Re: Being Human

[• Echo]

Ailish gently rubbed small circles in the Werewolf's back, absentlymindedly staring out across the water. She hadn't expected that connecting with Terra would bring back all the feelings and memories she had desperately tried to bury, only allowing them to graze the surface when she needed all the anger she could get. Now, she felt like that same lost girl on that night her life had been torn apart, feeling lost. But, she wasn't her anymore; she had changed, for better or worse, and she couldn't go back. And now, her sense of injustice had grown stronger, leaving her with more direction. She would find that man, and she would make him pay for everything he had cruelly taken from her. But, she wasn't going to leave just yet. How could she? This was the first time in so long she had actually felt like she might be doing something right, like everything she was going for wasn't all a waste. And she wasn't about to throw it away.

Footsteps broke into her thoughts, and she lifted her head up to examine JD as he approached her, slowly closing off her mind from him and sealing her thoughts from his, suddenly realizing that she hadn't yet done that. Her hand slowly slid along Terra's arm as JD picked her up, before she slowly pulled herself up off of the ground to stand beside him, ignoring the fact that his lanky build easily towered over her slight form. She couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips when Terra mumbled barely coherant words that might have been intimidating if she weren't half asleep. Holding back a laugh, she tilted her head back to look up and JD and shrugged her shoulders.

"Unless you have someplace else in mind," she said quietly, though her words lacked the usualy venom in them, leaving her with a more tired, empty sound. She was exhausted, more mentally than physically, and just wanted to go home and crawl into her bed to go to sleep. 'You have no home,' she reminded herself mentally, which did nothing to help the abandoned feeling crawling its way up her throat.

[LoveOnHerArms]

Shifting the sleeping werewolf in his arms a little JD looked down at Ailish and shook his head. "Nope I don't" He said and started walking back to the car holding Terra. Letting out breath he looked down at the sleeping girl and closed his eyes for a moment, he wished there was a better way to take away the pain she had felt but the only way he could think of was holding back the memorizes again, something they just couldn't do again. Sighing he shook his head and looked over at Ailish. " You alright?" He asked, unlike Andy he didn't like going through others minds, unless it was food then that was free game but like Ailish first off the girl would kill him in a heart beat with out thinking twice about it, and to JD it was invading privacy, sure he'd hack into government things with out blinking but someones mind? That was different.

He had noticed she looked tired and worn out, that and her voice didn't have the bit it normally had. Walking to the car, he managed to get the the back door opened and laid Terra down, she mumbled softly and curled up in the back seat. Closing the door, he looked over at Ailish " Want me to drive?" He asked moving over to the front of the car rubbing the back of his neck. Andy was probably going up the walls by now but JD really didn't care at the moment.

[• Echo]

Ailish almost did not hear JD ask if she was alright; as it was, she only heard his voice muffled, as if she were talking to her from a great distance. Lifting her head up, her eyes met his for a brief moment, before she looked away, shrugging her shoulders slightly. "Yeah, I'm fine," she lied, forcing her tone to remain indifferent, uncaring. She could see the look he gave him, but ignored it and pretended she hadn't seen anything.

"Huh?" Her eyes moved to the car, just as she was pulling the keys from her pocket. This car was her baby; it wasn't very inconspicuous, it was a Hyundai sports car painted an electric blue, but she absolutely loved it. Someone had once told her she acted like a guy with cars, but she figured it wasn't really her fault that she liked things that were sleek, fast, and easy to manuever. Biting her lip slightly, she twisted the keys in her hand as she took a slow step forward.

"No, I will," she said, shaking her head slightly. "I've seen how slow you drive," she joked half-heartedly. Besides, maybe driving would get out some of her {word I can't find}.

[LoveOnHerArms]

Rubbing the back of his neck JD looked over at her and just shrugged at her answer, it wasn't hard for him to see that she was lying about it, but wasn't about to press on and see what was really the matter. She looked a little lost and in a different world at the moment when he asked if she wanted him to drive. She looked at him confused for a moment before snapping a little out of it. Shrugging JD nodded "Alright" He chuckled with a faint smirk at the last bit " Oh funny"

Sliding into the passenger seat, he turned in his seat to look back at Terra, the girl was curled up in the back seat sleeping peacefully, that was a good thing right? She wasn't having any nightmares, letting out a breath JD ran a hand through his short hair and leaned back into the seat. Andy was probably freaking out or beating something up at the moment but honestly he really didn't care, all that he cared about at the moment was that Terra was still really angry at them, the possibly of her leaving them was still in the air. Glancing over at Ailish then back at Terra he mumbled softly under his breath before leaning back into the seat again.


(Blah....sorry it's so short)

[• Echo]

Nah, you're fine.



Climbing into the driver's seat, she twisted the key into the ignition, listening to the engine come back to life with a soft growl. Running her fingers over the heating system, she adjusted it to a new temperature, debating turning on the radio, though she decided against it and let her hand fall away. Once Terra and JD were in, she slowly pulled out of the parking lot, backtracking the route she had used to get to the park in the first place in her mind. It was late now, just after one, she realized when she looked at the clock in the car, and the roads were nearly empty. 'Andy must have flipped by now, she thought dryly to herself, and subconciously pressed down a little heavier on the gas pedal, feeling the car accelerate beneath her.

Driving was such a mindless, subconcious thing to her by now, and so she distracted herself by memorizing everything that flew past her from outside the car, in order to not think. Replaying songs she knew constantly in her mind, counting the miles, minutes, seconds that passed before finally she was on the same street the motel was on.

Easing up on the gas, the engine of the car slowed to an idling purr before finally it stopped altogether when she pulled in and parked, pulling the key from the ignition.

[LoveOnHerArms]

Jd leaned back in his seat staying silent as Ailish drove back to the hotel, he was mad at himself and at Andy for keeping everything from Terra, but for months she would wake up screaming from the nightmares, fear in her eyes, she wasn't eating and well she was just so scared from what happened that they put the memories deep into her mind hiding them from her. After that she was fine. Shaking his head Jd glanced back at the sleeping werewolf then over at the other silent vampire, who looked like she wasn't all there just driving while her mind was someplace else.

When they got to the hotel parking lot Jd let out a breath rubbing the back of neck before getting out and opening the back door, he was wondering if Ailish was alright but he was not about to ask, she was Andy's girl even if they didn't act like it, there was something going on with them and Jd was not about to get into it. Picking up Terra he smiled faintly as she mumbled softly nuzzling her face into his shoulder and neck and with a shuttery sigh fell back into a deep sleep. He looked over at Ailish before walking back into the hotel. Andy would be pissed but he really didn't care at the moment, walking back up to the room with Ailish he shifted the sleeping werewolf in his arms once before looking at the door. "Would you get the door? My hands are a little full"


(Glack....Sorry it sucks >.< )

[• Echo]

Following JD into the room, Ailish nodded slightly, already reaching for the brass handle. Her nose wrinkled slightly when she caught the lingering scent of Chase, but the trace was old, and there was no sign of him left in the room. She guessed Andy was in the bathroom, since he wasn't immediately there when they came in.

Watching JD place Terra carefully on the bed, Ailish fingered the cheap fabric of the comforter covering one of the beds.



(Wow. My brain just left, such a shame after the muse last night D; )

[LoveOnHerArms]

Walking into the room JD laid Terra onto the bed carefully and covered her up with a faint smile then looked around the room with a frown about to ask where Andy was but he walked out of the bathroom hair damp in just basketball shorts. "Did you fine her?" He all but barked out before for he saw the sleeping werewolf, he moved over but JD stopped him with a light sneer "Just leave her alone for a little bit Andy, she's still utterly pissed with us and needs some time" Glaring at him Andy looked at Terra then to JD "Fine..." He looked over at Ailish and let out a breath moving over to a duffel bag, pulled out a shirt and pulled it one before sinking in the chair.
"Where did you find her at?" JD snorted leaning against the wall arms crossed over his chest "In a park, crying and freaking out, from everything we kept hidden" Andy just sent JD a 'drop dead' look before looking at Ailish surprised that she didn't have a snippy comment to add or something.

(Aww it's fine, mines not all the great)

[• Echo]

Ailish's eyes followed Andy for a moment when he stepped out of the shower, trailing over his bare chest and simple basketball shorts before she looked away, stepping away from the bed and towards the dresser. Honestly, she didn't want to get into the little stand-off going on between Andy and JD right now. Surprisingly, she watched as Andy backed down and agreed to leave her be for now. Her eyes flit to Andy again, a little surprised. She was used to him being more stubborn than that. But, then again, Terra was like family to him, it was more expected.

Looking up to find Andy watching her, she just shrugged slightly. "Well, it's getting late," she announced suddenly. "And, in all honesty, I would actually like to get some sleep. So if you two are going to continue this, please do it while I take a shower and get it all out of your system before I come back, that way I don't have to deal with it or try to sleep through it. Oh, and try not to wake Terra." Moving past Andy, she knelt down beside her own duffel bag, digging through it to try to find something decent to wear to bed. Unfortunately, the only things she ever really slept in much anymore were mens' old T-shirts (only most of them Andy's) and her underwear, but she didn't exactly feel like wearing that to bed tonight. Swallowing tightly, she grabbed a pair of cotton night shorts and a tank top before she stood up again, glancing at the boys before she headed into the bathroom.

Closing and locking the door behind her, she barely glanced at her reflection in the mirror before she moved past the long counter to the shower bath, turning on the water. Turning back to the mirror, she placed her palms on the counter and braced herself against it, studying herself.

[LoveOnHerArms]

Looking at her Andy got back to his feet arms crossed over his chest waiting for her comment. He was surprised when she started talking not giving a snippy comment or anything just telling them she'd like some sleep and if they were going to continue fighting, she wanted them to do it while she showered so she didn't have to deal with it after her shower and all that, then told them not to wake Terra. Andy snorted giving her a look as she moved past him to her duffel bag for some clothes. JD moved over to the desk and flipped open his laptop, his fingers worked over the keys as the sound of the keys went into the room. " Oh don't worry Im done talking with Andy for now..." He said eyes never leaving the screen as his hands went over the keys smoothly.

Andy growled low in his throat giving JD a look before watching Ailish walk into the bathroom and close the door, growling again he walked over to the empty bed and sat down, running a hand through his messy hair, he looked over at Terra sleeping and shook his head rubbing the back of his neck now, listening to the water running in the bathroom. Andy was spoiling for a fight and everyone knew it, JD was just flat out ignoring him while Ailish was showering also ignoring him, he could either go work out in the gym in the hotel or just go to sleep, he didn't want to leave Terra again so he grabbed the remote for the tv and turned it on low. Leaning against the headboard he flipped through channels until he found something decent to watch.
JD staid at the desk on his laptop before finely getting up,moving to his duffel bag and pulled out some shorts and a clean shirt. He changed then sat back down at the desk going back to ignoring Andy and looking different things up. Terra just curled up more in her sleep letting out a sigh every now and then.

word count-349

[• Echo]

Ailish stayed there and studied her reflection for a moment or two, noticing the slight shadows that had formed beneath her eyes. Her blue eyes were more of a steel-grey at this point, bright and flashing, though they had lost some of their former, intensifying splendor.

She could feel heat waves begin to curl at the back of her neck and turn her hair into frizzy wisps, fogging up the edges of the mirror, as well. Turning, she made her way back to the shower bath, adjusting the water to a temperature she was satisfied with, before dragging the curtain shut and beginning to strip down. Once she was fully naked, she paused, suddenly feeling somewhat self-concious even though no one was in the bathroom with her, and she covered her chest with her arms. Again, she caught a glance at herself in the mirror, this time fixing on the long script tattoo that ran down her side, across her ribs, from several decades ago, when she was only 16, before she had died. Written in elegant, cursive black lettering, with fancy lines and shady, was:

' OnlyGod
can
Judge me.'

And that was only one out of many. Glancing down, her eyes caught on the small sun tattoo on her right foot. On her left wrist, the names of her young band was inked into her skin, as well as the day they had been murdered. On that same forearm, was the pulse of a heart beat on a hospital monitor. It beat three times before flatlining. Behind her right ear, on her neck, was a small ace. On the front of either hip, right were the skin was soft on her midsection, were a dagger, pointing down.

Sighing quietly, she let her eyes fall from the mirror, stepping slowly into the shower. The warm water felt soothing, caressing her back gently and removing her body of the grime and dirt that had accomodated there throughout the day. 'If only,' Ailish thought to herself, 'simple water could erase my past, as well.' Although she was proud of the woman she was today, there were regrets and sins in her life that she wished she could get rid of, but that was impossible, without completely changing herself. But she couldn't help but imagine how much easier things might be, if she had never left that warehouse so long ago. Most likely, she would be dead. But, there was a possibility that, if she were there, her and her young ones would still be alive. Perhaps not together, or maybe something else would have taken them or one of them out, but then none of this would be happening. She would not have become so mean, nor gained such a fearsome reputation, and, most importantly, perhaps she might actually be happy.

Once she felt clean, she switched off the water, wrapping her long, tanned body in a white, fluffy hotel towel. Running a hand through her long, nearly black hair, which had begun to curl from the humidity and water and was now in neat little ringlets, she stepped out to stand in front of the fogged up mirror again. Not looking at the fuzzy reflection of herself, she dried off quickly, before throwing on the shorts and tanktop and brushing her teeth. Scrunching up her hair with her hands slightly, she fixed the curls so they fell neatly down her back, she gathered up her clothes and toiletries and exited the bathroom, hardly glancing at Andy or JD as she dropped to the floor beside her duffel bag.





Word Count: 599 words.

[LoveOnHerArms]

Leaning against the headboard legs stretched out in front of him Andy watched the tv a faint grimace on his lips, tv still sucked, it didn't really matter what year it was tv still sucked. Andy remembered when tv's first came out, geez he felt old. And well Andy was old from the early eighteen hundreds in fact, that made him...God he really didn't want to think about it, now he knew it was a bragging right when you were old in a vampire's world, that you matured, powers got stronger and all in all you became better but at the moment he didn't want to think abut i. So many things in his past he wished he could have changed. Then again the events that had happened would have never made him into the man he was today, besides that he wouldn't have met JD or found Terra. Him and JD may fight and butt heads all the time but they were best friends, had each others backs when push came to shove, and Terra well honestly the vampire couldn't think of a life not finding the little red werewolf. She was a hot headed jumped before she thought,opened her big mouth a lot and had a feisty 'I can do it' attitude, short and had a temper to match little red werewolf. but she could get the boys to smile and even when she caused hell. They were the 'Three Amigos' Two vampires and a werewolf.

Shaking his head Andy looked back at the tv and groaned flipping the channel again glancing over at the bathroom door, half listening to the low tv half listening to the water running in the bathroom. What was taking Ailish so long? Andy knew her pretty well or had known her like the back of his hand, and she wasn't one to take forever in the bathroom unless she was stressed and wanting to be alone. Why was he even thinking about it? Shaking his head again he tried to focus back on the tv with a slight scowl on his face.
JD looked over at Andy and rolled his eyes, closed his laptop and got to his feet, he moved over to the bed with Terra in it and sighed shaking his head, it amazed him how such a small girl could take up so much of the bed. He gently pushed her more to the right side before sliding into the bed and tried to take some of the covers, Terra let out a sigh curling up more into them. JD gave up on trying to take any and leaned against the headboard looking at the tv, not really watching but he wasn't tired and couldn't focus on the task he had been doing on his laptop.
Both boys looked over at the bathroom door when it opened, JD looked at Ailish them back to the tv looking rather board. Andy on the other hand watched her move over to her duffel bag and dropped all of her things into it. He didn't say anything just watched her with dark green eyes, his shaggy hair a messy falling against his forehead.

Word count-533

[• Echo]

Shoving her toiletries bag down as far as she could into her duffel, she slowly folded her clothes, even though they were worn from the day, and placed them in the back. Pushing her dark hair from her face, she rocked back onto her heels, her hand lingering over where she knew the tattoo was. Even after so many years, she could swear that she could still feel the needle scraping against her bare, sensitive flesh, marking her forever. However, she would never give up any of her tattoos for just about anything in the world; they defined her. Every so often, she would get a new one. Sure, she was constantly changing, and some of the older tattoos no longer suited her personality, but they gave her a history, and they gave her a future to look forward to. They were somewhat like her souvenirs of the past. Or they were exactly that.

Ailish, without turning around, could somehow sense someone watching her. And, considering Terra was still sleeping, and she doubted JD would be caught dead staring at her, she knew it was Andy. Pausing, she swallowed thickly past the lump that had begun to form in her throat, and looked down at the bag. Reaching into a side pocket, she pronounced a small jewelry box, and, with the greatest of care, opened it. Inside was a silver necklace, the chain smooth and cool against her skin. The pearl was fairly large, a milky white, perfect circle with a decent sized diamond above it, and two sapphires on either side of the diamond, in the sections melding the base with the chain.

Running her fingers slowly over the small jewels, Ailish hesitated a moment before she slowly placed the necklace back in its case and set it carefully in her bag, as though she had just needed to remind herself that it was still there, that it was still safe. Zipping up the bag, she straightened up slowly, taking a deep breath before she turned to face the beds. JD was now laying with Terra, leaving the other bed open to her and Andy. Meeting Andy's gaze for a brief moment, she walked slowly over to the left side of the bed, the side she always, always slept on (it was that or sprawled across the entire damn thing, for her, which still usually ended up happening, whether she was alone or with a partner in the bed), and sat down on the slightly scratchy, but still somewhat soft, cheap motel comforter. At least the boys were no longer fighting. Running her fingers over the fabric, she looked up at Andy again before sighing softly to herself and climbing in, facing the other, empty side of the bed. She curled onto her side, legs pulled up halfway to her chest, right arm flung under the pillow and therefore under her head, left hand tucked beneath her chin. She listened without speaking to the tv, wishing someone would turn off the light, so she wouldn't have to guess at whether or not they wanted it on.





Word Count: 517 words

[LoveOnHerArms]

JD glanced over at Ailish as she moved over to her duffel bag before looking back at the tv laying down, he didn't even try to get more covers from Terra just took what he got covered up a little and turned his back to Andy and Ailish, closed his eyes and let sleep come over him.

Andy was watching Ailish squat down beside her duffel bag, shoving her things into it then rocked back on her heels, her hand lingering on her skin no doubt where a tattoo was.
Andy himself had tattoos here and there over his body, it was a way of remembering the past for him, they told stories of where he'd been, what he'd come from, how far he'd come and what had changed in his life. Rebel in Spanish that dripped down under his waist line of his right hip/ lower abdomen was from the years he had been rebelling against the world, hell at that point in his life he had joined a gang. He had a black and red cross on his left bicep, a Phoenix on his right shoulder blade, and one day when he got completely wasted he had gotten a grin with fangs on under the cross.

Shaking he head Andy looked at Ailish as she pulled out a small jewelry box, he couldn't quiet see what was in it but the way Ailish touched it delicately he was sure if was something that meant a lot her her. He watched her put it away and get to her feet, round the bed and moved to the left side of the bed. A wary grin came to his lips remembering, she always slept on the left side used to tell him it was either the left side or the whole bed and she wasn't lying about that, Andy had woken up in the middle of the night him almost on the edge of the bed while she was sprawled out, those night he would chuckle before moving to the middle of the bed, his arms going around her holding her too him before falling asleep again. Gaze moving from her back to the tv Andy shook his head listening to Ailish crawl under the covers, he glanced over to find her curled up back to him under the blankets. OH how badly he wanted to touch her but Andy didn't just gave up on the stupid tv turned it off and set the remote on the nightstand, before flicking off the light. "Goodnight Ailish" He said softly laying down himself and sighed softly closing his eyes waiting for sleep to take him and fighting the urge to take Ailish in his arms or at lest be touching her.


Word count-459....Sorry I rambled on a bit in this one

[• Echo]

Ailish heard Andy's sigh, and she held her breath slightly as the tv clicked off, followed by the light. The remote made a soft clacking sound as he placed it on the table standing between the two beds, and Ailish felt the bed dip beside her as he lay down, pushing the covers back before pulling them overtop of him. She hardly dared to breath as the room fell completely silent, her eyes open and staring off into the darkness. He seemed to be careful not to touch her, though Ailish's body yearned silently for the contact, mentally and physically, if only for some sense of comfort.

After a short minute, Ailish slowly stretched out her legs downwards slightly, rolling onto her other side, to face Andy. Even in the dark, she could see perfectly well, and for a moment, she just watched his chest fall up and down with every breath, moving a little too quickly, not yet deep enough, for him to be sleeping yet.

"Goodnight," she said softly back, moving her eyes up to study the features over his face. His eyes were closed, for the time being, his features seemingly set in stone, long and drawn, unmoving, frozen, still. She wished she knew what he was thinking, and had to refrain from opening up her mind again to him. She already felt so vulnerable, and letting him feel her emotions and thoughts might only make her feel worse.

Sighing quietly, her eyes flickered down to her wrist, her right hand moving of its own accord to trace the ink imprinted into her skin, the names and the single death date. She had met them after Andy and her had split up, and she knew he had no idea of any of the things that had happened to her between the last time they'd seen each other and now, that he had no idea of any of the things she had done. A small part of her wanted to tell him, wanted him to find out, but she didn't think she was ready to tell anyone yet, especially him, especially not now. It was too much for even her to comprehend; time passed by so quickly, but at the same time it felt like an eternity and a half, when she thought of everything that had happened in the last several decades.





Word Count: 395 words.

[LoveOnHerArms]

Laying down on the bed, head against the pillow Andy shifted a little sliding one arm under the pillow eyes closed and trying to get his brain to shut off, you would think you'd learn how to turn your brain off after years upon years of being alive but no Andy still struggled to turn his brain off at night and Ailish laying beside him on the bed was not helping any.
He wanted to touch her badly, he always slept better with Ailish, and used to tell her all the time, she was his sleeping drug at night, she would roll her eyes with a laugh but he was telling the truth when he was holding Ailish or at lest touching her he slept like a baby...Or as well as a vampire could sleep. He listened to Ailish move around on the bed and tell him 'goodnight' back softly. He smiled lightly at that and yawned shifting his weight a little before finely falling asleep, his breathing turned slower and deeper.


It was morning when Terra woke up, rolling over and slowly opening her eyes and blinking, trying to get the sleep out of her eyes, everything was blurring. Yawning she sat up and pushed hair out of her face looking around and rubbing her eyes. She was in the hotel with Ailish,JD and Andy. Yawning again Terra frowned sliding out of the bed and slipping into the bathroom, closing the door she sighed looking at herself in the mirror, her red hair was wild mess, threatening to eat someone, she was a little pale and her hazel eyes didn't spark in them, they held a wary look in them. She could remember everything that happened in her past, the voices had finely stopped but she could still see them and remember everything. Shaking her head she let out a breath resting her forehead against the door for a moment before straightening up and slipping back out of the bathroom. Moving across the floor silently she moved to her bag pulled out shorts,a band shirt and socks, she changed quickly grabbed a card key slipped that into her back pocket then her shoes before walked out the door closing it behind her quietly. Pulling her hair back into a ponytail as she walked down the hallway down to the main floor, she was hungry and wanted to be alone. She took the stairs, jogging down them trying to keep the thoughts back as she pushed the door open and walked into the lobby slipping to the crowd making her way to the restaurant.

Word count -437

[• Echo]

Ailish watched him for a little while longer, unable to look away. With a quiet, nearly inaudible sigh, she stretched her arm back above her head, hiding the tattoos back under the pillow, her right arm curled against her chest as she turned onto her stomach, head looking across the empty room again. Closing her eyes, she willed herself to sleep.


The night was fairly cold; or at least, it was colder than what Alice was used to as she walked down the streets of Belfast, Ireland. She had once thought New York, where she had spent the last few decades, was cold, but it was nothing compared to the chill of Northern Ireland in the winter, where the temperature rarely rose above 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Funny, she was born and raised in Ireland, but she had become used to the sun of Hollywood, California, and the heat of Miami, Florida, the two places she had spent the most time recently for several years. All her old leads had gone cold, and she had decided to lay low for a bit, shake the bush and see what flew out. Eventually, Riftkan had believed she had disappeared, and he had started up again, and word had spread. Ireland. When she had heard, she had laughed out loud at the irony of it. What an idiot. Did he really think he could hide from her in the place she knew best? She had grown up on these streets, and it seemed that now, even when she no longer lived, she found herself returning to the same country. He had guts coming here. Or he was just stupid. Alice believed it must be the latter, though if that were entirely true, he wouldn't have the reputation he did, and she would have killed him long ago.

A slight shiver raised the hair on Alice's arms and the back of her neck, and she pulled her heavy black jacket tighter around her. Rolling her shoulders back, she came to a stop, looking up and down the empty street. She was in the inner part of the city, where the pigeons were everywhere and the air was thick and heavy, dark. It seemed everything was in shades of gray and brown here, desolate and forlorn looking on a night like this, where everyone was inside. It wasn't so bad during the day, when people came out and it was noisy, but this was the complete opposite. The stars above were blocked out for the most part by a layer of clouds that threatened to open up at any moment, and which had just stopped pouring rain from only moments ago.

Shrugging her shoulders, she kept going. A car passed her; she ignored it. Only once it was out of sight did she relax again though. It wasn't until much later did she become aware that she was being tailed. It was early morning, and people were becoming to come out and walk around. But the tall, male figure constantly appearing behind her was becoming all too familiar. Stopping at a closed store, she looked at the window, pretending to be window shopping, though she was really checking the reflections of the people behind her. There he was again, just strolling along. This time, when he seemed to think she wasn't looking, did he lift his head to look directly at her, watching her for a minute. Yep. Definitely a tail.

Turning away from the window, she kept going, walking down the streets as though nothing were wrong, until she ducked down a side-alley, making sure the man following her saw her go. Pausing, she looked around, before she stealthily climbed the metal railing that went up the side of the building she stood next to, ducking low on the balcony it led to. She waited. A few minutes later, the same man walked slowly down the alley, almost cautiously. Gauging the distance from the balcony to the ground, Alice waited until he passed before she leapt, landing nimbly behind him. Although she was small, and the man was much taller than her, she was fast and nimble, and knew the human body and its weak points. Catching him by surprise, she removed the small dagger strapped to her waist beneath her shirt, wrapping one slim, tanned arm around his neck, jerking him roughly to her with more strength than one would suspect from first looking at her. Her free hand pressed the blade against his neck, threatening him to dare to move.

"Don't," she breathed into his ear, bending him backwards at an uncomfortable angle (for him) so she could reach his neck, when she felt his body tense, as though he were planning to retaliate. "Who are you?"

"George Washington," he answered dryly, grunting in pain when she brought her arm tighter around his throat.

"Wow, someone's got a sense of humor. Well, then, George," she said in a slightly mocking tone, rolling her eyes. "Why are you following me?"

"I think," he started, trying to ease some of the pressure she was creating in his back, but failing, "that this isn't exactly the best way to greet someone you just met." A little taken aback, Alice loosened her grip slightly, letting her guard down long enough for him to twist out of her grip and pin her against the nearest wall. The knife dropped out of her hand, falling to the asphalt with a clacking sound. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she heard the end chip.

"Well that's great, you just broke my knife. That was one of my favorites," she said snippily, angry at herself for letting him take advantage of her lapse in concentration. "You can let me go now." If he was going to kill her, he would have done it already. His eyebrows furrowed together, before he slowly let her up from the wall. Alice watched him suspiciously.

"So who are you?" she asked again as he rubbed his neck slightly. He watched her with the same wary expression.

"Andy."



It didn't seem to be too much longer when she opened her eyes again. Sometime during the night, she had rolled onto her back, until she was right next to Andy, though somehow not quite touching him. Staring up at the white ceiling, she blinked a few times, before she turned her head to look at the sleeping man beside her. Sitting up, she shifted slightly away from him, folding her legs beneath her. Her sudden movement caused him to stir, and she caught her breath, her eyes turning to watch his face as he shifted in his sleep, waiting to see if he would wake up.





Word Count: 1,119 words.

[LoveOnHerArms]

A slight frown on her face Terra made her way through the morning crowd to the restaurant, her nose picking up on everything. The men that wore way too much cologne, the ladies waring too much perfume, the carpet cleaner, glass cleaner. Everything but the one smell she was focused on was the smells coming from the restaurant, making her stomach growl while she licked her lips, hands shoved into her pockets she smiled at the waiter, walking over to a empty table and sat down, scanned the place before looking back over and giving a smile to the waiter again. "Coffee please" She told him taking the menu, looking down at it she nibbled on her bottom lip, only glancing up at a different sound that caught her attention. She couldn't pick out any other werewolves or vampires or anything else for that matter besides humans, that was a good thing. Letting out a breath Terra nodded a thanks to the waiter took a sip of her coffee before telling him what she wanted. He left and she sighed rubbing her forehead. The screams and voices ad stopped but the images were still raw in her mind, how could Andy and JD take that away from her? Sighing again she took a drink of the coffee before looking down at the table, thinking. She was still really mad and upset with the boys and wasn't going to be talking to them anytime soon.
No they hid her past from her, it was a nightmare but she remember how her mom looked now, what her dad had and her siblings. They had taken that away from her, shaking her head Terra squeezed her eyes closed holding her head in her hands while she got a grip on her emotions. "Im not about to cry..Im not about to cry" She whispered to herself over and over again blocking out everything else, the sounds, smells...everything. Her heart squeezed again as she sucked in a hiss trying her best not to cry in the middle of the restaurant in the middle of the hotel filled with strangers, and fighting the urge to go running back up to the room and sob into Andy's chest.
When she was younger after he had found her, he always told her he 'would try and make it better' when something went wrong, he fought off the monsters and nightmares at night kept her safe all the time and had taught her almost everything she knew, he was always there. JD had been always there too like the older brother, there to make your life miserable, yet ready to beat the crap out of the boys that hurt her. Andy had been is was like a over protective brother and dad rolled into one, even thou she was over a hundred years old he still acted like her dad at times.
Now was one of those times she wishes she could cry into his chest and he would make everything better, but he was the one that caused the pain in her, how could he fix that?

Sleeping Andy was vaguely aware that Ailish was laying close to him but not touching, he could feel her body heat, smell her, hear her and well even with out all of that, Andy could tell you that Ailish was right next to him in the bed. Even in his sleep the man could tell you that. When she shifted in the ed sitting up and crossing her legs Andy stirred with a soft groan, nuzzling his face more into the pillow rolling onto his stomach and stretching out more. It probably was go thing she had sat up, from how he was now stretched out on the bed, hugging the pillow, his face nuzzled into it.
"I can feel you watching me" He grumbled groaning softly again burying his face more into the pillow with a sigh before finely opening one eye and looking over at Ailish with a dazed sleepy look "Morning" Was the grumble, Andy wasn't a morning person, it didn't matter how old he was, mornings still sucked, he liked staying up late and waking up around noon. He didn't move for a moment before with a groan he sat up and yawned shaking his head and stretching with another groan. "How did you sleep?" He asked still trying to wake up and looked around the room with bleary eyes, he didn't spot Terra gone yet from the fact that he wasn't able to see where she had been sleeping from Jd's body and his brain was still trying to wake up. Leaning back against the headboard legs stretched out in front on him, Andy looked over at Ailish with a sleepy warm smile.

Word Count- 799

[• Echo]

Andy didn't fully wake up at first, instead stretching out along the bed and groaning. Alice watched him with a bemused expression, glad that she had sat up, or he might have just rolled right on top of her. For some reason, it entertained him, watching him wake up; she would expect a woman, or a young child, to roll around in denial and make so much noise as he did; she didn't even act this way when she woke up with a hangover. At his comment, she lifted up one delicate eyebrow to look at him, though it went unnoticed by him, since his face happened to be hidden by a mountain of pillows.

"It's hard to not watch you when you act so dramatically about getting up in the morning," she chirped, already feeling quite awake. Although she didn't particularly like getting up in the morning, she had found that once she had woken up, there was no way she could get back to sleep, and so she had decided long ago to just work with it. Finally he looked up at her, and Alice arched both eyebrows this time, and for a moment she just stared at him, as though trying to come up with something to say.

"'Morning," she consented, running one hand through her long, dark hair, feeling her fingers catch on snags every so often. She never got too bad of bed head, probably because she normally braided her hair before going to bed, but flyaways still hung loose around her face in curls. A soft smirk curled the corners of her lips up into a grin as she watched him groan and stretch again.

"By all the noise you're making, someone might think you were an old man lying on his deathbed," she said, only slightly joking, as she shifted backwards a little. She rolled her shoulders in a small shrug.

"Fine," she lied, turning away from him and sliding off of the bed. She looked over her shoulder back at him. "You?"

Looking around the room, she saw JD laying in the bed, only half covered with a blanket. Did all men sleep sprawled out like that? Shaking her head, she looked over at the bathroom. The door was open. Immediately her head swung back to the bed, and she took a step closer, frowning.

"Where did Terra go?" she asked suddenly, ignoring whatever it was Andy had been saying about his dreams, her head snapping up to meet his eyes with her own.




Word Count: 422 words.

[LoveOnHerArms]

Grumbling Andy gave Alice a look "Well excuse me Miss 'I wake up right away" He tossed a pillow at her and yawned again sitting up, he stretched with a groan, shook his head, leaning against the headboard he yawned again looking drowsy and half asleep. "Mornings suck...." He muttered running a hand through his messy hair.

Looking over at Alice he chuckled at the look she gave him, with a lazy sleepy warm grin rubbing his chest watching her run a hand through her long dark brown hair,even half asleep he wanted to run his fingers through her hair again. Yawning he glanced over at JD but didn't think much of it before stretching again with a groan, that apparently was amusing to Alice by the grin on her lips. He grunted looking at her "First Im already dead, second I am old...Third stop making fun of me" He shoved her shoulder gently still with a lazy warm grin on his face.

HE asked how she slept, her answer was quick and short " Uh huh riiiiight" He gave her a look even if her back was turned too him. "I slept fine, had a couple weird dreams thou. You remember that time we went to the fair?" He asked before starting to talk about the dream he had, only Alice wasn't listening as she moved around the room before asking where Terra went looking him in the eyes. A frown went onto his lips. "She's not in the bathroom?" He asked quickly suddenly awake and got to his feet. Walking over the frown deepened at her answer and seeing no red head curled up on the bed with JD.

"JD" Grabbing a pillow hr smacked the other guy in the head with it "Wheres Terra?" Groaning JD stirred a little "How the hell should I know, Im sleeping" Was the annoyed growl Andy got. he smacked him with the pillow again harder this time "Get you asshat, we've gotta find Terra" He growled moving back over to his duffel bag and grabbed his jeans. He pulled them on muttering under his breath about werewolves vampires and everything between.

Groaning JD sat up and looked sleepily at Alice too Andy and let out a breath sliding out of the bed. "I hate to be the logic one here but since Im the Nerd. She probably went down to the restaurant to get some breakfast, so calm down asshat" Running a hand over his face JD walked over to his clothes and grabbed jeans before heading off to the bathroom only to stop and give Andy a look when he spoke. "Why didn't she leave a note or tell one of us?" Andy snapped back grabbing a clean shirt and yanking it on giving JD a look right back.

"Do you really think shes going to talk to us after last night? Shes still mad at both of us, so yeah leaving with out telling us isn't a surprise" With that JD walked into the bathroom and closed the door.

Andy glared at him while he walked into the bathroom before letting out a breath running a hand through his hair and looked over at Alice "How mad was she when you found her?"

Walking out of the bathroom in his jeans JD tossed his clothes onto his duffel bag and snorted but didn't answer.

Word count- 566

[• Echo]

Alice was fairly quiet through all of Andy's mumblings, choosing to ignore him for the time being. For some reason, she just wasn't in the mood to argue much, which was very much unlike her. Pushing away the feelings of fatigue creeping up on her, she focused on the crisis at hand.

"No, she's not," she said, a slight snap creeping into her tone. She knew that Andy just wanted to find the little werewolf, but she felt a slight pang of hurt stab through her chest when he asked, as though he had to make sure she knew what she was talking about. Gritting her teeth slightly, she set her jaw tightly.

"Do you really think she would leave anyone here a note after last night?" she asked irritably. Sometimes it just amazed her how much of a boy Andy could be. It seemed to be the same way with all of them; it was like they never stopped to really think, whatever happened to be on their mind at the precise moment was the thing that came out of their mouths, as though they couldn't stop it.

Looking at Andy, Alice lifted up a single eyebrow into an almost irritated look. 'What do you think?' flashed through her mind, but she bit her tongue before the words come out, having to remind herself that now wasn't the time to start a fight.

"Judging by the tears and cries, pretty upset," she said, fixing Andy with one of her "looks"; the one that told him that she clearly thought he had messed up.

"But honestly, where do you think she went? We would have heard one of the cars pulling out; or at least, I would, you sleep pretty heavy," she said, rolling her eyes slightly. "She's probably in the motel restaurant."

[LoveOnHerArms]

Running a hand through his hair Andy let out a breath and frowned at the look Alice gave him, the one that showed clearly that she thought he messed up big time. "Alright alright geez I know I messed up big time but what did you want me too do Alice? Leave it so the Terra was so freaked out and scared she couldn't sleep or eat? The softest sounds make her jump and flinch. What the hell was I supposed to do?" He asked arms spread out wide looking at her.

JD rolled his eyes looking over at them and jerked his thumb over at Alice "If your not gonna listen to me, then listen to your girlfriend, shes probably done in the restaurant like we've both been trying to tell you" Andy gave him a death glare that JD just shrugged off and slipped into his shoes, grabbed his wallet, cell and keys before walking to the door, planing on leaving the other two to argue while he went down to check on Terra and get some food himself.

Snorting Andy looked back at Alice as she went on asking where would Terra go, and all that. He just snorted again when Alice informed him that he wash heavy sleeper, yeah well she could sleep like a log too, that much the man knew. "alright fine, lets go see if shes down in the restaurant" He grabbed his wallet slid it into his back pocket and grabbed his phone before walking out after JD, he may be annoyed but he held the door open for Alice before closing it and walking down the hall with the others. He walked past the elevators, they took to long and he didn't have the patience to wait.

JD gave Andy a look before shaking his head and fallowing after him down the stairs, he wanted to make sure he was there when Andy found Terra, no reason for the two of them to start a fight in the middle of the restaurant. As they jogged down the stairs AD grumbled under his breath about being with two stubborn hot headed people. Getting to the bottom floor he walked out after Andy and glanced over at Alice "Has be always been like this? A big pain in the ass?"

Andy growled low in his throat at JD's question before he walked over to the restaurant, scanning the place the young man visibly relaxed seeing Terra sitting at a table eating keeping to herself. Stopping beside him Jd spotted the red head and glanced over at Andy "There you happy? Shes fine" Andy ignored Jd his jaw set and went to walk over to her but JD grabbed his shoulder. " I wouldn't go over there, not yet Andy, let Alice go talk to her before we go" Andy growled his jaw set as he tore his gaze away from the red head to look at JD and Alice, he wanted to see Terra but JD did have a point and let out a breath giving in a little "Fine, Alice would you go talk to her?" IT pained the man to say that.

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