Year One, Chapter Eight

School and a Wedding

Renesmee's Point of View

Over the next few months Jacob and I continued switching back and forth between living at my family's house and cottage, just outside of Forks, and Billy's house at La Push.

Jacob filled my days on the reservation with every conceivable form of childlike fun we could think of. I got to play with some of the La Push children, and attempted to experience the childhood of a normal little girl. Jacob and I built sand castles on the beach, and went to the park where Jacob pushed me on the swings. I even played tag with some of the La Push kids, they seemed to have fun, but I had to hold back on my speed the entire time and be mindful of my strength as to not hurt any of them.

I was also able to convince Jacob to teach me more about repairing cars. I think I might be able to show Aunt Rosalie I am capable of helping her tinker with her car, now. She loves that thing so much she hasn't let me do anything but watch her work on it, up until this point.

When Jacob and I were back home, I would occasionally go with my mother to visit Grampy Charlie, but mostly my family decided I needed to double up on my school lessons.

I was learning French and Music Composition from my father, and he was continuing to teach me the piano, English Literature from my mother, History and my favorites, Psychology and Philosophy from Uncle Jasper. Aunt Rosalie was teaching me Chemistry and Physics. I was also having fun learning Art Appreciation from Grandma Esme. As well as Calculus and Business Finances from Aunt Alice, and Science and Biology from Grandpa Carlisle.

Uncle Emmett took it upon himself to teach me "Gym", well I assume meant Physical Fitness. Hopefully when I grow a bit more he will start teaching me how to fight. Not that I wanted to go around getting into physical altercations, but it would seem wise to learn to defend myself, or at least hold an attacking vampire off long enough for help to arrive.

Jacob at least used my home schooling time to patrol. Although he hated being away from me, he also felt guilty that soon he would no longer be helping his Pack out, in that area. I understood why he felt that way. We both also knew, though that he would be patrolling with my family in Hoodsport, so he would still be doing his part. Never-the-less, daily patrols helped alleviate some of his guilt, right now, so I was not about to argue.

….

Sam and Emily's wedding was finally happening. I had been hearing about all of the preparations for months. It sounded like it was going to be amazing. It was taking place on August fourteenth at 3pm. Jacob and I were looking forward to attending it together. Aunt Alice made a huge deal out of the dress I would where. I, of course had never been to a wedding so I let her dress me in whatever she felt was appropriate. Once we arrived I wish I didn't.

"My Jacob, why didn't you tell me not to wear this dress?" The long, frilly gown, she placed me in was completely over the top and too formal for the event. Everyone was in sundresses, including the bride.

"Sorry Nessie, you know I love you, but Alice gets crazy scary sometimes," he chuckled. "Don't worry we just need to take a couple of pictures of you in that dress here, to show Alice, then we can go back to Billy's. I asked Rachel to dig out some of her old dresses, I am sure there is at least one, more appropriate, for today, that you can change into."

I sighed in relief. "Okay, let's get this over with," I said with a wink. Time for some embarrassing pictures.

Fifteen minutes later, after I had changed into a cute sundress we returned just in time for the beginning of the wedding ceremony. I enjoyed watching the Quileute wedding traditions that Sam and Emily chose to incorporate into their otherwise contemporary wedding ceremony. Jacob was quietly explaining the meaning behind different aspects of the ceremony to me as they were happening until a man sitting in front of us turned around and shushed us.

Whoops! I didn't think we were being that loud.

Once the wedding was over everyone moved to a tented deck over the water on a part of First Beach I wasn't familiar with, for the reception. Half of it was covered in tables and the other was left open for dancing.

It was a bit old, but had been decorated beautifully. Peach gauze and peach and ivory flowers were hung from the tent ceiling and weaved around the polls. The tables were covered in more peach tablecloths, since it seemed to be the official wedding color. There was no electricity in the tent but the tables were covered in candles and the light peach colored flowers creating a lovely soft glow.

We were seated at a round table with the rest of Jacobs Pack. Seth, Leah, Embry and Quil were all sitting quietly and looking a little bored. Well except Leah, she looked pissed.

"Hi Quil, is Claire with you?' Those two were inseparable. I was surprised she wasn't sitting with him.

His face dropped. "She's here. Her mom is insisting she eat with them, family thing I guess." Oops, I hadn't meant to upset him.

"Oh, get over it, Quil. You can play with your little imprint soon enough." Leah huffed. I'm surprised she was here at all. I had heard the stories about her and Sam. This must be hard for her, but that was no reason to take it out on Quil.

"Lay off Leah," Seth tried to quiet his sister. "You said you would behave if you came."

"Hey, they should be happy I came at all. I don't know why they even invited me."

"She's you're cousin, Leah. And your best friend."

"Correction, she was my best friend. . ."

"Will the two of you drop it, this is supposed to be a party and I would like to try and have fun." Embry started in. "And that does not include listening to the two of you bicker. Leah, can't you drop it for one night, it's her wedding."

"Yeah, you agreed to come, so suck it up." Quil added.

This should be a fun time.

The wedding was being catered by a local company on the reservation, but after waiting thirty minutes I heard Sam give them a call. With my half-vampire hearing I easily overheard his entire phone call, apparently the van broke down on the way over and they were waiting for a replacement to come.

"What so we do now?" I asked Jacob. Everyone had just been sitting around the tables talking to one another, getting more and more impatient, waiting to eat, but now I, and the wolves, whose hearing was as good as mine, knew the food was going to be delayed even more.

Jacob stood with his hand out, "How about a dance?"

"I can't," I shook my head, "I haven't learned how to dance, yet."

"Not a problem, Nessie. I can teach you. It's not that hard. Just listen to the music and move to the beat. You are amazing at playing the piano so I am sure you can pick it up easily. Come on," he grabbed my hand and pulled me over to the dance floor.

There were a few people dancing already, but mostly it was little kids jumping around and acting silly. Jacob was a great teacher and I started getting the hang of it. This type of dancing did not seem to have a predetermined choreographed set of steps, like the dances I had seen some of my family do. It was freer and more rhythmic where dancers created their own interpretations and movements to the music.

I had just about gotten to where I thought I was no longer completely awkward when I saw Quil come on the dance floor with Claire.

"Hey guys, looks like you had a good idea." Quil smiled over to us. He looked much happier now that he was with his imprint.

"Nessie!" Claire exclaimed and ran over to me. "Did you bring any toys, I'm bored."

"Oh, no I'm sorry Claire, I don't have any toys with me, but Jacob is teaching me how to dance. Why don't you ask your Quil to teach you the same."

"I already know how to dance. Watch me." And with that she started jumping all over the dance floor. She was having so much fun but didn't seem to be dancing to the song the DJ was playing, Quil didn't seem to mind though, he started jumping along beside her. They looked slightly ridiculous but happy, or maybe they were just ridiculously happy. Either way our dancing was cut short. The replacement catering truck finally arrived.

We made our way back to our seats and ate some, now very cold, food. The wolves would eat anything, and all human food, with very few exceptions tasted unappetizing to me, so it really didn't matter if it was hot or cold, but I could see that the rest of the guests didn't look too happy.

After dinner was finished Sam and Emily got up to cut the cake. It had been placed on a small table in the middle of the dance floor. Whoever made it did a lovely job. It consisted of two layers with three pillars separating the layers and peach flowers made from frosting cascading down the sides in a sweeping wave. The cake cutting went off without a hitch, once someone was able to track down the special knife they wanted to use. I didn't see what was so important about a knife. How was one knife different than any other. But they wanted this one, this missing one. After a while it was found at the bottom of a box somewhere and they fed each other a bite, which Jacob told my was a normal wedding custom.

The DJ then stopped the music so people could start giving speeches and toast the happy couple while the cake was cut and distributed. Halfway through the toasts the microphone went out, and after some fiddling it was determined that the generator they borrowed from the reservations community center had died. This also meant there would be no more music. On the plus side the tent was not too big and a microphone was not really essential, so the speeches continued. An old battery powered boom box was dug out of one of the guests trucks so eventually there was music, of sorts, for the end of the reception, and the bride and groom still managed to have their first dance.

"I feel bad for Emily, it's too bad the reception was such a disaster." Jacob whispered to me. I squeezed his hand to reassure him, after a quick glance over to the head table told me that Emily hadn't even noticed anything was wrong. She seemed so happy. Why wouldn't she, she was an imprint marring her wolf. Wasn't that all that really mattered.

Jacob must have heard my thoughts. I didn't even realized I sent them to him since I wasn't touching his face but he responded to my thoughts just the same.

"Your right, Nessie. That is all that matters."

"My Jacob, did you just hear my thoughts?" Maybe it was just a guess?

"Yes, why would you ask. . ." Confusion turned to wonder in his eyes when he realized I hadn't been touching his face like I normally needed to. "Amazing. Try it again and see if you can repeat it."

I held his hand again, "Jacob, can you hear me?"

No response, so I tried again. "My Jacob, can you hear me?"

Again no response. "Jacob, did you hear anything?

"Nothing, Nessie. Maybe it was just a fluke. But we should probably let you family know about it just the same. The reception is winding down, we can leave soon without it looking rude."

"Time for the bouquet toss," someone yelled.

"What's going on?"

"It's another wedding tradition. All of the unmarried ladies gather on one side while the bride tosses her bouquet from the other. Whoever manages to catch it is suppose to be the next one to get married. It's just a superstition but it's funny to see all of the women battling over some flowers. Do you want to stay and watch?"

"Sure."

Just as Jacob had said, all of the women gathered on the far side of the tent, minus Leah; not surprisingly. Emily turned with her back to the group and then flung her bouquet over her head. It managed to go completely wide, in the opposite direction, right towards Leah. Ha! I wonder if that was intentional?

Leah dove out of the way, when she saw it coming towards her, and the bouquet landed on the table behind her. It ended up knocking over some candles, which set the flowers and tablecloth on fire.

I thought I heard Jacob chuckling. "Yup, that seems about right." Jacob was being a little cavalier about the whole thing, but it did seem to fit the mood of the day. What else could go wrong?

Luckily, the fire was quickly put out by Jared who was standing next to an ice bucket and just dumped it over the table and no one was hurt. No one seemed too bothered and before long the guests started laughing and dancing again. This seemed to be the perfect time to make our exit.

"Ready to go?"

"Sure, Sure. Let's say goodbye to everyone first. Then we need to stop back at Billy's so you can change back into the 'Alice dress'. We wouldn't want her finding out."

We made our way over to the Bride and Groom, saying our goodbyes to everyone on the way.

After that was done Jacob found Billy and asked if he needed a ride home. It was not needed though, he already had plans to leave with Rachel and Paul, since they had brought him and he wanted to stay a bit longer, anyway. Her baby bump was getting bigger and she looked so happy.

Once I had changed back into "the Alice dress" as we were now referring to it we, went back to the main Cullen house. Jared had ended up accompanying us part of the way and then ran back to the wedding in wolf form as he left us at the border. I am sure everyone at home would want to hear how my first wedding experience went and it was only just after 7pm.

"Hey kiddo," Emmett boomed from the main room, how as it? Kill anyone getting the bouquet?" He always thought he was funny but he just didn't realize how close he was this time.

"No, no one caught it actually, and luckily no one was hurt from the fire."

Everyone looked concerned, except my father who saw the whole thing in my head, he just winced a bit.

"Here, let me show you," and one by one I replayed the wedding and reception to my family, making sure to edit it so they saw me in "the Alice dress" and not Rachel's old sundress.

My father would see the truth in my mind, but he didn't look like he would say anything. I shot him a quick glance and he shook his head, agreeing to keep my secret. "Thanks," I thought back.

"Well you certainly had an entertaining experience," Grandpa Carlisle started. "I am more intrigued by this new development of your gift, though. We should run some experiments and see if we can duplicate it."

"I already tried at the wedding, I could not get it to work again."

"Don't worry Renesmee," my mother came to me, "when I was first starting to expand my shield I had similar difficulties. It will probably just take practice."

"Okay, but can we try tomorrow. It has been a long night and I would like to go back to the cottage and relax before bed."

"Of course, Renesmee. We will see you later." My father said as he hugged me goodnight. The rest of my family followed his lead, and then Jacob scooped me up in his arms and carried me back to the cottage.

Over the next few weeks I tried over and over again to send thoughts to my family by touching them, anywhere other than their cheek, with limited success. I was able to repeat occasionally, so that was something, but I could not control it as well as I would have liked. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't, and on more than one occasion it happened when I wasn't even trying. This could potentially be embarrassing. I assume it will just take time, like my mother said.

…...

By the beginning of September I had the appearance of a six year old. It was thought that I was mentally the equivalent of a full grown adult; but would you expect otherwise when I had learned how to talk at three days, walk at one week, and read at three weeks?

...

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