This is a human AU and is inspired by the song Treat You Better by Shawn Mendes. Sorry for the long hiatus but I'm back and I hope you like this one-shot.

Klaus clenched his fist at the sight of her fawning over her boyfriend. Of course, that's what normal couples did but they weren't exactly a happy couple. The artist, however, was fully aware of how her partner treated her. Everything that she had been through because of that mutt. They were anything but happy and she was definitely not madly in love with him.

He didn't know if he could bear looking at her any longer. Klaus could plainly see on her face the forced enthusiasm, how she tugged on her blonde curls as if to distract herself from the discussion that was taking place - she was playing the role of the loving girlfriend perfectly.

She looked stunning, her white summer dress making her look like an angel standing amongst mortals. Her blue eyes twinkled when the light hit them but the usual mischief in them was vacant. And no matter how perfect she looked he could not approach her. Not here of all places.

If only Caroline was honest with herself about what she truly wanted. If only she could be honest with herself like she was when she was around Klaus. The days the pair spent together were the best times for either of them. Even if nothing had happened between them the spark was always there and Klaus knew that he wasn't the only one that felt it.

"I'm heading out, Stefan," Klaus downed his drink and weaved his way through the crowd. He didn't know where he was going but he knew that he couldn't stay here. Not when he saw her with him.

Deciding he needed some air before bracing himself for what was waiting for him inside, Klaus walked over to the lake. He knew he shouldn't go there, it was a stupid idea, stupid to hope that she'd follow him outside.

Klaus would be surprised if she even noticed him at all.

He loosened his tie and leaned forward placing his elbows on his knees. The bench wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world but it was a hell of a lot better than anything in there. Sighing, he placed his head in his hands in frustration. Why the hell did he think she would want to be with him?

"What are you doing here, Klaus?" A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.

"I needed some air, love," he smirked up at her.

Caroline folded her arms silently asking for a better answer.

"Well this place holds some good memories for me. Don't you think so too?"

She was taken back to the multiple charity events that Klaus had to stand-in as her date since Tyler was either too busy or simply couldn't be bothered to attend. They were some of the best events she had ever held. That was probably due to the dishevelled man in front of her.

This time she scoffed. "I meant here. At this party," she motioned to the house behind them. It seemed so small in retrospect of everything that was happening.

He smirked at her and took a sip from the flask he had in his hands. "I was invited," he shrugged.

"You can't keep doing this. Not to me and certainly not to yourself," she pleaded with him pulling her cardigan closer to despite the still breeze.

"And what exactly is it that you think I'm doing?" Klaus challenged her.

"Nothing can happen between us," she concluded. Caroline didn't know how long her resolve would hold for, every time he was around she just crumbled.

Klaus chuckled humorlessly, "If I recall correctly, nothing did happen between us."

"Yes, so let's keep it that way," the blonde scolded him.

"Are you done, Caroline?" he drawled. Klaus had to be cold with her, he couldn't show her he cared. They didn't need to stay away from each other and this was the only way. The blonde didn't want to be with him she had made that clear on more than one occasion.

"Why are you acting like this?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he snapped at her. Klaus silently pleaded with her to leave him, he couldn't be around her any longer.

She nodded and started to walk away from him. Caroline didn't want to be treated like she was dumb or stupid, especially not from him.

"Why do you stay with him?" Klaus' voice was pained, genuinely confused as to why she would choose Tyler over him.

"I love-"

"Don't," he cut her off. His tone was clipped as he talked to her. "Don't say that because you know it's not true. So tell me, Caroline, why do you stay with him?"

The blonde remained silent. She convinced herself it was because she doesn't owe him an answer. Truth was, Caroline didn't know the answer herself.

"Exactly," Klaus replied taking another swig of his drink. Her silence was everything he needed to hear. He stood up and took the steps he needed to be close to her again. "A girl like you, love, can do a whole lot better than him." Klaus stroked a slender finger down her cheek.

Caroline closed her eyes at the contact feeling safe from the rest of the world around them.

"No, I can't," she whispered.

"Of course you can," Klaus cupped her face, "You don't deserve to be treated the way you are. You, Caroline Forbes, deserve someone who treats you like a queen."

"I can't leave, Tyler. Things are good now," she tried to reason with him.

"For how long?"

Tyler Lockwood was Caroline's boyfriend of three years, high school sweethearts, prom king and queen- they were the ideal teenage couple. Except for the fact the boy had a temper and tended to act irrationally. No, he never hit her physically, but the blonde would be lying if she said he never would do something so cruel. It was the comments on her appearance, the 'business trips', the fact that he never seemed to care what she thought on anything, how he expected her to simply sit there and look pretty that got to Caroline. He was toxic but staying with him was the easier option. Everyone loved Tyler and the blonde convinced herself she did too.

Until she met Klaus. It was a simple meeting, Rebekah and Caroline needed a lift so she asked her brother to pick them up. They hit it off instantly and from there a friendship blossomed. But both of them fell for each other and neither wanted to acknowledge their feelings. It would just complicate things and their companionship was the easiest thing in their lives.

"He's not right for you, love." he paused. "You deserve a gentleman."

"And what, you think that you're right for me?" she pushed him away putting as much space as she could between them. "'Cos you're such a gentlemen?" Caroline scoffed at him.

"I may not be gentleman but I can treat you better than he can," Klaus clenched his jaw at her obvious dismissal of their connection.

"I'm with Tyler," the blonde retorted. Stubborn as always.

"So he's the one you want, is that right? he challenged her, his blue eyes burning through her.

Caroline hummed in agreement, nodding her head so the man in front of her gets the picture.

"I don't agree," Klaus stepped forward, his voice levelled showing how confident he was in his assumption. "I've seen the way you look at him. You may have fooled everyone in there that you're the picture perfect couple but I know you better than them and Tyler Lockwood is not what you want."

She looked away from him not wanting to show him he was getting to her.

"Tell me, Caroline, is he worth all the tears you've cried over him?"

"What do you want me to do, Klaus? It's my freaking engagement party. Tyler and I are-"

"You don't have to do this, love. I can-" he sighed giving up with this fight. "Tonight, I'm leaving Mystic Falls, and I won't ever return. This is it, Caroline. It's your choice. But I promise you if you choose me I will never let you down. I will be the man you need and you'll never be alone again. But if not, then I'm afraid this is goodbye."

Klaus leaned forward to kiss her cheek and turned on his heel to walk away from her. Not once did he turn to look at her and Caroline felt as if, with every step he took, everything she ever wanted to was slipping through her fingers. Her cheek burned under his kiss and all she could think about was how her fiance could never light her skin on fire like this.

The blonde turned her head to look at the mansion that was full of people she had grown up with. They were all happy celebrating an engagement that the couple didn't want. Well, Caroline didn't at least. No one in this town really knew her, not like Klaus did.

Her mind was made up. She walked back into the party and was met with a chorus of congratulations. Caroline plastered on a fake smile and thanked them all. Maybe, just maybe, she could get used to this.

But the blonde knew that this wasn't the life for her nor what she wanted. With a satisfied smile she swiped her car keys from the valet and drove away from everything she knew. And she knew for certain that was the best decision she had ever made in her life.

Thank you for reading! Remember to review what you liked or didn't like and what song/concept you want to see in the next one-shot. I am working on a few but I'd love to do one of your suggestions. Until next time...