prompt list smile #14 for klaroline pretty pretty please c:
This was âDid you just flick me?â and is combined with âWeâre not just friends and you fucking know it.â + College AU from @thetourguidebarbie. It got long (because *something* has to) and features improper social distancing. Also, smut.
Thatâs Not Why We Do It
Group Chat: Best Friend Is A Tier
My soul is fine. My car? Not so much.
And Iâm fine. It just wonât start.
I thought you left hours ago.
You were supposed to leave hours ago.
I forgot something. And then I double-checked that I didnât forget anything else. And then I cleaned the mini-fridge again.
Who knows how long Iâll be gone! I donât want it to develop a weird smell.
ANYWAY. Campus security is giving me dirty looks. Does anyone know a mechanic? Or of a hotel thatâll give me a STEEP discount?
Nikâs on his way. Try not to kill him.
At least until after heâs bought my birthday present.
Your birthday is in June.
So kind of you to remember.
Klaus shows up in less than ten minutes. It feels longer â Caroline spends most of the time pacing. She also tugs her hair out of itâs sloppy ponytail and puts on a sweater that doesnât have dust streaks on it. Plus, lip gloss.
She frets and gnaws on a cuticle. What is she even supposed to talk to Klaus about? They certainly canât talk about how theyâd hooked up on New Yearâs Eve.
His SUV pulls into the stall next to her car. He gets out after cutting the engine, shoving his hands in the pockets of his leather jacket. Itâs annoyingly chilly for itâs March. He leans against her car, âI hear you need some help.â
Caroline crosses her arms, keeps her eyes glued to a point just over Klausâ shoulder because sheâs sure if she looks at him remembering will happen. She canât have that right now. âAre you secretly into fixing up cars?â
She really canât see it.
âNo. But I have one thatâs fully operational. Were you headed home?â
Caroline shakes her head, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear when the wind whips it across her face. âNo. My mom will have to work, and she doesnât want to risk me picking up any of what sheâll bring home. I was going to hole up in my dadâs cabin.â
She hadnât expected that. âI canât ask you to do drive that far! Itâs like six hours.â
âIâm aware.â Klaus straightens, grabs the strap of the backpack sheâd left on the hood of her car. âYou didnât ask. Iâm offering.â
âDonât you have to work?â Sheâs totally stalling, trying to think of another solution. She knows full well Klaus works as an illustrator, that heâs likely able to work from home.
âMy hours are flexible.â
He lifts the bag, brows raised in question. âIs this everything?â He sounds surprised.
Caroline smiles, shifts uncomfortably. âNot exactly?â The backpack had only been outside the car because it contains road trip snacks and other immediate necessities. Sheâd crammed the backseat and the trunk with supplies. Sheâs been devouring the news, has fielded many worried calls from her parents. The Forbes family motto is that thereâs no such thing as overpreparation. Carolineâs got food and water, has stolen a ton of toilet paper from the dorm bathroom even though she knows her parents keep the cabin well stocked.
If only her dumb car had cooperated.
Caroline opens her backdoor, glares when Klaus laughs. Heâs not at all shamed. âI should have known.â He just sets her bag down, slips past her, pops open the hatch at the back of his SUV. âLuckily, I have plenty of room.â
He doesnât even sound annoyed.
Klaus begins transferring her belongings to his vehicle, and Caroline stares dumbly for a few moments before she jolts into action and starts to help. âThanks, Klaus. I do appreciate this. The dorms were supposed to be clear by noon. I have no idea where I would have stayed tonight.â
âIâm surprised thereâs no tent in here,â Klaus teases.
Caroline glares playfully. She does not mention that sheâd seriously considered buying one at Target.
How am I so bored already?
I have no idea why youâre complaining. Iâm stuck with Elena and Jeremy. You have a fun thing you could be doing.
And by that I mean you should DO Klaus.
Yeah, totally got what you were going for there. Thanks.
Youâre quarantining together. Your microbiome is already up in his microbiomeâs business. Might as well have him take care of your boredom too.
I now fully understand why Elenaâs the twin following in your dadâs footsteps.
Oooh, an insult. Have I touched a nerve?
Nope. Klaus and I are friends.
Thatâs not even convincing through text.
Have I taught you nothing?
 The thing is, Caroline hadnât meant to ask Klaus to stay with her.
Kind of like she hadnât meant to kiss him at that bonfire, hadnât meant to have sex with him in his car, or invite him back to her place, or smuggle him out in the morning while her mom showered. It had all just kind happened.
It had all just felt too good to stop.
She hadnât figured sheâd end up trapped in a car with him a couple of months later.
It had been dark when theyâd arrived at the cabin, and wolves hadnât raised Caroline. Sheâd turned to Klaus, had insisted he spend the night. Heâd thanked her, had pulled a small duffel bag and a laptop case from the backseat. Caroline had been surprised to see them, and Klaus had rushed to explain. Becoming adorably flustered in the process, âIâd planned to stop at my motherâs place. After dropping you off.â
âYou should stay,â Caroline had said. As soon as the words were out, sheâd found that she wanted him to. Sheâd started babbling, âNot just for tonight. I mean it. I bought a ton of food; my dad pays for good wi-fi. Thereâs only a couple of neighbors â Mrs. Braun will totally let us raid her garden if we offer to mow her lawn so we wonât get scurvy or anything. Itâs probably safer than the city, right?â
Klausâ response had been careful, his eyes studying her intently. âI wouldnât want to impose.â
Caroline had swatted him with the back of her hand, âYou think Iâm being polite? Please. When have I ever been polite to you?â
Heâd cracked a smile at that, âYou know, I canât quite remember.â
Sheâd figured that settled it. âExactly. Do you mind starting to unpack? I just have to run around back and switch the power on.â Caroline had retrieved the keys for the front door from her backpack, had dropped them in Klausâ hand. âJust set everything in the front hallway, weâll deal with putting it all away when the lights are on.â
She hadnât waited for a reply. Sheâd switched it on her flashlight, and sped around the side of the house.
Sheâd needed a minute to collect herself.
Theyâd crashed early, Caroline in her usual room, Klaus, in the teeny guest room. Day two had been awkward as theyâd tried to navigate what cohabitating would mean. Caroline had busied herself with getting the cabin in order, Klaus had excused himself to work in the screened-in porch out back. Theyâd discovered neither of them were particularly adept at cooking. Luckily, plenty of the non-perishables Caroline had brought are idiot-proof.
Day three and four had been better; theyâd managed to establish a routine. Had begun having conversations and not stilted silences.
Itâs Friday, and Carolineâs curled up on the couch, her laptop balanced on her legs. Sheâs only half paying attention to her Zoom lecture. Itâs her last class of the week, and sheâs willing the minutes to tick by faster. Sheâs in her final year, has already been told sheâll graduate on time. Sheâs only participating in her classes because itâs not in her to half-ass anything. She cranes her neck back over the arm of the couch, can just see Klaus out the window, at the table where he prefers to work. He seems to be having more luck concentrating than she is, his head bent over his tablet and his hand moving swiftly.
Heâs getting paid. Probably an excellent motivator.
He usually finishes up around the same time she does. They then attempt to make dinner â thanks to the internet and the vast array of recipes theyâre able to find, they mostly manage to throw together something edible. Theyâve been alternating who gets to pick the eveningâs activities. The cabinâs stocked with board games, and they enjoy most of the same things on Netflix (and have a great time arguing when their tastes diverge).
Carolineâs grateful her lack of a filter had sprung up, that sheâd blurted out the invite and that Klaus had accepted. She canât imagine how insane sheâd be going if she were alone.
Klaus glances over, catches her watching him. Caroline waves, rationalizing thereâs no way to look away subtly. He waves back, bemusement on his face, and Caroline realizes she must look ridiculous, hanging off the couch as she is.
Oh well. Her options for entertainment are limited. And Klaus doesnât seem to mind the attention.
How are things in the Bennett-St. John household?
Alright. Weâre designing an indoor mini-golf course.
Oooh, that sounds fun. And reminds me thereâs probably a croquet set in the shed.
Donât taunt me with your wide-open spaces.
Whoops, sorry. I canât complain about the scenery.
The lake or Klaus Mikaelson?
A little of column A, a LOT of column B.
âHey, will I bug you if Iâm out here while youâre working?â
Carolineâs class is cancelled and sheâd found herself staring at the nearly chipped off nail polish on her toes. A quick rummage through the bathroom had found a bottle of remover and a few bottles of polish. Theyâre old, but after opening a few, Caroline had picked the least gloopy option. She decides itâs smart to do self-pedicure outside, no need to have chemical fumes lingering in the cabin.
Klaus stretches his arms above his head, âGo ahead. Itâs your cabin. I am merely a guest.â
âI respect the space that youâve claimed,â Caroline jokes, walking across the porch and sitting down on the steps, the wood warm from the sun. âHowâs work?â she asks.
She hears the scrape of a chair, isnât surprised when Klaus joins her. âSlow,â he replies, a touch frustrated. He leans back on his hands, tipping his face up into the sunlight.
âIt might be for the best. Itâs hard to concentrate.â
Caroline focuses on her toes, wets a cotton ball in polish remover, and gets to scrubbing. âIf itâs me, or being here, you donât have to stay, you know. I donât want you to think youâre obligated to hang out with me.â
His shoulder knocks into hers, âWhen have I ever done anything solely because Iâm obligated?â
She bites her lip to flatten her relieved smile. âTrue. You are notoriously cranky.â
Caroline fishes her polish out of her pocket, hands it over. âCan you shake this while youâre resenting?â
Klaus obliges her, is quiet for a long moment, the only sound the click-click of the polish bottle and the water hitting the dock. âCan I ask a serious question, love?â
She sneaks a look at Klaus, finds him staring out at the lake. Theyâve kept things light and friendly â have argued about which famous Chris is the hottest, talked about their dream travel destinations. Theyâve ranked the Fast and the Furious movies, chip flavors, desserts, and dozens of other increasingly silly things.
What they havenât done is flirt. Or acknowledge basically anything theyâve shared in the past. Caroline had packed booze sheâd stuffed it in the back of the pantry. Sheâs afraid of drunken loose lips, of her self control eroding.
âSure.â Only a chicken would say no.
âWhy didnât you text me back?â
Caroline freezes. Sheâd kind of been expecting a profound question about the outside world. Not something personal. âWhat? When did you text me?â
âIn January. January 2nd, to be precise.â
Well. Thatâs a revelation.
Carolineâs obliterated all of her old nail polish, but she keeps rubbing to have something to do. Sheâd figured the thing with Klaus was one time only, mostly because he hadnât given any indication heâd wanted to see her again.
They lived in the same city. It wouldnât have been hard.
Apparently, sheâd been wrong, and itâs making her tongue-tied.
âI⌠never got a text. Since when do you even have my number?â
âSince I got my license and got stuck with chauffeur duty.â
She had totally forgotten about that. She and Rebekah had been 13. Klaus, at 16, had refused to be seen with them. Somehow, he had been made (probably bribed) to drive them to the mall in the next town at least once a month. Â He had insisted they text when ready to go and then meet at the car. Caroline had gotten a cell phone first because her motherâs hours have always been unpredictable. Rebekah had been livid when Esther had made her wait for her 14th birthday. âI changed my number during my first year in college. Bad breakup.â
âI did not know that.â
Carolineâs not quite sure what to say. It makes sense that he wouldnât have known about how messy things had gotten with Tyler. Klaus had gone to school in Chicago, had ended up closer afterward, once heâd graduated and found a job. She really has no desire to rehash said breakup. âIt sucked at the time, but I had friends in my corner.â
She sets the cotton balls aside, reaches to take the polish back, but Klaus moves it further away. She glances over in question. âThat position does not look comfortable.â
Caroline laughs, straightens her spine, and stretches out her legs, uncurling from the hunched up ball sheâd been in. âIt isnât, but Iâm used to it. Beauty is pain, right?â
Klaus seems unconvinced, but then heâs a man, has probably never waxed anything. âIâll do it.â
He has to be joking, âPainted a lot of toes, have you?â
âNo, but how hard could it be? Iâve worked with smaller brushes.â
Pedicures are one of Carolineâs favorite indulgences. One thatâs unlikely to happen anytime soon. Klaus is right. Itâs not rocket science and, if he messes it up, thereâs no one around to see. She considers the best way to do this, stands and moves down to the grass. She sits down again, lies back. Lifts her foot to rest on Klausâ bent knee. âI have no cash, so donât expect a tip.â
His fingers brush over her ankle and she jerks, curling up to glare at him. Klausâ expression is gloating. âTicklish there? Iâll have to remember that.â
She considers asking him if he genuinely wants to risk her accidentally kicking him in their current position â it would probably end badly for his most delicate areas. She refrains as itâs too risky to bring his dick into the conversation.
No need to invite awkwardness.
Caroline smiles sweetly instead, âCould I have my sunglasses please?â
He hands them over, and she settles back, sliding them over her eyes. She lets Klaus reposition her foot, hopes he canât see her watching him with her eyes covered. He unscrews the cap, examines the nail polish for a few moments like heâs judging the consistency. When he bends to begin painting, thereâs a tiny line between his brows as he concentrates fully on the task.
Caroline takes a deep breath, âFor the record, I would have texted you back.â
Klaus eyes flick to her quickly, âOh?â
âWe didnât talk about an after, so I just assumed there wouldnât be one.â The words come out in a rush.
âTo be fair, we didnât talk much.â Heâs smiling slightly, the curve of his lips distinctly pleased.
Klaus is undoubtedly correct â though theyâd communicated insanely well with few words. Caroline hopes any pinkness that might have crept over her skin isnât apparent in the sunlight. âThere were more pressing⌠matters.â She kind of wants to slap herself in the face. Could she be any more of a dork?
At least Klaus doesnât seem to mind. âIâll have to get your new number.â
If a friend of yours were into one of your brothers, how pissed would you be?
At the moment, I am pissed about precisely two things.
One. Youâve forgotten that time differences exist.
Itâs nearly 2 AM and I was ASLEEP.
Two. You clearly think Iâm an idiot.
Youâve had a thing for Klaus for a ridiculously long time.
Like all your friends had a thing for Klaus.
Heâs very pretty. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Everyone else got over it. You didnât.
Eh. Just donât be gross in front of me.
And if things go wrong, keep me out of it.
Choosing would be impossible. Iâd probably just have to kill both of you.
Thatâs an awful lot of digging.
You know how I feel about manual labour.
Aw, look at your gooey marshmallow center!
Are you really pushing it right now?
Youâre right. I love you!
Caroline yanks her sweaty t-shirt off when she walks into the cabin. Sheâs been going for evening runs, has pushed herself harder than usual, and stayed out for longer.
Sheâs got general anxiety about the state of the world, and she and Klaus have been breaking the no-flirting rules. Like, a lot. Itâs become more than just words as the days go add up. Now itâs brushing against each other in the kitchen, her legs in his lap when they watch TV. His fingers have taken to drawing patterns on her skin. First just her shins, but heâs moved up each night, shooting her a questioning look every time heâd crept a few inches higher.
Last night heâd finally moved past her knees. Sheâd parted her thighs, but he hadnât taken the invitation. Sheâd had to excuse herself early, had tossed and turned miserably for most of the night.
Sheâs been leery of taking care of her tension herself. Sheâd packed sex toys (only practical when one was planning on self-isolating), but theyâre still tucked away in her suitcase because the walls are thin and sheâd die of mortification if Klaus were to overhear her masturbating.
She wipes down her chest, yanks her hair out of its ponytail. She breathes deeply, hears the shower running. âScrew it,â she mutters, racing to her bedroom. Klaus swims in the evening, showers, and then goes to bed.
Sheâll just have to be quiet.
She faces a small dilemma. Carolineâs not sure how much power the rechargeables will have. She doesnât trust herself not to go climb in Klausâ bed if she were to get halfway to coming and then have the toy die. So, Caroline goes for an old favorite. She groans when she realizes sheâd forgotten to pack batteries.
A quick trip to the kitchen, a rummage through the junk drawer, yields a solution.
Unfortunately, her luck runs out.
Klaus opens his door â inconveniently directly across from the bathroom, just as Carolineâs heading for the shower. Thereâs a towel slung over her shoulder, a vibrator in one hand (itâs neon pink â hard to miss), and a handful of batteries in the other.
Itâs not hard to connect the dots, and Klaus is far from stupid.
Carolineâs horrified but her feet wonât move. The urge to shut her eyes and pray to a hole in the ground magically opens and swallows her is strong. She canât quite manage it, however. Not with the way Klaus is looking at her.
He appears a little surprised. But thereâs no embarrassment or disgust. No, itâs all intrigue and obvious want.
His hungry eyes drag over her sweat-slick skin, his hands clutch at the doorframe, arms tense like heâs finding it hard not to move closer. âHi,â Caroline manages, after a painfully long silence.
He exhales slowly, tongue wetting his lower lip. âI was going to ask if you wanted to go out and build a fire. But it seems as if you have other plans.â
Caroline canât see how she can deny that. âUm. Kinda? ButâŚâ
Klaus moves, into the hallway, jaw tense. âBut?â he repeats.
Sheâs rarely impulsive. With Klaus, when sheâs managed it, itâs always been a good thing. She gathers her courage, takes a step, until thereâs only a whisper of space between them. âBut they donât have to be solo plans.â
âGood,â he rasps. Then his hand is buried in her damp hair, and his lips crash into hers. Klaus yanks her into his room, kissing her deeply. His mouth is hot and demanding. Caroline grips his shoulders and does her best to keep up, moans when his teeth tug on her lower lip. His tongue rubs against hers when his hips do, he grips her ass and encourages her to move against him harder. Caroline pulls back with a gasp, a possible issue nagging at her. âWait, Iâm all gross and sweaty. Shouldnât IâŚâ
Klaus makes a low noise of denial, mouth landing on her neck. His tongue tastes her skin, âYou are the farthest thing from gross, and you absolutely should not go anywhere.â
His teeth scrape against a spot thatâs always been sensitive, his thigh pressing between hers. Caroline finds that she has no desire to call for a halt, even a temporary one. Sheâs also finding it frustrating that her hands are full.
The stumble to a stop, Klaus sits heavily on the bed, pulling Caroline into his lap. He licks the divot between her collarbones, and his hands frantically tug at her sports bra. Caroline laughs breathlessly, leaning away and fumbling for the nightstand. âI need to put this down.â
âMmm, but not away,â Klaus murmurs and Carolineâs stomach clenches at the promise unspoken there. She sets the toy and the batteries down, careful to make sure theyâre not going to roll away. Klausâ hands remain greedy and distracting â one now cupping her breast, his thumb encouraging her nipple to tighten into a sensitive little peak. She claws at his shirt, he obligingly pulls it off, his skin shivers when she drags her palms over his abs. He pinches her nipple, rolls it roughly. Caroline moans, hips grinding down. âTake your bra off,â he demands.
Caroline reaches behind her, unhooks the clasp. She has to cross her arms and grip the bottom, wriggles as she pulls the clingy fabric up and off. Klaus hisses out a breath, and his hands land on her hips, moving her in circles against his stiffening cock. The bed thumps against the wall as they move together urgently. His head dips to suck her nipple into his hot mouth, and Carolineâs kind of amazed at how fast sheâs climbing.
Her breaths come quickly; her body is clenching and relaxing, pleasure building even as an ache grows, low and insistent. She knows sheâs wet, and she sinks a hand into Klausâ hair, leaning in so his bare chest presses to hers as she bears down harder. âTouch me,â she says, doesnât even care that itâs whiny.
Klaus rolls them, and Caroline sprawls back on the bed, lifting her hips when he rips down her shorts and underwear. Heâs back over her quickly, tight against her side, and his hand glides over her stomach. Caroline whimpers when he cups her gently, arching against his hand and widening her thighs. She twists her head to look at him, reaches down to grab his wrist. She fits her fingers over his, presses down, rubbing into her folds, in circles over her clit. âDonât tease me. Not now. Iâm so close.â
He kisses her shoulder, makes a soft shushing sound. âIâve got you, love.â He strokes her entrance, and Caroline moans, stomach fluttering in anticipation. He starts with one, adds another when she gasps out a plea for more. She circles her clit with her slick fingertips, kisses him again in hopes of silencing the worst of her gasps and moans.
Klaus swallows the sounds greedily until her thighs are shaking; the rest of her body drawn tight as she strains to come. âSo pretty,â he murmurs, and his free hand slips under her body. His fingers sink deep and he pauses. Caroline cries out, rolls over onto her side at his urging, her body pliant. She reaches for her clit again, mindless with how badly she needs to come. Klaus blocks her, the heel of his hand rubbing lightly, keeping her right on the edge. His fingers curl inside her, stroking her walls in almost the exact perfect spot. Heâs hot against her back, manages to shove his sweats down. âI want to feel you come, Caroline. Would you like that?â
She nods, âYes. Yes, yesâŚâ
Caroline moans when she feels his cock slip between her thighs, nudging against her folds. She draws her leg up, giving him more room to move.
âSo good,â Klaus praises, the words hot and breathless against the back of her neck. He corrects the angle, pushing deep, and Caroline gasps out his name, her hand yanking at the sheets. He pulls out slowly, enters her with a swift, firm thrust. Then again. Heâs got an arm banded around her hips so she canât move much, but heâs filling her so freaking perfectly Caroline doesnât care.
Klaus strokes her clit every time he withdraws, a hot little strum that sends sparks shooting to her every nerve. Caroline comes quickly, loudly, shaking in his arms. Klaus keeps going, prolonging her pleasure, and itâs a surprise when she comes again. Klaus groans roughly, his hips locked to hers as he jerks. Heâs quiet, panting behind her as his body jerks.
His lips drag over her skin, Caroline tangles their fingers together and flexes her toes. âWe should have done that days ago.â
His laugh shakes them both, âI am in perfect agreement.â
She winces a little as he pulls out, their release sticky on her thighs. Klaus leans over her for the box of tissues on the nightstand. He hands a few over, and Caroline busies herself with a quick clean up. She doesnât notice that Klaus has grabbed her vibrator until she hears him fumbling with the batteries.
Caroline has no objections to a second round.
She balls the tissues up, wraps a clean one around the mess. Uses another to wipe her hands. Rolls to face Klaus, brows raised in question. âWhatcha doing?â
Heâs managed to load the batteries in, is clicking through the speeds contemplatively. He smiles wickedly. âAny objection to a little teasing now that weâve taken the edge off?â
A new rush of arousal flares hot and Caroline squirms, squeezing her thighs together. âNope. And, just generally speaking, no objection to teasing at all.â
âWeâll discuss that later. At length. Up on your knees, if you please.â
Caroline goes with it â sheâd pretty much just asked him to take the lead. She isnât expecting Klaus to tell her to grip the headboard. Nor for him to slip onto his back and urge her to throw her thigh over his chest.
Canât even think of arguing, or of being self-conscious, when he sets to buzzing toy to her clit in slow lazy swirls.
Itâs probably a good thing she hadnât bothered to shower. Klaus joins her for one sometime around 2:00 AM; she only would have wasted water.
Been a couple of days, CareBear.
Either youâve been eaten by a mountain lion.
Or youâve taken my advice.
Do I need to call animal control or park rangers or something?
Darn. Park rangers are probably hot.
I am touched by your concern for my well-being.
Pretty sure thatâs the longest itâs ever taken you to answer a text.
So Iâm assuming youâre better than fine.
While I HATE to admit youâre right.
Iâm actually pretty freaking great.
But his mouth looks like it would be a treat.
Iâm not going to get graphic.
Klausâ eyes open slowly, and he pulls her closer. âDid you just flick me?â he mumbles sleepily.
Caroline would feel bad about interrupting his nap but she needs to pee. Theyâre in the twin bed in her room (not the comfiest location but theyâd been swimming in the lake and had developed an urgent need for privacy). Klaus is on the outside, half on top of her. Totally being a bed hog. She jabs his calf with her toes. âUnless you want me to shove you off, you need to move.â
âThat would be a heinous breach of etiquette, sweetheart. Poor form for a hostess.â
She flicks him again, catching his earlobe and Klaus twitches. âNone of the things Iâve done to you are outlined in any book on good manners, and I havenât heard you complaining.â
âMmm, no. And I do hope youâll do all of them again.â His words are slurred, voice a little dreamy. Caroline feels a rush of affection. She only resists cuddling closer because her bladder is so demanding. She pokes his side, and Klaus grumbles but shifts off of her. He makes another noise of protest when she climbs over his back.
She tickles him, dancing away with a laugh when he jerks and his hand grabs for her. âDonât fall all the way asleep. We have to make dinner. An actual proper meal.â
Theyâve been subsisting mostly on snacks. Carolineâs not sure about the scientific merit of Katherineâs microbiome comments, but hers is now thoroughly all up in Klausâ.
âDemanding,â Klaus mutters, half into the pillow.
âYou like it,â Caroline sing songs, leaving the room.
Heâs in the kitchen by the time sheâs out of the bathroom.
Kind of proving her right.
Iâm so glad youâre doing well, honey.
Iâm sure you wouldnât be nearly so upbeat if you didnât have a friend with you.
 Caroline chokes on her lemonade, and Klaus is right there, patting her back and whisking her sandwich out of the splash zone. She shoves her phone at him, leaning over and trying to catch her breath. Can her mom be that clueless?
Though, to be fair, sheâd thoroughly enjoyed (and abused, oops) the good sheriffâs trust in high school. Klaus passes her a bottle of water once sheâs stopped gasping, his lips pressed tightly together like heâs trying not to laugh. Caroline tosses the cap at him and takes a sip. âLess smugness, please.â
âI think that I, as your most excellent friend, whoâs keeping you sane, much to your motherâs relief, can be a little smug.â Heâs slid closer to her on the couch.
Her voice is still rough when she snaps, âWere not friends, and you fucking know it.â
âLanguage,â Klaus teases, his palm resting on her knee. âBut, yes. I am well aware that weâre not friends. I rarely spend months spinning sexual fantasies about my friends.â
âOr days at a time naked with them.â
They havenât had the define the relationship talk. Carolineâs been working up to it. Maybe post choking isnât ideal, but she canât resist such an easy setup. âI expect dates eventually, you know. Nice restaurants. Movies. Maybe bowling, to check if youâre cool with being beaten by a girl at a form of sports ball and not just board games.â
âI maintain that you cheat.â
Sometimes, board game nights get heated. Theyâve begun playing for sexual favors, and Caroline almost doesnât mind losing.
âI maintain that until you can prove cheating, you need to stop complaining about it.â
He manages not to start that argument again. Carolineâs impressed. âHave you mentioned our not-friendship to your friends?â He says it very casually. Too evenly.
Carolineâs familiar enough with gnawing insecurities to recognize the signs, even if Klaus is excellent at masking them. âYep!â she chirps, leaning into him. âKatâs been encouraging me to jump your bones since the beginning. Bonâs taken the sage âI knew it all alongâ approach. Elenaâs a little confused, but thatâs normal. And do you think I would have risked Bekahâs wrath by not checking her feelings on this?â
Klaus has relaxed, comfortably pressed all along the side of her body. He drapes an arm over her shoulder, âPerhaps I like Katerina more than I thought.â
Caroline strenuously doubts that, but sheâs not going to question it. If Klaus has no objection to dates (plural!), he must be thinking long term too. Heâll have to learn to tolerate her friends. Or at least fake it reasonably well.
âIâll have to ease my mother into it. She did escort you home, while on duty, on at least one occasion.â
Klaus isnât a blusher, but his eyes flit to the ceiling, very intent on a corner thatâs not at all interesting. He sounds sulky when he replies, âIt was only one time. And I was seventeen. It shouldnât count against me.â
She doesnât mention that she got her champion grudge holder abilities from her mother. No need to make Klaus nervous. Thereâs no reason for him to be.
Carolineâs all in. Thatâs what matters.
