"Oh my goodness. Mom?" I shrieked as I saw her striding towards our direction.
"You thought that I was going to pass up on your graduation?" She said, shocked. "I'm disappointed in you, Bella." She said sarcastically.
"You weren't there at the graduation, Mom. You met us here. Charlie's expression was obviously—"
"Seriously, Bella, I thought you'd know me enough by now." She paused. "Of course I was there at your graduation! I just stayed out of sight."
She was there? My mother was actually there?
I suddenly felt bad. I wanted my Mom to meet Jacob. I kind of wanted her to meet him for a long time now. I wanted to tell her so bad about the ring on my finger.
But I think I needed to tell her gently. She might jump to conclusions. Like . . . I'm pregnant that's why I got engaged.
"Dad," I turned to Charlie who was now grinning. "I never knew that you were such an actor."
"Well, Renee talked to me about that one. She was waving me something I've been eyeing for so long in exchange of that performance." He gestured for Renee to sit down on the empty chair.
"Mom, what are you—?"
"I waved at him a really really really expensive fishing rod. It's good quality too." Her eyes widened in amusement.
An expensive fishing rod? Since when was she into buying expensive things?
Renee must have been really desperate.
"I got it yesterday. Thanks Renee," Charlie grinned a different, warm smile. Am I missing something? He looked as if he wanted to kiss her.
"So, Bella," she started, her brown eyes burning into mine. "Where are you going to college?"
"Er . . . University of Alaska."
"Bella!" Shock crossed her features. "Aren't you the least bit tired putting up with the cold?"
"You could get used to it, Mom." I told her bluntly.
"That's what I told her." Charlie said, his head hung low.
"What's that beautiful ring on your finger, honey? Is it Charlie's gift?" She asked, ignoring Charlie.
Crap, crap, crap. No, not that question. I'm not actually ready to tell her "Mom, I'm getting married!" I would be in so much trouble.
Renee opened her mouth again to speak but closed it again when we heard a loud, shrilly tone. She patted her pockets and took out her phone.
"It's Phil. I've got to take this one." She stood up and walked outside. "Hi, Phil. Yes, I miss you so . . ."
"Dad, you never told her?" I snapped. "I thought you were going to tell her!"
"Well, honey, if there's one thing that you should learn, it should be about being responsible about your own actions." He said coolly. He was expecting this, wasn't he?
"I am holding myself responsible for my actions. But you promised that you would do that!" I asked, disbelief obviously coating my voice.
"Then maybe this is the right time to tell her. Consider this as the family's meeting."
"You're unbelievable." I echoed Jacob's words.
"I know. I'm your father."
I asked myself, am I really ready? I knew since Christmas that Charlie would be the hardest person to sway about Jacob's proposal but he turned out to be the soft one. Suddenly, I was the one fearing Renee's reaction.
I know that Renee would react badly because, first of all, she didn't approve of letting history repeat itself. She didn't want her "little girl" to have the same fate as her parents. Second, she would jump to conclusions just like she usually did. If she suspected, it would be hard to make her change her mind.
"Good afternoon, may I take your orders?" a manly voice asked.
"A mushroom ravioli and Pellegrino, please." I quickly said, not bothering to look at the menu. I was trying to think of things to say to Renee.
I could see her reactions in my head. OK, don't panic. It'll be alright. Maybe Renee would react differently. I mean, she must have changed. My imaginary head shook back and forth. No, of course she didn't change. She's still the same harebrained mother that I loved.
I didn't hear what Charlie ordered as my mind continued to haze in fright. My heart was beating a hundred times faster than usual. I felt as if I would not make it out alive.
"I'm back. Did I miss anything?" Renee sat down on her chair and saw the waiter taking orders. "Oh, I'll have fettuccini Alfredo and a Coke."
The waiter bowed his head and left. The tension suddenly pushed me further down into nothing. My mouth felt dry and my breathing was hitched. All right, moment of truth.
I cleared my throat. "Mom, about the ring . . ."
"Yes?" Her eyes mirrored interest.
"It's actually from"—gulp—"Jacob. Jacob Black, the one that I've mentioned in my e-mails?" My eyes tightened and my teeth suddenly chattered. I could feel Charlie's triumphant gaze burning a hole on my face.
"Oh, him! He must have spent so much money on that ring! I mean, it's beautiful." She chirped. Oh God, I must be sending the wrong signals.
"It's his mom's." I finally say, hoping that she gets what I mean.
"His mom's? Then that means . . ." she paused, thinking. ". . . he proposed to you?"
I could hear Charlie's breathing stop. He sucked in a large amount of air and just stopped breathing.
"Y-y-yes. I've been meaning to tell you actually . . ." A fresh wave of panic coated me. My voice stuttered. I can barely talk straight.
"When are you getting married?" Her voice surprised me. She isn't supposed to be saying it like that. She's actually kind of giddy.
"Mom . . . are you not worried or angry or furious?" I asked, feeling a little bit better. Charlie let out all of his air. His face turned purple for a few seconds then returned to its normal color.
"I supposed I'm not." She stuck her tongue out, which was pretty childish and unexpected. "Didn't you mention that Jacob just turned seventeen a few months ago? He's not kind of legal yet, Bella. And I'm also surprised that he graduated high school early. Seventeen."
"Mom, we don't live in New York. I live in a small and lonely town called Forks. It's not like someone would actually care about our wedding besides family and friends. So yeah, age isn't such a relative subject.
"And Jacob studied early when he went to Quileute school when he was a kid. That's actually why he was able to graduate a year earlier than me. Believe me, Mom, he won't look like a seventeen-year-old teenager to you."
"He's six foot two inches. And still growing." Charlie said proudly.
"He's that tall? Goodness me, I'll have to meet him!" Renee said in an excited tone.
That's it. I'm concluding that this day is creepy, annoying, disturbing and unusual. Renee's appearance has already made it unusual but when combined with her behavior, it made it unstable. I'm kind of disliking this day.
Charlie suddenly looked like he was slapped. "What do you mean you 'have to meet him'? You're going to stay with us?"
I was dumbfounded the moment Charlie's words dug holes in my brain. "You're staying with us?" I echoed.
"Yes!" Renee said with excitement. She even raised a brown traveling bag to prove it.
"For how long?" Charlie asked, uncomfortable of the situation.
If Alice would ever choose to have another sister, I'd volunteer my Mom.
"Well, weeks! I'll help out with Bella's college stuff. Phil's traveling to different cities and states. I'm kind of getting bored that's why I asked myself, 'Why can't I stay with my daughter?'"
"Mom, you're not going to stay here for weeks. I'm going to stay with you for a couple of weeks." I interjected.
"What are you talking about?" A frown formed on her lips.
"Someone gave me tickets to Florida as a gift when I turned eighteen. They're gonna expire soon so Jacob and I planned to visit you."
"Oh, that's too bad. Maybe I'll just come back again to visit Charlie when you're at Alaska."
"That's a good idea, Renee." Charlie said.
When our food arrived, we all ate in silence. Charlie and I could feel the stress that Renee had given us this afternoon. So many weeks of planning wasted in a one-hour conversation. The worst part in this now was telling Jacob. I imagined him reacting badly.
After eating, with Charlie footing the bill, we left the restaurant and headed home. We were now in Charlie's car, silence being our companion.
"Dad, Alice is throwing a graduation party later at their place at six." I said quickly, hoping that he would approve.
Right now, it felt awkward to have both of Charlie and Renee in the car with me at the back. It felt bizarre.
"Alright. Be back by ten." He grunted lowly that even Renee didn't notice.
Can't it be a little earlier? "Thanks, Dad."
Renee didn't pry anymore as we reached home. She was shocked to see that the photographs in the living room were some of the photos when I was still a baby. She's having a hard time coping up, I could tell.
I wanted to laugh. What if she knew about my supernatural world? She would probably have a heart attack just by trying to figure out how to cope with everything.
Renee chose to sleep in Charlie's room when asked to choose between mine and Charlie's. I tried persuading Renee when Charlie's fingers started drawing death trails on his neck but she wouldn't budge. I just laughed at Charlie from that time on.
When Renee was fully unpacked and informed, I went down the stairs towards the dining room to call Jacob. He answered before the second ring.
"Hello?" A husky voice said.
"Hi," I said shyly.
"Bella," I could hear the smile in his voice. "Is there something you need?"
"Can't I call without having to phone what I need? Jake, please."
"I was kidding." He paused for a while. "Is there something you need?"
"Yes, you." I laughed.
"Very funny."
"No, seriously. I need you here right now. I've got someone who wants to meet you."
There was a long pause on the other end of the line. If Jacob knew what was going on then I would have to put down the phone quickly. If he doesn't know, then I'd be better.
"Bella, it's only two-thirty. Am I needed now?" He whined.
Renee hasn't been thinking about Jacob recently since lunch but I think that the earlier she knows, the better.
"Yes. Please, Jacob?"
He released a sarcastic exasperated grunt. "Oh, alright. I'm going to bring my stuff there. You know, the stuff for the party?"
"Hmm, don't remind me."
"Alright," he said, his voice giddy. "I'll see you soon."
I could sense Jacob putting the phone down so I said quickly, "Act human!"
I was wrong. "What?"
"Nothing. Bye!" I put down the phone before I was forced to explain.
Today's outcome isn't entirely my fault. Some of it was Jacob's so he should have some part of the fun.
I suppressed a sigh. Jacob.
Looking back, I've never really thought about what path of life I've chosen. Two roads laid out in front of you, forcing you to choose one. It wasn't fair when I would have to take one and then desert the other. It wasn't quite fair at all. Then again, could I take the two roads together?
Did it have to go that way, though? Are decisions bound to hurt someone, no matter how righteous your choice is supposed to be? Can't I be at least the hero, taking two roads at the same time?
So many questions in my head wrapped me in my own world. Most of these questions were left unanswered. I wonder when I would be able to answer them.
"Bella?" I heard Renee's voice chime in.
I was holding the batter for the corn muffins I was making for Jacob. Apparently, I've been holding the bowl for more than five minutes already.
I continued stirring the batter then placed them in regular muffin trays. "Yes?"
"What are you doing? Muffins, I presume?" She asked. Her face was inches away from the batter, sniffing at the contents.
"Corn muffins. Jacob's favorite." I've said too much. "I mean, I called him over. He said he was coming over. I told him you wanted to meet him."
"Well," Renee leaned on the table. "aren't you a bit responsible?"
"I'm not actually that responsible." I told her, pouring the last bits of batter into the tray. "If only you knew . . ." I whispered.
"You should see yourself, Bella. Compare yourself from what you were when you were staying with me and with what you are now. There is a remarkable difference."
"I don't really see what's different, Mom. I'm still Bella."
"Yes, of course you are. You're still Bella. What I'm trying to point out is that there's something you're going through that most teenagers don't experience."
My hands froze on the muffin pan.
"You're not a normal teenager, Bella. You have parents who've split up and you're living with them at different places, and a different environment. That's practically what I'm trying to say."
"I kind of get it." I told her as I placed the muffin pan inside the oven. Relief overwhelmed me as I realize that she got it wrong.
"Don't you think so, Bella?" I turned around and saw her analyzing my expression.
"Think what?"
"Don't you think that living in two different locations with two different temperatures are kind of disturbing? The way I look at it, it's like Forks is a town where fairytales come to life. I don't know why I'm getting that feeling but I'm getting there."
I would never forget the way she used to call me her open book. I must have given too much away with my expression again. That's the horrible side of having your expressions read: every time you look at them will make them feel that there are words sprawled on your forehead like neon signs.
"Mom, what have you been doing in Jacksonville?" I asked, distracting her.
She flushed. "OK, you got me. I'm guilty." She paused then smiled. "I've been reading too much novels on mystery."
She was joking? Well, there goes my worry. I thought the bomb was going to explode soon.
"Right, well, you should stick to romance, Mom. I think they're better for you." I said, my eyes tight with suspicion.
Renee threw her head back and laughed. "I'm being weird, aren't I?" I could feel the sadness behind her words.
"No. Kind of. But you're just being a mom." I winked at her and went back to watching the muffins cook.
"Thank you, Bella." I could hear the chair scraping the wooden floor, then surprised to see her hugging me. "It's just that it's been really different lately. Everything is growing on me."
Her last sentence shook me to the core. What she said wasn't merely out of movies but I could feel that it was really what she felt. I suddenly felt envious of her. At least, she was living a normal, human life. If she—and also Charlie—only knew how paranormal this world is, then I hope they would realize that their problems are merely minor.
"Knock, knock." A husky voice said.
AN: Alrighty then. Renee was never one for surprises. The skeleton plot of the story doesn't really say that Renee gets to visit Bella. Hmm, so tell me what you think? Review, thanks a lot :D