Chapter 3
I didn't know what I was expecting when we all sat down for dinner, but it wasn't this. If it wasn't for Sue and Seth, I don't think Charlie or I would've spoken more than two words to each other. It was strange, the underlying tension in the room. I loved Charlie, but living with him for an entire year was uncharted territory for both of us. Seth was trying his best to lighten the mood, what he was best at. I thanked whoever listened that Seth was there.
Eventually it's like someone had loosened the imaginary noose from around Charlie's neck. He relaxed and even started asking me how I felt about starting a new school. I wanted to be honest, but I told Charlie what he needed to hear. With this new change, he didn't need to worry about me starting school. I could handle it. I just had to keep telling myself that.
Seth kept glancing at me whenever Charlie and Sue weren't looking. Of course he knew I was lying, but he didn't call me out on it either. That was another reason I was glad Seth was here. There was at least one person in that room who knew what I was truly feeling. After we had all ate Seth volunteered us to clean up while Charlie and Sue relaxed in the living room. It looked like a good deed to the adults, but if there was one person I knew it was Seth. And Seth was up to something. He would never volunteer for cleanup duty.
"I know what you're doing!" I hissed through my teeth as he moved to clean up the table. I tried to keep the forced smile on my face until Sue and Charlie had disappeared completely from the room.
"I thought we could continue our conversation from earlier." he said nonchalantly.
"Why, so you could report back to Cullen headquarters?"
"That's really what you think?"
I glared at him as he collected the dishes on the table. Whether he admitted to it, my father had probably asked him to monitor me when he knew Seth was back. Not that he didn't trust Jake.
Did he trust Jake to keep me safe? Absolutely.
Did he think Jake would betray my trust and report back to him? No.
Would Seth? Maybe.
I had to give it to the wolf. No matter how hard I glared in his direction or how hard I shoved a dish into his waiting hands, he never once showed any sign of snapping. Until I shoved a dish so hard before he caught it. The sound of shattering glass echoed throughout the kitchen.
"Is everything ok in there?" a voice called from somewhere down the hall.
"Yea, Charlie...I just dropped a glass." I tried to shout as calmly as I could without alarming him that something was wrong. The last thing Charlie and Sue needed was me and Seth fighting. I also didn't want to put them in the middle. As soon as I bent down to clean up the mess, Seth was right there with me. We were so close, frozen in place where I had dropped the glass. Each one waiting for another to make a move or say something.
"Is that really what you think? That I would spy on you." I felt my annoyance disappear as soon as I saw the hurt in his eyes. Of course, he wouldn't. Deep down, I knew that. "I am your friend Ness. I'm just concerned, that's all."
"I'm sorry," I whispered as I kept my gaze on the mess I had made.
"Don't be…" Seth gently grabbed my chin until my eyes met his. I knew in that moment all was forgiven with Seth Clearwater. The boy didn't have it in him to be mad at anyone. Especially me. We stayed there, staring into the other's eyes until they snapped Seth out of whatever trance he was in.
"I got you something!" Seth excitedly yelled. His laughter and joy was contagious. The frown instantly disappeared from my face and replaced with a goofy smile. Seth knew the one way to change my mood was with presents. Some ranged from silly to practical to sentimental. All were special, though. He led me over to the table and took my hands in his. He slowly grabbed a small black box and placed it in my hands.
"Does this mean we're friends again?" he joked as I continued to smile at the box in my hands.
"Depends, what's in the box?" I tried to hide my excitement, but he saw right through me.
"Open it." Seth instructed softly. I not so gently untied the red ribbon and opened the box. Inside was a gold chain, hanging from it was a red heart-shaped pendant. It must have cost a fortune. Money I know Seth didn't have to spend on trinkets like this. Especially for me.
"Seth... I can't accept this." As much as it killed me, an trust me it did, I shut the lid on the box.
"You don't like it?" Seth did nothing to hide the hurt and disappointment in his voice. One look at his wounded expression was enough to pull at my heartstrings. But I wouldn't allow him to spend money on anything absurd just for me. No matter how pretty it was.
"Seth… I love it." I told him as I gently placed the box on the kitchen table.
"Then what's the problem?" Seth kept glancing at me and the box I had just put down. I could also hear the shock in his voice. Renessmee Cullen had certainly never refused a gift, let alone ones from Seth, but somehow this felt different. Seth's eyes relaxed as he a lightbulb seemed to go off in his head. Like I said, Seth knew me better than most. Which meant he knew exactly what I was thinking as soon as I saw the necklace.
"It was as a gift. From someone who I saved from a rogue werewolf pack." He said it casually, but the moment save and rogue were in the same sentence my nerves went into overdrive.
"What? Jake mentioned nothing about a rogue pack." I knew if Jake mentioned Seth being in trouble, then I would certainly remember it.
"That's because Jake doesn't know. I'm obviously fine." Seth had the nerve to roll his eyes at me. "Now would you just say thank you and put it on." I rolled my eyes back to him and gave him the box. Before he could say anything more I asked, "Will you put it on for me?" I turned as I heard him take the necklace out of the box.
"I really love it, Seth." I told him and as I heard the clasp snap shut. I held the ruby heart in my fingers. It really was beautiful.
"So... does this mean you're not mad at me anymore?" I turned around and saw him grinning at me awkwardly. Somehow he made it work though and it made him all that more attractive.
"I don't think I could ever be mad at you Seth." I sighed dramatically.
"Good, because I don't want it to be awkward. You know, me living here and all."
"Wait! What?" The words came out as more of a yell than a question.
"Charlie didn't tell you? I'm going to be staying in La Push for a while. Mom said I could have Leah's old room. Looks like you're stuck with me." He said it like it was the most normal thing in the world. Like it was normal from a teenage boy to live in the same house with a teenage girl he wasn't related to. I was freaking out, but I didn't want to let him know that.
"I could definitely think of worse people being stuck with in a house with." I playfully shoved his shoulder, letting me push him even though I know he could stop me if he tried. "Seriously, it will be nice to have at least one friend here."
"I have a good feeling about this Ness. Trust me." That was something he didn't have to say out loud. Seth asking me to trust him was like asking if there was underlying tension between Leah and Jake. It went unsaid, but the answer was always, of course.
