Chapter 11: Time Gone By

Nessie's POV

Time seemed to move a lot quicker after that night I slept over at the Cullen's house. I spent a lot more time there after that. They reminded me a lot of my own family. They didn't know this but their presence helped to ease the pain of my loss.

They made me feel included in their family. It was something that Annie and I found really strange but we welcomed it at the same time. I knew she loved spending time with the Cullens as much as I did. She would never admit it to me but I knew she did. Carlisle and Esme acted more like parents to us while the others acted like brothers and sisters. Sometimes they were like slightly annoying older brothers and sisters even if we were all around the same age.

Or were we? I still had not forgotten that strange photo album that I had found when I spent the night here. The girl who looked exactly lithe way I used to was constantly on my mind. Who was she? Where was she? How was she related to the Cullens? Why did she look like me?

I wanted to ask all these questions but I was afraid I would sound crazy if I told them that I found a picture of a little girl in their house that looked exactly like me. I also didn't want to be annoying or bring up any bad memories. For all I knew she could've died a long time ago.

Annie and I spent Thanksgiving with them. Since the Cullens didn't eat anything we had a whole turkey and pumpkin pie to ourselves. Jesus do these people ever eat? How do they live? If they think people don't notice their lack of eating they're sorely mistaken.

So we just ate our food while everyone else waited on us. Emmett was playing peekaboo with Nathan. I had never played that game with my brother before but he seemed to love it. They continued like that for awhile until he started crying. At first Rosalie got mad at Emmett because she thought he scared him when he really he was just hungry.

If I was being honest with myself I would have to admit that Rosalie was a better caretaker than I was. I tried my best but she was better and faster. She could figure out what he needed or wanted faster than I did. She didn't hesitate to stop whatever she was doing to take care of Nathan. Didn't matter if it was a bottle he needed or a diaper change. Before I even knew what was happening she would be taking care of him. She and Nathan had a special bond. I could see it.

Whenever we would leave Nathan would cry when I took him from her. I could tell that Rosalie was upset as well but I never asked her about it.

Fast forward a few weeks and now we were one week away from Christmas. Today had been our last day of school before Christmas break and now we were just finishing up our packing. We hadn't told the Cullens about our trip to Volterra, Italy. I never saw a chance to bring it up.

Here I was stressing out though because it was the night before the trip because my sister and I hadn't finished packing and there was still things we needed to go buy.

I looked at the letter I received a few days ago about my trip. This letter gave me more information on where we would be staying. It was a castle. Or a castle themed hotel. I wasn't sure honestly. All I knew is that we were to go to that address as soon as we landed and meet up with a woman named Heidi who would then show us around the castle/hotel.

"Annie!" I yelled.

"What?!" she yelled back.

"Did you find the rest of the stuff that we need?!"

"No! I've been looking but I can't find it!"

I gritted my teeth and tried to remain calm. Going crazy right now would not help the situation.

"I've looked everywhere. I swear," she said as she came out.

"Okay, look we don't have time to keep searching. I need you to go into town and buy them, okay?"

"Yes fine. It'll be easier than continuing to look here anyway,"

I tossed her my car keys and told her to hurry up before the store closed.

I felt really exhausted all of a sudden. I didn't know it was possible to stress out so much about missing items like travel sized soaps, lotions, shampoos, and conditioners but I certainly was.

Thankfully Annie came back with the needed items and we were able to finish packing without any problems.

We had to get up early the next morning to go to the airport. Neither one of my siblings was happy at all. I swear sometimes it felt like I was dragging around two babies instead of one. It wasn't until I reminded Annie that we were going on vacation that she peeked up and stopped complaining.

Since it was the holiday season the airport was extremely busy and figuring out where we had to go was difficult. Once we checked in our luggage and passed security things were easier.

Afterward we had breakfast at one of the restaurants then we headed toward our gate before it was time to board our plane.

"Renesmee what are you doing here?"

I instantly spun around when I heard a familiar voice.

"Kate? My God it feels like it's been forever since I've seen you! What are you doing here?"

"We have to leave Nessie. Sorry I didn't get a chance to tell you but we can't stay here any longer,"

"Why not?" It saddened me to think that the Denalis were leaving. They were my best friends.

"Our relationship with the Cullens is extremely bad right now. Worst that it's ever been. Actually that's an understatement. If we stay here any longer things are going to get even uglier then they already are. That's all I can say,"

I didn't understand anything at all. The Denalis were nice people. The Cullens were nice people. What could've happened that was so bad that the Denalis felt the need to leave?

"What-"

"Doesn't matter Nessie. Really it doesn't. Where are you going?"

"Oh we won a trip to Volterra, Italy,"

Kate suddenly went very quiet and still.

Before I could say anything they announced that it was time for us to start boarding.

"Well Kate I have to go but I hope we can stay in touch. You're like family to us after all,"

She still didn't say anything or move at all for that matter. It was like she had went into shock.

"Nessie come on!" Annie yelled. "We have to go!"

I was a little worried about Kate. Why did she get all weird when I said Volterra, Italy was where I was going?

Nathan started crying when I buckled him into his car seat that was firmly strapped to the airplane seat.

I felt my excitement begin to grow as the airplane backed away from the gate and we took off. I could tell this trip was going to be exactly what Annie and I needed to keep ourselves from being sad about the loss of our parents this holiday season.

Volterra here we come!

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