Everyone was leaning in to hear what my dad had to say. My grandpa held me closer, probably eager to hear what his son had to say. I smiled when my mom looked down at the ground and stepped behind my dad. He chuckled and pulled her back around to stand by his side.
"This has been very hard to keep from everyone," he paused and looked at Alice. "Even to try and keep you from seeing our decision."
Aunt Alice was still bouncing with excitement. "Just tell them before I do!"
"Bella, would you like to do the honors?" My dad said, and bent down to kiss her.
We were all silent as we listened to my mom take a deep breath. "I got ahead on my online classes, Edward encouraged me to apply to some colleges back in the US to see if I could get any acceptances even though it's March, and classes have already began." She paused as she looked around the circle. Her eyes fell on my grandpa and I looked up at him. It seemed like he would be crying if he could. Her gaze stayed locked on his as she finished. "I got accepted to Harvard. We're moving to Boston." She bit her bottom lip.
"Harvard." My grandpa whispered.
My mom still heard him and nodded. "And Edward swears he had nothing to do with it."
"That's right, Bella did this all on her own." He pulled her into him and kissed her again. "I'm so proud of you."
"We all are." My grandpa stood up, placed me on the log where he was sitting, and flitted to my mom. He yanked her out of my dad's arms and hugged her. "Harvard." He said again with a smile.
While everyone took their turns hugging and congratulating my mom, I sat starring at the sand in front of me. I loved this island, I was happy to be moving closer to my family, but I liked having it just be the three of us. I'm happy that I'll most likely be going to a public school, but I liked that time with my dad.
"I did too." My dad whispered from behind me. I should have known he'd be listening for my reaction. "It's important to me." He continued to whisper as he stepped over the log, picking me up on his way, and sitting me on his lap.
"I'm ok with it." I sighed.
"Ok, can you tell me the truth now?" He saw right through me.
I took a deep breath and looked into his golden eyes. "I like it here. Don't get me wrong I want nothing more than to be closer to our family, but I got used to just us."
He smiled and tucked a stray piece of my hair behind my ear.
"But, I will do this for her." I looked at my mom, and my dad followed my gaze.
My dad's arms tightened around me, and I rested my head against his chest. "That's very sweet of you, but you have to think of yourself before others. We told you before we moved out here that this wasn't permanent. As soon as your mother is done with school we're going to be moving back around the family."
I nodded. "I know, and that's cool, but are we going to be living in the big house?"
"Not if you don't want to. I will do what makes both you and your mother happy."
"What if what makes me happy, doesn't make her happy."
"Your more like her than you think." He sighed and looked at her. "She'd do just about anything for someone she loves." He whispered softly as he watched her.
"So… am I going to school?"
He nodded. "I have you enrolled in William McKinley Middle School. It's less than a mile from where your mother is going to be taking classes."
"What about a house?"
"Will you stop worrying? I have everything taken care of. The house I found," he leaned closer to whisper in my ear. "Is definitely something your mother will say is overboard, but you will basically have your own level of the house to yourself. Plus a basement big enough where we can put a big screen TV-"
"Bigger than the one in the living room?"
My dad nodded eagerly. "Yes," he hissed. "But this TV will be strictly for your video games, and surround sound through the room. Of course the room will be soundproof, even for our ears. This way mom can study in peace and quiet."
"A home theatre system just for my Xbox?" I could only whisper.
My dad nodded, grinning widely.
"When do we leave?"
We both laughed and my dad kissed my cheek. "As soon as I can convince your mother to live in a place like that."
"I'll help!" I said eagerly.
"I'll need it." He chuckled.
"Such a private little conversation going on over here." My mom said as she leaned over my to kiss my dad, then kiss my cheek.
"She just needed a little pep talk." My dad bounced me on his knee.
"I'm ok," I promised. "Congratulations mom." I stood up and hugged her.
"And here I was thinking I was going to have to save you from a lecture on what you are wearing under this." My mom tugged on my cover up.
I locked my jaw and narrowed my eyes at her. "You might now."
"Oh!" My mom covered her mouth with her hand. "Sorry." She mumbled into it.
I rolled my eyes.
"Where did you get that anyway?" My dad asked. His eyes beginning to zero in on the orange strap sticking out.
"When mom and I were shopping a few months ago. You stayed behind to talk to the cleaners, and mom and I shopped for the day."
"You bought her that?" My dad gasped.
"Well I didn't think she'd wear it in front of… of other people! There's no one else on this island, so I didn't think it was a problem. Plus she looked cute in it."
My dad lifted his left hand and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Later, right now go spend time with everyone." He said with a grunt.
We all went back to the house and I was finally able to get out of my orange target for my dad's piercing eyes. To please him I threw on shorts and a sweatshirt. I sat on the living room floor between Claire and Alyssa while we listened to everyone talk.
"So my kid actually beat you?" Uncle Emmett was teasing my dad.
"Ness made Bella distract me."
"So, she still beat you! The best part is she's all human!" Uncle Emmett threw his head back as he laughed.
"Give it a rest Emmett." My dad growled.
"We all beat them. Ness and I beat Quil and Jacob." Claire told Uncle Emmett.
"They're nothing but…" He trailed off as he looked down at the three of us.
"Hey, Ness, why don't you show everyone what we've been working on? Take Esme over with you."
"Ok!" I yelled and stood up.
I walked passed my grandma and took her hand. She willingly followed me over to the black grand piano in the corner of the living room.
"She plays?" My grandma asked.
"Quite well." My dad answered.
I heard faint rustling around behind me. When I looked everyone was crowded around the bench behind my grandma and I. I have never played for an audience before. It felt like my heart was in my throat.
A wave of calm washed over me and I relaxed. "Thank you Uncle Jasper." I sighed, relieved.
He smiled down at me and patted my shoulder.
I lifted my hands to the keys and let the music flow through me to my fingers. I knew the song I was playing was one my dad wrote, and by the look on my grandma's face it was for her. I morphed into the lullaby he wrote for my mom, and then went right into the one he wrote for me. I had written my own, so I ended with that. It wasn't anything big, but it was a start. As soon as I hit the last note the room erupted into applause.
"That's my girl!" My dad said proudly.
"Looks like we just added a new musician to the family." Aunt Rosalie's eyes were bright as she bent down to kiss the top of my head.
I looked down at my hands, blushing a bright red.
Everyone laughed.
"I'm so glad that didn't get lost." My uncle Emmett chuckled and pinched my cheek.
"Leave her alone." My mom warned him.
"I'm just teasing her." He punched my mom's arm and walked into my playroom. "So this is where all the fun happens."
"I think he found the game tables." I shook my head. We have a pool table, ping pong table, and a air hockey table lining the far wall of my playroom.
"Looks that way." My mom chuckled.
"We'll join you!" My dad called out as he fluttered passed us with Uncle Jasper, Quil, and Jacob behind him.
"Have you played the other form of pool on here yet?" Uncle Emmett asked.
I looked up at my mom at the same time she pushed me towards the kitchen.
"Don't ask." She mumbled. "You're dead, Emmett!" She called over her shoulder as I heard a loud thud and my uncle swear.
"I got it, Bella." My dad chuckled. "He won't be playing pool anytime soon."
"Thanks Edward!" My Aunt Rosalie hissed, and pushed Alyssa and Claire into the kitchen behind my mom.
"One of these days I'm going to rip his entire mouth off of his face." My mom growled.
Aunt Rosalie chuckled as she walked towards the fridge to get us a soda.
Jacob walked casually into the kitchen. I looked at him, watching him cross the room.
"How many games of pool are there?" I asked.
"Bye." Jacob turned quickly and ran out of the kitchen.
"Just one, sweetie. Don't listen to what your Uncle says. We think he lost half of his brain during his transformation." Aunt Alice said. She walked behind my chair and ran her fingers through my hair. Her hands moved more quickly and all of a sudden I had 2 French braids on in either side of my head. "Cute." She squeaked and danced out of the kitchen.
"Ness, come here please." My dad called out to me.
"I didn't do it!" I yelled and slid off my chair.
I heard my dad laughing. "No sweetie. I want you to play one of your racing games against your uncle."
I picked up my pace towards my playroom. "Oh, ok!"
I beat Uncle Emmett 5 out of 6 games when my mom told me it was time for bed. I was lucky she let me stay up this late. It was almost 1:30am. She was busy talking to Aunt Rose, Aunt Alice, and Grandma out on the patio to realize what time it was. Alyssa was already asleep at Uncle Emmett's feet, and Quil had brought Claire into bed an hour ago.
I yawned and kicked Alyssa.
"Stop!" She moaned.
"Come on, lets go to bed." I yawned again.
Uncle Emmett lifted Alyssa to her feet with one hand. We held onto each other as we walked to my room. Both of us too tired to walk anymore. We slumped onto my bed and I felt someone moving me.
"Good night sweetheart." My mom whispered as she pulled my covers up around me.
"G'nite mom." I mumbled.
*To Hairgirl* I got your review asking about Alyssa, Claire, and Renesmee. This was explained in the beginning or Forever Young, but for those of you who forgot and dont feel like searching through the chapters. When Renesmee was born Alyssa and Claire were 2 and 3. Renesmee grew quickly and caught up to their age and slowed to a human's growth rate. Therefore Alyssa and Claire are now 11 and 12, while Renesmee may only be 6 years old, but she's the size of an 11 year old. Does that make sense? lol if not you can send me a message or another review.