Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Gen 6 Ch 1

Emerald was hired at the local elementary school immediately upon her graduation. After her first day of work, she arrived home to find Jade bouncing with excitement.
"You'll never guess what happened to me today, Em!"
"Umm... you found a job?" Emerald could only hope.
"Sort of.. well.. yes, actually!"


"I was hanging out at the Esplanade, just reading, when I noticed a cute guy catching butterflies. So of course I had to say 'Hi'."
"Of course you did." Emerald inwardly rolled her eyes, while keeping her expression mild.


"It turns out there is money to be made in collecting rocks and butterflies. Who woulda thought?"
"Mm Hmm...who would have thought?" Emerald sighed to herself.

"So anyway, one thing led to another..."



"And now for the best news! He's taking me on a date tomorrow! We're gonna hunt for gems at the graveyard - he says that's the best place."
"Um... sounds.. fun."
"Oh, come Emmy, don't be such a stick-in-the-mud. Maybe I'll find something valuable and be able to get that car I've had my eye on!"



As promised, Jade and Emilio spent the next day scouring the graveyard. Jade was becoming discouraged at their lack of success, when she spied a speck of dark crimson poking through the grass.


"Emil, over here! I think I found something!"
"A lucky find. A vampire's eye - quite rare and very beautiful. You should keep it. Have it cut into something special."
"We should celebrate!"

"Oh, Emilio.."




Emerald hoped her parents would encourage Jade to be more responsible, but they were way too wrapped up in the new grandbabies. Peri and Jessica were the proud new parents of twins - little Orin and Shana. Jett and Opal spent every spare minute relieving the exhausted new parents.



Rinnggg!
Emerald frowned at the unfamiliar number that popped up on her phone.
"Hello."
"Emerald Moonstone! This is your agent calling! Oh, do I have an opportunity for you!"
"Umm, excuse me? I'm an elementary school teacher. I don't want or need an agent."
"Ah, but you do! Your sister needs your help, dear. She hired me to promote the both of you! All you need to do is show up at the Plasma 501 tomorrow night, and have one drink at the bar. Doesn't that sound like fun? See you there!"



The next evening, Emerald sat at the bar wondering why she had let her sister talk her into coming.  She slowly sipped her drink, while Jade introduced herself to the guy at the end of the bar.

When it became apparent that Jade would be otherwise occupied for the remainder of the evening, Emerald followed the piano music downstairs to the dance floor. Her head still buzzed from the drink. She was not used to drinking, but still, it seemed to affect her more than it should have.


"Excuse me, miss? Would you care to dance?"
"Oh, sorry, I don't dance. That is, I don't know how."
Embarrassed, Emerald glanced down at her feet. She hoped he would just go away, but instead he continued.
"No matter. I really don't dance well, either. You just looked a little.. lost. Are you alright?"


Emerald finally realized she should probably look at this person who was talking so kindly to her. She slowly lifted her head, and her eyes met his.

Afterward, she never could explain exactly what happened in that moment, only that she felt she could lose herself in that gaze forever. Her heart felt as if it would beat right out of her chest, and she was overcome with an urgent desire to kiss this man she had only just met.

Then just as quickly as it had come, the moment was past. She wondered if he had felt it too. From the expression on his face, she guessed that he had.


"I.. I'm fine, thank you. I came here with my sister, but I don't see her anywhere. I think she may have left."
"A beautiful lady such as yourself should not be out in a place like this all alone. May I see you home, Miss...?"
"Emerald, but my friends call me Emmy."
"And I am William."

Emerald could hardly believe she had had the nerve to invite William up to her room.  What had gotten it to her tonight? Could it be the drink? Passion filled her once more as she gazed into his eyes, and she worked up the courage to ask him to stay the night.
"William, I know we just met, but I was wondering, would you like.."
"Shhh.." He placed a light finger to her lips, silencing her request.

"I am afraid I cannot stay."
Her face fell at his words. Of course he couldn't stay. What would a gorgeous hunk like him want with the likes of her anyway? He must have read her defeated expression, for he continued.
"You are very beautiful, Miss Emerald, and I wish I could stay. But it is almost dawn, and I am needed elsewhere. I am truly sorry. "

"Goodnight, Miss Emerald. Take care. I will see you again, if you wish."
He brushed her lips lightly with his, then he was gone. 


"I've been wondering what I was going to do with this stone, and now I know why I've been saving it. I want you to have it, Emmy, in honor of your hot new vampire boyfriend. It's called a vampire's eye, and I got it cut into a heart shape just for you."
'It's beautiful, sis, but William is not my boyfriend, and.... what did you say???"
"Oops.. ...you didn't know he's a vampire? I swear, Emmy you are about the most naive person in all of  Bridgeport."



Despite Jade's revelation of William's true nature, Emerald could not resist seeing him again. He would visit several evenings a week, and they would talk for hours. She began to keep a supply of plasma juice in the fridge for his convenience.



Even as their friendship grew, Emerald could feel the undercurrent of the chemistry between them growing as well. She know him well enough now to know he felt it too, but still he kept their relationship at the same level of that first night, never going beyond that simple chaste kiss.


If her love life was frustrating, at least her career was going well. With her middle school teacher's salary, she finally saved enough to buy the classic corvette she had always wanted.


"Owww... oooof.. tell me again why we have to do this?"
"Silly Emmy, exercise is good for you. My agent is positive that working out for a few hours is going to do wonders for our careers. Just move your legs faster and you won't fall."


"Ugh.. I'm trying. Whew, there's the photographer. Does that mean I can stop now?"
"Not 'til the time goes off. Just a few more minutes now, sis."


Peri's twins were growing like weeds, and Tia had started school. Jett and Opal were still constantly across the street at Peri's helping out.

In fact, it was while they were there one evening, that Opal passed on. Jett never quite recovered.

It was only a day later that he went to join his beloved Opal.


The sisters each mourned in their own way. Jade took off somewhere in a funk, and Emerald was left alone in the empty house. She needed comfort, and thought immediately of William. Suddenly he was beside her, drawing her close.
"It's okay, Emmy, everything will be alright. I'm here with you."

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Gen 5 Ch 5

It was the day after the twins birthday, and Opal overheard a heated discussion emanating from their room as she approached the doorway.
"We should redecorate in here, don't you think, Jade? Get rid of the kiddie stuff.  Something different and old-fashioned."
"No way, that's boring. We should go modern. I found the perfect comforter - hot pink hearts!"
"Eeeww ...."


"Girls, girls! No need to argue. Peri's room is empty. Why don't one of you take that one. Then you can each do your own room the way you like."
It took a few minutes for the offer to sink in. The twins had always shared a room.
"Really? Anyway we like?"
"Well, subject to my approval, of course. And I have a special surprise for each of you, for your birthday. I know how you two are such car nuts, but believe me, the kinds of cars you want are way too expensive for teenagers. So I've come up with the next best thing."

"What do you think?"
"Ooh, Mom, I love it! It goes wonderfully in my new room! Thank you!"

"Mom! How did you know that's my favorite car? And in pink! It even matches the wallpaper! Thank you!"
"I"m glad you like it, sweetie."
"Someday I'm gonna have one of those."


Opal was honored again for her styling expertise, this time adding a ribbon to her collection of awards.
"I'm so proud of you, sweetheart."
"Aww, thanks, Jett. I've been thinking. Maybe it's time to retire. Go out at the top, so to speak. Spend more time with you and the girls. What do you think?"
Jett had already given up the club circuit, only performing occasionally for friends.
"It's up to you, hon. But I'd love having you around during the day."

And so it was done. Jett threw her a huge retirement party. Peri surprised everyone by bringing a dark, red-haired girl with him. There was a strange aura about her, that reminded Opal of someone she had met many years before, although she couldn't quite place it. Peri introduced her as Jessica Talon, one of his co-workers at the base, and his new girlfriend.

Opal wasn't sure what the yeti signs signified, but they added to the general air of celebration.


It was Emerald who discovered the true nature of Peri's new girlfriend.
"Oh my, you are a vampire?! The military hires vampires?"
"Oh yes, my dear. The military makes good use of my... err.. special talents."


"Happy Retirement, love."
"How about let's continue this discussion upstairs.."
"Hehe."


Life at the Moonstone's once again fell into a routine. Emerald spent her spare time perfecting her chess game.
"Checkmate!"

While Jade played at an entirely different type of game.
"Oh, Trenton!"

One day Emerald was surprised to to Jade working out in front of the television. She glanced up from her book.
"All right, sis. Spill it. What's going on here? You never exercise."
I have to...  puff puff..I joined the ROTC."
"What? You? In the ROTC? Dare I ask why?"
Hehe. You know know me. There's this cute guy I want to impress."
"Trenton? He doesn't seem like the ROTC type?"
"Hehe. Trenton is so last week. Nope, there's this new guy, Riley."
ding dong
"That's him at the door now. See ya, Emmie. We're going up to the roof, if anyone asks."



"Come on, let's see how high we can jump!"


"Oops, I slipped!"
"Don't worry, I caught you!"
"Oh, Riley."


"I'm so glad you joined ROTC with me, Jade. It's a great organization. We can really make a difference."
"Mm hmmm. You sure are buff.."


After a few weekends of early risings and hard work outs, Jade wasn't quite so sure she had made the right decision. But the hat was cute.

Peri married Jessica, and they were now expecting.
"Oh! I felt her kick! My first grandchild!"



"Mom, dad... here she is. Tia, there's you're gramma and grampa!"

"Aww, she's so beautiful."
"Isn't she though? I think she looks like her mommy, but Jessie says it's too early to tell."

"Can you watch her a little while, mom? We'll be back in a bit."
Opal watched the pair disappear into the bedroom. If they kept this up, she and Jett were sure to be grandparents again soon.

Birthday time again. Friends and family gathered to celebrate as usual. Peri apologised for Jessica. She had been throwing up all day.

Even Opal's cousin Jarvis was there, wearing a white shirt and red scarf. He was Ruby's second son, after her marriage to Alexy Fresco. Opal was shocked to see that he was a vampire, although she had socialized with him so infrequently, she was not sure if he had always had the affliction, or had been turned later.

"I really love working with children. I'm going to apply for a job at the school tomorrow. What are you going to do, Jade?"
"I'm gonna quit the ROTC for starters. Riley and I are so over. Then - I'm not sure. I'll think of something."