I was willing to listen and listen I did. Charlotte was much more willing to wait a little longer after Peter finished explaining, understanding that the wait wasn't going to be years like she feared and instead likely a few months. Peter seemed to have put quite the thought into this little plan of his. He understood that I had been avoiding humanity for a very long time and that jumping back in was not something that was going to convince me to join them on their adventure.

Jasper and Peter decided to start with something that could be done here in the wilderness first. According to the duo, traveling was going to increase the likelihood of coming across others of our kind and they wanted me to be prepared for any scenario. They proceeded to commence a crash course of vampire behaviors and how to react, followed by sparring matches should the encounter turn violent. Charlotte proceeded her own crash course by procuring several articles of clothing to update my attire and telling me of modern etiquette. Apparently human interaction was going to be impossible to avoid and being able to blend in with the human populace would be essential to prevent unwanted questions.

I much preferred my sparring lessons to Charlotte's human lessons, but both Jasper and Peter agreed that her lessons were also very important due to human interaction being unavoidable and exhibiting behaviors that had been common practice or expected during my human life would seem odd or startling to today's humans. Despite the change in women's attire and the much declined amount of fabric in the skirt, I was thankful that it still maintained the modesty that had been missing in many of the dresses I had worn while I was human. When I confessed this to Jasper he assured me that no one would be confusing me with a prostitute.

Given Peter and Charlotte's time spent with and enjoyment of human company, the two were my instructors when it came to the things I needed to know about humanity and their modern practices. But when it came time for that knowledge to be put to use, Jasper was the one to accompany me to the city while Peter and Charlotte sought a meal elsewhere. Charlotte had helped me dress and done my hair before heading off, a prideful smile on her face as she looked over her work before leaving. The dress stopped at my knees, leaving my calves and ankles on display, something that would have created quite the stir when I was human. Along with the dress Charlotte had also brought shoes. I hadn't worn shoes since the year of my change, the pair I had been wearing when I died having been worn out not long after coming to the wilderness and once removed I had never bothered to replace them since my feet needed no protection from the terrain.

The newness of it all was creating an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach, doubts swirling in my mind as I stood looking at my reflection in the water. I could hardly recognize myself with the usually long flowing skirt and long sleeved blouse replaced with the navy blue dress that hung stiffly from my hips and the usually wild curls tamed and softened into gentle waves. I felt Jasper's calming influence before his hands sought out my waist to pull me close. I smiled as he laid a kiss to my cheek before his head rested atop mine.

"You look beautiful." He said gently and I moved to face him.

"Was I not before?" I asked, concerned of his opinion for the first time.

"You're always beautiful." He said lovingly, a crooked smile coming to his lips. I returned the smile before looking back at the water.

"It's so different then what I'm used to." I could barely bring myself to speak over a whisper, the emotions seeming to hush my voice.

"I believe it's harder for you because of your distance from humanity. It's not the same as for the rest of us who watched the gradual change, for you it's much more abrupt and shocking. Compared to what I wore in the beginning, those clothes are much different." Jasper stated and I looked over the clothing Peter and Charlotte had brought back for him. Gone were the loose fitting pants and threadbare shirt and in it's place were stiff looking navy pants and a stark white shirt with buttons that reflected the light just as brightly as the shirt. They both looked like they had been washed with too much starch.

"It won't always be like this?" I asked and Jasper shook his head.

"No, I imagine you'll soon be much like Charlotte, accustom to the constant change and adapting as needed with the styles." I took a deep breath and nodded though it did nothing to dampen the nerves that I was feeling. I knew there was no logical reason for the nerves, there was nothing the humans could do to harm me but that didn't stop the all too human memories and feelings from resurfacing.

"What is it that we will be doing? I know Charlotte wouldn't dress me up for a hunt." Jasper's smile grew and I felt a different, much more pleasant feeling in my stomach with it's appearance, allowing it to put me more at ease.

"I didn't want to do anything that would feel like jumping into deep water when you're relearning how to swim, so I picked something that would put us in a room full of humans but where we wouldn't be expected to interact." Jasper said and offered his arm. I looped my arm with his while still gazing at him curiously.

"I don't know if you learned to dance while you were human, but I'm going to take you dancing." Jasper said and I was intrigued.

"No, I've never been dancing, though I have seen people dance before." I stated and Jasper nodded.

"I think you'll like it." Jasper said and I put my faith in him, knowing he wouldn't push for something he knew I'd despise.

The sun was just sinking beneath the horizon when we approached the city. Though it was much earlier then when we'd normally come to hunt there were still people traveling the streets. Some looked to be dressed in their best clothes while others seemed to making their way home for the night. Jasper lead me through the streets like he had for most of our hunts though now he lead me through the streets we normally avoided. There were men dressed much like Jasper but with hats and jackets that matched their pants and the women were dressed similarly to me in dresses with stiff skirts that stopped at the knee, some wore hats while others clips and shiny pieces in their hair. The biggest difference between myself and the women was they all seemed to have a face full of powder, lightening parts of their face and adding color to others.

I could hear the music long before the building came into sight. Jasper led me through the front door of a rather large brick building with a sign declaring it's name above the door. Inside there were many people, some partnered and some not in a large room with wooden floors and chairs lining the walls. A small room off to the side held a bar along with several tables and sofas. Taking a breath the fire in my throat stoked but I was able to push it from my mind for the time being, there were too many other things going on that it was an easy distraction from my temptation.

I could feel Jasper's eyes on me and looked to him. He studied me for a moment before smiling and taking my hand to pull me into the room with the chairs along the wall. He pulled me to a far corner that had yet to be occupied before stopping. He moved himself to stand in front of me and brought the hand he was holding up to lay on his shoulder while taking hold of my other hand to hold in his and dropping the hand that had been holding mine to my lay at my waist.

The music changed and Jasper pulled me closer leaving mere inches between our bodies while I continued to look to him. As others joined the dance floor, Jasper ducked his head slightly and began instructing me on how to move, his hands gently guiding me while I looked down to watch his feet and tried to move at the same pace. There were several stumbling steps which Jasper quickly corrected. Before the music changed I felt like I was finally getting it and looked away from my feet and up to Jasper to find that he was staring back at me with a small smile. A smile that I returned happily as we started to move as one.

With each change of music Jasper would talk me through another dance, each become faster with more steps and movement. Before long we were dancing among the swarm of bodies, moving as swiftly and assuredly as the humans who'd likely had far more practice. I enjoyed the faster dances, enjoying the push and pull of the dances and smiled each time Jasper would pull me back and lay a kiss to my face or my lips. It was some of the most fun I'd ever had and found that I didn't mind the company in the room as I was solely focused on Jasper and his soft words and his lips on mine.

I was having so much fun that I lost track of time, losing myself in the motions and the feelings. I was only brought back to myself when the music stopped and I broke the gaze I had been holding with Jasper to look around the nearly empty room to see that there was only a couple partners left and the bar tender was closing up.

"Seems they've decided to put an end to the night. Time to go." Jasper explained and began pulling me toward the door. I couldn't help the feeling of disappointment as we left. Jasper hooked his arm through mine and pulled me close to his side, laying a kiss to my forehead.

"Don't fret, we can always come back and there's dance halls all across the country, maybe that'll be part of our adventure." Jasper said gently against my skin and I smiled back as I leaned to his side.

"I didn't know how much fun dancing could be." I said and Jasper smiled.

"I'm glad that I could introduce you to it then. I had a feeling you would like this 'human distraction'." Jasper teased and I laughed.

"I've learned to accept them, it was hard not to with Peter and Charlotte's insistence." Jasper chuckled but after a moment looked to me curiously.

"You know, I've wondered why you were so against them, the 'human distractions'. Was it simply because of their link with humanity?" He asked and some of my mirth melted away as I thought of how best to explain.

"In a way, yes, but not because of humanity as a whole but rather because of one in particular. I told you that my mother was from back east..." I looked to Jasper and he nodded, carefully keeping his face blank.

"Well having come from the east and her father being well off, my mother was educated. She knew how to read and write and do arithmetic, due to this she was rather intelligent. Intelligent enough to know that those who are uneducated are much easier to control, which is why she refused to teach me or to have anyone else teach me. So when I look at Charlotte's books or Peter's news paper and see all those marks that I don't understand, I can't help but feel a little resentful." I explained and Jasper pressed another kiss to my head as he held me close.

"I'll teach you." Jasper said and I looked to him in question.

"I've never taught anyone to read or write before, but I'm sure it won't be too difficult. I know Charlotte wishes to travel east, perhaps they'll have materials that would make it easier. This way you can thwart your mother one more time." He said determinedly and I beamed, throwing my arms around him. His arms came around me and I moved my head to capture his lips with mine.

"You're the kindest man I've ever met." I declared as I broke away. A strange expression came to his face as he pulled away slightly.

"I think they're are some that disagree with you." He said gruffly as he looked away and I frowned before reaching up and making him look back at me.

"Well I guess it's a good thing that I rightly don't care about their opinion, they haven't seen what I have." I spoke shortly before pressing my lips to his again and savoring it for a long moment before pulling away.

I studied his face and could still see the traces of haunted pain in his eye. I couldn't stand to see it there, but knew it was something he'd have to work out on his own. Be that as it may, I could still make him believe my words.

"Believe me Jasper, if you weren't a truly kind man, I never would have been able to fall in live with you." I smiled as his eyes flashed to mine, a look of disbelief before his lips descended on mine. We stood in the street wrapped in each other till Jasper pulled away and rested his forehead against mine.

"Say it again." His voice was just a whisper.

"I love you, Jasper." I said with a smile, pressing a chaste kiss to his lips.

"I love you, Abilene, now and forever." He vowed and once again pressed his lips to mine.