So a new story I have started since I have lost inspiration with the other story. I really like where I'm going with this story and hope you guys do too. I love reviews and hope you guys have feedback about my story/ writing. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer.
The paint brush stroked across the canvas with me consciously controlling the handle. This happened every once in awhile, when my mind suddenly stops working and the art flows onto the board. Shapes, lines, and curves I have no control over.
It had been awhile since I've been able to paint like this. Uninterrupted and quiet. Suddenly Emmett's booming laughter reached up to the third floor and scared me. My hand shook and the paint brush dropped from my hand landing on the floor with a thud. I hung my head back in frustration. The painting which was almost finished now would never be. Something always blocked my focus when I got into the zone. I couldn't get upset with my uncle Emmett though.
I stood up from my stool and stretched my back, stiff from sitting so long. I looked outside and realized it had gotten dark. The third floor guest room was turned into a studio for me. I took up a knack for painting and on occasion photography but not so much. Neither of those compared to my love for playing piano. My dad taught me how to play when I was little. I used to sit on his lap and he would put his hands over mine pushing down the keys making the right notes sound.
I walked down the stairs and could smell something wonderful coming from the kitchen. My dad was sitting on the couch reading some book on molecular biology. My mom was sitting next to him with her legs on her lap reading Wuthering Heights for the umpteenth time.
I walked past them and sat down on the sofa sighing in relief. Taking breaks was healthy.
"How did the painting go sweetheart?" My dad asked me.
"It was going but I got distracted." I shrugged it off.
Emmett, I thought in my head. He smiled and lightly chuckled to himself.
"What's going on?" My mom asked. She always hated it when dad and I had conversations in our heads. I sighed and got up to put my hand against hers showing her what I said to dad.
She just rolled her eyes and went back to her book.
Is grandma making something for dinner? I asked my dad.
"She thought that she would make you something nice since you've been working hard all afternoon."
That was nice of her. I've missed human food. I hadn't eaten much human food in the past week. I'd gone hunting with Jake a few days ago and felt so full that I had to walk very slowly back to the cottage.
I got up off the couch and went into the kitchen to see what she was making.
"Hi sweetie. How did it go?" Esme was leaning over checking the oven. When she opened the door the aroma hit my nose and I knew exactly what she was making, beef tenderloin done extremely rare.
"Smells wonderful." She smiled and took out the beef. "It was going pretty well but Emmett distracted me." We both laughed.
"I would love to say that I could control that but I'm afraid not."
"It's okay. I'm happy I was distracted though because this looks amazing."
"I hope so. Is Jake coming for dinner? I made enough for two but if he's not then there are always leftovers."
"He should be. He said he wasn't going to be running with the pack for very long." Sam decided to retire from the pack when Emily got pregnant. I'm not sure if he really had a choice but he knew he couldn't spend his time with the pack when he needed to be earning some more cash for his family. Jacob then took over the pack and Seth and Leah reunited with everyone else again. So, now Jake is the pack's Alpha.
"Well why don't you go wash up and then come back down when everything is done."
"Okay." I walked over and gave her a kiss on the cheek before heading upstairs to clean up. I opened the bathroom door and turned on the lights. The mirror showed my bronze, curly hair which no doubt came from my human grandpa. My hair color from my dad and my deep chocolate brown eyes from my mother. My dad tells me all the time about how much he loves to look at my eyes and it reminds him of my mom during her human days.
I ran the hot water and splashed my skin. The warm water felt good against my cold, pale skin although my skin was nowhere near as pale as my family's. I washed my hands and ran back upstairs to make sure all of my paints were put away properly. I hung up my artwork to dry and rinsed off my paintbrushes making sure they wouldn't dry with the paint still on them.
I was about to close the door but I wanted to take one last look at my artwork. There was the wall in the far corner which held all of the artwork I had completed and planned on selling. The opposite corner was full of artwork that was either incomplete or saved for myself and family. The last corner was filled with photos I'd taken. Mostly they were of Jake considering he is my favorite subject to photograph but some were random. A lot of it was La Push beach because that is my favorite place in the world. I smiled as I turned the lights off and closed the door.
"So is dinner ready yet grandma?"
"I just finished cutting the meat." She turned and handed me a plate. I sat down at the kitchen table. Esme had taken it upon herself to start dressing older because she was now trying to pass for almost 40 years old as is Carlisle. Truth be told we should have moved a long time ago but we didn't because of me. They didn't want to take me away from my true home and family, including Jake. I felt bad but I tried not to think about it.
I took a bite of the meat and it tasted so good. "This is so good grandma. Thank you."
"Is that Jake?" I listened closely. Of course she could hear farther than I can but within a minute I could hear paws in the forest nearly to the creek which ran by the house. The footprints stopped and I knew he was phasing back into his human form.
"Hi Jake," Esme called from the kitchen.
"Hi," he said shyly. "How's my favorite girl doing?"
"I'm starving and there's plenty for two." He walked over to me and gave me a quick hug and kiss on the head.
"Jake would you like something to eat? I'm sure you're hungry after all that running." Esme put on her best face and I knew Jake couldn't resist.
"Thank you Esme I'm starving as well." Esme began to fix him a plate as he took a seat next to me.
"How was your day?" He smiled and his dimples showed on his cheeks. He was so cute when he smiled.
"Dad and I went over some chemistry and calculus but nothing much." Dad had taken it upon himself to tutor me since I was growing too fast to go to any public school. It really wasn't necessary though because even though I am almost seven I have the intelligence of a high school senior.
"Nothing too bad," he agreed.
"Well I tried to get some art done but I got a little too distracted."
"Can I see what you were working on?" He smiled at me and I knew he was trying to sneak a peek but I don't like people looking at my work until it is finished.
"Maybe later," I turned away trying not to blush. "I'm planning on selling a few of my pieces next week. There's another art show in Seattle and the owner of the gallery said she'd take a few more of my pieces for her show."
"That's great." This isn't the first time that my paintings have been sold at a gallery. Every couple of months I try to get Brielle to put my paintings up for sale in her gallery. She really liked my style and happily obliged. I was completely shocked the first time one of my paintings sold. The buyer, an older gentleman, took the painting for more than the asking price. The money has since then taken a place in my savings account which my father also puts money into for Christmas and my birthday, which is in one week exactly.
"Brielle said that there's a private buyer who's looking for something along the lines of what I do. She said not to get too excited thought but the buyer has been looking for awhile and is willing to pay a lot of money."
"Who's the buyer?" Jacob asked.
I shrugged. "Sometimes it's better not to know the name of the buyer. Keeping it anonymous is a good thing in my case. Just in case the buyer comes back and decides to buy more, whoever he or she is might get suspicious that I'm still the same."
"You're right. Anyways your birthday is next week."
"The big zero seven," I joked. "Alice had decided to throw a huge party since this is last stage of me growing."
"It better not go too late because Emily has a bonfire planned for you too." My face lit up.
"She does?!" Now I was excited.
"Everyone is going to be there but I'm pretty sure Seth has you beat on the excitement scale." We both laughed. If anyone got more excited than me about a party it was Seth.
"Do I get any hints about my birthday present?" I smiled trying to look really cute.
"Nope," he said as he emphasized the "p".
My face fell into a pout. "But you only have a week till your birthday so it's not too bad."
"Wrong," I disagreed. "It's going to feel like forever." We both finished our dinner and began to clean the dishes.
"You two don't have to do that," Esme said as she came back into the kitchen. "Go have fun, be kids. It doesn't last very long." We both laughed at her joke and walked into the living room. Both of my parents were gone. Probably out running or something.
"What do you want to do?" Jake asked. He was always happy with doing whatever I wanted to do and he really enjoyed it as well. I think it was part of the imprinting. My parents explained imprinting to me when I was younger. I got the logistics but some of it was still confusing. I know that Jake is my best friend and will always be but what about when we grow up? Am I supposed to find someone else? I couldn't imagine my life without Jake.
"I want to go to the beach." Jake laughed and took my hand as we ran out of the house. The sun was setting letting the pink and orange sky light up. "Can we run though? I want to get some exercise."
"Okay but wait here." Jake ran through some trees out of eyesight and phased. I took off giving me the head start. I could feel him coming up behind me. Why did he have to be faster than me?
We reached the beach in no time. I didn't wait for him to phase back though. I just ran right up to the tide and took off my shoes and rolled up my jeans letting the ocean wet my feet. The water was cold but it didn't bother me. I walked up and down the beach while the tide would come up and wash over my feet. My arms were out for balance but a warm hand soon took my cold one and held me steady.
"Having fun?" Jake asked me.
"I miss the beach. It's going to be getting cold soon."
"Your party will probably be one of the last for the year." A wind suddenly ripped through the air making me shake. Jake put his arm around my waste and pulled me close up against his side.
"This is nice." I said. I looked up at his face which was much higher than mine. He was so big. Mom says that he's still growing as a joke but I'm not sure she's lying.
I started to get tired and headed towards a rock so I could sit down. Jake knew what I wanted and puts his hands on my waist to lift me up. He then jumped up on the rock with ease.
Jake put his arm around me again to keep me from getting cold and I leaned my head against chest.
"Jake?"
"Yeah."
"Why don't you date?" He didn't answer. I looked up at his face.
"What?"
"Why haven't you dated any other girls? Are you gay?" He laughed.
"No I'm not gay I just haven't found anyone worth dating." He shrugged it off but that kind of hurt. Jake and I have and always will be friends. I knew that from imprinting but lately my feelings have changed. Sometimes there are moments when I want something more from Jake. When I'm with him it's so natural for me to feel safe and warm. There's just something that's not enough but when I get home I start feeling insecure. I get panicky about my feelings because I don't think I should be feeling some of these things. Dad and Jasper haven't said anything about it so maybe it is just me.
"Have you dated anyone before?" He wasn't answering again. If there was anything I knew about Jake is that when he doesn't talk he's either embarrassed or ashamed. I didn't like either of those two so he better start talking. "Is it bad?" My panic started to escalate.
"Calm down Nessie." He kissed the top of my head which made my heart fly.
"Then why won't you tell me?"
"Because there's nothing interesting to tell. I did like this one girl before you were born but she didn't like me back."
"Where is she now?" I couldn't help but wonder.
"She's with someone better than me."
"I doubt it." I grabbed his hand to reassure him. How could anyone not want him? I'm glad they didn't get him though but the fact that he had his heart broken made me feel sad.
"What does she look like?" Now it was getting to be stronger than curiosity. Now I was getting jealous.
Jake was trying not to answer. Debating whether or not to tell me.
"Please?" I asked while gently squeezing his warm hand.
"She was pretty but nowhere near as beautiful as you." My heart started to race.
"You think I'm beautiful?"
"Of course I do." He looked at me like I was dumb for even asking. "You're perfect." This is the confusing part! How can he say things like that and not want more than friendship like I do?
Without thinking about it I started to sit taller and strained to reach his face. My lips moved closer to his feeling the warmth of his neck with my hands.
"Ness," he whispered.
"Yeah," I said.
"I should get you home." I opened my eyes to look at him. He took my hand off his neck holding it in his as he jumped off the rock and landed on the sand with a light thud. Shock and hurt was written all over my face. He kept holding my hand as I slid off the rock too and put my shoes back on heading back home.
I couldn't feel mad though because maybe he just didn't see me that way. Maybe he truly just wanted to be friends.
We didn't run as quickly back to the cottage. Me taking my time as I thought about what happened or almost happened on the beach.
"Goodnight," I said absentmindedly as I began to walk towards the cottage.
"Ness," he said as he took my hand to turn me around so I was facing him. "Come here." He pulled me forward as he gave me a hug goodnight.
"Sleep well." He was about to go.
"Jake?"
"Yeah."
"Are you going to be around tomorrow?" I was still hopeful that he's around. I'll always want him around.
"I'm running tonight with the pack but I'll be around."
"But you just ran this afternoon." I was still holding onto his hand not wanting to let him go. "Get some sleep tomorrow. I'll come by your place later. Okay?"
"I don't have to sleep."
"Sure you don't. Sleep and I'll be over later." I smiled letting him know I wasn't hurt.
"Bye." I let go of his hand and walked inside.
"Have fun?" My dad asked from the couch. He and my mom had the TV on to some old movie I hadn't seen but they obviously weren't watching it.
I smiled but he knew it didn't reach my eyes. I just wanted to go to bed and forget about what happened. It was too late though. My dad already knew what happened. He lightly knocked on the door of my room.
"What's wrong?"
Please don't dad. It was embarrassing enough the first time.
He came over and gave me a hug.
Is what I'm feeling normal?
He didn't answer.
What? I know you know what Jacob's thinking.
"I think you two need to figure this out for yourselves."
I know but it's just that Jake's always been there for me and he's never been with anyone else. I just thought maybe… I didn't even finish the thought.
"You're not crazy," he answered.
I'm not.
"No." He started to lightly laugh. "You're just becoming a teenager."
I liked being a kid better.
"When was that? Yesterday?" We both laughed. "I know it doesn't seem like what you're feeling makes sense but trust me when I say that it's normal. And although I wish you weren't feeling some of those things and you could stay my little girl forever, you're growing up into a beautiful week."
"Edward's right sweetie. You and Jacob are growing up together and you need to talk to him about this. But you're becoming a strong, beautiful woman." She sat down on the bed next to me and Dad and put her arms around my shoulders.
"I can't believe you're turning seven next week." My mom looked like she was going to cry.
"Okay enough water works can I just go to bed." They both laughed as they kissed me goodnight and left my room.
Dad? I asked before he left.
He turned to look at me.
Does he at least love me?
"More than you know."
Hope you guys like it!