BELLA
The past month has gone surprising smoothly. Emma returned home the next day and returned to school less than a week later. Renesmee and Chloe had become closer than ever. Chloe came to our house nearly every day and wasn't in any way scared of us; she even admitted to Renesmee she thinks of us as her second family. Which of course Esme was delighted to hear; she loved having another mouth to feed and another member of her family.
All the demon and witch stuff had been forgotten and we were a family again. Eddie had learnt more about his kind, he knew why he was here, and the creation of the moon pool children was to create a way of vampires being able to reproduce like humans, only it wasn't a successful experiment and to create a moon pool child was pretty much impossible unless the vampires had conceived a child beforehand, which of course we knew already. He learnt that for the magic of the moon pool to work that there has to be a moon pool child in existence, somewhere in the world. This also meant there was more of his kind, even if it was only one other. He learnt that he could live without any sleep, but it did make him uncomfortable and very moody. Surviving on blood was the only way to sustain his thirst and hunger and that the moon pool children reach full growth after two to three years. In all honesty the book didn't tell us much more than we already knew but I think it was good for Eddie to read it, to know exactly who he was.
Eddie has also kept his promise. He –so far- has stayed away from Chloe as much as he could. I could see Chloe hurting every time he blanked her but we knew the probable outcome if they ever got together. Chloe tried to move on, she accepted Zac's proposal and they were now going out on regular dates. Renesmee was delighted, although they were both her best friends and if they ever broke up it would probably ruin their little circle, she was happy for them. Renesmee and her crush with Jacob had also simmered down. I didn't know if she thought that it was never going to happen or if she was just simply not letting it get to her but she didn't act so love struck when she was with him anymore. She was treating him like she treated Eddie, her brother. I didn't know what Jacob thought about this, or even if he had noticed but one day I may just ask him about it.
"Bye mom," Renesmee said and leant up to kiss my cheek. Renesmee was leaving for school.
"Bye sweetie," I said and watched her walk out the door. I watched as her hips swung ever so slightly as she walked, how her waist had formed and her body curved and how the tips of her hair reached the top of her legs. Her hair was now loose curls, they still hung in ringlets but they were much softer now. She wasn't a child anymore.
"She's still our little girl," Edward said from behind me.
"I know," I said without turning around.
"She's a young woman now Bella, but I know how you're feeling," I let out a small laugh and turned around to face him.
"I remember when it was you that reminisced the sadness of her growing up." I said and he laughed.
"I've realised that there is no point in wishing she was a baby again, it's not going to happen. She's grown up into a beautiful, amazing, wonderful young woman and I can't be any more proud of her." He said taking me in his arms as he did. I couldn't help but smile.
"She isn't 7 yet."
"No she isn't," he replied. I sighed deeply. Feeling nostalgic.
"Mom!" Eddie shouted. I pulled away from Edward to look at my son standing right by us.
"I'm going out, that ok?" he asked. I nodded.
"Where are you going?" I asked. He shrugged.
"I was going to go and see Jacob."
"Jacob?" I asked shocked. "Why?" Eddie and Jacob were friends, but they didn't particularly go out of their way to talk to each other, they weren't best friends and they didn't hang out with each other. So I was slightly confused with Eddie wanting to see him.
"Just want to talk to him," he said.
"Alright, sure," I said.
"Thanks momma," he said with a smile, kissed my cheek and ran out the door. I turned to Edward, he just shrugged.
"Shame I can't read his mind isn't it?" he asked. I laughed and took his hand.
"Come on let's get out of here," I said to him. He looked at me.
"Okaaaay," he said, confusion was thick in his voice. I smiled widely at him and he couldn't help but smile back his beautiful crooked smile.
He ran with me until we reached our place. The one place we had never brought anyone to except Renesmee, our sanctuary. Our meadow. All the purple and blue flowers were in full bloom and the sun was beaming down. I stepped out still holding Edward's hand, I tilted my head back absorbing the warm heat on my face. Edward stepped with me, dropping my hand and taking a step closer to me. He stood with his chest against my side, wrapping his arms around my front and back. He kissed my temple.
"I love you," he whispered. I smiled and turned around in his embrace to face him.
"I love you," I said still smiling. He smiled back and leant forward. Ever so slightly he kissed me, it wasn't forceful, it was gentle and feather light. He pulled away and looked into my eyes, smiling again. Again he leant forward kissing me gently. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders gripping his hair in my hands; forcing him to stay where he was. I forced him to kiss me properly, forcefully like he usually did; he responded just how I wanted.
Edward and I returned to the house after a blissful afternoon in our sanctuary. Renesmee was sitting in the living room with Chloe, Zac and a boy I didn't recognise. They were laughing.
"Afternoon," I said.
"Oh hi Bella!" Renesmee said, I smiled at her.
"Who is this?" I asked with a smile, motioning to the young boy I hadn't met yet.
"This is Liam. He's… erm… a friend," Renesmee said.
"Hello Liam, I'm Bella, Renesmee's sister," I said to the young boy, he had very dark hair, he seemed tall –even though he was sitting down- he was slim and had quite an angelic face.
"Nice to meet you," he said.
"This is my boyfriend Edward," I said to him, he smiled. I felt Edward slip the ring off my left finger as he put his left hand in his pocket.
"Nice to meet you Edward."
"And you Liam," Edward said to him.
"Anyway we'll leave you kids to your fun," I said and took Edwards hand, we walked out and into the kitchen, Esme was the preparing food. Edward slipped my ring back on my finger as we sat down on the island.
"What's with the party?" I asked.
"Oh, I hope you don't mind, you weren't around so Renesmee asked me if it was okay to bring her friends round, I said yes. Is that ok?" Esme asked me.
"Oh yes its fine, I was just wondering who said she could that's all," I said lightly.
"Well she asked for them to come in, I said it was okay and that I would make them dinner. They've just been talking and laughing in the living room, I find it so entertaining to watch. I'm so glad she has such wonderful friends. However I'm sure that boy Liam will give Jacob a run for his money," Esme said rinsing pasta in the sink.
"What do you mean?" I asked and turned to Edward he let out a small, forced smile, took my hand and pulled me out of the kitchen, he stood at the door of the living room and pushed it open a fraction. Then took a step back.
"Watch them for a bit," he whispered. I looked through the gap. Zac had his arm around Chloe's shoulders. Chloe had her hand intertwined with Zac's hand that was over her shoulder. Renesmee was sitting on the same couch as Liam leaning with her back against his shoulder. I watched a little longer as they laughed about something one of their teachers did, I watched as Liam looked at Renesmee who was laughing. His eyes glistened as he watched her and she'd turn to look at him the same way.
I took a step back and closed the door.
"Huh," I muttered.
"Mhmm," Edward murmured. "I don't like the way he looks at my daughter," he said taking my hand and leading me back into the kitchen.
"So are they dating? What happened to her liking Jacob? And why hasn't she told me she has a boyfriend?" I asked, my voice rising. Edward shook his head.
"They're not dating… yet," he said a growl erupting in his throat. I laughed and kissed his lips lightly. I pulled away to look at Esme. She was smiling at us. "She's known him for a while; they were acquaintances for a bit, never knowing much about each other, only their names. Then when Zac befriended him about a month ago, he asked him if he wanted to hang out with him and the girls, he said yes, and now the four of them are as thick as thieves." Edward said to me.
"Oh. Does Jacob now about this?" I asked. Edward shook his head. "Ah."
"Eddie knows though. I think he's distracting him, befriended him to keep him from finding out. It's inevitable though. Jacob will find out, he'll be hurt, act like he's happy for her, and then pretend it doesn't mean anything to him. Of course I know different. I know I've never been Jacob's best friend but I know how he thinks, how he tries to act tough when he's hurt." He said to me.
"Why is Eddie protecting him though?"
"Because he doesn't approve of his sister, he believes Jacob is the only one for her. He already considers him his brother… even if he doesn't show it. He knows it's meant to happen."
"Wow." I said placing my hands on the table. Obviously he had told Edward about this. "And Renesmee? Why is she distancing herself from Jacob?" I asked.
"He likes him, a lot. She just thinks it isn't time yet. She doesn't want to push him; she doesn't even believe he thinks of her that way. Which of course I know he does, just a little bit. He tries to hide it but it's a mans instinct when he sees a beautiful girl to have the feelings Jacob does towards her. He's trying to suppress them, to please us and to give Renesmee space but it's hard for him. Renesmee is taking his distance the wrong way; she thinks he's trying to get away from her, so she's trying to get over it. Renesmee may only be physically fifteen but she acts and even dresses much older. She doesn't look fifteen to him."
"Why didn't I know about this?" I asked, slightly annoyed at Edward from keeping it from me.
"I don't like to repeat what I've heard in people's thoughts, its invading their privacy. I hear lots of things that are never important." He shrugged. I glared at him for a while, could he not tell that this was important?
"I'm home!" I heard Eddie shout from the door. Then another set of laughs from the living room. Eddie came into the kitchen and sat down next to me. "Mother, father, grandmother," he said nodding to each of us, I laughed.
"Edward," I nodded with a smile.
"So Renesmee has her friends round does she?" he asked.
"Yup," I said to him.
"Hmm," he murmured. Moments later Renesmee, Chloe, Liam and Zac came into the room, Renesmee and Chloe were laughing. When they caught sight of us they stopped. Chloe pulled her hand out of Zac's and Renesmee moved from Liam's side to Chloe's.
"Evening ladies and gents," Eddie greeted them.
"Hey Ed," Renesmee said.
"Hi," I heard Chloe's small voice. She was looking down but she brought herself to look up. Directly into Eddie's eyes. They stared at each other for only a second before Chloe looked down. But that second was so full of longing and sadness it made my heart swell.
"Dinner is almost ready. You could sit and wait. It will only take a few moments," Esme said to them.
"Ok!" Renesmee said and motioned for her friends to sit down. Edward, Eddie and I stood up to make room.
"I'm going to find something more interesting to do," Eddie said and walked out the room. I watched as Chloe took a peak over her shoulder as he walked out but Zac called her attention back with one of his little jokes.
It was nearly nine pm and Renesmee was still with her friends in the living room. Eddie had stayed in his room the entre night. I walked down the stairs when the front door opened.
"Hey Jake," I said.
"Hey Bells," he greeted me with a smile. He came over to me and pulled me into a hug.
"Love you too Jake," I laughed. He pulled away and smiled.
"Sorry, just feels like I haven't seen you in a while," he laughed. "I've been so busy with all the new wolves. Sam is having trouble controlling them. Two alphas is better than one. A lot of them need an alpha command to keep them in line."
"Its okay Jake," I said and smiled.
"Where is Renesmee?" he asked, just as he said her name four laughs erupted from the living room. He looked to me.
"Renesmee has friends over," I said simply.
"Chloe and Zac?" he asked.
"Yeah…. And her new friend," I said slowly.
"New friend?" he asked me. I nodded; he walked over to the living room door. "Who's the new boy?" he asked. He was trying to hide the hurt in his voice; however I knew him very well.
"His name is Liam." I said.
"Why is she sitting so close to him?" he asked, he was unable to hide the cracking in his voice now.
"Jake…" I said placing my hand on his arm.
"No. it's okay. I mean she's bound to have boyfriends right? She needs to let herself go a little right?" he asked turning to me. I nodded softly. "I mean I'm surprised Edward is okay with this," he chuckled. Only it wasn't a happy chuckle, it was a forced one.
"Jake, please."
"No, I gotta go. I'll see you later bells, tell Ness I said h- actually, don't bother," he said and ran out the door.
"Jake!" I called after him. He hadn't let me explain. Renesmee came to the door.
"Jacob was here?" she asked me. I turned to look at her and nodded sadly. "Where did he go?" she asked.
"I don't know," I said and turned to walk away. "Your friends need to leave soon," I said to her.
"Okay," she said watching me walk away
"Come on Ness," I heard Liam whisper to her, I looked back to see him take her hand and lead her back into the room.
"This is seriously messed up mom," Eddie said from the top of the stairs. I looked up the grand staircase to look at him
"I know son, but it's her decision."
"Why can't she see she's meant to be with Jacob?" he asked me, I shrugged.
"The head of a teenage girl is very confusing Eddie. She just needs to work through some things." I replied, he started descending the stair case.
"She's an idiot," he muttered and walked into the kitchen.
"Eddie don't say that, she's just figuring things out." I said to him sternly.
"That guy is a jerk, I read dad's mind as he read his. I don't like him," I frowned, I always imagined Edward being an over protective father, if there was something in Liam's mind that wasn't right, why was he permitting Renesmee to be anywhere near her?
"Because I don't want to push my daughter away from me, I don't want her to hate me," Edward said. I turned to look at him.
"You read-?"
"No. I just know you," he laughed.
"She would never hate you," I said. He shrugged.
"I would never permit it if I thought she was in danger. He's not a killer or a criminal; he's just a teenage boy. I trust my daughter will figure things out before it's too late," he said to me, walking closer. Huh, that was actually pretty smart of him.
"Why even bother? Can't we just tell her?" Eddie asked.
"No Eddie. She needs to make her own decision."
"She's doing it wrong." He snarled. I frowned at him.
"This isn't about Renesmee is it?" I asked.
"Of course it is," he said, trying to act shocked.
"You said you'd wait."
"I am," he snarled and went straight towards the stairs.
"Do not talk to your mother like that. Apologize Eddie."
"Sorry mom," he said to me but continued up the stairs.