In less than a second we were down stairs. I saw Renee standing over the couch with her arms outstretched, almost as if she was trying to help in some way. Renesmee's little body was pushed up against Renee trying to keep her away from the couch. I swiftly ran past them and around, allowing me to see the front of the silhouette frozen on the couch. On it was Alice, a frozen distracted look on her face. It looked as if she was a wax sculpture, her pale skin almost glowing in the dim lighting of the room and her face completely drained of emotion.
I took one glance at Alice and knew she was having a vision. A smile spread across my face and I snorted out a laugh.
"This is not funny, Bella!" My mom hissed at me. "Something is wrong."
I shook my head while picking up Renesmee, "No, Mom. It's fine. Alice is fine."
"She c-clearly is not!" Renee stuttered out before Alice's eyes became animated again. Her pixie face almost lit up. I looked at Edward for a translation. His expression was a mixture of happiness and confusion, confusion on which emotion he should portray.
"Oh, I'm fine Renee." Alice said her face lighting up. "But I really do need to find Jasper." She glanced from face to face before exiting swiftly.
Renee blinked sporadically before flopping onto the couch. She stared into space while saying, "There is something funny going on around here." I pinched my thigh. I knew my sturdy, granite legs would hold up better to the abuse than Renesmee. She was resilient but not quite as tough as me.
Edward wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me into him. We both sat down in unison on the couch across from Renee.
"Edward reacts to things that haven't been said yet, Alice seems to know what I'm going to do, and Renesmee grows at some insane rate while her mind is already developed." Renee threw her hands up in frustration and let them drop back to her sides. I waited patiently for her to finish her rant. As soon as I was about to speak she opened her mouth again.
She looked like tears were going to start forming. No, no. Oh god no.
"And look at you." She choked out as she tried to keep her voice from cracking. "You look so different, and sound so different. You don't fall and you're not clumsy. I just don't understand." For the first time she turned to look at me. She dragged in one breath and let it out, consoling herself. "It's like you all are living in a different world, a different country. And I am a foreigner. You're all speaking a different language that I barely understand. You all belong and I don't!" That is when the tear plunged off the edge of her eye. It dragged with it the little amount of makeup from her eye, leaving behind a faintly browner trail down her cheek from the eyeliner.
I wanted to console my mother but I couldn't, I didn't know what to say. I couldn't lie to her. I wished that I could just say 'Oh Mom its not like that. You belong with us as much as Alice does.' I wish I could say that, but she didn't belong. She was a foreigner to the vampire world. She knew so little about everything we could do.
That's when it clicked. She isn't allowed to know we are vampires, but she can know what we can do. I smiled and urged Renesmee towards Renee. She looked up at me confused.
"Show her." I whispered just loudly enough for Renee to hear. Renesmee hopped off the couch and walked silently over to Renee. She delicately placed her small hand on Renee's cheek. Renee didn't pull back, nor was she afraid. Her jaw went slack and her eyes got big. Then suddenly Renesmee pulled back. Edward had a fearful expression on his calm face.
"What did she show you?" I asked.
"You, Renesmee, and Edward were under an invisible dome. There was another person there, a girl, and she was trying to shock you. She was sending electric currents towards you, but they didn't reach you." Renee sounded as if she was in a trance.
I spoke very slowly, "Mom. You have just seen Renesmee's power. What you saw in her memory was my power. I have an extendable mind shield." I waited to let this sink in. Finally she spoke, breaking from her trance,
"Were you always able to do that?" She asked confused.
"No, not until recently." I laughed.
She paused, "Does anyone else have powers?" She asked amused. "Oh…can-"
"Yes." Edward said smiling.
"But I didn't-" Renee protested.
"I know." Edward laughed.
Renee's eyes darted from my face, to Renesmee's, to Edwards. It seemed like she was finally seeing the connection.
"Can-" Renee began to ask, but she couldn't finish her question. Edward cut her off.
"Yes."
"It gets a little annoying." I explained jokingly hugging myself to Edward.
The time after that was much easier around Renee. She understood that we were different, or "special" as she liked to say. Whenever something strange happened she seemed to come to accept it. It was great to have her here when I could act so freely. It was a sad moment for all of us when she left. On her last evening Esme and Alice planned a big dinner.
We invited the Clearwater's, Billy, Charlie, Sam, Emily, and the whole pack. Many of the guests seemed uncomfortable, as expected, and that proved Alice's decision to have the party outdoors a success. Everyone, well almost everyone, enjoyed the food while some played with Renesmee. Even Leah seemed to be beginning to like Renesmee, but not so much for us.
There were many tears shed by Renee during Goodbye's. I had my gasping, tearless sobs to control during her departure. She promised she would be back in three months for Renesmee's party once Renesmee was asleep in Jacob's arms. I nodded and hugged her.
"I love you, Bella." My mom said, her chin tucked over my shoulder.
One tearless sob ripped through my chest and I gasped for unnecessary air.
"I love you always and forever." I answered her back.
"I know." She said, "I'll be here for you always and forever." She didn't know the reality with what I spoke. I would love her always and forever, but she would not be here always and forever.
Sorry, this is a short chapter. Sorry it took so long to write it. I've been super busy with school and sports and stuff. I already have started writing the fifth chapter so hopefully it won't take too long to get it out. Review please!