Prom day. The one day that teenagers anxiously await thinking that they'll find their Prince Charming right out of a fairytale. They dress up. They make themselves feel like princesses, and hope that it's a day they'll actually matter to some people. Or maybe turn a few extra heads when they walk through the door, or have your crush give you a second glance from across the room in his silhouette. It's a day you hope that sparks will fly for you. Girls - young, teenage girls - all rely on this one day. They wait for it. They count down.
And then in the end, for some, it is a day they wish they could forget cause they realize that it is nothing like the fairytales…
For others, they call it a night out. Some say it was a night to remember…
However, Rebekah has never been to one to tell a tale. To make a story out of it. She could never sit down on her front porch, and one day tell her children or grandchildren. She could never share her stories of heartbreak, love, betrayal. Or she could, but only the ones that she's already heard, and those weren't hers to tell.
Some people cringe at the thought of getting old and wrinkly, and wish desperately that they could stay young forever.
She made a deal with Elijah. Be human for a day, and become human forever. No strenth, no compulsion, no nothing. Rebekah knew it was a challenge, but could she live up to it? She spent a thousand years knowing nothing, but one thing; how to be a vampire. Could she make it as a human? Could she live a lifetime without everything she's ever know? She's always wanted to be human, since the day she was force-fed that poor girl's blood a thousand years ago. She never got to fall in-love, therefore she never got to have children.
Now she's this. A miserable monster. Something that she never wanted to be. Something that she never asked for, nor would she have ever asked for it.
These are the thoughts that kept corrupting her mind while she was sitting her at the perfectly round table. Alone with no date.
She was broken from her thoughts when someone slid into the seat across from her.
"So, care to tell me why you're sitting here all by your lonesome? Out of compulsion, or something?" he teased, expecting to get slapped or at least a vial remark about something as simple as relating him to an animal. But instead, he just received a soft chuckle. Almost like she didn't have it in her to fight anymore. He was surprised when he realized that it wasn't a look that he wanted to see on her.
"I made a deal with Elijah. If I can survive one day human, then he'll give me the cure," Rebekah answered slightly defeated. She honestly felt like it was a test her brother set up for her just to make her fail. She loved and cared for her brothers, she made a promise to them. A promise of always and forever that seems to only mean something on her part. A thousand years together as a family, they have all broken that promise at least once. Some more than others… But she made sure she always kept her side of the bargain.
Damon stood up, and extended an inviting hand out to her for her to take. She looked at it questionably and, yes, hesitantly. Can you blame her? Damon looked down at her, and said, "It's just a dance, Rebekah." She took his strong hand, and soon began to sway to the motions of the music. "Why are you so keen on being human?" Damon asked incredulously. There was once a time when he wished day and night that he was able to go back to being human, but now he couldn't think of anything more miserable. Aside from losing his only family…
Rebekah inhaled sharply and answered, "I want a second chance." He looked at her waiting patiently for her to elaborate. He understood the words she didn't say, or at least hadn't said yet, because he's thought about second chances here and there over the decades. If only he could have a second chance. She continued, unaware of his internal rambling, "I want to live a life, and die at the end of it knowing that it had meaning. I look at humans, and constantly think that they fight for survival everyday. And they don't even know it. I want to wake up each day, and rest at night satisfied that I survived. On my own."
"You want to matter," Damon stated.
Rebekah nodded her head once, confirming what he was saying. She knew that there was more meaning behind Damon's words, more meaning then Damon or anyone would probably have ever thought.
Putting on a collective expression, like everything she said didn't matter, she turned the conversation off of her. "You asked me how I got past my brothers death. You still seem to be on the verge of self-destruction, Damon. Why is it this hard for you to get over Stefan?" Rebekah asked, wincing at how harsh it sounded.
Instead of coming back at her with a remark like he usually would, he moved his hand father down by her waist, and pulled her closer. He answered, "Human, me and Stefan were best friends. Katherine put a wedge in our relationship, but me and Stefan still always had that bond. He forced me to turn, and I promised him a life full of misery. It wasn't until we came across each other in 1942 when I realized I needed my brother back. And even though we were repeating history with Elena, I had him back. And then I lost him."
"What about you?" he whispered into her ear then pulled back. "I'm surprised Klaus isn't lurking around obsessing about Caroline."
Rebekah chuckled, "No, but have you seen her dress? It no doubt came from Niklaus."
"You didn't answer my question," Damon pointed out amused, knowing that she was trying to deflect casually.
"What question?" she asked, trying to play dumb.
Damon scoffed and replied, "What about you? Why was it so easy for you to get past them?"
Rebekah looked at him in disbelief and said, "I told you, I didn't."
Damon smirked down at her, "I don't believe you. You're emotional, Rebekah. I bet all you did was shed a tear or two for the deeply departed, you never tried to avenge anything." After a moment of stretched silence, he added, "Even for Klaus."
Another silence overcame them. Damon began to think that his question was never going to get answered until Rebekah said, "When you lose someone, you get hit with memories. Good and bad. It's like a kaleidoscope of never-ending colors." She paused, and it gave Damon the time to mentally agree with every word that she was saying. When he lost Stefan, the world stopped and it felt like nothing was left but the memories. Because now, that's all that really is left besides a messy room that Stefan never got around to cleaning up because it was always the last thing on the mind. Besides, they were vampire, they had forever. Or they were supposed to…
Rebekah continued, "I have spent a thousand years with my family. We have all betrayed each other at one point or another, and most of the time, we hold onto those grudges. But we also forgive. We have forever to learn to forgive. But being a vampire, death is natural to predators like us. Whether their human or vampire themselves, it's natural. I may be emotional, but I've lived with death enough to know that if you hold onto it, it may just be the death of you."
Damon stared down at her unable to find words to say to what she just said. What could he say to that? It was all true. Death was natural to a predator species like them. They kill, manipulate, torment, but they never lingered on death.
Did the Jews in the Holocaust linger on their loved ones death, or think everyday about their own survival?
Vampires cheat death. It's what they do. Nothing more, nothing less. But even they can't escape the dangers of the world themselves. There's always someone ahead of you, someone even you can't beat. Then what?
The song ended, and they pulled apart from each other. Damon cleared his throat, and spotted Bonnie and Matt standing next to each other.
"I'm going to talk to Witchy and the Quarterback," Damon announced pointing a finger to thee two standing just a short distance from them.
Rebekah looked to where he was pointing, and nodded. "I just spotted the Emotionless Elena. I think I'll have a chat with her," Rebekah said absent-mindedly, just wanting to get away from Damon after realizing how much she's opened up to him.
It was a mistake, she shouldn't open up to anyone. She hasn't been able to for the past thousand years, and she wasn't about to start now. Besides, whenever she did, it never ever ended well for her. Just usually a broken heart and a dagger in her chest if Niklaus ever caught wind of her mistake. He always thought of it as a liability, and the almighty Niklaus Mikaelson could not make mistakes. You see, because he is the Big Bad Invincible Hybrid that can not be killed. That has proven to be false on so many occasions, but she wouldn't want to be the one to mention that little known fact to him.
Damon was the first to walk away leaving Rebekah standing alone in the middle of the dance floor. Letting herself linger there for multiple seconds, she smiled despite herself. Even though it was probably a grave mistake opening up to Damon Salvatore and showing her vulnerable side, it was nice to be able to talk freely. Even if it might have disastrous consequences.
She looked over to Damon who was standing next to Bonnie and Matt wearing an expression that she's seen on him multiple times. It might be something serious, she thought. Or worse, about Silas.
She walked over to Elena knowing fully with the serious expression on her face, she was listening intently on the conversation.
"What am I missing?" Rebekah asked Elena letting out an unneeded breath.
Elena put the flower she was inhaling away from her nose, and turned around facing the 'She-Devil', as Caroline so kindly puts it. "Silas is appearing to Bonnie as my dead brother. Which means he still wants her to do the spell," Elena answered frustrated.
Rebekah scoffed, "So? The nice thing about having no feelings is you don't fear your enemies on the other side."
"I'm not worried about my enemies," Elena quickly denied. "It's people like Alaric and Jeremy." Rebekah closed her eyes, and lowered her head slightly in understanding. Elena continued, "The Salvatore brothers were annoying enough as it is. Could you imagine if my brother came back to the living? He'd spend every waking hour trying to get my humanity back." She took a sip of her drink. "By the way, speaking of Salvatores, what were you doing with Damon?"
"Dancing," Rebekah answered all too quickly trying to sound as innocent as possible. But why try? She was innocent. It was innocent. Why feel the need to justify it? Because you let him in, Rebekah, she thought.
Don't let him in, the devil inside of her quickly shot back. If you let him in, he'll only hurt you. That's just the way it goes.
"It didn't look like just dancing. I heard your conversation. What was that about memories that hit you like a kaleidoscope of never-ending colors when someone you love dies?" Elena said breaking her out of her thoughts.
Rebekah shrugged, "Eavesdropping is rude. And what's that I sense in your voice? Jealousy, perhaps?"
Elena shook her head, "No. Jealousy requires emotion, and I thought I made that clear when I said I had none."
"Just because you say it, doesn't make it true," Rebekah said smirking. Then added before anything else could be said, "Now, back to Bonnie."
Elena opened her mouth to reply, but was interrupted by April Young holding a microphone on stage ready to announce Prom King and Queen.
"Okay, the ballets have been tallies, which means it's time to announce this years Prom King and Queen," April said getting everybody's attention. After a moment of silence, April said, "Alright, your Prom King and Queen are…Matt Donovan and Bonnie Bennet."
A spotlight was shined down on the two as everybody started cheering, and they made their way towards the stage.
"Bonnie Bloody Bennet," Rebekah said in disbelief loud enough for Elena to hear. "Of course," she added knowing that it wasn't going to be her and hated herself for her wishful thinking/
Elena turned back towards Rebekah, "Everyone's so worried about Silas, but there's an easy solution to all of this." Rebekah looked to Elena through the corner of her eyes, not liking the tone Elena had and she was sure she wasn't going to like the easy solution that she's conducted. Elena continued, "He needs Bonnie, he can't do the spell without her. So, if you can't kill Silas, kill his witch." She finished her statement with a devious smile.
And there it was, Rebekah thought.
Rebekah looked worried, "I can't kill anyone, I'm supposed to be human."
"Maybe you can't," Elena started. "But I can," she said with finality.
Rebeksh spared Elena one more glance as she watched her walk away with a proud smile on her face.
Earlier today, Matt boldly told her that she wouldn't make a good human. And she outwardly told him that he was right. But it was still worth a shot. She couldn't help but think here's her shot. She never liked the witch, and personally couldn't give a rats ass if she lived or died. But Matt cared, Damon cared (even though he probably wouldn't admit it), and Stefan would've cared.
In the name for Stefan and being human, she couldn't let this happen. Not while she knew about it, and had full potential of doing something, absolutely anything in her power to help.
After what felt like forever, but were mere minutes, Rebekah saw Matt walking down from the stage smiling leaving Bonnie behind to take some more photos.
She went up to him, and rushed, "You need to get you Queen off the stage."
Matt looked back at Bonnie, and turned to face Rebekah again. "I can't really do that right now," he said with a tad hostility making sure that she knew her presence wasn't exactly welcomed.
Rebekah glanced at Bonnie for a millisecond, then look at Matt again. "You didn't hear it from me, but Elena's up to something," Rebekah quickly rushed again wanting to get out of dodge.
She walked away leaving Matt standing shocked and confused where she left him. When she was steps away from Matt, she found someone blocking her way only to look up and recognize the face as Damon Salvatore.
"What was that about?" Damon asked curiously, hating to be the last to know something. Especially these days, where being the last to know meant you would be the first to die. At least that's just the way it seems.
Rebekah looked back at the place Matt was standing second ago, but figured he probably went to keep an eye on Bonnie. She applauded his caring and loyal nature.
"That was about me being human," Rebekah answered going to walk past him, but found his figure still blocking her frame. "Was there something else you needed, Damon?" she asked annoyed that he was still in her presence.
Damon frowned, "Why so hostile?"
"I'm not hostile, you're just an ass," Rebekah said trying her best to hurt him as much as she could. Although, she knew that such little wounds didn't even scratch the surface with him. It would take much more.
"What's your problem?" Damon asked annoyed himself at her sudden mood change. First, they were dancing at close proximity, and now, she looked at him as if he was a lecherous sea monster that should be forbidden to walk this earth. The look she currently gave him right now was enough to wound him. He thought she was different…
Before Rebekah could even stop herself, she said, "You are my problem, Damon. Now, if you don't mind, I would like to go back to wallowing in self-pity. So, go away."
Instead of uttering a single word, he simply moved his body to the side and moved his hands indicating for her to go past him. She looked up at him satisfied she got her way, but couldn't look to long to analyze his face and the hurt she probably saw on it. But then again, she was Rebekah. It's not like anything she said or did to him effected him in any way. He doesn't care, nobody does. One of the many reasons why she wants to be human. She wants someone to care. He wasn't different to the people who has currently taken residence in her life…
"Wallow away," Damon said as she moved past him.
She took a few steps, not looking back afraid as to what she may find. A broken man, or a careless shell.
Rebekah's cell phone rang, and she quickly fumbled to find it. She secretly hoped it was Elijah calling to check in on how she was doing so far, and would be ready with the cure if he deemed her worthy so far. But there she goes again with her wishful thinking and mindless dreaming. Instead, the caller read Matt.
"Hello," she answered sounding as nonchalant as ever.
"Rebekah, I need your help. Meet me outside. The side of the building that's nearest to the woods," came Matt's panicked voice.
However, her voice didn't waver when she said, "My help? What could you possibly need my help with?"
"Please, Rebekah. Just meet me outside, and ask questions later. It's an emergency."
Rebekah hung up the phone, and quickly rushed outside all the while scared of what she may find. Silas was here, so anything was possible. And with Elena to add fuel to the fire, she's surprised this place hasn't gone down in flames yet.
Rebekah immediately spotted Matt hovering over April Young's body.
She mad her presence know, "Matt, why'd you call? Oh, God…" she said trailing off when she realized the body was lying unconscious on the ground.
"Can you feed her your blood?" Matt asked desperately looking up at Rebekah.
Rebekah pushed her hair to the side and said, "Can't we just call 911, or something?" She couldn't use any vampire abilities. If she did, then all those dreams about being human will simply vanish in the blink of an eye, and she could kiss whatever hope she had for herself, goodbye.
"She's dying. Please, help her," Matt begged.
Rebekah shook her head slightly, "I can't. If I heal her with my vampire blood, then Elijah won't give me the cure and I won't get to be human."
Matt looked up at her with pleading eyes, "How is this even a choice right now? You wanna be human? Prove it. Be good. Do the right thing, and save her life."
Rebekah looked down at April's unconscious form then took a deep breath. April looked helpless, defenseless, and she looked close to death. Rebekah had to chose one of two options, and fast. She could let April Young - her only friend - die, or she could be good - what she has always wanted to be - and save her life. Saving April from dieing may be unnatural, but saving her life and being good would be human. And human is what she's always wanted to be.
Taking another deep breath, Rebekah showed her demonic face, brought her wrist up to her lips, and bit down. She knelt down on the ground beside April, and brought her wrist up to the near-lifeless form's lips. April had awoken after drinking greedily from Rebekah's wrist, and started coughing the left-over blood.
"You're okay, you're okay," Matt said reassuring words to her. April looked deeply frightened of the last thing she remembered, which was Elena banging her head on a table. She subconsciously brought her hand to her wrist feeling the wound for the first time. She looked at the blood that was on her hand, but then noticed the wound starting to close knowing it was from the effects of Rebekah's blood.
Matt walked April over to a tree, and sat her down gently under it. He wrapped his suit jacket around her, and started walking back over to where Rebekah was standing.
"What's going on?" Damon said stepping out of the shadows, unbeknownst to them that he listened in on Rebekah's phone conversation considering she wasn't that far away from him, and followed her out there to discover this 'emergency' with her, although, he was lurking in the shadows. He stood right next to Rebekah.
"Thank you for saving her," Matt said fully ignoring Damon and his presence.
"Elena was right, I should've just stayed home," Rebekah said regretfully. She should've known better. This is Mystic Falls after all, and nothing, no events can go on without somebody going missing, getting killed, or almost killed.
"No one has to know what you did," Matt said trying his best to reassure her. "I won't tell anyone," he promised.
Damon arched his eyebrows, "Matt, who did this?" He knew fully well who hurt April, but some stupid part of him had hoped that it wasn't the case.
Please don't be Elena, Damon thought, although, he knew the truth.
"Elena," Matt answered angered that his best friend - his childhood friend - was now lost. Lost in the full effects of vampirism. He elaborated, "Rebekah warned me to look out for Bonnie, and I did. I found Bonnie hurting Elena with magic after Elena tried to kill her. Bonnie walked out, and April walked in. Elena smashed her head into a table, and took a bite out of her." He turned his attention back onto Rebekah, "I won't tell anyone," he said reiterating his promise.
"You'd really do that for me?" she asked in disbelief that someone could be so kind to her without there being an ulterior motive. It was almost too good to be true. But for now, she would let herself enjoy what she hoped was genuine kindness given to her by Matt.
"I would," he stated. "And maybe I was a little harsh earlier. You wouldn't make the worst human."
"Thank you, Matt," Rebekah said smiling. She's always wanted to her someone, anyone say that. But she didn't want it to be said out of fear, or manipulation, just pure truth and genuine kindness.
Matt nodded once.
"You should probably get April home, Matt," Damon said noticing the girl looking so fragile under the tree. For a second, it reminded him of being human. Being weak…
Matt turned to look towards April. He walked over to her, and helped her stand keeping his arm around her to steady such an unstable girl right now.
"You won't get to be human now," Damon stated, already over their previous confrontation even though it was mere minutes ago. It took a lot more to hurt Damon Salvatore, and she didn't even make a dent.
But the look in her eyes will be a look he won't ever forget. He's seen a lot of people look at him as if he was some sort of monster, which he was and among that long list of people consisted of Elena on numerous occasions, but he truly thought Rebekah was different that way. He thought that she understood him for once, that they had a lot in common minus the whole I-wanna-be-human scenario. He didn't think he would ever see that level of hatred in Rebekah's eyes staring back at him because he thought she understood.
Maybe she did, or she does. Something changed in her from the time they danced to the time she warned Matt about Elena. But what changed? What changed in her to make her look at him with such hatred?
Or was it even hatred he saw? Is that just all he sees that anything else is pale in comparison to the point where he thinks of it as hatred automatically? Whether it's hatred or not?
"I know," Rebekah said feeling defeated. "But what Elijah doesn't know won't hurt him."
Damon opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by an unmistakable smooth British voice belonging to the most hated bastard hybrid.
"Dear sweet April Young. Now, there's a girl with a future," said Klaus as he walked to stand in front of his sister.
"She was dying, and I acted with human decency. You can't get more human than that," Rebekah said trying her best to defend her case. Although, she knew it was pointless. This is Klaus she's talking to right now.
"Actually you can," Klaus denied. "You can stand idly by as poor April takes her final breath. You can ask, 'Why does this always happen to innocent people? Where do the spirits go? Was there anything I could have done?' That is what it means to be human, sister. You give humanity too much credit."
"You're gonna tell Elijah?" Rebekah asked in disbelief looking at her brother with utter sadness and disappointment, although, she kept asking herself if she was really that stupid to expect anything less. After a thousand years running together, you'd think she would have learned by now. In every aspect of the world.
"No. No, you are," Klaus said sounding like he was reveling in his sister's discomfort and marveling in the fact that her sister was heartbroken and let down once again. He knew he didn't deserve brother of the year…ever. So what point was there in trying now? It's not like he ever tried before? He just always expected forgiveness, it was always a given. After all, he was all she ever had. And vice versa…
Klaus continued with smugness at her failure, "You'll tell him that you cheated, that you failed, that you don't deserve the cure."
He enjoys seeing me fail, Rebekah thought with all the bitterness she had.
"Klaus, she's you're sister," Damon said knowing that this would ruin Rebekah.
Klaus glared at Damon, then smirked, "Ah, yes. Damon Salvatore. I've noticed the times you have spent with my sister." Damon looked shocked, surprised that he would know that. Klaus smirked at his expression and continued, "What? Thought I wouldn't notice? You two can't sneak around for the life of you."
"So, what? We've had lunch, so sue us," Damon snapped back.
This just made Klaus' smirk grow. "Why sue when I could kill?"
"Because then the revenge would be wasted," Damon said matter-of-factly knowing all too well the truth behind revenge and what it's like when gone. How you're left with nothing.
"Honestly, Rebekah, there's no accounting for good taste," Klaus said finding it very amusing at his sister's lovesick heart, and how he can't wait to see the look on his face when it all comes crashing around her. Shattering in pieces all around her feet.
"Why is it so hard for you to let me be happy?" Rebekah shouted in his face with tears running down her cheeks. She couldn't stop the tears from flowing. How could she? The one thing she's literally dreamt and fantasized about for a thousand years has disappeared in a matter of seconds all because her brother didn't care enough about her over his own happiness, hybrids, and precious Caroline. She's beginning to think that maybe, just maybe, he never cared at all…
And that thought alone broke her heart.
"Because your happiness comes at the expense of my sanity," Klaus answered dangerously close to shoving another dagger into her heart just so he wouldn't have to hear her whining and throwing herself her own pity party. He continued, "Because I refuse to entertain yet another one of your whims, because you are bored and you're looking for a reason to matter. Thankfully, I don't have to waste anymore breath fighting you on the subject."
Klaus walked past Rebekah and Damon. Rebekah yelled at his retreating form desperately wanting an answer, "What does that mean? Nik, what does that mean?"
No answer…silence.
Rebekah quickly fumbled to search for her phone, and very quickly dialed Elijah's number waiting for him to answer knowing that he would.
"Rebekah?" Elijah said sounding puzzled. She picked up easily on his tone of voice.
"Rebekah, calm down," Damon said hoping to get through to her in the least bit.
"Damon?" Elijah asked sounding more confused then ever.
Ignoring Elijah and Damon completely, Rebekah said frantically into the phone, "Elijah, I think Nik's up to something."
"Where did you go?" Elijah tested hoping that she said she was in her house, set the cure down, and misplaced it. However, he could tell that that was a very foolish scenario and judging by Rebekah's tone, she never had the cure in her hands in the first place.
"I'm still at the prom," Rebekah answered. "Look, don't do anything with the cure until I see you. Something's not right." She received nothing, but silence on the other line. She panicked already fearing the worst; it somehow, someway wasn't in his pocession any longer. "Elijah? Hello? Elijah, do not take your eyes off that cure," Rebekah saif hoping that he hasn't already. Although, deep down, she knows the truth.
His voice finally sounded on the other line, "I think it might be a little late for that."
More tears flowed down her face as she took in the meaning of Elijah's words. She wasn't getting the cure. She would never get the chance to be human again. Her humanity is gone…
She slowly took the phone from her ear, and hung up.
"Rebekah?" Damon asked unsure of how she was going to react, and being unsure isn't exactly the most comforting feeling to have. Especially when it comes to one of the most powerful vampires. He tried again to reach out to her, "Rebekah?"
"I'm going home," she announced heartbroken. Her hopes and dreams were gone. They were nothing, but dust in the wind. Stars in the night sky that can never be reached. At least not now. Not anymore…
She walked past Damon with her head held so low, she didn't think it could go any further. She didn't think she could feel this broken and empty in all her years of existence.
Damon tried one last time to get her attention, "Rebekah?"
Rebekah stopped in her tracks, and finally turned around. "It's over, Damon. I'm not gonna get the chance to be human." Then just above a whisper, she said, "I never will again."
She turned back around, and started walking the path to her home. This time Damon didn't try to stop her…