Breakfast with Bonnie and Matt is the closest
thing we can have similar to a Mystic Falls get-together. The diner at 5th
street was so homey and simple. A small, quiet diner that is perfect to have
breakfast with some close friends. “So, when can I meet this perfect
boyfriend?” Matt asked.
“Soon,” Bonnie replies. “If you haven’t
realized Matt, you’ve actually been totally AWOL to us since you met Cami. Any
explanations for that?”
She teasingly raises both eyebrows. He
sheepishly replies, “She’s just so great, you know? She keeps talking about
these Psychology things that is killing me because I knew nothing about it, but
for some odd reason, it keeps me around. It’s a trait of hers that I find
interesting.”
I bow my head, looking down to my eggs and smile.
The two friends I have seated with me in the booth are both happily dating,
while I am still mortified of the man I want to be with. I have actually
planned today to be the day that I finally make amends with Klaus Mikaelson.
Well, I was hoping. “You better be serious about her, Matt. We really plan on
becoming friends with the girl, so don’t mess
it up,” I say.
He smiles at me. “I won’t,” he says, taking his
cup of coffee with him. “I should go back take care of the supermarket. Vicki
might get back early from Mystic Falls, and I don’t want her to get in trouble
with the staff.”
Bonnie stands up, “We’ll walk you.” I get up
from the booth together with Matt and the three of us walk the streets together
on the way to Matt’s shop. “Have you heard from Elena, Matt?”
Elena and Matt used to date from back in our
Freshmen Year. When I didn’t give him a chance, he decided to go for the hotter
girl instead. Made sense, but Elena is such a close friend of mine, even then.
There was a whole lot of drama, but it was nothing compared to Episode 69 of my life. Besides, they
didn’t date for long.
“Nope,” he answer, making a popping sound at the
end of the word. “I thought she’s staying with Damon? Or at least that’s what
Tyler told me.”
I roll my eyes. Again with the Tyler reports!
It’s so frustrating! “Matt, do you always have to bring him up? It’s bad enough
that he’s still staying around the city, I don’t need to hear about it too!”
Displeasure bursts out of my every word. And it did not go unnoticed. Both of
them stare at me begrudgingly, I look down to the ground, “Sorry. The Tyler
thing really tips me over the edge.”
Matt smiles at me in hopes of giving me
comfort. Silence echoes the group as we walk to the supermarket. As we reach the
doors of the shop, we see Elijah and Klaus walking about. They both had paper
bags held between each hand. I shamefully sigh, a blush creeping up my cheeks
as I recall the endearing faces of the king. “Bonnie,” Elijah shouts quietly. A
scrunch flashes on my best friend’s face as she walks to face the man she just
looked like a fool in front of yesterday night.
A teasing chuckle begs to be rumbled out of me,
but the sight of Klaus’ eyes slowly looking up to meet mine has lead me frozen.
His blue green eyes pierce through my skin as I bow my head to hide my face
with my hair. I could feel both his and Matt’s eyes on me. Matt is probably
wondering about the tension between our recent stares.
Thumps from Klaus’ shoes ring through my
ears, “Good Morning, Caroline.”
I sigh and give him a small smile, “Hey.” Swallowing,
I look at him and am met with a charming smirk on his face. He takes out a stem
of rose sticking out from his paper bag and gives it to me. I blush. “You don’t
have to,” I push it back to him. His smirk grows even more charming as he licks
his lips and takes hold of my hand. He gently places the stem on my open palm
and forces my fingers to curl around it.
He chuckles as I passionately stare back at
him. A flow of bliss washes over me as I blankly wait for him to say anything,
but he doesn’t. He nonchalantly strides pass me, heading towards the exit. I
stay motionless.
Matt opens his mouth, “Tell me you also felt
that weird anticipation between you two.” I give him a look. “Honest. I felt
the tension, but it wasn’t the bad kind of tension. It was rather, affectionate.”
Affectionate. I long for there to be any
signs of affection coming from him at this point. The urge to force myself into
his life is growing larger by the second. I could still feel my blood boiling
inside of me as I am reminded of when I first had a glimpse of his striking
face. The heat makes it feel like it was just yesterday.
I bid Matt my goodbye and wait for Bonnie on
the sidelines with Elijah. As they finish their chat, they both approach me.
“Caroline,” Elijah murmurs, “I presume that you are aware of tonight’s affairs?
I delightedly had the chance to browse through your written work. It was quite
the exposure. I didn’t even know about the event that Klaus is preparing until
I have been enlightened by your work. I hope the word about it reaches notable
men.” He pauses to take a minute to look at me from a short distance, “Thank
you. This means a lot to my family. To my brother.”
“It’s for a good cause,” I whisper. He talks
a step towards me, enclosing the small distance between our bodies. Slowly, he
places a chaste kiss on the top of my head and turns immediately to leave. I am
again, frozen.
Bonnie looks at me with wide eyes, “What just
happened? Did he just,” she pauses, shocked by her own eyes, “kiss you?!”
I gape, “Tell me that it wasn’t one of those
bad vampire juju’s? A kiss won’t curse me, right?”
She shakes her head, “It won’t. And that’s
what shocks me even more. Isn’t he married to Katherine?”
“I don’t know about married, but they’re together. I don’t think that the kiss even
meant anything. Maybe it was just as a sign of gratitude.” I say.
My best friend rolls her eyes in a very
Bonnie-like manner, “Yeah,” she says in sarcasm, “’Cause a simple thank you is
totally outdated.”
I chastise, “You don’t know that, Bonnie
Bennett! He’s probably from the 1500’s. You don’t know what kind of traditions
he had to adjust to. Besides, Elijah is a noble man. I don’t think that his
gesture meant any more than just a respectful act. He’s actually the only
vampire that I didn’t hate. He does that to people. He can make you trust him.”
“Are you compelled?” she shot at me.
I roll my eyes to her, “I’m on vervain,
remember?”
“I’m pretty sure that the vervain is pretty
much out of your system by now.” I made a worried look. “Don’t worry. I’ll find
a way to change that. I’ll try looking for some more from my supplier. It’s
kind of hard since vervain is banned from the Quarter,” she answers.
Frowning, “Is there any way that I could
help?”
She grins, “You can personally ask for vervain
from Klaus, if that’s what you’re suggesting.”
I sigh, “That’s not what I’m suggesting, but I’m sure I could find some other way. I’ll
handle it. I don’t want to burden you with all this work when you should be
using up all your extra time love-making with your new boy friend.” She laughs,
taking the first step out of the supermarket.
We make our way to the salon. While receiving
our much needed pampering, we overhear whispers from the locals inside that
were almost too intriguing. “So, have you heard about the news?” a girl asks.
“There are too many in the paper, darling.
Try to be more specific!” another girl replies.
The first girl specifies, “Duh, the one about
the Mikaelson’s!” She pauses, “Every year, they make this huge event happen and get people excited about it. But everybody
knows that it only meant that they’re going to drop a bomb on us.”
“It’s not like we could argue with them.
Besides, ever since Klaus ruled the place, the tourists come more often and the
way he handles things aren’t really that bad.” I turn my head to look at the
second girl. She was a lean girl with several tattoos — looks a little too
badass to be friendly. I better find someone else to clarify about that gossip.
The much needed pampering was even more
relaxing as we both hoped. Bonnie just looks down right blooming after the
whole treatment. We exit the salon after paying for the services. Making our
way to Rousseau’s, I caught glimpses of tourists that looked like art gurus. I
can tell by their looks. They were probably here for the exhibit. I guess the
word did get around. Or maybe Klaus
had his own connections.
Bonnie and I reach the restaurant bar. We
walk over to where Cami was working. She greets us with smiles. “What can I get
for you two lovely ladies?” she asks.
I give her genuine smile, “What do you say
you join us for a meal of the restaurant’s famous gumbo?”
“I really should be working,” Cami responds.
Bonnie frowns, “It’ll take a minute. Think of
it as your lunch break.”
“Fine,” she grins.
We got to know her a lot more over lunch. She
was cool; no wonder why Matt likes her so much. A huge part of her was very
Elena and a small part of her was very me. But on top of it all, she was her
own person. She is so unique and grounded. Strong. Independent. Brave. She was
nothing I thought she would be.
“Well, I don’t know for sure, but there is
something really dark and weird going on with him.” She replies to me when I
asked her about the Klaus. “I’ve always been observing the people in higher
political stature because they’re the one we should be cautious about. And
Klaus just always screamed danger to me. But you know him better,” she says to me, “so what do you think?”
I let out a sigh. Why did I even ask her
that? Of course, she was going to put the spotlight on me. “Well, I think that,”
I make a long pause, “he’s different.” Bonnie and Cami both give me sarcastic
look. I give them both a sign of surrender, “Okay, I don’t know!” I throw my
hands around haphazardly. Cami laughs. “Oh no. You don’t get to make fun of me,
Ms. Psychology major. Don’t you get to make some kind of psychological reading
on him?”
Her mouth hangs. Clearly, she was speechless.
As if she was afraid to tell us what she really thought. “Cami, you can tell us
anything. What do you really think
about Klaus?” Bonnie encouraged. She hesitates, “Okay, I’ll go first. I think
Klaus is a monster. I think he’s a manipulative person who destroys everything
and anyone that gets in the way of what he wants. Your turn.” She says to Cami.
“I don’t want to judge. Everybody has a
story, you know?”
Of course, a psych major would think before
judging. That makes sense. “And, what do you think his story is?” I ask.
“He’s,” she sighs, “angry.” She pauses,
“Dark. Doesn’t feel safe and doesn’t know what to do about it. He wishes he
could control his demons, instead of having his demons control him. He’s lost,”
she pauses again, “Alone.”
I swallow. I can’t help but consider her
words to be one hundred percent accurate. Klaus is exactly that. He is lost and
alone. And maybe I was one of the people that he felt safe with. He wishes he could control his demons,
instead of having his demons control him. I’m not afraid of him. He’s afraid of himself.
“Or,” she laughs, “Maybe I just drank too
much already.” She says, pushing her drink to the opposite direction. She
notices both Bonnie and I stare at her in a weird way, “Sorry, overzealous
psych major.”
I try to give her a small smile and whisper, “I
think you were probably right the first time.” We both smile back to each other.
Bonnie interrupts our shared silent conversation. “Okay, I think we’ve talked
enough about the Mikaelson’s.”
She takes her glass and sips from it when I
was reminded of another topic about the Mikaelson’s that I wanted to ask about.
“Wait. I have one more thing to ask.” They both look at me in curiosity,
“You’ve been around for a while, right Cami? Cause I heard about this rumor about
their family. What do you know about the Mikaelson’s making a public statement during
or after a grand event?”
She pauses a minute to think, “I’m not really
sure. I’ve only been around town for a few months, but if you are asking about
the ball, I did overhear my uncle talking to the council members about a curfew
for the tourists. It was implemented just a little after the ball.” She pauses,
“But I hear that the ball is an annual event, so I’m not really sure if it’s
just coincidental to that particular rumor.”
Nodding at her in agreement, I look over to
Bonnie. She didn’t look convinced. Couldn’t she just ask Kol herself though?
They are happily together. I should
ask her that when we’re alone. I like Cami, I really do, but I’m not entirely
convinced that I could trust her. Almost all of the people I’ve met in this
town were not what they seemed to be. Even my own best friend turned out to be
a mystery to me. I have to be cautious.
After having lunch, Bonnie accompanies me to
the firm. I couldn’t help looking over my shoulder every other second because I
was strangely feeling followed, but it was probably my skepticism getting the
best of me.
We make our way to the second floor, where I
know the chief editor’s office would be. We step out the elevator as we reach
our floor.
I look to Bonnie, “You should probably stay
back. I’m not sure if they allow outsiders in the firm, and this office is
owned by the chief editor. It’s kind of a big deal. I hope it’s okay with you
that I dragged you along and ask you to wait out here.”
“It’s okay. I don’t mind. I’ll wait for you here,”
she smiles.
I turn to face the huge glass doors when I
hear a roar from the speakers. “Caroline,
the whole second floor is my office. You should know that I hear every
conversation as soon as those pair of elevator doors screeches open. So, don’t
bother leaving your friend unattended. I wouldn’t want your friend to think that
the firm is unwelcoming.”
Mentally, I was applauding her wonderful admonition
to me, but I was feeling too humiliated to have cared. I know she’s badass and
all, but she still gets on my nerves. I look over my shoulder to Bonnie and
signal her to follow behind me as I enter. I am welcomed with warm smiles from
the chief editor, Ms. Davina Claire.
“Ms. Claire,” I smile in contempt, “It’s nice
to see you again.”
She chuckles, “I’m impressed. You’ve done
your research.” I made a tiny bow in arrogance. “Oh,” she start shaking her
head, “Don’t flatter yourself. I was trying to sound nice, which obviously
isn’t my forte.” She tilts her head up from where she is seated and squints her
eyes at me in disappointment, “I am actually under impressed — if that’s even a
word. It took you long enough to learn about my name and finally show up my
office again. What’s worst about it is that you brought an outsider into the
firm with you. Bonnie, I’m guessing from what I overheard from your conversation.”
Bonnie nods in humiliation, “Yes.”
I sigh, “I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I didn’t
know about the firm policies.”
“Now, how would you? I never heard Marcel lecturing
anyone about it?” she says. Did the bashing actually transfer from me to
Marcel? I thought she was angry with me?
“He’s a great boss, really, but he’s a terrible mentor. I’ll take over from
now. You answer to me. If he asks for
a favor, that’s fine, but I give out your assignments, are we clear?”
Nodding at her, I immediately reply, “Yes,
ma’am.”
She scoffs in disgust, “Call me Davina. No
‘Ma’am’ or ‘Ms. Claire’. That’s my Mom.” She huddles a bunch of papers together
and hands them to me. “These are your guide sheets. I’ve never advised anyone
to read them, but Marcel’s orders.” I accept them with both hands and nod to
her. “Anything else?” she asks.
“Yeah,” I start, “about the assignment you
texted me about. The exhibit? I was wondering whether that was legit, or if
someone was messing with me.” She raises a teasing eyebrow at me. “It’s legit,
Caroline. Don’t be stupid,” I answer to myself and sigh. “I should leave,
unless I want to continue sounding stupid in front of my boss and get myself
fired.”
Rolling her eyes at me, she stands up and
heads towards the door. She clicks the lock on it and walks over to a room. We
follow her inside. “Caroline, you’re not the only rookie I’m training. I know
about the insecurities and the unassertiveness you must be feeling.” She takes
a seat on the couch and pops out a glass of scotch out of nowhere. I blinked
twice. Is that a mini fridge beside the couch she’s seated on? Is that where
the scotch came from? Damn. This office is a wonderland.
Bonnie and I take our seats on the couch
opposite hers. “I personally believe that an unassertive person doesn’t deserve
to become a journalist. You have to grow on your own. Experience a lot of real
life journalism on your own. After that, you can proudly call yourself a journalist. But at your stage, you’re still
just a writer.”
Frustration clouds my whole being. Who is she
to talk to me about being a journalist? Who is she to say that I am only a
writer? I mean, I get it that she’s the freakin’ chief editor, but it doesn’t
give her the right to downsize me! I’ll have her know that I am a good writer!
Marcel picked me out of a pool of other intern wannabe’s in a matter of
seconds.
That fact makes me good writer. To his boss’
eyes, I am a good writer. And that’s what matters! “And at your stage, you’re still just a kid.”
She cringes, “I may only be 19, but I have
experienced more than you could ever imagine. I am a lot younger than you are
and it may come out disrespectful when I talk to you and encourage or mentor
you about journalism, but I know what I’m doing. I’ve been in this industry
longer than you can ever imagine and Marcel trusts me with his own life. So, I
advise you do the same.”
I sigh. She’s so young. And she looks young —
young enough to be my little sister. “I get it that you have supremacy and control
over these big decisions, but inside, you’re still just a 19 year old. You’re
still just a kid. Stop acting like you’re older than everybody else because it
sure makes me want to disrespect you even more.”
“I’m sorry. That wasn’t my intention,” she
whispers.
“Why are you even doing this for Marcel?
Shouldn’t 19 year olds be wallowing their whole lives in boys?” I ask.
She swallows her glass of scotch, “I owe him.
And I love journalism, and I’m good at it. It’s just unfortunate that I’m too
young for anyone in this firm to give me the respect I deserve.”
I chuckle, “You pretty much operate the
entire paper on your own. So, I’m sure you have the respect part in the bag,
but you are still just a kid. If you start pissing people off, they will
retaliate. You need to keep that in mind.”
“Yes, ma’am,” she smiles at me.
I smile back at her, “So, the exhibit
article. What do you want it to be?”
“Well, at first I was thinking about a
critique, like a review of the whole exhibit and the art. But I guess it’ll
make a lot more sense if it was a news or a feature, right?”
Klaus’ art exhibit is really a huge event.
Tourists have come to see and visit it. It’ll be a shame to just solely focus
on the art and not the cause. It’s for a great cause. The people should know
about it. “Let’s make it a news feature then.”
She nods to me, “Okay. You need to clarify
all the facts, because this will be our grand and main story for tomorrow’s
paper. Make it long and trivial. Take pictures of the art and interview some
foreign art guru from the sides. Make it great and informative. We need this to
be big! We need to reach out to the people, to the tourists. They will spread
the word if it’s good. It’s for a great cause. The news has to be heard.”
“Okay,” I say, “I should get ready for the
event then.”
She nods, “And if you can, get a word from Mr.
Mikaelson. It has to be a lot bigger than we need it to be.”
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