Lost and Found

Only With You By My Side

I was willing to listen and listen I did. Charlotte was much more willing to wait a little longer after Peter finished explaining, understanding that the wait wasn't going to be years like she feared and instead likely a few months. Peter seemed to have put quite the thought into this little plan of his. He understood that I had been avoiding humanity for a very long time and that jumping back in was not something that was going to convince me to join them on their adventure.

Jasper and Peter decided to start with something that could be done here in the wilderness first. According to the duo, traveling was going to increase the likelihood of coming across others of our kind and they wanted me to be prepared for any scenario. They proceeded to commence a crash course of vampire behaviors and how to react, followed by sparring matches should the encounter turn violent. Charlotte proceeded her own crash course by procuring several articles of clothing to update my attire and telling me of modern etiquette. Apparently human interaction was going to be impossible to avoid and being able to blend in with the human populace would be essential to prevent unwanted questions.

I much preferred my sparring lessons to Charlotte's human lessons, but both Jasper and Peter agreed that her lessons were also very important due to human interaction being unavoidable and exhibiting behaviors that had been common practice or expected during my human life would seem odd or startling to today's humans. Despite the change in women's attire and the much declined amount of fabric in the skirt, I was thankful that it still maintained the modesty that had been missing in many of the dresses I had worn while I was human. When I confessed this to Jasper he assured me that no one would be confusing me with a prostitute.

Given Peter and Charlotte's time spent with and enjoyment of human company, the two were my instructors when it came to the things I needed to know about humanity and their modern practices. But when it came time for that knowledge to be put to use, Jasper was the one to accompany me to the city while Peter and Charlotte sought a meal elsewhere. Charlotte had helped me dress and done my hair before heading off, a prideful smile on her face as she looked over her work before leaving. The dress stopped at my knees, leaving my calves and ankles on display, something that would have created quite the stir when I was human. Along with the dress Charlotte had also brought shoes. I hadn't worn shoes since the year of my change, the pair I had been wearing when I died having been worn out not long after coming to the wilderness and once removed I had never bothered to replace them since my feet needed no protection from the terrain.

The newness of it all was creating an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach, doubts swirling in my mind as I stood looking at my reflection in the water. I could hardly recognize myself with the usually long flowing skirt and long sleeved blouse replaced with the navy blue dress that hung stiffly from my hips and the usually wild curls tamed and softened into gentle waves. I felt Jasper's calming influence before his hands sought out my waist to pull me close. I smiled as he laid a kiss to my cheek before his head rested atop mine.

"You look beautiful." He said gently and I moved to face him.

"Was I not before?" I asked, concerned of his opinion for the first time.

"You're always beautiful." He said lovingly, a crooked smile coming to his lips. I returned the smile before looking back at the water.

"It's so different then what I'm used to." I could barely bring myself to speak over a whisper, the emotions seeming to hush my voice.

"I believe it's harder for you because of your distance from humanity. It's not the same as for the rest of us who watched the gradual change, for you it's much more abrupt and shocking. Compared to what I wore in the beginning, those clothes are much different." Jasper stated and I looked over the clothing Peter and Charlotte had brought back for him. Gone were the loose fitting pants and threadbare shirt and in it's place were stiff looking navy pants and a stark white shirt with buttons that reflected the light just as brightly as the shirt. They both looked like they had been washed with too much starch.