Chapter 4:

Apologies

I got off his lap and curiously looked under my bed. That's when I saw a purple box. It had everything my backpack had including a spare back pack.

"Thank you sooo much Jake" I said as I kissed him again.

"Don't mention it. Now, . . . your dad is probably waiting for us to go so we better head down" he said as he picked me up off the ground and guided me to the stairs.

NO!!! I couldn't face my dad yet. Not after yelling at him like that. I'd die from the guilt and the shame. How could Jake no see that? I started to resist Jake and put my feet up as a brake.

"Nessie, come on, it'll be okay" he said as he pushed harder. "I'll be right here" he comforted.

"No Jake, I can't, I can't" I said as I grabbed the door to the bathroom.

He just laughed at me as he picked me up bridal style at starting going down the stairs.

"Jake! I can't! I just can't face him yet. Let me go. Jake" but I stopped when I saw my dad in the doorway.

I couldn't look into his eyes. I hid my face in Jacobs shirt and struggled harder.

"It'll be okay" he soothed as he passed his hand over my hair.

My breath stopped when I felt cold arms around me. I peeked and saw that Jacob had given me to someone. I looked up and regretted it. The last persons arms I wanted to be in . . . my dad's. I hid my face in his shirt as he carried me to my mom's convertible. Instead of sitting with my mom, he sat in the back with me.

Jacob sat up front with my mom. That traitor. I couldn't do this. I saw all the memories of when I yelled at my dad. I started to cry harder.

"Hey, it's okay honey" dad soothed as he rubbed tiny circles in my back. I felt worse, guiltier. I didn't deserve to be comforted.

"That's not true" my dad contradicted.

I froze. I forgot all about my dad's mindreading ability. That means he heard everything. GREAT!!! Now I was even more ashamed, felt guiltier, and on top of all that, I was embarrassed. I don't think it could get any worse. I cried harder.

"Just give her a minute" my dad said to Jacob and my mom. Probably answering their thoughts.

"Bella, could you drop us off at the park around the corner? We'll meet up with you later" I heard him say.

"Of course" my mom answered just as the car stopped. I felt my dad get out of the car and then I felt the warm grass under my feet. It was actually really warm today but there was no sun. Just like Forks. Always raining and the highest you go is like 60°F.

"Honey, it's okay" he comforted for I hadn't stopped crying.

"Could you please look at me" he pleaded.

I just shook my head.

"Nessie" he called.

I resisted the urge to look up at the sound of my name.

"Please, just look at me" he pleaded again.

I shook my head more violently as more tears came. He wasn't going to take that. He lifted my head and forced me to look at him. I couldn't look at those golden eyes. I closed my eyes as more tears came.

"Nessie" my dad said amused. He started tickling me. I couldn't help laughing.

"Dad" laugh "stop. Please "laugh" giggle "stop" I said between laughs.

"Make me" he said playing with me while he tickled me harder. I opened my eyes and tried to grab his hands before they could get to my ribs. Unsuccessful. I was laughing so much I forgot about being upset. I almost started crying again from laughing.

"Dad! Please" I begged.

"Fine" he said as he pulled me into a hug. I kept on laughing like a crazy person.

"Now" he said as he pulled me into his lap. "Was there something you wanted to say" he asked.

All the memories came flooding back along with the pain. My eyes watered again and I tried with all my strength to prevent them from falling.

"No" I said in an unconvincing tone.

"Renesmee Carlie Cullen" he said. He normally said it when I was in trouble but now he was more trying to be serious.

"I know you are lying" he said as he turned me on his lap to face him.

I tried to look away but he wasn't having that. He grabbed my chin softly but forcefully at the same time so I had to look into his eyes.

"What is it" he asked as he let go.

"I'm . . . I'm . . . I'm . . ." but I couldn't get the words out.

"Tell me Nessie" he said reassuring me.

"Dad, I'm . . . sooo sorry" I said as I broke into tears again. I just kept on talking with no way to stop.

"I didn't meanto yell at youit'sjust that I was sooangry because you weren'tgiving me and Jake privacy but I didn't mean to growl at you but then when you came up to me and asked me I didn't want to lie and I wasso angry I saidyes and thenslammed the door in your face." I admitted all the while crying. I was talking so fast some of the words got mushed together.

He pulled me into a big hug. He drew soothing circles in my back and tried to calm me. I noticed this must look creepy to people. A 16 year old and an 18 year old calling each other dad and honey.

"Nessie, it's okay. I should have given you privacy and I'm sorry. I'm sooo sorry. It's okay" he cooed. "I forgive you. Stop feeling so bad. You almost killed Jasper with all your emotions" he told me.

I pulled away and laughed. He wiped the tears from my face.

"That wasn't sooo bad was it" he asked.

I didn't answer. He read my thoughts and frowned.

"Honey, you can always tell me anything. Don't worry. I'll always listen" he comforted.

I just laughed as I got up.

"Where are you going" he asked as he also got up.

"Lion Pride, everyone is probably waiting for us" I explained.

"I almost forgot, let's go" he said as he grabbed my hand and started running, we were about 5 minutes away by run.

"Dad" I said as we ran.

"Hmm?" he asked.

I stopped and he stopped also looking at me with curious eyes.

"I never said Thank You. For letting Jacob go to High School with me" I said as I hugged him.

"That's not even the half of it" he said.

I let go and looked at him curiously.

"As long as you two are responsible, only you two will be going to Lion Pride. Everyone else including myself will go to Lion County" he ended.

"Really daddy? Oh thank you guys! Thank you!" I sang as I hugged him.

"You're welcome" he laughed. "Now come on, Alice is getting impatient" he said with a chuckle.

I let it go as we started running again.

Once we arrived at Lion Pride, I stopped and stared with my mouth hanging open. It looked more like a University than a High School. Dad just chuckled as we walked through the parking lot.

It was huge. It had about 5 floors and 7 buildings. I saw the cafeteria and it was about the size of Forks High School. Not kidding. There was a building in the center that said:

Welcome to Lion Pride Private School

Home of the Lionesses

Cool, the team was girls. Must be funny for the boys football team to be called Lionesses. But in a pack, Lionesses do rule . . . partially. Under the sign it had the words Front Office in black letters. I started walking faster.

In just 2 days, I would start as a sophomore. I really didn't want to start school. I just wanted to start school with Jacob. I wonder how he's going to pass as a sophomore. He looks like he could be in college. Is dad going to be dropping in a lot? That would be embarrassing.

"Nessie, remember that from now on, I am your brother, Bella is your sister. Alice, Rose, Emmet, and Jasper are your siblings as well. Jake is also an adopted brother. Got it" he asked.

"Yeah . . . Edward" I said as I cracked up.

I never called my dad by his real name. It sounded funny. I also never called my mom Bella. I was still laughing when I reached the rest of my family. They all looked at me with curious eyes.

"It's nothing, just something I was telling . . . Edward" I said as I cracked up again.

They looked at me like I was crazy except for Jake, who also had to call my dad Edward from now on anywhere around people. I returned a glare. I was still a little upset at how he made me face my dad.

His smile turned into a frown as he walked over to me. I tried to keep a glare but like my mom, keeping a grudge wasn't one of my specialties.

He came over and kissed my hair.

"I'm sorry" he said.

I just turned my head suddenly finding the bricks on the building very interesting.