Ally walks down the long, dirty sidewalk in the morning light observing the very new town she has been in for only a day now.
Looking around, she sees a few faces on the streets and only two cars passing by 5 minutes within each other. Huh. She thought to herself. I guess people do exist in this ghost town. Not a lot, but... they are here.
Ally looks up at the small vet building to her left side bringing a smile onto her face as feelings of familiarity start to spread through her body. For a second, she saw a glimpse of her old life but she also had to get use to the fact that this isn't her old life and it never will be. No matter what, she just had to remember that.
When she enters, the bright colors on the wall are more noticeable to her, now that she has actual time to look at her surroundings rather than worrying about actually getting the job. She sets eyes on the nice looking older woman with dark brown hair and gray undertones that she met yesterday and granted her the gift of this job that will help her dad with the bills.
"Well, hello Miss Dawson. Soon after training, I'll be saying Dr. Dawson." She said with a smile as Ally just chuckled at her sweetness.
"Hi, Dr. Webster. It's nice to see you again." She commented kindly as she put her bags on the counter.
Ally found herself looking around for the person that her boss said she would be meeting and also be trained by.
"Don't worry. Lucky is just in the back finishing up her 7:30 appointment. She'll be here soon enough." Dr. Webster reassured her as she nodded her head with understanding.
As if on cue, the back door opened showcasing a young girl who looked around Ally's age but a little younger with the most unique hair she has ever seen. We're talking blonde, pink, blue, red, and green all mixed into one. It looked like a rainbow threw up on this girl's head but in the best way possible, especially because it was in a bun.
"Dr. Blossom, meet Ally Dawson. She is the young woman I told you about yesterday that you'll be training for the next couple of days. Like I said before, she has actual experience and will be earning her veterinary technician degree when she goes back to college after her year off. If you need any more details, I left her file on your desk. I was gonna help train you as well, Ally but I'll be back around eleven. I have a few errands to run for some products we're running out of. Have fun, girls." Dr. Webster eagerly said with a smile, gently patting Ally's shoulder as a sign of good luck before walking out of the building.
Ally smiled awkwardly at the girl who hadn't said anything yet but brushed the small puppy on the gray counter in front of her.
"So... I like your hair." Ally complimented honestly but mostly to get a conversation going.
Dr. Webster did warn Ally that she was more introverted but with a little time, she opens up some more and she needs her to if they are gonna be working together.
"You're new in this town?" She asked ignoring the nice hair comment.
"Um, yes. My dad and I moved here yesterday." Ally told her as she made eye contact for the first time.
"Why?" She stated as if it bothered her.
"Why?"
"...Yes...why? I would give anything to leave this town and you move here intentionally? I don't get it." She sighed as the puppy sneezed and Ally smiled at the adorableness before thinking back to what the girl in front of her just said.
Ally's POV
"Why do you want to leave this town so bad?" I questioned as Dr. Blossom picked up the small bulldog with 'Oscar' on the name tag.
I watched as she held up a hand telling me to give her a second while she put the now groomed dog in the play area with the other dogs.
"So, Dr. Blossom?" I asked when she returned.
"Please don't call me that. Lucky is fine."
"So, Lucky Blossom? That is honestly the coolest name ever." I said with a giggle.
"I'm happy you think so. I was made fun of it my whole life." She said removing her gloves and turning on the sink to wash her hands. Wow. This girl is quite depressing.
"I'm sorry to hear that. You still never said why you dislike this town so much." I reminded her as she turned her head around to me while still cleaning her hands.
"Have you seen it?"
"I mean, of course. Sure it's silent and not that many people live here and it doesn't have the best vibe but besides that... what's so wrong with it?" I asked really wanting to know.
I can't believe a town I was just complaining about yesterday all day... I am now suddenly defending. I wonder if it has anything to do with that handsome guy I met last night.
"It's just weird, okay?" She said drying her hands with a paper towel and facing me.
"I've been here for four years and I've seen things I can't explain and met people who... who just seem different from normal people. The only reason I'm here is because my mother kicked me out at 15 years old and Dr. Webster offered to take me in. I don't exactly have a choice until I save up enough to get the hell out of here. I may not have proof of the creepiness going on in this town but I know something is." She finished off, stunning me with the amount of things she said after appearing much more like the silent type.
"Wow. That seems like a lot of um..." I stop myself not knowing what to say.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to give a portion of my life story to the new girl but you did ask."
"That's true... um, don't apologize. I didn't know about Dr. Webster taking you in. That's sweet of her."
"Yeah, she is my godmother so it's not like I just met a random woman and shacked up with her." She explained as I took in that also new information.
"I feel bad though, because her taking me in ruined her and my mother's relationship." She said bringing out some tools that I'm guessing she's gonna train me with.
"I'm sorry to hear that. I don't exactly have the best relationship with a parent as well." I confess to her as she looked at me for a second before nodding slowly.
"You're not as predictable as I thought you'd be, Ally Dawson." She stated.
"Thanks?" I reply with an odd expression and soft chuckle.
_
Austin stands in his room observing himself in the mirror as he did from time to time again when he was first coming to terms that he was a vampire.
I know what you're thinking. How is he looking at himself in the mirror if he's dead? I'll tell you how. It's just a false stereotype. You want to know the real ones? The sun and daytime does affect them and will burn their skin and can eventually kill them. Though, as long as they have their daylight rings on, they'll be perfectly fine.
Also, vampires keep the natural eye color their human forms had. They turn yellow when they are feeling vulnerable or lustful but fortunately, yellow eyes can be returned back to their natural human color if the vampire is talked down into a more calm and peaceful state. Vampire eyes go full on red when they feel rage or extreme hunger.
A knock is heard at his bedroom door and he calmly lets the person know they can come in. Thomas makes his way in with a sympathetic look.
Thomas Muller is the twin sister of Talia Muller. Thomas was a couple of minutes older than his sister but she always seemed to be the one who ruled the household. They also couldn't have been more different.
Talia was always so determined and focused as a kid while he was more of the 'enjoy life and have fun' type. She craved and seeked the attention of others by being in charge and controlling whatever environment she was in.
Thomas liked helping others, unlike his sister and definitely wasn't as into being a vampire like she was and that's why when he and Austin first met, they hit it off immediately and now they have been best friends for decades.
Yet, there still are nights when Austin thinks about his old life including his old best friend Steve Smith who was now married with three children, which included his twenty eight year old son and two daughters, the age of twenty three and nineteen.
Yeah, Austin did his research and it hurt him deeply when he first realized that he had to leave that life behind. It also filled him with envy that his friend got a chance to have a good, normal life at now fifty five years old with his wife Maisie, who he met long after Austin disappeared.
There was a time when he thought Steve would never settle down… but he did and he hated that he missed watching that amazing milestone in his life when his friend finally fell in love and had kids of his own.
"Are you okay, man?" Thomas asked Austin when he came in.
"I know Talia has been more of a pain in the ass than usual but you seem... different since you came back yesterday. What's up?" He wondered genuinely worried about his friend.
"Actually..." Austin started before going behind his friend and closing his door not wanting anyone else to hear this.
"I met a human yesterday." He said as Thomas made an amused face.
"You say that like they're unicorns or something. We're the rare species dude. Plus... we were human once." He said as Austin rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, but do you know how long it's been since I interacted with one? Like had an actual conversation instead of a one sentence exchange or just walking by? Decades." He told him as Thomas nodded with agreement.
"True. Wait... the humans are on the north side of town. What were you doing over there?"
"I was going on a walk and I was thinking about a lot of things and I wandered over there accidentally but right when I was gonna turn around, there was someone who snatched this girl's purse and I stopped him."
"Dude, what the hell? You could have jeopardized us!" He raised his voice as Austin shhhed him and Thomas got the message remembering that Talia doesn't need to know about this because she can be so crass about things, especially humans.
"I didn't jeopardize anything or any of us. She has no idea what I am and we actually had a normal conversation. For a second, it felt like 1984 again..." Austin trailed off as Thomas watched his face knowing his friend missed so much of what he had to walk away from.
"Well, that seems pretty nice. I know our life is filled with the supernatural so I bet being around a human made you feel normal again."
"No, Thomas... it made me feel alive again."
Austin corrected him and for a quick second Thomas saw a light in his eyes that gave him a glimpse of what human Austin was like before meeting him already turned.
"Just be careful, alright? It's nice to have one moment of normalcy but you can't go there again. Not that side of town. You know it's way too risky." He told his best friend worried that he got too much of a high from the first time and would go again.
"Yeah... okay." Austin responded with a hesitation sending concern down his slightly taller friend's spine.
"Dude, I'm serious. I don't want Talia finding out about this. You know how she is. Let's do a favor for that human girl and keep her... alive." He said with a stern voice.
"Yeah, yeah I know. Of course." He repeated with more reassurance, though the spark in his eyes didn't leave when talking about the girl he met the day before.
"What's up, losers!" Talia shouted coming in with Sarah behind her as Austin and Thomas tried to collect themselves as if they weren't talking about something important.
"What are you guys talking about?" Talia asked walking over to Austin and wrapping her arms around him as he looks at Thomas to think of something.
"Nothing. Just guy stuff. Did you girls want something?" Thomas said trying to move the attention to them.
"Yeah, we are going to the club tonight. Talia's idea." Sarah answered with a small smile on her face, hiding a feeling she's had in her non existent soul for so long.
"Really?" Thomas questioned because Talia was the one who didn't like being around the human species unless it was to feed on them so this was a genuine surprise.
"Mmm... what do you think?" She asked looking up into his Austin's eyes as he showed hesitation before nodding.
"Sure, why not? It'd be nice to get out." He said as she clapped her hands together kissing his soft lips.
"Amazing. Be ready at eight tonight." She commanded them before leaving with the red head who's smile left her face with no one noticing.
"What the hell was that about? Since when does Talia like going to clubs or doing anything remotely normal?" Thomas wondered about his menacing twin sister who never had real interest in letting loose and having fun, unless the celebration was about her taking over and ruling the world.
"I have no idea. That was weird." Austin shook his head, sitting down on his bed.
"Well, I guess we're going to the club tonight then." Thomas stated.
Suddenly, Austin remembered what the girl Ally asked him yesterday about having dinner with her and her father. I mean sure he knew that he didn't promise her or anything and said he would think about it but how rude would it be to not show up at all?
Also, if Austin was being honest, he wanted to go. Not because he was hungry for human blood, but because... he wanted to see her again.
Ally Dawson was the most beautiful and fascinating creature he had ever seen… except she wasn't a creature at all. She was human and that sparked enough interest to see her soft and pretty face again... but now he's agreed to going to the club and has no idea what to do.
On one hand, he doesn't understand why choosing to spend time with his girlfriend and a person he met once was so difficult and on the other hand... he wondered if the human would even care if he didn't show up.
Sure, Ally invited him over but in the back of his mind, he assumed she was just being polite because he stopped someone from stealing her purse. Maybe she was just being a good citizen. He hasn't been one in decades but he remembers what they are like and she seemed like a kind person so maybe that's all she was being. Austin would never admit out loud that he was hoping she wasn't just being a decent person and genuinely wanted to see him again… but he truly had no idea why.
_
Sarah and Talia walked down the wide and long length staircase of the mansion into the dark and dull living room, going over to stand in front of the fireplace showcasing the only light in the house.
"So, what made you want to go to the club? Not really the kind of scene you're into." Sarah said sipping a champagne drink she had left on a mini table that was collecting dust because no one bothered to clean up.
Talia looks at her before glancing upstairs and then leaning her head forward, in order to whisper.
"I know it doesn't look like it but I feel like Austin is becoming distant and he's growing apart from me. It's been decades but I know he still misses his human life which I can't for the life of me figure out why." She said with a roll of the eyes as the redhead nodded to seem as if she agreed with her when she didn't at all.
"Going out to the club, doing normal things... I thought this could help us and a bonus if he sees and remembers how stupid the human race is and realizes it was pointless wasting all that time thinking about the past." She said with a smirk before taking Sarah's drink out her hand and sipping it.
"Wow, this is good. I'm gonna go make my own." She told her putting Sarah's drink down instead of handing it to her even though she held her hand out.
Sarah watched as Talia walked out the room and if Talia knew what was going on in her mind, she would be stunned to say the least, along with the guys. The hatred in her heart for Talia would give the devil a run for his money. And if she was being honest with herself, she would have killed her long ago if she wasn't such great friends with Thomas and she won't break his heart even if it would give her and everyone else immense peace and happiness again. She feels stuck pretending to be best friends with a woman such high in power and so non deserving of it. If she can't kill Talia, she wants her to suffer... but she has no idea how to make that happen.
_
Ally walks home from a great day of training with Lucky who did as Dr. Webster said and opened up more as time went on. She takes out her phone from her pocket, checking the clock to see that she has enough time to prepare dinner for her father and Austin tonight if he decides to come and she really hopes he does.
It would suck and be embarrassing if he didn't show up after having such a great convo with her and who was she kidding, she didn't care about getting humiliated. She just wanted to see him again because he was so mysterious and that intrigued Ally Dawson very much and deep down, she wanted to see the other layers to this Austin guy.
When she was about a block away from her new home, she sees two young adults who seem around her age, a girl and guy across the street from her with a little girl with them and they happen to be speaking while staring at her.
Ally felt as if they noticed she was new to the neighborhood and town, so she waved with a friendly smile and they didn't do anything but stop talking and continued to stare at her which made her feel awkward and uncomfortable.
She continued on her way as she watched the older girl start to walk her way, when the guy stopped her by the arm and saying something in her ear. She responded, though Ally couldn't make out what was being said because they were a good distance away. The girl nods in agreement with the guy, and then they gave one more glance towards her before the guy grabbed the little girl's hand and the three of them left together.
That whole thing just sent a long shiver down Ally's spine and for a second, she understood what Lucky was talking about when she told her the town is full of creeps. She decided to focus on her now fast paced steps making sure she got home quicker than needed too.
Ally's POV
Okay, I don't know what's in the water in this town and what makes everyone seem like they have to be complete and utter creeps but I arrive home safely after that strange encounter with those three weirdos. Besides Dr. Webster and Lucky, Austin is the only other person I've met who isn't strange acting like that. It's nice to meet someone who is completely normal.
Heading into the kitchen, I see my dad putting a bunch of ingredients on the counter.
"Hey..." I say moving more into the small space.
"Hey, honey." He said barely glancing at me before quickly getting an electric mixer out.
"I didn't know we decided what we were having tonight yet. Plus, I thought I was cooking." I said looking around trying to figure out what it was he was gonna make but I couldn't tell.
"Yeah, I know but I wanted to get started as soon as possible because I was hungry. I didn't have time to go out grocery shopping yet so I didn't really have any lunch today. What do you think of chicken casserole?" He asked me as I raised my eyebrows impressed.
"That sounds amazing actually." I told him honestly as he smiled with a nod going back to what he was doing.
"Oh, and if you don't mind making extra... that would be great." I tell him as he glanced at me confused before starting to wash his hands.
"For leftovers? You know there's never more left, Als. You may be a small pup but you eat like a lion." He said as I playfully rolled my eyes.
"No, not for me."
"...For my guest." I continued.
"Guest." He said drying his hands with a paper towel before throwing it in the trash.
"Yeah, I invited this guy Austin. I met him yesterday on my way home from work. He actually helped me out with a thief who tried to steal my purse." I admitted to him as he looked shocked.
"Ally, why didn't you tell me that happened? You could have been hurt." He said in a raised tone.
"But I wasn't! I'm a grown woman, dad and someone was there to help me."
"What if he wasn't?" He asked crossing his arms against his chest.
"Well, I would have had to get a new purse and that would have completely sucked." I replied with a chuckle.
"Don't make this a joke, Ally."
"Come on, dad. Why are you making this such a big deal? I'm fine." I said as he looked at me before sighing.
"Yes, you are. If you see him again, thank him for me but uninvite him from the dinner." He said nonchalant turning back around.
"What? What the hell, dad!" I shout upset.
"Language, Ally!" He turned around with an appalled expression as I rolled my eyes, just pissed off now.
"I don't get what your problem is! He's a nice guy."
"Really? Did you get all that from talking to him all of five minutes?" He asked sarcastically causing me to groan loudly.
"You know what? Forget it. I can't believe I thought we could have a calm conversation for once over something that's not at all hard to understand."
"Stop it, Ally. Just stop it! This is on you. It always is. You think I'm stupid? You think I don't know that you wouldn't have invited a guy over unless you were attracted or interested in them? This is who you were before and still are now. Guys, parties, alcohol, and repeat. It's been that way since your mother passed away, so don't act like you actually cared about bonding with me!" He yelled taking me completely back.
"Wow..." I uttered lowly under my breath after a long pause.
"Well, have a nice dinner by yourself. I'll leave you alone so I can focus on guys, parties and alcohol." I respond smartly as he glared at me, then turning back around to focus on dinner.
I shook my head in frustration before running up to my room.
"Alright, let's go lames!" Talia in black leather pants and a black crop top shouted at the end of the stairs as Thomas sported a nice looking urban outfit, while Sarah showcased a beautiful short red dress with black heels.
"Ooo, you look hot! Not as hot as me though." Talia smiled poking Sarah's stomach as she laughed while internally rolling her eyes.
"Thanks girl." Sarah said with a fake smile.
"Babe, where are you? Let's go!" Talia yelled once again as he came down too looking nice but with a guilty expression on his face.
"Are you ready to hit the spot, baby?" She asked going over to him.
"Actually... I'm not going babe." He told her as Sarah and Thomas looked confused and Talia just got outright upset.
"What the fuck are you talking about? You said you would!"
"I know but could you not curse at me."
"Oh, who gives a shit! We all curse."
"Yeah, but it's different when you're cursing at each other. It's disrespectful."
"Well, I wouldn't if you weren't pissing me off so much." She told him as he sighed.
"Why don't we get in the car Thomas? Let's give them some privacy." Sarah suggested facing him as he nodded agreeing knowing it was best to stay out of his best friend and his sister's fights.
"Sure thing." He replied as they walked out together, leaving the toxic couple alone.
"I just don't understand what changed your mind."
"I'm not feeling well, babe." He lied through his pure white teeth.
"Then why did you get dressed?" She asked folding her arms against her chest not buying it.
"I felt a little off but I thought I could get through the night but when I was coming down the stairs just now, I knew I couldn't go."
"Bull sh-...bull crap." She changed her words rolling her eyes because it irritated her.
"We are freaking dead, Austin! You can't get sick." She said as he didn't exactly think that lie through very well but something else entered his intelligent and quick mind.
"When I went out feeding last time, I think one of the animals had something. I think it's affecting me somehow." He said as she now had a sympathetic facial expression.
"...Really?" She questioned calmly as he nodded surely.
"Oh, baby. I'm sorry. That happened to Tommy before. It was the worst." She said holding his face as he nodded playing along with his own facade.
"Yeah, I just need to rest tonight but we will spend time together tomorrow. All day, okay?" He told her as he took one of her hands from his face and kissed it making her smile lustfully.
"You promise me?" She asked leaning up to his face, softly biting her lip thinking of other ways to spend her day with him doing.
"I promise, babe." He said leaning down and kissing his girlfriend that he's been feeling resentful of lately.
Austin watches Talia leave out the door and sighs going upstairs to prepare himself more for a seemingly awkward dinner with the beautiful girl he met yesterday and her father and seeing that he's already late, doesn't help his anxiety.
Ally's POV
I sit in my room scrolling through Instagram on my phone while still upset about the fight with my dad. I don't understand why he always has to do that with me. It's like he has to take out his feelings on me because he's the one who can't deal with them.
I'm completely fine... like I have come to terms with my mom being dead. I don't need a babysitter like he does.
My stomach growls realizing I didn't have dinner tonight and I'm not gonna let him stop me from getting some. I head downstairs to see him laying out on the couch with the TV still on with an almost empty plate on the table. I roll my eyes from his words earlier, continuing my way into the small kitchen and going straight over to the food.
I couldn't lie, it did look delicious considering my dad has never made chicken casserole before but he has always been the cook in the family while my mother was more of the cleaning and neat freak one.
Sometimes, I swear the lady had OCD because of her obsession with how perfect everything had to be in the house. Though I miss her picking at everything. At least it would keep dad from being a complete mess because that's all he's ever been since her passing, yet he wants to points out all my flaws. Which aren't flaws by the way! I'm young and I like to have a good time. What the hell is wrong with that? Nothing. Nothing at all.
After making my plate, I look at the big clock on the nice tiled wall seeing that's it's almost an hour after the time I told Austin to be here at and there's no sign of him. I sigh heading back to my room, closing the door and sitting on my sofa in front of my window as I look out at the night sky.
I hear a loud wolf howl in the distance and my face lights up in amazement because it's the second time I've heard that since moving here. It was honestly pretty cool. You never hear that in Miami.
Suddenly, something hits my window scaring me. Before looking down to see what it is, I stand up, putting my food on my drawer first when something hits my window again. I walk back slowly over to it, peaking out of it to see Austin with another rock in his hand. My anxiety fades away when I realize it's not some kind of psycho.
I open the window as I see him about to throw another rock.
"You throw that and I'll throw it back." I playfully threaten as he notices me with a little shock on his face.
"Oh, Ally. I'm sorry. I didn't know if you heard it." He told me as I smiled just happy he was here even if it was extremely late.
"You ever heard of knocking on a front door?" I asked smartly while looking down there still.
"Yeah, but I saw you looking out the window already so it made more sense in my head to do it this way." He said with a shrug as I giggled shaking my head.
"Kinda late, you think?"
"I know, I'm sorry. If I'm being honest, I was still contemplating if I should come." He confessed as I scrunch up my eyebrows in confusion.
"Why? What's the big deal?" I asked wanting to really know.
"Let's just say...I'm not really a people person." He said shyly and it was adorable.
"I find that extremely hard to believe. You seem like the typical, popular jock in those 80's movies." I told him with a laugh.
"The 80's were amazing." He said as I looked at him strange before he noticed what he said.
"They looked amazing is what I meant." He corrected as I nodded thinking he was just nervous for some reason.
"Yeah, I bet. My mom use to tell me how awesome it was all the time. She was obsessed with Molly Ringwald." I tell him as we both laughed and it showcased his precious deep dimples that I liked so much.
"She was hot." He smirked.
"Yeah, I bet you thought so." I playfully rolled my eyes with a smile as we just stared at each other in a peaceful silence before I coughed remembering why he was here in the first place.
"Well, unfortunately... my dad and I got into a big fight so I went to my room and he made dinner and we didn't eat together. I'm actually eating in my room right now. So, I guess it was better that you didn't come when I asked you to." I told him truthfully as he gained a sympathetic look on his face.
"Don't. I'm use to it. I told you, me and my dad have a complicated relationship." I say so he won't feel bad.
"Sorry, can't help it. I'd do anything to see my folks again." He said with a sigh.
"Now I feel like an ass." I said as he laughed.
"Don't."
"Sorry, can't help it." I reply repeating his words as he just smiles.
"Aren't you gonna invite me up?" He asked as I sat up intrigued.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I did come all the way from the south side of town to eat and you're gonna send me all the way back home on an empty stomach? Now, that's what I call being an ass." He said as I gasp slightly before a giggle comes out.
"Alright then. Come on up." I tell him as he nods eagerly, beginning to climb the trees connected to my house.
Austin climbs fiercely making me smile ear to ear and I fail to hide it away to have some kind of dignity. I open my window even wider when he gets all the way up and watch as he climbs in and I couldn't help but see his muscles flex nicely through his red shirt.
"I'll be right back. I'm gonna go make you a plate." I tell him as he nods with a smile of appreciation.
I head downstairs making sure my dad doesn't wake up from my footsteps while I skimp through to the kitchen.
While making Austin's plate, I find myself getting nervous and feeling butterflies in my stomach that I've never felt for anyone. Ally, chill. You just met this dude yesterday and do you really want to prove your dad right? You know what? Screw dad! He's gonna think what he wants to regardless of what I do.
Austin's POV
I look around Ally's room not seeing much because she has yet to unpack all of her boxes. I notice a few posters of a female singer but I don't know who it is. What can I say? Vampires aren't exactly into the internet or social media. Not like I know how to use it honestly.
If I wanted something, I could race to it. Though, me and the gang have one car we share because just in case we are going somewhere around humans, we have to blend in.
This definitely looks like a typical teenager or young woman's room and it made me reminisce once again of the past. I sigh knowing I'll never have the chance of this kind of life again. I envy humans because I use to be one and that right was taken away from me without choice.
Ally's POV
When I return to my room, I see Austin looking around in curiosity and admiration.
"I'm nowhere near done packing but it's a start I think." I comment as he turns around not knowing I had returned.
"Here ya go." I said handing him the plate as he took it.
"Thanks. I appreciate it." He replied grateful as I nodded with a smile, sitting on my sofa in front of the window again as he sits next to me.
"I like it. I can already see the endgame." He said about my room before taking a bite of the casserole.
"Yeah?" I reply amused.
"I wish I did. It's hard to focus on getting comfortable here when it still doesn't feel like home." I said truthfully as he observed me for a bit.
"I get that." He said in a lower tone.
"I know what it's like feeling out of place and never feeling like you belong." He told me as I smiled slightly because he was trying to be kind by relating.
"What made you feel like you belonged here?"
"Honestly? I don't know if I still do." He said as my eyebrows raised intrigued.
"Well, Austin no last name...that doesn't exactly make me feel better." I said as we both chuckled.
"Sorry... but the food is delicious so hopefully that does." He said trying to make up for it.
"Well, that is my dad's doing. He may be an asshole sometimes but the man can cook." I say as he nods eating some more as I get more comfortable bringing my knees up to my chest holding them.
"So, what changed your mind?"
"Huh?"
"About coming tonight. When I first asked you, you hesitated a lot and you weren't sure at all. You even told me out there that you weren't a people person. So, what changed your mind about coming?" I asked as he looked at me for a while before blushing and glancing down at the floor at times.
"Um... I guess you had a good vibe." He said as I looked at him amused.
"A good vibe?"
"Yeah. I'm not around a lot of people in this town because we just don't get along much but you seemed different. You were nice and friendly to me and I had to realize it was just dinner. It couldn't be that bad." He said as I smiled at his last sentence.
"Okay, but why don't you get along with people in this town?"
"Everyone is so different here, Ally." He said saying my name so natural as if he knew me for years and I couldn't help but love it.
"How different? On a scale of oranges and apples, vegetables and fruits or vampires and werewolves?" I joked as he choked a little after my last comment.
"You okay?" I asked worried, patting his back.
"Um... yeah yeah. I just think some of it went down the wrong pipe. I was probably eating too fast. I'm fine." He reassured me.
"Oh good. It would suck for you to come over my house and just die." I say with a giggle as he smiles.
"That's quite impossible." He said more to himself, with me not knowing what he meant but I leave it alone because he's been a mystery since I met him yesterday.
"So... you seem like a fun time Ally Dawson. Are you a party girl?" He asked as I smiled guiltily.
"I am. It's something I'm gonna miss so much back in Miami."
"Oh, so that's where your from?"
"Yup."
"I'm from Richmond, Virginia." He told me.
"That sounds... nice." I fibbed which made him laugh.
"No, it doesn't. It's a pretty lame state but my city was pretty cool because I had amazing friends and I was the party goer myself."
"See! Now, that's what I figured. How do you go from being a party person to a non people person?" I asked with pure interest.
"This town can be a mood damper."
"Then why move here?"
"You're one to talk. I really don't understand how you could leave one of the best cities in America to come here." He teased as I playfully rolled my eyes.
"You know why. I told you last night." I said gently hitting his shoulder and there was that surprise again in his eyes when I did it the first time yesterday but this time he smiled.
"That's true, but don't insult my decisions if you make the same ones. Regardless of the reason why!" He said chuckling as I did along with him.
"So, besides partying... what else did you like to do?" He asked me, putting the empty plate down on the lamp desk behind him.
"I love working with animals. I volunteered a lot at vets and when I was old enough, I actually worked as a vet for three years, while attending college and will be getting my VT degree when I go back in a year." I confess as he seems intrigued.
"Mmm. I don't think I would have guessed that. You're a pet person and you don't even have one pet. That's kinda funny and a little ironic." He said as I giggled shaking my head.
"You know, that might be the reason why I love them so much. My mother was allergic to dogs and my dad didn't like anything that could walk among him that wasn't human. He did offer to get me a fish or turtle once."
"I'm guessing you didn't like that."
"No, I did not." I responded as we both laughed.
Austin's POV
I'm laughing with a girl I met yesterday, though it feels like I've known her for years and we look in each others eyes intensely as we come down from the humorous high.
"Though the dinner with my dad didn't go exactly as planned... I'm really happy you came anyway." She said with a shy smile.
"Me too. You are a lot more fun than you look." I joked as she gasped with a giggle.
"You think you're so funny, don't you?" She said leaning closer and shaking her head and it was hard not to get lost in her big brown eyes.
"I do actually. I really do." I teased.
"Yeah, I bet." She smirked.
"Well, I definitely didn't see my day ending with a guy in my room, aka my purse saver." She chuckled as I just smiled at her intimidating beauty. I have never seen someone's face so perfectly structured, with a laugh so pure and a personality so carefree.
In this moment, this is the most calm and at peace I have ever felt in my life just by looking at the intriguing woman in front of me. I can't remember the last time I felt this vulnerable with another person before. She stares just as breathless towards me until she makes a different expression that consist of confusion but quickly turns to shock.
"Oh my god, Austin... your eyes they are..." She started in disbelief as I didn't catch on what she was talking about because I was still in a trance until she slowly leaned her hand up and softly rubbed my face under my eye.
That's when I quickly look away and see my reflection in her mirror and I see my eyes are yellow and my brain goes into panic mode as she places her hand on my back.
"Are you okay? I don't know what's happening." She commented concerned for me but I could tell in her tone that she was a little scared.
"Yeah, yeah I-I... I am totally fine." I stuttered getting up, still avoiding face contact and if I wasn't already dead, my heart would be beating out of my chest.
"Really? Because you don't look fine. In fact, that isn't normal at all." She said standing up, now slowly walking over to me and the only reason I know this is because I can see her in the mirror.
Also, can I just say thank god you can see vampires in mirrors and it's only a false stereotype because if you couldn't, it would have given me up immediately.
"I'm so sorry, this is embarrassing. I uh... have this... eye disease I was diagnosed with as a kid." I lie as she listens intently.
"Yeah um... it can cause discoloration in the pupils now and then. I take pills for it but diseases will do what they want, ya know?" I chuckle dryly as she gasp coming over to me and turning me around.
"God, I am so sorry Austin. I had no idea." She says feeling instantly bad but I feel worst lying to her but I know it was for her own good.
"How could you? It's not your fault." I tell her still avoiding eye contact.
"Well, at least it looks like it's going away for now." She says as I gain control turning them off.
"That's nice to hear." I replied as she smiled slightly.
"I apologize. I didn't mean to scare you. It wasn't my intention at all tonight." I told her honestly as she giggled before holding my right hand and caressing it which stunned me.
"Of course you didn't Blondie. I doubt you'd hurt a fly." She said which is ironic because I could hurt much more than a fly if I wanted too.
"So... thanks for everything but I think I should hit the road." I tell her unfortunately but I wanted to beat Talia and the gang home because I didn't want to be badgered with questions about where I was from her.
"Okay, yeah. I understand." She smiled disappointed before stopping me from going to her bedroom door.
"Can you at least go out the way you came? I don't want to risk waking my dad." She suggested.
"No problem." I said with a chuckle going back over to the window and climbing out onto the tree before turning around.
Looking at her, I know what I wanted to say but I don't know if I should or if it was appropriate because of my life and I wanted to keep her out of my drama as much as possible but it was hard not to get attached in the little time I've known her.
"Um... I would like to uh..." I started off before awkwardly laughing and blushing like a little girl.
"Hang out again... if ya know... you'd like to?" I questioned rubbing the back of my neck nervously as she looked down and giggled shyly.
"Actually, yeah. I would like that, Austin." She said as I felt my own eyes light up with glee.
"Yeah?" I questioned again as she smiled wider.
"Uh huh. We should probably trade numbers since we both live on two different parts of town though." She suggested as I hesitated before taking out my phone.
Yeah, I don't know how to use the internet or social media but I have a phone. I told you there are some things that are required to blend in with humans.
Ally and I give each other our numbers and we both smile at one another before she leaned in and softly placed a kiss on my cheek making me a little breathless.
"Don't fall on your way down." She teased with a smile before closing the window and turning around as I tried my best not to check her out because I had a girlfriend but it was very difficult because she was without a doubt, the most beautiful woman I've ever seen but I decide to be a good boy and turn away jumping down when she is no longer looking.
When I look at her number in my phone, I realize it's not a good idea to keep it as her name just in case Talia sees it. So, I decide to go over to her neighbor's house across the street and snoop in the old lady's mail to see her name and I change Ally's name in my phone to hers which is Jeanie. I smile at my cleverness and then speed home with a smile on my face.
Ally's POV
I turn away from Austin after closing the window walking over to my mirror and wiping off the light make up I had on today and then putting my hair into a bun.
When I turn around he is gone and that's when I let the big smile out that was waiting to show on my face. I sigh happily, not knowing why I was feeling the way I was.
END OF CHAPTER REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Did you still enjoy the chapter even though A&A didn't have an interaction until the end?
2. Thoughts on Sarah secretly hating Talia?
3. Favorite part/s?
By The Way: "Talia" is pronounced Tal-ya, NOT Ta-lee-ah and Muller is pronounced Mew-ler (Just so you know)