Chapter Seventeen - Turning Point
Juliet POV
We made the trip back to Oregon overnight. I was scared to sleep for the first hour and a half. I thought I'd have another nightmare. Eventually, though, I was laying in Seth's arms in the backseat, listening to the gentle lull of his breath. Every so often I would open my eyes and peek at his face - I couldn't help it. He was just so perfect and angelic.
The rocking of the car and Seth's warm embrace lured me into sleep. Thankfully it was a dreamless sleep. The sun was just creeping over the horizon, dyeing the land an inky blue when I cracked my eyes open. Seth was tracing lazy circles on my back, staring out the window. I kissed his neck in greeting.
"Morning, Jules," he whispered. I glanced at Rosalie and Emmett in the front seat, holding hands while she drove.
"Mm," I said matter-of-factly, snuggling back into his neck. He pulled the blanket tighter around us. We stayed there until the car stopped in the familiar meadow.
"Home," I mumbled, rolling off of Seth and onto the car floor. "Ouch."
We all stumbled sleepily inside, wrapped in blankets. The house was freaking freezing! Nobody had been home for days to keep the heating going. I shivered under the blanket.
"Let's get you back to bed," Seth told me. We shuffled up the stairs, all the way into my bedroom. As I expected, the bed was freezing as well. It was only September 21st, but it felt like winter.
"Seth," I cried. "It's cold."
He laughed, wrapping his blanket around the two of us and bringing me in.
"I feel like a penguin," I commented, wrapped in my own blanket in his arms.
"Me, too," he agreed. "You know, when penguins find their forever mate, they go get the prettiest rock they can find and bring it back to their partner."
"I'll remember that next time I see a pretty rock," I planted a kiss on his neck. "And I'll bring it to you."
"My little penguin," Seth laughed. "Who's asleep on her little flippers. Let's get you into bed."
"Come give me your body heat, please," I tugged him towards my bed.
"Jules, you're still wearing your jeans and shoes!" he cried out. "You can't sleep in those."
"So take 'em off," I mumbled, flopping down onto my bed. I really couldn't have cared less at that point - I was tired. Sleeping in a moving car didn't provide the best rest.
"A-are you sure?" He sounded nervous. I didn't even open my eyes.
"Yes."
Seth unlaced my boots, dropping them on the floor by the closet. After a moment of hesitation, he reached down and tugged off my jeans to reveal my simple black with white polka dot hipster-cut panties.
My oversized grey t-shirt was enough to cover my thighs when Seth, just wearing shorts and a t-shirt, got into bed next to me. I snuggled into his warmth before frowning.
"It works better if you take your shirt off," I tugged at the hem of his shirt.
"What does?" Seth laughed, pulling off the cotton shirt and tossing it onto the floor. I pulled him back under the covers, sealing in the warmth.
"The warming thing," I told him. I was very aware of our bodies, which were pressed very close together. Typically I would work that situation to my extreme advantage, but I was too tired. I fell asleep almost immediately.
Later, when we finally got out of bed, the house was eerily silent. Emmett and Rose were the only vampires around, everyone else was still in Forks.
"Jake and I gotta go to a pack meeting," Seth said, combing his short hair. I sat up quickly.
"Back to Forks?!" I asked incredulously. He shook his head and laughed.
"No, we're gonna phase. We'll be back in about an hour, we might go for a run in the woods, though, so hour and a half tops," Seth came over and kissed me. I smiled against his lips.
"Don't stay away too long," I told him as he left. "I'll miss you."
Emmett and Rose left to hunt, so I was left with Renesmee.
"What do you wanna do?" She flopped down on the couch. I tossed a Playstation controller at her.
"I wanna kick your ass at Mario Kart," I quipped, curling up next to her. She arched one eyebrow at me. She was the house champion and Mario Kart.
"You're on," she sat up straight. We launched into a heated match. Most of the hour slipped by in a blur of flashing colors and comical sounds.
As expected, Renesmee won the match. I threw the couch cushion at her head, poking my tongue out.
"Oh, you wanna rumble?!" Nessie growled playfully, jumping into a hunting crouch.
"Are you gonna wiggle your butt before you pounce, like a cat?" I teased, mimicking her crouch. She bared her teeth, but the effect was lost since she was grinning.
"You're gonna be sorry!" She laughed, wiggling her hips.
"Bring it, I'm the vamp chick, remember?" I goaded. Nessie launched herself at me, careful not to actually hurt me. We rolled backwards off the couch. My attempts to throw her off were futile - in a flash, she had me pinned. She leaned forward as if she was going to kiss my neck.
I felt a pinprick on my jugular. It took a moment to realize what had happened.
"Nessie, you bit me!" I cackled. "You bit me actually!"
"Oh, fuck," she cursed, pulling me onto my feet to get a better look. "My teeth must be getting sharper."
"You're not poisonous, are you?" I asked, suddenly slightly wary.
"No," she laughed. "I used to bite Jake all the time. And the term would be venomous."
We flopped back onto the couch, laughing. The bite tingled slightly as though someone had poured soda on it. I ignored it until suddenly a hot flash of pain struck my chest.