4) Education

On the way, Jacob and I traveled with Uncle Emmett, driving his jeep, and Uncle Jasper who chatted to us about getting our story straight. Not once did Jacob look at me, or talk to me. It truthfully upset me.

Pulling up in the schools drive seemed like years. Everyone turned to stare, and I felt myself grow body conscious from what I was wearing. Sure there were similar shirts and heels being worn, but the one thing I did not see were the little shorts.

Note to self, long jeans tomorrow.

"Oh my…!" I squeaked. "I look ridiculous."

"You look hot," Uncle Emmett disagreed as he jumped out of the car once he parked it.

"Thanks," I grumbled sarcastically. "I'm sure everyone else will think so too."

"Yeap. Just don't let Jacob catch 'em thinking it, saying it or looking at you. Trust me," he warned as he and Uncle Jasper walked towards the office.

I stared after them unthinkingly, not knowing how to take his warning or what it fundamentally meant.

Jake got out and walked around the front of the car to my door, opening it for me. I didn't move, just sat frozen, so he leaned an arm in and pulled me out.

"Come on," he muttered quietly.

He shut the door behind me and stood there, watching the people stare as they walked past. Uncle Emmett and Uncle Jasper were already out of sight, so it was just me and Jacob. The new kids. The tough guy and the hot chick. Great.

"You still want to do this" I asked him.

"Yes. I'm not leaving you, Nessie."

"Good; I don't know what I would do if you weren't here," I said as I clung to his arm. I didn't care how I looked anymore. And I didn't care how me clutching Jacob would look; I just wanted to feel him there.

"It's alright, sweetie," he whispered in my ear while he shifted his arm and wrapped it around my waist. "The first day is always the hardest."

He walked us to the main office to collect our time tables, and I was grateful when the wooden door shielded me from the prying eyes and agitating whispers.

As Jacob promised, we had all our classes together. The first lesson of the day was history, so we directed ourselves there and sat at the back of the class.

"We have two new students today," our teacher, Mr. Hendrickson, announced. "Everyone, say hello to Jacob Black and Renesmee Cullen, please."

Everyone turned. Everyone focused. And everyone stared.

My cheeks burned so I ducked my head and scribbled on my page, pretty things, like hearts and flowers.

Jake was braver than I was; he raised two fingers and flicked them in a "hey" gesture and cleared his throat lightly. "It's Nessie, she hates being called Renesmee," he announced.

"Okay, no problem. Please pay attention; some of my students have to. If you have any questions about anything, or need to go to the bathroom, don't hesitate to ask."

"Thanks, man," Jake replied with a smile. The teacher continued teaching and the class, one by one, turned their attentions elsewhere.

I sensed Jake's eyes watching me for a while but ignored the reflex to check. His hand pressed on mine a few minutes later, flattening it against the page so that I was forced to cease my scribbling.

"Don't worry," he whispered in my ear, his breath pushing my hair around my cheek. "You'll be alright, honey."

"Thanks," I released the pen and twisted my hand around to hold his.

I turned my head around to peck him on the cheek, and I think he had a parallel notion. Our lips met halfway, pressing together delicately. I had wanted to do this for so long.

His lips were… firm. Solid but supple. They were warmer than his hands, his arms, his body, and so much more gentle and careful. I didn't want to pull away, this felt so good. Jacob mustn't have wanted to either because his lips encouraged mine to move with his for a second, his free hand coming up to cup my face.

If only it could be like this forever…

I followed his lips for another moment before I felt him stiffen and pull back.

He looked at me, shocked.

"Nessie!" he whispered frantically.

"Jacob, no… I shouldn't have—"

He cut me off abruptly, grasping both my hands in one of his and stroking my arm. "You didn't do anything wrong, honey. I shouldn't have kissed you."

"Well don't I feel stupid," I muttered as I ripped my hands from his and started scribbling again. This time, broken hearts. How appropriate.

"Huh?" he was stunned and perplexed.

I sighed and held my palm up, glancing at him. He ducked his head into my hand and I rubbed his cheek while I showed him everything about me and my feelings… for him.

I showed him us, running and playing in the forest. How it felt when he caught me; exciting and safe. How soothing it was when he kept me company while I was miserable or feeling alone. How amazing it was when he held my hand while we walked along the beach. How breathtaking it was when he held me and flung off the cliff with me in his arms. How tranquil it was when we would lay in our secluded meadow and gaze at the stars, laying in his arms or snuggled into his fur coat.

How it felt every time I saw him. How it felt every time he touched me.

"Uh… wow!" he murmured after I pulled my hand away.

"That's honestly what you think?" I asked him doubtfully.

"Lengthy detailed story, Ness," he muttered.

"So tell me," I countered.

He sighed and looked away from me, gnawing on his lip.

"What do you want to do?" he asked a minute later.

"What?" I wasn't following.

"Show me what you want."

I could only think of one thing that I wanted, and he wasn't about to find out. I shook my head and pulled my hands away from his, folding them underneath my chin and facing away from his eyes.

"Ness…" his fingers ran through my hair fondly and I closed my eyes. I didn't show him this, what I wanted, for a reason. "Ho—."

He was interrupted by the bell ringing, signaling the end of class. The students in front of us fiddled with their belongings and stampeded out the door.

I grabbed my backpack and placed my book and pens in. Jacob had replaced his items much quicker and stood behind me, dragging my chair back slowly.

"Okay, okay. I'm coming," I play snapped. "Patience, dog."

He rolled his eyes at me, lacking a clever reply, and crossed his arms.

I play frowned at him, "You can't win all the time."

"But I like winning all the time. Makes me feel Alpha, and besides, you're normally easy to manipulate," he teased.

"I'm going to ignore you saying that," I muttered as I stalked towards the door way.

"Oh, come on," he caught me around the waist and held me there leaning down to whisper in my ear, stroking his nose against my cheek.

I had no desire to fight; if this was how he was going to hold me, well…

"Come on you two. You are new, and obviously attached, but the classroom is not the place to make out."

Jacob's eyes and mine both shot up to Mr. Hendrickson and we shot apart.

"Sorry Sir. And we aren't… it's not… like… that…" My voice trailed off while my eyes avoided Jacob.

Shut up. Just shut up, Nessie, I chided myself.

I wished it was like that. I had a pretty severe war with my hands to not reach out to Jacob's and won by a minuscule amount.

"We'll go get food," Jacob recovered the silence and laid a hand on my back, guiding me out the door and down the hall to the lunchroom. None of us saying anything, clearly, literally, lost for words.

We grabbed trays and waited in line for our turn to load our plates, my family watching us from, as per usual, the back corner table. Jake grabbed my bag from me and swung it into place over his shoulder, so I ripped his tray out of his hands and held both of ours to my chest, crossing my arms over them. He shrugged and looked distant for an instant.

"That was an education," he let a smile spread across his lips moments later.

"What was?" I was a little confused.

"That anyone would think we were… you know… going to make out. Dating, even," his voice was low enough that only I could hear it.

My eyes narrowed. Of course I was not the only one who could see Jacob and not notice that he was… fine-looking. A couple of girls a few people back had been watching Jake as he raised his arms to rest on his head; they had noticed his body and how it moved. Yet I doubt they had as much respect for it, and for him, as I did.

Jacob had noticed my narrowed eyes and dropped his arms, spinning his torso to look where my stare had fallen. He chuckled and reached an arm out across the three feet separating us, wrapping it around me and pulling me closer. I helped him and marched forward, not stopping until I had squashed myself close to him as much as I could.

He seized me strongly and raised his other hand to flick the stray strands of hair away from my face.

"Oh, Nessie. You're not jealous are you?" Despite the blush I felt burning my cheeks, I smiled a little at my quote from this morning.

"A little," I decided honesty was probably best at this point.

I set my head on his chest and refused to look at him. When you're best friend (and new found crush) was a werewolf though, and he wanted you to look at him even though you didn't want to, it never really mattered how much effort you put in to not looking.

He tucked a finger underneath my chin and coaxed it upwards so that I was meeting his eyes.

"There's no need to be," he ducked his head and kissed my lips, this time decisively.

I could live with this.

His lips enthused against mine warmly.

I truly could.