AN: Hey again guys! I know its been a while since the last update, but as you can see, I'm still alive and I'm still writing. I just wanted to say, thank you guys for reading as far as you all have and would DEFFINATELY appreciate it if you could leave a comment. Hopefully my train of thought for this story is still intact. (like always, credits go to Stephanie Meyer, etc., etc., etc.) Any who, I've probably kept you all up here long enough, its now time for the show!
Serenity's POV:
It's almost funny how cruel life can be sometimes, but I guess in a way, I shouldn't have been all too surprised by what my nightmares had to offer. Even as Christmas, the most festive holiday of the year approached on the horizon, it was hard to fake the smiles, the laughs, and the shenanigans that my family had been so accustomed to seeing from me. There was so much on my mind as I worried about the very near future, whether my sister and I would make our amends with each other, if my actions had placed my family in huge danger as my father had so eloquently put it, and if telling Julian was worth putting his life at stake as well. As I considered these things, pondering with all the effort that I could muster at any rate, my dreams had remained more or less the same, which had always ended with me craving Julian's blood and his neck exposed at the mercy of my fangs. I placed my pen down from my journal, my eyes seeking a place to rest as they peeked at the setting sun, my thoughts possibly wondering if by some unforeseen chance that something would change. Small woodland creatures rustled by, their feet crunching softly among the leaves as they scurried on home from their counter-parted predator. While my mind absorbed my surroundings, I was beginning to feel a pattern forming. I sighed for the umpteenth time before craning my neck back into the therapeutical sanctuary of my book, adding a few more thoughts when something broke.
Another twig snapped under the pressure of the heavy objects, which was then followed by the sound of twinkling and rumbling laughter. Quickly my arms rushed to wrap themselves around the tome, before gently tossing it into the hollows of the old stump, my fingers raking up fallen leaves and lose brush and placing it over the book till it was hardly visible. The situation of it all as surreal as a scene out of a movie, had me thinking of a place to go that was safe within the little amount of time that I had on me. Looking up at the trees I launched myself onto the branches overhead, my body moving slightly while trying to stay in the cover of the shadows as the sounds grew closer down below. At first, their voices were very indistinct almost as though they hadn't even existed and for a very slight moment, I had wondered if it had even happened or if maybe I had over reacted. No, I definitely heard something. It came from that direction, my thoughts whispered as I heard the bell-like laugh again. The short seconds that passed by felt like a few millennia as I struggled to remain calm, my thoughts flying back to a memory of Demitri and how he had out beat me at running. My inhuman heart racing a million miles a millisecond as I scented the air, both familiar and unfamiliar scents mingling together, making it difficult to identify who it was. One thing was certain though, neither one smelled human.
Renesmee's POV:
These days, it's odd knowing that I've been finding it much easier to laugh and smile within these last few weeks than I have had in my whole life. Maybe something really is wrong with me, but for whatever reason, I just don't care at the moment. Life was beginning to seem almost perfect, and aside from the fact that I had ran into my ex and his lovely little wolverine while on a date, it was starting to become possible for me to get over Jake. As much as I'd probably hate to admit it, but I think aunt Rosalie was right. When I was younger and barely starting to grow up, I didn't really think much of being imprinted on, in fact I had almost found it kind of cool having someone like Jacob around. So for the longest time, I didn't think that being chained to a dog was all too bad, but coming to the realization after a bit of time away from him, I knew somewhere I was completely wrong. I'm sure that I still love Jacob, however it doesn't excuse his behavior and what he did or the way that it hurts me whenever I see that photo in my messages. Most people would probably say to delete the photo and move on, but I haven't because even though I may one day forgive him, I don't want to forget. And honestly, this is something that is way more serious to fix than a simple trip to the doghouse, because then I'll always be asking myself what'll be the odds of it happening again. I had a few people to thank for my new found happiness as Alec and I walked back to my home from the Adessi household.
"…so what do you think? Renesmee?" he asked as he chuckled softly. "Pardon?" I replied, my cheeks turning scarlet from being caught off guard. "My family and I are going to be heading back to Europe within the next few days for the break, and I was wondering if you would be able to accompany us. I'm sure that I must be asking a lot, but there are so many things that I'd like to share with you." He repeated with a breathtaking smile. It took me a moment to register his words, my eyes rising in surprise as I thought about my reply. Honestly there was a lot on my mind, both from my sister, the things that were going on with the tribe on the reservation, and even from within my own family. Don't get me wrong, I loved being there for my sister and parents, but I think that they need to work things out between themselves, and maybe the only way for that to happen would be if I had removed myself from the picture for a bit. As for the wolves on the other hand….
"Yes," I whispered softly, my mind made up. Also, lately I couldn't help my choices as if being with him made me feel as if I were truly alive, and it felt so amazing knowing that he accepted me for me. In a much more confident voice I replied "I'd like that." He smiled once again, as if knowing just how beautiful he was and the impact he had on me, and then let out a deep chuckle of approval. "I'm glad that you do. I will be very honest, but I enjoy seeing you happy, whether it is a cold rainy day or whether you're with your sister, arguing over something as silly as the last piece of dessert." Something pricked at my eyes as he caught me off guard, while he recalled the last day of lunch that Serenity and I had shared together, which left me both laughing and feeling a stinging pain.
Just then, I felt bad knowing now just how much she disliked being treated as the younger sibling. Seren probably hates me now, my thoughts whispered as an unsettling weight tried to worm its way into my heart. How could you be so selfish, of course they see her as a shadow, why wouldn't they? My thoughts echoed louder as I thought about my sister's position. For the longest time, I had always believed that she had so much more freedom and choices to do stuff, and not be confined to the obligations that were set for me, but I guess that wasn't the case, and it was sad that it took me this long to see it. I felt my eyes furrow as I remembered how distraught she had looked as she struggled to contain her tears. Her words rang through my mind again, "…do you not know what it is to be in love?" and I had asked myself repeatedly that very same question. Now I regret what I had told her, but I guess the only remedy to fix it at the moment would be to give her some time and space before bringing the subject up again, no matter how painful it is. "Renesmee, it's going to be okay," Alec whispered soothingly as he wrapped me in his arms, before dabbing gently at my cheeks, my traitorous tears looming delicately like gems from his fingertips. "I'm so sorry," I replied quietly, not sure if I was sorry for myself or for the situation that we were in, or for everything altogether.
Serenity's POV:
For a good period of time, I held as still as I could while barely taking any deep breaths as I waited for them to find me, wondering if it were just a matter of moments or an eternity before they did. My back was beginning to ache, unused to using certain muscles for such an extended period of time, and I could feel the beginnings of a murderous foot cramp as it threatened to set me off balance from my perch. I could see between the leaves two silhouettes in the distance, but it was very hard to see who they were, since they were so far away with their backs turned to me, yet I could tell it was a boy and a girl. Standing here any longer and I am bound to be a goner. My foot was already slipping from the branch, when I saw them turn away from each other and begin to leave from the area, both of them heading on a different path away from me. I waited a few more long minutes until they were completely out of sight before gravity gave way, my foot and my whole body slipping from my branch as I landed flat on my back. Leaves floated gently to the ground and a few landed softly onto my face, however that's not what really got me. Nope, not by a long shot. Instead, my foot burned with an intense pain that felt as though they had come from the bowels of hades, and my mind reeled at what I could have possibly broken this time.
I groaned softly as I lifted my head to see the damage, and was slightly shocked that it was my foot that poked out at that odd angle. It was slight but if I were human, it would have been hard to miss, which would have required an x-ray under normal circumstances, however since I'm not fully human –or fully vampire for that matter- it was going to be a pain setting it back in place. Working my way onto my elbows, I readjusted myself so that I was sitting up instead of being flat on my back, my right leg aching and begging for some attention. Oh mom, why did I have to get your genes? I loved my mom, but inheriting the whole accident prone genetics, really wasn't something that I had hoped for or the seldom instances of bad luck. I heard a couple of leaves crunch and for a moment I felt like my heart froze until I recognized the scent he left behind, most of my muscles relaxing at the familiar figure.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, his expression confused as he tried to puzzle it together. "I believe, that's my line." I shot back, the pain leaving me a little irritated. "You know, if I had someone's number, it would have been much easier to text or call them. But since I don't…" he trailed off calmly. I blinked and realized that he was right, but replied "why couldn't you have just programmed it into my contacts?" he shook his head before answering. "Knowing you, it would have probably been deleted within the day if you saw it." I sighed, because I knew he was right. Finally I asked him, "Help me up?" he quietly looked me over, concern floating to his eyes as they spotted my leg and instead of lending me his hand for support, he scooped me into his arms as if he were cradling something precious. Warmth flooded my cheeks as I remembered the last time he left me, "Wh-what are you doing?" he laughed lightly as he began walking towards my home, not caring whether or not he was approaching enemy territory. "Let's see, you said 'help' you up and you expect me to just let you hobble all the way back to your house, on a broken leg?" Demetri prodded as he looked at me expectantly, waiting for my reason to kick in. "yes." He shook his head and sighed as he grumbled out, "you are unbelievable. I give you a hand, maybe take you to your grandpa, who happens to be a doctor, and you want me to let you walk on your own… let's forget that big bad Demetri, wants to be a gentleman…."
A choked out laugh escaped my lips as I nodded, not really minding too much of how bad the idea sounds, however from the look on Demetri's face, I could see that my plan was probably not going to come true. "I don't think you're that bad, you just need to loosen up a little more is all," I replied sweetly. He shot me a dubious look as if to warn me of what kind of waters I was treading, and then he suddenly stopped walking. "Um hey, is everything okay?" I asked when we didn't move. He nodded before replying, "Everything is fine. I'm just a little confused if you're wondering." I didn't have a clue for that so I had decided to prod a little further. At first it seemed like he wasn't going to open up, but finally at the end he was able to tell me what was on his mind. "Honestly, I'm a little worried about you. It seems like every time I come over to check up on you, I find you outside writing in that journal of yours. I know it probably helps sort the things out in your mind, but I don't think that it solves everything, does it?" he asked, his eyes searching mine as he look for some answer. I gulped slightly, trying to gather my thoughts before answering him, however a couple of the things he mentioned were registering in my mind. "Does it really matter?" I replied, looking away from him, wanting to close this subject, maybe shut things down so that my heart couldn't give everything away.
But there he was, with dark gentle burgundy eyes staring back at me, waiting for a real answer. When there was none, he murmured, "You can always tell me what ever is on your mind. I promise I won't judge you for it; if you feel like ranting, then rant away. If there's something worth laughing about, I'll laugh with you, and if you are in pain, then don't hide it from me. That's all I ask, little rose." My eyes flashing back to him and his pet name that was reserved just for me, I nodded and waited for us to be on the move again. "Thank you," I whispered softly, surprised by how much he cared. Demetri nodded and continued forward and just before we approach my home, I requested to 'hobble' the couple of feet to my door step. "I know you don't like it, but I don't want to answer any more questions than necessary from my parents." He nodded, understanding the disaster that could be for the both of us and just as he was about to leave, I asked for him to give me his phone. "Why do you need it?" he asked, wondering what I could be up to. "You'll see…" I replied with a smile, my fingers tapping away at the contact screen, my hands giving him the device back once I was done. Just like before, Demetri leaned close to me and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead, and turned away to leave back into the shadows from where he came.
AN: Like I've said up top, I'd appreciate it if you guys left a comment or pm me. I shall try to update a little more frequently, but it all depends on you guys. Hope to talk to you all soon!
-Artemis
