A Reality Romance
A/N: Hello guys. I bring you a brand new crossover. The timeline is an AU of the first season for Vampire Diaries and also an AU of New Moon where Edward never came back for Twilight Saga. The story is based on the amazing book called "A realistic romance" by Andi Anderston, so if you like the story you'll love the book. Special thank you to "DeathDaisy" for ignoring her schoolwork (once again) to read this as I wrote it. Enjoy!
A/N2: I own nada… sadly
Chapter 1
There were days when a person knows they they should have stayed in bed and Damon knew that today was one of those days. The persistent throbbing behind his right eye and queasy stomach reminded him of the tequila shots he had overindulged in at the party the night before. Before snacking on a few humans, that is.
The bright florescent lights blared through the dark lenses of his sunglasses. Hoping to block out as much light as possible, he pushed them up higher on his nose and closed his icy blue eyes. He made a silent vow to lay off the tequila permanently if he could get through the day without throwing up. Maybe it was time to go back to scotch? It was a while since he last had it.
Right now though, all he wanted to do was lie back down and sleep it off.
Instead of being snuggled up in his comfortable bed with two mindless compelled bimbos to keep him company, here he was sitting in the middle of a boardroom listening to a bunch of suits trying to convince him to put his life on display so the whole damn world could see.
"You're a great guy Damon and as I'm sure you know, reality shows are popular right now. The audience will become addicted to watching you and this could lead to some really great publicity for you"
one of the suits droned on in the most boring tone Damon had ever heard. Even though they had just been introduced moments earlier, Damon couldn't remember the guy's name. He didn't care for it either.
They were all here for one purpose and one purpose only. Money.
In the past year, Damon knew his career had hit an all-time low. Just a few years ago, six to be exact when he had managed to track down the bitch who ended his life only for her to laugh aloud and tell him to get lost.
Katherine didn't want him, plain and simple. The vampiress had broken her sire-bond to her and the veil of need for her had lifted. Damon was finally free to think for himself.
Since thenm everything Damon had touched had turned to gold. He was on top of the billboard charts and the darling of the recording industry. His tall frame, icy blue eyes, a devillish smirk planted on his lips and his melodic voice had reeled people in.
But in the last couple of years, things had started to change. After a lackluster reception for his last two albums, Damon knew he was in danger of becoming a has-been at the ripe old age of twenty-seven. At least that's what he looked like on the outside.
"I'm still not sure what you want me to do,"
Damon said again. He had a pretty clear idea of what the suit was proposing but his hunger was clouding his mind. So did the papercut the suit had. The suit gave him a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Well, it's quite simple really. Its common knowledge that everyone is fascinated by celebrities and the lifestyle that they lead. People want to know what goes on when the spotlight is turned off and when celebrities like yourself, go home and become Damon the man instead of Damon the rock star."
"What is it you're proposing exactly?"
Damon spit as he reached in his front pants pocket for his cigarettes. He popped one out of the package and lit it with his gold lighter. There was a groan of disapproval throughout the room. The suit that had been talking took a long drink of water and cleared his throat.
Damon fought the first smile he'd felt all day. Second hand smoke pissed people off every time but he didn't care. Smoking gave him even more 'bad boy cred' and it's not like he'd get cancer! He began to feel immediately better as he took a long drag off his cigarette and leaned back in his chair.
"I know you've heard of other television shows where there are cameras all over the house. Essentially it will be the same way for you and your roommate. Every room, but the bathroom, will have a hidden camera and you'll have a cameraman follow you in case you choose to go out"
the suit droned on in that monotone voice of his. Wait... did he say just say roommate?
"What roommate?"
Damon took another drag from his cigarette.
"That's the interesting thing about it"
The suit's voice actually changed from his bored monotone drone to a more excited tone.
"We believe that viewers will be interested in how you as a celebrity will develop a friendship with someone who is totally opposite of you."
Damon glanced around at the other suits. They were all grinning at him with the same smile that never quite reached their eyes. God, he really needed to get out of here soon or he'd eat them.
"Her name is Bella Swan. She's a twenty-two year old soush-chef from Forks, Washington. She came in to accompany a friend of hers that applied for the reality show but we like her more. She was hesitant to meet with me alone but once I got her talking I realized she's a breath of fresh air."
The suit opened the dark blue file folder in front of him. He pulled out an eight by ten picture and reached over to place it in front of Damon. Damon slid his sunglasses carefully off and sat them in front of him. His eyes blinked furiously at first as they adjusted to the bright light. Once his eyes felt adjusted, he picked the color photograph up and looked at it.
He blinked and looked at it again. This couldn't be right. They couldn't be serious. Beautiful wasn't quite the right word for the girl pictured sitting on a wooden barstool.
The first thing Damon noticed was the young woman's incredible eyes. Long dark lashes framed the brightest melted chocolate-brown eyes Damon had ever seen. Her peaches and cream complexion gave her a healthy glow and made her look younger. Her lips were full even if the top lip was a smidge fuller than the bottom and looked to shine with a light rose colored gloss that gave them the illusion of being fuller than they probably really were. Her dark brown hair had copper highlights, especially in the front. The mane was long and topped down to her back covering a set of perky boobs in loose tussled curls, giving her a sexy just out of bed look. Dressed casual, she wore a burgundy colored t-shirt that fit tightly across her lean frame. The jeans had definitely seen better days. They were old and faded and one knee had a small hole on it. Bright red converse shoes encased her feet.
It looked as if she was tickled or something because those amazing eyes were lit up from laughter and that kissable mouth grinned, showing straight, pearly white teeth. She was the prettiest thing Damon had ever laid eyes on. Even prettier than Katherine.
He was captivated. He was fucked.
Damon realized the suit had continued to talk while he had been enthralled with the picture of the young woman. He reluctantly glanced up from the picture and cleared his throat.
"I'm sorry, will you repeat what you just said?"
The suit nodded and for the first time, looked more animated than he had since the meeting had started minutes ago.
"Both of you will be required to be together almost the entire time you are living there. If either of you want to go somewhere, you'll have to go with one another. Basically it'll almost be like you're joined at the hip. Your captive audience will want to see how the playboy rock star and the shy girl get along together when the newness of just being acquainted wears off and you're around one another all the time."
Damon felt like he was sitting in the middle of a nightmare. He gave the suit what he hoped was his nastiest look ('nastiest' sure beat 'hungriest') and took a deep drag off his cigarette.
"You're telling me that I pretty much have to be locked up with this girl all alone? Have you lost your fucking mind?"
He thought he managed a good sneer to go along with the outraged voice he was able to croak out. The suit flinched and nodded.
"we know that this might damper your lifestyle for the eight weeks you'll be partnered with Bella, but we're not against having your girlfriend come over a couple of times to visit. We think the fact that you and Bella are on such opposite sides of the spectrum will attract our viewers. They'll have twenty-four hours of access to see you on the net and we'll condense the events that happen throughout a seven day period and show it during a two hour show once a week."
Damon felt the noose around his neck tighten. How the fuck was he going to get out of this one? How in the hell could he be around this pretty woman without revealing his secret. With cameras all around them, there'd be no time or way for compulsion. How the heck would he drink anything? He dropped his cigarette in the almost empty glass of water in front of him and tried to gather his thoughts together.
"You need this, Damon. We've spoken to both your agent and your record company. The last two albums didn't sell very well. We feel that this added exposure will only enhance your career and make you a household name again."
The suit's voice had a soothing tone to it, as if to he was trying to console an upset child. Damon inwardly grimaced. He somehow managed to keep a bored expression on his face as he crossed his arms in front of him and gave the man the sneer he was very famous for.
"What in the world can I possibly have in common with this girl?"
The suit shook his head. Was it Damon's idea or did the suit's eyes gleamed a tiny bit?
"that's exactly why we want to do this. Shy, reserved girl with a penchant for danger, meets Mr. Danger himself. Are you telling me you don't have any quiet friends at all?"
"I don't do friends. I do lovers though. Want me to pound her oblivion"
He smirked a smirk he didn't feel. He knew he was coming across as a bastard, it's not as if the girl had some terminal illness or anything, but he didn't know any other way to fight the inevitable. He had managed to start fresh. The thought of all the lies he'd told blowing up in his face was enough to make a fine sheen of sweat break out on his forehead. The suit glared at him.
"I can assure you, that Bella is a very nice woman. You'll learn to get along and before you know the eight weeks will have passed and you'll be able to go your separate ways. Both of you a million dollars richer and you'll have the publicity you need to get back on top again. As long as you keep your dick out of her"
The grey clad guy glared. Damon sighed. He knew the asshole in the expensive suit was right, but it didn't make the situation any easier.
"When do the eight weeks start?"
"In one month. That will give us enough time to get everything arranged and start the publicity campaign to get viewers interested."
Damon felt the walls start to cave in on him. He had to get out of there. Now.
"I'll take it under consideration. I'll have my agent call you as soon as I make my decision."
Damon stood and walked out, slamming the door at his departure. He walked quickly down the corridor to the elevators. Deciding that taking the elevators were too risky in case the suits tried to stop him, he glanced at the grey door marked walked to it and opened it up. He ran down the stairs as if an entire pack of werewolves were after him. When he reached the bottom floor, he opened the door and ran out into the covered parking lot. He spotted his candy apple red '65 mustang and made a beeline for it.
As he reached into his pants pocket, he realised he was still clutching the eight by ten portrait of Bella. He stopped and looked down at the pretty woman's picture. He was so fucked.