I could feel the hostess's mood change as soon as she heard that voice from across the room. As she led me to the table I saw the person who had apparently reserved a table for me.
Short. That was honestly the first thing anyone would think when they saw her. Almost as if she were a miniature of a normal person, because, honestly, everything seemed well proportioned. They'd probably notice the short black hair from how it contrasted with her pale skin.
And God help anyone who got to the eyes. As soon as she looked up, I decided that this trip had been a good idea. The clearest, bluest eyes I had ever seen. Like how I always imagined the water looks in the Arctic Circle. I felt self conscious for a second, since I was sure that my eyes were blood shot. In fact, I would have liked to be dressed better to for meeting this woman.
"Would y'all like something to drink?" asked Libby.
Stupidly, I realized that she was talking to me.
"Coke," I said.
"Sit," said the girl, gesturing as towards the seat across from her as Libby went to get the drink. I've been off balance since I walked in, one step behind this whole time. But I don't see any reason not to sit. Standing was just making me look like a fool. Again.
"Sorry I kept you waiting," I said quietly, dipping my head in a small bow towards my beautiful, and seemingly benevolent, host. A small smile seemed to dance across her face. Damn, good smile too. "I didn't know that anyone would be waiting for me though. And I'm sorry again, but do we know each other from somewhere?" I put on my best cautious grin, as if I thought I could have forgotten that face. There was no way I could ever forget you.
I could tell she was nervous, but her excitement seemed to run right over anything. I was surprised that she even managed to stay in her chair.
"Well, I guess it's understandable that you don't remember me, since you've never even seen me before. But I'm Alice." She flashed a longer smile this time. Still just as good.
"Good," I said, "I hate it when I meet someone again and I had forgotten them. I always feel like such an… a jerk." Should I watch my language? Better safe than sorry.
"No, you seem like a perfect gentleman," she said in that intoxicating, perfect voice. At least I give off a good appearance when I need to. "I've definitely got my contacts – I can usually find people easily. When they want to be found, of course."
"Oh?" I said, intrigued. "How's that?"
"You just happened to turn up on the radar in my… um, actually, you just happened to turn up."
"I don't understand what you mean." I paused. "Honestly, I've been trying to lay low. And I haven't been missing long enough for the cops to get involved."
"I had some pretty weird ways of figuring out that we'd meet. I…" she trailed off. She stared down at the table blankly for a few seconds, not moving.
"What is it?" I asked her.
"You won't believe me," she said, suddenly timid. "You'll… you'll laugh and … and…" She seemed very deflated.
"No I won't."
She put her head in her hands, and looked up at me from between her fingers. I looked back at her intently. She was so cute in that pose.
"Iceethefutre," she squeaked quickly.
"What?" I said, failing to quite squelch a chuckle.
"See! I knew you'd laugh!" she shot back. She sounded angry, but I was too wrapped up in her know flashing eyes to care.
"What? No. No, I just didn't hear you. You squeaked and I couldn't tell what you said."
"I. Don't. Squeak." She said coldly.
"My mistake," I said. "I just must not have heard you." I turned my best puppy dog eyes on her. "Could you please tell me again?"
Her scowl seemed to crack slightly. "Ok," she finally said in one sigh.
"My name is Mary Alice Brandon. I live in Pine Grove – a housing estate up north. I have a mother and a father who live there too, no siblings, and ever since I was a kid I've been able to see the future."
Ok. She was right about one thing at least. I didn't believe her. Now, maybe she wasn't crazy. I mean, I'd slept only about ten hours in the past three days so I was hardly one to judge crazy. But it wasn't a strong endorsement of one's sanity if you said you could see the future. We were both somewhat distracted by Libby returning to deliver my soda.
"Would you like to order now?" she asked. She frowned, looking between me and Alice.
"Uh, no, I need to look at the menu still," I said.
"Well, call out if you need anything, and I'll stop back by in a minute." She scurried back towards the kitchen, casting a wary look back over her shoulder. I ignored her and kept looking at Alice.
"How does that work?" I finally asked. I hoped she didn't see how skeptical I was of all of this, but I could feel my heart sinking right along with hers. She looked so disappointed that I didn't believe her. Way to go Jasper. Ruin the angel's day.
"Never mind," she said, looking away. She brought a hand up to her eyes, leaving the other where it had fallen on the table.
"Hey," I said, taking her other hand. I wasn't sure if that was a mistake or not, because all my exhaustion that I'd kept at bay with nervous energy and paranoia smashed into me. I heard a sharp intake of breathe from across the table. "Please. I want to hear about it. About you."
"We should order," she said. She was biting her lip slightly.
"Will you tell me after that?" I asked. Where had that note of desperation come from? I had to focus on her more to stay awake.
She smiled back at me again, almost making up for her letting go of my hand to pick up a menu. "I guess so."
I blinked looking at the menu. The nerves and exhaustion had not returned to their proper place. I was still tired, but my nerves weren't quite the usual around her. It felt safer. It was almost like the world was less important. Like everything I'd done was not as important.
But good lord was this place expensive! At least I managed to have a dinner partner classy enough to justify this type of restaurant. Libby drifted back over at Alice's smile, pad and pen at the ready.
"So what would you like?" Alice looked at me, but I just inclined my head towards her.
"I'll have the 'Chilled Fresh Basil, Tomatoes, Bufala Mozzarella' dish as my appetizer please. Then, for the main course…" she glanced down at her menu again, though her eyes jumped up to mine for a moment. Or maybe I was delirious. "And the 'Chargrilled Fresh Ground Sirloin' as my main, thank you. Oh, and add the 'Marsala Wine Mushroom Sauce' to the sirloin, please."
Libby made some marks on her organiser. "Starch or vegetable with that?"
"Vegetable, thank you."
"And what would you like sir?"
"Could I have the Caesar salad to start with and the 'Chargrilled London Broil' for mains." Might as well make the most of my frivolous waste of money, I thought with a grin. The hostess wrote that down and left us alone at our table again.
Alice fidgeted nervously. "Does this mean I have to talk now?"
Everything about her was enchanting. Even the fidgeting. "What? No, not if you don't want to."
"Good. I just, I don't know, I'd rather talk about some thing else."
I yawned, trying at the last minute to cover my mouth with my hand. She giggled slightly at my late reaction. She seemed more cheerful, even if not quite as confident as she had been at the beginning of our … meal? Meeting? Whatever this was.
"I need to go wash my hands, so you don't talk about anything important yet," I said as I rose from the table. My shoulder screeched at when I accidentally used it to lift myself up out of my seat. I wove my way through tables and chairs made from some darkly stained wood over to the bathroom. I passed a bar room with a piano on the way. A freakin' piano! Man was I out of my usual haunts. Eventually I got to the door to the restroom and pushed through.
I washed my hands, then took a minute to splash water on my face. Just to check if this was all a dream. I mean, I was exhausted enough. Maybe I was still in the cab on the way here.
A beautiful girl meets me at a restaurant I had never heard of. She tells me she can see the future. Maybe she can. She knew I'd be here, she claims. I can't claim that. Does it matter though? What are her objectives? What's she going for? I don't see any ways she gains from this. And I can see lots of ways I do. Like that smile, or those damn addictive eyes.
I dried my hands and face, and walked back out to the table. Alice was not looking quite as cheerful as when I left.
"What's the matter?" I asked.
"Nothing," she answered quickly. Even tired and distracted, I knew she answered much to quickly. I started to sit down and hit my bag. On the left side of my chair. I had dropped it straight off my right shoulder onto the ground.
I looked up at Alice. "Find anything interesting?" I asked, dreading the answers I could see all over her face.
"I-in your bag. W-was… is that …"
"A gun?" I snarled back. She nodded. "Yes. Yes it is."
"Why?" she asked. I could see the fear in her eyes. Someone who knew a lot about me for no reason, what else might she know? She knew I was breaking the law now, at the very least. Now my anger snarled up to drive back any nervousness or exhaustion I might have had
"I don't think I need explain my self to you," I spat. "I don't know what the hell I'm doing in this place anyhow." I stood up quickly, tossing a fifty onto the table form the roll of bills in my pocket.
"Sorry you waited for nothing," I said as I grabbed my bag and turned to the exit.
Author's note:
So, new cast, in case you didn't hear.
Eevy Angel writing Rosalie
Luvvampluvdog writing Edward
Sierra Echo Bravo writing Emmett
Shaps writing Alice
CarribbeanLady writing Bella
Oh, and me, writing Jasper. Sorry it took so long to find quality replacements for the two that we lost, but we ended up with two great writers. I certainly think they're better than me.
Also, I'll be stealing a tradition from Shaps, and start posing questions for you to answer in any reviews. How do you tell that you love someone? I mean, we say it to family, significant others, maybe even friends, but what do we mean?
