Once we stepped into the hall, I guided us toward the middle row. There were no private or VIP sections, but that was enough.
From the moment she stepped out of the car, Alice had been holding my hand, her fingers laced with mine. Only when we moved between the narrow rows did she let go, her touch lingering just a second longer before slipping away. When we reached our seats, I let her sit first, then took my place beside her, settling to her right with the popcorn resting on my lap. Then I turned slightly toward her.
Alice had already made herself comfortable. Her arm lay along the shared armrest, palm facing up, fingers slightly curled, as if she had been waiting. When she caught me looking, she tilted her head and gave me a small, expectant look, clearly asking what was taking me so long. I let out a quiet breath of amusement and placed my hand over hers, letting our fingers slide together naturally. She reacted right away, a soft smile forming as she leaned closer, closing the small space between us until her head rested lightly against my shoulder.
It didn't take long before the lights dimmed and the screen flickered to life, the film beginning to play out in front of us. For a while, we simply watched, though it didn't take long for her free hand to find mine, her fingers started tracing slow, absentminded patterns across the back of it. The touch was light, almost careless, her movements without any real rhythm. The sensation caught me off guard, a faint shiver running through me before something I hadn't felt in a long time surfaced again, goosebumps. I almost didn't recognise it at first, and yet now, under something as simple as her touch, it returned. It was strange… calming, but with a quiet spark beneath it.
At some point, though, it seemed that holding hands alone wasn't enough for her. I felt her shift slightly beside me, her attention moving to the armrest between us as she touched it lightly at first, then with a bit more intent, testing it. A faint crease formed between her brows when it didn't move, and I caught the small hint of disappointment in her expression. Without saying anything, I lifted our joined hands away from it, and as my free hand moved toward the armrest, she seemed to realise what I was about to do.
"It's fine," she began softly, "I think it's-"
She didn't get to finish. My hand closed around the base of the armrest, and with a short, dull crack, it gave way. The wood broke under my grip with almost no resistance, and with a single, effortless motion, I tore it free before placing it casually on the empty seat beside me. When I looked back at her, Alice was staring at me, her eyes wide, clearly caught off guard. I met her gaze calmly and gave a small smile.
"It's better this way, isn't it?"
For a moment, she said nothing, her gaze flicking between me and the now empty space before returning again. Then the surprise faded, replaced by a bright, amused smile, her eyes lighting up with clear enjoyment.
"Well," she said lightly, "that's one way to fix it."
She shifted closer, this time with nothing between us, settling naturally against me. Her left arm slipped around mine while her right hand remained intertwined with my fingers, as though she had no intention of letting go again.
We returned our attention to the film, with only me occasionally reaching into the popcorn. After a while, I felt movement, another hand slipping into the box. I glanced down just in time to see her fingers brush lightly against mine before she picked up a piece and pulled back.
A moment later, she lifted it toward me, and I leaned in slightly, accepting it without a second thought.
She seemed pleased with that, and after a brief pause, she did it again. And then again. When I turned my head slightly, I noticed how her attention shifted between the screen and me, watching the film while quietly observing my reaction. Her small smile said enough, and I found myself returning it.
And just like that, through quiet touches, shared glances, and small gestures, the rest of the film passed by.
…
When the film came to an end, and the final scene faded into black, the credits began to roll across the screen. Soon after, the lights brightened, filling the hall with a soft glow that gently pulled us back to reality. I turned my head toward her, studying her expression briefly before speaking.
"So", I asked, a trace of amusement in my voice, "what do you think? Was my confidence of the movie justified?"
Alice looked up at me, her lips already curving into a smile. "I liked it,"
She tilted her head slightly, her smile deepening. "And you're right, it fits a little too well. A dangerously charming couple with secrets…" Her gaze lingered on me. "I wonder who that reminds me of."
A quiet chuckle escaped me. "I'm glad you approve," I replied lightly, then let my gaze drift toward the exit.
"We should get going. It's getting late, and I still have something planned."
Her expression shifted instantly, turning teasing. "Oh?" she said, raising a brow. "Are you worried about my father's reaction if you bring me home late?"
"Not particularly," I answered calmly, meeting her gaze. "But I would prefer to leave a good first impression."
She smiled, her eyes bright with playful approval. "Mm… how thoughtful of you. I'm sure he'll appreciate that."
We stood, and without needing to say anything more, made our way out of the hall together. As we stepped back into the main area of the cinema, the girl at the counter straightened slightly when she saw us.
"Have a good evening, Mr Ashborn," she said politely.
I acknowledged her with a small nod and continued toward the exit with Alice at my side. As we walked away, my hearing picked up a hushed voice from the counter. Another employee leaned closer, her curiosity barely contained.
"Is that the new boss?" she whispered. "He's so young…"
"-and really hot."
"Next time, let me talk to him," she added quietly. "I have to try my luck."
At that exact moment, I felt Alice's hand tighten slightly around mine. I glanced at her, a small smile forming as I noticed the subtle shift in her expression, the faint possessiveness she didn't even try to hide.
When we stepped outside, the night had fully settled, the air cooler, the city still alive but quieter than before. Streetlights cast long reflections across the pavement, a few cars passing by while small groups of people walked along the sidewalks, their voices carrying faintly through the evening.
"You know," I said casually as we made our way toward the car, my tone carrying a subtle implication, "I could always ask the 'new owner' to reconsider a few staff decisions."
Alice looked up at me, her eyes sparkling.
"Oh?" she said lightly. "Do you think she has a chance?"
I raised an eyebrow, "None."
Her smile softened, satisfied. "Then I suppose there's nothing to worry about."
We reached the car, and I opened the door for her. She slipped inside, and I closed it gently before moving around to the driver's side. A moment later, the engine came to life, and we pulled out of the parking lot.
While driving, our conversation drifted from the film into lighter, more personal topics. Small details, preferences, habits, nothing too deep, yet enough to reveal more with each exchange. Outside, Port Angeles moved past us, headlights gliding along the road while the occasional passerby lingered beneath streetlights or near late-open cafes. It wasn't late enough for the town to sleep.
Soon, the lights began to fade behind us, replaced by darker roads lined with dense forest. The world grew quieter, the hum of the engine blending with the stillness around us.
After some time, I glanced at her. "Shouldn't you at least pretend to be scared?" I asked lightly.
She turned her head toward me, a hint of confusion in her expression.
"The man you met only a few days ago," I continued, "is now driving you into the middle of the forest at night. That's usually how these horror stories begin."
She chuckled softly. "A normal girl might have started worrying the moment you tore that armrest off like it was nothing."
I let out a quiet laugh. "That's fair."
"But I suppose I'm not a very normal girl," she added, her voice softer now, her gaze steady on mine. "And I believe you would never harm me."
I met her gaze. "Never."
The road ahead narrowed further, the forest closing in until it suddenly opened into a small clearing. I brought the car to a stop, the engine falling silent as the night settled around us. We stepped out, and I moved to the back, opening the boot and retrieving the folded blanket.
"The place isn't too far," I said, glancing toward the trees. "But we'll need to move quickly if we don't want to miss it."
Her expression shifted instantly, curiosity lighting her eyes."Miss what?"
"You'll see soon."
My gaze dropped briefly to her heels before returning to her face."And I'd rather not ruin those."
She followed my glance, then looked back at me, a playful tilt to her head, her lips curving faintly."And what do you suggest, Samy?"
I stepped closer without answering, tucking the blanket securely under my arm. She simply watched me, clearly intrigued.
Then, in one smooth motion, I lifted her into my arms.
Her hands instinctively rose to rest around my neck as I held her securely in a princess carry. Her eyes locked onto mine, surprised, but not resisting. If anything, there was something else beneath it… anticipation.
"Let's run," I said quietly.
And then I did.
At first, I kept the pace controlled, moving swiftly through the forest, my steps steady as I navigated between trees and uneven ground with ease. The forest was dense, branches and shadows weaving together, yet none of it slowed me down. Within seconds, I increased my speed, the ground passing beneath us faster and faster until it blurred into motion, my pace far beyond anything human.
Alice noticed.
Her gaze moved across the surroundings at first, taking in the speed, the movement, the way everything shifted around us, but soon, her attention settled fully on me. I felt it, the way she studied my face, searching for any sign of strain.
There was none.
My breathing remained steady, unchanged, as if the speed meant nothing at all.
After a moment, I glanced slightly upward, then back at her. "We have less time than I thought," I said calmly. "I'll need to go a bit faster."
Her eyes widened slightly. "You can?"
A faint smile formed.
Then I accelerated.
The wind rushed past us, stronger now, the trees dissolving into streaks of shadow and motion. Despite the speed, my movements remained smooth and steady enough that she stayed completely comfortable in my arms.
Eventually, the forest began to thin.
The trees gave way as we approached the edge of the forest, the open space revealing itself ahead. I slowed, stepping out into the clearing.
I didn't set her down immediately. The soil was still soft, and her heels would sink into it. Instead, I carried her a few steps further, onto firmer ground, before carefully placing her down. Her hands lingered around my neck for a moment longer before she let go.
"I hope that wasn't uncomfortable," I said, glancing at her.
"Uncomfortable?" she repeated softly, a quiet, almost amused disbelief in her voice. "Samy… I barely felt the difference. If not for the trees, I would've thought you only ran a couple of hundred meters on flat ground."
Her reaction made me smile.
I tilted my head slightly toward the clearing, and her attention finally shifted past me. The view opened fully before her. We were on a cliff, standing close to its edge. The ocean stretched endlessly below, dark waves moving slowly under the night sky, blending seamlessly into the distant, endless horizon. The world felt still, almost untouched.
We moved to a better spot, and I unfolded the blanket, spreading it out before sitting down and offering her my hand. She took it without hesitation, and we settled together.
Her gaze remained fixed on the view."It's beautiful," she said quietly.
"It would be even more beautiful if the moon was out," I replied, a smile forming. "But this… is exactly what we need."
She raised an eyebrow slightly, curiosity returning.
"Now," I said softly.
She looked at me, confused, but then I gently lifted my hand, guiding her chin upward. Her gaze followed.
At first, there was nothing but the dark sky.
Then-
Light.
It appeared slowly at first, a faint shimmer in the distance, almost easy to miss. But then it grew, spreading across the sky in soft, flowing ribbons. Emerald green unfolded first, blending into shades of violet and pale blue, the colours moving like living silk, shifting and bending in silent waves above us.
Alice didn't speak.
She simply watched, her eyes wide, completely drawn in.
"…Samy," she murmured softly, almost breathless, "this is… unreal."
She leaned into me without hesitation, and I wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her close as we watched the lights move across the sky. For a while, we spoke quietly, pointing out shapes, how the colours shifted, how they seemed almost alive, changing with every passing moment.
"It looks like it's breathing," she said softly, her voice filled with wonder.
"Or like it's watching us," I replied lightly.
She smiled at that, her gaze never leaving the sky.
After some time, a quiet silence settled between us. I glanced at her, a small thought crossing my mind, and a quiet laugh escaped me.
She looked at me immediately, curious. "What?"
"I'm just wondering," I said, turning my head slightly toward her, "what would you have done if I had actually taken you to a restaurant?"
She hesitated, her expression shifting slightly as she considered it. "That… wouldn't have been easy," she admitted, a small, almost sheepish smile forming. "I would've had to be creative."
I laughed quitely trying to imagine it.
A brief silence followed before she looked at me again, more serious this time. "Samy… how much do you really know about me? About… what I am."
I looked at her, my expression softening. "First," I said gently, tapping her nose lightly, "you're not 'what.' You're 'who.'"
She stilled slightly.
"I don't know what you call yourselves," I continued calmly, my gaze steady on hers, "but I do know that you're a very beautiful… and very captivating vampire."
She stared at me, clearly caught off guard."And that doesn't concern you?"
"It might have," I replied, "if you had a habit of hunting humans."
My gaze drifted to her eyes.
"But the colour of your eyes tells me you don't. You haven't for a while. And the fact that you can be around people so easily while avoiding it…" I paused slightly. "That tells me this isn't new for you."
"It's everything I need to know."
She remained quiet for a moment, processing, before finally asking, "How do you know so much?"
I tilted my head slightly, a faint smile forming. "Is that really the question that interests you the most right now?"
She blinked, caught off guard.
"Your turn," I said. "What do you know about me?"
She hesitated briefly. "Not much… to be honest," she admitted, then added, "Do you know that some of us have… gifts?"
I nodded and then spoke. "And you're one of them."
"Mine allows me to see the future."
I exhaled quietly. "That's… not something you hear every day. But it explains a lot."
"It's not perfect," she added. "I only see things when decisions are made. There are many possibilities… and there are blind spots." Her gaze lingered on me. "You had many of them."
I raised an eyebrow. "And yet you knew I wasn't human."
She lifted her hand and pointed behind my back. It took me a second before it clicked.
"…you saw them."
She nodded, then added a little more carefully, "My family knows too. Edward can read minds… he saw my vision of you."
I felt her hesitation, the slight guilt in her expression. My hand around her waist tightened just a little as I leaned closer.
"Do you feel bad that they know about me?" I asked softly.
She nodded slightly.
I smiled warmly, leaning in until our foreheads touched lightly. "Do you really think I would expect you to hide something like that from your family? Especially before we even met?"
She looked up at me.
"Do you know how adorable you are?" I added quietly.
Her worry faded almost instantly, replaced by something softer. Our gazes held, then slowly drifted to each other's lips. The distance between us closed without words, and when our lips finally met, the kiss was soft at first, gentle, testing, a simple press of lips that lingered with tender pressure.
Her hands slowly moved to my face, fingers slipping into my hair as she leaned closer, and I felt her shift, her body turning until she was sitting across my thighs. My hands moved along her waist and up her back, pulling her closer as the kiss grew more intense, more certain. Our lips moulded together, sliding softly against each other in unhurried pace, hers parting just enough to brush mine, then closing again.
She nipped at my lower lip gently, drawing a low hum from my throat, before pressing her mouth fully to mine once more, sucking softly in a way that coaxed me to respond. I angled my head, capturing her upper lip between mine, tugging lightly. Her fingers tightened in my hair, holding me steady as she mirrored the movements, her lips yielding and then claiming in a rhythm that built slowly, like a quiet flame, each press and release igniting a subtle warmth that spread through us.
Time blurred.
When I finally slowed, pulling back slightly, she looked at me with clear frustration at the interruption, but then she noticed my eyes. The golden glow behind the lenses was far stronger now, impossible to hide, and the breath leaving my lips was warmer than before, faintly visible in the cool air.
"Alice…" I said quietly, my voice lower, "It's… getting harder to hold back."
Her expression softened immediately, understanding and something deeper in her gaze. She gently pushed me back until I lay on the blanket, then settled beside me, her head resting on my chest as my arm wrapped around her waist.
"I understand," she said softly, then added with a faint, playful note, "Even though I might want you to lose that control at some point… It's probably too much for a first date, don't you think… darling?"
The glow in my eyes slowly began to fade as I smiled, letting my head rest back.
That made her laugh softly.
We stayed like that for a while, lying together, watching the aurora move across the sky in silence.
After some time, she spoke again, her tone light. "So… are we official?"
I looked at her. "Of course we are," I replied, leaning in to kiss her again, softer this time, shorter, but no less meaningful.
She pulled back slightly, her eyes bright. "Then I'm calling you darling from now on."
I raised an eyebrow. "Do you refuse to use your privilege of calling me Samy?"
"Of course not," she said quickly, then paused, thinking. "I'll use both… only I get to call you Samy."
I chuckled softly. "I thought I'd made that clear already."
"You did," she said with a small, satisfied smile, before leaning in to kiss me again.