*HAPPY NEW YEAR* Everyone!! I hope you all have a safe and happy New Year. How was everyone's holiday? I'm glad to be back home and writing again lol. Sorry it took so long, I never leave my stories that long, but i had no time to write at all. But that's ok, I'm back now! Here's ch.44. Enjoy!

Before I knew it, my parents were making me go back to school. I got up and dressed quickly. I knew Derek would be excited to see me. Either that or really mad at me. "What are you worrying about?" My father asked me. I knew I could feel him starring at me from across the table. I was poking my cereal with a spoon--still full form my hunt a few days ago--and my father was reading the paper. My mom had left early for class. She was graduating this year and she wanted to make sure she was on time for every class. It was amazing how human she acted.

"I'm not worrying about anything." I lied.

He leaned across the table and poked at my forehead. "You're mother gets the same lines across her forehead when she's worried about something. Talk to me."

He got me there. He had many years of practice reading her facial expressions in order to know what she was thinking about. Like her I wore my emotions clearly on my face. Why couldn't I inherit all the cool things about her? Why did I have to get all her flaws?

"Ness," My father touched my cheek to pull me back to the present.

I sighed deeply. He wasn't going to let it go. "I'm nervous about Derek's reaction to seeing me again." I remembered how my family reacted to seeing me. It was like I was gone for a year rather than a few days. Aunt Alice wanted to throw me a party, but luckily my mom stepped in with that one. I didn't want any attention for running away. Apparently my mother felt the same way. Plus that fact that she had to remind everyone I was grounded.

"Derek will be happy to see you, although he would be right to be a little upset. You did leave him with on hell of a goodbye."

"I know," I groaned. "I'm really sorry, Dad."

"Me too," He smiled and squeezed my hand.

"I guess we're even now." I shrugged.

"No, we're not, but you did scare the hell out of me. Don't do it again."

"I already told you a million times…"

"I know, I know," my dad said seriously. I hated when he talked like that. It made him seem older than he looked. "It's going to take a while to really trust that. In time your mother and I will be able to know you wont run off and do something like that again." My dad pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "Did you have to put me on the other side of the fence? I thought it was going to take me forever to get Bella to trust that I wouldn't leave again. Now I know how she felt. Wondering where I was every time we weren't together…"

"Well, bright side?"

"I dare you," he grumbled, glaring at me over his hand.

"You should know how I feel. You should already know that I'm definitely not planning on doing that again." I waited for him to respond.

"Ok, you have a point."

"I'm right?"

"I didn't say that. I simply said you had a point. Go to school." He said quickly.

"You're not bringing me?"

My dad shook his head. "I have to get to work right now. The bus will be here soon."

"I'm not taking a bus to school!" I shrieked.

"And why not?" His half smile made me angrier. My tantrum was amusing him.

"They're gross! Wasn't riding coach on a plane for three hours torture enough? Are you trying to kill me?!"

"Renesmee, it's a school bus. Kids take them to school everyday."

"No way! I'm not getting on a bus."

"Ah, see, you spoil her too much. What's wrong, Little Miss Prissy is used to luxury? She doesn't want to get her expensive clothes full of nasty bus smell? Edward, you have to stop giving the girl every little thing she wants. She really is a little monster--a spoiled rich little monster." Jacob teased as he walked into the kitchen.

"I'm beginning to see that." My dad agreed.

"Take me to school!" I begged Jacob. "Please," I added my smile I knew he couldn't resist, and even batted my eyelashes.

"Edward, it's ok, I can take her." Jacob melted in front of me.

"Who's spoiling who, now?"

Jacob smiled and shrugged. "You know I cant tell her no."

"Neither can I." My dad shook his head and sighed. "Go," he said quickly.

"Yes!" I hissed. "Thanks Daddy!" I jumped up and ran around the table, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing his cheek. "See you when I get home."

"Yeah," he groaned. "If your mother asks, you took the bus. She seems to be on this kick where you're punishment is treating you like a normal human teenage girl."

"Trust me, I won't say a word." I promised and handed him his briefcase and even held the door open for him.

"Stop kissing up," he smiled and kissed the tip of my nose. I'll see you after school. Be at the hospital for your measurements. Grandpa will meet you in my office." My dad waved and disappeared.

"Why did you drop my mom off at school this morning?" I asked once I got my books together. "Not that I'm complaining." I added.

"I wanted the car today, and I would rather drive her car than Edward's. In return I had to promise you were not going to step foot in the car at all today. She said if I had to drive you anywhere it was to be the hospital because you are injured, and I would have had to do that in the Volvo. She's really taking this to an extreme, but that's Bella."

"I won't tell her." I repeated, just to make sure he knew I wasn't going to say anything.

"You better not. It will be both our heads if she found out. Then I'll have to take your father down with us."

"That would be funny to see, but trust me, my lips are sealed."

"And keep those thoughts out of her head too."

I nodded and swung my bag over my shoulder. "To the Ferrari!"

Jacob snorted behind me and mumbled something about money and our future. I hid my smile from him. He was actually thinking about our future together? I would rather have him than all the money that the Cullen family had.

I stood in the parking lot and watched Jacob drive away. Slowly I turned to face the front of the school. It felt like I haven't been here in years. "Ness!" Alyssa called as she ran over to me.

"Hey," I held my arms out and hugged her.

"I just saw Derek. He's on his way over."

"Really?" I asked. "How was he? Mad, sad, or happy?"

Alyssa laughed at me and hugged me again. "He's excited to see you."

"Excited," I repeated. "That's a good thing."

"Renesmee!" Derek yelled and picked up his pace when he saw me. I couldn't believe how happy I was to see him.

"Hi!" I called out. He knocked the breath out of me as he slammed into me--knocking both of us to the ground.

"Don't you ever, ever, do that to me again! I almost begged your father to take me with him, but I'm just a human." He shrugged.

"I'm so sorry, Derek, I was only thinking of myself at the time. I was hurt by what my father and Jacob thought of me when my mom was pregnant, but it's all straightened out. I won't do anything like that again. I swear."

"Good," he held me against him for a few seconds and rolled off of me. He stood up and took my hand to help me to my feet.

"So what did you do while you were going insane?"

"Missing you," I said sweetly.

"So, you were really staying with vampires that didn't hunt animals like your family does?"

I nodded. "Yup, and I even went hunting with them." I shuddered. Why was I telling him this?

"You drank a human's blood? Wow, that's big. Are you going to eat me now? Should I be worried? Do you like it better than animal blood?"

"Derek!" I stepped in front of him and covered his mouth with my hand. "Stop with the 21 questions. No, I didn't taste human blood. I came close… too close. My dad stopped me in time. I mean, just in time."

"How close?"

"Teeth were at his neck."

"Yup, that's close." Derek nodded and threw his arm across my shoulders. "Good to have you back, girl. I'd taken ya even if I knew you were all for drinking the humans. I'd have to wear a lot of turtle necks, but I'd still love ya."

"Gee, Derek, you sure know how to talk to a woman." I chuckled.

The bell rang and we rushed into our class. School went by rather smoothly. My friends were very welcoming. It felt like I never left. Derek never left my side whenever we were together.

I sat on the brick wall in front of the school and bounced my heels off it. Jacob should be here by now. I hope my mom didn't find out he brought me to school. "Hey, Cullen!" One of the seniors waved as he walked by me. I half raised me hand and waved confusingly. I had no idea who he was. He stopped and turned back to face me. "It's Gary, we danced at Derek and his brothers party a while back. You're a good dancer."

"Oh, wow, er, hi." I stammered.

"So, I was wondering… would you like to see a movie some time? Maybe catch a bite to eat?" He asked with a very cute half smile. I could only smile back.

"You wouldn't like what she eats." Jacob wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me off the wall.

"Oh, are you a vegan?" He asked me, ignoring the fact that Jacob was half standing in front of me.

"Something like that." Jacob snapped.

"I'm sorry, did she lose her voice or something?" Gary grumbled.

"No, she's just taken," Jacob informed him rather coldly. "By me."

"Then why didn't she tell me that in the first place?" Gary stepped closer to Jacob at the same time Jacob pushed me away from him. His arms started to shake and I wrapped m arms around his waist.

"Take me home, Jake." I begged.

Jacob took my hand and he stormed towards the car.

"He gets a little territorial," I shrugged. "Sorry, but thanks for the offer."

Gary forced a smile and found Derek's brother before walking towards their cars.

"Ness, if you think it's too early for us--" Jacob started to say, but his lips were suddenly busy. He was silent the whole way home and while I unpacked my book bag. He came up behind me and his voice sent chills through my body. I needed him to realize I wanted him and no one else.

Our lips moved together perfectly. His arms wound around my waist and crushed my body against his. I didn't realize we were backing up until my back hit the counter. Dishes clattered to the ground--I remembered I forgot to clean up my breakfast dishes. Jacob unwound his arms and clasped his hands on my hips, lifting me onto the counter. Was this it? It couldn't be. Jacob was so set on not being together like this until I was of age. His hands slid under my shirt and touched the bare skin of my back. I reached between us and pulled his shirt over his head. My hands traced the perfect lines of his chest and stomach. I never noticed how beautiful he was until this moment. I could feel Jacob take my shirt into his hands and we both jumped when the phone rang behind me. Jacob shook his head and stared at me wide-eyed as be backed away from me.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered.

I heard my mom's greeting on the answering machine and the beep for the person on the other line to leave a message. "Renesmee? Jacob?" My mom's voice echoed through the kitchen.

"Bella," Jacob choked on her name. His hands balled into fists and he pressed them to his temples. "You're too young, I'm so sorry."

"Someone pick up the phone! Renesmee, you're supposed to be at the hospital right now. Where are you?" I wanted to yell for her to be quiet. I was dealing with something a little more important than being measured to see if I was still growing.

"Jake, it's not your fault. I was an equal participant."

"I know, but you're so young. I can't do that to Bella."

"I swear if you're not home, Renesmee, you're grounded for another three weeks!"

I growled and picked to the phone. "I'm here!" I yelled into the phone.

"Why didn't you pick up the phone?" She asked, sounding annoyed.

"I was talking to Jacob." I wasn't lying. We were talking.

"Have Jacob bring you here, please. Carlisle is waiting."

"Okay," I said and hung up the phone before she could say anything else.

"I'll drop you off, but I'm not going anywhere near you're father." Jacob swallowed. I've never seen him nervous when he talked about my dad. I guess I could understand why. I slid off the counter and walked over to him.

"Don't be so hard on yourself. I'm a fifteen-year-old who just happens to be born ten years ago."

"I know you may think like that, but I still can't, Ness. We will wait until you're older."

"I can wait." I reached up on my toes and kissed his jaw. Jacob placed his hands on my hips once more, but this time he pushed me away from him.

"Let's go." He said and turned to walk out of the kitchen.

This was going to be a long few years.