The next morning I woke early again, and dressed in another bathing suite and matching cover up before I did anything else. I threw my hair in a messy ponytail, and peeked out of my room. Once again I was the first one out of bed. I ran as quietly as I could, not able to silence my bare feet from slapping against the hardwood floor. I collected all my stuff for the beach, and pulled out a pop tart from the closet. I sighed when I found a lunchbox in the fridge. I put my stuff down and ran back to my room to search for my book bag. When I found it I ran back into the kitchen and filled it with everything I needed. I stood at the end of my parents hallway, their bedroom door shut once again. "Bye!" I called out. I heard low talking, but couldn't make out what they were saying. "I'm going to the beach now." I bounced impatiently.
"Have fun sweetie." My mom said. I shrugged and turned to run out the front door. "Cell phone!" She yelled, and I had to grab onto the doorframe to stop myself.
"Drat!" I groaned, and ran back into my room. "Got it!" I yelled and slammed the door shut behind me.
I jumped on my four wheeler and drove as fast as I could down to the beach. As soon as I got there Cassandra was waiting at the water's edge. "Hey!" I called as I ran down to her.
"You're here earlier than I thought." She smiled at me.
"My parents have been locked in their room all weekend, so I am a free woman!" I threw my head back and yelled. It felt good to be able to go off and do my own thing. Cassandra laughed at me. "What do you want to do?" I asked her.
"First… I have a problem." She pointed towards a boulder on the beach, and Gavin appeared from behind it.
"Your brother?" As if my heartbeat could get any faster, it did.
"Yes, he's in charge of me today. You mind if he hangs with us?"
"No not at all."
"Come on Gavin!" Cassandra called, as she waved him over.
"Hi, I'm Gavin." He smiled shyly at me.
"I know." I giggled. "I'm Renesmee, but everyone calls me Nessie."
"It's a pleasure." He nodded politely.
"So, what do you guys do for fun?" I asked them.
"We love to body surf!" Cassandra said quickly.
"How do you do that?" I asked.
"It's fun! Come on we'll show you." Gavin took my hand and we ran into the water. "Watch me, and then I'll teach you." He smiled widely at me, and dropped my hand. He was so cute! His hair was as dark as Cassandra's it clung to his face from the wetness. He had a lot of muscles, almost as many as Jacob. I watched him lay flat on his stomach as he rode in on a wave. I stood in knee deep and jumped around in the water excitedly as I watched.
"I want to try!" I called out.
"Well come here." Gavin waved for me to swim over to him. I reached him and he grabbed into my waist to make me lay flat on my stomach in the water. "Wait for the right wave, and get ready… swim with the wave!" He said as he let go of me. I immediately sunk down into the water and tumbled with the wave. His arms wrapped around me and I gasped for air when my head broke the surface. "You ok?" He asked when I caught my breath.
"Yes. I want to try again." I threw my ponytail back over my shoulder and swam back out behind Gavin. I watched Cassandra as she rode in on her wave. She made it look so easy.
"Ready?" Gavin asked. His hands were at my hips again as he held me horizontal in the water.
"Lets do this!" I yelled, and he let me go. I swam until the wave took over for me and I was gliding on water. I felt as light as a feather. My knees grazed the sandy ocean floor and I stood it jumping around. "I did it, I did it!"
"You were great!" Cassandra ran up to me and gave me a hug.
"Nice going." Gavin held up his hand, and I slapped him a high five. "Want to try a bigger wave? They're bigger on the other side of the island."
"Sure!" I turned to walk onto the beach, and they both got back in the water.
"Swimming is faster." Gavin said.
"I can't swim as fast as you." I pointed out.
"Hop on." He turned his back on me. I swallowed hard, and turned to look at the empty beach. Part of me was hoping that my dad would burst through the trees to tell me no. The other part of me screamed to take advantage of my freedom.
"Ok." I sighed. Gavin bent his knees so I could wrap my arms around his neck.
"Hold your breath!" He turned his head to tell me. I did as he said, and he dove into the water. He came back up a few seconds later and we flew through the air. We dove back into the water, and in a matter of seconds we were on the other side of the Island. The waves were larger over here. I rarely swam on this side because my parents had always said these waves were too big. They towered over my head.
"I don't know about this." I said as a wave crashed over us. I clung to Gavin's back.
"Come on. It's fun." He pulled me off of him and held me above the water. "Ok, these waves come quicker, so get ready! I'm letting go!"
"No wa-" I tried to protest, but he let go and I was tumbling. I rolled with the wave, being tossed around like a doll. I couldn't tell which way was up, I swam in any direction I could. My head hit something hard, and everything went black.
"Renesmee! Wake up! Please wake up!" I still felt like I was being tossed around in the waves. It made my stomach turn. I coughed and someone rolled me onto my side. "Renesmee, you ok?" I didn't want to open my eyes. My head hurt too much, and I couldn't stop the feeling that I was still in the water.
"My mom." I croaked. My throat hurt. "I want my mom." I squeezed my eyes shut and dug my fingers into the sand to try and ground myself to make the swaying stop.
"Leave her be! They will find her!" Someone was yelling.
"Dad, I'm not leaving her! She's my friend." Cassandra? Her dad was there. I hope I didn't get them in trouble. The swaying made me nauseous again and I was able to turn my own body.
"Sorry." I heard Gavin whisper to me. There was nothing but silence around me.
My head pounded, and I had no idea where I was. I knew I was too far for my dad to hear my thoughts. Could I stand up? I forced my eyes open and realized it was almost dark. How long was I knocked out for? Why haven't my parents found me yet? Then I realized, I couldn't have left a trail leading to where I was. I swam over here.
I rolled onto my stomach and tried crawling up to the tree line, so I could see where I was. I felt dizzy and laid back down. Tears streamed down my face. "Mom! Dad!" I cried out.
"Mom!" I was sobbing now, which made my head hurt even more. My vision was getting foggy. I lifted my hand to touch the spot on my head that hurt the most and my hand was immediately covered in blood.
"Renesmee!" I heard my dad's faint cries. He sounded angry and scared. I wonder if I'll be in trouble, or if they would be too worried to be mad.
"Ness!" My mom's voice was closer.
"Mom!" I screamed as loud as I could, it was no louder than a faint screech. I clasped my hands around my throat. It felt like someone shoved broken glass down my throat.
"Where are you!" her voice was getting further away.
"Mommy!" I cried out louder, my head was spinning, but I fought to keep conscious.
"Keep talking sweetie! I cant smell you anywhere." She was getting closer again.
"Hurry." I began to cry again. "It hurts." I whimpered. I shivered from being wet and the sun no longer shining. I tried to keep myself calm because my head would hurt more with every sob.
"Edward! Over here, she's bleeding!" I heard the trees rustling behind me and I let the darkness take over.
When I came around again I still felt the sand under me. Cool hands moved over my whole body. My head was held tight by someone's hands. "We have to get her inside." I could hear my dad urging my mom.
"No, we cant move her. I don't know what kind of injuries she has." My mom's voice sounded like she'd be crying if she could. I fought to open my eyes, but I couldn't. They felt like someone was holding them down with weights.
"Give me your shirt." My mom snapped. "I have to stop the bleeding!"
I felt pressure, a lot of pressure on the side of my head. I flinched. "Renesmee, baby can you hear me?" My dad asked nervously.
Daddy, please. Make it go away. It hurts! I didn't want to open my mouth to speak because I knew I'd start screaming. The pressure was making my head hurt even more. I didn't think it was possible.
"I know it hurts honey. Hang in there. What did you do?"
"Is she talking to you?" My mom asked him. He must have nodded because I didn't hear him answer.
Please.
"Do you hurt anywhere else besides your head?" My mom asked me.
I don't know. My head hurts too much to feel anything else. I listened to my dad repeat my words.
"Her neck isn't broken. Lets move her inside. I want to call Carlisle. I can't do all this by myself."
"Here." I heard my dad say. "Call him on the way home. I'll carry her." Once again my head spun and the voice I tried so desperately to hold onto faded away.