Chapter Note: I'd like to thank you guys for your reviews! They were delicious when I ate them. Errr I mean when I read them. :)

Chapter Song: You and Me - Lifehouse

Chapter XIX

I nibbled weakly on a Christmas cookie while sitting besides Ariel, who was unconscious on the bed in our hotel. Mr. Crepsley was sitting out of eyesight- or at least I think so, I was too busy waiting for Ariel to wake up.

What day is it? And in what month?
This clock never seemed so alive
I can't keep up and I can't back down
I've been losing so much time

Her eyes fluttered open, and I think I actually flinched. Even though her small, petite body was covered with scars and bruises, she was still stunningly beautiful. Golden hair was spread all over the pillow, some pieces in her face. Ariel's icy light blue eyes, which were like beautiful gems pressed into the crevices of her porcelain face, seemed confused as she scanned the room. They soon met mine, and I had to look away once she smiled at me. Her beauty made me feel insignificant, but I managed a smile in return.

She picked her arms up, noticing the bandages wrapped around them, then sighed and let them drop back to her sides.

I brushed a stray lock of blonde hair away from her eye. "Merry Christmas," I said, smirking. "Want a cookie?" I nodded to a napkin of Christmas cookies from the lobby on the nightstand next to her, and her gaze followed.

Ariel sat up and grabbed one, then quickly devoured it. "Thanks.. I haven't eaten in I don't know how many days now.." She laid back down. "I remember him bringing me down to that room, and everything else is pretty much a painful blur, until you arrived."


Cause it's you and me and all other people with nothing to do
Nothing to lose
And it's you and me and all other people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you

"He tied you up, didn't he?" The words came out so quickly that I had barely pronounced them, but the question had been on my mind forever. "How did you manage to get free? The ropes were too strong to brake through."

She stared up at the ceiling for a moment, blankly, then quickly smirked. "Oh yeah, I remember that. You wouldn't believe me though, you'll think I'm a moron."

"Tell me!" I cried anxiously.

"Alright, well when I was sitting in the room alone, I could feel the presence of something else in there with me, and I felt something brush against my skin."

"What was it?"

"A rat." Ariel laughed. "I know it sounds silly, but it seemed to know I was in trouble. It helped me.. After that, I just waited for the right moment to strike."

"Vampires share special bonds with wolves and rats. They can read our minds." Mr. Crepsley said from his spot by the window.

She looked at her arms once more. "I got beat up pretty bad, huh?" Ariel laughed. "I must look like crap."

All of the things that I want to say just aren't coming out right
I'm tripping on words
You've got my head spinning
I don't know where to go from here

"You don't." I assured her. I could feel my ears get hot when she blinked, obviously not expecting the comment.

"We will be leaving tomorrow at dusk." Mr. Crepsley announced, breaking the brief silence.

"Back to the Cirque?" I asked.

He nodded, looking over at us. "Make sure you pack your things ahead of time."

Then, the moment Mr. Crepsley looked away, Ariel quickly leaned over and kissed me, her soft lips mostly touching my skin, but partly on my lips.

"Thank you," She whispered into my ear.

Cause it's you and me and all other people with nothing to do
Nothing to prove
And it's you and me and all other people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you

Mr. Crepsley looked up from whatever he was doing and looked at us, but Ariel had already leaned away and sat on the bed. He raised a brow at me because my face was beat red, but he shrugged it off and turned away.

I looked at her, speechless.

I love her.

Why can't I just tell her?

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It's quiet. A white quiet. I left the hotel a few minutes ago, just to walk around for a bit and feel the snow on my face. It's about ten pm and I can hear the crunch of my boots as I walk in the snow that blankets the sidewalk. The soft, white flakes landed gracefully on my face and melted away.

Thats what I longed to do: Melt away. Crawl under a rock.

The stillness around me is absorbing. I stop in the middle of the empty road, and stuff my hands into the pockets of my jacket. There isn't any noise. Nothing. Just the beating of my heart.

The crunching of snow from behind breaks the silence. I turn around quickly to see Ariel walking towards me.

I smirked. Usually we wear heavy clothes to blend in, but she came out wearing white shorts and a light blue tank top, and boots.

There's something about you now
I can't quite figure out
Everything she does is beautiful
Everything she does is right

Oh well, it's not like anyone is around.

She smiled in return. "I was kind of hoping there'd be other people out here, just so that they could stare at me all confused."

I laughed. "Nope, it's just us."

Ariel continued to walk until she stood next to me. With a grin still on her face, she crossed her arms and looked down at her boots. Her damp blonde hair was mostly straight, but partly wavy. Beads of snow had fallen into her hair and partly melted.

"Okay.. So I lied.. I wanted that more."

I blinked. "Really?"

She looked up at me and nodded, slowly.

"Well now that we're alone, what do you wanna do?" I asked.

Ariel answered me by staring into my eyes. I was immediately mesmerized and stared back into hers. After a brief moment, which to me, seemed life for ever, her lips met mine in a fiery embrace.


Cause it's you and me and all other people with nothing to do
Nothing to lose
And it's you and me and all other people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you
and me and all other people with nothing to do
Nothing to prove
And it's you and me and all other people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you

Well, only for a second. She immediately disengaged herself and pulled away.

"What wrong?"

She looked up at me and smiled. "Well you have to catch me first."

I returned her smile and chased her around the street for awhile until I finally caught her. When I did, I pushed her down and sat on her, putting her hands behind her back and holding her there so she couldn't move.

Ariel giggled and began to stare deep into my eyes again. Whenever she did, I couldn't help stare back into hers, and I felt like I was gazing at her soul.

And I did melt away, like I wanted to, but it was better than I thought.

What day is it?
And in what month?
This clock never seemed so alive

To Be Continued..