Beginning of forever ::Audrey::

[JASON ALEXANDER WILLIAMS]

He hadn’t been a vampire long. Couple months at least. He was still trying to get use to this whole vampire thing. His family of course, his adopted family tried helping him through this. He hated hurting people and he hated almost hurting people. He tried to keep himself away as much as possible but he was learning to control his thirst more. He was learning to live off of animal blood like his family did, and the Cullen’s did. He had a good friend in Alyssa Cullen. She was constantly trying to help him and he was grateful for that. What he didn’t like was how he felt for one of her best friends, Audrey Delaney.

Audrey was beautiful and smart. He was falling for the girl who he could potentially hurt. He cared about her so he tried to stay away from her as much as possible. Staying at school was getting easier for him as he learned to control his thirst. His eyes still wasn’t the golden color that his family was. That would end in a year or so and he couldn’t wait. He hated looking at himself and seeing the red eyes, the monster that he was. Every time he saw her, heard her heartbeat he knew he could never be with her. Edward and Bella talked about how it was for when Bella was human but Edward wasn’t a newborn. He had learned to control his thirst and it was still hard for him when he was around her at first.

His family had just moved to Forks, Washington because of a mistake Jason made before. He had killed someone and he had to live with that for the rest of his life. He had to leave with the fact that he killed someone, that he had taken away someone’s brother, son, husband, maybe even father. The guilt has racked Jason for a long time. He never wanted this; he never wanted to hurt anyone. He wanted his normal life back but he knew he wasn’t going to get it. The two vampires that saved him, his parent’s, were great and he couldn’t ask for better adopted parents. They did everything they could to help him and he was grateful for that. His siblings were amazing as well. They had more experience with this than him and they did everything they could to help him. Jason had never had siblings before, it was nice.

He had been having a good day today. He went out and hunted animals of course. He got back to the house and dressed for the school day. He ran a hand through his hair as he grabbed the bag with all his books and notebooks in it. He got into his car and drove to school. He sighed as he parked and got out. He hoped he could make it through the entire school day and not have to leave early. He started heading into the school building, with his bag over one shoulder.

[AUDREY ELSPETH DELANEY]

Glancing at the digital clock sitting atop a nearby nightstand while lazily stretching in the process, Audrey fully expected to see ten minutes or so left before she’d have to truly wake. Instead, her eyes widened as she stared at the greenish albeit vibrantly glowing numbers. Waking with a sudden startle, her mouth parted with a shriek as awareness of what happened settled in. “The alarm didn’t go off!” she yelped in panicked tone, tearing out of bed and sprinting down the hall towards the bathroom. Hurriedly, she splashed cold water on her face before running a soft towel over to help dry any dampness. Back in her bedroom, Audrey tugged open dresser drawers, sending various articles of attire tossed in haywire fashion as she frantically searched for something decent to wear. “No time, no time,” she chanted to herself, finally settling on a dark blue pair of denim skinny jeans and light colored v-neck sweater. Moaning disparagingly, a hand quickly scooped the hairbrush from her dresser and ran it through the length of her cocoa colored strands before pulling it back into a loose ponytail. A record five minutes was allotted for makeup, leaving just enough opportunity to dab her cheeks with powder and add some deeper shade to naturally thick lashes. “At least it’s a Monday,” she said aloud, her gaze fleetingly trailing to peek in the mirror. She looked passable…maybe. Alright, so she looked exactly as if she’d overslept and then ran like mad trying to make up for lost time but it would have to do.

On her way outside, she tossed on her jacket and backpack, fingers closing around a banana just before the front door swung closed. The ride itself was uneventful, a collected hum from multiple students serving as background music while Audrey fished through her assignment folder, holding her breath until she found the completed essay due today, and munched her breakfast. In the frenzy not to miss the bus, she hadn’t been entirely certain whether or not the finalized homework papers were gathered or not. A sigh of relief helped soothe frazzled nerves at least somewhat so by the time the familiar school loomed straight ahead, she was already feeling a little more grounded…until her eyes fell onto the sight of none other than Jason.

Immediately, she felt a swarm of butterflies flutter deep in the pit of her stomach, her gaze unintentionally following his progress towards the front entry doors. Before she could think or consciously acknowledge exactly what she was doing, Audrey sprinted ahead, slowing only once she’d fallen into line beside him. She glanced over with a friendly smile in place but was promptly struck mute by how handsome he was, realizing too late she didn’t exactly look her best today. “Oh, hi,” she greeted too fast, nearly bumping into him as fellow students clamored past. “So, um, how are you?” she asked, feeling foolish. She didn’t have a problem making conversation with any other male yet this one in particular got her tongue-tied and almost stuttering.

[JASON ALEXANDER WILLIAMS]

Jason didn’t know if he could stay at school the whole time. He wondered if he would have to leave school early. He was hoping he wouldn’t have to. He liked coming here and seeing Audrey every day as well. He was going to do his best and try to stay there if only to see Audrey. He wouldn’t be around her by himself because he didn’t trust himself but he just wanted to see her. She made him feel alive again and it was something he liked. He had a hard time staying away from the gorgeous brunette. He had talked with Edward Cullen about this. Edward figured that Audrey was Jason’s singer like Bella had been for Edward. Jason didn’t like this idea though because he didn’t want to put Audrey in any harm or have to end up changing her. He would just admire her from a distance.

Of course that all came to an end when she came up and started speaking to him. He didn’t look at her and just looked down as she rambled on. She had always tried to talk to him alone. He just didn’t trust himself to be alone with her. Hi he mumbled still not looking at her. One hand was on the strap of his bag and the other was in his pants pocket. Of course after saying hey she just kept on rambling. When was she going to leave, he didn’t want to hurt her. He didn’t want anything to happen to her. He just had to suffer through this and be nice to her or Alyssa would kill him. He shrugged at her question and said okay I guess. He always tried to be mysterious with Audrey hoping that she would think he was creepy and stay far away from him. What about you he asked only being polite. That was how his human mother raised him after all.

What also didn’t help was that her locker was right next to his. He reached his locker and threw his bag in there taking out a notebook and book he needed for the upcoming class. He could get here and to the next class in a quick manner so he never needed to carry a lot of his books at once, most students didn’t have that luxury. Alyssa told him to just be casual with Audrey so she wouldn’t think anything was wrong. He sighed then asked how is cheerleading.

[AUDREY ELSPETH DELANEY]

His reply was disappointing, bringing a fleeting frown to her face before she chased the fleeting emotion away. He sounded almost bored by her presence and the combined refusal to even look directly at her made her stomach flip uneasily. Had she said something wrong? Perhaps came off as far too enthusiastic? Uncertain now, Audrey hesitated. The last thing she wanted was to annoy him but she couldn’t help rambling on, the anticipation of seeing him bubbling to the forefront and causing her typical casual demeanor to suddenly surge into excited chatter. His second reply was hardly any better, finally bringing the former glee down a notch. Audrey nodded as if she understood, inwardly scrambling on how to best continue without asking Alyssa for advice. “That’s good,” she told him quietly, falling into line beside him if only for the purpose of reaching her locker. It just so happened to be right next to his, a rather unexpected former situation she’d found herself gladly welcoming because if he didn’t say much, she could simply steal glances here and there, hoping he wouldn’t notice.

Busying herself by selecting the books and folders she’d need for the day’s first few classes, Audrey pretended like the awkward silence didn’t exist. She wished he’d say something instead of leaving her to feel as if her previous remarks truly were entirely unwanted. He was just a boy, she reprimanded herself and yet there was something about him which drew her in like a moth to light. It was hard not to pay attention to him. Offering a somewhat tentative smile, she was just about to tell him goodbye when he sighed and asked how cheerleading was going. The question caught her off guard, bringing her eyes to linger over his attractive face. Her sight searched his gaze as her hand gently closed the locker shut. “It’s going very well,” she replied, grinning as she thought of the last game and its narrow win. “Of course, it’s definitely a benefit having close friends be part of it too,” she added, more than willing to credit the company as part of the overall appeal. It was more fun to practice alongside best friends and they’d shared many giggles and fun times together.

If she felt braver around Jason, Audrey would’ve playfully joked about him joining but she was reduced to butterflies and blushing cheeks instead. “So, what did you do over the weekend?” she asked curiously, recalling the missed party that a vast portion of the student population was still gushing on about. The first warning bell sounded a moment later, reminding her they weren’t standing alone in a sea of familiar faces albeit it certainly felt that way for the past five minutes. Had anyone asked Audrey what else was going on around them, she’d be unable to say. Her attention was either purposefully kept staring into a dark locker while leafing through folders filled with completed assignments or peering over at the male nearby in attempt to remain discreet.

[JASON ALEXANDER WILLIAMS]

He had no idea why Audrey kept coming over to talk to him all the time. He had at times been rude to her so she would go away and leave him alone. He did this to keep her safe, but even he couldn’t be rude completely and all the time. He may have kept apologizing for his behavior after he had been rude to her. He hadn’t been raised to be rude to a woman. It wasn’t that he wanted to it was that he loved Audrey and he wanted to keep her safe. He didn’t want to hurt her. He was a monster and she deserved better than him though his family and Alyssa seem to think the two were destined for each other because of Edward and Bella.

Jason didn’t want this life for her though and Bella had been an exception. She had handled the transition well but that wasn’t always the case. He didn’t want to put Audrey through all this torment. He wanted her to have a normal life and to grow old and experience life. That is what she should life for, normal. Alyssa always tells him though that normal is overrated anyway. His mumbled hi brought a frown to her face and Jason hated himself even more. Someone as beautiful as Audrey should never frown, ever, in his opinion. He should tell her he was sorry but maybe if he held off she would leave.

Of course she didn’t though but he could hope yes. Whenever she was near him he always caught her scent and she always smell so good. He loved everything that he knew about Audrey though he tried not to know too much and yet that alone was enough to drive him crazy. He constantly wanted to hold her hand, touch her face, and kiss her lips but he knew he couldn’t. He couldn’t ever hurt her. He would make sure of that. She talked about how fun cheerleading was, how it was great to have friends on the squad, and that it was going well. Good, I am glad it’s going good he said slowly staring straight at his locker. She then asked about his weekend and he shrugged. It was okay. I read he said not saying too much. Should get to class he said and sighed because they had the same first class together and they also had to sit beside each other. Mornings were always hard for Jason.

[AUDREY ELSPETH DELANEY]

It was ironic really, how little he could say and yet how much merely hearing his voice impacted her. Her pulse raced, her heart fluttered, and she always ended up with a ridiculous smile plastered onto her face. All he basically said was good after she chatted about cheerleading but there was something more Audrey heard there, a sort of lingering interest that couldn’t possibly be feigned despite the seemingly distant exterior. Her gaze fleetingly lingered on Jason while he stared strictly straight ahead, the corners of her lips turned upward with subtle pleasure. Whether he was looking right at her or pretending to focus on the dark depths of a locker, Audrey inwardly beamed. She’d take what little he offered without complaint, the ongoing infatuation bringing butterflies to haphazardly dance inside her stomach and that was a feeling she relished even if it left her tongue-tied on occasion. No matter how few of words he said or how seemingly uninterested his demeanor conveyed, there was satisfaction gained simply from realizing the unwavering sense of excitement associated with his presence.

“Me too,” she replied with a smile, double checking the books and folders clasped loosely in her hands. “Maybe you can come watch one of the games someday,” she managed to suggest, a surge of bravery felt before her cheeks stained red. “I could probably get you a ticket as well. Sometimes the coach passes out free passes for us to hand out,” she explained, slightly mortified he might deem her to be too pushy or forward and suddenly unsure of what to say as she foolishly fumbled over words. “I mean, of course only if you’d want to go,” she hastily added, resisting the urge to hide from sheer embarrassment. When he mentioned reading, she peered back over at him, curiosity obvious as she regarded him evenly. “Anything good?” she pondered aloud, preferring a tall stack of books needing read versus running out. “I just finished reading Emma by Jane Austen,” she rambled, “Although I must admit the reason I did was because of that English paper due next week, the one detailing movie adaptations. I’m using Clueless as the book’s loosely translated, modern feel.” Hushing, Audrey feared she was becoming boring so instead she flashed a shy smile and pushed her locker door closed just as he brought up the lack of time before first period began. “See you in class,” she murmured, making a quick retreat in order to gather her wits and get her head aligned straight once more since she felt as if it were floating somewhere above her on cloud nine. His departing sigh wasn’t lost on her either, leaving her to silently wonder if the sound was reminiscent of forlorn acceptance regarding her continued chatter or mundane acceptance the school day was about to officially start.

Sliding into her seat, she withdrew yesterday’s homework assignment from her backpack. The teacher collected these the moment the bell rang to signify class was now in session. Ten minutes later, however, they were given the task of writing current vocabulary word definitions in tidy cursive formation. Audrey liked to write, the motion comforting as she watched the guided pencil form each letter, slowly but steadily filling in the spaces of the lined paper. Only once she’d finished (along with the majority of the students) did she glance at Jason again, the previous sense of curiosity returning full tilt. Her voice was kept hushed, whispered quietly so as not to draw undue attention onto them. “Jason,” she called his name, “what are you doing after school?” The question managed to elicit a giggle from the blonde girl sitting behind him who promptly launched into a childish rendition of song consisting of their names and sitting in a tree. Audrey’s blush deepened noticeably, her sight dropping as she stared at her desktop instead. She couldn’t deny the way she felt drawn to him, nibbling on lower lip as she doodled random shapes along the edge of her spiral notebook as a means of distraction.