I expected to see Klaus the next day, but to my surprise, he didn't show. I kept waiting for him to pop out of nowhere with that accent and his annoying nickname, but nope. The air stayed silent and I remained in my room, keeping a leveled gaze out the window. Did I have to invite him in a second time? But Klaus hadn't even come to the door, so I doubted that was it. Either way, he never came and evening arrived sooner than I'd thought. I ignored the fact that he'd left before mom had come home, glancing at the door as I made a simple dinner. I put mom's portion in the fridge and returned with mine upstairs, feeling exposed as I passed the door.

Fine. If he didn't want to do his little magician's act and materialize, that was perfectly okay. Maybe I was better off, anyway.

Maybe I'd always been better off.

I didn't really believe that until the next day came the same way. My arm definitely held some improvement and I made sure it appeared normal in my clothes as mom left for work in the morning and I sat on the couch, alone and with little to do. What I should've been occupying my time with was organizing an out of school activity for spring break or putting together my own party, but right now, it felt like a chore to do for people I had little interest in.

I looked at the front door and felt a shiver trickle down my spine. So much for not caging myself in fear. I didn't even want to leave the house, let alone be tossed into a group of people I only pretended to like. But I had to do something. I would not be that hurt little girl sitting around the house, wondering why Prince Charming hadn't shown up on his steed. Besides, I was pretty sure there wasn't a version where he was a wannabe villain and his steed was mythical super speed, so I had nothing to expect.

With that, I pulled out my phone and called Elena.

____________________________________________________________________________

By the time day four rolled around of Klaus's vampire no-show, I was thoroughly pissed. we were talking run-for-your-life level angry, and I knew that because I'd made that level myself. No one could top it, not even a thousand year old vampire himself.

When I got the call that my car had finally been completed, I left the house, mentally chastising him the way there. If he fell off the planet, well, there was little I could do for that. But it wasn't as if I was going to wait around for another vampire to appear and threaten me again. I was done being victimized by things from storybooks and for once, I wanted to be the one with the advantage.

I got to the mechanic's twenty minutes later and paid the bill. I sighed in relief as I slid into the front seat of my car, caressing the steering wheel. "I missed you," I whispered to it. Then I tugged on my seatbelt and, with my plan in mind, drove to where the bonfire had been nearly two weeks ago.

I was going stake shopping.

It took only about ten minutes getting there via car and I ignored the small, foreboding feeling as I stepped out and walked into the trees. I kept my car in my sight as I inspected the pines jutting out from the earth, asking myself what kind of shaft was better for....vampire slaying.

You just couldn't make this stuff up.

I heard him before I saw him and glanced over. Klaus stood a few meters away, his back against the tree with his arms crossed over his chest. Those eyes met mine but I just resumed my search, trying to suppress the traitorous relief that blossomed inside me.

"Can I help you with something?" I asked, not looking away from the fallen tree I was studying the branches of.

"Do you have even the slightest concept as to how dangerous it is to be carelessly roaming these places, Caroline?"

He sounded angry.

Good.

"Yeah, I do," I said without looking, still marveling at the log. "Which is why I'm getting a weapon to protect myself with."

"No one will lay a finger on you, " he vowed, materializing in front of me. "Not while I'm here and breathing."

I stared up at him. "You see, I can't really count on that. You just whooshed away for zero reason and zero warning. So excuse me if I'm not a big supporter in this Klaus-being-there-for-Caroline campaign of yours. I have other things to do, like picking a stake out."

"I didn't leave you exposed, Caroline," he growled, as if insulted by the idea. "I wouldn't. I've kept tabs on you."

"So you are a stalker."

I saw a sturdy branch jutting from the underside of the log and walked around him, crouching on my knees to dislodge it.

"I always ensured your safety."

I scoffed. "No, you ensured no one could touch you on any emotional level. What, I tell you that I think you're a nice guy and you flip out?" I cast him a glare before returning to my branch dismemberment. "Maybe you left for a different reason but either way, I don't really have time for a socially-unstable, ancient vampire. And I can't even believe that statement is meant to be taken literally."

I tugged at the branch with my good arm which did nothing and I slipped, falling backwards. Before I could hit the ground, Klaus was there, his arms around me. Once I got my footing, I pulled away from him and started trying to break the branch free with the foot that wasn't sore.

To my utter disbelief, Klaus chuckled.

I glanced up, watching as he watched me, his smile big enough for me to see the impressions in his cheeks. Seriously? He has dimples, too?

"It is not funny," I bit out.

He nodded to himself and tried to resume a neutral look. "I know."

"Well then stop laughing."

Klaus did and his attention fell to the branch I was attempting to break free. Before I could tell him I had it, he tore it off and held it out to me.

I eyed it for a moment. "I think it defeats the purpose of wanting to protect myself if a vampire helps me get the weapon that kills other vampires. Doesn't that go against....your rule book or something?"

"Take the stake, Caroline."

But I just sidestepped him and began looking for another one. "No, that's cheating."

"You are indeed one of the most infuriating women I've encountered in this day."

I pursed my lips. "I'll take that as a compliment."

I was about to pursue another branch but Klaus cut me off, blocking my path. His eyes bored into mine. "I wonder if you'd enjoy mocking me still, once you learned the truth of what kind of man I really am."

I tried to move passed him, but he wouldn't let me and I took an annoyed breath. "Because you would have hurt me already. But I know you won't."

"What makes you so sure?"

I shrugged, wrapping my arms around myself. "It's a little thing called trust."

"I've already told you that you trusted far too easily."

"And you don't trust nearly enough."

He seemed to deliberate on that for a moment. Or maybe he was just scorning me. "Do you want the stake or don't you?" He finally asked holding it out to me once more. "I guarantee you won't find another that doesn't require above the average strength to attain."

I rolled my eyes at him. "Way to insult the human," I said. But I still wanted the protection it offered, even more than saving my already wounded pride.

I bit my lip and took it, ignoring the nearly imperceptible smile he gave at my defeat.

"So then, now that you have your source of defense, what now?"

I took a breath, crossing my arms over my chest. "I'm still mad at you," I admitted.

He smiled slyly. "Is there any idea, then, you could conjure for me to remedy that, Love?"

I studied him. The way his eyes shaped reminded me of a basset hound and I felt myself caving at his somber attempt. "I don't know," I said, turning around and walking back towards my car. "Surprise me."