⚜️ Chapter Theme Songs ⚜️
You Right (Extended) - Doja Cat x The Weeknd
Outside (Better Days) - Blueface x OG Bobby Billions
So, I've done it. I agreed to go on a date with Klaus so that he would give up one of his hybrids to save Elena.
Now Tyler is upset with me because he's mad we can't be together in public. That ain't my fucking fault. He made the decision to let Klaus think he slept with the she-wolf without discussing it with me first. So he can wallow in the bed he made for himself. The date actually helps keep up the charade for him and Hayley to continue unsiring hybrids, so he should be grateful. But I don't have time to think about any of that right now, I have too much going on with this pageant.
"Now how did I know I'd find you at the helm of this ship?" Klaus drawled in his ole Klausy way.
Lorrrd, if I even think of the immortal hybrid, he appears.
"Go away," I said. "I'm busy."
"I was wondering what time I should pick you up tomorrow."
"About a quarter to never." I buried my head into my chart trying in vain to appear very busy.
"I was promised a date, in return for one of my hybrids."
He didn't need to remind me. Cue inner smirk before its time to be a little snarky.
"Yes, a date. Like to a movie where we don't have to talk and I can put at least three seats between us."
"Surely the reigning Miss Mystic Falls won't be hosting the party alone," he said. "And I assume you're not taking Tyler... not after his indiscretions with his lady werewolf friend."
"Fine. If you insist on coming, meet me here. 2pm, black tie optional." I started walking away before turning back and point a finger in his face. "And I already have a dress, so don't even think of getting me so much as a corsage. You understand?"
He winced a little, good. Nice to know I instill a little fear in him. Hmm, is fear the right word to use here?
"I'll see you tomorrow, Caroline."
Yes, you will.
It was finally the day of the pageant and all I've done for the last fifteen minutes is bark orders at people.
"Hey, why am I bussing your tables?" I asked one of the waiters who had an empty tray in his hand. "I said no empty glasses."
Walking up to the orchestra, I had to roll my eyes. Who told them to play this kind of music?
"Will you guys pick up the tempo? This is a pageant, not a funeral!"
"And how am I doing?" I turned to see Klaus looking all handsome in his suit, so I answered his question honestly.
"You're... perfect." I gave him a small smile. He actually was, but I can't let him think he's getting off that easily. "Which is so beyond annoying, I can't even look at you."
"Well you look beautiful as ever. I didn't mention it before but your nails and piercings are a lovely touch."
"Thank you," I said with a smile looking down at them. Tyler hadn't even mentioned my nails when I came back, or my tattoo and piercings for that matter and he's seen every inch of me.
"And that tattoo, I wonder how high it goes..."
"Well, you won't be finding out!" I exclaimed.
I could tell he was about to say something smart but he looked into the distance.
"They didn't waste any time, did they?"
I turned around to see Hayley and Tyler, ugh. This ruse is killing me but there was a part of me that knew the wolf girl was enjoying it way too much.
Klaus looked at me with such sincerity in his eyes, I had to look away. I couldn't take it, lest I start thinking about that drawing he gave me months ago.
"Let's just get today over with."
After making sure the young ladies and their escorts were dancing and doing what they were supposed to, I grilled Elena about her life choices. I know I said I wouldn't judge her and I know I shouldn't have said anything, but dammit. I ship Stelena not Delena, and if she doesn't get her act together she's going to lose the right man for her.
That was the first and last time I'm going to say anything though. I have enough boy drama to deal with myself as it is. Klaus, in all his original hybrid glory, had to go and save me from making a scene. I admit, I was. So I kept quiet as he pulled me away promising to tell me all about actually being the bad guy.
"It's just... as her best friend, it is my duty to warn her when she's making a giant mistake, right? And now, she's taking Damon's side of everything."
"So being a vampire has changed her," Klaus gathered.
"But being a vampire only amplifies who you already are. It doesn't turn you into a completely different person."
"It's very peculiar," he said with an interesting twinkle in his eyes.
"What's that look for?" I asked.
"It'll all make sense eventually."
"Whatever, just hurry up and find the cure." I finally sat down on the bench we were heading for.
"I'm working on it," he said as he sat down too.
"Would you ever take it?" I asked.
"Now why would I want to cure myself of being the most powerful creature on the planet, hmm?"
"So there's not one single moment in your whole life when you wanted to be human?" I asked, very shocked.
He just gave me a look, that unexpectedly sent tingles down my spine, before popping the champagne bottle.
"How about you?"
Elena has pretty much claimed the cure for herself at this point since she just can't handle being a vampire, it wouldn't even matter if I wanted it or not. So I didn't answer his question.
"Life used to be a lot easier," he said. "Don't you miss the days of being... 'chair of the Mystic Falls Beautification Committee and the director of the policemen's yearly raffle'..."
Oh no... seriously?
"Is that my Miss Mystic application??" Oh, the embarrassment! "Where did you get that??"
I tried to take the paper that he pulled out of his pocket from him as he continued to read.
"'When I am chosen, I intend to redefine excellence.' Now, I'm really enjoying your use of 'when' here. It's very confident."
"Mmhmm." My hands were on my hips at this point. I couldn't believe he was actually teasing me right now.
"'And above all, I promise to aspire, inspire, and perspire.' Obviously, we found a shortage of words ending in 'spire'—
"Yeah, it's very funny." I tried again and failed to get the paper out his hands. "It's hilarious. Just..."
The way he was looking at me, I couldn't help but laugh. I couldn't stop and he joined me. This was actually turning into a pretty fun date, even if it was more of a work date.
We walked around the Lockwood property a little more before coming back around to where the pageant was being held.
"I never answered your question," he said. "If I'd ever thought about being human."
Oh wow, the great Klaus is going to open up to me? Again? This is unreal!
"Once, I was on a trek in the Andes." Wow, he really has been everywhere. Must be nice. I wonder...
"A hummingbird flew up to me and just hovered there staring at me. Its tiny heart was pattering like a machine gun... and I thought 'what a thing, to have to work that hard every day just to stay alive. To constantly be on the verge of death, and how satisfying every day must be that it survived.' That was the only time I thought about being human."
His words were so sincere and honest, I'm actually really glad he chose to share such sentiments with me. I'm glad I went on this date with him.
I could tell that it took Klaus a lot to open up to me. He's the big bad hybrid, he doesn't have to explain himself to anyone. However, the fact that he continuously shows me another side to him means something. Someone who could open their heart can be saved.
You know who might not be able to be saved? Elena fucking Gilbert.
Why?
SHE IS SIRED TO DAMON MOTHERFUCKING SALVATORE!
Whew, I had to get that off my chest.
I figured out what Klaus meant when he said that everything would make sense eventually.
I don't know how I'm supposed to keep my composure at this slumber party Elena invited Bonnie and I to, but Stefan was right. I absolutely cannot drop this bomb on anyone. We were discussing this new development when I was at his house last night. I had a feeling he was going to try to get Elena back but... I don't know if it'll work. Shiiiieett, I'm starting to think that he needs to be trying to rekindle his relationship from back in the 20s instead. Yeah, I heard about that from Elena back when she couldn't believe Damon slept with the blonde bombshell. Then she turned around and got mad at Stefan for doing the same thing. I don't understand how she could be mad when she can't even make a choice.
Anyway, I'm definitely going to try and hold it together while I'm at this sleepover. I mean, seriously, Elena just raided the Salvatore wine cellar and I wasn't complaining at all about it.
The mood did turn a little sour though. We just made a toast to no boy talk after I shamed her again for the Damon of it all.
Look, y'all know what happened between me and him while I was human. He abused the hell out of me. Our whole relationship was a compelled fantasy, ergo completely nonconsensual. I distinctly remember being terrified and throwing a lamp at him. But then he compelled me, turning me into a mellow and willing participant. And that was just one instance, there were so many other times where I was too terrified to even speak up for myself.
I'll never forget when the Salvatores came back to town. Stefan didn't notice me the first day he came to school because he was wrapped up in Elena, so I went for Damon. When I first saw him, I thought he was just another typical bad boy. Obviously that was a huge mistake, but I didn't deserve any of the treatment I got at his hand. I'd never feed on someone and then proceed to have sex with them unless it was completely consensual. Fear is a natural response and by taking it away with compulsion, the person I'm feeding on wouldn't have the wherewithal to give me their consent. It's like having a drunk partner. Often times, they're so inebriated they can't give their consent and getting the A OK for sexual encounters is mandatory at all times.
Compulsion is a useful tool but it can be a bitch in the wrong vampire's hands. I just barely got comfortable using my abilities when I needed to feed and even then, I always had permission. Like I told Bonnie the other day, my humans are always cared for and no one ever gets hurt.
Anyway, back to Elena's dilemma. Damon suggested she try a blood bag and the fact that it worked, means she's definitely sired. But I am keeping my word this time, I'm not saying anything especially since the mess I made of things at the pageant. Speaking of...
"Elena?" I got her attention.
"Yeah?"
"I just wanted to apologize for what I said just now and at the pageant—
"It's okay," she said interrupting me.
"I'm not finished." I held up a finger. "A while ago I said that I wouldn't judge you for who you ended up choosing. It just irked me because I believed that Stefan was the better choice for you. Damon is toxic, okay. My feelings concerning him are influenced by the abusive history I have with him, by what I experienced because of him. I didn't make a big deal out of it because he's Stefan's brother and he inserted himself into our lives because of him... he stayed, however, for you."
I took a deep breath before continuing.
"What he did to me will never be okay. The fact that you would still entertain him, knowing what he did to me, blows my mind."
"Oh Care, you moved on so quickly. I never even considered what happened back then—
"Of course you didn't, Elena. The whole situation was all but swept under a rug by everybody. The reality is this, once he had become important to you, it didn't matter what he had done in the past... he would always get a pass. But, please let me finish."
She nodded, tears shining in her eyes.
"Yes, I moved on. I try my best to see the good in even the worst of people, which includes Damon... among others. That is one of the reasons I told you I would not judge you. But because I went back on my word, a few minutes ago and at the pageant, I hurt your feelings. From now on, I promise, I will not say anything else."
She nodded. There was nothing left to say and I knew my words would give her something to think about. Hopefully, it would lead her to a Caroline-approved happiness.
"Now that the heavy stuff is out of the way, where were we?" I raised my champagne bottle to Bonnie and Elena, and chugged. I would need to be seriously inebriated to get through the rest of the night with spilling my guts and all.
Bonnie turned up the music and we danced as we drunk our way through the expensive alcohol. Elena took videos in vampire speed and I hopped from couch to couch. It wasn't long before we ended up in Damon's bathroom looking at the footage from earlier in the living room.
"Why haven't we ever spent time in here?" Elena asked.
I just shrugged. We hadn't spent any time in this bathroom together because it's where Damon brings his hoes. But I wasn't going to say shit, remember?
"I have something to tell you guys," Elena said. "I slept with Damon last night."
"YOU WHAT?!" I exclaimed.
"You didn't," Bonnie said at the same time.
This girl just ended things with Stefan yesterday, now she's already sleeping with Damon?? She definitely doesn't have the right to judge any-damn-body.
"I did." Elena looked at me to see my reaction but I had my mouth covered in shock. I wasn't going to say anything. I wasn't going to be the one to break the peace.
"Why don't we go downstairs," I suggested after recovering from Elena's little tell-all. "A little more champagne will loosen us up."
We hadn't made it downstairs more than a minute before a couple of hybrids I recognized came in and attacked us.
Ugh this not how I thought the night was going to go.
Now here I am, chained up with a bunch of hybrids who can kill me. Oh, look, now they're torturing me to show Tyler of all people who's in charge.
"Wait wait wait!" Elena exclaimed stopping Kim from staking me. What was she even doing here?
Ever the martyr, she offered herself up because Klaus is fixated on keeping her alive. She's not wrong. He only wants her so that he can make more hybrids and for that, she needs to be human. You see, the cure was always going to go to Elena.
Kim let me go and just as she was about to get ahold of Elena, Tyler grabbed her and stuck his arm in her chest.
Holy shit!
"Stay back!" He yelled. "I'll rip her heart out right now!"
Well, that's one way to get what you want. Tyler's beginning to look like someone else I know by the second.
"Kim put you all at risk today and I'm not gonna hurt her. I'm not Klaus," he said.
Are ya sure about that, buddy?
"I don't kill and torture my own friends to get what I want. Now, we broke the sire bond. But, if you want to be free, we have to work together. No one can step out of line."
The tension was getting thick. I'm not sure what to think at this point. He said all that but he's got Kim at death's door. Kind of hypocritical, if you ask me.
"Now, you're either with me or you're against me." I watched as he stared into the girl's eyes. She was terrified. "Submit. Submit, or you die."
"I'm sorry," Kim said taking a giant breath when he released her.
Oh wow, everybody just started kneeling out of nowhere. Tyler had their respect and probably their fear.
Hell, he had my fear and I never thought that would be possible.
This hybrid project is putting a strain our our relationship as it is. I don't know if it's worth it anymore. I don't even know if this relationship is worth it anymore.
After the whole fiasco with Tyler and the hybrids, it was time for the Winter Wonderland charity event and guess what I'm doing? I'm the distraction again, yaaaaay. NAWT! I would rather be here without some kind of agenda and yet, I'm going along with yet another plan of Tyler's after he's already decided to spend senior year trapped in a coffin.
Yep!
His stupid ass martyr tendencies are seriously fucking up our relationship! The first time, he allowed Klaus to temporarily have his body and now he's doing it again! Lately, it feels like all the decisions he's made have been without consulting me. Without considering what it would do to us. I honestly don't know why I'm still putting up with it. I love him and all but being with him shouldn't be like this, ya know?
What if, for the rest of our relationship, he puts the hybrids before me? It'll be like he's sired all over again. The only difference being to the pack and not to Klaus.
Anyway just as I was thinking of him, he decided to appear as I was admiring his snowflake painting. It always seems like he can read my mind because why is he showing up when I think about him?
"Thinking of stealing Tiny Tim's crutches?" I asked.
"Dickens was a dark man," he said stepping closer to me. "You would have liked him."
"Nice snowflake by the way."
"Is my work really that literal?" He asked in exasperation.
I smiled. "I'm serious. There's something... lonely about it."
"I'm gonna take that as a compliment," he said. "Can I offer you some champagne?"
"Can't," I said turning my back to him. "Too many adult prying eyes. Don't wanna be a high school cautionary tale at the next town meeting."
"Well then, it's a good thing the high school part is nearly over." He wasn't wrong.
I was officially accepted into Tulane's Bachelor of Fine Arts program in Studio Art and I couldn't wait to leave this place to resume life as the carefree and now employed version of myself I met in New Orleans.
"If we're gonna be nice to each other then I will need that glass of champagne."
He smiled, stepping closer to me. "Is that our thing?"
"We don't have a thing." I rolled my eyes playfully, because at this point we kind of do.
"Allow me," he said before heading to the bar to get me a drink.
Unfortunately, he left me alone with my cell phone. Which meant I needed to do my part in this distraction plan. Honestly, it's amazing how I'm even still alive with all the times I've used Klaus' feelings for me for the benefit of my friends. I definitely feel grateful to be alive and bad about my part in things now, especially since I no longer want him dead. But Elena needs the cure, so I've got to help my friend... right?
Earlier, I met Stefan outside of the grill to talk about the sword he was supposed to steal but we ended up angering thirteen unsired hybrids. So much so, they locked us in the cellar. I couldn't believe this. They don't care about the cure, okay, but it's not for them. It's for Elena... Guess, Tyler didn't care about her either.
When Stefan got a phone call from Damon saying that we didn't need the sword anymore, I was happy to an extent. I realized that meant we didn't need Klaus, which was a good thing for us but bad for him. Why? Because of Tyler's stupid plan!
Stefan and I left the cellar, after telling the hybrids about their alpha's idiotic plan. I needed to tell Tyler my idea instead. They could body-jump Klaus into Rebekah instead to kill two birds with one stone. I even called Bonnie to ask her if it would work and she said it would.
I still needed to find Hayley and Tyler, though. It was imperative that I convince them my plan is better.
It took some time finding them, but I was clear across the town square. I could see them talking heatedly in the middle of the charity event, so I decided to listen in.
"What are you doing here?" He asked. "You're supposed to be taking the witch to the cellar."
He already had a witch? Oh no, his stupid plan! I've gotta get closer.
"There is no witch, Tyler."
Huh? I stopped walking abruptly.
"What?" He asked. Clearly he was just as confused as I was.
"I made it up," she said. "I never intended for you to put Klaus down, I needed him for the sacrifice."
"The what??"
"I don't know how to explain it, but I made a deal with someone who can help me find my family."
Uh-oh, what did she do??
"What are you talking about?" Tyler asked. "What kind of deal?"
"There needed to be twelve for the sacrifice, Tyler."
"Twelve what???" He was still confused.
"I'm sorry," she said.
"Hayley, what did you do?"
No for real, Hayley. What's going on here?
"If you run now, you might make it out alive."
Oh wow, it suddenly dawned on me what she meant. She served the hybrids up to Klaus and he's probably killing them all right now. What I can't figure out is why there had to be twelve and what she used the word sacrifice for.
I ran up to she-wolf.
"What did you do, Hayley?"
"I don't have to answer to you," she said with an attitude.
"Oh, yes you do!" I grabbed her arm and dragged her to the bathroom at the grill, leaving Tyler outside to his thoughts. "I know you have feelings for Tyler, or else you would have served him up to Klaus like the rest of the hybrids. Now, I'm going to forget about that for the time being if you tell me what the hell is going on!"
Needless to say, I didn't get any answers. That stupid girl broke my neck and left me in the bathroom. April found me and when I saw Matt, he told me she couldn't be compelled. As if the night couldn't get any worse, I still needed to find Klaus and beg him not to kill Tyler. I hope it gives him some time to run away.
I ran outside and didn't see anyone. The town square was pretty much deserted except for the mayor sitting on the fountain and Klaus, who I saw gunning for her. I'm assuming to make Tyler pay.
"KLAUS!"
He looked at me and rolled his eyes.
"Not now, Caroline. As you can see, Tyler is nowhere to be found. So, the next best thing to do is settle for his mother."
I vamp ran in front of him, hoping he wouldn't break my neck.
"Please don't kill her!" I begged. "Klaus, please. He's all she has."
"Then you see the poetry in me taking her life instead of his, now if you'll excuse me I—
"You claim to have feelings for me," I said interrupting his spiel. "How do you think it would make me feel if you killed them?"
He looked at me with murder in his eyes.
"Caroline, move."
"No." I stood my ground.
"I just killed twelve of my hybrids because they betrayed me. I'm about to make today's body count lucky number thirteen."
"You were manipulated into killing your hybrids by Hayley. She is the one who helped Tyler break his sire bond. She is the one who pushed him to help the others. I overheard them talking about a deal she made with someone to find her family. You of all people can understand that, what with all you've done in the name of your family and such."
I could tell I was getting to him.
He sighed.
I looked around and there was no sign of the mayor. I let out the breath I was holding, thanking the big guy upstairs.
"Give me your word, you won't kill Tyler and his mom."
"I won't kill the mayor but I make no promises about Tyler," he said.
"Klaus..."
"Fine. I won't kill Tyler, tonight."
Well, it was something. The crisis was averted, even if it was just for a little while.
I looked at him and did something I thought I would never do.
Throwing my arms around his neck, I hugged him tightly to my chest.
Before he could hug me back, I vanished from his sight.
Tonight ended in shambles but I prevented a disaster...ish.
Now, I'm sitting on Stefan's couch venting to him about April not being compellable.
He didn't say much which clued me in to something being on his mind.
"Is this you in crisis mode?" I asked "'Cuz it's a lot stealthier than mine."
"Ya know, I thought I'd be happier watching Klaus get led away to the slaughter." Uh-oh. I'm actually glad I didn't have to see that. "But, for some reason I can't help but feel kind of... guilty."
"Yeah, you and me both." I had a hand in this too. I was going to put him in Rebekah's body and chuck him somewhere. "All day I've been trying to remind myself of all the horrible things he's done."
Viewing him as the monster is what made coming up with my plan easier. I didn't want to think about how he had weaseled his way into my heart or the guilt that just kept creeping into my chest.
"See, that's the thing. We've all done horrible things," he said. "I'm sitting here trying to figure out what makes any of us any better than him and, I think it's just that we have family that we love and who love us. We have family that we trust."
He was right. Klaus' real family is gone. They no longer trust him. I can definitely see the appeal of hybrids now.
"Yeah, you're right Stefan. Trust is everything." It was at that moment that I could no longer lie to him. "I... I have something to tell you... and you're not gonna like it."
"What is it?"
"I was on the phone with Bonnie earlier and we overheard a conversation between Damon and Elena. Stefan, they're still together. He didn't use the sire bond the way we all wanted, the way you wanted."
He sat back and took in everything I was telling him. I could see his heart breaking, his eyes told the entire story.
"I know you might not wanna hear this but, maybe it's time for you move on?" I suggested. "Trying to be Elena's knight in shining armor just isn't getting you where you want to be."
He put his head in his hands.
"I'm so sorry to be the one to tell you this, Stefan." I went over to rub his back. "Perhaps it'll be good to take a break from love then dive back in when you're ready. I'm also not saying you have to go and jump into an entirely new relationship, but maybe revisit an old one when the time comes?"
He chuckled. "You can't possibly be talking about Rebekah..."
"I didn't say any names, my friend." I nudged him playfully before taking my seat again. "Funny how you knew exactly who I was talking about though."
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