Forever Fifteen

By: Yasir Stackhouse, Jr.
1. Stranger

Irina had been wrong. I wasn't an "immortal child". Well, I am for a little while, but Nahuel assured that my growth would eventually slow down and stop. But I wasn't what the Volturi thought I was. My mom was human and my dad was vampire, I came to be a human-vampire hybrid. I was different, and the Volturi found me to be no danger to exposing our kind. My family and I were spared.

I woke the next day, thirsty. I didn't want to tell anyone thought. I'm not a big fan of feeding on animals. At the same time, I could eat human food, but I don't like that too much either.

I jumped out of bed, trying not to disturb Mommy and Daddy with whatever they were doing—I've been hearing weird noises lately; moans and muffled screams, things ripping or breaking; I ignore them, though—but Daddy is probably listening to my mind already. So he probably knows I'm about to look around for some of that blood Mommy fed me when I was stuck inside her. That's my favorite kind.

I crept toward the door as quiet as possible—even as half-vampire-half-human, that's very quiet—but I was startled as Mommy suddenly appeared, a questioning look on her face.

"Nessie, what are you doing?"

I giggled in response, trying to play innocent.

She smiled. "Tell me," she insisted. "Daddy won't tell me. He started laughing and said 'Your daughter is awake. She's growing up too fast, but it's adorable.' So what are you doing?"

I jumped up in her arms and she caught me effortlessly. I snuggled into her.

"Why are you acting so adorable?" Mom giggled. "What's got into you?"

I made a pouting face, placing my little hand on her check. I was showing her the different ways I felt when I drank animal blood, ate human food, and drank the donated blood.

She sighed. "That was human blood. You can't have any of that."

But it didn't come from a human. Papa Carlisle said it was donated.

"We only have a limited supply. I was using so much during my pregnancy."

I made a sad face. I want to talk to Papa Carlisle about this.

She made a face. "Why is this so important all of a sudden? Honey, you're thirsty, aren't you?"

I nodded.

She sighed. "Jake's waiting outside. He's in his wolf form. He heard someone near last night, but he didn't know who it was."

Is everything alright?

"Yes," Daddy spoke, walking in from their room. "I have a feeling I know who it is, but I refuse to tell anyone unless I'm absolutely sure. They must know what I can do; they had odd things going through their mind—nothing to worry about."

I smiled. I want to go see Auntie Alice.

"I'll take you. I need to speak with Carlisle," Daddy added.

Mommy looked at us both, confused. "I'll stay home and…clean up." Daddy smiled. "I'll be there shortly after you two leave."

"Really? Hmm," he sighed.

Things have been hectic for a while. I know yesterday wasn't the first time the Volturi had come to torment my family. They had probably been after my family for a while. With them breathing down my family's back, things were nowhere near safe. Now things are safe and Mommy can be by herself if she wanted to.

"I won't be more than two minutes," she promised.

"No, everything is fine. I just can't remember the last time you were able to be left alone. Things are so…casual now. I like this."

Mommy and I sighed in unison.

Jacob walked in. "Nessie!" she exclaimed.

I lit up. "Jake!"

He ran over and took me from Mommy, who willingly gave me up.

There's nothing that can make me happier than when I am in Jacob's arms. He's my best friend.

He swung me around in a circle before he asked "What are we doing today?"

I laughed and then grabbed his arm. I want to go see Auntie Alice.

"More stinky vampires?" he groaned.

"You don't have to be rude. There are vampires here, you know!" Mommy joked.

"Yea, Bells, I know. That's why I said it. What happened to your sense of knowing who I really was? Did the big bad Volturi scare it out of you?" he continued, his huge grin never disappearing.

"You know, Jake," she giggled, "I can beat you up. You see what I did to Seth. No one is here to stand in your way."

"I will protect you, Jake!" I pronounced, flashing my teeth at Mommy playfully.

"Oh yeah?" she questioned before she lunged at me and tickled me.

I felt Jake's rough hand join in on the tickling.

Everything suddenly stopped when we heard a sound right outside of the house. All heads turned toward the trees surrounding our house. There was sudden silence. Whoever it was knew they had blown their cover.

I looked around at everyone in the room. Daddy seemed oddly focused. Whoever it was must have still been out there. His head suddenly snapped up and he ran out the door and toward the trees.

"Stay here!" Mom ordered Jake and me. She ran after Daddy.

I looked at Jake, worried. He felt the confusion and panic from my mind.

"Don't worry, Kid. The worst is over. Someone must be lost. It can't be that bad."

That bad? I thought.

He sighed. "Come on, let's go see Auntie Alice."

She was waiting on top of the stairs when we got to there.

"What's going on?" she demanded. "I can't see anything."

"Is it because of me?" Jake asked.

She shook her head. "No, I don't believe so. I don't know. I'm so confused."

"Maybe if I go away—,"

"No!" she rejected. "I need you to stay here with Renesmee. Carlisle, Emmett, and I are going to somewhere else. Stay here with Rosalie and Esme."

"Ugh! Why do I have to stay here with the blonde? And where is the emotional one?"

"Jasper's off 'handling business,' he said. He'll be back in about ten minutes."

Jake nodded. "We'll be okay."

"I wouldn't know," she groaned.

I laughed.

"Don't laugh at me, precious Renesmee. You know how it frustrates me because I can't see you."

I flashed a grin.

Jacob, shaking his head, added "When are you all leaving?"

Alice turned to look at the door in response. Auntie Rose, Uncle Emmett, and Papa Carlisle filed out from the house. I was flooded with "Hellos" and kisses.

"Okay, okay, enough. Stop staining her with your horrible smell."

"You're lucky we're letting you in our house, Dog!" Rosalie spit.

"You're lucky Nessie is in my arms, Leech!"

Rosalie rolled her eyes.

They walked off, soon blurring through the trees.

I stayed quiet, deep in thought. I was trying to figure out what was going on and why everyone was acting like this was such a big deal. There was something I didn't know, and I know I'm just a child—a quickly-aging child—but if the family is in trouble, I would like to know.

Who is this stranger?—this person causing more drama.