There was four days before classes officially began and the campus was thriving with students. Some days it seemed quiet, but then other times it felt like they were flocking insects, busying themselves collecting the rest of the materials they needed for their classes and acquainting themselves with their new home. Luckily, both Jenna and I had gotten the books we needed already. Jenna and I discovered that both our chosen subjects had core modules of Language and Mathematics. Aside from the lectures in which we could be together, we were also in the same seminar group for them.
My friendship with Jenna blossomed extremely quickly after our first meeting six days ago. In that time, I'd learnt a lot from being around her. Jenna's own behaviour was easy for me to mimic and she coached me on how to act human in general situations. With her help, my behaviour felt more natural.
The night of our first meeting, I'd called Bella. I was expecting her to be concerned and irate that I'd blown our cover, but she wasn't. She was concerned as I'd expected- she didn't want me to get involved in the drama that always came with vampires. I think she was mostly annoyed with fate though; I'd gone to college to be surrounded by humans and embrace that side of myself, yet our luck had thrown the vampire world back at us straight away...
I sat on my bed after I'd returned with my cell phone clutched in my hands. I wanted to know exactly what I was going to tell my mom before I rang her. I definitely had to tell her about Jenna and Jenna's family, not forgetting to mention that Jenna is actually human. I just didn't want to have to mention everything as I didn't want to breach Jenna's trust in me. She had just become my friend, and my first real friend at that.
I dialled the number and listened to the monotonous dial.
"Hey, baby," Bella's melodious voice called down the speaker.
"Mom! It's so nice to hear your voice," I said longingly. My mom was my comfort and not having her around saddened me. But she didn't want college life yet. Not with everything that was happening in La push. The red-head had been spotted on the Canadian border a few weeks ago and her anxiety levels had rocketed.
I heard her laugh. "Renesmee, it's hardly been a day yet."
I smiled even though she couldn't see me. "I know but I'm not used to being away from you yet," I spoke truthfully. "Besides, days seem shorter to you; you're a vampire!"
She laughed again. "Well, I'll agree with that," she responded. "My day may seem shorter but I miss you already, too.
"So, have you met anyone yet?"
"Yes, actually, a girl named Jenna," I replied with caution.
She could hear a hint of hesitation and knew there was more to it. "But what?"
"She... sort of- sort of knows about vampires," I mumbled. It was obvious she heard me anyway.
"Oh," Bella replied. My eyebrows shot up subconsciously. I was really surprised that she didn't go into a lecture about it. "Does she know about you?"
I sighed, "Yeah, she does."
"What did you tell her?" She asked neutrally.
"Well, I confirmed what she said. But I swear she already knew about vampires. She told me to stop pretending that I was human. Mom, she could tell I was a hybrid she knows that much!" I rambled, my voice raising an octave higher.
"Really? She could tell you weren't human? How? Is she a vampire?" Her tone mimicked my own.
"No, she's human. Her mom got turned after Jenna was born though, that's how she knows about our kind," I elaborated. "Plus, she has a hybrid brother!"
"What!" She yelped.
"I know! I was just as shocked. That's how her mom was changed," I said rather loudly.
"So that's how she could tell about you," she concluded.
I nodded, forgetting she couldn't see me.
"Well, at least she's human," Bella said.
I sighed, relieved that she had taken it so well.
"What did you tell her about us?" She asked. I cringed internally.
"Well, about how we live, what powers we have and about Jake," I told her, "and she told me about her family in return," I added as a precaution.
"Okay. What did you learn about her brother?" I knew she'd ask that question. She had continuously tried to gain more information on my kind – if there was one – since I was born so she would know what to expect. She hadn't done any research recently as my growth had slowed.
"He's pretty much the same as me apparently: heartbeat, normal eyes and according to Jenna he has reverse powers of his parents too. So it's not just me, it must be all hybrids," I informed her.
"Wow."
A yawn assaulted me without warning making Bella chuckle. "Go to sleep. I'll call you tomorrow night, okay?"
"Okay, Mom. Thank you for understanding about Jenna," I said.
"Oh baby, of course I understand. Whatever you decide I won't get mad over unless they are diabolical, but still, they're your decisions and you've gone away to gain independence, right? What happens while you're there, I'll accept." I smiled. I was so glad that the relationship I had with my mom was good; she knew me inside out. It didn't stop her from adding, "Within reason though."
I grinned stupidly at my mom's protection. She was extremely protective of me. And Charlie. Not as much as Jake, but near enough.
"Fate always has a hand at dealing our cards out, hey? I guess we can't escape the vampire world no matter where we are," she stated. "At least you haven't had a run in with an actual vampire yet."
My smile fell from my face. Was it just coincidence that she'd mentioned that? Despite what she thought, I knew telling her about the two mysterious vampires would have consequences and probably cause her to force me out of the school or have me followed day and night. I'd just got settled in and I wasn't going to change that. Technically, I wasn't lying to her.
"So, I'll talk to you tomorrow then?" I asked.
"Yeah, okay. Jake and Grandpa send their love too. Good night baby, sweet dreams."
"Night, Mom. I love you," I finalised.
"Love you too," she replied before I ended the call.
She called me again the night after and asked me the usual stuff. The thing I was most shocked by was that she requested Dawn's phone number so that they could talk. My mom definitely had a secret vendetta.
When I asked Jenna for the number she'd been more than happy to oblige saying that she hoped our moms could be friends. It became apparent then that Dawn was lonely too. I mean, the only real friends she had were her children and Shane.
It also became obvious that Bella, Jake nor Grandpa had discussed when they were going to call me - I received three phone calls in one day last week and it annoyed the hell out of me.
Despite telling my mom more about Jenna, I kept the other vampires a secret. There was no way I was letting that one slip. It wouldn't stay hidden forever as the open day for parents was in two months and she'd be able to smell their scent. Besides, I doubt I'd even see them again.
Today, I decided to take advantage of the music rooms. I had access when it wasn't engaged by students and with it being the summer vacation still, most would be unoccupied.
The music block was simple to navigate with large studio practise rooms, orchestral rooms and its own recital hall.
I found an empty practise room that had been unlocked. It was one of the smallest, with chairs stacked high against the walls, but what drew me in was the small, oak piano that sat at the back of the room. It very much reminded me of the one I had back home.
I ran my hand across the frame and sat in the chair; the legs protested with an annoying screech as I deposited my weight aloft. The lid of the piano protested even more as I uncovered the ebony and ivory keys. I dragged my fingers lightly across the keys without pressing down. I didn't realise how much I'd missed the comfort of music. It had been over three weeks since I had last played any sort of tune.
I tested the piano first by playing a simple scale. Everything sounded right so I began playing the first song I had ever taught myself - my mother's lullaby. Someone had written this melody for her; this incarnation of warmth and joy; this display of... love?
Continuing the melody, I imagined what it would have been like if he'd been around. Would he have been the one to teach me to play? Would he have sat me on his lap and played this very song to me? Would he have carried me to bed as he sang it to me? Would he have composed a song influenced by me - a lullaby of my own.
But as the song I was playing drew to its end, I remembered her reaction whenever her mind fell on something that regarded him. I remembered the memory of Jake telling me how he'd broke her heart. It was then I removed the image of the amazing father from my head all together.
Abruptly, I switched into one of my own compositions, not being able to bear listening to the lullaby any longer. Originally, this composition was a light melody reflecting my feelings on the lullaby, but with the image of my father in my mind and what he'd done, I couldn't play it happy and light. So I didn't. I brought the entire scale down into a lower, minor key and played harshly. It brought my anger out, and as I felt the anger inside me simmer and evaporate, so did the harshness of the melody. In doing so, I brought the melody back to its original key and drew it to its end.
I placed my hands in my lap and quickly swiped at the tears that fell.
-o0o-
It was the first day of timetable and everyone did a bad job of convincing themselves that they were excited rather than nervous - Jenna and I included.
Monday meant I had two practical classes and a lecture to look forward to, including my first art class. I dressed casually in light jeans and a sweater I'd taken from Jake. I tied my long, curly hair into a loose bun which left a few stray hairs framing my face.
Jenna and I walked across campus arm in arm. She spoke excitedly about what she already knew of psychology and her interest in the subject. Her talking made it easier to let my mind wander. I attempted to loosen the anxious knot that was tying itself in my stomach – something didn't feel right.
Jenna left me outside my building and continued her walk to the social science block. A small breeze pushed its way through my hair and I instinctively folded my arms across my chest. Bleak and overcast, I groaned. I loved the feel of warmth on my skin and the way people reacted to the warming of temperature. The sun seemed to pass a happy spurge through its rays. Ironic considering where I grew up.
I walked into the building and proceeded to the second floor to the room I was supposed to be in. Upon entering, I noticed that the entire room was white, including the linoleum flooring. Sixteen easels stood in a circle facing outward with backless stools accompanying them. The easels surrounded a circular white podium that held multiple wooden objects and numerous fruits abstractly placed in an artistic design. It was very cliché. Out of the sixteen, three were taken, so I casually strolled behind each easel, analysing the angle at which I saw the centre object. I found an angle I liked and sat at the stool, placing my bag at my feet. Nothing was placed on the easel so I was glad I'd brought authentic sketch paper with me, knowing I needed to be prepared. I'd brought necessities like pencils and colours with me but found that a sketch pencil, an eraser and a pack of ten pastels lay on the rim.
A middle-aged woman walked in the room with glasses resting upon her nose. Her hair fell down in two plaits. She wore plain clothing with an apron wrapped around her that was splattered with numerous splotches of paints. She walked over to the other side of the room, stood in front of a desk and removed her apron, slinging it over the desk chair before looking through the random papers on the desk.
I looked toward the door and my nostrils flared before my eyes confirmed what I'd sensed. The small, black-haired vampire flounced through the door carrying a large bag. I averted my eyes before she'd noticed me staring. I thought I'd gotten lucky until I heard the light pattering footsteps come closer, heard the scrape of the stool to my right and a clump of a bag hit the floor.
Crap, she'd decided to sit next to me. Not that she'd had much choice though, I supposed.
I stiffened involuntarily and felt my heart pump faster. I took deep breaths through my nose, cursing myself for having this reaction. What made it worse was that I could feel her gaze upon me. I could see her face in my peripheral vision. Swiftly glancing in her direction, I could see her brows furrowed together and her gaze watching my face. I rung my fist in my lap and gave her a timid smile. Purposely, of course. Any human would have done had they made eye contact with someone who was staring at them. She replied with a brighter smile. I looked away in time to see the tutor cross the room to close the door. I felt this vampire lean closer to me and I snapped my head to look at her.
"Are you alright?" She whispered.
I was caught off guard. If her image or smell didn't give her away, her voice certainly did. It sounded like the chiming of bells. Her light voice didn't match the image a vampire was supposed to have. That being said, neither did my mother's voice. Her gold eyes bore into mine searching for something and I found myself captivated as I recognised the look of worry in her features that I frequently saw of the face of my mom.
I nodded. "Yes. Just a bit nervous I guess," I whispered back, inclining my head in the tutor's direction.
Technically, I was telling the truth; I was nervous. But not at the presence of the teacher, the presence of this tiny but dangerous vampire who sat less than three feet away.
"Welcome everyone, my name is Helen and welcome to the beginner's drawing course," she introduced, her voice was light but full of authority. "Now, we're beginning the year a little differently this year as a number of students in the past have underestimated their abilities. Therefore, this year the faculty have decided to go through a small assessment so that we can analyse your capability. At the end of the class I should know where each of you will be situated. Of course, this will all be discussed with the Dean as well, along with your parents, to decide the best action to take at getting you the best results for your future."
As this discussion continued, my heart raced. I noticed from the corner of my eye the vampire bouncing up and down. Turning slightly so I could catch a better look, she seemed to be vibrating. I felt her eyes lock on mine and I directed my attention back to the professor talking about why this action had to be taken.
"Pastels are the most common form of colour that we will be using this quarter so that is why you have them now. You have the majority of this class to copy the image on the podium you see in front of you. This work will determine your capability," she said matter-of-factly. She wore a large smile on her face then simply said, "You may begin."
I snagged some paper from my bag and began by looking at the angle of the object. I took the pencil and started with a simple, faint outline of the separate objects I could see, before turning them into a three-dimensional shape on the page. I removed the pastels from their box and found all the colours I needed. I got sucked into my work. My original worries were erased as my hand flew across the page, transforming a moment into a picture. I concentrated on the way the light reflected and created shadows on each shape. Using white to highlight and black to deepen each colour, it brought the page to life.
I was startled when I heard a voice come from behind me: "That's really good work. You've managed to shape everything with perfect precision and detail. I'm impressed."
It was Helen. I was so caught up I hadn't realised she was stood only centimetres away.
"Try not to use as much black for shading when you're using a bold colour with pastels. See the apple?" She questioned. I nodded in reply. I was eager to learn; it was what I was here for after all. "With simple crayons and pencils it works, but for pastels and wax just press a little firmer with the colour and it'll appear darker." She proceeded to show me with the red pastel on a small section of the paper. "Then if you find it isn't dark enough, dot black on and smudge it with the tip of your finger, like so."
I couldn't help smiling. "Thank you."
"Other than that, it looks wonderful, Miss..." She said probing for my name.
"Swan. Well, er, Nessie works best," I told her timidly.
"Well, well done Nessie. Have you thought of what you could do for the background? It doesn't have to stay white," she hinted before moving across to admire the next piece of work she came across.
At the mention of my name, I spotted the sharp turn of black hair in the corner of my eye. I didn't acknowledge I'd seen her. A tingling chill crept up my spine at her penetrating gaze.
I thought all she would do was look. I thought she'd analyse me then ignore me. Only she didn't:
"I should know you, shouldn't I?"