Stronger Than Compulsion // Klaroline

24. Breaking Down

Caroline

I shiver, my teeth chattering as I grab onto my wet sleeves. My tears mix with the rain on my face.

"I'm going to go and get you some clothes, you can use my bathroom to shower and everything," Klaus tells me. I nod, going into his room as he follows. It is fairly large with Victorian styled furniture, silk bedding, and art pieces hanging all over- just as I would imagine. Although there wasn't much furniture besides the basics as Klaus wasn't one for interior designing, unlike me.

I walk into his bathroom. Once again, everything was white and elegant and plain.

I close the door slightly, leaving it cracked open. I start by taking off my clothes and shoes, hanging them to dry. I attempt to figure out how to turn the water to hot, failing and receiving freezing cold water multiple times before finally getting it right.

I take a step in, letting the water soak my sore muscles. I'm so tired- physically and emotionally. I haven't received any sleep and my heavy eyes let me know that.

I feel as if all the lies suddenly build up in my head and I am just breaking. Marcel has been lying to me. Rebekah compelled me to love him. It was all true. They both were just watching me make a fool of myself for months and it finally hit me.

I let out a louder whimper than I intended, sitting on the floor of the bathtub. Tears started falling down my cheeks, unstoppable. I can't help my feelings for Marcel to stay. I love- I thought I loved him. Even knowing he lied to me and never loved me can't make my own feelings go away. I was compelled to love him, I can't help it.

I stand up, the water mixing in with my tears. I grab some shampoo and conditioner, rinsing and brushing through the tangles in my hair. I run the soap along my body, turning off the water after I was clean.

There is a towel and some of Klaus's clothes on the counter. How did this ever happen? Never had I imagined I'd be coming to Klaus crying and him actually helping me. It made me think how good of a person Klaus can be sometimes.

He rarely showed it unless to me or even his sister, but he was caring and sweet and he protects me... Marcel never really was that way. He kind of put himself first half the time. It feels now like we fought everyday.

All those kisses he gave me and when he said I love you- they were all fake. It was all an act. And yet here I was crying over the bastard.

Klaus

I sit on the bed, listening to Caroline attempting to quiet her tears. It pains me to an extreme to see her heartbroken by Marcel. I'd rather have to go through that torture 1,000 more times than have to listen to her crying. She's never been this way. She would never cry in front of me, she was always playful and sarcastic and smiling. It was... weird to see another side of the girl.

Finally the water stops, and my head tilts up. I hear her heavy breathing as she sniffs. I can almost see her, looking in the mirror, exhausted from everything going on. I can't even imagine how it would feel- figuring out the one person you loved was playing you the whole time.

The door opens. Her hair is wet, hanging on her shoulders. The clothes fit her loosely and just as I guessed, she looks exhausted.

She's silent, taking a seat next to me on the bed. After awhile, she finally speaks up.

"I should have known you were right. You're always right," she half laughs in a sad way. I look down at her.

"This is not your fault, Caroline. Marcel is... He's manipulative. He made you believe you loved him. You just need to get that feeling out of you," she wipes her eyes, looking at me.

"It's a bit hard to just stop loving someone when you were compelled to," she sighs. I am about to say something before another voice steps in.

"I know a way to help," Rebekah.