Chapter 4:

Nessie was running, running through the woods, running away from something. Something flew from the sky and landed in her path – not something… someone. Aro. She stopped, turning to her left, then her right. Caius, Marcus… and behind her… Jane. "Please, please no." She whimpered.

"Pai…" Jane started, but a commotion out of the corner of her eye distracted her. The big, russet wolf bounded through the forest, coming in between her and Nessie.

"Jacob no!" Nessie yelled at the same time Jane smirked.

"Even better." Jane snarked. "Pain."

Jacob fell to the ground, writhing and yelping uncontrollably. Nessie cried and fell to her knees, reaching for Jacob, sobbing. "Stop this! Please stop this! PLEASE!"

"Ness! Nessie! God, Renesmee, wake up!" She shot up violently, her eyes opening. Blinking a few times, she looked to the side, finding Jacob standing next to her. "Jesus, Ness, are you okay?"

Nessie let out a sob. "Oh, Jacob." She launched herself at him, throwing her arms around her neck.

"Nightmare?" She nodded. "Want to show me?" Nessie shook her head violently, but he took her hand anyway, placing it to his neck. "Please?" He asked and she gave in, showing him the scene with Jane in the woods. Jacob hugged her tighter.

"Can I sleep with you tonight?" She whispered against his chest. His grip loosened slightly and he backed away from her. She looked up to him with confused, hurt eyes.

"I don't think that's the… best idea, Ness." He repeated the line from a few days prior. "Your parents would kill me."

She scoffed. "No they won't. And they're not here, they're hunting, so who cares?" She got out of her bed, walking through her door and down the hall, into Jacob's room. Jacob sighed as she walked off, running a hand over his head as he realized what she was wearing. A camisole and Soffe shorts. Great. By the time he'd made it into his room, she'd already snuggled on 'her' side of the bed and had the blanket up to her chin. She looked at him and rolled her eyes when she noticed his hesitation. "Jacob, I've slept in your bed countless times before. I slept in your bed a few days ago. This is nothing. Stop making a big deal out of it. I don't want to sleep alone. That's all." Jacob sighed and walked to the bed, lying next to her.

"Go to sleep Ness." He whispered, wrapping an arm around her waist. She pushed back into him and he had to stifle a moan, wondering if she knew what she'd done.

"Goodnight Jake." She replied innocently.

The following morning, Nessie woke up feeling better than she'd felt in a long time. She rose out of Jacob's bed and quietly padded towards her room with a big smile. She took her time getting ready and smiled hugely when Jacob came in to sit on her bed. "Thank God this week's almost over." Nessie said. She hated school more than anything.

Jacob scoffed. "I'm sure you can't. Have you decided what movie you and Chris will see?"

She turned towards him, hurt. She'd been ready to tell Chris that there could be nothing between them today. After a night of certainty lying in Jacob's arms, how could there be? But here Jacob was, kindly asking about her upcoming date. Doubt crept in again and told her that he would be happy to get her off his back. She smiled back. "No, I haven't." She replied, putting the finishing touches on her outfit. She pulled tights on under her skirt, a last minute decision for her to wear flats, so she wouldn't have to touch Jacob's shoulder as she slid her feet into heels. When she was finally ready, they made their way downstairs, accustomed to their routine. Emmett smirked at her as she walked by and she knew the whole family found out where she'd slept last night. She rolled her eyes. Breakfast went by quickly and soon she was getting out of the car and putting her hand in Chris's.

"So can you go tomorrow?" Chris asked hopefully.

Nessie rose her gaze from the ground and looked at him, trying to force a smile to her face. "Yeah. I've gotta be home by midnight, Dad said." He smiled and put an arm over her shoulders, kissing her temple. He walked her to Calculus and her father smiled smally at him, turning his head as Chris kissed her before releasing her and heading to his classroom. Edward opened his mouth, but Nessie stopped him. "I really don't want to hear it, Dad." She whispered. The routine kept up throughout the day. Chris walked her to each class, kissing her softly before leaving. Jasper said nothing, Bella's mouth tightened a bit and Nessie had to stop her from ranting as well. Rosalie looked at her sympathetically, and Nessie thought that it was possibly the worst of the reactions she'd received. Lunch was difficult because for the first time, no one talked. Nessie'd never felt more miserable, nor more alone. When the bell rang, she walked with her father to piano class and played the pieces she was instructed to play. Chris picked her up after class and walked her to French. She spoke the words she was told to, and then walked to P.E. She changed silently, and then went to sit on the bleachers. The Coach called everyone to play but Nessie stayed behind. When he was done with his instructions, he came to sit beside her.

"Alright Masen?" He asked.

"Not feeling very well, Coach." She replied. "Do you mind if I sit today out?" He looked at her skeptically, but nodded, returning to students. Jacob eyed her curiously but she shook her head, holding her stomach. He believed her lie and she watched him, Chris and her Uncle Emmett play basketball with the rest of the students. She soon got bored with it however, and picked at her nails instead. She wondered how people did this every day, how wives pretended to love their husbands long after they'd stopped doing so. Just pretending for a few days had been exhausting.

She didn't see Emmett walk up to the Coach and nod in her direction, and didn't see the Coach give him permission to check on his 'sister.' When he sat down beside her, she looked up, half expecting to see Chris. "Hey Ness." He said solemnly.

"Hey Uncle Emmett." She replied, careful to keep her voice low.

"What's up?" He asked, and she knew he meant it deeper than just a topic of conversation.

"Everything's a mess." She replied. "Jacob doesn't think we should be together and Chris seems to adore me."

He chuckled. "Trying to love what's good for you?" He asked.

"Something like that."

"Then stop this. It's obviously not good for you. Look at you. I've never seen you so… unhappy." He put an arm around her. "I love you, Ness, but sometimes you can be stubborn. Just cause Jacob isn't ready for a relationship doesn't mean you have to treat him like he's dropped off the edge of the world."

"Damn, everyone's Team Jacob and Anti-Nessie this week."

Emmett laughed again. "No, we're just rooting for you guys."

The Coach blew his whistle and everyone made their way to the locker rooms. The trio walked back to the Cullen cars again and Chris kissed Nessie goodbye slowly. "See you tomorrow, beautiful."

Nessie smiled like she was expected to. "See you, Chris."


What am I supposed to do when the best part of me was always you?
What am I supposed to say when I'm all choked up and you're okay?
I'm falling to pieces.

- "Breakeven", The Script