"So… I think she's pissed." I heard Derek point out. I rolled my eyes too aggravated to laugh at him.

"Shut it, kid." Jacob snapped. "Bella…" I stopped in the hall so I could hear what he had to say to her. "I'm so sorry she reacted like that. I thought she got all her frustration out last night. I'll go talk to her."

"No," My mom said coldly. "Let her go. She needs to think things through right now. I know my own daughter."

"I'm really sorry, Bells." Jacob whispered.

"It's fine, Jake. She has a right to know, but I wish she…"

"No, Bella. She had no right to react like that. That right there proves that she's still a child. Jacob, she might look and sometimes act like she's fifteen, but she's only ten years old. That right there, that tantrum she just threw is proof that she's not as old as you think she is."

"I know, but I can't stop her from feeling the way she does."

"Well, try. It's not time for her yet." My mom said softly.

They were wrong. I was ready to be in a relationship with Jacob. They weren't going to stop me. I need to be with him. The end.

"So, I'm feeling a little awkward. Can I go somewhere else?" I shook my head at Derek. I turned and peeked through the crack from the door. He had gotten out of the pool and was standing next to Jacob.

"Wow, you're really annoying!" Jacob snapped and slapped his palm against Derek's forehead, pushing him back into the pool.

"Or the pool is nice." Derek mumbled.

I had to walk away before I started laughing.

I walked past the door to the room and wondered down into the lobby. I didn't care that I was still in my bathing suit. I pushed through the small family that was getting ready to check in.

"Is there something I can do for you Miss. Cullen?" The man at the door asked me.

"No thank you." I smiled politely at him and continued to walk outside.

The front yard was big and quiet. The sun was bright and warm, so I found a bench and sat down, hugging my knees to my chest. My dad's words echoed in my head. He was right. Mom had risked a lot to keep me alive. I was wrong to react the way I did, but that was a one time only tantrum. I now had to prove that I was mature enough to be in a relationship with Jacob. I hope this was the last of the secrets. I don't know how many more surprises I can handle.

"Hey," I heard someone say behind me. The voice belonged to Derek. I turned around to see him walking around the bench to sit next to me.

"So, did you know your parents can't come out here after you? That's why they sent me." He said proud that they asked him for help.

"I know they can't come out here." I sighed. "Their skin doesn't react to sun the way mine does, or yours."

"Really? Do they combust?" Derek leaned in eagerly waiting for my answer.

"NO!"

Derek's face went from excitement to disappointment in a blink of an eye. He caught my wide-eyed glance at him and quickly explained himself. "Oh, I didn't mean that I wish they would. Please don't get mad, I don't want you to drink my blood or anything… It's just that… well… that's what the stories say."

I rolled my eyes. "The stories also say we have fangs." I opened my mouth and clenched my teeth together. "Does it look like I have fangs?"

"No, but I also don't see what happens at night when you go do your hunting thing." He reached out and poked my gums. I flinched away. "They could grow or something."

"Ugh! Derek! We don't have fangs, and I sleep at night, idiot."

"Oh, right. Well do your parents and rest of your family sleep? I've never seen their room, do they--"

"Do not say coffin!" I snapped. "They don't sleep, and they don't have a coffin in their room, they have a bed."

"But you just said…" He trailed off when he noticed me shaking my head.

"Don't ask." I mumbled.

"Got it." He nodded once.

"So, did they send you out here to be funny or to make me go back inside."

"Neither," Derek shrugged. "They just wanted to make sure you were ok."

"Oh, ok." I relaxed.

"But," He spoke low and pulled the towel that was draped across his shoulders. "Your father wanted me to tell you to wrap this around you. He said he didn't want you to get sunburn since your skin is so pale," Derek looked over his shoulder and leaned in so his chin was on my shoulder and his lips by my ear. "But I think it's because you're more than half naked."

"Your quick." I said sarcastically and took the towel from him.

"Serious time." Derek spoke without a hint of humor. "I think your parents are right… to a certain extent. And you know me, I'm not one to agree with the adults." Derek looked away from my face so he could talk without my facial commentary. "You're mom seemed really upset. She's a nice person. Very pretty, but anyway, your father scares the crap out of me, so I'm pretty much going to agree to anything he says. Is he watching me right now?" Derek twitched as he glanced nervously around him.

I doubled over with laughter. Just like I normally do when Derek and I are hanging out.

"I said it's serious time. I'm not trying to be funny."

"Derek, you never try to be funny. You're naturally like that."

Derek seemed to think it over and smiled. "Cool!"

I groaned.

"So, are you still mad at your mother?"

"Not really. I know it was way before I was born, but it's still weird."

"You think it's weird, imagine how she feels. She's kissed her daughter's boyfriend. I'm glad I'm not a vampire. I think I'd need some major therapy if I was you."

I snorted. "I've been contemplating that." Derek's words made me cringe. He didn't really understand the danger he was in because of me.

"Renesmee," Jacob's voice came up quick. He took my hand and pulled me to my feet. "Derek, c'mon." He huffed and pushed me to walk in front of him.

"Shouldn't you hold her hand when crossing the parking lot? She's not old enough to--" I didn't know where it came from. I hated being called a child. I was fifteen, not ten! I spun so quick that Jacob didn't even react to stop me until my fist came into contact with Derek's nose. I heard the break and jumped back.

"I'm so, so, so, so sorry Derek!" I unwrapped my towel and pressed it against his nose.

Jacob was silent next to me as he stared with his mouth hanging open in a perfect O.

Derek was wide-eyed. "I think you broke my nose." He pointed out like he was commenting me on my shoes.

"I don't know what got into me! I'm sorry!" I said again.

"I guess I deserved it?"

"No, no you didn't. I guess I just got aggravated at someone else pointing out my age."

"Well, give me a heads up next time I get on your nerves. I rather like my bones in place. Do have to say that you throw a mean punch."

"Thanks." I mumbled. Jacob guided Derek inside as I followed slowly behind them.

"I knew I smelt blood, what happened?" My mother was pulling the towel away from Derek's face as soon as we walked back into the room.

"No, nope it's not blood. I spilled ketchup. Got hungry outside. Ate a hotdog." Derek stammered and closed his eyes cringing away from my mom.

She shook her head and laughed. "It's ok. The smell doesn't bother me. What happened?" She asked as she tilted his head back to get a better look.

"Me." I said quietly.

"You hit him?" My dad asked his voice rose from the shock.

"Punched." I mumbled. "I said sorry." I added.

"That a girl!" Quil punched the air and my dad turned to growl at him.

"Bella, did she break it?" My dad squeezed my shoulder as he walked past me to lean over her shoulder.

"Yes, but I er…" She looked over her shoulder at him.

"Looks like it." He answered her silent question.

She took a deep breath and guided Derek over to the couch. "Honey, I need you to sit down."

"Yes, ma'am." Derek let her push his shoulders down so he would sit on the couch. She pressed his shoulders back so he would lean against the back of the couch. She bent down and leaned in to see his nose better. I wasn't paying much attention, but I noticed Derek's eyes widen when my mom leaned in far enough where her shirt hung away from her neck. Derek's eyes followed her jaw, ran down her neck, and my dad flitted behind the couch at the same time his hand clapped around Derek's forehead forcing his head back into the cushion, so he was looking at the ceiling.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Derek shrieked, startled by the sudden reaction.

Everyone laughed but my dad. "I didn't say anything." My dad said coldly.

"Oh," Derek mumbled and his cheeks were as red as the blood dripping from his nose.

"Close your eyes and breath in deeply." My mom ignored the commotion going on around her.

"Why?" Derek asked.

"Because I said so."

"Good enough." Derek closed his eyes and took a deep breath. My mom looked up at my father and he nodded tightening his grip on Derek's head.

"Ok, honey, let it out." She said quickly and as he did I heard another sound of bones breaking.

"Ah! Jeez, I'm sorry I went to look down your shirt! I swear I will never look at another woman again! You didn't have to break my nose again. Now I know where your daughter gets it from."

"Derek, I had to reset your nose. Did you want it to heal crookedly? I can put it back if you want." My mom smirked and reached for his nose. He swatted her hands away and cringed into the back of the couch.

"Nope, that's cool. I'm good."

"Renesmee, can you please get me some tape from the first aid kit in the bathroom?" My mom asked me. I nodded and got what she needed. I didn't realize the scent of Derek's blood until I got closer to him. We were outside when the blood first started flowing, plus the wind was blowing in the opposite direction of my nose. We were now in a closed up room. I was standing by an open window before my mother asked me to get the tape. This was the first time I have ever smelt human blood spilled. For a moment the red that was dripping from his nose was all I could see. Derek's blood was the sweetest I have ever smelt. No animal scent could compare. Not even the donated blood I remember drinking as a child. I caught my dad walking over to me to take the tape. I quickly locked my muscles to spring before he reached me. NO! What was I thinking? I quickly put my thoughts in my fathers head. I knew I couldn't control it myself. This was my best friend. Why did I want to drink my best friends blood? I stepped closer, my teeth bared. I let out a faint snarl at the same time my dad gasped and my mom spun around to see why I was growling.

My fathers arms locked around me and my mom took a protective stance in front of Derek. Good. They were taking me seriously.

"Edward?" Jacob asked frantically when he heard me cry out in pain as my dad tightened his grip around me. "Nessie are you ok?"

"Don't talk to her right now. Give me a minute." My dad said coldly. "I mean it Jacob, back off."

I didn't even realize Jacob was close to me. The only thing I could concentrate on was the sweet smell coming from my best friend. I couldn't see his face behind my mother and I was glad. I fought against my fathers grasp, but he was too strong. He backed us up and then out the door. Someone slammed it in my face and we were alone in the hallway. Luckily we were the only ones on the top floor. I knew the image my father and I were displaying was not normal. I fought until he had me on my knees. His chest pressed firmly against my back. His arms locked around my chest. He had grabbed my wrists and locked them against my chest so I couldn't swing at him. Not that I would hurt him. I realized I was panting, but it sounded too animalistic to be coming from my lips. Even though the door was shut I could still smell his blood. I was now looking for it. I knew what to search for. I really was a monster.

"Shh." My dad's voice was silk in my ear. "I know it's hard, but you must control it. I know you can do it. Close your eyes and think of something else. Anything else. Think of Jacob. See Derek's face in your mind. Your friend Derek. You don't want to hurt him. He's a friend. See Jacob's face you don't want him to worry about you. Fight it, sweetie. I know it's hard." My fathers voice was pained. It hurt him to see me like this. I wish he didn't have to see me like this, but I needed him. "I'm right here." I realized I was still putting my thoughts into his mind. That was a good thing. He needed to see everything I was thinking right now. Someone walked past the door and a fresh wave of the intoxicating smell blew up from under the door, right to my nose.

"I want it!" I growled and started fighting to get loose.

My dad stood up with me in his arms. He tucked me under his arm and pulled me into the far corner of the hall. He pushed the window open and once again I was kneeling on the floor with him squatting over me. His arms were tighter than any restraint in the world, but I still fought to get loose.

I leaned my head back and rested it on his shoulder. "Talk to me, daddy." I pleaded. I didn't want to think this way. I didn't want to plan on ways I could kill my best friend.

"I wont let you hurt him. I know exactly how you feel and no it's not because you are showing me right now. You know how Derek's blood smells to you?"

The fire in my throat answered his question. I felt him flinch from the thought and he took that as my answer.

"Yes, like that. When I first met your mother I felt the same way. Of course I was centuries older than you are right now, but I had to leave the state to get away from her. I wanted to kill her. I didn't care who else I had to kill to get to her either. I wanted her blood…" I closed my eyes and leaned into him as I listened to this new story. His hand lifted to my chest, so he could feel my heart. "Of course the only empty seat in the class was next to me. The scent was even worse with her next to me."

"You could smell her blood without it spilt?" He had it worse than me. I never noticed how intoxicating Derek smelt until now.

"Yes, I spent the entire length of class planning out ways to kill her. How easy I could work my charm on her and get her alone. I left for a while and when I came back I slowly realized I wanted to protect her more than I wanted to drink her blood. I was able to suppress my desire around her. I even sucked venom from her blood once."

"Really?"

"Mmmhmm, I still desired her blood, but my feelings for her were stronger than my need to taste her."

"How? How did you do it? Derek…" I cringed into my dad's chest when I thought of the way his blood smelt. Now that I was facing the open window it wasn't so bad.

"I knew thirst, but overrode it with love. You have to control it. I know you can. You have it in you. Did you know your mother's first hunt, I took her out while you stayed with Jacob and the rest of the family. Bella caught the scent of a hiker. She realized what she was hunting and focused her hunt away from them. She was hours old and was able to pull out of the trance human blood has on us. She has never tasted human blood. Well, besides the donated blood she drank when she was pregnant for you. If she can do it, I don't have any doubts that you can't either. You have a lot of her in you. Channel the desire to something else."

"I can do that." I think. No, I had to. This was Derek. The guy who was there to clean me up after Luke… I stopped my thought quick when I felt my dad stiffen. "Sorry," I whispered.

My dad's lips pressed against the top of my head. "It's fine. Think what you need to. Override the desire. No one is judging you. You're young, it's understandable. His hand reached up and rested on my forehead. It felt nice and cool. He swiped his hand across my forehead trying to get the sweat that was beading across it. "I'm not going to let you do something you will regret later. Relax, I'm right here." He whispered and leaned against the wall, pulling me onto his lap cradling me. His arms still tight around me, restraining. I didn't fight it anymore. I just closed my eyes and concentrated on the soothing sound of his voice. I pressed my ear to his chest and could hear the hollow echo of his breathing. "You know, when your mother was pregnant for you, you spoke to me."

I twisted in his arms to look at him. "I did?"

He nodded and leaned forward to kiss my forehead. "Close to the end of the pregnancy I could read your thoughts. For a split second I thought I was suddenly hearing your mothers, but her mind was, as always, completely silent. I had asked her what she was thinking, just to make sure. She spoke and your thoughts filled my head."

"What was I thinking?" I asked eagerly.

"You liked the sound of her voice. You wanted me to keep her talking, her voice helped you sleep better."

"Really?"

He nodded and continued. "We were talking and I could understand the undeniable love you felt for her. The love only that of a child to their mother. You liked the sound of my voice too, you know."

"Still do." I sighed. "Tell me more." I urged. Derek's sweet scent was fading, my thirst was cooling the more I concentrated on my dad's stories.

"Well, your mother used to sit with you in her arms while you were sleeping and keep your hand pressed against her cheek, so she could watch your dreams. While you waited for her to wake up after the change, you liked to sit in the room with me while I played the piano for the both of you. I think you wanted her to wake up just as much as I did. You didn't understand why she couldn't hold you. Oh, but the day she woke up we didn't think she would be able to contain her self around you. Your scent is not as strong as a human's, but it still smells wonderful. As always, your mother amazed me and she was just as eager to hold you, as you were for her to hold you. That was one of the best days of my life. To see the both of you together once again."

"Wow," I breathed. It felt good to hear stories from when I was a baby. It made me feel normal.

"How are we doing out here?" My mom said softly as she peeked her head out the door.

"We're just fine." My dad nodded.

My mom walked swiftly over to us and knelt in front of me. "Don't be embarrassed by that. You're part vampire. Just watch yourself around Derek. Even a small paper cut could set you off." My mom chuckled and my dad growled. I decided not to ask.

"Is he mad at me?"

"No, honey. He barely understood what happened. Jacob's a little nervous though."

I nodded. "I'll go talk to him." I moved to get up but my dad's arms tightened around me at the same time my mom reached out to stop me. "I'm ok, honest." My dad let me stand up on my own. I took a step towards the open door and stepped back between my parents. "Hold onto me." They both placed a hand on my shoulder and the other hand wrapped around my waist. Not that I needed both of them to hold me back. I wasn't that strong. I just wanted their support and they knew it.

I walked into the room with my parents' hands still on my shoulders and waist. Derek's face was still Derek. Except his right eye was black and blue from the broken nose, but he looked at me and smiled. "So, Leah tells me I'm tempting to you. Don't know if that should be a compliment or not."

"Derek, I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am." I mumbled, still cringing into my parents.

"Don't worry about it. It's not everyday I have my best friend wanting to drink my… er… ketchup."

The atmosphere in the room lightened when I doubled over laughing at him. Both my parents let me go, but they still stood directly behind me.

I reached behind me and took my dad's hand to rewrap it around me waist. He left it there and I caught Jacob watching out of the corner of my eye. I flashed my father visions of my hugging Derek to apologize to him. But I wanted his arm to stay around me. There was no more blood anywhere, my mom cleaned up perfectly, but I wanted to be sure. My dad said something softly to my mom and she stepped away from me. My dad stepped with me as I walked up to Derek. He stood up, looking relaxed as ever. This didn't seem to bother him.

"Don't look so upset Ness. I know what you are. It's natural. Just don't do it again."

"Promise." I said quickly and threw my arms around his waist. He hugged me back, but the motion felt off with my father's chest pressed against my back. I was ok. I wasn't the monster I thought I was. He read my thought and I felt his hands slip from my waist.

"You're really not mad at me?" I asked as I leaned away from Derek.

"A little intimidated by you, mad? No, not mad." He shook his head and patted my back.

I sighed and turned towards Jacob. "You want to talk about it?" My voice shook.

"Are you ok?"

I nodded.

He crossed the room and pulled me into a tight hug. "Then there is nothing to talk about."

I forgot the others in the room, particularly my parents until they cleared their throats at the same time. I forced myself to stop kissing Jacob and felt my face flush bright red.

Derek sucked in air through his teeth making a hissing sound. "Oooh, first kiss in front of the parents… how embarrassing."

I hid my face in Jacob's chest. I could feel the vibrations from his laughter. Jacob wrapped his arms around me and pulled me down on the couch.

I met my mom's gaze and smiled at her.

I'm so sorry about earlier. We can talk about it later. I thought and gave her my memories of her and I together, showing her how much I do love her.

She nodded and smiled back at me. My dad stepped behind her and she leaned back against him. I knew those looks. They had something to say.