Awake But Not Too Alive [CLOSED: JASMINE]

[Albert Aldein]

Al was heading home, back from a midnight shift at the Neptune Hotel. He never really worked the night shift, but with the constant amount of people booking rooms at the hotel, especially since the news that singing sensation Aurelia Dawning was booked at the place broke out, they all had to work extra shifts.

Now, it was a few minutes past noon, and Al had been awake for almost 36 hours. He let out a sleepy yawn, not really caring anymore. All he wanted to do was drop down into his bed and pass out in a deep slumber. He dragged his feet lazily throughout the street, buttons on his uniform undone, his hair a complete mess. Though people would have normally stopped and stared at the sight that was Albert, today was different.

In fact, he had been wondering why it was unnaturally quiet over at Hill street. Usually, it would be flooded with people, all going in different directions. He shrugged, figuring that everyone was probably over at the city, hoping to catch a glimpse of some of the famous celebrities that were in town. It was a good thing too, otherwise, he would have had to hear harsh words spat out at him. The people in the outskirts weren't a generally nice bunch. And he couldn't blame them entirely. After all, living in these conditions, as though hope for progress would never be attained, they changed people. His foot collided with a crushed can of Coke and he kicked in aimlessly on the ground, the one thought lingering on his mind: getting back home.

[alison]

Jasmine had awakened fairly early that morning. She didn't exactly sleep well the night before and had a bit of trouble staying asleep even when she wanted to. So she got herself out of bed and dressed. Se plopped herself back down onto her bed and looked around her room. It was still quiet in the house so she guessed that neither her father nor the rest of the household was up expect for a few maids or kitchen staff. As she sat she came up with the decision to go into town for a while. Well going into town turned into going through a ton of stores and trying on clothes, shoes, and accessories. However after all that Jasmine wasn't exactly in the mood to buy anything. Usually a girl like her would at least buy a pair of shoes or a cute scarf but not today. She continued on her walk. Wandering, rather.

Her wandering suddenly turned into wandering aimlessly which eventually led her into the outskirts of town. Jasmine had just been enjoying being out so much without having to deal with security and her best friend that she wasn't really paying attention to where she was actually going. Looking around she noticed that there weren't very many people around. It was actually sort of barren. That was something different. Usually it was so crowded you could barely stay on the sidewalk. Of course her father didn't usually approve of her strolling off this far but what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him.

Jasmine did a quick turn to look behind her before rounding a corner of a building. She got this weird feeling she was being followed but it was merely just because of the absence of her guards that her father normally sent her out with. Couldn't be too safe. That was the prince of being a diplomat’s daughter. However as she turned the corner she felt a slight bump. Now it was a bump that would push you to fall backwards or anything but rather a bump that would snap you out of a day dream. Finally she reacted and spat out, "I am so sorry." It was only a brush of shoulders really but it still counted. Her eyes met the face of whom she had ran into and she just stopped.

[Albert Aldein]

Out of nowhere, Al felt something bump into him. Had he accidentally walked into a telephone pole or something? After all, there was no one else to bump into. He let out a sleepy laugh, thinking about his own stupidity, when he heard a voice speak out. Startled, he jumped back, only realizing then that he had bumped into another person. Al squinted his eyes, only seeing a blurred figure standing in front of him. He let out a rather loud yawn before rubbing his eyes to clear his vision. It was then when he cursed to himself, thinking about the crappy timing of it all.

Standing there in front of her, looking like an innocent bystander, was the girl he had seen wandering the marketplace a couple of days back. The one he had been thinking about all these days. And suddenly, here she was. In front of a dazed and confused, out-of-himself Al. His senses began to perk up, as though he had just taken in three spoonfuls of raw coffee beans. He straightened out his shirt and rushed in to fix his unkempt hair, failing miserably at both.

This is just great. The first time she sees me, and I look like this.

"Oh, um, no. It was my fault. I wasn't looking at where I was going. I'm sorry," he replied, another uncontrollable yawn escaping his lips. He frowned at himself, realizing that this was probably the worst days ever. Whatever chance he had to get with her, those went straight out the window. He remained silent for a while, a tensed awkwardness filling the air, before he decided to speak up again.

"I'm Albert, by the way," he introduced, extending his hand for her to shake, "So, what are you doing over here at Hill street? I mean, you're not from around here, are you?"

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