Breath Taking

By Jillian Lupfer

Alexa Smith, Born in the early 1400s as a weak and sickly child, was not expected to reach manhood. It is now 2013 and Alec, (which he is now known as) has not aged past 23 years. After receiving his new life over 600 years ago, by the beautiful, but blood thirsty Angelica. Alec finds himself without a female companion, having killed Angelica 300 years prior. But Alecs trouble is not finding love, but keeping it. With only his friend Will, (a young man with problems of his own) Alec continues his search for real love.
Natalie Valdez, a young women of 18, with already a difficult past is put through torment before her accidental rescue. Now that Alec has found real love, it might be taken from him as quickly as it came.
Breath Taking, a story of friendship, love, jealousy, and ancient magic is truly breathtaking.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 29, 2014
• ISBN: 9781483649061

Jillian Lupfer

Jillian Lupfer is originally from the west side of Washington State. There in the states capital, she met her husband and they had their first child. Later, after several moves and a few more children they find themselves in hot and sunny Las Vegas, Nevada writing books and growing frankincense trees. They don’t know what the future will bring, but it looks bright from beneath the shade of a palm tree.

Book preview

1

O utside the city was a small ocean side town, which was usually bursting with tourists. However, since it was late September it was pretty quiet. It was a clear night, unusual for this time of year. The full moon shone down on the calm ocean. The air had a bit of a bite, but all in all it was a nice night. In an old farm style house about 10 miles from the beach it was not so quiet, however. From far away you would think there was a warehouse operating in the late midnight hours. With metal clanging and a low growl that could be mistaken for the sound of a forklift motor.

If you were to creep closer to the house, you would realize that there was something very strange going on inside it. But then nobody would be walking by this house by accident. The house looked like it had once been painted white, but the salty, wet air had striped it to bare wood in most places.

There were old wood shutters on a few of the windows. Some were falling off while others had been replaced with plywood covering the entire window. This made the inside very dark. The floors were dark wood and warped in places, the old plaster walls were dirty, chipped and desperately in need of paint.

On windy days the house would creek and shift, making the house incredibly cold, and damp in the winter. There was an old thread bare couch with eagle clawed feet. It stood up against the furthest wall opposite an old console TV that hadn’t been used since everything went to digital. There was a large fireplace that stood between the living room and the kitchen, but it hadn’t been used in a very long time and even had moss growing on the inside bricks. The kitchen, with its peeling yellow paint and dirty white cabinets, and a sink full of dishes, the first sign of life.

To the right of the sink and directly opposite the fireplace stood double glass doors. They had been a very nice addition to the house years ago, but now like many of the windows had been covered up by large sheets of plywood. The screws that were holding the wood in place had started rusting shortly after they were set and now it looked as though the wood was bleeding.

Upstairs was rather normal, there were two bedrooms. One was vacant, and the only furniture was an old tarnished mirror and a twin bed frame that was built into the wall. The other room was larger and had a full-size bed with only an old sleeping bag spread across it.

The floor was covered in burger wrappers and clothes, and a dresser with a tube TV set resting on top with an Xbox 360 on the floor below it. The last room upstairs was a very dirty bathroom at the end of the hall.

The basement was where the noise was coming from, but now it was more of a low hum instead of a growl. It smelled like mildew mixed with something sweet, and felt a bit warmer as you walked down the stairs.

At the bottom of the steps was a short hallway, to the left was a bedroom with a large wood framed bed with claw feet that matched the couch upstairs. There were no blankets on the bed, just a black fitted sheet and 2 feather pillows without cases. A desk with similar features as the bed stood in the corner of the room, it was covered in old books and photographs. To the left of the desk was a bathroom, it was very clean compared to the one upstairs and was also a newer addition to the house.

Opposite the bedroom was a door that led out to the slightly leaning garage, and at the end of the hall was a large steel door with a bolt lock that was left unlocked. Behind the door was a medium-sized room. It had cement floors and walls with no windows and in one corner stood a large cage. It looked like an old western jail cell, with thick steel bars and a big lock keeping the door closed. Inside the cage was a big ball of fur, that seemed to be snoring.

To the right of the cage stood a couch that looked like it was at least 100 years old. It was very dirty and smelled like wet dog. On the couch sat a handsome young man in his early 20’s, his feet were perched on an old lumpy ottoman. He had some headphones in and was thumbing through an old national geographic.

The young man looked over at the cage, having to move his feet to the side to see it properly. Then he set the magazine down and stood up. He looked tired, with his scruffy face and dark circles under his already dark eyes. He put his hands through his very light blond hair and stretched. His skin was pail and seemed to glow in the faint light of his iPhone as he checked the time: 3:00 am. The man walked up to the cage and peeked at the snoring beast. He only looked for a minute then he left the room and locked the heavy metal door behind him.

The young man headed down the hall to the last room. He sat on the side of the bed by the desk and took off his shoes, then he laid back into the bed. He moved like an old man, very slow and tired, and instantly fell asleep. Now the house was quiet with only the snoring that still emanated from behind the metal door. There was nothing to be heard from the room where the young man was sleeping. No snoring, no moving, there wasn’t even any sound of breathing, Alec lay as still as the dead. But this was normal. After all Alec was dead, and had been for over 600 years.

Alec Smith, not his real name of course, but he had been using it for the last decade or so, had come to America 400 years ago. He had grown up in England, but spent much of his early vampire life in Spain. His beautiful and blood thirsty companion decided that the new world would be less crowded with their type. Alec followed her because she was all he knew from this new life she so viciously gave him.

Angelica, his companion had told him that if he ever tried to leave her that she would go back to England and slaughter his whole family. So Alec, being new and full of fear did whatever she told him. Not long after they came to America though, Alec decided that it was time for them to part ways. So he did the only thing that would free him from Angelica, he killed her. Killing your own kind was the only thing you could do that would get you into trouble with other vampires, but since no one knew what he had done he thought he was safe.

Over the years of Alec’s very long life he had developed patience, understanding, and a sense of humor. Most vampires living alone for so long would have killed themselves by now. However, Alec was almost never alone. He always found friends amongst the living. Alec usually had to keep his true self under wraps, but it was worth it to not be alone.

Alec only had one friend these days that knew what he was, and that was the ball of fur in the cage. Years ago, when Alec had purchased this dilapidated house it was for a different ball of fur named William Johnson the 1st. He was a new werewolf that needed a friend that could keep a secret, and since Alec needed the same thing they quickly became friends. But, like humans, werewolves grow up, get married and have cubs, so to speak. So Alec was alone again until William the 1st died and sent his grandson, a 15 year old werewolf to live with him. He went by Will, and now three years had passed since Alec found the orphaned werewolf on his door step.

Something stirred in the quiet, dark bedroom. It was Alec’s phone telling him it was time to get up. He had only been asleep for four hours, but he had to admit it was getting better. Alec got up in the still dark room. He was still wearing his jeans and his Jimmy Hendrix concert Tee from the day before, so he changed into his sweat pants and a plain white t-shirt.

Alec didn’t stumble as he looked around the room for his clothes, this was partly because Alec had slept in this room for many years, but he also had the ability to see in the dark. He made his way to the steel door at the end of the hall that he had locked only hours earlier. Inside the room to the left of the door was a shelf, and on it was a small gold key. Alec went to the cage that now contained a young naked man of about 18. He was curled up on the floor sucking his thumb. Alec smiled, shook his head, and unlocked the cell door.

Hey Will, quit sucking your thumb you’ll be late for work! Will was startled awake and jumped up as some clothes flew across the room and hit him in the face.

And put on some clothes, you disgust me! Alec said from the hall, still smiling.

Alec went straight to the kitchen to start the coffee pot. It was difficult for him to maneuver the pot under the tap with the sink so full of dishes.

I’ve got to buy a dishwasher, Alec said quietly to himself. But he got it going. Soon the air smelled like warm French roast.

Alec was rummaging through the freezer when he heard a car pull up. He sighed, he knew it was coming, but he still wasn’t ready for it. The door opened, and Alec didn’t have to look to see who it was, he could tell from the Clinique perfume and the Pantene shampoo. He used to love these two scents, but now they made him full of sadness and anger.

Only four short months ago he was dating Beth, the girl that had just stepped into the house, and was looking like she was seriously regretting it. Beth, once the most beautiful name to Alec, now cut him like glass.

He shut the freezer door without getting what he had been searching for, and leaned against the counter opposite the little 1950’s pink fridge. Beth looked over and gave him a glare, then she folded her arms across her chest and looked the other way. Beth hated Alec for waiting so long before telling her the truth, and Alec blamed her for not being more understanding.

Alec stared at her, she was still so beautiful, her long blond hair, her perfect skin so soft and tanned. Her eyes a beautiful shade of deep ocean blue. Alec felt like his heart was breaking again, just like the night he told her.

She had screamed and thrown a flower pot at him, the mark was still on the front porch pillar. It had been the first time Beth had been to Alec’s house. They had always met at her father’s store or her apartment. Last October they had met at a party on Halloween and had spent every day together until July when he told her. Alec had to be so carful of the sun, he couldn’t believe she didn’t notice something was weird.

Alec had missed her the last few months, but he couldn’t tell her that. It didn’t matter anyway, Alec knew she didn’t love him anymore.

Will came up the stairs fully dressed, he could feel the tense atmosphere from the living room. Will hesitated, then kissed Beth, giving a quick look to Alec to see if he was about to rip him limb from limb. Alec was back in the freezer, he didn’t want to see them as much as look at each other. Alec knew he would lose it again, he and Will were finally back to normal.

Alec found what he was looking for, his last bag of A+. He poured it into his mug and stuck it in the old dirty microwave.

So, how was last night? Beth asked Will with her arms around his neck. Will looked uncomfortable,

Fine, normal, I slept like a baby. Will looked over at Alec, who was smiling.

Yeah, right down to the thumb sucking, Alec said quietly. Alec wasn’t really trying to embarrass Will, but if it worked out that way he was ok with it.

Alec never felt like Will stole Beth from him, they got together about a month after Alec and she broke up. Will had actually been trying to get Beth to take Alec back, when they started to fall for each other.

Alec didn’t speak to Will for weeks after that. Even on full moon nights Alec would lock Will up and then let him out in the morning without saying a word. Alec had considered kicking him out and letting him figure it out on his own, but then he thought that would have many consequences that Alec couldn’t live with.

Alec was by far the more handsome of the two, but Will wasn’t bad to look at either. Will had short, light brown hair, a strong bone structure, and very pretty slate blue eyes. He was a bit shorter than Alec, but Will was still growing. Will had told Beth what he was when he was trying to convince her to go back to Alec, and Beth had decided that an honest werewolf was better than a dishonest vampire.

Will grabbed a Thermos of coffee, said goodbye to Alec and then left with Beth. Will worked at Beth’s father’s grocery store. Beth was a checker and he worked in produce. They also went to the same college. It was Will’s first year, and Beth was two years older.

Alec heard Beth’s Honda speed out of the driveway. The microwave bell went off, and Alec couldn’t hold it together any longer. He grabbed hold of the microwave and threw it against the front door. The microwave door flew open and Alec’s cup flew out. Blood splattered the door, the walls, and even hit the ceiling. There was a small puddle forming on the floor in front of the microwave, and Alec’s eyes went from a light gray to black. This happened whenever he felt too much human emotion, or smelt blood and Alec was dealing with both, but he was used to this and was able to fight it back.

Alec spent the morning reading. He liked the classics, but they weren’t classics to him. His favorite writer was Alexander Dumas. He enjoyed the Count of Monte Cristo the most, but he didn’t want thoughts of revenge going through his head just now.

Alec had been with a few women over the years, after Angelica. He was always looking for a new companion, but found that he didn’t have the ability to force his lifestyle on any of the women he dated. Alec knew this about himself and kept his problem a secret from all of them, and then when he decided he could no longer keep the secret he would leave them.

Beth felt different though, or maybe he was just desperate to have a female companion again. Alec thought that Beth wouldn’t mind that he was a vampire, he even thought that she would be up for the change herself one day. She was very into beautiful things whether that be the boyfriend she had, or the car he drove. So Alec thought she might have liked the idea of being young and beautiful forever.

Beth also didn’t want children. She said that a child was not worth getting fat or having stretch marks. To most people, that kind of attitude wouldn’t be appealing, but Alec, knowing that he could never have children, found it to be very appealing and encouraged it. He had never really thought about having children, even when he was human.

Alec could hardly stand to think about Beth now. He would become angry and sad. Alec had worked so hard over the years to keep his human connection, but sometimes he wished he could switch it off. Alec started to think that maybe he would quit trying to be human and find a female vampire and try it again, but then he would remember how awful it was with Angelica and change his mind.

Alec had been a sickly child growing up. In his small town people thought he wouldn’t live long, so he never found a girl to fall in love with. Then one night as he was walking home from his father’s butcher shop he was surprised to meet a beautiful young woman that seemed to be very interested in him.

Alec remembered her saying that the blood on his apron was beautiful and Alec thought that was weird, but he wasn’t going to be rude. Angelica was beautiful and spoke sweetly. She was only about 18 when she changed, so she had a very young face. Her skin was dark and exotic, her hair long, chestnut in color, and curly. Alec remembered being mesmerized by her lips, which were full and red. He had been so mesmerized in fact, that when he woke a vampire he was completely surprised. He remembered how much he hated being a vampire, and how he had wanted to die the first time he killed someone.

It had been his neighbor’s daughter, Emma. She was only 16, and she had always been kind to Alec. It was his first night with his new life, and Angelica told him to go to Emma’s house and hide behind a tree in her yard. He could see her coming home from her Sunday walk, Alec called her name and she went to him. She smiled at him not even noticing his new eyes. Alec could remember how his throat burned and how good she smelled.

Alec knew exactly what to do, Angelica didn’t have to teach him a thing. The girl tried to scream when she felt the pain, but Alec bit harder and she was silenced. He could hear her heart start to slow, then stop completely. Alec let go of Emma, and gently laid her body under the tree he had been hiding behind. It was late, already dark, and he knew that her family would be looking for her soon.

After that, Alec told Angelica that he didn’t have the heart to do it again. She threatened him, and Alec knew he was stuck. Angelica was over 100 years old and strength came with age so he thought he would never be free.

After years of killing, Alec decided that if he were going to live as a vampire that he was going to do it differently. Alec discovered that people didn’t have to die. So he would drink until he felt that their body had had enough, then he would stop and let them go.

Alec had been living in a castle in Spain with Angelica at the time he discovered this new way. There were several old vampires that lived with them, including the one that had made Angelica. None of them liked the idea, especially Angelica. The other vampires started to dislike Alec, even Angelica was getting annoyed with him, but he was her trophy and she loved making the other vampires jealous. Finally after much pleading, Angelica agreed that they would move to the New World.

Alec had lived in a lot of different places, even sunny ones, and he had become accustomed to putting on hats, gloves, and coats on sunny days. He had been burned a few times and learned quickly how to dress for the weather.

He had moved to Oregon from New York in the early 1950s, hoping that he could live a more normal life. Alec liked Oregon, Portland especially as there were a lot of cloudy days and Portland was full of weirdoes, so no one noticed that he had to wear strange clothes on sunny days.

Alec didn’t go to the city that often since Will moved in though. Then when he met Beth he almost stopped leaving town completely. Alec used to go to the store and see Beth, but now he could hardly drive by the store without wanting to drive right through it.

Alec lay on his bed thinking. He wanted to stay there forever and never speak again, but he knew that Will would be home in a few hours and he didn’t want him to see the mess he had made upstairs. Plus, Alec knew he was out of blood and would need to drink soon and often if he was going to get through Will and Beth being together. Blood bags weren’t that great, you could never get them the right temp, and they always tasted like plastic, but they would work in a pinch. However after a freak out like today Alec was going to need it straight from the vein.

2

W hen Will got in the passenger seat of Beth’s car he was still feeling a bit tense. He didn’t want Beth to come pick him up, but with his bike still broken and no money to fix it, he needed the ride. Will knew that if he had asked Alec for a ride, he would have done it, but he didn’t want him to have to drive to the store. Will thought that it would be too weird for Alec to go there, but Beth coming there was a lot weirder.

In Will’s defense, he did tell Beth to wait outside for him, but Beth wanted to come in and rub her and Will’s relationship in Alec’s face for hurting her. Will had thought, over the months when Beth and Alec were together, that she did love Alec and would choose to be with him forever. Will really did try to help, he wasn’t even sure how he and Beth had become a couple. Beth had been a little funny about switching from a vampire to a werewolf, but after Will explained it she realized that it didn’t require any kind of commitment on her part, so she was ok with it.

When Will and Beth got to the store, Bob (Beth’s father) was there to greet them. Hi Daddy! Beth smiled and waved.

Bob Thomas was a fat balding man with a black, bottle-brush mustache. When Alec and Beth broke up, he told his daughter he had never liked Alec anyway. Of course this was not true, everyone who met Alec liked him.

Bob used to come out of his office whenever Alec was in the store and talk his ear off about all sorts of things. Alec had been his favorite of Beth’s boyfriends, even counting Will. Bob liked Will, but Will was young and never seemed to know which way his life was headed. Plus, Alec had a ton of money and a nice car and those things were important to Bob.

Hey sweetie, Bob replied a little distracted. Bob never paid much attention to Beth, he spent his money on her, even got her a car and her apartment, but he never spoke much to her about anything important.

Beth was an only child. Her mother died when she was 10 and her father consumed himself with his business. This never bothered Beth though, she got anything she wanted and never had to pay for any of it.

Good morning, Mr. Thomas. Will said a bit stiff. Bob nodded and Beth went inside, then Bob stopped Will, Hey, I expect that inventory to be done and on my desk before you leave for lunch. Will nodded and went in.

Will took inventory all morning. There weren’t many big orders since it was fall, but they did have to get more pumpkins in for Halloween. Will had been worried about Halloween, he knew it was Alec and Beth’s anniversary and he wondered if Alec would have a problem with Will going to the town festival with Beth. Alec and Will had been friends since Will’s grandpa died. Will remembered going to Alec’s for the first time. He remembered how scared he was to meet a vampire, but then Alec had been so nice and friendly with him they became friends quickly.

Will’s father didn’t handle being a werewolf very well, so he had never told Will’s mother. Then on one full moon night when Will was only about 5, his mom followed his dad as he snuck out to change. She stopped him in front of Will’s grandpa’s house to ask him what was going on and kept him too long. After Will’s father killed his mother, he killed himself and Will’s grandfather took Will in. Then, when he died, Will didn’t know what he was going to do. Will had always been grateful to Alec, and couldn’t shake the feeling that he had completely betrayed his only friend.

Will figured that after this morning Alec would be only too happy to lend him the money to fix his bike. Will knew Alec would have given him the money the day he wrecked it but he was always asking Alec for something. Will’s head was busy all morning with worry.

Beth’s mind, however, wasn’t busy at all. She was leaning over the belt of her register and reading up on all the Hollywood gossip from one of the stores magazines. That morning she only had an old woman that took forever to write a check. Who still writes checks? Beth had thought as she impatiently waited for the lady to finish. There was a young mother of three children, who was unorganized and looked sleep deprived, which only reminded Beth how she didn’t want children. This thought had made her think of Alec and she didn’t want to think about him.

Beth, although she didn’t show it, was completely devastated about their break up. The night after Alec had told her everything, she had gone home and cried herself sick. Then she spent the next day in bed sobbing off and on. Beth noticed that her bed still smelled like his sweet smell. This had been both comforting and heart-breaking.

Beth understood why Alec had waited to tell her, she was only upset because she never noticed he was so different. Then when she went to his house she thought that maybe he was asking her to move in with him. Then when she realized that this wasn’t his intention, she lost all control.

Beth felt stupid. How could Alec keep something like that from her? Beth had decided after her cry that she was done with him, that she couldn’t be made a fool again. Beth was nothing but proud, she still waited a week before going back to work, or even washing her sheets. Beth treated it like she was getting over a death, like the Alec she knew and loved was dead. Most of what she felt was real, and she would never look at Alec the same way again, however, she would have to get used to seeing him. Beth truly liked Will, he was sweet and had a good heart, and Beth hoped it would rub off on her.

Beth sighed, she wanted the day to hurry up so it could be lunch time. She needed to see Will, she was feeling sad again after her encounter with Alec that morning. Will could always make her smile, more than Alec ever could, but Alec could make her blush more than sweet, little Will ever could hope.

Will sat at an old computer, he was starting to fall asleep when his phone vibrated. Will got it out of his pocket, Beth had sent him a text. Hey it’s finally lunch time, see you there ;) xoxo Will’s face went red, he couldn’t even remember why he was upset anymore.

For the last week Will and Beth had been meeting in the back room behind all the produce boxes for lunch. There was never any actual lunch going on, but there was a lot of other things going on.

They decided on the only place for their physical relationship was at work. This was because Will didn’t want to go to her place, and there was no way they were going to his. Will didn’t think he would be able to have sex with Beth in the same bed that she and Alec used to sleep together in. Will was sure that Alec knew they were sleeping together, but Will coming home late from Beth’s or spending the night there was really throwing it in his face.

Alec was still in his room, sulking. Alec looked at his phone again, Will would be home soon. That was if he came straight home, Alec knew it was only a matter of time before Will started sleeping over at Beth’s. The thought of Beth’s apartment made Alec full of sadness, he tried to shake it off, but couldn’t. Alec felt like he was sinking deep into the mattress, almost hitting the floor, he brought his hands to his face. If Alec were able, he would have cried himself dry. However being a vampire it was difficult for him to cry at all.

Alec knew he had to get up, there was still the blood all over the kitchen to clean up. It would upset Will, and he might leave or break up with Beth. Alec liked Will very much and knew that he didn’t mean to hurt him, so Alec didn’t want to make him upset. Most vampires were selfish and Alec was too old and too human-oriented to act like that.

Alec pulled himself together and started to clean. He took the old and now broken microwave, out to the garbage can. Then Alec got some rags and cleaned not only the blood, which was now dried on everything, but the counter as well. After Alec mopped up the blood on the floor, which was now more like melted Jell-O, he also washed the dishes.

Alec discovered that as long as he was cleaning he didn’t think of Beth or Will. It felt like therapy. When Alec was finished and the kitchen was gleaming, he went into the sad living room. This room was barley lived in. Years ago he and Will would watch TV on their little black and white, but now that everything was digital it just sat there and collected dust.

Alec picked up the old TV and threw it in the garbage on top of the microwave. Alec thought that he better go and replace the TV and the microwave, this was something Alec liked to do. He liked to shop not just because, but for a purpose, like he was on a mission to find better stuff. So Alec got in his slick little Z and headed down the driveway. The driveway wasn’t very visible from the road and it was about a mile down from the house. At the end stood an old rusty gate that was so bent on one end that it was no longer able to close, so it became a blackberry shrine and a marker for the house for people that hadn’t lived there for 100 years.

Alec loved driving, the speed, the shifting, it was like sex, it took his mind off of everything. When Alec drove he didn’t feel like an outside force moving an object, but became part of the car moving in perfect timing. Alec never saw speed limit signs, and there, of course, was no record of him ever being caught for speeding. Alec decided that he better get the blood over with so his throat wouldn’t be bothering him at the store.

He knew he couldn’t get any from the hospital until night, but he was looking for the real thing today anyway. Alec had become angry and human emotions like that cost vampires energy, which is to say blood. So someone was going have to pay for Alec’s outburst, and Alec hated that. Alec often told himself that he had to do it, for Will’s sake. Will had already lost so many people and he wouldn’t be able to take care of himself. Alec knew this was a lie that he told himself often, but really Alec wasn’t ready to die. And now that Alec didn’t have to kill people to get what he needed, he felt it was ok that he live.

Alec drove to the dirtier part of town, the part where most people lock their doors and pray they don’t get a flat. Alec knew these streets very well, and they knew him. Alec slowed when he found what he had been looking for. There standing against an abandon mill house, was a lady in her late 40’s. She was wearing acid washed jeans and a white leather jacket and her face was that of a person who had experienced a hard, unforgiving, life. She would be the lucky one today, and this wouldn’t be her first time.

Alec slowed and the woman approached the car, he rolled the window down and she leaned in. Alec could smell her blood, hot and with a little adrenalin. Alec only had to smile, and she got in. it took only a minute, and then she was back on the street $300 richer, and a look of confusion on her face. Alec, feeling the pain in his throat cool and his eyes go back to light grey, pushed the last 15 minutes out of his mind, and headed for Portland.

Alec hated shifting in bumper to bumper traffic, never getting above third gear was miserable. Alec enjoyed places like Target, Walmart, and Fred Myer. They were all brightly lit, without the worry, and some were even 24 hours, which was very nice. Plus, they were a good place to feel human, as well as find single women, but Alec didn’t much feel like dating yet.

Inside, Alec went straight to the TV section, something nice and modern, but not too big. Alec was happy that Will wasn’t with him, he wouldn’t let Alec leave without at least a 50. Alec found a nice 30 that a very pretty salesgirl helped him pick out. He enjoyed flirting with her, but really didn’t want much more. After wandering a bit, Alec finally made it to the microwaves. He had wanted a nice stainless one but thought it would look out of place with his plain white stove and 1950s light pink fridge. So Alec put it back and grabbed a small white unit instead. Alec’s cart was now full, but he didn’t feel like going home. Alec looked at the time. Will would be home in less than an hour, if he came home. So Alec decided he better get the stuff home and hooked up before Will got there.

After Will was finished with work, Beth was trying to get him to come over to her house for round two. But Will told her he couldn’t, not yet. Beth looked pretty upset, so that was all Will said the whole way home. Beth dropped Will off at the gate as requested. Will leaned over to kiss her, but she would only let him have her cheek.

Are you going to need a ride to school tomorrow? Beth asked, still looking straight ahead.

Well if I do, I’ll call you tonight, and if I don’t, I’ll still call you. He smiled, he even saw a bit of a smile slide across Beth’s pretty pink lips. Will watched as Beth turned around and headed back towards town, until she was completely out of sight then he started for the