DISCLAIMER: I'm not Stephenie Meyer. Enough said.
A/N: Yeah, well its been a while and I haven't update, but this one is worth the wait (2 755 words!). My profile mentioned hat this story is on hold. Reason? Well, first read the chapter and then find out ;P
Chapter 9: Disagreements
"I think this outfit is great."
"No, wait. This one is good, but this other one would be even better," Aunt Alice said whilst rummaging through a huge bag which read "Mr. Price". We were in my room in the shalet trying on some outfits for this evening's supper; don't ask me why she wanted me to dress up for it.
She tossed me something blue. I open it out and leaned it against me. It was a strapless dress which came up to above my knee. I would have had the same opinion about it as Aunt Alice, if it weren't for the huge slit half way up the side. I looked uncertainly at Aunt Alice.
"Pretty, isn't it?" she beamed at me, "Try it on!"
Sighing, I changed for the tenth time just to make her happy. I slipped the blue dress on and observed myself in the mirror. Yup I was right; too much flesh-flash. I turned around to face Aunt Alice again.
"You've got to be kidding," I snorted, "This outfit? Right where is the next dress you wanted to show me?"
"No, this is perfect!" she exclaimed, "Shows off your figure quite nicely. I'd say Jake wouldn't know what hit him if he saw you in that."
That brought me to a stop. Would Jake really like this dress? I looked at myself again in the mirror, trying to view it with a different mindset.
There was a knock on the door,
"May I come in?" asked Jacob's voice.
"Now we'll test me theory," Alice whispered to me. "Sure Jake, you can come in."
Jacob opened the door and walked in casually, bare-chested as usual. He had his usual smile plastered to his face, but when he saw me… well, let's just say it wiped the smile off his face. He just stared, not in a gross, perverted way, but in a way that made me feel pretty and shy that I blushed. His body trembled slightly, but he glowed, like the time when he'd imprinted on me. He bit his bottom lip, trying to hold back the tremors.
"You're not wearing that this evening, are you?" he asked through gritted teeth.
"But of course," answered Alice, a grin plastered to her face in victory, "Don't you think she looks pretty?"
"I… I…" he stammered, his eyes still glued to me, "I don't think you should wear this. I don't want you to wear it."
Two feelings aroused. First I felt relief that he had the same opinion about the dress, I didn't want to wear it either. But the way in which he said it… did he have perhaps the opposite reaction of what Aunt Alice hoped for? What if I didn't look pretty?
"What are you talking about?" argued Aunt Alice, "This is perfect for this evening. Don't you agree, Nessie?"
I was unsure as to how to answer, but Jake cut me off before I could even try.
"I highly doubt Edward or Bella would agree to this outfit."
A growl from outside the door came in agreement to Jacob's words. Dad must've seen it through Jake's thoughts.
"Alice, my daughter will not exit the room in that piece of cloth you call a dress," said Dad clearly, trying to conceal any anger.
Alice pouted and studied me again. She then walked over to another packet and pulled out a pair of dark jeans. She leaned it against me.
"What if I teamed it up with a pair of jeans?" she asked, "Like this?"
She probably tried to show it to him through her thoughts. Jake looked at the jeans, at Alice and then back at me, his eyes blazing.
"The jeans are an improvement," he said and turned to leave the room. What was that for? Dad and Mum walked in, giving Alice a look and observed me.
"I think with the jeans its fine," answered Mum, breaking the tension in the room. Gosh, tension over a dress?
"Alice, in future when you're dressing my daughter, I'd like to see what you bought first. Alright?" asked Dad.
"Yeah, sure sure," she answered, packing everything back in their packets. She was smiling, seeing that she did eventually get her own way in wanting me to wear the dress. She always gets her way; Mum warned me about this a long time ago.
I wondered what Jacob's issue was; I mean it was just an outfit. He didn't have to get so worked up about it… and besides, I thought he actually liked it. Men… ah well. I pulled on the pair of jeans that Alice tossed to me, thankful there wouldn't be much flesh-flash to worry about.
***
"Mmm, that smells good," I commented as I walked into the kitchen, "What's for dinner?"
"Calalonie," replied Esme, "Thought I'd try something different this evening."
"Calalonie? What exactly is that?" asked Mum, joining us in the kitchen. Dad, Emmet, Jasper, Carlisle and Jacob were watching sports on TV.
"Its sort of like Lasagna, just prepared differently," answered Esme. "I hope Nahuel won't mind."
"I'm sure he won't" I smiled, "Who would ever mind your cooking?"
Esme smiled at the compliment. I decided to hang around in the kitchen as I really didn't want to face Jacob. His behaviour began to irritate me. Why get worked up over clothes?
I sat down at the table, mindlessly toying with a knife in my hand. Trying to forget about the incident earlier, I wondered what would happen if I cut myself with it or at least tried to. I did have blood running through my veins after all, would I bleed? Or was my skin strong enough to withstand a cut? I ran the sharp side of the blade against my palm softly. Nothing, not even a scratch. I ran it down again with slightly more force –
"Renesmee Carlie Cullen, what on earth do you think you're doing?" yelled my mother. I spun around in shock, the impact of it causing me to use more force than I'd intended.
"Ouch!" I yelped, surprised by the slight sting. I looked back to my hands to find a bit of blood dribbling down my palm. What was strange though was that there was no trace of the cut anywhere. Maybe I was like Jake…
"Yes, seeing that you have the same chromosome pairs," said Dad who had come into the room with Jake, "And can you please explain why you're cutting yourself?"
"Oh, um, that…" I looked at my parents sheepishly.
Ding
"It's probably Nahuel," I said, trying to change the subject. "I'll go get it."
"No, you stay here, I'll get it," replied Dad, pulling Mum with him.
He was already out the doorway before I could argue. Jacob pulled the chair next to me and sat down. As much as I tried to look away, his gaze forced me to look at him. His warm hands found mine, his thumb tracing the path of where the cut was, wiping away the blood.
"And what was that for?" he asked in a low voice.
"Nothing," I replied, "why are you concerned?" I added stupidly. I couldn't help it, I was still a bit annoyed from earlier.
"Because that's what best friends do," he replied softly, "Why are you upset with me?"
I sighed, "You know earlier in the room, when I was changing and you came in?"
"Yes… what about it?" he was trying very hard to keep a straight face.
"Well, I want to know why… why you were so repulsed by me in the dress. Do I look that ugly in something skin revealing? Is it my skin?"
My cheeks burned ferociously and I looked away. I could hear voices in the lounge and could pick out Nahuel's. Jake gaze caught mine once again, holding it in one place again. Then the blaze in his eyes softened.
"Listen," he whispered, "We don't have time right now. Can we talk about this after supper? I'll take you out for a walk on the beach."
"Alright," I said.
"Good, now please smile," he said, "Frowns don't suit your pretty face."
I raised an eyebrow giving him a cynical look, but couldn't hide the smile caused by the comment. I linked my fingers through his –
"And what do we have here?" interrupted Emmet, smirking as he stood in the doorway with Rose, Alice and Jasper behind him. Emmet in his "fatherly" voice was probably the funniest thing ever. His brow would wrinkle a bit as he tried to strict but the amusement in his eyes couldn't be missed. "Is there something you two would like to tell us?"
"Ugh Emmet, what a way to spoil the mood," said Alice, "and stop block the way, we'd like to get through."
She, Carlisle, Esme and Nahuel walked in past Emmet. I smiled warmly when I saw our guest.
Jake's hand gripped mine tight, a slight tremor escaping his body. I acted instinctively and gripped his hand tighter, as though the action would stop the tremors from escaping.
It must have, because Jake's narrowed eyes (which were glued to Nahuel) softened just a tad bit.
"After supper, can we go out for a walk?" Jake murmured.
"If it's alright with Dad," I replied as I got up to greet Nahuel, not wanting to be rude.
"Good evening Nahuel," I greeted.
"Evening Renesmee," he smiled, "Hello Jacob".
"Hello," replied Jake curtly, also standing up.
"Oh no, don't get up," said Esme, making her way to the oven. "Dinner is ready; why don't you sit down, Nahuel?"
Nahuel said nothing and sat down by the third plate which had been set at the table. We all followed Nahuel's lead and sat around the table.
"Alright Jacob," said Dad suddenly.
All eyes locked on Dad and then on Jake. Nahuel, however, made as though no one had spoken.
"So Carlisle, what have you been doing here in South Africa?" he asked as Esme brought over the hot casserole dish, "I'm pretty sure you've been busy with the Health Department – I mean, the health is South Africa isn't all that great."
"As a matter or fact I am busy with something in terms of the medical situations here in South Africa," replied Carlisle, "I'm sure you're aware of the HI-Virus and how it has affected this country pretty badly."
"Yes I have," said Nahuel as he dished out some Calalonie onto his plate, "Well, what about it?"
"Research has had some doctors baffled. I was asked to come help out."
"Oh I see," replied Nahuel, "What exactly does this research entail?"
"Well, the HI-Virus and how it reacts to certain substances and why it does so," said Carlisle, frowning slightly, "But enough about me and my research, what about you; what are you doing in South Africa? You said that you have a friend here."
"Yes I do. I've known him for quite some time."
"Quite some time?" repeated Jasper, "Is he one of us?"
"Well, one of you, yes."
"I didn't know there were vampires here in South Africa," said Emmet, "What with apartheid about a decade ago, I was pretty sure that it wouldn't have been safe for vampires to be here. After all, our skin would've caused problems and the Volturi would have stepped in."
I was stunned. Something that informative and deep sounded strange coming from Uncle Emmet's mouth.
"Yes, your uncle can be quite surprising sometimes," smiled Dad.
"Hey, what's my niece thinking about me?" asked Emmet, one eyebrow raised skeptically.
"Who said it was about you?" I shot back teasingly, "You're not that important, you know?"
Mock hurt showed on his face as he sighed dramatically.
"The food is delicious Esme," Nahuel complimented quietly, "Don't be surprised if I come and pay you a surprise visit in America."
Everyone except Jacob laughed. His anxiety about Nahuel was apparent as he stared at the half-human, half-vampire between mouthfuls of Calalonie. At least there wasn't any shuddering…
The rest of supper carried on relatively alright as we talked about trivial things, like the weather. By the time we'd finished our food (I ended up having two helpings!), Jacob was getting restless.
"I'm sorry, but please could Nessie and I excuse ourselves from the table," he requested, providing no explanation as to why.
"Yes, of course," said Dad, a bit of uncertainty caught in his voice.
"Your curfew is at 9pm, Renesmee Cullen," Uncle Emmet got into his fatherly imitation again.
I looked at the time. "You're giving me fifteen minutes?" I asked, an eyebrow raised.
"Yes, and no exceptions young lady," he continued, "and if you're late, you will be grounded."
"Don't worry sir," Jake saluted, "She'll be back by 10pm at the latest."
That was meant for Mum and Dad, I could tell, as Jake's eyes met theirs as he got up and gave a slight nod. He stretched his hand out and grabbed mine, pulling me up effortlessly and led me out the room.
"Bye, see you all later," I said, "It was good to see you again Nahuel."
"As it was to see you, Renesmee," he replied.
'Where are we going?" I asked Jake, as we walked out the front door of our chalet.
"Just down to be the beach," he replied, "I hope you don't mind."
"Of course not." Anywhere was fine as long as I was with Jake.
We went down to the bottom floor in the elevator and out through the front doors of the hotel. The cold wind slapped us in the face as we waked outside, but I didn't feel cold. Thank goodness for 24 chromosome pairs…
We walked across the road, hands linked, past the restaurants and past the place separating the beach sand and the paving. The wind was stronger than this morning and not many humans were about. When we got to the sand, we took off our shoes, letting the dry sea sand squirm between our toes.
Neither of us said anything as we walked towards the sea, but just before we reached the water, at the point between the dry and wet sand, Jacob stopped and turned to look at me.
"Renesmee Carlie Cullen," he said, "I know I have been your best friend for a long time now, and I've never regretted any moment of it. I want you to know that you're the best thing that ever happened to me – hey, what's so funny?"
I couldn't help it, when he said that line I burst into hysterics. Jacob was never one for fluff.
"Talk about fluffy," I laughed.
"Yeah, you're right," he chuckled. "I suck at this sort of thing, don't I? Okay let's start again. But just so you know, I meant every word I said."
The seriousness evident in his eyes stopped my laughter at once as he held my gaze. His hands found mine, thumbs drawing circles in the sensitive points in my wrists.
"Nessie, I –"
Jake was cut off by a muffled cry and a strange scent…
Vampire.
And a human.
Beyond human eyesight, Jake and I could see and smell a vampire dragging a young human girl out to sea. The girl was struggling against the vampire with whatever strength she had, but the rich-skinned vampire pulled her effortlessly towards the shoreline. There were no other humans around to notice what was happening.
"Call your parents," Jake whispered, kicking off his shoes and, with a tremor, transformed into a wolf, taking off at full speed down the shoreline.
I pulled out my cell phone and dialed Dad's number.
"Dad, all of you need to get down here now!" I said, "Oh, and bring some pants with you. Jake's gonna need it."
A/N: So, why is WHSS on hold? Well, I've been busy with my friend's birthday prezzie (which is in 7 weeks and 1 day) and its taken up a lot of time. I will continue and hopefully have another chapter or two in a few weeks but by our spring holiday I'll have to stop and work on her prezzie. But stay tuned for updates!
One more thing, please press that button that says "Review". Thanks :)
