DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY TWILIGHT CHARACTERS. THEY ALL BELONG TO STEPHENIE MEYER (THANK YOU VERY MUCH!).
This story will contain characters of my own making.
Though it's been written in many forms, I hope you can enjoy it anyway…
BLACK SUN
Chapter One
High school. Such a farce! Thankfully, it's almost over, though with keeping up with pretences, I may find myself returning all too soon.
"Renesmee Cullen?" Mrs. Shore was waiting for an answer and thought she'd caught me unaware, but even while daydreaming I could keep up with the lesson.
"Recombinant DNA," I answered making her wonder how I could pull that answer out of apparently nowhere. I just hid a smile.
The only thing that makes my day bearable is lunch time, when I get to see him. My love. My life. My Jacob.
Jacob Black has been a part of my life, since before I was born. He's loved me, since he first looked into my eyes. As I have loved him, since looking into his eyes at the same time. Ours has been a unique relationship, especially compared to normal human couples. Of course, neither Jacob nor I would be considered "normal" humans.
I was conceived by my father, Edward who is a vampire and my mother, Bella while she was human. My birth nearly killed my mother, but my father was able to save her with his venom, thus ending her human life and giving her the eternal life of a vampire.
Due to my genetic makeup, I've matured much faster than my parents hoped or expected. I will be celebrating my 7th birthday in a few months, but I'll look closer to 18 than 7. It should be the end of my aging, at least that's what all the research we've managed to uncover has predicted. Certainly there is isn't an overabundance of vampire hybrids among us.
Jacob is a member of the Quileute Indian tribe from the La Push reservation near Forks, Washington where I was born. The Quileutes were once the enemies of my vampire family (well all vampires in general), but circumstances brought them closer together. Jacob and his 'brothers' have inherited the ability to shape shift into wolves. Their ancestors developed this ability to protect their people from the 'cold ones' who threatened their lives.
My family however is against the taking of human life and exists by hunting animals instead. They, tongue in cheek, call themselves vegetarians.
The true binding of our families, though is the love that Jacob and I share. Though we've loved each other all my life, it has changed throughout the years. My first five years, Jacob was like a big brother to me: playing games, keeping me out of trouble, and looking out for my safety. Then he became like the best friend anyone could wish for. I could tell him all my secrets (not that I could hid them with my mind reading dad around); he was just always there for me. Then about a year ago, things changed into a deeper commitment.
Finally the lunch bell rang. I piled up my books and felt a sense of excitement flow throughout my body. My best girl friend, Shelly Armbruster and her boyfriend, Frank Sykes were waiting by the door for me. We've been friends since I first came to Hanover High School two years ago. We've had quite a few double dates in the past few months (mostly to make my dad happy- easing his mind that Jake and I weren't up to 'something'). They're great friends and we get along almost like family.
Of course, they can't know about the secrets of our families. It isn't healthy for humans to know about wolves and vampires. Especially vampires! The biggest rule for vampires is keeping the secret of their existence. If someone ever learns the truth, the law states they have to be silenced forever. That means either death or vampirism.
When we finally make it to the cafeteria and I see Jacob, I know I'll make it through the rest of my day happily. Just so much joy fills me when we look into each others' eyes. The love just seems to penetrate my very soul.
When we first came to New Hampshire so my parents could attend Dartmouth University, I was four months old, though about four years matured. My parents invited Jacob and Leah Clearwater (his second in command of his wolf pack) to join us. They didn't explain their reasons; I was only pleased knowing I'd see him every day.
Jacob and Leah moved into the caretaker's cottage behind our main house. This was both to keep Jacob content to be close to me and Leah content not having to share our living space. Though the Quileutes and the Cullens were closer than ever, she was still not a huge fan of ours.
In the main house, my parents and I lived with my grandparents: Carlisle and Esme; my Aunt Rosalie and Uncle Emmett; and my Aunt Alice and Uncle Jasper. The Cullen family story was that my parents, Uncle Emmett and Aunt Alice were adopted by Carlisle and Esme; and Aunt Rosalie and Uncle Jasper were Esme's wards. I am the orphaned niece of my dad, to explain our familial resemblance. It was a little scandalous for all of them to be 'paired up', but nothing was unbearable.
Despite the crazy family tree, we managed to be quite normal, though the time was coming for a move, again. In keeping the vampire secret, we had to move when it would start to become obvious that we weren't aging any more.
I couldn't have asked for a more loving family. They taught me all about vampire history and began to prepare me for my future immortal life. I learned quickly and always thirsted for more knowledge. I worked my way through my grandfather's library and then shared in my parents' studies.
Mom was studying pre-med and was looking into specializing in obstetrics. Dad was studying more foreign languages, concentrating on obscure dead languages.
Aunt Alice and Uncle Jasper took some courses from time to time, but also liked to spend some time travelling. Aunt Rose and Uncle Em travelled too, but when they were home Aunt Rose wanted to spend most of her time with me. Grandpa Carlisle was working at Dartmouth's Hitchcock Medical Center, while Grandma Esme was helping resurrect some of the colonial homes.
I did have more family that lived elsewhere. My Grandpa, Charlie Swan and his wife, Sue (Leah's mother) lived in Forks where he works as the chief of police. My Grandma Renee and her husband, Phil live in Jacksonville, Florida where she enjoys the sunny warm weather while teaching and Phil has held different positions for minor league baseball teams.
When I began high school, they explained to me about trying to appear 'normal' to humans, so they could keep the family secret. Though I was home schooled up until that time, my dad especially wanted me to have the whole high school experience. I balked at the idea, until they told me that Jacob would join me in my junior year, so he could finish his education and get his diploma. He had stopped attending school after I was born, preoccupied with all the upheaval it had caused between his wolf brothers and my family. Thanks to the 'wolf gene', he had stopped aging by then, though he reached his full maturity and looked like he was in his early twenties.
So, I endured all those long days. It was during my junior year, Jacob asked me to the spring dance and I knew that it was the beginning of our 'true' forever. So, it was with that knowledge, I went home to let my parents know.
Mom seemed to sigh when I told her, almost like she, too, was expecting it, though perhaps not so soon. I guess I could understand where she was seeing things from. My life was surely advancing faster than any mother would want for her child, especially a daughter.
"I'm sure Jacob loves you like no one else can," she seemed to reassure herself, not me.
"I know, Mom. I think I've known all my life." I couldn't help but smile. A reluctant grin seemed to pass across her face, too.
"Can you let me tell Dad?" This was a request for her to use her unique ability to block my father from reading my thoughts. It was a special ability enhanced when she became a vampire herself. Dad had never been able to read her thoughts, much to his frustration. She learned to push the 'shield' outside her own mind while my family was preparing to face the Volturi (who is the family that rules over all vampires and make sure that all vampires keep the secret). They were unsure of my future and came to destroy me, but with the help of vampire friends and the wolves, they managed to assure them I posed no risk.
Of course, she agreed but told me, "Don't be afraid of your father, Nessie. He'll be fine." It made me smile inwardly when she used that nickname. Jake had given it to me when I was born, saying Renesmee was too long. Mom had hated it and had tried to attack Jacob, but Leah's younger brother, Seth had blocked her in the air. He suffered some minor injuries, but the wolves heal quickly, so he didn't hold it against her.
I wish I could've felt as certain as my mother about my father's reaction. It seemed that lately my dad was even less tolerant than usual around Jacob. Hmm… I wondered if it was because Jacob was thinking about 'us'. I took a deep breath and waited for my dad to get home.
When he got home I gave him a big hug and greeted him, "Hey, Dad." This was a common greeting, at least when I was younger.
"Well, hey to you too." He smiled brightly at me, while scrutinizing my face and looking a bit bewildered when no thoughts passed on to him.
Sighing I asked him to take a seat, not that vampires need to sit for comfort, but it would put me more at ease. He sat down looking frustrated.
"Bella?" he called out searching an explanation.
"Just let her talk, Edward," she answered him, but not placating his desire to know what I was up to.
"I got invited to the spring dance today," I told him not being able to hold back my smile.
"Oh, anyone I know?" he asked rather sarcastically.
"Actually, yes. Jacob." I watched him tense and then relax in the next breath. "I hope you're okay with it Dad. I'm so delighted. I feel like I could fly!" With that news a lopsided grin appeared and I knew he'd never argue against something that made me happy.
"Guess the time's come already," he seemed resigned. "I was hoping he would wait a little longer," he mumbled.
I couldn't figure out how he knew that Jacob would be mine.
Just then, as if on some ironic cue, Jacob came through the door.
"Hey, Edward," he greeted my dad with a jubilant smile, walking over to me and putting his arm around my shoulders. Dad seemed to cringe slightly, but then nodded at Jacob.
"Heard you're taking my little girl to the spring dance," Dad stated a little possessively.
"She said yes when I asked," Jake shrugged as if he knew I would all along. I didn't want it to turn into a fight over me, so I decided to try to make some peace between them.
"Daddy, I'll always be your little girl, but I do need to grow up, too."
"I know. I know, my dear. Just reminding Jacob that you're precious to more than just him." He patted my head, kissed my cheek and nodded again at Jacob as he left the room.
"What were you thinking that made my dad cringe?" I asked remembering that look on my dad's face.
"Not much. Just how much you mean to me." He squeezed my shoulder, turned me to face him, lifted my chin and kissed me on the cheek. "More and more every day, I love you." I felt my face burn. The pure honesty of his words made me feverish.
"I love you, too," I whispered.
A year later and I felt like I could scream from the rooftops how much I loved him, but just looking into his eyes, he knows.
Lunch time passed slowly, as we ate and caught each other up on our days.
"Senior prom should be a blast!" Shelly exclaimed.
"Yep," Jacob replied. "We got the limo all set up."
"We'll pick you two up around five and be at the restaurant ahead of the crowd," I told Shelly and Frank.
The bell rang then and we all sighed. We got up and left together. Two more classes, then Jake would drive us home.
"Thank God it's Friday," Frank cheered.
"You betcha!" Jacob agreed. No one looked forward to the end of high school like he did.
"See you after last bell, Jake," I promised.
He just answered with a nod and a smile.