{{Unedited}}   When Vincent left, he was promptly shoved against the wall by Austin who immediately had a finger in his face. “What do you want, Austin?” Vincent growled. “I want you to promise me…” Vincent shoved his hands in his slack pockets and shrugged, shaking his head. “Promise you what, Austin?” “You’re a coward. …

{{Unedited}} “How are you?” Klara asked from behind Vincent as he tinkered with a metallic piece that he’d fit onto their spike. He turned to her. “I’m okay, I guess.” He paused, crossing his arms over his chest. “How was the holiday?” Klara shrugged a shoulder and went silent for a moment as she pushed …

{{Unedited}} When Austin pulled up to Marielle’s apartment building and parked the car, he left the engine running for a moment, and neither of them moved. His eyes followed a path to her apartment building, which looked like a prison in his mind. He was about to say goodbye to “them” for real, wasn’t he? …

{{Unedited}}   When the Moretti’s returned, there was brief exchanges of pleasantries and Austin announced that he was taking Marielle to The Village. Of course, she could only guess at what that meant, but Rick seemed to think it was a wonderful idea. -Did you tell them? She asked, as they got into the car …

{{Unedited}} When Marielle woke again, her stomach twisted in knots as it all came flooding back and she buried her face and cried. He was there but had actually fallen asleep in the wee hours of the morning. The moment she began to sob he woke, and drew her back against himself protectively. “It’s okay,” …

{{Unedited}}   Marielle stirred and looked up, realizing that she’d dozed off. The room was warm and cozy and the fire had died down a little. She was still wrapped in the blanket. At the end of the couch, Austin was leaning into the corner piece, temple in his palm, watching her. “You’re gorgeous when …

{{Unedited}}   Marielle was brushing her teeth when Austin rested his temple on the doorframe, he stood watching her for a moment in adoration. She spit, rinsed, and looked back at him. “What?” “Okay, so no tricks, but I didn’t know that this was happening.” He left that hanging in the air. “What?” Marielle glowered …

{{Unedited}}   Marielle stood in the middle of the bedroom; her hands clasped nervously to her chest. The fingers on her right hand were wrapped around a single pearl that hung around her neck. Vincent had only given it to her a few days before. However, this was the first time that she’d ever used …

{{Unedited}}   Sometime in the night, she woke up again and he was still out. His breathing was low and deep and his thoughts were distant and foggy. He might be on the verge of a dream. She quietly peeled the red journal from the bookshelf, feeling giddy and opening it. It was true that …

{{Unedited}}   Out of the shower, after towel drying her hair and dressing into fresh clothes, she went into Austin’s room to find him sitting on the bed writing in a journal. She cocked her head at him, curiously. He smiled at her, snapped it shut, and slipped it onto the bookshelf. It hadn’t been …