The announcement
I could tell that Jacob was getting nervous as we got closer and closer to the little cottage that my parents had made their home. Even though I technically still lived with my parents, I lived more like a nomad. I ventured from house to house, and nobody ever seemed to mind my presence. On the contrary, they still seemed a little obsessed with me if I may say so myself, though I don't quite understand why… My four homes were the little cottage in the forest, the huge mansion of a house that the rest of the Cullens lived in, Charlie's house… I had to visit his house frequently. He always guilted me into it with a sad droopy smile and a "But you're my only grandchild."… and of course, I spent most of my time at Jacob's house.
Jacob's rabbit was now going an excess of twenty miles per hour… a full thirty five miles per hour under the speed limit.
"You know, I can get Grandpa Charlie to give you a ticket for driving so slow." I smiled, but it soon turned into a frown. "What's wrong? You look like you're about to be attacked by a vampire." I laughed. That was probably exactly what he was afraid of. He couldn't help but let out a chuckle himself.
We pulled up to the garage outside the huge white mansion. My parents had yet to build their own garage so for now we used the old, white mansion's garage. Jacob stopped to admire my mom's Ferrari. He was still totally and completely obsessed with it. I didn't even know why we still have that car. My mom almost never uses it. She still finds it to be an unneeded luxury, simply a waste of money. My dad wouldn't hear it and refused to sell it. "Maybe mom will give it to you as a wedding present, she always complains about never needing it anyways."
His face instantly lit up with excitement and then it washed away as soon as it had appeared. "Don't tease me like that. Nobody in their right mind would give up a car like this. Besides, I don't think I could fit in it anyways." He pointed enthusiastically towards the car. He was so serious. I tried not to laugh because he was clearly not trying to be funny, but I just couldn't hold it in. "Come on" I sighed as I pulled him towards the woods surrounding my parents' cottage. We've got more important things to do.
It only took us a few short minutes to reach the tiny cottage hidden amongst the trees. It was so peaceful here—no wonder my parents refused to leave. So much for peace, time to break the silence.
"Wait!" He whirled me around just as I was reaching for the door. "How are we gonna tell them?"
"Well…I hate to break it to you, but they probably already know. My dad has surely read our minds already. They're probably waiting inside to rip your throat out"
He let out a small gasp, his eyes wide with shock and his hands darting up to cup his neck.
"Jacob! I'm kidding, they're going to be happy for us, trust me!"
"You better be right Nessie." He made a face of mock sternness.
I giggled. "Come on… I'll just show them that you proposed so you don't have to worry about talking. Okay?"
"Alright. Lead the way." One quick kiss and we stepped through the threshold, my parents were waiting by the door..
"So…how was the beach?" Mom and Dad were staring at us with happy, expectant eyes. I pulled Jacob in the house—he had frozen with one foot in the doorway and the other on the dirt door step outside. I wasn't nearly as frightened as he was. I was just pondering how long they had stood just inside the door waiting for us with those dopey grins on their faces. I doubted they had moved one inch the minute they heard Jacob's thoughts. As we moved into the room their gazes never left us. Their stares were making me feel uncomfortable because I knew they knew exactly what was coming next. Mom looked like she would explode if we didn't dish the news in the next ten seconds.
"Uh, umm, it was…nice." Jacob struggled for words shooting glances in my direction every other second. I realized that Jacob was waiting for me to tell them. He was at a complete loss for words; I bet he wouldn't open his mouth if the Jaws of Life were trying to pry it open. A nervous laugh leaked out of my mouth at Jacob's extremely detailed answer to the hidden question my dad had just asked us. What dad meant to say was, "How'd the proposal go?" I dropped Jacob's hand, which was nearly impossible due to the fact that he was clutching it for dear life, and reached up to touch my eager parents' faces. I didn't know why we had to go through the formalities of telling them when everyone knew 'how the beach was'. I started to show them Jacob's proposal, but they couldn't wait for the image to end. Mom grabbed me in a full body embrace, lifting me off of the hardwood floor. It still surprised me how strong she was, but I guess it was because she had a little more vampire in her than I had. She pulled away and I knew that if she could cry, she would be shedding tears of absolute joy.
Dad laughed and turned to Jacob, "What took you so long, son?" Jacob's anxiety melted off his face as his body recovered from going completely rigid just thirty seconds ago. He still expected dad to treat him how he had before the Volturi incident, but dad had thought of him as a son aver since the face-off. Relief replaced the anxiety and Jacob smiled that all too perfect smile, his white teeth seemingly glowing against his dark skin.
"You just missed Alice. I'm sure she has been waiting for this just as long as we have." Dad smiled again and we moved into the living room to sit down and make wedding plans.
I gave my father a confused look, "How could Alice have known about Jacob's proposal, she can't see either of our futures."
Dad grinned, "She said something about seeing herself buying a very expensive, white dress. She raced out of here before we could talk to her about anything else. Typical Alice."
Mom explained that Alice had had a vision just days before that made her jump into action. "Now we know what she saw that she was trying to keep from us."
"She didn't have to keep that from us. We were already expecting it anyways, I'm still in shock that Jacob took so long to pop the question!. She probably thinks she pulled one over on us. For once the joke will be on her. I'll teach her to stop keeping her thoughts from me." He laughed and turned to my Mom, "I still don't know how she does it though . You're the only one who has kept me out of your mind, but you have a shield." Mom just smiled right back at him. They still had those lovey dovey, gooey looks in their eyes like they were a newlywed couple. It was sweet in a way, but because they were my parents I was forced to see it as a gross display of affection.
I sighed, "Well then I guess we can't really make too many plans. Alice probably has the whole thing planned out."
Mom faced me and with a slight chuckle said, "Trust me, speaking as a person with Alice experience, she definitely does."
"Oh well, I don't really mind. I think Alice has good taste." I chuckled as I shot a teasing glance towards my mom. Mom always hated to be the center of attention, and Alice had been drawing all eyes to her even when she was still human. It never bothered me to have people gather around me. I figured I didn't mind that much because even when I was only one day old, everyone had made me their main focus. People just won't leave me alone. I still don't understand their obsession with me. I sure didn't feel special.
I guess it was starting to get on my nerves. Actually, the only person that treats me like a normal person is Jacob. Well…as normal as a half vampire, half human girl can be. Even now everyone in the room was staring at me. I refused to get annoyed because for once they actually had an understandable reason. It wasn't every day that your only daughter got engaged to a werewolf. I laughed. "Come on Jacob, let's go to my room." I got up quickly and led the way to my room as my parents chuckled and turned their attention back towards each other.
Most parents wouldn't allow a boy to be alone with their teenage daughter, but my parents weren't like most. Both Mom and Dad could no doubt easily hear our conversation in the next small room, and if for some strange reason their hearing went out, Dad could listen to our thoughts in his head...Privacy. A luxury I could never have, and if it weren't for the fact that I would be moving out soon, there was a great chance that I would go crazy. Seven years is long enough to live without any privacy.
We reached my room, which had just been remodeled for my seventh birthday. Because I grew so rapidly, my room had been redone at least twice a year. It was Alice and Esme's favorite project, and as soon as a new trend came out they hit the store and raided my room. During the remodeling I always camped out at Jacob's house, neither of us minded. Not once did I argue with Alice or Esme when they kicked me out of my room and changed it to the point of being unrecognizable. I always loved my new rooms.
Jacob and I made it to my room in about three steps—proof of how small this cottage really was. Because I had spent so much time with Jacob down in La Push, I still hadn't had time to let my new room sink in. Alice had called it "Vampire Chic". What that meant, I had no idea. All I knew was that it was simple, elegant, and I absolutely loved it. The main feature here was the huge bed that filled most of the room. Of course I only needed a small bed, but with Jacob sleeping over as often as he did, we needed a massive bed so his head wouldn't dangle over the edge. He slept so soundly here, while back in La Push he tossed and turned as his bed was about as big as a crib in comparison to his massive frame. The bed was draped in a large white comforter with simple silver flower patterns spread across its surface. A small crystal chandelier hung above the bed, adding a fancy twist to the simple color scheme of white and silver. On the far right wall, a white desk held a modern computer and a huge stack of books. Like my parents, I thoroughly enjoyed reading whatever I could get my hands on. A few small wall decorations and floor lamps filled the rest of the space in the small corridor while light blue walls successfully pulled the rest of the room together. It was my latest room and also my favorite. I was hoping that Alice would leave it like this for at least a few years.
"Go ahead and sit down, Jacob, make yourself at home. I want to put my jacket away." I didn't have to tell him twice. I laughed as he dove onto the bed head first. I walked over to the door on the left side of the room and pulled it open. I let out a little sigh as I often did at the sight of my closet. Alice had lived up to her reputation of being extreme. My closet was bigger than my room, just like my mother's. The walls were lined with what seemed like thousands of hangers all holding designer clothes. Lining the floor were matching pairs of shoes for each outfit I could conjure up. The back wall was reserved for the simpler clothes, namely jeans and T-shirts. I grabbed an empty hanger and placed my jacket on it. I had been living in this house for 7 years and I still had yet to wear everything in my enormous closet. Leave it to Alice to make sure you could never wear the same thing twice.
I didn't remember where my jacket belonged so I just hung it on the closest rack among the huge line of clothes that ran straight to the back wall. I giggled at thought of attempting to find it again later. It was probably going to be lost among this sea of clothes forever.
I turned on my heel in order to escape the headaches my overly stocked closet was sure to give me. I was anxious to talk with Jacob about our upcoming wedding.
I laughed as I entered the room and saw Jacob sprawled across my bed snoring like there was no tomorrow. I walked over to the bed and lifted his arm from my side of the bed. I snuggled up against the contours of his body and replaced his arm so that it draped over my waist, instantly heating my body. Somehow it just felt like we fit together, we were made for each other, we were soul mates.
It wasn't long before my eyelids became heavy and i was asleep against Jacob's warm chest. I couldn't help but dream of the future. It wasn't just my future now, it was ours. We were two parts of a whole and I wouldn't dream to have it any other way.
I opened my eyes to see Jacob's russet colored face staring straight at me with an expression of awe and wonder in his deep, dark eyes. I couldn't help but stare speechless back into his face. He pulled me closer, back into the warmth of his body and I rested my head against his chest, breathing to the steady rhythm of his beating heart. If it were up to me I would have stayed in that bed with Jacob forever. I could lay there for ages with my head against his chest and his chin resting in my hair.
I took a deep breath, taking in his scent. With a sigh I slowly pulled away from Jacob's embrace. He was just as reluctant to let go as I was, but he removed his hands from around my waist only to move them to my face. I was always surprised at how gentle and soft his huge hands were on my body. They seemed to cradle my face like a mother would cradle her child. He held my face just inches from his and ran his eyes up and down my face in an effort to memorize every feature as if he were never going to see it again. I had no objections to this as I wanted to sit there and do the same.
"Don't ever leave me." I whispered as I stared deep into his eyes.
"Never." he replied breathlessly before pulling my face across the inches that had separated us and locking our lips in a soft, promising kiss. What a wakeup call.
"Hey lovebirds. Come on now we have a lot to do and little time to do it." Alice burst into my room—her face lit with excitement. I laughed.
"Haven't you ever heard of knocking," I teased, "So I guess that means you know when we're getting married?"
"Yes, of course I do but I wasn't sure when Jacob was planning on proposing. I thought it'd be sooner than this though. Now hurry up, we have to go over the guest list, fit you for your dress, get Jacob's tuxedo…" Her voice trailed off as Jacob pulled my face back towards his, turning away from Alice completely. I knew he wasn't interested in the wedding details whatsoever; he was completely content to focus solely on me. "…Come on! There is just no getting through to you two. I could be being attacked by the Volturi and you wouldn't notice one bit. I told you we don't have much time. The wedding is next week."
Jacob and I both froze, leaving our lips together but making no effort to continue the kiss. He bolted upright on the bed bringing me with him; his eyes were staring blankly across the room full of shock. "Next Week!" I gasped at the unexpected news.
"I knew that would get your attention." Alice smirked. "I told you. I thought he would have proposed at least a month ago. It's not my fault he is so slow. I need to get things done!"
As the shock gradually began to fade and my heartbeat slowed to its normal pace I realized that I was happy for the wedding to be so soon. I was excited to start the rest of my life with Jacob. I grabbed Jacob's horror struck face and turned it towards my face. I reached down and grabbed his hands holding them in mine.
"You don't have to worry Jacob. I'm ready… We're ready. In fact, we might just have to move the wedding to today, I don't think I can wait!." I chuckled. "I can't stand to be Nessie Cullen any longer. I want to be Nessie Black. I want to be your wife. I want to hold you in my arms for all of eternity and know that you'll always be mine, and no one else's."
His face returned to normal for a fraction of a second and then a smile wiped across his face from ear to ear. "I'd be happy to oblige… But… not today, if you don't mind".
"Ugh, we are never going to get everything done for this wedding on time if you two don't get yourselves out of bed now." Alice stomped out of the room.
I grimaced, "Oh, this should be fun." Jacob chuckled and abruptly scooped me into his arms and leapt out of the bed. "Let's go do this thing."
"What're we gonna do first?"
"Well I was gonna practice carrying you over the threshold."
"I'd rather practice the part that comes after 'You may kiss the bride'." We laughed as Jacob carried me effortlessly through the cottage. Alice was waiting impatiently in her bright yellow Porsche. "Bye mom, bye dad…we're being abducted by Alice, love you." I called back to them as we walked out the door. No doubt they were spending 'quality time' in their room. Who knows when that will end? Gross.
"Send ransom money." Jacob added as he pulled the door shut. I didn't like it very much when we had to ride in Alice's Porsche. The tiny sports car left no room for Jacob and he was forced to lie across the back seat, not that he seemed to mind. Normally I would have sat in the front to give Jacob as much room as possible, but he wouldn't have it. He pulled me into the back seat and held me on his lap as Alice sped away. I knew Jacob must have been uncomfortable, but if he was, he wasn't going to complain anytime soon. He kissed the top of my head.
"So, Alice, what's on the agenda for today?" I asked trying to sound curious. I still wanted to be lying in my bed with Jacob, not in the back of her Porsche.
"We're going back to my house so we can go over the guest list later. First Emmett and Jasper will take Jacob to get his tux—I already picked it out. You just need to find the right size to fit your abnormally huge body," she flashed us a smile, "and I will be taking you to get your dress fitted." You couldn't help but feel the excitement radiating from Alice and filling the small cabin of the car. I leaned back against Jacob who had maneuvered his body into an awkward half scrunch, half sitting position. Definitely uncomfortable. We had been in the car for fifteen minutes, but we were almost there. Alice drove just as fast as my dad and the hour drive usually only took twenty minutes.
About a year after I was born the rest of the Cullens had moved to Seattle so Carlisle could keep up a job without looking suspicious. They couldn't stay in one place for too long without people noticing the fact that none of them have aged a day. Carlisle was already trying to pass for thirty three. Practically impossible considering the fact that Carlisle looked more like a mid-20s model. They had to move away, but they didn't want to leave mom and dad, or me I guess, behind. Mom and dad stayed because they liked their little cottage and they didn't want to separate me and Jacob. They didn't much enjoy being out in public anyways, so woodlife in Forks suited them just fine. Of course, they don't have to worry about any of that now…there is no way anyone is going to take me away from my Jacob now.
