Chapter 36: Sumptuous Smile (Ness & Jake's POV)

Nessie:

Taebhu was staying for a while to make sure the bag of leaves did their job. I thought about cheating, but Dad would figure it out. I almost felt like a prisoner all over again. They watched my every move except when I went for my runs.

I tried not to be the annoying teenage stalker and give Taebhu the chance to know my family and my home. Dad showed him the garden out back. After a while I joined them in the garden. Uncle Emmett graciously stayed to interpret. It was his new job as long as Tae was around. He was telling Dad about the government in Africa and how much it has changed over the last century. Tae explained his roll in Africa and how his family continues to help maintain peace in the area. Apparently, the vampire population is on the rise, meaning too many human killings. It's his families job to protect the African people.

"The tribe we visited?" Dad asked. "Is that why they are accepting of us?"

Tae smiled and nodded, "That tribe has been around along time. They are well aware of the vampires and the history. Their tribe alone faced many casualties. Kendra grew up on those stories and when she saw your brother and Rose, she knew what they were. She did not run from them out of fear, but excitement. To befriend a vampire in those parts is a great honor because of my families influence."

It was getting late and their conversation was nowhere near winding down. Another thing I discovered that had not changed was my ability to sleep. My yawns were getting more numerous and harder to disguise. Tae would look at me each time with a smile. Dad glanced at me a few times before insisting that I go to bed. They made me feel like a child and I hated that.

"I should head to bed as well; it's been a long day." Uncle Emmett interpreted. "Please make sure she drinks another cup before bed and first thing in the morning. I'll come back and check on her then." He said as he shook Dad's hand.

I stood at the back door watching Uncle Emmett and Tae leave.

"She's changed a lot." he said over his shoulder to us. Uncle Emmett didn't translate and I wondered what Tae said. Dad made me another cup of bitter tea. Tae was staying in Dad's old room. Busy room, I thought sipping my tea.

"He seems so nice." I finally said curling my arms up around my head resting across the countertop.

"You like him a lot." Dad said as Mom came into the kitchen sitting on the stool next to me. She gently rubbed her fingertips up and down my back. It felt so good.

They didn't bring up Jacob. My feelings about the two of them was no secret. When I'm cured, I'll go back to loving Jacob and my life will be as it was before. I felt like everything was already predestined. I had no choices, no mystery, no spontaneity. Just blah. At least my life is unpredictable while I'm supposedly sick.

"What if I don't want to change back?" I asked them.

I knew their answers and regretted bringing it up. It was ten minutes of my time hearing the same old thing, my safety, the unknown, and on and on.

"Just forget it." I shouted before rushing to my room.

The next morning Taebhu arrived just as he had said. I was sipping the first of my twelve hot cups of tea and wondering how some Africa leaves could save my life, if that's what they were doing. I had picked up on a few words and was able to say hello to Tae. He seemed impressed, but what I really needed was a book on Venda if I were to get anywhere. He must have read my mind, figuratively, because he pulled out of his back pocket a translation book for Venda. I hugged his neck, just because I had a good reason to do so, and looked up the words thank you.

We sat at the kitchen table as I finished the tea. For the most part, I kept my nose in the book, speed reading, as much as I could. I couldn't help but steal a few glances at him out of the corner of my eye. His sumptuous smile is so breathe taking. He's quite addicting, I thought. I asked him if he'd like to take a walk in Venda and he nodded. All I needed was Dad's approval and I had the sneaky suspicion that he'd say yes.

Every time he spoke he would point to the words in the book for me. I quickly absorbed the words learning more and more as he spoke.

"I missed seeing you." he said. He would chuckle from time to time and borrow the book from me to learn the English translation for himself. We walked side-by-side practicing words so we could speak a full sentence without using the book. As the creek turned and weaved the other direction, I found a grassy spot under a soft maple to sit. It was almost as beautiful as the meadow. Wild flowers blossomed by the creek and moss grew in all the crevices and up the tree trunks. Taebhu had stood out in Africa with his white skin and red hair, but here, he was a perfect fit.

"How long can you stay?" I asked.

"I'm not sure." He responded.

Not feeling nervous in the slightest, I nestled up against him. He smelled good in his own way. My hand occasionally brushed against his. His skin felt velvety smooth, warm, and tender. He told me about his family in Africa and how they were a lot like the Cullen clan. His father, Nahule, is a local and well known fisherman. His mother, Francisca, and two sisters, Olivia and Jaffelle, all from different parts of the country.

The sound of two deer passing nearby caught both our attention.

"Are you thirsty?" he asked in English with a sense of uncertainty.

I nodded allowing him to pull me to my feet. We hunted together like Jacob and I had done for years. I wasn't used to hunting with other people. I felt awkward being careful not to be messy ort noisy. I wondered if this was what dates felt like, because I was very self-conscious of my every move. Taebhu smiled a lot laying the charm on pretty heavy. We ran for the longest time going further and further away from La Push and our land. Mountains in the distance became closer and closer. I didn't worry in the slightest. I trusted him completely. I had no gut feeling telling me anything different. We came to a place that was filled with large boulders. We were near the foot of the mountain. He stopped, smiling like he had won a prize. I felt the electricity between us. It felt like minutes, but it was second. He stepped forward pressing his chest against me. My back rested again the rock behind me. My nose brushed his cotton t-shirt and I took in a deep breath of him. He smelled glorious and all I wanted to do was wrap my arms around his waist and kiss him. I felt his soft hands around my neck and his fingers in my hair.

Rustling in the bushes stopped both of our advances. We were too far away from anyone to expect Jake or my family. Now interrupted and any emotions defused, we headed back home for more delectable tea.

Jacob's POV:

I ran through the woods as fast as my feet would take me. I needed to see Renesmee right away. I had tossed and turned all night thinking about her and this Taebhu guy. I had to tell her how much she means to me and that this is a big mistake. I'll tell her I cannot live without her and that my heart hurts every time it takes a beat knowing I am not hers. I have to make her understand that I need her.

As I approached the cottage I heard faint voices echoing through the woods. It was Nessie. I knew she would hear me if I came too close, so I phased hoping I could get closer without them hearing me. I could see her and Taebhu sitting on the porch together. They were talking and laughing like they were old friends. Then I noticed his arm stretched towards hers and I followed the line of his arm. The air in my lungs seemed to completely evaporate. I had nothing left in me to breath with and I gasped for air. She turned and looked in my direction and I froze. I saw their hands touching, his fingers wrapped within hers, and the smug smile on his face. She was seeing him differently than I was. He was playing a game and there would be only one winner, him.

I was imagining myself tearing him apart when Edward came out on the porch. The stern look in his eyes in my direction let me know he heard my thoughts. Nessie immediately pulled away from Tae and I felt guilty for spying. I had promised her time and space, knowing she would come back to me, but for the first time, I wasn't so sure. Ten years I have loved her. Ten years I have waited for her, and now I was loosing her to some red head from Africa.

I ran home gone over the facts hoping to discover something I had missed before.

The Volturi wanted her, bad. She was kidnapped by Lucas, a possible fourth Volturi, and drugged. He told Edward they would have her no matter what. She suddenly did not like her room or want to be with me the same way. She found other men interesting and easily persuaded by them. She changed before our eyes.

Something was definitely wrong and I had to get to the bottom of it before I lost her again.