Between Daylight And Darkness - Companion Piece Three
Title: Between Daylight And Darkness - Companion Piece
Part: 3/5 There Won't Be Time For All Of Us
Pairing: Chris/Jal, Sid/Cassie, Naomi/Emily
Word Count: 3060
Disclaimer: I don't own, or claim to own, anything related to Skins. Borrowing the characters and throwing them into an entirely different universe altogether. I also don't own Twilight, and wouldn't ever want to. Chapter title from Josh Pyke's 'Memories And Dust'.
Summary: Chris has the best intentions at heart. Won't make much sense if you haven't read Between Daylight And Darkness as it's set around that timeline.
N.B. These companion pieces aren't completely necessary to enjoying the main storyline, however I think they shed light on a few things, as well as hinting at things to come. So don't read if you don't want to, but if you do, thank you!
Previous: Katie
Effy
There Won't Be Time For All Of Us
He’d thought she was a dream when she walked toward him, hair cascading over her shoulders, a loose white dress hanging off her body. She had her head cocked to the side, giving him the smallest of smiles as she knelt next to him. The room was dim and heavy with smoke. His eyes were barely open, and he smiled up at her lopsidedly.
“Christopher.” She’d said, and then giggled as if in delight.
“Angel.” He’d replied, sucking on the long pipe he held weakly. She reached out a cool hand, lightly dragging it along his cheek.
“I have come to make you happy.” She’d said, moving to lay her body along side him and pressing her head to his shoulder.
“Lovely.” He’d replied, a dazed smile on his face he couldn’t stop though a feeble part of him tried not to look so out of it.
“You’re sure?” She asked, and he didn’t know what she meant, felt his eyes flutter closed as her lips had moved to his neck. It was lovely really, even if it wasn’t real. He’d have to warn her that he was dying, that he was infectious. But not now, he’d thought with a grin. For now he wanted to enjoy the attention before it turned to repulsion.
“Why me?” He felt the words leave his lips in a whisper as he felt the skin on his neck open. He wasn’t sure what answer he was expecting, wasn’t sure whether he was asking about her, or death, and whether they were separate entities anyway.
She pulled back, and he didn’t flinch when he saw the blood on her lips or fangs in her mouth.
“You remind me of someone.” She said it softly, seriously, before giggling again. “Oh, wow, I like you.” She smoothed his hair back from his sweaty forehead, and in the dim light he saw faint exhalations of smoke coming from the sedated bodies around him.
“Thank you.” He murmured to her, feeling tears prick his eyes even as he continued to grin.
“It will hurt for a moment,” She kissed his cheek, and he felt a wetness left by her lips, as if her kiss remained on his face. “And then never again.” She moved quickly back to his neck, reaching down to grip his hand as he began to shudder.
He would remember that promise much later, in more pain than he’d thought possible, wondering what Cassie had meant. Had she not seen what would happen yet, at that point, and so able to promise a carefree forever?
Or had she said it for his benefit? To tide him over, until he learnt first hand how much eternity hurt alone.
V^^^^^V
He loved his ability. It wasn’t going to drive him mad, like Cassie, or tap into the darkest part of him, like Tony. In fact, he thought, weaving through a crowd of people laughing and doing the Charleston, he was like a modern day Bacchus, wasn’t he? Like a Jesus figure, without the miracles and holiness.
He sniffed the air smiling pleasantly, finding the corner of the house where marijuana and opium were being passed around, and girls giggled on gentlemen’s laps even though it was indecent to do so. He focused toward them for a moment, encouragingly, and felt a deep seated satisfaction when they all squealed laughing for no real reason. He was made to give them a good time, regardless of what they were doing, and he loved it.
Cassie was swaying on the other side of the room, clapping her hands and laughing delightedly. He felt his grin stretch wider when he saw her. He loved her, he really loved her. He still didn’t know why she’d chosen him, to save him and gift him. He didn’t question it, either.
He watched as Sid neared Cassie, sweeping her into the air as she laughed. It warmed him to see them happy, finally, after all the shit and fighting. Sid nodded at him, and he watched as Sid and Cassie leapt onto the nearest people and bit them. He laughed, spreading his joy further throughout the room. It was something special to be able to make these people think they were enjoying themselves even as they witnessed their friends being attacked.
The music got louder, the band in the corner getting a burst of energy, and a young couple bumped into him, the girl winking and grabbing his jacket, and the boy wrapping his arm around him.
Later, when they’d disposed of the bodies and Sid had wiped the memories of the survivors, sending them on their merry way, he reclined on a lounge and closed his eyes, revelling in the drugs that had passed into his body from the partygoers. That was the worst thing about the whole immortal bit, he thought, being unable to just take drugs the old fashioned way. It didn’t hit as hard, unless the person he fed off had overdosed. He did that, sometimes, pushed them until they thought they were having the most marvellous time in the world taking too much for their bodies to handle.
Sid lay on the lounge in the corner, Cassie on top of him smiling contentedly. Her head lay on his chest, and her eyes had drifted shut. Sid was smiling pleasantly, gazing at the ceiling, running his hands lightly over her back. Chris could see that one of Cassie’s arms had reached up and was playing with Sid’s hair.
Chris loved Cassie. He also loved Sid. They were like family members he’d never had when he was alive, like people he could happily spend forever with. He didn’t want to be with either of them, not in the way they wanted to be with each other. He didn’t want to be with anyone that way, and never had. It didn’t bother him though, he thought, ignoring when Cassie leant up briefly to kiss Sid on the lips, and something inside him ached.
V^^^^^V
“But I don’t need to be cultured.” He shrugged at Cassie and Michelle, as they both rolled their eyes at him. “What?” He asked, genuinely confused.
“You don’t expect to get through college being a party boy, do you?” Michelle crossed her arms, smirking at him when he frowned.
“Hello, we’re immortal. If children can do it so can I.” He pointed at Michelle after a moment. “And they need sleep, and sexual experimentation, and loads and loads of drugs. It’ll be piece of piss.” He grinned as Michelle turned to Cassie for a moment, giving her a look he couldn’t read.
“Come to the symphony.” Cassie blinked at him, smiling.
“If you hate it, we won’t force you again, alright?” Michelle raised an eyebrow at him, and he rolled his eyes and threw his hands up turning away from them.
“Fine, but I’m not promising anything and I’m bringing pills.” He moved toward his room, as Michelle called out behind him.
“It’s not exactly the context for pills, Chris!”
What did she know? He was expecting to be bored out of his mind, slipping some ecstasy to some of the oldies and feeding off them sounded like a good alternative plan.
He heard Tony talking to someone in the yard, peering curiously out of the window and seeing him hugging a thin girl. He raised his eyebrows briefly when he realised she was a vampire.
“Effy.” Sid mumbled, standing behind him and watching them too.
“Who?” Chris frowned, looking her up and down.
“Tony’s sister. Don’t think she’s down with the whole, you know, trying to fit in thing.” Sid smirked slightly at Chris, as Chris rolled his eyes.
“Yeah well, in all honesty neither am I, mate. But you know,” He winked at Sid. “Where you and Cass go…” He trailed off as Sid patted his back.
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
They both turned to watch as the girl left the yard, and Tony walked off in the opposite direction.
“Ready?” Michelle asked behind them, and Sid snorted.
“Why do I have to go and not him, then?” Chris pointed to Sid, feeling an unfairness to the situation. “He’s as cultured as my left ball.”
“Don’t question it, mate. Clearly Cass thinks I’m more refined than you.” Sid raised his nose, skipping out of the way as Chris aimed a kick at him.
“Just come on, would you?” Michelle asked impatiently, and Chris followed her after flipping off Sid. Wanker.
The music was quite lovely, he conceded, turning in his chair to look around at all the fancily dressed oldies. Michelle jabbed him, glaring at him and motioning for him to watch the concert. Cassie was on her other side, moving her hands over the air as if conducting the orchestra herself.
He folded his arms and sank down in his seat. Blending in could fuck right off if this was what it meant, sitting and listening to people playing the music of dead composers they’d never met.
“Please welcome Jalander Fazer.” A tuxedoed man announced, as the applause had died down after a particularly spectacular piece had finished. Chris was wondering how many pills he would have to slip the fat man sitting next to him when he saw her walk to the centre of the stage and stand, holding a clarinet, and staring defiantly at the audience.
He felt himself sit forward, hands clutching the arms of his chair, and couldn’t tear his gaze from her face, or her mouth, as she played, fingers moving effortlessly over the instrument. He thought that if his heart was still beating, it would have skipped.
The piece was over too soon, and he watched her walk off the stage. He stood without meaning to, hurrying along the row of seats and exiting the auditorium. He left the theatre, turning down an alleyway and listening closely at the stage door.
She didn’t exit for half an hour, and he found he couldn’t approach her when she did. Turned his back as she walked past him, inhaled the scent of her and felt his fangs extend slightly. He didn’t want to bite her though, and it confused him for a moment.
Cassie hugged him when he emerged from the alleyway, disoriented slightly and frowning. She held him tightly, and he awkwardly patted her back after a moment.
“I’m sorry.” She whispered, pulling back and he was slightly alarmed to see she had tears in her eyes. Michelle handed her a tissue quickly, and Cassie wiped the dark liquid away before anyone else could see it.
He hated when Cassie went cryptic. Had spent countless hours trying to convince her to tell him what was going to happen in the future, bemoaning her method of not telling anyone a damned thing, instead muttering foreboding sentences and giving them all looks they could never understand until much, much later.
“For what?” He shook his head.
She shook hers in reply, and turned, walking toward the car.
He returned to the symphony every night by himself. Watched Jalander avidly, leaning forward on his chair in the front row and gazing at every part of her, instead of her neck. She was beautiful, she was magnificent. She was like a wish he’d forgotten he’d made as a child.
Every night he waited in the alleyway until she left, unable to gather enough courage to talk to her.
“What you doing?” She asked him unexpectedly one night, and he flinched with his back to her, glancing quickly over his shoulder.
“Er, hi.” He said, shoving his hands in his pockets so hard he felt them rip and turning to face her.
“Listen pervert, stop waiting here in the dark. It’s fucking creepy and I’ll report you if you don’t go away.” She had her clarinet case held out in front of her as if in threat.
“I’m not a pervert!” He stepped toward her, the stage door light illuminating his face suddenly. She seemed to relax when she saw how young he was, and the wide opened expression on his face. “I think you’re incredible.” He said, unable to control himself.
She frowned at him slightly, and then blew out a breath. “Thanks. But why do you stand here every night? My brothers are on their way to pick me up because I’m too freaked out to get home by myself.” She put her clarinet case on the ground, pulling her jacket closer around her.
He stared at her, felt himself getting lost in the slight suspicion and annoyance in her eyes.
“I wanted to talk to you but I was nervous.” He rambled at her, wondering for a moment that he was acting like he wasn’t really older than her great grandfather.
She sighed, pausing, her eyes softening slightly. “Well.” She said, as a car horn tooted at the mouth of the alleyway. “That’s sort of sweet. What’s your name?” She scrutinized him as he extended his hand.
“Chris.” He said, memorising the feel of her warm skin against his cool hand when they touched.
“Jal.” She replied, pulling her hand back after a moment of gazing at him curiously. “Don’t be nervous.” She said, beginning to walk away. “I’m not that terrifying.” She gave him a slight smile, and then turned, hurrying off to the car.
“But I am.” He said softly to her retreating form, reaching the hand that had held hers up to his face and laying it gently against his cheek.
V^^^^^V
He had been in love for the first time. Some moments, spent sitting in the park or in the car, once when he crawled into her duvet cover with her because she suddenly had an urge to be in it, he forgot he was a vampire or that she wouldn’t live forever. In those moments he understood Tony, understood suddenly what he was trying to recapture.
He didn’t tell her what he was, other than a college student who was unsure what he wanted to be in the future. When his fangs extended accidently when they were making out, or when the sun appeared, he made excuses and avoided her questions.
When he asked her what she wanted out of life, and she said steady work as a concert clarinettist, a family and happiness, he swallowed the dread that moved from his throat and settled in his stomach heavily. When he asked what would be the one thing about the world she would miss if it were to end, she replied “The sun on my face.”
“Ah.” He cleared his throat, rolling away from her for a moment, until she gently coaxed him back toward her and kissed him.
He understood, finally, what Cassie and Sid meant when they said they loved each other. Understood why Tony and Michelle sometimes looked at each other for a bit longer than necessary. Was enabled to understand why Emily, later, had chosen Naomi.
He would tell Jal, of course, eventually. He had years, really, before a noticeable age difference would be between them. Because he wanted to turn her, he wanted to spend forever with her, but he didn’t want to frighten her away. She hated fantasy, rolled her eyes at the mention of the supernatural, and had adamantly told him one day that she was perfectly acceptable that she would some day die and it made life that much more beautiful.
He would tell her, he promised himself, but when the time was right.
After all, time was something he had in abundance.
V^^^^^V
Tony caught him as he’d collapsed, unable to believe it had happened.
Of all the possibilities for the future, he had never anticipated that one. That one without Jal.
He wanted to find the driver and rip his throat out, set fire to his body, break every single bone in it. He couldn’t move though, all of his body weight held up by Tony who just hugged him.
This is what it feels like to die, he thought miserably, his real death forgotten.
“This is what I mean, Chris.” Tony said harshly in his ear, gripping him tightly as Chris felt himself weeping. “Death isn’t right. It destroys everything.” Tony shook him slightly. “Do it for her.”
Chris gripped Tony’s shoulders, pushing away from him suddenly.
“I need to be alone.” He mumbled, wiping the blood from his eyes, turning and running as fast as he could out of the house and into the surrounding countryside. It was too much. He’d had no idea his heart could hurt so badly, he thought it had died years ago.
For a few moments he wanted to keep running, screaming, until he found the sun.
V^^^^^V
“How do you feel when you look at her?” He hugged his knees to his chest, watching Emily as she worried her bottom lip with her teeth.
“I can’t describe it.” She muttered after a moment, looking out into the garden and watching Cook, Freddie and Sid talking and laughing.
“Is it like, you just forgot, for an instant, that you’re a villain?” He crossed his legs, leaning toward her slightly. “Forgot you’re not just another teenager with a crush?”
“Sort of.” She whispered, and then rolled her eyes at herself. “She’s just a mortal though. Katie’s right.”
He watched as she straightened her shoulders and then glanced at him.
“We all started out that way, remember.” He said softly, and gave her a small smile when she looked at him and frowned.
He loved Emily, loved all of them. They were his family. He would find this Naomi, he decided, and if Emily wanted her, wanted to be with her, he would do everything to protect them both. Naomi from feeling frightened at the thought of vampires, and Emily from the pain of losing someone forever.
That’s what he’d learned, he thought ruefully as he drove toward Roundview to pick Emily and Naomi up as a surprise. Everyone was unique, and special. When one person died, the whole world changed. It lost that person, lost the little bit of light they gave off, and it was gone forever.
V^^^^^V
Later, when he found out what Katie had done, he wished he’d had someone to do the same for him.
V^^^^^V
Freddie
Part: 3/5 There Won't Be Time For All Of Us
Pairing: Chris/Jal, Sid/Cassie, Naomi/Emily
Word Count: 3060
Disclaimer: I don't own, or claim to own, anything related to Skins. Borrowing the characters and throwing them into an entirely different universe altogether. I also don't own Twilight, and wouldn't ever want to. Chapter title from Josh Pyke's 'Memories And Dust'.
Summary: Chris has the best intentions at heart. Won't make much sense if you haven't read Between Daylight And Darkness as it's set around that timeline.
N.B. These companion pieces aren't completely necessary to enjoying the main storyline, however I think they shed light on a few things, as well as hinting at things to come. So don't read if you don't want to, but if you do, thank you!
Previous: Katie
Effy
There Won't Be Time For All Of Us
He’d thought she was a dream when she walked toward him, hair cascading over her shoulders, a loose white dress hanging off her body. She had her head cocked to the side, giving him the smallest of smiles as she knelt next to him. The room was dim and heavy with smoke. His eyes were barely open, and he smiled up at her lopsidedly.
“Christopher.” She’d said, and then giggled as if in delight.
“Angel.” He’d replied, sucking on the long pipe he held weakly. She reached out a cool hand, lightly dragging it along his cheek.
“I have come to make you happy.” She’d said, moving to lay her body along side him and pressing her head to his shoulder.
“Lovely.” He’d replied, a dazed smile on his face he couldn’t stop though a feeble part of him tried not to look so out of it.
“You’re sure?” She asked, and he didn’t know what she meant, felt his eyes flutter closed as her lips had moved to his neck. It was lovely really, even if it wasn’t real. He’d have to warn her that he was dying, that he was infectious. But not now, he’d thought with a grin. For now he wanted to enjoy the attention before it turned to repulsion.
“Why me?” He felt the words leave his lips in a whisper as he felt the skin on his neck open. He wasn’t sure what answer he was expecting, wasn’t sure whether he was asking about her, or death, and whether they were separate entities anyway.
She pulled back, and he didn’t flinch when he saw the blood on her lips or fangs in her mouth.
“You remind me of someone.” She said it softly, seriously, before giggling again. “Oh, wow, I like you.” She smoothed his hair back from his sweaty forehead, and in the dim light he saw faint exhalations of smoke coming from the sedated bodies around him.
“Thank you.” He murmured to her, feeling tears prick his eyes even as he continued to grin.
“It will hurt for a moment,” She kissed his cheek, and he felt a wetness left by her lips, as if her kiss remained on his face. “And then never again.” She moved quickly back to his neck, reaching down to grip his hand as he began to shudder.
He would remember that promise much later, in more pain than he’d thought possible, wondering what Cassie had meant. Had she not seen what would happen yet, at that point, and so able to promise a carefree forever?
Or had she said it for his benefit? To tide him over, until he learnt first hand how much eternity hurt alone.
V^^^^^V
He loved his ability. It wasn’t going to drive him mad, like Cassie, or tap into the darkest part of him, like Tony. In fact, he thought, weaving through a crowd of people laughing and doing the Charleston, he was like a modern day Bacchus, wasn’t he? Like a Jesus figure, without the miracles and holiness.
He sniffed the air smiling pleasantly, finding the corner of the house where marijuana and opium were being passed around, and girls giggled on gentlemen’s laps even though it was indecent to do so. He focused toward them for a moment, encouragingly, and felt a deep seated satisfaction when they all squealed laughing for no real reason. He was made to give them a good time, regardless of what they were doing, and he loved it.
Cassie was swaying on the other side of the room, clapping her hands and laughing delightedly. He felt his grin stretch wider when he saw her. He loved her, he really loved her. He still didn’t know why she’d chosen him, to save him and gift him. He didn’t question it, either.
He watched as Sid neared Cassie, sweeping her into the air as she laughed. It warmed him to see them happy, finally, after all the shit and fighting. Sid nodded at him, and he watched as Sid and Cassie leapt onto the nearest people and bit them. He laughed, spreading his joy further throughout the room. It was something special to be able to make these people think they were enjoying themselves even as they witnessed their friends being attacked.
The music got louder, the band in the corner getting a burst of energy, and a young couple bumped into him, the girl winking and grabbing his jacket, and the boy wrapping his arm around him.
Later, when they’d disposed of the bodies and Sid had wiped the memories of the survivors, sending them on their merry way, he reclined on a lounge and closed his eyes, revelling in the drugs that had passed into his body from the partygoers. That was the worst thing about the whole immortal bit, he thought, being unable to just take drugs the old fashioned way. It didn’t hit as hard, unless the person he fed off had overdosed. He did that, sometimes, pushed them until they thought they were having the most marvellous time in the world taking too much for their bodies to handle.
Sid lay on the lounge in the corner, Cassie on top of him smiling contentedly. Her head lay on his chest, and her eyes had drifted shut. Sid was smiling pleasantly, gazing at the ceiling, running his hands lightly over her back. Chris could see that one of Cassie’s arms had reached up and was playing with Sid’s hair.
Chris loved Cassie. He also loved Sid. They were like family members he’d never had when he was alive, like people he could happily spend forever with. He didn’t want to be with either of them, not in the way they wanted to be with each other. He didn’t want to be with anyone that way, and never had. It didn’t bother him though, he thought, ignoring when Cassie leant up briefly to kiss Sid on the lips, and something inside him ached.
V^^^^^V
“But I don’t need to be cultured.” He shrugged at Cassie and Michelle, as they both rolled their eyes at him. “What?” He asked, genuinely confused.
“You don’t expect to get through college being a party boy, do you?” Michelle crossed her arms, smirking at him when he frowned.
“Hello, we’re immortal. If children can do it so can I.” He pointed at Michelle after a moment. “And they need sleep, and sexual experimentation, and loads and loads of drugs. It’ll be piece of piss.” He grinned as Michelle turned to Cassie for a moment, giving her a look he couldn’t read.
“Come to the symphony.” Cassie blinked at him, smiling.
“If you hate it, we won’t force you again, alright?” Michelle raised an eyebrow at him, and he rolled his eyes and threw his hands up turning away from them.
“Fine, but I’m not promising anything and I’m bringing pills.” He moved toward his room, as Michelle called out behind him.
“It’s not exactly the context for pills, Chris!”
What did she know? He was expecting to be bored out of his mind, slipping some ecstasy to some of the oldies and feeding off them sounded like a good alternative plan.
He heard Tony talking to someone in the yard, peering curiously out of the window and seeing him hugging a thin girl. He raised his eyebrows briefly when he realised she was a vampire.
“Effy.” Sid mumbled, standing behind him and watching them too.
“Who?” Chris frowned, looking her up and down.
“Tony’s sister. Don’t think she’s down with the whole, you know, trying to fit in thing.” Sid smirked slightly at Chris, as Chris rolled his eyes.
“Yeah well, in all honesty neither am I, mate. But you know,” He winked at Sid. “Where you and Cass go…” He trailed off as Sid patted his back.
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
They both turned to watch as the girl left the yard, and Tony walked off in the opposite direction.
“Ready?” Michelle asked behind them, and Sid snorted.
“Why do I have to go and not him, then?” Chris pointed to Sid, feeling an unfairness to the situation. “He’s as cultured as my left ball.”
“Don’t question it, mate. Clearly Cass thinks I’m more refined than you.” Sid raised his nose, skipping out of the way as Chris aimed a kick at him.
“Just come on, would you?” Michelle asked impatiently, and Chris followed her after flipping off Sid. Wanker.
The music was quite lovely, he conceded, turning in his chair to look around at all the fancily dressed oldies. Michelle jabbed him, glaring at him and motioning for him to watch the concert. Cassie was on her other side, moving her hands over the air as if conducting the orchestra herself.
He folded his arms and sank down in his seat. Blending in could fuck right off if this was what it meant, sitting and listening to people playing the music of dead composers they’d never met.
“Please welcome Jalander Fazer.” A tuxedoed man announced, as the applause had died down after a particularly spectacular piece had finished. Chris was wondering how many pills he would have to slip the fat man sitting next to him when he saw her walk to the centre of the stage and stand, holding a clarinet, and staring defiantly at the audience.
He felt himself sit forward, hands clutching the arms of his chair, and couldn’t tear his gaze from her face, or her mouth, as she played, fingers moving effortlessly over the instrument. He thought that if his heart was still beating, it would have skipped.
The piece was over too soon, and he watched her walk off the stage. He stood without meaning to, hurrying along the row of seats and exiting the auditorium. He left the theatre, turning down an alleyway and listening closely at the stage door.
She didn’t exit for half an hour, and he found he couldn’t approach her when she did. Turned his back as she walked past him, inhaled the scent of her and felt his fangs extend slightly. He didn’t want to bite her though, and it confused him for a moment.
Cassie hugged him when he emerged from the alleyway, disoriented slightly and frowning. She held him tightly, and he awkwardly patted her back after a moment.
“I’m sorry.” She whispered, pulling back and he was slightly alarmed to see she had tears in her eyes. Michelle handed her a tissue quickly, and Cassie wiped the dark liquid away before anyone else could see it.
He hated when Cassie went cryptic. Had spent countless hours trying to convince her to tell him what was going to happen in the future, bemoaning her method of not telling anyone a damned thing, instead muttering foreboding sentences and giving them all looks they could never understand until much, much later.
“For what?” He shook his head.
She shook hers in reply, and turned, walking toward the car.
He returned to the symphony every night by himself. Watched Jalander avidly, leaning forward on his chair in the front row and gazing at every part of her, instead of her neck. She was beautiful, she was magnificent. She was like a wish he’d forgotten he’d made as a child.
Every night he waited in the alleyway until she left, unable to gather enough courage to talk to her.
“What you doing?” She asked him unexpectedly one night, and he flinched with his back to her, glancing quickly over his shoulder.
“Er, hi.” He said, shoving his hands in his pockets so hard he felt them rip and turning to face her.
“Listen pervert, stop waiting here in the dark. It’s fucking creepy and I’ll report you if you don’t go away.” She had her clarinet case held out in front of her as if in threat.
“I’m not a pervert!” He stepped toward her, the stage door light illuminating his face suddenly. She seemed to relax when she saw how young he was, and the wide opened expression on his face. “I think you’re incredible.” He said, unable to control himself.
She frowned at him slightly, and then blew out a breath. “Thanks. But why do you stand here every night? My brothers are on their way to pick me up because I’m too freaked out to get home by myself.” She put her clarinet case on the ground, pulling her jacket closer around her.
He stared at her, felt himself getting lost in the slight suspicion and annoyance in her eyes.
“I wanted to talk to you but I was nervous.” He rambled at her, wondering for a moment that he was acting like he wasn’t really older than her great grandfather.
She sighed, pausing, her eyes softening slightly. “Well.” She said, as a car horn tooted at the mouth of the alleyway. “That’s sort of sweet. What’s your name?” She scrutinized him as he extended his hand.
“Chris.” He said, memorising the feel of her warm skin against his cool hand when they touched.
“Jal.” She replied, pulling her hand back after a moment of gazing at him curiously. “Don’t be nervous.” She said, beginning to walk away. “I’m not that terrifying.” She gave him a slight smile, and then turned, hurrying off to the car.
“But I am.” He said softly to her retreating form, reaching the hand that had held hers up to his face and laying it gently against his cheek.
V^^^^^V
He had been in love for the first time. Some moments, spent sitting in the park or in the car, once when he crawled into her duvet cover with her because she suddenly had an urge to be in it, he forgot he was a vampire or that she wouldn’t live forever. In those moments he understood Tony, understood suddenly what he was trying to recapture.
He didn’t tell her what he was, other than a college student who was unsure what he wanted to be in the future. When his fangs extended accidently when they were making out, or when the sun appeared, he made excuses and avoided her questions.
When he asked her what she wanted out of life, and she said steady work as a concert clarinettist, a family and happiness, he swallowed the dread that moved from his throat and settled in his stomach heavily. When he asked what would be the one thing about the world she would miss if it were to end, she replied “The sun on my face.”
“Ah.” He cleared his throat, rolling away from her for a moment, until she gently coaxed him back toward her and kissed him.
He understood, finally, what Cassie and Sid meant when they said they loved each other. Understood why Tony and Michelle sometimes looked at each other for a bit longer than necessary. Was enabled to understand why Emily, later, had chosen Naomi.
He would tell Jal, of course, eventually. He had years, really, before a noticeable age difference would be between them. Because he wanted to turn her, he wanted to spend forever with her, but he didn’t want to frighten her away. She hated fantasy, rolled her eyes at the mention of the supernatural, and had adamantly told him one day that she was perfectly acceptable that she would some day die and it made life that much more beautiful.
He would tell her, he promised himself, but when the time was right.
After all, time was something he had in abundance.
V^^^^^V
Tony caught him as he’d collapsed, unable to believe it had happened.
Of all the possibilities for the future, he had never anticipated that one. That one without Jal.
He wanted to find the driver and rip his throat out, set fire to his body, break every single bone in it. He couldn’t move though, all of his body weight held up by Tony who just hugged him.
This is what it feels like to die, he thought miserably, his real death forgotten.
“This is what I mean, Chris.” Tony said harshly in his ear, gripping him tightly as Chris felt himself weeping. “Death isn’t right. It destroys everything.” Tony shook him slightly. “Do it for her.”
Chris gripped Tony’s shoulders, pushing away from him suddenly.
“I need to be alone.” He mumbled, wiping the blood from his eyes, turning and running as fast as he could out of the house and into the surrounding countryside. It was too much. He’d had no idea his heart could hurt so badly, he thought it had died years ago.
For a few moments he wanted to keep running, screaming, until he found the sun.
V^^^^^V
“How do you feel when you look at her?” He hugged his knees to his chest, watching Emily as she worried her bottom lip with her teeth.
“I can’t describe it.” She muttered after a moment, looking out into the garden and watching Cook, Freddie and Sid talking and laughing.
“Is it like, you just forgot, for an instant, that you’re a villain?” He crossed his legs, leaning toward her slightly. “Forgot you’re not just another teenager with a crush?”
“Sort of.” She whispered, and then rolled her eyes at herself. “She’s just a mortal though. Katie’s right.”
He watched as she straightened her shoulders and then glanced at him.
“We all started out that way, remember.” He said softly, and gave her a small smile when she looked at him and frowned.
He loved Emily, loved all of them. They were his family. He would find this Naomi, he decided, and if Emily wanted her, wanted to be with her, he would do everything to protect them both. Naomi from feeling frightened at the thought of vampires, and Emily from the pain of losing someone forever.
That’s what he’d learned, he thought ruefully as he drove toward Roundview to pick Emily and Naomi up as a surprise. Everyone was unique, and special. When one person died, the whole world changed. It lost that person, lost the little bit of light they gave off, and it was gone forever.
V^^^^^V
Later, when he found out what Katie had done, he wished he’d had someone to do the same for him.
V^^^^^V
Freddie