Elizabeth

1989

The club was crowded and badly lit. It smelled of weed and smoke. Julieta made a wry face.
-Are you sure this is the best place in town?
-Looks aren't everything. Besides, a new band is playing. They are called Nirvana, and they are amazing. I tell you, they will be the next big sensation.
-If you say so. Ah, Aaron is here!
Aaron was Julieta's newest fling.
-Hey babe – he leaned in to kiss her – I brought David along.
-Girls, this is David, he is in Aaron's pack.
The boy smiled at Lizzy. He was good looking.
-Wanna dance?
-Sure.
He was a good dancer and a funny person. He was quite a flirt, too. Lizzy was surprised at how much she enjoyed his company.
-He asked me to meet him tomorrow at the club again – she told her sisters later that night.
-That's amazing, Lizzy! Do you want to go?
-I don't know.
-Maybe it's time that you get back into the game. He is a handsome guy. No need for anything serious, just give him a chance. You will have fun.
-You don't have to go.
-Julieta is right. I should give this a try.
And it was a nice evening. They chatted, danced, and laughed. She had high hopes: this wasn't bad after all. Maybe she can really enjoy this. They ended up in a small room, above the club. David was kissing her, and she kissed back. He took off his t-shirt and guided her to the couch. He started kissing her neck, down to her shoulders. His body pressed her into the cushions. It was all hot and exciting until suddenly it wasn't. His weight on her was too much, too similar to Walsted. She shoved him so hard, he flew back crushing a table.
-What the fuck is wrong with you?
She didn't answer, just gathered her clothes and ran. She ran as fast as she could without arousing suspicion. She threw herself into Tira's arms when she arrived home, trembling.
-What happened?
-I will kill that bastard.
-No, Julieta, he didn't do anything. It was me. I just panicked.
-Oh, Lizzy.
-Maybe it's just not the right time or person for you. You will find the one.

2005 May

It wasn't fair. Edward and Tira, Luke and Julieta – they were so happy, so in love. Lizzy was happy for her sisters, she really was. She didn't even care about Luke being a werewolf. He clearly adored and loved Julieta, and he would do anything to protect her. And Tira was thriving, now that she finally found her long lost love. This was all good, but it still hurt, seeing them so happy with their partners, when she was alone. She cursed Walsted for the thousandth time for taking this away from her. She longed for love and intimacy, but she was too afraid and hurt. She tried and failed time after time in having a relationship – serious or not. On the bright side, living the vegetarian lifestyle was the easiest for her out of the sisters. She craved blood, yes, but she managed not to have slip-ups and had great self-control when being near humans. And she loved the Cullens, they became almost a second family for her. Lizzy and Alice were friends, and even Rosalie liked her. One evening she was hanging out at their house because both Tira and Julieta were on a date when Alice came to her. She was very excited.
-Quickly, dress up into something nice! We are going to Seattle for a girls' night out.
-I don't have any fancy clothes here.
-You can borrow one of mine.
-Shouldn't we wait for the others and ask them to come too?
-No. Just you and me. I promise it will be worth it.
They ended up in a small pub. It wasn't the place Lizzy would typically go to: cheap furniture, overpriced drinks, and few drunken idiots having fun at the karaoke. Alice ordered two cocktails.
-Just to keep appearances up.
-Are you sure this is the best place for a girls' night out?
-You will see that it is.
That's when he heard him. He had the most beautiful voice she ever heard. He was singing at the karaoke. His eyes were closed, but even without seeing the red, Lizzy knew he was a vampire.
-I'm tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless, lost under the surface
I don't know what you're expecting of me
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes
Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow

He didn't give any indication that he noticed them, he was too caught up in the song. Lizzy couldn't take her eyes off him. When he finished the last accords he looked straight into her eyes. He put down the microphone and made his way towards them.
-I'm Alex. It's nice to meet people from our kind here.
-Lizzy.
-And I'm Alice. Unfortunately, Alex, I have to leave to do things. Why don't you keep my friend's company?
-Wait, Alice!
-Don't worry. Just have fun and text me when you want me to pick you up.
Lizzy shyly smiled at him. He was handsome, but not too otherwordly stunning as many vampires. He wasn't intimidating in his beauty, and most importantly, he looked nothing like Walsted. Lizzy quickly tried to chase that train of thoughts away. The last thing she wanted to think about now was her ex-husband.
-So when did you arrive here?
-To America? Three months ago. To this city? Today.
-Where did you live before?
-I travel a lot. I spent the last few decades in Europe. My last home there was in Hungary. I stayed there for 6 months, and then decided to come back to the USA. Home, sweet home.
-I used to live in France.
-Ah, une dame francaise. Pourqua es-tu revenu?
-La guerre. I still miss Paris.
-Lovely city, indeed.
-What were you doing in Europe?
-Mostly studying. When not at a university, then by experience.
-What did you study?
-Many things. Anything I could get my hands on, really. Physics, astrology, biology, religion, psychology. I want to know as much about this world as possible. We have the unique opportunity to witness how humankind evolves, be there when history is happening, see the best and the worst of them.
-That's very deep. Never thought it about this way. I really only want to see the best they can offer. The music, the architecture, the dances. Why waste time on the terrible side of them?
-Maybe because that's what makes them human. That's what we still have, even after the change: the ability to do good and bad.
-Sometimes I wonder if we are really that different. But I'm young, my human years are not so far behind me. My sisters are older. How old are you?
-In my 140s. Still young. Or old. Depends on who you compare me to.
-So, Alex do you want to dance?
-I'm terrible at it.
-So you are saying that you spent all that time traveling and studying, but you never learned how to dance? We must fix that.
He wasn't lying: he was terrible at dancing. Clumsy, even for a human, never mind for a vampire. But it was still kind of cute how much he tried. When she couldn't dance anymore from laughing, they went back to the bar.
-This was nice. Do you maybe want to do it again? I still need to perfect these dance moves.
She almost said yes. He was so funny and smart. But when she looked at him a different set of red eyes were starring at her. She stumbled backward.
-Are you okay? You look like you have seen a ghost.
-I have to go. I'm sorry.
-Wait!
She stormed out while dialing Alice.
-Come and pick me up. Now.
It was a long and silent ride back home. Alice spook at last.
-I'm sorry for bringing you there and leaving. I thought…
-Did you see him? In a vision?
-Yes. I hoped that he could become someone important to you.
-That's what you saw?
-My visions are only possibilities, not sure things. He was just that a possibility. You can decide what happens now.
That thought didn't leave her alone for days: that he was a possibility that she didn't even give a chance. So after a week of self-loathing and trying to forget Alex, she went back to the bar. She dressed up nicely and waited at the bar with an untouched drink till morning. And she did the same thing the next day and the day after that. He was never there. After ten days of hoping, then disappointment, she was about to give up. When she walked out of the bar the sun was rising. It was beautiful, but still, she felt said. But maybe this wasn't meant to be. Maybe he was just that: a possibility. And those are not exactly reliable. That's when he heard his voice: the unmistakable melody. It was companied by guitar accords, somewhere far down the streets. She followed the sound and there he was, on a corner, singing and playing the guitar. Lizzy fished out some change from her pocket and threw it into the guitar case as humans do. Alex smiled at her. He didn't seem surprised. Lizzy waited until he finished singing.
-Nice song.
-Thank you. I wrote it. Good to see you again.
-Yeah sorry about it.
-Don't worry, I'm used to girls running away from me when I ask them out. I'm just glad that you found me. So what can I do for you?
-I thought that you might want to hang out. Despite the running away part.
-That would be nice. There will be a screening of 1931s Dracula downtown – he scooped up the money from the guitar case – And now I can even pay for it.
-Dracula? Really?
-What can I say, I'm a sucker for vampire movies.
-That was a terrible pun.
-And I'm proud of it.
The movie was nice. Alex didn't try to kiss her or even hold her hands as she expected, he only whispered funny comments in her ear. Afterward, they walked around aimlessly until they ended up in a park.
-I would love to see their faces if they knew there were real vampires in the cinema.
-Well you better not, unless you want to end up in the Volturi's to-do list.
-Hey, Lizzy. I don't want to be rude, but what's the matter with your eyes? I have never seen this color before.
-Surprised it lasted so long for you to ask. It's because of my diet…
Alex listened to her explanation with wide eyes.
-That's….amazing! How come I never thought of it? I always believed that killing humans was the only way! I wish I have known this before, I wish Tira knew about this, we could have spared so many lives, so much guilt.
-Who is Tira?
-Asatira, my creator. She was like a sister to me, but we lost contact. I came back to America to look for her, but it's more difficult than I thought it would be.
It couldn't be. Tira told her so many stories about Alex, her little brother, but she never made the connection.
-Alex, why don't you come over tomorrow to the Cullen's house? They can tell you more about vegetarianism, even help you start it if you would like to?
-That would be great!

2005 May

-Tira, please stay here for today. You can go out with Edward any other day.
-What is it?
-I have a surprise.
-Oh my god, is it that boy you have been going to the city to see?
-What? How do you know about that?
-Alice might have tipped me off. I'm so happy for you, Lizzy!
-Just be here today, okay?
Lizzy was getting fed up with Emmet's teasing when she finally heard him. She ran outside.
-Hey! You are here! Come in, before I die from embarrassment.
-I gotta admit, it's not every day a girl takes me to meet the family after the first date.
-Guys, this is Alex.
Tira gasped.
-Alex?!
-Tira!
He lunged forward to hug her. Edward immediately moved to stop him, but Lizzy grabbed his arms.
-They know each other.
Tira hugged Alex tightly.
-I can't believe it's you. Lizzy, why didn't you say something?
-Surprise!
After the shock wore off she sat Alex down and had him tell everything that happened since they parted. Then it was Tira's turn. The conversation lasted for hours. Finally, Alex said his goodbye. Tira ran outside to catch him.
-Hey, kid one last thing. You take care of Lizzy, okay? She is my sister, and she has been through a lot. I don't want her to get hurt.
-I promise I'll do my best.

2005 May

Lizzy choose this place for their second date. A small club, that played jazz and regularly had dress-up parties in the style of the 1920s.
-Now, this is real music! Oh, how I missed this. Come on, let's dance!
-I don't promise that I won't step on your feet.
And he did, but it was worth it. Even if this was just a cheap club, mimicking those great times, for a few hours she relived a time that was more innocent, more human. They stayed until closing hours.
-Wow, this was really something else.
-You should have seen my parties in Paris. They were famous in the whole country. Vampires and humans, partying together.
They stopped at a bridge. They sat on the edge, dangling their feet.
-I want to tell you something before whatever we have between us gets serious.
-Lizzy, you don't have to…
-Let me finish. You should know what you are getting into.
She didn't dare to look at him, afraid she might not have the courage to finish talking if she did.
-I was married once…
When she told all of it she sneaked a look at him. There was a rage in his eyes, but understanding, too.
-I wish I could kill that bastard.
-You aren't alone with that. I would understand if you want out, Alex.
-No.
-This is a lot, I'm a lot to handle.
-I don't care Lizzy. I like you. You are extraordinary and I want to see what can happen between us. I don't mind waiting. We are immortal after all, we have more time than we need.
-And if I will never be ready?
-Then we will be friends. Traveling companions. Romantic partners, without intimacy. We will see. If you want to give me a chance, we can be whatever we want to be.
Lizzy was silent, but she moved closer to him. A new feeling settled in her heart.