Disclaimer: I am slightly obsessed with the songfic right now . It tends to creep up when I least expect it.
Dedications: babyshan211, Serendipity10 and PoetWITHOUTacause -as a thank you for all the lovely reviews.
Chapter 9
"Show me Tyler!" Ryan says to the board.
"That wasn't my answer!" Caroline protests.
BUZZZZZZZZ!
A red strike appears.
"Sorry, but that's what you said," the host says unapologetically. Then with a reluctant sigh he turns to David. "Beside a horse, name an animal that some people ride."
Before David can reply, Caroline turns to the side of the auditorium and holds her arms out to the side questioningly.
"What are you doing here?" she asks Tyler.
"I, uh," he stutters, shoving his hands deep into his front pockets. His shoulders rise up to his ears; effectively making his neck disappear from sight. Someone taps him on the shoulder and he steps to the side allowing the Mystic Falls High School Marching Timberwolves to file out of the doorway and into the aisles.
"You brought the band?" Caroline says in disbelief.
"Uh…," Tyler glances briefly at the parade heading through the audience. "Yeah."
BUZZZZZZZZ!
A red strike appears.
"I didn't answer yet!" David exclaims.
"You took too long," Ryan tells him.
"I was a little distracted," David snarls gesturing to the wind section which begins their warm-up exercises.
"Yeah, well – you snooze – you lose," Ryan says unsympathetically. "Katherine?"
"You Ryan," Katherine says, leaning over the podium and exposing her cleavage. "I bet some humans ride you…"
"I hate this game," Ryan mumbles under his breath.
BUZZZZZZZZ!
A red strike appears.
"Why is the band here?" Caroline shouts; trying to be heard over the drum line.
Tyler looks around nervously. "I didn't think there would be this many people here."
"Max, answer please." Ryan points to the head vampire.
Before Max can answer the Drum Major claps his hands. The band goes silent.
"Here goes nothing," Tyler takes a deep breath.
"One, two, three…," the Drum Major counts down quickly. The band members raise their instruments and begin to play.
"We're in the middle of a…," Max begins to say but then he suddenly goes mute. His lips move but no sound comes out. Ryan tries to talk with the same result.
Damon folds his arms across his chest smugly.
In the very back of the audience stands Bonnie Bennett, eyes closed in deep concentration. Hands outstretched; one in the band's direction the other toward Tyler. The music cues and Tyler speaks the first lyrics:
Where it began, I can't begin to know when
But then I know its growing strong
"Oh my God!" Caroline places both palms against the hollow of her neck. "He's serenading me!"
BUZZZZzzz
A red strike appears – but the buzzing sound was cut off.
Ryan tries to speak again, but he can't.
No one can.
The only sounds come from Tyler and the marching band.
Everyone's attention goes to the werewolf as he continues to speak the lyrics into his headset.
"For God's sake – will you at least attempt to sing!" Simon Cowell screams from the front row. It looks like he's trying to yell an insult, but his words are silenced as Bonnie gently twists her wrist in his direction.
Tyler's voice transitions into song. As he hits every note perfectly, a look of surprise crosses over his face. Caroline grins at him.
…reaching out
Touching me
Touching you….
Oh Sweet Caroline…
From The Lost Boys podium, Marko, Paul and Dwayne all link arms and begin to sing back-up.
"Whoa – O – O," they chorus.
Tyler looks shocked as they join in, but he continues his solo.
Good times never seemed so good…
"So good! So good! So good!" the vampires sing loudly.
The audience begins to cheer loudly. Tyler gains a little confidence and begins to make his way to the stage. Caroline leaves the center podium and walks down to meet him. In the background a red X flashes on the screen.
And now I, I look at the night
"Whooooooooooo," Marko howls out his own solo.
Tyler laughs a little at the beaded wonder with the curly blonde mullet.
And it don't seem so lonely.
The werewolf moves closer to the object of his affections.
Tyler's fangirls begin to scream loudly. A quick scan of the crowd reveals several home-made signs reading "FORWOOD" with a sprinkling of "Team Tyler." But then a pack of girls with Team Jacob shirts begins to rally and beat down the Team Tyler girls with photos of Taylor Lautner's rock solid abs. (Sorry Michael Trevino –you're almost there…Almost ; D Maybe Kev & Julie will write in a few more shirtless scenes for Season 3…Yummy!)
But none of that detracts from the clear ardor in Tyler's eyes as he smiles at Caroline.
And when I hurt
Hurting runs off my shoulder
How can I hurt when holding you?
Caroline starts to cry. She jumps down from the stage and (since she's a vampire) covers the remaining distance between them in a nanosecond.
Sweet Caroline
"Whoa –O – O."
The Lost Boys have now formed a kick line. Booted feet raise waist high into the air for each beat. Max is completely befuddled.
Good times never seemed so good
"So good! So good! So good!" The vampires sing as their legs get higher with each set of words.
"KISS HIM!" A member of the FORWOOD shippers screams loudly. And thus the chant begins…
"KISS HIM!"
"KISS HIM!"
"KISS HIM!"
Caroline circles her arms around Tyler's neck.
"Sweet Caroline?" she smiles at him. "Not very original."
"Well," he wraps his arms around her waist and pulls her against him. "I wasn't going to sing a bad 80's ballad." (cough. Eternal Flame. cough)
"KISS HIM! KISS HIM! KISS HIM!" the crowd chants.
"Ohhhhhhhh, Sweet Car-o-line," The Lost Boys harmonize as the band holds the final note of the song.
Tyler leans in and kisses Caroline as another red strike appears on the screen.
"We'll be back with more Feud right after this," Ryan says to the camera. He jumps off the stage and lands next to Tyler and Caroline making out. The vampire host angrily pulls the couple apart.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he snaps at Tyler. "And why do you smell like a PetSmart?"
"BOOOOOOO!" the Forwood shippers hiss.
"SHUT UP!" Ryan screams at them. "This is a game show – not reality television!"
"Back off, man" Tyler stands protectively in front of his fans.
"Dear God," Ryan pinches his nose closed. "You really need a bath."
Caroline leans over and sniffs Tyler. "Mmmm," she runs her hand over his well muscled shoulder. "AXE."
"Just get off my set," Ryan exhales as he attempts to breathe through his mouth.
"See you afterward?" Tyler asks Caroline.
"Definitely," she smiles giving Tyler one more kiss.
Back at the Petrova Salvatore podium, Elena is curled up alongside Stefan. "Would you ever do that for me?" she asks batting her eyes at him.
"Well," Stefan inclines his head her way. "I do like that one Miley Cyrus song."
"Miley Cyrus?" Elena laughs.
"You asked," Stefan replies, pressing his lips against the crown of her head.
Behind them, Bonnie wanders up to the stage.
"So what did you think?" she asks the happy couple.
"Not bad," Stefan tells her. "I enjoyed The Lost Boys as a boy band."
"You did that?" Elena asks Bonnie in astonishment.
"No," Bonnie laughs. "That was all them."
"I meant Tyler and the marching band," Elena grins at her friend.
"It was Damon's idea," Bonnie admits.
"Damon?" Elena and Stefan both look at the ebony-haired vampire.
"That's right," he looks back at them triumphantly.
"I was surprised too," Bonnie says. "But Damon can be very romantic."
Elena and Stefan both raise their eyebrows suspiciously.
"I mean, when he's not being a homicidal psychopath," the witch adds quickly.
"Right…," Elena gives her friend the "we need to talk – no secrets remember" look.
"Yeah," Bonnie gives Elena the "You know I'm dating your brother and since I turned him into a freaking ghost whisperer I just needed someone to talk to about it and Damon was there for me and I swear nothing happened between us (yet)" look.
"Alright, Caroline," Ryan takes her by the hand and leads her back up on stage. "It's your turn again."
"What was the question?"
"Beside a horse, name an animal some people ride."
"A dolphin!" Caroline answers.
"Show me dolphin!" Ryan says.
BUZZZZZZ
A red strike appears.
"David?" Ryan asks.
"How about an Ass?" David replies.
Marko, Paul and Dwayne snicker.
"You can ride my ass anytime," Katherine comments from across the stage.
"Show me Ass!" the host calls out, ignoring her.
Upon hearing that David, Marko, Paul and Dwayne all drop their pants and moon Ryan Seacrest.
"I am sick and tired of being disrepected!" Ryan shouts. "Find someone else to put up with this crap!" he tells the execuitive producing team of Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul as he throws his cue cards in the air and marches off-stage.
DING!
Overhead a spot on the board flips over.
Donkey/Mule is the number one answer.
THE END
The song Sweet Caroline belongs to Neil Diamond.
Reviews are always appreciated -Gemma