Chapter 4: 16 years old
Nessie lay in bed, curled up into a ball, hugging her stomach, trying to wish her cramps away. She had started her period that morning and had the worst cramps. She got them every month, but these were particularly bad because she was at the tail end of a stomach bug. The bug had been gone for about 12 hours, but her stomach was still sore. She groaned as another cramp rippled through her abdomen. She felt like she was about to throw up. This was just another thing she had gotten from her mother. Aside from the chocolate brown eyes, rich dark hair, and pumping heart, Nessie got her mother's cramps and migraines when she was on her period. The migraines usually started about the second day and lasted for three days. She couldn't find anything to help with either thing. The only thing she could do was sleep and lay in bed. Just as another cramp hit, her mom came in to check on her. "Hey, Ness," she said, pushing her daughter's bangs off her sweaty forehead, "Are you feeling any better?" she asked softly. "No," Nessie said as tears welled up in her eyes. "Oh sweetheart," Bella said, "Don't cry. I know it hurts. Try to sleep, ok?" Nessie nodded her head and shut her eyes as Bella walked out of the room.
About an hour later, Bella heard a soft knock on the front door of the cottage. She went to answer it and found Jacob stand there. "Hey, Jake," she whispered. "Hey Bells," he said giving her a hug, "How's Nessie?" "The same as she always is this time of the month, in pain," Bella answered, "she is sleeping right now though, which is good." "Yeah," Jake said, his eyes darting toward Nessie's room. "Why don't you go in there and check on her," Bella said, seeing Jacob's concern. He nodded and walked into his girlfriend's room.
His heart broke when he saw his girl curled up in bed, tear stains on her face. He had been with her two nights ago when she had the flu. Even then, when she was vomiting and had a fever, she didn't look as miserable as she did now. He sat down in the chair next to her bed and watched her sleep. She woke up about an hour later. Small smile crept onto her face when she saw him. It only lasted a second, however, before the painful expression was back. "Hey, sweetheart," he said. "Hey, Jake," she said weakly. "How ya doin?" he asked. "Awful," she said, "My cramps are worse this month because of that dumb flu." "Aw," he said. He went over to her and ran his hands through her hair. Suddenly, she sat up and said, "Jake, I think I might throw up." He grabbed her trash can and brought it to her. She grabbed it from him and promptly threw up her small breakfast. When she was done, he took the garbage can and set it on the floor. He then held her in his arms while she cried. He slipped his hands onto her stomach and softly began to massage her stomach. She sighed as he did this. "Jake," she said, "That feels good." He smiled and continued. He stopped when she let out a gasp of pain. "Did I hut you?" he asked alarmed. "No," she said, "My cramps are just really hurting and I might throw up again." He quickly grabbed the garbage back, and she threw up into it. Just as she finished, Bella walked in. "Nessie," she said, "what happened?" "I threw up from the pain," she said weakly. "Oh, Ness," her mom said, "Is there anything I can get you?" "Maybe a heating pad," she said. Bella went and grabbed it. Then she left the two of them alone. Jake continued to rub her stomach and back until she fell asleep. She slept for twelve hours.
When she woke up, her cramps were almost gone, but she had a horrible migraine. She quickly snapped her eyes shut. Jacob saw this and went over to her. "Migraine?" he asked extremely quietly. She nodded the slightest bit. He walked out of her room and into the kitchen. There he found a note form Bella, saying she had gone to meet Edward and would be back the next day. He then grabbed some ice out of the fridge, wrapped it in a towel, and brought it back to Nessie. He gently placed it on her forehead. She sighed a bit in relief. He held the ice there until it melted. Then he got more. He continued this pattern for the next three days until her head stopped hurting.
A few days after she was feeling better, the two were out for a walk when she asked, "Where did you learn how to do all that stuff to help me?" "Well," he said, "When your dad was gone for a few months, someone had to help your mom, and I knew your grandpa wouldn't, so I did."