"Well, I know you had an earlier prompt where Caroline was a pop singer and Kol was her stalker, but I was thinking of something a little different. Maybe Caroline is this punk-rock Courtney Love-esque goddess that jumps into crowds and sings about feminism and equal rights. And Kol is the violinist that got dragged to one of her shows by a friend (probs Stefan). Kol could believes that his music is superior, but something about Caroline captivates him, so he needs to bother her (you can switch it up if you want)." –queenchesh
Kol glared at Stefan as they entered the concert hall. People in black t-shirts and a manic look in their eyes surrounded them like the reverse Walking Dead, practically vibrating with excitement. He eyed the posters of the singer in their hands, always in revealing dark clothing, lots of eyeliner and red lipstick. Like, Taylor Momsen's curvier, smiling sister. Or Courtney Love's bastard love child on Red Bull.
He scowled as Stefan dragged him to their seats, front row, and contemplated how he ended up in this situation. Their unlikely friendship started sophomore year of college in Julliard when Kol needed to pair up with a pianist for a piece and Stefan Salvatore was both brilliant and the least annoying one in their class. What spawned was a friendship based on a love of classical music, finely aged wine, and the Star Wars saga. Of course, there was still Stefan's little flaw – his love for questionable music and women.
Stefan had been dating the same girl since high school, a sultry brunette, Kathy or something that was best friends with this punk-rock singer that had recently gotten popular because of her on-again off-again romance with football star, Tyler Lockwood. She was the most played artist on the radio right now and rumors were even in for a movie deal with Sofia Coppola. Kathy-or-something had apparently given Stefan the tickets and threatened to dump him for the band's drummer if he didn't show.
Why Kol had to come along he could not fathom. Stefan had shown up at his flat earlier with the tickets and a look of such pathetic pleading in his green eyes that Kol felt too much like an arsehole not to go with him. He was sure Stefan Salvatore would get him killed someday. Or at least murder his precious ear drums preventing him from playing ever again.
"Stefan!"
Kol rolled his eyes as Kathy-or-something launched herself at her boyfriend like a wild cat. Stefan's reflexes from his past life playing Lacrosse remembered themselves and he caught the brunette easily, the two of them smiling like giddy middle schoolers. Kol tried to contain his vomit. It didn't help that today was Valentine's Day which meant he was seeing couples everywhere like some bizarre precursor to mating in the wild.
"I'm so glad you made it," Kathy-or-something said. "And you brought Kol!"
"Unwillingly," He returned.
Stefan snorted. "Yeah. He's a drama queen."
"So is Caroline. Which reminds me…do you want to go backstage later after the show? We're planning on just hanging out at my apartment for a bit."
Kol couldn't help but ask, "No clubbing for the entourage?"
Kathy-or-something laughed. "Are you kidding? I wish. Despite appearances and her career, Care Bear is a good girl at heart and will probably bake you a pie than go drinking."
Kol sat stoically through the opening act, wanting to drown his head in water to muffle the noise. Stefan and Kathy-or-something were cuddled as close as humanly possible whispering things to each other and being so disgustingly sweet they were giving him cavities. He had no idea who the band playing was and he had an urge to take out his phone and Google them because he kept wanting to shout "But, who are you?" every time the lead singer said anything. By the time they were on their second song, Kol contemplated faking a heart attack or influenza to get out of there.
When the "But, who are you?" band left the stage and the lights died, the crowd started cheering as the silhouette of a woman was visible. The crowd got rowdier as the lights flared back to light, bathing Caroline Forbes in all her Courtney Love-esque glory. The rift of guitar and hard beat of the drums were echoing through the concert hall, Caroline's voice accompanying it. Kathy-or-something cheered, "Wooh! Go Care!"
The lights flickered with the beats and everyone around them began to sing. Kathy-or-something and Stefan were singing along, not caring if they were off-key or not. He looked around as everyone moved along to the music, clapping, cheering and taking in. This was not the kind of music he listened to or would even attempt to play but…this energy was something.
He turned back to the stage. Caroline was moving around the stage, mic in hand, interacting with the crowd as fans tried to touch her hand from the railing blocking them from getting up the stage. They were jumping along as the song began to pick up speed. He looked up at the screens locked unto Caroline's face as she belted out the notes and could not look away.
Kathy-or-something leaned over Stefan to nearly shout in his ear, "She's something, right?"
"You could say that." He muttered back, not really caring if she heard him.
The crowd cheered as the song ended.
Caroline was smiling wide and bright. "New York! Did you miss me?"
An hour and a half later, the concert ended and Kathy-or-something led them backstage, past a huge bouncer who let them in without a word. Down the hallway, past crew and the band looking sweaty and exhausted. Kathy-or-something did her wild cat launch at Caroline who was smiling but looked tired. "You were awesome, Care!"
"Thanks, Kat," She had a bottle of Gatorade in hand and was wiping the perspiration on her neck with a small towel. She smiled wider when she saw them. "Stefan! Glad you could come."
"The show was great," Stefan returned.
"I'm glad you think so. And your friend is…?"
"This is Kol. My best friend from Julliard."
"Oh yeah!" Her eyes were bright. "The violinist."
"Yeah, the music snob." Stefan laughed. "He frowns at everything after the Romantic era."
She turned to him with an almost mischievous glint in her blue-green eyes. Hair wet and sticking to her skin with rosy cheeks, she looked a mess but he could not look away. She asked, "So, how did you like the show, Kol?"
"It was…okay."
She blinked those big magical eyes. "Okay? Just okay?"
He tried not to shuffle his feet and stammer. "It's just not my kind of music."
"What is your kind of music, then?" She almost pouted cutely. "Let me guess, Paganini? You look the type to sell your soul to the devil. No? How about…"
He could only stare at her, mesmerized, as she talked. Kathy-or-something and Stefan were smirking in the background. The blonde in front of him was listing through Baroque era violinists up to the Romantic era, trying to guess which one he liked best. He was doomed.
They were at flat of Kathy-or-something ("Her name is Katherine," Stefan muttered) and Caroline was in the kitchen baking brownies. She'd cleaned off all the make-up and was fresh-faced, wearing a borrowed yellow dress and an apron. Her bare feet moved quickly over the kitchen floor as she flittered about looking for needed ingredients and utensils. He sat on one of the bar stools, watching her every move.
The band was off to a club to enjoy themselves and their singer was there, baking. The people with them in the flat were their friends and family. Kathy-or-something's ("It's Katherine," Stefan groused) twin sister, Elena, Stefan's older brother, Damon, and a few other friends, Matt and Bonnie. The group was at the living room playing an intense game of Pictionary.
"It's an eye!"
"Goggles!"
"Boobs!"
"I swear, Damon, if you're drawing a minion…"
Caroline smiled as she was mixing the ingredients in a bowl and laughing at her friends. "I miss this, you know."
Kol asked, "Miss what?"
"Just hanging out with them," She answered. "If I'm not touring, I'm writing new songs…or endorsing something. Or trying to figure out what movie to be in.
"A first film for a singer is important, you know. You don't want to be like Britney Spears in Crossroads or worse, Mariah Carey in Glitter. Of course, I could've done acting before music but…hey, the opportunity came first."
"You wanted to be an actress?"
"Yeah," She grinned. "Went to Tisch."
"Impressive,"
"Mm-hmm," She leaned over the counter so she was only inches from his face. "Look at us, musical geeks."
"Look at you. Living the dream. Sold out shows and recording music." He moved to wipe off the flour at her cheek. "I'd say you're more impressive than little old me."
"Humility doesn't suit you," She wrinkled her nose at him. "Stop with the act."
"Flattery gets me nowhere with you?" His thumb moved down her cheek to her lips. "Pity that."
"Mm-hmm," She hummed and kissed the pad of his thumb. "Want to lick the spoon?"
"Are you flirting with me?" He took the proffered spoon and wiped some chocolate at her mouth. "Should I call TMZ?"
She rolled her eyes and let him lean closer and lick at the chocolate at her lips. She giggled as he properly kissed her, nipping at her somewhat chapped lips. She smelled like salt and sugar. He pulled away and saw the specks of green in her eyes clearer.
"That actually made me hotter than the Fifty Shades of Grey movie,"
They turned to where the group were watching them with big smiles.
Damon was smirking, however. "You know, Care, if we weren't such good friends, I'd take a video and sell it to the paps."
Caroline just rolled her eyes. "And if you did, I'd tell Elena about you-know-what."
"What now?" Elena asked.
Damon glared at her, panicking. "Bitch."
"Asshole." Caroline stuck her tongue out at him before turning back to Kol. "So, my tour just ended. This was the last stop. You wanna go 'round New York tomorrow and act like embarrassing tourists?"
"What about the paparazzi?"
She rolled her eyes. "I have my ways. What do you say, Julliard boy? Make it worth my while?"
"Hmm…" Kol pretended to think it over. "Depends if you answer the question - did you really rip off Moonlight Sonata for that one song of yours about your ex?"
She snorted, moving away to continue with the brownies, muttering, "Everyone's a critic..."