Chapter 11

Too say Caroline was unhappy with the arrival of her unexpected guest – was an understatement. She was furious. Klaus stood before her with smug look on his face.

"Evening love." He said in his European accent.

"Shhh!" Caroline scolded as she stepped out and closed the door behind her.

"What the hell are you doing here?" She whispered as she slammed an accusing finger against Klaus's chest.

"I have to make sure you're sticking with the arrangement. Seems your witchy friend as caused some rather unsavory difficulties for me."

"Stalk me much? I haven't heard from Bonnie, so I have no idea what you're talking about." She crossed her arms and glared at the original.

Klaus rubbed his chin.

"Perhaps its better that you don't know. I must admit I didn't just come to see that you were keeping the ripper tamed." He admitted.

"Why am I not surprised." Caroline rebuked.

Klaus stepped forward and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I wanted to see you one more time before it was too late."

"Too late?" She asked out puzzled.

"Before you give your heart up."

"You're talking riddles at this hour? Seriously?" Caroline exclaimed.

Klaus didn't say anything. He just stepped forward and cupped his hand around her neck and brought her lips closer to his. Klaus inhaled deeply as his lips touched hers for the first time. Caroline could feel the small shudder that passed through him. She was resistant at first and tried to pull away but Klaus's grip never slackened. It took her awhile to realize that she wasn't pulling away and she wasn't exactly returning his kisses.

Klaus pulled away, out of breath as he looked at Caroline who now stood wide eyed. He pressed a chaste kiss to her lips before moving away again. He didn't see what he had wanted to see.

"So I was right." He said with finality.

Caroline stared at him with a blank expression on her face.

"You're in love with him." Klaus continued.

"Yes with Tyler and you shouldn't be kissing me."

"Pfft Tyler? Really? You're not in love with him. I'm talking about the man that is lying in that room right now." Klaus pointed towards the motel room.

"I am not in love with Stefan Salvatore. I'll admit that there's an attraction on my part towards him but like you said its past human emotions. He was the guy that turned me down – that kind of thing doesn't go away overnight." She sighed out.

"Are you blind? Stefan has eyes for you. He always seems to light up like a fairy when you're around. Plus I knew him back then, he had a thing for blondes. And if Elena was to suddenly disappear he would turn to you for love and support. Do you want that Caroline? Do you want me to kill Elena for you to prove my point?" Klaus asked out gruffly.

"No! I uh … you can't." She stuttered out.

"Hmm interesting, your denial is rather amusing from where I'm standing. Besides your feelings were in your kiss." Klaus turned to walk away, but Caroline grabbed him on his forearm to stop him.

"In my kiss. I didn't kiss you back, so technically there was no kiss." She said out angrily.

"Exactly. I kissed you and you didn't hit me right away because you're not emotionally invested in wolf boy. But you didn't kiss me back because you're conflicted – you're in love with someone else. It's just not me." He said solemnly.

"You're wrong." Caroline shook her head in denial.

"No love, I'm right." Klaus turned and began walking away but Caroline stopped him before he could go any further.

"Wait! If that's the case then why don't you do something about it? Try win my affections by actually being a tolerable guy? Why not try and steal me like you tried to do when I was with Tyler? " She suggested.

Klaus stopped, but he didn't look behind him as he spoke:

"Because unrequited love is a dagger to the heart. Living a life and not knowing what the outcome could have been is punishment enough. Own up to your feelings and if they're not returned then you carry on, knowing that you put it out there."

Caroline frowned. She knew exactly who he was talking about; her.

"I'm sorry Klaus." Caroline blurted out.

Klaus turned to face her.

"What for?" He asked puzzled.

"That I couldn't return the feelings." Shrugging her shoulders she turned and left.

Damon meanwhile stood outside the grill. His gut was telling him that if he went in there; things were going to get ugly. Peyton James had been one of his very many hook ups that he had after Sage's guidance. In fact she had been the first girl he had slept with after Katherine of course. They had been together for nearly ten years. Casual hook ups, dining on rich society members, dancing naked under the full moon and of course exchanging details. Intimate details about one another. She knew all his schemes and all his Intel guys.

However one morning he had woken up next to her and she had seemed different. She had been on board to help him get Katherine out of the tomb. He had mistakenly seen her as an ally and a friend. But that morning she had said one simple word to him: Stay. It was then that he knew that he had to get out – before things got complicated.

Hence the reason why things were just about to get ugly.

"Time to face the Opera" He grumbled to himself before entering The Grill.

Damon spotted the blonde the second he walked through the doors. Her once long blonde hair was cut into a pixie cut with a side parting bang – that looked sleek and elegant at the same time. She wore a sleek florescent blue mini dress and a black leather jacket. The whole look looked edgy, flamboyant yet tamed all at the same time. Damon couldn't help but think that she looked stunning still after all these years.

"Peyton." He swaggered trying to play off cool and aloof.

Unfortunately for him Peyton knew his tricks. She smiled in remembrance, he hadn't a changed one bit it seemed.

"Hello Salvie. Want a drink?" She coyly winked the bartender over.

"That's supposed to be my line remember?" Damon took a seat next to her.

"Two bourbons." Peyton ordered. She turned her focus back on Damon, "I hope that's okay? You used to love it with a side order of douchness. Right?"

Damon gave her a smug look as he leaned back.

"Still pissed aren't ya?" He asked amused.

The bartender placed their drinks down, but before Damon could reach for his own, Peyton grabbed his and proceeded to gulp it down. She gave him a grim smile, as she placed the empty glass down on the counter.

"I'm not mad Damon. I'm here to get even."

Damon rolled his eyes, "Please I didn't do anything to you. I just didn't return your calls after a few years. I mean it was basically one night stand."

Peyton sniggered.

"Ten year stand right?" She asked.

"In vampire years that's considered a one night stand." Damon smirked.

"Katherine was right about you. No wonder she loved Stefan. She didn't love you, she was pretty clear about that." Peyton watched in absolute glee as Damon's smirk fell right off his face.

"You've met Katherine? Good for you." Damon grumbled.

"I actually met her when you and I were having our one night stand." Peyton chuckled.

Damon gave her a puzzled look.

"That's impossible."

Peyton tilted her head to the side.

"She was never in the tomb. I found her, I wanted to know who she loved. She told me she loved Stefan and in fact she begged me to get you off her back. You're little obsession had been causing a few hassles for dear old Katherine."

"Why didn't you tell me?" He said angrily, gritting his teeth.

"I told you to stay that morning because I wanted to tell you about Katherine. But most of all I wanted you to know how I really felt. Then you left and I figured you should learn the hard way about your true love."

Damon jumped to his feet.

"Well to bad I don't love Katherine anymore." Damon turned to leave but Peyton's voice drifted from behind him:

"I know it's all about Elena now."

Damon's breath caught in his throat as he turned to face her.

"How do you know about Elena?" He asked.

Peyton stood up and came to a stop in front of Damon. She pushed her body up seductively against his before whispering in his ear:

"I know everything Damon. I'm going to prove to you that Elena Gilbert is Katherine. Feelings included." She placed an open mouthed kiss against his cheek before walking away.

"Tell Elena I'll be seeing her around and if you want a quickie you know where to find me." Peyton said over her shoulder before exiting the Grill.