The Only Hope For Me Is You: A Klaroline Fanfiction

27.

Caroline couldn't remember the last time she had been so tense and uncomfortable. She had been able to beat Dean to the restaurant and was considering ordering something much stronger than water. During her night of sleeplessness, she had come to the realization that she couldn't keep seeing Dean. She couldn't keep using him as a distraction from what she really had to deal with. She hadn't been sure when she would do it but when he called her; it had seemed to be the perfect opportunity.

Caroline looked up when she saw movement out of her eye and saw Dean approaching her. He had leaned into kiss her in greeting but she had quickly turned her head so his lips only grazed her cheek. She couldn't help but notice the lack of sparks it had created, unlike when Klaus had kissed her hand.

Thankfully, the waitress had come up then to introduce herself and get their drink orders so she didn't have to look at him to see his reaction to her action. Once they were alone again, Dean had launched right into a conversation and she figured he had ignored it or not noticed. She tried to keep up on her end of their dialogue but found herself rambling most of the time. She waited until most of the food had been eaten, before she took a deep breath. "Dean, the reason I suggested us meeting here wasn't for a second date."

Dean's forehead furrowed in confusion so she continued before he could interrupt. "You're a really nice, very cute guy and I had a good time last night."

"But?"

"But I can't go out with you again." Caroline answered.

"I don't understand."

"When I agreed to go out with you, it wasn't just because you're a good-looking guy, which you are, but because I was using you. There is someone else, I mean I'm not with someone else…I am trying to get over someone and thought that going out with you would do it. But I realized that it wasn't fair to you. I am sorry. I shouldn't have done that." Caroline stated. She sat back and waited to see how he would react. She didn't blame him if he was seriously pissed off. For several agonizing minutes, they sat there in silence.

"I have to say this was the opposite of how I expected this lunch to go." Dean replied. "And I can't say that hearing you only went out with me to get over someone else doesn't sting a bit."

"I'm really sorry, Dean." Caroline interrupted.

"I can see that." Dean responded before standing up. He pulled out his wallet and threw some bills on the table before Caroline could interject. "You don't have to do that."

Dean held up his hand to stop her argument. "Even if you came to call things off, I'm the one that asked you out so I'm not sticking you with the bill."

"Dean…" But Caroline wasn't sure what to say. Instead, she just watched as he moved away from the table and left the restaurant. She felt horrible for dragging him into this mess but knew it would only be worse if she hadn't told him the truth. After the kiss with Klaus last night, she knew that using Dean from the beginning wasn't fair and now at least she had put that right. She quickly settled the bill before leaving as well; she had a few hours to kill before going home so she headed towards Bonnie's.

/

Klaus was coming down the stairs when Caroline walked in. She looked surprised to see him but gave him a hesitant smile. "Hey."

"Hello." He replied as he continued down. He waited to say more until he reached the bottom.

"The twins have been down for about a half an hour."

Caroline nodded. "I would have been back sooner, but I was with Dean."

"Oh."

"I broke things off with him."