Hello, my lovely readers. Sorry about the long wait. This is Rebekah's chapter with as many requests as I could fulfill in one chapter that could make sense. On with the show…

Chapter 16: Emptiness

Mirrors are supposed to show your bloody reflection, but they do not reflect back to Rebekah who she is. It shows a girl with long, blond curls and far too much eye makeup, an angry girl who forces anything that remotely smacks of happiness down into a remote region of her soul, if she has one, because she knows that happiness can by ripped away from you in a heartbeat.

That is the lesson that we all must live with, life can be given and taken away in a matter of the blink of an eye. When Rebekah had snuck out of her history class she had never expected to see someone being shot. But she had seen John Gilbert approach Damon Salvatore, the fight and then the shot that nearly cost the golden boy of Mystic High his life.

Rebekah didn't want to be part of that drama. She just wanted to keep to herself. Now, when she made the simplest act of walking into the girl's bathroom and walking out, she had to worry about running into people like Vikki Donavon. For some reason Vikki had decided that Rebekah could have done something to prevent the shooting and was out to "beat her ass."

Today was no different. Exiting the girl's bathroom after putting out the cigarette that was causing her to hack and her finger nails to turn the loveliest shade of yellow, Rebekah ran into Vikki. "Watch where you're going, Mikaelson!" Vikki snarled, shoving Rebekah into a group of their fellow students who moved away, quickly.

"What is your problem?" Rebekah retorted. She was done with Vikki's crap as the cheerleader hunched her shoulders and glared back.

"You, bitch!" Vikki replied with a vicious grin. "Everyone knows that you just stood there and let Damon get hurt. It's your fault. You're the one who should have been shot. Or better yet you should be in jail for not trying to prevent a crime!" the girl shouted, trying to gain the attention of her fellow students. "I should kick your ass."

"Fight," began to echo through the hall and Rebekah felt her stomach curl at the thought.

Just as Vikki held up a fist and was about to swing in Rebekah's direction, a set of long fingers wrapped around her wrist. "Stop it. Now, Vik," Hayley Marshall hissed. "What is wrong with you? You could get expelled and we have a national championship to prepare for."

"What the hell is going on here?" a voice called as someone pushed his way through the crowd. Elijah appeared by Rebekah's side. "I should have known that it was you and your lot," he sneered at Hayley who gaped at him before closing her mouth and then glaring at him. "What did your minion do to my sister?" Elijah demanded.

"Nothing. So why don't you go back to trying to end up in juvie?" Hayley snapped.

Elijah took a dangerous step toward Hayley who took a step toward him and the chanting of "fight" began again. "Elijah," Klaus called. Rebekah wondered where in the hell he had come from? Shouldn't he be off water coloring a pond or drooling on Caroline Forbes' shoulder while she played one of her silly games? "Hey, what's going on, brother?" Klaus asked with a wide smile to mask his anxiety.

"I was just going to show Miss Marshall how to show some respect," Elijah told his brother, never removing his eyes from Hayley.

"I thought he didn't hit girls," Bonnie Bennett whispered loudly and Rebekah glanced over to see her with her brother, Kol, and that freshman, Davina, who was gawking at the show.

"He doesn't. 'Less you count Nik," Kol replied with a smile. "Do you have any plans tonight, Bonnie?"

"I don't know," Bonnie said vaguely while Rebekah shook her head. Kol truly would hit on anything that walked.

Turning her attention back to the possible fight, Rebekah noticed Damon striding toward the group. "Hey, what's going on?" he inquired with a smirk like nothing had ever happened. Everyone began to speak at the same time as his eyebrows furrowed together. "One at a time," he said to the group.

"It was a misunderstanding," Hayley told him evenly, tossing her ponytail.

"Yeah, sure it was," Elijah added with a sneer. "The misunderstanding is that you need to control your girls," he told Hayley before placing a protective arm around Rebekah and turning them around.

Walking to the other end of the hall, Elijah blew out a long breath before turning his full attention to his sister. "Are you alright?" he asked, looking her over for signs of injury.

"Yes, Elijah. I'm fine," Rebekah said, waving away his concern. It did little for her image as one of the schools bad asses to first be threatened by a member of the pompom squad and to then be babied by her brother.

"Good. I swear if one of those ponytailed freaks ever lays a finger on you it will be Marshall I enact my revenge upon," Elijah told her with a smile.

Rebekah forced down the desire to tell him to can the dramatics. "Yes, 'Lijah, now don't you have someone to throw into a trash can?" she inquired with a grin.

"Yes, in fact out brother, Niklaus, has been trying today and refused to allow me to borrow his car tonight for the school dance," Elijah murmured with a scowl.

"Why? Are you going?" Rebekah asked.

"No, not in the way that one of these," he waved a hand at the students passing by him. "I was planning on crashing and dumping a bucket of red paint on the Queen on the Poms Poms," he told Rebekah who rolled her eyes. "I'll see you at home." Striding down the hall, Elijah made a point to crash into several other students.

Rebekah sighed inwardly, turning to find herself face to face with one of the ghastly posters that the cheerleaders had created to let everyone know there would be a decade dance that night. She grimaced. Rebekah was not fond of dances. She was not fond of dating. Nor was she fond of so-called love.

Watching Jackson and Amara walking down the other side of the hall, holding hands and kissing, she tried to not gag. That was not what Rebekah wanted. Save that lovely dovey shit for Nik who was desperately in love with the clueless Caroline. There was also Finn with his adoration of Sage, good luck with that one, brother. Kol was not too much better, even though he was the king of self-sabotage. Then there was Elijah, who claimed he would never love again. Until he screwed his nemesis, then it would be hearts and stars. Gag!

No, Rebekah had been in love once with a boy named Alexander. He was given a bad transfusion and died from HIV at the age of fourteen. Rebekah was never able to tell him she loved him because the day she went to his house to make her confession, his mother told her that he was gone. That was the day that Rebekah had hardened herself to love.

The rest of the day dragged on with various students asking each other to go to the dance. It was all very tedious and boring. Rebekah was about to choke on her own vomit when Tyler Lockwood, King of the bloody Geeks, stood atop a table and serenaded his girlfriend, Liv Parker, who was another pom- pom, before asking her to the dance. It wasn't bad enough that Tyler had to do this but he had to have his fellow chess geeks accompany him, including that Marcel guy, the one with the nice smile that Rebekah refused to acknowledge. And then there were the pompoms, dancing for their friend and cheering when she said yes.

"That is sickening," Elijah said, pointing a fork at that couple. "Someone should outlaw that kind of PDA. Isn't there a school rule," he called to the principal who was turning a blind eye.

"Hey, Elijah," Hayley called as she stepped toward the table. "I've been thinking," she began when Elijah burst out laughing.

"That would be a first," Elijah chuckled.

Narrowing her eyes, Hayley sucked in a deep breath before plastering on a fake smile. "I was thinking that you could be my date to the dance. That way I can keep an eye on you to make sure you don't ruin my efforts." She ended the sentence by sticking out one long leg and tapping her foot with an impatient flip of her ponytail.

"This isn't Sadie Hawkins," Elijah reminded her, causing Hayley to squirm while Rebekah looked around to find Klaus holding out a bouquet of pink roses to Caroline. The blonde smiled before wrapping an arm around Klaus who looked like someone had offered him his first exhibit.

"Yes or no?" Hayley snapped while Elijah downed the rest of his Jell-O.

"Yes. I'll be the one with the rose between his teeth," Elijah replied with a smirk. "And I would love it if you could wear something in shades of black, so that we'll match. Maybe Bekah can do your makeup," he added.

"But I ordered my dress months ago!" Hayley complained just as Elena Gilbert could be heard shouting "Drop dead, Damon," across the room.

Elijah looked around the cheerleader to find that Elena was stomping across the room, away from Damon who had a bowl of chocolate pudding running down the sides of his face. "See you tonight," Elijah said before getting up and hurrying out of the room.

When the school day was over Rebekah just wanted to go home. She wanted to take off her boots and pretend the day had not happened. Passing by the empty rooms she found that they weren't all empty. Looking inside one, she noticed Marcel. He was sitting at a table and staring intently at a chess board. "Hey," she said quietly.

"Hey," Marcel looked confused when she came inside, stepping slowly and cautiously toward the table. Sitting down, she looked at the board. "I never truly understood the appeal of this game."

"Oh, well, I always liked it because of the idea of capturing the queen," Marcel told her with a smile. "Women should be appreciated for their value in life."

"You mean like cash?" Rebekah snorted.

"No, like people. There are some guys who think that women are weaker, but I say that you should never underestimate them," Marcel said as he studied the pieces.

"And you find this appealing?" Rebekah asked curiously.

"Yeah, who wouldn't want a worthy adversary," Marcel exclaimed with a smile as he leaned back. "Would you like to play?"

"I don't know. I've never played before," Rebekah sighed.

"Do you believe in beginner's luck?" Marcel teased, leaning forward and Rebekah smiled.

"I think, maybe I do," she told him. "What are we playing for?"

"How about if you win then I have to pay for your lunch for the next week, and if I win, then you have to go to the dance with me?" Marcel held his breath while Rebekah pondered the odds.

"Right. Then I'll try," she told him.

An hour later Rebekah sat back in her seat. "Dear. It looks like I will be going to that bloody dance after all," she grumbled half-heartedly.

"Like I said. I like to take the queen," Marcel said with a smile.

Rolling her eyes, Rebekah got up. "I suppose that I will see you then," she began when Hayley appeared in the doorway.

"Hey, Rebekah, can I have a moment?" Hayley asked, looking a little out of her element.

"Sure," Rebekah rolled her eyes but came to the Queen of the pompoms willingly.

"Can you come over to my place to dress? I don't really know what Elijah is expecting here, but I thought I'd at least try," Hayley told Rebekah who felt skeptical.

"Fine. Whatever," Rebekah said.

"Good. And do you have a black dress I can borrow?" Hayley asked. Rebekah felt like this would be more work than she had hoped for. "I can take you back to your place and we can find something... Hey, Marcel, right? Hand me your phone and I'll text you my address. Or do you think that Elijah will want to carpool?" the cheerleader asked as she typed away into her own phone.

"I think he'll probably meet us at the dance," Rebekah reassured the surprisingly nervous girl.

"Okay," Hayley said brightly, looking at Marcel and wrapping an arm around Rebekah's shoulders. "We'll see you later."

By the time that they were ready for the dance Rebekah was ready to scream after Hayley had forced her to put on a form fitting, floor length, rose pink gown. Rebekah thought of Klaus' roses for Caroline and felt like she would hurl. "You look stunning. Like a Princess," Hayley enthused as Rebekah snorted and then smirked at her masterpiece.

"And you look unrecognizable," Rebekah retorted, examining the black mini-dress and black combat boot with extra black eye liner and purple lipstick. No ponytail tonight. Just scads of long, dark waves that hung down the head cheerleader's back. "Elijah will love seeing this side of you," Rebekah said with a grin as they walked down the stairs.

Marcel was standing at the bottom of the steps with a corsage and Rebekah felt her heart slam against her chest at the sight of him in a black tux. He looked good. Really, really good. And he had a corsage. It was a red rose. "Hey," he greeted her when she came to stand in front of him. "You look amazing."

"So do you. Who would have thought," Rebekah teased.

"Thanks," Marcel replied before he looked down at the box in his hands. "Hayley said that it shouldn't match. Something about fashion is not about matching everything…" Marcel said quickly, pulling out the corsage, he placed it on her wrist and Rebekah grinned.

"Thank you," she leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.

"Okay. Are we going?" Hayley called from her spot at the door.

They walked out and into the night. Rebekah felt content as the cheerleader chattered and Marcel turned on a jazz station to tune her out. When they entered the school it felt like a long walk before they entered the gym that looked like it was from the current decade. That was a shock. What was more shocking was how everyone seemed to be getting along for once.

Usually there was someone who was in tears by the first dance. Not this time. Rebekah spotted Klaus with Caroline on his arm. Kol was dancing with Bonnie Bennett… and Enzo? Odd. Oh, well. It was a list of the usual suspects, and happy couples. Even Damon had seemingly found himself a date with Anna. At first Rebekah did not take note of anyone missing until Marcel asked her to dance with him. Then it hit her. Elijah.

Looking down at Hayley who was staring at the door with more concentration than Rebekah gave her credit for, it was obvious who she was waiting for. Opening her mouth, Rebekah was going to say something when Damon appeared. "Hey, Marshall. Want to dance while Ric takes my date for a spin?"

Rebekah watched Damon stand awkwardly with his hand extended before Hayley took it and forced a smile. "My date's late," she said calmly as Rebekah walked with Marcel toward the dance floor.

No more than Hayley's words had been uttered than Elijah entered the room, looking dashing in a tux without any of his usual theatrics, yet. He stood for a moment before a teen girl in a red dress appeared, taking his arm. Rebekah's jaw dropped when she realized that it was Elena bloody Gilbert who was causing people to gasp at her insanely expensive dress, flawless makeup and a huge smile. 'What did they think? This was the bloody Oscars!' Rebekah wondered as people parted for the couple to step onto the dance floor to dance to a slow song.

When Elijah and Elena were passing by Damon and Hayley, Rebekah heard Elena giggle. "What in the hell is it that she's wearing?" Rebekah growled under her breath as Damon stiffened. Yanking herself out of Damon's arms, Hayley ran toward the doors, stumbling, one of the heels broke off her boot and she fell to the floor as everyone began to laugh.

"Now, that is what I call a dance," Elijah said, laughing with the rest, clapping his hands together as Hayley wiped at her eyes and tried to leave.

"Well, if she hadn't dressed up for Halloween that probably wouldn't have happened," Elena sighed, tsking with a grin.

"You're a real bitch," Damon snapped. Suddenly he was on the floor with Elijah standing over him with his fists curled up. In the next second Damon launched himself at Elijah while Elena smiled.

"I love it when men fight over me," she murmured.

Rebekah opened her mouth, but decided against speaking. "Marcel, I have to go," she told her date who nodded and moved to help Klaus, Alaric and Kol separate the other teen boys.

Heading down the hall and outside, Rebekah did not get far before she found Hayley who was sobbing with her arms wrapped around her middle. "It was a stupid idea. I don't know why I did it. I'm so stupid. I'm just so stupid," the brunette sobbed as Rebekah wrapped her in a hug. This is why Rebekah did not fall in love because it tended to leave you feeling empty and alone.

Comments? Questions? And, please, consult the list of characters that I have provided and tell me which ones you would like to be the focus of chapters 17 and 18 since either Caroline or Klaus will be the focus of 19 and Damon or Elena will be 20.

Tom, Anna, Brady, Genevieve, Diego, Matt, Tyler, Finn, Sage, Rose, Harper, Josh, Aiden, Stefan or Jackson. Anyone missing from the list will appear in chapters 21-30 something.

Answers to reviews:

Littleinfinity's: I hope that you enjoy the TyLiv. I know it is just a tiny part of the story but I promise that we will see them again in later chapters because I am not giving up on this couple and I started a sort of spin off for them a little while ago which will be posted as soon as I finish some of my other stories.

Guest: If you squint, you'll see the Kennett scenes. :/

PR. Salvatore: Thank you. I wanted to give them a sort of happy ending but that we know their story is still a ways from being over. I couldn't kill Damon. Just no.

Guest: I am trying. I swear. I'm hoping to update Appearances this Saturday and, hopefully, IHave this coming Monday.

Jusea Peterson: No way could I kill Damon. I was so upset when I thought that he was gone at the end of season 5. I flipped out a little. I love Klaroline and am so looking forward to writing the first half of their Klaro-centric chapters in this story.

That is a good question that I will try to figure out. It was fun to write about the runaway wedding. Something tells me that something will happen to prevent Tom from going to jail…

ObsessWithElijah: If you hit someone with a car and take off after the crime there are a lot of charges that the district attorney can charge the suspect with. It can get rather ugly.

KPerry1234: I know. Small town justice can be enough to make one cringe. But I think that Tom will still get a happy ending somehow…

Anoni Mos666: I'm glad that you find my version of Haylijah interesting and I do apologize for the wait.

Thank you for reading, faving, following and/or for reviewing.

Peace,

Jessica