The One That Got Away.

First of all, thank you for clicking on this story, intrigued or interested in reading. I've been writing for years, but wanted to try something new. So… here is my first attempt at writing said new thing. Reviews would be just lovely, and so appreciated. They are, of course, a writers muse.

This story was inspired by two songs; Kelly Clarkson ~ Dark Side and Secondhand Serenade ~ Goodbye. Yes, the title is Katy Perry inspired, how could it not fit the story-? Anyway, later in the story, when there is smut, I will put a warning up. I was planning to make it utterly AH, but I think supernatural elements will eventually sneak in.

So, thank you for reading that rambling, and I hope you enjoy!

Feel free to inbox! I don't bite, and it's lovely to talk to other writers.

~For the girls. They know who they are~

x

2002.

Caroline swore to herself as she tried once more to force the more than annoying dark blue diamond studded earring though her ear, straightening up, smoothing the front of her sapphire blue prom dress. The dress was more or less simple, to her knees in gentle slanting ruffles, embedded with silvery jewels that sparkled as the light caught them. A sweetheart neckline that showed her cleavage generously.

"Caroline! Your friends are here!"

"Give me a moment mom!" She called back, applying a light shade of pink lip-gloss upon her full lips, smacking them and beaming at her reflection, turning around with golden curls bouncing upon her bare shoulders, snagging the little midnight blue clutch bag from the table, feeling a tad confused and annoyed- her friends knew that she had a date to Prom, yet they were here as if-?

Never mind.

She trotted downstairs now, eyes sweeping the two young women waiting for her. One was tall, with long, chestnut brown hair that was curled at the present moment, falling around her shoulders in light waves much like her own, wearing a long, dark green dress that accentuated her curves. The other was in a dark purple one that fell to her knees in ruffles, eyes as dark as her skin.

"Caroline, you look beautiful." Elena beamed, stepping forwards to embrace the blonde into her arms, who was giggling out. "You too Elena. That dress is more than adorable."

Elena blushed lightly, then looked behind her where two young men stood in the doorway, looking awkward as they waited for their dates to return to them. Caroline smiled and wandered past, bouncing on the soles of her feet at them. "Matt! Tyler!"

Tyler smiled at her, Caroline knowing as well as everyone here, that he liked her. They'd dated when they'd both been Sophomores. So many years ago. Caroline had been besotted with him, but gradually grew more and more disenchanted with him when he flirted with all he laid eyes upon. They'd split up the first day back after the summer break, causing the young man to more or less ignore her for the rest of the semester until Elena had confronted him, telling him heatedly in the middle of the corridor that he was a full on douche.

He'd neither confirmed or denied it.

But before more words could be spoken, there was a beep from outside, signaling that Carolines date was here.

"No, no- wait-!"

Caroline groaned and turned to her mother who dashed out with her disposable camera, face a wide grin, huddling them together, going in a happy, hyper voice. "Pictures! This is a milestone in your lives. Mr. Mikaelson-!" She ran outside and Caroline giggled, raising a hand to her face in embarrassment as her date, Kol Mikaelson, the infamous bad boy of her year. Devilishly handsome with dark eyes, hair that was similar and a wicked smile that matched his personality.

Dangerous, sexy and mysterious.

Just what the girls at college wanted, craved. Lusted after, as he did them. She'd been crazy to take up his offer of going Prom together, but when the most sought after boy in your year asks you out, you don't refuse.

Unless you were mad, or a recluse. And Caroline was neither.

He was shoved next to her now, laughing at something her mother had said, flashing her a charming smile as he took Carolines arm, ignoring the others, as he always did. Obnoxious to the end.

"Hello Darling." He told her, pressing a kiss to Carolines cheek, making her blush at the exact same time her mother took the photo of the group, making her cheeks burn even more.

When the awkward photos were taken, Kol ushered her into his own suave car, glancing back at her friends, no words coming to her mouth.

The ride there was short and silent, Caroline feeling ever more nervous, even more so when they pulled up, the young man opening the door for her, taking the blondes arm and linking them, strolling forwards with her.

As if she was a prize Caroline noted.

When they walked towards the entrance that was decorated with dark blue flowers fashioned into an archway, she looked to Kol and asked with a smile. "Do you like my dress?"

At her words, Kol looked down, a smirk twitching onto his lips as he saw the length, nodding. "I certainly do Darling." Caroline wanted to tell him 'Eyes up' but her shyness stopped her dead. It was her weakness, and Kol knew that.

It wasn't long until she was abandoned, standing next to the punch bowl- a dreaded dumped date.

Caroline sipped at her cup, watching the couples dance happily, deliberately staying out of her friends ways, knowing what they'd say- that it was bound to happen. Then the dreaded 'I told you so.'

But as she was processing her thoughts, there was a commotion near the entrance, looking around to see two figures dodge the teacher that was more or less yelling at them to leave, and they did with a whoop of laughter.

Caroline recognized them though- Damon Salvatore, StefanS, who was Elenas date, elder brother… and Niklaus Mikaelson, who was Kols older brother, along with their other siblings.

But him...

She watched as the pair dodged the teacher with another laugh, dressed in tuxedos themselves, like all around them. But Caroline knew very well that the pair had graduated the previous year, and had gatecrashed just for the fun of it. Her eyes lingered over the taller of the pair, the eighteen year old with the dark brown blonde hair and sky blue eyes that were twinkling in mischief, a cheeky grin upon his handsome face.

It was this young man that Caroline had liked for so many years. Ever since they both joined the High School. He'd been more sought after than Kol had ever been.

Out of her reach. And he always would be.

Caroline, as a young girl, would go to the park to play with her friends and there they would all be- Tyler, Matt, Stefan, Damon, Rebekah, who was Niklaus' sister, nigh inseparable… and Klaus himself. They would be sat there, laughing and messing around with ease. As the years wore on, it would change from trading Pokemon on their Gameboys to smoking, then when they were older, drinking when they got bored. Acting like utter fools as they ran after each other with their shirts hanging from the monkeybars, failing to impress the girls that were usually sat down there.

Like their group.

But one of them had worked his magic, ever since Caroline had set eyes upon him. It was instant, like that love that you only read about, but never felt or came across. Like a firework show in her mind.

Caroline knew him ok, they were on good terms. But… he'd never know of the little blonde woman that had had feelings for him since she was in Freshman, growing up watching other girls take his arm, then eventually leaving or being forced away.

"Still huh?"

Caroline jumped at that, spinning around to face Elena who was watching with a raised eyebrow, but it was obvious. She closed her eyes and nodded, sighing gently. "Yes Elena. Laugh away."

Elena shook her head and leaned forwards, snagging a red cup of punch, muttering after a sip. "Well, you know how I feel about Damon." After her words, she looked to the door where the man had left, and Caroline nodded a little, knowing that Elena was just as besotted with him as she was Klaus.

After a pause, Elena set the cup down and took Carolines hands into her own, staring into her azure eyes with her own doe like ones. "Let's make a promise, Caroline."

"What kind-?"

The hands tightened around her own, saying quietly. "We'll tell them what we feel. And in ten years time, when we come back here for our reunion… we'll have them on our arms."

Caroline gulped at that, muttering out with wide eyes. "That's a big thing to promise."

"I know." Elena laughed weakly, swinging their hands playfully. "But… we can't live in fear of expressing our true feelings when time is too short. We could die tomorrow or in a year."

Caroline was silent the whole speech, then giggled, pulling her hands away and held up her pinky, inside, knowing that she'd never be able to do it. But to keep Elena smiling, she was willing to do anything. At that, Elena hooked her own around, going. "Ten years time, we'll be back here with them. Swear it?"

The blonde nodded, muttering out with determined eyes that were scared underneath. "I swear. Now say it too." Elena smiles and inclined her head. "I promise. I swear it too."

At that last word, the pair unlinked their fingers.

Caroline smiled, then her eyes flickered to the open door, the night dark. "Go find him." Elena muttered and the blonde paused, taking a deep breath before quickening her pace after the man.

The parking lot was silent, the music of the party loud in the background, night air cool and pleasant upon her heated skin, eyes skimming the cars that ranged from cheap, rusty crap to the sleek limousines that were hot pink, midnight black and pure white.

As she wandered further from the party, lost in a sea of cars, she sighed and gave up on finding him for the night. From the cheering from within, it was time to crown the King and Queen. Caroline rolled her eyes and turned away, hearing suddenly, making her jump almost a foot into the air.

"There's my girl!"

Kol sauntered towards her, a grin on his face that made Caroline realize he was drunk out his face. She folded her arms at him, going in a snappy voice. "You just abandoned me!"

He stopped at that, cocking a brow as he laughed our, words slurred. "Nah darling, just went to find a drink." Caroline narrowed her eyes, scoffing out. "And you found it."

But then she spied the red lipstick on his jawline and collar, growling out. "And you ditched me to go hook up with some other piece of meat."

As Kol realized there was no talking his way out of it, he scoffed and went, reaching inside his tuxedo jacket for something, but couldn't find it. "Shut your mouth. You're just eye candy, so stand there and do your job."

His words were like a slap in the face, making tears spring to her azure eyes, scoffing out. "You bastard."

"Stop talking." Kol snapped, but Caroline was done with being bossed around, hitting his chest, but he just grabbed her wrists into his strong hands, shoving her against the car with eyes narrowing ever more.

"Don't. Touch. Me."

Caroline went to hit him right across his smarmy face, but was stopped dead as he pinned her more to the car, growling out. "Dumb cow."

Oh god… he's out of his face… Caroline realized, eyes widening in panic as Kols hand went to the bottom of her dress, yanking it up, a hand clamping over her mouth as she screamed for help, the other invading hand hitching the dress up higher, a finger hooking into the hem of her panties, Carolines heart racing in horror- not like this. She couldn't let him do this to her, take her innocence in a damn parking lot.

But before Caroline could fight back, there was a shatter of glass, a grunt from Kol as his eyes rolled back into his head, collapsing to the floor, knocked out.

Caroline stood there, her back pressed flat to the car, breathes coming out in shaky pants, eyes flickering up to see the head of the smashed beer bottle in a hand. A hand that was…

"Whoa there-!" Klaus went, catching Caroline by the waist before she dropped, her body shaking, groaning out. "Come on sweetheart, up you get." He picked her up into his arms, Caroline in shock, staring dead ahead, just about hearing Klaus mutter something to his sister Rebekah, but the words were fuzzy, and she couldn't make her brain work enough to decipher them.

But she felt herself being placed into the front seat of a car, the belt buckling around her, driver getting in next to her, Caroline finally feeling sense returning to her as she blinked, spying the young man starting the car, pulling out the lot, eyes widening as the girl muttered, scared more than ever. "Where are you taking me-?"

Klaus looked over to her, meeting her wide, childlike eyes that were filled with fear, telling her soothingly. "I'm taking you home, Caroline."

"Aren't you drunk?"

"Nah." He assured her with a shrug, and Caroline shivered. Something that didn't go unnoticed as Klaus turned the heater on for her, sighing out lightly. "I'm sorry about my brother. He can be… wild. Stupid at times. Runs in the family."

Gradually, Caroline returned to reality, realizing just where she was. At least, just who she was in the car with. Her heartbeat returned to normal as they drove, pulling up outside, Caroline muttering. "You'll miss the crowning."

Klaus paused, then shook his head, looking into the rearview mirror, undoing his white bow tie, saying smoothly. "My sister won. She and whoever she hooked up with, I don't keep track. Too many of them." He let out a short laugh, adding. "She was the one that dragged me here tonight. I didn't see the point. But then… she is a strange thing at times."

"How's life treating now you've graduated?" Caroline asked after the moment of silence, nervousness entering her voice. He was handsome. Devilishly handsome. His hair that had been carefully styled was now wild, all over the place, the shadows from the night and streetlamps falling across his face, making him look older than he was.

The man that made her heart go all aflutter like a hummingbirds wings.

"Life has been…" he started, his brows furrowing a little as he searched for the right word. "Tough. But I'm figuring things out."

"What things? If I'm… not being rude-?" Caroline asked, genuinely intrigued; what could a beautiful young man like him want to do in the world?

"I want to leave this place. I mean… art is my passion." A smile spread across his face now as he looked from the steering wheel, right into her eyes, piercing her very soul it felt like. "I want to travel the world, paint the wonders, draw the mysteries."

The way he said it, such ardor and love. Obviously something he took great pride and passion in.

"Well, why don't you chase those dreams?" Caroline asked now, making the young man laugh out, closing his eyes. "Oh, dear sweet little Caroline- if only it was that easy."

"Are you afraid?" She asked, ignoring the fact he'd called her Sweet. That was the way he'd always see her-

'Dear sweet little Caroline'

Nothing more, nothing less. There was no point in telling him what she felt, making a fool of herself when she confessed her love to him.

My god she sounded like a child. No wonder he saw her as one.

Klaus paused, but then shook his head. "I'm not."

"Then do it. Don't get stuck in this deadbeat town." Caroline laughed out, a light flush in her cheeks that was masked by the dark. Klaus was silent for a moment, but nodded, cocking his head at the blonde girl with a smile upon his face. "I think I will. Thank you Caroline." He leaned forwards and placed a kiss on her cheek, nodding to the door. "Goodnight. Thank you again."

"No… you saved me. I'm the one thanking you." Caroline was blushing furiously as she got out after saying that, shutting the door behind her, the spot where he'd kissed her cheek just... burning, wondering if she had just seen the real Niklaus. The down to earth young man that didn't have to act around her, because he didn't need to. He was normally cocky, cheeky and a flirt.

Not with her.

Maybe because she reminded him of his little sister, maybe-?

Caroline wandered up to the front door and turned back in time to see that sleek dark Mustang of his drive off, letting out a quiet sigh as she snagged the key from under the rock by the door, letting herself in, sneaking upstairs and swiftly changing out of her slightly ripped dress and into leopard print pyjamas.

She lay in the darkness that night, thinking about how she should have done it. Should have said it… not let the fear of being rejected get to her. Life was too short.

So the next afternoon after her final day at High School, Caroline steeled herself and marched up to the Mikaelson Manor where he and his family lived. A grand estate which made her envious at times. The family were more than well off.

Caroline knocked on the dark oak door, waiting for a moment before it was opened, facing the matriarch of the family, Esther.

"Yes?" She asked and Caroline went, swallowing. "Is Niklaus in?"

There was a pause, and the woman went, eyes flickering down for a moment. "No he's not."

"I'll come back later?"

Esther laughed bitterly and shook her head. "Don't bother. He's gone. He and Rebekah. Packed up in the night, vanished."

At that last word, Carolines voice became concerned. "Do you know if they're ok?"

"Oh yes." Esther went, glancing to the door. "They left a note. Gone to explore the world. Stole their fathers credit card and took the first flight to Britain they could get, apparently."

Caroline went cold at that-

He was gone.

"Oh, is there anyway to contact him?"

"Their phones are on their beds. They had no intention in being found." The woman muttered, sighing. "We could trace them by the card, but… it's their life. If they want to run away from the life they had here, so be it."

And with that, the door was closed in Carolines face, and she stood there for a moment, staring at the door before sinking to the step, tears, hot and fresh spilling onto her cheeks as she closed her eyes-

She'd waited too long.

Let him slip through her fingers…

She would never, ever forgive herself for letting the young man that stole her heart go so easily.

Never.

-Reviews are very much loved and appreciated. I hope you enjoyed the start and want to read more!-