⚜️ Chapter Theme Song ⚜️
Walking into the grill with my signature leather jacket and all black outfit, I was sure to turn heads. I unzipped the front, exposing my blemish-free chest. Showing a little skin never hurt anybody right?
I nodded to Alaric before making my way to the bar and focused my hearing.
"I remember her from last night," I heard Kol say, I had a feeling he was actually a pretty funny guy. "She looks like a tasty little thing."
See, I knew it.
"Say another word and I'll tear your liver out," Klaus said. I looked down so that he wouldn't see my smile as I passed. Looks like I'm having the desired effect on him.
"Caroline."
Composing myself, I looked over to him and his brother before crossing my arms over my chest in faux exasperation, because I should be at least irritated with the whole situation... right?
"Oh, it's you." I oozed attitude.
Aww, he looked a little nervous. Good.
"Join us for a drink?" He asked.
"Hmm," I said in thought. "I'd rather die of thirst, but thanks. Hey Kol."
"Hello, darling. My brother not treating you well?" He asked.
"He's the bane of my existence, but alas..."
"Whenever you're ready to ditch him, I'm always available." I could tell Klaus didn't like that one bit.
"Whatever, Kol." I rolled my eyes with a teasing smile.
That should lure the hybrid to my side. I was here to be the distraction after all.
I could hear him chuckle as I walked away.
"Caroline!" He called after me when he got outside the grill.
"Are you serious?" I asked. "Take a hint."
"Don't be angry, love." Ugh why does he have to sound so mmmph when he calls me that. "We had a little spat, I'm over it already."
"Awww. Well, I'm not." I couldn't help but smile. What? He couldn't see it, my back was turned. Too bad this little game wasn't real.
"Well, how can I acquit myself?" He asked.
I sighed, here comes the mean part. "You and your expensive jewelry, and your romantic drawings can leave me alone."
"Oh, come on." Is he going to beg? Hmm, maybe this could be fun. "Take a chance, Caroline."
I faked being over everything that is Klaus Mikaelson and rolled my eyes.
"Talk to me," he said sitting down on a bench. "Come on, get to know me... I dare you."
I hesitated, pretending to weigh my options. I knew I was going to sit down, I was the distraction to keep him busy, remember?
But was that it? Was that really all I wanted it to be?
"Fine."
I sat down next to him, I could tell that he was pleased with himself with the way he was looking at me. It was too much, I had to look away.
"So... what do you wanna talk about?"
"I want to talk about you." I scoffed at his words. "Your hopes, you-your dreams. Everything you want in life."
I shook my head and laughed in disbelief. "Just to be clear, I'm too smart to be seduced by you."
"Well, that's why I like you."
I rolled my eyes. "How about we talk about you now?"
I heard him gasp. This must be it. Unexpected concerned washed over me as he stood up and grasped at his chest.
"What is it?" I asked, standing as well.
"What did you do?" He asked. I could see the realization flash in his eyes.
"Nothing," I looked down then back up at his eyes with indignation.
"What. Did. You. Do?" He grabbed me and I closed my eyes in fear.
"I didn't do anything," I said opening my eyes to look at him. "Stop it."
If he kills me, then I'm going to go haunt Bonnie and Elena for the rest of their lives.
He let me go when he realized that another sibling might be in trouble as he uttered a single name.
"Kol."
How dare they use Caroline to distract me! How dare she agree to it. She knows how I feel about her and yet, she's making it easy for me to hate her. I should hate her, right? However, it doesn't surprise me that I like her even more for it. I mean, I would be doing the very same thing in her place. I should applaud her actually but my mood has been soured by the betrayal.
The only way to get rid of the pain is to burn it away.
I watched the fire as the drawings of Caroline I created with the tender feelings of my heart in mind were set ablaze by the roaring flames.
I felt kind of bad for the part I played with Klaus and being his distraction, but all that paled in comparison to the feelings I have right now.
I'm laying in the arms of my first love, Tyler, and I couldn't be happier. But, my concern for his life grows every day.
"Did I mention I miss you?" He asked. "Bad."
I couldn't help but laugh, I missed him so much too. "At some point we are going to do this on an actual bed, right?"
"Yes, I promise." I missed hearing his laugh in person. "Once I figure out how to deal with Klaus."
"Tell him to suck it. You broke his sire bond," I said rubbing circles on his chest. "You won't have to deal with him anymore."
"It's easier said than done," he said. "Besides, I won't know if it's broken for sure until I test it."
"Wait, I thought that's why you were coming back." I sat up on my elbows a little bit, clearly confused. "Because you said you felt different."
"I do feel different," he said with a nod. "I feel freer, way more myself. All I know is, I just turned about a hundred times in the Appalachian Mountains. If I can get through that, I can get through anything."
"Good. Because Klaus might not be our only problem." I sighed as I looked away, unsure how he was going to handle what I was about to tell him.
"Why? What else did I miss?"
"Matt killed an original," I began explaining. "Then, every vampire that original had ever turned mysteriously died. Right now Damon is desperate to figure out which original created our vampire bloodline. And... if he finds out that it wasn't Klaus, they're all gonna kill him."
"But Klaus turned me," he said. The realization dawning on him as I nodded in confirmation. "So if he dies, I die."
"I know that, they know that." I steeled myself for what I was going to tell him next. "The difference is... Damon doesn't care."
And I definitely care. I love Tyler.
But, for some reason, I didn't want Klaus or Kol to die either.
"My mom said you can stay as long as you want."
I walked into my room to see Tyler sitting on the mattress.
"Did she say we could share the bed?" He asked.
"Nooo. She said you could sleep on the couch, at least until we figure out what Damon and Stefan found out about Klaus."
"And if Klaus didn't create their line?" He asked. "And they try to kill him?"
"Tyler, I just got you back." I gave him a kiss on the lips. "I'm not losing you again."
Walking back into the living room, I started preparing the couch for him to sleep on. I didn't know how, but I was going to save him. All of them.
"Klaus drew this for you?"
"Huh?" I said over my shoulder. Shit. He found the drawing.
"That's... pretty creepy."
"Oh." I laughed a little, I was just a tiny bit nervous. I didn't think it was creepy. I called it romantic actually.
"Yeah. Klaus is pretty creepy, even when he's trying to be charming."
I stepped back into my room to see Tyler with the picture in his hands.
"Charming? Does Klaus have a thing for you or something?"
Yes. "No! As far as I'm concerned, he isn't capable of real feelings." Deflect, deflect, deflect!
"I'm serious." Uh-oh, he's not happy. "What the hell happened while I was gone?"
"Tyler, nothing." Making sure that my tone was calm and reassuring, I continued. "Okay, nothing happened."
"Then why'd you keep this?"
"I don't know," I said even though I did, and not because I like looking at myself either.
He shook his head. "I think I'm going to find some place else to spend the night."
He handed me the painting with disappointment written all over his face.
I called out for him twice but he didn't come back.
I know what you're thinking. You think that I like Klaus, which I don't. I like the drawing he gave me and that's it. At least, I think that's it...
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