"That's none of your business actually," Caroline snapped. The reminder of Tyler's infidelity twisted like a knife in her heart.

"Yes, well, just know that if Tyler was still sired to me, he never would have hurt you."

Despite herself, Caroline found her gaze drawn to the Original Hybrid. Slowly he looked up, his eyes meeting hers. His ardent gaze captured her and made seconds feel like an eternity. Part of her wanted to look away, but it was as though she was paralyzed, a snake frozen by a skillful charmer.

"I wouldn't have let him." Klaus added, his voice heavy with sincerity.

Caroline bolted upright, gasping. She could still feel his eyes on her, looking not just at her, but into her, so that her soul and all her flaws were laid bare before him. The vulnerability left her trembling. With a handful of words and a single look, he could tear down her walls and leave her exposed.

But it was a dream. Just a dream. Despite a dose of Twilight-worthy hibby jibbies, her Original stalker was not lurking in the shadows of her bedroom, watching her sleep. With everything else that had happened that evening, the threats, the deals, near deaths and near misses, promised dates and beheadings, she didn't know why one remark from a person she had every reason to hate was still on her mind.

Why did it matter that he wouldn't have let Tyler hurt her? Why did Klaus even care? Why did she care that he cared? Why did any of it matter? The answer was painfully simple but she still couldn't bring herself to admit it aloud. His words mattered because he cared, and as was becoming abundantly clear with every passing day he was the only one who really did.

She had thought Tyler cared, but then he cheated on her. He cheated and he hadn't even had the guts to admit it, even when she was in the same room with him and his slutty she-wolf. After all his claims of leaving town for her, for them, so he could break the sire bond and be free to be with her, it turned out to all be a lie. The knowledge left her with an icky feeling in her gut that made her feel like she needed a shower. Everything Tyler had ever told her was a lie, and now the once treasured memories left her feeling dirty and used.

Maybe their relationship had started out sincere, but he'd ruined even the good parts with his betrayal.

And what did her friends do with the news of her soul-crushing breakup? Did they bring her ice cream and chick flicks and tell her everything was going to be okay? No, they once again asked her to pimp herself out as Klaus-bait. As usual, everyone's number one priority was to save Elena.

Of course Caroline wanted to help. She loved Elena like a sister. And sure, Elena's problems were, as usual, bigger than her own. After all, she had a dead hunter haunting her, trying to convince her to off herself. Obviously it was more pressing than a breakup. Still, Caroline wished that just once her problems would rank high enough for at least one of her friend to put her first.

Even as she nursed her hurt feelings, guilt nagged at her for being selfish. It wasn't Elena's fault that her problems were so much bigger than her own. It wasn't her friend's fault that they didn't have time to soothe her hurt feelings. They were dealing with real problems.

Still, it was a tough pill to swallow that Klaus, big bad Klaus, tried to comfort her before any of her friends.

She knew all the terrible things the Klaus had done. She knew he was the bad guy and that any time she saw him, she should run the other way. He was trouble and he would bring her nothing but trouble in return. That's why she'd been pushing him away with both hands for the past few months. He'd done terrible things. Hurt people she cared about. He'd hurt her too. Still, there were moments, brief, terrifying moments when she found herself forgetting what he was and all he'd done. And even worse, there were moments when she found that she wanted to forget.