A/N: Hello ladies :) I am deeply sorry for the time it took to get this next chapter out! School has been crazy, and I've been quite ill so it's been a bit hectic! For the next chapter, I'm going to say that it'll be out Saturday. I'm not going to promise it any sooner with the way things are at the moment! Anyways. Thanks SO much for the reviews so far, and I got so many favourite story/alerts since the last chapter, it makes me so happy! This is somewhat of a filler. Big and exciting things are going to happen in this story, I have some amazing ideas, I'm just not rushing into anything! So I hope you enjoy, and do please continue with the reviews, its awesome! :) Lauren xo.

Oh, I see it when you smile.

Chapter 9 –Need for speed.

Before I fall too fast
Kiss me quick
But make it last
So i can see how badly this will hurt me
When you say good bye
- Demi Lovato, Catch Me.

It had been a long day.

It was Monday evening, a week after my parents second wedding, they would be returning from they're second honeymoon tonight. It has also been a week since Jacob and I had decided to stay friends, for the time being.

So far, it had been going okay. There had been a few moments of weakness, a few looks that lasted a lot longer than normal, a few lingering touches. It was kind of exciting though. Especially with Dad not being around to read either of our thoughts.

I was walking through the car park. School had just finished and I was looking forward to go home and spend some time with everyone before my parents arrived. I ignored the stares. It had been happening all week. Word had gotten around of what had happened at the party last week, and I was the object of every student's fascination.

Taylor linked her arm with mine and gave it a squeeze.

"Ignore them Ness. You'll be old news by the end of the week." She smiled.

I couldn't help but smile back. Taylor had certainly stepped up to the role of 'best friend' this week. She had stuck by me through all the not-so-subtle whispers, and the even more obvious stares. Unlike Lilly. She had avoided me all week. At first I thought it had been because of the un-doubtable shame from what her cousin had done. Turns out, she was angry because of what Jacob had done to Liam. Some people need a good psychological check if you ask me.

Laughing to herself, she added "Someone is bound to fuck up and embarrass themselves at the talent show. I'm telling you! It happens every year."

I groaned. I had been somewhat excited about performing in front of an audience for the first time, that was until the one person I truly wanted to be there, told me he wasn't going to be able to make it.

"Nessie, I told you I was sorry. You know I can't ditch pack business. Especially not now." Jacob sighed, running his fingers through his already tousled hair.

We were in the kitchen of the cottage. I was sitting at the breakfast bar while he paced back and forth.

He had just explained that another teenage boy down at the reservation had phased, and no one knew why. He was starting to get out of control so all of Jacob's pack were going to take him away for a couple of days.

"Where are you guys going to go? Why can't you just train him, or whatever it is you do, down at La Push?" I complained.

"It's not that easy Ness. We need to go farther away. We're going to cross that river down at the 'rez, and go far into the woods that side, It's at least three hours from here. We're going to need a lot of space for teaching him, and we're far enough from anyone if he tries to run. He's really angry Nessie."

I was worried. Jacob had told me how dangerous new wolves could be, just like newborn vampires.

"Jake, what if things get out of hand? What if someone gets hurt? What if you get hurt?"

He crossed the room in an instant, spinning my stool around so I was facing him, then embracing me in his toned arms. I nestled my head against his chest, trying to block the awful images of Jacob getting hurt from my head.

"That's not going to happen. I can't get hurt. Y'know why? 'Cause I've got you to come home to." He ran his hand along my back and I blushed. "Plus there's like five of us and one of him. It'll be fine. I promise."

I nodded, letting his feeling of warmth flow through me as he hugged me tighter.

"I'm just sorry I'm missing your show Nessie, I feel awful."

"S'okay Jake. I know you've more important things to do. It's fine."

He pulled back, searching my eyes with his.

"Nessie." He sighed. "When will you get it into that pretty head of yours that you are the most important thing in my life? These are just minor speed bumps or something. I've told you before, it's always you."

"When are you leaving? And when will you be back?" I whispered.

"Tuesday. And if all goes to plan, I'll be there to pick you up from school on Friday."

The talent show was Wednesday. Just great.

I sighed deeper. Maybe over-dramatizing it just a little. "I'll miss you Jake."

"I'll miss you too Ness. I'll be thinking of you every minute, every hour, every day."

"Nessie? Anyone in there?"

Taylor waved her hand in front of my face and it snapped me back to reality. We were standing in front of her car, a small blue mini. She had offered to drive me home.

"Oh, sorry." I giggled along with her as we got into her car.

"Are you worrying because I mentioned the talent show?"

I nodded. I was only half lying.

"Renesmee Cullen! You stop that right now." She grinned at me. "You know your going to be amazing, so stop. Every little thing is gonna' be alright!" She sang the last bit. I laughed, shaking my head at her.

I sure did hope so.

~**~

I decided to go to the cottage first. I needed to change from my gym clothes before I went to visit my family at the main house. I knew none of my Aunts or Uncles would hug me, not when I had the slightest smell of perspiration on me. I laughed to myself as I walked inside the empty cottage. It felt with my parents not being there. I had missed them.

I dropped my bag onto the sofa before skipping up the couple of steps towards my room. I was still mesmerized by the beauty of this cottage. To think that my Grandma Esme had designed all of this, it was amazing.

The ground floor consisted of an open plan living room and kitchen, with a small arched hallway, that led to my parent's master bedroom.

There was a small set of steps, eight in total, that led to the upstairs. The top floor was mostly mine. To the left was my bedroom and bathroom. The right side had one room. A study-music-lounge room that the three of us spend a lot of time in. Mostly because of the small balcony that adjoined the room. From there, you could see the main house, all of the gardens, the forest and the small river behind the house, and on a clear day; the most beautiful sun rises and sun sets I'd ever seen. A beautiful flurry of pinks, oranges and reds lay over the sky on most mornings and evenings. When I was younger, Jacob used to take me out on the balcony most mornings before he'd tuck me into bed. He didn't do it anymore though.

My bedroom in the cottage was pretty similar to the one at the main house. It was a deep purple in colour, with cream drapes. It contained a wardrobe even bigger than my other; I didn't even know that was possible. A huge four post bed lay to one side with array of brightly coloured pillows neatly placed on it. Each side of the bed, there was two small bed side lockers. There was a cream loveseat under the bay window, a desk filled with books and CD's in one corner, with a dressing table in another. Using all the photographs I had collected over the years, I had arranged them all into a heart shape that was placed on the wall, directly over my bed; my favourite thing in the room. Waking up to my family, friends and Jacobs smiling faces was a major plus.

I sat down at the dressing table first. I groaned. I looked paler than usual, my eyes had slightly changed colour; I needed to hunt. As much as I loved human food, thanks to Jacob, it was inevitable that I was going to need blood a couple of times a month.

I ran my fingers through my hair, easing out any knots that had formed during the day. I quickly gathered all my curls into a messy bun before dusting my cheeks in a light rose coloured blush.

I skipped quickly over to the wardrobe and chose a pair of denim skinny jeans and an off-the-shoulder purple sweater, followed by a pair of fluffy pink slippers in the shape of pigs. I giggled at the sight, remembering when Uncle Emmett had arrived home with them for me.

Speaking of Emmett, where is that big oaf?

~**~

What is it with boys and their toys? I just can't seem to figure out why the simple sight of a games console can make a grown man go weak at the knees. Scratch that. Why is it that the simple sight of a games console can make a grown vampire weak at the knees? It baffles me.

"So green means…go right?"

I was sat in between Jasper and Emmett on the sofa in the boys den at the main house. The words 'Need for Speed' flashed across the widescreen, and even after the tenth time of them trying to explain the game to me, I was still a little lost.

"Yeah Ness." Emmett rolled his eyes. "How do you expect to ever drive in real life kid if you can't even manage a pretend one? You do know green means go on a traffic light too right?" He laughed.

I scoffed and looked towards Jasper for support.

His small smirk began to grow. "Don't worry Nessie. Emmett's just worried he's gonna' be beat by a newcomer, seeing as he's been beat down by everyone else already. Including Esme."

I laughed, nudging Emmett's broad shoulder with mine. It barely moved him.

"Ha! Now that's embarrassing. Come on. Let's get my victory over and done with." I poked my tongue out at him before turning to the screen once more.

The screen flashed as mine and Emmett's fingers came down hard on the controllers. Our fingers danced from one button to the next, pressing down on the buttons more than once in hopes that it would somehow make the car's go even faster. It didn't.

I squealed as the purple Audi TT I had designed sped past Emmett's car that was crashed into the wall. I felt my actions getting more animated and soon enough it looked like I was actually involved in a high speed race.

The words 'Player 2 has won the game.' highlighted on the now blank screen. I screamed. Throwing my arms around Jasper, he squeezed me tight. We were both laughing so much; it sort of drowned out the sounds of Emmett's complaints.

"What the hell! No! Not again! No!"

Trying to catch my breath, I pulled away from Jasper.

"Oh Emmett, your face was priceless! Aha! Now judging by that I think I'll be a pretty badass driver, thank you very much."

I smirked and got off the sofa.

"Now if you'll both excuse me gentlemen, I've got some bragging to do."

And with that, I skipped off, but not before pausing for a high five with Jasper.

Victory against Emmett felt good.

~**~

"Tis torture and not mercy. Heaven is here, where Juliet lives, and every cat and dog and little mouse, every unworthy thing, live here in heaven and may look on her, but Romeo may not."

I stopped reading from the novel in my hands and looked up. Grandpa Carlisle was seated across from me on the second sofa with Grandma Esme curled into his side. Her eyes were closed and a smile flittered across her delicate features. We were in the living room and to my Grandparents request, I was reading to them. Something we hadn't done in a while.

"Something the matter sweetie?" Carlisle asked as his eyes met mine from across the room.

I sighed and began to pick at the frayed corners of the book.

"It's just – This makes me really sad you know, to think that even though everyone knew how strong they're feelings were for each other, they still wouldn't allow Romeo and Juliet to see each other. It's just scary I guess."

I felt stupid. As I had been reading for the past half hour, Jacob was all that had been in my mind. Our story was complicated but nowhere near as awful as that of Romeo and Juliet's. But what if it had been like that? Which it easily could of. What if my family had decided to up and leave the minute they found out Jacob had imprinted on me? Or made him leave once our feelings started to change for each other? I shuddered.

"What are you thinking about honey? Jacob?" Esme had opened her eyes and was looking straight at me. I blushed. It was sort of awkward discussing my love life with my Grandparents, even when they were Carlisle and Esme.

"Yes." I whispered before biting my lip and looking out of the tall window.

They shared a knowing smile before Carlisle got up and left the living room.

"Let's talk Renesmee, darling. What's bothering you? I thought you and Jacob had somewhat sorted things out." She rose from her seat and stepped gracefully to the loveseat I was on. Esme picked up my legs and sat down, placing them back onto her lap.

"I don't know Nan. I just – I know that we're waiting, until the time is absolutely right but I'm just afraid. I'm afraid of losing him, I really am."

Esme stroked my legs gently, it was calming.

"Honey. You are not going to lose him. Not now, not ever. I've never, ever seen two people that were more made for each other. Honest. Taking your time is the best thing you can do right now. It'll make you respect it all more, cherish it more. Cherish him more. Baby, everything is going to work out."

"Thank you Esme, honestly, I don't know what'd happen if you weren't always for me. I know I don't always act like it but I love you. I love you so much."

I flung myself forward, wrapping my arms around her thin neck and letting the book slide off my lap. She laughed softly into my hair and hugged me tighter.

"I love you too Renesmee, my angel."

Carlisle soon came back into the room. He leaned against the doorframe and smiled at us.

"I'm sorry to interrupt ladies, but the wolves are home."

I felt my stomach jump.

Carlisle, Esme and I all walked together, towards the sudden burst of noise coming from the kitchen. I slowed down slightly, letting my Grandparents enter the room first. I heard Carlisle greet the boys and Esme let them know that food was coming. This earned her some cheers.

I entered next. Why did I suddenly feel nervous?

Seth, Embry, and Colin stood in an almost perfect line against the tall windows in the kitchen. They all looked tired, yet ruggedly handsome. Then at the end of the line, stood my Jacob.

His short hair was tousled, standing up at every angle. Sweat glistened across his bare chest, while his denim cut-offs hung dangerously low.

I was greeted by a chorus of Hey Nessie by the boys. His eyes met mine.

"Nessie." He beamed and crossed the kitchen in a couple of long strides.

His arms wrapped themselves tightly around my waist and I soon found my head cuddling into one of my favourite spots, where Jacobs neck met his shoulder. I heard Seth laugh out an aww noise while Embry pretended to gag.

I laughed as I felt Jacob tense. Embry would get it later.

"I'm not staying Ness. I've got to go help Dad with something before I leave tomorrow. I'm sorry. Come say 'bye to me at the door?" He whispered. My stomach sank instead of my usual butterflies. I wouldn't be seeing Jacob until Friday. Three whole days. I forced out a nod and stood back to watch him. He planted a kiss on Esme's cheek to thank her for the food he wouldn't be getting to eat. He directed some orders towards the boys, who were only half paying attention. They all agreed and waved him off.

I let him wrap his arm around my waist as we walked towards the main door.

Once we reached the porch, we stood opposite each other, no one speaking a word.

"I feel pathetic because I'm going to miss you so much." I whispered and he looked at me, his eyes pained.

"Nessie don't say that. You're not pathetic. I'm going to miss you more than I can even explain. I'll be thinking of you until I get back." He stood closer and pulled me towards him. I let my body relax against his as he placed light kisses into my hair.

"You'll be careful right? Please Jacob. I need you to come back in one-perfect-Jacob piece." His chest vibrated as he laughed.

"Of course babe. I can't leave you. Not now, not ever." He whispered before pulling back. Our eyes locked and for a moment, it felt like we were going to break our 'just friends' rule.

"I'll call you. I'll be seeing you Ness." He smiled and planted a small kiss, just to the right of my lips.

He pulled away and jumped down the three steps. I missed his warmth already.

"Love ya Jake." I managed to call and he blew me a kiss before heading towards the woods.

This was going to be one long week.