Chapter Seventeen - Nightmares

"Jacob? Where are you??" I called. I was in the forest looking for a way out, and I couldn't find Jake anywhere. It was getting darker, and I wanted to go home.

"JAKE!!!" I yelled louder. I was starting to get really scared.

"Renesmee," he finally answered from right behind me.

"I was worried," I told him as I spun around to give him a hug. His warm arms wrapped around me tightly. When I pulled away, it was not Jacob's arms that were holding me - it was the man I had seen on Thanksgiving.

I turned to run away from him, but his strong hands grabbed my shoulders before I could move.

"You're not going anywhere without me," he said angrily. "Forget about Jacob. You belong to me now."

"No!!!" I screamed. He grabbed me by the hair and began to drag me across the forest floor. I screamed and kicked and clawed at the arm that was dragging me away.

"Renesmee!!" he yelled, only he did not sound like he had a moment ago. He sounded like Jacob. I blinked my eyes and the scene around me changed. The trees surrounding me were gone, replaced by my own familiar walls. Jacob was sitting there beside me examining my expression. I noticed some blood trickling down his arm.

"Are you okay?" We both asked at the same time. He waited patiently for me to go first.

"It was just a dream. What about you? What happened?"

"I'm fine, you just scratched me when I was trying to wake you up."

"I'm sorry!" I said as I sat up to examine the wounds I had inflicted.

"It's nothing, Ness. You claw me all the time, just usually when you're awake." We both laughed. "What were you dreaming about?" he asked more seriously. I put my hand to his face and replayed my nightmare. He was about to say something, but stopped with his mouth open when someone knocked lightly at the door.

"Come in," I told them. Nahuel opened up my door.

"Are you okay? I heard you screaming," he said concernedly.

"I'm fine. It was just a bad dream."

He nodded and turned away, closing the door behind him.

"He's leaving tonight," Jacob told me. He seemed slightly happy about this information. I was not happy about it though; I still felt horrible about yesterday.

"Why so soon?"

"I don't know. You'd have to ask him."

I had a strong feeling it was something to do with me.

"It might," Jake said. I took my hand away from his face. "Sorry, I didn't realize you hadn't actually said anything." That's odd; people can usually always tell what they see from me in their heads and what is going on outside of mine. No one has ever confused one of my thoughts with what was coming out of my mouth.

"It's okay. I should go talk to him, though."

"Alright, but don't forget about school."

I carefully dressed myself in something appropriate, then set off towards the living room.

"Nahuel?" He spun around to face me. "Please don't leave because of me. I really am sorry for what I did to you."

"Don't worry yourself, Rnesmee. I'm not leaving because of you - I came because of you. Hulien needs me at home, and I still have information to hunt down."

"You don't have to do that."

"I want to. I'd like to know for myself, as well."

"Are you sure it's not because of me? I know I've been horrible to you since you got here."

"You have been no such thing. I had a good time with you. You taught me things that all of my years hadn't yet," he said sincerely.

"Like what?" I asked. What could I possibly have taught him?

"Like...... how to love unconditionally. How to be a good friend. And music should always be paired with beautiful metaphors."

"I didn't teach you all of that," I laughed.

"No, you did."

"Will you ever come back?" I asked hopefully. I really did care for him now, and I couldn't imagine never seeing him again.

"If you'd like for me to." He looked doubtful.

"I would! Hopefully next time, things will be a little calmer."

"I'll come when I get the chance, then," he said happily. I gave him a huge hug and he hesitantly wrapped his arms around me at first, but then squeezed me harder.

"Thank you so much for everything, Nahuel. You really are a great friend," I whispered into his ear.

"Thank you too, Renesmee. You are an amazing girl. Jacob is very lucky."

"Will you visit soon?" I asked as we released each other.

"Soon," he promised.

I navigated my way through the groups of teenagers outside to make it to my first class on time, only waving to all the ones who called after me excitedly.

"Hey Ness!! Where were you yesterday?" Brittany asked cheerily as she took her seat in front of me

"I had a house guest," I explained simply; I hated to lie, so I usually just left out a lot of details. I still felt bad, though. Brittany was my only real human friend, and friends should not lie to one another. "How was your break, Brit?"

"It was fine. Boring, mostly," she answered nonchalantly as the bell rang. "Who was your house guest?"

"He was a friend, from South America. He just stayed a few days."

Mr. Smith walked through the door backwards, pulling a large cart with a t.v. and VCR on it. We must be having a movie day; the tension in the classroom ceased completely.

The lights went off and a particularly boring male voice narrated whatever the movie was about. I was completely uninterested; I drew on my notebook and wrote out my favorite song lyrics so I would not fall asleep.

I looked over at the window when class was nearly over, and almost had a heart attack at what I saw. The man from the woods was right there, watching me intently. I blinked my eyes, and he was gone.

I had never hallucinated before, but I must have in that second. My sub-conscience must have made him appear here as I daydreamed and ignored the ridiculous movie. There was just no other explanation - even if he was after me, he would not be watching me here through my classroom window.

I looked outside again, just to make sure. It was foggy and raining, but no one was there. I sighed in releif. I may be going a little bit crazy, but at least I did not have a stalker.

I was jumpy all day, looking over my shoulder constantly. Every class I went to, people tried to talk to me but they could not hold my attention. They didn't seem to mind, though. They were happy enough as usual, just being in my presence. I really liked the effect I seemed to have over people - usually.

"Renesmee, are you okay?" Anthony asked with concern as we sat at lunch. I had decided to give him another chance and speak to him again. He just seemed so sad when I kept ignoring him.

"Sorry, I'm fine....."

"Do you want me to buy you some food? Maybe you'd feel better."

I blanched; You could not pay me to stick one of the sloppy joe's they'd served for lunch into my mouth. The smell alone was enough to make me want to vomit.

Anthony laughed at my expression. "No food, then?"

"No, I'm fine, don't worry about me."

"What are friends for?"

I opened my mouth to tell him he wasn't such a good friend, but stopped myself. He was trying now, and that should count for something.

I was excited when the day finally ended. I wanted to see Jake as usual, but I also wanted to see Nahuel again before he left. I had no idea when I would get to see him again. I hopped into Jacob's waiting car as people waved and yelled goodbye's.

"How was your day?" Jacob asked me as he pulled away from his parking space.

"Fine," I lied. I had already decided to not tell anyone about my hallucinating. They would all either worry or think I was losing it, so it was better to avoid the situation entirely. I'd just have to be careful not to think about it at home.

I flew through my front door expecting to see Nahuel waiting, but the house was empty.

"He left earlier," Jacob told me as he made his way inside. I felt a wave of disappointment.

"Why?"

"He said he already told you goodbye. He asked me to give you this," He said as he handed me a folded up paper. "It doesn't make much sense, the first part anyways."

"You read it?"

"He said I could."

I opened the paper and smoothed the creases. A South American address was written neatly at the top. The rest read as follows:

"When Death sleeps, it dreams of you.

Don't forget me, Renesmee. I will

never forget you. Nahuel"

"Metaphors," I mumbled as I re-read the elegant script.

"What does he mean?" Jacob asked with his eyebrow raised. He seemed a little angry.

"It's a line from one of my favorite songs," I told him and he instantly relaxed.

"Oh. Okay, then."

"What'd you think he meant?"

"I had no idea. I think he wants you to write him."

"Yeah, I will."

I led him to my room and turned on 'Dead Girl' so he would know which song Nahuel was quoting.

"I gotta say, Ness," he began when the song ended. "I really don't understand this stuff. It makes no sense to me." He pointed at my stereo.

"It's not supposed to make sense. What really does?" Nothing makes sense. Words and music make the least sense of all, and yet I understand them better than anything.

We laid around all evening, cuddling and listening to my beautiful metaphors. I was in my Heaven again as I drifted off to sleep.