*First off, I'd like to apologize if you read the last Author's Note of "In Nessie's Eyes." I stated that "Chasing Perfection" would be uploaded on January 1st of 2011. I didn't revise it before I uploaded it. I apologize with extreme sincerity—but if you have absolutely no clue as to what I'm saying than..FORGET IT ALL!
*Welcome to the first chapter of CP. I cannot wait to hear any of your questions and/or reviews. I'm in love with this story. I will try to upload a fresh chapter every two weeks just to keep you on your toes. Maybe I'll shock you and make it a shorter upload than that if I get super excited about the next chapter.
*Of course, I do not own any of the Twilight Saga. I am neither brilliant nor fantastically creative like the stunning Stephenie Meyer. Do not sue me.
*All of this story came from my brain. If this feels like it is similar to anything you've ever seen, that's merely coincidence. I try to be as creative as possible.
*Most of this story—everyone's actions and/or sayings—are based from real-life incidents with my real-life friends (ultimatetwihard513, mostly.)…I'll let you guess which experiences I deal with on a daily basis, though…
*ENJOY! (I apologize for the large note)
~PrincessNessie23
ChasingPerfection
Preface:I had been told all my life that I needed to keep an uplifting perspective on life. I was told that no one was ever normal. I had always been told that being perfect wasn't a choice, because a choice meant I had options—and I had never had options. I was told being perfect was lifestyle. I had been brought up thinking that the only way to have perfection was to be positive. So this was my way of being perfect…
Ch. 1: Insomniac
Renesmee-POV
It was practically calling my name. The chilled air was begging for me to taste it upon my lips…as I for it.
I needed out. I couldn't stand it anymore. I felt like I was being suffocated and I couldn't exactly pinpoint why…
I fumbled around the weakly lit room trying to find the outfit I had laid out the evening before, but my vision became distorted for only half a second and instead of one shadowy bed, I saw two. I blinked and my eyes cleared as fast as they had blurred together. I shook my head, held my chin up high and grabbed my bag.
I slid easily through my bedroom door shutting it softly behind me and I descended the staircase as if I were a mouse hoping I wouldn't get caught in the rat trap…or, you know, getting caught in general. Because that was the last thing I needed. I didn't need anyone to wake up and see me up at four fifty-eight in the morning asking questions. It wasn't their business…well, I guessed it kind of was, but, did anything really ever matter anymore?
I stood alone in the foyer with my hand on the brass doorknob. I stood there for only a few moments contemplating: What was I doing? Why did I want out so badly?
Ever since my parents had moved to Forks, Washington, I had been forced to go with them or to do what they'd told me to do. It was always the same crap. Eat your squash and broccoli! Wait to go swimming an hour after you eat! Don't stick that fork in the light socket!
I was nine when they decided that we'd leave the only place I had ever known. They never thought of what I wanted. They were too caught up in themselves or their jobs or their lust to ever really care what I would do. My parents didn't even mind that they took me from my friends or my life or my grandpa, whom I loved very much.
My parents never cared.
That was when I realized: What the hell did it matter to them or even myself what I was doing?
I sighed, not wanting to risk any more of my valuable time, and turned the knob as far as it would turn.
It felt as if a giant weight had been lifted off of me as I saw a soft mist cover over the early morning floor. I smiled and bit my lip slowly basking in my triumph. It was over.
Right?
I couldn't remember if I had a plan or not, so I wasn't too sure on what was to be done next. Stay positive, my conscience advised.
Fine. I'll be positive for a change. I thought. How hard can that be?
I mean, I was positive that I didn't have any emergency items if I were to get lost, such as a compass or map or even a damn phone which I had inconveniently left on the charger in my room. I was positive that I didn't have my wallet filled so much with cash it would explode to buy a bus ticket and get as far away from this hellhole of a town as soon as possible. I was positive that I didn't have any friends in a car down the road waiting for me to get strategically away. I was positive that… I was alone.
The sun was covered by the clouds, which only made the day look darker than it truly needed to be—unnecessary gloom. It was a fearsome sight actually.
I played with something around my wrist as I watched the wind blow the creaky swing sets of the old deserted park. The slide was old and completely covered in rust. I was sure that it looked much better at one time before the hoodlums of the city had graffitied it up. I looked down at the cracked sidewalk beneath my feet. The moss had been covering it up slowly over the years. The weeping willows branches waved as a sudden gust of wind brushed past them. My bronze hair draped across my face.
I didn't need to be out here. It was dangerous. Things happen to people when they weren't prepared. Things happened to people who didn't have plans. Things happened to people that weren't positive. Things happened to people who were…me.
I sucked in a deep breath and turned around—
Your parents are going to miss you terribly after tonight. A voice sounded before me. I stopped cold. I blinked and tried to focus on what was before my eyes.
There she was again. I'd recognize the voice alone anywhere. I called her: "the frozen ice queen", because she truly looked frozen. She was etched into to the wind, like a cold nightmare. Her ice white hair flowed all around her head as if she were upside down almost. Her pale blue eyes beamed at me. It wasn't her normal happy face/ sad face routine either. No, this was more. Much more.
Don't you think? She spoke the words around the glowing air she had brought with her.
"I'm not running away." I whispered, half to her, half to myself.
That's not what I mean. Her transparent body quivered and the wind swirled around her carrying her to my side. They love you. I rolled my eyes. She placed her feather light hand upon my shoulder. If you love them, you will not leave them.
"I told you," I could feel the acid in my voice. "I am not leaving them."
It was as if she had read my mind in the next second. She shifted herself in front of me and I could actually feel her nails dig into my arms. You cannot run from who you are! Her shrieked almost shattered my eardrums, but I couldn't unlock her invisible, vice-tight grip to cover my ears.
I screamed back, "The only thing I'm trying to run away from is you!"
I yanked her away from me and broke into a run, heading west, putting some remoteness between me and…her highness. She would never leave me alone. She always made me feel scared and hollow inside.
I am only trying to protect you, Renesmee! She shouted, causing my heart to throb.
Panting, I looked behind me to see how far I had sprinted away—
And I saw him—a profound silhouette in the woods, leaning creepily against an old oak. This time, I knew, he was real.
He was maybe thirty yards from me, wearing a dark t-shirt and maybe jeans. (The reflexive part (otherwise known as, The Chick Side) of me was wondering why he was wearing something so summer-like—but the other (the Instinctive Side) decided that it would probably be a fantastic idea to run the hell away as quick as humanly possible.)
Running away—Yeah, that was pointless—because the exact moment I had even acknowledged his stalker-like existence, he was on my trail. Running like a deer after it had just been shot at.
Until that moment, I didn't gather anyone could feel the fear that I felt. My veins felt like someone had poured ice water throughout my unsteady body. I pushed myself as hard as I could force myself to go. I didn't scream—there was no point. None. Because I had made the mother of all idiot decision's to leave home and it looked like it would be my last.
I could hear his footfalls, snapping and crunching branches. He was getting closer.
I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. Branches tore holes in my shirt and I was positive that my side was bleeding. Limbs snagged my curls. I stumbled over a stump and I bit my tongue, hard, but I didn't stop running. He was even nearer to me now, too near. I tried to go faster, but couldn't.
"AHH!" I choked as he tackled me to the ground. Rocks slammed into my back and cold mud smeared across me. "PLEASE! Don't! Not AGAIN—!"His warm hand closed over my mouth. My eyes were suddenly clouded with tears and it was impossible to get a view.
Was this what she meant? Was she trying to tell me my death was coming and I would never see my parents ever again? For once…she was right…and trying to save me—She knew this was going to happen and…I had ignored her.
I screamed beneath his hand and tried to pry him off me. "Shut up, Nessie." He roughly whispered. "Shut up, or we both die."
I was so confused, but I nodded and he removed his hand.
"What are you talking about—"a gun shot from the trees behind us, and in the next second, my newfound defender howled in pain—
"And then I wake up." At that moment, I looked up at my aunt. Her name was Alice and she didn't treat me as if I were a lunatic ready to be locked up. Because, truth be told, she really knew what I was going through. Though what she saw were "premonitions" of the future…
"Like, you're a psychic or something?" I had once asked her.
"Similar enough," she had admitted quietly.
I had once thought it really cool. Now, as I am much older (eight and a half years older), I know the full blown truth about what she was put though. She had been institutionalized when she was younger for them. Her mother cried every night over watching her daughter suffer, and her father turned his back on my beautiful aunt, never wanting to see her again. She had cried as she had told me the story. Which had made me secretly scared with…what would happen to me?
"No need to worry, Renesmee." She had told me another time. "They are just dreams—not at all similar to what I have experienced." And then she had made me smile when she had said "Just dream about the answers of a Literature test." Then she had laughed.
Aunt Alice put her tiny hand on my own and looked me in the eyes. "You know I can never promise that they will leave in time. This particular dream is one you have been having since you were nine years old. So, I'm sure it can't mean much." She paused, and then she whispered softly, "Have you seen…?"
I knew who she meant. "Awake?" she nodded. "No. Not since the last time." I admitted as quiet as she had asked.
"What did she say then?" she was speaking even lower now. Clearly, she was just as uncomfortable as I was.
"'Time is slowing to a stop. So remember, things are never what they seem.'" We were both silent for a few minutes. I could see that both Aunt Alice and I had goose bumps. I was sure she was quiet because she was trying to decipher the words of my "twisted angel". I was silent because—like so many other times before—to decode what I was told.
"I wonder what she meant by that." She closed her eyes and then opened them slowly with a shrill smile. "Well, off to school, my little Renesmee." She laughed. "I guess you're not little any longer. You're going to be a big bad senior after the summer." She hugged me.
"Thanks, again, for staying with me." I said as we pulled apart. Aunt Alice had only been staying with me since Thursday until tomorrow. My mom and dad—Bella and Edward Cullen—were at an emergency symposium in San Diego. Something about an unfeasible tumor on a nine year old from Batswana—bless his little soul—and the little boy's parents basically begged my parents to go, because they wanted the most prestigious. Apparently, a doctor's work is never done.
"No problem, kiddo, but I'm sure Jazz has probably been living on Cocoa Puffs and barbecue since I left. He would've come to Forks, of course, but somebody needed to take care of Galveston." She giggled. Galveston was my Uncle Jasper's horse. My aunt and my uncle lived in Texas. Houston, to be exact.
"But," she sang and pushed my bronze bangs from my eyes. "You know that they wouldn't want to miss your departure, but, hey, when duty calls…"
"Yeah." Was all I said.
"Have fun on your last day of school." I heard her sing on my way out the front door.
"Hence, me flashing four guys." One of my best friends, Victoria Hittmen, was explaining her latest scandal in homeroom. She did this regularly. This whole debacle went down every week. It was always something a bit... "flashy".
My parents didn't really approve of Victoria, because she's "a bad influence for me". Even more so, they just thought she was a read headed slut…which wasn't necessarily too far from the truth and she didn't even deny it when you referred to her as one.
"You have got to be kidding me, right? You didn't." My other best friend, Bree Hart, looked at V with a disapproving face.
"Hell yeah, I did!" Then she whispered. "I think I even saw one rubbing himself in a tantalizing movement." She laughed and Bree groaned—in the least sexual way possible.
Bree was the one my parents really liked. They always invited her over for dinner, or to spend the night with me, or to just chill. They really just trusted her. She didn't smoke like Victoria. She didn't drink like Victoria. She rarely ever cussed like Victoria, and best of all Bree never had one night stands with random wildlife trainers that wore leather pants and played with his iguana…like Victoria.
It was like she had read my mind when Victoria smacked my arm.
"Ow," I muttered lifelessly and then looked up at her. "What was that for?"
"I have just ensued hilarity and…What? No comment?" I didn't say anything. She smacked me again and I slapped her back. "See now we're getting somewhere. The train is on the tracks." She shouted loudly and stood on her knees in her desk pretending to lasso me. "All aboard!" Everyone was staring.
"Shut up. " I growled and rubbed my forehead. I was beginning to receive a human induced migraine. She sat back down correctly and leaned closer to my face.
"Your eyes aren't bloodshot. Which means you didn't get into your parents liquor cabinet." She paused. "Again." I rolled my eyes at her. She studied me for a few more seconds. "You aren't glowing, so you aren't preggers." Then, it clicked. "You had that dream again?" Luckily, she whispered that. I would rather everyone think I was hung over or maybe even pregnant than for them to know about…her. Her face was really sympathetic. "Babe, I am so sorry. I've been a jackass all morning." She hugged me.
"Are you afraid?" Bree whispered to me.
"No." I nearly shouted. They jumped and looked at each other. I shook my head. "Sorry, guys. I'm just tired of everyone whispering about this. If she knows I'm scared, she'll do something with that. I haven't seen her in almost a month and she catches me when I'm off my guard. So," I looked up towards the ceiling. "If you're listening, please leave me alone."
"Shhhh." Victoria couldn't have been any more serious with what came out of her mouth next. "You might anger her, and I'm sure the last thing you want to do is have an angry monster after you."
I scoffed. "Wouldn't want that would we?"
They both leaned back in their desk and didn't say another word after that.
After 3rd period was over, I left my friends to go to my locker. That was when my whole day brightened. As I opened my locker, a small envelope fell to the ground. It was face up and I saw the front of it. "My Little Ren" written in gorgeous cursive. I smiled and picked it up. I opened it and the letter read:
Happy last day of school, baby!
I've just finished my final exam. Which led me to thinking, we should celebrate after school. Just you and I. My parents are away at that conference thing in San Diego, which only means one thing: SO ARE YOURS!
Well, I guess that could mean two things…
I rolled my eyes, smiling.
So, anyway, I've been thinking of you, beautiful, and that truthfully led me thinking to your amazing body, only reminding me that I really, really, REALLY don't want you to leave me this summer. I'm going to be so lonely without my amazing girlfriend… Ah well, I guess I can't really talk you out of it, considering you haven't seen your grandfather in a long while.
Just remember, YOU'RE MY GIRL…
Loving you,
Nahuel
I smiled and kissed the letter. He is such an amazing boyfriend. I thought. Such.
Nahuel did this every day. I had over two-hundred letters from him at home. I kept them in a Nike shoebox under my bed. I took them with me everywhere I went. They would always sit right beside me on a plane when we flew to Italy or to Rio de Janeiro or to my Uncle Emmett and Aunt Rose's mansion in Paris. My Dad always questioned why I did that and I simply shrugged, "Love."
"Uh-oh," I heard Bree and Victoria's voices from behind me. I turned around and looked at them. They both had extremely lame grins and were nudging each other in the ribs. "Is that another lust letter I see?" Victoria reached for it and I pulled back.
"Yes, and it's the last one I will ever receive. So, no touch."
"Puh-leeze." Victoria rolled her eyes.
"It is. " I defended myself. "This is Nahuel's last year at Forks High and we won't see each other all summer, so ha."
"So…?" Bree sighed. "What'd he say?" she looked at me expecting an answer. "Come on, Renesmee, if we can't read it then you have to at least say what it says."
"He told me he was going to miss me."
"That's it?" Bree snorted.
"Ish." I shrugged.
"Well, we're going to miss you the most." Victoria concluded.
"Yeah." Bree agreed.
I ignored them and they watched my face fall into a frown. "I don't know about this, guys." I shoved my books in my locker.
They gasped. "What do you mean?" Bree nearly shouted. "You guys are perfect for each other—"
"No." I interrupted her sarcasm. "I'm talking about this summer. I have this feeling…and not to mention an angry monster hanging over my head." I sighed. "I'm just worried is all."
"You're just whacked is all." Victoria punched my shoulder. "You wanna know what you sound like right now? This is the sound that comes out of your face." Then she started doing an awful interpretation of me. It went a little something like this: "Wah-wah! I'm Renesmee Carlie Cullen. I have a rockin' body and my parents are known worldwide wide and, did I mention? I'm having sex with my super sexy senior boyfriend, Nahuel Medeiros—captain of the football team, senior, co-captain of the debate team, senior, student body president, and did I mention senior?" she paused then bowed.
"Nicely done." Bree applauded.
I rolled my eyes and grabbed my Biology book, shoving it my messenger bag. "I sound nothing like that."
"Yeah you do." They said at the same time.
"Really?" My eyes went wide.
"Yeah," Victoria shrugged. "but all girls are bitches from time to time."
"Okay, now we're just getting way off subject." Bree brought us back down to earth. "R, weren't you saying something before Present Day Shakespeare over here—" she jabbed a thumb towards Victoria "—interrupted you."
Yeah. "No. I'm not sure."
"Let me refresh your memory: You were speaking of how you might breakup with Nahuel?"
"No, I wasn't! I was saying that I had a bad feeling about the summer. Don't go twisting my words, Bree, just because you don't like Nahuel!" I shouted at her.
"Listen, R," She held up her hands. "I never said—aloud—I didn't like Medeiros, it's just I don't think that he's too great of a guy for you."
"What is that supposed to mean? Are you trying to tell me you want my boyfriend?"
"Hell no!" Obviously, she meant that; Bree never cussed. "I'm just explaining that you need somebody who isn't just a special buddy. You need a prince who will come save you in the darkest of nights riding on his silver steed… I just don't see Nahuel as your prince, the way you seem to." She was so calm. My heart was pounding. I loved Nahuel. Nahuel loved me. We were going to spend our whole lives with one another. We were going to have a fairy tale ending like in the story books. That was all I'd ever wanted…
We stood there for a few seconds staring at each other. "I love him." I whispered.
"Do you really?"
The following second, I almost peed in my pants. The warning bell rang and it felt like it was inside my head. I swallowed loudly.
"See you after Spanish." Bree said and walked around me. Victoria shrugged and followed her.
"How was that?" I heard Bree ask Victoria down the hall.
"Amazing." Victoria answered. "When the hell did you grow a backbone?"
I sat in the desk in Spanish playing with my fingers thinking about what Bree said.
"What the hell do they think they know?" I mumbled to myself. An angelic voice answered, They are your best friends. They only want what is best for you. I looked up. I thought I would be able to see her, but her sweet singing remained only in my head. I closed my eyes and focused on her soft sound. Just think, they would only be friends if they didn't want the best for you. They have earned the title. They love you, but only want you to be happy…
"Little Ren." An accented voice filled the whole room. I knew this one. I knew if I opened my eyes, I would be able to see him. I turned in my desk and looked towards the backdoor…
There he was—my handsome boyfriend, Nahuel. He was gesturing for me to follow him. Class hadn't started yet, and the teacher wasn't there yet. So I figured now would be the perfect time. I smiled and got up from my desk and nearly ran him into the lockers. I grabbed him by the collar of his light blue polo shirt and pulled his face to mine. I smiled and he kissed me.
"Hello, my little Ren." Nahuel's Latin voice made my heart shiver. It was amazing.
"I got your lust letter of the day." I closed my eyes and kissed his soft lips.
"So…your place or mine?" he mumbled against my mouth.
I pulled away and looked into his eyes. "Um, not tonight." I whispered apologetically.
"What do you mean? You're leaving tomorrow, are you not?" his green eyes showed some emotion I had never seen on his face before. They were just suddenly…indifferent.
"Yeah, I am…" I said slowly, measuring his expression. "It's just my Aunt Alice is staying with me until I leave—"He quieted me with another kiss.
"Your family loves me." He whispered as he put his fingers under chin. "Do you really think that anyone would mind if I came over?"
I thought about that as his lips traveled my neck…my jaw…a teasing kiss by the corner of my mouth…
I giggled. "I guess not…but Victoria and Bree are going to come over to spend the night and help pack at around four…"
"Mmmm…" he kissed me again. He was very persuasive.
"Well…maybe I could tell them six…" he nibbled at my ear a bit. "thirty?"
"Sounds better. That would give us enough time to—"
"Miss Cullen. Mr. Medeiros." A familiar, yet stern voice cleared his throat. We both turned our heads—and lips—away from one another to Principal Greene.
"Hi, Principal Greene." I said quietly.
"Hello, Miss Cullen." He looked between Nahuel and me, and then looked down to my fists around Nahuel's collar. I pulled them away slowly and smoothed out Nahuel's shirt. "Mr. Medeiros, what would you think Senora Goff would do when she found her prize student not in her class? What is Mr. Banner going to say when he sees you aren't in your seat when the bell rings?" he waited for Nahuel's answer.
"I should be going now?"
Principal Greene nodded. "Good idea, Mr. Medeiros."
Nahuel smiled. "Yes, sir." Before Nahuel left, he kissed my lips once more briefly. "See you after school." He whispered to me.
Nahuel walked passed Principal Greene, who had a soft smile playing on his lips, and I was about to go back into the classroom until I saw Principal Greene smiling at me. I felt a little awkward for a few moments, but then he completely screwed me over when he said, "You must be one lucky girl for Nahuel to not accept early admissions to Princeton."
Nahuel and I were sitting on the couch. My head was on his chest as he flipped through the channels on the living room TV. Aunt Alice was lounging by the pool in the backyard reading another new vampire book—this one was called Twilight; She kept trying to persuade me to read it and said it was a "series with an odd fictional love story". But I had simply told her "why would I read fictional love in a fictional world, if I could just have real love in a real world?" She had just rolled her eyes at the time.
"I heard that The Notebook was playing at four-thirty on ABC…" I said, trying to get him to stop going through all seven-thousand channels. He was in the two-hundreds at the moment.
"The Notebook?" he looked at me. "Seriously?"
"Yeah." I smiled a little goofy. "I love it."
"That movie," he started. "would never happen to anyone in real life. It's sappy and delusional. The guy who wrote it has to be a complete moron for getting women's hopes up about men having high expectations."
My face dropped and I stared at him. "You're joking right? Nicolas Sparks is a mastermind. Every book of his books make, like, a million dollars. That guy is a genius." I argued.
"They're depressingly horrible in each their own way."
"Sorry, Nahuel but I don't really support your opinion." I said quietly.
"Someone dies in every book. Call me crazy, but that would bring me down a bit, just slightly."
I huffed and let it go, knowing good and well this fight wasn't about the movie. Nahuel always needed that last word or we would be going on for hours.
"Sorry, Little Ren." he kissed my hair. "I just don't understand why you like The No—"
"Why didn't you tell me about Princeton, Nahuel?"
"W-what?" I had never heard his Latin voice stutter. His words always came out correctly.
"I had almost a fifteen minute talk with Principal Greene after you walked off. He said that you didn't accept early admissions—"
"But did he tell you why?"
"Yes… but it's an extremely stupid reason."
"What? It's a stupid reason to want to stay with my girlfriend?"
"Yes, it is. An extremely stupid reason. I must have not told you, but I'm leaving tomorrow. For the whole summer or did you forget?"
"I didn't forget. How could I forget something as important as you leaving me?" He growled.
That sounded harsh, which made me feel like I shrank one foot. "It's just a few months." I whispered. "Not very long when you really think about it."
"You're still going." He snarled at me. "Halfway. Across. The. World. The other side of the United States!" He stood up, knocking me against the sofa.
"What are you doing? Where are you going? Please sit back down. Nahuel." I was worried now.
"I'm leaving. I thought I'd do it before you left me." And with that, he was gone.
"He's just angry right now. He'll get over it." Bree assured me, patting my knee. As much as she hated Nahuel, she knew when kindness was due. She was going to make a good mom one day. Unlike Victoria.
"Screw him." Was her advice. I wasn't so sure about her nurturing skills…
I had called her and Victoria right after Nahuel had left. I laid across my bed upside down. My bronze hair touched down to the floor. "Thanks, V." I muttered.
Then I heard an arm get smacked. "What?" Victoria angrily whispered.
"Just letting you know that you suck at advice." Bree whispered back with a shrug.
I was pretty sure that was Victoria's cue to roll her eyes. I looked up at my wall clock. 9:38, it read. I sat up at and pushed myself up onto my feet.
I shook my head. "it's almost ten and I haven't even started packing yet."
"We'll help." They both offered.
"Fine." I stood there for a minute. "How the hell do you pack for a three month trip?" I shouted.
We finished packing at around 3:30. I packed over at least a hundred shirts: daytime, nighttime, pajamas, and work out sweats. I packed over seventy different pairs of jeans: capris, boot cut, flare, skinny, light colored, dark colored, daisy dukes…
"Daisy dukes are southern, right?" I had asked them.
"Definitely." They had answered.
I threw myself onto my king-sized bed. "Oh. My. Gandhi. I have never packed so much in my entire life."
"Can you get blisters from denim?" Bree asked looking at her hands.
"Maybe." Victoria mumbled. "But that wouldn't be the right place to get them," she paused. "Or maybe so, I'm not too sure if you can get them on your hands that way—"she stopped her train of thought and laughed. "No, wait…Yeah…you can." She said through laughs. The words didn't really make sense because she was tired, but just knowing Victoria's perverted mind…
"So…" I spoke up. "V, how's James doing?" James was Victoria's boyfriend of three and a half years. He was a high school dropout, but now, at twenty-four years old, the guy was a drug dealer who just got drunk and hoped the cops would never find him…
"He's amazing—"
"Not like that, moron." I hit her with a pillow.
"Oh… then he's okay. He's staying at a motel in downtown Seattle. I was there a few days ago. I called him last night; we're meeting Sunday at his palace."
"I would hardly call that STD of a stay a palace."
"Whatever." She laughed. "It's private." Then she gasped, "Bree!"
Bree jumped. "What!"
"James' friend just broke up with his girl. So…this guy is totally unattached. He actually finished high school and is in his second year of college…" she nudged Bree. "Eh? Eh, eh?"
"Oh, heck no!" Bree squealed. "You are so not setting me up with another freak!" she punched V's arm.
"Please, I'm not that horrible at picking guys out for you." V defended herself.
"Oh, really? Remember the animal trainer with one eye who walked with a cane?" Bree folded her arms.
"Hey, that wasn't technically my fault. When he asked if he could bring his snake, I just thought he was being kinky."
Then we all laughed.
"Are you sure you want to leave us?" Victoria whined from the back seat of my car on the way to the airport. Bree was there, too, in the passenger seat. Aunt Alice told me good bye at the house. My parents called me this morning, too. I promised that I would call them as soon as I made it safely to the airport in Atlanta. That was where my Grandpa Charlie was going to pick me up.
"No." I admitted. "But, I have to. I haven't seen my Grandpa since I was nine. I hate to admit it but, I miss South Carolina." I shrugged. "I barely remember it and I hate that."
"So, where does your Grandpa live exactly?" Bree wondered.
"Wagener."
"Where's that?"
"Right outside of Aiken. He's kinda the chief of police for Aiken County."
"Are you nervous?" Victoria rested her chin on my seat.
"Kinda."
"You don't like your grandpa?" Bree asked.
"Of course I like my grandpa…it's just that I don't know much about him. I mean, I know that he owns a private farm, but that's about it."
"What about your grandma?"
"Never met her. I was kind of a secret birth. My mom had me when she was nineteen—I've never told you that?" They shook their heads. I shrugged. "Musta slipped my mind…"
"So, why are you all of a sudden going to South Carolina? You've lasted this long without being there. Why now?"
"I started getting…" I swallowed. "I started seeing her after…"
"You left?" she finished for me.
I nodded. "I'm going back to see if she leaves me alone."
Bree nodded, but Victoria said something I hadn't even thought of yet. "…and what if she does?"
"What do you mean?"
"If she leaves you alone because you go to South Carolina…" she closed her eyes.
I realized what she was saying. "I'm not staying for the rest of my life, Victoria. I'm not leaving you guys."
"but you might?"
"no chance."
Then Bree whispered, "Do you think there's a reason she wants you in South Carolina?"
We were all quiet then.
"She controls you sometimes." She continued. "Have you ever noticed? Like, yesterday in homeroom. V said something… naturally disturbing and if you were all there, your socks would have been knocked off. It's like when you see her, she takes… a piece of your…Renesmee-ness."
I thought about that. "When we moved to Forks," I chose my words carefully. "to the big white house, it was a historical place that costed over a million dollars. People always assumed it was haunted, so I thought my parents were idiots. When the movers unpacked the boxes from the van and put them in the living room I started picking out my things. I remember walking up the stairs feeling like I was in slow motion.
"I walked into my room and shut the door…" I sighed. "That was the first time I saw her."
They were both frozen.
"She was hovering over the floor; her feet inches off the ground. To this day, she still wears the same clothes I first met her in. She doesn't age… She doesn't change.
"The first thing she ever said to me was: Turn around. You don't realize what your missing." It was like I could hear her voice right in my head.
Then Victoria said, "Maybe it was some kind of creepy, sexual innuendo your adolescent mind overlooked."
Bree rolled her eyes. "Maybe, just maybe, she really needs you in South Carolina…Everything happens for a reason."
Victoria gasped. "Dude! What if this chick was murdered! Maybe she wants you to solve her mystery! Ya know, like, all those Lifetime movies. People see dead people and then after they solve everything… they just stop, like it never happened."
"I doubt it." I mumbled.
"I think we got them all." Bree clasped her hands together in the airport lobby.
"I would hope so." I laughed at all my giant suitcases and carry on.
"They better." Victoria smiled. "Or you're screwed."
We laughed.
"Email us every day." Bree hugged me.
"Promise." I hugged her back.
"We're gonna miss ya, Cullen." Victoria hugged me, too.
"I'm going to miss—"As I looked over Victoria's shoulder, I noticed someone familiar. He was waiting there for me. His head was leaned back against the wall and his eyes were closed. I couldn't help but smiling when I saw the bouquet of roses in his lap. "Nahuel?"
"Awww. Thanks." Victoria muttered. "But I'm Vic-tor-ia."
"No, idiot." I pulled away. "I mean it's Nahuel." I pointed at him. "Be right back."
I walked away from them. Their expressions were puzzled, as was mine. I reached him slowly. As I got closer to him, I nudged him with my foot. "Nahuel?" I whispered. I nudged him once more. "Nahuel." I said louder. Nothing. "Nahuel!" I shouted.
His body jerked up and he was on his feet, holding the bouquet to me. His eyes were drooping and he blinked them over and over as they focused in on me. A strange look crossed his face. I couldn't quite figure it out, but I'd never seen it before. "Little Ren?" his voice cracked. Then a hasty smile came as he looked at me. "Little Ren!" he hugged me. It was an awkward feeling at first and then I hugged him back.
"Hi…" I mumbled slowly. "I wasn't…expecting to…see you here." He let go of me and kissed my lips roughly. "I, um, didn't think you'd…I mean—after yesterday—" he put a finger to my lips.
"All is forgotten." He whispered tiredly. He looked exhausted, like he hadn't slept all night.
"What time did you get here? You look rough." I spoke over his finger.
He removed it slowly and looked at his Rolex. "Six-thirty?"
"In the morning?" It was one right now.
He laughed. "Yes, Little Ren. I, um," he paused. "needed to apologize for my behavior. I was rude and it was an unforgivable action." He shook his head, ashamed.
"I can forgive you, Nahuel." I wrapped my arms around him.
"You can?" he asked bluntly.
"Yeah? Do you not want me to?" I was confused now.
"No, no, no, Little Ren. Of course I want you to forgive me. You're my girl, remember? "
"I remember." I smiled.
"Well then here," he handed me the bouquet. He looked like he was unsure about something.
"Am I missing something here, Nahuel?" I questioned and he looked embarrassed.
He cleared his throat. "No, you are missing nothing. Um, it's just, er," He sighed. "I love you."
I tensed up. That was the first time he had ever said that to me. I didn't know how to respond.
"You don't love me back?" he smiled at my expression and pulled me into his arms. I nodded. "You do?"
"Yeah!" I squeaked. "I love you back, Nahuel." I couldn't breathe right. I could feel Bree and Victoria glaring at me from behind my back. I didn't care though.
"Have fun on your little trip." He kissed me again. "You will email me, no?"
"Yeah, I will." I smiled. "I promise." I nodded; it felt like my neck was having a spazz attack. "As soon as I get there."
I grabbed my bags and took them where they needed to be and waved goodbye to the ones I'd miss the most over the summer…