Crimson Gold

Valentine Special

3rd Person POV

Mercer House

"I can't do this," Ryan said.

"You can," Alex encouraged, Dana beside him as they faced Ryan through the screen.

"Still don't think so," Ryan sighed and shapeshifted into a black tux. "How's this?"

Alex tilted his hand. "It looks like you're trying too much."

"A little," Dana agreed.

"Then what do I do?" Ryan complained, shapeshifting back to normal.

Dana tilted her head. "What about that outfit that Alice first picked out for you?"

"The one with the black and red?" Ryan asked and thought for a second. "That could work. What should I bring?"

"Chocolate/blood?" Dana and Alex suggested, respectively.

"I don't think blood's very good for Valentine's day," Ryan pointed out.

"Well, Alice is a vampire," Alex pointed out. "And blood is red, and valentine colors are red and pink, so..."

"Ignore my brother, for he knows not what he says," Dana said, shoving Alex off screen. "Now. Here is what you are going to do."

Timeskip

"This is so not gonna work," Ryan muttered as he pulled up the Cullens' driveway.

Dressed in black dress pants, shoes, a white T-shirt, and a black blazer featuring red thorns creeping over the right shoulder and onto the back to form a red dragon symbol, Ryan looked over at the red velvet covered heart-shaped box in the passenger seat beside him.

He had asked Alice earlier if she wanted to hang out today, and luckily, she had said yes, so here he was.

"Here goes nothing... or everything."

Sliding out of the car, Ryan snagged the box with a tendril and walked up the stairs to the Cullens' door.

Raising his fist and steeling his nerves, Ryan knocked on the door.

Several terrifying seconds later, the door opened, revealing Jasper.

"Ryan."

"Jasper."

Jasper tilted his head at the box in Ryan's hand. "Italian Chocolate?"

"Yeah, it is Valentine's Day," Ryan replied. "Is Alice home?"

"She's getting ready right now," Jasper answered and stepped aside. "Come in.... You can wait with the others."

"Others?" Ryan echoed, stepping through the doorway.

"Hey, Ryan," Rosalie greeted and nodded at him from where she, Emmett, Carlisle, and Esme were sitting.

"Sup, Rose," Ryan replied and gestured to them. "You're all waiting for me? You shouldn't have."

"We're actually waiting for Alice to come down," Esme explained, smiling. "Sorry to disappoint."

"Nah, it's fine," Ryan replied, waving a hand dismissively. "So... where's tall-dark-and-wanting-to-skin-me-with-his-eyeballs?"

"If you mean Edward, he's out on a 'date' with Bella," Carlisle answered.

Emmett snorted. "If you can call it that."