Chapter 2
Joys of Being a Cullen?
I unwrapped my arm from Bells when I heard the sliding door open and the patter of running feet on the hardwood floors. Ness didn't give me much time to react as I felt her arms crash around my neck. I hugged her back tightly before bringing my arms to her small hands.
"Did you hear Jacob?" She asked with excitement. "Dad said you get to come. This is going to be the best birthday ever, I can tell."
I chuckled as I set her down on her feet so I could stand. I knew Esme was in the kitchen cooking. And when there was food, there was me. I took hold of Ness and she followed me to the kitchen. For me personally, I liked the fact that she enjoyed human food as much as blood. There's been times where she has gone weeks without a hunt and perfectly satisfied with Esme's awesome cooking.
"Yep," I said popping the p. "I heard. Your Aunt already dragged poor Jasper off with her to buy me a few things for the trip."
I sat down at the counter top bar and Ness pulled the other stool out to sit next to me. I smiled in delight when Esme walked over and placed two plates full of food in front of Ness and I. "Thanks."
"Always a pleasure Jacob, you know that."
I picked up a fork and dived into the ham and cheese omelet. After a few bites, I looked over to Ness to see her eating her food in small dainty bites. "So, are you going to tell me what you want for your birthday?"
Ness shook her head once before swallowing. "I don't need anything; I already have the best present ever with you coming."
I smiled at how it never took much make her happy, especially when it concerned me. "Nothing at all?" I pressed.
Ness put her fork down and placed a finger to her chin like she was thinking. "Nope, nothing."
I already knew what I was getting Ness for her birthday and smiled at how happy she would be to see it. The two of us finished our breakfast and then sat around the TV to watch a couple of movies. It only felt like minutes passed by the time I looked up to the clock and noticed how late it really was. I knew I had some plans to make before I left to go on vacation with the Cullen's. I also figured it wouldn't hurt to spend an extra few hours with Dad. After all, he won't see me for a good two weeks once we left.
I bent down to kiss the top of Ness's head before standing. "I gotta leave but I'll see you in the morning."
Ness's bottom lip jutted out into a pout before nodding. "Fine, see you in the morning."
I put my hand on the doorknob just as Alice waltzed in with Jasper behind her. I thought they were only picking up a few things. By the look of the number of bags that each of them were carrying, it looked like they bought out all of Seattle.
"Oh, good, you're still here," Alice said as she dropped the bags at my feet. "Would you believe how hard it is to find clothes for someone as tall and big as you? Jasper and I actually had to drive all the way to LA. I'm not complaining or anything but wow."
I smiled. I did know how hard it was to find clothes to fit correctly. Which is why I usually wore cut offs. Didn't need to worry about pants being the correct length then. "Um, Alice what is all of this?"
At first when the Cullen's began to buy things like clothes for me, it bugged the living hell out of me. But every time I tried to deny the offerings, I could see it broke not only Alice's heart but Esme's as well. I hated that my imprint was so well off and I could never be able to take care of her like that. But in the end, I was told I was family and that family helps one another. Yeah, sure great response. But it was Bella that finally put it all in prospective for me.
"Jake, you don't need to worry about how to repay us or whatever the problem is you have with us giving you something," Bells said one birthday when the family bought me a brand new truck. "As far as I'm concerned you already paid us back by knowing that if something were to ever happen. You would be there. And not just for Nessie."
She hit the nail on the head with that statement. I would do anything within my power not only to protect Ness but all of them. Sure, it went against everything that I was born and raised to do but that was all before the imprint took effect.
"I'm confused, Pixie, how long are we going to be gone for?"
Alice nodded once as if to confirm something. "Two weeks but I have to be prepared for anything. I can't see any of us as long as you and Ness are in the decisions, you know that?"
"Hmmm," was all could say.
However, the thing that was running through my mind was it was an island. A private one at that with only a house and a boat dock. It wasn't as if much was needed. As long as I had something to sleep in and swimming trunks, I was all set.
"Oh, no, Jacob, you're wrong," Edward said walking down the stairs. "Alice has the whole two weeks planned out."
"What's on the agenda?" Blondie said as she flipped through a magazine. I had to do a double take when se spook because I didn't even remember her coming back from wherever she went with Emmett.
"Well, of course, we have the huge birthday celebration but besides that there's shopping, snorkeling, surfing, shopping, visiting the South American coven, exploring the island, shopping. Oh and did I mention shopping?"
I wasn't the only one that groaned at the number of times she mentioned shopping. Even Nessie sat up and groaned loudly and she was one that never passes down a trip to the mall much to Bella's displeasure.
"I'm sure it will be a great two weeks, Alice," Esme said with a kind smile.
Alice nodded in agreement and picked up the bags. "I'll go ahead and pack all this stuff up for you Jake."
"Thanks, Pixie, that sure helps me a lot," I said to her back as she made her way up the stairs.
That is how it all started. For the next week the Cullen family managed to get everything planned, packed and the house sealed up for two weeks of blissful living on a private island. I, on the other hand had a total mess to deal with.
Upon leaving the Cullen's after finding out about Ness's birthday plans, I went home to break the news to Dad. He took it rather well, but like that morning he had that look in his eyes as if he was hiding something, or at the very least wanted to talk to me. After a long silence during dinner, I put my fork down and looked at him.
"Okay, Dad, spill already," I said with a hint of aggravation.
Billy looked over to me with shocked eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"You've had this far off look in your eyes since this morning. What's wrong?"
Billy shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing really, I just feel like I'm losing you."
I couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu from this morning with the same topic with Bella. "I'm not going anywhere Dad."
"Not yet," he huffed. "Look, son, I'm sorry but I can't help to but think the Cullen's are taking you away from me."
I looked at him in shock. Here I am twenty-one years old and he's concerned about me leaving the nest. "Dad, I'm a grown man."
"I know that but I can't help but feel like something big is about to happen."
I didn't know then but Dad was spot on. Something big was about to happen.
I brushed his comment aside and went into more details about the trip. You know, ways to contact me if something were to happen and stuff like that.
Now the pack on the other hand, that was a different story all together. I going off with the Cullen's unprotected as they put it was a horrible idea. No one wanted me to leave regardless of the reason. I knew nothing was going to happen to me but old feelings die-hard.
Since I wasn't going to be around, I put Leah in charge. We still had separate packs. After the standoff, Sam and I attempted to merge but we realized quickly that there was no way for it to work. Not to mention there were close to twenty wolves at the time. That made it nearly impossible to run such a large pack smoothly.
Sitting down with Sam three days before leaving was rough. I have barely spent any time with Ness, so I was already short tempered. Then Sam goes and drops a bombshell on me.
"When you come back, I'm done."
I stared at him as if he went nuts. "Done?"
He sighed. "Yeah, I'm stepping down. Not phasing anymore."
I didn't really know what to say to that. Why any of them really wanted to give up their wolf was beyond me, but then again when I was destined to be with some one that lives forever, I guess I came to terms with it.
"Emily is pregnant."
Well, now it all made sense for him to give up his wolf.
So, with a few days before take off, I had to plan a patrol schedule, have meetings with Sam, get Dad squared away, and find time to spend with Nessie. But, hey, I didn't need to pack.
"Surf boards, really Alice?" I heard Bella say as I opened the door to the Cullen house.
It was Saturday night and I agreed to stay the night at their house since the flight was early in the morning. Alice didn't think I would make it on time. When was she going to learn that wherever Ness was going I would follow, even at ungodly hours of the morning?
"And scuba gear?"
I saw the pile of stuff; I guess that was the best way to describe it, by the doors that lead to the garage. Emmett and Jasper were already loading things into the back of a huge van that Carlisle saw fit to rent for the trip.
"This is going to be a great vacation," Emmett boomed.
Bella shook her head. "I just don't understand why we need all of this. It's not like we need air tanks and goggles to go deeper into the ocean."
Alice huffed and put her hands on her hips. "We don't Bella, but we do have two people that do. I am just making sure there is plenty to do on the island. Thinking ahead, is what I like to call it."
"Bella, love, let Alice have her fun," Edward wrapped his arms around his wife and looked over to me. "Traveling light, Jacob?"
I was puzzled on why he would ask me that until I looked over to another pile on the other side of the staircase. There sat piles upon piles of luggage. I walked over to get a closer inspection and frowned when I saw not one, not two, but three suitcases with my name on it.
"Yeah, you know me," I shrugged my shoulders. "Need to be prepared for anything."
"That's what I like hear," Alice said as she came over and grabbed four bags on her own. "Come on boys; let's get everything in the car now so we don't have to do it in the morning."
Edward, Jasper, Emmett, and I spent the next hour helping the little Pixie pack the car. It was exhausting. Not the packing but the demanding. First, we just threw everything in there. Of course, it wasn't how Alice wanted it so we had to take it all out and arrange it much like a seating chart. I rolled my eyes when the final bag was in and Emmett closed the door.
"Finally," he said before grabbing Rose and running off into the forest.
I knew that all the Cullen's were planning to leave for the night to have one final hunt before leaving. Bella and Edward were the last to leave.
"Make sure you two get to bed early," Bella reminded Ness and I as if we were five year olds.
Well, okay, so technically, one of us was five years old. "Don't worry, Bells."
I couldn't tell you when we fell asleep. The only thing I remember is the bucket of ice water that was thrown onto my face and the loud laugh that followed.
"Oh, great, now he smells even more like a wet dog," Blondie's voice floated from somewhere and Emmett stood over me with a huge smile on his face.
"Told you it would work," he said has he reached for my hand. "They've been trying to wake you for the last hour. And I of course, had this genius idea."
I shook my head like a dog to get the water out of it and stood up. "Well, now I'm going to need to get changed."
I started to climb the stairs. "Oh, Jake, I put your traveling clothes on the back of the bathroom door."
Ahh, the joys of being a Cullen.
Who would have thought that all of Alice's thinking ahead and planning for anything would come in handy…I sure as hell didn't.
