Disclaimer: We don't own Alec and Renesmee, for reasons we still don't understand. That doesn't mean we can't pretend and pull on the strings of their puppets, though. Happy reading, darlings!
-Cee and Tiff {IITM} [Please read author's note at end of chapter!]
Chapter XI : Something
I couldn't believe I had allowed this to happen. I allowed a man who is old beyond time and knows nothing about makeup, to actually put it on my face. And what happened?
He turned me into pixie! On purpose, I was sure.
I just kept staring at myself over and over, thinking that I resembled a mythological creature from Neverland. It wasn't that I thought I was ugly. Actually, it was far from it. It was kind of beautiful, all things considered. And if it was Halloween and we were going to a party? There would be no doubt in my mind that I would make a killing at a contest.
But we were going out to a nice restaurant.. And even though I know I should wipe the crap off and redo it, I couldn't bring myself to touch what he had created. It would break his heart.
I mean, all and all I still looked like me. The eye shadow he had picked out at was a dark, glittery purple that sparkled in the light. There was also a little hint of green going on under my eyebrows but it was subtle. And of course there were hand-drawn stars in the corner of my eyes in black eyeliner. Just as I suspected. The rest of the eyeliner was a little light for my taste, and could definitely need more work. To top it all off, my lips were a dark ruby color that shined with the eye shadow. To be frank, it was obvious the person who did my makeup was a newbie. But I was kind of proud at what Alec had accomplished. For a guy it wasn't that horrible. Just different.
All I really needed was some wings on my back and I was ready to fly off to the unknown.
Without touching my face, I fixed my hair in a nice twist behind my head, gave myself an amused smile and went to get my purse. Once I was out of the bathroom, I could hear Alec talking to Adriel over the phone. Of course the topic was sex.
"How many times do I have to tell you? I'm not sleeping with her," Alec said, sounding frustrated. He was sitting on my bed, with the phone on his hand, his elbows resting on his knees. On hand covering his face. Once he heard me come in, he popped his head up and gazed at me from head to toe giving me one of those million dollar smiles. My heart instantly swelled at the sight.
Being a Fairy was so worth it for one of those smiles.
"Oh, come on! You know you're hitting that, my friend. Don't try to lie. I can always tell." I heard Adriel say on the other end with my vampire hearing.
Alec frowned and told me to turn around with one of his elegant fingers, pinning it into a circle. I wanted to suck on that finger. I don't even know why but I did. Badly. But instead of making a fool of myself, I did as I was told. It's much easier then fighting him on his controlling ways. And after seeing the expression on Alec's face when I twirled in a circle for him, I was glad. He looked like he had won the lottery. And I was his prize. His eyes smothering me as the want I saw earlier intensified.
Holy cow. I'm going to need panties soon of our friendship was going to be carrying on like this.
"We're friends. That's it...why- why are you laughing?" Alec hissed into phone, rolling his eyes.. Adriel was nothing but a fit of giggles on his side of the phone call. As soon as he heard the word "friend" come out of Alec's lips he was rolling in chuckles. And for once I understood Adriel's reasoning. Because so far we have gave no reason for Ade to think Alec and I would make good friends. Hell, we haven't gave each other good reasons to think it either.
I mean up until a couple of days ago, I was pretty sure I hated the bastard. Now, I wasn't sure I ever really did. How could I have? When I felt so drawn to him now. Like an end of a magnet to a piece of metal. I was pulled by some invisible force that just wouldn't let my feelings rest for a moment. The whole thing was so messed up given the situation. I mean by law of nature, I should be repulsed by him. He was still giving me away to someone. Even if I agreed to it, it was all kinds of screwed up. Though to be fair, I didn't know exactly what I was agreeing too. It certainly wasn't to have feelings for the guy giving me away to some unknown creature of the night.
No, me and Alec were dysfunctional. Even Adriel knew it.
"Listen, Hershey's and I are going out," said Alec. "I'll call you when she's asleep."
Adriel was too busy still laughing that Alec didn't even bother saying goodbye before hanging up. Once I had my black tiny purse in hand, we were on our way.
And I had to admit that I was looking forward to this dinner date. I mean how many fairies can say they're going to The Cheesecake Factory?
XxXx
"No way, you've been to a Beatles concert? You of all people?" I asked, stunned. Shock clearly visible on my face as Alec continued to drive to the restaurant.
Alec and I had been non-stop talking since we got into his mustang. Which was weird since we've been so determined to keep ourselves hidden. But now that we both know how each other feels for the other? We were open books.
"Oh yeah, back before the Christmas shows in 1963. I was in London at the time, doing business with a friend of mine, who had a crush on John Lennon. So, we sneaked in the Regal after work."
"What kind of work did you do?"
Alec looked tense for a moment. I could tell instantly he was beating himself up over mentioning that little tidbit. His eyes focusing on the road ahead of us as his hands gripped on the steering wheel. His knuckles turning white. The fun was over. Alec and I had done this two different times since getting into the car. If it was a subject we didn't want to openly talk about, we wouldn't speak for several moments. And then change the subject. It may be odd to most people but it worked for us. We knew we had our secrets and we respected that. The downfall was it made me wonder. So much that I started making a list of things not to talk to Alec about.
One. Jane.
Two. His work in the past.
There was more, but those were the most important. I call the list unspeakables. He had a list and so did I. Though whether or not he was making a list for himself about me, I had no idea.
"Favorite Beatles song?" I asked, giving him a soft smile. Alec grinned, his body language becoming less stiff. He was relieved I changed the subject.
"Uh...Hmm…There's many."Strawberry Fields" is good." He said as he switched lanes, glancing behind him. "Eh, "Love Me Do" is also good. There's so many."
"Yeah. "All You Need Is Love", "Day Tripper", and who can forget, "I Am The Walrus"?" Classic stuff." I nodded. Alec barked a laugh. Clearly he knew the song. That song proved for generations that The Beatles were on dope. "I can name them all day."
Alec gave me a weird look. A wicked smile forming his deep red lips.
"'Oh yeah? "Long Tall Sally," "Back in the U.S.S.R.," "I feel fine." Come on, Hershey's...name some."
I shook my head, amused. He was challenging me. Licorice liked games, it seems. I can't say I wasn't enjoying this side of him more and more.
"'Get back.' 'I Want To Hold Your Hand.' 'Twist and Shout.' Uh...'Hey Jude!'" I laughed. After we finally named about a hundred different songs, we got to the restaurant. The parking lot was packed from here to Mexico it seemed. For a second I wondered if it was even possible for us to get in this place without calling first. When we finally got a parking space, I expected us to jump right out and race to the doors. But when I looked back at Alec, he was stalling.
"Something," he whispered.
I looked at him, puzzled. "Hmm?"
"'Something,' it's my favorite Beatles song." He said, looking at me dead in the eyes, my heart singing in my chest. He held my gaze for a second longer and then got out of the car. I was paralyzed. My mind racing back to the song he had named. I knew the song by heart. Like I did most music. Given that I had sang in clubs for money in the past. It was how I got around. I could practically hear The Beatles singing it word for word and it spread a warmth throughout my body.
'Something in the way she moves
Attracts me like no other lover
Something in the way she woos me
I don't want to leave her now
You know I believe and how
Alec was already around the car before I could even think to move. I was a singer by choice. And I understood that music connected to some people on different levels. To me, it was like air. Gravity keeping me from losing myself to the darkness sometimes. Every song I liked, I had a reason. So why did Alec choose that song of all The Beatles songs to like? Why was he making it difficult being his friend?
Opening my door for me, Alec lent me his hand and I grabbed it warily. I knew I should protect myself from him. Protect myself from the pain Alec would unavoidably bring me. But tonight?
I would welcome the pain. Just for tonight.
We received a thirty minute wait or so for a table to become available once inside. The place was packed. While waiting, I checked out all of the cheesecakes behind a glass counter. Even I had to admit, some of them looked really tasty. Alec stood beside me, hands in pockets with that rare approachable vibe coming off of him. Just like he'd been with that little girl at the fair. It was as though I could have reached over to hold his hand, and he wouldn't oppose.
After being informed our table was ready, the host led us up a marble staircase, up to the upper level of the restaurant. We were seated at a booth.
"Your waiter will be with you shortly," she said, handing us our menus.
Thanking her, I looked down at the menu, and flipped through it. I realized that this thing could have been a mini book. It was the biggest menu I'd ever seen.
"Anything look appetizing?" I joked to Alec.
"Not on the menu, no." He smiled in return.
"Speaking of…when was the last time you fed?" I asked, peaking at him over the menu.
"Well, since you drank the last of the bagged blood-"
"You know what I mean. When you fed."
"Why do you ask?" He seemed surprised at the question, his brow furrowing and lips forming into a frown.
I shrugged. "I don't know…it's weird. I just, for some reason, I can't picture you…"
"…Feeding on humans?" He said in a lower voice that no one else could hear. "Why is that hard to imagine? It's instinct. You do it."
I frowned, not attempting to argue with that, since it was the truth.
"It's hard to explain."
"No, it's not."
I sighed, putting down the menu. "You just seem like you have too many morals to do that."
He laughed dryly at the statement. "Oh, Hersheys. Don't compliment me about having too many morals. Don't set me up on some high standard. I don't deserve that."
I disagreed, but couldn't say so because it seems our waiter had come. Or…was it a waitress? I looked up at him and tried not to make a noticeable reaction. The young man looked like he had more makeup on than I did. Eyeliner was visibly ringing his pretty green eyes, and glitter decorated his eyelids. And his shoulder length blonde hair was in pigtails. I was surprised, because I was under the impression that most employee dress codes didn't allow flashy makeup. Maybe they made an exception with this one. Maybe his family owned the place. Who knows?
His face over all very feminine looking. And I couldn't help but notice he had his eyes on Alec. Actually, they were glued.
Alec studied him with a curious expression on his face, and I could see he was doing his best to hide a smile.
"Hello, there. My name is Carl and I'll be your waiter for this evening. But you can just call me Vitamin C for short."
"Vitamin C?" I heard myself repeating.
Carl, or Vitamin C rather, turned his attention to me, flashing a gleaming white grin. "Honey, everyone knows a little vitamin C is good for your over all heath and stamina." He winked at Alec, who now had his fist covering his mouth, doing the old fake cough trick. Didn't he know that it was extremely obvious he was trying not to laugh?
Just like that, Vitamin C was looking at me again, only this time his attention was directly on my eyes. Oh crap. My fairy eyes.
"Who did your makeup, sweet pea? It's very creative…" I couldn't tell if he was impressed or if he was making fun of it.
Either way, I looked across the booth at Alec, raising my eyebrows questioningly. He was the artist, after all. His eyes, concealed by contacts, still glinted with pleasure as they studied my makeup. It sent butterflies to the pit of my stomach and a warmth spread all over my body. I was pretty sure my heard skipped a beat or two. I found myself so content, so happy to have him look at me like that. I was on the verge of giddiness, here. Never in my life had I felt this way before towards someone else. Someone who awestruck me with one glance, whose touch on my skin sent spirals of both emotion and lust throughout me, whose smile was a beaming ray of sunlight that I feared if stared at too long, I would go blind.
He was beginning to consume me.
Just for tonight.
I heard the waiter clear his throat, and I jerked in surprise, realizing that Alec and I had been staring at each other for who knows how long now. Instead of relinquishing the makeup conversation, Vitamin C instead took drink orders. I asked for a glass of water with lemon, and Alec, shockingly, said he wasn't thirsty.
"Well, if you change your mind, give me a holler and I'll be more than pleased to serve you." Vitamin C was really laying it on thick with Alec. He smiled saucily and walked off with a swagger, leaving us both staring after him.
"Whoa…he has it bad for you."
That earlier laughter from him came back.
"What?" I asked, not being able to help the smile that rose on my face.
"He just looks like someone I knew." He said between chuckles, shaking his head.
"Oh, yeah? Who?"
"Uh, someone from an old coven."
"…You were in a coven?" I heard the shock in my voice.
Just like that, the mood had switched. I practically felt the invisible wall around him block me out. He shifted in his seat, not saying a word. I took the signal and nodded.
More secrets.
Number three on the list of unspeakable: Alec's old coven.
"So, I have no idea what I'm going to order." I said, looking down at the huge menu in front of me.
He relaxed, and leaned across the table. "A steak. Order it rare."
I had to admit, that didn't sound half bad. As gross as it was, the rarer it was, the more appetizing it sounded. Stupid animalistic cravings.
"You sound like you know this from experience."
He shrugged. "It's what I'd order."
I flipped to the steaks on the menu, scanning my options. Meanwhile, Carl/Vitamin C came back with my water, asking if we were ready to order. I picked a random steak on the menu and made sure to tell him that I wanted it rare. After, of course, he asked Alec what he wanted. To which Alec replied that he wasn't hungry either.
"If you're trying to watch your weight or something, you really don't need to. You're already lean in all the right places." Vitamin C commented, scanning over Alec with his eyes. It was obvious what he was thinking about. The same damn thing I had been thinking about for the past four days. Actually, even longer than that. I had to count the two times within the past year that I had seen Alec. Ripping his clothes off was definitely one of the reoccurring ideas in my mind. And that was just the start of it.
I smirked to myself. At least I had seen some of Alec's naked physique.
Thank you, Alec, for leaving the door open after you took a shower. You were most helpful to creating a realistic image for my fantasies. Hipbone birthmark and all.
"Um…thank you. But I really don't have an appetite right now." Alec was trying to sound polite, bless him. But I could sense the irritation, and the clipped tone in his voice that said, 'You have no chance, dude.'
Vitamin C was way too confident for that, though. He grinned in return, not taking the subtle message at all.
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely positive."
"Well…alright, boo. If you come to your senses, just scream for me, kay?" He winked and walked off like he was on the runway. I shook my head in disbelief.
Alec looked taken aback, looking paler than he already was. "Did he tell me to scream for him?"
"That can't be the first time you've heard that, Licorice." I took a drink of my ice water. His eyes found mine, looking amused, and slightly shy. "It also can't be the first time another man has hit on you."
"Well…no, I suppose not." He scratched the back of his neck, which I knew for a face was a nervous habit because it's not as if his skin ever itched. "It's been a while, though."
"Since a man has hit on your or since a woman has hit on you?" I inquired, finding this change in topic more hilarious by the second.
He chuckled, the light reflected off of his gleaming white teeth. "Both," his grin faded into a subtle smile, almost a smirk. "Unless I counted you."
I rolled my eyes, setting down the glass of water and propped my elbows on the table. "You mean I actually count?"
"I never said you did." His voice was playful.
"Well, you brought me up so…I'm thinking you do count me."
His smile grew back, and he shook his head, sitting back in his seat.
"I'll consider it, maybe just this once," he held up his index finger to emphasize the one time deal.
I sighed and then held up a hand, remembering something. "Wait! Nope, I'm not the only horny girl whose hit on you recently."
One of his eyebrows quirked up. "Oh? Who else am I missing?"
"Remember Amber?" I grimaced, not even bothering to mess up her name on purpose this time.
He laughed loudly, groaning as he buried his head into his folded arms on the table. "Are you still pissed about that?" He exclaimed, peeking up above his arms so I could only see his eyes.
I know it was stupid, but I still really had an urge to hunt that chick down and pull her hair out little by little until she resembled Gollum from Lord of the Rings. Jealously really was an ugly emotion. Not that I could really admit to him that I was jealous…even if it was obvious.
"No…"
He raised his head, looking unconvinced. "Liar."
"You told her I was your sister, Alec. What do you expect?" I asked, then sighed again. "Can I ask a question that will more than likely lead to even more awkward tension forming between us?"
He pursed his lips. "Well, if you put it that way, then no."
"Too bad, I'm asking anyway. We're honest friends, remember?" I said, quoting him from earlier. He rolled his eyes. "If you uh…um…"
He made a gesture with his hand, telling me to go on. "Yes…?"
"Well…how long have you…er…felt attracted to me?" Why did I make it sound so extremely formal? Why couldn't I have just asked him low long he had wanted me? Either way, he understood my meaning.
"Since we met," he answered, unwavering.
I felt my eyes widen in disbelief. I looked back at the first time we met. His hostility. His insults. The way he had looked upon me as if I were something to be disgusted by. How the hell was that masked desire? He looked entertained by my shock.
"It's true. Like I said, I'm a good liar."
"A little too good…okay, another question?"
"Go ahead."
"Why?"
He looked a little perplexed. "Why, what?"
I fumbled with the butterfly ring on my middle finger. "Why do you even want me? Like you said…I'm pretty much equivalent to sloppy seconds. Damaged goods."
He flinched, literally, a grimace of self deprecation coming over his features. It was like his own words had slapped him right in the face.
"Hersheys…the things I said…were unforgivable. But ever the same…I am sorry. I swear, I never meant-"
"It's fine-"
"No, it's really not." He held up a hand, silencing me. "Just because I have some inner demons and a screwed up life, it doesn't give me the right to be cruel. Even if I was doing it so I could kid myself into thinking I didn't care about you."
Hearing him he cared again was still very hard to comprehend. It was a foreign feeling, knowing there was someone on this planet that cared about you. Someone who wanted to protect you. Someone who thinks about you, is concerned for your safety. Not being alone in general was something I was not accustomed to.
I reached across the table and put my hand over his, the cool surface of his skin coming in contact with mine. "I understand why you did it. I wasn't exactly a ray of sunshine, either. Neither of us were or are ever going to be perfect." I paused, then added for comic relief: "Even if we look damn perfect. Because we do, you know. There are quite a few people here checking us out, besides of course, Vitamin C."
He laughed again. I think I'd lost track of how many times he'd actually laughed tonight. It was amazing.
"That's part of the reason…"
"What?"
"Part of the reason why I'm drawn to you," he went on. "You make me laugh. Before you came stomping into my life in your five inch heels, I can't really remember the last time I laughed."
My heart swelled about five sizes inside my chest, thumping madly. I made him laugh. Just me. Hearing him say it out loud gave me a sense of pride, that I could make him do something that brought him even a briefest moment of happiness.
We are the worst friends ever.
"We really are," he said, and it took me a couple of moments to realize he was agreeing with me. My thoughts.
Seriously? Can't I have just a moment of inappropriate thoughts to myself for once, Alec? I thought.
He chuckled, and I let go of him.
"That wasn't inappropriate. That was rated G compared to some of the other things I've heard you thinking."
"I have really got to get that under control." I muttered, feelings mortified.
Just as he was about to say something, Vitamin C appeared before me with my steak.
My mouth watered. It smelled amazing. It came served with French fries and what looked like onion rings.
"Here you go, baby-cakes." He sat it down, and I inhaled again, my mouth filling with more saliva. I guess I was more hungry that I had thought. Even if it wasn't blood.
"Thank you," I said, already reaching for the fork and knife. The flavor of the steak exploded in my mouth, and I had to resist the temptation to pick up the chunk of meat and start eating it like a caveman. I took bite after bite, barely swallowing what I had in my mouth before I took another.
"So, I suppose the strike has at last come to an end?" Alec asked, but I didn't bother looking up at him.
"Shut up," I mumbled, taking a bite out of an onion ring. "Desperate times, you know."
"Why did you completely abandon your human nature?" His tone was curious, not pushy.
I sipped at my water and sat back, realizing I had already ate all of my steak. I wasn't sure how to answer that question.
"Seemed like a good idea at the time, I guess."
"And this was after Jacob…?"
I nodded. The mention of Jacob's name was beginning to be slightly less painful, the more he was mentioned. But just slightly. "Yeah, it was after he left. I was angry, and terrified."
"So you became a nomad."
I blinked. "I wouldn't call myself a nomad, exactly." It's true, I'd never thought of myself as one.
Alec's smile was almost pitying. "Roaming from place to place on your own, hunting where you can."
I frowned.
"I guess that describes me a bit."
"A bit," he agreed. "But you don't have to do that. You don't have to wander the world all by yourself."
I smiled bitterly. "Right, because Adriel is going to be the cure all-"
"I don't want to talk about Ade tonight." He interrupted, his voice surprisingly irritated. I hid a smile. Was he mad I mentioned Adriel at all? Was he having second thoughts about this whole thing, giving me over to him?
"But-"
"Do you want to dance?"
I sat forward, surprised. "Sorry, what was that?"
"I asked if you wanted to dance."
"Um…here?" I said, looking around me. This wasn't one of those restaurants where there was a dance floor. It wasn't that fancy. Where did he think we were going to dance? There wasn't any place to. Unless he wanted to go out into the parking lot and break dance or something.
Where was this even coming from?
"Why not?" He sounded so casual about the whole exchange. As if dancing in the middle of a restaurant was completely normal.
"But…we're not allowed." I said stupidly. I was suddenly feeling very nervous. I knew how to dance, true. But I had never danced with Alec. The idea made my heart do flip flops and my stomach sink lower in my abdomen.
He leaned across the table, his eyes sharp and mischievous. He was so beautiful.
"I don't care," he whispered, his mouth quirked into a smirk, and in that moment I think I would have done anything to please him. We could dance, we could strip out of all our clothes, we could make out right here on this table with everyone watching.
Okay, that was an exaggeration, but seriously. I was on board. Just to keep that look in his eyes.
We both stood, not stepping far from our table. He slipped his arm gingerly around my waist and to my bare back. I was glad for my choice of dress now. Although, it was him that picked it out. Was this his motive? Get me into a backless dress so he could touch my naked skin whilst dancing in public?
He chuckled, taking my other hand. "No, it wasn't my motive. But it's an added bonus."
I rolled my eyes. "I just can't win, can I? I might as well not even bother talking out loud anymore."
We started dancing. The music wasn't loud, but we could hear it better than anyone else could. It was a soft, instrumental melody.
"Try to stop it, then. Block me out.." His hand shifted on my back, moving an inch lower. I sucked in a breath.
His skin was cold on mine, but it was very pleasant. It reminded me of a time when I was outside, burning up on a summer afternoon, and I had taken an ice cube from my lemonade and ran it down over my collarbones and arms. It had melted within a minute, but that one minute was blissful. That was what it was like when he touched me. It didn't seem to ever last that long, but he felt amazing on my skin. But only this time, I think it was me who was melting.
He sighed deeply, his breath hitting my face. He leaned closer. "You're not trying very hard," he whispered, the sound vibrating my nerves. "I feel like I'm reading you as if you were an open book. Tales of hot afternoons, trailing ice cubes over your skin, watching it melt…I think I like that story."
I gulped. "Quit it.."
"Quit what?"
"Whatever it is your doing. We're….we're…frien-"
"We're way in over our heads, that's what," he interrupted. "I thought I could handle a friendship status. But when I saw you in that dress tonight…I realized I didn't want to. I don't want pretend that I don't feel what I feel. And I don't want you to either."
"That's easier said than done. Because this? This isn't going anywhere, is it?"
He frowned, readying himself to speak. I cut him off before he had a chance.
"Don't answer that. I told myself that tonight I don't want to think about the complications of this whole situation. I'm saving that for tomorrow….agreed?"
His face relaxed some, and he smiled a little. "Agreed."
We danced slowly in silence, and I ignored the strange looks we were getting from onlookers. All I could focus was where he was touching me, and how our bodies seemed to move fluidly together, effortlessly. I let him lead, and sensed what direction he would go, when he would turn me.
I smiled. "You asked earlier what my favorite Beatles song is…"
He eyebrows perked up. "What is it?"
I couldn't believe I was about to do this, but I was. I had never spoken to Alec of how I liked to sing. I hadn't told him that it was a good way of making quick cash. I could sing in a club, bars, anywhere really. I hadn't told him that Jacob use to encourage me to sing more often because he thought I had a really pretty voice. I suppose I did, I guess. It was average anyway.
My sudden silence was causing him to look confused. Ah, success. He didn't read those thoughts. Maybe he only could when I was specifically thinking about him. Which was really inconvenient. But at least there might be a loophole.
I cleared my throat nervously, and sang as quietly as possible.
'There are places I remember
All my life, though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all
But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more'
Alec's mouth was partially open, his eyes wide with shock. I smiled sheepishly, glancing down at our feet, the peeking back up through my lashes. He had his mouth closed now, but the look of astonishment remained the same.
"What…was that?" He asked, voice mimicking his face.
"My favorite song?" I suggested stupidly.
He shook his head, coming somewhat back into focus. It was as if I had been a siren, lulling him to me with my song, and had put some spell under him. I didn't think my voice was that nice, but he seemed so awestruck. I blushed.
"No, not the song. I know that song well, but…" he trailed off. His feet had stopped dancing, and so we just sort of stood there, right in the middle of the restaurant, which curious faces peering at us from their tables. "You never told me you could sing like that. It was beautiful.."
My blush deepened, I'm sure. "It never came up in conversation before."
His pursed his lips in annoyance. That obviously wasn't good enough for him.
"Well, it's come up now," he insisted. "How long have you been singing?"
I shrugged, not expecting an interrogation over the whole ordeal. "Since I was little? I never took any lessons or anything. Just something I thought was fun, I guess."
I had been singing since I was little. I would make up songs, and play them on the keyboard Jacob had bought me. I didn't remember much about how to play the piano, only from what my father taught me. So, naturally, the pieces I composed weren't by any means anything Dad could have done, but it was a way for me to feel connected to him. Just as reading Wuthering Heights always brought me closer to my mom. Reading anything reminded me of her, really. Spending nights, huddled in our little cottage in Forks. Sometimes, I actually read to her.
Anyway, I would come up with a melody, then make up some silly lyrics to go alongside it. Then, gradually, I sang more that I played. I haven't played the keyboard for several years. The older I got, the more it made me depressed to even go near the keyboard. Even though I had felt closer to my dad, I realized that if the closest I ever got to him was through music, then I really was parent-less.
I locked eyes with Alec, but he had lost the dreamy expression he had moments ago. He looked…distant. Almost haunted. As if someone had just whispered something dreadful into his ear. I stared in confusion.
"Alec, what's wrong?" I asked, touching his shoulder. He blinked, and shook his head, looking like he was shaking off some invisible dust.
"Nothing…come on, let's go sit down," he suggested, leading me back to our table. As we did, I could sense that something wrong was either taking place, or about to. Maybe it was just paranoia. But there was a tightness in my chest, my heart was beating rapidly. I glanced around me, almost feeling as if someone were watching me. I was losing my mind.
Then, I just sort of knew. My whole theory about him only hearing my thoughts when I was thinking about him was wrong. And I should have known better, because earlier this very night, he had heard me think about my parents. He knew something was off, but he didn't push me. And just now, he heard something else. Something, that for some reason, had disturbed him. And that, in turn, disturbed me. Greatly.
He slid into his seat in the booth across from me. His eyes had a series of questions in them. He looked paler, if that were possible.
"Alec, don't lie to me." I said, my voice coming out harsher than intended. "What did you hear?" I demanded.
His eyes slipped away from me and fell on the table. "Just something about your father playing the piano," his voice was tight. His mouth was a thin line. His posture stiff.
"And?" My voice cracked. I looked down at my hands. They were shaking like two leaves. I looked back up. He was still avoiding eye contact. "Look at me…"
He looked up. And then froze. I was startled, until I realized he wasn't even looking at me. He was looking behind me. If Alec had a beating heart, it seemed as though his heart just stopped dead in his chest. He didn't seem terrified, but very close to it. His eyes were as big as saucers, the brown contacts almost completely faded. His hands were clenched on the table, his fingers actually intended into he wood. He looked like he was ready to pick up and run. Run to the end of the world, if need be.
"Alec…?" I was scared to turn around. I didn't want to. I didn't want to see whatever it was that made him look like that. I felt a cold yet burning presence behind me, that was for sure. Like a pitcher of liquid nitrogen being spilled down my spine.
I didn't need to turn around. The presence stepped forward, grinning widely. If I didn't know better, I'd say he a strikingly pale, muscular person, coming in to eat.
But I did know better, And it took me a moment or two to place him. But I did. And when I did, I think my heart did indeed stop.
Dark hair. Black, thirsty eyes. Tall. As said before, very muscular. Dressed in casual clothes. But when I looked at him, I saw him in a dark cloak. I saw the same grin he wore now. Cocky, almost playful. But an underling brutality could not be missed by someone who knew what he was capable of.
'Hello again, Bella. You look good. Immortality suits you. It's too bad. . .'
I couldn't remember his name. But I knew who he was.
He was a Volturi.
Writer's Note: Hey, guys...so I'm sure you all thought we had completely abandoned this. In a sense, we have. Writing has kind of been placed on the back burner for now. Life changed for one of us (as for anyone who doesn't know, there are two of us) and things just got put on hold. As for me (Cee), I'm going to be having another surgery more than likely very soon. I have to get busy with school, and all of that jazz.
So basically, my lovelies, we have no idea when these chapters will be up. I would understand completely if you guys decided to just not read it anymore. But we're never going to be one of those FF authors that uploads chapters weekly. Not even monthly. It's stupid, but it's the truth.
To anyone who still reads, bless you. 3 You have better patience than I would have!
All this being said, we hope you like this chapter. And no, the person at the ending is NOT Aro, for anyone who asks.
-IITM