"Emmett Cullen, what are you doing to that poor girl?" Grandma Esme screamed, flittering into the room, her face shocked and worried.

Uncle Emmett just laughed at her concerned and scolding tone as he handed me my shoes and earrings. He untied my arms from the chair, handing me my shoelaces—his makeshift rope. "Oh, nothing, Esme. Just playing 'Capture the mean, lean, biting machine'. You should try it some time, it's a great way to vent." He explained.

I laughed along with him, this time, still not exactly sure how I had ended up in the head of the table's seat, my arms tied by my lime green shoelaces, when I had been attempting to win back my sparkling emerald earrings that I had lost playing Black Jack.

It didn't even matter to me, anyway. At least Uncle Em wasn't angry with me any more.

"Emmett, you are never, never to tie that girl down again, do you understand me?" she chided, walking over to me, laying a hand on my shoulder lightly.

"Is there anyone left who doesn't want to ruin my fun anymore?" he asked, not quite joking.

She ignored him. "Are you alright, love?" she asked me, smiling warmly, petting my hair gently.

"I'm great, Grandma." I answered, returning her smile as I quickly pocketed the laces and then put my earring in my ears. I pulled on my lace-less black and green Converse all-stars. "Hey, can I ask you something?" I added.

Emmett rolled his eyes and left swiftly, muttering, "Stupid twerp already got my advice…" as he stormed around the house, banging into things purposely. I hoped he wasn't mad at me again…

"Sure, baby, what is it?" she asked.

"Well, I kind of wanted to ask Jacob to kiss me, but I don't know exactly how to…" It was easier now, that I had an idea what to do. Thanks again, Uncle Casper. I'll sing you your favorite theme song when you get home. Casper, the friendly ghost…

Not only because I had an idea, but also because Esme was so sweet and loving you knew you didn't have to hide anything from her at all. All your secrets would be locked away inside of her brain for life… Or, until my father walked over…

"Ah, I see… Well, you should tell him that you think you need to talk." She paused, thinking of more steps I could take. "And, don't put it off." She added, smirking at me.

I laughed. "Aw, dang, you saw right through me." I sighed dejectedly and she laughed.

"That was quite good, actually. We should get you into acting lessons; get you out there, on the big screen." She said.

I shook my head. "No, no, no." I said. "Me plus audiences equal disaster." I added.

"You can say that again." Emmett called from somewhere in the house.

"Me plus audiences equal disaster." I repeated, earning a growl from him and another laugh from my grandmother.

She smiled. "Back to your question now, I can tell this is bothering you."

She could? I was so mellow right now, though. I really wasn't stressing about it anymore. Maybe it was long term side effects from my uncle Jasper's ability, but I was absolutely comfortable. I was actually looking forward to the conversation I was going to have with Jacob. I loved talking to Jacob. His voice, his smile, he frown… They were all I imagined when we were away from each other, but seeing them in real life was just so much better. Saying his name sent thrills down my spine, but hearing him say my name was much more intense…

"You should talk to him about it calmly. Don't just blurt it out, but don't delay either. Come right out and say it, but try to be nice about it. Not 'Why haven't you kissed me yet, fool!?' but 'Jacob, when is it you are going to kiss me?'" she said.

"Oh…" I added that to my filing-bin, than stood up. "Thank you, Grandma." I said, leaning down and hugging her close.

"You're very welcome, love…" she replied.

"Do you happen to know where Carlisle is? I wanted to talk to him." He was the only opinion left for me to get before I could go home and ask my parents. Not that I was looking forward to asking my dad. I could just imagine the look he would give me…

"Up in his office, dear." She replied.

"Thank you!" I said, running up there, past the gorgeous wood paneled walls of the upstairs corridor, and stopped by the door, knocking twice. It was our secret knock, so he knew it was me, and not another member of the family, if he wasn't paying attention to footsteps.

"Come in, Nessie, dear." He called, right before I pulled the door open and bolted through it, past the brilliant, colorful, mastered paintings that hung all around the dimly lighted room.

"Hi." I said, as I sat on the sofa facing his desk, where he sat, reading some book. Probably Mr. Boring-Mac-Boring's Medicine Dictionary from 1743. Maybe he helped write it…

"Hello," he greeted, his eyes shining with amusement at my apparent impatience. I just wanted to go ask my parents, and then ask Jacob. I knew I could have just gone straight to Jacob, but my conscience wouldn't let me. I had made a plan to ask for all the advice I could, and I would honor that plan…

I was weird like that. I always followed through. Always. I couldn't help it. I always finished what I started, like books, or series, or movie series… It was pretty annoying, I guess, to those around me. Annoying to myself, too, in this case, at least.

I just wanted to see Jacob, to be close enough to him to smell his mouthwatering sent…

"I need advice. I want to ask Jacob to kiss me. How?" I asked.

He nodded. "I was wondering when that stage would hit you…" he said.

"Carlisle, I am not a science project. I am your grand-daughter, asking for advice. Not a review on teenage hormones." I was being a bit snappy, I knew, but I couldn't help it. I was rushing, and I had always hated the fact that Carlisle sometimes treated me more like an experiment than a family member. I knew it was for my own good, to determine how long I had to live and stuff like that, but it was annoying…

"Right, sorry." He smiled, unbothered by my mini-rant. "Well, tell him that you want to—" he started.

"Talk about us, then nicely ask him why he hasn't kissed me yet, implying heavily that I want him to kiss me… Right?" I asked, talking rapidly.

He laughed and nodded. "That's the zest of it, really." He said.

"Okay, thanks, bye." I ran out of there again, and to the house a hundred yards to the left, which was my parents, and my own. I could hear his laughter at my haste, and I knew that he would tell Esme later, but I wasn't worried about the way I would look to them at the moment. I was anxious to get this over with, and to get my kiss…