2. Disease

"Alice, what should the party be?" I asked, unable to think of a theme

Yes, my fourteenth birthday was coming up very soon.

Unlike my mother, Bella, I preferred parties. But like herself, I disliked the gifts. I would rather hang out with my friends and family then get a bunch load of gifts.

"Oh, maybe a fashion show!

"Guys will be coming too." I said sarcastically.

"Boys like fancy clothes too Nessie." She hesitated, and then frowned.

"Maybe you're right".

"How about a house party, with lots of music and food?"

Alice would give in anything for an excuse to throw a party, especially if it wasn't her own.

"Yes, that's perfect…..Esme!" she shouted, and then gracefully skipped out of the room.

Edward used to always complain about Alice too much, but I loved her very much and thought she was amazing...most of the time.

As soon as Alice left, Edward was at my side with Bella, and I knew why right away. It was really helpful for me to be the only one to read my father's mind, I read Edward's mind to find out what would be happening. Jacob would be knocking on our door in just a moment, apparently angry at something. What could go wrong now in Forks? We stood there moments waiting when we heard the knock.

"Thumb, Thumb"

I knew what was wrong with Jacob.

Apparently he was sick; I guess he needed some company. Bella answered the door. "Hey Jake!" she yelled with a little too much enthusiasm.

As he walked through the door, he looked cold, and his hair was cut! Maybe he was sick. Jacob always wanted to see me, he was still "imprinting" on me. But he was at "my friend" stage. That's another thing me and my mother have in common, Jacob both loved us at one point or the other.

"Hey Bells, Edward, Hi Nessie!" as he spoke the words, I stared at his shivering body again.

"Jake…you look cold."

"Ah...Ah……Ah-CHEW!

He snorted

"Sick I guess."

"What happened to him?" Jasper and Emmett both asked as they passed us by.

"I dunno, I just woke up this morning, and felt cold." He sniffed again

"Did you want Carlisle to come check you out?" said Edward

"Actually I just came to hang out with Renesmee…."

Of course

"..but I guess he could take a look at me while I'm here."

He winked at me, and walked into the hallway. How could a werewolf get cold?

"Carlisle, could you come down here please? I think there's something wrong with Jacob."

In two seconds time, Carlisle was downstairs, examining Jacob.

"What's wrong?" he asked as he was looking up and down Jake's body.

"I think I'm sick", he said

"He's cold too." I added

Carlisle touched his elbow, "How is that possible?" he asked with a puzzled look on his face.

"Hmmmm…when was the last time you were in your werewolf form?" he asked curiously.

Jacob seemed to struggle, how long had it been?

"Um, like two weeks ago."

Carlisle paused for a moment, trying to look for the right words for his explanation to Jake's illness.

"Please go outside and form, then tell me if there are any new changes."

"Okay doc." And Jake ran out the door and came back in seconds.

"Holy Crap! My fur is shed!"

"That's what I thought" said Carlisle. Edward and I had already known the cause, from reading it in Carlisle's mind. But wow, he was good, vampires and werewolves alike.

"How the hell did that happen?" Emmett blabbered.

"Maybe it was some type of tic or disease, there are so many of them… and maybe it had some affect do to your hair, but that wouldn't explain why your sick." and then Carlisle caught off, and thought over the many possible diseases. I didn't know there were so many. Edward winked.

"Until it grows back, you can stay with us." said Bella.

Bella always loved having Jacob here, me too, most of the time. Since I've grown fond of Jake as I grew up, Edward had been a lot less worried about him for the sake of Bella and me.

"Thanks Bella and I'll try to keep my distance." As he said it, he looked like he meant it for something different.

"What will we shed, blood?!" Emmett laughed; he always enjoyed trying to make a joke out of every comment.

"Don't worry Jake; you'll get your fur back soon." I generally said, smiling.

I watched as Jacob sat down below the couch covered in a blanket and watching the TV. I've never seen him like this, and neither has anyone else, I would know. I sat down next to him and tried to watch the program, I wasn't paying much attention. Minutes passed in silence until he finally asked, "So what's up, I haven't talked to you in forever."

Wrong.

"Please Jake, I see, or hear you almost everyday." Did he miss me that much each day?

"But anyway…I'm having my fourteenth birthday party soon, Alice is planning it." My birthday was September 10th...In 4 days.

"That's great, am I invited?"

"Of course, why wouldn't you be?"

"Just checking." Sometimes Jacob would space out and forget that Edward wasn't the only one who could mind-read; this was one of those times. I went to hear into his mind; turns out he's just worried that I might have fallen for some other guy. As if that were possible to find my soul mate at this age.

"I have no interest in any of the boys at my school, and probably not for a long time."

"Why is it that sometimes I completely forget you can read my mind?"

"Ask Edward." Was my simple answer.

"Sure, sure."

He nestled beside me against my shoulder and fell asleep. He was only asleep for a moment when….

"Renesmee-" It was Alice

"We have to get to work on your party, and quickly, you only have four days left until you're fourteen!"

Wow…fourteen, and everyone was still frozen in their late teens, even Jacob gained a few months when I curiously asked one time why he wasn't growing or changing when I was 3…stupid. But, parties and birthdays were pretty huge around here, Bella was the last person who had a party, and she almost got killed for it. Hopefully I wouldn't be that careless for this year.

I had a pretty good list going. Obviously…Angela, Mike, Jessica, Ben…and all of Bella's old friends wouldn't come. They were all in their early thirties by latest. I had some good friends of my own. My best friend is Tiffany, I could tell her anything, almost anything. Her mind was pure, kind, and gifted. She had many great found memories as well. Most of my friends did have those qualities. I would be inviting Tiffany, Amanda, Sarah, and Jamie. I didn't have the best relationship with my guy friends as much as I do with Tiffany, but Bryan, Nick, Jack, and Mike (yes, Mike) were the closest to that and I knew they would come, as well as Nahuel and Hiluen. I also wanted to invite a new guy Matt, just so he wouldn't feel half as bad since he moved here. I didn't spend a lot of my free weekend time with the boys…but I did with most of the girls. And of course most of Jacob's friends would be coming. Sam, Paul, Jared, Embry, Seth, Leah, and Quil would all be coming (and at the same age as they've been for decades). Claire and Emily, would be coming too (Sam, and Quil's "imprinted ones"). Oh, and also Charlie, Billy, and Sue, thank god they're still around.

The party was now set, Esme had sent out the invitations, and Alice was busy with some last minute decorations. It would be in two days. Now my greatest fear would be coming, gifts. Ugh…I hated them, luckily Bella never gave me any, and she of all people knew how I felt.

People started to find out more about my party each day. But I tried to forget about it today, while focusing more on my favorite class, art. I loved art, I loved being able to express yourself through colors and shapes, I'm a great drawer too.

As I put my pencil down, I heard a high pitched voice. "I can't wait for your party, Nessie! I've already gotten your gift."

I groaned, Ugh I thought I had told everyone not to get me gifts!

"I don't need presents Jamie." I objected.

"But birthdays are all about presents, and the time you spend with people on your special day, who give them to you."

She was right, of course, but I still didn't like it. All my friends were all happy and excited that they could come, and I was glad for that. But none of them did what I asked them…they all got me presents. Luckily their thoughts were clearly on something different, so it made me a little happier that I didn't already know what they were. During school, my thoughts were more focused on Jacob than ever. What was wrong with me? Did I suddenly become over obsessive with Jake?

No.

I didn't know what to say or think, but all I knew was that not once, did he ever stop thinking about me all day.

When I got home, I walked through the door very quietly and slowly. Jake was sleeping, thank goodness. Emmett and Bella were having another re-match in arm-wrestling with Alice over Emmett's shoulders mouthing out words so Bella could win through pressure points. It was the most ridiculous thing, seeing my family playing normal human games. We all cheated, in some way. Jacob was sitting below the couch again with Edward on top. I sat next to Edward, and thought, "Will he ever stop?" and waited for his reaction. "I don't know, but he's been thinking about you all day." He said

I sighed "I know".

"Renesmee Cullen-" he spoke my name with such authority.

"Just like with your mother, I would never let anything happen to you, make you do something you don't want to do. No one is forcing you to pick Jacob, and neither is he. Sure he might go crazy, but as long as that person makes you happy, it'll make him safe and happy to know that you are too."

I had already known this, but it was good to hear when I really needed it. No one knew what was going to happen to me, not even Alice. Since Jacob is involved with me so much, she can barely see anything to do with me anymore.

Edward laughed. "And to think that I had gotten rid of that mongrel forever." He sighed

Jacob was probably the most involved one with us, and he always has. Sometimes I wish he hadn't been, because our family, our relationships, and our kind, were none of his business.

I sank into Edward's chest and stared at Jake's sleeping body once again.