Alexei: I actually wrote this before I started The Second Life of Bree Tanner as a drabble type piece, and it was kind of the inspiration for the whole thing. :) I changed it up a little bit after how I ended chapter 20 to keep with the theme of things, but other than that, this story is at it's original glory.
III
The snow blanketed the ground thickly that particular year, unusually dry for the wet peninsula. Flakes slid to the forest floor, nimbly avoiding the branches of the densely packed trees, and wildlife was minimal due to the mid-January temperature.
Two pairs of footprints trailed through the iced liquid, each step nearly twenty feet from the one before. One pair showed the large indent of a heeled boot, while the other was smaller; bare feet that padded along at a slightly slower pace. Both pairs weaved through each other, like the owners were playing a child-like game of tag.
Far ahead of the discernible trail of feet, two people stood in an open field. The first was a tall, lean man with blond hair cascading in waves down to the top of his broad shoulders. He seemed underdressed for the frozen weather, wearing only jeans and a thin button down shirt. His cowboy boots crunched underneath him as he shifted his weight. The second was a petite young girl, looking no older than sixteen years of age. Her dark hair was tied back in a long ponytail, and she looked more prepared for the weather in her knit hat and large sweatshirt; however, her bare legs and shoeless feet poked out from her fitted shorts, the icy wind not affecting her comfortable stance.
"Are you sure you're okay? We can wait another year-"
"No, it's been long enough. I want to say goodbye."
They stood outside a large, run down log cabin. It still looked like an oversized gingerbread house, though now it was a rather run down one. Painted a now faded pink, green and white, it was elaborate to the point of ridiculousness, with fancy trim and finials on every conceivable edge. It was the kind of thing that would make one chuckle in a normal situation.
The girl padded her way up to the broken front door and stopped there. She sighed. There was no way she'd be able to go inside without breaking.
She bent down, kneeling on the tips of her toes and placing a small, white flower of the overzealous welcome mat. Tears built up in her eyes as she spoke quietly.
"Hi there. I know it's been a long time, but I'd like to think that you'll forgive me for being late. I also… I'm so sorry about what happened, but…" A tear ran down her cheek, burning with venom. "I don't know if it would have been better had it been different. I'm sorry. I'm sorry about your human life. I'm sorry that you had to be born into a vampire life. I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you. I'm sorry that I fell in love with someone else after you. I'm sorry that you had to die, and I'm so sorry-" her breath hitched for a moment as more tears flowed. "I'm so sorry that I'm okay with that."
Suddenly, a crunching sound broke the girl from her mourning. She stood, spinning around to find another had joined her and her mate in the cold snow.
A black cloak shifted in the breeze as her breath stuck in her throat, and her male companion crouched in front of her protectively.
"Alice?"
"Jasper, Bree, It's been a while. I have a proposition for you."
/
Alexei: Oh crap, I just set that up for a sequel didn't I?