Yes - the story has been continued! I had about five or six people all in all tell me it was good, so... here goes, I guess! But, please please please give me feedback--any kind is great. If you've read this, take a minute to tell me what you thought so I can write more and feel good about it. Everyone here are writers, too, right? So you know how great it is so to see those reviews!
Anyway, rating has been upped to T for some sexual content (well, it's Jasper and Alice, they're allowed!). There won't be anything graphic, though, I assure you. Hope no one has a problem with it :) Enjoy!
Jasper was spellbound in the little pixy. Every smile of hers was like a gust of wind, a ray of sunshine. Every step she took was the step of an expert ballerina; even though he was familiar with the gracefulness of a vampire, it still seemed otherworldly to watch her spin and twirl as naturally as he'd ever witnessed—it seemed to come to her as easily as breathing. It was even a little comical to see her pounce across the roads in high heels and a feminine, frilly dress. Her tiny body, only reaching the nape of his neck—and barely—was wondrous. Her hair, tucked back with fashionable pins, glittered in the weak sunlight. Her eyes seemed to have a twinkle to them that was nothing like Jasper had ever seen.
Her name was Alice. She already knew his; she blurted it out matter-of-factly without asking. He didn't ask her why or how she knew him so well when he had never even met her, or why she knew things were going to happen minutes before they did. He was talented as well; he didn't feel the need to ask.
They had a connection. It felt strange for Jasper to try to explain it, even to himself. Most new companions would talk for days to get to know each other; it was commonplace. But they just didn't need to. It was like they had known each other for years already. It felt innate for him to be with her, to run with her through the night, to trust her when she warned him of humans a mile ahead. The new life he had started with her came easily to him, without thinking or calculating. When they were together, he didn't feel fear; even his raging thirst relaxed by a tiny bit.
Just before dawn, Alice stopped in her tracks; they were running along an abandoned road she knew would be safe. Of course he knew she didn't need to rest. He stopped alongside her and gazed at her questioningly.
"It's going to be sunny," she said. "We'll have to find a place to stay until nightfall."
Her voice mesmerized him every time she spoke; it was one thing he certainly wasn't used to yet. It was high, delicate and even childlike; but at the same time, it was wise and sensible, somehow reassuring. Her emotions, still relaxed, light-headed and blissful, were exhilarating him. Unthinkingly, he smiled as he listened to her singsong voice.
"Of course," Jasper said, nodding. "There must be a motel or an inn somewhere close to here."
She nodded as well, and returned his smile. "About five miles. We should go."
She held out her hand to him, tiny and slightly luminous in the rising sun. He took it, and they began to run again, two blurs on the deserted path. He found his smile never faded while they ran.
The inn was small, painted with warm, earthy colors and scarcely decorated with small plants. It was a little worn down, but it was still standing. The only person in sight was the small, old man behind the counter; Jasper worked on making him calm and complacent while Alice requested a room for a day. The man, naturally, was charmed by her. Alice led Jasper up the shaky stairs with a grin that was a little smug.
The room was nicer than Jasper expected. It wasn't particularly large, but the bed in the center of it was comfortable and almost inviting—though, of course, there wasn't much need to it. The only source of light was a large, impressive fire that made both Alice and Jasper feel at home. Two plates of eggs and sausage were laid out on a small dresser; Jasper refrained from going near those.
Naturally, Alice was right; when the sun came up, it was unusually strong and forceful. Even through the window, it caused their skin to glisten much more prominently than usual.
"You have a very impressive gift," Jasper said simply as he looked out the window at the hot earth, sitting down on the bed. She stood before him, her hands on her hips, that same grin adorning her sweet face.
"It's very useful," she said, chuckling under her breath. "Yours is as well."
"You know everything," he said, a buoyant laughter escaping through his teeth, boyish and lighthearted. His smile went all the way up to his eyes.
She laughed along with him. "Almost," she said, sitting down beside him. They looked at each other with something neither of them had felt in their entire lives. Alice understood a hint of it; she knew she would love him even a year earlier. But Jasper was surprised and mystified with the new emotion, an attraction that had nothing to do with strategy or bloodlust.
"How are you?" she asked simply. There was a hint of worry in her voice, something unfamiliar in the wonderful sound Jasper savored. He didn't need to ask or to clarify; he knew exactly what she was asking of him.
"I'm hanging on," he said, a trace of a grimace appearing on his brutally scarred features. "It's difficult, but… Having you around makes it easier."
She smiled again, the worry evaporating from her emotions. "It becomes easier as time goes by," she said, brushing back a lock of hair that had gotten in her eyes. "It won't always be like this."
Inexplicably, he believed her. How could she ever lie, or be wrong? It was as impossible as the Earth standing still.
"I'm curious," Alice said, her smile fading just the tiniest bit. "I only saw your future… What is in your past?"
He hoped it wouldn't come to this. His history with Maria was something he didn't like to remember; his exploits with the newborns were even worse. But it felt safe, even releasing, to open up to her. Her engaging smile and inquiring eyes were soothing to him; they made recounting the events much easier. She listened with interest and patience, not asking questions; at times, her hand would reach out and caress the deep scars on his cheek. When he was finished with the story, a pained look on his face, she lowered her head and whispered, "The past doesn't dictate the future. I should know."
And she was right. He understood that Maria, the war, the horrors of it, were all in his past. His future was Alice, and he knew that it would be a far better one. It was all he wanted; for Alice to be his future. Everything would be easy, effortless and joyous. Everything would be complete.
Was he not exaggerating? He hoped he wasn't. He wasn't a sap, or a romantic; his decisions were usually much more premeditated than this. But it felt right. What other reason did he need?
Her hand was resting on his cheek. It felt pleasantly warm; how he'd missed that warmth! All he'd felt for years was the burning hot flesh of humans he heartlessly slaughtered. Every burn their bodies gave was like a reminder of the horridness of his actions. But hers was just right; the perfectly matched, soft, warm, soothing skin he needed.
Suddenly, he felt his mouth open and heard it speak the words. "I want you to be my future." All he was doing was speaking his thoughts out loud. For a shred of a second, he worried he might be too forward, but her smile only widened in response.
"I feel the same way," she said, a bit of her glee bubbling to the surface.
He laughed fleetingly, the new emotion causing him tremendous happiness. He suddenly found himself forgetting everything -- his thirst, his fears. "I don't deserve you," he said softly, glaring at the beautiful, sweet, bubbly face. Her eyes were staring lovingly into his.
"You're the only person in the world who does," she said, completely sure of herself. "I've known for a while now. It can only be you."
They understood each other so perfectly. Hardly any words were needed. What was the point of wasting time with words, when they could see crystal-clear into each other's heads? It was like they had known each other for years. Jasper only told her his story in so much detail; she could see every unsaid facet in the undertone of his words. He didn't have the benefit of seeing into her future, or foreseeing their meeting as early as a year before it occurred, but it didn't matter. She was familiar to him already, the tiny, talented, wonderful pixy, who was perfect for him. The only thing he needed of her was her understanding, and her love; and she had already given him both. She was irresistible; he couldn't help but ache for her. It was so unlike him; when he'd been with Maria, he was horribly un-romantic, feeling almost nothing when she touched him. But now, when Alice lightly grazed her fingertips against the skin of his face, he shivered and his eyes automatically closed. He was opening himself up to her. He reached up and caught her hand in his own. It was intimate and personal.
"I've never met anyone like you," he whispered.
Slowly but surely, she shifted so that she was facing him on the bed. Her lips touched his, and she leaned her entire body into him.
She'd never kissed anyone before—if she had, she didn't have any recollection of it. But he made it easy, effortless. Needless to say, she knew, to some degree, how it would feel, but it was so much more powerful in real life. Every time her lips moved against his, a fire cracker went off in her stomach. She knew it had to be the best first kiss anyone ever had.
He kissed her back; marveling at how confident and fearless she was. Her lips were like sweet roses, matching his to a T. She was nothing like Maria, or any of the other girls he had touched—in his vampire life or the human. He began to sense new feelings emnating from her--desire, passion and at the same time wondrous warmth and appreciation. He let his fingers move down and caress her back.
In the end, the bed was of much use to them.
In the evening, as the sun went down and a red-orange light fell over the entire room, Alice leaned over to him on the bed. Her small head rested against his chest.
"This is your future," she said softly. Her lips left feather-light kisses down his neck.
A/N: Thanks for reading! I hope you liked it. PLEASE review, now, make me want to write more!!
-Me