Chapter Eleven - Halloween

"That's what I'm supposed to wear tonight?!" I shreiked. Alice was standing across the room from me, holding up what was supposed to be my Halloween costume. It was a tiny satin green and purple corsetted dress with no sleeves and delicate toole wings attached at the back. The bottom was made of toole, too. Tiny little pieces of it that were almost see through.

"That's the shortest skirt I've ever seen in my life!"

She rolled her eyes at me. "You wear short skirts all the time, Nessie. Besides, you said you wanted to be a fairy this year, and I got you the prettiest costume I could find. Now just go and try it on," she ordered, flinging the dress at me.

I went to the bathroom and stripped down. The dress was so tiny, I had to force it on myself.

"Alice, come tie me up," I said in a normal voice. She was there in a flash, pulling ribbons tight to my back.

"Now see," she said as she motioned to the full - length mirror, "You look beautiful. Jacob's going to love it!"

"I wouldn't say that....." I told her as I turned around in the mirror and made sure all of my privates were still private. I looked back at her with a smile when I was satisfied.

"You're right, it's perfect. Thanks, Alice."

She squeezed my up tightly.

"My pleasure," she said as she kissed me on the forehead. "I have to go set everything up. Don't be late!!" She breezed out of the door. I changed back into my regular clothes and went back to my room to lay down, turning on my mp3 along the way.

"The kite string pops, I'm swallowed whole by the sky, we smoke the bones of baby dolls....." I sang along with the music. I was really nervous about tonight - Alice had thrown together a Halloween party at her new home, and she'd invited every single person that went to her new school. She had practically begged me and Jake to go; I agreed quickly, as the thought of a bunch of vampires throwing any type of horror themed party had easily won me over, even though Alice swore it would be nothing like that. But Jacob was not excited at all, as usual. I was starting to think he didn't like being seen with me.

Alice had asked for my help picking out the playlist for tonight, so I had thrown in a bunch of Cradle of Filth, and of course, Acid Bath along with a few of my other favorites. It was Halloween after all, and at least now I wouldn't have to listen to crappy dance music all night long.

I heard a car pulling up close and flew out of my room - Jacob was finally here. I ran through the front door and leaped into his arms, giving him a huge kiss on the cheek.

"Hey," I smiled nonchalantly.

He chuckled. "Hey, Ness," he said, and then carried me back inside and plopped me onto the bed.

"So do I get to see your costume, or are you going to make me wait?"

"I am going to make you wait," I giggled. "What are you going to wear tonight?"

He looked down at himself, holding his hands out.

"It's supposed to be a costume party."

"Maybe I'll phase when we get there. Nobody'd ever know the difference," he joked. "Will you at least tell me what you're going as?" he asked.

"A fairy. It's very pretty."

He sighed. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather go as something else? A fish, maybe? Or a tree?"

"Ummm....no.....why?" I asked him confused.

He grimaced. "Because I have a feeling I'm going to be spending most of the night chasing guys away from you."

I laughed loudly. "Hopefully, you'll be spending most of the night with these arms around me," I said as I pulled his arms around my waist. "Don't worry about anyone else - the only person that matters to me is you."

We laid back on the bed and listened to the music for awhile in silence.

"I guess we should leave now," Jake said eventually.

We drove for two hours on the highway, and then another forty five minutes on back roads to reach the Cullens' new house. I had some deja vu as we rounded the last corner before arriving - it looked almost exactly the same as the old house that was far out in front of mine. We didn't knock when we got there, because everyone was sure to have already heard us. We made our way up the stairs until we found Alice's room.

"Hey guys!" she greeted us, giving us both hugs. "Come on, Nessie, we have to get you ready!" Alice sang to me as she danced around. She was obviously extremely excited about tonight.

We went together into her huge bathroom where she stripped me down herself. She eased my costume over my head and laced it up quickly, then positioned the wings so they went out at the same angle. She handed me a box of shoes, then laced those up for me too after they were placed on my feet. Their ribbons matched the green and purple of my dress, and the ribbons wound around half of my calf.

I started to walk back to her bedroom, but she grabbed me and pushed me down into the little chair in front of her giant mirror.

"I am not finished with you yet," she smiled. "Jacob's going to die when he sees you."

"Yeah, or kill somebody else when they do," I laughed.

She spun my chair away from the mirror so that I could not see my face as she applied multiple cosmetics to it. I didn't usually wear any makeup - I didn't really feel the need to. She spun me back around after about five minutes.

"What do you think?" she asked as I examined her work. My eyelids were now a very pale pink and gold, with a light dusting of glitter just below my eyebrows.

"I think you should be a cosmetician, honestly."

She clapped her hands and bounced up and down. It was so easy to please Alice. After a few seconds, we heard the doorbell ring.

"They're here!" she said excitedly. "I'll meet you down there!!"

I walked slowly back to Alice's room where Jacob was waiting on me. he looked up when he heard me shut the bathroom door. His eyes got wide and his mouth dropped open as he looked me over.

"What?" I asked, suddenly self-conscience. I looked down, half expecting to see my skirt tucked into my panties.

"It's going to be a very hard night," he answered.

We walked down the long staircase, and I was very pleased to hear 'Dusk and Her Embrace' blaring through the room. Some people were starting to stare as we got closer, whether at me or at Jacob I wasn't sure. I scanned the room until my eyes fell on a familiar face.

"Jasper!!" I screamed as I ran at a normal human pace over to hug him. He had decided to forgo the costume part like Jacob had.

"Renesmee!!" he greeted me back. I could tell he was picking up on my excitement.

"Hey, Jazz," Jacob said as he caught up to us. Jasper shot him a somewhat hostile glance.

"That's my baby neice, Dog. You might want to tone it down a bit."

"How do you know that it's me? Look around," Jacob told him.

Every male in the room had their eyes trained on me. Half of them turned away as we noticed their stares.

"I see your point," Jasper muttered, grinding his teeth together. Then he grinned at Jacob and said, "I feel bad for you."

"Join the club," Jacob answered.

"Don't worry about them," I told him. "I told you earlier - the only one that matters to me is you."

"Yeah, Jacob, don't be so jealous. You're the one that actually has her," Alice's voice sang from behind us.

"That's true," Jake smiled and wrapped his arms around me.

"Now, try and keep your cool - I have to introduce you both to everyone!"

Alice pulled us through the room, introducing me and Jake as some friends from back home. Jacob kept his hold on me firm, like he actually thought someone was going to try something. They all just stared at us gaping for the most part, but a few people tried at some small talk.

Alice eventually left us alone to mingle, and Jacob led me quietly to an empty room. We left the lights off so as not to bring attention to our whereabouts, and crossed the large room to sit down on the bed.

"Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?"

"No, not yet," I answered him happily. I was starting to worry he didn't think so.

"Well, you look perfect."

"So, you like it then?"

"Of course I do. I just wish everyone else didn't like it so much."

I rolled my eyes at him. "You know they can't help it. I could wear a garbage bag and people would still notice me. I'm a predator, and they have no idea that they're supposed to be the prey."

"Then how come people don't act that way towards Alice and Blondie?"

"Because, I'm half human, too."

"There's alot more to it than that," he told me.

"You're just biased, Jake."

"Sure, sure."

"Why does it even bother you so much? Who cares if people stare at me?"

"It's not just that the stare - they practically rip your clothes off with their eyes. I know what guys are thinking when they look at you the way they do."

"How would you know what anyone is thinking?"

"I know what I'm thinking when I look at you like that."

"If that's the way you see things, why aren't you just proud to be with me?"

"I am proud to be with you! You're the most beautiful thing in the world! I just always feel like at any given moment, someone is going to come and try to snatch you up."

I sat up onto my knees. "Jacob Black, no one in this world could ever take me away from you. This is the only skin I ever want to touch," I placed my hand to his cheek and made him look at me. "These are the only eyes I ever want to get lost in," I put both hands on his arms, " these are the only arms I ever want to hold me tight," I placed my fingertips to his lips, "And these are the only lips I ever want to kiss. Forever."

"Well, when you put it that way...." he pulled me up into his lap and kissed me sweetly.

"Renesmee," he said suddenly. "What would you say if I asked you to marry me right now?"

I did not see that coming. "Are you asking me to?"

"Hypothetically speaking," he assured me.

"I don't know.... I guess I'd say that we should wait until I'm out of school."

"What if I asked you after that?"

"Well.... then I would say yes."

"You would? You would really want to marry me?" He looked both happy and confused.

"Of course I would. Then you would be mine forever."

"I have something for you, Ness. And don't worry, it's not an engagement ring." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a long chain with a sphere dangling from it. Inside of the sphere, the middle was a very bright orange, and all around the center was different shades of red, blue, gray, pink, and purple. It looked exactly like a sunrise, captured into this tiny little ball.

I smiled hugely. "It's beautiful," I told him as I moved my hair to the side so he could put it around me neck. He clasped it into place quickly.

"You really like it?"

"It's perfect," I said, rolling it around in my palm to see it from every angle. "It will always make me think of you."

"I hoped so," he beamed his sunshine smile. "I guess we better get back though before we're missed."

After the party was over, Jacob was ready to go to bed. I told him to go on without me; There was something important I needed to do while I was here for the night.

I found Carlisle's office fairly easily, and knocked lightly at the door.

"Come in, Renesmee," his voice said from the other side. I went through the door and shut it behind me, crossing the large room to give him a big hug and kiss.

"Well, don't you look lovely this evening?" he noted politely. I was still wearing my costume.

"Thanks. Alice got ahold of me," I laughed, and he joined in.

I cleared my throat in preparation. "I was actually hoping that you could help me out with something...."

"I know, dear. Edward already explained what you want to know."

"And?"

"I cannot be sure yet. You and Jacob are genetically compatible, but I can't know if your body would even allow a pregnancy," he said slowly.

"So, I would need to be careful, then?"

"That would be best. We should have more information for you soon, though."

"We?"

"Your parents and I. we're planning on going to find Nahuel, hopefully he can give us the answers we seek."

"Why didn't they tell me they were leaving?"

"We only decided it this evening."

"Oh," I said. "Well.... thank you so much for trying to help me, Grandpa."