Circumstances

Pairing: OC/Rebekah

Summary: As much as everyone thought they knew, Jacqueline always managed to prove them wrong. People claim to know who she is, what she's done, what's she's been through - and yet none of them can see all of it. What happens when she meets a certain Original Vampire who sees every little thing about her. From the way she walks to the way she acts... but will Jacqueline allow her supernatural mate to see her past as if they experienced it themselves. Elena bashing..

.

"Worrying won't stop bad stuff from happening; it just stops you from enjoying the good."

Unknown

TRENTADUE

"Your eating breakfast with me again?" Jeremy asked with a small frown as Jacqueline sat beside him.

Jacqueline snorted, "Wow if you want to be left alone you could have just said that" she blew out an exasperated breath

Jeremy sighed.

"That's not what I meant and you know it" Jeremy countered with narrowed eyes. "What happened to breakfast with Rebekah during the weekdays?"

Sometimes Jacqueline hated the fact he knew her this well!

Cause Jeremy was right - the past months morning ritual of breakfast with Beka had halted. It put Jacqueline in a bad mood but she tried not to show that. Though she couldn't exactly hide the fact she her plans fell through again.

Jacqueline rolled her eyes, "We're both busy in the mornings now. What's the big deal? You don't want to have breakfast with me anymore?"

Deflection.

It was Jacqueline's go to when she didn't see a way to explain it away.

Jeremy shook his head, "I always like spending time with you, Jaq, you know that. So? You've got nothing to do in the mornings... what's got Rebekah so busy then?"

Jacqueline huffed, "Family stuff" she said vaguely, hoping he would assume she just didn't want to share with him.

Jacqueline didn't want him to know that she didn't know. Rebekah had simply ignored her messages all last week. If that didn't say - plans canceled, then Jacqueline didn't know what did. Even though they were talking again now, it wasn't the same as before.

Wouldn't be the same as before again.

Not now.

Not after what happened...

Kissing someone the way Jacqueline had kissed Rebekah was something a friendship apparently doesn't easily bounce back from. Jacqueline supposed it was a reasonable reaction to what happened. Though that didn't make it any easier to deal with.

"Family stuff?" Jeremy echoed suspiciously. "Oookay..."

Jacqueline bit into her toast with a little more snap than usual. She ground her teeth in an effort to ignore Jeremys continued stare.

What would she say anyway?

I wanna kiss Rebekah every time I see her and when I did, she ran away. Or maybe she could say that she was pretty sure this is the first time in her life she'd consider dating someone. Hell maybe she could just say that she's a horrible friend!

Ugh!

Jacqueline sighed and took her plate to wash it in the sink. She wasn't hungry anymore now. Jacqueline had never been rejected before and it stung. Usually she was the one with the commitment issues. Guys had been ready and willing to date her for as long as she remembered.

She'd just never been interest in anything more than a casual fling.

This wasn't that though.

With Rebekah, she had stupidly allowed herself to consider what a real relationship would look like. Jacqueline had - for the first time in her life - wanted to share her life with someone in that way.

And she trusted Rebekah enough to be able to do so.

That wasn't normal for Jacqueline. She didn't trust very many people and even those she does trust, none get to see her vulnerable. Jacqueline had been incapable of allowing vulnerability to show with anyone but Rebekah.

It was all so confusing.

"Jacqueline?" Jeremy called

Jacqueline looked at him and softened her stance. None of this was his fault and she'd never take it out on him.

Not Jeremy.

"Are you okay?" Jeremy asked carefully

Jacqueline nodded and smiled, "I'm fine kid. I'm always fine in the end" she muttered and kissed his forehead.

Jeremy sighed but left the room to get ready for school.

As Jeremy went upstairs Jacqueline was left to wonder what her day would look like. They had developed a tentative friendship since Elijahs peace dinner the other night. Jacqueline had been surprised when Rebekah sought her out for conversation. She had half expected Rebekah to never want to speak to her again.

Not after she had kissed her.

Jacqueline felt like an idiot for ruining their friendship and making Rebekah uncomfortable.

She hadn't meant to do it.

Jacqueline was relieved though that they had slowly begun to hang out again. They had both been more wary this time though. Now they each were more aware of their proximity or small stolen glances.

It held meaning now.

Jacqueline had caught herself looking at Rebekah in a way she shouldn't more than once. She had to remind herself that she couldn't go there.

She didn't want to permanently ruin their friendship.

If Jacqueline hadn't been so used to pushing painful events away she might not have remained functioning. Jacqueline had been devastated when Rebekah rejected her and then refused to speak to her again. Even if it had only lasted a week... it had felt longer.

It hurt.

Jacqueline knew she was the one to blame though. It had been her own fault. Rebekah couldn't help that she didn't feel the same.

Although...

Well, over the past couple of days that she and Rebekah had become friends again, Jacqueline was starting to doubt that. Jacqueline was now painfully aware of her own feelings toward Rebekah. She had caught herself standing too close or looking too much. Though as she looked back, she realised they had been like that from the very beginning.

Both of them had.

That was the most confusing part about this situation.

Now that Jacqueline recognised the signs - she couldn't tell if they were reciprocated or not. Jacqueline swore that Rebekah had been jealous when Kol had been talking with her. When she looked back on things she thought Rebekah had been just as overly friendly as she had been.

It was confusing to say the least.

Jacqueline wasn't sure what to do about any of it. Even if she did think Rebekah might have done some of those things... Rebekah still ran after the kiss. Rebekah hadn't spoken to her for a week after the fact and clearly didn't want it to happen again.

Jacqueline just needed to accept that.

Either she would have to be okay with having Rebekah as just her friend or she'd have to keep her distance. Jacqueline wasnt sure what sounded worse; Being so close yet so far away or not being close at all?

Jacqueline winced.

How the hell had this become her life?

She shook her head a little angry at herself. This situation had clearly messed with her head. Jacqueline didn't want to sit around all day thinking about out her feelings!

She doesn't do shit like that!

No, she takes pain and locks it so far in the back of her mind that she forgets It's there. That's how she functions every day. Cause sometimes she has more important things to do than worry about her feelings.

Emotions get in the way.

They make things complicated.

If this thing with Rebekah wasn't proof of exactly why shutting emotions away helps... she then she doesn't know what is. Cause clearly her emotions only ever lead her astray. There was no place for feelings like that in a friendship. Jacqueline figured all she had to do was stop thinking about them.

Bury them.

Then she'd be fine, cause the thought of not having Rebekah in her life hurt more than she was willing to admit.

Jacqueline turned around in the mirror as she inspected the dress. There was absolutely no reason for her to buy it - she didn't have a place to wear it or an event to attend. However, it had been stunning enough to give her pause in the store.

She'd had to ty it on.

It was an amazingly soft black material. The dress dress was long sleeved and reached the floor in its length. The neckline dipped in a low V but has chained mesh covering her chest. The right leg has a slit that starts just below her hip as the material was stitched to bunch a little. The dress fit perfectly against her body - it showed all her womanly curves without flashing everything. There was just enough skin showing for it to be sexy but it was nothing inappropriate. Jacqueline's olive tan skin looked great against the silky black material too.

(Priyanka Chopra 'Chasing Happiness' LA Premiere dress 2019)

How could she not buy it?

Jacqueline turned a little to the side in the mirror as she debated what to do. She didn't need the dress. Wouldn't have a use for it even if she did buy it. Though the dress felt as if it were made for Jacqueline.

"You should definitely get that" Rebekah said suddenly

Jacqueline whirled around to looked at Rebekah in surprise. She had not heard or noticed Rebekah come out of the dressing room. Jacqueline blinked and nodded slowly. "I think I will" she admitted having failed at talking herself out of it.

Now she'd just have to find some place to wear it... cause this dress wasn't meant to sit in someone's closet unworn. It was too beautiful and entirely too expensive to remain untouched and forgotten. Jacqueline cast Rebekah a subtle glance when the blonde continued to stare. Resisting the urge to frown, Jacqueline waited to see if Rebekah intended on speaking.

The blonde didn't.

Instead Rebekah bit her lip before shaking her head and waking away.

Jacqueline's heart sank a little at that.

For some reason she had allowed herself to hope maybe that was attraction in Rebekah's eyes. Clearly this was just one more instance in which Jacqueline had been wrong. She didn't know why she thought it was going to change.

It wouldn't.

Rebekah had made that all too clear by not speaking with her for an entire week. At the risk of being dramatic, Jacqueline could silently admit that was the longest week of her life. There was just something about Rebekah that drew Jacqueline in. Something that made Jacqueline willing to be vulnerable for once.

It was stupid.

Jacqueline absolutely hated it cause she knew it wasn't returned.

It was all in her head, of course.

Jacqueline sighed and went back into the change rooms. She quickly dressed back in her regular clothing and headed to the register. Grabbing the cart of shoes she had selected, Jacqueline fished for her wallet and held back a wince at the price she knew she'd see.

This was some serious damage to her funds.

"I already took care of it" Rebekah smiled easily and shrugged at Jacqueline's questioning look.

"Okay" Jacqueline said as she held back a sigh. She'd told Rebekah that she was going to pay for her things today, but she wasn't gonna protest free clothing.

Not when the price was in the thousands.

Those thigh high boots had been too good to pass up. Now Jacqueline would have them in every colour...

"I think I'm gonna need a bigger closet" Jacqueline smirked

Rebekah chuckled, and just like that, the tension that had built between them was gone once again. Though no doubt in their new tentative friendship it would return sooner that Jacqueline liked. However, there wasn't much she could about that now.

It was awkwardly at times now and that could only ease with time.

At least Jacqueline hoped it would.

By the end of the day, both women were apparently in need of a strong drink. They had gone to grab dinner on their way back into town and it had been awkward.

Jacqueline hated it.

She hated knowing she had caused it.

As they walked into the Mystic Grill together Jacqueline hoped this wouldn't be the same. Though clearly since Rebekah had insisted, maybe it wouldn't be too bad. This had been Rebekah's idea after all.

Though Jacqueline likely would have ended up here anyway...

"Bottle of Tequila, thanks" Rebekah said to the bartender. The guy handed the bottle over without saying a word. Rebekah poured them both a few shots each.

"Thanks" Jacqueline said giving Rebekah a small smile as she tried not to look too eager in drinking the alcohol.

She'd need it.

Damn, Jacqueline really is turning into an alcoholic!

Jacqueline idly wondered if she needed to be concerned about that. Considering she isn't blood related to Miranda there would be no hereditary disposition to addiction, right? Regardless she didn't want to become like Miranda. Her recent dependence on alcohol was now looking a little troubling.

"What are you frowning about?" Rebekah asked either a smile

Jacqueline shrugged, "Turning into an alcoholic" she confessed without really meaning to. That was just the effect Rebekah had on her though.

It was frustrating.

Rebekah blinked in surprise before she snorted. "I don't think your an alcoholic"

Jacqueline hummed, "Not yet. The rate I've been going though... I'd say it's quite likely to be a possibility. I think I drink more than Alaric"

"Don't be dramatic" Rebekah chuckled

Jacqueline reluctantly smiled before reaching for another shot. They clinked their glasses before downing the alcohol. Rebekah refilled their shot glasses and chuckled as they drank more. Jacqueline wondered if drinking would be a such a great idea. Cause she was liable to say something she couldn't take back if they kept going.

"Ladies" Damon greeted them with a wolffish grin.

"Damon" Rebekah sighed in annoyance

Damon rolled his eyes, "This little picture reminds me of good times"

Jacqueline snorted.

Damon continued anyway, "Who's up for a repeat?" He asked looking between them with a dirty smirk.

Jacqueline studied the shot on the bar as she resisted the urge to scowl at him. There was no way that she would be up for a repeat of that night. Not with her current predicament with Rebekah.

"I wouldn't mind that" Rebekah said suddenly

Jacqueline was glad her heartbeat was concealed cause the vampires would have heart it break a little. Rebekah didn't see her that way - Jacqueline had to remind herself of that fact again.

"Jacqueline?" Damon asked

Jacqueline sighed, "Now isn't a good time-"

"Come on" Rebekah prompted with a teasing grin. "You need the distraction. We all do" Rebekah said

Jacqueline blinked as she looked at Rebekah questioningly. She wasn't sure she had heard right... but from the way Rebekah was giving her an encouraging look, she clearly had. Jacqueline downed the drink in front of her and stood.

She was going to regret this in the morning.

Jacqueline knew that without a doubt. However, she didn't seem to care at the current moment. Jacqueline bet it was either her occasionally self-indulgent nature or her alcohol consumption that was the reason for that though.

"Alright" Jacqueline agreed

Damon chuckled and extended an arm to both of them. "My place?"

"Sure" Jacqueline shrugged carelessly

Even though she would likely regret this, she intended to make the most of it while she didn't have a care in the world.

Or any shame apparently.

.

.