Chapter 7
A/N: I'm back! And hopefully it isn't too late… *offers cute, dimpled smile* :")
Leave your questions and I promise to answer them. About any of my stories, I'll answer them 100% truthfully.
"Okay!" Caroline announced, cheerfully, as she placed her arms on both her best friend's shoulder and pulled them closer to her, squeezing herself between them. "Now that finals are over and we all did well" she said, unable to help the grin on her face. After all, all the sleepless nights and her hard work had paid off. "It's time that we party!"
Rebekah rolled her eyes and shook her head. "What do you have planned?" she asked, without a doubt, knowing that the other blonde would have a whole list.
"We're going to the lake house!" she announced, happily, bouncing on her feet. "For the whole weekend. We leave tomorrow." She explained, firmly.
Stefan shrugged. "Alright. I'll pick you both up tomorrow in the morning" he offered, as they all headed towards his car.
Rebekah shook her head. "I can drive Caroline and me, there. You just reach there at time for once" she mocked him as she unlocked her car. "But the whole weekend seems hard. Nik's coming back and he wants to hang out" she said, using air quotes.
Stefan perked up at that. "Caroline's boyfriend is coming back?" he teased, eliciting a smirk from Rebekah and a groan from Caroline. "I'm sure Caroline can convince him to let you go" he added, teasingly, dodging Caroline's playful punch.
"Seriously, guys. We need- no – we deserve this break. Besides, I've made the plan so make your excuses because we are going" she declared, firmly, placing her hands on her hips. "Today is your day off. Sleep, get drunk, eat… whatever. But don't be late tomorrow!" she warned, wagging her finger in Stefan's direction.
"Yes ma'am" he said, sarcastically, before opening the door of his car for the ladies.
After Stefan dropped them home, Rebekah immediately went off to change and then proceeded out for some retail therapy while Caroline stayed at home and decided to sort out their mess of a living room and then to catch up on some much needed sleep.
Just as she finished changing her clothes and got into bed, her phone vibrated besides her. She picked it up to see a text message from Klaus.
It had become a habit between them ever since he'd left that he'd send a message and then she'd send a sarcastic reply and their meaningless messages would form a proper conversation. He had even given her tips about how to attempt her exam and how to tackle certain problems. She'd been grateful and honestly, in her mind, she hoped he was doing the same with Rebekah.
But she also knew that he was showing some major interest in her. If his flirty messages were anything to go by.
How'd it go? No. Let me guess, so good that you're tempted to take me out to lunch… - Klaus
Caroline laughed softly at his response and she could totally imagine his voice ringing in her ears as she began to type.
I haven't lied before so don't make me do it now. – Caroline
Before his reply came, she added another short message.
It was amazing. So relieved finals are over. Thanks for your help. – Caroline
She bit her lip and wringed her fingers as she waited for his reply. As soon as her phone vibrated, she grabbed it and read his message, eagerly.
I'm glad to be of service. How did Rebekah's exam go? – Klaus
You haven't talked to her? *enter shocked and disapproving face* - Caroline
Surely, he must've been joking. He had taken the time to message her but not his own baby sister? She was sure he was just messing with her.
Well, I tried to call but she's busy ignoring me and this time, I haven't even done anything! – Klaus
Caroline shook her head at that before she began typing.
Okay, not your fault. She's gone for shopping. I wouldn't expect her to attend my phone call either. – Caroline
P.S. Her exam went so good that she said, "She deserves a rather heavy retail therapy" – Caroline
Within seconds, Klaus' went reply came through which made her sigh, a little dejectedly.
I'm assuming yours went just as good. Why aren't you with her for said 'rather heavy retail therapy'? – Klaus
Caroline bit her lip, contemplating how to tell him. She chose to add a lighter side to the issue.
I wish I had a millionaire/billionaire brother whose credit card I could cash out. If only just to annoy him. Sadly, I don't. – Caroline
Cringing at how personal it sounded, she quickly added.
Come to think of it, I could've gotten a brother like Kol, so I guess being an only child isn't all that bad. Lol. – Caroline
When Klaus read her message, he felt like driving over there at the moment to drag her to the shopping malls and to lay everything at her feet. But he refrained from doing anything too major and consoled himself that it was only a matter of time before Caroline would get to experience all of the good things of being with a Mikaelson.
Like the power.
Money was no issue and she'd come to realize that after she would be introduced into his world.
Shopping with Rebekah is a misery I wouldn't wish upon even my worst enemy and you, sweet Caroline, are far from it. – Klaus
Klaus waited for Caroline's reply and it took her a couple of minutes to reply this time. He was sensing some reluctance and unease.
What will it take for you to stop flirting with me? – Caroline
He grinned, wildly. And so she had taken the bait. He had been waiting for her to crack under his flirtatious comments and now she finally had.
A date.
He replied simply letting the suspense set in before he clarified.
Just one date and if you're still not convinced, I'll try to stop. – Klaus
Caroline rolled her eyes at his response. Way to make her feel like a teenage girl. She'd already lived out her bad boy fantasy by dating Damon for a few weeks and she never wanted to go there ever again. EVER!
But Klaus… He seemed so much more dangerous, exciting, arrogant and fun all at the same time.
Deciding to take a leap of faith, she typed and sent it before her courage faded away.
You won't try. You will stop. – Caroline
You can have your date but only after this weekend. Promise? – Caroline
Klaus frowned but he was too blinded by his happiness to notice her cunning promise.
You have my word – Klaus
Caroline grinned. He took the bait.
Great! Rebekah, Stefan and I are off for a break this weekend. We'll all see you on Monday. ;) – Caroline
Klaus gaped at the screen of his cell phone as he figured it out too late. That girl and her audacity to send him a wink after she'd tricked him into letting Bekah off for the whole weekend.
Nicely done, love. I'm almost proud. – Klaus
Her reply came only seconds later this time and he could imagine her smug face at that moment.
Learned from the best. Now I have to sleep. Bye, Klaus! – Caroline
Sweet dreams, love. – Klaus
He typed the last message and sighed deeply. One for him, one for Caroline. She would always keep him on his toes. That he was sure off.
Sighing he sat back and called for his housekeeper to prepare tea for him and his brother. He had gotten back a day early, hoping to surprise Elijah and Rebekah (mainly only Caroline, if he was being honest) but Elijah had known beforehand, somehow, and Caroline had easily bailed Rebekah out.
Twenty minutes later, Klaus almost wished his brother hadn't come. He could sense that Elijah was just itching to say something to him judging by the way he was eyeing him for the past fifteen minutes.
Unable to take it anymore, Klaus burst at it. "Okay. Out with it, Elijah" he snapped, irately. "What is it?" he asked, shaking his head.
Elijah didn't waste a second in denying anything and simply sat straighter, placing the teacup back on the table. "I've heard you're… interested in Rebekah's friend… Carmella, is it?" he asked, feigning forgetfulness.
Klaus rolled his eyes. "Caroline" he corrected which almost came out like a growl. "And if you're determined to act as if you don't remember her Elijah, the least you can do is try harder" he pointed out, miserably.
"Alright then I suppose we should get straight to the point" the elder Mikaelson replied without getting too annoyed. "What are you intentions with Miss Forbes?" he asked with a hint of the smile on his face.
"My intentions are… none of your business" Klaus answered back coolly, not liking why suddenly everyone thought they had the right to interrogate him. Dammit! He was Niklaus Mikaelson. Answerable to no one.
Elijah sighed. "You can trust me when I say that I have absolutely zero percent interest in your personal life Niklaus, unlike our sister" he started, curtly. "But I must warn you to not to do something that might ruin her and Rebekah's friendship"
As Elijah finished his rant, Klaus nodded but he couldn't help the inward shrug he gave.
Too late maybe, he thought dryly.
Once Rebekah came back home, she all but dragged Caroline out to show her all the new things she had bought. The younger blonde sat on the couch trying to keep her eyes open while Rebekah stood in the center of the shopping bags and the mess she'd created in the living.
Caroline sighed inwardly. So much for cleaning the apartment.
"What do you think about those?" Rebekah asked as she threw a rather heavy shopping bag at Caroline's face.
Caroline scowled as it hit her before looking inside. There were three dresses inside and a pair of shoes. One was a royal blue dress which seemed rather form fitting from the looks of it. Definitely giving off a kind of sexy yet elegant look.
The second one was a gorgeous white one with a brown belt in the middle. She fell in love with it instantly.
The last one was a short yellow dress with leaf patterns on it. It was a pretty dress but didn't really seem like Rebekah's style.
Just as she peeked inside the box and found the shoes she had been eyeing for months, she turned her narrowed and curious gaze at Rebekah who was trying to act cool.
"What is this?" she asked, suspiciously.
Rebekah shrugged. "Nothing. I just saw some stuff that you might like and brought it for you" she said, shaking her head.
"I can't accept this stuff, you know it" Caroline replied, resignedly.
"Just consider it a gift and say thank you" she said back, dismissively.
"Rebekah" Caroline said, putting aside the gifts. "No"
"Yes, Caroline" the other blonde answered stubbornly.
But Caroline kept shaking her head, determinedly. "I can't accept this. It's too expensive!" she cried out in frustration.
"Why do we have to keep going through this every time?" Rebekah asked, tiredly.
Caroline nodded furiously. "Yes why?" she asked, placing her hands on her hips. "You know what impressions gifts like this give off and you know I don't like this" she told her friend, resisting the urge to smack her friend.
"I know you're not a gold digging bitch Caroline!" Rebekah almost yelled, angrily. "Bloody hell, why do you think I only have one friend?" she questioned, sitting down on the couch heaving a sad sigh.
Caroline immediately felt bad for her friend. She knew that Rebekah had… few friends and all because she was rich and the sister of Klaus Mikaelson. People didn't like to see her for the person she was but only for the money in her bank account.
She sat down beside her friend and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "You don't have one friend" Caroline teased, eliciting a playful nudge from her friend. "Kidding, kidding" she said, quickly. "Look, its not about the number of friends okay? It's about how special you are in their eyes" she explained in her mother chick fashion. "See I love you, even Enzo did a little bit and so does Stefan"
Rebekah scoffed at the Stefan part. "I'm not looking for pity friends" she said, offended.
"Hey!" Caroline interjected. "Stefan and Enzo aren't pity friends. They really do care about you" she said, looking at Rebekah like she was crazy.
"Yeah Stefan clearly does" Rebekah replied sarcastically. "I've seen the way he looks at you Caroline. He'll never look at me the same way." Her voice came out harsher and sadder than she meant it to be.
"What?" Caroline gasped out. "You're crazy Rebekah. Stefan… He's not into me. Not like you think" she said, shaking her head in disbelief.
Rebekah rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say" she replied, clearly not believing her friend.
"And just so you know, Stefan happens to like you very much" Caroline continued as if Rebekah hadn't even spoken in between. "Why would you doubt his feelings for you?" she questioned, turning to look at her friend.
She sighed. "I've been really open with my feelings for him but I guess he doesn't feel the same way" she shrugged but Caroline could detect the hurt in her friend's eyes.
Caroline perked up instantly as an idea came to her. "I have an idea" she said, her face lighting up like a firework.
But before she could say anything, Rebekah shook her head. "Your ideas are the worst" she refused profusely, shaking her head. "Bloody hell No" she said, crossing her arms over her chest.
Caroline groaned. "Just hear me out, okay?" she pleaded, showing Rebekah her puppy eyes.
"Fine" Rebekah huffed, leaning closer to her friend.
By the end of it, Caroline had a smile on her face but Rebekah still seemed dubious about the plan. "Are you absolutely sure you're okay with this?" Rebekah asked, cautiously.
Caroline rolled her eyes. "Of course I am. Besides you'll be thanking me later" she goaded, proudly. "There's absolutely nothing that can go wrong from here"
Rebekah scoffed. "Famous last words" she muttered before dodging the pillow her friend threw her way.
Klaus couldn't help but let his mind wander off to Caroline. He didn't know why but he felt drawn to see her. It disgusted and amused him to the same extent. He hadn't acted like this even in high school.
He sighed, loudly. He would figure that out later. Right now he only wanted to go to her and be near her. But he knew she was off with Rebekah and Stefan. He didn't know where although a more curious part of him wanted to know. But he decided that if he knew, he'd probably head over there after her.
So he let her have her little weekend off.
That, however, didn't mean that he couldn't visit her apartment.
It would also give him an excellent chance to see how secure her apartment really was and maybe he could even snoop around for a little bit.
Caroline cringed as she kept her cell phone at a safe distance away from her ear. As expected two seconds later, Stefan's insistent questions came barreling through the line. She could even imagine her other best friend wincing from the other side.
"Caroline, what's going on? Why are you not coming?" Stefan asked, hurriedly on the other side of the phone. She could detect the worry and sadness in his voice and it made her feel bad for a little while before she steeled herself. This was for him.
"I told you Stefan. I feel sick. I can't" she lied, expertly, faking a weak voice.
She heard Stefan telling the same thing to Rebekah who acted surprised. Good going, Bekah. "Wait. You should've told us. We're coming back" he announced, shaking his head.
"NO! Wait" she called out hurriedly. "Listen, I'm going to be okay. Honestly, I'll be fine. You guys are already there. You are not coming back just for me" she said with finality.
She heard Stefan sigh. "Care, you're sick. Someone needs to be there to take care of you. We can come here next weekend" he tried to reason but Caroline wasn't having any of it.
"Stefan. I swear if I'm well, you'll probably see me tomorrow on my way to you guys" she said, mentally groaning at how stubborn her friend was. Why couldn't he understand that alone time with Rebekah was going to be good for him?
She did, however, feel bad for Elena. The poor girl was still interested in Stefan and if Rebekah and Stefan ever got together, Elena would lose her chance. But as she reasoned in her mind, Elena could always get together with Damon and she'd had her chance with Stefan but Rebekah had only ever dated a handful of guys.
"Care, hello, are you there?" she snapped back when she heard Stefan's voice pulling her back.
"Yeah. I'm here" she muttered, suddenly feeling like her plan maybe wasn't too fair. She shook it off. Anything for her best friend. "Look Stef, April said she'd come over to look after me" she lied, hoping her neighbor wouldn't talk to Stefan. "I'll be okay. You'll probably see me there with you guys tomorrow"
It was the last sigh that made her smile. Stefan was definitely not going to argue anymore. All she wanted for them was to have a good weekend, together so the both of them could resolve all their issues and get on with it!
If she would be there, the environment would be platonic and friendly. But with just the two of them, it seemed more like a romantic getaway.
After reassuring Stefan a billion times that she'd be fine, Caroline got off the phone and huffed as she plopped down on the couch. With Rebekah and Stefan gone, she didn't have anything to do. Sighing, she grabbed her laptop and cuddled into the blanket as she began watching her favorite series.
"Caroline's not coming" Stefan announced, feeling defeated as he slumped his shoulders.
Rebekah pretended to act surprised which was hard since she wasn't one for dramatics. That was more of Caroline's agenda. "Stubborn girl" she muttered. "Don't worry about her Stefan. She'll be alright. I'll make sure of it" she said as she picked up her phone.
Stefan frowned and looked up. "Who are you texting?" he asked, flabbergasted.
"Relax. I'm only asking Nik to check up on her. To see if she needs anything. Medicines, soup or anything" she replied innocently as she tapped away on her cell phone.
Stefan seemed hesitant. "I don't think she will appreciate that" he answered uncomfortably.
The other blonde only snorted. "And we don't appreciate her informing us of her decision like this"
Klaus frowned as he placed his phone back into his pocket and silently placed the key inside the lock. He quickly slipped inside after scanning his surroundings. The house, itself, was pitch black inside which made him frown.
According to Rebekah, Caroline was home and supposedly sick.
Honestly, to him it seemed like just another little façade of Caroline and Rebekah because he was sure if Caroline was actually sick, they would've never left her alone.
Caroline was so absorbed in watching her favorite TV series on her laptop that she barely noticed the light entering inside the dark house from the main door until she heard a faint click of the lock. Her eyes widened and she paused the episode before quickly standing up.
Instead of calling out like a normal person would, she silently hurried to the opposite wall, leaning against it as she picked up the closest thing to her. Her favorite vase.
She was tempted to put it back down but then she mentally scolded herself. Shut up Caroline! You can get any vase later. If you're alive.
Cursing herself, she bit her lip as she realized she had left her phone on the couch so she couldn't even call the cops to arrest the thief… or serial killer or whoever it was. Grasping the vase tighter, she lifted it above her head and brought it down as soon as the person came in view.
However, he was vigilant enough and quickly grabbed the vase before it smashed into his head and grabbed her arm pulling her into his chest.
"Shh! Shh! It's me" he whispered in her ear, pulling her back even closer to his front as he gently brought his other hand to her after placing the vase down. He wrapped both his arms around her waist and spun her around, pulling her to him. The movement caused her to crash into him and his sensitive areas which almost made him groan.
Caroline remained frozen until she bumped into him again and harder this time. "Klaus" she gasped out in shock before it turned into annoyance and anger. She punched his chest with her tiny fist but by the look of amusement on his face she was sure, he wasn't even affected even though her fist was throbbing.
"You jerk! I could've killed you!" she shouted at him in frustration as she tried to punch him again after he simply wrapped his arms around her waist and looked on with mirth and amusement dancing in his eyes.
He raised an eyebrow at her violent behavior before quickly getting tired of her tiny fists and grabbing them in one hand. "I think that's a tad overdramatic, no?" he teased as he continued inching closer to her.
"Overdramatic?" she questioned, affronted but before she could continue, she looked down and saw how close they were. "What are you doing here?" she asked while pulling back and thankfully, he let her go.
"I've been told to look after you while Rebekah and Stefan are gone" he said as he moved inside and sat comfortably on the couch she was previously using. He glanced at her laptop screen and frowned when he saw her watching some television show. "I thought you were sick" he commented, suspiciously looking up at her.
Caroline glared him before faking a cough into her palm. "There" she deadpanned. "I'm sick. Now leave" She said, standing her ground.
"Why so hostile, sweetheart?" he mocked as he got comfortable, leaning his legs on her coffee table. A habit she hated.
"First of all, get your legs off my table" she hissed, placing her hands on her hips. "Second of all- she was interrupted by a thick voice. "Sir?" she turned to her side to see an elderly man in a suit coming inside her apartment.
"That's alright. Come and put them on the counter" Klaus said, easily, taking charge.
The man did as told before looking towards Klaus. "Anything else, Sir?" he asked but Klaus shook his head. "No. I'll call if I need anything" he said but kept his eyes on her and watched as the man walked away.
"Who was that?" Caroline asked.
"My driver" he replied, easily, with a hint of a smirk on his face. "I brought soup for you" he gestured towards the bowls and containers on the kitchen isle.
Caroline's stance relaxed at that but she didn't get too softened by it. "Why did you sneak in like a thief?" she asked cautiously.
Klaus chuckled at that. "I don't think entering with a key is what a thief would've done" he said, pulling out a key from his inner jacket pocket. "But yes, I was quiet thinking you were asleep"
"Well, thanks for the soup- she was trying to get him to leave but as if he sensed her he smiled broadly before stretching his arms behind his head.
"Before you kick me out, sweetheart, I have to tell you that I can't leave until you finish the soup and well, until I'm sure that you're alright" he informed her, too smugly. "So I suggest you sit down and we can continue watching- he glanced at her laptop's screen again before making an exaggerated 'Aaah' sound- Game of thrones" he said looking at her with a devilish glint in his eyes.
Caroline glared him as she came to sit down next to him, leaving the space of one person between them.
Klaus smirked, smugly, inching closer before she pointed her warning finger at him.
He remained self-satisfied, though, and raised an eyebrow. "Are you alright, love?" he questioned with such concern. "You seem a bit flushed" he commented, sarcastically before placing his hand on her forehead.
She slapped it away with a glare that could kill.
"Would you look at that? You do have a fever after all"
A/N: That's the end of this chapter but since I'm late I'm giving out a hint for the next chapter. Klaroline watch Netflix and chill. ;)