Disclaimer: Rights belong to their respective owners. A/N: This is really a fun fic for me because I love lots of TVD/TO characters, and have wanted to do a crossover with Caroline & Hayley for ages, ofc I always find ways to include my other favs too, not sure if this is a blessing, or a curse. Feedback welcomed x
The Next Morning
2.
The next morning, Caroline was first to wake, and thought it was only polite to make breakfast for them both. Stefan wandered into the kitchen, shirtless, when the bacon began to sizzle in the pan, and she smiled, offering him coffee, and learning more about him in the process. "Is that your sister?" She pointed at a photograph on the fridge, standing barefoot on the tiles, and frying the bacon in her t-shirt which covered her knickers, but not her bare legs. His eyes hovered over her appearance while her back was turned, and said, "Fiancé." She gaped at him. "Straight?" she asked.
"You thought I was gay?" he smirked, brushing his hand through his thick brown hair.
"I should put on some pants..." Caroline ran over to her stuff, and pulled on some tights. She changed her mind about staying, and slipped on her shoes. Stefan turned the gas off under the bacon before it turned to ash. "You don't have to leave..." She picked up her stuff. "Yes, I do."
She gave him an apologetic look and then looked at the door, drowning in her stuff. "I've got a plan, if you get the door for me..." she said, watching him stride across to the door. He sighed, pointing at the weather outside. "It's pouring outside..." She thanked him, adamant that it changed nothing, and left. Stefan ate his breakfast she cooked for him, peering out the window at intervals to see if she had moved. Ten minutes later she still stood at the bus stop, drenched, holding a soaked newspaper over her head.
He sighed, putting down his plate and wrenched open the door. "Caroline, what are you doing?" he yelled from his front step. She swivelled to see him, her t-shirt glued to her slim body. Raindrops ran down her cheeks and mud splattered the back of her legs. "Come back inside, it's pouring!" She squinted at the bus timetable, waving him off. "Seriously! It's just water!" she snapped. Stefan looked up at the grey rainclouds which didn't look like they were going to let up anytime soon.
"Just get your ass back inside!" His hair was plastered to his head, and he stood barefoot on the footpath beside her. She shook her head, the newspaper wilted in her hands. He sighed, picking her protesting self up and carried her inside. "Like it or not, you are going to stay here for a few more days!" He deposited her back on her couch and pointed at the shower. "Get in there before you catch pneumonia." She pouted, but picked up her towel, and marched off to the bathroom.
Stefan's mobile rang. It was Ivy, his fiancé, calling from Savannah.
Hayley entered the bathroom, chasing up the girls, like she did every night before a show. Someone was being sick in the toilet, and a worried Hayley pushed open the unlocked cubicle door. "Oh, please tell me that's not the flu, Elena?" Elena's ashen face rose from the toilet seat, and she wiped some kind of yellow substance from her face. Hayley sighed, helping her to stand. "Why do they call it morning sickness if it's every hour of the day?" Elena moaned, holding her stomach. Her wide eyes met Hayley's surprised ones, and Elena sighed, leaning against the wall.
"Does Damon know?" Hayley asked, breaking the silence.
Elena shook her head, making the effort to bring herself to the basin to wash her hands.
"You have to tell Damon," Hayley repeated, brushing Elena's hair over her shoulders.
"I'm scared..." Elena whispered, looking at her reflection and groaning at her running mascara.
"Oh honey, don't be scared, whatever you decide we'll take care of you..." Hayley patted Elena's arm, and smiled in a reassuring way. Elena tried to smile, fresh tears in her eyes, but still haunted by her predicament. "I can still pretend that he'll be excited by it," Elena whispered, gripping the vanity.
"Are you kidding? He'll be thrilled!" Hayley said, giving Elena a hug, and trying to fix her spirits.
Caroline sighed, watching hundreds of girls auditioning for Elena's vacant spot as she wiped down tables on her shift. Neither Hayley nor Josh had asked her to audition, it was like they didn't think she had it inside her to be a Burlesque dancer but hadn't she proven her loyalty? Stefan looked up from the bar, smiling when he saw Caroline climb the stage. Bonnie and Elena entered the room chatting, and Stefan gave them both a nod. They stopped, abruptly, watching the stage.
"What is she doing?" Hayley hissed to Josh when the music began to play.
Josh tapped his pencil on the table, raising his eyebrow. "I think she's auditioning." He looked back at Caroline, glancing every two seconds at Hayley, who stood up and canned the music.
"Hold on a second, I can do this!" Caroline's voice rang out from the stage. Hayley ignored her, walking back between the tables. "Excuse me...I'm talking to you! Just tell me what you want!"
Hayley paused, spinning around. "Nobody can tell you, you need to make me believe that you own that stage..." Josh gave Stefan a raised eyebrow, almost enjoying the drama. Stefan looked back at Caroline, seeing her passion and determination in her eyes. "I know every single number, which one do you want to see?" Hayley folded her arms in disbelief. "Which one, do you want to see?"
Stefan put down his cloth, filling in Katherine who came to see what all the shouting was about. Hayley frowned, critiquing Caroline's performance but knowing in her mind she was good. In fact, there was a chance she was better than Katherine, her star performer. "What are you so excited about?" Katherine asked Elena, who cheered along with Bonnie when Caroline's performance ended. "She's replacing you." Katherine twirled her hair around her finger, unimpressed.
Josh raised his eyebrows, waiting for Hayley's opinion, while Caroline continued to vouch for herself. "Oh please, Hayley, I'll practice til I bleed! Just give me a chance, didn't anyone give you a chance?" Josh hid a smile behind his hand, seeing Hayley's patience wear thin. It was clear Caroline had earned her spot on that stage, though. "Ok, fine! You've got the job!" Hayley finally admitted, shaking her head, and giving Josh a smile. Caroline laughed, her hard work had paid off. Josh jumped up the stairs, two at a time, and took in her appearance.
"Welcome to wonderland, Alice. When you've finished celebrating come back stage so I can sort out your sizes, ok?" She nodded, watching him disappear backstage, and greeted Bonnie and Elena, who gave her both a hug. She went to the bar, drank her shot and with a cheeky grin said: "Sorry for the short notice, but um, I quit, and with my new raise, I'll be off your couch in no time!" She ran backstage with her new friends, and if she had looked over her shoulder, she would have seen Stefan's smile fade at the thought of losing her, but Caroline hadn't looked back, and Stefan couldn't blame her for getting everything she ever wished for.
He picked up his cloth and went back to work, eager to treasure what little time they had left.
Josh showed Caroline the ropes. He showed her where the props belonged and more importantly which ones had sparkles in them and which didn't. He measured her, and picked out her costumes as per Hayley's request. Caroline took a fake-gun from his hand. "Don't pull the trig-" he said, sighing when Caroline's laugh met his ears, and her hand picked out sparkles from his black hair. "I'm sorry, it won't happen again. I'm listening."
Josh told her it was all hard work from here on. "Dance classes are Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11am; performances start Thursday-Saturday as you're aware, and you're opening, this Saturday. The other girls will help you out with choreography and each week there's a reading list so study it, but most of all," Josh shook her shoulders. "Have fun!" She laughed, and promised to, grateful to be given a chance.
Friday came quickly, and Caroline had been both nervous and ready for days. She'd watched Katherine and the other girls get ready, staring into her own dressing table and wondering how on earth she had gotten this far? She looked into her mother's calm eyes and whispered. "This is a big night for me, mum. I'm going to do you proud, or dance, trying." Caroline finished her make-up and changed into her glittering leotard, pulling at the black lace sleeves, and feeling like Bridget Jones'.
Everyone but Katherine were encouraging, but that was expected, Josh told her, Katherine didn't like anyone but herself. Caroline had never felt more alive as she danced the routines and mimed the classics. She looked out over the bright lights and saw Stefan working in the bar, sometimes he would give her a wink, and twirl his tea-towel over his head, like the dork he was. There were a few costume changes, and sometimes Katherine had solo performances, which the crowd loved.
Josh hurried her off stage, and asked her how she was faring. "Well, my boobs are pushed up to my ears and my thong is so far up my arse..." Bonnie laughed, and re-did her lipstick, before hurrying to the dressing room. Josh grinned at her sarcasm, and pushed her along. "Next time, just say, 'good'."
Caroline punched him in the arm, but of that night, it was the small moments she'd never forget. It was a great feeling to be finally on that stage entertaining people.
After the show, Caroline took off her make-up and listened to the gossip from the other girls. She picked up her stuff, and made sure she'd packed all her eye-pencils, when she realized they'd left without her. Choosing to sit back down to stare at her hopeless expression in the mirror, Caroline heard Hayley's footsteps, and pretended to be putting eyeliner on.
"They went out for pizza..." she said, trying to pretend she wasn't disappointed that they didn't invite her too. Hayley nodded, coming closer. "You won't be the new girl, forever." Hayley sighed, familiar with the feeling of being left out. "That brush isn't working because it's too old." Caroline lowered her hand. "It's the only one I have," she admitted. "It was my mum's, she died when I seven, and it was my first lesson." Hayley frowned, sorting through her make-up bag. "You can use mine. Here, let me help..."
Caroline let Hayley's hand brush through her long blond hair, twirling it around into a pony-tail, then she started on her face, picking up different brushes, and glancing at the photograph of Grace Kelly, Caroline had pinned to her mirror. "When you're putting on make-up, it's like you're an artist, but instead of painting on a canvas you're painting on a face." Hayley lifted up Caroline's chin, and Caroline felt the soft bristles dance across her nose. She shut her eyes on command, and when she opened them, she felt overcome with emotion.
Hayley rested her hand on Caroline's shoulder, and squeezed it gently. "She'd be proud of you."
Caroline lay curled up beneath a blanket on Stefan's couch, fast asleep, until she heard Stefan's cry, which woke her and probably their neighbours next door. She pulled a pillow onto her head to drown out the noise. Stefan didn't seem to care that she'd had a big night the previous night, and shouted in his louder-than-normal-voice: "Did you use my towel again?" Caroline grunted, shooing him away. "I found it soaking wet and on the floor!" Caroline opened her eyes, blinking and waiting for him to come into focus.
"You have your own towel, use it, instead of mine!" Caroline dragged the blanket with her as she rolled off the couch and went to the kitchen, now wide-awake and needing her morning coffee. Stefan's phone rang and he returned to his room, giving her a glare before shutting the doors.
Caroline picked up the morning paper which Stefan must have pulled from the front step after his morning jog, and flipped to the section on apartments. She had promised to find her own place, and now with 'Grumpy-Pants' Salvatore, she had even more reason to get out of his hair. She heard him getting changed behind his bedroom doors, talking to his fiancé on his phone, and put some bread into the toaster.
He came out wearing pants, but no shirt. Caroline's eyes travelled down his toned chest, and she peeled the strawberry jam from her knife, licking it off her fingers. Stefan braced himself against the two-toned bench, and sighed. "Look, a friend is in trouble, I help, that's who I am." Caroline put down her knife and raised her eyebrows. "What did Ivy have to say?" Stefan didn't look her in the eye, pulling the newspaper towards him. "You coward, you didn't tell her about me, did you?"
Stefan glared at her. "You need me to save your ass with the rent, don't you?" Stefan nodded.
"Well, what's the proposal exactly?" she whispered, leaning her elbows against the bench. Stefan hung his head in defeat after somehow being coerced into giving away his own bedroom. She leaped with joy and closed the doors, leaving him to the small couch and half a cotton blanket. "Oh boy..." Stefan mumbled, seeing smoke rising from the toaster and turning it off.
Hayley had just had a rather unpleasant conversation with her bank, and was told if she didn't pay the sums she owed then Klaus would buy her out. She was being a total girl, sitting on her black leather couch, hugging a pillow and letting herself cry. She didn't care what anybody said, her club was hers, and she didn't deserve this shit. She had only needed a little money to keep it going and now everyone wanted to close it, heck, Klaus wanted to build some monstrous casino and the idea of destroying her baby, just brought fresh tears to her eyes.
Josh walked in on her, at once glance he sighed and asked what was wrong. Hayley explained it all, frustrated and wishing she had never asked Jackson for help. "Sell the club," Josh said, making Hayley stared at him. "Take the money, and get out while you can." Hayley stood up suddenly.
"I am NOT going to sell my beautiful baby to fucking Klaus Mikaelson! I'm going to find another way." Josh smiled, ducking when Hayley realized he hadn't been serious. "There's my Hayley, I thought for a minute I'd lost her." She sighed, watching him tap his watch, reminding her the show would be starting soon, and they needed her. He closed the door, and Hayley looked around her office, having no clue how to save the club and wishing for a miracle.
"Where's Katherine?" Hayley called out over the heads of her dances. Caroline wasn't dressed yet, but had been in conversation with Bonnie. Katherine stumbled inside, dancing around Josh, and running her fingers through his dark hair with a giggle. She sipped what Hayley was supposed to believe was coffee or ice-tea, but Hayley could smell alcohol on her friends' breath.
"Go home, Katherine!" Hayley said, annoyed. Katherine gaped at her, waving her drink about. "Josh, get her out of here-" Katherine's eyes narrowed and she threw a tantrum, as soon as Josh tried to hurry her along. "Hey! That bitch isn't replacing me-" Katherine tried to grab Hayley's arm, almost spilling her drink, on the costumes. "Whoops!" she laughed, but nobody was laughing. Hayley spoke as if Katherine had left already. "Josh, give Caroline Katherine's clothes. Caroline, do you know the routine?"
"I don't want to step on anybody's toes..." Caroline began, receiving death glares from Katherine.
Hayley gave her a stern look. "Can you do the routine?" she asked. Caroline nodded. "You're on."
Caroline's heart was racing as the curtain rose, and now it was her turn to shine. Katherine had blown her chance and here she was, lead singer, with a crowd full of Katherine groupies, and she had to win them all over. Caroline looked out into the bright lights and felt the music guide her.
Hayley was backstage when Marcel, the sound and lighting guy found her, and asked what she wanted. Josh elbowed a confused Hayley in the arm and they gaped when a loud whistling sound cut the music, and left Caroline, Bonnie and the other girls stranded. There was an unsettling pause, and Hayley knew what had happened, having heard from Marcel, it was Katherine who had passed him the message. "Get back up there, close the curtain." Hayley demanded, pointing at the stage, and trying not to lose it.
Caroline knew how much this club meant to Hayley, she also knew how much it meant to herself, and she wasn't ready to let Katherine ruin her night, having spied her smirking from the sound system. The crowd were muttering and shaking their heads, some even looked like they might leave. Caroline closed her eyes and remembered the promise she made to her mother. She hummed a melody, using it as a starting point, and then she heard a gasp escape Bonnie's lips, and she knew that what she was going to bring would surprise them all.
If only they had listened to her from the beginning, she thought, swaying her hips to the band's music which began to play. Caroline's incredible voice reached Stefan at the bar, and he was as blown away as Hayley, who called for the curtain to be raised. Caroline didn't notice Katherine's jaw drop, or see her leave the club in a huff, instead she gave her heart and soul to the performance and when the song ended she was overwhelmed by their cheers and many gave her a standing ovation.
Josh turned to Hayley, knowing everything would change.
A/N: Please review!