Everybody Talks: A Klaroline Fanfiction

Chapter 8

Klaus stood in the center of his crowded living room, surrounded by friends and acquaintances of Rebekah's. Some people he knew, some he didn't. This was one of the tamer events he had been to of late. No sloppy drinking or wild guests. It was a relief, it meant that it would be an uneventful evening.

A waiter passed by with glasses of champagne on a silver tray, but Klaus waved him away, a glass of seltzer already in his hand. Elijah stood across the room, talking politics with a few family friends. They were congratulating him on the success he found in America and renewing sympathies for the passing of their father. Klaus scoffed at the false praises that they bestowed upon Mikael's memory. In life, he had been nothing but a black hearted opportunist, looking for a money-making advantage wherever he could find it. After his death people praised his good instincts when really it was his lack of inhibitions. They had no idea who they were talking about. Mikael Mikaelson the doctor turned businessman when he learned how to make a living off of his own children. It was pathetic how they couldn't see the truth of it.

"Stop look so sour," Rebekah chided, stepping over to him. She grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and shoved it into his free hand. "This is a party."

Klaus gave her an indulgent smile as she slipped her arm around his, leading him into the crowd and forcing him to socialize. She introduced him to a few of her theatre friends who were in attendance; two girls, both petite brunettes, and a boy with long hair tied back into a ponytail. Klaus fought the urge to make fun of the boy, as it was increasing clear in the way his sister simpered and giggled over the lad that she had a crush on him. He made a mental note to corner the boy, who was called Alex, later and put the fear of God into him. Rebekah did after all, have terrible taste in men.

Rebekah had launched into a conversation with Alex, leaving Klaus to listen to the two girls in front of him go on about people and situations he knew nothing about. They asked him a few questions, which he muttered one or two word answers to, but his eyes kept searching the room for Caroline.

He had kept a close watch on the front area, watching the guests mill in and out, trying to catch her as she entered, before Rebekah had pulled him away from his spot. He hadn't been able to find her alone since the evening before last, and he knew that there was a good chance that it was on purpose. Caroline was clever. She stuck close to Elena, relying on the fact that he wouldn't mention anything in front of his fake girlfriend. Well he wouldn't, he thought as he took a small sip of champagne, at least not for now.

Caroline and Elena walked down the stairs, the sound of conversation floating up as the descended. They reached the bottom and looked around, seeing the waiters with their trays of champagne and hor'dourves, the people mingling with one another dressed in their cocktail hour finest. It wasn't what Caroline expected, it seemed more grown up than the parties she had been attending lately, much more like the town council events in Mystic Falls, but it was nice. Rebekah had done a great, if not over the top job.

"Wow," Elena said taking it all in.

"Yeah," Caroline agreed, smoothing down her blue satin dress.

The girls looked at one another and then, each with a nod, stepped into the party. Elena moved toward Elijah, joining the group he was with, and Caroline followed. Her eyes scanned over the party guests, wondering who all of them were, and why they had come there at the drop of a hat. Some of them were around her age—maybe in their later 20s—but there were others that seemed to be the age of her parents. She thought about some of the fundraisers and parties she had planned for the mayor back in Mystic Falls. She would send out invitations weeks in advance and some people still couldn't find time in the schedules to attend. Maybe Rebekah was just that scary that people didn't want to risk saying no.