Chapter 6 Party
"Sigh, she's late." Alice sighed tapping her tiny foot on the floor. It was officially Ness's birthday ten hours ago and she wasn't out of her house and in Alice's sights yet.
"It's her birthday Alice, let her sleep in if she wants to." I reasoned, "It's barely ten am, the party isn't until seven. You have plenty of time."
"No I don't have plenty of time Asima." Alice pouted stopping the tap of her foot at the absurdity of her having time.
Jasper chuckled getting up to rub her arms that were folded over her chest in a pout. "Darling, calm down."
"Asssimmmmaa." She whined after she relaxed out of her pout. "Plllleeeaaasssee?"
I could tell by her thoughts what she wanted and she was going to combust any minute if she didn't get Ness over here. Edward and Emmett were already setting up decorations in various parts of the city, and she didn't want her to even see them before she could get the full effect at night with her party.
"Fine." I sighed getting up. "One prisoner coming up."
"Thank you." Alice grinned before giving Jasper instructions that I didn't stick around to hear.
I was a few feet from Ness's front door when I heard her, "Why won't this damn thing go away." She hissed in a low frustration.
The sound was coming from her bedroom, I could feel her annoyance as I perched myself up on her open window sill. "Why won't what damn thing go away?" I asked curiously still sitting in the window.
She jumped at the sound of my voice turning quickly to face me, dropping her hair hands from her hair. "Holy -!" She gasped stopping her self. "Don't do that Asima." She groaned embarrassed at her reaction.
"Sorry." I laughed in apology, "What has you so frustrated?"
"Stupid stain on a t-shirt." She groaned throwing the t-shirt that had been on the dresser, into the hamper with frustration.
"Oh. Well Alice is waiting for you and she's kind of antsy." I warned.
"Ok let's go." she sighed walking towards the window as if she were about to leap out with me.
"Don't you want to put a shirt on?" I asked bringing attention to the fact she was still in her bra.
"Oh." she groaned remembering. "Can you bring me a t-shirt from your house? Mine are all dirty."
"Sure," I answered confused but hopping out of her window. "Be right back."
Ness never had a need to borrow my clothes, if fact she was always trying to lend me hers. And she had an infinite amount of tanks and tube tops she bought just for living in Jennah. Oh well. I thought to myself. If she were going to be in a party dress for most of the day I assume that she would want to be comfortable.
Walking back with the shirt I decided to use the door. She opened it before I could even knock. Almost as if she saw me before I got there. I looked at her slightly startled holding the shirt in my hands.
"Oh thanks." She sighed in relief pulling the top over her head.
I stared at her.
"What?" She asked sorting something in the front room as she talked to me.
"You just answered the door really fast that's all." I said quickly sounding like an idiot.
"I heard you coming." She said simply grabbing her hoodie and walking out of the door. Ness wasn't particularly astute when it came to people coming and going, and was often caught by surprise. "Come on let's get to Alice." She sighed closing the door behind her.
Our walk back to the house was normal so I didn't think anything else of it. Her thoughts seemed to swirl around her party, and the excitement was now growing . "So do you want your gift now or later?" I asked her picking up my space to match her strides.
"Um… Later. When we wind down." She said after a moments thought.
After the large party, the one everyone in the city was invited to, she planned for our intimate group of her direct family and friends to socialize together separate and open her gifts. It was a good idea, since she would be having to entertain for the entire party.
"Finally!" Alice hissed pulling her inside. "We have to get everything done. Stay here. I'll come back to dress you when everything is done." She ordered before disappearing out the back door.
"Well hello to you too Alice." Ness laughed sitting on the couch and picking up the magazine on the table.
"Hey Esme." I smiled going into the kitchen. She working on Ness's birthday cake. It was pink and purple and looked like one of the four tier monstrosities that you saw on a competition cake show.
"Hey Asima." Esme smiled, blowing the caramel colored bangs from her face before returning to the piping.
"Esme, where did you learn to even do that?" I asked astonished.
"Oh something that I just picked up from a show." She shrugged continuing the intricate design that she was working up the side of the cake.
"Amazing." I sighed shaking my head. She didn't even eat, so her need to cook was non existent, but when she finally does do it she's a freaking pastry chef.
"Thank you." She smiled turning the cake before starting another design. "Shouldn't you be following Alice?" She asked after a minute.
"I was going to just sit here with Ness and pass the time until the party." I admitted confused.
Esme laughed softly, " You wish you could get off that easy. She needs you to help Jacob set up in the hall."
"How negotiable is this?" I asked curiously not being thrilled with spending my day hanging up silk and lace.
"With Alice…" She mused it into a question.
"Not likely." We said in unison laughing.
"Fine, I'm going." I sighed when the laugh was over heading for the front door.
"You're leaving?" Ness asked looking up from her book.
"Yeah, Alice needs some help, but I'll be back as soon as I can." I promised remembering what it felt like to be held prisoner.
"Traitor." She scowled and then smiled over the top of the book.
"I'll be back as soon as I can." I vowed before closing the door being me.
"Well this looks pretty much set up." I awed looking around the hall when I walked in. Royal purple and pink lace draped from almost everywhere covering the ceiling. The floor was cleared for dancing, the tables along the side were decorated in the theme colors with little black accent ribbons. Ness would love it. "I guess you don't need me then." I sighed feigning disappointment as I turned for the door.
"Not so fast." Jacob laughed. "Alice wants these lights draping along here." He instructed running his finger along the path of the ceiling before trying to untangle the luminescent mess.
"Fine." I sighed squatting down to help him untangle it. When the mess was untangled I looked around. "How am suppose to get these up there?" I questioned looking at the ceiling.
"There should be a ladder somewhere around here." He pondered looking around. "Unless Emmett took it with him."
"Forget it." I sighed taking off my shoes. "I'm in a hurry to get back to Ness anyway."
I grabbed the end of the lights and put the box of tacks in the pocket of my shirt. He followed me over to where the lights were suppose to started, keeping the string untangled as we crossed the hall. "Stand still I instructed jumping on his back."
"Hey." He groaned before squaring his shoulders and standing still enough for me to climb father up. "I'm not a ladder." He complained.
Standing on his shoulders was the perfect leverage I needed to reach at the ceiling securing the lights. "You're close enough. Now move slowly."
"Fine." He sighed grabbing my ankles making sure I didn't lose balance as he moved along the side of the wall. His hands didn't move from my ankles unless it was to untangle the lights.
"So, have you talked to Nessie much since you've got back?" He asked casually.
"Of course I have." I answered with a tack between my lips trying to secure the light for another five feet. I could sense there was something he wanted to say, but I waited for him to say it. My patience lasted only until my mouth was free from tacks. "Whatever it is just spit it out Jake."
"How has she been to you? Since you got back I mean."
"She's been fine, why?" I asked, the concern in his voice bringing concern to my own.
"She's just been a little different." He answered hesitantly.
"Different how?" I inquired no longer blocking out his thoughts.
"Oh, I see." I said suppressing the smile in my voice.
"I mean, it's just. For the past few days, she been too occupied for me to touch her, and when she finally does, it seems like just when things feel perfect again she gets this flash of irritation and stops. It's so frustrating." He groaned slamming his fist against the wall. Not hard enough to hurt it but enough to make me sway and almost lose balance. He grabbed my ankles quickly to stop my swaying. "Sorry."
"It's ok." I pardoned no longer smiling, he was really worried. I could feel it. "Look it's probably the stress of the party. Alice has had us all on edge with that one. Then there was the worry of the Volturi. I don't think she's completely convinced that we are out of that one. And she doesn't really want Rosabella exposed to them anymore than I want Ciyan or Phillip.
She has a lot to process and think through. But from what I get in her thoughts she's fine. There isn't an issue with you two." I promised continuing the lights.
"Maybe." He sighed thinking it over.
"There's more?" I asked hearing his thoughts.
"Yeah, her dreams the past few days have been dark." He answered.
"Dark?" I repeated looking for clarification.
"Well you know how if you touch her when she's sleeping you can see her dreams? Well lately there's been nothing. Just, black." He continued.
I turned this over for a second. "Maybe she isn't dreaming anything."
"She stirs more, and restless, like she's dreaming." He rebutted.
I didn't get a chance to answer that one because Emmett's chucking boom echoed behind us. "If it isn't Cirque Du shape shifter. Do you see this Jazz?"
Jasper was in the doorway chucking at the way we were hanging up the lights.
"You took the ladder idiot." I snipped ignoring their jabs.
"Do you want it back?" Jasper offered still laughing.
"No." I sighed dropping to the floor. "We're done anyway."
"Good. Sami and Rami are coming to fill this place with food, and you two need to go get dressed for the party before Alice sees you."
They were already wearing their clothes for the party.
"Fine, were going." I said tugging Jacob.
"Aren't you going to your house?" Jacob asked as we walked past my front door and I continued walking.
"No, Alice has my dress at their place." I groaned wondering what she was going to put me in this time.
"Oh." He replied looking at the ground. It was so weird to see him like this. Over ran with worry to the point that he didn't seem strong anymore, though his appearance said otherwise.
"This is your stop." I brought to his attention after standing in front of their house in silence for five minutes.
"Oh." He said again barely aware.
"Look Jake, Ness is fine. She's just tired and stressed. The only thing you can do is make sure that she supported in everyway possible. Maybe don't push for her to express her problems instead just, let her come to you when she's ready." I suggested.
"Maybe." He sighed running his hands through his hair.
"Look. I'll talk to her. If I feel that there is a need for alarm I will tell you I promise, but I am telling you she is fine." There was no doubt in my eyes and he saw that.
"Okay." He nodded. "See you at the party." He dismissed before walking into the house.
I walked upstairs to Alice's room to the sound of a very adamant Ness. "No Alice I want my hair down for the party." She whined he arms folded as she sat in the chair.
"Rose don't you think up would be better with the lines of the dress?" Alice asked looking for a second opinion.
Rosalie was already dressed to, her black dress stopping at her knees. "Yes, but if she wants to wear it down, maybe we should let her."
Ness sat in the chair wearing a blue silk dress her hair clipped up, and a hooded white jacket over her arms.
"Alice I let you pick everything that you want, cant I at least decide on my hairdo?" she practically whined her arms still crossed. Her rose legs kicking in the chair.
"Fine, down it is." Alice sighed seeing that she wasn't going to get her way. Alice started working on her hair.
"Aren't you ever going to take that jacket off ?" She asked as she as she ran her finger through her hair shaking it down.
"When my hair is done." She said firmly. "I don't want to get hair on my dress."
"Asima." Rose said getting my attention and calling me over. "Here's your dress. Hurry up and put it on so that we can do your hair."
I dutifully grabbed my garment bag and went into the bathroom without argument. The dress wasn't so bad. I had let my imagination get away from me and compared to what I thought this was nothing. It was silver satin with black satin straps. A few black pieces of cloth at the top created a type of origami design. It wasn't too long either. It went to my knew which suited me just fine. No ridiculous train no extra fluff, and What is this? Pockets? My dress had pockets. Sure they were a little higher than they where on the average pair of pants but it was still cool for me. I slid my feet into the black satin open toed pumps and walked out of the door completely satisfied.
"I like." I smiled walking to the other chair and sitting down.
"I knew you would." Alice smiled continuing Ness's hair.
"Do you have any aversion to having your hair up Asima?" Rose asked raising an eyebrow.
"Can't I just wear a pony tail?" I pretended to whine folding my arms as Ness had earlier.
I coughed her reflection in the mirror and she stuck her tongue out at me.
Alice and Rose laughed. "No whatever you want is fine I don't care." I shrugged letting her take my hair down
They worked and talked quickly and we were done in less than twenty minutes. "Alright girls, off to the party we go." Alice smiled running downstairs.
The city was illuminated with lights along the cobblestone paths. Pink and purple sashes of cloth lead the way. I looked up over our head, more twinkle lights draped from building to building. "What is it with Alice and those twinkle lights?" I asked locking arms with my best friend as we made our way to the sounds of the music.
"Alice likes them. They remind her of fireflies. She's always been fascinated with them." She stated taking in the city as she walked. "I can't believe that this is all for me."
"Of course it is, we love you." I said wrapping my arm around her waist. She put her arm on my back unable to reach my waist do the drastic height distance between us.
"I know you guys do." She sighed walking at my side. Maybe too much.
"What do you mean maybe too much?" I asked looking up to examine her facial expression.
"I just feel like, everyone is treating me like I'm still two instead of twenty. I mean, I'm married, I have a daughter, and it is still a problem for me to go out a few hours by myself, even choose my hair style."
"You know that's just Alice. When she is planning something, she just likes every detail to be perfect." I defended.
"What if I can't be perfect?" She asked stopping our walk.
Is that what was wrong with her? "Then we will still love you." I stated strongly. "None of us are perfect."
"Doesn't feel that way. I couldn't even go with you to Volterra." She mumbled continuing walking towards the party.
"That's what this is about? Me not taking you to Volterra with me? Oh Ness," I groaned in understanding. "I didn't take you because leaving Jacob and Seth alone with Ciyan and Phillip never turns out good." I laughed.
"I thought it was because you thought I was to fragile." She mumbled.
"Fragile? Who said you were fragile?" I laughed rolling my eyes.
"Jacob." She said flatly.
"Cut him some slack. He is going to worry more than any of us. Imprinting is just that powerful." I repeated . I don't understand she knew this. She was the one to explain it to me. She was usually so accommodating.
"Yeah, Seth almost wore a path into my floor with all of his pacing." She admitted.
"Look Ness. You are fine. Don't worry about anything. Have fun at this party, do you think I would be in this dress if I didn't." I smiled. "Well on second thought I do like this dress so maybe."
She laughed, "Ok let's party" She smiled as we walked into the hall.
The party was amazing, I danced with her for the first few dances to loosen her up and then Edward took her off for their father daughter moment. I had to go find our kids. It was getting late and they should have been in bed hours ago.
"Do we really have to leave?" Ciyan asked standing next to Rosabella.
"We're having so much fun." Rosabella sighed into a pout, both of them managing to make the same expression. On top of that Alice had dressed them exactly alike. Like they didn't have enough irresistibility already.
What was it with those two? "Alright, ten more minutes."
I turned to my eldest. "Phillip, ten minutes and you are to walked them home alright?"
"Yes mother." He nodded simply leaning against the table watching the two girls jump around in circles, dancing to the music. He always reminded me of Jasper the way he observed so much even in silence.
I kissed his head grabbing a drink off of the table. "Mother." He groaned wiping it off looking around to see who saw it. Well at least Ciyan still let me kiss and hold her.
"Something wrong Mrs. Clearwater?" the familiar voice asked pulling me by the arm.
"Your son is too cool for kisses now." I sighed sadly letting him pull me close.
He looked as if he were about to laugh.
"It's not funny, he's only seven."
"Calm down babes" he said turning me to face them. "Does he look seven?"
"No." Phillips lean athletic stature put is appearance into his teens.
"Does he think like he's seven?" Seth asked turning me back to dance.
"No." His mental process was well over teen years.
"So he doesn't want kisses babes. Big deal. That just means more for me." He grinned pecking my lips.
"Yeah, Yeah." I groaned into a moan kissing him back.
"That was some party Alice." Jake complimented as we walked into the Cullen house.
"Yeah, I think we'll have a lot to clean up tomorrow though." Rami thought sitting down in the seat.
Edward went straight to the piano and began playing something he had been working on for the past few days. Bella followed sitting next to him on the piano bench.
"Are you ready for your presents now?" Emmett asked getting excited bringing down boxes of things with Jasper.
"You guys this is too much." She smiled eyeing everything placed at her feet.
"It's your birthday." Esme reasoned taking Carlisle's hand leaning against the doorway from the kitchen.
"But still, you guys through this huge party, and Esme. The cake. It's all too much."
"Nonsense. It's you're birthday." Alice smiled handing her the first box.
She opened everything and I let my mind get caught up into the song Edward was playing as they cleaned up the wrapping paper. I didn't hear much of the conversation Emmet and Jake were jokingly having about Ness but I could feel her irritation from it causing me to listen.
"She has the grace of a Cullen though." Emmett argued with a smile.
"The will power of a Black." Jake rebutted.
"No that's a Cullen trait too." Emmett argued.
"But it's more of a Black trait." Jack continued.
I didn't understand her irritation that I felt, it was obvious they were joking.
I watched her ankle rock back an forth as she read her book. Jasper felt it too. "Alright guys lets talk about something else." He suggested laughing, looking up from his card game with Alice.
"Why?" Emmett asked completely oblivious.
Jasper was going to explain but Ness said something first. "Because I get it, I have the traits from you I was born with and the ones I picked up from Jake. I'm just one big fucking hyphenate."
The room froze. Edward stopped playing, Carlisle looked up from his book. Rose's jaw was hanging open. Jabril's eyes darted back and forth between Ness, who kept on reading her book and Sami and Rami, that just kept staring at each other.
"Ness are you alright?" I asked watching her read as she rocked her ankle back and forth in irritation.
"Yep." She said popping the p on the end.
Everyone was staring at her and she could feel it. "What?" She asked putting her book down.
Everyone was still silent.
"What?" She asked looking around a little more demanding. Is anyone going to say anything? She thought for a second before I felt a huge rush of anger radiate from her. She rolled her eyes and said he exact words she was thinking as she got up. "Screw this."
She went towards the back door. And I stared at Edward in confusion. What the hell is going on? I asked him watching her stalk past Jasper and Alice.
"Nessie dear," Esme started putting a hand on her shoulder trying to stop her from exiting so that they could all talk about what was bothering.
Ness did something that I had never heard her do before in all of my years of knowing her. The sound came from the center of her stomach, almost as if it were primal, and traveled through her chest and escaped through her mouth as shook away from Esme's touch before continuing out the back door.
I heard several gasps but I didn't know pay attention to where they were from. Esme's face was a mixture of confusion and pain as she let her pass.
Carlisle was at Esme's side in a second, giving her the embrace she needed, but the room was still silent. Every immortal pair of eyes looking back and forth between Alice, Edward and I for answers.
I thought you said she was fine Asima." Jacob accused his voice barely above a whisper.
"I thought she was." I answered truthfully.
"She just growled at Esme, that wasn't fine. Growled." He repeated.
"Edward what is going on?" Bella asked in a frightened voice that almost sounded like a sob.
"I'm going after her," Rami declared getting up and running out the back door.
"I- I don't know." Edward admitted flashing his eyes to me. Her mind was completely blank. Were you doing that?
I shook my head in one jerk.
"What's wrong with her?" Leah asked concerned and confused like everyone else.
"Alice?" Carlisle asked in one word bare above a whisper too.
"I don't know Carlisle." She sighed panicked her tiny head shaking back and forth violently.
"Asima?" He asked rubbing Esme's hair.
"I don't know." I admitted. "But that was not Nessie. That was not my friend."