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PREFACE

RIDING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. It always seemed like a monotonous task for Jesse, packing up, moving, settling down, only to move again a few months later.

Leaving the south was hard the first time, leaving family and friends, but over time it became just another chore, like vacuuming or loading the dishwasher.

Yet this time it felt different. Maybe it was the wind or the grass, but to Jesse; something just didn't feel right.

The highway was busy as usual, people travelling here, there and everywhere. Jesse, on the other hand, knew exactly where he needed to go, it was just a matter of when.

With the wind in his hazelnut short-ish hair, Jesse didn't care when he arrived, more focused on the atmosphere around him, so much he didn't even realise the slowly lowering gas tank.

"Shit, " he swore, looking down at the near-empty fuel gauge.

He glanced down to the map on the passenger seat beside him to see if there were any nearby gas stations. Luckily there was one just on the next turn off.

Pulling up at the pumps, Jesse observed his surroundings as the tank filled, taking in the small town that surrounded him.

The roads were bare, not a single car in sight. Street lights looked like they hadn't been fixed since the introduction of electricity. Hell, even the birds looked tired and old.

Not even the fresh blanket of snow on the ground could cheer this place up.

Once the tank of his pickup truck was full, he looked back up the pumps, eyes widening at the price.

"$68! Now that's a crime against mankind," he mumbled to himself.

Putting back the pump with a bang, Jesse wandered into the store, heading over to the back where the chilled drinks were. Grabbing a lemonade, he picked up an energy bar from the shelf by the register, setting them down on the counter as he took out his wallet.

The cashier, who looked to be in his early twenties, scanned the items lazily, " that'll be $3.67."

"oh and $68 of gas," Jesse added, glancing out the window.

"Right, then that will be $71.67, please."

Looking down at his wallet, Jesse let out a sigh, putting back the energy bar and just taking the gas and drink. The cashier handed him his change which he dumped in the charity box, heading back out the door, the ringing of the bell reverberating behind him.

"God damn it's cold!" he thought, opening the can with his teeth, relishing the liquid flowing down his throat, soothing the dryness.

Swinging open the door of his truck, Jesse started up the engine, pulling out of the gas station and speeding back down the highway to his new home.

Driving into Fork reminded him of his home town back in Texas, small, rundown and cut off. The townspeople stared at the pick-up as it drove down the main street.

Pulling up at a house around half a mile outside of town, Jesse got out of the truck and stretched his legs.

"Come on Jess, let's get this over and done with," he told himself, grabbing his two boxes out of the back of the truck.

Picking up the key from behind the doormat, Jesse unlocked the door and slammed it behind him. What met him didn't surprise the southerner. It was a small 1-bed house, run-down kitchen and no electricity he presumed based on the lack of plugs.

Plopping the boxes down, Jesse opened up the top one, using his car key like a knife. He pulled out a flannel shirt, putting it on over his grey t-shirt and went looking for the bedroom.

After searching the house, he had no luck. Then it dawned on him. Walking over to the sofa, Jesse gave it a swift tug, revealing the pullout bed from underneath.

"Sneaky fucking rats," he mumbled, falling into it, the craking of the springs under his back.

Seeing as he had nothing else to do, Jesse slowly dozed off to sleep, drifting off peacefully.

Then the nightmares commenced.

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James Denton

JESSE BLAKE
"It still surprises me someone ain't snatched you up yet,"

Elizabeth Reaser

ESME PLATT-CULLEN
"Maybe you'll be the first?"

The Rest of the Cast

AS THEMSELVES

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670 words

Author's note: I'm so excited for this Christmas spit, and I'm so excited for this challenge of writing my very first male oc!

This year has been very different from Christmas' past, but hopefully, this little story will bring you some joy, and all things merry this December.

I AM DETERMINED TO FINISH THIS BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR!!!!

Also a huge thank you to nataliaalianovas for the amazing gifs.

*The_lost_flower*