3. Old friends and old wounds

Plan B of not being the world's most famous dumpee was in motion. Ok, Stefan was not so thrilled on marrying her and ok, maybe that was a bit of an over-stretch but she still needed to do something to show the world she was more than just someone's ex. She needed to go out, she needed to laugh, and at least pretend to have fun. She needed to pretend she still had a life. As so the plan began … She was sitting at the Ivy, a place swarming with every paparazzi on the face of the Earth. And she was waiting for her hot man to join her for lunch. She wanted pictures. Pictures of her laughing with him, holding his hand tenderly, and looking fabulous of course. She thought she got the fabulous part quite alright. She called Bonnie last night, since she was her fashion guru, and asked her what to wear. To look gorgeous, but not like she tried too much … A little black dress is always fashionable, even by day, if you match it with the right accessories, the legacy Bonnie swore on. She put her hair up and left a few waves to fall freely around her face. She hoped it would distract people from actually looking at her face and seeing how much weight she had lost. But oh well … That was in the past. Today was a new day and everything would be fine. As long as Stefan got here on time … Where the hell was he? They said 1. p.m. sharp. She wasn't one of those divas that always came fashionably late and thought for some stupid reason that was actually charming. She waved to that cute guy from Supernatural, God damn it she never could remember his name, and she continued waiting. And then her favorite song started buzzing. Oh no … This was never a good sign …

" Where the hell are you?" she said as quietly as she could, not wanting the whole Ivy to hear she was super upset with her best friend right now.

" I am sooo sooo sorry. You're going to hate me for the rest of your life but I swear it's not really my fault. Damn it, I should just quit …"

" What happened Stef?" Caroline asked sympathetically, not being able to be mad at him for more than a few seconds.

" That crazy ass of a director called 15 minutes ago and said he had some epiphany, I guess it came to him in a dream or some Hollywood shit like that, I have to come in pronto because he wants to shoot a scene with Annabelle and me. How much do you hate me?"

Caroline signed before answering. "You know I could never hate you so stop being silly, and go do your job, and kick ass in it as always. I'll just go home. Or maybe I'll hook up with that hot guy from Supernatural. You know, the one you like? He's here …"

" Jensen? Yeah, he's married …"

" Damn it, all the good ones are. I just can't catch a break today." Caroline had to joke on her expense, since it was obviously the only thing left on the agenda today.

" Don't go yet. I might have …" and then she heard some strange noise in the background and line died.

So she put her mobile phone back in the purse and was just about to leave and throw herself at the mercy of the paparazzi getting another super title: "Caroline Forbes ditched by her date", when the atmosphere in the room somehow shifted. She turned towards the patio and her body froze instantly. Again? Twice in two days? What the hell was the universe doing mocking her this way? Heads turned like ferice wheels when he entered the room and went ... towards her table … He was dressed like a person not giving a damn about anything, but still managed to make every woman in the room want to take him into the bathroom in the back and well, you know … The stupid son of a bitch was also quite aware of that, in his Gucci jeans and faded black T-shirt that looked like it was a gazillion years old but still showed his body and his muscles very, very nicely. Caroline gulped and looked away, pretending to look for something in her purse hoping that once in his miserable life he would TAKE A HINT and leave her alone. But we're talking about Klaus Mikaleson, right? He could never take a hint if it meant missing on the opportunity to screw with someone. Especially her …

He went straight toward her and gave her a small peck on the lips. She was so surprised with this gesture she didn't really have time to push him off and tell him to go to hell. He'd love a scene like that.

Anyways it lasted only a second or less, but she could feel her lips burning like lava. And the paparazzi outside were burning as well. This will be the picture of the week, month even. Scotter and Skip reunion. Caroline and Klaus in the same room without daggers flying around, not yet, but they could be hopeful they would start to fly, and she could be hopeful one of them would fly and hit the spot where his heart was supposed to be.

" What the hell are you doing here?" she said clenching her teeth and trying to fake a smile.

" Stef called me and told me you might need some company."

"He could never do that to me …" she said looking at him with disgust, while he was looking at her with amusement.

"He's only looking out for his little princess. He felt bad for not making your little, how did he call it? A date? So he asked the most chivalrous guy he knows to take his place."

"What, he couldn't pick some homeless guy of the street and ask him to come? Because I'm sure they are more chivalrous than you. Chivalrous and Klaus Mikaelson should never even be in the same sentence. It should be forbidden by law. "

"Now, now love … Why always so defensive? Can't you just believe I'm here from the kindness of my heart?" he said and took her hand and started rubbing circles on her skin. Every nerve in her body felt awaken and she hated the heat she felt in her entire body by him just touching her hand. She hated his little games and how they made her feel, so she removed her hand from his and asked bluntly: "What do you want Klaus? What's in it for you?"

" Just a free lunch sweetheart. I'm starving. Another late night last nigh" he said and yawned.

" Those young Hollywood starlets are getting quite demanding. You wouldn't believe what one wanted me to do to her last night …"

" I don't care!" Caroline yelled and than remembered where they were and lowered her voice.

" Let's just order then, shall we?" " And get this over with." she mumbled to herself but he heard her and chuckled in amusement.

They sat in silence while he was actually enjoying his meal and she was just torturing her poor plate. She couldn't wait to get out of there.

" Well, it was a pleasure …" she said not even trying to conceal her sarcasm.

"but I really should go, you know some of us actually have obligations."

"What and no dessert together? You can't leave the Ivy without having a dessert. We could share one? One plate, two spoons, very cosy and romantic?" he was mocking her again.

" And prolong this farce any further? No thank you …"

"Easy love, you're losing your happy face."

" You're broke, aren't you?" she asked him while observing his angelic face as some like to call it, not her though, she knew the devil inside all two well.

"You finally spent all the money on drugs. Or gambled it away … Or have to pay alimony for all those illegitimate children … Of course no one will hire you since you're "so reliable" so you need the publicity to get back on your feet. My publicity … Am I right?" Caroline said in a smug voice finally being on to him.

But he wasn't paying her much attention as he was checking the dessert menu …

"How does a chocolate cake with a hot fudge sound? Enticing enough? Like something we would order as foreplay?"

"Don't even go there …" she said in a serious tone but her cheeks turned red at the very thought of having foreplay with him.

"Yes, so we will definitely have that then. Waiter, can we please get a chocolate cake with a hot fudge on top. Two spoons."

" You know, I really do hate you."

"Oh really?" he said finally intrigued with what she'd have to say.

"I hate you for ruining my childhood."

" You weren't exactly a child. 16 when the show started to shoot."

" I hate you for embarrassing me in front of anyone with your practical jokes."

"Yet you fell for them every single time." he said without the slightest regret in his voice.

" I hate you for all the hours I waited for you on set while you were doing God knows what."

" That was unprofessional, but why did you care? You had your nose buried in books anyways. So you can actually thank me for your education and for being such a smart-ass today."

" I won't thank you for anything. You cost me millions. Because of your sleazy behaviour she show got cancelled."

" What about the millions I cost myself?"

" Well that's my only retribution." she said in a smug voice not even pretending to smile and be happy anymore. She didn't care if anyone knew how much she despised this man over here. The same amount she once longed for him.

" Can I tell you now what I thought of you?"

Wow, that wasn't something she was expecting but whatever, nothing coming from him could hurt her … Not anymore … She wasn't a stupid 16-year old girl with a crush anymore. And he meant nothing to her.

" You were a stuck up little angel, the little sweetheart everyone adored and pampered. Whenever something wasn't going your way you ran to your daddy and made he made sure his little princess got everything she wanted.

" That's not true." she said very silently.

" And you were a crappy actress. Never wanting to improvise, always sticking to the script. It was horrible."

"You asshole only wanted to improvise because you could never learn you lines."

" And of course then there was the trashing in the paper. Not very angelic of you, was it now?"

" I never said anything bad about you until the sex tape."

" Pff. Some sex tape, I had my clothes on."

" But she didn't …"

" Well, well, well … And they say nothing interesting ever happens in Hollywood anymore."

Caroline and Klaus were so preoccupied they hadn't even noticed a gorgeous woman approaching their table. Meredith Fell, barely 30, and already a powerful studio executive.

Klaus got up and flashed her with his biggest smile. " Meredith, every year that passes you're more and more gorgeous. Hope you had a nice lunch."

" It was fine, thank you. I can't believe you two are sitting at the same table. Tell me, where have you hid the weapons?"

" I wanted to bring mine but the purse was too small." Caroline said in her Scooter voice.

" Water under the bridge Meredith. We made peace a long time ago." Klaus said lying through his teeth. Caroline wondered why. Now she was more sure then ever he was after something.

" Ok, then they care of Care for me. She's one of the rare nice ones in this town. See you later dear." she said to Caroline and leaned it to kiss her on the cheek.

And now for the first time Klaus was the one completely awestruck.

"Since when are you friends with Meredith Fell?" he said while still looking after the tall brown- haired woman leaving the Ivy.

"None of your business. Like anything concerning me and my life. Bye Klaus."

She took her things and went towards the exit. Not knowing his was right behind her.

But once she opened the door of the Ivy it was back to the mad world again.

" Caroline, Caroline … Why are you and Klaus having lunch together? Don't you hate each other? Is he your new boyfriend? A rebound guy?" they were shouting from all sides.

" It's just old friends having lunch together. Don't make anything out of it." Klaus said adding fuel to the fire.

" Does Tyler know you're seeing Klaus now? What does he think? Will you be working on a baby anytime soon?"

Usually the mention of a baby would make her sad, but thinking of having a baby with Klaus just made her laugh, he wasn't exactly a paternal type. Although a small voice in the back of her mind had to admit it would probably be one good-looking baby.

" Will there be a Scoot and Skip reunion coming up? Did you get any scripts? We saw you talking to Meredith Fell …"

" Now, now guys … You'll know everything you need to know in due time. If … There would be another film or something like that, you'll be the first one to know."

Caroline gave him a look that could demolish 10-storey buildings. He was just making this reunion thing up to wound everyone up. She haaated him … She wanted to scream how much she hated him, but she had to admit … That hour in the Ivy with him made her completely forget about Tyler, Hayley, the baby or her current messed up existence. But as she looked at him chatting with the paps like they were BFF's she knew she had to get away from him, as far and as fast as possible. Old wounds are better left untouched …

Since I'm still not working I have plenty of time to write, so the updates are pretty quick, but when I start in a week or so I'll have to focus on that as well, but for now I hope you're enjoying this ... One big thanx for everyone reading this story, reviews would be nice also, just so I could know some of your thoughts about it ... Love you :)))