The [UNDEAD] surfaces *Gracie*

[summerstorm]

My hands were clenched tightly on the steering wheel, the knuckles white and tense from anxiety. I had managed to get out of the school, which honestly was a relief. It was difficult to create the illusion that I was human all the time. I felt like I was losing it completely, and began to wonder why the hell I tried in the first place. So far, I was the only on I knew of who was keeping a hold on a thread of humanity.

I barely had to pay attention to where I was driving; I knew exactly where I was going. Normally I would try and avoid the alley, it was an absolutely repulsing place; garbage was everywhere.. need I say more? I was going there today because I am an absolute idiot, and forgot my stuff there when I left this morning. I had a feeling that it wouldn't be there, but hell those were the only things I had left.

I parked my truck in an old abandoned parking lot, glancing around the area, making sure no one was watching me. Swallowing nervously, I locked the truck it before getting out. The alley was just around the corner, but I could smell it from here. Holy shit, I think it got worse. My plan was to get in, and get out, and I hoped I could avoid any confrontation. Or, best case scenario, not even be noticed.

I went around to the back of the parking lot, moving around to go to the end of the alley where I had hid my things. The sounds were normal for that alley; fighting and angered growls of annoyance. No one really got along, although there was the odd few that did. I tried not to make a sound as I crouched down to grab my things, which fortunately, were still there. It was dark enough that no one noticed me, and the fight that had just broken out helped to draw attention away.

Slowly I slipped out of the alley, putting my duffel bag on my shoulder, and started to walk back to my truck.

[Gracie♥]

This alley was way too close to my dorm room. Always has been, always will be. With a sigh, I drew my hand up to my nose in an attempt to block out the stench of those wormburgers. The smell had been even worse for me, now that I was... Well, pregnant. Heaving a sigh, I strutted past the entrance, glancing inside.

It was horrible, and empty... Except a tall, lanky zombie, with a build that was all too familiar. I couldn't make out his face, but I was too startled to think clearly.

"Wait, is that.. you? I still have your water bottle, if you want it," I said weakly, unsure how to address this..situation.

Waiting for a response, I stood back in the street, careful not to get too close to that place. I didn't really want a repeat of last time, that's for damn sure. That zombie would be the death of me. But I was okay with it. There was a charming air about him that I was sure would keep me coming back.

But, humans never just walked into the alley like that. He was a wormburger. A fucking wormburger. A chill ran down my spine as I stood, fumbling with the lacy black strap of my bra that was revealed by my slutty shirt. Looking down at my outfit, which revealed my still-small stomach and one lean shoulder, I immediately felt like a whore.

But, I was okay with it. Hadn't I always been a skank? It was just, how I was. Shrugging it off, I turned back to the figure before me, forcing a smile.

TAGGED . tessa&&stefan.
OUTFIT . here.
LYRICS . the silence - mayday parade.
NOTES . xxx.
CREDIT . JURATE at CAUTION.

[summerstorm]

Wait, is that.. you? I still have your water bottle, if you want it,

Her voice was weak, but it startled me slightly. Shit shit shit. This wasn't good. I turned around, my hand running nervously through my dark hair as I anxiously searched in my head for a reply. Hadn't she seen anything? Why was she acting like she thought I was human? Maybe she really hadn't seen anything. In that case, then I was damn lucky.

"Nah, thats okay. Keep it."

I told her, trying to keep the hint of nervousness from filtering into my voice. My hand clenched around the bag that hung on my shoulder.

"So... you live around here?"

I tried my best to act easy going, non-chalant, which wasn't an easy thing to do. As I listened to the sounds around, I could still here the fight that continued on the other side of the alley. No wonder we had such a bad reputation. Well, maybe it wasn't just that... but the fighting certainly didn't help anything.

[Gracie♥]

Nah, that's okay. Keep it.

I stifled a giggle, my suspicion melting away. He was too cool - and hot - to be dead, right? He wasn't acting like he was dead, all sulky and no fun. He probably just came here to pick on those skunk-bags. I could see him clearer now, every perfect feature falling into place.

So... you live around here?

I picked at my sparkly black nail polish, trying to think of a good response to his question. I opened my mouth to speak, but at first no words escaped my red lips. I cleared my throat quietly and went on.

"Yeah, I do actually. The dorms, right there." I nodded toward the building, which looked particularly inviting right now, but I wasn't going to just leave him here. "Ugh, it reeks of wormburger in here..they could at least clean the place, or at least themselves, once in a while. It's probably for the best Landon never came back," I lied.

Landon would've loved the second chance. But, I was over that... Wasn't I? I wiped away a tear with my slender fingers.

TAGGED . tessa&&stefan.
OUTFIT . here.
LYRICS . the silence - mayday parade.
NOTES . xxx.
CREDIT . JURATE at CAUTION.

[summerstorm]

Yeah, I do actually. The dorms, right there. She paused, nodding towards the dorms. Ugh, it reeks of wormburger in here..they could at least clean the place, or at least themselves, once in a while. It's probably for the best Landon never came back,

I swallowed as she mentioned the undead that were over in the alley; little did she know that she was talking to one right now. My gaze moved towards the ground, avoiding her gaze for a moment. Then it sort of hit me. Landon. I knew who she was talking about. When I brought my eyes back up to her gaze, I could see her wiping a tear from her eye. I had met Landon. Actually, we had talked quite a bit. It was a relief to talk to him, it was like there was something about him that was different than the rest.

I remembered what he had told me. I wish that I could tell her all the things he told me before he died. I suppose that only some made the change to the undead. Others were unlucky... or lucky, whichever way was more fitting.

"Landon... he was your brother."

I clenched my jaw shut after that, I couldn't say anymore. If I did, she would know who I really was. And despite the fact that I would have like to tell her more about what her brother had told me... I couldn't.

I hoped that they still didn't hold out hope for him to still come back. I hoped that they had been different than my family; my family was still looking for me, they never gave up hope that I was still alive in some form. That was why I moved in the first place. Often I thought of going back, but sometimes I wondered if the shock of it all would be too much.

[Gracie♥]

Landon... he was your brother.

I nodded solemnly, glancing at him without a word. The tears welled in my eyes, and I knew this time I wouldn't be able to avoid them. I stood helplessly as the tears trickled down my face. Landon was the best brother I could have asked for, and the only brother I had.

I stared uneasily at the ground, wiping away the tears with a couple of slender fingers. But they kept coming. I drew in a shaky breath, waiting for the tears to subside before I could speak.

"He... he was." I paused for a moment. And then it hit me - how did he know? I didn't care enough to bother him about it now, though. "He was still a kid when he died," I sobbed.

The tears still flowing, I wrapped my arms around him, grateful to have someone here. I really couldn't do this alone.

TAGGED . tessa&&stefan.
OUTFIT . here.
LYRICS . the silence - mayday parade.
NOTES . xxx.
CREDIT . JURATE at CAUTION.

[summerstorm]

He... he was. He was still a kid when he died.

I watched as she began to wipe away stray tears with her thin fingers, staring at the ground as she tried to gain some composure. In truth, I was relieved that she hadn't noticed my slip up of me saying I knew Landon was her brother. I listened as she drew in a shaky breath, looking uneasy as more tears flowed, turning into sobs of sadness.

I stood very still as she wrapped her arms around me, not really knowing what to do or say at this point. My first thought was to push her away, but I knew that I couldn't do it. I may be undead, but that wasn't to say I was some heartless monster. Instead of pushing her away, I wrapped my arms around her small frame, holding her tight as she sobbed softly.

"Its alright... "

I whispered, my voice soft as I kept my arms held around her.

**lol I just realized that they haven't really introduced themselves, but its an interesting plot line **

[Gracie♥]

Its alright...

Landon had died ten years ago... Why was I breaking down now? I stood there for a moment, my hands straying to his cool, muscular arms. I held them for a moment, before pulling back gently.

The tears had finally come to a halt, and I could think clearly now. I sniffled, looking up and catching his gaze, my eyes tracing his every feature.

"Did you know him?" In truth, I had no idea how he knew this, but I didn't honestly mind. The fact that he understood - or at least I thought he did - made me feel a hell of a lot better.

TAGGED . tessa&&stefan.
OUTFIT . here.
LYRICS . the silence - mayday parade.
NOTES . lol i was just thinking that. oh well.
CREDIT . JURATE at CAUTION.

[summerstorm]

Did you know him?

I looked at her as she stared up at me, searching in my mind, wondering what to say. Honestly, I wanted to tell her about her brother really badly. But I didn't know what was best for the situation, but I knew I had to say something that would explain for me knowing that he was her brother.

"Yeah, we met a long time ago."

I nodded softly, arms still around her tightly, not seemingly to be able to let go of her. As I looked down, I saw that she had stopped crying. A stray tear ran down her face, however, and I removed my arm from around her to brush it away softly.

This was bad. I couldn't get into something like this. I knew that my false identity couldn't last forever, and I also knew she would find out eventually, and she would probably hate me for it. Shit, this was a mess made in hell. What the hell was I doing?!

[Gracie♥]

Yeah, we met a long time ago.

Stefan's cool arms were still wrapped around my thin waist. I smiled feebly as he wiped away stray tears from my cheek. His icy hands sent a chill down my spine.

A long time ago. Landon died when he was eight... It would have to be ten years ago. Unless... My expression lightened at the thought.

"How long ago?" I demanded. "He died ten years ago... Was he... dead, when you met him?" My words were hardly audible.

If he was dead when Stefan met him, Landon could still be out there. He might not be lost for good. I tried my best not to get my hopes up, but my efforts were helpless.

TAGGED . tessa&&stefan.
OUTFIT . here.
LYRICS . the silence - mayday parade.
NOTES . xxx.
CREDIT . JURATE at CAUTION.

[summerstorm]

How long ago? He died ten years ago... Was he... dead, when you met him?

Shit, why did I say anything at all? This was what I was trying to avoid. Yet, somehow, I couldn't help but want to tell her. I think she deserved to know, even if it meant her finding out, which I hoped desperately wouldn't happen. I unwrapped my arms from around her, taking a step back, seeing a spark of hope flare up into her eyes. Dammit, this wasn't good.

"Tessa.. he isn't well... he was at one time. But he never made the change."

I struggled with the wording, finally just getting out what needed to be said. My eyes were deep and full of sympathy as I looked at her. I hated being the one to tell her this. Any hope she ever had of him coming back was going to be crushed.

Shit.

Somehow I wondered if it was a good thing. If she gave up hope, maybe she could move on after ten long years.

[Gracie♥]

Tessa.. he isn't well... he was at one time. But he never made the change.

I sighed, watching without protest as he stepped back. I had figured he was dead, anyway. Landon wouldn't just leave like that, without contacting me. Would he?

How did Stefan know this? I watched him uneasily, not sure what the hell to think. A baffled expression on my face, I stepped back, my eyes still fixed on his gaze.

"Oh," I muttered, not wanting to know how Stefan knew this. He was kind of scaring me... I decided to not dig any deeper. "...Thanks, Stefan."

Standing daintily on my tiptoes, I kissed him on the cheek, my mood lightening. His face was cold and hard, but I paid it no mind.

TAGGED . tessa&&stefan.
OUTFIT . here.
LYRICS . the silence - mayday parade.
NOTES . xxx.
CREDIT . JURATE at CAUTION.

[summerstorm]

Oh ...Thanks, Stefan.

Tessa muttered softly, and I nodded, hiding my relief inside that she hadn't decided to ask anymore questions. Honestly, if she had, I don't know how I would answer. Although, in these cases it was normally good to speak of the truth, despite the fact that he may have to leave Seattle forever, unless becoming succumbed to being shunned like the rest of the undead.

As she reached up on her tip toes, kissing my cheek, her lips warm and soft against my cold, marble- like cheek. I swallowed almost nervously, although I was getting more and more used to being around this type of human contact.

"Oh.. you don't have to thank me. "

I told her softly, my eyes dark as I looked at her. Adjusting the bag on my shoulder, I looked at the ground for a moment, staring at nothing in particular before looking back up at her.

[Gracie♥]

Oh.. you don't have to thank me.

I smiled, chewing absently on my long, polished fingernails. I had read somewhere that Justin Bieber thought it was disgusting when people chewed their nails... Immediately I put my hands in my back pockets, my gaze turning back to Stefan.

I nodded, unsure what I was supposed to say by now. I really didn't feel like talking about Landon more, or anything else serious for that matter. I seriously had to move on.

"So, um, you wanna come back up to the dorms with me? I could use some help with my history homework," I purred, taking on a more flirtatious mood. Rocking back and forth on my tiptoes again, waiting for an answer.

TAGGED . tessa&&stefan.
OUTFIT . here.
LYRICS . the silence - mayday parade.
NOTES . xxx.
CREDIT . JURATE at CAUTION.

[summerstorm]

So, um, you wanna come back up to the dorms with me? I could use some help with my history homework,

I watched as she rocked back and forth on her tiptoes, hands in her pockets as I stood there, not really sure how to answer. To be honest, it felt good to be doing something normal for once, something I might have done before my death. But truth was, that I knew this was wrong of me. I couldn't act like everything was normal. It was the farthest thing from normal, something no one ever expected until it happened. I fumbled in my mind for an answer, wanting to say yes, but knowing how selfish I was. Running a hand nervously through my hair, I still didn't really decide what to say, just hoped something good would come out.

"I uh.. I don't know if that's a good idea.."

I didn't want to be rude, but I honestly was at a loss for words. I hated this so much. My life was nothing but completely screwed up shit.