Chapter 25:
Title: Eyes Wide Open
POV: Ren.
Aunty Rosalie has her hands in my hair and she was braiding it back.
"Just because you are wearing sweatpants does not mean your hair can't look cute" Aunty Rosalie told me.
"Just be careful to not make the braid too tight" Dad commented. Auntie Rosalie tossed a bobby pin at him. "What, she did have a gash in her head a few hours ago."
"Yeah but, she is healed." Aunty took her hands out of my hair. I now had two braids leading into a bun. It skillfully hid my injury mark.
I stood up fast spinning on my heels to hug my Aunt. "I love it," I cheered.
Uncle Emmet walked into the living room, his arms full of movies. "Okay kiddo are you ready for the movie marathon?" Uncle Emmett asked.
"What movie are we starting with?" I asked, jumping up and down. This was a tradition every time I got hurt we would camp out in the living room and watch movies.
"You will see. I am thinking of starting with an action movie" Uncle Emmett told me. He popped in a movie and the action soundtrack started. I jumped onto one of the movie watching bean bag chairs. Uncle Emmett and I are the only ones watching the movie. We both flinched away at an intensely blood filled scene.
Seth ran in and sat on my bean bag chair. I cuddled into him. This was normal. This was nice. We watched the rest of the movie like that. The warmth of Seth's body was comforting. I love this tradition. Just me and my Uncles watching movies after an injury day. The credits came up faster than I expected them to.
"Wow the kiddo finally woke up" Uncle Emmett laughed. He touched my cheek, "it is just a good thing that you are not a snorer."
"I did not realize I fell asleep." I spoke mid yawn stretching "sorry."
"Do not be sorry you needed some rest. From the pictures you sent me it looks like you have had a long day." Seth said. He kissed my forehead.
I laughed. "I think I have just had a lazy day."
"Well would you like to do something?" Seth asked
"Like what?" I asked. I had been craving a good cliff jump since coming home.
"Like going to a bonfire on the cliffs." He told me.
"Like I am allowed to go to the cliffs" I laughed.
"What? Why would you not be allowed?" He asked
"That's traditionally pack land. With the way Jacob acted when we first met" I paused "I would understand that I am not allowed to cross the boundary."
"What are you talking about? Of course you are allowed to come to the bonfire" Seth said.
"Well if you are sure. Then of course I would love to come to the bonfire" I could hear the excitement in my voice.
"Well then" Seth said getting to his feet "Are you ready to go?"
Seth helped me to my feet.
"Fine you kids go have fun at the fire. I will just watch reruns of baseball" Uncle Emmett tried to sound annoyed but he did not succeed.
We both laughed.
"Just wait young lady." my dad said as he walked into the room. "Are you sure you are up to going?"
"Yes I feel ready to go" I told him.
"Well if that is the case you are not wearing that" Mom said. She handed me a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. "It is a fire. I want you to be comfortable."
I kissed them both. Taking the clothing I ran into the bathroom and changed quickly. Running to the front door I tossed on my runners. "Ready to go Seth?" I looked back at him.
He laughed "Yes I am ready to go." He took off his hoodie walking over to me. He held it out to me. Laughing I put it on. It was way too big for me and very warm. I waved to my parents. Seth picked me up and ran with me outside.
"Have fun you kids!" Dad yelled as we dashed into the forest. I could only see slight unease in his expression.
"On foot or do you want a ride?" Seth asked
"Ride please." I told him. He placed me down on the forest floor. Running into the bushes he tossed his clothing back at me. I folded them, placing them in the huge hoodie pocket. Seth came out of the bushes in wolf form. I had seen this so often growing up that it was comforting for me. The sandy brown wolf bounded up to me. Licking my cheek.
Gross. I wiped the spit of my cheek.
He bent down so I could easily climb on top of his back. I moved positioning myself between his massive shoulders. Grabbing tufts of his hair I projected an image into his mind of us running fast.
He did just that. We ran faster than I could go on foot. Jumping over rivers and dodging trees. I was laughing almost the entire way to the bonfire. We stopped about 10 meters away from the party. I climbed off Seth's back laughing. Handing him his clothing he ran off into the bushes to change. Coming back he scooped me up, placing me on his shoulders. I could not stop laughing.
We came out of the trees. Seth held my hands and I flipped off his shoulders landing on my feet. The laughter now was not just contained to Seth and I but now a few others around the fire joined in.
"I knew you could not stay away from me!" Claire cheered, running up and hugging me.
"You know it Claire" I whispered to her during our hug.
Our hug broke off and Claire pulled at the hoodie. "Wow, your relationship must be getting serious, you are wearing his clothing." Claire joked.
"Oh yes. We will be marrying as soon as we can decide on the number of children we want to have" I joked back.
"I want at least five," Claire whispered to me.
"Why not make it an even six" I whispered back. She laughed. Though I caught the glint in her eye. I would not be surprised if I added another child to her plans. Not that I mined. If I could not have children of my own I wanted all my friends to have hordes for me to play with. I will be the best Aunty ever.
That is when I noticed him sitting across the fire from me. He was focused, talking to Sam and Billy. My head was so confused but my heart was expecting him. My soul knew he would be here. All my nerves about coming to the fire melted away when I saw him.
"Your staring" Seth whispered.
I turned to him. "That's Jake." I whispered. My back to the fire I allowed the anxiety of the realization to show on my face.
"I know." Seth whispered back.
"No. That is Jake. The Jake from my school." I whispered at him.
"Yes I know. The one you have a crush on." Seth whispered.
I felt the butterflies swirl around my stomach. My heart sped up. I could feel him coming up behind me. Yet I did not feel afraid.
"If you do not want to see him tell me now. I will whisk you away from this place" Seth said. Always my protector.
I did not answer Seth instead I turned back to look at Jake. He was not sitting next to Sam anymore. I looked back at Seth confused. Seth placed his hands on my shoulders and turned me around. Jake was standing within reaching distance. I moved close to him without thinking. All I wanted to do was kiss him. This is the boy that I thought was not a part of my world. I no longer had to break my own heart. Jake belonged in my world. Jake belongs with me.
He reached his hands out. I closed the space between us. Running into his open arms. Feeling his arms around me. Feeling fully complete for the first time.