Chances

I had to constantly remind myself to keep up my mask of sadness, lest the others ask why I was happy. The fact that dinner was only thirty minutes away also, though I didn't approve of this so much, also made me happy. All in all, I was in a pretty good mood.

"Hey Jane, you look hot today," Felix joked as I waited silently in the shadows near the feeding tower. I rolled my eyes and turned away, determined to not let his snide remarks get to me as they sometimes , unfortunately, did.

"Let off, Felix," Alec said, giving me a smile. I was a little annoyed that he felt he had to stand up for me but still grateful he actually cared.

"Thanks Alec, you're the best," I said with more emotion that I had given in a long time. He gave me a weird look but shrugged and went over to where Ezra stood.

Silence overtook the small chatter as the five midnight cloaked figures glided silently toward the chamber. Caius looked as cranky as ever, Athenodora wore a pleased expression to fit her pleasant personality, Sulpicia looked impassive matching her mysterious character, Marcus looked bored and no explanation was needed, Aro looked hungry and that was the perfect description for the monster he was. Marcus left the group and came over to me after the other ancients had entered.

"Six o'clock mass?" he asked, no emotion present.

"No," I said sheepishly "I have," this is where a human would blush, "other plans. I think I'll be going at three thirty."

"I see. I will not be joining you then," he said and turned to leave.

"Master?" I quickly grabbed the end of his cloak before he left.

"Yes?"

"Would you mind, er, doing me a favor if the need arises because it might, but it might not, and I don't know who else to ask... and—" I realized I was babbling and immediately fell silent. "sorry."

Marcus chuckled ever so slightly, "Is there something you need to tell me?"

"I—it's embarrassing," I said, looking down. Marcus put a cold hand on my shoulder and began to walk in the opposite direction of the feeding room. I took this as a sign to follow him and left the feeding area with minimal remorse. We walked to the less used part of the castle and then Marcus jumped out the window landing silently in the dark abyss below. I followed, curious as to where Marcus was going and what exactly was going to happen.

"The guards never pass by here," he said as a form of explanation, "it makes deep thought so much easier."

"I'll definitely be using this more often," I said, knowing perfectly well what he meant. In the silence that ensued I simply followed Marcus to wherever we were going.

"Didn't you have something to tell me," Marcus asked after awhile.

"Yeah," I drawled, "you see, after Mass today this guy asked me to go on a date with him and I said I would because…because…" I stopped and wondered how I could ever do this. "Actually, there's more before the story."

"I thought so," Marcus nodded and folded his arms.

"I don't know if you know but Aro and I, well he, he...uses me. I hate him. I HATE HIM!" I was so angry so furious that here I was complaining about my life (to Marcus of all people) when I had vowed never to and more than anything I had never expressed my anger out loud. I took a few minutes to calm myself, mostly unsuccessful, and continued on with the story about mass and then how Jeovanni had asked me on a date and said yes because of the whole 'everyone deserves a chance' line.

"I see," Marcus said, "I must I never knew about what Aro did, which is despicable to say the least, and I see why you would associate with the human, however, how do I come into this?"

"Well this is also kind of embarrassing," I sighed, "I was thinking that if the relationship ever progresses and I might actually like the guy, I'd need to have some kind of father to, you know, do whatever fathers do when their daughter is in a relationship."

"Jane," Marcus sounded tired and I realized that, how could I have been so stupid? Telling Marcus my problems and thinking he'd actually help me? I must definitely be delusional. "I understand what pain really is, as you do as well, and it would be cruel not to help you. I will not inflict that pain on you; you go through enough as it is and sadly I can do nothing about that."

"Really?" I couldn't help but squeal, "You'll help me? Thank you!" I ran and gave him the biggest hug I think I had ever given anyone. "You're the best Master ever!"

"Your welcome," Marcus semi-smiled and returned my childish hug. I then resolved that some people are simply misunderstood. I've already explained that I'm misunderstood but that's because I want to be; however, Marcus is misunderstood as being emotionless when he's probably one of the kindest people I know but he doesn't show what others want to see. I see Marcus for Marcus and I must admit I like him; he's probably the only sensible person in town.

"I suppose we should go back now that this discussion is over," I said unwillingly. Marcus nodded, nowadays he wasn't one for many words, and we walked back to the castle: back to our prison.

"Be careful," Marcus said as we parted back in the castle, "Aro is suspicious, and so is Sulpicia. Beware their fury."

"Suspicious of what?" I asked but Marcus was already gone and I knew what I had to do now.

I walked towards the throne room, where Aro was most likely to be, and walked in quietly making sure he was alone.

"Master?" I whispered.

"Ah Jane what a delight," Aro cooed, "what is it?"

"I want to ask for permission to take a day off tomorrow, and tomorrow night (I added the second part so he could really understand)."

"I grant your request but would like to know what has caused this discrepancy which is most inconvenient for me," Aro said. Oh yeah, it was so inconvenient for him...poor little Aro doesn't get his jollies out of Jane for one day: how sad.

"Tomorrow is a religious day, I would like to go to church and Mass," I said which was a half truth.

"Very well," Aro said dismissively, "just remember that you owe me later." I cringed at what that would mean.

"Thank you, Master."

"You're very lucky to have my favor," Aro said, smiling.

"Yes," I said sweetly, "I know."

I didn't recognize the girl in the mirror.

The girl who wore the purple dress that created curves and lines where none really existed was not Jane Volturi. Yet despite my mental and physical doubts about who I really was I was happy that the girl in the mirror was me because above all the unreal beauty there was a sense of hope: a sense of hope that Jane Volturi had not had in a long time.

I slipped on my dark cloak, which I was proud to say now barely touched the floor due to my high heels, and left my room silently. The last thing I wanted was attention as I was leaving and in one of the few times that I actually got my way, I was able to leave the castle undisturbed.

I took my time in finding the restaurant and then patiently waited inside once I found it, letting the church bells toll out six chimes. I knew humans to be particularly messy creatures and allowed some time to pass but after half an hour I realized I had been ditched on my first date.

I didn't get up quickly or angrily, but simply walked out of the restaurant with embarrassment and pain. I wandered in a numb state to a nearby fountain and sat on the edge looking at the water. In a moment of self pity I felt that if I were human I would have cried and let my tears form their own fountain.

"Stop it Milo! I'm so late!" I heard a voice say and then rapid footsteps as well as a child's cry. I turned to look and saw Jeovanni with a young boy.

"Jane!" Jeovanni said surprised. I gave him a death glare but inflicted no pain; I felt too disappointed to want revenge. "No, please don't be mad. I didn't mean to ditch you but my mom wouldn't get a babysitter for my little brother and I didn't want to take him and—"

"Is this the girl you wouldn't stop talking about?" the younger boy, Milo, asked. Jeovanni blushed.

"Um, yeah…" As he said those words all anger washed away from me and I began to realize that I wasn't the only one who had bad luck and misery. As wondrous and random as this revelation came upon me, I realized that I wasn't alone in my misery. Of course, while no one else can compare to the situation I have I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who continually gets the short end of the stick, no matter how minimal the situation was.

"Hi, I'm Milo," Jeovanni's little brother distracted me from my thoughts and I couldn't help but smile.

"Hi, I'm Jane. Do you want to go to dinner with us?" I asked, not that he really had a choice, but he was cute.

"Oh really?" he asked, super excited. I nodded and he ran over to Jeovanni in wobbly steps. I heard him whisper to his brother 'I like her' and I simply beamed: tonight was turning out better than I had expected.

"Thank you," Jeovanni mouthed to me and I shrugged, it really was not a burden for me.

"I'm sorry I kept you waiting, this puts us off on a bad start," he said when we were sitting at the restaurant.

"It's fine," I said, "This makes our first date memorable."

"Does that mean there's more dates to come?" he asked, his voice of hope.

"I…would like that," I said, and knew that if I were human I would have blushed.

"You know, you really remind me of Juliet, you know, Shakespeare," he said.

He confused me with that line. "Um…"

"No, not the whole dying part," he said quickly, blushing, "I meant that you're so pretty and sophisticated; I've never met a girl like you before." Well he wasn't Leonardo DiCaprio but I understood what he meant.

"Thanks," I said; not sure if I should compliment him back because I really didn't have anything insightful to say.

"Are you sure you don't want anything to eat?" he asked, eying my empty plate, "please tell me your not one of those girls who starves themselves to be skinny."

"No, I'm not anorexic, if that's what you mean. But since u were late I had a bite to eat since I didn't want to waste my trip here," I said. I was surprised he cared about my health. Yes, it was unnecessary, but it felt good to know he cared, probably the only person who liked me with no strings attached. Alec did because he was my brother, Aro did because he could use me, Felix did because he was stronger than me…the list went on and on.

"Hey, I have to go. I know we haven't been together long, only an hour and a half, but I promised my dad that I would be home by nine thirty," I lied, but I also didn't want Aro to get suspicious.

"Oh, okay. Hey, can I have your number so I can call you?" he asked. I thought of all the lack of privacy with cell phones in the castle and immediately decided that giving him my number was not a good idea.

"Uh, actually, how about email?" I suggested, it would make my life slightly easier and less embarrassing to everyone t home.

"Oh, ok, that's cool too," he said. I wrote down my email on a paper napkin, as did he, and we switched emails.

"So I guess I'll talk—write—to you later," he said, running his hand nervously through his hair.

"Yeah, okay," I said, getting up and going to leave. He hurriedly paid for our meal, which was really only his and Milo's, and then followed me.

"I need to go to the bathroom," Milo said and then winked, or at least tried to at me, while whispering to Jeovanni: "kiss her!"

"Milo!" Jeovanni said and shooed him out of the lobby.

"Cute kid," I said, watching little Milo go.

"Yeah, but he can be really annoying though," he said. "Well, I don't want you to be late and get in trouble, so…"

"I guess this is goodbye," I said, and walked away. Leaving slightly sad and my lips untouched. Maybe next time… I thought and ran back to the castle.