𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐓 𐦟 𝐓𝐕𝐃𝐔

Chapter 20

     "Why are we here? We have much better things we could be doing, instead we're at a farmers market shopping for fruit." Klaus groaned as Cassie giggled, "Oh shush, I'm human now, I need to eat and this place has the best fruits." They were a few towns over from Mystic Falls, Cassie had insisted they took a day to themselves. Relaxing and shopping, "I understand that love but why couldn't we stay in Mystic Falls?" Klaus stared down at her, she looked up at him and smiled, "Why, is there something you're worried about back home?" Cassie grabbed his arm and wrapped hers around his, "Not at all, I'd just like to be close to where all the fun happens. You know I hate missing out." She laughed, "Lies, you love being here with me, where else would you want to be?" Klaus smirked, "Now that is correct, I do love spending time with you."

She couldn't help but blush, god it was wrong. But at the same time, it felt so right. Cassie leaned against him as they walked through the market, the air was cold outside. Klaus took his arm from her and put it around her shoulder. "When do you plan on turning back?" She turned her head to face him, his eyes locked onto her's, "Don't know yet." Klaus slowly nodded, taking a few moments to soak in her now closed off demeanor, "You don't want to turn back do you?" She closed her eyes and sighed, "No, I don't. Nik if you knew what I felt then you would understand, I feel so free, I didn't remember what it was like but now that I do I don't know if I want to go back." His smile slowly faded, he looked back down at the ground, Cassie stopped walking, "You want me to turn again?" Klaus kept his eyes on the ground, "I can't afford to lose you, Cass what happens if you get stabbed? Or shot or someone performs a spell on you? You as a vampire can handle that but you as a human... I can't risk it." She scoffed, "I'm happy Nik, why can't you see that? Elijah said if I was happy that was all that mattered!" Klaus pulled Cassie to the side, "And Elijah is an idiot! He doesn't care about your safety! I would rather have you hate me and be alive than be happy and dead!" Heads began to turn as he spit out the last few words.

Cassie bowed her head down in embarrassment. "Let's just go, I don't want to talk about this anymore." She walked off, back in the direction of the car. She sighed, why couldn't he understand? If he truly loved her couldn't he be happy with who or whatever she was? Cassie pushed through the crowds of people, the feeling of guilt was slowly tearing at her stomach. Why did she care so much what he thought? She never did, not until now. Cassie got into the car and slammed the door shut, she let out a long groan of frustration. Klaus wasn't far behind her, he got into the drivers side and immediately looked at her, "What Nik?" He sighed, "I can't lose you Cassie May." Cassie let out a giggle, "Seriously? You stuck me in a coffin for months! Before that you left me! For years and years at a time!" Klaus grit his teeth, "You're right, I let you down. But don't think for a minute I wasn't doing it for you."

     "How? How could you have done all of that for me?" Klaus shifted in his seat, facing towards Cassie, "Every moment I knew where you were! I knew where you were living, who you were with, what you were up to. I kept an eye on you every second of everyday." Her breathe caught in her throat. All this time she thought he just didn't care, "Nik..." She put her hand on top of his, a sigh escaped his lips. "We should get going." His voice was tired, Klaus pulled his hand away, as they drove away Cassie looked out the window. These feelings inside of her were new and different, but they hurt. She didn't have a clue as to where Elijah was, Rebekah was lord knows where, and she was human. The silence of the car was deafening. As they traveled down the roads back to Mystic Falls, Cassie couldn't help but to stare at Klaus. She knew what she wanted, it was whether she was willing to do what she needed to do for it.

***

     As they arrived back to the house Cassie didn't hesitate to run upstairs, all she wanted was to escape the awkwardness of that car ride. As she shut the door of her room she let out a sigh she hadn't known she was holding in. Cassie dropped her bag to floor, shrugged her coat off, and threw her body onto the giant king sized bed. She bit her lip, pulling her phone out of her pocket she scrolled through her contacts list. Her thumb hovered over Elijah's contact. They were still together, so what was the harm? Cassie pressed on the name, the phone rang a few times. She almost hung up before the line connected, "Hello?" She smiled, "Hey, I was just calling to see how you were doing... I miss you." A sigh came from the other line, she sat up, she knew that tone, "I'm doing fine." Cassie shifted uncomfortably and began pulling on the comforter of the bed. A small string popped out of it and she pulled at that, hoping that would ease her rapidly growing anxiety. She thought that if she called Elijah the awkwardness would slowly fade. Look at how well that was working out.