CHAPTER ONE: First Day
"Hurry, hurry, Renesmee," I rushed my child. She touched my face to show a vivid picture of her running to Jacob. "That's right. Put on your shoes and we'll head to Jake's." I was taking Renesmee to La Push to be babysat. I couldn't, after all, attend college with her in tow.
"C'mon, sweetie, Jacob can't wait much longer," I said with a small smile—a rare occurrence these days.
"Okay, momma," Renesmee giggled knowingly. "I'm ready." I attempted to smile at her, but it came out as a grimace. As always. But she was used to it and recognized when I was happy with her. She smiled back and waited for me to pick her up.
"Ooh, sweetie, you're getting so big!" I lifted her into my arms, shut the door of our small house, and ran.
The trees and foliage flew past with a whoosh. Renesmee laughed in delight, as she always did when I ran with her. I slowed when we reached Jacob and Billy's house.
"Hey there, Ness!" Jake came running out to meet us. He swooped in and lifted Renesmee from my clutch. "Hey, Bells," he greeted me without looking away from Renesmee.
I nodded. "I—have to get going." I waved to my daughter and sped away from Jacob's loving embrace around her.
Within a few minutes I was hidden in the trees that surrounded Forks Community College. Here I practiced being human. Blink, fidget, blink, scratch, blink again. My eyes were no longer red; they had changed to a muted golden color. So I didn't have to worry about that. I only hoped I wouldn't attract too much attention.
I walked as slowly as I could out of the trees and took a deep breath. I stopped at the reception desk. "Hello, uh—Isabella Swan…?"
The plump woman squinted her eyes and nodded briskly. "Hello, Isabella, welcome to FCC. Would you like a map of the campus?"
"No, thank you. I already have one," I replied politely.
The woman smiled falsely. "Well, then, have a nice time here, Isabella."
I thanked her, all the while internally rolling my eyes. Then I set off for my first class. Classic Poetry. Wow, this would be fun.
I worked hard all day and did my assignments thoroughly when I went home. It kept me distracted and productive. I realized that I hadn't thought about him since this morning, when I dropped off Renesmee at La Push. Amazing. I pushed myself harder until all the work I could have possibly done that day was finished.
Ring, ring, ring. Perfect timing. "Hi, Jake," I answered my cell phone.
"Hi, Bella," Jacob laughed. "How was the first day of college?"
"Not bad, you?" I replied automatically. "I mean—"
There was guffawing on the other side of the line. "Nice try."
I laughed nervously. "Sorry."
"Anyway, Renesmee and I are heading to your house," Jacob told me.
"Oh, Jake—I said I would pick her up—you don't have to—"
"Oh yes, I do," he said very seriously. "Nessie asked me over for dinner."
I snorted. "Give her my gracious thanks."
Jacob chuckled. "See ya soon, Bells."