"Alright alright, ladies and gentlemen, it's Karaoke night here at "Lux Lush" and we've got a lot of amazing people ready and waiting to sing! So cheer them on and have some fun! Drink, Dance, and be Merry! This is DJ Ty-Killa signing off!"
I laugh as I watch Tyler Lockwood, one of the bartenders and Caroline and I's best friend from high school come out from behind the DJ booth and back behind the bar. He had a scowl on his face, but you could tell he was trying hard not to laugh. Caroline's boyfriend of three years, Stefan Salvatore, sits down beside Caroline, who leans over and kisses him. Stefan and Tyler high five one another as Tyler pours Stefan his usual drink. I sip my Rum and Cherry coke, twirling the rum soaked cherry in the glass as I rest my lower back and elbows against the bar, sitting so I was facing the crowd of people filling the bar.
"So "Ty-Killa," any luck on finding another person to take over the DJ booth?" Caroline teases Tyler, flicking a piece of ice off the bar at him.
Tyler shakes his head, wiping up the bar with an old rag.
"No luck. Only good thing is I get overtime cash for doing the job. Matt tried to apply fir the job,but after the shit he pulled with you and Elena last month, the boss wont even look at his application." Tyler answers, pouring Caroline another Pina Colada.
I cringe as some young drunk college girl goes up on the karaoke stage and starts singing "Poker face" by Lady Gaga. Honestly, she should just leave Lady Gaga sing the song.
"I'm amazed the judge only gave him a two week sentence for attacking me and Caroline. If it weren't for you, Stefan, and that other guy stepping in, Caroline and I would probably be laying in a hospital bed or our apartment all busted up." I comment, pulling the cherry from my glass and eating it before downing the rest of my drink.
Tyler pours me another drink and hands it to me, a look of disgust on his face. "He should have gotten at least six months for what he did. He had to have bribed the judge." Tyler looks up at the stage, covering his ears as the drunk girl belts out the lyrics very wrongly. "She should stick to her day job, she is not the next American Idol."
We all laugh, Caroline, Stefan and I tapping our glasses together in agreement.
"Elena, you should go up and sing a song! You've got an amazing voice, and you'd probably blow everyone's minds if you sang." Caroline tells me, elbowing me playfully.
"What's the song list look like for tonight?" I ask Tyler, turning around and facing the bar as he hands me a list of songs.
I browse the list of songs, seeing mostly male and female duet songs. One song sticks out, and it's one I knew very well.
"Okay, I'll sing a song, but I need a male partner to sing it with." I reply, handing Tyler back the list of songs.
"I'll announce it over the DJ booth that you need a partner." Tyler says while pouring another drink.
I look at the drink he mixed, surprised to see it was the same thing I was drinking. I watch as Tyler takes the drink about ten seats down, handing it to a man who by any standards should have been a male model. Even in the dim lighting of the bar I could see his dark brown, almost black hair was carelessly tousled, long on the top but short on the sides and back. He wore a black t-shirt that fit him like a glove, and black jeans that I swear were painted on to his long legs and amazing ass. The man I'm staring at looks over at me, and I quickly look away, blushing. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see the man and Tyler talking. Tyler looks over at me and then back at the guy, telling the guy something. The guy nods, and Tyler grins. He walks back over to where Caroline, Stefan, and all sat, handing me a card.
"I got you a partner, and he said to give you that card. Only thing is, you can't read the card until after you sing together."
I smile, slipping the card into my back pocket. "Tell him he's got a deal." I stand up and give myself a once over. I was wearing a pair of light gray skinny jeans that looked painted on over my long legs, a black stud belt, a pair of black high-heeled booties, and a red camisole with lace trim on the top and bottom of it that stopped about two inches above my hip bones, my black leather jacket draped over the bar stool I had been sitting on. My hair was down, dark brown beachy waves cascading down my back. My makeup was simple, smokey eyes, black winged eyeliner, mascara and red lipstick. My red and black feather earrings, metallic purple heart with a black gem belly button ring, and a neon pink stud in my tongue completed my look. Caroline gives me a thumbs up as I straighten my shirt, making my way to the stage. I watch as Tyler heads over to the DJ booth, cutting the music as I take the stage. The man I was checking out at the bar joins me on stage, giving me a lopsided grin that made my heart skip a beat. His ice blue eyes practically glowed as the rest of the bar lights dimmed and the spotlight on the stage brightened.
"Ty-Killa back at the mic all! We got a rockin' duet coming up for this next song. Both singers prefer to remain unnamed, so give it up for them as they sing the lyrics of "Without You" by Ashes Remain together!"
The entire club quieted down as the music began. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, letting it out slowly before starting to sing, my partner following me into the song.
Elena: "Underneath the cold November sky [CHORUS:] Elena: "Even if You take it all away [CHORUS]
I'll wait for You"
Unknown Male Partner: "As the pages of my life roll by
I'll wait for You"
Both: "I'm so desperate just to see Your face
Meet me in this broken place"
Both: "Hold me now
I need to feel You
Show me how
to make it new again
There's no one I can run to
And nothing I could ever do
I'm nowhere if I'm here
without You"
I'll wait for You"
Unknown Male Partner: "Even when the light begins to fade
I'll wait for You"
Both: "I'm so desperate calling out Your name
Meet me in this broken place"
Both: "Hold me now Elena: "I'm tired of running [CHORUS]
I need to feel You
Show me how
to make it new again
There's no one I can run to
And nothing I could ever do
I'm nowhere if I'm here
without You"
and wrestling with these angels"
Unknown Male Partner: "I lay down
my life and I surrender"
Both: "Hold me now
I need to feel You
Show me how
to make it new again
There's no one I can run to
And nothing I could ever do
I'm nowhere if I'm here
without You"
As the song ended, the entire bar erupted into a chorus of cheers and whistles. I look over at the man who I had just sang with, and he gives me another lopsided grin. I grin as well. My mysterious partner helps me off the stage and walks with me back over to the bar. I down the last of my drink and grab my jacket.
"I'm gonna go grab some air outside. Might head home soon. You guys okay to drive?" I ask Caroline and Stefan. Stefan nods.
"I'm fine to drive. I've only had one drink. You walking home?"
I nod. "Yeah, I wanna stop by the 24 hour store and grab something before I go back to the apartment. Meet you guys there."
Stefan nods and Caroline gives me a hug. I hug Caroline back and wave Tyler down.
"How much do I owe you for the drinks?" I ask, reaching into my jacket picket and pulling out my money. Tyler shakes his head as I go to hand him $20.
"Your singing partner told me he was paying for your drinks, and gave me a $50 tip. He also said to read the card." Tyler tells me, giving me a smile that said he knew something I didn't, and he wasn't going to tell me about it.
Sighing, I put my money back into my jacket and pull the card out of my back pocket.
"Meet me outside after we're done singing.
Seen you checking me out, n wanna get to know you.
See you soon. -D.S."
I read the card over again as I drape my jacket over my arm. Giving Tyler one last wave goodbye, I head outside and take a seat at one of the picnic tables surrounding the bar's parking lot. I pull my phone out from my jacket pocket and scroll through all the missed calls and texts I had gotten from Matt, who must have gotten another number cause I know damn well I had blocked his other number. Most of the messages were stupid "where are you" "I'm sorry" "Answer me" messages, but the two messages had me on edge.
-You'd better watch your back you filthy whore,
cause you never know who's watching you
from the shadows
-You may have thought that this was over,
that you wouldn't hear from me or see me again.
Well guess again, sweet, innocent, Elena.
I'll be seeing you soon, very, very, very soon.
I save all of the messages he sent and the voice mails, intending to stop by the police station to see about getting a restraining order against Matt, or a PFA for that matter. I lock my phone, cursing vehemently as I look up at the night sky. This shit with Matt was getting beyond ridiculous, and I really wasn't in the mood for his petty games. The sound of boots crunching on gravel jerks me from my thoughts, and I look over at the man I had sang with in the bar as he takes a seat across from me on the picnic bench.