Chapter Five: Undetected
I walked the steps up to the house cautiously. No matter what she'd said, I knew my family; Cora didn't. There was no way I was getting away with this. I entered the living room slowly, waiting for someone to pounce after catching the unfamiliar scent that would be on me. Instead I found Jacob, Seth and Alice slumped on the couches. They heard me enter and each nodded a little hello.
"Hey guys." Each of them mumbled an unenthusiastic greeting in return, staring blankly at the TV.
I moved closer to them, Jacob started to sniff the air; Here goes, I'm done for.
"Ness, what's that smell?" They can't get too mad, it's not like I invited her to come talk to me.
"Is that what I think it is? It is! Sue's Apple Pie, Yes!" Jacob had jumped off the couch and grabbed the pie, leaving me with my mouth hanging open in shock. Boy, when she said undetected she wasn't kidding. Cool, so now my new vampire friend was my secret. I dropped down on the sofa besides Seth, digging me feet into his lap.
"Jake drag you into this stupid wild goose chase too?" Jacob shouted something from the kitchen, but his mouth was so full of pie I couldn't make out what it was, but Seth obviously spoke slob, and understood perfectly.
"He's right Ness, this isn't stupid." He waved his hand in Alice's direction, who looked in even more pain than she had before, but managed to force a gentle smile at me. "And he didn't drag me. It's been fun, I kinda miss all the trouble you vamps cause." Seth dug his knuckle into the top of my head, and Jacob came behind the sofa, his mouth still half full.
"Hey, now that's not fair. She's only half-vamp!" They both laughed and I just rolled my eyes. I glanced over at Alice, who was still staring blankly into space. I grabbed Seth's arm and yanked him off the couch,
"Come on you ignorant puppy, time to go home." Seth held his stomach and bent over in a fake laugh before straightening up, straight faced.
"So not funny Ness." Jacob laughed and ran outside dragging Seth with him, and before I followed them I placed my hand on my stone-still Aunt's shoulder, leaning in front of her face with a reassuring grin. But a gentle, yet forced smile was all I received in return before I followed the boys out of the front door.
They were stood in the driveway, picking stones of the floor and throwing them at each other. One pinged off Jakes ears, and a playful growl broke from his chest, Seth mixed a whimper with a laugh as Jake prepared to throw a much larger stone at him. Seeing that Seth was cowering dangerously close to my new car, I leapt off the patio and grabbed Jake's wrist in my hand.
"Drop the rock Jakey." I could hear Seth laughing behind me, and Jake growled again dropping it and snapping his fingers through mine, pulling me closer with his other arm around my waist. I giggled as he buried his face into my neck, lifting me off the ground. Seth sighed,
"Ah come on guys, gimme a break. Let's go" Jacob laughed and kissed me gently on my cheek before throwing me over his back and walking down the driveway after Seth.
We reached the borders of the woods, and Seth span round on his heels, looking at us impatiently. I still had my arms wrapped round Jacob's neck so I felt his throat quake when he spoke,
"What Seth?"
"Dude, these are new pants, Louise got them me, so if I phase in them, I'm dead. And, I sure as hell ain't takin them off in front of Nessie." With that we both giggled and I climbed of Jake's back, skipping to wrap my arms round Seth for a Goodbye hug.
"I suppose I better leave you boys for your last run together for a while. I'm gonna miss you Seth." I pulled away, jabbing him playfully in the ribs.
"Of course you are. Just don't wait too long to come for a visit kay? Me and Lou can put you and Jacob up anytime when we move into our new place." Jake came round and clapped his hand on Seth's shoulder.
"Dude, I've seen your new place, it sucks. Besides there's like one bedroom, which is smaller than Nessie's closet" I gave Jake's shoulder a shove.
"Ignore him Seth. My closet's unnaturally large anyway, I'd love to stay with you. We can bunk up." I gave Seth a jokey wink and laughed when a playful growl came from Jake, and he wrapped his arms around my waist, tickling me and burying his face into my neck.
"Bunk up with Seth, huh? You're gonna bunk up with Seth?" My knees buckled with laughter as Jacob tickled my stomach.
"Jake…. I….c-can't ……br….eath"
"Well we've never really tested if you actually need to. Beg for mercy Ness, beg." I gathered my breath in between laughs.
"I'll never beg…you dumb mutt." Seth erupted in laughter and Jacob span me round to face him, finally releasing my now aching stomach.
"Dumb mutt, eh?" I wrapped my arms around his neck running my fingers through his long hair.
"Yup. My dumb mutt though." Jake nodded, smiling and moving his lips closer to mine. Seth groaned behind me,
"Ugh, you guys are dis-gus-ting!" Jake unwrapped one arm from around my waist and moved it in Seth's direction, I didn't look up to see what gesture he made to him.
I returned to the living room and Alice hadn't moved.
"Aunt Alice, are you ok?" I curled up beside her, throwing my legs across hers and resting my head on her shoulder.
"I'm ok. It's just frustrating; not knowing what's going on, it's scary."
"What's it like?"
"At first it was just fuzzy, like when I try to see you. But it wasn't you, it was someone else, someone I didn't know."
"But they're like me, you can't see them?"
"No, it's not that. It's because all of their decisions, they're all about you Ness, that's why I can't see them." She turned her little face, and stared at me with her topaz eyes. "That's why were all so worried. That's why everyone's out there right now, trying to find whoever this is, to protect you."
"But what if they don't wanna hurt me? They might just wanna meet me?" Alice rested her head against mine and let out a delicate sigh.
"We just love you too much to take that risk Renesmee."
Alice and I had sat like that for over an hour, just snuggling into each other. I wanted to wait for Jacob to get back, or at least my parents. But one careless yawn was enough for Alice, and she marched me off to bed. My mind was racing with all my thoughts from today, but somehow I managed to slip into sleep, my thoughts followed me there though, and I woke up with a start only a couple of hours later.
"Are you okay?" Had it been any other voice and I might have jumped, but my father's voice was so melodic, that it blended in with the silence of the night.
"I'm fine, just a crazy dream I guess." He let out an uneasy laugh and came and sat beside me,
"Well, since I can't see your dreams anymore, would you like to tell me about it?"
"It was nothing, really. And I'm sorry; I know it's got to be weird for you, not being able to hear me. But hey, I can sympathise, no more showing people my thoughts anymore right."
"Actually no. Haven't you thought about it? Renesmee, you can overcome shields, this one your mother has put over you is completely under your control."
"But I tried to show Jacob something earlier and –"
"Were you trying to overcome the shield?"
"No, I didn't know I could."
"Well try it now, show me anything." I placed my hand on my father's cool forehead, and thought of the gift I'd bought my mother for her upcoming birthday. My father laughed when I showed him the photo album. My mother never liked gifts, but I did so I'd tried to find her one she couldn't help but love.
"You and your mother, alike in so many ways, but then again so different." We both laughed, and my hand was still pressed to his forehead when my thoughts switched. I couldn't help it; thinking of my mother often brought back the same memory. Of the first time I saw her, bleeding, broken, almost lifeless. Dad threw my hand off his head; snarls raging from behind his gritted teeth, he looked angry, terrifying. My voice came out panicked and breathy, I was scared.
"Dad, I'm sorry I didn't mean to I –" He wrapped his arms around me before I could continue.
"No, I'm sorry. I know you couldn't help it. It's just not nice to think about."
"I know." He straightened back up composing himself, and I was desperate to change the subject. "Is everybody home now?"
"No sweetheart, just me." I shook my head slowly.
"I hate this. It's not right the house being empty. I'm not used to it. Usually there are never any more than four of you away if you go hunting, now everyone's running in and out, even Jake."
"It's just because we're worried Renesmee."
"Yes, over nothing. I want everyone to come back, this is silly." He just laughed, running his hand down my cheek.
"You really are so like your mother, not wanting anyone to make a fuss."
"I just want everyone back in the house."
"Ness it's been one day. And you were with Charlie for most of it." My replying scowl showed no relief, so he scooped me into his arms, and lay back against the headboard. "I promise, tomorrow will be school as usual. Your, Uncles and father will be your brothers, and your Aunts and mother your sisters, is that okay?" We both laughed.
"You forgot our Quileute family friend." My Dad laughed louder, and his chest shook beneath my head. His laughter settled to shushing, and he gently stroked my forehead.
"Sleep now Renesmee, I promise I'll stay here, I won't leave you."
As promised, everything appeared as normal in the morning. Before I could properly open my eyes, Alice dragged me off my Dad's chest to get ready. Breakfast was served and I joked with Jacob as we ate. I sat, placing my hands on his head, making good use of having my gift back. Also as usual, I was the last one ready. I was in my room with my Grandma and Jake, whilst everyone else was outside ready to go, pipping their car horns and calling my name impatiently. I was kneeling on the floor, flipping through the photo album that was the gift for my mother's birthday tomorrow. Grandma was sat on the bed and running her fingers through my hair.
"Renesmee sweetheart, it's wonderful. But you're going to be late for school, if you leave the photographs here Jacob and I can finish arranging them for you." When we first came to Alaska, Jake had gotten a job in a mechanics, purely because he refused to live in the Cullen house rent free, despite objections from both my Grandparents. But Alice had introduced him to the wonders of the stock-market and large scale gambling, all using her skills as an advantage of course, and Jake had been encouraged to stay home and keep Grandma company while we were at school and Grandpa was at work. Jacob just looked too old to pass for a high-school student, so he and my Grandmother had grown very close.
"No Grandma, it's ok. I'm gonna take it with me and finish it at lunch or something." I threw the photos inside the album and placed it carefully into my bag, jumping up to plant kisses on Jacob and my grandmother before running outside.
As we couldn't all fit in one car, it usually meant I was on a cycle, each day changing who I drove with. Today, I didn't even need to think about which car I was going in. Emmett was revving the engine of my convertible, Rose sat in the passenger side looking smug, and Alice and Jasper were cuddled up on the back seat. Alice lifted her tiny frame to stand and she yelled,
"Come on Ness, get in. We wanna see what your new car can do!" My dad was already spinning his car down the driveway, so I guessed we were about to engage in a race. I leapt into the seat beside Alice, not bothering to open the door, which really amused Emmett.
"That's my girl!"
My car won, which surprised me because my Dad was a lunatic driver. A skilled driver, but still a lunatic. On Monday all my morning classes were with Alice. We sat in Spanish, before the lesson got in full swing Alice would always make a note of any questions the teacher would ask me and when, then she'd hand it to me, along with the answers so I could just sit and daydream like her. Every now and then I'd poke her, sending her images of something funny, or what I was thinking. Today it was plots for my Mother's birthday, each of which would force Alice to swallow down an evil giggle. All day everyone was commenting on my Birthday party, all those who had been there could not stop talking about it, and at lunch my father told me those who hadn't, couldn't stop wishing they had been. At lunch I sat with my family, they'd sit and talk whilst I worked my way around each of their untouched trays, eating the things that would otherwise go to waste. Today I did this especially fast, then announced I had to go to the library before running off. Everyone except my mother slipped me an understanding nod, thankfully she had no idea about her gift. I spent so much time flipping through each of the photos, enjoying the memories that I had to run to my next class so as not to be late.
My final class of the day was gym. It was hereditary; I was sure, because I shared my loathing for this class with both of my parents, though they both had different reasons for that hatred. Like his siblings, my father hated Gym because he had to hold back, never allowing himself to demonstrate his real speed or strength. Though my mother now shared the same opinion due to her own special strengths, I also knew she had also despised gym when she was human. I myself just found it boring as hell. I struggled to contain myself when our teacher, Coach Gibson almost threw up in front of us all, dismissing us twenty minute early due to his illness. I dressed and made my way out into the parking lot. I leaned myself onto the bonnet of my car and stared up to the school. From where I stood I made out three familiar figures at a window on the third floor. To any human they would have been hardly distinguishable blurs, but I could make out my Uncle Emmett's face as he stuck his tongue out at me, and Aunt Rose's as she gave me a loving smile. Uncle Jasper just stared at me, looking a little worried. I had no doubt that he hated the fact I was out here right now, in the currently abandoned parking lot. They probably all did, they were very protective.
"Hello Renesmee." My heart leapt, and a breathy squeal escaped from my lips as I span round to see who had greeted me from the other side of the car. I held my chest, feeling it heaving for air as I took in Cora, who now raised both her hands apologetically. "I am sorry. I did not mean to startle you."
"It's ok. You just have a knack for creeping up on me." Cora threw her head back slightly and giggled, then she reached one of her pale arms across the silver bonnet to where I stood.
"Would you like to come and meet my friends Renesmee?" I slowly turned my head back to the third floor window. The three figures who looked out of it only moments ago were now gone, no doubt chasing out to me right this second. I clapped my hand into Cora's and threw my bag over my shoulder,
"Let's go!"
Was that a good decision for Renesmee to make?
Maybe find out next chapter : Chapter Six - Shadows
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