Disclaimer: Everything in the Twilight realm belongs to Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter Six – Lunacy and Libation

I ended up negotiating with Alice to take me to the party. I couldn't possibly bear to ask either Carlisle or Esme—no matter how young they looked—they were my grandparents. Emmett had actually begged to be allowed to take me, but I had point blank refused. I suspected he would try to embarrass me in some way. Not Rosalie, because I knew she would hate waiting, nor Jasper, who did not need unnecessary temptation.

In exchange for playing the chaperone, Alice got to play Barbie with my person. She made me try on at least ten different outfit ensembles. We finally agreed on a silk sea-green top that Alice decided contrasted nicely with the red-gold in my curls. I had barely gotten the top over my head, when she knocked both of my feet out from underneath of me, so that I fell onto the bed. Then, she was shoving black leather pants onto my legs. Before I could complain, she threw my cream winter coat at me and began shoving a four-inch silver heel onto my right foot. While I was fixing the other shoe, she attacked my hair minutely, before giving up and letting it lie natural and loose, so I wouldn't be "too formal." Then, she unexpectedly rushed me out the door, keeping an unfathomable expression stretched across her face.

Then, Alice and I were off in the Volvo. She threw two rows of uneven bead necklaces at me, commanding, "Put them on."

She kept the weird look on her face until we were at least ten minutes away. Then she took a deep breath and turned to me, apologizing. "Sorry, Nessie. Earlier, I saw what would happen if Edward saw you in your outfit. Let's just say that if I had given him a chance to really think about it, you wouldn't be going."

"Right. Wow, thanks Alice. What were you thinking about to keep him out?"

"I was pondering the spring season's shoe collection—Macomber has an especially inspiring collection, but I am still trying to decide whether or not feathers make any sense at all for shoes in the spring. Feathers are so ethereal and delicate—but you should never completely divorce function from fashion, and if only the house would simply make certain chemical adjustments. I know they are not particularly green, but—"

"Alice, we're here." I cut her off before she could go into further detail.

"Of course, dear. Do enjoy yourself. I will be right here." She parked the car along the line-up that led up the drive. Then she plopped a stack of corporate fashion catalogues into her lap. She began flipping through the pages while simultaneously punching emails into her PDA. Before I could close the door, she warned, "Oh, and watch out for the ginger with the crooked teeth."

I took a deep breath, and stepped into the frosty night, not that I felt in any way cold—I was always quite toasty warm—but I could still see my breath freeze as I took in my surroundings.

Alyssa's lake house was a four-room structure set on the bluffs overlooking the St. Lawrence River. It was a modern structure, concrete, steel, and only a touch of wood. A trail sloped down from the back of the house toward a pair of docks at the base of the bluff.

When I knocked on the front door, I was greeted by a chorus of squeals and hellos, as Abby and May Li covered me in a collective hug.

Abby chimed, "Nessa! I am so glad you came. You look so cool—"

"Where did you get that shirt, Nessa? Are those shoes vintage Prada?" May Li was focused entirely on my apparel. "Oooh, look at the whole view. I get it. The beads, the coat, the leather pants—so Janice Joplin. Hot."

Then, Alyssa walked up, flanked on either side by two twenty-something guys. They were both staring at me appreciatively. I noticed one of them raise his hand up to wipe his lip. Was that drool? No. No way. Huh, then again, I do have vampire vision, maybe Alice was right…

"Someone knows how to make an entrance," Alyssa teased. "Anyway, Nessa, this is my brother Quinn and this is Luke. They are both up from McGill for the holidays."

Quinn, drool-man, stepped forward then, taking my right hand before flipping it over and letting his lips touch the top of my wrist. "Charmed," he murmured before releasing my hand.

Abby, Luke, and Alyssa burst into astounded laughter. Apparently, this was not the normal way to greet a young woman at a party. May Li, though, was strangely quiet.

Luke elbowed Quinn in the side, before walking toward me. "I'm so sorry Nessa. He's already drank half the keg, and there's no asking reason from him. If you come with me, I will get you a drink."

I nodded and then followed him through the crowded room into the kitchen. I vaguely recognized about a quarter of the people I saw—girls from Eastwood. I didn't recognize any of the guys.

The counters in the small kitchen were buried in bottles. Two large kegs were set up in the corner.

Luke waved his hand across the collection, "Beer, crappy table wine, or some sort of cocktail—there's nothing fancy, but I could mix you a gin and tonic or a Blood Mary?"

I chuckled unexpectedly. "Bloody Mary?"

"Well, this would involve V8 and hold-your-nose vodka—now, if you wanted a proper Bloody Mary you'd take tomato juice, good vodka, a celery stick, a crack of fresh pepper, and dashes of Worcestershire, horse radish, and Tabasco."

"I will have to try that soon, but tonight, I think I'd just like a soda."

"Ah, one of discriminating tastes, I can appreciate that. Would you like a lime with your coke? Do let me feel like I can be of some service."

I nodded, smiling. Luke was really nice, not pushy, friendly.

Then I felt the presence behind my back.

I turned around to see a large, powerfully-built red-head staring down at me with a most ridiculous expression spread across his face. Without reason he clapped his hands together and fell to his knees, declaring to the whole room, "Am I dead, Angel? Cause this must be heaven!"

I just gaped at him. I did not know what to say. He had crooked teeth.

Alyssa was there then. She smacked him on the side of the head, declaring, "Oh, go knock off in another room, Kevin! Can't you see your scaring her to death? Nessa, might just go and join the angels if you pull a goddamn stunt like that again. Come on Nessa, let's get you that drink."

She pulled me forward to where Luke was standing with my coke and lime, tears flowing down his cheeks as he tried to suppress his laughter. Alyssa continued to fume, "My. Dear. God. Why did May Li have to invite him? She's so short she must never to have bothered to have looked up and see what a fucking half-witted ogre he is. We're lucky he didn't try to lick you—or worse. He did that last time…"

Luke handed us both drinks then.

Alyssa looked up smiling. "Is this what I think it is?"

"Your usual." He smiled back at her.

"Thank you, Luke. At least there is one gentleman present."

"I try, anyway."

"Follow me, Nessa, I'll show you around." She did, then, introducing me to almost everyone present. I could not help but find myself liking her more and more. She reminded me of Rosalie in some ways— crasser and less vain, perhaps, but equally fiercely loyal and charming. There was a protective element to her nature. As we mingled, I could not help but notice her gaze continually flicking in Luke's direction.

"You like him don't you?" I asked when I caught her in another stare.

She just nodded. "Since I was twelve."

Huh, did love start that young?

"He's really nice. Have you told him?" I stared over at Luke. He was chatting with two Eastwood seniors in the corner.

Alyssa was also staring. "He's my brother's best friend. He's always been my brother's best friend. It's a little difficult when your brother threatens to mulch anyone you date. He's at college now, but that doesn't help when the one you want is his roommate."

I said nothing not knowing what to say.

"You know what? You're right Nessa. Quinn has absented himself. Who knows what the fuck he's making out with? Maybe it's my time to seize the day?" She lifted her drink, then, draining the entire glass. She crunched the plastic cup in her fist and tossed it into the nearby trash can. Finally, she took a deep breath. "Why don't you talk to Abby for now, Nessa? It's about time she came up for air, anyway." With that, she marched forward to the corner where Luke and the two girls stood.

She stared down both girls with such intensity that they instinctively backed up and left, before turning her gaze to Luke.

Huh, cool. Just like a vampire stare.

Not wanting to eavesdrop, I walked over to where Abby and Brandon were curled up on the couch. Abby disengaged herself from Brandon as I approached, smiling at me with a friendly, happy expression. "Oh, Nessa, I'm sorry if I've been neglecting you! This is my boyfriend Brandon."

We said our hellos and were happily engaged in small talk, when Abby gasped.

"Oh, no! Poor girl."

I followed her stare to see Alyssa with her hands clasped around Luke's neck, kissing him passionately.

I didn't understand Abby's exclamation until Luke put both hands on Alyssa's shoulders, pushing her back.

I could hear them clearly, despite the noise from the party.

"Alyssa, no. You're too young. Your brother."

"Who gives a fuck about my age or my brother, right now?" She pushed his hands aside and kissed him again.

He pushed back harder now.

"Alyssa. Alyssa. I said no."

Her hands fell from him then.

"I see," was all she said, and then she fled out the back door.

Luke covered his face in his hands, while his whole body slid down the wall.

"I was afraid this was going to happen," Abby said.

"It's my fault. I asked her about him. I asked her why she hadn't told him…"

"No, Nessa, it is not your fault. This is Alyssa we are talking about. Patience is not her defining characteristic. I should go after her."

"No, no. You stay with Brandon. I'll go get her."

Abby nodded then. I was about to charge out the door, when Abby reminded me, "Nessa, your coat!"

I grabbed it. Even if I didn't need my coat, Alyssa could probably use it. She had left without hers.

I stepped out the back door and into the night. Noises were coming from docks. I followed the stone steps that led down along the face of the bluff, following the sounds.

When I reached the base of the dock, I jolted to a stop. From where I was standing, I could see in through the lit portal windows of the large boat tied to the dock. It was not Alyssa.

The boat was rocking, and through the window, I could see May Li and Quinn knotted together in a tight and clothes-less embrace.

I took a deep breath, then, letting my sense of smell reign out. I could smell Alyssa—magnolia and hawthorn. She had been here, and she had seen her brother and her friend, and then she had run again. Her scent ran east around the bluffs toward the forest.

I ran at my full speed now, quickly rounding the edge of the bluff.

I choked, losing my breath, and almost falling.

The scent had changed.

There was a new scent in the air.

Vampire.