OOC TIME: Longest thing I've published so far! :D Now, please try to review. D: I really want to know how people are feeling about this one. SO TELL MEH.

33

Yesterday made a solid month since the death of my best friend. Her funeral had been tragic and there was no wake. Her face and neck were so mutilated that Isaac had decided to have

her cremated. There were so many people who had gone to school with the two of us at the funeral, that Isaac and the funeral planner had to order more seating as well as set up

additional chairs in the church. It was a certified disaster. Being the best friend of the deceased, I had to make a speech. Well, I didn't have to, but Isaac insisted on it. It didn't seem so

bad.. Not until I was in front of everyone, that is.

Stepping up to the podium I wore an ever simple black dress. I had a white coat on over it, due to the slight chill of the weather that day. Everyones eyes were glued to me instantly.

Fumbling with the paper that I had so cleverly written before hand, I positioned the microphone and cleared my throat. The various conversations ended abruptly, leaving me in complete

and utter silence... great.

"Uhmm, welcome, everyone.." I said in my meek and quiet voice. Now for my speech..

The elegant scrawl looked better than it sounded, and I realized that as I looked at the words carefully.

I read those words with my heart. "I've never been good at these kinds of things," I warned, "so bear with me, please..."

We as a whole are gathered here today to remember a great woman. Terra Dahmor... Or rather, the late Terra Lawson.

Those words on that paper seemed simple enough to read, right? I twiddled my fingers slightly before deciding to speak.

"We are all gathered here today to remember a great woman, and friend.. Terra Dahmor.. Or--- uhh, Terra Lawson."

Women and men alike looked at me as though I were just some alien fresh out of the skies and planets.

The rest of the letter read as follows:

Terra Mariasia Dahmor was a bright young woman, my best friend most days. She was filled with optimism, love, honor.. She was a great girl. The words that could be used to describe her

are numerous, but I only chose a few. She was a loving wife for two wonderful years; years in which she planned for children--

My speech was cut short by gasps and sobs; my speech was terrible! After another half hour or so of me pretty much rambling on and on about how amazing she was, I played the song

that I had chosen for her. It was our song. Isaac walked up to the pulpit next, eyes bloodshot from all of the crying he'd done in the pews. I didn't enjoy seeing him cry, especially not for

her...

The funeral, in short, was a disaster. I didn't much like talking or thinking about it. We were in essence, celebrating my best friend's death.

Riding on my way home I began to think again. My head had cleared enough so that I could think about that night.. the unavoidable memories stained my brain and the tears stained my

cheeks. That vicious face.. Images of that crying bloodied man entered my head and stuck to the insides of my eyes. Why was he so hard to forget? What a stupid question... I already

knew that answer. He killed my best friend. I watched him as he killed her, as she looked at me with a face filled with horror and defeat. Her pretty face contorted into pain as she cried

out... and...

The car stopped abruptly, bringing me back to the dingy reality that I called my life. I thanked the man for his trouble before stepping out of the car. It was pretty dark out since it had

been raining all day, and in my black dressed glory I walked to the park. There were children everywhere naturally. They were playing in puddles and on the swings, on the playground

equipment and practically hanging from the trees. A series of fruit stands had been set up that day, so I, like the adult I was portraying to be picked up a basket and tossed things in.

As I rounded a corner I stood by a large selection of apples, all of which in their assorted colors looked quite ripe. Reaching out a hand I was grasping for the reddest apple in the bunch.

Instead, I grabbed a stray, pale white, ice cold hand. Gasping I pulled my hand away and with wide eyes I looked to the person before me.

The corners of his lips turned upward gently as I dropped my basket. I couldn't believe my eyes... There he was in plain sight, standing right next to me! The man who murdered my

beloved friend. But now, he didn't look so creepy under the canopy of the trees. His eyes were still a dark color, his skin ever-pale and cold, apparently, and... That was it.

"Hello," he said quietly. His voice was like honey, the sweetest sound to my ears.. I was dumbfounded. I just stood there, my face red as he and I looked at each other. Bending down, he

looked up to me as he began picking my fruit. I stepped back and watched him before he held out for me the reddest apple. He looked nervous. He inhaled sharply, then crushed the apple

in his hands easily. I gasped, the seduction of his voice now wearing off.

"You.. smell nice today.." He said simply, his eyes even darker now than before. I didn't know what to say. He looked down and I away.. A gentle breeze blew over us, and he closed his

eyes again, this time shuddering.

"I have to go." And with that, I blinked and he was gone. It was like he was never there, save for the remnants of a crushed apple at my feet.

He sounded so drained, so slow. He seemed nothing like he had that night. Looks were deceiving though, right? Such a gorgeous man... wait! I just.. gorgeous? I shook my head at myself

as I left without my fruit. He was a killer! He killed Terra! He was in no ways gorgeous! I wouldn't allow him to be. But his voice... I could just hear his voice echoing through my head

melodiously. It was the very essence of perfect. Like honey..

That night I lay in my bed and wondered about him. He was the only thing on my mind as I lay amongst my thickest blankets. His face was what I saw in my eyelids, his voice all I heard

around me. Why was I so drawn to the idea of this man? I stared up to my ceiling and sighed. Besides, what was the likelihood of me ever seeing him again? It was little to none, that's

what it was! I smiled reassuringly to myself before I rolled onto my side. Yes. I would never see him again, never think about him, never hear his voice. The thoughts made me happy, and

I was finally able to force myself to sleep.

The next morning, I awoke to the usual blaring of my alarm clock. It took a solid ten minutes for me to finally reach over and slam my hand on the button. I stretched, I yawned and then I

hopped out of my bed and into the shower. I felt peppy this morning, safe. It was hard to believe that only yesterday I was torn to pieces with fear!

Smiling and humming, I rinsed my hair and washed my body. I smiled still before rinsing my hair even more. After all no one wants a head full of suds. An hour or so later I heard something

I did not expect.. A ring at my doorbell. Well, at least I thought it was... I could never be too sure these days.

I made a leap from the shower quickly, drying myself off with equal speed before dressing. As I approached the door and opened it I was dumbfounded to find no one. Nothing. My

immediate thoughts were ding-dong-ditch, so I returned to my bedroom quickly. But hey.. wasn't it morning? I glanced at my clock as if to reassure myself and nodded. It was ten o'clock

straight, right on the dot.

Today, as many other days, I would be running my usual errands to and fro. I held the most boring routine that had ever existed. Since I and Terra dropped out of school together, we

both went around being nothing more than boring, everyday people. I was living off of a scholarship fund, while she (apparently) had been supported by her husband. Isaac. We had

roomed together for a year or so, Terra and I, before we finally went our separate ways. School simply wasn't for us.

After our separation, we finally just lost contact.

Closing my eyes, I sighed miserably. Memories of myself and Terra flooded my mind. Before I knew it, I was in tears.. No matter how much I didn't think about her, she popped into my

brain. She was my best friend for years; it's hard to forget. How can you so easily leave behind someone who was always there? You can't.

I walked to my window, wiping my eyes as I moved. There was no use in staying in the house forever.

I stepped closer to the window, pulling the curtains back to reveal a bleak looking outside world. My eyes traced the outlines of trees, bushes. As I looked toward the right side of my yard

I paused. My eyes hurried back to the middle. There in my yard, was that damn man, he was standing there with his hands in his pockets. His back was to me, his eyes on the grass. I

didn't understand this. Did he follow me? I grabbed my phone and sprung into action. Granted, I hadn't called the police. Yet.

I jammed my phone into my pocket before I flung back my curtains and jerked my painted shut window open. The man turned toward me in the sudden commotion, like any other would

do. He blinked.

"You!" I hollered from where I stood inside. Since I was on the ground level of everything, all he would have to do is run over.. tear me to shreds.

"Hello," he said with his honey-voice, "again.." I glared at him as he began to turn toward me more. I pulled my hand up to reveal my cell phone, as if to show him that I had some bit of

power in being a female. He smiled slightly, pulling his hands from his pockets and revealing bloody palms. I gasped.

"What.. what happened?" He only looked at me, taking the question in carefully. He finally looked as if ready to answer and stepped closer.

"I had an accident. I was wondering if you'd let me clean myself up.."

I looked at him unconvinced before I crossed my arms, phone at hand.

"How did you know where I live?"

He blinked.

He seemed to blink when he felt as if he were unaware of a suitable answer to give me. He had done it yesterday, too.

"Okay," I said, glaring at him still, "How about this one.. Do you have a name?"

Now he smiled again. The corner's of his lips only turned up barely.. but yet he seemed to be smiling as much as he ever would. It was a pleasant smile.

"I'm Carlisle.." He said simply, his feet picking up to move him closer again. His kind and gentle looking smile stuck with him this time.

"Emelie," I replied.

"So, Emelie," he looked down a little, smile disappearing. "Am I welcome here?" My immediate thoughts were saying something along the lines of 'hell no!'. But for some reason it didn't

seem fair to me to out him like that. Even though he'd killed my best friend.. What was I turning into these days? I had been crying about her literally a moment ago. And now, all I could

think about was getting him into my home for interrogation.

I sighed deeply before rubbing my face, then looking at him with great sympathy. "Fine," I told him. "But you come in through the window. You try anything and I'm calling the police."

As he moved toward the window, he grimaced, "Please don't call the police.."

I moved aside and in he leaped. He crouched for a moment before he finally decided to stand. I pointed to the bathroom as his lips parted for words.

"Thank you," he said before he twisted the hot water nob on my bathroom sink.

I stood in the doorway, propped against the frame as I observed him scrub away both the fresh and old layers of blood.

"I think I should explain myself," he told me, barely glancing up from his position. I looked at him, and then noticed something odd. His eyes weren't red. The dingy, blood red color had

been replaced with a light and clear golden tone.

"Yes, do," I told him.

After pausing, he decided that he was going to speak. I huffed out an impatient breath before he began.

"Uhmm.. When.. That night... It was a mistake. I don't know how else to place it.." He sighed, then continued, "I--- I didn't mean to hurt anyone. Well, I did.. I didn't mean for things to happen like that.. I wasn't thinking clearly. I was.. but..." He turned off the water and looked at me. He was having trouble.

"I'm not like you," he said, "And I'm afraid I can't explain it any further."

"What do you mean?!" I snarled at him. He didn't seem phased. "You're in my house," I said loudly, "you followed me here!" "Yes, I did," he cut in admittedly. "But I didn't actually follow

you, more of your.. scent.." I wasn't surprised by this card. He'd half-pulled it before.

"OH!" I said, "Not more of that stuff about me smelling good, or nice, or whatever it was."

"Today, you smell particularly amazing..."

I glared.

"It really is hard to miss," he insisted, "for someone like me."

"And who exactly is like you?"

"More than you would think."

I looked at him with my classic angry face before I left the doorway for a seat on my bed.

"I want to know who," I replied.

"Well, as I already said, I'm different."

"How?"

"I don't know yet.. I just go with my instincts."

"And what are your instincts saying right now?" I asked.

He hesitated and I cleared my throat as he entered my bedroom.

"They're telling me to rip you to pieces..."

I could feel my cheeks grow hot as every ounce of anger disappeared from my face. Surprise replaced it, as well as a twinge of fear. He noticed the change in tension.

"I'm sorry," he replied, "I didn't mean to scare you.. I was just being honest."

I could commend that.

"I--- I can tell..."

That smile.. it came back. Carlisle took the place at the foot of my bed next to me. He was drying his still reddened and pale hands on a washcloth he'd spotted on the bathroom counter.

"I never said I would listen to my instincts, however. And I don't plan to in this situation."

Of all of the times in all of the world, I laughed. He looked puzzled, but soon enough chuckled a little himself.

"Did I say something funny?" He asked me simply. I shook my head.

"I'm sorry," I said. "I don't know why I laughed.. I'm sorry."

He looked puzzled, still, "And you.. You're apologizing to me? You haven't done anything."

I shrugged, "I'm sorry..?"

We laughed together again, but he made it clear that he was more interested in being serious before I did, and I stopped. His blond hair looked dingy, as did the rest of him. I know, I'm a

random person to think about that, but since he was staring at me intently I had done nothing more than study that godly face. Oh that face...

"Do you want a shower?" I asked him suddenly. His eyebrows peeked up and he looked at me with surprise.

"Well," I began, "you just look like you need one.. and I mean..." He smiled slightly, like he tended to do.

"Thank you," he said simply. With that he got up, went to my bathroom, then cracked the door shut. I looked at that door, praying that it would fly open for some reason, and show me

that body which I knew matched Carlisle's face in glory. As I stood, I could clearly make out his bare, smooth and pale back. Even his back made me shiver. Next went his pants... boxers

slid off most gently.

"Carlisle," I called nervously. I could even hear him searching for something to cover himself with. "There are towels under the sink," I practically breathed. And yet I saw his arm reach into

the cabinet. He wrapped the towel around his lower body before he opened the door. My eyes went to his chest immediately. Before me, he stood mostly filthy, his stomach and chest

carved out like stone. Perfect. There was never a better word. I blinked at his chest a few times before I looked back to his face.

"Uhm, I can wash your clothes if you'd like?"

"Oh, yes, here..."

Reaching behind him and down, Carlisle picked up all of the bloodstained garments he'd been wearing before he finally handed them to me.

"Thank you," he said, leaning slightly against the half-closed door. "For everything."

I smiled as anyone else would have done in my situation. "No problem," I said softly.