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All of these characters are property of Stephenie Meyer.
The stars shown brightly through the break in the trees. It was a rare night when the clouds parted and allowed a midnight glimpse into the Universe like this; almost as rare as when my mother actually enjoyed herself at a party thrown in her honor. I smiled, remembering the look on her face as she and my father walked in through the front door, hand in hand, to find themselves in the middle of a balloon infested streamer heaven that would make any high school prom committee proud. Once she stopped shooting furious glances at Alice and realized that she couldn't fight it she began to relax.
Jacob barely left my side all night. Something about him has really been bugging me lately, and I can't figure out exactly what. It is almost as if he looks at me differently. I've noticed his eyes seem to grow distant sometimes when I am talking or even when we are just sitting in silence, like the time we were watching Emmett and Jasper attempt to play bocce ball last week (the game ended when Emmett accidentally threw the ball too hard knocking Jasper's through a window. Esme was not impressed, to say the least.)
An owl hooted softly in the distance. The sounds of the forest were comforting to me. They were home. As I sat on a fallen tree I allowed the music of the woods to fill me. If there were only a way to describe what I was hearing with actual words, I would write it and give it to Jacob. It was a feeling that only the forest could create in me; like I were a privileged guest, only one of the few to be allowed to share in such beautiful magic.
"Nessie." Jacob's voice cut through the song, bringing me back to the present moment. His deep baritone voice seemed to blend and harmonize with the forest, making the song seem as if it were personal, just for me.
"Jacob." I answered back to him. "I thought you were going to stay at the house a while longer."
He sat down next to me on the log and grinned that lop sided smile I loved so much. His shaggy hair fell over his eyes, I was surprised with how much I wanted to brush aside the rogue locks.
"I was needed to get out of there. Emmett had gotten a hold of a pile of balloons and was serenading Bella while sucking helium. Her face was priceless, but I couldn't take the smell of his breath mixed with chemicals." He scrunched his nose. I knew he didn't particularly like the way my family smelled and appreciated that he was willing to put that feeling aside whenever he was here.
"Ahh… I should have known he would get into the balloons…" Emmett was by far the most comical person I knew. Which wasn't saying much since I didn't know hardly anyone outside of my family and the wolf pack. Actually, come to think of it, I didn't know anyone outside of my family and the wolf pack with the exception of Zafrina, the Amazon vampire whom had befriended me when I was a toddler. Every year on my birthday she sent a beautiful card and promised to visit soon. And she had a few times throughout the years bringing her coven with her.
"Something is bugging you. What's up Ness, spill it."
Though Jacob was my best friend the least thing I wanted right now was to confess the thing that had been troubling me for the last few days. Instead, I avoided his question. "I want to share something with you." I took his hand and allowed the pictures of the night sky fill my mind as I mentally shared my moment of the Universe with him.
When the memory was over Jacob didn't release my hand; instead he continued to hold it, rubbing his warm thumb over my cooler skin. The contrast of his deep native skin tone was almost unnoticeable in the faint starlight. Though I wasn't as pale as my parents, my skin held a delicate peaches and cream tone that my father continually told me he loved. I wondered if Jacob found my skin tone beautiful too…
I let go of his hand and stood. "I'm sorry Jacob, I'm feeling tired. Do you mind if call it a night?"
The dark of the night couldn't hide the surprise from his face, or his voice for that matter. Of course, being half vampire I did have a bit of an advantage when it came to seeing without light. "No, I didn't do anything to piss you off did I? Your picture was nice. I always love seeing how you see the world around you."
I smiled. "I know you do, you tell me all the time. It's just been a long day."
"Alright." He said. "Call me tomorrow, I was going to head over to Sam and Emily's for a bit, do you want to go with me?"
"That sounds good, but mom will kill me if I don't finish her paper by tomorrow. Can I let you know tomorrow?" I asked.
"Sure, sure." He replied, his head tilting to the side. "Goodnight, my Renesme."
I smiled. Besides my mother, he was the only one who could get away with calling me by my given name. "Goodnight, my Jacob."
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As I lay in my bed unable to turn off my mind I saw the door to my bedroom begin to crack open. My mother poked her head through the crack, checking no doubt to see if I were asleep yet.
"I'm still awake if you want to come in for a bit." I offered, clearly catching her off guard.
She smiled and walked over to sit on the edge of my bed like she had done so many times throughout the last six years. "You caught me." She said playfully. "Not able to sleep?"
I just shook my head, my long braid tickling my neck as it bounced lightly.
"Is there something bothering you? You haven't really been yourself lately."
"It's just stupid… " I said, not entirely sure if I was willing to share my worries.
"If it matters to you then it isn't stupid, Renesme. You don't need to talk to me tonight, but if you do you know that I am here to listen, okay?"
I smiled and placed my hand on top of hers, conveying without words just how much I appreciated and loved her. She squeezed my hand before standing and walking towards the half opened door.
She turned back towards me, and in a voice that was little more than a whisper said. "I know you must be going through a hard time, honey. It isn't easy living in a world where you are the only one of your age. Hang in there, it will get better." And with the light click of the door closing, I was alone with my thoughts again. Only this time, they weren't filled with Jacob. This time, they were filled with a desire so forbidden, I knew I could never share it with anyone. Not even my mother.
I'm fluffy, I know. :) Trust me, next chapter is going to get a whole lot jucier though! ;)