A/N:
Here's another one for ya! Again, Twilight isn't mine. I still don't have a beta, still looking. This one is pretty long, about twice as long as the last few chapters. In retrospect, I should have broken it into two separate chapters, but it's already written and I really like it the way it is. Hopefully you do too! When this section is submitted to Twilighted, it will be two different chapters.
Chapter 7. – Isle Esme
RPOV
It was nighttime when we landed, but sleep was nowhere in my plans. There were so many new experiences to be had for Jacob and I. The beaches in Oregon and Washington couldn't hold a candle to all of the pictures Nan showed me of the island. The ride from the airport to the pier was fairly short. I gripped onto the window of the limo, looking for the ocean, smelling the air which carried the scent of foreign foods and salty ocean water.
Then I saw it. The magnificent yacht stood taller than the huts around it at the pier. Three casually dressed men sat in plastic chairs by the end of the dock. They quickly rose and adjusted their clothes and hats when they noticed the limos approaching, one tossing a cigarette into the sparkling ocean water.
After we crawled out of the limo, Carlisle walked down to the end of the dock. Then the three men followed him back to the second limo filled with our luggage. We waited patiently while everything was walked down to the yacht. The dock was a simple floating sidewalk that led down to the boat, beach on either side. There was only room for one boat at the end.
"Jacob," I whispered, trying not to bring attention to myself. He looked down at me and I nudged my head toward the small beach area to our right.
"Right now?" His voice implied that I was crazy and his face was unenthusiastic. The sparkles the moon left on the water reflected in his deep brown eyes.
"Just for a second. We brought flip flops in our carry-on bags, remember?" The puppy dog face was in full effect. Not that I needed it. Before Jacob could respond, dad interjected.
"Ness, honey. We'll be on the island soon. You can stay up as late as you like. Stay dry until we get there, please? I'd really hate to get sand and wet shoes all over the yacht the moment we set foot for the first time." I couldn't say no to him just like Jacob couldn't say no to me, but it was different. With Jacob, it was like he was put on this earth to grant my every wish. With dad, it was like his voice was entrancing and impossible to refuse, similar to how Jacob had once described the Alpha voice.
"Fine," I said politely, though disappointment lingered in my tone unintentionally.
"You ready for your first boat ride?" Dad said as he looked down at me. I was sitting on the cracked pavement with Jacob, trying not to look impatient. Just then, Grampy came walking down the dock.
"Alright, let's get moving!" he yelled, excitement in his voice and all over his face. The volume of his voice was for show, he could have whispered and we would have heard him. The three men were still lingering around the end of the dock.
The water below the dock was incredible. Even in the moonlight I could see straight through to the bottom. It must have been 30' deep towards the end, but it was still crystal clear. My impeccable vision had come in handy in the past, but this trip might top everything I'd ever seen. I could only imagine what diving would be like. I hesitated before climbing the stairs onto the yacht, not wanting to take my eyes off the water.
"Honey, I promise. Soon. You'll be sick of the water by the time we leave." Dad turned around from in front of me and picked me up, carrying me onto the yacht. I looked over his shoulder to Jacob who appeared to be holding back a chuckle.
Once onboard, Jacob and I lingered around the outside areas of the vessel while everyone else went inside to check things out. I'm sure it was amazing, but I'd seen amazing interiors before. I'd never seen something as amazing as the ocean off the coast of Rio de Janeiro.
The sky was as clear as the water below. The farther we got from the shore, the more stars appeared in the sky. The air was warm, sticky almost. I worried what my hair would look like after all of this wind and ocean air blowing through it, but quickly remembered that I only planned on staying dry long enough to get my swimsuit on.
Jacob and I settled onto a small sofa on the highest deck of the ship. It was then that I started to realize how incredible the ship was. Around me I noticed a small boat and two jet skis up on a platform, a hot tub, a bar – not that anyone in our party would be using it, and the furniture and décor was stunning.
We sat in silence for the majority of the ride. Both of us were in denial that regardless of how much sleep we got on the plane, we were tired. Excitement was buzzing through my body, though, keeping me wide awake. I probably couldn't sleep if I tried.
"You guys awake? We're almost there." Mom was sitting in the chair across from me almost as soon as I heard her voice. "Do you want to see it?"
"The island?!" The pitch of my voice could have caused injury to a human's eardrum. She took me by the hand, gestured for Jacob to follow, and walked me to the front of the monstrous deck we had been sitting on for the last twenty minutes.
"You see those lights straight ahead?"
I nodded.
"That's Isle Esme. We'll be there in five or ten minutes."
Jacob and I stared off into the distance and watched as we got closer and closer.
Mom kissed me on the head and walked back down to where dad was. I could hear him talking with Carlisle about the order in which we would all be ferried from the yacht to the island. Apparently the dock on the island was in too shallow waters for the yacht. It wasn't built with a massive yacht full of Cullen's in mind; it was built to suit a small yacht at best. I was thrilled when I heard the final arrangements.
"We're getting off first!" I squealed in delight and clapped my hands together several times. "They're holding off on bringing the luggage ashore until everyone is on land. That little boat over there has room for five plus our carry-on bags." I nudged my head toward the boat that stood on a platform behind us. "Carlisle will drive me, you, mom, and Esme ashore. Dad knows we're headed straight to the first beach I lay my eyes on."
"You are one amazing creature, Renesmee." He smiled my favorite one, the smile that came with a warm glow and covered his entire face. His eyes were that of a Saint when he smiled that smile. So deep and loving.
He looked lost in thought for a long moment then suddenly we were accompanied by Emmett and dad who were working on getting the small boat off its platform and into the water below. I heard the anchor drop. We had arrived.
Before we even pulled into the dock slip, Esme leaped off the small craft and onto the walkway of the dock. Without hesitation, I followed. My legs were short but I could clear 10' easy. Jacob glowered at me, not happy with my sudden decision. As invincible as I was, he still worried. I gave him his favorite smile and his face melted into a half grin, then it met his eyes. I was forgiven.
The seconds ticked by slowly as I waited impatiently for Carlisle to pull the boat in. Being this far away from my Jacob seemed almost painful. I had spent that entire morning, the flights, both limo rides, and the half hour on the yacht within inches of him. He seemed so far away from me. My heart pulled me closer to the slip that Carlisle was driving the boat into.
The pull was magnetic. Jacob's face displayed a similar agony. It was like I was a two year old who just realized she left her most precious play thing on that little boat, except the play thing was the most precious play thing any child in the world had ever owned.
I didn't understand what was happening, all I could think was that I needed Jacob by my side. Without him, my heart felt empty. Dead. My hand reached out for his involuntarily as he stepped onto the dock, and the vice that was squeezing my heart immediately eased as soon as I felt his warm, soft skin in my little hand. The agony that had covered both our faces before was now gone.
I couldn't return to my prior state of glee, though, even with Jacob at my side. I had never felt anything like that before. It was the strangest thing. Something about Jacob's anguish and concern combined with the distance between us caused a strange, new emotion, foreign to me. I had never longed for Jacob like that. I went all the way to China for Pete's sake and never felt that way.
I was so confused and everyone around me could clearly see it, but no one ever asked if I was okay or showed any sign of alarm. I hated always feeling like the odd one out. Between dad reading minds, Alice seeing my future - and now Jacob's, and the two of them sharing their wealth of knowledge with everyone except those involved, it was maddening.
As we took our first step toward the end of the dock I released his hand only long enough to reach up for him to carry me. He put me on his back so I could see what was ahead of us. I reached down and touched his cheek, showing him as best I could what I felt previously, then showing him that I wanted to talk.
"Later," he whispered as he nodded once then kissed my hand.
My heart had slowed from its prior panic, but was still beating rapidly. I needed to get my wits together before the others came ashore. I filled my mind with all of the thoughts that had been running through it all day and for the last two weeks, trying to rouse the excitement that had absorbed me before.
"Race me to the beach?" Jacobs's voice was thick with forced enthusiasm, but I couldn't resist.
I leaped off his shoulders gently, so as to not hurt him, and went running at full throttle to the beach straight ahead. He won, of course, but barely. I was getting faster. If only my little legs would just grow already. As he turned toward me to gloat, I pounced on him, knocking him into the sand. I felt somewhat apologetic, we were both still wearing our clothes and shoes. At least sand couldn't leave grass stains on his $150 jeans.
Mom and Nan were laughing at the end of the dock. I turned to take a prideful bow, still standing on Jacob's torso. My mood had naturally turned back to cheerful and excited, but I was still curious about what had happened just seconds ago. Mom looked like she was going to join us on the beach, but quickly gauged the look on Jacob's face.
"I'll be out in a little while. I'm going to get settled and changed," She spoke in her soothing, chiming voice. She blew us kisses and flashed a warm smile before dashing off to the house that I still had not even made an effort to notice.
"Can we go for a walk?" I asked her, trying to sound excited.
"Sure, just be safe and stay on the beach." She sounded slightly disappointed.
I felt so guilty for all of the firsts I was about to experience without my mother witnessing. I hated the thought of hurting her just to satisfy my need to know what just happened. It was decided – I wouldn't look at anything that I hadn't seen in front of her before. We could walk, but I would focus intently on Jacob and try as hard as I could not to notice anything else, not even the ocean around me which might come alive with flipping dolphins or something else I'd never seen before.
I slipped my shoes off and left them in the sand beside the dock, tossing my carry on beside them. Jacob picked me up and ran for a few minutes, hoping we could get far enough from the house that no one could hear us. I doubted we were far enough for dad not to hear, but he probably already knew everything plus the answers to all of my questions.
I didn't look around when we finally stopped. I sat down facing the horizon but focused on the moon and stars above until Jacob situated himself in front of me. I wouldn't take my eyes off his until we got back to the house.
"Did you feel it?" I said as I touched his cheek, showing him the image of the distance between us previously, pain emanating throughout the memory. "It was painful. I felt like I left half of me on the boat, literally. Like I had been ripped in half. The pain wasn't the same, but it was as if the force of the world was pulling me back to the other half of myself. My heart was clenching in my chest and it felt hard to breathe."
He nodded slightly as I spoke; it was clear on his face that he knew exactly the way I felt.
"I wanted to leap back into the boat, but the only movement I could manage was the involuntary staggered steps I took back toward you and my hand reaching for you. Then—" I paused to slow my breathing. "As soon as your fingers touched mine, I felt the negative energy melt away. The only thing I felt was relief. Well, that, and confusion…" My eyes never left his the entire time I spoke.
After a long pause, his soothing voice began "Yes, I felt it. I feel it every time you are out of my sight, sometimes even when you're only out of arms reach." His voice held the same tone of painful longing that mine had. He inhaled like he was about to say more, but he hesitated.
"What is it?" I asked, my voice almost a whisper, inquiring as to what happened, not what he was going to say.
His eyes left mine for a moment. "It's just the way things are, Nessie. I don't know how else to explain it to you. Our relationship is very different from everyone else. I love your – our – family, each person in a unique way. But with you, it's very different. I love you in a way that no one has ever loved anyone else. It's like I was born to…. to watch over you. To be here for you. It's like I was created just for you…" His face turned from serious to a warm smile. "I'm like the most loving, protective big brother ever created. But even 'brother' doesn't quite fit the description just right." He smiled my smile as the moon danced in his eyes.
"So, you're like my best friend slash brother slash guardian slash pet, right?" A light laugh escaped me.
His explanation had eased my mind and I was ready for the mood to be lightened. Our eyes were still locked on each other, him glancing at his surroundings occasionally.
"Something like that. Tomorrow I'll explain how to control what happened to you. You can't stop it from happening, but with time and effort you can make it less obvious that you're dying on the inside." And he was on his feet. "Lets go get our swimsuits on. And if you don't mind I'd like to not evade your – our – family anymore tonight, is that alright with you?"
He had me at swimsuits. The excitement was creeping its way back into my mind… my mind which had been set at ease by this wonderful blessing of a person.
"Whatever you say, my Jacob," I whispered as I leaned in for a hug.
His eyes melted as he embraced me then lifted me onto his back and started running in the direction we came from. I didn't fail to notice that he used Pop Charlie's sly head-in-the-hair move, but I didn't say anything. He worked hard to conceal his sensitivity around the others and even thinking about it was a risk. Speaking it aloud would be as bad as etching it in granite.
Mom was standing at the dock when we approached, holding the belongings we abandoned.
"Alice said I could find you guys here." Her voice was collected and easy, no signs of disappointment.
"What else did Alice tell you?" Jacob's voice was friendly but hinted at accusation.
Mom closed the gap between us, helping me off Jacob's back as if I couldn't jump and land on my feet. "Honestly, she only told me that I could find you here and that Renesmee had completely avoided looking at anything but you so I wouldn't be disappointed by not being with her for every first she would have on the island. Where were you guys? I couldn't even hear you."
We started walking at human pace toward the house. I couldn't make it out yet, but I saw numerous huge illuminated windows not far from us.
"We were straight down that way—" Jacob pointed to where we had come, as if she hadn't seen us coming from that way. "Alice didn't draw you a map?" They shared a laugh.
"Jacob, can we just hang out inside tonight? I really think I'd rather see everything for the first time when it's daylight."
I continued to try not to absorb anything I saw as we approached the house which was somewhat difficult to make out in the dark. It was massive, of course, I could see that much. I was trying not to notice anything else, though. I couldn't appreciate the true beauty of this place without being able to clearly see the colors.
"Of course. I'm pretty beat anyways. Not everyone got to sleep most of the way." A sarcastic smirk crossed his face as he glanced down at me, a dwarf standing beside a giant.
"I'm actually pretty tired, too." It was half true. The only reason I wanted to sleep was so that the time between now and daylight would be shorter; that, and I could get up earlier tomorrow.
I closed my eyes and reached for Jacob to pick me up. As soon as I dropped my hand from his to reach, he leaned over and took me into his arms. I kept my eyes closed, my head buried into the crook of his neck until we were inside the house. I decided it would be okay to take in the inside of the house since it was well lit and I was certain it wouldn't be much different than our homes in Forks and Portland.
I wasn't far off the mark. The architecture of the house was a lot different, but the furniture and décor was very similar to what I was used to. Things had more of an island feel, the colors probably played off the outdoors that I had refused to let myself see. Everything had its usual light, open feel, but it was accompanied by streaks of vibrant colors throughout.
Windows were everywhere, even more than our houses. The ceilings were high, beams exposed in the foyer that reached up to the second story. The furniture was the same color of the sand outside. The primary colors were pale shades of white and tan along with light and dark shades of green. Orange and blue popped out here and there in the artwork and accent pillows in the living room. The house was huge, but lacked the formalities that had been included in the two homes I had lived in. There was no formal dining room, only a small breakfast table and a counter with stools like we had at home.
I walked around the downstairs, finding my family members in various rooms as I learned the lay of my new home away from home. There was only one bathroom downstairs. The door to the master bedroom was closed; I'd have to wait until tomorrow to check it out.
I took Jacob's hand as I ran up the stairs, curious. There were three well decorated bedrooms with luggage sprawled out; each had its own bathroom. There was one communal bathroom. At the end of the hall was another staircase. After poking my head into all of the rooms I passed I ran to the steps and up them. Mom and dad were right behind me and Jacob. At the top of the stairs was a small, dark atrium and a door. I heard a click from behind me and the atrium was lit up, so was what was outside the door.
It was incredible. A large portion of the vast rooftop was a balcony. Two couches and two chairs sat grouped together in the corner while several lounge chairs were lined in a row near the banister. Another grouping of furniture was positioned around a large fire pit in the center. Plants were everywhere, some small some taller than I.
From here, you could see in every direction. The house was positioned on the southwestern corner of the island and it faced west. I turned in a full circle and could see everything. The section of the roof that wasn't part of the balcony didn't obstruct the view at all; we were at the highest point of the house. The moon danced on the water in every direction I looked. Mom and dad watched Jacob and I as we awed at our amazing surroundings.
As I yawned, it hit me- "Umm… there are only four bedrooms, how's that going to work?" My brows furrowed at the thought of Jacob being asked to sleep on the sofa. He would do it, no doubt, but I would hate for him to have to do that.
"You and Jacob get two of the upstairs bedrooms, Carlisle and Esme get the master bedroom downstairs, and the rest of us will be rotating between the remaining upstairs bedroom and the yacht which has plenty of space. Besides, it's not like we sleep. We just need a place to keep our belongings." Dad's eyes shifted to mom and they shared a very brief grin. Something unspoken lingered in the air that I wasn't intended to know.
"Ugh… gimmie a break," Jacob muttered under his breath. "Alright, Nessie, lets go find our rooms," He mumbled as he yawned.
"Your luggage has been put in your rooms already, so just look for that," Dad called to us as we departed. "I'll be down in a few to tuck you in."
After mom, dad, and Jacob had tucked me in and said goodnight, I reflected on the day that had just passed. It had to be nearly sunrise. I couldn't believe that all of these events occurred in just one day… Rushing to Jacob in the morning, my petty concerns, the limo ride, the endless flights, the second limo ride, the yacht, the emotions that overtook me, sitting on the beach, touring the house, all in one day. I was asleep in minutes.
It wasn't long before the sun crept into my room. The drapes had been drawn, but light still peeked through around the edges, waking me. I hadn't gotten much sleep, but I slept a lot on the plane rides so I really wasn't that tired to begin with. I sat up in the bed, looking around my room. Mom was sitting beside me in the bed in an instant.
"There's no stopping you, is there?" she whispered as she brushed my hair out of my face.
I shook my head. "I got plenty of sleep yesterday on the way. I feel terrific." My peppy voice exemplified this fact.
"Well, Jake is still sleeping. Unlike you, he didn't sleep most of the trip. Let him sleep a while longer, okay?" As much as I wanted to wake him and go immediately outside, I knew she was right.
I resigned. "Fine, but can we wait for him inside? Maybe we can play a game or something." I tried to keep my voice as ecstatic as it had been before, but the truth shone through.
"Sure, any ideas?" She bounced off the bed and to the dresser. My luggage had been unpacked while I slept.
"The cream linen one, please," I asked, requesting the gauzy dress Nan had made for me. "What's everyone else doing right now?"
"Well, daddy is up on the balcony watching Emmett and Jasper see who can jump the farthest off the top of the yacht. Rosalie and Alice are on the balcony, too, but not really paying much mind to the guys. Grampy is in the kitchen with Nan, she's making Jacob's breakfast…" My head perked up, he'd have to get up soon if she were already cooking his breakfast. "Some kind of casserole that has to bake for a while," she concluded.
"Hmm… how about we say good morning to Nan and Grampy then hang out on the balcony for a while? I can already smell the bacon in whatever she's cooking. How does she manage to cook that stuff? It smells like two week old road kill."
Mom laughed and nodded in agreement. "I don't know. I have a hard time believing I used to eat it. Here, get dressed and we'll start this beautiful day." Mom tossed me the dress I requested. It was so comfortable and I loved the way the skirt flowed and twirled around my knees.
Chapter 7 Part 2 – Isle Esme JPOV
JPOV
I was awakened by the gravitational pull of my heart for the thousandth morning in a row. I don't know how the others handled it. Maybe it was because Renesmee was close to me every single day. Maybe the bond between us was somehow stronger than the others.
Every morning when she woke I could feel where she was going. It wasn't usually painful as she almost always headed straight for my room. On rare occasion, Esme or Bella would insist that she let me sleep late. It was useless. My feet hit the floor long before they had desired to. We didn't go to sleep until nearly 5:00, and it was only 8:00 in the morning. It could have been my imagination, but it seemed like Nessie was requiring less and less sleep the older she got.
I showered quickly and reflected on yesterday's events— particularly the part where Nessie experienced an episode similar to what I experience regularly. I'd grown comfortable with our daily routine. I could handle the distance between us when we were in our rooms sleeping, or when I was in my shop while she was in the house. Those moments were manageable.
The only time I was truly uncomfortable was when I was in an unfamiliar situation. When she'd go to the boutiques with Esme or Bella, I didn't worry much but I still felt like my heart had been ripped out and taken with her every time she walked out the door. Her trip to China was potentially fatal, or so it seemed.
When she leaped off the boat, my mind raced through all of the predators in the jungle of the island, everything in the water that could possibly harm her. She seemed to be indestructible, and she could take down a mountain lion almost as well as Edward, but the thought of even the slightest chance of something happening to my angel – my reason for living – made it difficult to breathe.
When she asked me about the way things were, I was prepared. Alice told me it would happen soon, and I did my best to plan what I would say when she asked. I was still shocked when it finally happened. No amount of planning could truly prepare me for that moment. My words were staggered. I couldn't believe that she shared the magnetism that I had felt since the beginning, the magnetism that had only intensified as time passed.
I threw on the first t-shirt and pair of jeans I saw in my still unpacked luggage. Everything in my luggage looked like something a Cullen had purchased for me, and one of them was probably the reason behind this. When I stepped out of my bedroom I could smell eggs and bacon coming from downstairs. I had to be polite and follow the scent, though my heart was pulling me in the opposite direction, up the flight of stairs at the end of the hall.
Esme flew into the kitchen, coming from the master bedroom, as I entered.
"You're up early." Her voice was grim with concern. "Why don't you get a few more hours sleep? Renesmee is set on waiting for you to get up before leaving the house. You won't miss a thing." Her proposition was appealing, but nearly impossible. Plus, I was pretty excited to spend my first full day on the island.
"I'm fine. I'll just take a nap later when Nessie does." Which would hopefully be sooner rather than later.
"I wasn't expecting you to be up for at least a few hours. Your breakfast has to bake for thirty more minutes. Would you like a bowl of cereal in the meantime?" Esme's voice was apologetic.
"It's okay, really. Whatever you are cooking smells delicious. I'll save my appetite for it." I hopped off the stool I sat in. I was getting spoiled – my breakfast was usually ready just minutes after I entered the kitchen. "I'll be back down in a bit. I'm going to find Nessie and the others."
Esme stopped her speed-cleaning long enough to reply, "Okay hon, I'll call you when it's ready, 'kay?"
"Yes ma'am," I said enthusiastically as I headed for the staircase, the longing in my chest easing slightly with every step closer to Nessie.
The sun was beaming through the house in every direction, flooding the staircase that led to the atrium. Walking quietly was something I'd gotten good at; it came with part of being a wolf. I focused on every step in hopes of surprising Nessie when I walked outside. I held my breath, but I couldn't stop my heart from beating. Traitor.
I walked out the atrium door and my eyes immediately landed exactly where my heart had led me – to Renesmee. She hopped off her seat on the sofa and barreled into me, knocking me to the ground with a loud thud.
"My Jacob!" she squealed in delight. "You're awake! I was going to wait for you to get up. Aren't you tired? You should get some more sleep, your eyes look tired." Her words were rushed as she leaped off me and tried to help me stand back up.
I could have slept, but I knew she wanted to get her vacation started and she wasn't leaving without me. Letting her down was something I never wanted to do, something I worked hard to avoid unless absolutely necessary.
"No, honey. I'll be fine. Really. I'm excited about everything we're doing today." A yawn escaped me, yet another traitor. "Wow, would you look at this view." That's the best thing I could think of to take the attention off my sleep deprivation.
"Isn't it amazing?!" Nessie squealed. I lifted her into my arms and my life felt complete. "You just missed it. A few dolphins were hopping around in the water over there." She pointed her tiny hand toward the horizon.
"There'll be more dolphins. So what do you wanna do first?"
Her excitement was written all over every inch of her. It was like electricity buzzing through every cell of her being. "Well, mom told me about a cliff we were sitting near last night. It's pretty high, a little higher than the one in La Push." She bounced as she spoke.
"Alright, as soon as I finish breakfast we'll go." I looked to Bella, "Would it be horrible if I wore trunks and a t-shirt to breakfast? I just don't want to waste a single second."
"No, Esme will understand."
I dressed in a rush and sat patiently with Nessie on the stool I occupied earlier, making small talk with Esme while we waited. I scoffed breakfast down as quickly as I could. It was delicious, of course. Something Esme had never made for me. After I politely refused seconds, Esme took the empty plate from in front of me and sat a backpack in its place. I opened it and took an inventory- two bottles of water, a protein bar, an underwater camera, and snorkel gear.
"Human stuff," Esme stated and smiled.
"No towel?" I asked sarcastically.
She cocked her head to Bella, who was standing with Edward by the back door holding a large basket weave bag with towels protruding from the top.
"Go have fun." She smiled at Nessie and I warmly.
We walked at a human pace to the cliff so we could fully appreciate the magnificence of the scenery. It didn't hold a candle to Nessie's beauty, or Bella's, but it was breathtaking to say the least. Nessie and I walked ahead of Bella and Edward, most of the wildlife shied away from them. The foreign creatures didn't seem to be bothered by the two of us, but I didn't think they would be.
Several exotic birds flew by as we walked along the beach. We got to see dolphins dancing along the water. The walk was much longer when traveling at human pace, but it was also much more enjoyable. I had a feeling we'd be on the island for a while, so rushing wasn't necessary.
Nessie and I were amazed by the creatures that passed us along the way - crabs, sea turtles, numerous colorful birds. Nessie had pointed out several things, like a poison dart frog, a toucan perched high in the trees, and a group of howler monkeys lounging even higher. It was like going to the zoo, except without the long lines, caged animals, and cotton candy. This place seemed almost enchanted. I couldn't believe my surroundings.
After walking for nearly half an hour, we finally reached the cliff that only took a few minutes to reach last night. Nessie was right, it was higher than La Push. The trail we had followed led us straight to the top of the goliath cliff.
I looked down at the ocean crashing into the rocky wall. "Is it deep enough?" I asked Bella. They might be invincible, but I wasn't.
"Of course it is, would you like me to demonstrate?" Bella responded sardonically. I hadn't seen Bella jump off a cliff since the old days.
"You wouldn't.... chicken," I mocked back at her.
"Hmmph." Was all she could muster, along with a squint of her eyes and a sarcastic smile.
She stripped down to her lacy blue bikini that looked more like bedroom attire and quickly tossed her clothes into her bag. She backed up several paces, got a running start, and leaped through the air with inconceivable grace. She flew like a bird, barely making a sound when she dove into the water. I stepped over the edge to verify that she hadn't crashed into anything below. It wouldn't hurt her, but it could possibly hurt me if I landed wrong on a rock or something.
She went down very deep before returning to the surface. The water was so crystal clear I could see her every movement. Her head popped up above the surface, "Believe me now?" she asked.
"I guess. Now let me show you how it's supposed to be done."
I wasn't sure why Bella was being so smug this morning, but two could play that game. I took my t-shirt and shoes off, shoved them into my backpack, and repeated her movements with the exception of one. Instead of leaping gracefully through the air and diving when I hit the surface, I wrapped my arms around my legs and went in for a cannonball.
The fact that the impact of the waters surface would sting like a slap in the face didn't change my decision. I hadn't been cliff diving in an eternity, I missed the exhilaration. I sank deep into the pristine blue water, opening my eyes in hopes of seeing a new foreign creature, but apparently Bella had scared them all away. She was still swimming around, looking up to the top of the cliff.
Nessie and Edward were still up there.
"You go ahead, hon," Edward said to her. "Its fine, I promise. There's nothing down there that will hurt you, not even a shark. Would any of us let anything happen to you?" His smooth voice was calming her; he stroked her hair to add to the effect. "Besides, you could handle a shark any day."
She still looked hesitant. She asked me yesterday if she knew how to swim and I explained that she seemed to do fine when we went cliff diving before. Maybe she was worried that she had forgotten how since it'd been so long? I can't imagine how such a thing could be forgotten, though – especially not by a Cullen.
I smiled her favorite one as I waited for her in the water below alongside Bella. She smiled my favorite smile back – the smile of an angel that could light the night sky and melt the heart of anyone who witnessed. The way the sun reflected behind her made her bronze hair a luminous golden color. The wind blew gently from behind her, ruffling her curls as she looked down the edge at her mother and I.
The sun here was brighter than even the brightest day in Forks or Portland. I had never seen her in such radiant light. Her pale skin was usually a faint glow in the sunlight, something that could pass for normal to the human eye. She didn't sparkle the way the others did, but there was a noticeable difference if you compared the way she looked under cloud cover versus a sunny Portland day. In the tropical sun, her fair skin appeared as though the light were coming from within her, as opposed to the way it reflected off the other Cullen's like a sparkling diamond. It was unlike anything I had ever seen, amazingly beautiful. It suited her well, she had been the light of my life since the moment she was born, now her skin is matching the part… beaming like a ray of sun.
As much as I was absorbed by her beauty on the cliff, I still needed her by my side.
"Come on, Nessie! The water feels great!" I called out to her.
Finally, she kicked her shoes off and tossed Edward her frilly linen dress. She had her swimsuit on beneath it, an ivory crochet tankini with pale pink lining throughout. I could always tell her demeanor by the way she dressed. Today was obviously a dainty, femme kind of day.
"All right, watch out!" she shouted as she quickly backed up several paces, preparing to launch.
She soared through the air for a moment, flipping and twirling in a blur looking as graceful as a bird, but when she was within 10' of the water, she tucked her legs under and did a cannonball like I had. The splash of her impact was about as big as a marble would have produced.
Edward leaped in a few moments later, performing blurred acrobatics mid-air. Very Edward. We took turns jumping into the water from the cliff. Edward and Bella decided to jump from the treetops on a few occasions. Nessie displayed interest, but I protested. Invincible or not, I couldn't tolerate such risks. If anything happened to her, I can't imagine what would happen to me. It was beyond me how I even came to deserve everything life had blessed me with and I felt like it was my job to guard it with everything I had in me.
After a few hours of jumping and swimming I was exhausted. If it hadn't been written all over my face, Edward would have still known. Now that my life revolved around Nessie – and I had nothing to be embarrassed or concealing about in my relationship with her – I was overall thankful that Edward could read my mind. It was convenient most of the time. He understood me better than anyone else, even Bella, my second best friend in the world – Nessie being the first, of course.
One day, Nessie would understand me the most. In the meantime, she'd just need to be left in the dark. How could I explain such a thing? My plan was to just let nature take its course. I would never try to make her do anything she didn't decide to do on her own. I didn't want to tell her 'Hey, you're meant for me, so don't even think about other options. I'm it and that's that.'
Our relationship was already incredibly strong. She spent most of her time with me, it was her choice, and that fact filled my heart with happiness every single day. Nessie loved me all on her own free will, just the way I was, no matter what I wore or how unpolished and impolite I could be at times. I adored everything about her; she was my reason for living. Every morning, she rushed to my room before doing anything or speaking to anyone else unless she just happened to pass someone along the way. The way her smile – the one she saved just for me – made my heart beat harder and faster could only be completely understood by one person, Edward.
"Alright, let's pack it up for a little while," Edward said casually as he sat beside me on a large rock atop the cliff.
"Thanks, man. Much longer and I'd be falling asleep mid-jump," I said to Edward.
He casually placed his cool arm around my shoulders in a very masculine, friendly way. His arm was warmer than usual due to the heat and beaming sun. Fortunately I was already wrapped in a beach towel.
"Brother," he paused, turning to look me in the eye, "You deserve it. Not just the forthcoming nap, but everything. Renesmee, living in the mansion with us, being a part of our family, coming to the island, everything."
We locked eyes for a moment, sharing a mutually appreciative gaze. He stood and reached to offer me a hand up which I took. Sentimentality was something I've never been good at outside of my relationship with Nessie and my very short-lived attempt at romance with her mother, and even that was shoddy.
"Thanks, man." That's all I could come up with. He pulled me in for a one-armed man hug and patted my back firmly a couple of times.
We met Nessie and Bella at the bottom of the cliff and walked together back to the house. Nessie rode on Edward's shoulders the whole way. I walked between the two of them and Bella. Her curt behavior had subsided after we all jumped into the water, and I didn't question the reasoning behind it. For all I knew maybe she had a squabble with Rosalie regarding which couple would get to occupy the yacht next and when the switch would happen, something I really didn't want to know about.
Nessie and I napped on the rooftop chaise lounges. They were surprisingly comfortable and if I curled myself into a ball my feet didn't hang off. We slept for over three hours in the warmth of the sun. I woke up first, but stayed in my chaise and admired Nessie's new glow. On the small whicker table between us stood two plates of fresh fruit – most of which I couldn't identify – and two empty glasses that would typically be reserved for girly cocktails.
I reached for what looked like a blueberry and suddenly Alice was in my ear. "Those are acai. Careful, they've got large seeds in them, but they are incredibly healthy." Her whisper was hardly audible.
She filled one of the empty glasses with a bright pink frozen concoction and ran back down the atrium stairs silently. Nessie was still sleeping, she hadn't even stirred. I tossed a handful of the mysterious berries into my mouth, not even thinking of what Alice had just said, and nearly chipped a tooth.
"I tried to tell you," She whispered, lying in the chaise on the other side of me. I held a finger up to my lips to gesture for her to be quiet.
"She's going to wake up in less than a minute anyways," Alice said, no longer trying to keep her voice hushed.
She was right, Nessie hopped into my lap just seconds later. Her face appeared as though she'd slept an entire night, washed her face, and had a cup of coffee. It was beaming with excitement and energy, and that stunning glow.
"What are we going to do next?" she asked, her eyes wide with curiosity and vivacity.
"There's a pretty big coral reef over there just past the drop-off." Alice pointed to the southern side of the island which was close to the house. "You guys could go diving. There's gear and tanks inside."
"I've never been diving. I don't have the faintest idea of how to do it. You know Nessie and I have to breathe, right?"
Alice eyed me incredulously, like I was missing something obvious.
"Edward's no dive master, but he watched numerous instructional videos and read a few good books on the subject. He can give you a lesson." Alice giggled at her conclusion.
"Oh please, my Jacob, please can we go?" Nessie said using the words she knew would yank my heartstrings into caving to her every wish.
I looked into her fluid brown eyes and melted. There was no other option. "Of course we'll go. Let's go talk to your dad."
Edward drove the boat out to the drop off point and set anchor. We had gone over everything five times inside the house and did a short shore dive just to be sure we knew what we were doing. The reef wasn't too deep, just right for a first timer. Nessie and I hopped into the water. I felt ridiculous wearing the face mask. Nessie used her underwater camera to snap a picture of me grimacing.
The reef was like nothing I had ever seen or imagined – A rainbow, alive beneath the water; clusters of waving corals, colorful fish swimming all around. The life surrounding us was absolutely undisturbed by our presence. We gently touched everything; even the fish didn't mind. A starfish worked its way up my back, I hadn't even noticed until Nessie gently pulled it off and showed it to me.
There were so many creatures I had never even so much as seen a picture of. One large fish looked like a rock. It felt like one, too, when my bare foot brushed across it. Our tanks got low far too soon and we had to return to the surface. Edward said he was watching us from the boat the entire time, wishing he could have been with Nessie during her first diving trip. I had a feeling he was watching out for our safety, too.
That evening, we had a party on the beach complete with a bonfire, upbeat island music, modified volleyball games, and two girly glasses filled with various frozen fruit concoctions. While Edward put Nessie to bed, Bella and I walked around the beach. It was rare for us to have anything exciting or new to talk about – we had lived together for over two years and been close friends even before that.
Nessie had already shown her everything she'd seen while we were diving, but I still felt the urge to give her the details of my trip. She seemed interested and cheerful. I'm sure my human descriptions paled in comparison to Nessie's vivid images, but Bella didn't show any sign of boredom. She looked into my eyes the entire time I spoke and inserted excited gasps and nods at appropriate moments.
When Edward came back outside, he joined the others instead of us, which I was grateful for. Bella and I didn't spend much alone time together, and sometimes I just wanted to talk to my friend without a third wheel around.
The remainder of the trip went much the same as the first day. Something new to experience daily, parties around a bonfire, foods I'd never even heard of, quality time with my family, and very little sleep.
Edward taught me how to drive the small boat. Nessie and I went diving almost every day. It was our favorite part of the trip. Edward and Bella came with us a couple of times, warning that things would be much different while they were in the water. It was. The creatures that didn't scurry away burrowed themselves into nooks between coral formations. It was still beautiful, even without life swimming all around us. Every time we got on the small boat to go diving, Nessie's face lit with the same enthusiasm as the first time.
Sunsets on the rooftop balcony were extraordinary. From the top of the house you could see everything in every direction. The vibrant colors lit up the entire sky, displaying every shade of blue, purple, pink, orange, and yellow. The sky was cloudless for the majority of our trip, but when clouds were in they sky they provided an even more color and detail to the marvelous display.
On a few occasions, Carlisle took everyone out on the yacht and sailed around the ocean for the day. This provided Nessie and I a new diving opportunity – underwater caves. We dove separately from the other Cullen's. There weren't as many colorful fish or corals, but the formation of the caves was very interesting.
Emmett, Edward, and Jasper wrestled with the underwater predators for fun. There weren't many of these around the island given that the water was mostly shallow, but on the open ocean they were everywhere. I was used to watching the Cullen's do impossible things like hit mile-long homeruns or leap from treetop to treetop, but the island and ocean provided a whole new spectacle. I'd never seen them in the water, or jumping from extreme heights except from the top of a tree onto the ground.
Renesmee and I went to the mainland a couple of times. Rio de Janeiro was a bustling city tucked into the jungle. Isle Esme held every bit of beauty that the mainland provided. Our primary reason for going was to stock up on food and other human goods. The weekly street market offered even more produce variety than Esme had already given me. Nessie made a few purchases, local handmade accessories for all of her favorite women. The beach in Rio was stunning, but the island was much nicer. Isle Esme had no risk of being spoiled like this beach, completely lacking the thousands of boats and tourists every day.
At the highest point of the city stood a massive statue the locals called 'Christ o Redentor,' or Christ the Redeemer. It could be seen from almost everywhere in Rio. We hiked to the top and admired the view. Even from here you couldn't see Isle Esme. Religion wasn't of any significance to either of us; it just looked like something entertaining to do.
We continued to hike around Tijuca National Park, which looked a lot like the island with the exception of the breathtaking waterfall and higher elevation. The mountains in the park were lush green, like Forks except completely different species. Nessie pointed out dozens of creatures, giving a brief background about them. Every time she came across a living thing we hadn't seen, her eyes grew wide. We held hands and climbed the vast mountains with ease.
Zafrina, Senna, and Kachiri came to spend a few days with us on the island. This proved to be quite a challenge for me, since they were not "vegetarian" vampires. I left the house trembling several times but managed to never phase. I didn't feel threatened by them and the Cullen's would have protected me if anything did happen. Renesmee was thrilled to see Zafrina. The two of them sat together on the rooftop for hours sharing images.
As much as I hated being away from Renesmee, as much pain as it caused me – and possibly her – I had to leave the house whenever she was with them. Jasper and I hiked and went swimming a few times during their visit. I had a feeling it was his strange ability that kept me from phasing, which would have most likely led to a confrontation none of us wanted. When they left, it felt like a boulder had been lifted off my chest.
Carlisle and Esme left two weeks early – he had to get back to work – but things didn't change much. No one here appeared to be older than twenty, but we were all mature, responsible adults with the exception of Renesmee who was still hardly a child. Everyone was disappointed to see them leave. I couldn't help but think to myself how much less appealing my meals would be until we returned home. Bella offered to cook for me on a few occasions, but I couldn't bring myself to accept.
Edward and I hung out several times. At home, we would occasionally chat after Nessie went to bed, but he and I had never become good friends until this trip. The close quarters lent a hand to this, and Bella and Edward didn't want to miss a moment of Nessie's experience, so the four of us spent even more time than usual together. The two of us talked about everything under the sun. His past experiences, wolf things, Renesmee, hunting, the countless times he saved Bella's life, the numerous times I had taken her to the hospital while he was away – a topic he had no interest in other than thanking me copiously for the hundredth time, it had yet to become a past event that he could look back at and laugh. Bella hardly even remembered it, and I have a feeling that what she thought she remembered was no more than what I'd explained to her since after the change. I felt like a third wheel a couple of times, but they managed to keep their romantic gestures to a minimum in my presence.
Isle Esme was a piece of heaven on earth. At times I wondered if it were all a mirage that would disappear, leaving me in an empty desert; or a wonderful dream that I'd wake from in my old bed in La Push. But it was too real to be a dream, and I wasn't imaginative enough to fathom something this incredible.
After a month of the most lavish vacation known to man, we had to leave. Nessie and I were the most saddened by this fact, since we weren't sure if or when we may ever get to come back. Our time together had been perfect. My girl's life was a fairytale every single day. The thing I was most dreading about leaving was her glow. The glow I'd never seen in the dull overcast of Portland or Forks. Even on a cloudless day it wasn't comparable to this sunshine-like glow that radiated off her flawless skin here.
Esme had to ship an outfit for her to wear home. She had a growth spurt while we were here and the going home outfit she brought wasn't long enough. She shot up from about the size of a six year old to that of a seven year old. Her dresses were long to begin with, so now they were at or just above the knee. The sleeves of the sweater she originally packed didn't come anywhere near her wrists.
The trip home was much different from the trip down. Nessie's bouncy energy had gone sullen. We sat on the top deck of the yacht again, in the dark, staring at the sky and water around us. She hung out the window of the limo again, but only to catch as many last glimpses of this magical place as possible. As I watched the world go by through my window on the plane, I reflected on everything this past month had brought to my life.
Nessie hadn't had any further painful separation moments; that was good. But what did it mean? Why was it happening to her? My brothers had never mentioned this, aloud or subconsciously. After spending a month with her hardly out of my sight, my own separation pains would probably be worse.
I contemplated various ways to move my bedroom closer to hers, but fell short. The only option would be moving Carlisle's study which was on the other side of Renesmee's bedroom wall, and I could never ask him to do that. Besides, there wasn't another space in the house that would accommodate his towering shelves of books that wasn't already occupied.
The more I thought about home, the more I wanted the flight back to be over with. My huge bed, my workshop, my shower that was nearly the size of my La Push bedroom, Esme's cooking – oh how I longed for her cooking. Then I realized how much missed Esme, the only mother I'd ever known. Suddenly I couldn't wait to return to my normal life; the life where I spent my days playing around the astounding house with my favorite girl, building things with my bare hands, and eating American food.
Bella turned around in her seat directly in front of me "Jacob, do you want to go to Forks next weekend?" she asked. Nessie was bouncing with energy and excitement again as she popped her head above her mothers waiting for my answer.
"Absolutely," I said in a sigh. I had so many questions for the others, and I hadn't seen my father since a week before we left. Nessie continued to bounce in Bella's lap as she released a delighted squeal – the cutest squeal in the world.
"Oh I can't wait to show—I mean tell everyone all the things we did, Jake!" Nessie cried out to me over the seat. She bit her lower lip hoping she hadn't just gotten herself in trouble.
Before the trip, I didn't like to refer to her as 'my girl.' I was 'her Jacob' in every sense and she was fully entitled to call me that. Love wasn't even a grand enough word to describe it. Every time I heard her little voice say "my Jacob," my heart swelled inside my chest. She had no idea just how much I truly belonged to her, how I existed if for no other reason but her. There was no end to the lengths I would go to just to make her smile that smile that could light up the night sky.
In my eyes, she had belonged to Bella and Edward and I was patiently waiting my turn. I never wanted to intrude on their relationships with Nessie. I had set boundaries and tried my best not to cross them, the primary boundary being that she is their child and should be spending her time with them. She should run to them when she is worried or upset, they should read her stories at night, she should be a daddy's girl; these were the things that normal little girls did.
On the island there were no distractions to keep me busy while she spent time with her parents. At home I used the distractions to guarantee that she would spend time with them without my presence. Nessie and I were inseparable for a month. We did everything together with very few exceptions. When she woke, I woke; when she napped, I napped; when she hunted, I hunted. If she was with me, she was either by my side, holding my hand, or on my shoulders. Bella and Edward didn't seem to mind at all. They looked pleased at the way things had all come together over the last two years. When Edward and I had our manly heart-to-heart conversations, never once did he even let on that he was offended by the way I consumed all of his daughter's attention.
As if she were reading my mind at that moment, Nessie crawled over the seat and into my lap. She sat on her feet and laid her head on my shoulder while she hugged my neck.
"Mom said it won't be long now. Only about another hour before we land." I turned and looked into her warm eyes as she spoke to me and my insides melted. Every aspect of my existence revolved around the little girl in my lap.
I kissed the top of her head. "Thank God, it seems like we've been on the way home for days." Our flight home was a few hours longer than going down. Houston was too sunny for a mid-day layover so we had to stop in Atlanta.
I hadn't slept much during the 20 hour trip from the island to the house. I dozed for probably a total of four hours combined. We left at 10:00 at night; it was 6:00 in the evening when we finally made it home. At that moment, the only thing I could think of was my bed. Esme and Carlisle walked out the front door as the two limos made their way up the long driveway. Nessie and I were the first ones out of the car.
"Sunshine!" Esme called to Nessie as they barreled toward each other. Esme looked overjoyed that we were finally home, like her children had just come home from summer camp.
"My, Jacob, you got so much sun!" she said to me as she wrapped her motherly arms around my waist. I lifted her off the ground as I squeezed her back. I didn't fail to notice that the smell of alfredo and olive oil lingered in her hair.
Carlisle and Esme continued to greet everyone excitedly as they filed out. When I entered the foyer, I realized that the smell that had lingered in Esme's hair filled the air around me. She took my hand a few seconds later.
"I hope you're hungry," she said, pulling me toward the kitchen. Of course I was hungry, but all I really wanted to do was sleep.
"Of course! It's like I haven't eaten in two weeks!" I flattered her.
She led me to my usual seat at the counter and I shoveled my food down with Nessie alongside me.
"Now go rest, honey," Esme said to me as I finally sat my fork down after eating three servings of chicken alfredo.
That night, all of my dreams were associated with the last month. The breathtaking sunsets, rainbows of coral, and most of all – my glowing girl.
A/N:
FYI - I particularly love the next chapter :-).
Here's the album for this chapter: picasaweb dot google dot com/fairytalesfanfic930/Chapter7