Amber eyes glowed eerily in the night, a playful smirk gracing her lips. Lucas stared at her, captivated by her radiant presence. The woman who had ambushed him was someone he recognized instantly, a main character from this world.
Alice Cullen had short, black hair; its pixie-cut style framed her delicate face, accentuating her keen, expressive features. Her slender, almost impossibly lithe body was clad in black leather pants, heeled boots, and a cream-colored sweater that seemed to catch the faint light.
There was an undeniable, almost otherworldly vivacity about her, a light step in her posture that suggested she might simply float away at any moment.
"Uh, hi there?" Lucas said, turning fully, his eyes tracing her form from top to bottom.
"You're a bit far into the forest, aren't you?" she said, an eyebrow raised as she swayed slightly, a subtle, almost imperceptible shift of weight that hinted at her lively nature.
Standing up, Lucas crossed his arms, weighing his options.
"Well, I may have wandered a bit too deep. My jog sort of turned into a full-blown sprint, and now I'm here." A small smile touched his lips, a lingering thrill from the run still buzzing through him.
Alice hummed, her gaze taking Lucas in, her amber eyes seeming to delve deep, yet without malice.
He looked to be between seventeen and nineteen, with an unusually developed physique for a human. His height was well above average, around 6'3". Black hair and electric blue eyes accented his features.
"I can tell!" she said, her voice light and musical, like wind chimes in a gentle breeze, as she skipped closer to Lucas, who remained rooted at the river's edge. Her movements were fluid, almost too quick to follow, yet utterly graceful.
"You must be really lost, you're standing right near the boundary line to my family's home. Oh, I'm Alice, Alice Cullen!" She took another step, a gentle smile blooming on her face, a smile that held both warmth and a hint of knowing amusement.
A flush crept up Lucas's neck. He inwardly cringed. 'Seriously, Lucas? You couldn't have paid any attention to where you were going tonight? Idiot.'
"Sorry about that, I didn't mean to intrude. I'll leave now!"
Scratching his head, Lucas stepped past Alice, ready to make his exit. He'd only taken a few steps when Alice called out to him.
"Wait, you didn't even tell me your name? It's the least you could do." A playful glint entered her amber eyes.
Pausing his steps, Lucas turned around, a slightly awkward expression on his face.
"My bad, I'm Lucas Ambrose. I just moved into town a couple of days ago." He scratched the back of his neck, facing her.
"The place on Millers Road?" Alice murmured, her head tilting. "Oh, sorry! I'm not a stalker or anything, just… my father's friends with most of the town, so he knows all the gossip. Small town news spreads fast, you know?"
Lucas paused momentarily, her words jolting him back to the previous night.
'Was it her I saw? Or someone from her family passing by on a hunt?'
Clearing his throat, Lucas nodded. "That's the place. I thought I'd be unknown for a while though." He chuckled softly, finding a stump to sit on, then gestured to another for Alice.
"So Alice, what are you doing out here so late in the day? No offense, but your clothes don't scream 'I love hiking'."
As she sat down, Alice gasped dramatically. "How dare you! I'll have you know a girl is always dressed for the appropriate occasion. This combination is specifically my Intruder Hunter set."
Lucas smirked at her words, and Alice's smile widened in response as she leaned back on the stump.
"I was actually taking a moment to myself." Pushing a strand of hair behind her ear, she turned her gaze to the tree canopy.
"A house with seven people can become a bit suffocating every so often. We're all night owls so sometimes I take a late evening stroll to relax."
Lucas nodded, understanding, adjusting his sitting position.
'Makes sense, they're literally unable to sleep. Being able to hear every conversation in a house would be mind-numbing.'
"Damn, seven?" Lucas asked, feigning surprise.
Alice swayed her head slightly, as if to an unheard rhythm, and nodded. "We're all adopted, but Carlisle and Esme, our parents, always take care of us."
Watching her, Lucas wondered where Jasper currently was. His human hearing couldn't pick up on any sounds surrounding them apart from the natural nightlife of the forest.
Unsure how to respond to her, they both sat there in a comfortable silence, allowing the sounds of nature to sweep over them.
"Do you go to Forks High as well? I'll be doing my junior year this year." Lucas asked, breaking the quiet.
Alice's eyes lit up, her upper body perking. "We'll probably be classmates then!"
'I wouldn't be opposed to spending more time with her,' Lucas thought, a warmth spreading through him. 'She's quite nice, and I won't be stupid enough to say I'm not attracted to her.'
His gaze flickered over Alice again, appreciating how breathtaking she looked in the moonlight filtering through the canopy.
Coughing, Lucas abruptly stood up and brushed the dust from his pants.
"Well, I should probably head home." His head swiveled, trying to orient himself. "That is… if I can find out which way," he muttered under his breath.
"Oh." Alice's voice was softer now, a hint of disappointment in the single word.
Alice stood up and pointed to her left. "Head directly that way, and you'll hit Millers Road." She offered a light smile as he followed her pointed finger.
"Thanks!" Nodding, Lucas turned and began walking before stopping once again.
"Hey Alice?"
"Yeah?"
"It was really nice meeting you. If you're ever bored, or would like to show the new guy around town, you're welcome to stop by my house."
Lucas grimaced after extending the invite, as Alice fell silent, her expression unreadable for a beat too long.
"Sure!" Her voice chirped, returning to its usual lightness.
A gentle smile touched his lips at her confirmation, before Lucas waved at Alice and turned back towards the forest, beginning his trek home with a newfound lightness in his step.
———
Author's Note: Hey all! Sorry for the delay in yesterdays chapters. As compensation we'll have four drop today. I purchased a new computer and had some issues with transferring data (my chapters).
This interaction was kept short, but sweet as there will be many more to come. As you can see I'm not doing the whole "mating" trope. I find it lacking and.. and easy route for romance.
If you have questions about Alice and her story, please wait as things will eventually be explained more.
Much love! (1/4 Chapters released today.)
Let's get to 300PS today!