Elena was beyond irritated at her friend right now.
"But Elenaaa! Your voice is amazing and you damn-well know it!" Caroline stated in disbelief. Honestly, Elena could be so stubborn sometimes! Doesn't she know that any girl would kill to have her voice?
"Caroline, I've told you this before! I. Don't. Sing!" she said, raising her voice an octave to make her point clear.
Caroline huffed, stood up from the bed and began pacing the room "What do I have to say ,or do, to convince you. To. Sing?!" she replied in the same tone, mocking her.
"Give me a life supply of Eggplant Parmeasan.", she smirked. Her friend narrowed her eyes "I'm Joking. But, seriously, I can't... Considering my history and all..." she trailed off, attempting to avoid the subject.
Caroline didn't get the memo. "You know, you still haven't told me why he dumped you." she pried, but in a softer tone than what she used in her previous lecture.
"I know, I know..." she dragged on. A thick layer of tension filled the room, thick enough to cut through with a knife. Caroline was eager to break said tension, so she used one of her mastered skills... Changing the subject.
"Anyways, I found this on the grill's pinboard..." she took out the poster "I thought I might as well try to persuade you to come with me..."
Elena stared down at the poster, wide eyed.
Karaoke Night
Mystic Grill
Wednesdays, 7:30- 11pm
Come on down to the grill and sing along to your favourite tunes with your friends!
She unconsciously chuckled at the cringe-worthy poster. Classic grill, she mused. " Care, I-"
"No!" Caroline interrupted "No. You're doing it whether you like it or not, and I'm doing it with you!" she blurted.
Elena sat on the edge of the bed, gaping at her friend, "You- You would do it with me?" she stuttered.
"Does that mean you'll come?" She said, a glimmer of hope in her cerulean eyes.
Elena sat in silence, contemplating this. If she said yes, a whole lot of things could go wrong- but a whole lot of things could go right, too the traitorous part of her mind said. And as she looked at her friends expression, she realised she was exposing herself completely to Elena- she was practically pleading with her eyes... So she made her decision, "Yes. Yes, I'll sing with you."
Caroline grinned so brightly she was certain she was capable of lighting up the whole world.
"Oh my god!", she then let out a high-pitched squeal making Elena regret her choice already
"What are we going to wear? What song are we going to do?"
"Caroline..."
"Should we match clothes?"
"Stop, Care..."
"No, you're right, that would look too cliché. We should-"
"CAROLINE!" Her friend immediately stopped rambling.
"What?" she asked, a giggle escaping her lips.
"Why are you so worried?" she questioned, but couldn't help the smile that crept its way onto her face. True, Caroline could go over-the-top, but she's never that bad!
"Because...", she dragged on "It's Wednesday, today." she implied.
Elena sat there baffled for a few seconds, confused as to why this was relevant to anything. Then it clicked.
Before she could say anything, her friend was hauling her up from the bed and rushing her to the closet. "Quick, quick! We've got three hours to get both of us dolled up, choose our song and practice it!"
Elena looked at herself in the mirror.
And took a doubletake.
She was wearing a red dress that began on the rise of her breasts, and ended mid-thigh. It had a V-neck and was embroidered with jewels, the colour contrasted perfectly with her tanned legs that were partially covered by knee height, heeled leather boots. The dress also hugged her figure, showing of her hourglass curves.
She had even applied a pair of false lashes and straightened her hair for good measure.
"Care, not that I don't appreciate this, but don't you think this is a little much? I feel really exposed right now." she complained, mumbling towards the end.
"No! It's perfect. Chuck on a leather jacket and let's go!"
She did as she was told.
Damon looked around the grill, seeking company.
His eyes landed on a particularly well dressed brunette at the bar, chatting to what looked to be a close friend of hers.
As if sensing my gaze, her eyes drifted around the room- eventually stopping on mine.
Her face was angelic and beautifully carved, with high cheekbones, a long slender neck and a petite nose.
His face was one of a greek god's, a sharp jawline and a thick neck. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed and as his unbelievably blue eyes blinked, naturally curly lashes briefly rested on his cheek bones.
Her doe eyes were the same shade as her hair and her lips were plump and rosy.
His pink lips were pursed in a thin, straight line.
He was...
She was...
Perfect.
Their gazes lingered until the DJ spoke over the mic "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to karaoke night!" cheers rang throughout the room "As you may or may not know, we only have one person singing tonight."
The brunette's face paled.
"Caroline!" Elena cried. "You told me you'd sing with me!"
Caroline shrugged and laughed until she saw Elena's expression. "Elena! You don't need me up there! I'll be cheering you on from down here. I promise you'll do amazingly. Pleeeease!"
"Fine, fine. Bitch." she muttered
"Oit!" She squealed, and slapped her friend on the hand "I heard that!"
Elena cracked a smile "I know, I intended you to" she laughed
Caroline shook her head and laughed.
"May Elena Gilbert please make her way to the stage!" the person over the mic cheered
Elena briefly locked eyes with the blue-eyed stranger again
And winked
He smirked, but didn't expect her to get on the stage.
Elena Gilbert he mused, as he watched her shyly walk to the stage- much to his disbelief.
She spoke into the microphone, with a quivering voice "H-hi guys." she smiled, apparently everyone else took notice of her looks and mimicked the action "I'm going to play something for you that you should all recognise- hope you like it!"
Her friend then rushed on stage with a guitar and everyone gasped, causing Elena to blush.
She took a deep breath then strummed the familiar chords.
I met you in the dark,
You lit me up.
You made me feel as though,
I was enough.
We danced the night away,
We drank too much
I held your hair back when
You were throwing up.
He stared at her, stunned.
She had a beautiful voice.
And if anyone said otherwise they'd have to be insane.
He must have gaped at her ages.
He didn't expect anything less.
Then you smiled over your shoulder,
For a minute I was stone-cold sober.
I pulled you closer to my chest.
And you asked me to stay over
I said, I already told ya,
I think that you should get some rest.
I knew I loved you then
But you'd never know
'Cause I played it cool when I was scared of letting go
I know I needed you
But I never showed
But I wanna stay with you until we're grey and old
Just say you won't let go
Just say you won't let go
She was reflecting my thoughts right now,
I did need her.
And I would speak to her.
I'll wake you up with some breakfast in bed,
I'll bring you coffee with a kiss on your head.
And I'll take the kids to school,
Wave them goodbye.
And I'll thank my lucky stars for that night.
When you looked over your shoulder,
For a minute I forget that I'm older.
I wanna dance with you right now,
Oh, and you look as beautiful as ever.
And I swear that everyday you'll get better,
You make me feel this way somehow.
I'm so in love with you
And I hope you know
Darling your love is more than worth its weight in gold
We've come so far my dear
Look how we've grown
And I wanna stay with you until we're grey and old
Just say you won't let go
Just say you won't let go
A lone tear escaped her eye and everyone's smile dropped.
Damon could tell something was wrong.
I wanna live with you
Even when we're ghosts
'Cause you were always there for me when I needed you most
I'm gonna love you till
My lungs give out
I promise till death we part like in our vows
So I wrote this song for you, now everybody knows
'Cause now it's just you and me till we're grey and old
Just say you won't let go
Just say you won't let go
Just say you won't let go
Oh, just say you won't let go
She strummed the last chord and everyone cheered.
She flashed her pearly whites to everyone and made her way off the stage.
Caroline sprinted to her and flew into her open arms. "I knew you could do it!"
Elena nodded against her friend's shoulder and squeezed her eyes shut releasing an unwelcome stream of tears.
She ripped herself from her overjoyed friend and sprinted to the bathroom.
She blacked out a metre from the door.
But that blue-eyed man had caught her- just in time.
He worriedly pushed a brown lock of hair from her face and wiped away the obvious tear-mark streaks.
He was going to find out what had happened to this girl.
Because that wasn't just stage freight.
It was much, much deeper than that.