I'll Be Your Last

We might have a problem here

“How are you, honey?” Mom hugged me when she got up. She’d gotten dressed but she looked so tired.

“I’m okay,” I told her. It was clear that I wasn’t. What else could I say? I'd showered and put myself together but the day stretched out before me and I had no clue what I was going to do. And that was rare for me.

“Where’s Klaus?” Mom asked.

“He said he had an errand to run,” I explained. “So he’s out doing whatever it is Klaus does. He’s coming back to tell me goodbye before he leaves.”

“So he’s leaving today?”

I nodded. “Yes, he’s leaving.”

“Why were you with him?”

“He heard about Bonnie and he knew she was one of my best friends. So he… showed up.” It sounded lame but it was the truth.

Mom looked at me like I’d just spoken a foreign language. “Why would Klaus know about that?”

“Because he’s Klaus and he’s paranoid so he has spies everywhere.”

“This has something to do with him? Bonnie’s death?” Mom asked.

“No.” Wait, was I defending Klaus? “Not this one.” There. That sounded a little better.

“If it had nothing to do with him, why did he come for you?” she wanted to know.

More awkward by the minute.

“Mom, Klaus has… a thing for me.”

“A thing?” She was incredulous.

“Yes. Is that so hard to believe?” Again with the defensiveness. What was wrong with me?

“No. And yes. I could understand why anyone would fall for you, Caroline. You’re beautiful and charming. Not that I’m biased at all.” She grinned. “But he’s…”

“The most powerful being on the planet? Yeah, I know.”

Mom sank down into the living room chair, contemplating that. “Wow. And what about Tyler? Where is he?”

Something in my expression sparked her interest. “Caroline, do you knew where Tyler is?”

“No.”

“Caroline?”

“Mom, I really don’t know. He came by to see me yesterday at the dorm. I asked him to stay with me but he said he couldn’t. He said Stefan was back in town and he had an idea of how they could maybe bring Bonnie back…”

“But he didn’t say where they were going or…?”

“No.” And it was really bothering me. “It’s weird. You know usually when Stefan has a big idea, we all get together and plan it out. Work together.”

“And he didn’t this time?” Mom’s face was a study in concentration as I sat on the couch. “Why?”

“Well, Elena chose Damon over him. Maybe that’s why he didn’t call the Scooby gang together on this one.”

“Why didn’t he bring you in on it?” Mom asked.

“I know. Stefan’s always included me. It’s just… maybe because he knew I’d take it so hard about Bonnie.” That had the tears stinging my eyes again. “But if the plan was to bring Bonnie back, I mean he had to know I’d be all over that.”

“Klaus. Was he in your room all night?” Mom asked.

“Yeah.”

“You’re sure?” Mom pressed.