Months went by since that fateful night with Shawn Newton. I was distributing equal time between my family, Jacob, Joanie, and Grandpa Charlie. I stayed living with Grandpa Charlie. I decided this would be good for me at least until I graduated from Fork's High. Jacob didn't laugh at my decision.
I went to dinner with Charlie on Thursdays and fishing with him on Sundays. I didn't realize it wasn't just about catching slimy fish that we would eat later. It was about the peace and tranquility that came from being on the calm water and hearing nothing but nature around you. I found it to be quite soothing when I had a particular hard week at school.
I was planning on staying with Alice on Friday night so that we could go shopping for prom dresses. I told Charlie that I would be home early Saturday morning. Even though prom was three weeks away, Alice couldn't resist a good time to shop and I wasn't going to fight it. I had the best prom date in the world. Jacob was going with me.
After Alice and I got back from shopping, my mother pulled me outside so that we could talk.
"Jake has asked me to have papers done for him so that he may join you in public school."
"Why would he do that?"
"Maybe he found a way to give you a normal life in a way."
"He would do that for me?"
"My dear Renesemee, if Jake was asked to walk to hell and back for you to be truly happy, he would."
"I feel like I don't deserve him," I said, looking at my mom's amber eyes.
"Don't be silly. You two were made for each other."
"I really do hope you are right."
"I am you'll see."
"So where is Jake?"
"He had to go talk to Billy and Sam about a few things. He said he would be back."
I smiled at thinking that Jacob would even think about coming to a public school just to be with me. I knew that the only schooling that he had was whatever he had learned while on the reservation. I guess he really was trying to make sure that we could be together as a real couple should be.
I knew that I couldn't stay longer than the night. So Saturday morning, I grabbed the garment bag that held my prom dress and headed for my car. I still hadn't seen Jacob since Wednesday. I was starting to wonder what he had to talk to Billy and Sam about.
I got back to Charlie's house and noticed that he wasn't there. I just assumed that he was at Billy's since that is the only place that he really goes anymore. I took my bag upstairs to my room and hung it off the hook on the closet door.
Sunday, Grandpa told me that he didn't feel like going fishing. I thought that was real odd but I figured that he probably just came down with a cold or something. I tried calling Jacob several times and still could not get a hold of him. I was starting to get real worried that something might have happened.
I still hadn't heard anything by the time that I left for school. I vowed that after school let out, I was going to drive up to that reservation and bring my boyfriend back home. I'd drag him screaming and kicking if I had to. I didn't think that was an actual possibility but hey, you never know.
The school day started out pretty well. Shawn was still giving me the silent treatment. This was good news to Joanie and I since we really didn't want to be bothered with him. It wasn't until my English class that I felt something was wrong.
Mrs. Andes began her lecture on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. It was so sad to see how certain circumstances could drive people to drastic measures.
During the lecture, the office assistant came in to give Mrs. Andes a message. She looked at it and then looked at me.
"Ms. Cullen they need you in the office."
I collected my books and headed for the office. My dad was in the office waiting for me.
"Hi, honey."
"What happened? Is mom okay?"
"Mom is fine. It's Charlie."
"Is he okay?"
"I have signed you out of school. Your mom needs you at home."
Jasper and Emmett were in the parking lot. I gave Jasper my car keys and he got in my car to drive it home. Emmett hugged me and then got into his own car to meet us at home. Dad opened the passenger door for me. I got in and put my books in the back.
"Your grandpa is gone, Nessie. From what Carlisle told me, he died in his sleep. He went peacefully."
"Is mom okay?"
"She is sad but she is handling the situation quite well. She needs your help making some phone calls."
"All right."
Dad drove on to the house. I was dreading making the sad and tearful calls. The house was very somber. I grabbed my school books and put them on the bench by the door. I went to the living room to find my mom.
"She's at Grandpa Charlie's house. She left the small list of people to call."
I looked at the list. Except for one name, the rest were all his friends on the reservation. For this I would call Jake once I got to the border. The only other phone call was to Grandma Renee.
"Hello?"
"Hello Renee?"
"Yes?"
"Hi, it's Renesemee."
"Nessie?"
"Yes."
"Oh, how are you dear?"
"I'm okay, I guess. I actually have some news for you."
"Is your parents okay?"
"My parents are fine. It's about Grandpa Charlie."
"What happened?"
"He's gone Grandma."
There was a long silence on the phone.
"I will catch the earliest flight to Seattle. Can your father pick me up?"
"Yes. Just call us with the time your flight comes in."
"All right. I will be there soon."
We said our goodbyes and I hung up the phone. I decided to use my cell phone to call Jake. I grabbed my jacket and headed for my car. I reached the border in twenty minutes. I parked my car and dialed Jacob's phone number.
"Hey, Nessie. Sorry I haven't been able to speak to you for awhile. My dad was real sick and it didn't look good."
"That's okay, Jake," I said, trying to hold the tears back, "I'm at the border."
"What's wrong?"
"I need to speak to your dad. But I have to do it in person."
"I'll be right there."
I hung up the phone and waited for Jacob to come. He finally showed and hopped in the truck. He told me where to go to get to his dad's house. I parked the car and Jacob stopped me from getting out.
"What is wrong?"
"Charlie passed away sometime last night. He went in his sleep. I had no idea. He said he wasn't feeling good on Sunday. I just thought it was a cold or something," I said, letting the tears fall.
"Nessie, it's going to be okay. Charlie is in a good place. It happens to humans."
"I know. It still doesn't make it any easier to deal with."
"I know. Do you want me to tell my dad?"
"No. I just need you there for support."
I hopped out of the truck and Jacob escorted me into his home. Billy was in a reclining chair watching television. He smiled when he saw me walking in the door.
"Nessie. I'm glad to see you were finally able to visit."
"Hi Billy."
He frowned when he heard my tone of voice.
"Is everything alright with the Cullens?"
"Yes. Everybody is okay at home."
"Then what is wrong?"
"It's Charlie."
He stared at me as I told him what dad had said. I watched this man age right before my eyes. Charlie and Billy had been best friends for years. Billy had helped my grandpa through my grandma Renee leaving him.
"I will miss him," Billy said.
"I am sorry Billy. I told Jake that I thought it was just a cold on Sunday. If I would have realized something was wrong, I would have called my dad or Carlisle immediately."
"I know Nessie. But there was nothing you could have done to prevent this. At least he had some happiness before he died."
I knew that Billy was referring to me being in Charlie's life and moving in with him. Charlie had mentioned it several times since the day I moved in. Jacob told his dad that he was going to walk me out and that he would be right back. I hugged Billy before I left.
"If there is anything I can do, please let me know. He was my best friend."
"I will Billy."
I left Jacob alone to comfort his father and I drove back to the house. I knew that I couldn't stay at the house by myself, so I started to gather my belongings together to take them back home. I cried as I looked at the photographs that Charlie had printed right before he died. There was some goofy pictures of us fishing, the night of the awful date with Shawn Newton, and one of my mom and I with him the day we came over to drop me off. I knew it was selfish but I wanted these pictures. I took them with me and carefully put them in my clutch purse so they wouldn't be harmed.
Mom called me from the funeral home to ask me to do a favor. This would concern the tribe. I told her that I would talk to Billy about it and let her know. I dialed Jacob's cell phone again.
"Anything new?" Jacob asked.
"I needed to speak to Billy if I could, Jake."
A couple of seconds later, Billy was on the phone with me.
"Billy, my mom had a request."
"Anything."
"She was hoping, since Charlie was married to Sue that we could bury him by his wife."
"I see no problems with that request. It is where he belongs. He was just as much a part of this tribe as he was to your clan."
"That means also means that our family would attend the services there, if that is not too much to ask."
"We are at peace with the Cullen family. It is time that we opened the border to show such a union."
"Thank you Billy. I will let my mother know."
"Please ask her, when she gets the chance, to come and see me. I do miss her a great deal."
"I will. Thank you again, Billy."
I hung up the phone and called mom back. I told her the good news and she said she would get the arrangements made.
I grew tired around nine o'clock. We had been working hard on the arrangements for Charlie's funeral. We had decided to just handle a small ceremony and I was in charge of picking out two big pictures to place out for everyone to see. I went back up to my old room upstairs. I missed Jacob a great deal right now and felt alone in my human emotions. Grandma Renee would be here first thing in the morning.
I laid down on the bed and prayed that sleep would take me away from this pain just for a short while.
When I woke up, I found Jake laying next to me in wolf form.
"Are you trying to tell me something," I asked him.
He opened his eyes and yawned.
"You need a tic-tac, honey," I said and he chuckled.
"Will you please change back?"
He shook his head and looked at the closed bedroom door.
"They won't come in," I said, "Go ahead. I'll even turn my head."
I turned my head and I felt his hand turning my head back to him.
"Are you trying to get me killed?
"They wouldn't," I said.
"I think your father might."
"Not even. He knows how important you are to me."
"So?"
"Plus, he went through this when him and mom started dating."
He was playing with the strands of my hair. I traced his collarbone to his shoulder. Curiosity was almost getting the better of me.
"Turn your head, Nessie," he said, "I'm going to get dressed."
I turned my head slightly and he got up and dressed himself. I smiled at his modesty. He was trying just as hard as I was to keep our emotions under control. He finally came back to the bed and laid down next to me so I could cuddle to him.
"Go to sleep, Nessie. I'll be here in the morning to help you with everything."
I closed my eyes, safe from the sadness for awhile.
