.... Just remember to breathe

[alyse jem]

Alyse's life, and the life of her brother Dare, had did some drastic changing in the last few days. Finally they were back at school, and having to pretend that they were merely in a muggle sort of accident, and before any healer could get to them, the muggle ambulance had. Then it was an ordeal getting them out of the system with as much magic as they could manage. It was good to be at home for a few days. Aly wasn't going to lie, she missed her mom and dad so desparately that even though she was in pain most of the time, it was nice to be spending time with them .. even if occasionally she caught them giving her a look of sadness. She knew Dare was familiar with that look too.

Walking slowly, and easily out to the grounds, then to the quidditch pitch, Aly just needed some time to think about the up coming full moon. Mannie, one of the healers at Hogwarts is from the same town as she is, and Jace Sr. had contacted her to let her know about Aly and Dare. The day of the full moon, after classes, she and her brother were to meet up with Mannie, and Jace Jr. It was going to be their first time changing, and it was to be done in a safe and supervised location. Aly was also told there was a chance that a few others were going to be joining them just to make sure their first transition was monitored and neither one of them basically went batty and tried to eat a family.

Now the thoughts of changing were somewhat out of the way, but not completely, the thought was always there lingering in the back of Aly's mind, she let her mind move onto thinking about Jude. Lovely, complicated Jude. No matter how much she told herself that it was real, Aly still couldn't really grasp the fact that he had told her he loved her. All the years of cussing each other out, she acting like he was the most arrogant guy in the universe, and him treating her like she was the most judgmental person in the world. Well, it all peeked in a way that Aly never thought it would. He blamed himself for making her upset at the party, which in turn provoked her to leave and go running alone with her brother in the woods back home. But if you looked at it from the other side of the coin, if Aly hadn't gotten hurt, would Jude have ever showed he cared for her? Would she have ever let down her guard to tell him how she felt? Maybe one day, but one day in the far future, if at all.

Sighing, Alyse laid back on the grass, and rubbed her palms back and forth along the blades. It had started yesterday, an restless ache in her body, one that wasn't due to an injury. No, it was like a vibration, a need. Aly had always been a runner, but this feeling that was intensifying, it was stronger than just a want to run, and free her mind. It was a need to free herself of this form. She knew what was happening, and as much as it scared her, it thrilled her a bit too. On top of the vibration running through her veins, she could also smell everything. And she could smell it from miles away. It was kind of curious, but gross too. Because yeah, there were things that weren't meant to be smelled in such a high density. Aly was sure she'd eventually get used to it, and for now, she just needed to work through all the changes as best as she could. For now, Aly would just lay in the grass, and regulate her breathing, and just think of the way Jude holds her when he kisses her. That seemed to steady her, and sooth her in a way nothing else could lately.

[Deleted]

I've come to believe, I cannot exist without you

As hard as I've tried, I cannot confess completely

Jude had to admit, he was worried about Aly. He had come to see her at her house a couple of times, but that was different. She was surrounded by family that loved her, overwhelmed with their presence. He knew what it was like when you were healing from something, even though he'd never had anything as bad as this to heal from. It was different, now that she was back at Hogwarts, just one face in hundreds. So, Jude had decided he would keep an eye out for her, until he was sure she was okay. Which meant camping out on the stairs until she left the Gryffindor common room. Oh come on, like everyone didn't know where it was, especially after freaking Harry Potter was published for all the muggles in the world to read. Problem was, he hadn't seen Aly until her back was turned, and even then, it was only because he'd sat behind her for a few classes that he recognized the back of her head. So, he'd jumped up immediately and started following her. That made him uncomfortable for a couple different reasons: one, stalking. Two, the ever-creepy Twilight. How invasive did a book have to be that you didn't have to read it, read about it, or see the movie on it and still know the love interest was a creepy little freak?

Well, Jude wouldn't be turned into a creepy freak. He was going to catch up to her, and tell her he was following her. Only, she was fast as hell all the sudden, which would've been obvious if he had thought about it for even a second before he'd come up with the plan to follow her. Good job, Jude. He practically had to sprint to keep up with her, and she must've shut off all of her senses, otherwise he was pretty sure she would've stopped for him. Okay, he was about half sure she would stop for him. Twenty five percent at the least. Part of him wanted to stop--because creepy, and she had all these new senses now, and probably knew he was following her. Probably wanted him to just leave her alone, too. He'd catch up to her, see if she wanted company, and if she didn't, make himself scarce. She could so take care of herself now. In a way he couldn't ever, unless he was bitten by an alpha too. He wasn't all that sure how his parents would feel about having a werewolf son, but he also wasn't sure how Aly would feel about having a werewolf boyfriend... and then, what if it didn't take, and he just died a horribly painful death? That'd be really fun! He shook his head, took a calming breath, then moved closer to Aly, laying down carefully next to her and turning his head so he could look at her face, "Hey." he said. It was insufficient, but most words were with her. He wasn't even sure if she wanted a relationship with him. She had hinted around the idea, but honestly, Jude had no idea why she'd want to be with him. He looked over her face for a few more seconds, then turned his head to look up at the sky, "I wasn't sure if you wanted company. If you don't, that's fine. I'll take off, leave you be." he said softly, unable to look at her face as she decided. Most of the time when he wasn't looking at her, it was because he was afraid of what he'd see on her face.

[alyse jem]

Breathing in deep longs breathes, Aly caught the scent of Jude when the breeze shifted, and smiled. "Hi there." She said softly and lovingly, then rolled over and rested her chin on his chest, and smiled wide. "Why in the hell would I make you leave me?" Alyse raised her head, and looked at Jude, tapping the end of his nose softly with the tip of her pointer finger. "Let's get this straight, I always want you around, okay?" Pokes out her lips, and looks guilty at him, "I know I've been sidetracked ... I'm worried, and nervous." Makes a face, and takes a deep breath. "Remember how you said you wanted to be there when I changed ... well, I might have found you protection from me." Looks at him, and frowns. "Unless you changed your mind, and I hope you have." Cups his face, and looks into his eyes.

Being here with Jude, it made Aly feel even worse about getting lost in her head, and just wondering about things without even waiting for him. He was being very caring, and protective, and here she was, being a pain in the ass. It made her feel like a real awful girlfriend. Wait ... smiling a little, Aly bit her bottom lip, and couldn't help but laugh softly. The thought of actually being his girlfriend--aside from everything else going on--made her feel almost giddy. Aly needed giddy in her life right now. Sitting up some, still feeling a pull and ache in her hip, she looked down at him, and smiled crookedly. "Um .. Jude .. back to the whole me ditching you thing. You know I'm not doing this on purpose, right?" Pouts a little, "I want nothing more than to be with you. Being hugged by you, kissed by you." Leans down some, and kisses the tip of his nose, "When I do that whole, lost in my head thing, just grab my hand and bring me back to you, please." Aly said softly, then kissed his lips gently, "Jude, am I your girlfriend?"

[Deleted]

I've come to believe, I cannot exist without you

As hard as I've tried, I cannot confess completely

Jude couldn't help smiling very stupidly when Aly immediately moved to him, and his arms automatically wrapped around her. He tugged a lock of her hair, which was blowing in the wind, then looked into her eyes, shaking his head, "I have no idea, maybe the site of my face could make you physically ill. Didn't you say that once?" he asked, raising his eyebrows as he grinned wide at her. He had been such a jerk to her for so long that he seriously had no idea how she could possibly even like him. But, she did, as it turned out. He smiled a little at her, cocking his head to the side, "Always wanted me around? Even when I was ten and at a sleepover at your house and glued your hair to stand up on your head, which incidentally made it stick to your pillow? You wanted me around then, too?" he asked, raising his eyebrows, as he prepared for a punch. She had promised not to punch his face... oh god. He had to make her promise not to punch his family jewels, too. His only distraction was when she spoke again, and he found himself smiling wide as he watched her speak, before shaking his head, "Nope. I haven't changed my mind at all." he said, "Do I get to know who will be protecting my life, or is it a super secret?" he asked, smiling with none of the sarcasm that was in his voice.

He kissed her softly, nodding a little as she spoke again, "I know you don't do it on purpose." he said, then frowned a little, stroking her cheek for a moment, wishing she was closer to him. He smiled a little more as he watched her face move while she spoke, "No, don't do those pouty lips, that's so not fair." he said, eyebrows furrowing, "I'll kiss you and hug you whenever you want, as long as you don't pout." he informed her, stroking her hair back, "I'll bring you back to me anytime I need to, okay, Aly?" he said, looking into her eyes, "I'll grab your hand, even kiss you if it's an intense mindwander." he nodded, grinning wide at her, "I will bite that bullet and kiss you." he said, kissing her softly, just to demonstrate. Then he cocked his head to the other side, smiling both amusedly and lovingly at her, quirking an eyebrow at her, "Well, I hope you're my girlfriend, because I'm your boyfriend. That seems like a sucky position to be in without reciprocation." he shrugged, "But, if you waaaaant...." he raised his eyebrow higher, expectantly at her.