March 5, 2013
Just like any drug, there will be withdrawal. To add imprinting would be like taking an alcoholic to a bar, so we knew it would take time, and we would have to deal with slip-ups. Today, we were working on geometry at the main house; this is pretty normal for an advanced student to take geometry freshman year, but Nessie nor the situation was normal at all.
We have been behind, so we still in the middle of proofs, which I dreaded in high school. The topic was circles.
"Why do I have to prove a circle is a circle? Or a triangle? This is ridiculous!"
I came to her side. "Honey, it's not the idea of a circle or triangle, but it's a way of thinking. It's more like a life skill. With everything-"
She threw the book on the floor. "I don't care!" She was taking deep breaths and gritting her teeth. "I'm NEVER going to use this!"
I could disagree, because all the geometry I needed was playing pool with Phil, but this had nothing to do with math. She continued to rant and rave and finally I had enough, "RENESMEE, OUTSIDE!"
"What?!"
"OUTSIDE!" It was so loud that the windows shook. Ness stopped arguing and walked outside. The snow had been melting, and outside was a pencil drawing. "I want you to run to La Push and find a blue stone."
"But, Mom…"
"Now! Do not come back until you do!" She began to run and looked behind. "Pick it up, sweetheart!" Within seconds, she was gone.
An hour and a half later, Ness returned. I had a jar ready for her. "Here." Inside was a robin's egg colored stone. She plopped the rock in the jar.
"Now, what were angry about?"
"Ah..I don't know."
"See? You were having a fit for nothing! You were going to blow your chance to have your door back for mathematics! Really?" She looked down. "Whenever you get frustrated, you need a venue to release it. The run to La Push and finding a specific colored rock focused your concentration on something else than your anger. This is one way you can relieve that tension—find a different colored rock and fill the jar. Just let us know you're leaving, and we'll let you be."
"It's not going to work all the time…"
"No, but it will help you decide which fit is worth your anger or an excuse. Let's go for a walk." She and I started to through the brush and up to the meadow.
"Mom, how did know what to do?"
"Actually, Sue told me. Harry and Billy didn't have the wolf gene, and the both knew one or both of their children would. When Seth and Leah were young and angry, he would send them on these scavenger hunts—that would settle their aggressions. Unfortunately, with Sam and Jacob, it was too much for Leah. Turning into a wolf was a release; she could go wherever she wanted and do whatever she wanted. The moment she walked away from Sam's pack, a huge weight was lifted.
"Honey, you have to understand that everyone except for us and the Quileute are normal people, and they do not understand the supernatural world."
"But, Grandpa?"
"Grandpa was forced into this through Jacob's wolf self, and all the clues about the Cullens and me adding up. He always questioned, but he never thought in his wildest dreams about Jacob, let alone us. We need ways to control our thirsts, but our emotions also. What you're going through is normal; unfortunately, you're going through this four times faster. It's okay to be mad or upset, but we have to make sure it is done in a healthy way or it can get lethal. Do you remember the story about the vampire who created newborns a couple years ago?"
"Vic—to-ria?"
"Yes. She was so angry Uncle Jasper, Uncle Emmett, and your Dad killed her boyfriend that dozens of lives were lost—both mortal and immortal—to her quench her thirst for revenge. We can't live that way, or we would have to leave.."
"Leave?"
"Honey, the Volturi will not give us another break. If news came out about us, Aro would send Jane, Alex, and Demetri to kill us all. We may not be able to live together due to our numbers." Nessie didn't say anything; she looked guiltier than before. "This is going to take time, and we are going to help you in every way." I hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. "Let's go back to the house. Dad's making dinner. I think blood sausage…"
"Ewwww."
"I'm kidding. He's making fried chicken."
We walked toward the house. "Mom?"
"Yes?"
"You're kidding about the blood sausage, right?" Pause. "Right, Mom?"
