Carpe Diem || KLAUS MIKAELSON

5] FROM DUSK TILL DAWN

''So you went to her house?''

''Her name is Rebekah,'' Phoebe sighed, ''But yes, if you must know. And there were no dungeons, caskets or otherwise creepy Dracula things, I promise. Though I did see her charming brother.''

Jake was walking ahead of her but still, he caught the bitter undertone in her voice, which caused him to quirk a brow.

''And you're surprised? They're originals, Phoebs. Remember the stories mom used to tell us?''

''Story,'' she corrected, ''There was one story. It was the same every night.''

''About murderous impulsive vampires, yeah. Missed the thousand years of bloodshed and body trail too?''

''Must have fallen asleep,'' she sighed again as she hit a rock with her shoe. The street was as good as empty anyway. ''Everybody makes mistakes,''

Jake stopped suddenly and turned to face her, his eyes trying to find hers at all costs.

''There's a little bakery down the street, we should-''
''Phoebe, look at me.'' he demanded. She sighed but found herself complying, her eyes slowly trailing up to meet his. A part of her was worried for she knew what was coming.

''You and those guys?'' he threw his thumb over his shoulder, pointing at the closed Mystic Grill and the few pedestrians along the street, ''You're polar opposites. This is nothing like-''
''Stop,'' she rose her voice, catching some prying eyes around. They were both starting to fit in this small town and she didn't want to jeopardize all this progress now, so she took it all back, speaking barely above a whisper, ''We promised not to talk about it.''

Reluctantly, Jake gave a faint nod, the single sign that he'd heard her. He knew this was something she never and would never want to talk about, not in this life and not in the next. As long as he lived though, he could grant her this small mercy.
She'd been through enough already.

He resumed walking, only stopping beside a bench on a patch of grass across the street from the Grill, the precise moment he realized she wasn't following.

''I wanted to tell you, I actually appreciate you not telling mom about Rebekah.'' Phoebe said and adjusted the bag she always carried over her shoulder, the concept of a work-free weekend unknown to her.

''I didn't do it for her, Phoebs,'' he protested, walking back a few steps to tower over her, the way he always did when he needed to look superior, ''And so we're clear, I don't hate them, but I'll try to avoid them as much as possible, and if you're smart, you'd do the same.''

''Hey, guys!'' A voice broke them apart, leaving little to no time for Phoebe to ponder over his words.

There had to be some semblance of truth and rationality lying there somewhere, but as it was, she was really starting to get equal parts curious and scared of the original family.

Jake looked back over his shoulder first, his face splitting into a half-smile as April trotted over to them, a beaming grin twisting her own lips.

He draped a lazy arm over her shoulders, hardly noticing his sister had a deep scowl on her face. She stood motionless as April gave a light squeeze around Jake's wrist on her shoulder and asked her a question.

''Phoebe?''

Phoebe broke out of her trance then, her mind a whirlwind from all that was spoken in the past minutes.

''Yes?''

''Did you go to Rebekah's?''

''Um, yeah.'' she reached for he zipper on the bag that hung on her hip and loosened the strap as she rummaged through the mess she called her belongings.