A/N: Special thanks to heartlynes, booth, and goldenhummingbird for their awesome (and appreciated) reviews, they were fun (and helpful) to read.
The next day my bones felt like jelly, my skin felt like clouds, and my hair felt like silk. I was literally floating through my day. On top of feeling so amazing, Klaus wasn't in any classes today. He wasn't in the halls either, or the canteen. It was a beautiful annoyance free day. Which meant that either things were looking up for me or that shit was about to hit that fan. Unfortunately it was the latter of the two, but that was fine.
In the beginning of math the professor slapped a note on my desk without a word and went back to the lesson. I rolled my eyes. So rude. The note was from the admin office saying the principal wanted to speak with me, at my earliest convenience. I took a peek up at the professor, now droning on and on about imaginary numbers, and decided that right now was my earliest convenience. I was quite alright with formulas, shapes, and letters that represented numbers but now we were doing imaginary shit? I collected my things and walked out of class.
Something told me the principal just wanted to know how I was adjusting. I bet he was just going to check on my progress. If I were still home this would have been a walk of shame for me. I'd be racking my brain to think of what I could have done, or which thing I had done, had lead me to the office. More importantly my mind would be on what it would cost my parents to make my transgressions disappear. Sometimes it would be all on me, like detention or community service, other times it would literally cost them. I can't count the number of events my parents had to sponsor on my behalf. But this time I was sure I hadn't done a damned thing. It felt nice to be headed to the office with no chance of me being in trouble.
I knocked on the door twice before I heard him grumble for me to come in. His voice sounded familiar. Had I spoken with him during one of the conference calls my parents made to get me admitted? I opened the door and entered the office, then turned around and immediately tried to leave. If it weren't for Kol Mikaelson, honestly what kind of name was Kol, I would have left too. I groaned loudly and turned back around.
"Hello there, love. How are you?" Klaus smiled up at me, smug as ever. I wanted to ask what the hell he was doing in the principals office, sitting behind the desk with his legs propped up on it.
"I was having a great day. Mainly I was enjoying a you-free day but now that that lovely experience is over what do you want, Klaus?"
He placed a hand over his, probably dead, heart, pretending to look offended. I crossed my arms over my chest impatiently. i didn't have time for this, for him. I'd actually rather go back to math to learn about imaginary numbers than sit here chatting with him, and that was saying something. When I didn't budge or pretend to feel sympathy for my rudeness he rolled his eyes.
"You know there are a lot of dandy things to do in here." He began. I shrugged in response. I didn't know where he was going with this and to be perfectly honest I really didn't care. "Like, just for an example of course, student files. It says here you went to a prestigious private school before this and there's also a nifty packet of your disciplinary record. Note that I said packet."
"You went through my file?" I yelled. He'd finally caught my interest. What kind of freak was he to dig up my personal information like that? Was that not a criminal offense here? Why was he commandeering the principal's office anyway, and how for that matter?
"Shhh, that's not the point here. The point is that I would like to know how the wholesome daughter of a US senator and a prominent businessman could possibly go from being the chair of so many committee's and class president to," he squinted at the embarrassingly long record of my wrongdoings. "going to class in inappropriate attire and telling a teacher to fuck off when she reprimanded you for being late."
"Firstly, you're actually criminally insane. Secondly it wasn't 'inappropriate attire' it was pajamas. Thirdly she deserved it for mocking how long it took for me to curl my hair. Curling with a hang over isn't easy." I stared Klaus down, unamused, as he began to laugh his ass off. He was thoroughly enjoying the details of my…complicated past whereas I didn't see any of it the slightest bit amusing.
"Okay, I get it. Daddy's always in a meeting and mummy's busy helping run the country but it says you have two elder brothers. Weren't they enough to keep you in check?"
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from reacting to that. I did have two older brothers. I felt tears begin to sting the corners of my eyes but I forced them back. Mikaelson would never see me cry, over my dead body. I steeled myself against the resurfacing memories and whirled around to leave. This was none of his business. It was nobodies business but my family's and even they didn't like to address it, like ever.
I pushed past Kol and left the office, not intent on going back to class either. I went straight outside to call for a car to take me home. I decided I couldn't properly take the rest of today. Not with the threat of my past bubbling back up to haunt me. If Klaus wanted to be a fucking stalker and find out everything about me then fine he could do that till he was blue in the face but no one here was supposed to know the details of my life at home. I would keep it that way.
The car came in less than five minutes and thanks to the fact that I ordered a specific driver I was home without even having to say a word. I could feel a massive migraine coming on thinking about the work I may have missed in class and wanted to cuss at Klaus for ruining my day. My only solace was in the fact that it was Friday. Bonnie and I were supposed to have plans but she cancelled in favor of going on some kind of date or something like that. Since that freed me up I could sulk all I wanted all weekend. I climbed up the stairs to Stefan's apartment thinking about what I'd knock off my Netflix queue and just as I was about to open the door Stefan came out the apartment looking stressed.
"Caroline! Shouldn't you just be getting out of classes now?" he checked his watch to make sure he wasn't on a different timetable.
"Decided to come home early, you okay?"
"No. I was about to go to the office to knock a few things off my workload when I got a text from this designer for this mandatory event thing so now I'm rushing to the office to try and get at least something done before I have to go."
"Poor Stefan. Headed off to a stable job that pays really well before he has to go party with models and fashion designers." My tone was playful but I wanted to shove him into a hole. Why was he even stressed about such a thing? I'd literally kill to be him right now.
"Be nice, you big bully. Actually, do you wanna come with tonight? These types of things aren't really my cup of tea, it might be more fun if you tag along."
"Hm, would I like to go to a party full of yummy models and meet the people who most likely design 90% of my clothes? Yeah, yeah I would Stefan." He smiled at me briefly and then ran down the hall to the elevator promising to pick me up at 6:30 sharp.
My day could definitely use the pick me up of a swank party. Some champagne, some socializing, a little sprinkle of lucrative opportunity and bang my day was salvaged. I set aside my favorite gold dress with the tiny slit by the left leg and the matching shoes to the side. It was my favorite not only because the color and pattern suited me well but also because it was the perfect balance of business and party. Not too stuffy, not too sexy, just the right amount of each.
Later on at 5:45 Stefan came back home, thankfully with take out in tow. I was only half ready, with 15 minutes left to do my hair and eat the food he provided. I rushed through curling my hair figuring I'd just have to settle with waves instead tonight. I'd just started to dig in when Stefan tossed a napkin at me and rushed us out the door. He had a car waiting or something like that.
To be honest I was surprised he was even going to this thing, whatever it was. Stefan hardly knew what having fun or partying was as far as I was concerned. While I was a veteran who'd enjoyed her career before buckling down, Stefan had buckled down in the beginning and never actually taken the ride. Partying was practically synonymous with the modeling world. Stefan never really entertained it much though. I think he only went when it wasn't a wild club type thing. Like he only went when it was a classic, mutual business opportunity type thing. Boring.
As I'd expected the second we got there Stefan found the host and made boring small talk with him and went around mingling like that for a while, me at his side being very polite and trying to not shoot myself in the face. This boring business talk would be the absolute death of me. Just as Stefan and one of his hairdresser friends started discussing foreign policy with regard to modern warfare I excused myself to sit down. Leave it to Stefan to find the worlds only party like this. I mean honestly, what were these people thinking? I was about to call over a waiter to take my drink order when an unwelcome guest slid into the seat next to me at the table I'd commandeered.
He shot me a wicked little smirk and stared at me for a few minutes, probably undressing me with his stormy eyes. Eventually I got sick of it and fixed him with my iciest glare. This event was meant to lift my spirits, though now that I was here and bored out of my mind I'd have to rethink that. But still, it was supposed to help my mood after the dreadful office encounter with him earlier today. Either this was one hell of a coincidence and the higher powers that be were laughing at my pain or he was a better stalker than I initially anticipated and I should call the cops right this minute.
"Riddle me this, love. If we've already shared a glorious kiss why do you have such an aversion to flirting, particularly touching." I sent him a fierce scowl.
That kiss was purely bribery at work. To be honest it wasn't the constant flirting that bothered me. I could easily ignore pick up lines and empty flattery. It was the infrequent but still completely present touching that got me so worked up. Kissing my hand, tucking my hair away just right so that his hand often grazed my cheek, 'accidentally' or 'unknowingly' pressing his leg to mine under the desk in classes we shared. I had a problem with all of that. He wasn't necessarily being handsy in the way one would expect, like constant groping or slinging his arm around me. Every time he touched me it was small, almost intimate. For instance, right now his hand is on my leg. It's very lightly placed on my knee when he could just as easily have placed it firmly on my thigh. Him not being rudely handsy made it harder for me to deal with him the way I normally would with a pig. It was harder to reprimand gentle, sweet touches, especially when I don't know what to make of them. That being said it unsettled me every time he touched me and I didn't like it. Besides, it's not like I was touching his, admittedly nice, body all the time.
"I don't have an aversion to flirting, Klaus, I have an aversion to you." He didn't seem to like my answer. His smirk faltered a bit and he did a tiny double take while looking at me. "What are you even doing here? Are you following me now?"
"No, this was just luck working in my favor. My little sister is one of the designers favorites. She dragged me along tonight."
"You have a sister?" I found it hard to believe that Klaus could have a little sister and still be comfortable with how much he annoyed me. How would he feel if some guy was constantly flirting with and touching her? Klaus had taken a pause to look around the crowd for someone but stopped to answer me.
"Yes, she's a model. She generally drags me along as her caregiver in the event something shady or unprofessional occurs." He called a waiter to our table and ordered a whiskey, neat, for each of us. "Shit decision on her part, if you ask me. But it's not like she could ask Kol or Elijah."
I was curious as to how he knew how I like my whiskey but decided that it was pure chance and tried to focus on why he was being so chatty tonight. Sure we talked in class, but that was mostly banter and his lame attempts at wooing me into his arms, or, rather, his bed. Tonight he seemed extra forthcoming. I assumed Elijah was another sibling of his.
"Why is it a shit decision if you were her last resort after Kol or Elijah?" I thanked the waiter as he arrived with our drinks and took a hearty sip of mine. If I was going to be cordial with Klaus Mikaelson tonight I would need to be at least buzzed. He seemed surprised that I was carrying a conversation with him and as a result took a second to reply.
"Well, we're all bad choices. You've met Kol. My elder brother Elijah doesn't approve of her modeling and nitpicks everything from the photographers, coworkers, makeup artists, hairdressers, to the designers. But I'm a bad choice because I always shirk my duties in favor of the company of a beautiful woman and end up losing her for an undetermined amount of time. Like now."
I wrinkled my nose. Something about the way he mentioned that he liked to spend his time in the company of beautiful women put me off. He was a player that was for sure, and I was his challenge. I was the fish that wouldn't bite, I refused to take the bait, all of it. Even so, I doubt it was necessary that I should have to hear insinuations to his surely vast amount of exploits. In fact I think we'd all be happier if I didn't. I offered to help him look for her if it meant he'd leave me alone but he waved me off and told me not to be so silly. I rolled my eyes and took another stab at getting him to take the hint that I wanted him to go away.
"Well, since you're acquainted with them already why don't you head off and spend some time with your sisters beautiful friends then?" I polished off my drink and quickly ordered another.
"I only take what I need, Caroline, there's no need to spend time with them when we're done. They're not worth my downtime, sweetheart." He was completely serious for a second before smirking at me once more. "But you're quite the exception. If you'd like I could call one of them over here to tell you what you're missing out on."
"Don't." My voice was deadpan. I didn't want him to do that for a number of reasons, the main one being that I hardly wanted him here. Why would I want his fuck toys here too? "Then I'd have to tell them what they're missing out on—"
"A little catty for someone who claims not to enjoy my company."
"You didn't let me finish. I'd have to tell them what they're missing out on and when I do none of them will ever sleep with you again. Now, if you'll excuse me I'm going to go find Stefan." Boring business talk be damned, I stood up to go find him but Klaus' hand shot out and grabbed my wrist.
"You're not excused. Why don't I help you find this Stefan?" Klaus' voice was oddly calm and even.
I just went along with it. It's not like he would've taken no for an answer. If I couldn't lose him in the crowd I could get rid of him the second we found Stefan. Stefan would do the chivalrous big brother thing and tell him to fuck off or else. We moved through the loose crowd with ease, Klaus' hand had somehow intertwined with my own. There goes my chance at losing him in the crowd, however light it may be. I stopped to think for a minute. Where would my wet blanket, doesn't know how to have proper fun and stop worrying about things, brother be hiding? He wouldn't be at the bar or on the dance floor that's for damn sure. Booths, he's probably in a booth making idle conversation with an acquaintance or setting up future opportunities with a company.
I pulled Klaus in the direction of the booths and away from the leggy redhead that'd caught his attention. I would have left him there if not for his death grip on my hand. Sure enough I found Stefan sitting in a booth with some blonde. They looked like they were having a nice conversation too. Stefan was smiling, it reached his eyes and everything. That meant he was enjoying her company not just out of politeness. As we got closer I could see that her hand was on his thigh and she was leaning into him. I stopped in my tracks waiting to see if he'd accept the hints and make the move. A second or two later he scoots a little closer to her and slings his arm over the seat right behind her. Internally I'm cheering for my big brother accepting the blonde's flirtations. Post-Gilbert Stefan was such a mess none of us knew whether or not he'd ever actually venture out into the world of opposite-sex interaction ever again.
"Judging by the fact that I've suddenly lost all circulation in my hand I'm going to guess that he's nowhere to be seen?" Klaus startled me from my proud sister moment. I grimaced in his general direction and loosened my apparently tightened grip on his hand.
"He's right there. He's flirting." I pointed in the direction of my brother and Klaus squinted.
"I recognize him. He was at one of my sister's photo shoots. Who's that he's sitting with?" I looked back over at the blonde flirting with my brother. She didn't look familiar to me. She wasn't from Stefan's office and he'd never mentioned her.
"No clue. I don't have the heart to interrupt him." I was afraid if I interrupted the flow he had going it would ruin everything. I didn't want to spoil his chance at getting back out there, that would be plain bratty. Klaus shrugged and began tugging me in the direction of where he was sitting anyway. I didn't have the heart to disturb my brother, but he sure as hell did. I resisted as much as I could before Klaus got fed up with my squirming and laced an arm around my waist, tightly, to keep me by his side. His hand was warm and landed on my hip, aside from the rudeness of it all, it felt admittedly nice.
"Hello, I'm Klaus. I'm a…special friend of your sisters." Stefan looked startled. He ignored Klaus and shifted his gaze over to me. I shrugged, meaning that I'd explain later.
The blonde sitting next to Stefan was now standing and didn't look as happy or nice as she had when she was talking to him. She picked up her appletini and threw it, rather forcefully, in Klaus' face. It took all I had not to laugh. Everything after that happened so fast. Stefan stood up, blondie started yelling, Klaus was dabbing at his face with a cloth the waitstaff provided, I was trying to gather why she'd had such a negative reaction to him, and Stefan wanted to know who he was and why he was so close to me. It was a very messy, very comical situation. Stefan finally got fed up and told blondie it was nice spending time with her. He stepped away from the booth to take me away from Klaus, who didn't seem to care that this woman was so angry with him. He kissed the top of my hand as my brother pulled me away, promising to see me soon.