Prepare for another one of Klaus' brilliant (not so brilliant) attempts at winning Camille over.
Terrible Love
Chapter 6: Take Me Out to the Ballroom
As Camille was greeting the guests and introducing Will, Klaus pulled Freya towards the hallway.
"Freya, I need you to come with me to the theaters."
"What? Why?"
"Because I did not expect Camille to invite that parody of a detective and it's now thrown a wrench in my plans. I need you to come with me and hold his attention while I charm Camille."
"Sorry but I have plans with Lucien. Why don't you ask Rebekah?"
"Taking Bekah would be like taking Kol. I'd never hear the end of it. Look, bring Lucien if you so desire just come with me." He placed his hands on her arms and squeezed lightly. "Freya, I am asking as your brother."
She frowned. The nerve of him playing the family card in something so trivial like this. Couldn't be helped now. "Fine. Niklaus you'll owe me big for this. You know I hate sappy movies like The Notebook and Lucien does too."
"Believe me sister I wouldn't do this to you without intending to pay you back somehow. Just keep the man occupied."
"Fine. I'll go call Lucien and let him know."
He placed a grateful kiss to her forehead before she left.
"Seems your master plan has backfired." Kol said as he leaned by the wall.
"Not quite. It's merely hit a bump on the road. But the plan is still in motion."
Right as he was about to leave he he was met with the one person he didn't want to see. "Father?"
"What in heaven's name are you wearing boy? You look utterly ridiculous. And is that a retainer? I've heard about your trip to the hospital. Were you planning on informing me?"
"Forgive me, I was in a bit of an accident. It wasn't serious but now I'm required to wear this retainer."
Mikael only shook his head. "Let this be a lesson to you then Niklaus. And be more careful."
"Yes father."
He was so relieved when he was finally in Camille's car and riding away from the house.
"It's good for you to join us Freya. You too Lucien." Camille said while they drove.
"It is a nice turn of events," Lucien replied politely but shot Klaus an accusing glance. "I think it's lovely for a friendly get together."
"Oh no kidding!" Camille happily replied while Klaus died a little more in the inside.
Once in the theaters he realized what an incredibly bad movie this was. The plan wasn't as fruitful as he'd initially thought. Lucien had passed out from boredom barely twenty minutes into the movie and was snoring a bit on his shoulder. Which was fine so long as he didn't drool. Meanwhile Freya was playing Angry Birds on her phone.
Will seemed to be eating the movie up. His eyes teared a bit as the protagonist were reunited at the end of the movie causing Camille to reach over and hold his hand.
"Oh Will," She cooed gently.
"Sorry, but I'm just a sucker for these love stories."
Klaus spent the remaining time left of the movie having to deal with them gushing over scenes. To top it off Lucien did in fact drool on him. Eventually Camille dropped Will off and Freya and Lucien opted on trying to salvage their date night while he was eager to leave.
"Well that was fun wasn't it Klaus?"
No. It was the worst movie he'd seen since he was forced to take Henrik to see the Minion movie.
"Yes. I'll see you around." All he wanted to do was go into an eternal sleep.
She grabbed his wrist. "Klaus? Is something wrong?"
"What gave you that impression love?"
"Old habits die hard I guess," She chuckled. "I can still read you like before."
"Is that so? Can you tell what I'm feeling?" Klaus stated while looking directly at her. "I've changed a great deal Camille. I'm not that little boy you met."
Her gaze lowered. "You talk like there was something wrong with how you were."
There was something wrong with how he used to be. He was the boy who loved a girl from afar; a girl who only saw him as a friend.
"I liked the way you were," The hand that gripped his wrist loosened to a gentle hold. "In fact I still—"
The front door barged open revealing Kol. "Pardon was I interrupting something?"
That was all that Klaus could endure for one day. Roughly he pulled away from Camille before pushing passed Kol. "No. I'm off to bed."
"Wait don't you want dinner?" Kol said but Klaus had already left. He nudged Camille having not noticed her crestfallen expression. "Who shat in his popcorn am I right love? Well I'm off to buy some milk for mother. Be seeing you!"
Meanwhile Klaus stomped past the kitchen; where he heard Rebekah barking orders at Finn on how to properly make pasta while bashing Elijah's arm lightly with the spoon.
"Niklaus."
He wanted to sigh. "Yes mother?"
"Aren't you going to eat? Rebekah and your brothers are making pasta."
"No thank you mother I've already eaten."
"One more thing before you go. As you know we'll be hosting the annual town ball coming up next week and the family will all be attending."
"Understood." Right, the ball. In the midst of his plan to win Cami over he'd all but forgotten. After bidding his mother goodnight he dropped onto his bed. He felt like he was an old man with the long week that had passed. Although it wasn't necessary they could invite a date to the ball. It could be a perfect chance to invite Camille and finally get some results.
Throughout the next few days he'd been kept busy with helping set the place up that inviting Camille to go with him slipped his mind. It wasn't until a few days before the event that he was cruelly reminded.
His doorbell rang and he went to open it leading to regretting it seconds after opening it. "Aurora?"
"Hello love!" Aurora said and kissed his cheek. "Are you ready for our big night? I just wanted to stop by and let you know to pick me up at seven."
"Beg your pardon?"
"Oh Niklaus," She laughed. "For the ball! I've let your mother know you'll be picking me up. Nik? Nik?" Aurora waved a hand in front of his face when he had apparently gone catatonic. "My goodness you're speechless aren't you? I'm excited too. See you then!"
"Kol!" He yelled as soon as she left.
"You called?"
"I need you to take Aurora to the ball in my stead."
"Get bent Nik you've already exhausted the amount of favors you can get. I'm taking Davina and neither you nor Marcel can stop me." Kol stated with no sign of talking him out of it. "Now I'm making final preparations if you don't mind."
Well that was that. He knew Finn would decline and it would be awkward if he asked Elijah. Crap. Crap. Crap. He couldn't believe this!
When judgment day arrived it only got worse. He'd humored Aurora with some dances to keep her from nagging him but that was not what got to him.
It was when she made her appearance.
Never had he been left floored by such beauty. Her white dressed wrapped around her perfectly and her hair was styled up so elegantly. Everything about her was so captivating. His feet began dragging him towards her only to freeze when he saw the detective walk up beside her.
A fire burned inside his chest as he watched Will guide her with a hand on her back.
"You lot sure do know how to throw a party," Lucien approached him with Freya tucked to his hip. "And where is your date? I don't see Camille anywhere?"
"Who's Camille?" Aurora cut in before Klaus could clarify his unfortunate turn of events.
"Just a friend." Klaus answered, the word tasting bitter in his tongue.
"I see. Then again my Niklaus is quite charming I'd understand why women would want to be around him. Tough luck that he's all mine aren't you?" To prove a point Aurora pulled him down for a kiss.
Lucien looked away in disgust. He used to have a thing for Aurora back in the day and even came to resent Klaus for some time after he realized they were going out. It wasn't until he saw how crazy she was did his feelings start dwindling. He started getting to know Freya more and the rest was history.
Klaus broke the kiss pretty quickly and it was so plainly obvious to everyone but her how much he didn't want to be around her. "Excuse me for a bit."
"Niklaus are you avoiding me?" She whined.
"Not at all. I just thought it wouldn't be in your best interest to accompany me to the restroom."
She smirked seductively. "Oh I don't know about that."
This woman was crazy. "Just give me a minute. I'll be out in a bit." He dashed away without waiting for a reply. His insides quenched when he spotted Camille dancing with Will too close for his liking. He needed to get rid of Aurora and Will so he could have Camille all to himself. But how?
And that's when he spotted Kol by the food spread with Davina.
"Nik! Come eat with me," Kol urged him and held his plate up. "Have you tried these scallops? And where is Camille?" He broke into a laugh. "Just kidding Nik I know you're stuck with that psycho Aurora!"
"Thank you for reminding me." He frowned.
"It's Nik's party and he'll cry if he wants to, cry if he wants to!" Kol sang. "You would cry too if—"
Klaus successfully shut his brother by stuffing a crab cake in his mouth.
"Davina, would you kindly give me a moment with my brother?"
"Uh, sure."
Kol frowned when she left. "What are you doing Nik?"
"I need you to get rid of Aurora for me," Klaus held his hand up to cut off the incoming protest. "I'll make it worth your while. I also need you to get rid of that detective."
"Lucky for you I anticipated you nagging me. Personally I'd just tell Aurora to bugger off but that's neither her nor there. That's why," He pulled a little bottle from his pocket. "I've got this."
"What is that?"
"You wanted to get rid of Aurora right," Kol poured the liquid into one of the drinks. "Give her this and she'll be in the shitter for the rest of the night. Thank me later."
"A tad much but I'll take what I get," Klaus replied as he took the drink. "Now for the detective. This one might be tricky."
"Niklaus, Kol," His father called out as he approached them.
"Father, how have you been enjoying the night?" Kol asked.
"It was fine up until I ate this bad shrimp. It left this bad taste in my mouth and," He trailed off as he eyed the drink in Klaus' hand. "I think this will wash it off."
"Father don't—" Klaus tried to warn him but he had snatched the drink and downed it in one gulp.
Kol was frozen in horror, a hand covering his mouth.
"Hmm," Mikael murmured at the odd taste. It was probably the shrimp leaving that. "Enjoy yourselves my children." And he was off on his merry way.
"Oh fuck..." Kol muttered. "Fuck."
"Kol, how strong was it?"
"Very. Niklaus, it was very strong." He gripped the front of Klaus' shirt. "I'm talking about a power so strong that humans like us cannot comprehend."
"We have to tell him Kol."
"Tell him what exactly Nik? That he's about to shit a storm!?" Kol barked earning some glances from the crowd. "What? The devil are you looking at? Nothing to see here carry on!" He turned to Klaus. "Look, you can't say father never had this coming."
"Are you serious? Kol how old are you?"
"Spare me the lectures. You can't tell me deep down you never thought of getting some payback on good ol' father. Now heed my advice and do nothing. If he finds out what was in that drink you'll never be forgiven."
Klaus couldn't believe it but Kol had a point. "This is going to be one long night. Now what?"
"We've gone and botched plan A so time for plan B."
Klaus was pretty impressed and a bit flattered. "Kol you've planned ahead? For me?"
"W-What?" He sputtered. "Don't get the wrong idea! I only did this so you owe me and so you could plow Camille." Kol would never admit that deep down he only wanted his family's recognition and that he secretly loved their reunions. Never. "I've got these sleeping pills I stole from mother's cabinet. We'll dump it on them and God's sake let's not bottle this."
"Kol, I'm sure I don't need to repeat this but, Will is a detective so I suggest we proceed with caution."
"Settle down Nik, when have I ever let you down? Actually don't answer that." He said before lifting up a plate of food. "Give this plate to Aurora and I'll give one to Will. Should all go as planned they'll be out like fish and you'll be plowing Camille by tonight. No more friend zone for you brother."
And oh did the plan work. It worked like a charm; and he made a mental note to give Kol the best birthday gift ever. He could've done without the bit where his father locked himself in the upstairs bathroom though. Elijah drove Will to his home while he got Finn to take Aurora home who'd dropped like a fly in one of the couches. Nothing could stop him now.
"Camille," He approached her by the balcony. "Have I told you how beautiful you look?"
She looked a bit surprised. "Klaus? I thought you were mad at me. Especially with how it went the last time we saw each other. You seemed upset."
"Forgive me for that. It was not my intention."
Apparently the part about him feeling like crap whenever he'd hurt her feelings still hadn't changed.
"I don't see Will anymore," He exclaimed while holding in the smugness.
"He went home. He told me he was feeling exhausted and I thought it'd be best for him to lie down."
"That would be best. Would you like to dance? It would be a shame to toss such a night like this away."
She nodded. "I'd love to." As she was walking back inside he held her arm. "Klaus?"
"Here is fine."
Klaus placed his hands on her waist while she wrapped hers around his neck. He would definitely be paying Kol back. They swayed gently with the music being heard in the background.
"Klaus," She murmured. "Why did you leave?"
And he knew instantly what she was referring to.
"Why did you disappear on me like that? Were you upset with me?"
"Of course not Camille. It was ages ago. I told you I'm not the same person I was back then."
"It was rough not having you by my side. When you moved I was devastated. I know you had your own priorities and goals but I just... I thought we'd at least keep in touch. And I really did miss you."
"You seemed to be in good company during the graduation party." He said bitterly. "I thought you'd be well."
"It was high school Klaus. I don't even remember his name." She retorted, breaking away from him. "It didn't last. Long distance wasn't his thing. So I was dumped and my best friend was gone."
Now he was feeling miserable. Back when he walked out on her all those years ago he was only thinking about himself. It never once occurred to him how she'd taken the separation. He was her friend. And friends don't disappear on friends.
But he didn't want to be friends. He could hear Kol's voice taunting him about being in the friend zone.
"I'm here now Camille."
And he wasn't here to be her friend.
His hand went to caress her face.
Friends don't kiss.
"Nik! There you are!"
He actually facepalmed. "What is it Rebekah?"
"Don't kill the messenger now," She defended at his sharp tone. "Mother wants to speak to you. It has something to do with father not feeling well and mother wants you to look in on him."
He walked over so only Rebekah could hear. "What? Now? Where's Kol? Finn? Elijah? Or better yet, why couldn't you deal with this?"
"You ask a lot of questions but here goes," She inhaled and exhaled. "I can't find Finn or Elijah anywhere; Kol's dancing with Davina and I dare say she seems really into him. Meanwhile I'm occupied dancing with Marcel and you, well, you're just with your friend. It's not like much is going on."
Klaus wanted to scream and curse wildly at the skies.
"What's wrong?" Camille asked.
"Something's come up," Klaus answered, not missing her disappointment. "It's my father, he's not feeling well. I'm going to see what's wrong. I hope you can save me a dance until then?"
"Yeah. I'd like that."
As anticipated his father was not well. He was hunched over the toilet doing what he assumed was emptying his stomach contents.
"Don't you dare look down on me boy! I am Mikael Mikaelson!"
Of course his father still had to play the tough love with him. "I'm merely trying to help. Is there anything I can do?"
"Fetch me a 7UP if you wish to help me Niklaus."
This was truly going to be a long night.
Author's Notes
No such luck for Niklaus yet. Poor man has a mountain to climb with this one.