~*One*~
Opportunity Shocks
Elena sighed as she wandered the halls of Mystic Falls High School. Everyone was blasting their music, or gossiping at their lockers. Some students were even doing homework. Elena admired that there were students like her out there. Those who cared about doing well. Elena was on her way to earning an academic scholarship, and she was so excited. It was the middle of her junior year, and in less than two years, she would be a college freshman, studying journalism. Just like her mother had dreamed of.
"Elena!"
At the sound of her name, Elena turned around, and her best friend Bonnie Bennett was running toward her. Elena squinted, and noticed Bonnie's excited expression.
"Hey, Bonnie," Elena waved. "What's up?"
"Oh, my god." Bonne giggled. "You will not believe what I just found out!"
Elena shrugged, nodding at Bonnie to continue. She was never a good guesser.
"Stefan Lockwood is single!" Bonnie shrieked.
For the past two years, Elena had been ogling Matt Donovan since he moved here in the middle of Freshman year. He was a transfer student from Virginia, and Elena instantly was attracted to him ever since she saw him in her French class. He was nice, friendly, attractive, and he was a good football player. In fact, he was the Varsity team's quarterback, and he was practically guaranteed a scholarship.
"Really?" Elena squealed. "Oh, my god, that's amazing!"
"I know, right?" Bonnie said. "I never thought that he and Rebekah would end things."
At the mention of Stefan's longtime girlfriend, Elena's nose wrinkled in disgust. Rebekah had always been Elena's longtime tormentor for as long as she could remember. Rebekah and her pack of evil minions were alway looking for ways to torture Elena and Bonnie.
"Yeah," Elena said.
"Lockwood!"
Elena turned to see Matt Donovan, Stefan's best friend, patting Stefan on the back.
Elena immediately became flustered. She was so nervous when Stefan was around, and it was crazy how attractive he was. She'd never seen a more attractive guy.
"Incoming," Bonnie muttered to Elena, and when Elena looked the opposite way, Rebekah and her clan, April Young, Sage, and Hayley, and a few other girls were making their way toward Stefan and his group.
"Hey, baby," Stefan said, and Rebekah grinned sheepishly as she ran toward Stefan, kissing him.
Elena felt her heart break.
"Oh, no," Bonnie whispered, and Elena closed her eyes. She knew it was too good to be true. "Elena, I'm so sorry, I-" Bonnie said sadly.
"No, it's alright, Bonnie. You didn't know," she said, holding her hand in front of Bonnie. She wasn't mad at Bonnie. She didn't know that the rumors were false, either. It wasn't her fault.
"Well, how about we go to the dance tomorrow night and we'll find some really cute guys?" Bonnie advised, and Elena knew that Bonnie was only trying to cheer her up.
"I cant," Elena said, shaking her head. Bonnie frowned. "My dad's restaurant is having some celebrity come promote her movie. He wants Jer and I to help him out,"
"Oh, well, we can find something," Bonnie nodded.
"Oh, well, look who it is, Girls," Rebekah sneered, and Elena looked up. Sure enough, Rebekah and her clan were surrounding her and Bonnie. Elena instantly felt sick.
"Oh, why, it's little Eliza Gilbert," April snorted, and the other girls laughed.
"It's Elena," Bonnie snapped, and Elena immediately admired Bonnie's courage toward Rebekah's clan.
"Oh, you, Bennett." Rebekah scoffed. "Sorry, I didn't see you there,"
"So, a little birdie told me that you were interested in my boyfriend," Rebekah shook her head in disgust, and Elena swallowed.
"Who would that be?" Bonnie scoffed.
Rebekah moved in closer to Elena, narrowing her eyes.
"Listen here, you pathetic little bitch," she sneered, ignoring Bonnie's comment. "Don't you even think about stealing my boyfriend, you got that?"
Elena nodded immediately, and Rebekah chuckled.
"Honestly, I don't even know why I'm telling you to stay away from him. I mean, it's not like he would go for the sad, delicate type,"
Elena swallowed back tears as Rebekah's laughs filled her ears.
Elena breathed a sigh of relief as she watched Rebekah and her clan walk away.
"Elena, don't listen to her," Bonnie said softly, shaking her head. "She's just a slutty bitch who doesn't have anything better to do with her time."
"You're right," Elena nodded, sniffling. Bonnie opened her mouth to say something, but Elena shook her head. "I gotta go. I'll see you later,"
Katherine Pierce sat in her chair in make up, reading the lines for today. She was on the set of her new movie, Triple Threat. Katherine sighed, nearly wanting to burn the script. It was so horrible. Her character, Elizabeth, was not fun enough. She was a shy, innocent little girl. And that was not Katherine Pierce. Plus, the fact that her co-star, the ever-popular actor Damon Salvatore, was no help either. The two of them never said a word to each other on set, if it wasn't scripted. Katherine couldn't stand the way Damon acted, and Damon never made any efforts to talk to her. So why should she?
"Katherine, do you need a lift to the restaurant later?"
Katherine looked up, and her Personal Assistant, Caroline, was patiently standing in front of her.
"Yes." Katherine nodded, and she resumed reading the script, hoping that Caroline a would go away. Katherine didn't like Anna. She was too talkative and annoying.
THE NEXT DAY:
"Katherine!"
"Ms. Pierce!"
Too many fluorescent lights.
As Katherine Pierce stepped out of the back of her limo, she was immediately bombarded by cameras and screaming fans. The usual, of course.
But, when you're Katherine Pierce, what else do you expect? Katherine immediately slid on her black Chanel sunglasses, and strutted down the red carpet.
Dozens of posters of Katherine hung down from the hands of her fans, and many other eager fans hoisted their copy of Katherine's debut album, "Katerina" above their heads. Katherine was at the most popular new cuisine in Mystic Falls, just outside of L.A., Called John & Greyson's, advertising her upcoming sure-to-be-a-blockbuster, Triple Threat,and she had personally hand-picked this little restaurant as the scenery for her promos.
"Katherine, is it true?" A very unattractive man who, had he not been a reporter for People Magazine, Katherine would've turned her flawless nose up at, asked her as she passed him on the red carpet.
"Is what true?" she asked, feigning oblivion as she glared at the man through her sunglasses. Surely, it would be a question on whether or not she was going to star in some new Leo DiCaprio blockbuster, or if she was working on a collab with some powerhouse vocalist like Mariah Carey, or even Cheryl Lloyd.
"Is it true that you and Damon Salvatore are together?" he wondered, and Katherine scoffed.
She should've known. Now a days, no one cared who she was recording an album with, or who she was filming a movie with. It was always about her love life. And given her new film, everyone wanted to know if she and her co-star, Damon Salvatore were the next Brangelina. Honestly, she couldn't stand the asshole. He was always bragging about the next film he was doing, or what magazine he was modeling for next. It was hilarious how the press could whip up a juicy story like a turkey feast. None of it was true. She and Damon never even spoke to each other, apart from their scripted conversation on set.
People were so gullible.
And it disgusted her.
"It's only true if I say it is," she said rudely, returning her attention to the reporter. "And since I haven't said anything on the topic, I'd have to dispel that little rumor,"
"Katherine!"
"Miss Pierce, I think that we should get inside. You have only half an hour to prep before they open the doors." Katherine's personal assistant, Caroline Forbes, told Katherine as she blew a kiss to the crowd.
"I'll be right behind you,"
"Elena, come on!"
Elena stared at her reflection in the mirror of the bathroom at her family's restaurant, John & Greyson's. Her hair was rolled into a tight bun, and her thick black glasses framed her chocolate brown eyes. Too plain. She was too plain. But her life was plain. She was a senior at Atlanta High, and she and her best friend Bonnie Bennett were at the lowest spot possible on the social ladder. Elena was the smart girl, the one who got full marks on her tests, while her classmates made fun of her for it. Funny, Elena thought. They were the ones with the sixty's and fifty's on their assignments and exams. But what can you do?
Elena sighed as she slid on her apron. Some famous celebrity was due for some book signing. Elena hustled out of the bathroom as her aunt's voice rang again.
"Coming, Jenna," she said as she burst through the door. "Don't lose your hair,"
"Oh, this beautiful ginger hair's not going anywhere," Jenna smiled as she patted her head.
"Are they here yet?" Elena asked, walking into the kitchen.
"Yeah, she just arrived." Jenna told Elena, who was carefully stacking trays.
"Who is it?" Elena asked, curious. She had always wanted to meet a celebrity.
"I don't know," Jenna shrugged. "Some rich heiress, no doubt."
"Why don't you take those to the counter out front? We're opening the doors soon."
Elena weaved through the crowd of magazine reporters and camera crew. The whole place was packed, no doubt. Katherine Pierce, model/actress/singer/author/dancer/everything-else was in the house.
"Elena, I need more sushi!" Elena's brother, Jeremy hollered.
"Hold on," she told him as she wandered into the kitchen to fetch another tray of sushi finger food.
"Hey," she snapped at one of the workers, who was eating a few of them. "Off limits,"
"Sorry, Elena," he said, and Elena rolled her eyes at him.
"Here," she handed Jeremy the plate of sushi, but he shook his head.
"I can't. You have to serve them," he told her, and Elena sighed.
"Alright. Later,"
Elena weaved through the crowd, once more, offering sushi to anyone she made eye contact with. She loved helping out at the restaurant. but when she had exams to study for, it was a little aggravating.
"Ooh! Thank you," Elena held out the plate to a brunette, who took a few sushi.
"No problem," she said, walking away.
Elena sat in the back room of the restaurant, trying to study for her U.S. History exam. The function was nearly over, but Elena couldn't concentrate with all of the conversation.
Deciding that she wouldn't get any work done, Elena closed her book as she sighed. Her head was aching, and she was so tired.
Elena jumped, startled, as the door swung open, revealing a frantic Jenna.
Elena, could you go put these in the bathroom?" she begged, holding two decently sized boxes of soap bars. "We ran out,"
"Sure," Elena sighed as she stood up, and walked over toward Jenna.
"Thank you," Jenna laughed softly as she handed Elena the boxes.
"No problem," Elena smiled, and Jenna walked out of the room.
Elena stacked the boxes on a nearby table, praying that they wouldn't fall. Once she felt decently convinced, Elena walked over to grab her history book and slid it into her tan messenger bag and slung it over her shoulder. Walking back to the entrance, Elena grabbed the boxes and headed to the bathroom.
Katherine was literally counting down the minutes until the function would end. It seemed like ages had passed, and Katherine felt like she had aged. Once the commentary announced that it was over, Katherine threw her hands in the air, smiling. Finally! Katherine immediately stood up out of her chair, and raced toward the bathroom. Many people had tried to stop her, but Katherine had pretended not to notice. She had to use the restroom.
"Katherine, where are you-?" Katherine heard her annoying PA Caroline's voice squeak.
"Bathroom," Katherine hollered, not turning to face her.
"Don't take too long!" Caroline replied. "We're leaving soon!"
Elena set out the last of the four soap bars on the porcelain tray. They wouldn't all fit, so Elena dug in her pocket for her spare key to the cupboard below the sink. The second she grabbed them, Elena whipped them out, but unfortunately, her hands were slippery, and the keys slid from her hands and landed onto the ground.
Sighing, Elena bent down as she heard the door swing open. Someone's loud heels clicked against the tile floor, echoing off of the walls. Once she had hold of the keys, she stayed low on the ground as she reached for the remaining boxes up on the counter and stored them below the sink. She turned the key in the lock, re-locking the cupboard, and stood up.
Elena saw a glimpse of herself in the mirror in front of her as she reached for the soap. Only fitting that she wash her hands. She had touched the dirty floor when she had searched for the keys. Elena turned the faucet on, and her hands were showered with scalding water. Quickly, she adjusted the water, and sighed when she found the perfect temperature. When Elena was finished, she shook her hands over the sink and walked over to the dryer. Elena was apparently preoccupied, as she didn't notice the other woman who approached the dryer simultaneously.
"Oh! I'm so sorry," she said. "Really, I-"
Elena looked up, and was face to face with Katherine Pierce.
"Oh, my god. You're Katherine Pierce!" she said, smiling. She couldn't believe that she had actually met a famous person! Sure, she wasn't really a fan of Katherine, but Katherine worked with many of the record producers that Elena idolized. Journalism aside, she had always dreamed of becoming a famous singer, and Katherine knew everyone in the industry.
"Oh, my god," Katherine breathed, her brown eyes wide and Elena frowned.
Sure, Elena knew that Katherine wasn't really into the whole 'fan' thing. But what celebrity didn't like their own fans?
"What's wrong?" Elena asked, and Katherine shook her head as if she were trying to shake off her thoughts as well.
Elena watched as Katherine ducked, looking under the stalls, probably to see if anyone else was there.
"Here, come with me," Katherine said, grabbing Elena's wrist and dragging her over to stand in front the mirror.
"What are you doing?" Elena grunted as Katherine went to pull out Elena's bun. What the hell was she thinking? Didn't she know not to touch people you didn't know?
"Stop it!" Elena hissed, covering her head with her hands.
"Fine. You can do it. Take out your hair, now," Katherine ordered, and Elena nervously reached behind her head and took out her bun. Why was she doing what Katherine was telling her to do? Elena wondered as her chocolate hair fell in messy waves down to her ribs, and Elena looked at Katherine with confusion.
"What?" She shrugged as Katherine's eyes evaluated her acutely.
"The glasses." Katherine said, and Elena frowned.
"Take the glasses off," Katherine snapped, her voice oozing impatience.
Elena grabbed her glasses off of her face and set them on the counter. Immediately, Katherine fiddled with Elena's hair.
"There," Katherine said, smirking.
"Okay, what the hell is going on?" Elena scoffed, about ready to storm out of the bathroom. Katherine may be famous, but she was famously crazy.
"Look," Katherine said, turning Elena's body toward the mirror.
It was not possible. Elena stared at herself next to Katherine. They were literally the same person on the outside. How could that be possible? It was uncanny how much they looked alike. Katherine leaned in to Elena's ear.
"Hello, sister," she said softly, her voice laced with mischief as a smirk curled upon her lips in the mirror.
"Okay, you are crazy." Elena said, even though she knew that Katherine was right. They two of them could easily be twins. However, Katherine was beginning to creep Elena out with her excitement, or fascination, over their similar appearance. Why was this such a big deal? So they looked a little alike. Big deal.
"I have an idea." Katherine said, ignoring Elena's comment. "My life is a complete hell on my mental health. And you seem like you could use some pick-me-up," Katherine scoffed, and Elena felt a stab of pain at Katherine's words.
"What are you saying?" Elena asked, narrowing her eyes at Katherine. What did Katherine Pierce know about her?
"Come on," Katherine scoffed. "Glasses, shy, and smart by the looks of it? Either you are an unpopular high school girl, or you're channeling Zooey Deschanel."
Elena blinked. Was this the real Katherine Pierce? Snide, rude and blunt? If so, Elena was glad that she wasn't friends with her.
That was likely.
"Gee, thanks," Elena laughed softly, though there was nothing humorous.
"Am I wrong?" Katherine wondered, tilting her head to the side as she regarded Elena knowingly.
"What does this have to do with anything?" Elena sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. She wasn't going to stand there and listen to Katherine be a talking reminder of her life.
"So, I assume that I'm right," Katherine said. "You need popularity. I need a break from the limelight. So there's only one solution," Katherine smirked, and Elena frowned.
"Switch places with me," Katherine said, her voice wondrous as her dark eyes gleamed with excitement.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Elena gasped.
"Switch places with me!" Katherine said. "I pretend to be you, you pretend to be me."
"Okay, you are completely mental," Elena giggled, and Katherine raised her eyebrow.
"Am I? You know that you would kill for a chance to live the life of luxury, and I would love to get a break for a week." Katherine told her. "And I'll pay you," she added.
"You can't be serious! You honestly think that people would buy this?" Elena asked, shaking her head in awe. Was this for real? "Nobody will possibly believe it! Sure, I might be your freaky doppelgänger/shadow twin, but, come on."
Did the term 'common sense' exist in Katherine's vocabulary?
"Well...Elena, is it?" Katherine asked as she raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow, and Elena slowly nodded. "Listen, Elena. We look exactly alike! If you just changed your look, gained a bit of self confidence, you could easily pass for my twin," Katherine grinned.
Elena was speechless. This was absolutely absurd. Katherine need psychological attention.
"Come on, Elena," Katherine begged. "Haven't you ever heard the phrase, "the grass is always greener on the other side?"
Elena rolled her eyes. "You know that that's a lie, right?"
"Whatever. Please. You know you want to."
Five minutes later, as Elena looked at Katherine, she couldn't see a thing. Katherine now wore her glasses. The two of them hastily swapped clothes, and With every passing second, Elena kept thinking that this was an absurd idea.
"Show me your walk," Katherine said, and Elena wobbled as she walked around in Katherine's stiletto heels.
"Try longer strides, and move your hips." Katherine said, and Elena walked back around the room, with the adjustments to her walk, and Katherine squealed.
"Perfect." She laughed, and Elena sighed. "Ready?"
"Not yet," Elena said. She still wasn't clear on a few things.
"What?" Katherine asked, slightly annoyed.
"How long do you intend to pull this charade off?" Elena asked. They couldn't pull it off forever. Surely someone would figure it out.
"Let's say a week from tomorrow." Katherine said, handing Elena her phone.
"Why are you giving me your phone?" Elena asked, frowning.
"For a girl who probably has a 4.0 GPA by the looks of it, you sure don't catch on fast," Katherine scoffed.
"Take mine, as you are going to be me, and give me yours," Katherine ordered as she held out her hand for Elena's phone.
Elena dug into her pocket and pulled out her flip phone, handing it to Katherine.
"God, you need to get with the 21st century," Katherine sighed.
"You don't need to comment on everything, you know. Especially when I am doing you a favor," Elena snapped.
"Ah-ah! We're doing each other a favor," Katherine corrected.
"I'll call you next Friday, and we'll meet up somewhere and switch back," Katherine told Elena. "Now, are you ready?"
Elena slowly walked over to blonde girl who Katherine said was her personal assistant.
"God, Kat!" The blonde woman groaned, sighing. "Where the hell have you been?"
Elena froze.
This was it.
Now or never.
Think Katherine.
"My bad," she said, sighing. "I was in the bathroom." She shrugged.
"Okay, well, now that you're all ready, the limo's out front!" Caroline said, and Elena was dragged out front of her family's restaurant through a fresh rainstorm into her limo.
"Oh, my." Caroline sighed as the driver closed the door. "What a day,"
"Yeah." Elena agreed, placing her hands in her lap.
"Alright, I'll bite. What's wrong?"
Elena looked up and Caroline was eying her suspiciously,
"Nothing," she shook her head.
Just then, Elena felt the phone in Katherine's bag vibrate, and Elena hastily dug it out. Without looking at the ID, she answered.
"Hello?" She asked.
"Hey, girl," A bubbly voice rang through her phone.
"Hey," Elena said, and a moment of silence came from the other end of the phone.
"Lucy! I suppose after what I said about you to TMZ, I deserve that," Lucy sighed.
"It's fine," Elena said, shaking her head.
There was no way in hell that this would pull off. By the morning, she and Katherine would be switched back.
"So, listen. Can you do lunch tomorrow?" Lucy asked, and Elena bit her lip.
"Sure," she said, trying to sound enthusiastic. Katherine would. "Where?"
"Cool. 'll text you the info. Later."
Elena looked down at the phone.
Did Katherine and her friends always hang up on each other?
As Katherine reluctantly helped clean the restaurant, she sighed. This was easy. She could make a living portraying Elena. Mentally, Katherine made a note to offer Elena this opportunity again next time she was feeling a little overwhelmed.
"Hey, Elena," A young looking guy walked in, and Katherine turned to face him. It was Elena's little brother, Jeremy. Elena said that he was only a few years younger, a freshman.
"Yeah, Jer?" she asked, using the nickname that Elena had told her to call him.
"Dad said we could head home. School and all," he told her, and Katherine sighed happily inside.
"Alright," she nodded, tossing the damp rag that she had been using in the sink.
Elena stared in awe at the elegant apartment complex that towered in front of her. It looked like something that Angelina Jolie or Paris Hilton would live in. And Katherine Pierce.
"We should go get some sleep," Caroline said as she stepped out of the limo. "You have a ten o' clock photo shoot with Cosmopolitan,"
"Alright," Elena said, and followed Caroline up to the apartment.
Katherine nearly groaned as she took in the house. It was a small little white house, two stories high, and it had a porch that stretched all around the house by the looks of it. Elena sure had the typical life.
"I'll be upstairs," Jeremy said as he headed upstairs, and Katherine looked around. The place smelt like some ginger candle, and when Elena looked in the corner, she saw a mahogany piano, and sure enough, to illuminated candles rested on the top of it. Katherine wandered over to it, her fingers running over the rich wood. She had taken piano lessons since she was six, and she loved to play. One of the few things in life that she genuinely loved.
As Katherine turned away from the living room, she headed upstairs, and when she approached a set of doors, she took a chance with the one on the far right.
Thankfully, she was correct, and Katherine walked into a pink room. God, the girl was so unpopular, Katherine thought.
Katherine slowly stripped out of her 'Elena' clothes and wandered over to the closet, pulling out a pair of shorts and a tank top. And as Katherine climbed into Elena's bed, she spotted a magazine on the floor.
Bending to pick it up, Katherine turned it onto the cover, and she was graced all over it, dressed as her character Elizabeth. behind her, was Damon as Josh, her love interest in the movie.
Katherine's eyes widened as she realized that she had never told Elena that Damon was her love interest in the movie. Now that Katherine thought about it, had she even mentioned the movie to Elena?
The girl could find things out for her own.
It was time for Elena to put on her big girl pants.
Still, Katherine didn't want her image tarnished with headlines such as 'Katherine Pierce and Damon Salvatore Caught Cozying Up On Set Of Movie'.
Elena better not mess up her career.
Elena climbed into Katherine's bed, which was a rich satin or silk material, and sighed as she turned on the TV.
"...It is rumored that Katherine Pierce is reportedly in a relationship with teen heartthrob, Damon Salvatore..."
Every girl at school was obsessed with Damon Salvatore. He graced the cover of every magazine, and he was on every talk show. Elena didn't really follow his life like some of the other girls, but she knew who he was. And that he and Katherine were constantly linked in the tabloids.
Elena flipped the channel.
"...And Katherine Pierce's new movie, Triple Threat, is just one week from finishing filming..."
Elena clamped her hand to her mouth. She had completely forgotten that Katherine was in the middle of shooting a movie! How in hell was she supposed to pull that off?
It was going to be a long week.
AN:PLEASE FAVE/FOLLOW. Oh, and PLEASE REVIEW :) It motivates me to update more!
PS: Check out my other TVD/DE fanfic stories! I'd REALLY appreciate it :)
PPS: Follow me on Twitter EverbloomMist13!
(THEME SONG) I Want You To Want Me ~KSM
Soundtrack that inspired/mentioned in this chapter:
Applause ~Lady GaGa
Pop Princess ~ The Click Five
Falling Down ~ Selena Gomez
Glamourous ~ Fergie