Hello, everyone!
I know what you're all thinking, another new Twilight story?!
I know, I know.
I feel really "ahead" of things on my other two Twilight stories, and I've always been dying to write a Carlisle x OC one, seeing as I've only ever written involving the wolf pack.
And so, here we are! I look forward to hearing what you all think about it, please leave me some opinions and suggestions in reviews!
XXX
New York City, February, 2000, Fashion Week
Aurora Gray.
The country's, ironically, biggest up-and-coming model.
And Fashion Week was her debut.
What better way to enter the modeling industry than with the biggest fashion and modeling event of the year?
Marchesa had picked her up the previous fall, despite her being, vertically-challenged, per-say, and deemed her the perfect model. She was bubbly, she was charming, she was unique, and most importantly: she was jaw-dropping.
Aurora Gray was all anyone could talk about.
And just because they were vampires, the Cullens were certainly among those who couldn't stop talking about her.
"Oh just look at her, Carlisle! Have you ever seen someone so stunning?" Alice gushed, gesturing wildly towards the television.
Carlisle shook his head and chuckled, not even bothering with looking over at the tv, "As a matter of fact, I have. I look at you and Rosalie every day." He smirked, Alice's eyes narrowing.
She scoffed and pressed the 'off' button on the remote, plopping back down into the leather couch. Jasper chuckled behind her and pressed a chaste kiss to her temple, irritability washing away from her being.
Carlisle's phone began ringing, the doctor standing up to leave the room as he answered it.
"No, I'm not busy. What is it?"
He paused.
"Oh that's nothing too bad, I'll be right down!"
The phone clicked shut as he reentered the room, Rosalie's eyes flickering up to him from the countertop. She smirked as she looked to Alice and back, wiggling an eyebrow. Carlisle silently warned her, Edward chuckling as he read their thoughts.
"Alice-"
"Rosalie, no!"
"Carlisle is going to work on Aurora Gray right now!"
Carlisle groaned and ran a hand through his hair as Alice's mouth dropped agape, "You are?!" she squealed, her hands clapping together in excitement.
He chuckled in response and nodded, "Its just a small laceration on her leg that needs some stitches." he shrugged on his jacket and grabbed his keys as he headed out the door.
He arrived at the Skylight Clarkson Square where Fashion Week would be held that year, entering through a back door as to avoid any media. He was led to a dressing room by security, the door opening to reveal a bright and unusually airy room.
"Oh, there you are! Thank goodness you're here, we absolutely must fix this, imperfection, on my client." A thick woman came bustling towards him, chattering at a million miles an hour.
He abstained from chuckling at her worrying, nodding, "I'm Doctor Cullen, miss, and I have no doubt in my mind that we will have your client fixed right up in no time." He flashed her a gentle smile and she visibly relaxed, nodding.
"I certainly hope so, Doctor. Come with me, she's right back here."
She led him around a corner and to the back, his eyes scanning over the multitude of lights and mirrors in the yellow room. Makeup counters lined the walls on the right side and racks of covered dresses lined the left. He knew Rosalie and Alice would have a field day in such a place.
"Aurora, dear, this is Doctor Cullen. He's here to fix that thing on your leg."
Carlisle's eyes came forward, landing on whom the woman was speaking to.
And if he had air in his lungs, they would've caught in his throat in that very moment.
He was met with the largest set of doe eyes he had ever encountered, such a deep chocolate that he could drown in them if he looked too hard. Her skin, one could tell, was naturally pale, though it was sun kissed then- obviously from a recent vacation. Her hair was light brown and pin straight, a gentle curtain falling down past her shoulders. Her features were all so small, so dainty, so delicate. Her nose was small, just a tiny little ski-slope, and her cheekbones were high and her lips were pouted, and Carlisle had never felt such strong emotions in his whole existence.
She was easily the most flawless thing his eyes had ever had the blessing of seeing.
"Sonia, that thing on my leg is just a cut, it's not the end of the world." She giggled, her voice light and airy and sweet.
Sonia shushed her with her hands, shaking her head, "It's a flaw, dear, and we won't have any of those. This is Fashion Week, there's no room for anything less than perfection."
Carlisle's eyes had yet to leave Aurora, he couldn't get over the emotions that began running wildly through him.
She rolled her eyes at Sonia as her back was turned, quietly giggling to herself as she did so before she finally brought her attention back to Carlisle.
"I apologize for Sonia, she's quite the perfectionist, if you couldn't tell." Aurora smiled at him, Sonia sending her a mock-glare in turn before shaking her head at the young girl.
"Enough of that, Aurora. Get down from there and let the doctor fix you up."
She did as she was told and hopped down from the countertop, maneuvering her way over to a cushioned chair whilst favoring her right leg.
Carlisle couldn't help but notice how small she was as she moved. She couldn't have been taller than 5' 1" and she certainly couldn't have weighed 100 pounds. She was the definition of petite, if he had ever seen one.
He shook his head as he tried to regain his focus.
How could he though when he had just met his mate?
"Sonia, you don't have to stand there and breathe down his neck, I'm sure he knows what he's doing." Aurora shooed Sonia with her hand, the older woman giving her a tentative stare before sighing and exiting the room, leaving the two alone.
Aurora released a deep breath, giggling as she looked Carlisle over. He was young and handsome and she couldn't help but be intrigued by him. There was just something about him.
"Well, miss?" He drawled out the word, he knew very well what her last name was because of Alice, though he couldn't act as if she was the topic of discussion in their house not even an hour ago.
"Gray. Aurora Gray," she smiled, holding out her tiny hand. French tips adored her fingers and he took extra caution while he shook her hand- fearful that he would break her with one wrong move.
"Well, Aurora, we'll have you looking like new in no time. So let's see this laceration I've heard all about."
She groaned, hoisting up the hem of her satin red robe to reveal the wound on her thigh. It was no longer than 3 inches long and not so deep as to truly worry about it, though she would undoubtably need a good number of stitches. A drop of blood still dared to dribble down her skin and she sighed as her eyes came in contact with it.
"So tell me, doc, are we going to have to amputate the whole thing?" She scrunched her eyebrows together, her lips forming a perfect sweetheart pout.
Carlisle released a laugh, a great sound to Aurora's ears, he shook his head as he continued to chuckle, his eyes coming back to the cut.
"Well, I think we might be able to save it, if we work fast enough."
Aurora brought the back of her hand to her forehead, just grazing her knuckles across it as she released a, "phew" before giggling once more.
Carlisle brought his medical kit up to rest on the table beside her chair, opening it and gathering the necessary instruments to stitch her up. She watched him carefully, her dark eyes training on every movement.
"Doctor Cullen," she mused, pursing her lips, "that's so formal. You're seeing a part of me that not many men do, I feel as if we should be more relaxed with one another. Don't you agree?"
He chuckled at her once again, "You're quite charming, you know that, right?" He cocked an eyebrow up at her and she smiled, a breathtaking smile that only a true model could present.
She shrugged and grinned, her eyes scanning around the room.
"Really, though, can't I call you something other than Doctor Cullen?"
He cleaned the blood from her wound and disposed of the wipe, looking up to her with a grin, "Carlisle. My name is Carlisle Cullen."
She mulled it over in her head.
"Carlisle."
The name rolled off of her tongue with ease and he found himself inhaling deeply to steady his emotions. He hadn't expected it to affect him so strongly to just hear her speak his name.
He had had no prior experience with the idea of "love" and certainly nothing with mates. He had seen Rosalie and Emmett, Alice and Jasper as well. The thought never occurred to him that he too one day might find his mate. He had always assumed that him and Edward would always be alone.
"That's a lovely name." Her voice was more quiet, her eyes finding his hands as he worked.
"This is going to pinch a little, okay?" He looked up to her briefly, gesturing towards the needle with the numbing agent inside.
She nodded and barely flinched as it punctured her skin. The area quickly grew numb though and she could only watch as he began stitching her thigh.
"Aurora, that means 'dawn' if I'm correct, yes?"
She nodded with approval, grinning, "It certainly does, I'm surprised you knew that. Not many people do."
He shrugged as he continued on.
Her skin was soft under his fingertips and he couldn't help how sometimes they would linger in one spot for just a fraction of a second longer than necessary.
His mind was racing. Sure, he had just met his mate, the one whom he was supposed to spend the rest of eternity with.
But she was a model.
How could something like that ever work out?
She had her whole future ahead of her, how could he possibly take that away from her? Her becoming a vampire would truly ruin her life, he couldn't do that to her.
"Are you planning on staying to see the show?"
Her voice broke him from his thoughts as his fingers worked instinctively.
"I hasn't planned on it, in all honesty, no."
"Hm." Her lips pouted once more.
They fell silent as Carlisle began to finish up, carefully cutting off the end with a small pair of scissors. He had began bandaging it up before Aurora spoke again.
"I could get you very good seats, if you'd like," she paused, her curiosity getting the best of her, "I could even manage to snag a few extra if that'd help, maybe, for your wife or girlfriend?"
Carlisle felt a smile forming on his lips, looking up at her expectant face.
"I don't have a wife or girlfriend. I do have some adopted daughters, though, who certainly wouldn't mind."
Aurora's heart rate quickened slightly as she felt a smile tug at the corners of her lips.
"Well if it means you'll stay, I'll have no problem getting you some seats. How many?"
"Just three will do."
She smiled, "Consider it done. Call them now."
Aurora stood from her seat, allowing her robe to fall back down over the fresh bandages, waltzing towards the door where she knew Sonia would be waiting by expectantly.
"Sonia?" She called, opening the door. Sonia turned with a jump, her eyes flashing down to Aurora's leg in alarm.
"What's wrong?"
Aurora giggled, "Nothing's wrong, silly, it's fine! Would you mind getting three open seats in the front for Doctor Cullen and family?"
Sonia stared at her for a moment, lips pursed.
"Please?" Aurora's bottom lip jutted out slightly, Sonia groaning and tossing her head back slightly.
"You're killing me, kid," she paused, still staring at Aurora's pretty face, "but I've got it covered." She nodded to herself and began down the hallway, chuckling as she heard Aurora squeal from behind her.
XXX
"I already saw it, Carlisle, this is amazing! Rose and I are on our way down there right now." Alice squealed through the phone, Carlisle chuckling at her.
"Alright, I'll see you soon."
He hung up the phone, looking over as Aurora shut the door once more, making her way back towards him again.
"They're on their way, very ecstatic already." He chuckled, Aurora smiling back in response.
"I'm glad! I think everyone should be able to experience Fashion Week. It's certainly been amazing so far, already." Her eyes twinkled as she spoke, Carlisle found it even harder to look away from her.
"Is this your first time here?" He asked, cautiously taking a seat on one of the love-seats.
She nodded excitedly, "I really only started modeling half a year ago, it's all happened so quickly!"
"You're just a kid, really, aren't you?" He raised an eyebrow. It was hard to ignore how youthful she really looked.
It worried him.
Aurora narrowed her eyes at him, one edge of her mouth quirking, "I'm twenty, for your information."
Carlisle laughed again, holding his hands up in surrender, "Pardon me, miss."
She giggled, a delightful sound for him to hear.
The door opened, their eyes shooting towards it.
"Miss Gray, it's time to get ready."
A deep voice called in, Aurora's eyes lighting up with excitement and a smile gracing her lips. She stood up hurriedly, turning to look at Carlisle.
"Oh, I have to go now. But thank you, so much!" She gestured towards her leg, her smile never faltering.
He shrugged and smiled kindly, "It's all a part of the job."
Aurora watched him for another moment, her smile falling into a grin as she looked up at the handsome man before her.
"I do hope to see you after the show, if that's a possibility?" She raised an eyebrow slightly, her teeth pulling her bottom lip in between them.
Carlisle felt his eyebrows go up, suddenly overwhelmed by how very real everything really was.
For a moment they only stared at one another.
"I think that's a possibility." He smiled.
Excitement and relief lit up Aurora's features and she smiled once more, taking a step towards the door.
"Thank you, again, really. I hope you enjoy your seats! And the show!"
The door opened again with impatience and Aurora hurried to it, already chattering to whomever was waiting on the other side. It shut as she passed through, leaving Carlisle alone with his thoughts.
He sighed deeply and ran a hand through his hair.
He couldn't even begin to imagine the trainwreck that would surely ensue from this.