again." Rebekah shrugged. "I'm going to find Kol."

Rebekah then strode off. Her heels clicking as she walks out the Grill.

Klaus, however, was left with furrowed eyebrows.

Day 2

Caroline got her hands full the whole morning. Tomorrow is their senior prom and her meetings with the different prom committees is coming one after another.

It was exhausting her but she loves it. She also loves how everyone seemed to be working hard as well. It's their senior prom after all, their last dance in high school. And it would be the most beautiful prom night ever. She would make sure of it.

If only she has a date. Caroline sighed as she chooses the colors for the table covers. She chose red.

Oh well. Caroline thinks. A friend prom might be fun. And she thinks that's all she needs. Now that the past months became strangely blurry in her mind, all she can think about is making this dance the most amazing of all dances she had organized. And there's no place for a relationship drama. Only the perfect dress, and her friends.

And no hybrids please. She suddenly remembered her weird encounter with the evil hybrid the day before. It was creepy but the incident hasn't left her mind.

After one moment though, she felt something strange behind her back. Slowly, placing her pen inside her notebook and putting it down the table, she turned around with knitted eyebrows.

And there in front of her is the smiling evil hybrid, the one and only.

"Klaus" she muttered.

"Good afternoon Caroline." He said, with twinkling eyes.

Caroline straightened her back and gathered all her courage to face him with her most confident look.

"What do you want Klaus? Why are you here?"

Klaus looked behind her, at all the ongoing work for tomorrow night's event.

"I see you've been busy." He said, ignoring her question.

"Yes, actually, and I still am. So please go away." Caroline said at once.

She was slightly surprised at what she said, this is the bad evil hybrid who easily rips off hearts and livers and it wouldn't be wise to talk to him sharply just like what she did. But when she saw Klaus smiling much wider, she felt she might just not need to worry about it.

"Caroline, sweetheart, I'm here for a little request. What do you say about a lunch together? Take a break."

Caroline raised an eyebrow. And then she laughed. If only she doesn't know that Klaus is an evil hybrid who only want to wreak havoc in their lives, she would have thought he's hitting on her. Especially after what Rebekah said yesterday. And Caroline would have thought he's charming, if only he isn't Klaus.

"Seriously?" Caroline scoffed at him. "What do you want Klaus? Why don't you just say it right here?"

"I said it already love. A lunch, you and me."

Caroline stared at him. And then once again, Klaus smiled that smile, that one where those dimples come out. And his eyes are telling her something. She found herself being drawn to his warm gaze, they are full of sincerity.

Suddenly everything about Klaus felt so familiar, and so comfortable, as if she's at home.

But Caroline immediately shrugged off the feeling. Did she had just think about Klaus that way? This is Klaus for god's sake.

"Okay, stop right there... did you just ask me out?" she asked.

Klaus chuckled back.

"Yes, I believe I just did." He said with a shrug, as if it's the simplest thing on earth. "The day would be so much nicer if I could chat with you over a meal. Or perhaps, a dinner."

Caroline is gaping at him.

"Are you serious?"

"Why, you are beautiful and there's nothing about you that I don't like."

Caroline stood silent before him. Her eyes shooting a curious look directly at him which Klaus met with a gaze so dauntlessly penetrating.

"Come on love," Klaus continued. "I dare you"

It took Caroline a few more seconds before she could pull her eyes away from him. She shook her head and tried her hardest to let out a laugh, just to show Klaus that he hasn't affected her, although the truth is otherwise.

"Klaus, I don't trust you" she said. "You may be handsome and charming but I'm not falling for it. Just so you know..." Caroline crossed her arms. "I am too smart for that."

Caroline then picked her notebook and stood straight. "And I already have an appointment for lunch."

At the moment Caroline said that, her mobile phone rang. The words "Stefan calling" was flashing at her phone screen.

"Oh, there's my appointment." Caroline displayed a wide smile as she waved her phone in front of Klaus. "I have to go." She said.

And by that, she walked away from him as she answered her phone.

"Hey Stefan! You're there already? I'm on my way..."

Klaus smirked as he watched Caroline walking away. He remembered all those times when Caroline was perfectly rebuffing him each chance she got. Just like this time.

He didn't realize though, that her rejections happening all over again, would feel more painful.

Klaus made a tight smile. One more day, he thought.

Day 3

Caroline woke up with a smile on her face. Today will be a great day. Her head still ached though. For three days in a row, she wakes up with an awful headache. But that won't ruin this day.

It feels nice having these normal days, when no supernatural things are happening in town and all she could care about is her class, her cheer leading, the graduation, the prom, and boys.

Caroline smiled. Yesterday she had fun with Stefan. And she hopes Stefan had fun with her too. Stefan is going through a painful heartache and she only hoped she's making him feel better by being a good friend.

It surprised her though, how Stefan still wants to go to the prom tonight. He knew Elena will of course have Damon as her date but Stefan still said he's coming. And he asked her to be his prom date. Of course she agreed. And it wasn't a big deal for Bonnie and Matt whom she was supposed to go with at the prom, even for Elena.

Caroline sighed, she may have the most handsome prom date this evening, still, it's a friend prom. If only she has a real boyfriend.

But what the hell, she doesn't need to have a boyfriend all the time. She is strong, and beautiful, and full of ligh... wait...

Strong and beautiful and full of light?

She shook her head suddenly. Someone said that to her before. But then, she just shrugged.

Also, the image of the big bad hybrid kept on creeping in her head. Those encounters with Klaus were all so weird. Klaus just told her he likes her. Is that even possible? Maybe he's on to something evil again?

Today will be a great day. Caroline sighed as she repeated the thought in her head and tried to forget everything else.

She hopped out of bed and sang a song in the shower, while in the shower, and out the shower.

Today will be a great day! Again she repeated in her head.

However, the positive thought cannot linger in her mind any longer.

Once she was down the living room, she was dumbfounded at the sight spread out on the sofa.

"I am very sorry sweetie" said her mother behind her.

Caroline turned around at once to face her mom. For a sheriff, the scared and extremely worried look on her mother's face was quite discomforting. But discomfort was an understatement to what Caroline has felt at the moment. She was shocked, and speechless, and... Caroline cannot name whatever she's feeling at the sight before her.

Why of all days, did she let this day be the day when she lets her mother, her sheriff mother who's always out all day every day, take charge of all the clothes? Including her dress?

Today is a disaster.

"Bonnie?" Caroline's strides are long as she walked left and right at Bonnie's front yard with her phone on her ears.

"Caroline? Why did you call?" Bonnie said on the other line.

"Where are you Bon? I have an emergency! Ugh! My dress is ruined! I have to find another at once. Please can you help me? I cannot reach Elena. And are you not in your house? It's still so early where are you?"

"Okay calm down Care, what did you say? Your dress is ruined?"

"YES! It's my mom, she did a mistake and ugh, what should I do now? Of course I told mom that she shouldn't worry about it and it's okay but honestly Bonnie I don't know where I should get another dress! All the others aren't as hot as that dress! And the prom's tonight! Oh my god Bonnie!"

Caroline is definitely freaking out.

"Care, it's okay, alright? I'll help you find another one. I'm here at the dress shop, why don't you get here already?"

Caroline let out a deep breath to calm herself. Then, she knitted her eyebrows, suddenly confused at Bonnie. It's only 9 in the morning. How can she be at the mall?

"Shops don't open until 10 am Bonnie. And why are you there anyway?"

It wasn't Bonnie's voice she heard next at the other line.

It was a faint male voice from the background. "So how about this now, do I look perfect already?" And Caroline knew who owns that voice.

Bonnie then spoke at the phone. "Look Caroline, just come here okay? I'll wait for you." and then Bonnie hung up.

Caroline started her way towards where Bonnie is, wondering what the hell is Bonnie doing with Kol at a dress shop this early.

.

.

.

Caroline is back in her room, staring at her own reflection. It's already 5 in the afternoon. It's been more than 30 minutes already since she decided she's not going to the prom.

For hours and hours earlier, she and Bonnie scoured the entire shopping mall for a dress but Caroline just cannot find anything that she can settle for.

Kol was with them for about a few minutes until he realized he can't go on with them anymore. He is a guy after all. And looking for a dress is never a guy thing. Apparently, however, Kol had dragged Bonnie earlier at the shop to help him choose his own tux.

Caroline still can't believe all these are happening. Is she really not going to the prom?
Caroline stared at the mirror in major disappointment and disbelief.

But at that time, she doesn't know how a doorbell can turn the tides for her.

The doorbell rang three times. Automatically, she brought herself down to answer the door. Only, there wasn't anyone there, nor anything, but a faint glow of the orange-pink sky. And a rectangular box at the doorstep.

"Caroline" It says on a tiny piece of card on the box.

Caroline brought it inside and slowly, she opened it.

And before her eyes, is nothing but a dress, a stunning flawless, perfect gown. She ran her fingers though the impeccable pearls, stones and other bead accents of the dress and she was left speechless, yet again.

Her heart fluttered.

There was another card inside the box. She took it by the hand and read the words on it.

"I've heard about your dress. This dress, however, sits in loneliness inside its case. - Klaus"

Caroline stared at the dress again. And then at his letter. And then at his name.

"Klaus"

Caroline muttered in disbelief. The fluttering got worse.

...to be continued

:D

too predictable, I knowww. :) i'll post the next chapter as soon as i can :)

if you have time, please review sweethearts :)