Setting Dusk

by Renesmee's Theory

Love hurts. It can be a challenge. Love is a force and takes many forms. Love is crazy. Love is immortal. Love will test Renesmee & Jacob to their utmost limits. Follow Nessie's adventure of self-discovery and realization as she prepares to graduate high school with her friends but will she even make it to graduation with new threats? (Sequel to Dusk Horizon) RATED M {LEMONS}

53. Chapter 53: Persona Non Grata

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, just my own characters.

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Renesmee Cullen

This weekend has been nothing short of magical.

Jacob and I were on the last leg of our engagement weekend extravaganza getaway. The last day of pure newly engaged bliss before we head back to the real world.

Yesterday, Jake and I embarked on the ultimate sea adventure as we sailed the ocean on Esme's fancy Bayliner 3988 motor yacht.

According to Jacob, these motor yachts apparently went for a hefty price, ranging from $160 000-$220 000 in the market. He was like a kid on Christmas when he got to captain the boat.

The Bayliner 3988 was perfect for us. The vessel was spacious and comfortable which was perfectly suited for our adventures out in the tranquil open sea.

The yacht weighed close to 12,000 pounds and measured at 34'3 in length and 11' in width but Jake handled the vessel with effortlessness. The size was actually ideal for seamless navigation through the uncharted waters.

On our romantic boat ride, we enjoyed some breakfast on the yacht and just talked as we soaked in the sunrays and heard the waves of the sea break.

Then Jake found a fishing rod on the boat and decided to go impromptu fishing and caught some mackerel, codfish, salmon, sea bream and carp. Mid-fishing we saw a pod of dolphins swimming around us.

Watching my skipper Jake pilot the ship was another attractive sight I didn't know I needed to see in my life.

Jacob dressed up comfortably in a white linen dress shirt that he rolled up at the sleeves up to his elbow and left unbuttoned, showing off his chiseled abs and dark russet skin as the sun shone on him. He wore dark navy nylon trunks and a pair of flip flops which he discarded and resorted to going barefoot and he completed the look wearing a pair of black Tom Ford sunglass.

So stylish. So simple. So sexy.

I wore a pair of faded, ripped denim cut off shorts that were very snug to my lower torso. I wore a white, hollowed crochet knit sweater and a black, halter bikini underneath my sweater and shorts. I wore my bronze copper ringlets in a low ponytail and topped my head with a panama hat and slipped on some Maison Valentino sunnies to complete the getup.

I had my arms wrapped around his waist and rested my chin on his shoulder as he sailed the seas.

One thing about Jacob and I's relationship, our love language was physical touch. If our bodies weren't connected, we were not close enough. It was agony to be physically away from each other for even a few inches.

I felt home and whole when I was touching him.

"Do you wanna try?" Jake offered me as he kept his hands firmly gripping the steering wheel.

I smiled. "No, I like watching you sail." I told him.

He snorted. "My dad and I used to sail a lot on his boat when I was younger back when he was still a fisherman. He taught me how to boat," He reminisced fondly.

"And to fish," I joked. He chuckled. "You look like you're enjoying yourself there, Captain Skipper." I teased.

He glanced back down to me to plant his lips on my temple briefly.

"And I suppose that makes you my co-captain?" He mentioned.

I bit my lip as I looked up at him with a wide smile as I took a big whiff of his lovely, musky, manly scent before closing the small gap between our lips.

I was the first to depart from the gentle kiss, my lip gloss now smudging his full lips. I raised my hand to wipe away some of the residue.

He licked his lips. "Thanks for the glossy, cherry flavored lips," He remarked.

I giggled. "Sorry!" I said as I dropped my hands around his waist to run over to the cooling fridge to retrieve some drinks.

I came back and handed Jake a Jack Daniels light rum with grapefruit juice whilst I drank a pear and rose punch mocktail drink.

"Thanks," He replied, popping the top with his finger and proceeding to take a sip. "You still want to go hiking up the caves and cliffs?"

I nodded my head. "Yes, please!"

We took a detour to one of the caves up on the other side of the shore and threw our backpacks on and explored them for at least two hours. We then hiked up the mountains after that and traveled all the way up to the top of the cliffs overlooking the whole ocean.

I peeped down at the wavy water tides hitting the rocks.

"We should jump!" I told Jacob.

He looked at me like I was a lunatic.

"No chance," He scoffed as he adjusted his bag strap while he drank bottled sparkling water.

I rolled my eyes as I turned away from him then back at the swirling waters.

Forget it!

I'm jumping!

I hastily began shedding my backpack and clothes.

Thankfully, I left my engagement ring back at the house to not risk losing it out in the ocean. I valued that rock so much already. It was too precious to lose.

"What are you doing?" Jake's concern voice reached my ears.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" I laughed as I slipped my sweater off my body and went to unbutton my cut offs.

"No!" Jake commanded, authoritatively.

I stopped changing midway and glared back at my fiancé.

Did he just use his alpha voice on me?

"I'm sorry!" He quickly apologized. "I just don't think that's a good idea." He added.

"C'mon, Jake! It'll be fun! Nothing's gonna happen to you," I said.

"It's not me I'm worried about," He replied, his eyes remorseful as if something had happened to me.

"I think you're forgetting I'm part vampire," I reminded him as I strolled over to him.

He sighed, hesitantly.

I began laying soothing, lingering rubs against his thick, hard, strong forearm.

"It'll be fun," I expressed.

"I just don't have fond memories with cliff-diving," He said. "Did you know your mom almost died from diving off a cliff?"

Oh, yes! I have heard the story a million times.

My dad wouldn't stop retelling the story to me whenever he warned me about the dangers of playing too close to death.

The story is etched in my memory as I constantly hear my dad's concerned, fatherly tone of voice anytime I dared to do anything that was remotely living on the edge.

"Yes, Jake. I've heard the story before. But my mom lived to tell the tale, didn't she?" I joked.

He stared at me with a straight, unamused expression.

"Not funny, Ness." He said as our fingers played with each other before locking.

I sighed. "I seem to recall you and the pack cliff diving a lot back at La Push. Didn't seem to bother you then? Or is it because I'm a girl?" I teased, batting my eyes at him.

He pursed his lips. "No, Ness. It's because you're my imprint – no, my new fiancé and I very much would like to keep you in one piece and not return you with a cracked skull." He said.

"If anything happens to me, you will be there to rescue me." I assured him.

His lips curved slightly despite him trying to be serious.

He deliberated, glancing over my head to look at the tides. They were not strong. It was a calm noon day out.

"If I agree to this…We do it together, right?" He half-requested, half-demanded.

I grinned brightly, nodding my head as I rested my hands on his stomach and got up on my tiptoe to kiss his lips before backing up to resume slipping out of my clothes.

He sighed as he began peeling off his clothes until he was in just his trunks whereas I was just in my black bikini.

Jake and I took each other's hands, locking them tight as we slowly walked towards the edge of the cliff to assess the drop before glancing up at each other in synchronization.

"Ready?" I asked as we backed up to get more wingspan on the drop.

He smiled.

"On three?" I asked.

He nodded. "Three…Two…" We both said in unison as we trotted back several feet.

"One!" We both shouted at the same time before galloping and leaping forward and jumping off the cliff.

Our bodies were in the air for what felt like forever as we still kept firm hold over each other's hands.

Our bodies then contacted with the warm waters of the ocean and submerged deep into the blue saltwater, the friction causing both our hands to part briefly.

Jake and I opened our eyes underwater to see each other as we held our breaths.

I smiled as I swam my way towards him and threw my hands around his neck to draw him into a passionate, water-filled kiss. I felt his hands grip my waist as my legs involuntarily draped around his waist as the kiss deepened.

We departed to smile at each other once more.

You see! Nothing to worry about. I projected as I touched his cheek.

He rolled his eyes before pointing up to the surface, signaling we should swim back up.

As we emerged, I gasped for air and ran my fingers through my damp, darkened hair.

"Woo!" I whooped loudly. "That was awesome!"

Jake chuckled. "Yeah, it was!" He matched my energy.

We quickly went back up the mountains to retrieve our belongings, although this time with supernatural speed and agility as we climbed up the mountains instead of hiking up.

Jake and I got back on the boat and sailed back to the shores.

Thereafter, we strolled along the private beach hand-in-hand and barefoot, talking and laughing with each other as we cooled off.

The minutes bled into hours and soon enough, the sun began to set on the calm waters and we headed back to our beach abode to call it a day.

Later that evening, after cooking and eating the fish we caught for dinner, we hopped onto the couch and snuggled into each other to watch some Marvel movies together.

Jake and I loved watching movies together. We even dubbed our movie nights 'Friday Flick Night', even when we didn't watch movies on Fridays.

This was always a great bonding experience. My philosophy was this…If you can't enjoy watching movies with your man then he isn't the one for you.

The next day –which was today– would be our final day of pure bliss and freedom from the outside world for a while.

This weekend was everything I could ask for and so much more.

Playing house with Jake, pretending to be a married couple already was good practice for the real thing in a year and a half away.

Jake and I cleaned up the house early in the morning after breakfast then I proposed we both do some yoga and Pilates together. Let's just say, Jake wasn't a huge fan because of how much discomfort it caused his inflexible joints but he did it because of his immense love for me and for that I was grateful.

Jacob loved strength, cardiovascular and endurance training workouts so i.e. going to the gym to powerlift train like bench presses and deadlifting, calisthenics like pushups and pull-ups and even martial arts (to strengthen his core), hopping on the treadmill and bicycle, cross fit etc.

I, on the other hand, loved low-impact fitness workouts like yoga, peloton, jogging, and pilates.

I was certain when we got married I would put him through many mornings of yoga and Pilates.

Thenceforward we went surfing and wakeboarding out on the waters one more time.

It was fun.

It was exhilarating.

We traveled back to the beach house and took a shower (post-coitus) and packed our things around late afternoon.

"All set?" Jake asked me as he brought the last luggage to the door.

I nodded as I slipped my phone in the back pocket of my dark, slim fitting denim jeans and adjusted my flowy, floral pale blue crop top.

"I think so," I told him. "I don't want to leave," I said with a pout.

He smiled. "Yeah, me too."

"This was a fantabulous weekend, honey. Thank you so much!" I said as I stretched up on my wedges and planted a kiss on his lips.

He flew his arm around my back to pull me in deeper.

"Love you," He whispered against my lips as we briefly parted.

"Love you," I responded before kissing him one more time.

As we parted, we grabbed our belongings and headed out of the beach house and strolled up to Jake's car.

Subsequently, we left our utopic blissful weekend behind us as we drove off and headed back to the Cullen mansion to meet with my family who will surely want to congratulate us in person.

"Why am I nervous?" I expressed as I brought down the visor and flipped the mirror open.

"I don't know. Why are you nervous?" He asked as, gripping the steering.

I shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe of what everyone will say? How they'll react?"

He looked at me. "But you know how they'll react."

"I know the family will be supportive obviously. I'm just…I'm just worried about what my friends will think." I finally admitted.

"I'm sure they'll all be happy for you." He replied. "I mean, you don't have to tell all of them if you don't want to either."

I thought. I knew Alex would probably be happy for me even though she didn't really agree with marrying so young. She understood a love like Jacob and me because she had it with Seth.

That's why I was so excited for her to be my maid of honor. An imprint sister in arms.

Felicity was unpredictable. She knew Jacob and I were in love and she loved him but I don't think she knew the intensity of our relationship. She didn't know this wasn't some high school sweetheart romance with Jake. She didn't know about the imprint yet.

But I'd like to think she'd be supportive.

"I shouldn't be concerned. My friends will be happy for me," I affirmed, reassuring myself aloud.

"Totally," He responded. "It'll be fine,"

Jake's calming, comforting voice never failed to make my heart soar and relax.

I looked into the mirror as I applied some glossy, cherry red lipstick on my lips and ran my fingers through my long bronze locks that I half curled into soft, fluffy swirls and half-tied back in a semi-updo with flowing thick swirls knotted at the top. Soft, romantic tendrils framed my face.

"You look beautiful, by the way." He mentioned to me, sneaking a glimpse at me. "As if you don't always do every day,"

I smiled back at my romantic fiancé. I trailed my fingers along my open chest and re-centered my pendant – that had the Cullen family crest and the locket my mother gave me when I was younger hooked onto it.

I readjusted my engagement ring on my hand, still feeling the surrealism of the weight on my finger and relishing in the memory of Jake slipping it on me for the first time. What a night to remember.

Jake and I arrived at the main Cullen manor. The earthy landscape of the beautiful, sprawling Mediterranean Tuscan inspired three story mansion with a forestry, outdoorsy backdrop was inviting.

Jake parked his BMW Z4 in front of the large fifteen car garage.

"Doesn't look like a lot of the family are home," I stated as Jake turned the car off and opened the doors.

"Maybe they're out," He said as he flew the door open and slipped out.

I frowned. "That's weird! It's a Sunday." I told them.

Like many families around the world, Sunday was our family's rest day. Even Carlisle didn't work on Sundays unless he was on-call.

I hopped out of the vehicle and heard the click of the car lock thereafter. Puzzlement washed my face as I stood still.

This sort of feels…anticlimactic, don't you think?

I pursed my lips together as I looked on at the exterior of the home. My eyes skirted over the Italian cypress trees that enclosed the round driveway with the fountain as a centerpiece. Then I moved my eyes over to the large glass windows to see any movement.

It was quiet.

"What?" Jake sighed as he came to my side.

"Is it bad that I hoped we'd have the family waiting on the porch waiting to bombard us with congratulatory hugs and kisses?" I said, staring up at him.

He chuckled, slipping his car keys and wallet in his back pocket before taking my hand in his, intertwining our fingers together.

"C'mon," He said. "You worry too much,"

I rolled my eyes as I pouted and hummed in frustration as I clung my freehand onto his hand that was firmly gripping my other hand. I laid my head against his large arm.

"I guarantee you we'll find at least a couple of people in there who will shower us with all the congratulatory pleasantries we have been dreading all weekend long." He said, jokingly as we climbed up the cobblestone porch steps.

I giggled. "You're right," I said.

Jake went to open the mahogany, wooden door and flung it open.

As soon as we entered the house, we were met with a chorus of loud cheers and chants.

"Congratulations!" Many members of my family cheered from the entryway, everyone congregating around the massive staircase and by the open floor.

My heart leaped in palpitation at the startling well-wishing hails as I flinched and clutched my chest and closed my eyes whilst Jacob laughed at my reaction.

There was a large 'Happy Engagement, Jacob and Nessie' banner in wonderful calligraphy, dangling on the balcony of the staircase where I saw my uncles Jasper and Emmett standing, popping some confetti in the air.

"Congratulations to you and your shiny new ring! Oh, also to your wolf –fiancé!" Emmett boomed, blowing through a party horn.

Everyone laughed including Jake who rolled his eyes at my jesting uncle.

I was still trying to catch my breath.

"Oh my goodness! You all almost gave me a mini-heart attack," I yelped breathlessly as everyone chortled along.

"I guess everyone was here after all," Jake whispered to me as he pulled me to his side by the waist.

I giggled as I rested my hand on his chest before being met with a swarm of hugs from my family.

Grandma Esme was the first to gallop and cage me into one of her famous warm hugs.

"Oh! Nessie! My gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous granddaughter." She wept. "I can't even begin to express how happy I am for you!" She cooed ever so motherly and sweetly as she tightened her hug.

I couldn't help but melt into her loving arms as I returned the hug.

"You are going to make the most beautiful bride," Esme whispered on my shoulder.

"Aww! Granny!" I said. "You're gonna make me cry."

"Thank you," I added.

She exhaled a breath as we separated to smile at me before turning her attention to my hand and lifting it up as she held both of them.

"Let's see the ring!" She quickly examined. "Oh! It's so stunning!"

I smiled brightly. "Yes, it is. Jake designed it so…"

"He did well!" Esme laughed as her eyes landed onto my fiancé.

We drew away so that she could give Jacob the same warm, fuzzy hug.

"And Jake…Oh!" She expressed, tossing her arms around the large man. "Welcome to the family, officially!"

Jake instinctively enveloped his arms around her, drawing her in to deepen the heartfelt embrace. Even though he towered over her, he looked like a little boy receiving a swathing clasp from a maternal figure.

"Thank you so much, Es. It means a lot," Jake said sincerely with a big grin as they departed.

Esme smiled back, her lips quivering as she held back a lump in her throat before tenderly stroking Jake's cheek.

"Congratulations, you two." My grandfather followed soon after.

I threw my arms around him as I hugged him.

"Thanks, granddaddy!" I said.

As we departed, he stroked my chin caringly with his cold hand afore moving his focus to Jake as he extended a hand out to him.

"We couldn't be happier for you both, son." Carlisle uttered as he shook Jacob's hand and gave him a brief hug.

Jake smiled back.

"Okay! Okay! My turn!" We heard the loud, high-pitched voice of my jubilant, energetic petite aunt echo throughout the house.

Uh oh…

Alice!

Alice skipped over to us like little red riding hood in the woods and stomped her feet right in front of us as Carlisle and Esme stepped aside.

Her eyes immediately narrowed down to my hand.

"Lemme see the ring!" She said, lifting my hand up.

I looked up at Jake who shrugged his shoulders at me before obliging to her request.

She gasped.

"It looks beautiful on you, Nessie!" She expressed heartily.

"Don't act like you haven't seen it, Pix!" Jake teased.

She stuck her tongue out at him. "Of course I did, wolf! But I'm just admiring it on my niece's hand for the first time."

Jake sighed, rolling his eyes as he pressed his lips onto my hair.

"Yup! Just as I suspected! The rose gold band is tailor made to complement your skin tone and your warm-toned copper hair. The halo center diamond with the smaller diamonds on the side are a neat touch." She ranted rapidly.

I chuckled as I admired the ring along with her.

"The emerald diamonds surrounding central diamond bring out the warm, earthy color of your eyes and ooh! Blinding diamonds! Yes! The 3.5 carat round cut was an excellent choice – It's kismet!" She rambled as she giggled to herself. "—Jacob, you did amazing work! Well done! I am proud,"

I laughed as I looked up at my wolf who looked unfazed by her antics and eccentric jubilation.

"Gee –Thank you, Alice! It means so much to me to know you approve. Your approval was totally my top concern." He said, half-teasingly and half-sarcastically. "Whew! I can sleep better tonight!"

Alice groused at Jacob.

I heard the cackles of Jacob's best friends Embry, Seth, Quil and even Mike – I suppose we were acting human today. I noticed Leah was holding Mike's hand as they each held a drink in their hands.

Jacob noticed them and his face lit up as he departed from me to receive them.

"Hey!" He exclaimed. "Quil? Whoa –I didn't see you guys there!"

The boys all roared loudly and began chanting some wolf howls as they pounced over to Jacob before attacking him with bear hugs and playful punches to the stomach.

"Did you think I was gonna miss my best bud's engagement?" Quil said, ruffling Jake's hair as he tussled him.

Jacob laughed as they stopped wrestling and gave each other a tight brotherly hug and pat on the back before they departed.

"Congrats, buddy!" Mike chuckled, gripping his neck.

Embry swooped in and climbed on Jake's back.

"You're getting hitched, dude!" Embry whooped. "Woo!"

I shook my head.

Boys will be boys.

It was so lovely to see his pack so supportive of him. In a way, they were his family and held a special place in his life that not even my family could fill.

"Okay! We'll need to start wedding prep ASAP –" Alice began ranting, but thankfully my uncle Jasper came to the rescue.

"Let's give the girl a chance to let the engagement sink in before you drive her insane with centerpieces and floral arrangements." He teased.

Alice pouted. "But, Jazz, she had a whole weekend –"

Uncle Jasper ignored her. "I am thrilled for you, sweetie." He said, kissing my cheek briefly before taking a rambling Alice away from the scene so that the rest of my family could congratulate me.

Rosalie skipped over to me with Emmett and Carter on her tail – the little boy comfortably perched up on his shoulders.

"My Renesmee!" She greeted as she pulled me into a tight embrace. "You have questionable taste in men –"

"I heard that!" Jake shouted back.

I snickered.

"But a wedding is so exciting! We needed this truly. The Hale-Cullen household could not be more thrilled for you, baby." She said as she linked arms with Emmett.

"My gorgeous niece is getting married! I have never felt older than I do now – Goddamn! Now I know how Eddie and Big Poppa feel." He stated.

My breathing hitched at the mention of my dad. I searched for him but I couldn't see him or my mother.

Now I was worried.

I was hoping they would be the first eyes I saw as I walked in.

"Kid, promise me when you meet a chick you wanna pop the question to that she's not gonna make me feel old." He said, looking up at his son.

I giggled.

"What's a wedding like?" Carter asked inquisitively.

Oh right! He hadn't been to a wedding! Heck, he hadn't heard of a wedding before until today.

"Oh, honey. Remember those romance comedies your aunts and I love watching at night? Where the man and woman wear formal, fancy outfits and show their friends and family how much they love each other?" Rosalie explained, caressing his bare leg that was dangling over Emmett's shoulder.

Carter nodded his head.

"That's a wedding. When two people decide to celebrate their love and mark their union in front of their nearest and dearests in sacred matrimony called a marriage ceremony." She elaborated further.

I smiled. "It's super fun! You're gonna love it!" I told him as I took his hand.

He beamed back widely, showing off his tiny yet strong white, porcelain teeth.

"Awesome! Congrats, Nessie!" He said.

"Aww! Thank you, CJ!" I expressed warmly as I got on my tip toe to plant a small kiss on his temple and cheek.

I gyrated my head to Rosalie and embedded my hand against her ice cold cheek.

How would you feel having Carter be my pageboy at our wedding? I propelled into her head.

Her eyes lit up as her face melted at the thought. Probably imagining little Carter in a bowtie and tuxedo.

"I would be honored," Aunt Rose answered back kindly.

Unbeknownst to him, Emmett noticed this exchange and cocked his eyebrow in confusion, an expression that matched Carter too.

I chuckled. "I just asked if it was okay if Carter was our pageboy at our wedding."

Emmett shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't mind." He said. "What do you say, little man?" He quizzed his son.

Carter looked back down at his parents then back me.

"I have no idea what a pageboy is but I hope there's ice-cream involved." He joked.

We all laughed.

"Okay – I think some one's hungry." Rose stated. "Let's get you something to eat, baby."

"Hey, have you seen my parents?" I asked them.

Rose nodded. "They're in the lounge. They wanted to be the last people you saw."

I smiled. That was sweet of them.

I watched the cute little family walk away and out of the room.

I glanced back at Jake who caught my eyes and smiled back before mouthing 'Are you okay?' to which I waggled my head up and down in response.

As I began sauntering my way to the lounge, I was again startled as my best friend Alex Mazzola jumped and wheeled in front of me out of the blue.

I did not expect to see her here!

I gasped. "Alex?" I exclaimed in shock.

We stared at each other for a while before both screaming with matched enthusiasm.

"Ah!" We both squealed, scurrying like little leapfrogs to each other and locking hands as we came into contact with each other.

"You're engaged!" Alex squawked.

I grinned. "Yup! It actually happened!"

"Were you shocked?" She asked me.

I nodded.

"Tell me everything!" She said, her hands still holding onto mine. "Whoa – Not everything!"

My cheeks reddened in a hot flush.

"For a second I didn't think it was actually gonna happen. We had dinner at this fancy restaurant and I didn't go in having expectations y'know, but obviously – I did!" I chuckled.

"Anyway, it didn't happen there. So then we went to this lovely beach house in the midpoint between Santa Barbara and Oakland Woods. And then we were out on the beach, talking and boom he proposed. It was romantic, unexpected and intimate. I was literally at loss for words."

Alex smiled throughout my retelling of the events.

"Omigosh," She mused. "Okay! Okay! Show me the ring!"

I giggled like a giddy schoolgirl as I trotted my feet on the spot and hoisted my hand up in the air.

Alex gasped before she and I both squealed again in synchronization.

"Wow!" She gulped.

I gnawed on my lip. "I know!"

"I mean – Wow!" She said speechlessly.

Same, bestie! "I know!"

"Goddamn – That's one helluva rock, girl!" She pointed out. "It's not too loud or too gaudy– it's so simple. So elegant. So pretty. So delicate. Just like you."

"Aw! Thanks, Lexie." I said to my best friend as I dropped my hand to admire the sparkly diamond.

"I still can't believe it! It's so weird having this on my finger." I uttered, my voice so much higher than normal.

"You're absolutely glowing with happiness, girl." She said proudly. "You're so lucky!"

"I know," I told her,

"Not just with the ring. I mean look at him," She said, gesturing to Jake.

I spun my head around to catch Jacob staring at me as he conversed with Emmett, Embry and Quil. He was looking on with such pride, love and adoration. And his smile was just pure elation.

"I have never seen a man look at someone the way Jacob always looks at you, Ness. He worships the ground you walk on. He is infatuated with you –Like he loves you big time, babe!" She chuckled.

Being reminded of Jacob's immense love for me was something I never got tired of hearing from those closest to us who get to watch our relationship blossom every day. I knew Jake loved me with every fiber of his being.

He was my protector. He was my anchor. He was my lover. He was my mate. He was my true love. He was the captain of my soul. He was my heart. He was my best friend. He was my husband…to be.

The funny thing was, I felt all those same feelings for him as well. And I hoped I would never lose those feelings.

"You've got a real keeper." Alex added.

I nodded. "Yeah, I do." I said turning back to her.

"Thank you for being here, it means the world to me." I said as I went in to give her a warm hug.

She returned it with just the same amount of love and vigor before we pulled away to look at each other.

"I'm going to check up on Seth and get something to drink. You want something?" She asked.

I shook my head. "I'm actually looking for my parents."

She nodded. "They're in the lounge. They're waiting for you."

I smiled as I watched her walk away and disappear into the other room where everyone else was gathered as she went to congratulate Jacob in a friendly hug.

I was happy they had such a good friendship as well.

I inhaled a heavy breath as I began moseying my way into the lounge where I heard my parents' yakking and nattering in their usual married, parental couple behavior.

I heard my father chuckle at my thoughts.

"Hey," I waved my hand apprehensively as I entered the room, tautly descending the small two steps down to the longue.

Edward and Bella looked up from their canoodling on the couch to acknowledge my presence.

"Hi," I whispered again, anxiously gnawing my bottom lip as I fiddled my thumbs together.

I didn't know why I was so anxious to speak to my parents post-engagement. I knew they would be happy for me. Or at least that's what I believed.

So why was I so uncertain?

I guess I just valued their opinion above anyone else in this house. If I didn't have their complete support and backing, I don't know how I would go through with this.

Edward sighed, looking at me with raised eyes as he listened to my inner turmoil.

"Come over here, peanut." He called, waving his hand towards me.

I mustered up a small smile, moving a piece of tendril hair behind my ear before skipping over to my parents who made room for me in between them as I collapsed right into the open space.

I sighed as I decided to speak first.

"I'm engaged!" I waved my hands in the air and widened my mouth.

Bella smiled down at me. "We can see that."

My smile fell and my mouth closed as I pouted my lip and dropped my hands.

"Are you guys not happy?" I asked.

They were silent for a while before erupting in soft, chuckles.

I furrowed my eyebrows and narrowed my eyes at both of them.

"I'm glad you find this amusing," I muttered sadly.

Bella guffawed. "You're so sweet, baby girl." She said, laying her hand on top of my head and stroking my hair.

I looked at my mom.

What was so funny?

I did not get the inside joke.

"Don't mind us, sweetheart." Edward said to me. "We were just reminiscing about you just now,"

"We were talking about the time your pet hamster died and you cried for a whole week." Mom stated.

I remembered that day.

It was traumatizing.

My first pet –a hamster I named after Hermes, the Greek god of thieves because he loved storing his nuts away as if he was stealing them.

"Losing him was your first heartbreak," Mom said.

"And your first loss and grieving experience," Dad added. "Remember your eulogy for him?"

I chuckled softly, recalling the embarrassingly cringe –but what I thought was sweet at the time – eulogy I gave to him at his funeral in the backyard.

" Hermes the Hamster was my friend and cuddle buddy. Hermes, who was taken from us too soon in an unfortunate choking hazard that left my parents and Jakey in stiches and me in floods of tears.

Hermes stole his last meal from my hand. The last time we would ever touch.

He may have been the size of my daddy's ear, but his heart was as big as a God!

Hermes leaves behind no rodent relatives, as he was the only hamster that's ever lived in my apartment. Rest in peace, buddy!" I recited the eulogy that was etched in my memory for all these years.

Edward scoffed whilst Bella cooed and clapped her hands together.

"What a sweet obituary!" Mom exclaimed.

"No, it was embarrassing – I was like six." I giggled.

Technically I was around a year and a half, almost two when that happened.

"But that was an experience you needed to have at that crucial time in your development." Edward said. "You went on to have many other emotionally shocking firsts from there on and you've dealt with each one of them with the same amount of maturity as you did then."

I looked at him.

Did he think so?

"I do," He said with a smile.

"Well – I mean, that didn't mean you didn't go through your fair share of outbursts and tantrums for any kid your age." Bella teased. "You drove us insane in your preteens,"

"Oh, don't remind me, Bells!" Edward interjected.

I rolled my eyes, sighing but smiling regardless.

"Possibly the worst Nessie era, I think." Bella mocked. "Oh wait – No! Wasn't the worst era when she first got her period?"

I gasped, glaring at my mom. "Mom!"

How could she say that?

Bella looked at me and winked at me. "In all seriousness, you've always been way too mature for your age. We didn't really have to raise you because you've always been somewhat independent."

Edward agreed. "Yup. It was scary – It still is scary to know that you're a grown woman right now. But your mother was right, we are your parents but we never raised you for long because you were always advancing at such a rapid rate."

I smiled sympathetically. "I still needed guidance from you though. I still do." I told them.

They nodded.

"Adulthood is not easy, Ness. It's a scary world out there so we're glad to know we helped prepare you better for what's to come ahead for you. But we have no doubt you'll be able to endure any trials you face." Edward said.

"Yeah, you're a strong, independent yet feminine woman. That's a rarity these days in the age of girlbosses." Bella said.

"You dreamed big! You wanted to explore the world, to learn new things, experience new things, take control of your own destiny but you also had room for love, friendship and family." Bella expressed.

I smiled back at her, my throat clenching and tightening as it began to break.

"And Jacob…" My mother continued. "He's always been right by your side, cheering you on and protecting you from things that got in the way of getting you to where you are today. He loves you, baby. Just like Alex said, everyone can see the love he has for you."

"…And your mother and I wouldn't have been comfortable handing you off to him in his care if we didn't know that he loved you as much as he did. He will protect you. And you will protect each other." Edward told me.

I turned to him, my eyes beginning to glisten as the brimmed with tears.

They already gave Jacob their blessing to marry me but they're now in a way giving me their blessing to…to let them go.

Edward's lips quivered as he heard my thoughts and I felt him lay a finger on my cheek to catch the tear that trickled down.

"Don't cry, baby." Dad's voice broke.

I had never seen my dad get this emotional before.

I felt so bad for all the stress I put him through all these years.

I knew he was being protective over me.

"I only ever wanted you to be happy," He replied.

I held onto his hand tightly. "I am happy. I've always been happy, thanks to you guys." I said to both of them.

Bella smiled back. "We're so excited for you and your engagement!" She said, changing the subject. "Are you ready for married life?"

I sighed. "I think I am, yeah!" I said. "I know this is pretty early and all –"

"Hey! Your dad married me when I was only eighteen. I don't judge." Bella expressed.

I nodded. "Your best friend's going to be your son-in-law," I reminded my mom.

Her eyes bulged. "Oh, crap!"

I laughed.

"Come in, Jacob!" My dad suddenly called.

I looked up to see Jacob leaning against the edge of the pillar beam as he came into focus. He had his arms crossed against his chest, showing off his bulging biceps through his black printed T-shirt and large bare forearms.

"Well, isn't this a cozy family affair." He uttered with his usual, loud Jakey laugh.

Bella hopped off the sofa and ran over to pull Jake into a powerful squeezing hug that almost turned him red in its intensity.

"Ok – Closing air circulation here! Can't. Breathe." He croaked. "Help!" He looked at me.

I giggled as my dad tossed his arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer under him. I laid my head against his chest as we observed the exchange between my mother and my fiancé.

Bella finally let him go and Jake gasped for air.

"Whew!" Jake exhaled.

"Thanks for bringing my daughter back in one piece!" Bella said to him. "I thought you would break her this weekend."

I closed my eyes and shook my head as my cheeks flushed in pure mortification.

I could not believe my mother just said that.

Why did she have to phrase it like that?

She was worse than my dad right now!

Edward made a noise somewhere between a groan and a growl. I could also hear him grind his teeth, and I swear he almost sounded like he was making a feral snarl.

Uh oh!

My thoughts are clear and clean! I swear! I exclaimed in my head.

Edward shook his head and transfixed his eyes on Jake.

Ah! So his thoughts were not so innocent.

Darn you, mother!

"Mom!" I scolded my mother.

She then realized. "Oh – Goodness! No! That came out horribly. You know what I meant!" She stuttered, anxiously.

I sighed as I buried my head in my hands.

It was bad enough that my mother misspoke, but now my dad had to contend with Jake's unwanted naughty thoughts about our engagement weekend.

I suppose it wasn't completely unwanted. I was glad that he thought of our weekend together so fondly because it was a great, fun, romantic, love-filled weekend –

My dad cleared his throat and nudged me.

Oops!

This was not the time!

This exchange ultimately left the entire room awkward for a few more seconds before Jake broke it by suggesting to all of us, to head back to the rest of the family congregation that was happening outside in the backyard.

The family decided to have an impromptu barbecue since the house was bristled with food eating people.

The Cullen family was fortunate we had so many members in the family who actually enjoyed eating (and needed) food for sustenance in order to help keep up our human appearances.

Especially since we had Mike over.

This was his first time interacting with the wider family. Being that he has become one of Jacob's closest friends –and now, Leah's boyfriend – it made sense to gradually begin acclimating him to the wider family.

Dad said he isn't suspicious about any of us yet and thinks we're just one regular family which was a great sign.

The story with him was that I was a college student who took some classes at high school due to missing credit because of my homeschooling history.

So Mike believed I was a nineteen year old girl.

Alex acted as my college friend who was dating Seth.

Jake and I were currently sitting on one of the patio synthetic rattan chairs with Alice sitting right across from us on the other synthetic rattan chair, her wedding binder open wide.

"Do you guys want an engagement party?" She asked.

"I thought this was the engagement party?" I asked.

She laughed. "Oh, no, no, no! Tonight was just a celebration of the proposal. The engagement party is a totally different affair! I'll add that onto the list to-do!" She murmured the last part to herself as she flipped through her binder.

My stomach churned nervously.

I didn't even think that we would need an engagement party. But I was open to having one and it did definitely sound exciting, I will admit.

"So, have you guys thought about when you want to get married?" She began.

"Soon," I replied. "But not too soon – I want to get high school out of the way and have a bit of college done. Jake also wants to properly get his work done, finish his degree and get his business off the ground and we also wanted to be able to give people time to schedule their diaries ahead of time to plan being present at the wedding so we were thinking probably a year and a half from now?"

Alice nodded her head as she jotted something down before gasping as a vision came into her head.

"Oh – Okay! So it looks like that vision is set in stone." She said to herself.

I frowned.

Alice explained. "I just saw a vision of the a series of dates opening up in my diary by next year,"

I nodded.

I see.

Alice couldn't see Jake and me as properly as she does humans and vampires, simply because she hasn't been a shapeshifter or hybrid before.

However, she has learned to see us by looking at the decisions of the family that involved us in some way or another in order to decipher what our futures might look like.

It gave her one nasty headache but that's one way she was able to see our future.

How our future affected those around us.

"What season would you like the wedding to be?" Alice asked us.

I adjusted myself comfortably on Jacob's secure, warm lap as he had his head leaning back onto the cushion and arms on either side of the arm, his left hand tapping on my thigh gently.

"Jake and I were thinking a spring wedding?" I said, glancing back at Jake with a nod.

He smiled back. "Yeah, we don't wanna have a winter wedding."

Alice nodded as she jotted something else down.

"Winter weddings are definitely a no-go! Peak wedding season typically is around summertime and early fall. So you're looking at June, September and October being the most sought after dates to get married. This is simply because the weather is mild and the aesthetic is better but there is no right or wrong time to get married." She said with a laugh.

I smiled back, glancing down at Jake who smiled at me.

This conversation was already beginning to stress me out.

I thought a spring wedding was a favorite for so many couples!

Was a spring wedding not a good time to get married?

Should I go with the more popular choices?

But I liked the idea of a spring wedding though?

Argh!

As if my actions were directly hardwired into his thoughts, Jake soon engulfed his arms me in a comforting hold. I melted in his arms as I subsequently felt my nerves easing a bit.

"Springtime weddings are great because of the flowers – Gosh! Everything feels so alive in the springtime! If floral arrangements are important to you, then let's definitely go for it." She said.

I grinned widely. "That's kind of why we picked it. Because of the symbolism of our relationship and journey together continuing to blossom and bloom. Cheesy, I know." I said.

Jake snickered.

"No–No, I think it's sweet!" Alice replied. "Have any specific months in mind?"

I shook my head. "I haven't thought that far."

"Can I make a suggestion?" She asked.

"Shoot," Jake sighed as he roamed his hand up and down my thigh.

"May is an amazing time to get married because it's on the cusp of summertime and the weather is often good, and you also have an abundance of flowers in season. So you can have a colorful vibrant wedding with tons of flowers available to you without having to fly them in from out of town. That's if you don't plan on having a destination wedding, are you?"

Crap! Now I had to think about a location as well?

Oh, gosh!

I shook my head. "No. I don't know…We haven't thought about it." I said.

Jake interjected. "We did just get engaged two days ago, Alice."

Alice rolled her eyes and closed her binder. "Tell you what, why don't we table this discussion for another day once we've all got a clear head and the excitement simmers down a bit?"

Excellent suggestion!

I don't think I could take another question I had no answer to right this second.

"Thank you," Jacob sighed in relief.

Alice hummed back as she got up, gave us both a wink and then disappeared back into the house.

I exhaled a shaky breath as I collapsed onto his chest.

"We will not be able to escape her, won't we?" I asked rhetorically.

He laughed, planting a kiss on my shoulder and caressing me with his fingers.

"We can always euthanize her if she gets too crazy!" He suggested.

I gasped, smacking his arm which erupted a laugh to escape his lips as he draped his arms around my stomach. I placed my hands on his forearms.

"We can handle Alice." He assured me, hopefully. "It's good that we've got a whole year to plan this shindig."

I chuckled. "Shindig?"

"Oh, is that not what cool Gen Z kids are saying nowadays?" He asked.

I shook my head, giggling. "No! Not at all!"

He sighed. "Ah–I guess I need to brush up on my lingo."

"You make it sound like you're ancient! You're only twenty-five, mister!" I reminded him.

"Your dad is ancient," He pointed out.

I laughed. That he was.

Jake's phone buzzed in his pocket and he quickly moved my weight to the side to retrieve his phone before pulling his phone out to answer it.

"Oh, it's my sister," He stated, answering the phone and putting it on speaker. "Hey, Rach!"

Rachel's loud squeal escaped the phone which caused both Jake and I to wince st the impact the loudness had on our sensitive, supernatural ears.

"Ah! Rachel!" Jake moaned.

"What is this I hear that you're engaged?" Rachel demanded with excitement in her voice.

"Lemme guess...Dad told you?" Jake laughed.

"No – Paul did! You told Paul before you told me?" Rachel shouted. "Jacob – When did you think to tell me you were engaged?

I sniggered as I looked at Jake's terrified and slightly annoyed expression as his oldest sister scolded him.

"Rach – Calm down! This literally just happened a few days ago!" He told her. "Nessie's here, by the way!"

"Omigish! Ness! Hey! Congratulations!!" She spoke expeditiously before squealing again.

I giggled. "Good to hear from you too, Rach!" I said, matching her tempo.

"But Jacob! Why am I the last person to know the things that go on in your life? What does freaking Colin Littlesea have on you that he hears this news before your blood sister!"

"Colin knows? Goddammit... First if all, Rachel! Dad is a blabber mouth, you know that by now. He probably told half the tribe already." Jake said. "Second of all, Colin is our cousin. He is blood family!"

"He's not your sister!" Rachel yelped.

Jake rolled his eyes, sighing. "Listen, Rachel. I think Sam or Paul probably told Jared and spread it to the rest of the pack or something. I guarantee you, I was meaning to tell you soon."

"Whatever, Jake!" She expressed but I could tell it was pure innocent banter between siblings.

"I'm so happy for you too! We need to video chat first time tomorrow! I wanna see the ring, okay Ness?" Rachel added.

I nodded. "Definitely!"

"Good! And welcome to the family. You need to come visit again soon or maybe we can stop by to see you guys some time."

"Thank you so much!" I said. "And that sounds like a great plan. We can show you. Bring Willy along as well! Missing my little nephew," I answered my new sister-in-law.

"Perfect!" Rachel said. "Paul – Jake and Nessie are on the phone!"

"Awesome! Hey, Jake and Ness! Congrats on the engagement!" I heard the muffled background voice of Paul call back.

"Yeah, thanks. Listen, Rachel. This is has been fun." Jake said, cupping my thigh in his hand.

I smiled as I twirled his glossy hair as I had my arm buried behind his head.

"We've got guests over right now and I–" He continued.

"We'll talk again tomorrow," Rachel interrupted. "Love you guys! Goodnight!"

"Goodnight," Both Jake and I replied in unison before we hung up the call.

Jake exhaled a frustrated sigh.

"Siblings," He said.

I chuckled. "She loves you, baby."

He shrugged. "I know," He said, shoving his phone back into his pocket.

He then brought his arms again to wrap around my bare waist as he looked up at me, staring at my lips before leaning in to kiss them softly.

We heard the eruptions of laughter coming from behind us.

I drifted from his lips to move my eyes to scan the vicinity, seeing our family and friends chatting.

Our friends and some of our vampire family were all either sitting around the wooden picnic table, sitting on camp chairs around the fire or standing just conversing with each other.

Quil was laughing with Seth and Alex after she made a joke.

The boys loved Alex. Alex got along with boys more than she did girls. I think Felicity, Rea and I were her true genuine best girlfriends and the rest were all guys.

Her kind of humor and personality was very much an acquired taste for a lot of girls at school.

In other words, she can make girls cry easily because she was so blunt and rarely was filtered. She'll speak her mind, especially if she didn't like you.

That's why many girls feared her. She wasn't a pushover nor was she worshiped by sycophantic teenagers.

She was however a hoot with many of Seth's friends. The pack loved her - both here and back in Forks.

I found it refreshing though and it's why I think our friendship worked so well. She balanced out my personality well as I learned things from her and vice versa. We fed off each other.

"How about Quil being here?" I nudged Jake.

Jake looked at me with shocked eyes. "I can't believe it – I did not expect him to be here. He traveled all the way here just to congratulate us on our engagement,"

I smiled. Quil was always sweet.

"It was very sweet of him. Also sweet of my parents to fly him out here," I replied.

"Yeah," Jake said. "Your parents offered to fly both Quil and Leah back since Leah's stay here is ending soon."

"When are they leaving?"

He shrugged. "In about a week?"

I nodded. "I'm gonna miss Leah. Looks like Mike will too," I said, knowingly as I gestured to the cute couple laughing as they ate their meal at the table a few benches away from the main group.

I caught both of them playing footsies underneath table.

How adorable!

Leah needed this.

She deserved happiness in her life.

Jake and I decided to join the rest of the party in the fun conversational exchanges.

Jake seemed to be having a fun chat, laughing with his best friends Quil, Embry, Leah and Seth as they drank beer around the fire whilst I sat with Alex and Leah on the rattan chairs.

The vampires all disappeared back into the house, leaving all the rest of the humans to mingle –minus Carter who had to be put to bed as his curfew hit.

"You and Mike seem to be hitting it off great?" I said to her encouragingly.

She blushed slightly. "He's a good guy – A genuinely good guy which is rare these days."

Alex agreed. "I know, right! All my exes have been class A jerks so imagine my surprise when Seth stumbled into my life and completely altered my brain chemistry,"

Leah and I guffawed hysterically.

"Some days, I wondered when the penny would drop. Would the mask slip? But no, Mike's been nothing but sweet and patient with me." Leah expressed. "Especially after the hard time I gave him. Bless him,"

This was the first time Leah had opened up freely to me in this way. I liked it.

"Why?" I asked.

She exhaled a breath as she took a sip of her glass of white wine.

"It's just been difficult to open up to him – I don't know… I was afraid I might get hurt by him or I could end up hurting him. All of which could still be true but I don't care anymore. I am just letting all the feelings take control over me and letting my guard down." She spoke.

"That's good!" I said.

"Totally!" Alex agreed. "As women – We tend to think building walls up is a way to protect ourselves which in some cases is true but, sometimes it's good to let someone you can trust into your head for a while. You never know, it could be the most cathartic and therapeutic thing you always asked for."

Leah clicked her fingers. "Exactly, what my therapist told me!"

I smiled. Leah and Alex seemed to get along well which was something Alex dreaded not happening before meeting her. Two potential sisters-in-law butting heads would not have been good for family gatherings so it was great to see the ice was broken.

"Anyway, what's interesting in the world of teenagehood? Gosh. I don't miss that era," Leah joked as she crossed her leg over.

Alex and I chuckled as we glanced back at each other.

"It's been one helluva ride so far, I'm not gonna lie. It's been busy and hectic. We've got a lot of senior year rituals to get through and preparing for our finals coming up in a few months." I said.

"Not to mention we've got our own personal shit to deal through," Alex muttered with a sigh as she drank a sip of her drink.

Leah frowned in confusion.

"Supernatural stuff," I clued her in.

"Ah!" She hummed.

"Yup! Drama!" Alex sighed. "But hey, Nessie here's got so many things to look forward to. A wedding, graduation and college in the space of one year!"

My eyes bulged as she put it in perspective.

This was gonna be a crazy year!

"Any top college picks?" Leah asked, curiously.

I bit my lip. "A few but I recently just got accepted into my number one college pick – Columbia University!"

Alex wheezed as she almost did a spit take of her drink.

"Get out of here!" She shrieked. I laughed. "You got in?!"

I smiled. "I got an email notice on Friday. I still need the formal acceptance letter to come through in the mail before I tell my family but yeah," I said, grinning nervously.

"That's incredible," Leah remarked.

"It's exciting, yes." I whispered back sheepishly.

"And what about you, Alex?" Leah asked her brother's girlfriend.

"Boston Conservatory is where I'm hoping to go for dance school but it's not entirely up to me. My dad wants me to go to UCLA to study a law degree." She said.

"I'm a paralegal. So if you ever need tips just shout." Leah said. "I think you'd make a great lawyer," She said.

I thought about it. Yeah, Alex would make a pretty decent lawyer.

She was a very outspoken advocate on social issues and was aware of the political climate in our country. She was quick witted. She was sharp tongued. She was great at interrogation. She never cracked under pressure. She also had an impeccable poker face.

"I suppose but my passion is dancing." She said.

I nodded.

It was best to do what you love, not something society and people expected you to do.

"We'll see," Alex added.

Leah smiled back politely before drinking the final drop of her wine and standing up from the chair.

"Well – I'm going to go back to Mike. I think I'm going to call it a night." She announced. "It's been great chatting to you both,"

Alex and I stood up along with her as she gathered her things, throwing Mike's black hoodie that was dangling on the chair over her arm.

"Yes! It's been great. Thank you so much for coming," I said, going in for a hug.

She gladly returned it. "Congratulations again, Ness – You and Jake make each other so happy."

I smiled on her shoulder as I rubbed her back soothingly before we departed so that she could extend a hug to Alex.

"Hopefully these assholes don't get too wasted tonight or else one of you needs to be a designated driver to drop them off at the apartment building." She said.

I laughed, glancing back at the guys who laughed and boomed loudly.

"I don't think we mind." I said. "They can sleepover if they have to. I don't think Esme would mind,"

Leah nodded. "Goodnight," She expressed farewell before sauntering over to Mike who immediately gave her a kiss.

Mike and Leah announced their departure and left the house soon after.

As Alex and I continued to chat, I felt a pair of large arms engulf me and hoist me in the air.

I squealed as I titled my head to see Embry pulling me in a sneaky bear hug.

"Baby Fang!" He called, using the petname he gave me when I was younger. "So happy for you!" He mentioned tipsily as he sat me down.

I giggled as I turned around and looked up at the tall, lean and slender wolf.

"Thanks, Em." I chortled. "How much did you have to drink?"

He counted on his fingers before giving up and shrugging his shoulders in inebriated defeat.

He was totally wiped out. Intoxicated. Smashed. Sloshed. Tanked up. Plastered. Blitzed.

Frankly, all the adjectives to describe a drunk person, Embry was that.

It took a lot to get a shapeshifter drunk because their healing often quickly wears off the alcohol out of their system but if they drink a lot of it in one go then they end up drunk by the end of it, but they didn't have a hangover though since they'd already recover from it.

Drunk wolves had the same effect to alcohol regular humans in the sense that it clouded their innervisions.

They don't get alcohol poisoning so they don't throw up their waste but rather, a long sleep should do the trick as it helps remove the drunkenness completely out of their system.

Embry grinned widely at me and then back at Alex.

"Oh, hey, Alex!" He said, incoherently. "Did anybody ever tell you that you look like Pocahontas?" He said.

I laughed.

"I've been told that yes! Thanks to my half-Filipino side," The Italian-Filipino stated.

Embry smiled back and blinked his eyes intoxicatingly.

"Looks like someone has had a little bit too much to drink," Jake mentioned as he and the rest of the pack came into view.

"I am…fine!" Embry moaned, as he almost toppled over his feet.

Seth quickly caught him and Embry just erupted in eccentric, involuntary laughter.

Jake shook his head as he came to my side, wrapping an arm around my waist.

"I think we're going to head out." He said to me.

I pouted. "You guys can always stay over for the night? There is so much room! If the vampire scent is too much we can always arrange something at my place."

"Nah, it's okay. I think Embry needs to be in his own bed tonight." Jake told me. "I'll see you first thing in the morning before you go to school,"

I nodded. This was the time where the pangs of separation hit us.

I wonder if it'll be more intense now that we were engaged.

"Guys – Is it just me or is the ground moving?" Embry asked before laughing uncontrollably again.

"Okay. Goodnight." I said, getting up on my tiptoe to give him a passionate kiss on the lips.

He returned the kiss with a soft moan and a tighter embrace around me as the parting kiss turned more urgent and fervent.

He was the first to initiate the reluctant departure and he looked down to smile at me with adoration.

"Text me when you get home, okay?" I pleaded.

He nodded. "Ay, ay, Captain." He tipped his LA Rams baseball cap.

Seth and Alex were also exchanging their own romantic goodbyes.

Jake went to grab my bejeweled hand and embedded a series of soft, quick pecks on the back of my hand before he stroked the back of my hand with his thumb.

"Love you," He said.

"Love you too," I said.

Thenceforward, Jacob took his pack members and disappeared.

I sighed.

And now we get back to reality.

"Let's go drown our sorrows with comfort ice-cream," Alex said in the same sad, disappointed tone.

I chuckled as I grabbed my things and linked arms with my best friend before we headed back into the Cullen mansion to say goodbye to the family and head back to my place.

… …

Jennifer

(A day ago)

Krusty's Grill

Embry and I walked through the doors of the Krusty's Grill restaurant that was brimming with fellow students from the school and other local citizens who loved to frequent the popular Oak Woods restaurant.

I know what you're thinking…

Me and Embry?

Heading into a restaurant?

Together?

On purpose?

Yep! It was no accident!

This was not a joke. I was having lunch with Embry Call.

The nuisance vermin who was the object and subject of my deepest frustrations and irritableness.

Let's begin...

So, I was at my new work today and guess who shows up? None other than Embry himself!

I swear, he was like a persistent pest who wouldn't stop following me around. He was everywhere!

Apparently, according to him he just stumbled upon the florist shop I worked at by happenstance and he had no idea I worked there.

Yeah, right!

And I just cured cancer!

Embry was consistently still trying to annoy me to the point where he thought I would either succumb to his advances or I'd murder him.

The latter sounded way more appealing.

Anyway, his story was that he needed to get flowers for an event tomorrow. According to him, he was attending a party and needed a party favor for one of the guests of honor.

Hmm... I'll bite I guess.

Wouldn't be surprised if he was getting the flowers for one of his random hookups who he wanted to apologize to for ghosting and hoping to get in her pants again.

So I gathered him a bouquet of flowers and sent him off.

But then an hour later, he came back to return the flowers. Apparently the flowers I picked weren't the right ones and were wilted.

My boss was present at the time of this and apologized profusely for the mistake. She offered to refund the flowers but Embry decided to use it as an opportunity to ambush me.

"You know what. Keep the money. I would very much like to be repaid in a different way." He said to my boss as his eyes landed on me.

Uh oh...

"What do you have in mind, sir?" Rhiannon, my boss questioned.

Embry smirked slyly and smugly, like an evil villain plotting his next ploy of domination.

"Your florist here needs to agree to have lunch with me this afternoon." He stated.

My stomach was ablaze with rage as he said this. He put in a tight corner and I don't think I could get out of it.

Long story short, I yielded and reluctantly and begrudgingly agreed to have lunch with him although I made sure it was not a date!

And now here we are...

Great!

As we walked into the restaurant, I caught the sight the table of Nessie's friends with the cute boy Justin, his friend Luke and Alex Mazzola.

She didn't like me very much, I think.

I was then called over by none other than Melissa St. Clair who was a popular girl in school who took a liking to me.

I turned to Embry and pressed my hand on his muscular arm.

The contact surged a jolt of electricity to radiate from our bodies but I ignored it.

"I'll meet you in a few," I told him. "Why don't you just get us a table or whatever?"

He glanced down at my hand on his arm.

Crap!

I realized I had it on him for longer than I should. Now he's gonna get the wrong idea and become even more annoying than he already was.

I immediately dropped it.

"Uh... Sure," He said with a knowing smirk.

"Afternoon, table for two?" A waitress with a welcoming smile came to us.

Embry smirked as he surveyed the waitress' body.

"Yes, please!" He said it in a suggestive tone.

Blegh! I gagged.

Embry winked back at me as he followed the waitress to our table outside.

I rolled my eyes as I went over to Melissa's table where she sat with her minions and the popular jocks in school.

It was baseball season so the baseball players usually wore their caps and letterman jackets.

Many of the players were also in the basketball, hurling and football team whenever the season starts.

Dominic was the leader of the squad. Apparently his predecessor was Hunter Hamilton, the star quarterback of the football team, the captain of the baseball team and co-captain of the Hurling team. He apparently was a legend at the school before his untimely death.

Melissa told me they both hooked up and fell in love prior to his death after he broke up with Felicity Stone who had a longterm relationship with since Freshmen year.

Dominic was one of his best friends.

He flirted with me a lot when I first enrolled here but I wasn't returning his advances so he moved on to Melissa and they've become the new IT power couple of the school.

"Hey!" I greeted.

Melissa smirked as she quickly took a glimpse at Embry then back at me.

"Who is that cutie?" The deputy mayor's daughter asked me.

I sighed. "Oh, you mean the vermin? He's nobody." I said.

She smiled. "Hmm." She hummed. "Well, anyway, you up for a slumber party at my house later? Just gonna be me and the girls. We're gonna get our manis and pedis done. We're gonna be planning our senior bash in a few weeks! Also prepping me for the Debutante Ball!"

Her minions squeaked and erupted in chants.

I hated cheerleaders!

"Um..." I deliberated. "Sure, why not!"

Melissa squealed. "Great! We can also invite the boys over for some drinks. Probably play a round of drinking games,"

"Maybe even a game of seven minutes in heaven," Lissa gurgled in laughter as she poked Melissa.

Melissa rolled her eyes. "Oh, stop!"

I frowned. "The debutante ball is in five weeks right?"

"Yes! And it's customary of course for a debutante to invite five members of their court and pick a rose - a sort of assistant or patron for the debutante. I want you to be my rose!" She expressed.

Lissa pouted in disappointment.

"But I thought I was your rose, Mel." She whispered in a broken tone.

Melissa groaned. "Who cares, Lissa? Did I ask you to speak?"

Lissa shut up immediately and slouched back on her chair.

Melissa then turned to me. "Are you game?"

"Can I think about it?" I asked her.

She furrowed her brows and scoffed slightly, shocked that I wouldn't immediately jump at the offer.

"It's just I've got a lot on my plate right now I just need to see if I have time to squeeze even that in." I told her.

Honestly, I didn't even know if I was interested.

"No, it's fine! I totally understand. Take all the time you need." She said. I smiled. "See you later?"

I nodded before waving goodbye at everyone and leaving the room.

As I made it to my table, I found Embry still flirting with the waitress who was giggling like a bewitched bird.

I scoffed as I shook my head and took my seat on the chair.

"Oh! There you are!" Embry remarked, acknowledging my presence. "I didn't see you coming,"

"No - Don't stop on my account! Continue." I gestured to the pair. "Did he tell you the story about his nasty, hairy, smelly mole on his back yet?"

Embry glared at me as the girl, no older than twenty, laughed nervously.

I smiled innocently at him.

"Um...Shall I take your order?" She awkwardly began as she pulled out her notebook.

"Uh... I'll have a soda?" Embry said, looking up at the girl with sensual eyes.

The waitress blushed as she jotted the order down in her notes.

"And you?" She turned to me, with less interest.

Huh!

"I'll just have an apple cider," I spoke.

She nodded as she wrote down my order.

"And anything to eat?" She asked.

Embry took over. "We'll just wait until after the drinks to order food -"

I interrupted. "I'll have a bacon and chicken mayo sandwich with a side of fries and onion rings, please." I told her.

Embry snorted as he sat back and just stared at me.

I wasn't gonna allow a man to tell me when I could eat.

He thought he could be a gentlemen and decide when I ordered food?

Pfft!

Puhlease!

Nope! No! This was not a date after all.

The ginger waitress, Lydia wrote down my order and then smiled as she bid us goodbye.

"I'll be back with your order and I'll be back for your order when you're ready." She said to Embry before walking off.

Embry still had his eyes on me.

He was amused and intrigued.

"Just to be clear…This is not a date?" I emphasized.

He chuckled. "Who said it was?"

"I'm just making sure you know that." I told him.

He rolled his eyes. "Whatever," He expressed.

I scoffed as I felt his foot touch mine underneath the table. I quickly pulled my foot back.

"So... What's up with Nessie? Why isn't she with her friends back there?" I asked.

He asked, following my gaze. "Oh! Alex is here!"

I inserted my hand into my side purse to dig out my phone to check the time.

"Nessie's got this thing with Jake this weekend. An anniversary thing." Embry told me.

I hummed. "I see." I remarked.

He sighed. "Yeah. They've been together for a year now? It's been a pretty annoying year if you ask me. They never stop being grossly in love and shit."

"Was it mostly because of the sire bond wolfy thing he had on her?"

He shook his head. "No - I mean it was part of it but they do genuinely love each other."

I creased my eyebrows as I looked into his brown eyes. Brown eyes always got a bad rep but I always found them to be the prettiest of all the eye colors.

... Obviously not Embry's eyes. Definitely not.

"As long as they're both happy, I am happy." He said genuinely.

That was actually pretty sweet.

Jake and Embry looked like the best of friends from some of the interactions I've seen of them together.

"You and Jacob always been close?" I asked.

"Basically straight out of the womb. He and I have been best friends since we were kids and are essentially brothers," He said.

I nodded. "So you've all traded stories about your previous girlfriends and hookups?"

He chuckled. "No, not really. Jake isn't like that. He's always been committed to Nessie. They're in it for the long haul."

I nodded. I could see that.

"Wouldn't be shocked if they got engaged on their anniversary." I chortled.

He fell silent.

My eyes widened as the realization hit me.

"They're totally engaged, aren't they?" I questioned.

He looked at me. "Yup! He proposed last night I believe."

"Wow," I expressed.

Well I be damned.

I was wrong about them.

I might have cynically thought their relationship would fizzle out like a lot of typical first love stories when you're that young and in love.

But I guess the heart wants what the heart wants.

"You didn't hear this from me though. It's strictly off the record," He said.

"Why? Is it some sort of secret?"

He shook his head. "Not really. I just respect their privacy I guess. They wanna announce their engagement to other people that's not family on their terms."

I nodded. I understood that as well.

I wasn't family or a friend to the couple so it made sense I wouldn't be one of the first people they told nor did I expect an explanation.

My brother on the other hand...

Yeah he's gonna take it really hard when he finds out about it.

He has been pursuing Nessie for a while now and with no luck as it seemed like her entire heart belonged to another man.

I felt sorry for him honestly.

He's spent the better part of a century searching and finding a mate and nobody has ever measured up to his standards or tickled his fancy.

I didn't blame him for thinking the first hybrid girl he met besides his sisters was his soulmate.

"Congrats to them, I guess." I said.

"You don't really mean that," He pointed out, accusingly.

Did I mean it?

I don't know.

Did I care?

Definitely not.

But weddings are great! Weddings are always fun to watch on romcoms so I was happy that someone was living that dream for themselves.

And I wished any couple the best on their wedding.

"No I'm serious. Weddings are a lot of fun. I wish them the best," I said.

He scoffed. "Right,"

The waitress came into view and returned with our drinks and my food. She placed my plate and drink in front but made sure to seductively center Embry's drink on his side of the table.

"Thank you, Lydia." He said back with a deep, sensual voice.

Lydia blushed before taking his order, ignoring that I was around.

I snorted as I took a sip of my cider.

"I'll just have a good ole cheeseburger and chips with a steak on the side." He told her.

"I pegged you as a more adventurous type," Waitress Lydia flirted back.

Embry grinned. "Oh I am - I just prefer to be more adventurous in other pursuits if you get me." He winked.

She her annoying voice erupted a series of desperate giggles.

Her whole aura reeked and oozed of pure an utter lewd and desperation. She was the ultimate "pick me" girl.

It made me sick to my stomach.

After more torturous minutes of back and forth beguilement from the two horny halfwits, waitress Lydia disappeared.

"Didn't think she'd ever leave!" I gagged.

Embry smirked and playfully sniffed the air.

"Is that a new perfume scent I smell on you? Smells like jealousy." He said with an annoying gasp.

I scoffed. "Don't flatter yourself, sweetheart." I said.

I crossed my leg over my other and felt my foot tap onto his hard knee underneath the table.

I decided to ignore it and chow down on my food.

Embry stretched his hand to reach for a French fry on my plate.

I groaned as I slapped his hand but before he quickly shoved a fry in his mouth.

"Mmm. So good," He remarked.

I rolled my eyes, tossing my long blonde trusses to the side as I held my sandwich.

"You're so irritating," I said.

But I was hungry so I just ignored him again.

"What's it called again?" I asked. "What Nessie and Jake have? Imprinting? "

He nodded. "Yeah - I'm sort of glad that won't happen to me."

"How do you know?" I probed.

He shrugged. "I don't know. I just do. 'Sides, like I said before. I love my life right now."

"Of course! You get to sleep with any girl you want and not have to worry about remembering her name because you're so afraid of commitment!" I assessed.

He scoffed. "Oh that's right! You're a bit of a smart-ass who can read people right?" He recalled.

He was recalling the night we first met at Nessie's birthday party when I read him for filth.

I smiled back proudly. "And I can spot an asshole a mile away,"

He gnawed his bottom lip as he leaned in on his resting elbows and gave me a quick once over, staring down at my lips.

"I can be your asshole any day of the week," He said in a deep voice.

I mentally gagged but I felt my stomach twist in a knot slightly at the tone of his voice.

But I wasn't swayed.

"You're gross," I said to him.

He chuckled back. "So tell me, Miss Jennifer...Do you have a last name?"

"Those are questions I only answer on dates and this sir, is definitely not -"

"It's not a date! I know," He sighed. "But you know my last name so it's only fair that I learn yours."

"I learned your last name against my own free will, Embry Call!" I stated. "Frankly, knowing your very existence is against my free will."

He hissed. "Ouch!" He cried playfully.

I snorted as I took another bite of my sandwich and slurped a sip of my drink.

"Although, hearing you call me by my full name does do things to me." He joked.

I shook my head. "Okay. I'm done." I began as I stood up from my seat.

"No! Sit down." Embry ordered with a playful laugh.

I flared my eyes at him with a warning, scrutinizing look before reluctantly sitting back down.

"This is fun." Embry mused, twirling his drink.

"For you or for me?" I questioned.

He smirked. "Seriously, though... Tell me about yourself in a non-date kind of way. Consider this a job interview,"

"A job interview?" I clocked.

"Correct."

Oh he was so conceited!

"And what does this job entail? What do I benefit from it? Do I get proper pay? Do I get medical benefits? Do I get to scratch your back?" I teased.

He gave me a flirty look. "That sounds like a plan,"

I laughed. "Oh, God."

"Think of this job as a mystery we have to solve." He said.

"And what's the mystery?"

He looked around his surroundings as he leaned closer as if to let me in on a little secret.

"Sexual tension," He whispered.

I narrowed my eyes at him and dropped my head.

He was ridiculous!

"And is the sexual tension in the room with us right now?" I murmured back.

He shrugged. "That's the mystery we have to solve."

I snorted. "Do you just come up with these weird thoughts by yourself? I'd really like to know what goes on in that thick skull of yours,"

He laughed.

"No, seriously!" I added.

"You still not living with your brother?" He decided to change the subject swiftly.

I was sort of taken aback at the question. I didn't know he cared enough about that to even remember I had a straining relationship with Nahuel right now.

"Nope and I don't think I will anytime soon," I said as I wiped my mouth with a napkin.

"That bad?" Embry asked.

I sighed as I leaned back onto my chair, my foot still lightly tapping against Embry's knee as I thought about my brother, Nahuel.

"My brother is persona non grata with a lot of people right now," I chuckled. "Not everyone is a fan."

"Yeah, I'm sorry but your bro is a giant tool." Embry told me.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, I know." I replied. "But…Many people just don't know him like I do. He does have redeeming qualities, trust me. He's just…a really big jerk. Sometimes."

Embry hummed back with a shrug just as his food came in but this time he didn't spend minutes flirting back and forth with Waitress Lydia.

He simply wanted to know more about me.

"You've dated people before right?" He asked me randomly.

I cocked an eyebrow. "Do you think I've been living under a rock?"

He sighed. "No - I know. I'm just trying to figure you out because you don't seem like someone who goes out much."

I almost laughed him off but he wasn't wrong.

I spend the better part of my days at home in my room either reading or watching TV.

It's always been that way since I was young.

I wasn't introverted though, I swayed more on the spectrum of an ambivert.

I loved being around people but enjoyed my own space. I was adaptable.

"I've had a few relationships, yes." I said with an uninterested nod as I looked at him.

"And what happened? Did you lead them on? Did you break too many hearts to stick around? Did you smash their hearts and tore them to pieces?"

I frowned. "What kind of person do you take me for? A soulless creature?"

He shrugged. "Well yeah, that's usually the case with with you bloodsuckers."

Oh so he had a prejudice against vampires I see.

Interesting.

"Contrary to popular belief. Not all of us are bad," I said.

He smirked. "So what happened?"

I sighed. "These are questions you ask on a date!" I reminded him.

"This isn't a date. It's a job interview, remember?" He brought up.

Stupid!

I revisited some of my relationship history. Some of the memories were fond memories and others are ones I'd liked to keep locked away under lock and key forever.

Like him...

"Let's just say, things just didn't work out." I told him. "They weren't the right people for me and I'll leave it at that."

Embry nodded as he took a bite out of his burger.

"Their loss I suppose," He mentioned with a mouthful. "A drop dead gorgeous chick like you - I would be stupid let go of."

I felt my cheeks flush slightly but I made sure he didn't notice.

I knew I was beautiful.

I was always compared to Grace Kelly or Rita Hayworth. Sometimes I was hailed as the lovechild of Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly.

And no, not in a conceited way but I just knew I was gifted in the looks department because my mother was so beautiful.

Joham picked his hosts to be unbelievably attractive for his hybrid spawns to come out looking supremely beautiful beyond comparison.

My sisters Serena and Maysun were also blessed with magnificent and alluring features that made anyone swoon in their presence.

Because of this, my father often fell prey to psychotic tendencies. He looked at us in ways no father should ever look at their daughters.

Ravishing and undressing us with his eyes...

I shuddered at the horrible memories.

Joham was a sick man.

"Do you expect me to thank you for blowing a compliment up my ass?" I said to him with irritation.

He sensed this and took immediate offense to it.

"I was just giving you a simple compliment. No need to get all aggressive," He said.

"No you were being annoying as per usual is what you were doing!" I retorted frustratingly.

He looked at me, this time with no flirtatious or teasing eyes but seriousness. I almost sense a hint of annoyance in him.

That makes two of us.

"Look, I know you don't like me very much," Embry said.

I scoffed. Ha!

"Understatement of the century," I muttered.

He pressed his lips together and cleared his throat as he stared at his plate.

I smiled. Oh! I irk him just as much as he does me, huh?

I laughed. "Sorry," I said sincerely, but mockingly.

He sighed as he ignored me and carried on. "I think we can work out some sort of deal,"

I frowned. "A deal? For what?"

"On how we can coexist around each other," He said.

I laughed even harder now. Was he serious?

"…Or we can just do the easier solution by staying away from each other?" I suggested.

He smirked smugly, his lips curving into a crooked grin he probably loved to use on girls.

"You and I both know we can't do that." He stated, leaning in closer.

I glared at him. "And why's that?"

"This…" He said, gesturing to both of us. "This thing between the two of us."

I snorted. "There's no ' thing' between us. Stop flattering yourself,"

Embry shook his head confidently. "I know you sense it. There's a passion there, a fire between us that is only going to burn more and I think, it's only fair to you if we just extinguish it by biting the bullet."

I cocked my eyebrows at him.

He sounded so delusional!

One might wonder why I was even tolerating him for this long.

"…Fair to me?" I questioned, accusingly. "How would it be fair… to me?"

He smiled as he wiped his napkin and leaned back in his seat, crossing his so that now both feet were in contact with each other underneath the table.

"Apropos, we ever see each other again. I propose we decide to just lay our cards on the table." He said, clearing his throat.

I waited.

"Sleep with me," He simply said.

I blinked as I processed his words.

Did he actually say that?

Did he actually just say that?

Out loud?

"I'm sorry?" I demanded, my eyes bulged in shock.

"You heard me," He said with a smile, twirling his tongue.

I twinged in discomfort and disdain suddenly but also a weird... I don't know...tinge of curiosity.

"Me? Sleep with you?" I reiterated.

He nodded. "That's right,"

My mouth agape.

"It doesn't have to have any strings attached. We can just enjoy one consensual night together so you can relieve some of that pent up aggression and we can go about our merry way and never see each other again," He stated.

I scoffed. Wow.

"... You are incredible." I snorted, staring at him.

"Why, thank you. I know." He uttered confidently.

"... You're incredibly sick, twisted, conceited and... Argh! An asshole!" I said shooting up and grabbing my drink and throwing it in his face.

We suddenly had an audience as everyone darted their heads towards us.

Embry gasped as he raised his hands up, his body drenched and dripping in my apple cider drink that I know would be sticky.

"I honestly can't believe you'd actually think I'd wanna sleep with you!" I exclaimed. "Or that you'd even suggest that?!"

He looked at me with fury as the drink dripped from his wet, moppy black hair.

"I would never do that! Ever! Never! Ever" I shook my head profusely.

He shot up from his head, wiping some of the access liquid off his face before crustily dropping the napkin on the table and pointed his finger at me as he stepped out.

"You know, I initially thought this 'playing hard to get' act was cute at first but right now I'm just about sick of your games. One minute you say you hate me and the next you're flirting with me –"

"I am not flirting with you!" I spoke back with malice as I took a step forward to glare right up at him.

He laughed. "Oh! Then explain all the touching you just did now? Or the flirtateous banter? Or the times you asked me for a lift back to your loft and invited me in?"

"You invited yourself in!" I shouted.

"...Or the times you called me in the middle of the night to tell me what a douche I was? Or the times you compliment my body with your eyes?" He questioned, accusingly.

He should sound like he was joking but believe me, he looked serious about it.

My mouth agape at the bile he was spewing.

"Contrary to what you might think, you came on to me too!" He spat.

"Do you know how ridiculous you sound right now?" I laughed.

He is an absolute psycho!

A maniac!

"Am I wrong?" He demanded.

"Yes! Yes! You are totally wrong! I can't believe you're this deranged!" I exclaimed.

"Don't play stupid! You know exactly what you're doing." He said, taking a step forward.

I shot daggers at him.

"If I'm such a cocktease, then why don't you move on?" I quizzed, curtly.

He didn't answer.

Figures.

"You're a jerk!" I spat.

He rolled his eyes. "And you're full of yourself!"

I gasped. "Full of myself? Are you kidding me?"

"Yeah! And because of that you don't see when a guy is genuinely trying to be nice to you or get to know you." He retorted.

"Oh, please! You don't want to get to know me!" I spat. "You just want to get into my pants!"

He widened his eyes. "If you knew my intentions then why did you agree to have lunch with me anyway?"

"I am asking myself the same question!" I snarled.

"Because you want me just as much as I want you and you won't admit it!" He fired back.

I glared up at the tall man, eyes filled with rage as my nose flared.

"You're stupid!"

"No - I am right! Frankly, you don't get to turn this around on me and make me the bad guy! Because I am the one in this situation at this very moment that's supposed to be mad!"

"Why?" I cackled non-humorously.

"You played me like a fiddle!"

"You're egotistical!" I yelled. "You're just mad that a girl had the gall t-to tell you that she's not that into you!" I exclaimed.

He laughed sinfully. "Really?"

"You can't handle rejection!" I said as a matter-of-fact.

"No - I can handle rejection. What I can't handle is being taken for a ride!" He said. "You've been giving me mixed signal for months!"

"What? When have I ever done that?!" I shrieked. "I've made my feelings for you very clear from the moment I met you!"

"You flirt with me, Jennifer! Don't act like you don't!"

I laughed. "Embry - You're crazy!"

"No-No-No - You have an unfair double standard! It's not okay that I flirt with you but when you do the same to me I'm still the bad guy? When I call you out on it, you deny it like you don't know what you're doing!" He spat with venom.

I rolled my eyes.

"You know what? I actually thought you were a decent guy. A giant tool but decent. But you've proven time and time again that you are a bothersome, conceited, lousy little vermin who only thinks with what's between his legs and not what's in his head." I hissed.

He scoffed. "Baby girl, if you wanna see it just ask."

There he goes again!

An utter douchebag!

I groaned as I felt myself begin to claw my head as I frustratingly held it. I dropped my hands as I went to grab my bag.

AH!

This was so unnerving.

I had to get out of here!

"I'm done!" I exclaimed, unfolding my bag strap. "I can't - I don't want you to call me. Or text me. Or see me ever again, understood?"

"Oh I'm not planning on it because it's so evident that you're just as self-centered as I pegged you to be. I wasted my time."

I spun around to sneer at him. "Did someone hold a gun to your head forcing you to push your dick in my face, huh? Nobody forced you to pursue me. You did all of that on your own, mister!"

"Yeah and I regret every minute of it too!" He uttered. "And you are just like many of the bitc - girls I know!"

"Really?" I demanded.

"Yes!" He said, clapping his hands together.

"No - Say the word you wanted to say." I said, crossing my arms as I tapped my foot.

He pursed his lips together as he deliberated before giving in.

"Bitch!" He said.

I gasped, flipping my hair to the side as I smacked my hand across his face.

"Ow!" He cried.

"I want you to stay away from me!" I demanded, taking a step forward. "I want you to never come to my work again! I want you to delete my number and block all my socials!"

"Why don't you do the same?" He demanded, taking another step forward.

"Oh I will!" I responded. "You are as good as dead in my books!"

He laughed mockingly. "Fine by me!"

"And you've made an enemy out of me!" I told him, jabbing my finger on his hard chest.

"Feeling's mutual, sister." He mocked, jabbing his finger on my chest but only gently.

I clenched my fists together as my green eyes, ablaze with rage, bored into his brown eyes.

I felt his strong, woodsy, manly, animalistic scent fill up my nostrils and linger on for longer than it should have.

I felt my breathing hitch as my heart raced a million beats per minute as I burned with so much furor.

I could hear his heart beat fast as well as our bodies stood inches away from each other.

"You're getting too close to me," I whispered to him angrily.

"You got too close first," He muttered underneath gritted teeth.

"This was a mistake being here!" I said to him.

"Ugh! Agreed!" He expressed.

I took a step back away from his body that was too close to mine.

"Stay away from me!" I repeated.

"Fine!" He shouted.

"Good!" I shouted back.

"Good!" He matched my energy.

I glared at him one last time before stomping my feet, shaking off my dress and walking away.

---

A/N: I hope you enjoyed that chapter! What do you think of that explosive scene with Embry and Jennifer? (Enemies to lovers anyone *wink wink*). Another Nessie and Jacob centric first half as well. I wanted to show the family's reaction to the engagement.

The next chapter will be the senior camping trip and lemme tell you, this is where things will go down.

Danger is lurking in the shadows.

REVIEW! FOLLOW! FAVORITE!