THE girl watched the big hand on her bedside clock barely move. Dahlia laid on the immense bed with the soft white sheets wrapped around her. She randomly woke up way before she usually did for school, about two hours too early. She wanted to stay awake, but she slowly dozed off into fantasy.

"Hello?" She couldn't see past the heavy fog surrounding her. As she stepped forward, she found that she was in a graveyard. She took a deep breath when she realized this was the graveyard where her mother was buried. She walked past the creaky, black gates and into the cemetery. Tombstones stuck out from the brown ground. The girl ignored all the other tombs and walked straight to her mother's. She saw the square tomb with her name written.

"Elaine Vixen. 1976-2012. Mother, friend and..." Dahlia squinted as she tried to read the next word. She didn't remember adding anything else. She got closer to try and see. She almost tripped on the flowers rested on her grave when she read the word.

"Vampire." The word was written in blood. Her heart raced as she looked around as if the vandalist was still luring around. Her knees fell against the dirt. She took her sleeve and rubbed it against the shiny tomb to try and remove it. As hard as she rubbed, the blood was still there. She finally fell back and felt tears well her eyes. She wanted to cry her eyes out. Her tears slipped out and her nose became congested. She sniffled but stopped when she heard a noise. The girl wiped her tears and tried to look through the thick fog but couldn't make out anything. Dahlia stood up, but froze when she felt the presence of someone around her. 

She turned and was met with an attractive brunette man. He had thick, bushy eyebrows and a cleft chin like Elijah. He had a see-through smile plastered across his face. The girl thought he looked so familiar, but dismissed the idea.

"And what's a pretty girl like you doing in a cemetery alone?" He asked, his voice dripping with fake comfort. She gave a forced smile.

"I was just passing. I should go." She nodded and walked past him and out the rusty fence. She looked back to see if he was still there. Something was bugging her about him. She didn't know how but she knew she recognized him. She turned around to be met with the man again.

"Leaving so quick? We just met." He smirked. She bit her lip.

"I'm Kol. Kol Mikaelson." He introduced himself. She gasped and turned to run away. The man was there again. 

"Please don't hurt me." She stepped back slowly as he followed her forward. 

"What makes you think I'd hurt you, love?" She almost believed his words until his eyes turned a bloodshot red. Black veins bulged out under his eyes and his smirk turned into a smile with his fangs revealed. He sped to her and grabbed her neck. He pulled her head to him and Dahlia felt his sharp teeth stabbed against her neck.

Dahlia shot up from her sleep inhaling sharply. She took several deep breaths as she looked around the room to see where she was. She gave a sigh of relief when she saw Klaus on the edge of her bed, staring at her in an unreadable expression.

"Dahlia, what's wrong love?" He asked softly. She got out of the bed and sat next to him. Amidst all the chaos, she felt safe with Klaus. 

"Just a bad dream." She waved her hand as she swiftly changed the topic.

"What time is it?" She asked. Klaus read the bedside clock.

"It's 10am." She gasped and was about to hop off the bed when the blonde laughed and stopped her.

"I'm joking. It's only 7." She gave a small smile.

"I should still get ready." She was about to get up but stayed seated when a thought struck her.

"Why were you sitting here?" Dahlia asked while hiding a smile.

"What?" Klaus looked away.

"Were you watching me sleep?" She inched closer to his face. She felt his beard hairs prick her cheek.

"I think you're still half-asleep." He turned and breathed. Sitting there, she couldn't help but stare at his lips. He saw her eyes flicker from his eyes to his lips. He brought his face closer so that his lips were merely brushing. Her breathing heaved and blood rushed through her body. She felt electrocuted by his touch. Dahlia didn't know why she felt like this. She snapped back into reality.

"I should..get ready for school." She got up and went into the connected bathroom. She turned the shower on but placed an ear by the door as she heard Klaus' footsteps leaving her room. She quickly slipped out of her clothes and into the shower. As the burning water hit her skin, her mind raced with thoughts of Klaus. She imagined what could've happened if she kissed him. The steam grew around her. Realizing she'd be late and Caroline would probably behead her, she rushed out of the shower. She wrapped the towel around her moist body and left the bathroom as thick steam followed. Dahlia wore the first thing she found, which was a black long sleeved crop top with a pair of blue ripped jean shorts. She paired it with a black belt and, of course, her white converse. 

The girl pointed the blowdryer at her black hair with one hand, while she did her makeup with the other. She quickly brushed her hair and touched up her makeup one last time. In her vanity mirror, she saw someone in the doorway. She turned and saw Elijah.

"Oh, hi Elijah." She smiled. He gave a warm smile back.

"I just wanted to check and make sure you're okay."

"Oh.." She contemplated telling him about what happened in her sleep. She didn't know if it mattered, but maybe it did. She decided to tell him about her nightmare. Once she finished telling him, his face had an unclear expression.

"What?" She asked. He opened his mouth, closed it but then spoke.

"You said Klaus was sitting on your bed when you woke up?" He asked. She nodded.

"Yeah, why?" Elijah clenched his jaw and nodded.

"Nothing at all. Just wondering. I know you've heard this a lot, but Kol will not harm you." He said before he left her room. She really liked Elijah. His compassion and empathy was so human-like. She didn't want to even imagine him angry. 

The time on her phone read 7:45am. She had 15 minutes to get to school. Her feet ran down the big steps of the Mikaelson house as her hand slid on the handrail. She was met with Klaus at the bottom of the stairs who was sitting on the leather couch. Before she left, she wanted to ask him something.

"Klaus." She called him over while she sat on the last step as she fixed her laces.

"What is it, love?" He walked over with his hands behind his back. He watched her intently as she looked up at him.

"Well, you know how tomorrow's the pep rally thing?" He nodded.

"I was thinking maybe... you could come? You know in case Kol comes or..." He smirked.

"Kol doesn't come for another 3 days." She rolled her eyes.

"Okay fine, I'd like for you to be there." Dahlia gave a fake pout and puppy dog eyes at him.

"Please?" He sighed.

"I assume I could since my schedule's been pretty dull lately." She grinned, and to both their surprises, jumped up to hug him. He rested a hand on her back and slowly slid it to her bottom. She pulled away.

"Pervert." He smirked. 

"I'll see you after school. I'm taking your car, by the way." She shot him a smile. He rolled his eyes.

"Try not to crash it? I like it the way it is." She stuck out her middle finger and ran out.

As she stepped out of the borrowed car, she saw Caroline in front of the school looking worried. The blonde saw her and ran over. 

"Hey Ca-"

"None of that. Tell me everything, now." Dahlia sighed but began telling the girl everything that had happened since Klaus was at Caroline's door.

"Kol Mikaelson!? He's after you?! Oh my god, D." The blonde whisper-yelled.

"Don't worry. Klaus said he'd protect me." Caroline give a disapproving look.

"I trust him, so you should too." She said as they walked down to class together.

"I don't know, D." Caroline began but stopped when Dahlia glared at her.

 "Okay whatever. Don't forget the cheer practice after school. I expect you to learn the entire routine today. Understood?" Dahlia groaned but nodded.

After the cheer practice under the scorching sun, Dahlia finished the meet with a whole routine she had to perfect by tomorrow. She ran through the routine as she walked to Klaus' car. She pulled out the key but jumped when she looked in the window. In the front seat sat Klaus with a grin. She opened her mouth to speak but was too tired. She went around and pulled the passenger door, only to find it locked. She tapped the window in impatience. Klaus just smirked at her.

"Open the door." He hovered his finger over the unlock button. Dahlia glared at him.

"KLAUS!" She crossed her arms. He finally opened the door and she got in the car.

"Jerk." He set his right hand on her left thigh as his left hand drove. Dahlia felt goosebumps on her skin. She stared straight even though she wanted to look at his hand. Klaus hid a smirk as he heard her heart pump.

"Oh come on. You know you love me." He replied to her comment. The girl bit her lip in thought. Even though he was joking, she wasn't. Dahlia was in love with Klaus Mikaelson.