Practice Makes Perfect
Renesmee's POV
It had been two weeks since our crazy ball game. Uncle Emmet was in a bad mood for three days because we lost. I thought it was fun. I wondered if I would ever get strong enough to hit the ball as far as everyone else. Well, who knows? I wish I'd known I would go crazy with all of the practicing that Dad and Granddad forced on me so I could learn to control my 'gift'. Even Grandpa got into it every time he came over.
It all started with a comment Mom made to me about how she couldn't shield me all of the time. I don't think anyone but my dad realized that she'd been shielding me ever since I killed that bear. That information got Granddad all focused. Nothing like a good mystery to get him excited. Why oh why did I have to be that mystery.
"Okay Nessie," He called from up in his office. "Think something just for me and I'll tell you if I hear it."
I thought of Granddad up in his office and immediately saw the light of energy for him dance behind my eyes. I was starting to get use to seeing them.
'Okay, Granddad this thought is for you. When are we going to be finished already? I want to play with Jake not to mention Aunt Alice and Aunt Rose promised to take me shopping later. Please! It's been four hours of this already today.'
"That was great Nessie. I heard you loud and clear." Granddad called from his office. "How about you Esme?"
There was a, 'No'' from Grandma upstairs.
"This is really good Nessie because not only can you broadcast, but you can control who gets the message now. Say something to your Grandma on the third floor."
I concentrated on Grandma. It was a very peculiar sensation. When I thought of the person I wanted, a special energy of light was created behind my eyes and as I thought the words, pictures, or memories I wanted to share with them, if I concentrated hard enough, I could see an 'energy of light' that was unique for that individual leave me and carry the message to that person. It went through walls, forest just about anything we'd tried so far.
Mom said that her shield was like that. When she had it up, anyone under it became a point of light that was also unique to them and she can recognize them by their point of light. Granddad said it was like a fingerprint or a scent that is individualized to each person.
I saw the energy of light form for Grandma as soon as I thought of her. 'Grandma, please tell Granddad I'm done for today'. I thought as I sent the message off. It went straight through the ceiling in a fraction of a second.
I heard Grandma's gentle laugh from the third floor. "Carlisle, when are you going to set her free for today?"
"Give me another hour Nessie and then we'll stop for a while." I groaned. Granddad ignoring my whine continued, "Okay now, I sent Uncle Jasper out to the garage. Let's see if you can make it out there with a message for him."
I was getting a little impatient. I thought of Uncle Jasper and immediately his energy of light danced behind my eyes. "Please, Please, Please Uncle Jasper HELP me escape!" I sent out the message and watched the message take off. Almost immediately, Granddad's cell phone rang.
"Excellent." Granddad said with satisfaction, "Really? That is VERY interesting Jasper. Yes, do come back in."
Granddad came down the stairs and Uncle Jasper was there almost at the same time. They both looked so excited. Something new was up. 'Great--last time this happened, my 'training session' went two hours longer than promised.'
"Nessie," Uncle Jasper said as he scooped me up, "Do you know that not only did I hear your message-and almost the second you though it, but you also sent your emotions that were tagged to the message as well. I felt impatient, almost trapped but resigned when you begged me to help you escape. Not only that," He continued excited. Of course, if Uncle Jasper was excited…then so was I and Granddad. "But I felt the strongest desire to come and rescue you. It felt as though coming in and helping you was the most important thing for me to do all day." He and Granddad shared a significant look.
"Good!" I moaned. "Is that why you came rushing in?"
"No," Jasper said looking at me again. "I want to try something new. I want to help you feel a certain emotion before you send out your messages and see if the intensified emotions go through with the message."
"Okay," I sighed. "But I am only good for fifty more minutes and then I'm free."
"Nessie," The next thought is going to go out to Aunt Rose." Granddad said. "Jasper, what emotion are we going to work with?"
Uncle Jasper thought for a minute. "Let's go with sadness."
"Wait," Granddad," I asked, "Where is Aunt Rose?"
"Well," He paused. What? Did he forget where she was waiting? "Since we are on a strict time limit here, let's see if your energy of light for Rosalie will find her itself.
"Alright," I said, sure that it wouldn't work. I thought about Aunt Rose and immediately saw her energy of light dance behind my eyes. I was then seized upon by the most profound sadness I had ever felt. I started crying. I tried to think through the tears. Aunt Rose, where are you? Please come home!" As soon as I released the thought, the energy of light left me. It hovered in front of me for a split second before taking off through the front door. Thankfully as soon as it was outside the sadness disappeared.
"Sorry." Jasper said as I let out a sigh of relief.
It was only about a minute more when Rosalie burst through the front door in a panic. She grabbed me out of Jasper's arms so fast I didn't even realize it had happened. I was in Uncle Jasper's arms and then it was suddenly Aunt Rosalie holding me. Really, I was kind of getting too big for them to keep holding all the time. Not that it seemed to concern them at all.
"I'm right here Renesmee. Everything is fine." She stroked my curls and kissed my forehead. "I was just out by the highway. Don't be so sad. We are going to have so much fun at the mall today. I'll stay right by your side the whole time. Don't be so sad."
"Actually, I'm not sad anymore Aunt Rose." I said a little startled by the intensity of her concern.
She looked confused until Granddad explained the new element of our little 'experiment'.
"Well, that's a relief. I was distraught about Nessie being so sad. I couldn't get in here fast enough." She hugged me tighter for a moment. "Well if Emmet is next why don't we see what he does with fear?" Aunt Rose added with a glint in her eyes.
Granddad and Jasper both nodded with smiles on their faces. Grandma came down the stairs already in on the development. Uncle Jasper looked at me and asked, "Are you ready?"
I nodded as I saw the light for Uncle Emmet take the now familiar spot behind my eyes. Itwas funny because seeing the light in no way obstructed my vision and after it left me, my Mom is the only one who could see it. Granddad thinks it's because it is part of the reversing of her gift and since she sees the energies of light with hers, then she can see them with mine as well. It was interesting because she could even identify them without me saying whose they were because she recognized them herself. Of course, you could just imagine how THAT had my Dad and Granddad going!
Uncle Jasper hit me with fear. Dang, it wasn't fear. I was suddenly gripped with sheer terror. I was shaking in Aunt Rose's arms. She held me very tightly. It didn't help. I very nearly started screaming for my life. 'Uncle Emmet I need you. Please come NOW!' It wasn't an idle request. In that moment I meant every word intensely.
The light held in front of me for a second and then it took off out the back door. I watched it from the glass window as it crossed the river and disappeared. The terror left me as immediately as it came. My voice was still shaky though.
"Umm, Uncle Jasper, could you lay off on the level of the emotion. I'm going to have a heart attack in a second."
Apparently I wasn't the only one. Uncle Emmet came crashing through the big glass door. Glass shattered everywhere. "Nessie! Nessie! I'll save you!!! Where are they? I'll rip them to shreds." He grabbed me from Rosalie and crushed me to his huge chest. He was half-crouched with his eyes darting all around the room. He inhaled the scents in the room before slowly straightening his stance, a questioning look on his face. After a few minutes, he set me on my feet, still looking around wearily.
Aunt Rosalie burst out in laughter. The rest of us joined in. Esme looked at the jagged remains of the glass door and sighed. "I guess I'd better call the window company—again!"
Granddad was deep in thought. "Are you getting hungry Nessie?"
'Oh, please let this mean we are done.'
"Yes!" I answered eagerly. Over the last two weeks with all of this practicing, I was getting better control on the broadcasting to everyone at once. I didn't worry about all of my thoughts being picked up by everyone-- just Daddy.
"Good, send a message to your parents and tell them that you're hungry. When you send the message, make sure that you are thinking of being the most hungry you have ever been."
I thought of my parents and saw the two energies. Mom, Dad, I'm starving to death. Please!!! Fix me something to eat and get me away from this torture! I saw the two energies of light take off in an instant.
A few minutes later I heard pans banging in the kitchen. They didn't even bother to come into the living room. They went straight to the kitchen.
"What would you like to eat Nessie, Sweetie?" I heard Mom call out.
"I already know what she wants Bella Love," Dad answered for me. "She wants an omelet and hot chocolate.
"But it's not breakfast time." Mom answered. "Oh, well if that's what she is starving to death for" Mom answered with a sigh. There were sounds of cooking in the kitchen.
"Sorry Nessie," Dad sang out. "You have thirty more minutes before your hour is up with Granddad. We'll get this ready for you in the meantime."
'Dang it, he must've heard from Granddad's mind what was going on.' He laughed quietly and softly explained everything to mom.
"Okay, now I want to try one more." Granddad said with excitement. "Jacob is coming over soon. I want you to be angry with him. Jasper you can help again with this one. I want to see what kind of a reaction this has on him."
Jasper smiled. So did Rosalie. Suddenly I was so furious that I had to fight back a snarl. The energy of light that swam behind my eyes turned red with the fury that all but consumed me. I meant to merely say a message to Jacob, but it came out more like shouting at the top of my lungs inside my head. 'JACOB, YOU ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE. GET OVER HERE NOW.' The red energy of light left me and darted out the front door. I shook my head. 'Wow, I almost had a headache from that one.'
Dad started roaring with laughter from the kitchen. After another minute Jacob came in through the front door. He looked so worried. He came in front of me and literally threw himself at my feet.
He spoke to the floor in an agonized hushed whisper, "Please Nessie, you know I'm a big jerk and I'm always putting my feet in my mouth. Whatever I did, I swear I didn't mean it. Please forgive me." He actually started crying. Dang! I threw my arms around him, well over him as he was curled up in a ball on the floor.
"Jacob, I love you. Silly! You didn't do anything." He peeked up at me and watched me grin at him. He stood up, and hugged me for a long time.
"I don't understand. I was half way here when. I got a message from you." He looked at me earnestly, "I know it was from you Nessie. Don't try to tell me I imagined it. You were so angry. I've never known you to be so mad at me. I felt like I was going to die if you stayed mad at me like that"
"Sorry Jacob," Granddad said his voice apologetic. "You have been part of Nessie's training today." Granddad then gave Jacob the particulars of our training session.
'Please let it be over.'
"You hungry Jake?" Mom called from the kitchen. "We're making Omelets and Hot chocolate for Nessie."
"I'm always hungry." Jacob said his voice full of relief. "I don't even care if it's breakfast at 2 p.m. You know that!" I started to head for the kitchen with Jake.
"One more Nessie," Granddad said catching my hand. Uncle Jasper was close by when you sent him a message. Aunt Rose was further out. Emmet was past the river. Your Parents were clear to their cottage. Jacob was half way here from LaPush. I want to try one more."
"Try to send a message to your Grandpa Charlie. It doesn't have to be anything dramatic like we've been trying so far. Just send him something and let me see if it will go all the way to the police station. That is about fifteen miles from here. After you send it you can go eat. Okay Nessie?"
I nodded. I thought of Grandpa and saw his light of energy immediately. I thought the words: 'I love you so much Grandpa. You are so handsome and funny. You're the best Grandpa in the whole world!'
After the energy of light left me I headed for the kitchen. Dad was sliding omelets onto plates for Jake and me and Mom was getting the mugs down. I heard Mom's cell phone ring and she picked it up.
"Hi Dad, What's up?" Mom asked happily. "Yes, she's right here. I'll get her." She handed me the phone. "You're Grandpa." She said. Granddad laughed from down stairs.
"Hi Grandpa, I was just thinking about you." I said.
"I know, I heard you—clear as a bell. Did you send me that thought clear from home?"
"Yes! Granddad has been working with me today again. Now I get a break to eat and play for a bit."
"Well," Grandpa replied; he sounded so happy. "I don't want to keep you from lunch. But I just want you to know that I love you too. You're Grandpa's special little angel! I'll see you tomorrow okay?"
After I gave Mom back her phone I started eating my food--slowly. I didn't want Granddad to think I was done and want to try something else. Dad was smiling. "Daddy, you are a really good omelet chef."
Jacob was nodding his head vigorously.
"Thank you. I'm glad you guys like it. So what are you going to do this afternoon?" I knew he knew what I was thinking right away but I said it out loud anyway.
"Well, I'm going out to play with Jake for a while…and then later, Aunt Alice and Aunt Rose are taking me shopping." I looked over at Mom. "Do you want to come?" 'Like I didn't know what the answer to that would be.'
"Sorry Nessie, I have to do my own practicing today. Your Uncle Emmet is dying to have a wrestling match with your Dad and he wants me to practice my shielding. He says its good practice for hand-to-hand combat."
"Figures," I said. Mom's shield has gotten even better lately too. She can shield someone with just a "rope" connecting them. She said it looks sort of like an astronaut going out for a space walk. He's connected to the ship and the oxygen by a hose and it ends in a bubble around him. Now that her shield can do that it was much more maneuverable for hand to hand and Dad and Granddad were very excited.
The front door opened and we heard Alice and Emily come inside. They came right into the dining room table where Jake and I were eating at one end. Alice put down her 'supplies' and heaps of shopping bags. She pulled out a chair for Emily. The two of them sat down. Esme came in and joined them. It was clear that they were continuing a conversation from the car about wedding plans.
"Emily," Dad interrupted. "Would you like a one or two egg omelet?
She seemed to suddenly realize that Jacob and I were eating. "Wow, I was having so much fun I didn't even realize I was hungry! Umm a one egg omelet thanks."
Mom smiled at Emily as she set a mug of hot chocolate in front of her. "It looks like Alice is keeping you busy. Have you gone crazy yet?"
"Are you kidding?" Emily said with understated fervor. "Alice is keeping me from going crazy. I don't know what I would have done without all of her help." She sipped at her hot chocolate. "Yum…I haven't had hot chocolate for years." She took another sip. "Oh, and Sam has made arrangements for escorts so that your whole family can come to the beach at LaPush for the wedding. I am so excited!"
Dad brought over her egg omelet on a plate. "Here you go."
"Wow, this is like an IHOP. It looks delicious. Thanks Edward. It feels different not having to do all the cooking. Jacob said you were a good cook. I thought he was exaggerating but if this tastes as good as it looks…"
"Well, try it and see." Dad encouraged. He loved to show off his cooking talent.
Emily took a bite and the regular side of her face became very animated. "This is extremely good. I need your recipe." Dad was all over that. It was good but of course, it was still only human food.
Aunt Alice kept up all of the wedding plans while we ate on. I suddenly realized that Emily was getting married. Mom was married, Aunt Alice and Aunt Rose were married, and even Grandma was married. Everyone was married but me. I almost panicked. Would I be all alone when I grew up? I ran to my dad and jumped into his arms. He knew what I was thinking. He just held me and smoothed my hair and patted my back.
"Don't worry Nessie. When you grow up, everything will be fine. You'll see."
"But what if no one wants to marry me when I grow up?" I asked suddenly feeling very unsettled and alone.
"Somehow I don't think that will be a problem, Nessie." Dad said and he seemed slightly annoyed.
"Daddy," I looked up into his eyes. "Will you marry me when I grow up?"
He laughed and kissed my cheek. "What about your Mommy? I'm already married sweetie."
"We could pass her off as your sister." I said somewhat uncertainly. 'No, that wouldn't work.' "I guess Granddad is married to. Do you think Grandpa will marry me?"
"Grandpa is dating Sue now." Dad pointed out gently.
I was so worried. "Oh, that's true. What about Jake?" I twisted in my father's arms to look over at Jacob. He looked at me with sympathy and a big smile. "Jacob, when I grow up will you marry me?"
I didn't understand why but my dad seemed to freeze up. Then Jacob, My Jacob, took me out of my daddy's arms and held me.
"Of course I will. Only let's let you grow up first okay. I'll wait forever for you. Don't you worry about it for another minute." He ruffled my hair and hugged me again and then set me down.
The anxiety left me just like that. I knew that no matter what Jacob would not break his promise to me. I didn't need to worry about when I grow up again.
Granddad came in then holding a letter. I guessed the mail had made it in. He looked very excited as he announced, "We've received a letter from Zafrina, Senna and Kachiri. They want us to come and bring Nessie for a visit!"
