CHAPTER 9

Leah took Jean home, and Seth took me downstairs. We called everyone back home, and they were trying to reach as soon as possible. A guy was held hostage at our home, definitely he was a vampire, he was as pale as Alec, his almond shaped eyes were of deep red color, and his high cheekbones suited his full lips. He had black curly hair cropped cut. He didn't look older than 20 years, but his dressing suggested otherwise. He was in a navy blue full sleeves Tee shirt, with black jeans and black shoes. The selves were folded till his forearm. Seth stood next to me and Alec stood right in front of me preventing the creepy hostage to look at me. The hostage would be 6 foot tall, lean and thin.

"Who sent you here?" Jacob asked in an alpha voice, I had never heard him like that, he was always cheerful and happy-go-lucky kind of a guy, but I believed he sensed danger towards Renesmee that's what made the alpha male in him come to the surface. "I think the answer of that question is known" Alec answered bitterly, the hostage was quite "How can you be certain?" Jacob asked Alec. He moved towards the hostage, "Aro sent you here, didn't he?" Alec asked almost shouted, his lips curling back from his teeth as if he would tear the hostage into pieces with his sharp canines. This was the first time I heard Aro's name from Alec's mouth otherwise he would always say 'master'. The hostage was still quite. He looked Alec in the eye and said "Go to hell" Alec smirked and turned away. "I will kill this girl, if not me someone will!" he said pointing towards me. My heart dropped as I let those words sink in. "It is useless to ask him anything, he won't tell anything." Embry said as he pressed his lips together. Just like a twig in the very next second Alec broke his neck, it was so fast that I could barely process it. I hid my face in Seth's neck and he wrapped his arm around my waist. "Are you crazy?!" Renesmee shouted. "He wasn't going to tell anything" Alec said moving away from the scene, "don't worry he will reassemble his body" he continued and I looked at him, he was standing near the backyard door, "maybe then you would be able to get something out of his mouth" he completed and melted away in the sunlight faster than my eyes could catch.

I couldn't look at the body, the head of which lied an inch away. "Should we let him reassemble his body?" Quill asked no one in particular. All the women of the house were standing in the entry of the living room staring at the scene. "Let Edward come" Jacob ordered.

I was taken in the room by Mom; she sat with me for the whole time until Dad came and told us that they have decided to destroy the body since it was no use the guy wouldn't just answer anything, the plotting was going on with strangers no one has ever seen, even though Uncle Edward got a glimpse of it, it was still useless, whatever he saw was already known. "Carlisle has decided to go and talk to Aro" Dad told us, "He is going to Italy?" Mom asked, "He is just getting his tickets and stuff" Dad told her with a nod. The rest of the day pass away like a blur, everyone tried to pull me off the edge, but I was just too scared. I managed to convince them that I was okay and I really was trying to be okay. Mom had not left my side even for a minute. There was a long thin line of the wound on my cheekbone right under my eye that must have been the wound inflicted by the glass. Mom cleaned it and put and ointment and I was fine.

Just then I remembered it was my birthday after 3 days! I bet everyone has forgotten, after all their first priority was to keep me safe. Also, tomorrow was prom, maybe we won't go. Today mom spoon fed me and I enjoyed it. I always loved it when other's pampered me. Alec came to check on me after the dinner, but he only came as near as the door frame. I got up from my bed and started to walk towards him. "No, stop" he said, and I stopped dead in my tracks. Puzzled I asked him, "what's wrong?" in a low voice. "I – I am thirst, and I don't want to hurt you" he told me. "So… you need to hunt" I said slowly and he nodded. "Can't you survive on animal blood?" I asked as I knit my eyebrows together and looked up at him hopefully. He sighed and said "I can try" and gave me a fake smile. I smiled at him apologetically and he opened his arms, I rushed towards him, and he elope me in a bear hug. "I will try for you" he said as his chin rested on my head. "Okay love birds that's it, it time to go" I heard Aunt Alice's voice. We both groaned and then let go of each other. "I will see you in the morning" Alec said, I nodded. He then bought his face closer to mine and gave me a small peck on the lips. "Good night" he said as we parted our lips, "Good night" I replied and he walked away with Aunt Alice.

I went to my bed and soon after Renesmee came in my room. We both talked for a little while and I asked her if we were going for prom tomorrow? She said "Aunt Rosalie won't let you miss any life experience because of something supernatural" so that was a yes. Now I was excited about the prom. I and Renesmee kept chatting about what we were going to do tomorrow and it looked like she was more excited than me. Renesmee didn't fell asleep till I did; of course she was looking out for me. I fell asleep at about 2 am when I was tiered and my eyelids dropped on its own. I was restless for most of the night and even the most inaudible voices made me startled – sometimes they were just in my head. Finally I pulled the covers over my head and that's when I actuallyfell asleep.

I woke up at 10 in the morning. I wondered why no one woke me up. I was alone in the room now. I yawned and rubbed my eyes and I got up from my bed. I went to the dressing table and tied my hair in a ponytail. Looking in the mirror I saw dark circles, Aunt Alice wouldn't like it, I thought to myself and sighed. As a daily routine, I pulled the curtains aside and saw Alec sitting in the backyard, again! I opened the windows, fresh breeze hit me, I smiled when he looked at me, and he smiled back. From here I couldn't make out if he had fed or not? I sighed and walked in my room. Taking half an hour for my human necessities including bathing and getting ready, I was ready.

I ran downstairs and Grandpa and Grandma were about to leave "Were you going without telling me?" I said with a frown. "Of course not" Grandma exclaimed as she walked towards me. She wrapped her arms around me and I did the same, dropping our hands at the same time, "Are you sure you don't want me to go with you?" Uncle Edward asked to Grandpa, "No, you are needed more here." Grandpa told him. "We'll be back by day after tomorrow" Grandma told us. That is on my birthday! With goodbyes to all they soon left, Dad went to drop them to the airport. "So" Aunt Alice started trying to cheer up our mood. "Today is the day!" she squealed. Renesmee's lips stretched into a grin while I groaned, "Is this necessary?" I asked frowning, "Yes" Aunt Alice stated with a heart melting smile. "Don't you want to see your clothes?" She asked grinning. Of course, if we had to go to the dance we had to be excited about the clothes as well. "Sure" I and Renesmee said in unison. Aunt Alice looked at Aunt Bella and Mom and the three of them dragged us in Aunt Alice's room.

Renesmee and I settled down on the bed and Aunt Alice danced to her closet with a grace far more well than any ballerina. Mom followed her and Aunt Bella stood near me and Renesmee. Aunt Alice and Mom walked out of the closet, Mom had two boxes of shoes, and Aunt Alice held two dress covers which were taller than her! She placed them both on the bed and mom placed the shoes boxes next to them. "So the right one is for Eleanor and the left one is for Renesmee" Aunt Alice said as she clapped her hand together in excitement. Renesmee and I looked at each other and then opened the dress covers. I had a dress of the shade of my favourite color. My dress was mauve with off shoulders net sleeves that only covered the ball of my shoulder and sweetheart neck. Under the bust was embroidery with shining silver stones. The gown was a full length gown with the part under the belt of embroidery made of net just like the sleeves. It looked gorgeous! I opened the shoe box and there were white open toe simple high heels.

"It is beautiful" I told Aunt Alice, "I know you would love it!" She said cheerfully. "I love mine even more!" Renesmee squealed. Aunt Alice gave her the face I—know—you— will grin. "Now there is one for thing for you" Aunt Alice said as she disappeared in her closet again, Renesmee and I looked at each other puzzled. She came out with three more dress covers! Had she bought the whole store? "Who are these for?" Renesmee asked pointing towards the covers, Aunt Alice handed Renesmee one and the other two to me as she instructed, "You are not to open them, these are for the boys, Jacob, Seth and Alec" "Will they take it?" Renesmee asked, "Seth will gladly, I have already talked to him" Aunt Alice said pointing one dress cover in my hand "But Jacob and Alec would be a problem" she completed.

"Who could be easily handled?" Renesmee asked crossing her fingers, "Jacob" Aunt Alice said with a smile and Renesmee relaxed with a sigh. "This is unfair!" I said, "He has imprinted on her, he will do anything that makes her happy" Mom told me. I stomped my feet liked a child.

I decided to first deal with the easy. Seth was always near the house we just had to call out for him. I stood near the woods with the dress cover. "Seth" I called out, it looked stupid as if I was talking to the trees. I waited for a few minutes but there was no reply. "Seth?" I called him again, "Waiting for the dog to show up?" Alec said for behind me. I turned to see him standing right behind me. "Stop startling me, it isn't funny" I told him, "Someone looks grumpy" he remarked, "I am not grumpy, I am just waiting for Seth" I told him with a sigh, He whistled and called out for Seth like a dog, I poked him in his ribs with my elbow and said "Don't do that" "What is that?" Alec asked as he moved his hand towards the dress cover but I stopped him, "No, it's for Seth" I told him and he immediately withdraw his hand. "Gift" he said with a smirk, "It's not a gift, Aunt Alice just bought – forget it" I said. Seth appeared from behind a tree wearing only jeans. "Doesn't he have a shirt?" Alec remarked with a groan. "Be nice" I told him with a smile. "Hey sunshine" Seth greeted me with a grin and Alec rolled his eyes. "Here" I said as I handed him the dress cover. "I thought Alice was just joking" Seth said shaking his head. "In matters of clothes, she never jokes" I stated as I raised my eyebrows and my lips curved in a smile. "What is that?" Alec asked again puzzled.

"That is something for me" Seth said in an annoyed tone. "I have something for you as well" I told Alec. "Say my thanks to Alice" Seth said with a grin, "Will do, and come on time, Aunt Alice will kill you otherwise" I warned Seth with a smile. "Don't worry, will be on time" he said and then disappeared behind the tree again. "What was that?" Alec asked as I pulled him with me in the house. "Shhh, don't ruin the surprise for you" I told him. He was hard to pull, I used all my strength but I knew he was coming with me because he wanted to otherwise I would have never been able to pull him up till my bedroom. I push him on my bed and he smirked, I couldn't help but blush and then roll my eyes, "sit down" I told him as I walked towards the closet.

I peeked from inside the closet and asked him, "you are coming to the prom right?" just so that we were on the same page he looked puzzled but nodded anyways, "what are you planning to wear?" I asked him and he shrugged. I disappeared in the closet and pulled out the dress cover that was meant for him. I slowly walked out of the closet and Alec stood up. "What is that?" he asked. "This is for you" I told him as I put the dress cover on the bed. "Eleanor, I can't take it from you" he said with a sigh, "Please" I pleaded and he shook his head, "well then I will just have to go with Seth then" I told him as I pushed my lower lip out and crossed my hands in front of my chest. "I will buy something" Alec said with a sigh. "You don't have to" I said as I looked away. "Were those clothes for your prom that you gave Seth?" he asked with a hint of jealousy in his voice. I smirked to myself but stayed serious when I looked at him, "Yes" I said with a straight face. "Do you think he will wear it?" he asked raising one of his eyebrows. "Well of course" I told him with a shrug. Alec sighed and said "Fine"

"You'll wear it?" I squealed, he nodded and said "only for you" "Thank you" I told him as I kissed his ice cold lips and he kissed me back. "Be on time" I told him as we parted our lips but stood near each other. "6:30 right?" he confirmed and I nodded. He gave a peck on my lips before walking away, "Alec" I called him and he looked at me, I pointed towards the dress cover and he shook his head with a smile before picking it up and walking out of the door. I sat on my bed and gave a sigh of relief. Well that was easy! I remarked to myself. I wondered how Renesmee had convinced Jacob. I pulled my cell phone out and saw that it was just 11. Renesmee had went to her place – the cottage and I had nothing to do. Homework completed, Renesmee nowhere in this house and nothing else that I would like to do right now. So I lied down in my bed and stretched. I picked up my earphones from the nightstand and plugged them in. Maybe I can go and read a novel in the backyard. I got up from the bed and took my cell phone with me and looked at the novels in my bookshelf. I picked up 'The invisible Man' by H.G. Wells and proceeded to the backyard.

I sat on the poach steps and put in the earphones in my ears and went through the playlist and played some random song. The song blasted through my ears and I opened the book. I started reading the first page of the novel when someone put their hand on my mouth; it was ice cold and hard, my eyes widened and my heart picked up speed. I tried to shout but I couldn't. The person turned out to be none other than Alec. I close my book and beat him with it once he released my mouth. That is no way to scare someone! I almost had a heart attack, he pulled out my earphones once I was done beating him and I heard laughter in the background, it was dad, Uncle Edward, Aunt Alice and Uncle Jasper's laugh, who were sitting on the couch enjoying the scene just as much as Alec. "You are crazy" I told him as I sighed, "I know" he replied with a wink.

"You have to stop scaring me or I will die of heart attack" I told Alec and turned to my book, he held my hand and I looked at him, "That's never going to happen" he stated seriously. "I am a mortal and I can get a heart attack" I told him as I stuck my tongue out. Alec rolled his eyes and looked away, "C'mon I was just joking" I told him. "You know I don't like these jokes" he told me, "She knows" Uncle Edward said. I looked at him and mouthed "Help me" and he just shrugged his shoulders, 'Wow great help' I thought and he chuckled, so I believed my message was received.

"I am sorry" I told Alec as I put my hand on his shoulder. His shoulder moved from under my hand and I narrowed my brown eyes in a straight line. "Well then I guess I will just have to go with Seth" I said slowly, trying to hold back my giggle. He turned towards me and with a flat voice he said "No" "You have to talk to me then" I told him in urgency. "I am talking to you" he said flatly again. "C'mon Alec, I am sorry besides –" I cut off mid-sentence, I was going to use the 'birthday' card but I realized that I wanted to see if he really remembered my birthday or not. "Besides?" he questioned curiously, "Nothing" I said with a shrug and I got up. "Besides what?" He said following my actions "Besides today is my first prom!" I said in a low voice with a frown. He knitted his eyebrows together and put his cold palm on my hot cheek, "Don't kiss her" Dad groaned from inside the living room, "I wasn't planning to" Alec replied still his palm on my cheek. "Don't frown" he told me with a sigh and I gave him a weak smile our eyes locked with each other's.

"Eleanor" Mom called from somewhere inside the house, "Right here" I replied breaking out of my trance. She suddenly appeared in the living room from nowhere! I stepped inside, Alec following me close by. "Eleanor, Renesmee's car broke down at La Push do you think you could go and pick her up?" Mom asked, she was asking me to go alone. I narrowed my eyes "When did Renesmee go to La Push?" I asked and she looked around. Something was fishy, "Eh, I don't know – she just called" She said slowly. "And you are asking me to go alone?" I said slowly, and she nodded. "I don't even have a car!" I pointed out, "You can take my car" Aunt Alice offered. Wow something was reallyfishy. "I'll come with you" Alec offered, mom threw him a glare and he said "maybe not" very slowly. "What's going on?" I asked looking between mom and Alec and Aunt Alice. "Nothing" they said in unison.

"I don' believe you" I said "but since I am getting Aunt Alice's car I don't care I guess" I squealed. "Just for now" Aunt Alice said rising her eyebrows. "What if I bring it back safely?" I offered. "We'll see" she said with a grin, and I grinned back. "I am going with her right?" Alec asked mom, "Fine" mom said giving up. I looked at Alec and he was looking like a boy who had been just given a candy. "Don't hang around there for long" Mom instructed me softly. "I'll come right back" I said with a smile, "No! Stay there for a while" Aunt Alice said in urgency, "If you want – I mean" She continued. I shook my head and kept my book on the table. "Let's go" I told Alec and he followed me out.

We were about to reach La Push when suddenly I heard a bust of one of the tyre. With a jerk the car stopped, I and Alec looked at each other, "Oh, God" I sighed. I opened the driver's door and got out of the car. The wheel on my side looked fine, "It's this one" Alec said looking at the wheel on his side. I ran to his side and saw the flat tyre. I light groan escaped my lips, with a sigh I opened the back trunk of the car and shook my head. Great! I thought. "I'll help you" Alec said coming next to me. "It's fine" I told him absentmindedly. I pulled out the spare wheel and the tool kit of the car. The wheel was heavier than I expected! I had seen dad changing a wheel twice or thrice and I had a fair idea of what to do. "You don't have to do it" Alec said walking by me as I rolled the wheel to the front of the car. "I can't tell you to change the wheel while I sit in the car" I told him softly. "I can do it faster than you" he said and flashed a grin. I narrowed my eyes and with a chuckle I told him "Challenge accepted"

I started by losing the bolts of the wheel. It was hard, harder than I expected. By just losing one bolt I was tiered, "Want help?" Alec asked as he stood towering over me his hands crossed over his chest. "No" I said going back to what I was doing. I was already panting when I heard the clouds gathered in the sky with a thunder. "It's about to rain" Alec sang, "I can hear it" I said in the same tone. "C'mon" he said desperately. "Just the last one left" I told him losing the last bolt. "Now" I said sighing. I pushed the lock of my hair out of my vision. Alec chuckled as I tucked the Jack under the car, "What?" I said looking at him with suspiciously. "You got dirt on your forehead" he answered sitting next to me. I gave up and panted. The sky roared again, loudly this time, I looked above and saw that the grey clouds had covered the sky completely and it had even started raining slowly, just a few showers. "Now let me do it" Alec said.

As promised he was faster than me. He did all the working from changing the wheel to putting everything back in the truck in less than 5 minutes which would have taken centuries with the speed I was handling everything. Even after that speedy work I and Alec were soaked up in rain, since he was changing the wheel and I was cheering up for him – literally. The only time I was quite was when he showed off by lifting the car up without the jack. Although it was impressive I still rolled my eyes and mocked, "Show off" I had remarked and he smirked.

When we got to La Push, Renesmee had ranted about how I ruined my clothes when I could have let Alec do the work alone. I didn't say anything and took it in after all she didn't know how much I enjoyed it. But my happiness only lasted till I hadn't sneezed. With that Renesmee's never ending lecture started. I just shook my head and chuckled which got me in more trouble. I swear we looked like mother and daughter, a mother scolding her daughter. Alec drove the car silently to the house although I could tell from his face that he was putting every ounce of self-control from not tearing up laughing at Renesmee, so did I.

A/N: Hey all,

Got a new review from anonymous! Thanks a lot anonymous since I didn't got to sent you a private message to you I would like to thank you here! So here is a new update and I would really really be happy if you silent readers just leave a small review telling me you liked it or not. It will take just a minute, I swear! :) Waiting for some response. -fingers crossed- :D

-JT