~4~

That night, I had the same dream again. As usual, my excitement bubbled when I saw the faint shadow in front of me. Then, it went black. I sat up in my bed in frustration. It was driving me insane. I knew my father had heard the screams going off in my head as laid back down on the pillow, pretending to be asleep. He crept into my room, not making a single sound, but I felt his presence there, hovering over me. He walked around the room making everything was okay, and then left. I knew he knew I wasn't asleep, but he left me anyways. He knew what was really bothering me, an aspect he tried to avoid at all cost. My Jacob.

In the morning, school went by in a haze. Alice brought me to school and I silently nodded to her as she chatted to me with great enthusiasm about the outfits she picked for me to ski in this weekend. I practically slept through all my classes, too distracted to pay attention, but friendly voice after French class caught my attention.

"You were like a zombie today"

I looked back to see Aiden smiling at me. It was good to know that our awkward phone conversation last night had not ruined our friendship here in school.

"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm just a bit tired," I stuttered.

He laughed and said, "Aren't we all?"

I smiled at him and replied, "Yeah, school does that to you."

He laughed again at my faint joke. There was something so nonchalant and natural about me and Aiden. We could talk about anything, whether it be important or something completely random, and it would make us smile. This was how I felt right now. His laugh and smiles were taking me out of my dark mood.

"So, did you happen to ask your parents about this weekend?" he asked hesitantly.

To tell you the truth, I had honestly forgot about it. I looked at him for a split second in a blank stare before realization dawned on me.

"Oh yeah, I did, and um, yeah I can go." I told him. I couldn't tell him no, and I knew it would make my parents happy to get out of the house and do something different.

I watched as a huge smile spread across his face. It was funny how just watching him smile for joy, made me smile and laugh.

"Great!" he said. "I'll pick you up at 8:30 on Saturday. We can talk more about it in English!"

"Bye, see you then!" I added with a chuckle. I suddenly didn't regret committing myself to a ski trip this weekend with Aiden. He made me feel better. He took my mind off of my dream and Jacob. I was now glad to get out of the house and do something human for once. My smile then spread just as big as Aiden's did as I thought of all the fun I would be having this weekend.

All during English, Aiden sat next to me and praddled on about all the fun we would be having this weekend. I didn't have to pretend to listen, I sincerely was. We kept going on and making jokes as we made our way down to lunch. But when I saw Alice waiting for me, I knew it was time to leave. I sadly walked away from him and made my way over to Alice.

All through lunch, Alice told me I should invite Aiden to sit with us, but I would never expose him to our secret world and talkative Alice. Besides, I enjoyed watching him from afar, mingling with his friends and the rest of the school, and every once and a while I would catch his eyes smiling over at me and I would just smile back. I now appreciated what Aiden was to me; a sun to brighten up my life, almost the way Jacob did. I needed Aiden; I need someone to take the place of Jacob when he wasn't here.

After school, me and Alice drove home to find my dad waiting for me. He was standing on the porch, leaning against the rail, smiling at me as we drove up.

As we got of the car, he descended from the porch steps.

"Well would you look at this, a doorman ready to take our bags as we make our way into the home. What nice service!" said Alice teasingly as she flung her oversized purse into his arms.

My dad through it back at her in a playful way. I watched as she caught it with a look on her face and he said smiling, "Actually Alice, I was waiting to take Renesmee on our hunting trip. We should leave as soon as we can so you're able to make it back here for your outing tomorrow."

"Oh yeah," I replied, "I'll go get changed and get my stuff." I ran into the house, leaving my father and Alice chatting about the hunting weather.

In my room, I pulled on my favorite pair of skinny jeans that I only saved for hunting trips, a clean black T-shirt, my black North face jacket, and my old converse. I ran to the mirror to pull my long bronze locks up into a ponytail, when I realized that I had changed. It had only been a week since I studied myself in the mirror, but now I saw that face appeared older. I was making my way out of 15 years of age and into 16 years. It saddened me to think og how much I had changed since I last saw Jacob. Would he still recognize me?

I grabbed my backpack and bounded down the stairs. I met my mother, Jasper, Esme, Alice, and Carlisle waiting for me and my dad by the door.

"Have fun!" my mother said coming up to give me a hug.

"You're not coming too?" I questioned. Usually my mother always came hunting with me and my dad.

"Not this time," she said. "I'm gonna wait to go with Alice this weekend. I'm not too hungry yet." She finished smiling at me.

I knew that the only reason she wasn't coming with me was because she and my dad both sensed my frustration and she wanted him to try and figure it out. I loved my mother dearly, but sometimes it was easier to communicate with my dad. He could see what I was feeling.

I waved goodbye to everyone else, watched my father and mother passionately kiss their goodbyes, and departed to the jeep with my dad.