A/N: Okay I wanna again thank everybody who reviewed, faved and followed. Thank you so very much.
I want to mention a few of my regular readers Venus 88, TwilightHybrid thank you guys , I take your suggestions into account and it really means a lot that your reading my fic.
I want to clear something a lot of you want Caroline to come clean about her not dating Elijah firstly she doesn't know what Klaus is thinking secondly it's part of my plot for a few coming chapters but I assure you this wont hinder me writing Klaroline scenes and interaction.
Another thing a lot of my friends were intrigued by Rebekahs rant so there is the answer to that in this chapter hopefully I explained it satisfactorily.
I also want to mention SABA (Klausthevirgin) I absolutely loved your running commentary.
ANAELLE who always gives me a giant review that helps my writing a lot.
Last but not least JAVERIA thank you for your support and finding time for reading the snippets of the chapters I keep on sending you I hope im not a bother.
CHAPTER 6
You Are My Saving Grace
Life had a way of kicking you in the nuts when you were already nursing blue balls not that she had any of those anatomical parts but considering there was no reference to kicking you in the ovaries she was gonna go with this. Whoever had said when the going gets tough the tough gets going had another thing coming because for her life was becoming a tough nut to crack, Caroline thought as she surveyed the vast main auditorium from the left corner of the stage where a bunch of other kids were standing with her waiting to audition.
The hall was almost full of people with "judges" sitting in the front row.
She had thought she would have to audition in front of a handful of nosy old crones and stick ups but here she was facing an entire arena of people.
A few moments ago she had vocalized her doubts to Kat saying, "Seriously I have to dance in front of a gazillion people, I'm auditioning to join a dance academy and this feels like the freaking stage of America's Got Talent or So You Think You Can Dance. "
"Oh give your ass a cold pack will you. You know your dancing skills are top of charts don't fret. You're certainly gonna rock them old farts world. Trust me. "
"It's easy for you to say you don't have dance in front of a gazillion people when you're actually sweating in some really weird places. I think I'll start to give off a stench in a few minutes."
"Stop saying gazillion you're gonna be amuuhzing.. "emphasing on the word amazing Kat continued, "Besides believe me when I say a little sweat in the right places is really stimulating if you get what I mean. " and then winked at Caroline to which she responded.
"Eww your disgusting I think my stomach just puked in my mouth. "
"Oh poor baby was that a little X rated for your fragile mind?
"Shut your pie whole this isn't helping me. "
For a minute there she thought Kat would throw another flippant remark at her but it seemed she became tongue-tied as soon as Elijah Mikealson took a seat besides the judges Caroline took the entire scenario in stock and mentally filed it in the list of ask Kat carefully and don't get killed questions.
Kat's silence brought Caroline back to the square of diffidence, incertitude, vacillation and reservation. She had only ever danced in front of a few people including Jules, Kat, Elijah and not to forget the fluky encounter with Klaus sexy Mikealson.
Klaus who at the moment was slouching at right nook of the stage. What was it about him that even though he was reclining leisurely in a corner it felt as if he owned the place. It was as if he was rebelling the air he was breathing.
Enough Caroline you do not need the added flutter and tensity and not to discredit the fact you were already sweating in all the inappropriate places she chided herself.
It would not be a hyperbole if she claimed that her emotions were all over the place. Somehow it felt like she was standing on an effing ticking time-bomb that would explode any minute.
One at a time the dancers graced the stage and showcased their talent each a singular and exotic form of dance enriched with a certain uniqueness and style. Caroline couldn't have been more staggered and felt she paled in comparison. Her doubts becoming the boogeyman she was afraid of as a kid but this time she couldn't hide under her bed this time she needed to kick the boogeyman in his ghostly ass. All these thoughts whirled around her mind like a tsunami.
Everyone who knew Klaus Mikealson and even those who weren't pally with him were bewildered at the fact that he was attending the fall semester auditions or you should say paying a homage to this event by his highfalutin' presence, the reason for their wonderment was he was never the one to aggrandize the traditions, he wasn't a creature of habit. He did what he desired and was his own master.
He had never followed rules in fact he had his own set of decorum he abided by. He only came to classes if he felt the inclination , teachers scolded him for being tardy or absent but he had never been the one to burden himself with mundane human mummery and convention. He lived by one rule and it was that they existed so you could violate them. Nature existed so you could secede it.
Hence he wasn't disconcerted when people were so because he had shown up for a scheduled event.
But one thing he was in fact dumbfounded about or rather didn't want to profess was that he had made an appearance because he was aware that a certain blonde vixen would be here for her audition as he had heard Elijah mention it to Sheila Bennett.
Elijah was practically begging Sheila to give the young lady a chance because he (Elijah) had not come across such exceptional talent before in his twenty seven fulfilled years.
Klaus would totally back Elijah on this one Caroline truly had a phenomenal talent when it came to dance in fact she herself was a creature of art. So in essence he was here to see art in its most purest and most wondrous form.
What he would not confess was that he was here for his brothers girl he would rather he was here for art's sake because he was a virtuoso, a connoisseur or would he. Wasn't him drawing portraits of her was confession enough, wasn't his grouchy mood after just seeing a glimpse of her declaration that he was affected by her, so much so that he had avoided any form of human contact past week, with the exception of Thursday but that too had turned out to be a total waste, he had completely secluded himself, ignored his siblings altogether and even missed the group's dance routines to the effect that Rebekah had infuriatedly barged in on him on Friday only to find out him drawing yet another portrait of her, it was becoming his obsession he had to draw her paint her illustrate her produce those beguiling features on his canvass to get a release.
He felt like he possessed her whenever he sketched her features on paper like he had created that divine beauty as if she belonged to him. No this was just his hormones galloping, but he wasn't going to act on it because no matter however much he felt she belonged to him the truth was quite contrary.
Rebekah had inquired if the reason for his utter disregard of his responsibilities was this stupid blonde waitress stretched out on his canvas to which he had grunted in return, had asked her to fall of the face of the Earth as it was none of her business if he drew Caroline or not.
And now standing here watching her ready to become a part of the Academy he couldn't help but wonder that why would a person with an abundance of talent be nervy. She was emitting waves of nervous energy that were palpable in the environment.
He could clearly see she was trying to put up a brave front but she was flustered if her constantly tucking her hair behind her left ear was any indication. The sheer timorous gesture on her part was actually pretty adorable such that he wanted be the one to do just that i.e. tuck her hair behind her ears.
He could see her ranting at the Petrova girl, a smirk landed on his handsomely sculpted features, God she really was other-worldly no wonder he couldn't get enough of drawing those ethereal features.
~£~£~£~£~£~£~£~£
She was next and heebie-jeebies had her in a fierce hug. She glanced at Kat who was standing stone-faced staring at Elijah. She brought Kat out of her reverie and exclaimed snapping her fingers in front of her face, "Hey ogle much. "
"What? I wasn't ogling him I never ogle. Who even uses the word ogle?
"
"Me for freakoperverts like you who make a hobby out of staring at guys like Elijah. "
Kat almost shrieked, "What do you mean guys like Elijah? "
"Nothing just he seems so stiff. "
Kat responded intentionally misunderstanding her, "oh trust me he's soooo stiff."
Caroline facepalmed Kat, "What is wrong with you? Did you watch porn101 today? "
"I'm trying to divert your attention from your newfound phobia of dancing in front of a "gazillion people".
"Thanks for reminding me. I'm next after that girl. Kat I'm freaking out right now. I'm up next I don't think I can dance with all people staring at me I.. "Kat interrupted Caroline's rushed speech and said, "Don't worry "
Almost the same instant Caroline's name was called.
Miss Caroline Forbes
Miss Caroline Forbes
A stern female voice called out.
Kat ushered giving Caroline a buttpat towards the centre of the stage from the corner they were lounging in. "Go, go give them some dancysugar."
Caroline cautiously moving towards the center of the podium, her heart pounding like a drill machine. She was all of a sudden very aware of all her visceras and systems working she could hear her hearts rythm, her stomach growling, her respiration accelerating, to ward off the unwanted visceral noise she squeezed her eyes shut for a second, inwardly convincing herself that she could do it, she opened her eyes took a survey of the jam-packed hall and let out a shaky breath.
Out of the corner of her eye she could see Klaus standing ramrod straight now as if ready for combat or to catch her if she fell.
She realized she couldn't do this she let out a meek "I'm sorry. " and turned sharply to run off the stage but collided with a solid wall of muscles.
She looked up and saw a pair of intense lake blue eyes staring at her.
The song Love Me Like You Do By Ellie Goulding began playing in the background.
Then he grasped her hand and whirled her away from himself not letting go of her hands pulled her back in his arms. Klaus then murmured in her ears, "I want you to show them your light. "
This polite request send a series of tingles throughout Caroline's traitorous body.
As if fueled by a new enthusiasm she maneuvered her body in a classic arabesque and started dancing with Klaus matching his movement's complimenting his contemporary routine.
Both matching each other's rythm, both dancing like pieces of a puzzle set fitting and unfitting as they moved together and apart from each other. For Caroline dance was her wonderland her Disneyland but she had never had so much fun in her fantasy world before.
To dance with somebody who had the intuition to move in sync with you was a new yet enlivening experience, it was giving her a heady pleasure, an adrenaline rush of pure excitement like a kid with a new toy on Christmas eve, like a diabetic who was allowed to eat all the sugar in the world ok bad example but what the hell she was loving every moment of it.
Dancing with Klaus was like foreplay leaving her both satiated and desidrate for more. Everytime he touched her, a stroke, a brush, a lift, a swirl, a twirl it all made her hot and goeey inside like jelly on fire. Yep that sounded weird but he was making her feel weird but awesome weird and she was savoring every moment of it.
Some would say Klaus Mikealson was in heaven but since he knew his own corrupted soul did not even have a sliver of goodness he would say he was having a cruise in his hell.
Dance for him was second nature, it came easily to him. But this was a novel experience for him, having the fair haired maiden in his arms who had ensnared him since the first moment he had met her. It was giving him an intense gratification that he wanted to keep on dancing till his body gave out. He had very few pleasures and having Caroline in his arms undulating her sinuous body in a beautiful rythm was definitely taking priority above all.
He was giddy with this sensation he wanted to laugh like he owned the world thought Klaus as he lifted her for fifth time and brought her down slowly sliding down against his own body. Both then continued to move carrying out a set of pirouettes like a mirror image of each other Caroline's in absolute accordance with the ballet style whereas Klaus's a loose amalgamation of ballet and hip hop. The already hooting crowd went wild at that. Klaus then held her hand and twisted her in and out of his arms again but this time in yo-yo style.
He loved it whenever she was in his arms it was absolute torment a beautiful form of sweet torture, he wondered if he was a sadist he was reveling in his own anguish.
The dance assortment was one of those picturesque performances that looked painterly, a work of art a blend of perfectly executed dance steps, passion and expression. It was as if they were telling a story of a new blossoming love both a little cautious, a meager shy but hypnotized by each other as if they were content in each other's arms as if fueled by each other's passion like they were enough for each other and the rest of the world had faded.
Klaus then slightly nodded at Caroline, she understanding his unsaid request ran into his arms and then he lifted her in the epic dirty dancing style giving the audience another reason to express their enthusiasm. He then slowly slid her down the entire length of his body and Caroline wounding her arms around his neck for support. The song ended and the audience roared like a banshee.
Both glued to one another reluctantly let go of each other as the crowd continued applauding. Klaus moved back a few steps and Caroline bend in a graceful bow. Kat ran off towards her and gave her an enthusiastic hug.
Sheila Bennett gave her verdict, " Congratulations Miss Forbes consider yourself a well acknowledged part of the Academy. "
Caroline felt as if her vocal chords were paralysed she couldn't utter a single noise. Whereas Kat was almost jumping up and down like a clown and embracing her at the same time. The judges called on the next contestant which brought Caroline from her catatonic state.
Both her and Kat getting off the stage and she exclaimed, " Omg that was.. I don't think they have yet invented a word for how enthused I'm feeling right now. And I have to thank Klaus."
She began looking for him and when she saw his retreating back leaving the auditorium she almost ran after him exclaiming, "Oh no you don't not again. Kat I'll be back. "
She followed him into a corridor and when he was a few feet away yelled, "Hey Susan Storm stop will you. "
Klaus stopped at the familiar sexy voice calling him a ridiculous name referring to him as the Invisible Girl from the American Comic Fantastic Four and whirled around to see her come to an abrupt halt.
"What is wrong with you? Why do you do that? And by that I mean why do you keep disappearing on me like a freaking toothfairy or some other vanishing fantasy have to stop it ok and seriously back there you didn't even give me a chance to.. to..to... "
Caroline started stuttering when she saw Klaus approach her and stood close enough in fact way too close. He smirked and said, "To what? Love. "
"To thank you. "
"So that was your elegant way of thanking me I gather. "
"Yes. I mean no. I mean.. "
At the same instant a few kids passing by threw water on both of them. Both were drenched with water. The guy who had thrown water began apologizing as he saw it Klaus Mikealson who had bear the brunt of his joke. "I'm so sorry Klaus I was throwing water at Jamie sorry dude I really am sorry. "
Klaus turned grasped his collar and rammed him into the assortment of lockers in the corridor, "It's not only me mate you've managed to spoil the lady's dress too. Better apologize to her i.e. if you value your pathetic life. Caroline cautiously approached Klaus and said, "Klaus it isn't necessary. "
Klaus tightened his deathgrip and he chocked out, "I'm sorry mam. "
"Good boy. " Klaus exclaimed and let the guy fall on the floor in a heap and continued, "Now if you want to continue to breathe you better maintain your distance mate. " the guy then got up and scurried away like a squirrel.
Klaus turned towards Caroline and she took a step back slightly alarmed. It was spectacular how the angry glint in his eyes in mere seconds turned to regret and hurt when he realized she was afraid of him.
She didn't understand where this alien sensation to soothe him suddenly overwhelmed her hence she attempting to appease him more than herself she said, "We can't get a break can we? "
Before he could say something she hurried on to add, "I mean whenever we meet we are interrupted by either forces of nature like water beer or milkshake or forces of Kat. "And gestured towards her drenched clothes.
That brought a small smile on Klaus's face.
As if on cue they were again interrupted but this time by Elijah Mikealson.
"Miss Forbes. "
Caroline let out an exaggerated sigh and turned, "Yes Mr Mikealson. "
"I deemed it necessary to congratulate you. " then accosting Klaus he proceeded to say, "
That was quite a performance brother. You must be in an amicable mood coming to a soul's aid without expecting anything in return. "
Klaus testily replied, "Fortunately for you I am in a good mood and for this instance I'll just shrug off you trying to bait me. "
Caroline was confused at the subtle tension in the environment and the hostile attitude of both brothers towards each other well it was none of her concern there were all kinds of twisted families living in this wide world but she was peeved at the fact that Elijah had interrupted them.
Elijah replied with an undertone of regret, "You mistake my intentions I was merely jesting. "
"I'd leave for every second I linger it's chipping away at my amicable mood. "
Caroline said, "Wait. I.. "
"Maybe another time love. "With that Klaus left.
Caroline's irritation with Elijah now escalated even more that's why it came out harsher than she would have wanted. "So what did u want? "
Elijah smirked, "I take it I interrupted you and my brother. And might I add you're wet. "
"Well if were stating the obvious might I add you're not very bright if you realised just now that you butted in uninvited. "
"It must be of real import if you're vexed at the prospect of me butting in. But anywho I'd like to discuss matters of utmost significance beforehand. I need to discuss the program and classes you want to join here. Perhaps we can discuss these details over dinner today. "
Caroline toned down her disgruntlement, after all Elijah was helping her realize her dreams she should be obliged rather than rude.
"Okay and thank you for offering me this chance at the Academy."
"Excellent I'll pick you up at 7 from Salvatores residence then. " Saying this Elijah left too and she couldn't shake the feeling she was somehow left alone.
£~¥~£~£~£~£~£~¥~£~¥~£~¥~£
Dinner was pretty much uneventful and if she was to give a critical analysis she would say it was downright boring. She had told Elijah that she wanted to join the program with six months with her main focus on contemporary, hip hop and ballet style of dancing and he had agreed.
But when he had told her the tuition fee she had balked at the prospect of giving a large sum of money.
Though she could probably easily afford to take the tuition considering her savings account set up for her by her father but she didn't want to have to do anything with a person who had abandoned his own child so yeah maybe she had abandonment issues but she'd rather eat glass then take anything from her own absentee father.
Fortunately for her Elijah Mikealson was an astute gentleman who had effortlessly sensed her foot-dragging and offered her a scholarship for first three months. He also said something about the Annual Dance Selection Event. Apparently if she partook in the event and won she would be awarded a prize money of 1 million dollars. Also the event was attended by the most prestigious Dance Companies of the country who would then sign you and you would have a shot at becoming renowned enough to choreograph for Broadway or even the Hollywood.
But if Elijah was astute then Caroline had learnt the hard way to be prudent and had asked him why was he doing all this for her? And did he always go on dinners with new students and offer them scholarship and other cow-crap? Ok 1 million dollars wasn't cow-crap but seriously why was he going to all these lengths for her?
To which he had calmly replied he was doing a favor to art because a talent like Caroline's was one that should be modeled, now this was cow-crap but she did not want to draw out her suffering-slash-dinner and had calmly asked him to drop her of back at the Salvatores.
£££¥¥¥¥¥£££££¥¥¥¥
"What the effing God is going on? " Kat asked her from her lounging position reading a magazine on the bed in Caroline's room as she entered her room.
"I don't know you're the one reading the magazine. " Caroline replied lying beside her on her bed.
"Hey do you think I have Moron tattooed on my forehead? "
Kat inquired putting away the magazine at the side table and sitting up crosslegged on the bed.
Caroline mumbled, "I wish. "
"If it were it'd become a rave and I'll look super sexy with that even. " Kat replied poking her "I asked you something? "
"I told you Elijah wanted to know the classes I would join that's why he invited me to the dinner. "
"Cool. But I'm referring to you running after the temperamental Mikealson and you can't avoid the interrogation from KIA? "
"KIA? I managed to avoid it earlier. "
" Katerina intelligence agency and that was me being the good cop because I didn't want you to get nervous for your date with Elijah. "
"I'm not dating Elijah, Katherine. "
"I'm just saying this is the second time you went somewhere alone with him. "
"And I thought KIA bad cop was interrogating me about The temperamental Mikealson. "
"Care you're my soul sister that's why gonna say this Klaus is bad news like earth shattering meteor falling bad news stay away from him. I won't deny that he's a fine specimen of male species I mean has looks that makes your certain muscles quiver and lady part's sizzle but trust me he's dangerous and he's been rumored to have been involved in illegal activities so just stay away from him, Ok. "
"Ok. But It's not like I'm eloping with him, I just talked to him."
"Ya talked to him and he helped you with your audition. " Kat mimicked Caroline then said, "That guy never even shits without an agenda."
"Seriously now you're taking paranoid to a whole new level. And besides he can't be that awful he helped me without any agenda and also if had wanted anything from me he would have said so. "
"I just in my own sexy and sassy way am trying to tell you just be careful ok. "
"Copy that bad cop from KIA. And.. ah... I needed to ask you something. Please don't get me wrong."
"Just shit it out." Kat snarked.
"Ok enough with the word shitting. I wanted to ask you if there ever was you know something between you and Elijah. "
Kat laughed "That's the question that had your knickers in a twist? " and gave out another bark of a laughter and replied, "Yeah we dated for a while last year it was his last program at the Academy and my first session. That's how I know he's superstiff. " added with a wink.
"Ewww you seriously need to cut back on your porn subscription. I think I'll need to lock my room tonight American psycho. And on a serious note who broke up with whom? "Sitting up on bed and mimicking Kats posture.
Kats playful expression turned into one of melancholia she gave half a smile and said, "I don't know what happened it was like we had a small spat because of his Evil sister wicked witch from England and the next thing I know we're both not talking to each other. He didn't care enough about me too fight for me and I'm precious baby like guys dueling over me at dawn precious. "
"That you are. "Caroline replied and hugged her and continued " For the record again I will say I'm not dating him. I may be home schooled but I know the hoe code. You know what they say chicks before dicks, V before P. Vag before Vas. "
"Oh me likey V before P, nice. But seriously if Elijah ever you know asked you out I'm gonna be a million times Okay with that because I'd rather you date the Armani Mikealson than the Henley Mikealson aka Devils apprentice."
"Really? So what you're basically saying is you don't have feelings for Elijah Armani Mikealson anymore. "
"Ah yes I don't. I mean there's this residual awkwardness but nothing more than that. He's moved on I've moved on times moved on. "
"Wow that's a lot of moving on. " Caroline said choking out a laugh.
"Ouch."Caroline exclaimed when Kat pinched Caroline on her ear.
"What was that for? "
"Just nothing I enjoy pinching people's ears."
"That's really inhumane of you. "
"But seriously Elijah and me are so over each other. "
"This totally explains why you were staring at him like you were picturing him naked at the auditions. "
Caroline mocked.
"Haha you're a riot but I'm serious here there's nothing anymore. "
"Oookkay got that. "
"So are you ready for your dreams to come true? "Katherine asked her scooching away from the current topic.
"I am and I deserve this chance at a better life. "
"You totally do and I'll be right there beside you to make it all dope. "
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The next day both Caroline and Katherine went to the Academy together. Caroline had informed Pearl about her enrollment and surprisingly she had been co-operative about her schedule because she was happy with Caroline's overall performance at the cafe.
After a couple of boring orientation classes Caroline was free for an hour so she texted Katherine to meet her at the cafeteria.
Caroline entered the huge hall of the Academy's cafe all the while searching for Kat but her traitorous eyes landed on the one guy who had become a constant for her thoughts.
In the same instant his eyes met Caroline's and she felt a jolt of electricity even when she was standing many feet away from him at the enterance of the cafeteria while Klaus was sitting on a chair with his legs crossed and propped up on a table flanked on his left by Rebekah with Kol sitting next to her, at the far end of the cafe.
There was just something about him that tugged at Caroline's blemished soul.
Kats shout and frantic waving is what that broke the spell. She moved to the table where Kat was sitting sipping Orange juice. She sat on the chair beside Kat at an angle where the originals were in perfect view of her but with Kats back to them.
Kat asked "So how were the classes? "
" It was a snooze fest for a snooze fest. "Caroline answered Kat but her eyes kept wandering over to a certain table.
Kat realizing Caroline was distracted said, "What are you staring at? "
"Huh nothing"
"Oh yeah."
They were talking when Elijah entered the cafe, which distracted Katherine from the topic at hand. He went straight to the place where his siblings were sitting.
Rebekah inquired, "Oh it's an absolute shocker seeing you here brother. Something awfully horrendous must have happened for Mighty Elijah to breathe the same air as his what was the word he used last time Kol care to jog my memory a bit. "
"Foolhardy malfeasants."
"Ah yes I absolutely adored it, was actually contemplating renaming our group."
Throughout this interaction Klaus chose to ignore his siblings and was actually drawing something on a table napkin. But occasionally his attention would divert over to the blonde siren sitting in the cafe right in front of his eyes. He knew that she would glance every minute or so at him and that knowledge filled him with a new euphoria.
And it quadrupled everytime her musical laughter wrang in the cafe. It was like his senses sensed everything about her and her only. Her laughter her voice her eyes and every nuance of her every gesture. He was besotted and it was worrisome because it was a rare occurrence for Klaus Mikealson to be this obsessed with something or someone.
Meanwhile he continued to tune out the ramblings of the remaining Mikealson brood scattered around him.
Elijah replied, " I am not here to indulge in another verbal duel with you Rebekah."
"Of course that would be too foolhardy of you." Rebekah replied.
Kol snarked , " I'm all with you sis but that was lame."
"Sock it Kol. Is that Bonnie Bennett? What the hell does she think she's doing here after I banned her from the cafe last week."
"Now why would you do that? You know she's my soulmate." Kol announced then looking at Elijah he said, " Brother it be wise of you to keep your paws to yourself I heard you made a move on my girlfriend my Bonnie Boo. "
"Seriously Kol could you be any more of a wanker for the 100th time that Bennett girl is not your girlfriend. "
"I going to turn a deaf ear to that sis. You know in an alternate universe Bonnie is having my 3rd kid as in right now. "
" Yuck as in absolute yuck Kol. I was wrong apparently you can be more creepy. "
"Bekah you're just jealous because she kicked your arse in ballet class. "
"And why is she going over to sit at tweedledum and tweedledee's table? "
(Meanwhile)
Bonnie entered the cafe tentatively and a little
self concious as Rebekah Mikealson had literally threatened her to not show her stupid arse in the cafe.
Bonnie Bennett was neither stupid nor an ass and she wasn't afraid that Rebekah would physically harm her but she was resigned by the fact that Rebekah and her posse had managed to spread ugly rumors about her and the famous Elijah Mikealson.
Rumors like she had gotten a chance here at the Academy because of Sheila Bennett's connections and also because she had slept with the Elijah Mikealson and her recent performance with him had only added fire to the rumor mill. When at the beginning of last week only a few tongues were wagging about her being accepted now everybody was exercising their right of freedom of speech, only problem was people were actually too candy-assed to say anything to her face and she was only awarded with whispers behind her back dirty stares and hushed conversations when she entered a room.
This had been going on for a fortnight almost and she was getting really exasperated by this whole fiasco.
Although she had not been her jovial self since her mother died. And she wouldn't call herself a confident sassy woman in fact if anyone asked her high school counseler she would say Bonnie Benett was a timid little creature with a generous heart an aptitude for dance and not even a single malicious bone in her flexible chocolate toned skin. But one thing she did not know about Bonnie Benett was that she was fiercely loyal and didn't care what other people thought of her as long as she had her friends and family's approval Bonnie reminded herself.
That's why she didn't even flinch at the death glare Rebekah Mikealson threw her way and entered the cafe with a newfound courage.
She was still looking for a table to sit when the new girl Caroline called out her name and invited her to sit with her with a gesture.
Bonnie moved over to their table and sat on Caroline other side.
Caroline said, "Hey Kat so this is Bonnie who made the snooze fest a little bearable for me. "
"Bonnie, Kat who is the only person I trust in this city."
Kat totally avoided Bonnies hello and replied, "Why did you have to invite her here? "
"Kat please be nice. "
"What? Why? Being nice right now is what's going to be the death of me."
"I'm sorry don't mind her. Kat is a bit outspoken but she a total sweetheart. "
"No I'm not and I'm so not in a mood for a threesome and that too with a total geyser like you." Kat exclaimed pointing a neon orange painted finger nail at Bonnie.
"Kat! I'm " before Caroline could apologize again Bonnie replied, " It's okay I'm not mad. I know why she is like that. She clearly has metathesiophobia. "
"Excuse me A what now? "Kat inquired while Caroline smothered a laugh.
"Metathesiophobia : fear of change. Also I'm also sensing some underlying trust and parental issues. Was it your father?"Bonnie replied with a serene expression on her face.
Caroline laugh burst out.
Kat clenched her teeth took a deep breath and said, " Well I didn't order a psychic and your psycho babble is making my ears burn."
Turning towards Caroline she repeated, "Again why did you invite her over? "
"I invited her over because Bonnie clearly needed a place to sit and it's nice to help people when you can. Besides I told you she was with me at the orientation classes and she made it slightly less cumbersome."Caroline explained.
"Well I didn't know it was your Charity For The Pychics Day or I would have totally made myself sparce. And what the hell were you doing at the orientation classes? Didn't you join the Academy four months ago?"
"Kat, " again Bonnie interrupted Caroline with a sullen expression on her face to say, "I was helping my gammy out and it's okay I'll sit somewhere else. It was nice meeting you Kat. Thanks Caroline. " and got up from her chair.
As she prepared to leave both Kat and Caroline said in unison, "Wait. "
Caroline wiggled her eyebrows at Kat in astonishment and then with nod a towards Bonnie silently asked Kat to proceed, "Well you don't have to leave now when you managed to bore me with your shrinky lingo for the past half hour I think I can take it for a few more minutes. "
"Caroline was right you are a softy at heart. I was just checking what you would do. I once took a pshycology class they had this drill to check the threshold of sensitivity... "
Now Kat was the one who interrupted Bonnie with a long suffering "OOOHHH GOOOODDDD" and putting her head on the table in defeat with Caroline's laughter playing in the background.
Then a quite reigned over the cafe with everybody focused on the Mikealson family.
(Meanwhile)
Elijah became impatient with their argument and grumbled, "Enough you two always squabbling like young'uns. Niklaus I need to have a word with you. "
"Apologies Mr Mikealson I can't be of assistance in that matter as I do not want to. " Klaus announced after folding the napkin carefully and tucking it in his jeans' right pocket.
"Niklaus please when are you going to let go of that whole Tatia episode. I've apologized to you time and again. "
With a flash Klaus got up and stood menacingly close to Elijah and murmured in a deadly voice, "Tatia is not even the last thing that came between us Elijah. I'd say you managed it on your own pretty good. "
A wave of silence crashed in the cafe with almost every eye on the brothers.
Rebekah and Kol immediately stood up to prevent a scene.
"Not here Nik, you'll make us the laughingstock for everybody around here. "
" I don't give a tinkers dam what people think?"
"I know you don't but this would reflect poorly on our image as a family. "Elijah replied but wasn't astounded by Klaus's sudden burst of temper as he was adequately au fait with Klaus's mercurial and rabid nature.
As the word family reached Klaus's ears he gave a short bitter laugh and mocked, " Colour me amazed since I had the unbidden privilege to hear the word family uttered from a scab like you. We are at best a travesty of a family and that too a failure of epic proportions. You do not get to have a word with me step brother until I decide it's an absolute necessity."
Then brushing an invisible lint of from Elijah's coat with a sedulous movement of his index finger and thumb he declared, "Until than steer clear of me, "and with a spiteful smirk added, "if you value the image of this family. "
He bypassed Elijah with the intent to storm out but before he could leave his eyes clashed with the blonde whom he was fantasizing about a minute ago and saw a glimmer of fear, an unasked question an unsaid disapproval and then unjudged understanding, in the eyes that had been haunting him since he had looked deep in them a few weeks ago, all in rapid succession of each other.
He didn't know what insanity possessed him to move close to her maybe it was the familiar sense of guilt and regret he had experienced before when he had come to realise that she was terrified of him and he was sure he didn't want her to fear him but he approached her with absolute precision of some mathematician took out the napkin he had put in his pocket and placed it in front of her on the table.
Caroline literally had no clue what just happened one minute Klaus was having an argument with his brother and the next he was placing a table napkin in front of her it seemed he had as the British would say official case of loony.
Did he think that she would start crying over their quarrel and that's he was giving her the napkin to blow her nose in it? Thankfully with the exception of Kat and Bonnie who were standing close to her nobody seemed to pay a mind to what The Hybrid was doing.
The moment he had rushed past Elijah all the curious eyes had lost interest and went back to their business.
She looked at Klaus and saw a plea in his dream inducing eyes. She wasn't sure what he was pleading her for but damn that feeling to soothe him was growing its ugly head back again hence as she extended her hand to pick the napkin from the table her fingers brushed his.
That single gesture gave her goosebumps at every freaking part of her body, somehow it felt intimate. Again she looked into his eyes his hand still almost touching hers and reassured him.
She could sense that a wave of relief ran through his body and with almost half a smile he left.
As soon as Klaus left Caroline became sensitive to the world around her again with Kats shreiky voice echoing in the background, "Why the heck did he give you a ratty old table napkin? Did I miss something?"
" I don't know ok."Caroline replied feeling a little confused. Still sitting she tucked the napkin in her purse.
"What do you mean you don't know? I told you that guy doesn't even shit unless it means something. Clearly you don't wanna share it with us right Bonnie? "
"Hey that's so not cool using Bonnie like that. A moment ago you were upset against the prospect of a threesome, " making airqoutes at the word threesome, " and now your using her to coax information out of me."
"Ahaa so there is something to coax out. "
"There isn't. And you should trust me when I say so I thought we were bffs. "
"Ughh fine."
Bonnie then remarked, "I knew it you have pistanthrophobia. And before you ask again it's fear of trusting someone."
"I'm so done with you, you portable phobia encyclopedia. Are you even for real you have absolutely no psycho babble to shower about the Klaroline scene and you're shrinking me up."
Both Bonnie and Caroline asked, "Klaroline? "
"Duh Klaus and Caroline what else? "
Caroline and Katherine went back to Salvatores Boarding house together. Caroline had expected Kat to harass her about the napkin but to her utter astonishment Kat was being indifferent about it probably she thought that it really was ratty old napkin and nothing else, well it was for the better because Caroline didn't want to share that with her as it felt exclusive and personal.
She had been eager to know but didn't want to open and see it in front of anybody. It felt like the moment belonged to just the two of them and no one else, was Caroline's current stream of thoughts as she entered her room and went about changing in to her night clothes.
After getting her nightly chores done she approached her purse she had put on her nightstand, took out the napkin with hesitant fingers. Seriously she was having butterflies in her tummy over a damn table napkin, she had really never had been given gifts except her beenie cap by Mason but that was different that didn't come in the romantic category.
God she was really a nuttso if she considered that a napkin from a topaz eyed chunk of manmeat was a romantic gesture she thought and unfolded the napkin.
On the "ratty" old napkin was her sketch and a painterly one at that. A whirlwind of emotions coursed through her she was not prepared for the onslaught of such unexplainable feelings. It was her sketch her laughing eyes her lips her her hair when she was earlier sitting in the cafe.
She had never considered herself to be beautiful but seeing the way he drew her she looked magnificent. She didn't know why but she felt joyous and lachrymose at the same time. Nobody had ever considered her unique and eminent enough to do such a thing.
All her life she had only been a means to an end for both her aunt and uncle and this stranger yet he felt closer to her than anybody else made her feel special. She was nonplussed why she felt this way about him, maybe because she recognized his defiled and tarnished soul so much like hers. She could identify that they both had somehow been a victim of fate, that they were... same.
A drop of water fell and immediately absorbed on the napkin. She then realized that she was crying but she didn't understand why that tear made its way to the sketch but before the sketch could get spoiled she got up and put the napkin carefully in the drawer under her clothes. She turned to go to bed but wiping away her residual unshed tears she went back to her nightstand and peeked at the sketch once more and this time gave out a laugh of pure joy and wondered why such a small token meant the world to her.
It was such a heartfelt gesture on his part but the reason behind this was a mystery to her and she doubted that she wanted to open that Pandoras box. Though she was a curious cat as to why he would do such a thing for her but she did not want to straight out question and demand the reason for it because she was apprehensive about it.
Kat had said that Klaus never did anything unless it granted him some sort of benefit or advantage, so if there indeed was some covert motive behind this she didn't want the beauty of this gift to be smirched by that.
Hence she would just treasure it as it is. He gave her a stunning sketch of her, period.
Klaus Mikealson got home feeling overwrought and restless and slammed the door of his studio for emphasis.
Whatever happened at the cafe managed to wreck the slightly reasonable mood he was in. Elijahs self righteous speech and so called good intentions always filled him with an anger he had difficulty in curbing.
But this was different she was watching, she was right there to see him get angry.
He couldn't decipher why in the devils name he inconvenienced himself with what she thought of him but he did.
He did and he didn't want her to fear him, to judge him and to shun him for his volatile and evil nature. Maybe because when he had delectation to gaze deep down in those alluring opal eyes he could sense that her soul was as desolate and crippled as his, because he could appreciate that she also had been the victim of a cruel fate much like him but the only difference was his past tribulations had left him bitter and corrupted whereas she was pure. That is why he couldn't shake her affect on him as much as he wanted to.
No matter how many times he made promises to himself to stay away from her he kept going back, yes he believed that promises were meant to be broken and true he was not gentleman enough to honor any vows he made but he wanted to, for her.
For Caroline he wanted to promise anything and everything in his power. His fit of rage ended on these unwelcome thoughts and he surveyed the damaged state of his studio with broken canvasses, paints thrown on walls and his studio chair upturned.
He went to the far end of his attic and drew away a curtain concealing a wall. A wall filled with her sketches, her eyes her laugh her lips her hair. He could look at it contented for centuries such was his state where she was concerned. He extended a hesitant hand and traced the exquisite curve of her cheek on her sketch he had drawn the day she had auditioned. It pervaded him with a sentiment of unadulterated ataraxy and tranquility. He yearned that someday he could just be worthy enough to trace her cheek in flesh. He hoped for his own sake that fate for once would not deal him a callous hand anent her.
$###$###$###$###$
Caroline entered the auditorium with ennui and listlessness as she was seriously whacked at the prospect of having to attend another one of the orientation classes. Katherine had an evening shift at the cafe so she had begged her to join her for the classes but Kat was running a little late and here she was with all the other 29 new students who had entered the six month program at the Academy.
Sheila Bennett was standing on stage with a few papers in her hand. Alaric Saltzman and his wife Joe who were also dance instructors teaching at the Academy flanking her both sides each.
Handing the papers to Joe she clapped a few times and declared, "Ok by now you all are familiar with basics of how we run things around here however with consensus of all the teachers I have decided to change our teaching methodology this semester. I will one at a time announce a few names and you are required to go to the classes assigned to you. Have I made my speech crystal clear? Any questions anybody? " she paused for a minute to allow them to voice their questions then proceeded, "No ? Marvelous. Now I'll announce the names. "
"Liv Parker, Rose, Luka Martin, Connor Jordan and Caroline Forbes please proceed to Hall A. "
And all of them did.
Caroline and the other 4 new students entered the hall. Liv and Rose started chatting and the boys got busy all discussing what could be the new methodology.
A minute later Joe enters the hall with a few senior students at the Academy and said, "Hello I'm Josephine Saltzman but it's bit of a tongue twister so you can call me Joe short and easy. I'm going to be your groups instructor for the week. Miss Bennett has decided to start your training in pairs."
"So Liv where's Liv? "
A curly haired blonde with a very fetching dent in her chin moved forward.
"Ok good sweety your partnered with Tyler Lockwood. Rose you with Trevor. Luka your partners gonna be Qetsiyah, Connor with Nadia and Caroline honey your partner is running a little late. So before we start today's session I'll leave you people for fifteen minutes to get acquainted. "
With that she left the hall. Everybody started exchanging pleasantries and Caroline after introducing herself moved to a corner to take out a hair band from her purse so she could tame the long golden tresses in a ponytail. She was still shuffling through her purse when a rich baritone and familiar voice said,
"Hello Caroline. "