Originally written as a drabble for naelany's birthday. She has browbeaten me into continuing the story. This is my first foray into slash, which I never intended to do. So you know, it's her fault. :)
Rain had soaked me through. My cellphone was wrecked and my clothes dripping, insulating me with only cold. Not a car to be seen for miles, I walked until I saw lights, shivering the entire way.
Finally, I saw a house at the end of a long driveway edged by a few ancient maple trees. By the time I reached the door, my fingertips had gone numb and my shoulders hurt from hunching over in attempt to retain some heat.
Somewhere behind the door, I heard the soft notes of a what I imagined to be a baby grand floating about the house. Something about the melody was familiar and nearly knocked the wind out of me. For a moment, I forgot about the cold, leaning sideways to press my ear to the wood. A strange pressure began building in my chest, rapidly growing uncomfortable. I stepped back.
Hesitantly, I swung the brass ring in the lion's mouth, striking the plate three times. I felt like an idiot for not checking the weather before heading out on my motorcycle, but I was so antsy to get out, I just left.
The music slowed before it stopped. Footsteps took up the rhythm of the music, getting louder as they reached the door. When it swung open, my heart dropped to my feet.
"Edward."
The first boy I ever kissed. The only person I ever loved.
"Jasper." He stared back at me, mouth agape and his eyes dark and wide. "What are you doing here?"
No sound would come out when I opened my mouth. My heart battered itself against my ribs so hard, I thought he might hear it. "The rain..." I croaked, finally. "My bike..."
He hesitated long enough to make me wonder if he'd even let me use his phone. "Jesus, Jasper, come in," he said, stepping back and to the side to let me in.
I glanced at the rug he stood on and then looked to my boots, muddy with grass clippings stuck to the soles. "I—"
"Just—!" he snapped. "I ... please? Come in, Jasper. Please. You're freezing."
Stepping as gently as I could onto the expensive-looking rug, I kept my eyes on his face — there was something about his eyes I couldn't place, but he wouldn't look at me directly. Guilt seemed to roll off him in waves. Part of me was relieved to know he felt that way, but the rest was overflowing with questions.
After shucking my shoes and placing them by the door, I stood across from him in my damp socks and waited. Without a word, he turned and walked down a hallway to an open door. I followed, whether he meant me to or not; I wasn't sure I cared.
There was a fireplace at the back of the room, unlit, though several candles were spread about the room. To my right, the baby grand I'd heard stood, still humming with his last notes. Suddenly it struck me.
Lizst's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 5. Edward had been learning that piece just before...
My attention snapped to Edward, who was staring at me, candlelight flickering in his eyes. They were so dark, they almost looked ... red. Blood red. The deep, vivid green I remember had been consumed ... but by what?
"Edward, what happened to you?"
He was so still, not even blinking. When he finally moved to speak, I startled. "I'll get you some dry clothes."
He disappeared then, but after he left, I noticed a fire had been started. Confused, I didn't know what to think. Before I could ponder too long, Edward had returned with a pair of jeans and a dark sweater, setting them on the chair next to me.
"Thank you," I whispered before he left again, shutting the double doors behind him. I tore off my wet clothes quickly, anxious to get to the part where I found out where he'd been for the last ten years. He doesn't look a day over eighteen and—
"Please don't ask me."
I spun to face the door where he stood, eyes showcasing his apparent torment. I buttoned the last of the fly on the jeans and backed over to the fireplace to feel the heat on my back. "Ask you what?"
"What you were thinking of asking." His face seemed to fall even more. "I can't answer."
"Why not? Would you have to kill me?" I smirked, the question an attempt to scare the fear from my heart.
His eyes closed and he shook his head. I saw his lips move, but it was so fast, I was sure my vision had simply gone fuzzy.
"You broke my heart, Edward," I confessed. "I just want to know why."
"Isn't being a moody teenager enough?"
"You still seem moody to me," I reasoned. "And you were never young. Even when you were young, you were old."
That earned me a crooked smile. He fought it, but it was there. My heart swelled as my lips mirrored him. I raised an eyebrow. His smile faded.
Still so stubborn.
"I guess that hasn't changed," he murmured.
"So what happened to you?"
The longest time seemed to pass. It felt like time had stopped in its tracks. If not for the crackling of the fire, there was no evidence of time. I swore Edward hadn't moved a muscle or taken a breath. I began to breathe for him, my nerves pushing me to breathe faster until I had to open my mouth to get enough oxygen.
"Please, Edward." I began to feel cold again, the chill from the rain swirling around me, pulling me down. My body became heavy, gravity's hands gripping me by the shoulders and tugging at me. I could barely stand.
The marble tabletop he clung to with one hand cracked, a huge piece crumbling within his fingers. His anger seemed to slam into me as he replied, his eyes boldly black as night.
"I died."
A/N: I don't know how quickly this will update, but it'll get there. :)