25 Days of Klaroline: Day 13 – Klaroline + High School

I Killed the Prom Queen

"Ahhhh!" Caroline screamed, crashing into a lone figure in the darkened gazebo.

"There's no need to wake the whole neighbourhood love," a low, and distinctly English, voice uttered. All she could make out was the glowing end of his cigarette in the blackness.

"Well maybe if the fairy lights I hung here earlier were actually switched on I wouldn't have run into you," she growled. Could this night get any worse?

"Oh, you mean those bright, twinkly things?" He asked. "I turned them off, they were annoying me."

"You had no right to do that," she accused, feeling her way around the gazebo to try and locate the switch to activate the lights.

"Who are you, the fun police?"

"Fairy lights are fun last time I checked," she shot back, finally feeling the switch, turning it on and watching the gazebo illuminate. She looked around happily, glad that some order had been restored on this terrible night.

"Oh my eyes," he groaned. In her desperation to get the lights on she'd almost forgotten he was there, but no such luck.

"And here I hoped you'd disappear once the lights came on," she joked, her eyes finally resting on the rude stranger. What she didn't expect was for him to be so gorgeous with that stubble, those crimson lips and those deep blue eyes. She gulped, attempting to regain her composure.

He could wear a tuxedo, that much was certain. Although his was decidedly less formal than everyone else inside the prom, with his jacket thrown haphazardly to his side, his white shirt sleeves rolled up and his bow tie loose and hanging lazily around his neck.

"No such luck Princess," he quipped, taking another drag from his cigarette. Damn, he even looked sexy smoking, not that she'd ever condone that particular bad habit.

"You know smoking is bad for you right?" She asked, raising her eyebrows.

"I have heard that a few times," he muttered sarcastically. "I already have a mother, I don't need two."

"Oh please," she drawled. "I could care less; in fact I can't believe I've wasted this much time conversing with you."

"Has anyone told you that you have a big stick up your ass?"

"Has anyone ever told you what charming manners you have?"

"All the time love," he grinned.

"What are you even doing here, and in the dark I might add?" She asked against her better judgment.

"I was lying in wait so I could kill the prom queen," he murmured. Caroline was going to assume this was his weird idea of a joke.

"So did you get her?"

"No, because she won't stop talking," he joked, stubbing out his cigarette.

"Oh, I'm not the prom queen," she muttered. "But if you want to kill her, by all means go ahead."

"I have to say that's a surprise, you certainly look like royalty to me," he observed, gazing deeply into her eyes. Caroline shivered involuntarily, wondering what was happening to her. She certainly wasn't cold that was for sure. "Here take my jacket."

"I'm okay," she replied quickly. Who the hell was this guy?

"So tell me all about this prom queen?" He asked. "I'm assuming there's no love lost between you."

"How long have you got?" She joked, flopping onto a seat nearby.

"I'd say a little while."

"Hayley Marshall," she groaned, even hating the sound of her name.

"I'm going to need more than just a name so I can pass the required amount of judgment love."

"She's condescending, mean and just generally not a nice person."

"Examples?"

"She stole my prom dress," Caroline muttered.

"Literally?"

"No not literally, but she knew I'd bought it then went out purposely and bought the same dress."

Caroline had been heartbroken when Bonnie had informed her that Hayley was wearing the same dress. Even though it wasn't her fault, Caroline had insisted on another dress. Something that didn't please her mother who'd already forked out a lot of money on one already.

"A dress, really?" The arrogant stranger asked.

"I know it's not important to you, but it was to me," she murmured.

"Well I didn't see the original dress but I have to say that one looks pretty stunning," Klaus offered, and she could feel a blush creep across her cheeks.

There hadn't been much to choose from at that late notice but she'd decided on a cream, pearl encrusted dress from a local vintage shop. At least she knew it was one of a kind and couldn't be copied.

"Turns out kleptomaniac Hayley doesn't just like stealing dresses though."

"Oh really? What else did she take?"

"My date, who also happened to be my boyfriend," she whispered, the reality of her situation hitting her hard.

"I'm really starting to dislike this bitch," Klaus said, sending her an apologetic glance. "I'd be more than happy to kill her for you." She laughed, despite the situation.

"Maybe we can kill them both," she drawled.

"Now you're talking."

"So if you're not really a hitman, then what exactly are you doing at my prom?"

"I can't believe you don't remember me," he said. "We've only been in the same class since freshman year."

"We have not," she spluttered, wracking her brain. There's no way she'd forget this delicious piece of eye candy was in her class. "I'm student body president, I think I'd know."

"You got me," he joked. "I was forced to come, you know family duty and all that."

"Family? Don't tell me you brought your sister or something weird like that?"

"Believe it or not my sister found a poor victim to take her to prom," he quipped. "Let's just say my father is trying to court her father's business. Apparently my taking her to prom is all part of the deal."

"That's just as weird."

"Tell me about it," he agreed.

"So is it anyone I know?"

"Camille O'Connell." He replied shrugging his shoulders. "She's nice enough I guess but, between you and me, boring as anything."

"But she's so beautiful, not to mention rich," Caroline said wistfully.

"Believe it or not, there's more to life than money. Plus she's got nothing on you in the looks department love."

"Oh is that your line?"

"No it's just the truth," he replied sincerely, making her increasingly uncomfortable, but in a good way.

"I should probably get back inside," she murmured. "I did plan the whole prom, so I should probably try and enjoy myself."

"Good luck with that," he said. "You know in five years' time you'll look back on this night and that whole prom queen stuff won't even matter."

"It's not about being prom queen, it never was. I don't need a title and a crappy, plastic tiara, trust me."

"So I'm curious, what is it all about then?"

"It's about the memories you make, even if it's just one photo or a dance."

"Well, how about a dance then?" He asked, holding out his hand.

"You want to dance?"

"Well, not really, but there's nothing much else to do," he teased.

"There's no music though," she said, stating the obvious.

"Stop ruining our fun, we'll make our own music," he insisted, pulling her up and placing his arm tightly around her waist. She felt that familiar shiver, followed by a layer of warmth enveloping her skin from his touch.

"What about your date?"

"Who?" He asked, pulling her closer so their mouths were only inches from each other. "I think it's time we made some memories love. We can kill the prom queen later."