Renesmee & Jacob: Glowing Horizon

Chapter 3: Visit

The rest of the week went by in a blur. Jacob came with me to school every day, but I refused to speak to him. For the first two days, all he really did was try to gain my attention so he could make an apology. But I wouldn't listen, and eventually he stopped trying.

One good thing about him coming along was that all of the staring eyes faded away – turned into quick, sidelong glances that were easily ignored. How strange – people seemed to be intimidated by Jake. Even Dylan didn't try to talk to me – at least, until Friday, when I supposed he gained the bravery to speak with Jacob sitting a seat away from me.

"Hey, Nessie. So, remember when I asked if you wanted to go to the movies?" He muttered.

I nodded.

"Well…are you still up for it?" he asked with a small smile.

I sensed Jacob clench his fists next to me. I took a deep breath. The Dylan boy seemed nice – I mean, he could be a good friend. And he mentioned that other people would be going, so it wouldn't just be us.

"Well, sure, I guess. I said I was in. When?" I asked.

"Maybe after school next Thursday? I already got two or three people to go with us."

"Sure, sounds good. Thanks for inviting me." I said, trying to be polite.

"Not a problem." He grinned.

I threw an apologetic glance at Jake, and a shrug. He glared at the boy, shaking a bit. I put my hand on his fist, showing him that he needed to be calm. He took a deep breath and settled.

Other than that small exchange, I didn't communicate with Jake at all – and it killed me as much as it bothered him. But I couldn't talk to him, not yet. I wasn't ready for his excuses.

At the end of the day Friday, he dropped me off at the house. His eyes were narrowed like something was wrong, but I didn't ask. It was probably nothing.

I walked in the door, and was immediately shocked to see an old friend of mine talking to my parents.

"Nahuel!" I screamed, and ran up to give him a hug.

Nahuel had visited us many times in Alaska, but I hadn't seen him for a few years now. He looked somewhat different: his hair was shorter, and his eyes were just as golden as everyone in our family (except for me, of course).

"Nessie! It's so great to see you. Can we talk?" He asked, pulling away.

I nodded, and we both headed outside.

"I have something to ask you." He said.

"Yes?" I asked, wondering what it could be.

"Well, when I visited Alaska last, you mentioned you'd love to visit Africa. And, I was wondering if you wanted to come back with me in a few days – I could show you around."

I smiled automatically – I loved to travel, and I did tell him that I'd love to visit Africa. But…then I thought of Jacob and my family, and sighed.

"I don't know if I can. Of course I'd love to, but…I'd just hate to leave my family." And Jake.

He nodded. "I understand."

"Well…I didn't say no. Maybe I should just talk to my parents first." I tried to comfort him.

He nodded. "Sure, Nessie." He kissed my cheek, and I blushed.

When I looked up, I found Jacob a few feet away, staring in shock and anger. Immediately, he stood in front of me, and was in Nahuel's face.

"Don't you touch her! What do you think you're doing?" He yelled.

"I was actually just asking Renesmee if she wanted to visit my homeland – Africa -- for a few months." He said smoothly.

Jake growled menacingly, and I saw my family peeking at the scene from the windows.

"You're not taking her away from me." He muttered with his teeth shut tight. He started shaking, and his hands were clenched into fists.

The next thing he said shocked me so much that I gasped.

"You keep your filthy, half-breed hands off of her."

I went to stand beside a furious Nahuel, with my arms folded and tears brimming from behind my eyes.

"You realize that's as much of an insult to me as it is to Nahuel? How could you, Jacob?" My voice was shaking, and I slowly backed away from him, still hurt and in shock.

Jake blinked.

"No—no, Nessie! I didn't mean it like that—"

"No? Then what did you mean?" I snapped harshly before running away as fast as I could, praying that no one would come after me. I heard footsteps rushing behind me, and I wished I had full vampire speed.

Jacob's insult had been like a slap in the face. He had poked at one of my deepest, darkest insecurities – feeling that I didn't belong in my family because of what I was. Even if it wasn't directed at me, it hurt just as much.

This had been one of the worst, longest weeks of my life. It was the second time in a week that I had shed tears over Jacob Black, that I had run away from him in frustration.

When I was deep enough into the forest that I figured they couldn't find me, I sat down on a log nearby and sobbed. Again.

Apparently my plan wasn't full-proof, because it was only moments before I heard leaves rustling, footsteps coming.

Nahuel came and sat onto the log beside me. He gave me a hug, and I cried into his shirt for a few minutes before I was sure of my decision.

"I'll come with you. To Africa." I declared, pulling away and wiping my eyes.

"Renesmee—are you sure?" He asked.

I nodded. "Just give me a chance to break it to my family, and we can be on a plane as soon as possible."

I stood up, and took his hand. We ran back to the house together. I was relieved to find that Jake was gone. I ran into the house to find my mother, father, Alice and Jasper sitting in the living room.

"Where's Jacob?" I asked.

"I told him if he knew what was good for him, he'd stay away for a very long time." My dad said through his teeth, pinching the bridge of his nose between his forefinger and his thumb. My mom wrapped a comforting arm around him and stared up at me sadly.

"I have an announcement to make." I said loudly.

Alice sat in the corner of the room, eyes closed. She couldn't see my future, so what was she searching for?

"Nahuel has asked me to go to Africa with him, to visit for a few months. And…given the current situation, I agreed to go."

My mother stood up, and stared at me like she was about to cry – but she couldn't.

"Renesmee…you can't go. You can't! We'd miss you too much. Please stay." She begged.

I hated to hurt my mother, but I knew that this was for the best.

"It's only for a little while. I just…I think I need to get away."

My father wrapped his arms around my mother, who was sobbing tearlessly.

"Well…we will respect your decision, Renesmee. You're almost an adult now – you need to learn to make your own choices. We can't chose for you anymore." He smiled crookedly at me, but he looked just as saddened as my mother was. I felt a rush of calmness spread through me – Jasper's doing. I took a deep breath.

"Thank you." I murmured.

"Would you like us to tell Jacob?" He asked quietly.

"No – leave that to me. I'll do it." I said, and ran back out of the house, towards La Push, hoping I was making the right choice.