This is just a short story. I've only ever written in first person and I want to expand my horizons so to speak. I asked my son for an idea for a short story and he suggested, 'The Dating Game' so here we are.
Chapter One: 'Poker Face'.
Since it's a quiet Saturday and she has no plans, Elena walks into the kitchen to see what she has to snack on. After grabbing the bowl of grapes from out of the refrigerator, she goes into the living room, grabs the TV remote then plops down on the couch to get comfortable. She puts her feet up on the end table and then turns on the TV. Scrolling through the channels, she finds an old Hitchcock movie, 'North by Northwest'. Giddy because she loves Cary Grant and Hitchcock, she sets the remote down and puts the bowl of grapes on her lap. She starts plopping one after another into her mouth savoring their sweet flavor as it erupts on her tongue, igniting her taste buds. Just as the bad guys start to force alcohol down Cary's throat, the doorbell rings. Dropping her chin to her chest, she sighs heavily because someone is interrupting her drama free day. Setting the grapes down, she gets up hesitantly then walks to the door. As soon as she pulls it open, her friend, Caroline Forbes pushes her way inside without saying a word.
"Caroline? What's up?" Elena asks hesitantly knowing that she really doesn't want to hear the answer. Caroline gives her a quick hug then disappears into the living room. With her spidey senses on high alert, Elena pushes the door closed then reluctantly goes back into the living room to see what exaggerated drama Caroline is about to unleash. Without wasting a second, Caroline grabs her hands and pulls her onto the couch. In her head, Elena is counting down the seconds till whatever Caroline is about to spill disrupts her once quiet day.
"Elena, I need the biggest favor. Please you have to help me out here."
"Of course, Caroline. You know that I'll do anything for you," Elena reassures, taking Caroline's hands in her own.
"Remember when I signed up to be a contestant on the dating game?"
"Yes, of course. Why?"
"Elena, they called. They want me to be on but now that I'm in a relationship with Nick, I can't do it."
"Why don't you just tell them that?"
"I sort of promised them that my friend would take my spot as one of the bachelorettes."
"You what?" Elena snaps, lurching to her feet. Running her hand through her glistening chestnut hair, Elena rounds on Caroline.
"I.. I told them that you would be happy to take my place on the panel."
"You did not," Elena snaps, getting nose to nose with her friend.
"Come on, Elena. You owe me."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. Who was it that went on a date with Kai when you chickened out?"
"I didn't chicken out," Elena says, her voice uncharacteristically soft.
"Oh yes you did, missy."
"But Caroline, being on the dating game. It's not even in the same ball park."
"Well, I don't care. You owe me and this is how you can repay it," Caroline says, unwilling to take no for an answer.
"But this is a dating game, Caroline."
"Oh stop complaining. Your chances of being chosen are only one in three. Odds are that you won't get picked anyway. Cheer up," Caroline scoffs, looking at Elena pointedly.
"When is it?"
"Next week. I'll even go with you to the studio."
"Gah, I hate this. You will owe me big time, Caroline."
"No, we'll be even."
After staring at Caroline for several moments, Elena drops her chin to her chest, uttering, "Just kill me now."
"Elena, stop. For heaven's sake, it's not going to be that bad. I'm sure the guy will be a hottie anyway, they usually are on that show."
"Please tell me why you ever applied to be on the stupid show anyway?"
"Because I thought it would be fun. And I was looking for a man at the time I filled out the application."
"I'm so going to regret this," Elena says more to herself than to Caroline."
"Come on, let's go shopping. We have to find you something fabulous to wear."
"Who cares what I'm wearing? Like you said, odds are that he won't pick me so what does it matter?"
"Elena, you'll be on TV. You can't just look frumpy," Caroline remarks, aghast.
"Alright, I'll go get my purse. I'll be right back," Elena concedes. After sharing a hint of a scathing look at her friend, she stomps of the staircase, grabs her purse out of the bedroom. Sighing heavily, Elena quickly slips on a comfortable pair of shoes then rejoins Caroline, the two of them leaving to find something presentable to wear.
Walking into his closet, Damon starts thumbing through his shirts that are hanging on the bar. Not finding what he wants, he looks through his dirty clothes hamper that's sitting in the corner of his large walk in closet. Starting to feel frustrated because he can't find what he's looking for, he dumps the dirty clothes onto the floor to look for the shirt. Still unsuccessful, he pulls open one dresser drawer after the next coming up empty handed again. After slamming the last drawer shut, Damon walks out of his closet, drops to his knees and looks under the bed. Damon did bring a lady friend home last week after all but he doesn't remember if he wore the shirt on that night or not. Finding a pair of panties, Damon uses his thumb and forefinger, to pull it out. "Ooh disgusting," he says to himself, his face contorting with distaste. After depositing it in the waste basket, Damon goes to look for his house mate and best friend.
"Brady, do you have my Varvatos button down? I want to wear it when I'm on TV next week," Damon yells, looking through his dress shirts that are hanging in his walk in closet.
"Yeah, I borrowed it for my date with Sarah. It's at the cleaners." Brady answers, walking into Damon's room. "And why the hell are you going to be on TV?"
"I filled out an application to be on 'The Dating Game'. I got a call back for an interview. Yours truly is going to be the bachelor on next Wednesday's show."
"Seriously?" Brady blurts out, unable to contain the laughter that escapes.
"You think this is funny?"
"It's hysterical. Since when have you ever had trouble getting some?"
"It's not that and it wasn't on a whim either. Enzo dared me. I mean, what would you have me do, Brady? He called me a coward."
"So if he called you a coward for refusing to take a swan dive off the Golden Gate Bridge, would you do it?"
"Stop Brady, it's not the same and you know it. Besides, I'm a professor, primitive sexual practices and all...," Damon teases, waggling his brows.
"You're so full of yourself, Damon," Brady laments, playfully shaking his head. "I'll go get you the ticket from the dry cleaners. You can pick it up yourself if that's what you want to wear."
"Great, thanks buddy."
"When you get to be a celebrity, don't forget your friends," Brady laughs, walking out of Damon's room.
"Caroline, are you really going to make me go through with this?" Elena asks, staring out of the window as Caroline drives them to the studio.
"Elena, you can't back out now. We have to be there so they can do your hair and makeup and go over the rules with you. It's going to be so much fun, I just know it," Caroline gushes.
"You're only saying that because you're not the one who has to face the firing squad," Elena snaps back.
"Oh stop being so melodramatic," Caroline chides, shaking her head. Soon they pull into the studio parking lot. Once the car is parked, Elena and Caroline step out. Elena's eyes dart all around, looking for an escape route. Before she even has a chance to sprint away, Caroline takes her by the hand, practically dragging Elena inside of the building. Knowing that she'll have to go through with it, albeit grudgingly, Elena stops in her tracks and turns to face Caroline.
"If you ever ask me to do something like this again, we're through. Do you understand?" Elena asks, getting into Caroline's face.
"Really Elena?" Caroline scoffs, rolling her eyes. "Stop whining already."
Feeling tempers beginning to flare, Elena takes a deep cleansing breath. "I am not whining, Caroline. It's just that being a contestant on the dating game wasn't ever on my bucket list of things to do before I croak," Elena adds, her voice dripping with disdain. After blowing out a big puff of air, Elena clasps her hands repeated at her sides before honing in on Caroline once more.
"It won't be the end of our friendship but you better promise me right here and right now that something like this will never happen again," Elena demands, crossing her arms over chest in defiance.
"I promise, now behave yourself. The studio is right over there," Caroline adds, pointing out the number of the one that they're supposed to go to. Once inside, the two girls are directed to another room so Elena can get primped to go on the air. Rolling her eyes once more for good measure, Elena dutifully follows along, taking the seat at the makeup artist's chair. Looking around the room, Elena notices two other girls getting ready. One is a buxom blonde with big pouty lips while the other is a ginger with beady green eyes. With a shake of the head, Elena turns away, looking at herself in the mirror.
"Miss Gilbert, my name is Jenny. I'll be doing your hair and makeup for the show," the girls says, introducing herself.
"Please call me Elena."
"You do have beautiful brown eyes, Elena. I'm going to do a blue smoky eye, not in your face but a more subdued smoky look. You really don't need much makeup, you're very beautiful."
"Thank you," Elena answers, not used to being pampered like this. By the time Jenny finishes her makeup and her hair, Elena looks stunning if she were to say so herself.
"Elena Gilbert, look at you!" Caroline squeals, giving the girl a gentle hug.
"Time to get to the set, ladies," a man with a headset and clipboard announces, directing the women onto the set. As soon as the girls sit down behind the barrier that shields them from the bachelor, the director gives them some last minutes instructions. Bored, Elena listens half-heartedly, keeping fingers crossed that the bachelor will choose one of the other two women.
The theme song for the show starts to play as the host walks out onto the stage. "Let's give a big welcome to our studio audience today and to our fans watching at home on the television screens. Today there are three lovely young ladies waiting to find out if they'll be the one chosen. Our bachelor is backstage in a sound proof room so none of what I'm telling you now about the girls will be heard by him. As soon as the show is back from a commercial break, the girls will be introduced. I'm Wes Maxfield and this is 'The Dating Game'."
The minutes tick by slowly. Finally the break ends when Wes starts to introduce the contestants. "Bachelorette number one is Rebekah. Hailing from New York City, she arrived in Las Vegas two years ago. Admitting she's here on a dare from one of her friends, Rebekah is a performer with the Circue de Soleil 'Mystere' show at Treasure Island. Please welcome Rebekah to our show, Wes says, leading the applause.
"Bachelorette number two is Sage. Being a Las Vegas native, Sage knows her way around. She runs a very successful gentlemen's club on Freemont street. Although Sage assures us that she has no lack of suitors, her goal here is to have fun. Please welcome Sage to the show," Wes adds before moving onto Elena.
And lastly, we have bachelorette number three, Elena. Elena is a transplanted Las Vegas resident, relocating here from a small town in Virginia. She is a freelance writer, having had several articles published in the Las Vegas Sun and the Review Journal. Her goal here today is to not be chosen," Wes laughs along with the audience. "We'll have to see how that works out for her. Please welcome and give another round of applause to Elena."
Within seconds the theme music starts to play again, signaling the introduction of the bachelor. "Our bachelor today is Damon. He is a bartender and proprietor of 'The Bourbon Room'. Damon's bar is located inside The Venetian hotel and casino. Damon enjoys spending time with opposite sex and riding dirt bike and canoeing with his buddies. Please give a warm dating game welcome to Damon," Wes says, leading the applause.
Damon walks onto stage, his swagger confident. Once he reaches Wes, he offers him a hand, shaking it firmly. "So Damon, there are three very lovely ladies behind that partition. At the end of the show, you'll be choosing one of them to be your date. Take that chair and we'll begin the show." Nodding, Damon walks over and sits down on the chair. As soon as Wes signals him, Damon reaches into his pocket to pull out his list of questions.
Taking a breath, Damon begins. "Bachelorette number one, let's say we're a couple and a mutual friend of ours starts to flirt with you. Would you tell me?"
"No," Rebekah laughs.
"Why not?" Damon asks, the look on his face incredulous.
"Because maybe I'm attracted to the mutual friend too."
"Okay then." Not knowing what to think about the answer, Damon continues, "Bachelorette number two, A cashier gives you back too much money, what would you do?"
"Keep it of course," Sage scoffs, rolling her eyes. Unseen by Damon, the audience starts to laugh as they are privy to the facial expressions of the contestants. Without acknowledging the answer, Damon moves on to the third girl.
"Bachelorette number three, "Is it ever okay to cheat and why?"
"Have you ever been in a relationship or just think you have that you would even remotely consider it okay to ask such a question? It's never, ever okay to cheat," Elena snaps, clearly offended by the man's stupid ass question. The audience starts to applaud wildly so much so the host has to tell the people to shush. When the ruckus finally dies down, Wes again interrupts the proceedings so the show can go to a commercial break.
A little stunned yet also captivated with number three's fire, Damon wants nothing more than to have a look at her.
Since Damon is on stage, Elena and the two other women have to keep their places behind the partition. Bored to tears, Elena stands up to stretch her limbs, glaring at Caroline who's standing behind the curtain just out of the camera's view finder. Shifting from one foot to the other uncomfortably, Caroline forces an insincere smile on her lips.
"Damon, you may continue to question the ladies now." Wes informs both Damon and the audience that show will continue now.
"Bachlorette number one, What is your idea of a romantic evening?"
"Well, Damon," Rebekah begins, staring at her manicure while she speaks. "I like to be wined and dined at the best restaurants in the city. When the meal is finished, I want the man to take me dancing, ply me with champagne and take me to heights previously unknown if you get the drift."
Clearing his throat, Damon feels a surge of lust run through him. Sucking in a breath discreetly, Damon looks at his list of questions again, focusing this time on the next woman. "Bachelorette number two, What color best describes your personality and why?"
"My favorite color is green. It just goes with everything, plus my name has something to do with green. On top of all that, the word is synonymous with jealousy. I want all the girls to be jealous when I'm hanging on your arm when we go on our date."
"Okay then," Damon laughs, struck by the boldness of the answer. "Bachelorette number three, you need to cancel your weekend plans because of rain, what do you do instead?"
"Well, since my friend never seems to give me a moment's peace, I'd probably get roped into doing something with her, Elena retorts in a voice dripping with disdain. "However if I had my druthers, I'd make some popcorn, then I'd find a good movie from the nineteen thirties or forties, pop it in the DVD player and then I'd kick back and relax."
Stunned at the simplicity of her answer, Damon can't help but think of how nice it would be to do as she mentioned. Only the girl would be in his arms, sharing the huge bowl of buttered popcorn. When the audience starts to howl, Damon snaps out of his reverie and goes back to the first lady. "Bachelorette number one, "what nicknames have you had?"
"Psycho Barbie. Barbie Klaus," Rebekah laughs, causing the audience to laugh with her.
"Are you psycho? I mean you wouldn't go all Norman Bates on me if I chose you?" Damon asks, a bit wary of picking this one. Surely there's a reason why she has the word psycho in her nickname.
"That's for me to know and for you to dot, dot, dot," Rebekah adds, raising her eyebrows teasingly at Sage and Elena.
Damon doesn't know what to think of this answer so he brushes it off and goes onto the next one. "Bachelorette number two, what's your theme song and why?"
"Mac the Knife. And it's because I have a killer personality if you know what I mean, Damon," Sage replies, her voice low and sultry sounding.
"Um, interesting," Damon admits, a bit unsettled by and maybe even a little frightened of the woman. "Bachelorette number three, what's your biggest turn off?"
"That would be my best friend bulldozing me into doing something that I had no desire or intestinal fortitude to do," Elena replies, her voice full of rancor. Looking towards Caroline who's watching from backstage, Elena gives her a satisfied smirk when her friend fidgets nervously. Although she absolutely hates participating in this, she can't help but think that the bachelor guy has a nice voice. Although she's certain that she won't be chosen, she does try to imagine what the guy looks like. Perhaps he has messy hair, walks with a confident swagger, or perhaps he's a sloth, meaning too lazy to find a date the normal way.
Damon laughs, a deep throated real laugh. When he finally composes himself, Damon asks another question of number three. "What's the farthest you've gone not in a relationship?"
"Shaking hands," Elena retorts, staring at her manicure. Although she's trying to sound indifferent and apathetic, there is something about this guys laugh that is tweaking her desire to at least have a look at him.
"Well, how about then, the farthest you've gone in a relationship?" Damon adds, his voice full of mirth.
"Well Damon, that's none of your business."
Taken aback, Damon is caught off guard when an unexpected shiver of lust makes his dick twitch uncomfortably. Discreetly, he straightens out his pants. Trying to shake it off, Damon opens his mouth to ask another question when suddenly Wes interrupts to go to a commercial break. Raking his hand through his hair, Damon thinks about the answers that the girls have given so far. For some reason, the indifference in number three's voice intrigues him. Dropping his eyes to his lap, Damon can only wait anxiously until the show starts again. As soon as the cameras go live, Wes walks out from behind the curtain and back onto the stage. As soon as the applause dies down, the man starts to talk.
"Alright, Damon. We have time for one more question for each of the contestants before you have to make your decision. You may continue now."
"Bachelorette number one, what do you think is your best feature?"
"Oh sweetheart, that's easy.. my lips. I'm sure they'll fit around your... just perfectly," Rebekah purrs. The audience breaks out in cat calls and wolf whistles. Shifting uncomfortably in the chair, Damon discreetly drops his eyes to his groin when he feels a bit of a tickle. He quickly looks up when he hears Wes start to speak again.
"Please ladies and gentlemen, quiet down, we're running out of time. You may continue, Damon," Wes announces, stepping aside once the people finally quiet down.
"Bachelorette number two, same question," Damon asks, chuckling quietly.
"Well, Damon. That would be my legs. I'd wrap them around your middle and flip us over in the blink of an eye," Sage says, raising her hand to high five Rebekah. Unbeknownst to Damon, Elena rolls her eyes. Confident that Damon won't choose her after these answers, Elena breathes a little sigh of relief.
"Last question, Damon," Wes interrupts.
"This one is for you, bachelorette number three, also the same question."
"What is my best feature? My mind," Elena responds, saying it so matter of factly that one would think Damon had asked her if the sky is blue.
"The show is going to go to one more commercial break and when we come back, Damon will make his decision." The camera goes dark again. Damon stands up to stretch out his legs a little bit. Although the man would like nothing more than to see what the girls look like, that would be breaking the rules. Something about number three intrigues him. The girl seems almost a little hostile. Surely there is a story there, Damon thinks to himself. Before long, Wes is telling him to come to stand beside him so he can announce his decision.
"Well Damon, the time has come. Which bachelorette do you choose?"
"It's a hard decision to be sure, Wes."
"Well, Damon, don't keep us waiting."
"I choose bachelorette number three." The camera pans to the three women. But as soon as things get testy between the females, their microphones are cut so the audience can't hear them go at each other.
Rebekah and Sage turn on Elena, glaring at her. Stunned, Elena's gawps, no sound coming out of her mouth. "How on earth did he choose me?" Elena asks, a shocked look on her face.
"I'd like to know that myself," Rebekah scoffs, distaste dripping from her lips as she scowls at Elena.
"Do you really think that a mouse like you could ever please a man?" Sage piles on, glaring at her as if she were a bug that the woman would like nothing more than to squash with her stilettos.
"Listen here you two bimbos, I didn't ask for him to choose me, I didn't want him to choose me so lay off," Elena defends herself, standing up with hands on her hips.
"Alright, Damon. Are you ready to meet the ladies?"
"Very much so," Damon adds.
"Bachelorette number one is Rebekah. Come out and say hello to Damon," Wes says to her. Rebekah walks out from behind the partition, smiling a big phony smile. As soon as she stands in front of Damon, the guy leans forward to press a kiss to her cheek. Not one to be spurned, Rebekah whispers in his ear, "You chose poorly." Backing away, she raises her eyebrows at him before leaving the stage. Next Sage comes out, strutting towards him, confident and cat like. Damon greets her too, leaning in to press a kiss to her cheek.
"Too bad, lover, we could've had a wonderful time in my big beautiful bed," Sage whispers in his ear before sashaying off the stage. Damon can only stare, open mouthed as he watches the woman's ass swing from side to side till she disappears behind the curtain.
"And now the moment you've been waiting for, Damon. Bachelorette number three, please come out. Standing up, Elena looks for Caroline, giving the blonde a scathing look before forcing a smile on her face and walking out from behind the partition.
"Damon, this is Elena," Wes says, introducing the two of them. Damon is completely flabbergasted. The woman he's staring at is simply stunning. Finding his voice, Damon smiles the panty dropping smile that the ladies seem to swoon over before greeting the goddess that is in front of him.
"Hello, Elena," Damon says, taking her hand and pressing a tender kiss to the top of it.
"It's nice to meet you too, Damon," Elena adds, albeit a little hesitantly. Not knowing that she's up against, Elena summons every ounce of self control she has so as not to say something sarcastic. Although being chosen is worse than being boiled in oil for Elena, she has to admit that Damon is very nicely put together.
"When we get back from the break, I'll give you details of your date," Wes tells the two of them and the audience. Once the signal is given that the show is in a commercial break, Damon turns to face Elena again. The man is in awe, he cannot believe that he chose so wisely.
Elena simply doesn't know what to think. Her mind is whir of confusion and chaos. Never in her wildest imagination did she think that Damon would choose her. Despite everything being wrong here, Elena cannot get over the unworldly hue of his piercing blue eyes. They're simply dazzling in their intensity. Feeling herself about to get lost in them, the reverie is broken when the show's producer announces that that the cameras will begin filming again in ten seconds. Wes hurriedly walks back over to stand beside Elena. When the director points at the host, Wes again greets the audience before turning to face Elena and Damon.
Whether on purpose or by habit, Damon laces his fingers with Elena's. A subtle, indiscernible gasp escapes her lips when she feels sparks erupt everywhere his skin touches hers. For a millisecond, when their eyes join, Elena wonders if Damon felt the sparks too, given the way his mouth is slightly agape.
"Are you ready to learn about your date?" Wes asks, his eyes darting from the audience to the man and woman beside him and then back to the audience again.
"The two of you are going to get to spend a night by yourselves camping out in the shark tank that's inside Mandalay Bay. First you will be given a gourmet meal with an entrée and dessert of your choice along with drinks. From there you will be given complete privacy to spend a night sleeping with the sharks. How does that sound?"
There is raucous applause from the audience. Elena is actually flabbergasted. How could anyone know how important sharks are to her? When Damon squeezes her hand affectionately, Elena looks at him, almost falling captive to the fire inside of his ocean-hued blue eyes.
"Elena, how does that sound?" Wes asks, breaking the reverie.
"I'm honestly stunned," the girl admits. "I actually love sharks. What about you, Damon?" Elena queries, raising her eyes to his once more.
"The feeling is mutual, Elena. I'm really looking forward to it."
"Well ladies and gentlemen in the audience and those of you at home. We'll see you next tomorrow for a new episode of The Dating Game." Wes announces. Within seconds the camera's read light goes off. The audience stays seated because they'll be shooting another episode to air at a later date.
"When will this be on the air?" Damon asks, signaling with his finger back and forth between himself and Elena.
"We shoot three weeks in advance. This episode should air sometime during the week of the twenty eighth," Wes informs them. After that, Damon and Elena are escorted off the stage to meet with the date coordinator to set up rides and other incidental things. By the time they're finished, it's late in the afternoon. After saying goodbye to each other, Elena leaves with her friend, Caroline while Damon leaves with his buddy, Brady. Before getting into Brady's car, Damon looks around.
Quite by accident, their eyes meet from across the parking lot. Damon feels like he's under some hypnotic spell because all the man wants to do is run over to Elena, pull her into his arms and kiss her like there's no tomorrow. In this moment, it's like only Damon and Elena exist as the rest of the world just fades into nothingness.
"Damon?"
"Wha.. what?" Damon asks, confused.
"Where were you?" Brady asks.
"I'd like to know that myself."
Shaking off the stupor, Damon crawls into the passenger seat, buckles the seatbelt and rolls down the window. With Brady behind the wheel, all Damon can think about is drowning inside the brunette's endless brown eyes.
Big thanks to Matt for giving me the idea for this. And a huge thanks to Eva for helping me with this and all of my stories. She's really a gem and I love her to bits.
I have posted the final chapter of 'Dig'. The final chapter of 'Angels Fall' will be posting this week. Once it's marked complete, I will post chapter 3 of 'Turn the Page'. I have updated 'Nothing Left to Fear' twice in the last two days. Please have a look.
Chapter title: 'Poker Face' by Lady Gaga.
Thank you all so much for supporting my stories. I wouldn't be here without your feedback either. I'm just not ready to say goodbye to DE just yet.. This is my small part in keeping them alive.
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I hope you all have a wonderful day. Be safe and we'll see you for part 2 soon.