THANK YOU for the reviews! You guys are so amazing, that I'd like to add Emmett shirtless on top of that Edward-hot-fudge sundae from a few chapters back. Thanks soooo much, you rebuilt my writing confidence! I am back with a vengance! Enjoy and remember to review, then you get more chapters, i promise!

AND i know its gettin pretty angsty, but it will be gettin better for our lil' Alice quite soon :D

The moon was shining exceptionally bright that night. I was tilting my head upwards to let my face be bathed in the cool light. My arms were very sore…today had been a brutal day. I rolled my face downwards to see the damage. There were cuts criss-crossing each other and blending into each other like one huge wound. It was odd to feel such pain--I had never met another vampire before, so therefore had never really felt anything unpleasant.

I pulled my knees up to my chest. I was alone, and I savored these moments. I enjoyed having Perry near, of course--he was the only kind face around, but seeing him still brought back memories of Vincent. Perry and Vincent were linked, even if Perry despised it.

The cold water moved over my bare toes, and though it was biting cold, it comforted me, just because the water was going its own way. It wasn't being told to do this or do that--go here or go there. It was just running free, and it was nice to see that there was still freedom in my dark world. I had the same thoughts when we passed by a couple birds singing in the trees or saw a squirrel scamper by. It saddened me to be punished for envying such animals…Vincent would shove me sharply and bark at me to move on. Where were we going? What was the purpose of rushing? I was so confused.

I saw the tiny gnats flying against the white moon, and I decided to stop mourning over something unattainable. It hurt terribly--it was excruciating, to tell myself to stop hoping; that it would be this way for a very long time. I grimaced as the words echoed in my mind, splattering the walls of my brain and eating at the edges like vermin. I clutched my head and focused on the water. It reflected slivers and ripples of metallic lace. I smiled weakly and ran a finger amongst the gorgeous patterns, but I knew it was a forced thing. I knew I was fooling no one--and no one was around to tell me this, so I wiped it off.

"Alice?"

I didn't turn very quickly to the voice that sounded like cat tails whispering against each other. I knew who it was--the only person around that didn't bark my name or raise their voice for no reason.

"I'm over here, Per." I whispered back, not risking Vincent or Lee hearing, wherever they may be. Probably hunting. They loved to do that--so much that it sickened me. Why kill when the thirst is manageable? I hated to see their eyes burn with fresh scarlet pigment whenever they came back.

The lumbering shadow settled beside me on the gray grass as I remained perched on an onyx-stained rock. I crossed my arms and placed them over my pointy white knees and slowly turned to gaze at him. "Where are they?"

"Hunting as usual. Just left. Want to talk?" Perry asked indifferently.

I nodded. "Sure makes me feel just a little more human. Like life isn't all about blood lust and dominance." I scoffed and Perry nodded sadly.

Although he suggested talking, neither of us brought up a subject. We knew almost every little thing about the other--favorite colors and times of day and things we missed from humanity. That conversation, however, was short lived for I forgot everything from that past. Finally, I whispered, "Tell me about Nettie."

Perry's responding silence made me want to slit out my tongue and chuck it miles away. My wide eyes quavered on his thoughtfully sad face. He sighed finally.

"She was…so great." I waited as he thought of more to say.

"It was like--when the sunshine was gone on rainy days...it went to her. She had the leftover sunshine inside of her. It was in her smile, her face, her personality. She had the daintiest apple-cheeks that seemed to shimmer. Her smile almost consumed her whole heart shaped face. She had hair that reached the small of her back, and it was strawberry-brunette--sort of like cinnamon. She was the type of lady to love flowers and the colors yellow and orange. She had a rebellious side, you see--at church, while everyone dressed in white, gray and black, she wore chartreuse." He stopped for a moment and gazed at the moon, the silver light making circles in his shining eyes. But he was smiling. I smiled back as he began again.

"She was never sad. If she ever was--which was extremely rare--the sun would never shine. That was sort of like our inside joke, that the sunshine inside of her died that day--but would come back when she was happy again. The light wasn't in the sky, so it had to have died if it wasn't in her, either. I would always try my hardest to make it come back to her again." He sighed happily, and I knew that my tear ducts would be producing merry tears if able. I had never seen him so happy and lost in his own thoughts. I only watched him silently and smiled. His smile was as beautiful as I supposed Nettie's was, and it made me feel much better.

"That sounds wonderful, Perry." I exhaled, and he looked at me as if he had forgotten I was there. I giggled at his animation. He joined in, but it was like a foreign thing so him, I could tell. When was the last time he had laughed? The thought frightened me.

"So…is that what you want most?" I countered. I raised an eyebrow playfully, challenging his own power upon himself. He would have blushed happily.

"Of course." I nodded to this. I turned back to the river, watching it and listening to the quiet tinkling over the pebbles.

"Tell me about the blonde vampire."

My eyes widened before I could eliminate the crick suddenly in my neck. I stiffly looked at him, face frozen. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

"I really don't know that much about him, actually."

"Do you know his name?" he asked slowly, and I blurted: "Jasper."

"And you saw him in a vision?" he asked curiously. I was becoming both uncomfortable and relieved I could truthfully tell someone about Jasper.

"Yeah. I found out his name through a different vision. I uh…I remember breaking out of an asylum, you see, and that was my earliest memory. Seeing him inside my head. It sort of scared me--the images in my head, but then I set out to find him, because I knew right away that we both needed each other." I shrugged, though my throat was constricting with sadness. "It must sound mental: I love him even though I have never met him."

Perry scoffed playfully. "I know he will take one look at you and fall for you. It's fate, right?"

"It had better be. I've spent my whole vampire life looking for him." I chuckled humorously. I realized that my voice was harsh and as sharp as a knife, slicing through our happy mood. He didn't join in to my dark giggle. "Sorry." I huffed. He changed the subject.

"Describe him?" By the way he asked, it was suggesting that I could, only if I felt like it. I did. It made me feel better that such a person was alive in my mind, but it also hurt me to know I would never meet him.

"I can't really say that he holds sunshine--but he holds something. Charisma?" I jokingly shoved Perry as he smiled at my lightened mood.

"Don't insult my poetic words, Alice!" He laughed heartily and held up a huge arm to fend off my silly little pushes. I folded my white hands in my lap and swallowed, my smile lingering.

"Well, didn't you see him in my mind?" I asked. He nodded but I saw urge in his eyes.

"His eyes look so kind, I want to gaze at them. His hair looks so soft, I just want to stroke it. His face is so pale white and smooth, I want to feel it. However, he is flawed in that department--he has these odd scars that I can never seem to place."

"They looked like crescents to me." Perry offered. I had forgotten that he had seen him fully in my mind. That was odd--I've always been the only one that knew what Jasper looked like. I felt a bitterly jealous pang now that I had to share Jasper with someone now--even if it was a simple picture in my mind. I felt silly describing someone that he already saw. I continued, anyway.

"He had red eyes, remember? That sort of makes me wonder. I will have to help him with that, you know." I crossed my arms as if I could suddenly feel the chill.

"And his lips…I wish so badly I could have at least touched them. If I could have kissed him--only once, I would have died happy. If I could." I added the last part a little hurriedly, breaking my dreamy regret. Perry was watching, silent. I shrugged.

"I told you I didn't know much."

"I'm sorry."

"You shouldn't be." I rolled my eyes.

"At least I have kissed Nettie, though. I'm sorry you didn't even…" his voice trailed off. I didn't look at him, fearing he would see the invisible tears budding.

I sighed shakily, and I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was big and warm and reassuring. I smiled faintly and turned to the hulking yet gentle vampire. I prodded the hand and took it in mine, feeling its warmth. It felt like there was a shortage of that in my world. I squeezed it rather hard, but he said nothing. He pushed his feet into the water next to mine…and we watched the unmoving moon.

Sort of a sad chapter, sorry, folks. I wish Perry was a real character sometimes, becasue he's the most fleshed-out character i have ever made! I hope you feel the same heartache i do for Nettie and him. Anyway, please review. Even if it is really random or just a little chat. anything--flames, even! If you no likey, tell me! Thanks! Keep reading, the sadness lessens. Sorta. ;)

SOONNGG! : The Call by Regina Specktor

PS!!! Okay, if you enjoy having your own images of Vincent, Lee and Perry, don't read this! But MY personal thoughts on their looks would be potrayed by....

VINCENT: ralph fiennes (voldemort of harry potter and this killer guy that seduces this blind girl played by emily watson on the hannibal lecter movie series 'red dragon')

PERRY: henry cavill (he was the son on count of monte cristo--and stephenie meyer first wanted him as edward cullen--therefore i know he is gorgeous already)

LEE: ok, so i don't know his full name--i just know he is Chris from Season 2 Make me a Supermodel, and i didn't quite know what Lee looked like until i saw him. I always pictured Cam Gigandet, aka James from twilight, but that isn't right if they're the same guy! So he's chris...google him...and he's sorta creepy :D AND modely. not vampirey. and skinny, but i always saw Lee as a little scrawny. and...ya.