I do not own Twilight or any songs that may be used. All rights go to their legal owners.
Credit to Fantabulicious xx3 for the vase idea!
Soon after entering the Black home, I found myself refreshed and at ease. Billy made turkey sandwiches, and we all ate and talked. It was the first real food I had had since we left Chicago.
Billy was really sweet, and I found it easy to fall in step with his conversation.
About two hours later, the sun was high in the sky and Jacob excused us. We said our farewells and Jacob loaded me back into the car.
"Where are we going?" I asked as he sped away.
He grinned. "You'll see."
"Jacob," I complained. "You know I don't like surprises."
His grin morphed into a smirk. "Exactly."
"Ha ha," I said. "Jackass."
"You know you love me," he teased.
"W-what?" I asked nervously. "What do you mean 'love you'? I mean, I love you-- You're my best friend. But, I mean, why would you think--"
"Ness!" He stopped me mid-rant. "I was kidding! I know you love me."
I relaxed back into the gray leather of my seat, allowing myself a deep sigh. Why was I acting so stupid? Was I delirious? Jet lagged? Was it from the shock of this morning? Was it the fact that, in a few short hours, I would be meeting my parents? My real parents?
Was it something different, something new... something I'd never experienced before?
No. No, it was from my long morning.
Energy pulsed through my veins as the car seemed to take on a slightly faster speed. I glanced out the window, watching the blurs of passing trees and buildings. Jacob slowed down as we pulled up to a beach, even though it was raining.
"A beach?" I asked. "In the rain? It's gorgeous, but, hate to break it to you, we had one in Chicago."
He chuckled as he passed it up. "Not the beach. We're just slowing."
He drove up a dirt path that swerved upwards towards the endless gray sky above. We reached a rocky gray cliff when he stopped and pulled me out of the car.
When I stepped up, I saw the foamy blue ocean stretching below the cliff. I sat down and dangled my feet over the edge, feeling the slight breeze from below. Jacob's warm heat was immediately present as he took a seat right next to me.
"It's beautiful," I murmured.
He nodded silently. "You don't see this in the city. There's too much smog. The water's filled with trash. But here... in La Push... it's so clear. You can smell the freshness of the water-- and it's actually safe."
I took a large sniff and smelled the salt, the cool blue water, the fish, and... everything. My eyes closed and I imagined jumping into the deep depths, deep enough to touch the sandy sea floor. I wanted to break through the foam and leave the Imprint of Nessie.
"You wanna jump in, don't you," Jacob asked.
"YES!" I replied, jumping upwards.
With a laugh, Jacob wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me away.
"Maybe some other time," he whispered into my ear, nearly making me faint like a crazed fan girl. "We wouldn't want you getting a cold, now would we?"
Shivers tingled up and down my spine as I nodded dumbly. My heart melted at the sound of his perfect-- wait, this is Jacob Black we're talking about here! Cut it out, Nessie!
I shook my thoughts away, breaking free of Jacob's grasp. He let go willingly, his face tinted with red. I knew he was probably thinking the same thing as me.
"I think," I said, brushing away a few strands of my hair. "I think we should be getting back to the Cullens. I have a few questions to ask." I spat the word "questions" out.
He sighed, looking away to shake his head. "Are you sure?"
Was I sure? I thought I was, but part of me was simply dreading the thought of having to face said family. And what if my parents showed? Could I ever look them in the eyes, knowing they left me as a child? Knowing that they didn't want me?
After biting my lip so hard that a small stream of blood began to come out, I nodded. I would have to face them sooner or later... so why not sooner? Gripping his hand tightly for comfort, we ambled towards the car.
The ride home passed by in a drunken slur. I didn't remember much about it, and I wasn't even sure I talked. While Jacob's mind was--hopefully--on the road, mine was someplace else. Mine was in that reunion I would have with my parents. Envisioning the good and the bad was probably what scared me the most.
I really wanted it to be happy, but I wasn't sure I could do that. They were never there for me. I was left to fend for myself. Nonny and Gabe were my parents for all intensive purposes. Why should I care about them?
Thankfully, the same Cullens were there when I got home. Their heads snapped in my direction as I entered, wary of my surroundings.
"Nessie!" Rosalie greeted me, sauntering over to hug me.
"Hey, Rosalie," I said, patting her back. I was rather uncomfortable with hugs from people I barely knew.
"Hey, Ness," Alice called from her spot in Jasper's lap.
I waved meekly, standing awkwardly near the doorway. Jacob elbowed me, making me stumble to the side.
"What the heck, Jacob?" I complained.
He laughed, his dimples showing on the parentheses of his face. "I thought it was funny."
"Do you want to watch television or something?" Esme asked. "You must be tired after your long day."
Looking out the door, I saw the sky fading into a pinkish-orange. Huh. How long were we at La Push?
"Uh... actually, could I freshen up? I'm really tired, and I think I want to turn in early," I said.
"Of course," Carlisle replied. "We have a spare room on the top level, if you'd like. There should be clothes already in the closet, take whatever you need."
I scratched the back of my head awkwardly, pausing before nodding. "Yeah, okay, thanks." Clutching my hands to my side, I climbed up the long winding wooden stairs, and then up yet another until I was on the third floor.
The Cullens really did live in a mansion. A long hallway stretched beyond me, several different rooms brancing off of the sides. Ostentatious porcelain vases rested on expensive looking wooden pedestals. I stopped to admire one. It had rose, orange, and green lines going every which way, but they met up to form a feather in the center. My hand reached out to stroke the glossy paint job, when Jacob had to ruin it.
"Did you forget about me?" he sang.
Shocked, my hand knocked the vase onto the hardwood floors. It shattered into bits, the porcelain shards scattering across the floor. Profanities came out in a string as I knelt down to clean it up.
"What the hell, Jake?" I snapped. "Look at what you made me do!"
"Sorry," he mumbled, though I knew he didn't mean it.
"Oh, my goodness!" Esme gasped from behind me. "My favorite vase--" I stood up to see her saddened face. It broke my heart to know I caused it.
"I'm so sorry, Esme," I apologized sincerely. "It was an accident, I swear!"
She smiled genuinely, her face instantly softening. "It's okay, dear. I understand."
"I'll pay for it," I promised. "Really, it's not a problem. I'll get a part time job."
"Honey," she said calmly. "It's fine."
Alice came running up the steps, her eyes darting around the dimly lit hallway in panic. "Esme! Esme, it's almost time. They're almost here."
Esme's eyes widened, though she tried to keep her composure. "Oh, dear. How much longer?"
"About five--"
"We're back!"
"Seconds."
Author's Note: Sorry it's so short. I just wanted to get an update out. July first was the last time I updated? Damn! That's a long time! So sorry! I know, go off on me in a review ;D I'll still love ya! ANYHOO, I made a trailer for this a while ago on Youtube (link on my profile), so check it out! I know, I put Demi Lovato as Nessie, but I didn't know who else I could use. Oh, and I made a LiveJournal, check it out even though I don't know how to use it!
Questions For This Chapter:
1. Scale of 1-10?
2. Things to improve on?
3. Will you watch the trailer? Pwease? For lil' ol' me? ;D
YOU-WON'T-STOP-ME! I am a fighter and I, I ain't goin' stop There is no turning back I've had enough Makes me that much stronger Makes me work a little bit harder It makes me that much wiser So thanks for making me a fighter Made me learn a little bit faster Made my skin a little bit thicker Makes me that much smarter So thanks for making me a fighter... Reviews? Comments? Click that button!
--Lauren :D