Edgewalkers

What are they doing here?

Klaus POV

Four days! It had been four days since my father had forbidden me to leave the house except for college. And it was killing me. Not only did Caroline not answer me but my siblings were awfully quiet. I hated not being able to do my activities freely or to set things right. There was nothing to do for me, I couldn't even draw because my father would destroy my heartfelt paintings.
Right now, noone was home. Rebekah, Davina, Kol and Marcel were in school, Elijah at college and Hayley with her tribe. I was all alone. Frustrated, I let out an angry yell. My room seemed to be a prison, sucking out even the air of my lungs.
"Let me out!", I screamed but noone could hear me. Father had put it in my meal again, I was sure of it! He'd send me on a high trip. It was poisoning my brain! Those damn drugs!
The sound of my phone stopped me from throwing over my wooden table. Trying not to crush the device, I checked my new message and let myself drop onto the ground when seeing who it was from. She had answered me. Had she forgiven me? Or decided to give me another chance?
My hands started shaking as I tried to repress any more outbursts. She was more important than these things in my system.
Caroline... you are in school right now. But you still took the time to write me? Forcing my fingers to stay calm, I sent a text back. She read it right away. No answer. Come on! There! Typing! A vibration, she had written back.

One last message: "Yes. You will."
She had forgiven me! There was hope!
Like a little excited boy I grinned to myself, imaginatively clapping on my own shoulder. She had just needed time. I had given her some and now I had succeeded. Maybe she'd even look past my faults? Accept me for who I was?
I looked through our conversation again, smiling at how well we actually got along. And she was definitely right. I should probably stand up for myself a bit more. Not that I didn't normally do that, it was just when it came to my father...
I silently made my way out of my room, looking around like a criminal about to commit a robbery. My siblings were still all out, my father didn't seem to be around either. With a relieved sigh, I put on my coat and my shoes. I had no idea, where I would go. But this was an essential thing to do. Caroline was absolutely correct. It didn't matter where I went, it was about the sense of freedom. Before I opened my door, I ran up the stairs once again and got my art material.
When I had left our mansion, I was very sneaky at first, scared to possibly be cought by my father or one of his employees. But the further I got away from my home, the safer and moreover, the more free I felt. At one point, I started to run until I finally arrived at a small park. I put up my art material and sat down at a bench to take a look around. Then, I started to paint the green grass and flowers. The sky and sun and all the colours around me. I imagined Caroline to be in the middle of this beautiful sight and I must have imagined it a bit too well because before I knew it, I'd started painting her in my art. I drew her wearing a cute light dress, her curls perfectly hugging her face and her eyes reflecting the beauty around her, only to make her seem even more gorgeous. I must have sat there for a few hours because I saw students walking outside the park, apparently school was over.
And then, I saw them. Way too familiar faces on the sidewalk across the street. Why were they here? I let my brush sink and focused on the two girls and the one guy who made their way through town. The man was non other than Stefan Salvatore. The girls, I recognized as Elena and Bonnie but I could not remember their last names. Stefan was an old pal of mine and we had history together... He had once not only been involved with my sister but furthermore had run errands for us regarding the cooperation. But then, when we had business in Mystic Falls, things changed. There had been an accident with a woman called Jenna. Stefan and I had lost contact. So why was he here now?
"Hello stranger.", a voice called out behind me and I almost dropped my brush in surprise. "What are you doing here, so near my apartment?"
My head spun around to see a smiling blonde.
"Caroline.", I grinned. Quickly, I hid my painting from her sight. She should probably not see that I had drawn her. "I was just painting, taking on your advice to get out, you know."
"That's good to know.", she cheekily grinned and put her arms on the bench's back. "Can I see it?"
"

What?"
"The drawing. Will you show it to me?", she asked and I slightly panicked.
"I... you probably should not...", I stuttered but she didn't really listen and made her way around the bench to steal a glance at my art.
"Oh my god. Is that me?", she started to... chuckle? Did she find this to be funny?
"I look so realistic! How did you do that?", she took a step closer to have a better look and a wide grin was spread on her face. "Honestly, I never got artists. They have so much patience..." She turned back to face me. Her hair was moving in the wind as she sat down next to me.
"It's all about the movement. Every line of your brush comes together in the end to form this wonderful creation. That's what makes art so special.", I explained, taking a look at my own painting.
"This seems so sweet and beautiful but there's also something lonely and calm about it.", the girl suddenly stated. "Is that what you mean by it?"
"Lonely?", I repeated in a questioning manner.
"Yes. Not in an offensive kind of way. More like how the different parts interact with each other. While the flowers and the grass form a union and the sky with the sun work as one too, the girl, so basically me, sits in all of this on her own. She appreciates her surroundings, takes them in but she does not look satisfied with all of it. Sure, she looks calm and happy but she does not have anyone to share the experience with. It seems kind of sad when you think about it.", she tilted her head, causing a few strands of hair to cover her face a bit. I was speechless. Noone had ever given my art such thought before. People tended to take one look and then be done with it. But her, she was different. It was like she could see right into my soul through my art and I was actually liking it.
Just when I was completely drawn in by her, I remembered the arrival of my previous friend and quickly checked if he and the girls were still there. Luckily, they were gone. Good for me.
Unfortunately though, Caroline had taken her eyes off the canvas and was typing something on her phone.
"Sorry, Klaus but I got to go. A friend texted me and I should probably head home. You should really show me your art more often! See you!", she gave me one last smile and headed off. What a marvelous woman.

Clean Version Chat Conversation:
Klaus: Caroline, I am aware of what you saw, my sister told me about it. I am not making any excuses for myself, I only wanted to say that I'm sorry. Perhaps, one day you will let me explain because I swear, there is a reason behind all this.
Caroline: Hello Klaus.
Klaus: Caroline, hello. It's good to hear from you.
Caroline: I guess so.
Klaus: Is it wrong for me to ask how you have been?
Caroline: No, it's okay. I'm fine. You?
Klaus: Depends.
Caroline: I heard your father is home.
Klaus: He is.
Caroline: I haven't seen you around school lately.
Klaus: I assumed you didn't want to see me there anyways.
Caroline: That's true. But that doesn't mean I can't still wonder.
Klaus: I am not allowed to go out.
Caroline: Of your home?
Klaus: Yes.
Caroline: Why?
Klaus: A secret.
Caroline: Your father. You are not answering that, are you?
Klaus: ...
Caroline: Right. Why do you listen to his orders? You don't usually care about things like this.
Klaus: How would you know that?
Caroline: You're strong.
Klaus: Not strong enough.
Caroline: This is eating at you. You're scared of him. Of course you are. You have trust issues.
Klaus: How does the one thing result from the other?
Caroline: But it's true.
Klaus: I'm done talking to you.
Caroline: No, you're not.
Klaus: That is not for you to decide.
Caroline: We'll talk again soon.
Klaus: Are we on good terms again?
Caroline: Let's call it "speaking terms".
Klaus: I can live with that.
Caroline: Don't let yourself be forced by your father. Be your own self.
Klaus: I will see you around Caroline.
Caroline: Yes, you will.