Meet Me At Dusk

Dusk : noun
- The state or period of partial darkness between day and night; the darkest part of twilight.

Libraries were so dull. At least, this was the thought going through Jessica Stanley's mind. With a quiet sigh she turned to another marked page in her book while scribbling down the research she was finding.

"Stupid paper," she mumbled to herself.

This research assignment was cutting into her social time and that did not bode well with her. It was Friday night. This wasn't something a normal teenager should be doing. Sitting at the public library, reading up on subjects she could care less about. She should be out with Lauren or Angela, listening to music in her room, or going to Port Angeles to see what fun they could find. Though, the library would not be open on Sunday and she wanted to get this over with so she wouldn't have to spend Saturday on it. If only her family would just give in and buy an internet package. Then she wouldn't have to ever go to the library again.

Her watch made a soft beeping sound and Jessica blinked in surprise as she looked at the little digital numbers.

"Seven o' clock already?" Her mother would kill her if she was late for dinner two nights in a row.
Hastily, she gathered up the books she's selected and carried them to the counter to check them out. If only libraries could give you your books in plastic bags. It would be embarrassing if any of her friends saw her carrying these around. Sure, it wasn't that far of a walk to where she'd parted her car across the street, but even still, the chance was there. Where was Mike when she needed him? Wasn't that what boys were meant for, to carry your books and such?

She tucked her books against her so they wouldn't get too wet from the rain and darted out of the library. If she was fast enough it would lower the chances of anyone seeing her. The rain pelted down on her as she ran across the vacant street. It was already almost dark outside. The sky was light, for Forks, but it was that weird time between day and night.

"Ugh!" She whined as she stepped in an especially large puddle. She could feel the water soak right up the pant legs of her jeans.

Not wanting to stop in the rain at all, she kept going toward her car that she could see through the nasty weather.

'I'll just throw these in the passenger side,' she decided as she ran around the car to the other side.

What happened after that was a small blur. She squeaked as she ran headfirst into something- it had to be a thing. A person would have at least made for a softer impact. She stumbled backward and landed on the wet ground, books scattering around her into the puddles.

"What the...?! Darn it!" She grabbed the books as fast as she could so they couldn't get wet. The seat of her jeans were soaked, as well as he legs, so it didn't much matter any more. On hand and knee she crawled to the last book.

There, next to the book, she saw herself looking at a shoe. What was a shoe doing out here. She blinked again before realizing that the shoe did indeed have a foot inside it...that was connected to an ankle...a leg... Slowly she looked up against the rain.

"Are you alright?"

"I..." She stuttered, staring. The man in front of her had to be one of the most beautiful she has ever seen. He was wearing a black jacket and jeans, his hair was short and black, glossy even through the rain.

"Let me help you." He leaned over and took the books from her hands before she could protest. Why would she want to, though? His voice was beautiful and she couldn't bring herself to say no.

"Do...do I know you...?"

"No." He opened the passenger door of her car and sat the books on the seat.

"Oh." She stood clumsily, trying to tell herself to just thank the man and get in her car.

He shut the door, then looked back at her. His eyes actually looked black, maybe with a bit of red in them. She was sure it had to be the effect from how dark it was, though.

"Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes." She nodded, trying to pick out his accent. Was it French? She'd never heard anyone in Forks have a French accent before.

The male grinned at her, but just with one corner of his lips, then stepped closer. Something told her mind to get away, but she couldn't move. All she could do was stare into his eyes. He seemed almost predatory.

"Who are you?"

"Just a stranger. But...you should not be allowed to talk to strangers, am I right?" He took another step forward. He wasn't trying to hide it at all.

"N-no..."

"Then I will say no more." In what she swore was an impossible distance to cover in one step, his foot moved a single time and he was an inch from her face. He lifted a hand and brushed his fingertips over her cheek in a feather-light touch.

Her entire body shuddered. His skin was so cold...but the way he smelled was overwhelming. All she could do was stare. He voice was trapped in her throat as this remarkable being stood in front of her...or rather against her now. What was he doing?

'This is it,' she thought. 'There's no way I can get away. He's going to do something horrible and there will be no one here to save me!'

She could scream. Maybe someone in the library would hear her. Of course, to do that she would actually have to be able to speak, at least.

He leaned closer to her and she half expected him to kiss her. Instead he shut his eyes and inhaled softly but deeply. His smile grew more as he exhaled.

"Do I smell good or something?" Of all the things to suddenly be able to say...

He chuckled quietly at those words, a deep and gentle rumble that made her knees even more weak.
"You have no idea."

She didn't see him open his eyes because her own shut at that moment. Her head started to spin. His breath smelled so good. Intoxicating, even. "You...smell good, too..."

There was a couple seconds of silence, with the exception of the sound of the rain hitting the world around her. She began wondering if she would open her eyes to see she was alone again. The thought relieved her as well as disappointed. But a hand found her cheek again, then another was on her shoulder, pulling her closer. She stepped to him without argument.

"Do I entice you?"

"Yes," she whispered. "Stop it." Her voice didn't sound convincing in her own ears.

He laughed quietly and combed his fingers through the tangled curls of her hair.

"Really," she continued, but her voice was a little muffled. She realized she had laid her head on his chest. "People will be upset?"

"Will they?" His tempting voice murmured.

"Mmhmm."

She thought she heard him begin to say something, but then his body tensed against hers. Her eyes opened and she looked up at him through a groggy expression. He was staring off into the darkness with an intent look.

"Well then," he said. "We wouldn't want to upset anyone."

He shifted, pulling away from her, and she frowned. "Wait."

"No, no, you decided it." He gave a smile that was more of a smirk.

"But, no! I just..."

But he shook his head and raised a hand, stepping back again.
"Go on home. I'm sure your family will be waiting for you."

Lightening cracked through the sky above them. She looked at the man who stood before her, now lit for half a second. He was frighteningly stunning. The lightening calmed and the world grew dark again. Her eyes tried to readjust, but he was gone by the time they did.

She stood there in the rain, dripping to the bone. Ten minutes had to have passed. Eventually she heard a sound rustle in the bushes beside her. At first her hopes went up, but she quickly came to the realization that it was probably an animal. With that thought, she forced her legs to work and ran to the other side of her car. Her eyes lingered at the pile of books on the passenger seat. Finally, she reached over and locked the door, then started the car, toward home.