Summary: Series of connected one shots in an AU universe where human Caroline works for Mystic Grill, owned by Alaric and her introduction to the supernatural world.
A/n: hello all, i have decided to write when the inspiration strikes and the inspiration for this series struck me late night i decided to give it a go, this is going to be a series of one shots, small chapters detailing Caroline as waitress in Mystic Grill and her adventures. It's an experiment, drop me a review and let me know whether i should continue...thanks.
Raspberry meringue Pie
'He's here again...' Matt said in her ear, carrying past the last load of dirty dishes to be washed. She looked out behind the bar's counter and Matt was right, 'he' was here again.
She can already hear the taunt coming from Matt, but rushed to cut him off because she's in no mood for casual banter. Her shift at the grill started at six a.m. and it was already midnight now, she'd been working on pure auto pilot for the last hour and half 'It's kind of late, i presume you're going to be closing up tonight since our boss in nowhere in sight?'
Matt paused mid dish washing to look over at her in his white t-shirt was stained with the days grease and his brow heavily soaked in sweat, 'Uh, Ric was pretty sure he'll be back before then, so I hope not... hey why don't you go and ask your crush what he wants... it's twenty minutes to closing time already.'
Caroline Forbes felt her face flush a healthy red for a minute, not an unbecoming look for her but there was a fiery undertone to it, something Matt was well aware of which is why he did not turn to watch her punctuate her defence, 'I do NOT have a crush on the window- booth-guy, nor have i ever behaved in a way that would show I'm in anyway I'm sweet on him, you need to stop saying it or your ass is grass'
'My ass is grass ?, Oh come on Care, how can you not have a crush on 'him', you get all school girl clumsy when he shows up, i swear to god, if me and Ric weren't around to make sure, you'd probably be necking with him on the counter faster than we can say 'you're momma would be ashamed'.'
She rolled her eyes knowing it was no use trying to state her case, Matt Donovan and Alaric Saltzman had a ridiculously overprotective streak when it came to her and any guys. It was almost as if they had 'third degree' set in their minds by default for any guy she showed an interest in. Not that she was showing an interest in any...yet, anyway.
'Well, I'm technically still in school...'The clean dishes were multiplying faster than he could clear them off the counter, 'Yea...but you've been physically out of college for the last year and a half, i can't believe the sheriff's alright with you dropping out'
From the corner of her eye she saw that every pie dish was empty and squeaky clean waiting to be filled up again, she looked over the day's leftover and found the last piece of raspberry meringue pie, plating it and turned around to answer Matt 'Of course she is, I'm a strong individual and I've got my own life free of any constraints...'
'Constraints...like higher education, a college fund and a place to live...you're right, i can see the dream now' He said sighing dramatically, Caroline smirked, wondering if she would ever live down her crap-tacular youth in this town, 'For the last time my mom did not kick me out...' she repeated, because it was in her nature to bullshit every her way through misfortune every now and then.
'That's' not what it sounded like when you came bawling to Ric in his office ...' Matt surmised before she turned to leave with the pie, he was wiping the last of the dishes dry.
Caroline stopped, 'You were listening?'
'I might have been in the vicinity then...I work here remember, like all the time?'
She groaned at his admission unable to form a believable lie, if he's heard...other waitresses might have heard. Great, the living down of her decisions was clearly going to have to park itself for a while then. She looked behind her to make sure the guy was still in the booth waiting patiently for...god knows what. He never orders anything except for drinks once in a while.
Matt noticed her waning interest in their banter and chose a different tact, 'Hey Care, what if the guy in the booth is a hitman...he even looks the part... dark, depressed and a total douche bag with tips?' She whipped around, irrationally irritated with him there was no need to resort to the third degree without her even making a play for the stranger, 'Do me a favour and stop being such a dork okay?'
He wiped his brow clean, clearly annoyed with her now, 'I will, if you stop being such a nympho and coming on to customers.' Not much took her to lose it and this was the epic insult right there waiting for an equally rude comeback.
'Screw you!' She said fighting the urge to jump over the counter and throttle him. Matt could be such an ass sometimes, but before he could mouth possibly the same to her, Alaric Saltzman charged in with an arm load of boxes, hiding from his view both Caroline and Matt, calmly telling them, 'Screwing of any kind is prohibited in the kitchen...it's unhygienic.'
Caroline was not amused, she waited for him to put the boxes down before addressing him, and saw a thin cut on the side of his forehead, leaking blood.
'What the hell happened to you?'
If there was an expression Alaric wasn't associated with it had to be 'a deer caught in headlights', but at that moment he reminded her so much of a man caught in a lie or something similar, she swore he shifted uneasily as Matt and her waited for a legitimate response. He fingered the cut gingerly, almost as if he's been unaware of it until Caroline pointed it out. 'I-i clipped myself with the door...of the car.'
For once Matt and her shared a look of disbelief, while their boss fiddled with more boxes talking about pickles and cheese, which is where he was for the last three hours, getting the cheese and pickles. When he noticed both youths looking at him questioningly he returned a hard look of a boss who would fire their asses in under a minute if they didn't get moving. 'Go tell the guy in the booth we're closing and Matt help with the rest of the boxes...'
She took the pie plate and walked off to the said booth ignoring Matt's parting comment of, 'Don't go home with him or something...' while Alaric demanded a band aid from Matt.
He was handsome; she had to admit in a old fashioned way, dressed in dark brooding tones with a matching expression which didn't scream'come ravage me'. When she approached he was contemplating a large ring on his finger, he didn't sense her come up because he only looked up when Caroline slid the piece of raspberry pie in his direction, he caught it before the plate could slide off the table.
'Nice ring...here, this on the house, it was the last piece of the day...'
He looked at her quizzically, silently observing her forwardness. She didn't introduce herself, maybe he found her behaviour rude? Everyone knew her in Mystic Falls so it was a bit daunting, dealing with a stranger for the first time in a while, a good looking stranger. She sincerely hoped Matt was not eavesdropping on this conversation.
'I promise it's really good, one the grill favourites, I make tons of these, you must be lucky one if you're getting the last piece..'
She felt strangely out of breath at having to explain the creamy goodness of her pies to this man, she did not know if he even liked pie. Maybe he hated pie and thought she was pretentious and rude moron?
Way to go Caroline, great first impressions.
No wonder she often resorted to getting drunk and flashing egotiscal maniacs like Tyler Lockwood .Oh god, another one of those times she wishes she could crawl under a rock and hide. The first and hopefully last time she'd gotten that smashed, her mother truly would have been ashamed of her, she shuddered at the memory, fairly faint in her mind. Thank god Alaric had been there to drag her ass home. But then Tyler Lockwood kept trying to corner her to strike up conversations with her which she'd successfully avoided... till now.
'I'm Caroline...uh we're closing about in a few minutes so...enjoy the pie.' that was her last piece offering before turning around to go, trying hard to absorb the colour that had rapidly blossomed in her cheeks, when she saw him move out of the corner of her eye, he had lifted a small piece on the fork 'Thanks...I'm Stefan'
She turned to give him her two shades brighter, smile. Something mechanical and cold in his eyes changed and he seemed to light up with energy Caroline liked to believe her pie charged him with.
'Are you getting stood up or something because you've been coming here every day, not ordering much and looking like your waiting for someone.' She had said a bit more than she wanted and felt repulsiveness towards her own chronic clumsiness with honesty. The spread of the smile on man's face was gradual like ice breaking, indulgent in its warmth and mystery, revealing nothing.
It was the sort of smile which sad 'oh look what an observant little blonde stalker ...'
He took a long bite of the pie, chewing appreciatively before answering her I'm looking for a friend, I heard he comes in here allot so... I thought I might catch a glimpse of him...maybe surprise him.' The revelation that it was a man, thrilled her to a great extent, she tried her best to hide it. If he noticed her relief he thankfully did not comment on it and continued with measured mouthfuls of pie while she chattered about Mystic Falls being a great place to live if he was planning to live and if not it was a great place to stop over.
Maybe he was indulging a ranting moron but he didn't appear to hate her company, in fact he was encouraging with smiles and murmurs of agreement. Alaric's presence was clearly punctuated by his repetition of 'we are closing now...' in calm dulcet tones, delivered for the benefit of both her and the handsome non-crush.
Caroline started to give a glare, but then relented when she saw Alaric give her a pointed look, and it might have been her imagination but the guy in the booth gave her boss a cold look full of disdain.
It was almost a touch hateful, she doubted Alaric noticed he was busy counting the till, but mystery man's his goodbye was as cordial as his greeting to her.
'I'll see you around Caroline...'
She remained standing at the booth trying her damndest not to look like she was swooning over a complete stranger who could very well be a hitman, like Matt so aptly decided to put it.
Still he had a charming smile, something about it had been inadvertently inviting as much as it had been secretive. Caroline would be lying if she said she didn't want to see that smile again, she hoped she did very soon too.
'I didn't know you loved your job so much Caroline...' Alaric remarked cleverly looking at receipts snapping her out of her apparent drool fest which had even made her boss uncomfortable, 'Maybe you could do me some accounts for me overnight' he added for a better measure, that got her moving because there was never a subject she hated more than accounts or balancing books.
That and then there was Matt's deadpan, 'Please tell me, you didn't throw your number at him...' as he came out of the kitchen, dressed to leave the grill while both Alaric and Caroline rolled their eyes in unison.
