Chapter 28- Cognizance
Everything was back to somewhat normal, better than normal as I sat next to Phillip laughing at a joke from Ness in the lunchroom.
It had been weeks since my "dehydration episode" and I was feeling much better. Carlisle was right, the lack of blood was the cause of my problems and I was back to normal by the time I came back from the hunt. I was able to successfully use all of my talents without feeling the slightest bit of dizziness.
The coven in Denali arrived safely to the Cullen house with no problems. They listened to the different stories of what happened from the beginning and accepted what was coming as an inevitability. Kate and her mate Garrett both took an instant liking to me and Carmen as well. Eleazar eventually gave in when Carmen wasn't afraid. It was the strawberry-blonde haired sister Tanya, that I had the most problems with. Her problems mostly stemmed from not wanting me to be involved with what has happening. She felt they didn't need help from someone beneath them, that wasn't even a full vampire. She saw me as no different than Jacob and Seth, in which she tolerated only because her extended family befriended them. It didn't bother me and soon even she got over herself enough to be civil even though she still felt like the "real vampires" should do the fighting.
Everyone was well underway in working on extending their talents. Bella was able to do a fitting shield over half of the fighters and hold it for several minutes before it flickered out. Edward was able to extend commands within a small group but no more than five. Kate was slowly getting better at pushing her electric current off of her skin, it was only a matter of months before she would be able to shoot it directly at individuals. Jasper, Zafrina, and Maggie were already close to maximizing their abilities before I met them so they needed no help from me. Benjamin was able to cloud the sunny sky over head as everyone practiced, soon he would be stronger. I practiced with them everyday except for Friday and Saturday nights, those were reserved for Phillip.
He was being so easy about everything. He never asked me who I spent most of my days with even though I knew he was dying to know. He would ask me to demonstrate the talents that I picked up from my "special friends" he called them. I showed him simple ones like the shields, visions, the mental conversations, even the weather control, but refused when he wanted to see the zapping. I wouldn't zap him that was out of the question. Christmas was in another two weeks and we were already ahead of schedule progress wise for our spring deadline.
"Staci's staring holes through you again Asima." Ness said in a hushed smile looking over at the table where she sat along with Ashley and Morgan. Her brow furrowed when she noticed a new addition to the table, "Hmm, I wonder why Chelsea is with them? I thought they hated each other."
I looked into Ness's head to keep from turning my head, and sure enough Chelsea was there looking like a regular part of their coterie. "Oh well," Phillip shrugged putting his arm around me not caring. "Am I still coming over today to work on that World History project?"
"Sure I have some time before I have to run some errands." I answered knowing that he would understand what I meant.
"Do you guys mind if I come, I need to work on mine too, and it's boring doing it alone." Ness asked not wanting to intrude.
"Sure." I said quickly pushing away my tray. That made Phillip raise an eyebrow. He didn't know that Ness knew my secret nor did he know that her family was the one that I was protecting, she didn't know about him knowing either so it was an even trade to me.
"Cool, what country are you guys doing anyway?" She asked not noticing Phillip's expression.
"England seems easy enough." I said taking a sip of my bottled water. "How about you?"
"Spain." She answered smiling. I knew she already had the project done like me. "How about you Phil?"
"Egypt." He said proudly.
Ness's eyes widened and smiled. "Well Asima can help you with that one."
Phil returned the smile. "She's all about Egyptian history." I could hear the hidden meaning in his words.
Ness smiled again, he has no idea how close he is.
I shared a conspiratorial smile with both of them and finished off my water. I must have finished it quicker than I normally did because Phillip glanced at me worrying. "Are you okay?" He asked examining my eyes for a hint of darkness. He was quickly at ease when he saw that they were still the brilliant emerald that they were when I came back from the last hunting trip.
"Thirsty?" Ness asked wondering the same thing. It's been almost two weeks do we need to schedule you to go sooner? She didn't want me to go too long without blood again.
I shook my head at her widening my eyes so that she could see the color, she too was immediately at ease. "Come on guys lunch is over." I said scooting back from the table and grabbing my tray.
I was having a mental conversation with Ness in calculus when my phone buzzed letting me know I had a text message.
Do you need me to take Ness home today while you do your vampire stuff? If so I need to get gas before I go to your house so I will be late.
He knew she rode with me for school today, she offered her car to help with the transportation for the hunting trip today.
I can take her when I leave. Thanks but its on the way.
Literally on the way.
Who's that? Ness asked wondering if there was something wrong at her house and checking her phone for a message too.
Just Phillip. I said quickly before her imagination got too far.
Ness and I drove to my house going seventy miles per hour. I would have gone faster if I wasn't worried that Phillip would crash trying to keep up. He was pulling into the driveway when we were walking into the house. I left the front door open and ran with inhuman speed upstairs to change into a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. I could hear him ask Ness where I was as I was throwing my shirt over my head.
I ran inhuman speed to the end of the stairs and walked normally around the corner. "Here I am." I smiled, "just changing."
Ness gave me a cautious look, Be careful Asima. Normal speed.
I gave her a subtle nod before wrapping my arms around Phillip's neck and standing on my toes to kiss him.
"Alright, enough you two, let's get to work." Ness said carrying her bag into the living room and sitting on the sofa.
Our projects were already done, but with our constant goofing off Phillip barely got any progress on his. Not that he was upset, he was goofing off too. "Oh well we still have a little over a week before Christmas vacation so I have time." He sighed throwing his pencil down on the coffee table in-between the encyclopedia and shutting it.
"Have you gone Christmas shopping yet?" Ness asked Phillip.
I didn't hear his answer because I was already gone. All I saw was what was in my head. Kate, Tanya, Carmen, and Esme, were all back from hunting earlier today.
I could see Edward's Volvo pulling into the Cullens' driveway with Bella, Alice, Edward, and Jasper arriving now.
Ness called them earlier letting them know that she would be with me until I came over.
Emmett met them at the car. "You're all back early." He said with his hand's in his pockets. Alice and Jasper exited the car quickly and ran into the house.
"Ready to combine what we've learned." Bella said anxiously getting out of the car. "Did Asima and Renesmee make it yet?" Edward got out and walked over to the passenger door to put his arm around Bella.
"Not here yet," he answered. "They weren't expecting you all back for another few hours." I could tell by the way he fidgeted that he was anxious as well.
"We can go get her." Bella suggested. "I want to see Renesmee, I haven't seen her in days." She looked at Edward hopeful.
Edward could never deny Bella what she wanted. "Let's go." he said running back over to the driver's side and getting in.
"I'm coming too." Emmett said blurring into the backseat.
I watched them reverse out of the driveway before I was snapped back to normal.
"Asima…." Ness snapped her fingers impatiently in front of my face to get my attention.
"Oh sorry. What?" I said shaking my head.
Phillip knew what was happening, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah sorry, lost in thought…" I let it trail off.
What did you see? Ness asked looking back at the television.
No biggie, your parents are back from hunting early and are coming over with Emmett.
Oh, okay. Her expression was the normal excitement as she flipped through the channels.
Phillip got my attention and tapped his temple which was his signal to give me permission to read his mind. You were seeing the future right? What did you see?
Nothing to worry about honey. Ness's family is just coming to pick her up in a few minutes.
He relaxed when he realized it was nothing. Oh… alright. I love you.
I smiled and held his hand. I love you too. I tuned out his thoughts after that. Thirteen minutes exactly I heard the slight purr of Edward's Volvo pulling into my driveway.
When the sound was close enough for even Phillip's human ears to hear Ness got up with fake curiosity for Phillip's sake. "Someone is in you're driveway." She walked over to the window by the door and peered out. "It's my sister and her husband." She announced opening the door.
I could hear Edward warning Emmett and Bella in quiet whispers under the slamming car door. "Asima's boyfriend is here too."
"I'm going to go get some juice from the kitchen." he said getting up.
"You know where it is." I sighed getting up and going to the foyer.
"Hey Edward, Bella, Emmett. Come in, we were just doing homework." I invited walking back into living room.
"You can meet Asima's boyfriend too." Ness said laughing. Then in a low whispered to Emmett. "Looks like you owe Jasper some money."
Emmett rolled his eyes, "Not yet, she still has two years to change¾Hey!"
I gave him a very small shock, Not around Phillip. And I'm NOT changing my mind.
Edward let out a single chuckle. "Be nice."
Bella wrapped her free arm around Ness sitting on the couch next to Edward. Emmett sat on the loveseat where Phillip and I were sitting just a minute ago.
I could hear Phillip rinsing out his glass and decided to meet him in the doorway. "Phillip, come meet some of Ness's family." I said walking in.
"Sure," he smiled drying the dish and putting it back in the cabinet. I grabbed his hand and led him proudly back out to the front room. "Phillip this is Bella, her husband Edward and his brother Emmett." I pointed them all out individually.
I could hear Phillip's voice through Edward's mind. They are all so beautiful...
Emmett stood to extend his hand to shake and I noticed that Phillip slightly positioned himself in between Emmett and I. Phillip didn't take his hand, and looked around the room slowly. Edward stiffened when Phillip's thoughts processed through his mind.
Wait, no. They are too beautiful. Like the Agulahs Asima described in her story…They are…vampires…
He knows about us? Edward half screamed into my head.
What's wrong with your guy Asima? Emmett asked dropping his hand.
"He knows what we are Emmett." Edward told him mentally.
"Can you guys excuse us just a second?" I said grabbing his hand again and gently tugging him into the kitchen.
He let me pull him away but couldn't take his eyes off of the them. "Are they vampires?" he whispered as soon as were through the double push doors.
I sighed, I had no doubt that all of them could hear. "Yes, they are." I whispered loud enough for him to hear me even though the others could too.
"Why didn't you tell me that Ness's family were vampires?" he said in another franticly loud whisper.
"Because you said that I didn't have to tell you." I reminded him of out first conversation on the subject.
"Wait¾So they are your friends¾the ones you like?" He said putting it together more still whispering.
"Yes these are the one's like me. And yes they are my friends." I said in a calm tone.
"Do they know that I know?" he asked without distress.
"They do now." I said leaning against the counter. "They have better hearing than me." I reminded him. I tapped my temple with my index finger slowly. "Not to mention Edward."
"He's where you got it from." He said in realization not bothering to whisper anymore. He was thinking for a moment before he asked the next question. "So what do you want me to do? What will make this easier for you?"
I was taken off guard, and I could tell that the eavesdroppers in the other room were surprised too. "Well, Carlisle already knows that you know about me, and vampires in general for that matter."
He raised his eyebrows confused, "I'm sorry… Carlisle?"
"Oh sorry. He is the leader of their family, well more like a father than anything."
"So that's Ness's dad?" he asked to gain clarity.
"No, Edward and Bella are Ness's parents." I heard Edward's warning thought that I was probably giving him too much information so I quickly changed the subject, "Never mind. That is another story entirely, one that isn't mine to tell. The main thing is that they are my friends, vampires or not I don't have many that I can give that title too."
"Come on." He said sighing and grabbing my hand and pulling it towards the door.
I was confused, so I stood in place even though he pulled with a little more force. "Where are we going?"
"I want you to formally introduce me to your friends." he smiled pulling harder. This time I let my feet move.
I held his hand as we entered the living room again. I could feel his anxiety and the tension stemming from the others, all except for Ness. Ness sat between her parents smug and smiling. I knew that he would accept her regardless.Here eyes cut to me directly. You are in trouble for not telling me.
I didn't comment on her remark, I was only focused on Phillip not freaking out and having a heart attack. "Bella, Edward, Emmett, this is Phillip. Phillip these are my friends."
"Hello." he choked out.
"Hello Phillip." Bella spoke gently trying not to scare him.
He slowly lifted his arm and extended his hand out to her. Bella looked at me checking if it was too much for him, and I shrugged. She got off of the sofa slowly and shook his hand. He flinched slightly at the temperature but then he seemed a little more at ease. "N-nice to meet you."
"Same." she replied still low.
Edward stood slowly beside her and extended his hand. "Nice to meet you Phillip." His voice was more controlled.
Phillip nodded, " Nice to meet you too."
Emmett stood and his fear retuned slightly. "Sup?" he said reaching to shake his hand. I laughed at his casualness.
"Sup?" Phillip repeated.
Ness jumped up off the couch and used hurried speed to approach us. "Renesmee," Bella warned.
"Mom it's okay, I'm sure he's seen Asima fly through this house a thousand times by now." She justified.
He nodded agreeing. We all sat back down and they listened intently about how he was able to put together the pieces about me and my life through the story and just knowing me. When the story wrapped up it as almost six and we needed to get back to our daily practices.
"So this is it now," Phillip said as I walked him to his car. "no more secrets."
"No more secrets." I promised giving him a long kiss before watching him get in his car and drive away.
Emmett decided to ride with Ness and I on the way back. I was thankful that they had gone through this all before with Bella, it helped them to be more understanding to Phillip and I and it felt good to have no more secrets between the my friends and the love of my life.
