Rock And Roll Ain't Dead
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Elena supposed ever since she had been a baby, she had loved music. Her mother had been one to sing while she washed up, smiling back at her little daughter sat in her high chair, clapping her hands excitedly. But as soon as silence fell, that bottom lip would tremble, tears sparkling in them wide eyes until the music sounded again, and the overjoyed claps and giggles were added to the melody that rose and fell with her mothers beautiful voice.
That little girl had soon grown up, and as she grew older, as did her love of music. When that girl had hit her teens, the garage was overtaken by her first band that she and her friends had put to together, but from the complaints from the neighbors, the band was disbanded.
But the music they had made was never forgotten. The scribbled song lyrics in a battered notebook shoved in a cardboard box under the bed along with the acoustic guitar, a string missing now from the numerous times the girls pretended they were rock stars, jumping on the bed, yelling at the top of their lungs. So loud it would seem the heavens would hear... along with the rest of the street.
But now the year was 2011, and that baby had grown up into a young woman who still had the passion for music singing still in her heart... even if she was too shy to try and serious record label and show them her talents. Talents her friends assured her were beautiful.
But after her parents died in that car crash that was taking her to the vocals lesson in Charlottesville, that passion had somewhat diminished and that young woman seemed to lose a part of her inner melody.
Elena walked down the corridor at High School now, ignoring the bright pink poster on the music hall door, an advertisement for the school band. Yes. This place really had a band.
She walked out the front door now, then heard as she trod onto the long lush green grass.
"Elena! Hey!"
With a jolting stop, she turned to her left to see Caroline, the bubbly blonde best friend. Unlike Elena, she wasn't shy to audition for the band, and she was the current lead singer.
"Yeah?" Elena just said now, raising a hand to her long hair and brushed it back. Caroline frowned at her friends lackluster reply, then asked, hitching her bag further up onto her shoulder. "What's wrong?"
Elena just shook her head, then sighed. "Nothing. Just homework."
Caroline raised her eyebrow further, then broke out into a big grin and said, grabbing her friends slim hands. "Are you auditioning for the school band this time? You know we did a good duet on that last song."
"Caroline..."
"Yep?"
"That was Taylor Swift." Elena just said, and it wasn't that she didn't like singing Taylor Swift, she did, but she had a more of a rockers soul. Muse, 30 Seconds To Mars... they were more her style.
Caroline pouted, then just said dully. "You're not, are you?"
"Sorry."
The blonde sighed now, then said quietly. "I think your parents would have wanted you to enjoy life. Remember when we were kids?"
Elena just pulled her hands out of Carolines, then said, trying not to make it sound snappy. "How? They're dead." She carried on walking now, and Caroline sighed, staring at the retreating back of her bestfriend. She seemed so down nowadays...
The engine of Elenas car growled like a wild beast as she started it up, then the music came blaring on. She'd been trying new songs lately, and she was loving some Lostprophets.
She tapped her finger to the song 4am Forever as she drove down the street, but then it started to sound depressing with the lyrics and she turned on the radio.
A few songs played now, and they seemed so boring. Especially newcomer ones like OneDirection. And The Wanted? More like The Wankers. Music these days seemed like just getting your clothes of on a video.. like Rhianna. Or even JLS- why the hell would people like such creepy, over groomed men like that? And the guy (Elena forgot his name) that kept showing his nonexistent abs-? Pitiful. More than pitiful... desperate.
'You only get one shot, so make it count.'
With a JLS condom, you certainly did (!)
And Justin Bieber-?
Don't go there... Just... don't.
Shivers...
She listened absentmindedly to the radio station now, and when the latest song finished, the guy said. "And now! Competition time! This time, it's for all you Salvatore fans out there!"
Now that got Elenas attention and she glanced once at the radio, then turned up the volume a little more- one of her favorite bands. A pair of brothers had just appeared out of nowhere and took the music world by storm. Quite literally, their first single was called Hurricanes. Of course, the brothers had been subjugated to interviews, and it became apparent straight away that Damon Salvatore, the lead singer, was winning the hearts of the female fans without even trying. But now for the last month or two, he'd been getting some press about how many girlfriends he went through, and after his last disastrous one, Katherine, he'd refused all interviews and photoshoots. His brother Stefan just told them his brother was having a "Little break."
But what exactly did that mean? No one knew.
Everyone was still besotted by the bands lead singer and his haunting dusky blue eyes though. Including Elena.
"Yeah Logan. We're offering one lucky winner the chance to attend their comeback concert here in Richmond tomorrow night with their friend before the band go on the DeadOrAlive tour! And meet the band afterwards! Can you imagine? This is the first time the brothers have ever accepted this kind of competition. It's exciting stuff!"
"More than exciting! I'm tempted to enter it myself! That Damon is one great reason to. And the question Andie?"
"Ok! Listen up people! We all know their last name... but what does it mean?"
"Oooh! Ok people! We're asking for what does Salvatore mean! A tough one! We have twenty minuets before lines closed, then the winner will be picked at random! Come on girls! Ring or text your answer and name, and contact number to us!"
Elena felt a smile tug at her lips now- she knew this one. It meant 'Savior.' The name was Italian in origin.
She listened to the phone number being reeled off now, then memorized it, pulling into the driveway of where she lived with her aunt and brother and getting out the car, locking it and pulling out her phone, biting her bottom lip a little as she got out her keys and stuck it in the door and twisted it sharply to the left, pushing it open and called. "Jenna! Jeremy?"
There was complete silence, and she rolled her eyes, slamming it shut and walking into the kitchen dumping her keys and phone down on the table. But now she picked her phone back up and sighed, rolling her eyes- thousands would enter this competition... she didn't stand a chance in hell of winning.
But she would never know unless she tried.
She picked up her phone and opened an SMS, typing in Savior, then her name and phone number, sending it and thinking. There. Now it was up to fate.
It was ten minuets later when she was making a sandwich that the phone went off, and her head snapped around, knife slipping from her hand.
No. No way in hell.
She answered it without looking at the number, and her heart sank when it was Caroline, going. "Ooops! Sorry, wrong number." She hung up and Elena chuckled, putting her phone back down and turning back to her sandwich, laughing to herself at how she could have got her hopes up.
The phone went off again now, and she rolled her eyes and ignored it for a moment, but then threw her sandwich down onto the pink floral style plate and answered it, about to snap at Caroline when she heard a voice.
"Elena Gilbert?"
She frowned now, then went. "Aha-?"
"Congratulations-" The rest of the womans words just blurred out now as she failed to believe it, then went. "Could you... repeat that please?"
"You won the tickets! Congratulations! What do you say to that?"
"I'm... uh... this a joke-?"
"Nope!" She heard a laugh, then she felt herself smile- unlucky Elena had finally won something. She left her address now where they were sending the tickets and she just laughed to herself. "Oh-my-god!" Then picked up her phone and rang Caroline and said in a sing-song voice.
"Guess who won tickets to see the Salvatores and meet them afterwards?"
Elena held the phone from her ear in alarm as Caroline near enough screamed, then said. "Tickets?"
"Yeah. I thought you might like to come as well."
Insert super scream. Elena said, rolling her eyes as she pulled the receiver away. The screaming stopped now, then Caroline just spouted Thank You too many times.
Yes. You guessed. An avid fan. The entire poster thing going on in her room.
The call ended now as Elena agreed to the plans of Caroline picking her up at five so they could drive up before it started at eight at night.
Well. That didn't happen everyday.
She went upstairs now and fished through her clothes, hunting through the rail for her favorite little dress. She found it now- strapless, blood red to the knees with a few sparkles. She found her black little bag and matching high heels and the outfit was sorted.
Elena grinned now, sitting down and putting her hands together. It had been a while since she'd been this excited about a night out.
She checked the drive now- no one was back, so she put the music on, jumping onto the bed with her hairbrush, singing along to the Paramore song that was playing at near enough full blast.
But now she heard-
"You think you could turn that down-!"
Elena tripped over the covers and collapsed onto the floor, groaning as the music was switched off, and Jenna sighed. "Having fun?"
She looked up now, then sighed, getting to her feet. "Doesn't matter."
Jenna noticed now that her niece had been singing once more, then smiled. "You were singing."
Elena rolled her eyes and just said, standing before her aunt. "Don't get too used to it."
"But you're a brilliant singer Elena. How can you let that talent go to waste?"
There was a silence, then Jenna sighed. "Your parents deaths weren't your fault."
Elena just shut the door and stood there, staring at the white painted wood, thinking- what if it was her fault-? They had been taking her to her vocal lesson when the crash happened...
She hadn't told that crazy, no doubt drunken driver to smash into them, tipping them over and only she had managed to get out before it set alight and it was too late. The crazy assed driver and his car had never been found, much to Elena and her families dismay.
But they hoped he was rotting in hell where he belonged.
She collapsed onto her bed now, staring at the tree outside her window, watching it scrape and bang against the window as she turned over and closed her eyes, deciding not to tell Jenna of where she was going to vanish to tomorrow... she'd only ground her.
Oh fuck. The tickets.
Elena scrambled to her feet now, running down the stairs to find her brother looking curiously at a brown, rather chunky envelope, then went "Hey-!" when his elder sister snatched it and smiled sweetly. "Thank you Jer."
Back in her room, she opened the envelope and tipped out two tickets and two VIP passes. The insignia on the corner of the tickets and passes were a common discussion between fans. It was supposed to be the design on their family rings. But no one had seen them up close from how... antisocial the pair were. Well, Damon. The elder Salvatore was the big boss she supposed.
Elena put them under her pillow now to keep them safe, then closed her eyes once more-
Until tomorrow.
"Oooh! I can't believe we really are doing this!"
Elena woke from her doze now, then realized she was in the car, driving towards Richmond with Caroline. Trust her to nod off.
"Yeah." She just said now, chuckling and Caroline just babbled on about how excited she was. Elena just zoned out as her friend carried on her excited chatter. She stared into her reflections eyes as the sun started to go down, the sky was now blood red, almost the same color as her dress.
She just closed her eyes and nodded off for the rest of the journey, Carolines buzzing vanishing.
The buzzing was back as they went up the steps of the indoor arena in Richmond, Carolines short sapphire blue dress kept rolling up, and her heels were a tad too high for her to walk without holding Elenas arm. Typical Caroline.
Slowly the line dwindled down, and they handed in their tickets, VIP tags around their necks on a long dark sapphire ribbon.
"Oh my god, oh my god."
Elena noticed that was all Caroline was saying as they made their way towards the crowd, and Caroline groaned. "We should have come earlier! Now we won't get to the front!"
"We'll be about five behind."
"But I wanna see Damon!"
"You will." Elena just assured her, rolling her eyes as her friend took off before she could say anything else. She took off after her now, then followed her into the main hall where the crowds were gathering, and they took their stand in the crowd, and Caroline wouldn't stop cheering, then made Elena do the same. Sure she was excited, but not embarrassingly excited.
The crowds got larger and larger, then everyone screamed as the lights suddenly went off, plunging them into pitch black darkness, and the girls grabbed each other.
Then Elena heard a magnified voice call. "Hellooo Richmond!"
She didn't need anyone to tell her who it was- everyone near enough screamed, and Caroline just yanked on her arm. "It's him!"
"No shit (!)"
The lights came back on to the introduction to a song that Elena knew to be called Chaos Theory.
Elena saw that black headed figure on the well lit stage now, and peered over the heads of the crowd and saw that dark grin on his young and handsome face. That could only be Damon. But the tales had been right- Stefan wasn't on tonight. Oh... shame.
As the night went on, the pair jumped and danced to the numerous songs that the gorgeous, mysterious dark haired man belted out, and Caroline never stopped yanking on her arm, raising her camera above everyones head, taking photo after photo. Elenas throat was near enough hoarse when it was over, the last song was Damon doing a version of Bring Me To Life by Evanescence. He pulled it off more than well.
When it was over, he announced that the tour tickets were now on sale, then-
"My itty bity brother, I'm afraid, will be coming as well."
The guy had a twisted sense of humor too... and Elena watched him do that smile that would have suited the devil himself. He ran a hand through his jet black hair now, then said. "So I guess we'll be seeing all you very soon!"
He hadn't said much, Elena noticed now, and that was unusual- Damon usually pointed out someone in the crowd who he thought looked the stupidest- yeah, he actually did an 'award' for that.
Caroline pouted now as the lights came back on as he vanished, and said. "That was so shit. Yeah. Damon's smoking... but that didn't seem anything like how he's supposed to be."
"You should never meet your heroes." Elena muttered, then felt a grin appear on her face as she indicated to the passes, and they both giggled, running through the crowd towards the exit, then went outside towards the stage entrance where they were stopped, but let through by a large looking, black sunglasses adorned man. Now that was typical.
First impressions of backstage was... shouting.
"Why wasn't the mike working during the second song-! Seriously! Do your job for fucking once!"
Elena looked to Caroline now, feeling more than nervous- the star seemed more than a little pissed off.
The rounded the corner now, but then Elena felt herself get banged into and she tripped over backwards, but she was grabbed with words of. "Urgh, sorry."
"It's fine." She just said now, then looked towards the man and felt her stomach drop- did he always have such deep, mysterious blue eyes-?
"Contest winner?" Damon just asked now, looking at the pair of girls and Elena nodded, glancing at Caroline who seemed to just get redder and redder, not able to stay a word for once.
"Sorry you had to hear that." He sighed, then indicated they should walk through, muttering. "Ask for Stefan. I got some shit to sort out." He walked off now, slamming the backstage door behind him.
Caroline gulped and said quietly. "He's scary."
"Agreed." Elena said, those eyes still haunting her thoughts. But now she walked forwards with her friend and saw a familiar young man stood talking to a man with headphones around his neck, but then the guy noticed us and said something, and the young man turned- the one and only was all Elena thought and Stefan Salvatore walked forwards and held out his hand that the girls took in turn.
"Hello." He smiled, then asked for their names.
"Caroline Forbes."
"Elena Gilbert."
Stefan nodded, then asked. "Congratulations on winning-?" He looked between them both and Elena smiled. "Me." Stefan smiled once more, then indicated for them to follow him.
"Damon should be here in a moment. He's just, uh, having a few problems." He rolled his eyes and Elena had an inkling it was girl problems.
He led them out onto the well lit stage now, and the cleaning crew were clearing up the smashed and whole beer cans and bottles in the now empty snakepit.
"How did you enjoy the performance? Sorry I didn't come on. My wrists have been playing up last rehearsal with the new guitar."
"Your brother totally rocked the place out." Caroline gushed and Stefan chuckled. "He does that."
"Talking about me are we?"
Elena felt her heart jump once more now as the dark haired man walked towards them and stood there, smiling almost seductively. "And what a fine pair of winners we have. Now, what are your names?"
Caroline was the first to speak and Damon gave her a more than seductive smile. "A pleasure Miss Forbes."
Oh god, I'm going to have to drag her out when she faints. Elena thought now, then said to Damon. "Elena Gilbert."
He gave her a smile too, then nodded. "A pleasure too Miss Gilbert, now... would you like a drink?"
The pair nodded and he called for a pair of beers that were bought out, and he took his own, popping the top and asked. "So... High School girls?"
Once more they nodded and Damon chuckled. "Ah, I dropped out before graduation. But well-" he gestured around. "I did well I think."
Caroline grinned, then asked. "What school did you go to?"
Damon groaned, then chuckled again. "Oh, ol' Mystic Falls."
Elena felt a jolt now, then said. "We go there."
The brothers glanced at each other, then Stefan laughed. "It really is a small world."
They talked for nearly an hour, then the girls saw a young man approach them and say that they needed to get on the road. Damon nodded, then said, grinning at the girls. "Just a moment. Don't you see these lovely ladies? Shoo."
The man scowled, but then left.
Stefan sighed, and Caroline just said, to Elenas horror, pulling out a CD from her bag. "Elena sings. Here- I thought you might like to hear her. She's good!"
"No!" She just squeaked, going to grab the disc, but Damon snagged it and smiled. "I'll have a listen."
"Please give it me."
He grinned and leaned forwards. "Make me."
Elena growled and folded her arms, then Damon pouted, holding out the disc, but snatched it back as she went for it and put it safely into her pocket.
"Nice kitty." He winked and Elena scowled and just said. "I have to leave." She just said goodbye and took Stefans hand once more, but just glared at Damon and stalked off, not giving a shit if he was some famous, rising music star.
You really shouldn't meet your heroes.
Elena was leaning against the car, arms folded as Caroline approached, and she spotted an autograph on her chest, a big grin on her face but now as Elena snapped. "Why did you do that-! Now he's going to put that on everytime he wants to laugh about something!"
Caroline scowled. "I would never give it him unless I thought you were good!"
Elena just said dully. "Open the door."
The door beeped, and she climbed in, tears running down her cheeks with angry embarassment.
How could such a good night end in disaster-?
Later that night, Damon yawned, rumpling up his hair and plonking himself down on his tour bus bed, staring up at the wooden paneled ceiling, then frowned, feeling something in his pocket. He sat up now and reached inside, pulling out the blank disc and remembered- that Elena chick.
Ah, what the hell?
He got up and went over to the CD player, sticking it in and putting the headphones on, turning the volume up as he heard a girl singing. For the whole duration of the CD, he sat in silence, feeling disbelief course through him- this girl was amazing. Her voice was so strong and clear. She sounded confident.
"Elena Gilbert?" He just said now, taking the headphones out and putting it around his neck, looking impressed, then yelled to his brother on the other end of the bus.
"Hey! Where does that Elena live in Mystic Falls?"
"Dunno. Ask control. They have the details. Why?"
Damon just walked over and grinned. "This girl can sing. And she doesn't sound like a banshee on the high notes."
Stefan frowned, setting down his book, then got up, following his brother to the other end and put the headphones on, Damon pressing play.
He sat there for a moment, then listened to this Elena singing Christina Perri- Jar Of Hearts and nodded, taking them off. "Yeah, she's good... where are you going-? Damon!"
All he saw now was his brothers back as he left the bus.
Damon walked down the deserted street the next afternoon, the address in hand of the Gilbert girl. He stopped now outside the house, then took a deep breath- sure, this was a crazy thing to do... to ask of a shy girl like her.
He raised a hand now and knocked twice, looking around- no one was paying him a blind bit of notice, and he loved it. But it was nice being back in the town of his birt after so long.
The door opened now, and the girl before him froze and he smiled slightly. "Hello again sweetie."
Elena folded her arms and just said, rather bitterly he noticed. "Come to laugh? Well I don't care how many fans you have, piss off."
He laughed now, then shook his head, holding up the disc, handing it to her. "I listened."
"Yeah..."
"I loved it. But..." He stepped forwards and just said. "You have a brilliant voice... and I want it on the tour."
"Excuse me?" She just said, and he raised an eyebrow. "Are you hearing impaired?"
"No."
"Then you heard me."
Elena was silent, then scoffed, closing the door as she stepped out so Jeremy and Jenna didn't hear. "So you're asking me to drop my studies, leave home, my friends for god knows long... and run away with you around the States?"
"Yep."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I'm not in the mood for jokes. Yes, I feel starstruck stood before you-"
"You do?" Damon grinned, amused, then leaned forwards and said quietly. "It's not a joke. And doesn't it sound fun?"
Elena just shook her head. "I've realized you're a dick Salvatore."
He laughed at that, then smirked. "My exes keep telling me that." But when she was silent, he rolled his eyes. "Look- you'll be paid pretty good, great venues, and-" the smirk became wider. "You'll be sharing the tour bus with me and my brother."
"Yippee (!) I get to bunk with a crazy, impulsive dick and his brother (!)"
"Damn, that didn't work... how can I tempt you?" He sighed now, then pouted. "Come on. Don't be a wimp. You have talents, and I want it on my bus."
Elena realized he wasn't joking now, then frowned. "You're being serious..."
"As a heart attack." He said, then looked to the house and said. "It's an escape from life. And believe me when I say it's a great escape."
She was silent, then shook her head. "I'm sorry Mr Salvatore-"
"Call me Damon."
"Mr Salvatore. I can't. I'm sorry." Elena turned away now, but he grabbed her and pressed a piece of torn paper and said. "If you change your mind, we'll be there until seven. And if you do, bring clothes."
Elena nodded, then walked in, closing the door in the face of her once idol, sighing as she watched him leave, walking down the street. She looked down at the address- it was a ten minuet walk.
No, she wouldn't change her mind... would she?
The argument that night with her aunt did change everything and she ran upstairs, tears in her eyes and pulled out her backpack, pausing- was she really going to do this-? Run away with this band and get up to god knows what-?
She shoved her newest pair of jeans in her bag, then along with whatever else she could fit in, then scribbled a note to Jenna saying she'll ring soon, then sneaked outside, leaving the keys on the kitchen table as she shut the door behind her.
It was half seven now, and she knew that they would be gone, but the deep red colored tour bus was still there, and as she approached, a figure appeared through the open door, arms folded.
"So Miss Gilbert... becoming our resident badgirl?"
She hesitated, then stepped forwards...
Destination? God only knew what...
Whew, that came out a little longer than I plannedXD Anyway, been in my head for a good while, and I hope you all enjoy this;) gonna be one hell of a ride from hell.
Please be nice and review!
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