Watching Jacob sleep was like listening to a bulldozer. I've never met anyone who snored quite as loudly as him. However, I did live with a family of vampires, so the sleeping patterns of other humans was unknown to me. He wasn't even pretty to watch sleep. His mouth usually hung open, and he'd occasionally choke on his own drool. When he dreamt his face contorted differently, and sometimes he'd talk in his sleep. It was never anything comprehendible though. I watched as Jacob slept all through the night and the early hours of the morning. I wasn't bored, I could watch him sleep for hours. It mystified me. When he finally woke up, it was with a start, like something scared him.
"Crap!" Jacob yelled, getting up from the bed quickly, without so much as a hello.
"What is it Jake?" I asked.
"Huh? Oh, I have to be at work in ten minutes.."
"You have a job?" I asked, dumbfounded.
"Gotta make money somehow sweetheart."
"Jacob, how long are you planning on staying here.. I mean, my family has money.. none of us, with the exception of Carlisle, works or feels obligated to." I explained.
"Ness, once we're married we shouldn't have to rely on your families wealth."
"Jake.. why would it matter. It's not like we're going to be leaving them and moving away right after the wedding or anything." I stated, assuming he was on the same page.
"Really? You don't want to get away from them?"
"No, why would I? They're my family. Sure, an escape every now and then is nice, but I'm not looking to get away from them. Are you?"
"Ness, I don't really fit in with the rest of your family." The way he said 'your' sent a shudder down by spine. After all this time, he still thought of them as non family. I didn't understand it. The hospitality my family had shown him, even Rosalie's wolf jokes had slowed down tremendously the past few years.
"Jacob, you're being ridiculous. They are just as much your family as you are mine. I know Alice and my mother feel the same way."
"Yea, 2 out of 8 isn't bad." He said sarcastically.
"It's not like you make it easy for them to accept you Jacob. You're not nice to the others either. They tolerate you for my sake, but they'd consider liking you if you would show a little gratitude once in awhile" I snapped back.
"This brings us back to where we started. I don't want to owe them anything. The only reason I still hang out with the bloodsuckers is because of you!"
"In case you missed it, I'm one of the bloodsuckers now too!" I snarled.
"Well, nobody's perfect." He half joked. "Ness, your family is a burden to us. How are we supposed to have our own life if you can't separate yourself from the burden of having a family around you all the time?"
"Well, remove me from the picture then. I don't want to be such a burdening bloodsucker for you." I said, taking my ring off and throwing it at him.I was out the door just as quickly. I know I promised to stay away from Charlie, but I couldn't. I needed my dad, my mom.. someone to comfort me. I heard Jacob yelling behind me, but he valued his life to much to follow.
I didn't wait outside long before my dad came outside. He had heard my thoughts plain and clear, and tried to hide the satisfaction our argument had given him.
"Ness, you know it's not the best idea for you to be here. You put Charlie at risk, especially in your current mood." My father said nonchalantly.
"I know, I'm sorry. Me and Jacob had a fight." I said, immediately noticing the now empty space on my left ring finger.
"That's not uncommon in human relationships.." my father pointed out. I forget how human Jacob is.
"Yes, but neither of us are human. He's only half human, and well, I'm a vampire. A fact that he insisted on throwing in my face earlier!" I said, feeling the blood boil again (so to speak).
"I heard the replay. Just give him time to cool off, you cool off, and go talk to him. You were both a little out of line.." my father said, glancing down at my left hand.
"I know.." I sighed.
"I won't tell your mother about this, because I'm sure she'd just worry, and the two of you will have this worked out before you know it." My father said confidently.
I took a few hours to walk around the La Push beach. This is where my mother first learned of the Quiliette legends, which led us to this point. I thought about the past, how Jacob had always been there for me. I didn't understand his feelings, but it was wrong for me to brush them off like he was wrong. He was voicing a concern.. wasn't that a part of being a couple? Voicing opinions, even if I didn't agree? I felt guilty for over reacting, but I also felt angry that he'd insulted my family. We'd both made mistakes, and only the two of us could fix them. It was wrong to include my father in this. It wasn't his argument. I sighed, and reluctantly, headed back to the Black household to make amends and seek out apologies of my own.
"Hey Renesmee.." I heard Billy call from the door. I smiled up at him, he looked a little bit older but, overall, everything looked the same.
"How are you Billy?" I asked sincerely.
"Still dancin" he said, reaching up for a hug. I bent down and complied. He and Jacob smelled a lot alike. "Jacob is inside.. he's feeling pretty low."
"I know, we had a bit of an argument."
"That explains it. Well, I'm going to go down the street. Sue Clearwater is cooking up the fish Charlie and I caught. If you're interested…" Billy said, before looking at me awkwardly. "I mean.. nevermind. I forgot, you don't eat.."
"It's okay Billy. I'll see you later." I said, walking into the house to find Jacob. He was lounging on the couch, watch reruns of a sitcom, but not really paying attention. He acted as if he didn't notice me sit next to him. We sat in silence for a few minutes, neither of us even looking at the other, before I spoke.
"Jake, I admit I over reacted, and I am sorry for that" I said, keeping as calm as possible.
"Ok." He shrugged.
"That's it? That's all you have to say?" I said, hurt by his lack of effort.
"What Ness? I stand by the things I said. I think you should be willing to at least consider leaving your family when we get married."
"I don't expect you to apologize for that" I replied.
"Then what?"
"I don't know, how about your lack of respect for my family. The names you call us, Jacob, you put us in the same category as others like us, the ones who kill humans." I said angrily.
"In case you've forgotten, you drink blood too, putting you in the same category as the others. Why are you getting so offended, it's just a nickname.." Jacob said, annoyed.
"No Jacob, it's not just a nickname. Not when you use it as a tool to get your way. My family has been very hospitable to you, and you throw it in our faces. How do you not see the problem with that?" I said, calmer than I thought possible.
Jacob remained quiet for a moment. I could tell he was thinking on what I said, maybe even considering an apology, although I wouldn't hold my breath.
"Alright. I'm sorry." He conceded.
"Thank you. I don't like arguing with you Jacob. It makes me feel too human" I said, only half joking.
"Well.. look who you planned on marrying" he said, smiling.
"Look at who I plan on marrying. I think you have something that belongs to me.." I said, extending my hand out for him to slide the ring back on. He looked at me, smiled, and pulled the tiny silver ring from his pocket.
"So you'll consider at least moving out of your family's house once we're hitched?"
"I'll consider it.. but I don't make promises.."
"That will have to do for now then.."
"Shut up and kiss me already" I said eagerly, pulling his lips to mine.
