I hate Philadelphia. Why the hell did I come here? Jasper sulked as he walked along the sidewalk. Several girls pointed at him and giggled. Have I mentioned I hate Philadelphia? Oh, and the rain. He pulled the collar of his jacket up, just to do something. As much as he didn't feel any cold from the rain, it made humans smell so much more potent. Jasper didn't want to kill another human unless necessary.

Damn human blood. . . is there another way? I don't want to feel their emotions as they die anymore. It just drags me down deeper. Then, there came a sort of prickly feeling on the back of his neck, the kind of feeling he got when someone was watching him. Jasper looked up to see a diner. Rain obscured his view but he smelled the signature musky scent of a vampire.

Something about the smell is different Jasper mused. Sweet, flowery, it's almost familiar. . . He wanted to smell more. This is stupid. So stupid. So very stupid. But I want to. . . I need to talk to another vampire anyway, maybe they have word of Maria. I need to stay away from wherever she is. He strained to hear the conversation in the diner. A waitress was talking to the vampire. "Honey, if you've been waiting so long he ain't worth it."

"Oh, he is. He's just a bit late is all." The voice was like bells, it must be a girl vampire.

The waitress's voice, raspy by comparison made itself known. "Two months of waiting ain't gonna bring ya nothin!"

"I know what I'm doing."

A sigh. "Can I getcha anything? You must be hungry."

"I'm okay. Thanks!" The voice chirped. Then it muttered, "Why does it always have to rain? I can't tell what day it'll happen! I can't SEE!"
"See?" Jasper murmured. She said it as if the word see meant something different. Waves of frustration emitted from the restaurant. "Couldn't it have told me the damn date? Where are you, Jasper?"

SHE KNOWS MY NAME! RUN! Jasper thought. But he could not move away. As if they had their own thoughts his feet started to lead him to the door. Where are my feet going? I do not WANT to go over to the diner where a creepy person is waiting for me! He opened the door, stepped inside and his eyes locked on the small figure at the barstool. He took off his jacket and shook out his too-long hair, combing it out of his eyes. Don't want anything restricting me from my full fighting potential. Oh, what do you know? I'm thinking reasonably. Where was my sensible side when I decided to walk in here?

The figure spun lazily in circles, looking vacantly at the ceiling. Contentment seemed to fill the restaurant and the happiness of the figure hit Jasper as hard as a newborn. The stool stopped spinning and the other vampire looked at him. For the first time Jasper could see her face. Pale, ivory skin, a petite form, barely taller than five feet.

She was deceptively delicate but Jasper bet she was hiding strength in that body. Her dark hair was cropped short and was arranged in haphazard, careless spikes around her elfin face. Her eyes. . . were like nothing he had ever seen before. They were gold. Not only their color but the depth of them amazed him. Hey swam with intelligence and mischief. Wow, she's. . . beautiful. Jasper cringed. In his experience, beautiful women were the most dangerous. But something about her made him want to protect her. As she stood and danced towards him Jasper couldn't help but be entranced by the wild happiness and affection that radiated from her.

"You've kept me waiting a long time." She sang, her red lips curving into a smile.

What do I say to that? Jasper ducked his head, murmuring "I'm sorry ma'am."

"Such the southern gentleman." She giggled then her face transformed into a pout that would have made the devil himself cave into her every wish. "But I have been waiting."

"I. . ." Jasper swallowed. "didn't realize there was somewhere I had to be."

"Ah, you're worth it Jasper. This is soo exciting! I can't believe - oh my goodness! I have so much to explain!" She bounced up and down on her toes then grabbed his hand. "Come on Jazzy!"

"Jazzy? Wait - AH!" The pixie-vampire-girl dragged him over to a booth in the back corner, far away from everyone else in the diner. Literally dragged. Jasper was positive his feet were going to carve a path in the floor. On the way, he accidentally dropped his coat. Jasper had the sudden and overwhelming urge to run away, yelling "Stranger danger!" Thats stupid. You can deal with this. She is just a girl. A beautiful girl. Beautiful girls are dangerous. But she seems so happy to see me. . . WAIT! Jasper do you want to make her happy that badly? What if she tries to kill you? Would you die just to make her happy? I think the emotions are getting to me. Be polite. She is a lady after all. They both sat.

The girl was fidgeting in place, ecstatic. Jasper was zoning out, trying to find ways to escape. . . not that he didn't want to be near her! Frankly, Jasper wanted to watch her forever. Being around her was happy. Even being in her presence was distracting enough to mostly douse the bloodlust, the fire burning in his throat. "Eventually we HAVE to get you more new clothes. OHHH! We can match! Wait. No. Malls are too public. Errr. I'll just do it on my own and- Oh! Yes! Then we should get to know each other. Oh Jazzy I'm so excited! I-"

"Pardon me."

"Hmm?'

"Who are you?"

The girl looked ashamed. "I'm so sorry. I haven't said anything to clarify. My name is Alice and I am going to teach you how to live without drinking human blood."

Jasper choked. "What?" I knew she was crazy! Why would anyone in their right mind be happy to see me? "Please, tell me you're not joking."

"I'm not. See my eyes?"

"Yes." Your beautiful eyes.

"I drink animal blood."

"But-"

"Yep, it's gross compared to human but better than feeling their emotions as you take them right?"

"How do you know-"

"It's going to be hard but I'll help you through the whole thing!"

"How do you know about me?" He whispered.

"I can see the future! Well, possible futures. Things that might happen. Possibilities. I've been seeing you ever since I was a little girl, those visions are all I can remember from my human life. Well, they continued and I knew I'd meet you here. I saw you and Peter and Charlotte talking about you going to Philadelphia and then I saw you and me at the diner." She laughed. "I would make one heck of a fortune teller." She paused. "Or a palm reader."

"Try to read mine?" Jasper asked, unrolling his sleeve and holding his hand out. WHAT ARE YOU DOING! This could end badly. What if she's scared off? Far from being scared off the girl looked delighted. She took his hand and ran her fingers over the palm, tracing each line of his hand. She didn't glance once at his scars, on the contrary she ignored them.

"You, are going to live a long, happy life, gain four siblings, and you'll meet two people you consider parents. Oh! Also, your love line is very long. This is fun!" She squealed. She looked away from his palm, her face serious. "At this point in time, you're unsure of whether or not you want to become like me, a vegetarian. Keep in mind that I'll follow you until the ends of the earth, waiting for your consent." She smirked and winked.

She is a dangerous woman. Jasper confirmed. Dangerous, dangerous woman who can save me. Who won't give up on me. Jasper felt his face form an unfamiliar expression, a smile. "A fortune teller is hard to escape. I think I'll go with you."

The glee that exploded from the girl made his head spin. Warily, Jasper stood, ready to run. Her eyes softened and became almost sad. "I'm sorry."

You have nothing to be sorry for.

"I am a bit over exuberant at times."

That's a major understatement.

"But all I want is to help you. I won't ask for anything more."

I believe you but once you know what I am, what I've done you'll disappear. Angels are too good for monsters like me.

As if reading his mind, Alice said; "I know about Maria. I know what happened to you. I know what you've done and I still lov- want to help." Her eyes were earnest, and Jasper believed her. She, this angel was his last chance for salvation. Alice's expression became vacant, her eyes glassy. Her eyes widened in fear. "Jasper- Trust me okay?"

"Wha-" Alice grabbed him and kissed him. Dimly, Jasper heard a smash, smelled blood. Human blood. His lips parted and he started to pull away from her, towards the source. A waitress who had dropped a plate. Small fingers twisted into his hair, gently pulling his face back towards Alice. "Don't pay attention to that! Pay attention to me!" Alice hissed.

Oh. That's why she's kissing me. So I'll smell her and think about her. Alice kissed him again and Jasper responded. Bliss. She was warm and gentle and - nobody, much less Maria had ever touched him like this. . . Wait. No. I should not be doing this. She should not be doing this she barely knows me! She- Bad bad bad idea. Bad idea. Bad idea. He had no idea how long he had stood there before Alice snatched his hand again and hauled the bewildered Jasper out of the diner.