COUNSELOR BLATT'S voice, usually a gentle murmur lost in the cafeteria's din, boomed with unexpected force, slicing through the clatter of trays and the buzz of lunchtime chatter. "Cyberbullying is no laughing matter!" She declared, her gaze sweeping across the crowded room, a sternness etched into her usually soft features. The clatter of silverware against plastic trays seemed to amplify the sudden silence.

"Sending a cruel message to someone online," She continued, her voice resonating with a somber weight. "Can be just as hurtful, if not more, than saying it to their face." She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly, a hint of frustration creasing her brow. "I'm not gonna name names," She stated, her voice laced with a subtle reprimand, "'But the other day, a mother called me up because her son was crying after some kids online made fun of his facial deformity."

Katherine whom was sitting at a table near the center of the cafeteria, let out a sharp, incredulous scoff. "Facial deformity?" She muttered under her breath, her eyes widening in pure disbelief at Blatt's clumsy phrasing. The word hung in the air, amplifying the very issue Blatt was supposedly trying to address. She had, in her attempt to illustrate the seriousness of cyberbullying, inadvertently pinpointed Eli, whose prominent scar was a source of deep insecurity. A wave of snickers rippled through the room, a cruel undercurrent to the already tense atmosphere.

Upon noticing Eli's shift in demeanor, Katherine slid her hand beneath the table, her fingers finding Eli's. She squeezed his hand tightly, a silent promise of support in the midst of the cafeteria's cruel spectacle. She zoned out Counselor Blatt's droning speech, her focus narrowing to a laser-like intensity. Her eyes, usually bright and friendly, now flashed with a cold fury, shooting daggers at anyone who dared to whisper or snicker about Eli. The air around her crackled with unspoken threats, a silent declaration that anyone who dared to mock her best friend would face her wrath.

Just then, Miguel, leaned forward, his voice low but audible. "You know, if you're sick of getting bullied, my karate dojo's looking for recruits." He offered, as he turned to face Eli. Demetri, ever the cynic, snickered. "Oh really?" He drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You hear that, Eli? A little karate training, and you're gonna kick some major ass." He mimicked a karate chop, his exaggerated movements further mocking the already humiliated Eli. Katherine rolled her eyes, a sigh escaping her lips. Demetri's timing was, as always, spectacularly awful.

"I'm serious, Demetri, all right?" Miguel insisted, his voice hardening slightly. "My sensei's the real deal, and I'm sure I could get you both discounts." He bargained, his eyes flickering between Eli and Demetri, but both boys remained stubbornly skeptical. "As enticing as that sounds," Demetri retorted, his voice laced with dry wit, "I think we'd rather spend our afternoons playing Crucible Control than getting hit in the face." He gestured vaguely, his posture conveying his complete lack of interest.

Eli, still hunched over and mortified, didn't even bother to look up. The offer of karate, meant to be a lifeline, seemed to only add to the weight of his humiliation. Miguel, sensing the pointlessness of his karate offer, shrugged, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face. He decided to drop the subject, recognizing the heavy atmosphere wasn't the time nor place for recruitment. "Alright, alright," He muttered, leaning back in his chair. "Oh, and one last thing," Counselor Blatt announced, her voice regaining its authoritative tone, drawing their attention back to the front of the cafeteria.

"While we're all looking forward to the Halloween dance, let's make sure our costumes are culturally sensitive." A collective murmur rippled through the cafeteria. Students exchanged glances, a mix of confusion and amusement coloring their expressions. "For example," Blatt continued, her attempt at a helpful suggestion landing with a thud, "instead of 'sexy nurse,' maybe try 'gender-neutral hospital employee.'" Katherine's eyes rolled so dramatically they almost disappeared into her hairline. The sheer absurdity of the suggestion was almost comical, a stark contrast to the earlier, painful discussion about cyberbullying.

Miguel, seizing the opportunity to lighten the mood, nudged Katherine with his elbow. "You thinking of being a sexy nurse for Halloween?" He joked, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. Katherine retaliated with a sharper elbow jab, her lips twitching with a hint of amusement despite her exasperation. "You're hilarious," She replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. The exchange, though brief, broke the oppressive silence that had settled over their table. Demetri and, to Katherine's relief, even Eli, managed a quiet chuckle.

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THE following evening, West Valley High School transformed. The sterile, fluorescent-lit hallways, usually echoing with the hurried footsteps of students, pulsed with a vibrant, chaotic energy. It was the night of the infamous Halloween Dance, a yearly spectacle of costumes, music, and teenage awkwardness. The gym, normally a space for sweaty PE classes and roaring basketball games, was now a dimly lit bathed in the eerie glow of strobe lights and swirling fog machines.

Decorations, ranging from flimsy cobwebs to elaborate, hand-crafted monstrosities, adorned the walls, creating a surreal, almost theatrical backdrop. Music throbbed from the speakers, a mix of current pop hits and classic Halloween anthems, its bass reverberating through the floor and into the students' chests. The air crackled with anticipation, a blend of excitement and nervous energy. Samantha, decked out in a shimmering Lakers cheerleader costume, turned to Katherine, a pout marring her heavily made-up face. "I still can't believe you didn't dress up with us," She complained, her voice laced with a hint of petulance.

Katherine who was dressed in a stylish black dress offered Samantha a wry smile. "No offense, but I didn't want to dress as a Laker girl and hang out with your stuck-up friends all night," She retorted, a slight cringe accompanying her words. The thought of spending the evening surrounded by Kyler and his entourage was enough to send shivers down her spine. Before Samantha could retort, Kyler materialized, his arm snaking around her waist. "Come on, babe," He drawled, his eyes scanning the crowd with a predatory gleam. "Let's find a good spot." He pulled Samantha away, leaving Katherine standing alone near the entrance.

Relieved to be free of Samantha's company, Katherine scanned the room, her eyes landing on Eli and Demetri, who stood awkwardly near a corner, their posture suggesting they were trying to blend into the wall. She made her way over, a genuine smile spreading across her face. "Nice costumes, guys," She complimented, her voice warm and friendly. "Who are you supposed to be? A vampire?" Demetri asked, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized Katherine's dark attire. "Not just any ordinary vampire," Katherine replied, a playful smirk dancing on her lips. "I'm Katherine Pierce."

Eli chuckled, recognizing the reference instantly, but Demetri's brow furrowed in confusion. "Katherine...who?" He asked, his voice laced with a hint of bewilderment. "Seriously?" Katherine scoffed, her voice laced with playful exasperation. "Badass evil vampire from The Vampire Diaries? Elena's doppelgänger? That doesn't ring any bells?" She gestured to her costume dramatically, but Demetri simply shook his head, his expression remaining blank."I'm surprised you didn't dress up as Bella Swan," Eli joked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Katherine playfully elbowed him in the ribs. "Shut up," She rolled her eye's playfully. Then, a mischievous idea sparked in her eyes. "Wait," She drawled, her voice dropping to a teasing whisper, "Are you implying you'd be my Edward Cullen, Eli?" She smirked, watching as Eli's face immediately flushed a vibrant shade of red. He stammered, unable to form a coherent response, his eyes widening in a mixture of surprise and embarrassment. A few minutes later, Miguel, clad in a simple skeleton costume, joined the group. "Oh, skeleton. Classic. Nice," Demetri muttered, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Thanks," Miguel replied, oblivious to the sarcasm. "I like your sorcerer costume." Katherine and Eli exchanged amused glances, struggling to suppress their laughter at Miguel's earnest attempt at a compliment. "Sorcerer? Please," Demetri retorted, his voice laced with mock indignation. "I'm a necromancer." He puffed out his chest, attempting to project an air of dark mystique. Miguel's face morphed into one of utter confusion. "What?" He asked, his brow furrowed. Demetri pointed down at his chest, where a faux amulet sat. "Didn't you see 'The Amulet'?" He asked, to which Miguel just shook his head.

Miguel, deciding to change the subject, turned towards Eli. "So, are you a regular doctor, or..." he began, gesturing vaguely towards Eli's scrubs. Eli, anticipating the question, cut him off quickly. "Plastic surgeon, I fix lips." He mumbled, his voice barely audible behind the mask he wore on the bottom half of his face. Finally, Miguel turned to Katherine, his eyes widening in recognition. "Let me guess, you're Katherine? From that one show on Netflix?" Katherine nodded, a genuine smile spreading across her face. "Finally, someone else got it." She sighed, relieved.

After a awkward pause, the four of them made their way over to the snack table, where a sad assortment of lukewarm punch and stale cookies awaited them. As they finished their drinks, Demetri, his eyes gleaming with a newfound confidence, turned to them. "Okay, are we ready?" Katherine gave him a questioning look. "Ready for what?" She asked, raising a brow. "We're going to ask the Dragon Queens to dance," Miguel affirmed his voice laced with confidence. The Dragon Queens in question were a group of popular girls dressed in elaborate dragon-themed costumes, were currently holding court near the dance floor.

Demetri shook his head, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Slow your roll, we got time," He coaxed, his eyes scanning the room. "We need a strategy." As Demetri unveiled his "strategy," two guys, one dressed as a disheveled Doctor Who and the other in a vaguely pirate-esque ensemble, sauntered over to the Dragon Queens and confidently asked them to dance. "No, no," Miguel muttered. "Shit. We just lost one to Doctor Who." He groaned, as Katherine shook her head at the boys' ineptitude. Deciding to take matters into her own hands, she grabbed the boys' hands, her grip surprisingly firm, and dragged them towards the crowded dance floor.

"What are we doing?" Demetri questioned, his voice laced with a hint of panic. "Dancing," Katherine declared nonchalantly, her voice cutting through the thumping music. "Since none of you had the nerve to ask anyone, let's just dance together." Miguel shrugged, a grin spreading across his face. "Sounds good to me." He shrugged, already swaying to the beat. Eli, still somewhat hesitant, followed suit. After a few minutes of awkward shuffling and hesitant smiles, even Demetri gave in, a reluctant grin finally breaking through his usual cynicism. Katherine, seeing her plan come to fruition, smiled triumphantly.

However it didn't last too long. Before long, Eli dropped Katherine's hand and mumbled a quiet "I have to go to the bathroom," His face slightly flushed. To which suddenly all the boys had to use the restroom. And with that, the three boys scrambled away, leaving Katherine alone on the dance floor. Not bothered, she spotted Samantha's childhood friend Aisha standing near the edge of the crowd. Deciding to introduce herself, Katherine approached her. "Hi," She smiled politely. "I don't know if you remember me considering it was a long time ago, but-"

"You're Sam's cousin, Katherine, yeah, I remember," Aisha interrupted, mirroring Katherine's smile. "Welcome back, and super sick costume. I always thought Katherine should've ended up with Stefan after watching that episode. Their tension could practically be felt through the screen." Katherine beamed, taking that as her cue to engaged in a conversation about all things The Vampire Diaries when suddenly, their phones buzzed with a text notification. Katherine's smile immediately faltered as she read the cruel, anonymous message displayed on her screen.

She looked up, her eyes meeting Aisha's, and saw the same hurt and humiliation reflected in the other girl's gaze. Aisha mumbled a quick, "Sorry," Her voice trembling slightly, before rushing out of the gym, the sound of cruel laughter echoing behind her. Katherine watched her go, her heart sinking. She looked around and met the eyes of Samantha, who stood frozen between Yasmine and Moon, her face a mask of guilt. Katherine wasted no time, her anger bubbling to the surface. She stormed over to her cousin, her eyes flashing with righteous fury.

"Aisha's one of your best friends," Katherine emphasized hoping to get her point across. "How could you let them do this to her." She questioned looking back at Yasmine and Moon who seemed to be pretty proud of what they had just done. Samantha looked up from her phone, her eyes wide with guilt. "I-I didn't know, Kat, I-" Katherine held up her hand, silencing her cousin. "Don't bother," She scoffed, her voice cold and final. "I thought you were better than this Sam, but I guess I was wrong," She sighed, watching Samantha's face fall upon hearing the disappointment in Katherine's words. "I'll see you at home." And with those words, Katherine turned and walked out of the gym, leaving her cousin speechless and consumed by a wave of shame and regret.

Happy Saturday! What did you guys think?! We're finally getting into some drama! Will Katherine and Samantha get passed this?? Any TVD/Twilight  fans here?! I was so excited to finally publish this chapter I hope you guys enjoy it!! <33

Visual as Katherine's Halloween costume as Katherine from TVD!