❝You believed that being my friend was all I needed to leave you be❞
•

I cried when I found out Jeremy was going to die. I cried in the middle of Elena's living room, having Klaus watch me have an epic breakdown. I didn't get what it meant, even though I should have, when I saw him. I just remember being in a dark and cold placer, only hearing the echoes of a snapping noise, ringing in my ears. It got louder every time I got closer; making me wail when I saw an empty tomb with a small little box. Klaus had to scream at me while covering his ears to make me stop. When I did, I force him to swear not to tell anyone before he disappeared to find Tyler, despite mine and Caroline's wishes.

If only I knew better, though. When Elena figured out he was dead, she had a meltdown, realizing that was the only family she had. Damon had to use the sire bond to make her turn off her humanity because of how much pain she was dealing with, although many of us disagreed with his actions.

Now, Elena is humanity-less and I'm in my room, staring at my ceiling. Today, was a test I took in Sophomore year, so I stayed home, although I faked being sick so my mom could call the school. I couldn't face everything going on today.

I'm afraid that if I step outside, I'm going to end up going to face death in the face again. I wake interrupted out of my thoughts when I see my phone buzz. I pick it up, only to see it was Klaus calling, "I didn't mean literal death." I groaned, turning down my volume to vibrate.

After all the 'I'll stab with a lamp and bleed you out, only to save you' situation, Klaus has been calling me nonstop and texting me. I never respond to neither, making him call twice as much. I'm just glad he hasn't stop by my house. He couldn't either way, since he's hellbent on finding Tyler. However, right now, he's searching for Hayley.

Okay yeah, I listen to his voicemails. It's the least I can do to be updated in today's daily drama. Getting back on topic, Hayley was the one who lead Katherine to the cure, having her to lead Jeremy to death.

Sighing, I roll onto my stomach, my face suffocated by my pillow. I needed to sleep. I haven't got a chance to, because I'm holding in my screams. I know it sounds crazy, but it isn't. I feel death and I see it, but I'm forcing myself not to scream. I know it's risky, especially when I don't know what can happen, but it's just terrible having to experience all of this. I've gained a massive headache because of this and it's only making me stress.

Hearing my phone ring again, I pick it up and press decline, seeing Klaus' name disappear from my screen. I sit up in my bed finally, seeing texts on my phone, rather than a voicemail, pop up on my phone, so I decided to click on it. It was more than ten messages, summing up for me to go to his house and help him with something. He even put please, despite it having a exclamation point next to it. Who am I to say no?

I get up from, my conscious kicking my ass mentally on how completely idiotic I am, as I go take my shower. I know, but I haven't forgiven him. And it's not like I'm his beck and call. I just feel like an ounce of his joyful side will approach when I go. I've kept my strength up for long enough; avoiding him and everyone in my path.

When I finished my shower, I put on a plaid light brown shirt and black jeans. I slip on my brown wedges, making my way down to my car. Prom was in a few days and I was ultimately excited. This year was challengingly long due to a few complications. I've been competing with Caroline over who's going to be valedictorian, although it might be her since I've been distracted.

I get in my car and drive to his house, knowing the directions. Everyone is doing their own thing today. Elena is currently trying to be fixed by the Salvatore brothers, and Caroline is focus on prom committee and Tyler, so I have to do something until graduation. I should write my speech, but it would be a complete and utter waste if I'm not valedictorian.

I make it to his house, only seeing his car. I take a deep breath as I walk towards his house. I shouldn't be nervous. I shouldn't be scared of him, though I'm cautious of whether or not I'll have another lamp impaled into my abdomen. Not bothering to knock, I walk inside, the horrid memories of Winter Wonderland flashing in my head.

"Klaus?" I call out, but don't hear a respond, "I've got your persistent and numerous amount of text and calls. Where are you?"

"Go away." I hear him plead not too far away. I walk in the direction of his voice and see him crouched over the piano stool, his chest bare.

"What happened?" I ask in an almost whisper.

"I need more time," He mumbled, "Stop hounding me!" I glare seeing how he was seething.

"Oh, wow. I'm hounding you? The only reason I'm here is because you keep calling me like some crazy stalker. Trust me, if I had something better to do, I would do it." I growled, "And if you just leave me alone, maybe I could live my life."

Then he looks up at me, relief in his face, "Rowan?"

"No, the Joker. Yes, it's me." I snarled, walking towards him as he stands up slowly.

"Oh thank god." He praises, "Sila-" he grunts, "Stabbed me with the white oak stake. A piece of it is still inside me."

"And why did you call me?"

"I need your help." He tells me, pain etched in his expression.

I don't give in though, "What makes you think I'll help you? Last time we spoke was when a lamp was plunged into my stomach, so you need something stronger to say than you need my help."

"If you don't help, I die and so do all of your friends; Elena, Caroline.. Tyler." He threatens and I shot him a glare. Their all apart of his blood line, so they all die if he does.

"Fine.." I huffed, "How can I help?"

Weakly, he lifts his hand and points towards bloodied scissors. "I need you cut it out of me." He sighed, "Hope you don't mind getting your hands a little bloody."

•
•

"Klaus, for the fifth time, I don't see anything." I groaned, digging around in his back. "I can't believe it."

"What, do you see it?"

"No, but I see you have a heart. Shockingly." I mumbled the last part, not caring if he heard.

"I appreciate how you enjoy my misery. You deal with death everyday and you can't even get your hands dirty for me. And to think we were becoming something special." I can tell he was smirking so I rolled my eyes, shoving the scissors deep, only to hear him grunt.

"You thought wrong, because we're friends. And only friends." I dig the scissors around more, which only caused him to bang on the table, harshly. Startled, I jump back, "Sorry, sorry."

"Dammit Rowan!" He yelled, so out of anger, I yanked the scissors out of his back, making him cry out.

"You know what, I don't have to do this. I could be finding shoes to match my dress for prom. I should write my speech. I should be getting prepared for graduation," I snapped, "Not getting attack in in high schools or being stabbed with lamps."

"Stop being such a baby, Rowan." He shot back and I let out a dry laugh.

"Says the one crying bloody murder over a imaginary stake that's in his back." I retorted, seeing how his chest heaved.

"It's not imaginary." He growled, but I just shrugged.

"Well, when you're on the brink of death, give me a call, so I give my final goodbyes." I almost walked towards the door, but he grabbed my arm, turning me towards him, "If you want my help, let Tyler come back. Give me your word and I'll help you."

"No."

"Why must you be so stubborn?" I seethed, growing annoyed with him. I don't gave to deal with him. I can turn around and leave, but somehow, I'm still here, bickering with him.

"I wonder who I got it from." I let out a groan, running my hand through my hair. He leans on his couch, his hand reaching towards the wound, "I can feel the splinters moving towards me heart! Now help me!"

"Your word, Klaus. And I'll be at your aid." I shrug, watching his jaw clench.

"What makes you think I won't break my word."

"You won't," I started, "I know you don't want to lose our friendship." He grunted more, "Show me I can trust you."

"I saved your live. More than once, might I add." He sneered.

"Because you put it in harm. More than once, might I add." I snapped, "Why can you do something decent for once?"

"Because Tyler tried to kill me." He stated.

"Everyone tried to kill you. And you tried to kill most of us. Hell, even, at one point, I wanted to do so too, because you do things like this. You give threats and say hurtful things that makes me want to strangle you." I argued and he stood up, coming close to me, his nostrils flaring.

"I will not have my hand forced by you. Or anyone for that matter!"

"Trust me, no one is forcing you. You were just so arrogant and conceited to realize that I'm trying to help you!" I shout, but he still seems to retaliate.

"By trading in Tyler's freedom? Real clever." He scoffs.

"If it means that everyone I love is okay! Then yes. I'm sorry I'm the big bad wolf and your so selfish!" I turn from him, but he sped in front of me.

"Don't turn your back on me."

"I should of turned my back on you when I first met you!" I yelled, "Maybe I wouldn't be in this predicament over and over with you!"

Then he's quiet. He looks at me with a sympathetic expression, his voice in a whisper, "It's gone."

"What?"

"The pain," He said, pointing at his back, "It's gone. Silas. He got into my head." He took ahold of my hands that had his blood, which was now dry. "You help me forget about it. You took my mind of it."

All it took was for me to shout at him for his pain to go away. But then I realize he mention how Silas got inside his head. I look at our intertwined hands and break away, "If Silas can get into your head and make you think your dying; what can he do to the rest of us?"

•
•

"I hope you know that I used up all your bleach and wiped down every bloody surface, including the scissors." I sighed, wiping my hands with a cloth, "You're welcome."

"Thank you." Klaus smiled lightly, standing by the fireplace. He had a shirt on now, but I still saw his tattoo that was on the left side of his chest.

I shrug, a bright smile on my face, "What are friends for."

He looked down at his glass, swirling around the last of his bourbon around, "You really want to be friends?"

I place the cloth down, walking up to him, "That's all we can be."

"And if I disagree?" He wondered, an eyebrow cocked.

"Stop being such a baby, Klaus." I joke, watching as he picked up a glass with bourbon and hold it out to me. I shake my head, turning down his offer, "Tempting, but no thanks. I'm just going to head home. Get a headstart on my speech."

I walk away from him, "Rowan." He called and I turn around, "If you haven't noticed, I'm not really scouring earth for Tyler."

I only smile at him, seeing him smile back, "Well, if you need anything else, don't call me."

"You'll come anyways." He smirked, "What are friends for."