Nessie

The waiting is unbearable. Mom doesn't know exactly what time Jake and Daddy should arrive, but she promises it will be at some point today. After hunting with Mom there has not been much to do. I finished my homework with very little effort on my part. It seems my parents home schooled me too well. I'm already leagues above my peers.

Come dinner time the whole family gathers to watch me eat. I haven't felt this awkward since I was still just learning to eat with silverware. I sit at the table alone and wait for Mom to bring me my meal. Aunt Alice and Rosalie stand a few feet back and listen to the sounds coming from upstairs where the blood is evidently stored. Grandpa and Grandma do the same from the doorway. Only my uncles seem at ease as they lounge on the counter-tops.

Mom slips into the room with a large glass filled to the brim with the crimson liquid. The smell hits me first. It's like smelling a drug to an addict. Immediately my mouth starts to water. I have forgotten how much more potent blood smells when it is no longer in the body.

"Now Renesmee, we want you to drink this slowly. If you give into your thirst too much, you might have a hard time at school tomorrow. Can you agree to only sip this?"

I nod because it is the answer the family wants. In reality, I am not so sure of my answer. Mom places the cup on the table in front of me and waits. I pick it up slowly, wanting to prove myself worthy of the task at hand. Inhaling deeply, I peer around the room. The tension is thick. I want to chug this blood down.

I raise the cup to my lips and allow only a small portion of the contents to slide into my mouth. The blood tastes almost sweet. It's the most amazing tasting thing I have ever experienced. How could I have forgotten what this is like? It's blissfully perfect.

I take another drink. And another. And another. When it is gone I peer up at my mother wanting more. My stomach growls audibly. I need more. Mom takes the cup and leaves to refill it.

"That smells good," Emmett chuckles from near the window. "Does it taste as great as it smells?"

"You know it," I reply with my own silly grin. I feel better than I have in a long time. It's like the blood is revitalizing me. I feel alive for the first time in a while. Mom is back with another full glass. This one I drink even slower, savoring each little sip. I never thought it would be so easy to refrain from chugging. I want to taste all of it though. It's better that way.

Before long, I have had eight cups and the family cuts me off. I want more, but know they are right. I do have to go to school tomorrow and the last thing I need is an overwhelming urge to massacre the school. The whole excitement of dinner caused me to completely forget about Dad and Jake. Unfortunately, once I'm done eating, the anxiety returns.

Emmett puts a movie in and agrees to watch it with me as a distraction. To be honest, it doesn't work. Every time the wind blows, I peer toward the window in hopes of seeing one pale figure and one giant wolf. Each time they aren't there, my heart breaks a little.

Finally, around nine, I notice Emmett peering out the window. I look around and find the rest of the family heading out the door. Dad and Jake must be close enough for them to hear. I leap from the couch and jump out the window so I don't have to wait for others to exit. Once in the chilly outdoor air, I listen as hard as I can. At first, I hear nothing. And then I hear it-four paws crunching against the forest floor. Soon I can hear his heart pounding in his sturdy chest.

The bushes nearby rustle and my dad steps out from the thick forests. I find my heart beating faster as I wait for my Jacob to come. I can no longer hear his paws. He must be phasing somewhere. Mom is over to Dad in a flash. She lodges herself into his chest and kisses his neck gently. Dad gets all mushy and looks into her eyes longingly. It's one of their looks that make me blush and look away.

Dad breaks the contact and runs toward me. In a quick motion he pulls me to his cold chest and holds me there tightly. "Renesmee," he sighs into my hair as he plants a kiss on my forehead. And then it happens. Jacob steps out from the bushes, his bare chest illuminated by the moon above. It only takes one second for me to realize that this is what I have been waiting for. He is what I have been missing.

I push free from my dad's tight grip and take three steps toward Jacob. He stands still, staring at me as if he recognizes me from somewhere, but can't remember where. Our eyes lock and I see the slightest bit of moisture in his. A solitary tear runs down my cheek. At the same time our bodies react. It's like we are magnets, pulled together by some type of force.

I run. He runs. And then I am in his wonderful arms. My arms clasp tightly around his neck and I press my forehead into his shoulder. I breathe in his scent only now realizing how much I have missed him. For the first time I realize how wonderful Jacob's muscular back really is. My stomach erupts into a nervous frenzy when Jacob runs his hand down my spine, stopping only centimeters from the top of my low-rise jeans.

"Damnit Nessie. I have missed you," Jacob murmurs. The sound of his deep voice sends another shot of nerves straight to my stomach.

"I've missed you too," I promise when I catch my breath. He sighs when he hears my voice. It sounds so different from any other sound I have ever heard him make. I find myself blushing in spite of myself. Whatever Jacob sees from behind my back causes him to set me back on my feet. I don't want to lose contact with him so I take his giant hand in mine like I used to when I was little.

We walk back to the house slowly. I want to hang on as long as I can. I have never felt this much relief and I am not looking forward to losing the sensation. Jake squeezes my hand tight once before letting go when we enter the house behind my parents. Immediately I miss the contact, but I know it is necessary. My dad is sending Jacob death glares for reasons I will never understand.

Dad leads us into the living room so we can catch up. Jacob sits next to me on the couch so that are legs are close enough to feel the heat resonating from them. It is enough to distract me from the questions Dad asks. I figure out pretty quickly that Mom has her shield over me because Dad doesn't seem to know what is distracting me.

I tell Dad and Jake all about school. I tell them about Lizzie and all the other kids who make fun of me. Jake shakes a little when he finds out what they said about me. I place my hand on his knee to sooth him. It works. Dad groans from the loveseat nearby. I don't know what his problem is tonight, but he seems on edge.

When I am done explaining what has been occurring in my life, I ask about Volterra. Strategically, Dad insists that I need some sleep. He is right though. I have been stifling yawns this whole time. "Can Jake tuck me in?" I ask because it is the only way I can get a moment alone with him. It sounds so juvenile, but it is my only option.

Dad seems hesitant at first. Yet another weird thing he has down tonight. Mom steps in and agrees that will be ok. But before we leave I notice both parents looking at Jacob with the stink eye. I wonder what happened in Volterra to betray Jacob's trust.

What's with them? I ask Jake with my hand on his elbow as we walk down the steps. He shrugs and chuckles.

"Wow, Ness. Your room is awesome." The way he says Ness causes my heart to beat a little faster. I flush when he looks at me curiously because he heard it.

"Grandma decorated it," I remark as I open my closet searching for some pajamas. I close the door behind me so Jake can't see me change. I pull out a new pair that I have yet to try on. The top is a pink spaghetti-strap top. The shorts match. I slide it over my head and listen to the wonderful sounds of Jake breathing as he paces the room. I toss my curly hair into a messy bun and step out from the closet.

I cannot describe the look on Jake's face when he sees the pajamas. It's like he is looking into my soul or something. And his eyes darken a little. The heat rises up my neck again. The weird butterfly sensation returns, but this time a little lower than usual. It's a sensation I have never experienced, but I find I like it.

Jake clears his voice and tells me I better actually get to sleep. I slide under my covers and pat the edge of the bed for Jacob to sit on. He hesitates slightly, but gives in and sits. "Don't ever leave me again, Jacob," I command.

"I don't ever want to Nessie. Believe me. But I will do whatever I have to do to keep you safe."

"Why do you do it?" I ask. Lately I have been more curious than ever before. Certain aspects of my life just don't make sense.

"Protect you?" I nod and Jacob sighs. "Because I love you and you're my best friend."

"I know that. I want to know why you ever gave me a chance. I mean Mom and Dad are vampires. You're a werewolf. Shouldn't you like hate them?"

"Nessie," he sighs with anguish in his voice. His tone shocks me. "I can't answer this right now. I'm sorry."

"Will you explain it to me sometime?" I probe wanting him to promise to tell whatever secret he is keeping from me. Jacob's dark eyes find mine and hold me entranced.

"You know I will," he admits. "I love you Nessie. Goodnight."

"Love you too Jacob," I murmur. He leans down and presses his lips firmly on my forehead. I am surprised when they linger for an extra second longer than he has ever done before. When he stands to leave I once again notice how amazingly attractive my Jacob's body is.

Jacob

When I go upstairs the whole family stares me down with angry glares. I'm not sure whether or not my thoughts are shielded so I take extra precautions to keep my thoughts only on G rated topics. Carlisle pulls me aside and gives me the keys to my new home.

"It is about 4 miles south of here. You will find it pretty easily I am sure. Bella ran the route today so you can just trace her scent. We will see you tomorrow."

I thank Grandpa Vamp and leave the house before I slip up. As soon as I am out of Edward's range I allow my mind to retrace everything that has happened since I got home. As much as I try to avoid the thoughts, my mind keeps running back to the way Nessie looked in her pajamas. Her breasts, so much bigger than I remember, almost caused me to take her right then and there. And when she was hugging me outside. It was like my heart finally felt whole again. Her body against mine is exactly where I want it forever.

I don't know why Edward and Bella are acting like Nessie is still a child. She obviously doesn't look it. But more than that, she is smarter than her peers. And there is no way I will ever be able to forget what I smelled when her heart picked up and she blushed. The scent was a burst of something forbidden. Arousal. I let my mind play with the word. Is it possible that Nessie is aroused by me? Does she even know what arousal is?

These are the thoughts that keep me up all night. My new house is small perfect for me. Alice stoked my closet with all new shorts and even a few t-shirts. I am surprised to find my fridge fully stocked as well. Even with the food, my mind cannot forget Nessie. I'm starting to wonder if I can keep my promise to Bella.