A/N: Sorry for the long wait. I know I said I wouldn't make you wait for a long time, but real life kept messing up with my fanfic life. Terribly sorry. I think there's only one chapter left before the epilogue, but who knows, that could change.
Disclaimer:
Characters based on Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga.
(Nessie POV)
I felt betrayed. I expected my parents to keep things from me because from the TV shows that I have watched before, parents always kept things from their children. I did not expect secrecy from my friend, my best friend. Jacob said that he was who I needed him to be; I needed a friend right now, but I couldn't find that in him, not at this moment. He lied to my face, Mom, I said all these through my touch after I replayed the conversation I had with Jacob to Mom. I didn't trust my voice so I decided to use my gift.
"We are also to blame, Renesmee. We made him promise not to tell you that as his imprint, you are also his soul mate; the one you will spend your lifetime with," Mom explained.
"I asked him if all those who imprinted end up in a loving relationship with their imprints and he said no," I told my mom after my tears subsided. "Is he that clueless that I am attracted to him? All of you knew about it even before I realized it myself. And him imprinting on me and knowing that in the future, and because he's such a jerk, in the very far future, we'll end up together anyway, why did he straight forward tell me that we' re not necessarily going to end up together." I had gotten up this time because I was really upset, "Then he went on to saying that my world will revolve around him. He's so arrogant, argh! I don't even know why I liked him in the first place." I looked at Mom and she had a silly smile on her face, "What?"
"You, my daughter, are head over heels," she teased.
"Excuse me? I don't think so. You know what, Mom, I could care less if he's here or not. I'm no longer interested. I have a lifetime ahead of me and there are millions of guys out there," I declared.
"But there's only one Jacob Black," she said, the silly smile she had on her face was still there.
"It doesn't matter, Mom, we're already screwed up," I said and turned to the window with my back to Mom. "Maybe I should have never attempted to be a normal girl, you know. I'm three for crying out loud, and yet I am thinking of a guy who's old enough to be my dad. Well, if he was a teenage dad, I guess."
"I'm not that old, Ness," a familiar voice said. I didn't need to turn around to see who it was. I knew that voice from anywhere, even in my dreams. I would have a long conversation with Mom when I get out of this one.
"What are you doing here? I'm not in the mood to argue with you anymore," I said before I half turned and headed to my bedroom. "Close the door on your way out," I said without looking at him. I opened my bedroom door and locked it behind me, but instead of heading to the bed, I dropped my body on the floor. I saw a glimpse of Mom before I turned around. I knew she would have a word with Jacob and I hoped dearly that she would tell Jacob why I was so mad at him.
I heard shuffling from the living room. They must have walked outside. Thanks to Uncle Jasper and his intense training, my hearing improved a lot and I could here their conversation even though my room was towards the back of the house. "How big is the damage?" Jacob asked.
"I don't know, Jake, she's really hurt. It's hard for her to accept that as her friend, you lied to her."
"I really screwed up, Bells, and it hurt so much when I saw her crying. It hurt more than you could possibly imagine. And to think I caused those tears. It feels worse than when you chose Edward in the past, and that hurt like hell. How do I make this right? I'm such an idiot!"
"I'm sorry, Jake, I really am. Renesmee accepted that Edward and I have a part in the secrecy, but she expected that from her family. I guess she got used to us keeping things from her, but not you. You have been her best friend since the moment she was born and she put a lot of trust in you. And I think what added fuel to the fire is the fact that she likes you. She asked you about the other imprints because a part of her wants that to happen between the two of you." Mom got to stop already. I wanted her to talk to Jacob, but not reveal my feelings to him! "It's bound to happen and you know that. You shouldn't have lied to her."
"But what was I supposed to say? 'Oh, them, yeah, we'll be like that soon.' Not only Edward will have my head, but Nessie will get at mad as well. I told her that as my imprint, we are tied together no matter what and we didn't want to tell her about that at a young age because you wanted her to live a normal life instead of her life revolving around me."
"Yeah, she showed me that part of the conversation. That was a mistake. Edward is a bit proud and I am stubborn. Imagine both that traits combined in one person," Mom chuckled.
"What should I do? Edward was right, I should have stayed in Hanover. If I did, this would have never happened. She will not be this mad at me. I could have planned this better, you know, like how I'm going to tell her everything." I was torn with this revelation. Of course I wanted him to be here; he had been in my mind since we left days ago. But for us to have an argument, it hurt me worse than any physical pain I could imagine. He was planning to tell me everything anyway. I was in deep thought that I almost missed what Mom said.
"If you didn't come, no one would have been there to catch her when she lost consciousness."
"There are more than a dozen of you guys; any of you could have caught her before she hit the ground."
"But it wouldn't be the same, Jake, and you know that."
"Wait, what?" I asked. I didn't realize that my legs lifted me up from the floor, my hand opened the door, my feet brought me to the front porch, and my mouth uttered those words.
Both of them turned to me and Mom smiled, "You two need to talk," and in a flash, she was gone. She must have turned and ran to the big house before my brain could register what she said.
"That was you? You're the one who caught me?" I asked Jacob.
"I told you it's an added instinct; I'm there when you need me," he simply answered.
"Thanks, but that doesn't mean everything's okay between us because it's not."
"I know I screwed up, Nessie, and if takes a lifetime to make it up to you, I'll do that. Knowing it's all for you, everything will be worth the effort," he said with sincerity. My heart was overjoyed by his words not only because of the effort he was willing to do everything to make it up to me, but he was willing to do it even if it would take a lifetime. Of course I would never admit to the overwhelming happiness in my heart.
"Well, thanks for catching me. Knowing that I'm half human, who knows if I'll bruise." I started walking towards my grandparents; house. "I'm headed to the other house, are you coming?" I asked. Without a word, he followed.
--
The emotional roller coaster took a toll in my body and I fell asleep not long after Jacob and I arrived at the other house. My family's eyes were on us when we entered, but I simply ignored them and headed to the sofa. I didn't bother to go up my parents' room. If they talk about something important, I wanted to be there, even subconsciously.
After a few hours, I was woken up by the smell of breakfast that Granma prepared. I inconspicuously tried to look for Jacob but he wasn't there. Maybe he got tired of me already, so much for making it up to me for a lifetime, I told myself. Maybe Dad pushed him to go home, the other side of me argued. I sighed; this was not healthy, me arguing with myself. I busied myself reading my school books for the make up that we needed to do for school.
Not long after, Alice squealed. "Alice, cut it out," Rosalie said.
"What's up?" Uncle Jasper asked.
"Not my news to tell," Alice chimed and started dancing around the room. Not long after, Tanya and Embry arrived. Alice ran towards them, hugged them both and started jumping up and down with Tanya.
"I thought you don't see werewolves?" Embry asked.
"I don't, but you're not in the bridal shower," Alice answered and that was when we all realized what got her so excited.
"When's the wedding?" Carmen asked as she wrapped her arms around Tanya.
"Before the others leave for Hanover," Kate answered when she appeared behind the couple.
"But that's in three days," I said.
"That's why we need to get started," Alice said and grabbed Tanya's hand and started blubbering wedding details. The guys congratulated Embry and Uncle Emmett of course had the loudest laugh in the group.
--
As to be expected, Alice dragged Tanya and Kate to Seattle. Tanya quickly called Emily so that she could go with them for dress shopping. As for the rest of us, Alice whipped up a list of things to do around the house, decorations to be done and, using some kind of magic, florist to convince to have the flowers ready and delivered in three days.
Before Alice left, Embry pulled her to the side and talked to her. He was being secretive about something and the smile of Alice's face just showed that something special was going to happen at the wedding. I couldn't help but feel jealous. I had seen how Embry and Tanya looked at each other with so much love and adoration. I wanted to share that look with Jacob, but I couldn't tell if I was ready to open up to him again. And even if I was, how come I didn't feel that he was willing to work with me. He wasn't there when I woke up; it's been hours since we last exchanged words and there was no text message or missed call in my cell phone. So much for making up to me for a lifetime.
--
With vampire speed and strength, the preparation that usually takes days took less than an hour for my family and that already included driving to Seattle and Port Angeles to pick up stuff and buy dresses and what have you. I had too much time in my hands and I read my books twice already; I wasn't up to read them for a third time. "I'm going for a walk," I told my family and although hesitant that I was going out alone, they let me as long as I stayed in the five mile radius, the distance that both my parents could protect my mind.
I walked aimlessly and ended up back where I had the argument with Jacob. I didn't realize it was that place until I stopped on the same spot where Jacob grabbed my hand to stop me from walking away. I rubbed my arm where he held me tightly to stay put. Where do we go from here? I asked myself. A part of me hoped that somehow Jacob followed me here and heard the question in my head, but there was no answer except for the gust of wind that passed the forest. I sighed and sat down. I knew I was ready to forgive him even though it was just hours ago when I thought I could never forgive him, but I figured this must be love. If only he would just admit to his own feelings as well.
