Subj: On the Dark Side of Twilight Chapter 2
Date: 9/25/01 6:40:27 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Melissa

Maggie Evans-Ashley Judd
Joe Haskell-Eric McCormack

The next morning Vicki got dressed and decided to go into to town, she thought she'd have breakfast at the Collinsport Inn, where her friend Maggie worked.

"Hi Vicki," Maggie said, "How are you?"

"I'm fine, how are things going?"

"Great, Pop just got another job, for the library, and I only have four months till the wedding. Are you ready to order?"

Vicki scanned the menu, then said, "I'll have the country omelet with an English muffin, and coffee."

"Okay, I'll be right back."

The restaurant was practically empty, most of them were people Vicki had only seen a couple of times, and didn't know their names. They were all talking excitedly. Maggie came back with Vicki's coffee.

"Did you hear about the accident?"

"No, what happened," Vicki asked nervously.

"Well, at about two in the morning a car smashed into the tree near the library, the driver was killed, but the three passengers were all unharmed."

"How did it happen?"

"No one knows what happened yet exactly, it must have been the storm," Maggie said.

"Are they in the hospital?"

"No, they're upstairs in the inn, Julia's with them now."

"Did you see them?" Vicki asked curiously.

"Yes, there's two women, and the third is a," Maggie stopped and looked at the door, Vicki looked around and saw that most of the other people had stopped talking and were also looking at the door, she turned and saw Julia walk in with the three strangers.

Julia took them to the back of the restaurant, away from the other customers, "I better go," Maggie said and went over to their table. Vicki's food was brought to her and she began to eat, after Maggie gave the orders to the cook she went back to Vicki.

"Have you ever seen anyone as beautiful as her," she asked. Maggie was right the younger woman was beautiful, she had dark brown hair, that fell softly around her shoulders, her eyes were blue, a blue Vicki had never seen before. The woman met Vicki's eyes, and gave her a little smile. Vicki turned away, ashamed to be staring at someone who had just been in an accident.

Vicki paid for her breakfast and left the inn, she did some shopping, but all she could think about that mysterious woman. Vicki decided to go back to the inn before it closed, she wanted to find out more about her.

"Hi Vicki, what are you doing back here?"

"I thought maybe we could do something together after your shift was over."

"Sounds great. I'm off now, so what do you want to do?"

"I don't know. Why don't we stop by the Blue Whale?"

"Sounds good to me."

They walked together to the Blue Whale; Maggie talked about her plans for her wedding, and Vicki talked about her growing relationship with Barnabas. When they got to the Blue Whale, they found full of people, half of them were with dates, and the rest were looking for a date.

They found a table in the corner, and ordered some drinks. "Did you find out anything else about them?" Vicki asked when Maggie mentioned that the restaurant had a lot of business because everyone wanted to see the strangers.

"Not really, Julia told me their names, though. The man's name is Paul; he's the younger woman's brother. Her name is Rosalie Karnstein, she's a countess or something like that, and the other woman's name is Helena something. I heard Mr. Wells tell Julia that he didn't want them there because of all the people who are prying for information about the accident."

"I don't think that's fair," Vicki said.

"Neither do I, but you know how Mr. Wells is. Julia is going to ask Mrs. Stoddard if they can stay at Collinwood."

"There's so much room, I don't see why she wouldn't help, especially after she hears about Mr. Wells."

"When do they come back?" Maggie asked.

"They should be home anytime," Vicki said.

They finished their drinks and said goodbye, "Let me know what happens," Maggie said, before she went into her house. "Are you sure you don't want a ride home? Joe's right here."

"No, it's not far."

"Let me drive you home, I don't like the idea of you walking home alone," Joe said.

"Alright, if you really don't mind."

"Not at all, I have to drop something off to Roger anyway."

"Well thank you, I'll see you later Maggie," Vicki said.

Maggie waved to them from the door, as they drove up to Collinwood.

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