Tyler Lockwood (firstsuccess) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2016-01-09 12:05:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, caroline forbes, tyler lockwood |
Who: Tyler Lockwood and Caroline Forbes
When: First day of class
What: Old friends unexpectedly running into one another
Where: An English class at UCI
Warnings/Ratings: Low/None
Status: Complete
One of the things Tyler had been most excited about with University was getting to move away from his parents and the rest of the Orange County, and it had been a great couple of years, getting out from under his father’s thumb. And then he had to go and screw it all up by getting into a fight with one of his teammates. He’d lost his spot on the team, his father had dragged him home, and now he right back where he started, stuck at UCI. He wasn’t even sure if he’d be able to get onto the football team here, though he was hopeful for that at least.
When he’d come to his English class, he’d sat down and texted until the professor came into the room and started talking, and Tyler couldn’t believe how painfully boring the professor was. He wondered if he could get away with dropping the class, or if his dad would take some sort of personal affront to it. He took to looking around the classroom as the professor droned on about whatever the hell he was going on about, and actually gave a start when his eyes fell on Caroline.
How’d he not seen her before class had started? He hadn’t seen her since he’d moved away to Duke, though he’d thought of her a couple of times since, wondering what she was up to. He didn’t notice he was staring until she turned his way, and he offered her a bit of a smile and a wave when he caught her eye.
Caroline had almost been late for class. Which was difficult to do with the whole vampire speed thing (though she didn’t often use that in public). But she had been caught up in talking to one of her friends just outside the room and lost track of time. Luckily she had rushed in just as class was about to begin. Of course the only seats left were towards the front.
Her eyes scanned over the class quickly trying to find a seat farther back but no such luck. That was when she saw him though. Tyler Lockwood. She froze. When the hell did he get back? Why was he back? She hadn’t seen him in almost three years now. She wasn’t exactly sure what to think or feel. Snapping out of her mini trance she took the first available seat abandoning her mission to find one towards the back and did her best to focus on the class.
That was almost impossible, however. Not only was she distracted with the thoughts of Tyler but the professor was incredibly boring too. Maybe she should have taken a class with Professor Fitz, the guy was a bit sketchy but at least he was a decent teacher. There were a few times where she found herself glancing back at Tyler, one of the times he saw her too, she returned his smile with one of her own before turning back around. The rest of the class she kept her eyes glued on the professor, which was nearly impossible but she managed.
Finally class ended and no Caroline didn’t flee. There was no reason too. She was a friendly person and it wasn’t like she was on bad terms with Tyler or anything, they just simply hadn’t talked. Now was as good as time as any. So while students were filing out of the classroom she made her way back to him. “Hey,” she said with that bright smile of hers. “How boring was that class?”
When class was over, Tyler waited at the back room for Caroline to come to talk to him. It really was good to see her, and maybe the class wouldn't be so bad after all if she was in it with him. And she looked really good to boot, which didn't hurt matters.
“I thought I was going to fall asleep,” Tyler snorted. “Some people should not be allowed to teach.” And then he smiled widely at Caroline. “It’s good to see you, Caroline. How the hell have you been?”
“Ugh, right? Well at least this class will be a good time to catch up on sleep.” She was mostly kidding. It would be a little embarrassing to fall asleep in class, although she had done it before, but not in front of Tyler or anyone she knew well.
“You too. When did you get back? What happened to Duke?” She had to admit she was a bit curious about that. “I’ve been good, busy as usual.” And a vampire but not the best opener. Oh god, was Tyler going to dream? Had he already? Her face fell for a moment. She knew that wouldn’t be pleasant for him but she quickly recovered. “I have some time before my next class. Want to get some coffee?” It would be good to catch up if he had time.
And there was the question that Tyler had been dreading. It was inevitably going to come up, he knew, but he was still hoping that it wouldn’t. “Turns out Duke wasn’t the best fit.” Maybe a little evasive, but hopefully she wouldn’t press the matter. No matter how many times he had gone over it in his head, there was no way to say ‘I slept with my teammate’s girlfriend and then sent him to the hospital’ without coming across as the bad guy in that situation, even if his teammate had thrown the first punch.
“I could go for a pick-me-up after that snoozefest,” Tyler said, starting down the hallway. “You’ll have to show me where the best coffee shop on campus is.”
Caroline had a feeling there was more to that story. And she would get it out of him at some point. But not today. “ Well it’s good to have you back.” She wasn’t sure just how true that statement was but it was good to see him again.
“I’m going to have to remember to get coffee before this class,” Caroline replied as they walked out of the building and onto the campus. “And that I can definitely do. There are some pretty good places on campus but the best is definitely off. Baxter Bakery and I’m not just saying that because I work there.”
“It’s good to see you again,” Tyler said, because he couldn’t make himself that it was good to be back.
“You’re working at a bakery?” Tyler asked, raising his eyebrows. “So you what? Wear a little apron and decorate cupcakes all day?”
Caroline couldn’t help but laugh at his question. “I don’t work with the food preparations.” That probably wouldn’t go over too well. “I’m more of the take your order and get the food type. But yes there is an apron involved,” she paused as they reached one of the on campus cafe’s. “Instead of picturing that in your head,” she had a feeling he might be. “You should stop by and see for yourself. And you know leave your favorite waitress a nice tip.”
Tyler absolutely was picturing Caroline in an apron, and it was kind of adorable. “I’ll do that,” he said, making a note to remember the name Baxter’s Bakery. “Aside from slinging caffeinated beverages, what else has Caroline Forbes been up to these days?”
“And by favorite I mean me,” because that hadn’t been obvious. But still she needed to make it clear.
“Uh the usual? School, work, social life. I’m thinking of auditioning for the spring musical. Oh and I moved in with Stefan Salvatore from high school,” she wasn’t sure if Tyler remembered him since he was a few years older. “And his friend Lexi, and my friend Anna. You back with your parents?”
“That’s awfully presumptuous. What if I like one of your coworkers more?” Tyler teased, bumping her gently with his shoulder.
“Oh,” Tyler said, his eyebrows shooting up at the mention of Caroline moving in with Stefan. He hadn’t really known the guy in high school; he’d know him on sight if he saw him, but that was about as far as their relationship had progressed. “Are you two, like, involved?” He had tried to sound casual, but he wasn’t entirely sure he had managed to pull it off.
“Yeah, I’m back with my mom and dad for now,” he said. “I’ve been thinking of maybe getting a job and renting an apartment or something though.” It hadn’t been easy living with his father the first time around, but after being away for the last few years it seemed impossible now. He approached the counter, and ordered himself a coffee. “What do you want? It’s on me.”
Again Caroline had to laugh the idea of her dating Stefan. She may have feelings for him in the dreams, but here he was basically like her brother. The idea was so funny to her that she didn’t even realize why Tyler was asking. “Yeah, no. We are just good friends. I’m so not ready to live with my boyfriend.” Although she did spend a lot of nights there but Tyler didn’t really need to know that.
“Good idea. As much as I love my mom now that I’m out of the house I can’t imagine moving back.” She spent some nights there as well though, especially around the holidays, but still it was nice to have a place of her own. “Any idea where you want to work?” she asked before ordering herself a vanilla latte. “Thanks,” she gave him another smile at his offer to pay.
Tyler’s relief at hearing that Caroline wasn’t dating Stefan was short lived when she mentioned something about not being ready to live with her boyfriend. It wasn’t that he was looking to date her, but they’d had some fun in high school and seeing her again had reminded him of that. While he’d had feelings for her back then, he was sure that he was long past that. “So someone finally managed to make you his girlfriend, huh?” Tyler asked, a teasing lilt to his voice.
“No idea,” Tyler said. He’d never actually had to have a job before. His parents had covered most of his expenses while he’d been away. “Maybe selling sporting goods or something? Retail can’t be as bad as some people make it out to be.”
She definitely remembered all the fun they had in high school. It wasn’t like you forgot the first person you slept with. Even without the whole him being her first thing there was no way she would forget their little fling. “Yes,” she rolled her eyes at his teasing. “I know hell might have frozen over.”
She nodded as Tyler spoke. “You’d be good at that. You know all the sports stuff. Especially football.” Obviously she remembered that. She spent enough time cheering for him at all the games.
That was kind of a bummer. Tyler had, for the most part, learned his lesson about sleeping with girls in relationships. At the very least, he wouldn’t pursue her, though if Caroline were to come onto him he probably wouldn’t hesitate.
“It’d be nice if I could get paid for playing football instead of just selling pads,” Tyler said. “Maybe someday, eh?” Not that he thought he’d ever seriously be considered for the NFL Draft. There were better players out there, as much as he was loathe to admit it, but it could be nice to dream sometimes.
Tyler was out of luck on that one. As much fun as their past had been Caroline had no intention of reliving it. She was happy with Peeta and no way would she ever do anything to hurt him.
“Well you did get a scholarship to Duke,” that seemed like a pretty good start to her. Didn’t some college football players go on to play professionally? And she still wanted to know why he wasn’t playing there anymore. But it wasn’t the time to press for information. “I don’t cheer anymore,” she didn’t have the time. “But I’ll still have to come watch some of your games. I can even be your own personal cheerleader from the stands,” she teased.
“You don’t? That’s too bad. Irvine’s missing out on a helluva cheerleader,” Tyler said. He frowned to himself as he paid for their drinks, took hold of them both, and handed Caroline her latte. “Well, I’ll have to get on the team before that happens. My classes transferred over, but my position didn’t. I’m going to be meeting with the coach later this afternoon to talk about it.” And with his history at Duke, Tyler wasn’t sure if the football team here would accept him. If all else failed, he could always ask his father to pull some strings, but Tyler really didn’t want to be asking him for favours. Or reminding him of how Tyler had ‘embarrassed the family.’
“I dropped it last year,” it had been too much to keep up with everything else going on in her life. Now she was trying to get more involved in drama. Granted she hadn’t done anything yet but she had only switched her major the previous semester. She was going to audition for things this year though.
“I’m sure it will be fine,” Caroline gave him an encouraging smile accepting the latte from him. She only felt slightly stupid for just assuming that the position would carry over. “You’ll have to let me know how it goes.” She did care. She cared about all her friends, Tyler he wasn’t exactly ever a friend and yeah he had been a bit of a douche back in high school, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t become friends now. Especially with sex out of the equation.
“You’ll be the first person I call when I get on the team,” Tyler said. He didn’t really doubt that he’d be able to get on the team, one way or another. The only thing he really liked about University was being able to play football. And even if he wasn’t going to sleep with Caroline this time around, it was nice seeing her again. He had to admit that he’d missed her a little while he was in Duke, and it would be nice to get back in touch with all his old friends now that he was back.
“And then we can celebrate.” With her busy schedule it was nice to just take a night and go out. Not to mention she did want to be close with Tyler. Especially if he was going to start dreaming. She was so far into the dreams now that she could hopefully help him out with it all. It would have been nice if someone had done that for her but the only person around the same spot as her she despised. Dreams aside though she knew Tyler could be a decent guy when he wanted to be, and she liked that side of him.
“You’d better believe we’ll celebrate,” Tyler said, grinning. He never was one to pass down an opportunity to party.
“Well now you have to get on the team,” she teased checking her phone for the time. “I should get to my next class,” she wasn’t about to be almost and stuck in a front seat again. “Thanks for the coffee.” This might just be the start to a beautiful friendship, or at least a decent one.