Chapter 28 – Call me Nik
No POV
Bella's eyes shone as they pulled apart needing air. throwing his head back and letting the rain pummel his face, Klaus felt carefree for the first in many, many, MANY years. it warmed Bella's heart to see his guard crumpled to the ground.
Another thunder crackled and hand in hand they ran inside laughing like little kids. Once inside Bella excused herself to restroom to clean up after their rain shower and to calm herself after their smoldering kiss.
Klaus made his way to the bar and ordered a shot of scotch and downed it at once hoping it would calm his raging nerves and hormones down abit. Licking his lips after the drink he was happy to taste her fruity lip whatever it is called.
A live band was playing on a small stage and he took his time to observe them. He liked to 'people watch' and not for the first time, he imagined himself to be one of them. Just a middle aged man holding his wife and swaying to the soft 50s music. For the first time the woman in his arms wasn't faceless.
Meanwhile at the restroom, Bella was leaning against the wall of the women's restroom, her face in her hands trying to reign in her emotions. She was glad Jasper was nowhere in the vicinity or she would have driven him crazy. She felt happy, excited and strangely sated at the same time.
An older woman, in her early eighties was fixing her silvery locks watching the young vampire through the mirror.
"are you alright dear?"
Bella removed her hands and gave the older woman a smile that revealed all her inner angels as she nodded.
"yes, thank you"
walking next to her, she threw some water on her face ignoring the makeup she had put on that morning.
"he must be a great man"
the woman said wisely watching as the girl dabbed her face with a few paper towels.
"why do you say that?"
"no woman takes off her face when they're with a man, dear"
the older, plump woman said with a teasing smile. Bella smiled back and without without thinking she extended one hand
"Bella Swan"
"Michelle Oliver"
turning to the mirror Bella chuckled seeing her white top was thin enough to show her powder blue bra underneath and dabbed it with paper towels hoping it would go away but gave up soon. Instead the rubbed the mascara off her cheeks and re-applied it quickly deciding to only add some lip-gloss. Then she combed through her wet hair with her fingers and put on the white, thin headband with a flower on the side she had bought in a fair with Renée in the spring, after the whole James fiasco.
"Are you alright Mrs. Oliver?"
Bella asked noticing Michelle's scrutiny. the older woman smiled widely revealing a set of dimples in her cheeks
"You remind me of myself when I first met my husband, oh those were the days my sweet."
"How long have you been together?"
"Eighty years to the day. He proposed to me in this very restaurant"
the woman said with a dreamy look in her eyes and placed a single white flower in Bella's hand.
"Don't let go of him dear"
"I won't"
Bella promised and the two women left the restrooms together. with a parting smile, Michelle headed for a short man, with thick white hair who glowed the moment he saw her and took her in his arms immediately. Bella smiled at the pair before making her way towards Klaus who had just finished his third drink and watched as his eyes glowed as the old man's had as he took her hand in his.
"Dance with me?"
He asked with a shy smile. Bella looked shocked.
"I suck at dancing"
"You haven't danced with me"
he whispered making her nod before she even thought about it. hand in hand they descended the three steps to the dance floor
Bella smiled flirtatiously as Klaus pulled her into his chest for the slow song. They were both ignoring their slightly damp clothes in favor of being in each other's arms. Bella closed her eyes and placed her head on his shoulder, her long lashes slightly tickle his neck. He smelled her hair with every breath, and he was distracted by her body moving against his.
He took a deep breath to save this memory in his mind. If things didn't work out with Bella or if he scared her and she ran away, he wanted to remember this moment, this dance.
he was slightly startled to receive a wink from an older man as he looked at the girl nested in his arms but he never liked vintage blood, otherwise the old man would be nothing but a glorified blood bag.
"it's their anniversary, I met his wife in the restrooms"
Bella's soft voice floated to his ears calming him instantly. Klaus smiled and closed his eyes letting the music pulsed through him hugging her tighter. when the song slowed down and ended they remained unmoving. They continued to sway silently through the next three songs until he pulled back breathless.
Part of him wanted to tap into her mind and show her exactly what would happen if they didn't stop touching at this instant but he feared he would scare her.
"we should go home"
"that's a good idea"
"If I don't take you to your own home, I'll take you to mine for the next thousand years"
he whispered, their foreheads touching.
"Charlie wouldn't like this very much"
she said in a low voice. Scary or not the image of her father armed with a white oak stake was a little too Alaric-like for him and convinced him that leaving would be for the best.
Taking her hand in his they exited the restaurant. Bella didn't protest as Klaus handed a black and gold credit card without even looking at the amount and waited as the valet brought them his car.
The ride back to Forks and to her home was silent with only the rain breaking the nighttime silence. Bella was touching gently the long steam of the white orchid Michelle had given her earlier in the restroom while Klaus was looking at her, gently he stopped the car in her driveway.
"I had a really good time"
he said softly unsure what to say and how to act. Bella bit her lip and nodded
"so did I, maybe we could do this again then?"
"that can be arranged"
he gave her a shy smile that no one in mystic falls would recognize. ignoring the rain that had softened to a shower-like rhythm he opened his door and made his way to her side and opened hers too, glaring a little when she made a move to open it herself.
"you're gonna have to get used to me opening your doors or pulling your chair"
he scolded her, she raised an eyebrow
"I'm a romantic gal, but don't expect this to go without a fight"
"I wouldn't have it any other way"
he surprised himself by replying. Taking refuge on her front porch he pulled her in for one more kiss, much softer but equally passionate as the one shared at La Luna. the both missed the porch light flicking on but the distinct sound of a shotgun locking
"Was that a..."
Bella whispered as she pulled back
"I believe it was"
Klaus said amused. Maybe his earlier visions of a Charlie coming after him with a shotgun weren't that much off the point
"oh Charlie"
Bella muttered hiding her face in his chest. Gently Klaus put two fingers underneath her chin and lifted her head. smiling a true Klaus smile he kissed her one more time before saying goodnight, knowing he'd be back once his drawing was complete
"Bella?"
he called as she put the key int he front door
"yes?"
she turned around to see him lounge against the driver's door
"call me Nik"
