Disclaimer: I own Keith. That's pretty much it. Credit to Steph. [again, I was too lazy to come up with a funny one. XP]
Chapter Ten
First Date
I checked myself in the long mirror. To Alice's and Rose's dismay, I was simply wearing jeans and a blouse. I smiled at my reflection. I slipped on my flats, and went down stairs. Skye and Kendall had passed on the offer. They already had shopping plans. Mom and Dad waited for me at the bottom of the stairs.
"Oh, you look pretty Nessie." Mom said in a mom-ish way.
"Thanks Mom. But I didn't dress up that much." I said, spinning so she could see the full 360 degrees.
Dad gingerly placed a hand on the locket that was around my head. "More than my own life." he whispered so softly, I could barely hear. Then he examined more closely than Mom did. "Something's off." he said. Then he gently reached out for my right wrist. It was bare. I blushed.
"Your bracelet?" He asked.
"Oh, please Dad," I said. "It doesn't go with my outfit."
"It never goes with anything." Mom said. "Like, say, your pajamas. You wear that bracelet in your sleep. Since when have you not been wearing it?"
"Since this afternoon, okay?" I said. "It doesn't feel like he's going to come back soon. And--it being a promise bracelet-- it's not like I'm all of a sudden lose my virginity to Keith."
"Are you absolutely sure you don't want to wear it?" Mom asked. I noticed she was toying with the charm bracelet around her wrist. Of course!, I thought, Mom has that bracelet with those two charms; one from Jake and one from Dad. I noticed Dad nod slightly.
"Yes, I'm sure." I said. "Keith will be here any minute, so I'm okay."
I walked around them and went to look behind the doors champagne colored curtains. Sure enough, a pair of headlights were driving up.
"He's driving up." I squealed.
"And of course your mother and I already knew that being vampires and all." Dad laughed.
"Speaking of which, Mr. and Mrs. Vampire," I said. "Dad, your supposed to be my brother, and Mom, your supposed to be my adopted sister. Therefore, please, please, please, don't attack Keith and go all Parental Mode."
"Don't worry about me sweetheart." Mom said, "Worry about your father."
He rolled his eyes. "Please, Bella." Footsteps came up the porch steps. Thud, thud, Thud, thud. Ding-Dong.
Dad was suddenly at the door, and opened it before I could. "Oh, hey Keith." He said casually.
"Hey, Edward." he said. They touched knuckles.
Seriously, Dad, must you? I said through my thoughts. I stepped in front of him. "Hi Keith."
"Hey Nessie. You ready?" Keith asked.
"Yeah. I told you Skye and Kendall couldn't come right?" I said.
"Yeah." He said. "Better get going. The guys are waiting." He nodded his head to Edward, leaned around to wave at my Mom and took my hand down the stairs. I turned around and waved with my free hand.
"After you, my lady." He said in a fake accent, opening the passenger door.
"Why, thank you." I said, stepping in.
He chuckled and hustled around the car to the driver's side. He opened the door, and we drove off.
***
"Nessie, this is Matt, Dallas, his girlfriend Paige, and Cyrus." Keith said introducing me to the others. I had seen them around school, and it was good to match a face to a name.
"And I presume you all know Miss Cullen." He said.
"Renesmee right?" Paige asked.
"Nessie, for short." I said.
"Either way, it's a beautiful name." Cyrus said.
"Thanks," I said, just as the waiter came to our table. We were at an Italian restaurant, and I ordered a small pasta. I felt comfortable with Keith and his friends. It was fun to be out with other people.
After they called for the check, I excused myself from the table. I went to the restroom. I checked my hair, makeup and outfit, making sure I looked alright. I smiled, and my reflection smiled back. Alright, Nessie, I told myself, You are, for once, being normal. Forget Jacob for now and relax. I took a deep breath, and went out the door and back to the table.
When I returned, they were getting up. "You guys paid?" I asked.
"You can thank Matt." Dallas said.
"I could have helped pay." I said, thinking about the hundred dollar bill in my purse.
"Don't sweat it Nessie," Keith said. "You think your Dad would mind if we head over to my place first? We're not doing anything bad, it's just Dallas and Cyrus left their cars there and carpooled here with Matt. I could just drop you off first if you want."
"No, it's fine." I said. "Carlisle wouldn't mind."
"Okay." He replied. He turned to the guys. "You guys okay with riding together again? Or Do any of you guys want to ride with me and Nessie?"
"You two ride together." Paige said before any of the boys could. "We're alright with that. Right guys?"
The boys mumbled in agreement. I giggled. Keith put an arm around my shoulders, and led me off to the parking lot. He opened the door for me again, and climbed around to his side of the car. Looking up at the full moon, I breathed in deep, as we pulled up to a development house, and parked in the drive.
I don't know what to say! I guess I'm not getting as much reviews as I would like, and that I'm cranking out chapters one after another! Again, check out my lame poster, and leave a review! ~Sparkel
