Alice sat on the side of my bed and patted my back twice, then rubbed it up and down. "Don't worry, Sweetie. Everything will work out." She smiled, angelically. But she didn't know that for sure. She can't see wolves.
"What did you need, Aunt Alice?" I asked, trying to change the subject. She gracefully leaped up from the bed
"I need to get you ready for La Push!" She sang, with sudden enthusiasm. She danced into her closet, and came out not even a minute later, throwing me another outfit. I put it on and looked in the mirror.
A tight black tank top, jean shorts that cut off mid-thigh, a dark purple Northface, and purple Converse to match.
She pushed me into the bathroom, and patted the salon chair, signaling for me to sit down. I obeyed, and closed my eyes as she began to straighten my hair.
What the hell had Jacob been about to say? Why did I even care so much? Why did my blood tingle every time he talked? Suddenly, I understood. Somewhere between our laughs, long talks, stupid little fights, and inside jokes... I fell in love. My heart stopped beating and I gasped when that realization hit me.
"What is it, Renesmee?" Alice asked, frantic, as she stopped straightning my hair.
"Nothing." I let out in a shaky breath.
"You know you can tell me anything... But if you don't want to, you don't have to."
I didn't want her to think I was trying to keep anything from her. I sighed. "Aunt Alice?" I said. She looked at me. "I love Jacob."
She just smiled. "Of course. We all do. Well, not Rosalie." She frowned. "Or your father."
"No, no, Aunt Alice. I'm in love, with Jacob." As I said this, she closed her eyes and sighed.
"Well, I supposed we knew this was coming." She opened her eyes. "You've loved him all along, you know. We were just waiting for you to realize it."
I closed my eyes and threw my head back, as I groaned. "Is it that obvious?" She let out a giggle.
"Only to us. You know we vampires catch everything. How your heart stutters every time he touches you," She tapped my shoulder, as if to demonstrate, "even in the slightest way. But no worries, Honey, he has no idea."
She finished straightening my hair and helped me up, spun me in a circle, and nudged me to a mirror. My hair, somehow, looked a shade lighter. More like a faded red now. It lay softly on my shoulders. My side bangs had the slightest curl to them, so it just added some flair.
"Really, Alice? How do you do it?" She threw her head back, in a silver laugh.
"Magic." She spoke with a brilliant smile. I rolled my eyes, smiling as well. "You better get going. Don't want to be late. Have fun, Sweetie." I quickly pecked her cheek, and skipped toward the door. "Wait," She said, just before I'd escaped. I turned to look at her. "Uhm..." She looked down, as if she were embarrassed, "I can't see what happens in La Push... so, just, uh, promise me you'll... be safe?" She asked.
Be safe? Of course I would be safe. I was with 10 wolfs. And I was half of a vampire for goodness sakes. I'm sure I looked confused. "Sure, Alice." She smiled and I hopped down the steps, running outside. I saw Jacob catch his breath when he saw me, which automatically made me smile.
"Nessie... You're gorgeous." He said, dazed. I giggled and my heart beat faster, as I leaned in to kiss his cheek. He smiled and wrapped his arm around me, leading me toward his car. He opened the passenger seat door. I got in, smiling, too.
"Thank You."
"No problem, Ness." He shut my door, and walked around to the other side. He got in, too, and looked in my eyes. I blushed and looked down. Bad idea. He put his hand under my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. He then brushed my cheek with the back of his hand, causing my heart to stutter, and my breathing to hitch. He looked concerned.
"Are you alright?" He asked
"Uhm, Ye.. yeah." I said, shaking off my daze.
"Okay.." He still sounded skeptical, as he started driving toward La Push. "So, how was your birthday?"
"It was amazing, Jacob! Really! Did you have fun?"
"Of course I did. What was your favorite present?" I automatically gripped the charm, hanging around my neck.
"I like my necklace."
"You like the necklace? More than your car? Right..."
"Really, I do. I mean, the car is great. The one I've always dreamed of. But this necklace... There's something special about it... A car is a car, the necklace is so much more." I spoke, clearly, trying to explain.
"What's so special about it, though?"
"I can't figure out exactly what it is. But... there's something.." I told him. He nodded his head, trying to understand, as he pulled up to the bonfire, right on the cliff edge. Everyone was already there. The whole pack, Emily, Billy, Rachel, Kim, Quil's grandfather, Sue, and Claire.
They were all sitting around the fire. Claire, 9 now, sat comfortably in Quil's lap. Emily sat next to Sam, their fingers entwined, staring lovingly at each other. Kim was cuddled up to Jared, her head resting on his shoulder, and his arm pulling her even closer. Even Rachel sat in Pauls lap, his arms wrapped around her, kissing her neck all over, causing her to giggle.
Jake was holding my hand, as we walked into view. Collin, Brady, Embry, and Seth's eyes all widened at the same time when they saw me. Jacob glared at them.
"Nessie?" Collin asked, as if he didn't believe it was me. I giggled and nodded. Collin and Brady exchanged a look.
Embry, of course, just said what was on everyone else's minds. "Daaym, you grew up!" I laughed a little. A silvery, gold, kind of sound. Girly, and childish.
Seth winked at me. So did Brady. Collin came up and gave me a hug. But, Embry... was a different story. He hugged me, too. But when he did, he moved his hand down to my lower back, pulling me closer. He brought his hand to my butt and squeezed it once. I elbowed him, hard, in the ribcage. "Embry Call!" I accused, pushing him off.
Jacob growled at him, and he just grinned. "Embry, what the hell, man?" Jake growled again, stepping closer to him, his fist shaking in anger.
I walked in between them, "Boys, relax." I turned to Embry. "Never again." Then turned toward Jake, and stepped closer to him, so I was pressed up against his chest. I stood on my tippy toes, so my lips were at his ear. "Don't worry, Jake.. I'm not interested in Embry." I whispered in my most seductive voice. As I took my head back, my cheek brushed over his, adding to the effect.
Jacob swallowed hard. The boys behind us all sent a chorus of "Oooh!'s" into the air. I rolled my eyes, and sat on one of the logs, by the fire. Jake sat on the ground beside me, then grabbed me and set me in his lap. As everyone finished up roasting marshmallows, I sat in his lap. He kept tickling my sides, and blowing in my ear, making me burst out in giggles.
I'd forgotten we weren't alone. Everyone was glancing at us, looks of confusion on their faces. Quil mumbled something to Jacob, thinking I wouldn't hear. "I thought she didn't know yet..?" He said.
"She doesn't." Jake mumbled back. Right then, Billy cleared his throat, making all attention on him.
"We're going to start the bonfire a bit different this time." He announced. "We'll start talking about imprinting." Although Billy was talking, all eyes were on Jacob and I. "Once you phase into a wolf, some of us are lucky enough to imprint. Imprinting is when a wolf, sees his soul mate. It's like... love at first site. But so much or intense. Once you see her, she's the only one that matters. She's is the center of your entire universe"
As Billy spoke; Jacob slowly wrapped his arms around me. My heart was pounding as I laid my head back on his shoulder. The world seemed to move slower, and all I could hear was my own heart, pounding in my ears.
"Only a few members of our pack were lucky enough to imprint. 5, to be exact." I looked around at the circle. Paul and Rachel... Sam and Emily... Jared and Kim... I looked around more. Who else was there? Billy glanced at Quil and Claire. "But for some people, the imprint happens when the girl is just a child. In which case, it isn't really love. More like, gravity moves. The wolf protects the girl, from every danger." He continued. So Quil and Claire, I guessed.
The atmosphere got suddenly awkward. "Maybe it's time to take a break." Quil shouted. Everyone nodded in agreement. Jake picked me up and set me on my feet. He stood up, too.
"Do you want to go for a walk?" He asked. I nodded, and then something hit me. Had Jacob imprinted? That set a feeling of unease in my stomach. He took my hand and we began walking to the beach. We got there and walked along the shore. Jacob probably imprinted. He loved someone else. A tear ran silently down my cheek.
"Renesmee! What's wrong?" He asked, frantic, pulling me into his arms. I clutched the charm around my neck, as another cry broke through. "Nessie, baby, what's wrong?" He rubbed my back, and I shook my head.
"Jacob.. Have.. Have you.." I couldn't even get the word out. But he knew exactly what I meant.
"Uh.. Yeah.. Yeah I have." I clutched my necklace tighter, and sat on the sand. More like fell on the sand, really. I brought my knees to my chest and wrapped my arms around them.
"On.. who?" Did I even want to know?
He sat next to me and pulled my closer to him. He looked right into my eyes. Rain began pouring from the sky, sending a small droplet on my cheek. He wiped it away, along with several tears. He moved another strand of hair from my face, then moved his warm hand down to my neck, pulling my face closer to his. He pressed his lips to mine, kissing my passionately.
Our lips moved in syncronation, and my heart picked up speed. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he moved his hands down to my back, pulling my closer. He traced my lips with his tongue. All I could hear was our heartbeats, and breathing. I bit his lower lip, playfully. His tongue entered my mouth, and dueled with mine, sending a shock through my body. I traced the tip of his tongue with mine, and moaned into his mouth, as his hot breath swept over me.
He moved his lips to my jaw line, lightly tracing it with his tongue, making me shudder. He went up to my ear, and kissed behind it, slightly biting it. He brought his lips back to mine, kissing me more intensely.
I pulled away, and looked down, blushing a bright pink. He took me in his arms, placing me in his lap. His arms wrapped around me. I loved the way it felt, to be in his arms. So secure. So safe. He held me like that, as our heartbeats slowed. I tried to catch my breath. While he waited, he placed small kisses all along my neck.
"I imprinted on you, Ness." He said, once my breathing was back to normal. "I love you. So much more than anything in the entire world. You are my entire world. I couldn't live without you. You're beautiful, and nice, and funny, and so incredibly amazing. I can't even tell you how I fell. You're the only thing holding me to this earth." A tear rolled down my cheek.
"Jacob.. I love you, too. When I think of you, my heart feels like it's going to burst, because it just can't hold all my love for you. You make my heart fly, and give me butterflies all over. I can't explain it either, Jake. But I love you so, so much." I held the necklace, and realized why it was so special. It would forever remind me of the day I fell in love with him. Remind me of the day that would change me life forever.
Jake held me tighter. "Do you want to get out of the rain? Go back to the fire? It won't be raining there."
"I really don't want to leave, but I guess we probably should." He chuckled and helped me up. We walked back to the faire, hand in hand. Until he dropped it, and wrapped his arm around me. I leaned into his side, and sighed contently.
We got back to the fire and finished up the stories. He then took me back to his car, but instead of getting in, I sat on the hood of it. He smiled and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me closer. I wrapped my legs around his waist, and kissed his lips seductively. My arms wound around his neck, as we kissed more intensely, tasting each other.
From behind us, someone cleared their throats. Jake kissed me harder, once more, before I pulled away. Blushing, I looked up at Rachel and Paul. Jacob grinned. "Hey Rach."
Rachel rolled her eyes. "I wanted to talk to Renesmee." She said. I looked up at her. Jacob shrugged and walked away with Paul. She sat next me on the hood of the car. "Hi Sweetie." She smiled. "Happy Birthday."
"Thanks, Rachel."
"I just wanted you to know, if there's anything you ever wanted to know. About the imprint, feel free to ask. I went through it, too. I know how it is. And... If you don't feel that way about Jake... Don't feel like you're stuck in this relationship. More than anything, Jacob just wants you to be happy."
"Oh, Rachel, I do feel that way for Jacob. So much."
"I know that, too. But if you ever change your mind."
I smiled, knowing that I wouldn't. "Thank you. I'll make sure to turn to you for anything."
She smiled, and suddenly Jacob was at my side, kissing me passionately.
"Be safe, you two." Rach said with a laugh, before her and Paul walked away. I suddenly realized what Alice had meant earlier and turned a bright shade of red. Jacob kissed my cheek and got me in the car. He began driving back to Forks, as I held my crystal heart charm securely in my hand.