EDIT.

Chapter Twelve

I drove home in a daze, almost missing High Street. The center of town was completely empty. The old lady that owns the market had brought in her baskets of fruits and veggies. The old man that usually sits on a park bench outside the bakery wasn’t there.

Looks like everyone’s packed up, I thought to myself. I sighed and continued to drive.

At home, Bailey was in front of the big screen watching some cartoon. I said hi but he only just moaned in response. I decided to crash with him for a while to let things set in.

After twenty minutes of silence, Bailey said, “When’s your date?” He had asked it in a tone that sounded just bored.

I rolled my eyes, “It’s not a date. And he said he’d be here at seven.”

I gasped and sprung to my feet. “Peter!” I exclaimed.

Still on the couch, Bailey snickered, “Yes, now what’s two plus two?” He teased.

I scoffed and hit him with a pillow. He reached for one but I was already heading for the stairs. “Hey!” He yelled after me, but I didn’t turn.

After what happened last night, I had completely forgotten about Peter. It was about five o’clock when I got out of the shower.

Looking in the mirror, I tried to make sense of my face. My eyes were wide and a little puffy. My cheeks were too flush compared to my natural pink blush. My hair flowed perfectly around my face in luscious curls.

I did my usual raccoon eyed makeup, and thought I looked good. I groaned to myself, why couldn’t I look this good when ever Jasper came around?

I trudged down the stairs where Bailey was still watching TV. He looked up at me and whistled. “Not a date, huh?”

I grimaced and stalked into the kitchen to find something to eat. By the time I finished searching, I wasn’t hungry. I had decided on a couple of crackers, but shrugged and put them back.

When I turned to leave, I gasped and fell backwards. I was expecting to fall on my ass; instead, he was there, catching me.

I was inches from the floor in his arms. He was smiling. I could feel his cool breath upon my lips.

“Jasper,” I said, breathlessly.

He chuckled as he stood me up. “Seems like forever since we last spoke.”

My heart was pounding against my chest. “I have to tell,” I started but was stopped when he placed his fingers on my lips.

“Shh,” he whispered. “Not here. We will have plenty of time for that when your friend leaves. We can discuss anything you wish.”

He pressed his lips against mine then vanished out the door, leaving it swinging back and forth. I was about to yell after him. I yearned to have him back in my arms. I was about to say something, anything, but the doorbell rang.

I glanced at the clock. “He’s a half hour early!” I moaned out loud, as I punched to door open.

Bailey had beaten me to the door. He opened it and to my surprise, there Peter was, standing there with his dark curls combed back and a nice t-shirt on. He looked absolutely…

I wouldn’t allow myself to finish that thought.

We spent a lot of time on the couch just talking before we started the movie. He brought ‘Wanted’ from home.

I wasn’t all that interested in the movie so I sparked up another conversation.

“Who are you lyrics about?” I asked.

We were sitting on the couch. Out of apathy, I ended up lying on the couch with a pillow between us.

“It isn’t obvious?”

I shrugged even though he probably couldn’t have seen it.

He sighed, “Do you really want to know?”

I rolled my eyes. “The suspense is killing me. Just tell me, please,” I begged.

When he didn’t answer, I popped my head up to look at him. The look on his face seemed painful to endure.

“You can trust me,” I said. “I won’t tell anyone.”

He let out a long sharp breath and whispered, “Heather.”

I stood on the front steps for a long time before turning back to the house.

Jasper was standing in the middle of the hall. His hands were in his jean pockets and his eyes were wild again. His face was simply buoyant. Such a joyous expression caused my own lightheartedness.

We stood there, just staring at each other for an immeasurable moment. I was the first to move. I let out a breath that I hadn’t known I’d been holding in.

He watched me as I walked over to him. I stopped short, though, to take a good look at him. I never would have thought anyone could be any happier to see me. “Why are you in such a good mood?” I asked, not sure if I should wrap my arms around him. I wasn’t sure, if that was acceptable, if we were at that level yet.

He chuckled softly, and then leaned down to look me in the eyes. “I have always been happy to see you, Genevieve.” He brought his hand up under my chin and tilted my face to his. “And I always will be.” I inhaled his cool scent and a shiver ran up my spine.

“That’s it,” I snapped. “I can’t take it anymore!”

All signs of happiness were erased from his face then. His eyes tightened as he raised one eyebrow. He blinked a few times, then his eyes snapped open, wider then I’d ever seen. He opened his mouth to speak but I put my hand over his lips.

“Would you let me finish before you have a panic attack?” When his eyes softened, I dropped my hand and continued. “You are perfect in every way. Your hair,” I said, reaching up to run my fingers through his brown locks. “Your face,” I whispered and traced the line of his entire features before I continued. “Your body,” I said, running my hand down his chest. “Not to mention, everything that you say is completely flawless. You are the most beautiful creature in the world.” I threw up my hands. “It’s just not fair!”

He frowned. “I wonder if you would have thought that before, when I was still alive.”

“I wasn’t alive then.” He didn’t smile at my lame joke. “Of course I would have.” I tried again. “I would have thrown myself at you and would’ve made you forget all about Susan and Damien.”

His eyebrows furrowed together causing a crease in his forehead. “His name was Nigel.”

I started to play with my fingers nervously. “That’s what I was trying to tell you earlier. Damien is Nigel. Jasper, Nigel is still alive!”

Jasper wasn’t looking at me anymore. He was looking past me with this glassy expression as if I wasn’t even standing there anymore.

“How,” escaped his lips in a breathless whisper. If I wasn’t staring up at his face, watching his pale lips, I would have missed it.

“I went to get an oil change for my car today. Damien was there working and we got to talking about things.”

His expression was suddenly so livid that I didn’t want to continue.

“What kind of things?” He almost spat at me.

I shrugged. “A little of this, a little of that.”

Jasper grabbed my arm gingerly and led me to the couch and sat me down. He sat on the coffee table in front of me and stared in my eyes.

“Please,” he said, his voice calmer now. “Continue.”

I told him everything. I told him that Damien is a vampire even though he had asked me not to tell Jasper. I told him about what really happened down at the lake. I even told him about my idea, which, he didn’t like much.

“You’d rather me be a monster?” he asked skeptically.

I bit my lip and played with my fingers some more. “This can’t be fair to you now. Wouldn’t it be better for you? You wouldn’t be trapped here in this stinky old house. You could leave and travel the world and experience life. You could go to France, Italy, and Spain! Just think of the different people you could meet. But no, you want to be locked in here, a place that holds no interest for you. I’m surprised you aren’t jumping at the chance.”

He cupped my face in his hands. “It’s not me that I’m worried about here. You are my main priority. You are my world now, my everything. Without you, the outside world wouldn’t be complete.”

The change in his mood sparked something inside me. I threw myself on him and wrapped my arms around his neck. Our kisses weren’t like before; they were fierce and more urgent. It felt almost as if this was more out of need then want. Which, I was completely okay with.