Chapter 3: The Betrayal

"And now last but definitely not least in this mind-blowing competition, everyone welcome to the stage theeeeeeee MYSTICS!" The host said into the microphone with the crowd cheering in reply.

And with that, The Mystics got into place with Elena front and centre and Caroline next to Katherine. Looking once again at the crowd Caroline swallowed her nervousness. Yep, definitely too many people watching. But she wouldn't let a silly little thing like fear stop her from doing her best. When has she ever submitted to it before? Caroline looked to the rest of her band: Matt on bass, the Salvatore's on guitar, Bonnie on keyboard and Tyler on drums. They all shared a small nod and a smile before they began their first song "Lovefool"

Klaus watched from the side as The Mystics began their song. So this was the band that everyone thought was their biggest competition, he thought. They were so…. happy and shiny, especially with Elena at the front. He didn't know what everyone was thinking, though they sounded good, they just didn't have the edge that his family had. That attitude and that stage presence. Now Katherine, she definitely had the attitude and the looks. With her at the front instead of Elena and a little music change, only then would The Mystics stand any chance of even being considered a threat.

"Look at them, aren't they the cutest thing you've ever seen? Full of love and joy…. How pathetic" Rebekah sauntered over to where Klaus stood. Klaus only huffed in reply. "I can't believe that people have the decency to think that the Care bear Club over there can beat us. I mean seriously, how daft are they? Ugh they must be musically inept."

Klaus wasn't listening by that stage. Something else had engrossed his complete and utter attention. A little something that had blonde curled hair.

"Hello?!" Rebekah waved her hand in front of Klaus' face "Earth to Nik?!" But he didn't seem affected at all, didn't even blink. Was that wonderment in Klaus' eyes? Rebekah thought. Annoyed, Rebekah walked over and stood in front him, hands on hips. "Don't tell me you actually like this hippie band?!" Finally, Klaus looked up at her clearly displeased by her presence and persistence and pushed her out of his line of sight to the stage. "Fine Mr. Grumpy pants. I'll find someone else to bother. This band is making my ears bleed anyway" And with that, Rebekah sauntered off whilst Klaus' gaze continued to linger on that mysterious blonde.

As the last note of "Lovefool" rang out through the United Centre and the crowd erupted into applause and cheers, Caroline deeply felt a new rush of adrenaline through her body, leaving a tingling sensation that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end and her stomach twist with elation. One down, one to go Caroline smiled to herself. They could totally win this competition.

Then as soon as the audience quietened, The Mystics began their second song… Except that the song the rest of the band was playing wasn't what Caroline thought they were playing. Maybe their playing in a different key Caroline thought. But it didn't sound even remotely close to 'Kiss Me'. It sounded like…. No it couldn't be. They wouldn't, not without asking her permission first.

On my way

though I don't know where I'm going

on a road that's dark and long.

On my way

but I'm fearful that I could be lost

that the past I have chosen might be wrong.

She whipped her head around to look at the rest of the band for an explanation but they were all engrossed in the song. Finally she instantaneously turned to Katherine. The pretty brunette just gave her a small smile and squeezed her hand, which gave Caroline all the answers she ever needed. Though she couldn't hear it before, she could hear it now. They were playing her song. They were playing her song. A song that she wrote herself. Granted it was for the band, but still! They only rehearsed it a bunch of times and they all agreed that when they did finally perform it, it unquestionably would be her singing centre stage.

When will it be clear

that I made the right choice.

When can I be sure

that I know my own voice.

I dream of a day when I'm free from doubt

where fate wins out

and I overcome my fear…

Now here she was, not standing centre stage and definitely not singing her own original song. Caroline was dumbfounded. Millions of questions ran through her mind. How could they do this? How could they not tell her or ask her permission? Why isn't she the one singing it? When in the world did they even decide this?!

Clear…

Caroline whipped her back around to find the new voice singing and to her surprise it was Stefan. Stefan was singing? Stefan hardly ever sang let alone publically.

No.

That's not the problem though. The problem is that not only did they use her song without permission; they also abhorrently changed her song to a duet! Caroline was so perplexed, she felt that she couldn't breathe. The pain of this… betrayal was too much for her. She had never felt so much pain in her life. Breaking her arm when she was 8 came a close second but there was still a significant difference between the physical and emotional pain.

Caroline turned to run off the stage, getting strange looks from the crowd and her friends. Bonnie grabbed her arm just before she made it off and asked if she was okay but Caroline didn't hear her and ripped her arm from Bonnie's grip to continue off stage. All of her senses became numb. She couldn't hear or feel anything as she mechanically made her way to through the back stage corridors. Somehow Caroline had found herself before the ladder up to the upper lighting box for the stage. She carefully climbed up and sat with her legs dangling over the edge as she watched the Mystics finish her song. Despite her absence, her friends were selling it and looked like they were having the time of their lives. She wished she had stayed on and experienced the moment of performing in front of such a large crowd but she knew that she wouldn't have been able to stay on any longer than she did. Surprisingly The Mystics got a standing ovation. The audience was giving a standing ovation to her song! But of course Elena gets all the credit with her lovely, sweet voice. This whole situation was so conflicting on Caroline's heart. She loved her friends, she really did (despite all their flaws) and she would do anything she could to keep her friends happy and see them smile. But they used her song without asking and letting her perform it. She could feel cracks shattering their way across her heart and just thinking about it made the cracks slowly expand.

Caroline snapped back into focus when all the bands filed back on stage to wait in anticipation for the announcement of the winners. The host got the audience to cheer for their favourite bands and it was obvious that it was down to 2 bands, The Originals and The Mystics.

"And now the moment we've all been waiting for…" the host announced as the stadium quietened. " The winner for the Battle of the Bands competition for 2015 and the winner of a record deal with Warner Music are…."

While the host paused for effect, a few people screamed out for their bands. Mostly for The Originals and The Mystics with only a handful for the other bands whose names Caroline had already forgotten. The wait was almost too much to bear when finally,

"THE ORIGINALS!"

A spotlight landed on The Originals and the stadium roared so loud that it made Caroline's ears pop. The Originals shook hands with everyone though they didn't seem elated like she thought they would be; only Kol looked ecstatic. They just had very smug faces.

So they had lost. The Mystics lost with her song and with the sweet voice of Elena Gilbert. Caroline felt like she should be sad about losing, they've been dreaming about winning this competition since they started their band in freshman year of high school. But Caroline wasn't sad about losing, she didn't care. She felt like the rest of the band deserved it for not being truthful with her.

Caroline sat there as she watched the bands leave the stage and the crowd slowly file out the doors. She sat there 'til she heard her friends looked for her, call her name and then eventually give up and all was silent. Then, and only then, when Caroline was sure there was no one left in the Stadium except herself, did she let her tears overflow and sobbed until her heart could hurt no more.

A/N: There you have it, Chapter 3! Please review; I would love to hear what you guys think of the story! I will also update my YouTube playlist for this story. Link to that is in my profile! Thankyou to everyone who has followed and favorited the story already!