EDDIE
The two hours I had alone with Chloe went way too fast. We were laughing and talking in the living room when I heard the door swing open.
"Chloe?" Renesmee's voice filled the house.
"In here," Chloe answered back and Renesmee came into the living room but before she could speak Jacob walked in behind her and pulled her over to the two seater couch.
"Stay with me," he whispered to her, I knew Chloe couldn't hear it but I could.
"Okay," Renesmee answered back and snuggled herself into Jacob's arms. I smiled at Jacob and mouthed thank you to him, he nodded with a smile. If Renesmee and Jacob were here that meant I could have a little bit longer with Chloe in my arms. Chloe and Renesmee began talking rapidly, about various things. Jacob and I mostly just watched the TV and would occasionally glance at each other if Renesmee and Chloe said something amusing or something that involved us. It was one of those moments that if someone were to look at it from the outside, we would look like four perfectly normal teenagers. It was a moment where we all felt like normal teenagers, we weren't vampires or werewolves, we were just normal, and human. That was until there was a knock at the door.
Jacob tightened his grip on Renesmee.
"Just stay here, adjust to his scent." Jacob whispered to her, she gulped and nodded. Renesmee hadn't seen Zac in months. My dad thought that maybe it was best to have her comfortable as possible, she used to have perfect control of her thirst but she simply hadn't had it tested recently.
My dad answered the door. There was a burst of 'hellos' and 'how are you's' between Zac, his parents, my mom, my dad and my grandparents. I felt Chloe shift in my arms. She was trying to stand up. I looked at her, furrowing my eyebrows in confusion.
"Let's just give him a minute before he finds out okay?" she whispered to me. I reluctantly nodded, letting her stand up from my lap. I watched her longingly as she sat down in one of the arm chairs.
"Let's go into the living room," I heard my dad say. This was it. Renesmee took in a large breath and let her back fall against Jacob's chest.
"It will be okay. I'm here," Jacob whispered in her ear as he ran his hand up and down her arm. Zac walked into the room and as soon as he saw Renesmee a smile spread across his face.
"Ness! Hey!" he said. As he stood there I took in his appearance. He had changed. Grown a little taller and his hair was a little longer, it was also lighter than it used to be.
"Hey!" Renesmee replied standing up from Jacob's lap. She reached forward and wrapped her arms around Zac. I watched as Jacob kept his eyes on Renesmee and his hand on the small of her back, ready to pull her away in a split second. Renesmee had her eyes closed. I noticed she wasn't breathing; she pulled away and slumped back into Jacob's lap. Jacob let out a sigh and secured his arms around her waist. Renesmee finally took a slow controlled breath. Zac then turned to me.
"Oh. Hi Eddie," he said. I knew he was thinking about our last encounter. It seemed like forever ago to me, but I knew in the reality it was only a few months.
"Hi Zac," I said, unable to hide the amusement in my voice. I let out a smile. He turned from me to Chloe. His face lit up, smiling widely at her. As if the last time they saw each other they hadn't just broken up but I knew with the magic of technology they had mostly worked it out.
"Hey Clo. It's good to see you again," he said.
"Hi," she said shyly. He just chuckled and went to sit in the arm chair in between me and Chloe. I felt an overwhelming urge to pull Chloe into me. To tell him she belonged to me and he had no chance in hell. But my better judgement won, and I stayed still. Zac's mom came in, talking rapidly to my grandma; they spoke all about England and her job and her husband's job. She sounded like she really enjoyed it. I took the opportunity to ask Zac about it.
"So Zac, how are you liking England?" I asked, unable to not smile. Chloe was watching me with careful eyes.
"Er… it's okay. I miss Washington though," he said.
"I bet," I said looking at Chloe and smiling at her.
"Yeah, the people are great though, they talk in cool accents," he said grinning and looking over at Renesmee. "Remember that girl in the fifth grade that came from England?" he asked. Renesmee nodded. "Imagine having a school just full of people like her, it's awesome." He grinned, she smiled at him.
"I'm glad you like it," she said to him, speaking for the first time.
"Yeah it's cool. I wish you were there with me though. It would be so much fun," he said.
"I know, I'm sorry," Renesmee said.
"It's okay," he replied and smiled. "So are you guys on summer vacation now?" he asked Renesmee and Chloe. They nodded. "Yeah me too. I was so happy when my mom said we were coming back to visit family. I missed you guys," he said and looking to Chloe. I narrowed my eyes at him; Chloe looked away from Zac, avoiding his gaze.
"Oh I've made pasta carbonara for dinner. I hope you like it. Renesmee assured me you like a lot of pastas." My grandmother said to Zac and his parents.
"Oh yes, thank you ever so much. That will be lovely," his mom answered.
"Good."
Most people made their way out of the living room then and into the kitchen. Renesmee, Jacob, Chloe, Zac and I stayed in the living room.
"So Chloe… has your mom finally cracked?" He asked. I felt a wave of jealousy as she smiled at him. They spoke a lot over the internet and she had obviously told him her moms opinion on the time she spends here. I forced myself to calm down; it was pathetic to get jealous and second guess her love for me. She was allowed to have friends.
"Yeah she did. About a week ago," she answered. Zac laughed and nodded.
"Maybe you should remind her that I don't live in the country anymore. Maybe then she'll let you off a little," he said smiling; she smiled back timidly and looked down at her hands. I knew she was uncomfortable; all I wanted to do was go over and hold her. Make sure she knew I was here.
"Anyway I'm going to the bathroom. I'll be right back," Zac said standing up from the couch and walking out the room. This was my chance, as soon as he stepped into the hall; I made my way quickly over to Chloe. Pulling her into my arms, she sighed and wrapped her arms around my back.
I know you're uncomfortable but it will be okay soon. I placed in her head. She nodded against my chest. Want me to stay with you? I asked. She shook her head.
"It's okay," she said pulling back from my chest. I smiled at her and leant forward placing a kiss on her forehead.
"I love you," I whispered low. Only Renesmee and Jacob could have heard it. Although I had my back to them I knew that Renesmee would be smiling widely right now.
"Love you too," she answered. She didn't have the control to say it as quietly as I had. I heard Zac coming back towards the living room. I quickly kissed Chloe's forehead again and left her standing in the middle of the room. Zac walked in and took his place again. Chloe also slumped back into the chair. She glanced over at me over Zac's head. I mouthed I love you to her again and she smiled.
"So I see you two are still together," Zac said to Renesmee and Jacob. Renesmee looked away from Chloe to Zac and nodded with a smile.
"Of course."
"Huh, I kinda wished you and Liam would work it out," he replied. Renesmee narrowed her eyes at him, and Jacob pulled his attention away from Renesmee's hair to look at him. Renesmee's hand slipped from her lap to Jacob's leg. She patted it lightly and kept it in contact with him.
"No. We don't talk," she said to him, I could hear in her voice her fighting to remain calm.
"Shame, you two were cute."
"Jacob and Nessie are cuter," Chloe said with a smile. Renesmee smiled back at her. "Seriously, they're like a match made in heaven," she said laughing.
"Are they now? Cuter than us?" he asked raising his eyebrows. It had caught Chloe off guard and she stumbled over her words.
"Erm… err… ye-yes." She said not looking at him. Zac laughed, I hated that he was making Chloe uncomfortable. Why was he bothering bringing up these things?
"So you replaced me yet?" he asked her.
"What?" Chloe asked looking at him. I looked over to Renesmee who was watching them intently, her face tight with anger.
"You got a new boyfriend yet?" he asked and looked briefly at me. I just grinned widely; his eyebrows came together in confusion before he turned back to Chloe. I was hoping my smile would make him realise but it seemed he wanted the answer from Chloe.
"Erm… erm…" she said, not wanting to answer.
"I don't see how it's any of your business to be honest," Jacob said, saving the day. Zac looked up at him.
"She's my best friend. I was just wondering," he answered innocently.
"Used to be," Jacob muttered. I knew Zac didn't hear it but I still let out a small chuckle. Chloe looked at me in confusion; I shook my head, mouthing 'later' to her.
"Right," Jacob said and looked at Chloe sitting fidgeting with her hands.
"I'll be right back," she said suddenly standing up and walking out the room. Renesmee leapt off of Jacob's lap, following her. Chloe and Renesmee went into the bathroom down the hall. If I didn't have such perfect hearing I wouldn't have heard their conversation but I did. Chloe began crying. I immediately wanted to get up and comfort her but Jacob caught my eye and shook his head.
"Ness…" she sobbed. Renesmee hugged her and Chloe's voice was muffled by Renesmee chest. "I didn't know Zac would b-bring it up so much. If I tell him he'll, he'll get mad." She said.
"Chloe, why does it matter if Zac knows about you and Eddie? He lives in England. Yeah he'll probably be mad but you don't belong to him anymore. Even when you were with him your heart belonged to Eddie. There is nothing Zac can do. Eddie can take care of himself and you for that matter. Don't act so careful around him. It really isn't important," Renesmee assured her.
"But Eddie is just going to tease him and Zac will be mad and tonight will be ruined," she said, her tears stopping.
"No it won't. Stop worrying," Renesmee said soothingly. "If my little brother teases him I'll tell him off," she said. Chloe laughed slightly.
Well there goes that plan.
"So I'm thinking about talking to Chloe. Maybe making the us thing work," Zac said pulling me back into the room.
"What?" Jacob asked surprised.
"I mean I can be here for the summer and then when we go back to school we can talk over the internet and the phone and stuff. I think I still love her, and the way she smiled at me before I think she still has feelings for me too." He said smiling. I began to feel the anger inside of me. He was so wrong.
"I don't think that's what the smile meant dude," Jacob said. I was grateful he was trying to sway Zac's decisions.
"Then why didn't she tell me she had a boyfriend. She's single, so I can at least try."
"I don't think that's why she hesitated. Maybe she hesitated because she didn't want to tell you that she maybe… does have a boyfriend."
"She does?" Zac asked, disappointed. Jacob shrugged. He turned to me. "Do you know who it is?" he asked. I opened my mouth to lie but Chloe answered for me.
"It's Eddie," she said. Both Zac and I looked at her in shock.
"Eddies… your new boyfriend?" he asked. Chloe nodded. "I knew it!" he said standing up. "You were after her the minute I broke up with her. I knew there was something going on!" he said to me.
"Okay… for one she broke up with you. And two, she always belonged to me, you were just in the way." I replied standing up.
"Did you cheat on me with him?" Zac asked turning to Chloe standing by the door. I was surprised that he was still pretty calm about this.
"No Zac. I didn't cheat on you. I would never have done that to you. I did care about you." She said. I moved closer to her.
"But you cared about him too?" he asked accusingly.
"No Zac. I loved him," she replied proudly. I smiled at her, feeling proud she admitted it in front of him.
"You loved him? You had been with me for months but you didn't love me. You weren't even with him and you loved him? How does that work Chloe?" he asked. "Does he even know you like I do?" He said and turned to look at me. "What's her favourite colour?" I sighed at his pettiness but decided to play along.
"Purple."
"Who's her favourite singer?"
"She doesn't have one."
"When's her birthday?"
"April 17th."
"Where was she born?"
"Denver, Colorado."
"Who was her first kiss?"
"You were," I answered unwillingly.
"What happened to her dad?"
"He… died?" I asked reluctantly, I turned to Chloe. We had never actually talked about her father.
"Wrong," Zac said with a smug smile on this face.
"Oh well done, you found something that I hadn't got round to telling him yet. Why is it such a big victory? I love him Zac. More than anything in this entire world. You just can't stand the fact that I never loved you!" Chloe replied. I smiled at her, I felt proud of her for standing up to him. I moved over to her and took her hand in mine.
"Look Chloe I'm not mad or anything, I just want to know he's right for you, that he'll take care of you," he said.
"He does and I've never been happier. I am sorry that things didn't work out with us but things have for me." She answered carefully. Zac nodded.
"She's a lot to handle," he said to me with a smile. I smiled back.
"Oh I know," I replied. He laughed and went to sit back down in the chair. I could see he was trying to drop the conversation. I pulled Chloe over to where I was sitting and she sat down next to me, her hand still in mine.
"Can I ask how long exactly?" he turned to us. I shrugged. It felt like forever that I had loved her.
"About two months," Chloe answered. Zac nodded and turned back to the TV that Renesmee had just turned on. I saw her watching us with careful eyes, Jacob was too but he wasn't so obvious about it.
The night went well. That was until about ten pm. I had escaped to my room to 'go to the bathroom' and was waiting the appropriate time to go back down. When I finally did, I found Chloe and Zac gone from the living room. I raised my eyebrows at Renesmee.
"Outside," she answered. I nodded and walked out the room. I walked slowly to the back door and I saw their silhouettes as I reached the handle of the door, I opened it. Zac had his arm around Chloe's back; he was leaning towards her to kiss her on the cheek. I didn't realise I had such a jealous streak until now. Maybe it was the fact he was her ex, I didn't know. I cleared my throat. Practically burning with fury at the door. They both spun around, Chloe blushing vigorously and Zac just grinned at me. I made my way over to Chloe snatching her away.
"Eddie! Ow." She said trying to pull her arm out of my grasp.
"Get off her!" Zac shouted trying to pry my hand from Chloe's arm. I snarled at him and knocked him backwards slightly, I didn't hit him hard but he still fell onto the floor. "Chloe!" he shouted towards her. I loosened my grip on her arm. I didn't mean to hurt her, I held out my hand so Zac couldn't come closer. "Get away from her!" he screamed.
"Zac! Stop it. It's fine," Chloe said. We had an audience now. Renesmee, Jacob, my dad and my mom had all come out.
"But you said ow. He was hurting you!" he said back.
"She's fine," I hissed at him.
"Has he hurt you before?" he asked Chloe.
"No! It didn't really hurt, I was just surprised," Chloe defended me.
"He has you wrapped around his little finger doesn't he?" he asked then turned to my dad. "How do you let your brother hurt her?" he asked.
"Eddie isn't hurting her. I wouldn't allow it," my dad answered. Zac narrowed his eyes at him and walked up to Chloe. I slipped my hand down to meet hers, taking it tightly in my grasp but not too tightly to hurt her.
"If he ever hurts you, call me and I'll come save you," he whispered. If I was human I wouldn't have heard it, but of course I did. I squeezed her hand slightly and Zac walked back into the house. I wasn't expecting what happened next. I was expecting Chloe to be mad at me for reacting that way, but she dropped my hand and put her arms around my waist hugging me. I hugged her back and kissed her head.
"I'm sorry," I said, she shook her head.
"Don't worry about it," she answered and pulled away. I took her arm lightly in my hand.
"Did I hurt you?" I asked, petrified of the answer.
"Not really," she said, I pulled her sleeve up to look where I had gripped her. It was slightly red but not bruised. I sighed.
"I'm sorry."
"I'm okay. I promise," she replied. I hated myself for acting like that. I guess the jealously really was an issue with me.
"Seeing him so close to you... just… I don't know where I get it from, I'm sorry," I answered.
"I do." My mom said, I looked up at her. Both my mom and Jacob both pointed to my father. My dad chuckled and I smiled slightly, it was weird thinking my dad was once jealous of Jacob spending so much time with my mom. I saw Renesmee roll her eyes and tighten her hand on Jacob. I knew she still had trouble thinking about our parents and Jacob's past.
"Thanks dad," I murmured sarcastically and turned back to Chloe.
"It's okay." She said and stretched up onto her tip toes to peck my lips. "I forgive you." She replied. I didn't know why I didn't feel happier. Her forgiving me wasn't the only thing I wanted to hear. Renesmee leant forward and touched Chloe's arm. I watched her smile and place her hands on my face.
"I love you Eddie," she said and kissed me again. I smiled against her lips. "Only you," she whispered.
That's what I needed to hear.