Chapter 2

The cameras stop rolling.

Stefan and Caroline are still blocking Damon from advancing on The Lost Boys.

Elena stands by watching helplessly.

Katherine pulls out a compact and checks her hair.

"Boys," Max growls at his family, who send mocking looks Damon's way as they back off.

Announcer: We're taking five people.

Ryan's assistant runs out with a thermos. He opens the lids and wafts the pleasant aroma toward Ryan's nose. Ryan takes the thermos and places his lips delicately against the rim. He takes a dainty sip, swishing the liquid around his mouth before spitting it back in the thermos.

"Is this B positive?" he sputters. "Because I SPECIFICALLY asked for B NEGATIVE!"

"I…I..I'm sorry, Mr. Seacrest," the young man stutters, rushing off to correct his mistake.

"I can't believe Ryan just said that to his assistant," Caroline says aloud.

"Me neither," Katherine agrees. "Everyone knows O positive has the best flavor."

Caroline, Stefan, Elena and Damon glare at her.

"What?" Katherine looks back and shrugs. "It's true."

"It is so hard to find good help these days," Ryan comments to Max. "Is there a secret to hiring quality employees?"

"No secrets really," Max removes his glasses, huffing a breath on the lenses. "But when you do find one, make sure they aren't eaten. I've lost quite a few that way." He looks scornfully at the boys. "Quite a few," he repeats.

Announcer: Places everyone, we're back in

Five

Four

Three

Two

Ryan stands front and center smiling. "Welcome back to The Feud. Our challengers, The Lost Boys are in the lead." The camera pans to their podium. Aside from Max, no one is even facing the camera.

"But it's still early in the game," Ryan continues. "Stefan and Marko, are you ready to play The Feud?"

Stefan leaves his place at the podium and goes to center stage. Marko grins at the camera, adjusts his beaded jacket on his shoulders and struts up to meet Stefan.

Stefan offers Marko his hand to shake. Marko looks at it skeptically. "I don't touch homosexuals."

"I'm not gay," Stefan says through gritted teeth.

"Okay gentleman," Ryan interrupts pulling out a cue card. "One hundred humans surveyed, top six answers on the board."

Stefan drops his hand next to the buzzer. He and Marko look at Ryan as he reads the question.

"Instead of milk and cookies, what might Santa want people to leave him?"

Marko's hand slams down on the buzzer.

Ryan turns his way.

"Whores," Marko answers then turns to his family. Paul, Dwayne and David are laughing. Max's face scrunches up in fury.

"Wow," Ryan looks down at his cue card. "Was not expecting that answer. Show me 'whores'," he says.

BUZZZZZZZZ

A red strike appears.

"I'll show you whores," Damon calls from the Petrova-Salvatore podium as he points to Katherine and Caroline.

"Damon!" Elena cries. "There is only one whore on this team. And it's not Caroline." Elena looks over at Katherine, but doesn't say anything further.

"Oh please," Katherine rolls her eyes. "I'm five centuries old. By vampire standards I'm practically a virgin."

"whore," Damon coughs into his hand.

"Stefan," Ryan turns to him awaiting an answer. "What might Santa want people to leave him?"

"Carrots," Stefan replies.

"Like a big fat guy wants carrots," Marko laughs.

"For his reindeer," Stefan explains.

"The question asked what Santa wanted people to leave HIM not his reindeer, dumb ass," Marko says.

"Show me 'carrots'," Ryan says.

BUZZZZZZZZZ

A red strike appears.

"Please tell me this isn't going to be another one of those questions," Ryan sighs. He looks over at The Lost Boys podium. "Paul, do you have an answer?"

"Pot," Paul yells across the stage. Dwayne and David hi-five him.

"Show me 'pot'," Ryan says.

BUZZZZZZZZZZ

Another red strike flashes.

"Elena, please tell me you have an answer," Ryan smiles.

"I'm going to say," Elena grasps at the podium and leans backward. "…cheesecake."

"Show me 'cheesecake'," Ryan says.

The number three spot flips over: Cake/Cupcakes.

"We're going to the Petrova-Salvatore family." Ryan and Stefan walk back to the podium. Ryan stands in front of Damon.

"Instead of milk and cookies, what might Santa want people to leave him?"

"AL-CO-HOL," Damon answers, enunciating each syllable.

"Show me 'alcohol'," Ryan says.

DING!

The number one spots flips over.

"Good answer," Ryan tells him.

Damon's Chesire-cat grin speaks volumes.

Ryan moves down to Caroline.

"Hello, Caroline," he smiles at her. "What might Santa want?" he asks.

"Ummm," Caroline looks up at the board then back at Ryan. "Maybe some…pizza?"

"Good answer," Stefan and Elena clap their hands.

"You can order pizza anytime from anywhere using your iPhone," Caroline smiles as she holds up a brand new pink phone. "With it's easy to use one touch function," she begins to demonstrate the feature.

"What the hell is an iPhone?" Paul yells from The Lost Boys podium.

"Why don't you just go back to 1987?" Damon retorts.

"Why don't you go desert another war?" David comes around the podium toward center stage.

"Why do you still have an earring?" Damon pushes Caroline out of the way as he makes his way toward David.

"At least it's not a gaudy man-ring," David says coolly.

"It's my family crest," Damon covers his ring protectively.

"It's ugly."

"HEY! This is MY show," Ryan snarls at them both. "Get back in your places."

Both Damon and David stop and look at each other.

"NOW," the host bares his teeth.

"We're not done here," Damon says as he backs up.

"Definitely not," David agrees.

Happy Friday the 13th...

-Gemma