Treasure Trove Challenges

Monthly Challenge 2, Romance: Winter Wanderer's Submission

Jack walked up the stairs to the tower and away from the dance, hopefully to get some peace and quiet. Jack tugged at his tie to loosen it, since it was making it harder for him to breathe, just as the rest of the fancy suit made it harder to move. His dress shoes clicked against the stone ground while biting into the back of his one good heel at the same time. Jack reached the top of Sanctuary's tallest tower to enter the highest floor of the tower. He entered the inside of the clock tower, so see that in the darkened room, the massive clocks acted as windows to allow anyone inside to peer inside. Inside the clock tower, it was like a balcony, with the advanced machinery dancing above like a ball 5 meters overhead. Underneath this duet of movements was one of the most surprisingly beautiful people he's ever known.

Alice.

Despite her tomboyish demeanor, she was the most beautiful person in his eyes tonight. Alice's sleek dress had shoulder straps and reached to her ankles, barely allowing him see her black tights paired with shiny black heels. Alice's dress had parts of it that glistened, making Jack believe she took a piece of the night sky and wore it. Alice's long black hair was tied into a long braid, draped over her shoulder. The black eyeliner and lipstick on her face was more noticeable compared to usual, especially since they only enhanced her natural beauty and contradicted her pale skin. Skull earrings dangled from her ears, and Jack noticed how her fingernails were painted black, with all her fingers except her thumbs having a letter on them. When Alice noticed Jack, her expression went from expressionless to excited and happy.

"Hey Alice, I never did take you for the kind to wear heels." Jack looked at the ground, noticing how it was spotless without even a bolt or nail on the ground. "Don't they hurt your feet?"

"And I never took you for the kind of guy to wear a suit or tie, but I guess we were both surprised this evening." Alice smiled, and they both laughed at each other's commentary. "So what's up, what brought you here?"

"Too many people." Jack sat down on a nearby bench, and Alice sat down beside Jack to watch the clock in front of the two of them tick. "What about you? Heels aren't exactly stair friendly, you know."

"I know, but I wanted to come up here and watch the sunset." Alice looked through the massive clock and out onto the horizon. "I know that as a goth, I'm supposed to like the night, but sunsets will always be my favorite part of the day. It's like the sky always tries to create a masterpiece in the sky, and it always succeeds."

"Man, I didn't know you liked sunsets so much." Jack's eyes followed Alice's eyes, and looked out into the distance towards the glistening horizon.

"You and I used to watch sunsets together all the time before you lost your memories...in a purely platonic way, not in a romantic way!" Alice was sweating and Jack could see a blush on her face as she looked away from him. "We'd watch it from your Aunt's place since she lived on a hill, and it always decorates the town in the most beautiful colors ever."

"Why did we stop?" Jack asked the girl, who stopped blushing and had her hands firmly planted on the edge of the bench seat on either side of her.

"The accident, it rendered you unconscious for a while, and I was scared you would hate me when you woke up..." Alice looked down, and Jack suddenly covered Alice's hand with your own, specifically the one closest to him.

"Alice, I may not remember anything, but I can tell I would never hate you." Jack reassured the girl before your face suddenly grew warm too. "In a purely platonic way, I mean."

"Thank you for not hating me in a platonic way." Alice smiled while scooting herself over to sit closer to JCk. "Hey look, the sun is starting to set!"

As Alice watched the sun dip over the Horizon, Jack's eyes were pulled not towards the sun, but to Alice. Alice's expression seemingly glowed while watching the sunset, her eyes went wide with wonder, and her smile reached ear to ear. Despite her dark make-up, dress, and hair, she was shining brighter than the sun ever could in your eyes.

"Isn't this beautiful, Jack?" Alice's eyes were focused on the sunset, but his were focused on her.

"It sure is..." Jack were captivated by Alice's beautiful face, so much so that he almost forgot the sun was setting.

For the rest of the sunset, Jack's eyes were focused on Alice until the sun finally faded out of view and the world slowly began turning to dark. With the sunlight, Alice's bright smile faded, but a small smile still remained. Alice closed her eyes, and leaned on Jack's shoulder, all whilst his hand covered hers. He noticed Alice shiver slightly. Jack took off his coat and draped it around Alice's shoulders to keep her warm. Alice's smile grew slightly more, with the two of them watching the darkness slowly take over the sky, holding each other's hand.

"Hey, in your eyes, how many sunsets would you compare me to?" Alice asked a somewhat odd question, but one that Jack thought about for a moment before coming up with an answer.

"Beats me, all I know for certain is that sunsets don't have shit on you." Jack answered honestly, and Alice giggled beautifully. "What? Did you expect me to say: 'Comparing you to sun sets would never do you justice'?"

"I'm not sure what you would have expected, but all I knew for certain is that you would have meant every word you say." Alice nuzzled into his shoulder. "That's how you've always been, even before the accident, and what I love about you."

"If that's the case, then I'll always remain honest, even if it kills me." You promised to the girl. "For example, I thought you looked way better than the sun set earlier."

Then the embarrassment set in for both of them, yet neither of them moved from that bench that night.

(A/N: TRAILER! Also, the original writing for this was in second person perspective, as is the majority of the book, so if you see any parts still in second perspective that aren't dialogue, point them out.