A/N: Thanks for the reviews! You guys are awesome. Just so everyone is aware this is an OC/Nessie/Jacob triangle, so yes you might have to bear with an OC getting in the way, but wouldn't it be boring if it all came so easily? :) Enjo
Chapter Three: The Diner
"How was school my love?" Mom asked as I walked in the door in front of Dad who I knew was wearing the same grim expression I was. He'd heard my thoughts and clearly known my day had been fairly traumatic for a young half vampire. Even the only friend I'd made, Karen was only in my morning classes and so, the rest of the day had been worse. I hated being stared at and that's all anyone ever did. Although I didn't want to show him, I'm sure Dad had seen some of the sadness I'd rather have kept them knowing about and now I knew I'd have to tell my mother too.
I sighed and touched her face, replaying the significant parts of my day and when I was done, she had a strange expression on her face.
The question was: why did they seem as upset as I did? Weren't parents meant to tell their kids not to worry? The people at school were stupid, mean. There was nothing wrong with me – I was perfect. So, why wasn't I hearing these things!?
"Rennesme, calm down and sit," Dad said calmly. Damn him for always knowing my thoughts – wish I were a shield like Mom.
"Watch your language young lady!" Dad said sharply as he sat beside Mom on the sofa.
Shit.
He looked livid now and I smiled sheepishly.
"Oops, sorry Dad." I sat down facing my parents. The house looked a lot like our old one but Esme had added a lot more color to the new house and had certainly made an effort to make it look more human. There was a bed in every room now and the fridge was stocked. I had realized that this was completely for my benefit. They wanted me to bring friends over – have a home life that seemed human. But I was not all human. And I would never have any friends.
"Stop that Rennesme," Dad snapped, but I just looked away through the wall length windows to my left, trying to clear my thoughts so he wouldn't hear me.
"Rennesme…" Mom began gently.
"Can we make a deal before we talk please?" I asked abruptly. "Can you transfer your shield to me for this conversation? That way Dad can hear your thoughts, not mine."
I could see them deliberating, wondering whether this would be more beneficial to them or me.
"Fine," Mom said clearly making a decision on behalf of her and Dad. She then closed her eyes in concentration and I could feel suddenly protected. My mind was private now.
Dad smiled, his eyes closed too.
"I love hearing your thoughts," he said quietly to Mom who smiled and kissed his cheek.
"Now, Rennesme, we want you to know we're not upset because we think you're a freak. Of course we don't think that darling," Dad began. "It's more that we're worried about how everyone seems to be looking at you."
"What, like a freak? Or do you think they suspect?" I asked anxiously.
They looked at each other before Mom spoke.
"No, we're worried because all the boys you seem to have encountered are dramatically…taken with you."
"What?!" I exclaimed in disgust. "Why does everyone keep saying that? No one likes me! I'm ridiculous!" I yelled, unwanted tears slipping down my cheeks as I stood. Great, I'd started high school and immediately began bawling every chance I got! Their faces instantly softened. They hated to see me cry.
"No, no, my love…" Mom whispered, rushing over and trying to comfort me as I shook.
"Ah…" Dad said suddenly after a few moments of quiet. He looked at the door. Mom seemed to understand immediately and upon the look my father sent her, took back her shield with a snap. I felt instantly more vulnerable as the door opened tentatively and there in the doorway stood my tall, burly wolf man.
"Jacob!" I yelled, tears falling faster as I rushed to him. I flew into his waiting arms and cried as he lifted me off the ground and rubbed my back soothingly.
"Jacob, Oh Jacob, I'm so glad you're here!" I sighed into his chest as his large hand went into my hair.
"Aw, honey what's wrong?" he muttered into my ear. I knew he was probably looking at my parents questioningly. He and Mom had been best friends a long time, they probably knew how to communicate without words as well as Jake and I sometimes could. This was confirmed when I heard my mother's voice.
"Let's go," she whispered to Dad. I listened intently as she tried to tug him away from the room. He was reluctant but eventually gave in, leaving Jacob and I alone.
"Want to go somewhere?" he asked.
I nodded, unable to speak and let him lead me out to his car. I suppose he'd driven here rather than ran. I wondered why, but couldn't ask because I was too involved in my own head. We drove in silence to a Diner, Jacob's arm cautiously around the back of my seat as he glanced my way every few minutes. It was raining now, the smell filling my nose wonderfully as we parked and walked inside. It was cosy and I recognized a lot of faces from school sitting at a booth in the middle of the room. To my dismay, the gorgeous one with the intoxicating scent was there, watching us with careful eyes. A few people had turned to look at us as they always did at school and especially when Jacob was around. But this time, I didn't care. He was here, my Jacob.
"So, show me what's on your mind…" he said as we sat at a table in the corner. I pondered this as he ordered to rare hamburgers and a coke for him. I didn't enjoy human drinks, everything paled in comparison to blood. Suddenly, I felt like if I told him the whole truth, by showing him my thoughts…it would only hurt him. Still feeling some human eyes on me, I decided it would be better to tell him about it instead. Otherwise, some things might worry him, or worse he might react in the same way as my parents had.
He held my hand as I explained my day, telling him my fears and worries and how I wished he'd been there the whole time. He listened carefully, never bothering to ask why I didn't use the quicker way of explanation. Jacob would do anything to make me happy, he wanted to fix things, I could tell.
"Aw Ness…" he began when I'd finished. "I wish I could leave the tribe…come here and go to school with you. It would make things so much easier." He sighed deeply and sipped his coke. Suddenly I felt worse, of course now I'd burdened Jacob with this. He always felt the need to protect me, I'm sure he couldn't bear seeing me this way.
"Jake, I'll have to learn about this eventually…all of you have always wanted a normal human beginning for me and it's starting. Everyone feels a little rejection. At least I made one friend."
"And you always have me, seriously just call and I'll run all the way over here for you."
"I know you will Jake, but eventually I'm going to have to learn how to do this myself. Tomorrow will be better," I said trying to be optimistic.
He looked skeptical but took a deep breath and nodded. His fingers entwined with mine and his sad brown eyes met mine. Suddenly an impish grin slid on his face.
"So, this Karen girl…she's not a better friend than me is she?"
I laughed and rolled my eyes. "As if, Jake!"
We were laughing too hard to notice that the group of kids from school were leaving the diner. One boy hung back, his friends waiting in the doorway.
"Uh, hey…" he said, looking nervously at Jake first and then me.
I didn't even need to look up to know who it was, his scent was too familiar. I did anyway and smiled at him curiously. I felt Jake's fingers tighten ever so slightly around mine but he said nothing.
"We, uh met this morning but I didn't introduce myself," he said looking straight into my eyes. I smiled genuinely, trying to put him at ease but he suddenly looked even more uncomfortable.
"Well neither did I. I'm Nessie," I said shaking my hand loose from Jake's grasp and holding it out to the boy. He suddenly looked a little relieved and shook it.
"I'm Andy," he said finally smiling showing me a cheeky, warm smile. I felt my heart flutter a little.
"Oh, this is my friend from home, Jacob," I said introducing the boys.
Andy looked at Jake apprehensively and stuck out his hand again.
"Nice to meet you man," he said but Jacob just nodded at him. He awkwardly put his hand down and glanced at his waiting friends.
"Um, well anyway it was nice meeting you Nessie. See you around tomorrow?" he said, looking pleasantly hopeful.
"Sure!" I confirmed happily and he smiled again, nodding at me before he went over to his friends who looked surprised.
"Jake! You see? People are friendly…it's just weird being new I suppose," I said grinning now. He looked back at me with a horribly grim expression.
"What's wrong?" I asked with a frown.
"That guy wants you!" he blurted out.
"Oh no, not you too!" I said with a sigh, slapping my hand to my forehead.
"What do you mean?" he asked, pulling my hand from my face and asking me a silent question. Sighing, I touched his face and played back my memory of the conversation with my parents.
He sighed deeply and pushed my hand away.
"Of course. I better get you home," he said, standing and dumping some dollars on the table. When he started to count change to make up the last few dollars, I tried to stop him.
"Jake, just let me pay for my half," I protested, pulling out a bill.
"No," he said so firmly, it frightened me a little.
After counting out forty five pennies he finally gave up and without looking at me said, "I'm going to need like three more dollars."
Silently, I added to the pile and then followed him out of the restaurant. We drove back in silence until he sighed and spoke angrily.
"I hate that!" he said as we stopped at a light.
"What, Jake?" I asked playing dumb.
"I hate that you always have to cover me. I need another job," he said more to himself than me.
"Jake, you don't have to pay for me. You had more than enough for yourself," I tried to say.
"I want to! I want to be able to pay for you. I hate this," he repeated and stepped hard on the gas. We got home in only a few more minutes and he followed me in.
"What do you want to do?" I asked him as we entered the living room.
"Don't you have school tomorrow?" he asked shortly.
"Well yeah, but its only eleven thirty," I said, glancing at my parents who didn't look away from the television.
"You need to sleep. I'm gonna hang with Bella and Edward for a while," he said sitting down.
Although I knew this happened sometimes, after all my Mom was still Jacob's best friend, I was irritated. I wanted him to spend more time with me. I wasn't sure when I'd see him again.
"Well are you coming tomorrow? You didn't come last night…" I said.
"I don't know Ness," he said staring at the TV.
"So much for coming every night…" I whispered even though I knew everyone could hear me. "Well maybe you should go…you have school tomorrow too!" I said, hands on hips.
"I'm a Senior. It's crucial to skip," he said turning with a small smile.
Exasperated, I gave up. "Fine. Goodnight," I said curtly before saying the same to my parents and kissing their cheeks. I left without another word and went upstairs to listen carefully. Trouble was, I knew they were waiting until I was asleep too. I caught the beginning of the conversation right as I drifted off.
"I think she'll be out in a second," Dad said.
"Now, what do you guys think about her first day?" Jacob asked, just as I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
A/N: What do you think? Is Andy any competition?
