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}

56. Chapter 56: President's Day

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

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Jacob Black

After grabbing some weekly groceries at the store after gym with Seth, I drove us back to our apartment.

Nessie was returning from her camping trip today and anxious did not begin to describe how I was feeling right now. It's been a little over three days since we found the pregnancy test.

Seth and I have spent all weekend long wondering, worrying, and wretchedly deliberating which one of our significant others had a bun in the oven.

I thought by us convincing each other that everything would be alright or assuring each other that the other one's mate wasn't the one who was pregnant would provide some solace or peace of mind but it only agonizingly amplified the levels of anguish and dread.

Today was hopefully the day we would both have an answer to our probing questions.

Nessie was stopping by her house first to drop off her stuff before driving out here to have dinner and spend the night at my place tonight.

This was unnerving because if she was indeed pregnant, Edward would find out the second she walked through the door unless Nessie is working overtime to suppress it from her mind so he can't read it and there's no way of telling if Bella would shield her mind from that either. If they found out before I got the chance to even confirm it myself, I would for sure be dead.

Being engaged to their daughter wasn't a safety net from their parental wrath; because of that reason alone, I was already walking on thin ice since in their heads, they probably feel I've taken their daughter away from them forever. Now imagine if they found out I knocked her up, I would be the ultimate villain.

I would be the bad guy who 'manipulated and trapped their little girl into a lifetime of misery and parenthood' so quickly simply because I couldn't cover up my shit.

Hopefully, Nessie will manage to slip out of there unscathed and I wouldn't have a raging Edward and Bella slamming on my door.

I was cooking dinner for us tonight as per Embry and Seth's suggestion. This was a way to show that I was very present and willing to support her when or if she tells me about the pregnancy.

I don't want to scare her off or give her the wrong impression. I've had a few days to let the initial shock of the news sink in; now it's just about making sure I had the full facts first and if she was indeed pregnant, I would show her support, care and love.

Yeah.

That's what I'm supposed to do.

I also didn't want her to think I was ambushing her. I would hope she'd feel comfortable to tell me first but I was dying to hear from her as soon as possible so maybe I could just kindly nudge her to tell me?

I don't know…

This was so frustrating.

But I had it easy compared to Seth.

He was stressing out.

Poor guy.

He not only has to contend with reconciling that he could be become a dad, but his imprint was still a high school student who he taught –despite being eighteen years old– so that's a legal issue on its own and her parents don't even know about their relationship and with very good reason but…

Yeah he was definitely in a pickle.

He hasn't yet talked to Alex yet because, again he was following my game plan of letting her come to him.

I wanted to ask Sam or Paul's advice on their first initial reaction to finding out they'd be dads. But then I remembered, both of them planned to have kids with their imprints. Sam and Emily always planned to have children early on in their marriage, with Sam hoping he'd be a better dad than his own father was to him. They had Kamryn, then had a stillborn baby and now are about have another baby in the summer.

Paul and Rachel sort of planned to have their children soon. Rach had my nephew, little Willy and recently, just a few days ago really, they announced they'd be having a second child –a week and a half after my sister Rebecca had her twins. Her baby was due in late August or early September.

Everyone in my life was having babies.

Goddamn! Could the signs be any clearer?

"What time is she coming?" Seth asked abruptly as we walked into our apartment.

"I don't know. She said she should be here soon but she wants to talk to her mother about something," I said as I set the bags on the kitchen counter.

"You don't think she's gonna tell her right?" Seth asked me as he set the other bag on the counter.

I inhaled a breath as I rested my hands on the edge of the counter. "Dude, I don't know. I really don't know. I hope not," I responded as I dug my hands into the bags.

Maybe Ness will find it easier to speak to Bella about it first than with me?

Although I hoped she wouldn't for my safety and sanity sake, I would understand if she did.

"I probably won't see Alex until tomorrow," Seth sighed as he looked down nervously.

I nodded. "Tomorrow's President's Day, right?" I asked.

All I knew is that I had a day off tomorrow.

He nodded. "Yeah, there's going to be a President's Day military and town parade hosted by the Oak Wood County Mayor." He stated. "You thinking of going?"

I shrugged as I pulled out the frozen salmon and tamales out of the bags and laid it on the kitchen top.

"Not really, I'm not particularly patriotic." I chuckled, taking out the dough from the bag.

"Me neither but Alex will probably be there because her family are part of the Founding Families so they have to all be there," He said as he swung his arms around, stretching his muscles after the workout. "It's gonna be difficult to talk to her in such a public space but I'll find a way," He stated in defeat.

I sighed, staring back at him in sympathy. "Dude, I really don't think the test was hers. Why would she take it in our apartment anyway? I don't think she's pregnant," I tried to convince him.

"What if she is, Jake?!" He exclaimed, resting his hands on his hips. "The statistics show that there's 50/50 guaranteed chance that one of our girls could be with child," He mentioned.

"Okay! True, but it makes no sense because you were careful. I wasn't," I said, walking to the refrigerator to place the apple juice carton in it.

"Contraceptives don't work all the time and condoms break, dude," He responded.

Yup! I'm well aware of that.

"Look, I'm just trying to help ease your mind a bit here. Don't worry too much about it until we get all the facts." I advised him, although I was also directing the advice to myself.

"I don't even know what I'm gonna do if she is…" He whispered to himself in a frightful tone, ignoring my advice completely.

I pursed my lips together as I glanced back to his apprehensive face as he shook his head in thought.

I decided to swiftly change the subject because this shit was getting depressing for the both of us.

"Listen, I'm cooking dinner for Nessie tonight and I told her she can spend the night so do you mind crashing at Mike and Em's for the night?" I asked.

"Sure, sure!" He coughed, clearing his throat. "Where are Mike and Embry anyway? I don't hear their usual loud music blasting through the walls and I don't smell their scents."

"Probably out grabbing a drink somewhere or something, who knows?" I replied as I took out some of the pots and pans from the cabinet.

"I could definitely use a drink." He breathed deeply. "Lemme see if I can get ahold of them and meet up with them wherever they are," Seth said, pulling his phone out and calling Embry's cell.

Apparently Embry and Mike were indeed having a drink at the bar Pais Coctel, the bar we first went to for my birthday dinner. It was a cool hybrid bar and club with a food booth. It was a fun night.

"Cool. See you then," Seth replied before hanging up.

I had already began preparing to cook.

"I'm gonna take a shower before heading out to meet them. You good? You don't need any help?" He asked me as he slipped his pale blue muscle shirt off his body.

I shook my head at him. "I'm good. This will only take an hour or two tops to prepare. So glad we bought the rotisserie for the salmon," I chuckled.

I was cooking salmon on cedar stakes with acorn bread, Three Sisters Soup and tamales. These were traditional Quileute meals my mom made growing up –which had her special secret ingredients and twists –and after she died, my dad and I kept the tradition of making them ever since then up until now.

"Cool! All the best for tonight dude," He snorted nervously.

"Thanks," I sighed as I watched him walk away and into the bathroom.

Whilst I was cooking the meal and Seth was busy with his shower, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket.

I dug into my back pocket and pulled it out to see Edward's Caller ID on my screen.

Shit.

Holy shit.

Holy freaking shit!

Subsequently, I began panicking like crazy as my heart forgot to breathe for a second. Not because I was scared of Edward –I definitely wasn't– but mostly because this might be the moment I get actual confirmation that Nessie was pregnant.

And I'll find out by a highly strung Edward screaming in my ear about how much he wanted to kill me.

Maybe I deserved it.

Darn!

Answer the damn phone!

I inhaled a breath as I clicked the answer button and placed my phone against my ear.

"Hello, Edward." I muttered calmly. "What's up?"

He wasn't breathing over the line –probably because he didn't need to – but I could tell he was definitely there.

Was he composing his anger?

"Jacob…" He uttered, his voice straining with a tinge of worry and pain.

Okay, what was really going on?

That's not the reaction I expected from his call.

"What's wrong, Edward?" I demanded, my mind and body now on full concern mode. "Did something happen to Nessie?" I questioned frantically.

He quickly settled me down. "No – No! She's fine! Nessie's safe and sound." He assured me.

I exhaled a sigh of relief.

"Okay. Then what's up?""

"Look, I'm just letting you know that Nessie and Bella just had a massive fight that I haven't ever seen them have ever. So don't be surprised if you receive a visit from an angry Renesmee right about now," He informed me.

"Wait – You're not making any sense, Edward. Start from the beginning. Why would Nessie be angry?" I asked him.

I was feeling bamboozled right now.

So she wasn't pregnant?

But she was mad about something?

Was it related to the pregnancy or was it not?

Did Edward know?

If so, why wasn't his immediate thought when calling me was to slaughter me dead?

Edward began with a sigh before proceeding. "Nessie found out the full extent of our turbulent history. Or should I say, your history with Bella." He explained.

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.

My history with Bella?

Didn't she already know about that?

"I thought she knew." I stated.

"She only knew a small piece of the story though. Bella and I thought she didn't need to know all the details about how you persistently pursued her mother for years before she was born or how you and Bella kissed each other more than once or how Bella kind of reciprocated her feelings for you or how you and I hated each other for a while because of your feelings for her –" He rehashed.

"Okay! Edward, we don't need to rehash our past right now." I stopped him, embarrassment now flooding my face as I remembered that tumultuous period of our lives.

He grumbled. "What I'm trying to say is…She knows everything."

My heart almost dropped.

Nessie knew that Bella and I had a brief history together and that we kissed but we didn't give her the full rundown of that time because we didn't think the information was necessary for her to know because it would only weird her out.

It was also pretty insignificant in the grander scheme of things so we never thought to bring it up.

I didn't think I was lying to her though but now that she knows, I realized in retrospect, it probably did look like we kept this big secret from her because we didn't want her to know, not that we thought she didn't need to know.

Bella thought it was good that she didn't know that her fiancé and mother were in a lovers quarrel with her dad but it probably looked to Nessie like we were in some weird poly relationship or something.

I don't know.

Dammit.

How did she find out?

Nessie was sweet, sensible and non-confrontational but she was also very hardheaded, stubborn and easily indignant; fierce and fiery when pushed.

When she was really enraged, she would make it known that she was heated when she inevitably blows up.

I have never personally experienced her full rage as she and I never fought to that degree. We've had normal couple arguments but they were so small and inconsequential when you think about it. We were mostly always in sync with each other.

This was something that could seriously tip her off the scale.

This could definitely piss her off.

And if I go off what Edward relayed to me, it seems like she and Bella got into a nasty kerfuffle.

Now it also looks like were just about to have a nasty spat too.

Hurray!

That should be interesting.

"What are you going to do?" Edward enquired.

"I don't know. I guess I'll just have to talk to her about this then and hope she'll let me explain and listen to my side of the story." I told him.

"I'm sorry about this Jake, it was Bella and I who advised that it was best that she didn't know all those years ago. I know you would have told her everything if it was up to you." He expressed sincerely.

And here I thought I would be the one apologizing to Edward during this phone-call.

Well well…How the turn tables.

"Look, thanks for giving me the heads up, Edward. Uh…" I deliberated as I started pacing up and down the kitchen floor. "Nessie didn't tell you anything else, did she?"

"What do you mean?" He asked with an inquisitive tone.

"I mean, like…She didn't reveal anything else that was important?" I stressed.

He paused for a long time before breathing a sigh. "Is there anything I need to know, Jacob?"

Shit.

Now he was on to me.

I laughed timidly. "No—No," I shook him off over the phone with a scoff. "I just wanted to be sure that was it, that she didn't have any more news from her camping trip or whatever. Don't want to have another bombshell curveball thrown at me, y'know." I said jokingly, although deep down that was exactly what I was hoping for.

"Right," He whispered back. "Again, Jake. Just…try to explain everything to her in a way she can understand. I tried my best to deescalate the situation and to get her to see reason but I can't guarantee she won't chop your head off when she gets there."

I gulped. "Got it. Thanks."

"Mhmm," He hummed in response.

I cleared my throat as I flipped the rotisserie on and watched for a second as the salmon twirled around in a slow motion as the heat began to cook it.

Seth subsequently came into the room with a towel wrapped around his waist and another towel in his hand that he used to dry out his hair as he overheard the conversation.

"Is Bella holding up okay?" I probed.

Edward responded after uttering something to someone in the background. It sounded like Blondie.

"All thing's considered, I think she's fine. She's a bit shaken up from the fight so she's just cooling off in the room right now. Reading a book." He stated.

I nodded, looking at Seth who shrugged his shoulders at me but I pretended not to pay attention to him.

"You've made a bit of a mess here, Jacob." He said.

I rolled my eyes. Thank you for that, Edward!

"I'm aware, thank you." I responded with a sigh. "You are also a part of it. Why wasn't she mad at you?"

"She expects me to do this sort of thing because she thinks I'm an overprotective and overbearing father who would lie to their daughter if it meant protecting her. I've done it before," He said with a sense of self-awareness.

"At least you're aware that you're overbearing. A good step into recovery," I teased.

He growled but ignored me . "She's been angry enough with me over the years. She is more concerned by Bella as she feels hurt by her."

I suppose that makes sense.

But I didn't understand why she was so mad at Bella for it.

Bella wasn't the one who did the pursing and chasing.

I did.

"Jake. I gotta go, okay?! I wish this could've happened differently but it is what it is. Please convince her to not blame her mother so much for what happened in the past. I can't have the two most important women in my life fighting. I don't think she'll listen to anybody but you right now," He implored.

I sighed. "I will definitely try. Sorry again," I apologized, not just for the situation but for the turbulent checked past that led to this moment.

"Yeah, yeah," He said, with an eye roll I could hear. "Good evening, Jacob."

"Cheers," I said before hanging up.

I groaned as I indiscriminately placed my phone on the granite countertop and moved my large hand over my mouth in sheer frustration as I just stood there in the middle of the room in deep thought, before shifting my hands to run through my glossy jet-black hair in unbridled apprehension.

"Humph!" I hissed before clearing my throat. "I suppose you heard the conversation,"

Seth looked at me with sympathy. "Does this mean she's not pregnant? The fact that Edward doesn't know?"

I shook my head. "No – Maybe she's just really good at hiding it from her dad. Or maybe this takes precedent over that. Maybe she's just so pissed off she can't begin to think of anything else right now," I accepted defeat as I slammed hands onto the counter.

"Dude…" Seth raised his hands up as if to surrender.

I glared at him before softening as I saw his concerned look.

"Sorry I just…" I trailed off. "I don't know, man."

Seth nodded. "I guess I'll probably have to talk to Alex, after all." He murmured nervously, twitching his head and exhaling a deep sigh.

I looked at him. "It's gonna be okay, Seth," I told him.

He didn't respond or move.

I decided to change the subject again.

"Do you wanna run a patrol later at midnight? I think I just need to get out of this human body for a while."

"Sure. I'll let Embry know," He told me. I nodded. "I'm gonna get ready and head out. Good luck for tonight, man."

I managed to smile back with a nod before Seth slipped back into his bedroom.

Seth left the apartment just as I finished making the bread and setting it in the oven to bake. Nessie arrived about five minutes after he left.

Whew!

This was it.

I heard a string of knocks on the door before it fell quiet.

I glanced down at my outfit.

Dammit.

I was still in my gym clothes, dressed in some black, nylon gym shorts and a blue, low cut gym muscle T-shirt and Nike sneakers. I should've taken a shower beforehand.

Another knock.

Okay! Okay! Okay!

I inhaled a nervous breath before walking over to the door and flinging it open to see my gorgeous chocolate brown eyed, bronze-coppered haired fiancée standing before me without her usual beaming smile that brightened up my day.

"Hey," I greeted. "Why are you knocking?" I chuckled, trying to bring up some levity.

She wasn't having it.

"Can I come in?" She asked, ignoring my question.

She didn't need to ever ask that. Nessie could waltz in whenever she liked. She even had the key to my apartment.

"Of course," I said, clearing my throat as I dropped my smile and stepped aside. She entered soon after. The whiff of her beautiful natural scent mixed with her perfume and shampoo as she breezed past almost weakened me.

I closed my eyes as I shut the door behind us and turned around to look at Nessie who was standing in the middle of the room awkwardly and uncomfortably with one hand on her cross body bag and the other hand fiddling with the tips of her hair, a nervous tick she had.

"Ness…" I began as I took a step forward but stopped myself when Ness reactively took a step back.

"I talked to my mom about an hour ago." She started. "We had a big fight," She confirmed.

I nodded. "I heard. Your dad told me,"

"Of course he did," She scoffed, rolling her eyes as she slipped her bag off her shoulders and tossed it over the couch.

I stared at her as I waited for her to continue. Nessie was now pacing up and down the room with her hands tucked inside the back pockets of her form fitting and flared denim jeans as she inhaled and exhaled.

"So…" She initiated, but the second our eyes met she couldn't continue.

"Nessie…Please let me explain," I quickly jumped as I saw the opportunity. "What happened between your mother and I meant nothing – I mean it did at the time but it means nothing to me now."

"I know that," She expressed. "I know you don't have feelings for my mother, Jake."

I nodded. Good.

Glad she knew that.

"Look, I'm not here to fight with you too, Jake." She told me.

I looked at her with raised brows. "You're not?"

She giggled timidly. "No. There's no reason I need to fight with you," She responded as she took a step forward towards me.

Wait…So she was not actually mad at me?

"You're not angry with me?" I probed.

She didn't reply to the question but she simply rested her hands on my hips as she reached me.

"I don't wanna talk about this tonight." She stated, evading my question all together.

Was she not mad at me but she was mad at her mother? Or was she mad at me but she just didn't want to talk about it?

It was still unclear.

The connection I had with Nessie was so intrinsically linked that I could often feel her emotions, even when she hid them. I knew she was still pissed off but I wasn't quite sure if that anger was directed towards me or her mother.

Either way, it wasn't a pleasant emotion to witness.

But the moment she touched me, I could sense her visibly calm and in turn, it calmed me down as well. That comfort in the skin to skin contact provided a sense of relief.

"I had quite an eventful weekend," She immediately changed the subject as she looked up into my eyes.

I smirked slightly. "Wanna talk about it?"

She shook her head. "Not really, I'm just happy I'm here with you. I've missed you,"

"Oh, baby. I've missed you too." I stated, wrapping my arms around her body.

I guess now was a good time to try to see if I could get her to tell about the other thing.

If there was anything to tell, that is.

"You're okay though, right? You're not feeling sick or anything? I heard there's a nasty bug going around so I hope it hasn't caught you," I nervously chuckled.

She frowned at me. "I'm fine, Jake."

I nodded. "But you would tell me if you were sick though, right? I want you to know it is okay to talk to me if you're not okay, it's okay to tell me if something's… new in your life."

She blinked at me. "Like what?"

Whelp!

I felt myself begin to sweat figuratively and literally.

"Um…" I stammered. Speak, Jake! "I'll be back in a second,"

I departed from my embrace around Nessie and sauntered over to my bedroom and came back with the object.

"Embry and I found this in the bathroom trashcan a few days ago…" I stated, flashing the pregnancy test in the air.

Her eyes bulged in shock and I could feel her anxieties begin to kick in.

"Jake –"

"Are you pregnant, Ness?" I cut to the chase.

Her breathing hitched shakily as she crossed her arms against her chest and glanced back down at the feet.

"Because if you are then I want you to know that it's okay." I expressed truthfully. She looked up.

"Sure it's not ideal and we didn't plan it and I know you're probably mad me for that, I'm sorry. It's stupid that we're in this mess but I don't want you to think it's in any way your fault or that I won't support you or whatever – I mean – I'm here for you if you decide to—Shit!" I stumbled upon my words.

Speak, Jake!

I could see Ness visibly looking scared as her typically fast heart rate increased, her beats rapidly thudding.

Dammit.

So she was pregnant?

What the hell were we gonna do now?

"Look, what I'm trying to say is that if you are pregnant then it'll be fine. Well figure it out. We'll just have to accept it and cope with it, you know. Together." I said, reaching for her hands as I walked back to her.

She looked up into my eyes, her eyes glistening as tears threatened to well up in her sockets. Her soft, full, supple lips were closed shut and her rosy cheeks were as red as scarlet. I wanted her to talk to me. I wanted to hear her voice.

"Please talk to me, baby," I pleaded, stroking her cheeks as I laid my hand against it.

She trickled her eyes down to my chest to see my chest heaving up and down as my heart thudded.

Two things seemed to have been confirmed to me at this moment:

I was going to be a dad.

Nessie was pregnant.

Although I was grappling with this information, I needed Ness to know that I was there for her. I needed to be the bigger man and treat the situation the way a husband should react to this news. I wasn't going to make Ness feel like she was alone in this.

"I am not pregnant, Jacob." She confirmed to me, pulling me out of my train of thought.

I blinked my eyes vigorously and frowned. "Wait…What? You're not pregnant?"

She sighed as she dropped my hands and walked past me.

I spun around to look at her.

She wasn't pregnant?

"That's not my pregnancy test, Jake." She reaffirmed me. "It's someone else's…"

I felt a wave of emotions flood through me at this moment. I couldn't quite conceptualize or contextualize how I was feeling. Relief? Clarity? Understanding? Confusion?

It was a broad spectrum but I did feel a sense of weight being lifted off my shoulders suddenly, having confirmation that she wasn't pregnant.

"But – But…W-W-Wait!" I cleared my throat, raising my finger up. "If this is not yours then whose is it?" I stated, suddenly feeling dirty that I had this test with me for days.

Subsequently, I set it onto the kitchen counter.

Nessie breathed in for a while as she deliberated whether or not to tell me.

"…Alex is pregnant," She let out. "And I don't know what to do about it because she doesn't want anyone else to know about it so technically I'm the only one that knows about it. She hasn't even told Seth."

"Shit," I whispered.

Oops.

Well…

That's gonna be a problem because Seth already knows.

Now I felt like shit because I was the one who told him about the test.

"That's going to be a problem because he sort of already knows?" I said to her.

Her eyes bulged.

"What?" She shouted. "Why did you tell him?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Why did Alex leave a pregnancy test in our bathroom trashcan?!" I questioned.

She grumbled in frustration as she rubbed her temples. "Seriously, Jake!" She scolded.

"I'm sorry! When we found the test we freaked out and the only possible explanation for it was that they belonged to either one of you so I had to tell him. If I had known I wouldn't have told him, I don't know."

"It's fine," She sighed. "It's just that Alex trusted me with this information and she didn't want me to tell anyone until…" She halted.

"She's not keeping it?"

Ness shook her head. "No. And why would she? She's a teenager in high school. Her parents would literally skin her alive, they'd either kill Seth or he'd end up in prison. She can't afford a baby. She doesn't even want kids so I don't know. We can't exactly blame her for her decision."

"Of course, I get it." I nodded. "It's just…Seth should know though. She can't keep this a secret from him forever."

Nessie snorted as she collapsed onto the arm of the couch.

"That's what I thought too but I wanna support her in any way that I can. She asked me to accompany her to her doctor's appointment this week after her debutante practice." She detailed, as she arched her head back onto the wall.

I made my way over to her side and sat onto the opposite couch from her and took a seat on the arm.

"I wanna be there for her because she's my best friend, y'know. But I don't know, I just feel…icky about this whole thing." She expressed.

Seth deserved to know what was going on and he needed to be involved in the decision she was about to make. He was a part of this. It was his child as much as it was Alex's.

I pursed my lips, attempting to bite back my tongue but I needed to say this.

"Listen, I love Alex and she's a dear friend but…" I paused. "She can't put you in this situation, Ness. I get that you wanna be there for her but you can't keep such a big secret like that from everyone, especially Seth. She has to tell him,"

She scoffed. "Easy for you to say," She whispered under her breath.

I stared at her. "What's that supposed to mean?"

She looked back at me and shook her head. "It's nothing."

So she was definitely still annoyed with me huh?

Why didn't she wanna talk about it?

Why was she confronting Bella about it but not me?

I didn't want Ness to be angry with me but I can't change the fact that I was very much a part of keeping the extent of our relationship private for all these years. She had every right to be angry with me just as she was with Bella.

And yet…

She wasn't.

"Look, it's complicated. She's scared to tell Seth about it because she thinks it would ruin him and I have enormous sympathy for that so I'm gonna do what I can to show that I care. I don't like secrets. I despise them actually because they always come out and the dishonesty always hurts more than the secret itself," She said. I couldn't help feeling that was a pointed remark. "But it is a deeply personal moment in her life and as her friend, this is how I'm supposed to act. This is what she needs. I hope she'll eventually find the courage to talk about it so please…Don't tell Seth yet?"

I simply bobbed my head and dropped the subject, knowing it was just another rock in a hard place so there's was frankly no point in further pushing this conversation.

"I'm making us dinner," I announced, standing up.

"I see that," She chuckled. "Smells great by the way. What are you making?"

"Thanks, uh, it's just a traditional meal my dad and I loved cooking. My mom's favorite salmon, tamales and soup recipe." I told her as we walked into the kitchen.

She hummed in delight, rubbing her hands together in anticipation. "Great! Sounds delicious! Can't wait."

I smiled as I switched the rotisserie off once the salmon was fully cooked. I then went over to the stove to stir the soup that looked just about done as well, it just needed five more minutes.

"Um…Do you mind setting up the table? I'm just going to take a shower," I mentioned.

Nessie nodded as she looked up at me. "Sure, no problem." She replied.

I grinned. "Thanks," I said, bending down to give her a quick peck on the lips before making my way to the bathroom.

"Digging the shorts by the way, they really make your ass look great," She teased with a playful giggle.

I glanced back at her with a wink before playfully wriggling my eyebrows and shaking my butt in the air as I did a semi-booty shake dance as I walked which erupted a series of giggles from Nessie.

As I got into the bathroom in my bedroom, I immediately stripped down into the full nude and jumped right into the shower and flipped the faucet on and let the hot, steaming water cascade down onto my body.

It was quite an intense workout today so I desperately needed this shower to cool me off.

As I stood underneath the sweltering water for minutes, I heard the bathroom door creak open.

Nessie probably wanted to use the bathroom.

We were so comfortable in each other's company that we both used the bathroom at the simultaneous times most of the time.

I still haven't seen Nessie take a shit or fart in front of me though.

She was so elegant in everything she did that those aspects of her she can keep tucked away so easily.

I'll catch her one day.

One day.

When she least expected it.

Maybe I can prank her?

Hehe.

"Hey, babe!" I called over the loud trickling water as I saw her shadow move through the misty, foggy, steamed shower curtain at the corner of my eye.

"Can you grab me a towel and just leave it on the floor?" I asked as I looked up and allowed the water to hit my face as I rubbed the soap over the loofa.

She didn't reply.

"Ness?" I called as I stopped. "Babe?" I called again when she didn't answer.

Next thing I knew, the shower curtain was abruptly flung right to open and Nessie stood in front of me with her hair down and dressed in nothing concealing her bottom half but her underwear and her upper torso in nothing but her printed t-shirt which she swiftly slipped over her head and dropped onto the ground, revealing her sexy black bra which she then unclasped and dropped to the floor, exposing her perfect, round, teardrop shaped breasts.

"How about we save water?" She suggested in a seductive tone, grinning crookedly as she looked at me with eyes of lust.

My mouth agape as I gawked at her body; her gorgeous, breathtaking body that I valued and adored so very much. I watched the way her breast sat so perfectly in place, her pink nipples pointing in a perky stance; then I skidded my eyes down to her concealed lower half and thighs, oh those wonderful curvy and slender thighs and hips that gave her the Victoria Secret hourglass figure that live in my dreams. Her skin, that silky smooth, porcelain, fair skin was so delectable. I could ravish her daily.

I felt my excitement grow in me as I immediately dragged Nessie into the shower by the arm, causing her to giggle. She draped her arms around my neck and pulled me down into a strong, passionate, sensual kiss underneath the water which dampened her hair and rinsed her body.

I hummed as I melted into the kiss as I gripped her face in my one hand and using my other to make sure to shut the shower curtain again, before spinning Nessie around until her back hit against the wall –without departing from her supple lips.

I moaned as Nessie bit my bottom lip between her strong teeth as we pulled away before letting go of my lip.

"What brought this on?" I asked passionately roaming my hands all over her body, my left hand finding her collarbone and top of her breast whilst the other gripped her ass.

"I needed a shower. You needed a shower. It made sense," She giggled as she ran her hand up and down my hard chest as she looked up at me with pure lust.

"This is highly dangerous," I mentioned.

She rolled her eyes and she glanced down at my throbbing, growing dick.

"You don't look to be complaining," She teased as her one hand fell down to grip it.

I grunted as I shut my eyes and licked my lips at the feeling of her hand beginning to stroke and caress my phallus ever so lovingly.

"'Sides, it's just a shower." She mocked before letting go of my erection abruptly which caused me to frown.

What the hell was that?

I was just getting into it.

I moaned as I then cupped her face in my hands and leaned in to smash my lips on hers but she stopped me by pressing her slender index finger against my lips.

"Ah, ah!" She warned, resting her head back. "Do you take me for a promiscuous girl, Jacob Black?"

I shook my head. "Not at all, Nessie Cullen. You're very much a classy woman who deserves…" I teased before spinning her body around and slamming her against the wall and raising her hands in the air. "High praise,"

She gasped as I plunged my head down to ravish her neck with my lips, capturing every water drop that trickled onto her soft skin with my tongue and sucking her skin underneath her neck as I grinded my body against back.

She moaned as she flew her hand behind my head and moved her backside against my groin as I continued planting kisses and licking her neck whilst I held her hands and body against the wall with one grip and used my other hand to roam around upper torso, feeling her nipples in between my fingers as I rubbed her breasts which ignited a loud moan from her mouth.

I dropped my hand down to her underwear and shoved the black lacy panties down to the floor which she kicked to the side with her naked feet.

After a satisfyingly lengthy five minutes of heavy petting and making out in this position, I turned her petite body around to face me again.

She tasted of honey, cinnamon and strawberry when my mouth found hers with a vigor and passion that threatened to tear her asunder. The fire burned through our blood, carrying with it a deeper need that was barely kept at bay.

Ness was grinning from ear to ear as she gazed into my eyes.

"May I wash your body?" She asked.

Did she even have to ask?

I nodded my head. "Oh, yeah," I said, eagerly.

She giggled as she grabbed my loofa and the shower gel and squirted some onto it as she then went to soap up and scrub my body, starting from my chest down to my abdomen and up to my arms then my back.

Her hands were tracing all around my aching hard muscles; which caused me to either hum in enjoyment or groan in slight discomfort.

"Your body feels tense, my love." She informed me. "You're not overexerting yourself at work or the gym are you?"

I chuckled at how concerned she sounded. She was already behaving like a concerned wife.

I found it cute.

"No – I guess it's just stress maybe? I don't know. Don't worry about it though," I told her as she scrubbed right above my butt crack.

"I'm gonna worry regardless, Jake. You should talk to me when things get too much for you. If you just need a back massage, let me know." She said.

"You give me back massages all the time, Ness." I joked. "Which I'm grateful for by the way,"

"Same here," She said with a smile. "But I want you to ask for them, y'know. Come to me when you need some relief from all the stress."

"Will do," I responded as she exfoliated my back. "So, my boss offered me a job promotion."

Nessie's enthusiastic gasp made me happy. "That's exciting! What's the offer?"

"Get this," I said, turning around to face her and taking the loofa to now begin washing her body. "He's expanding the business with new branches up in Texas, Philadelphia, Atlanta and New York. He wants me to run the New York branch."

Her eyes widened. "Are you serious?"

"Yup! I told him I was planning to move to NYC with you in the fall and he thought of me when he decided to do it. They're already building the autoshop up there after securing an open space. It's a bit of a different model to the one here. They bought an entire office building which they're refurbishing into a conducive mechanic garage. I'll deal with a lot of the recruiting of new mechanics up there so I'm gonna have to leave around August to get the shop ready for opening in late September or October."

Nessie would be starting her college degrees in Columbia University in September so this just meant we'd move up there one month earlier.

"You're totally taking the job though, right?" She asked as I scrubbed her breasts. "I mean this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, Jake!"

"It is." I smiled. "I just wanted to talk to you first to know if you were okay with it."

"Of course, I'm okay with it. You've been talking about opening up your own business for years. Sure, this isn't exactly that but it'll get your foot in the door." She stated with a proud smile.

"I agree," I replied. "This just means we'd probably be staying in New York on a more permanent long-term basis, depending on how long I'm running the company from there."

She shrugged her shoulders. "That's fine! We're gonna love New York." She said enthusiastically.

I sure hope so.

Big cities freaked me out.

"It should be fun," I said, running the loofa in between her inner thigh gap and scrubbing my way all the way up to her exposed center.

Her hands were on my shoulders as she supported her body while I continued washing her skin with the soapy fabric.

I scrubbed my way up to her lower abdomen and grazed her virtuous opening which caused her to gasp softly.

I could feel her body shiver and shudder underneath my touch.

"You okay?" I asked.

She nodded her head. "Please can you touch me there? I missed your fingers inside of me this week," She begged.

I cocked an eyebrow at her forwardness. "Oh?"

She blushed a bright red scarlet as she smiled sheepishly, staring down at our toes inches away from each other.

We didn't consider this part of our relationship as sex.

Foreplay was just the prelude to sex.

There was no breaking of the pre-wedding commitment with foreplay, right?

She didn't need to ask me twice.

I rinsed the loofa with my hands until it wasn't filled with soap and rinsed my hands before moving my hands back onto Nessie, roaming my hands all over her hips and inner thighs.

My left hand found its way at her clean-shaved entrance and I started off fondling it with caressing rubs which caused her to echo a soft moan of gratification. I rubbed and rubbed her skin until I felt her wetness upsurge –and it wasn't because of the shower waters.

A soft moan escaped her lips as she stared down at my hands chafing her core zestily. The friction of my fingers touching that part of her drove my mind into a tizzy.

I gotta taste her in my mouth.

ASAP!

I fell down into a squatting position as I leaned in to lick the folds of her pussy, her labia tasting so sweet against my hot wet tongue. This action caused her to wail in pleasure as her hand found my wet hair, gripping me tightly.

My tongue continued licking the inner and outer part of her vagina before I closed my mouth around her and drew my tongue back in, to suck her juices which ignited yet another earsplitting moan from her lips.

"Oh! Ah! That's good! Oh, that's good!" She whimpered, her fingers gripping my hair tightly as her head arched back underneath the shower head; she closed her eyes to let the water hit her face.

I sucked her some more before slipping my tongue back into her then out of her in a fast, snakelike slithering motion which surged trembling convulsions into her body.

"Oh my god!" She bellowed with a soft chuckle and gasp as she threaded her fingers through my head.

I drifted my tongue and lips away from her to slip my middle finger into her vagina which caused her to clench around me. I moaned at the feeling of her wet inner walls clench around my long finger as I began pumping in and out of her.

She was so frickin' tight!

As she loosened up a bit more, I invited two more fingers into her and propelling into her in and out in a swift yet romantic and gentle motion which invigorated louder moans and cries from her.

"Oh!" She yelped.

I slowly rose from the shower floor and stood up to lean against her, gripping her chin and lifting her head up so that I could capture her lips in a hungry kiss as I continued thrusting my fast hand into her.

As our lips locked, I dropped my freehand to caress her inner thigh and spread them apart by lifting it up slightly as I drove my fingers all the way up into her.

The squelching sounds that came out of her pussy made my cock twitch and bulge in excitement.

"Don't stop! Oh! Don't stop!" She cried. "Oh, Fuck!" She cussed as her head knocked back against the wall and her arm flew around my neck.

I drifted my lips from hers as I felt her inner orgasm building and I looked down at my fingers inside of her.

"You're close," I muttered in a deep, sexual growl.

"Oh!" She mumbled in a gasp as her eyes rolled back as I speedily thrust into her with my hand, increasing the pressure and speed as her orgasm neared.

As soon as I hit a particular erogenous nerve spot I usually always found, she exhaled a very powerful shriek that was akin to a banshee's cry before she trembled down to the floor as her knees failed her but I didn't let this stop me as I fell down with her in a squatting position again, my fingers still so deep inside of her as I pounded into her harder and faster.

"Ahh! I'm cumming!" She informed with her mouth open wide.

I increased the speed and motion of my fingers inside of her cervix and clit and all the way up, deep into her glands, my finger hitting the very G-spot that found her orgasm.

"Jake! Jake!" She cried out my name as my arm and hand vibrated like a jackhammer into her as she neared her climax.

"You feel so good, baby." I whispered in a hoarse, sexually passionate voice.

I flew my freehand around her neck, not gripping it in a chokehold but holding it tenderly as I captured her lips to feel the vibrations of her cries inside of my mouth.

"Mmm!" She whined as I pumped up and down and sideways inside of her hot, wet inner walls.

I lowered my hand around her neck down to cup one of her breasts, fondling and squeezing the soft tissue as I continued fervently pleasuring her pussy.

She convulsed the deeper and faster I drove into her body. She cried and wailed as I repeated heavy blows into her, a rhythm that was akin to buffeting that drove her euphoric state into over drive.

She was about to come.

And come hard.

"AH!" She erupted into a earth shattering, loud quake as her fingernails dug into my skin.

And then I felt the waters gush from her climax inside of her body and reach my fingers before I slipped my hand out to watch her squirt all her sexual juices out of her body, accompanied by a powerful sob.

Her squirts just kept flowing and flowing as her moans intensified.

"Omigosh!" She panted, running her hand over her tormented vagina as the final drops trickled down her legs.

I grinned with a sense of accomplishment.

As I went to slip my finger back into her vagina, thinking she was done relieving her ejaculation, she stopped me by clutching my hand.

"W-Wait! Wait..." She panted heavily, still moaning and quaking shakily on her legs.

I chuckled as I looked into her eyes. "Too much? Are you done?" I joked.

She shook her head, giggling uncontrollably.

"No," She moaned as she gripped around my neck. "Whew! Just need to catch my breath for a moment there,"

I looked at her with a satisfied smile.

"Humph…" She gasped as I left her shaking with her arms wrapped around my neck. Her safe place.

"C'mere," I muttered as I brought her trembling body into me.

I wrapped my arms around her waist and hugged her small frame, breathing in her lovely scent.

I could hear her sniff and softly cry as she dug her head into my neck.

Panic stricken, I was now in full alpha concern mode.

Uh oh!

Did I do something wrong?

Did I hurt her?

"What's wrong? Why are you crying?" I asked, holding her wrist that was dangling on my shoulder. "Did I hurt you?"

She chuckled. "No – You didn't, Jake." She stated.

I frowned as I lifted her off the floor and positioned her up in a straight, upright position before moving her face to look at me.

"It's just…" She paused as she thought. "I love you so much, Jake."

I managed to smile slightly. "I love you too, baby." I replied, gazing into her glistening chocolate brown eyes.

She bent on her tiptoes to kiss my lips softly. I held her wrist in my hand and pulled her close to me into a warm, hug.

As we parted she had her eyes looking down, staring at my hardened dick that was poking at her belly button. She released a series of giggles.

"I should probably fix that, huh?" She teased as she now looked up at me.

"Hmm?" I asked before following her gaze. "Oh! Right? Him! Do you want to?"

She gnawed her lip as she then dropped down to her knees in her seductive motion before pushing her water drenched, darkened moppy hair back behind her hair and wrapped her hand around my shaft.

I exhaled an 'o' shaped breath as my arms spread until I was holding my hands against both walls of the wide en-suite shower.

Nessie began stroking my provoked exposed flex with both of her smaller hands; traveling up and down in a slow, sensual grip which only increased my sexual drive further.

"Oh, yeah!" I moaned as her soft hands pumped my shaft.

Her giggles were like little musical jingles in my head; a fine tune that could easily lull me into a state of peaceful utopia.

The speed of her strokes gradually augmented just as I balled my hands into fists against the wall and tossed my head back to resist the urge of taking her entire body right then and there.

You can control it, Jake.

Control it.

Her hot mouth found its way around the tip of my penis and I moaned as I felt her slide the tip of her tongue around the mushroom head, licking the contours of my exposed muscle. The tantalizing sensation of her breath drove me into madness.

She could sense my cock twitching and subsequently giggled at the feeling on her tongue.

Frickin' hell!

She's so good at this!

Holy crap!

Maybe I can't control it!

Once she reached the neck, I moaned as I felt more of her mouth enclose around my cock –as she dropped one hand and kept the other at the base of my shaft. She rolled her hand around my base to the lips that was moving back and forth on my brown dick.

My breath began to catch as she sucked a little harder; my ears hearing the sound of the slurp and pops of her mouth around me.

Shit! That felt like heaven.

My body and soul was ascending!

"That's it, Ness!" I encouraged as I brought one hand to run through her moppy, soaked hair.

Her moans vibrated around me as she continued to suck my hard phallus, excitement building in her as she tasted the little burst of flavor from my pre-cum on her tongue.

One might think this was a subservient position for her but in reality she was the one holding all the puppet strings.

And I was glad to be her puppet.

She curled her tongue around the body of my penis, licking every vein and skin of it and lubricating it with her saliva.

Her tongue briefly departed from my cock when she trailed down to the base and then moved her tongue to graze my pubic hairs then up my bladder and lower abs.

The feeling caused me to grunt.

She brought her tongue back to tease my cock again, her tongue licking underneath my testicles all the way up to my external glans.

She moved her hand to then cup my crown jewels aka my ball sack and began fondling them which only drove me over the edge.

"Nessie, oh! Right there!" I moaned.

She smirked as she flicked my penis whilst looking up into my eyes from down there which I personally found ridiculously sexy..

She slurped my entire shaft into her mouth, so much so I could feel my head reaching her uvula and down to her vocal cords. This action caused me to roll my eyes back and cuss loudly as I felt the vibrations of her moans increase as she gagged around me.

I pulled my dick out to allow her to catch her breath before she captured my penis again with her hand to twist and turn it in strong and fast strokes.

I yelped in gratification.

There was something different about this.

It was a lot more aggressive than usual.

I didn't want to complain but I knew she never gagged down my shaft in this position before. This felt slightly foreign to me. It felt…almost dangerous.

"Nessie…" I began but I was stopped in my tracks as I felt her mouth return around me again.

Jeez.

She wouldn't stop!

Her mouth felt so good around me!

I reached around to twist the faucet and stopped the water running before proceeding to let Nessie suck me off. My hands then found their way onto her head as I moved with her in a rhythm that felt so right.

I took shallow breaths, lightly thrusting into her mouth, not wanting to really hurt her. Nessie bobbed her head, and moaned once or twice more, the only other thing audible were her quiet sucking sounds as she gripped onto my muscled thighs.

Digging her nails into my legs, I breathed. "Nessie," I twitched into her mouth.

I still wasn't sure if we should be doing this, especially after what she now knows about my history with Bella and it's so clear that it bothered her and we needed to talk about it but she didn't want to talk about it. But even I couldn't focus on that right now.

She felt so good on me, and if we really needed to talk, we'd do it in the morning.

But now, I wasn't sure I could ever stop.

She gurgled my cock in her mouth as she continued to perform fellatio onto me. I moved my hips in a swift motion as I felt the pressure building as I was so close to meeting my release.

My eyes were only half open now, rolled back until only the whites showed as I felt the sheer, unadulterated euphoria that came from being pleasured by the little bobblehead that was Nessie.

"Does that feel good?" She asked.

"Yes, very good."

My hand found her tits and I started squeezing them and playing with them just as I started swelling and throbbing in her mouth.

I was close.

I slipped my penis out and spread my legs apart until I lowered down at the wavelength of her chest where I encouraged her to encapsulate and cage her breasts around my penis.

She obliged by closing her breasts around my positioned penis and I responded by pounding her firm, round breasts.

Nessie had the best tits ever.

Not too big.

Not too small.

Just right.

Just about right enough that I could do this action.

"Fuck, Ness!" I cussed as I tossed my head back as I thrust my hips into her.

I felt the pressure build and build inside of me as I made love to her breasts with my dick.

"I'm gonna cum!"

"Do it!" She begged earnestly, as she looked up at me with euphoric, lustful eyes.

I moaned again as I pounded ten more times before gasping for air as my breath quickened.

"Oh, Fuck! Oh, Shit!" I yelled as I pulled my dick out of her breasts as my semen began rushing up my scrotum and through my urethra duct.

"Open your mouth," I begged.

She quickly obliged as I repositioned my pulsating dick in her mouth.

I stroked it vigorously as I felt my ejaculation travel up my ducts before I imploded and splattered my hot cum into her mouth, shooting and unloading every last drop, and crying and cussing out loud as I let out another orgasmic explosion.

The hot cum oozed out of my penis like buttercream icing on a cupcake. It was thick and large liquid.

My toes curled and my body trembled as she savored the taste of me when I finally came into her mouth.

Nessie hummed as she swallowed my unloaded seed and giggled as her some of my semen escaped through the corner of her lips.

I was breathing out heavily. "Shit! Wow!" I panted as I ran my finger through my damp hair.

She giggled as she caught some come residue and slip it back into her mouth and swallowed.

Her lips enclosed around my pulsing, sensitive cock after my surreal burst.

I chuckled with carnality as I tried to catch my breath, panting heavily as my chest heaved dramatically.

Whew!

That was good!

"Is this good enough for you?" She asked me.

I frowned as I looked down at her, eyes dazed as I tried to process her words in my head.

What the hell did she mean by that?

"What?"

"Was that good enough for you Jake? Was I good enough?" She asked again.

How the hell could she even ask that?

Did she not feel good enough?

Was that it?

Was that why she did this?

Because she wanted prove that she was good enough for me to be pleasured like this?

Is that how she saw herself?

Unworthy of my love for her?

Oh.

We definitely have a problem.

... ...

Renesmee Cullen

President's Day.

Today, Oakland Woods or Oak Wood County –I really don't know what this town was called anymore – was hosting its annual President's Day military parade at Hillmarrow Lane near the Oak Wood Town Hall House.

The Oak Wood Town Hall House was basically the equivalent to The White House but for the town and the mayor and his cabinet. It was a state owned house that many local governmental officials frequent on a regular for legislative meetings and even political town banquets. It was also where the Town Council House, where they hosted many of the lavish banquets, galas and other events.

The biggest upcoming event of the year was the Debutante Ball in a little over three weeks away.

March 7th.

The mayor, Richard Ernest Albert St. Clair III was hosting the parade although, apparently due to his ill health his son, the acting mayor/deputy mayor of Oakland Woods, Atticus St. Clair would be overseeing and conducting the proceedings in his absence.

Atticus St. Clair was a middle aged man –around fifty-five or fifty-six– who looked fit for his age. He ran a 50K race that he trained months for to mark his 50th birthday in his first year in office and has always maintained that physical fitness was essential to being a leader during many of his campaign speeches. He looked like a decent looking man, I suppose.

He cared a lot about appearances.

Atticus Cornelius Albert St. Clair II – the raging republican and also the infamous father of the school's self-righteous popular girl – Melissa St. Clair – was not a very nice man. He was apparently very arrogant and ruthless behind the scenes, but to the public he displayed strength, kindness, courage and power. It's what many politicians do I suppose, I shouldn't be surprised that he was awful.

The St. Clair family were a powerful, aristocratic family with many ties to some British or European king from the 1600s or something. One of their ancestors settled into this part of America in the early 1760s and helped to build Oakland Woods into what it was today, thus leading to the St. Clair family being one of the first core members of the Founding Families.

They were there around the days of Cassia too from what Ray Parker told us.

There's a mayoral election every four years like a normal presidential election run but any prospective candidates usually lose in the final rounds because the St. Clair family were so powerful and manage to edge out every ballot.

It was a family business in the sense that for the past 63 mayoral in-office mayors, the St. Clair family only lost a race three times in over 250 years.

After the elections next year, Atticus was poised to take over from his father who has been mayor for a better part of twenty or so years. Atticus was the oldest of four children, only two of them are in politics. One of them was a famous filmmaker in Hollywood and the other was a renowned news reporter based in New York –who the family apparently don't get along with.

Elaine 'Laney' St. Clair was a celebrated, Stanford University undergraduate and Columbia University honors degree graduate, news journalist who has broken and developed some of the country's and world's hard hitting breaking news stories.

She had her first column in the New Yorker at twenty-years-old and worked for The New York Times for ten years and then The Wall Street Journal for three years before she opened her own news agency, whilst also working on-call for many news channels from CNN, ABC, and NBC and even dabbled in some entertainment journalism.

She was a phenom.

She was one of my biggest inspirations for becoming a journalist one day. She has written plenty bestselling novels over the years that I drew inspiration from in my daily life.

I couldn't understand why she was a pariah in her family until I came across a story she broke about the corrupt governmental practices that involved the practices of her father and brother as well.

She was also a staunch democrat and feminist which differed greatly with the political values and ideologies of most of her family.

She was very much an independent women of the modern era. She didn't have kids because she didn't want them or feel the desire to have them what with her busy schedule although she's been married twice –her current marriage is with a man twelve years her junior.

What an aspirational woman.

Anyway…

Atticus' oldest son, Braxton Lincoln Atticus St. Clair, also known as the tabloid's 'most eligible bachelor in California' was expected to take over from his father when he was of age. He was poised to graduate from Princeton University early and would be returning today for the parade and the Debutante Ball.

The family was somewhat progressive in that Braxton would potentially become the first mixed race mayor of the town. The polls are somewhat split about that because again, this town was very elitist and very much filled with people with an 'old school' way of thinking –which is why I guess the St. Clair's have been in power for so long.

The embracing of modernity might have frightened a lot of people.

The public persona of the St. Clair's was definitely that of a 'tight-knit' family. Atticus' façade was that of a 'family man' who put his family at first priority in his life and this was a sight that helped him a lot with the people and in the polls. It was probably why Melissa was so difficult and rude and also why she's so arrogant, because she came from such a powerful family that had very high standards to live down.

This was everything that Felicity and Alex have told me about the family.

There would be a traditional military parade by the troops followed by a town parade with many floats and the various Oak Wood schools marching bands. During and after the parade, the mayor is hosting an outdoor party outside the Town Hall House and the streets. The town holds many parades in a year, like the upcoming annual 4th of July Independence Day parade which was a lot of fun.

"Welcome you all to the annual Oak Wood Town House Presidents' Parade!" The incumbent Mayor of Oakland Woods, Atticus St. Clair cheered over the microphone as he stood on the military inspired, patriotically, decorated stage.

The 15,000 residents of Oakland Woods all cheered.

"Today could not be a more perfect day to have a street party!" He expressed with a bright smile. The crowds erupted in laughter.

"The sun is shining and the excitable crowd is seismic! The energy is wonderful so thank you all for coming out in droves to celebrate our presidential history!" He said, clapping his hands together which ignited a chorus of cheers.

"Now you may have noticed things look a little different at this year's Presidents' Day. The Mayor of Oakland Woods and my dear, dear father Richard St. Clair couldn't make it today due to ill-health. He wishes he could be here and I send my regards from him as he recovers so your sincerest prayers and wellwishes would be greatly appreciated during this trying time."

We all applauded and some people even whooped and uttered the words 'Amen!' as they praised the sitting mayor as well as his interim mayoral son.

"Presidents' Day isn't just about who is in office and the presidents of the past or future, it's also about the people. The families." He said, before gesturing to his family to come up onto the stage. "Which is why I am so thrilled to have my family by my side today."

There was huge cheers followed by several applause as the St. Clair family all took to the stage.

Atticus St. Clair's wife, Mabel 'Josie' Josephine St. Clair came onto the stage holding the hands of the couple's youngest children, the fraternal twins Bartholomew 'Bart' Cornelius Rex and Grace 'Gracie' Lillian Frances.

The two oldest children, Braxton and none other than Aurelia Melissa Marie St. Clair followed closely behind.

Her first name translated literally to 'golden child'. It was so obvious she was a daddy's girl looking at the way her father looked at her with pride.

The popular mean girl at school waved at the crowds and soaked in all the adulation like some pageant princess.

Oh, brother.

I rolled my eyes.

"Could she be any more conceited," I said, reluctantly clapping my hands as I leaned towards Gina who was grinning widely.

She didn't notice Melissa.

"Oh! Braxton!" Gina cheered loudly matching the loud roars from the swooning girls around us when the young handsome, light caramel skinned man with hazel-brown eyes waved to the crowds, dressed in a dapper navy suit and pale blue tie.

He looked very presidential and notable.

"He's so hot isn't he?" LaTasha stated –a friend of mine who I met in the newspaper club and a member of the drama club.

I shrugged my shoulders, clapping as I looked at him. "He's alright," I responded.

I never saw guys as anything other than human ever since I got with Jacob. I never thought of guys as attractive –which is normal in any relationship right?

But even conventionally attractive guys I didn't find attractive at all. I could admit when someone was good looking but I could never ever find them eye-catching to look at. Even my celebrity crushes have faded away ever since I got with Jacob.

Jacob was the only man I saw. The only man my eyes cared to look at.

Braxton's eyes caught mine in the massive crowd and he gave me a flirtatious smirk.

Ew!

I did not like that.

Move over, buddy!

You're not getting anything from me. Sorry!

I visibly felt uncomfortable and moved my eyes away from him and focused on his father's presentation instead.

"The First Lady of Oakland Woods and my lovely wife Mabel," Atticus St. Clair introduced after hugging his children and kissing his wife's cheek.

Mabel (or Josie as the family liked to call her in private) waved to the crowds. The local tabloids likened her to Michelle Obama simply because of how she dressed, carried herself and acted but I suspected it was because she was also just one of the very few black first ladies who held a position in office. Backwards thinking if you ask me.

She was beautiful though. I know where Melissa got her rich good looks from. She had a rich, glowing, cool hazelnut and cinnamon skin tone that glistened under the sun rays. She wore her hair in a braided bun but mostly she had a different hairstyle with a different texture every time she made a public appearance.

"You might know my two little rascals over here, Bart and Gracie say hi to everyone." He asked, asking one of his assistance to bring a microphone over to him.

The assistant press secretary ran to the mayor with a mic and handed it to Atticus who took it and shoved it in between the seven year old twins.

"Hi!" The twins greeted the crowd in unison which caused a chorus of coos to spring forth in a wave.

Atticus laughed. "They're a little bit shy today," He chuckled before shifting to his older kids. "And my lovely, wonderful, beautiful daughter Melissa is here too. My oldest daughter who just recently found out she got accepted into the prestigious Ivy League college in Rhode Island –Brown University!" He applauded.

Melissa twirled as she took in all the praise.

I scoffed, shaking my head at the self-centered girl. This was only stroking her already big ego.

"I'm so proud of you, sweetie! She may not like it but she'll always be daddy's little girl," Atticus stated.

Melissa rolled her eyes at her dad before hugging her and waving back at the crowds as her dad handed the mic to her.

"Thank you, dad!" She giggled. "Hello, everyone! What a big turn out! Is everyone having fun?" She worked the crowd.

Everyone cheered and chanted; her boyfriend Dominic led a loud dog howling chant with the entire baseball team from behind eyes.

I gave them an irritable look before rolling my eyes back to the family.

"And I wanna express a warm greeting to my son who is visiting us from New Jersey as he's about to graduate from my alma mater Princeton University this summer!" He applauded as he brought his son in.

This was basically a bragging contest.

He was showing off his accomplished, perfect, traditional All-American family.

"You might just be seeing a lot of him during my re-campaign for mayor next year so ladies, keep an eye out for this pretty face." He teased, clasping his son's neck and laughed just as the girls roared with excited cheers.

"Thank you, dad," Braxton said to the mic. "As the future mayor of Oakland Woods, I want to express my love for this town and my commitment to all of you and to pushing this town into the 21st century." He remarked briefly.

Everyone applauded.

"Someone's a bit ambitious, huh?" Atticus teased his son. "As my ambitious son mentioned, it has been a family legacy to keep reinventing this town to be better and bigger than before. A quote by the incomparable president Dwight D. Eisenhower says, 'Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.' We don't do this because we have to. We do it because we want to."

Various crowd members cheered.

"Thank you to my wonderful family! Family is everything. Without them, I do not know where I would be." He said, clapping as they all left the stage.

"I would also like to acknowledge our lovely eligible young debutantes carefully curated and picked from different local schools and colleges for this season's Debutante Ball!" He began.

I caught Felicity breathe in a heavy breath as she got herself pumped up to gear up and take the stage. She was in her element. She loved being the center of attention and she loved the fantasy and romantic nature of this whole charade but unlike Melissa, she wasn't conceited or self-centered about it.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our 12 stunning participants for this year's Debutante Ball and their handsome escorts," He commended.

We watched and clapped as the girls from the elite part of Oakland Woods took to the stage, accompanied by their escorts.

Alex, Felicity, Rea and Melissa took to the stage dressed in all white varying outfits which mirrored the color scheme they'd be wearing on the actual debutante ball day.

Alex stood with her brother Justin, dressed in a cute yet loose fitting off-white top and white skinny jeans –probably the only one wearing pants which was very on brand for Alex.

Felicity wore a very airy, whimsical floral and lace white dress by the brand Self-Portrait and sky high white Christian Louboutin stiletto heels. She wore her hair in a very cute high, straight ponytail with a colorful pastel pink ribbon and white bedazzled headband holding it together. She was accompanied by Bryce Foley who went to our rivaling school Riverside.

Rea was dressed in a simply white dress –an unusual color palette for her normally dark attire – but she added black gloves and a black belt to add some edge to it. She was escorted by her older brother Oliver Reed who was currently running Reed Enterprises.

Melissa on the other hand dressed to the nines. She wore a very expensive creamy Chanel, tweed two piece blazer and short skirt combo with a simple black tank crop top underneath her cropped blazer and she completed the look by wearing expensive shoes by Chanel and carried a Chanel bag and wore Chanel jewelry –a pendant and pearl drop earrings.

I think I know which fashion brand was sponsoring this event.

She was obviously escorted by her older brother Braxton.

"This year's candidates will be vying to be crowned as this season's Gem of the ball!" Atticus announced. "Everyone give it up for our lovely debutantes!"

As we clapped for them, I had this weird, overwhelming and unnerving, ominous feeling that I was being watched and stalked.

I looked around nervously, scanning my surroundings as my queasy feeling at the pit of my stomach exacerbated.

"Let's give a big hand to the Oak Wood High School and Riverside Marching Bands!" He introduced and we all cheered as the marching bands sampled some of their instrumental march.

"Please enjoy all the amenities the festivities has to offer; we have food vendors, drinks at the bar, playground entertainment for your children, picnic areas, ground fair activities and so much more." He issued. "We have deployed our finest Oakland Woods Police Department deputies, led by our incomparable Commissioner Fitzpatrick, to keep the place guarded and give you that peace of mind of safety."

I noticed then that there were at least fifteen or twenty guarded and armed deputies –decked out in their uniforms – that were making patrols around the vicinity.

"I want to leave you with this quote by one of our founding fathers and 2nd President of the United States, John Adams 'If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.' Enjoy!"

There was a string of clamorous cheers as he dismissed us and got off the stage.

Alex, Rea and Felicity looked angelic in white, approaching us as they meandered their way towards us.

"You girls look amazing!" I remarked with a chuckle.

Felicity curtseyed whereas Alex just simply rolled her eyes and protested with a groan.

"This is just a little taste of what to expect from my ballgown," Felicity giggled. "Gosh – I cannot believe the ball is just three weeks ago! There's so much to do. Oh – Girls, don't forget we have dance practice on Wednesday! And joint dress fittings on Friday." Felicity rambled.

Alex sighed in annoyance and defeat which caused Rea and Gina to laugh.

"I'm thirsty and hungry. Let's go see what we can eat," Alex said, changing the subject.

"Wait! Let's watch the parade first!" Felicity suggested as soon as the horn kicked off the musical marching parade.

"Felicity!" Alex moaned.

Felicity pleaded. "This will be fun! It's patriotic! Live a little! C'mon!" She erupted enthusiastically, tugging onto Alex's arm.

The giddy and cheerful blonde girl dragged us all to go watch the military procession and float display.

I enjoyed these aspects of the human world a lot I'm not gonna lie. I enjoyed pomp and pageantry; not to the degree as many of the older family members do though.

I still had a very modern mentality, but the grandiose affair of military parades, dignitary state visits, even the superficial royal weddings we see on TV, these events where you just get to dress up and step back from the modern world always captured my fascination and imagination.

I was a lot like my parents in that way.

Speaking of my parents…

I had a very epically big fight with my mother yesterday after I came back from the camping trip.

I didn't want to do a play-by-play replay of it but let's just say…words were said. Some words I had to get out and some words I will regret saying in time, words that I couldn't take back.

Flashback

"You're despicable! Dishonorable! Deplorable! Horrible! And I don't think I will ever forgive you for this." I spat. "Frankly, I don't think I know you anymore." I snarled at her.

My mother's face, god, if I could reverse time I would have done it if it meant never to see that face again. The face of hurt. The face of pain. The face of broken glass. The face of a woman who would forever be scarred by the cutting words from her daughter.

"Nessie! I will not accept you speaking to your mother that way!" My father raised his voice in a loud, stern tone that almost shook the house.

I didn't flinch though. I stood my ground.

"No, dad! She needs to hear it!" I said, my eyes glaring ablaze at my mother. "You guys lied to me for years! Years! Almost a decade! And for what?"

"Nessie, I didn't mean to hurt you!"

"And yet you did! That's what secrets do, mom! They hurt people!" I shouted. "What did you think would happen if I wasn't born, huh? Did you think you'd have both dad and Jacob by your side, stringing them along like they're your little worshippers? Is that why you didn't tell me? Because you know how this would make you look?"

"And how does it make me look, huh?" She snarled back at me.

Oh! She wanted to get into it.

This only pushed me further, invigorating me with burning rage that just consumed me, persuading me from uttering words I would live to regret.

"…Like a sad, pathetic, narcissistic little girl who is desperate for attention from men." I sneered as I came close to her face.

My mother pursed her lips together as she tried to restrain herself but ultimately failed as she finally blew up.

"Get the hell out of my house!" She shrieked, gesturing to the door. "I want you out of my house now!" She shouted.

I winced.

END OF FLASHBACK

I shook my head as I let the images fade away from memory as I tried to suppress that day.

I haven't talked to her ever since.

Even though I was super angry, I felt incredibly horrible about the words I shared to her.

And I couldn't take them back.

"Hey, Ness." Alex's voice called to me. I looked at her. "Are you okay?"

I sighed, nodding my head. "I'm fine," I assured, although I doubted it was convincing to Alex.

"How did your conversation with your mother go?" She asked me curiously. I looked at her with an expression she understood. "That bad?"

I sighed, glancing down at my glass as we both now stood near the makeshift outside bar with some juice in our grasps and watching the large crowd –where we left the rest of the girls–looking at the military procession stroll by with the loud presidential trumpeters, saxophonists and drummers playing some rendition of the national anthem.

"I don't wanna talk about it," I replied. "Because talking about it will only get me mad and sad and just…Ugh! Frustrated!" I exclaimed.

She nodded. "Believe me, I understand. My fights with my mom are constantly endless." She stated.

I smiled back as I turned to her. She had her hair pulled back into a ponytail, a decision I thought probably had to do with her unexpected morning sickness.

"And you?" I asked. She turned to me. "How are you feeling today?"

She scoffed. "I found out I gained five pounds this morning and I spewed my guts out on the way here but other than that I'm doing peachy," She uttered with her signature sarcastic flare.

I giggled weakly. "You haven't spoken to Seth?"

She shook her head. "No. And I'm not planning to." She confirmed. "Not until I see the doctor this week. You're still on for that, right?"

I nodded, although I didn't verbally respond.

She still didn't know that Seth knew about the pregnancy.

If I told her I think that would just send her over the edge so I decided to keep that information to myself until Seth talked to Alex.

Secrets.

I hated them so much!

"Thank you again for everything." She stated. "You've been a literal lifesaver during this whole process. Thanks for also offering to pay for my appointment, I really appreciate it."

"Of course," I said, comfortingly rubbing her back. "You'd do the same for me,"

She smiled back before drifting her eyes back to the military parade as spectators and town residents cheered as the troops decked out in military uniforms and armor walked by.

"God, what a ridiculous form of military propaganda," She remarked.

I chuckled as my eyes continued looking around the crowd of humans. I caught Alex's father in a lengthy, deep and somber discussion with Luke Fitzpatrick's father, Commissioner Fitzpatrick and the mayor Atticus St. Clair.

"My dad's sort of seeing if he can advertise some of his weaponry to the police department," Alex stated following my gaze. "You know my dad works in weaponry and arms dealerships, right?"

I nodded. "I remember. His side job is just hunting vampires," I laughed, whispering the word.

She smiled. "Well, that's what he did when he was still working for the FBI. Selling, exchanging and dealing firearms. He thinks if he can convince the police department to accept the offer it would help increase the protective barrier around this town against the supernatural threats –especially with the kind of weapons my dad has in his possession."

"But obviously the police department wouldn't know that, right?"

She nodded. "Right,"

"It's very noble of your dad. To go through great lengths to protect humans." I expressed.

She shrugged. "I don't know. My dad never does anything if there isn't anything in it for him. He may hunt vampires to protect humans but it's definitely not as black and white as just doing it because he cares about the town's residents. He wants something out of this, I just can't figure out what." She told me.

I frowned as I moved my eyes back to focus firmly on her dad again.

I wonder what ulterior motives he had.

"Omigosh – My boobs are huge." She stated as she suddenly rubbed her chest. "Morning sickness sucks but this part, I like. I wouldn't mind if I kept these," She added, cupping her boobs.

I giggled as I stared down at her. "Does it hurt?"

She shrugged. "Not really – I used to be a B-cup but now I'm a little over a C-cup now which is awesome but I think people will start thinking I got a boob job."

I guffawed, shaking my head.

"Don't laugh! Your boobs look amazing!" She pointed out. "They're the ideal size BTW. They're not small enough that you feel pathetic and not too big that people think you went under the knife like Francesca Alfonso."

I blushed. "Well…Thank you, I guess."

I didn't know what to say to being complimented on having nice breasts. I never thought of my breasts as being of a particular standard but I guess that now I have more girlfriends who looked different from me and vice versa, it tended to be the norm to compare ourselves.

Having girlfriends was good for the self-esteem boost, especially since we always strived to hype up and empower one another.

"I haven't lactated yet and thankfully I'm never going to," She said with a sigh of relief.

I flashed a small soft smile as I glanced down at my sparkly engagement ring that I fiddled with.

I still haven't yet asked Alex if she would be my maid of honor. With everything going on with her pregnancy, school, supernatural drama and everything personal going on at home, I just haven't found the time to ask her.

There wasn't any rush though.

The wedding was over a year away anyway. I still had loads of time.

"What are you thinking about?" Alex asked me.

I looked at her. "Nothing much, just thinking about the wedding."

She huffed. "Right! Aren't you always thinking about the wedding?"

I gasped. "Not always!"

"Mhmm," She wasn't convinced as she took a sip of her orange juice.

"No – Seriously! It isn't all I think about, I promise you." I confessed. "I'll have you know, I have been also thinking about high school graduation, college, prom, food, TV shows, my friends, family, my cat and how I need to take him to the vet, what we're gonna do for Felicity's birthday, my chemistry assignments, my upcoming English thesis, my budget, my car, softball matches, the news, quadratic equations, quantum physics, sex –"

"How's the sex with Jacob by the way?" She eagerly asked.

"We're sort of taking a break."

Kind of. I thought with a blush.

She frowned. "Oh, because of the thing with your mom?"

I moaned. "No! It has nothing to do with my mom!" I shrieked. She flinched. "Sorry – No, it doesn't have to do with her. We are actually deciding to just wait for the wedding night."

"Again, all roads lead to the wedding," She pointed out. I groaned. "Why are you waiting anyway?"

"I thought it would be special that way,"

She scoffed.

"It's romantic! The wait makes it worth it. Trust me." I stated my case.

"Right." She hummed. "What do you guys do in the mean time?"

I shrugged. "We do other things…"

She gagged as she realized what I referred to as I created a mental image for her to imagine.

"Ew! Okay! Enough!" She said. "I'm about to throw up again,"

I giggled.

"I still can't believe you're mad at your mom for keeping this from you but not Jacob," She pointed out. "Why is that?"

I glared at her.

"What? It's true!" She added.

"I'm still mad at Jacob, Alex," I confirmed. "It's just…Complicated."

I couldn't explain it really.

But I just couldn't bring myself to talk to Jacob about this no matter how angry I was. I couldn't fight with him. I didn't want to.

"Mhmm." She hummed. "Why isn't he here?" she enquired inquisitively, although I sensed she was also asking in case Seth would be with him or not.

She still couldn't face him yet.

"He's not coming, I told you," I assured her.

"I know. Just making sure," She responded before falling silent again.

I pursed my lips as I surveyed the crowd again.

"And…What about Cassia?" She asked.

My breathing hitched.

Oh, yeah.

Cassia.

"The Town Council Archives are here right?" I asked.

Alex nodded. "Right through that door, " She said pointing to a door near the main house.

I hummed.

"We can see if we can get ahold of the keys and copy the keys or something during practice? And then you can break into it at the debutante ball and banquet itself?" She explained.

I nodded in agreement. That sounded like a plan.

"Cassia wouldn't show up today, would she?" I asked. "I've just been having this weird feeling like we're being watched,"

Alex shook her head. "I don't think so. It would be too obvious, right? And besides, what would she do in a densely populated part of the town?"

I nodded. "Good point. I don't know. I just feel on edge every time I go out, thinking she'll just show up—" I stopped.

Our conversation was abruptly cut short by Felicity who appeared out of the blue.

"What are you girls talking about?" She immediately asked.

Alex and I shared a look between each other before scrambling to face Felicity again.

I cleared my throat. "Ahem" I coughed. "Nothing – Nothing much."

Felicity wasn't entirely convinced. "Well, anyway um…I was thinking, for our spring break vacation we could fly over to Cancun, Mexico and rent like a beach house or something, what do you think?"

Alex grumbled. "But everyone's going to Cancun for spring break though,"

"True, but there are some very cool spots there and we can avoid any familiar faces. It's also affordable for you – I could have easily offered to pay for a trip to Mykonos, Greece but you wouldn't have it so Cancun is the next best thing."

"We'll talk about it," I hushed the blonde, enthusiastic girl.

It was great to see she was coming back to her usual lively self, even if it's just for the day.

"I was thinking we could stick closer to home. There's this really awesome beach-house my grandmother owns near Montecito, outside of Santa Barbara and Oakland Woods. It has amazing ocean views and activities to do. She even has a yacht." I said.

It was also where Jacob proposed to me.

I would love to return to that place that was my brand new happy place.

Alex and Felicity shrugged as they looked at each other.

"That's also an option," Felicity agreed.

Alex sighed. "Listen, I'm gonna starve to death if I don't get food into my system. I'll be back in a jiff," She informed us before walking away.

I smiled as I took a sip of my drink.

I could feel Felicity's eyes on me, glaring at me with curiosity and frustration as I could sense she wanted to get something off her chest but didn't know the appropriate way to come forth with it.

"What?" I asked her, mid-drink as I glanced back at her.

She exhaled. "What are you hiding from me?"

I looked at her. "Felicity – What do you mean? I'm not hiding anything."

She sighed. "Then why does it feel like I'm being shut out from our friend group?"

"You're not, Lecity." I assured her as I rested my hand on her elbow.

"C'mon!" She looked up at me in raised eyebrows. "Ever since I found out about you and everything, we barely see each other. No – More like ever since the school year started! We barely even talk about things other boys and school," She spoke, expressively.

"I'm sorry that you feel that way, Lecity but you made it abundantly clear that you don't want any part of this life and I respect that. I don't want this life for you either, that's why I've been giving you the space you need." I told her.

"And I'm grateful for that, truly I am and it has been tough of me to come to grips with you and your family and your lifestyle. It's still difficult and I'm trying my best to fully get over it but I just can't help but I feel like I'm not a piece in your life anymore." She spoke sadly.

I glanced down at my glass.

"It doesn't feel like I'm just missing out on supernatural aspect of things which I agree, I want no part of but it feels like I'm missing out on crucial moments in your lives too." She stated.

"That's not true. We let you in," I said –but even I wasn't convinced by that blatant lie.

"C'mon, Ness! Even you know it's true." She pointed out. "You can't even tell me you're engaged? That's huge and I'm supposed to be the friend you tell when something big happens in your life and yet…You haven't."

My eyes bulged in shock as she dropped the bombshell.

She knew that I was engaged?

"Who told you that?" I demaded.

"No one had to tell me," She scoffed. "First of all, you're wearing a gorgeous diamond ring on that finger and to anyone else it could look like some fancy piece of jewelry but I know a 3.5 carat diamond ring when I see one and that missy is an engagement ring!" She exclaimed, pointing to the rock on my finger.

I sighed. "Felicity…"

"Why couldn't you tell me you were engaged?" She asked, her face in deep hurt.

Felicity was smart.

She could tell when something was different in our lives.

Maybe she was intuitive.

She also knew me well, just like Alex knew me well.

"It just happened three weeks ago, barely even a month ago and I don't know…I was just afraid, I guess?" I admitted.

"Afraid of what?"

I didn't answer. "Look – I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the engagement." I apologized.

She nodded as she looked at me with glistening eye and then down at my ring before meeting my eyes again.

"But it's not just about the engagement itself, Nessie." She brought up. "It's that I didn't even know you were engaged at all! That's the principle."

I pressed my lips together as I listened attentively.

"It's all the whispered conversations in secret meet up spots or overcrowded hallways with Alex or Justin or even Jennifer! You're either off with Alex doing god knows what or you're with Jacob. I bet you all hang out when I'm not around too. I feel like I'm missing out on a whole lot and it hurts,"

I felt incredibly bad.

We were not intentionally shutting her out of our lives but I could understand how that could have hurt her immensely.

"We used to be so close. Inseparable the two of us. Losing Alex in all of this was bad enough, I didn't think I'd lose you too."

I pressed my lips together in a thin line as I stared into the hazel-blue eyes of my best friend. She was the first human friend I made when I first moved here. She welcomed and embraced me with open arms. She was never mean to me. She was always so kind.

She was one of the most important people in my life.

And yet...

I haven't felt further apart from her life than I do now.

It's complicated.

"I know," I muttered with sadness.

"I'm not in your orbit anymore," She expressed. "I'm stuck in a limbo of being your friend or being just the blonde freak-girl you see at school,"

"Felicity, you're not a freak." I shut her down.

She ignored me.

"And I know where I stand when it comes to vampires, and I know where you stand in that regard but….What about our friendship?" Her voice began to crack.

I felt a lump grow in my throat.

"Where do we stand?"

I took her hand in mine and gave it a tight, warm, reassuring squeeze.

"Our friendship is still there and that's not gonna change," I assured her. "You're my best friend, Felicity. And I don't mean to ever shut you out of my life and I won't. Never again. This time will be different. I'll let you in, you just also have to let me in."

She looked at me as tears trickled down her cheeks as I spoke. She nodded as she ran a hand across her face to wipe away her tears.

"I love you, Felicity." I told my friend.

She grinned back. "I love you too, Nessie."

I smiled back as I pulled her into a warm hug and kiss on the cheek.

As I embraced her small frame, I saw over her shoulder the sight of Jennifer looking frustratingly resplendent as always.

However, she wasn't walking alone.

I saw her walking around the area with another breathtakingly, beautiful, statuesque woman with dark, long, wavy hair with a flawless rich mixture of milky almond and light latte skin tone –very reminiscent of Middle Eastern or North Africans.

Her facial structure was very sharp and striking, almost seductive in the way she looked. You couldn't help but be blown away by her looks.

She was sandwiched between Jennifer and a young man who looked incredibly handsome too I would admit. He looked like a different ethnicity though.

The young man had light tan skin, almost close to to the color of honey. He had droopy, dewy, deep-set green eyes which contrasted interestingly with his honey skin tone. His hair was a mixture of curls and waves as it framed his face. His facial structure was chiseled but also roundish, exhibiting a more boyish charm to him.

He had fascinating, enviable bushy eyebrows I haven't seen on a man before. He was only slightly taller than the girls; if I hazard a guess he was around 5'10 or 5'11.

He had a broad chest, firm thighs and tight muscles that swelled beneath the sleeves of his red V-neck T-shirt that showcased a lot of his chest hairs underneath his folded scarf.

I couldn't describe it but he looked very familiar and yet I haven't ever met him in my life.

But then I found out why that was.

He was walking alongside the man, who was only two inches shorter, who looked like an older version of him in an odd way. The resemblance was uncanny.

And that older version was Nahuel.

Nahuel was here?

"Nahuel?" I whispered at the same time Felicity whispered a different name over my shoulder.

"Lloyd?" She muttered.

She and I pulled away to look at each other and then back around to follow each other's various gazes.

I saw the man who saved Felicity and brought her back to the campsite last weekend. Felicity seemed to have taken an interest in the abrasive, bad-boy looking man.

I didn't know how I felt about that to be honest.

He was holding a tray of drinks as he walked around the area handing drinks to guests along with his friend, a tall Asian man with masculine yet slight boyish good looks.

They must be waiters for the event.

I turned my attention back onto Nahuel and his family.

Our eyes locked for a moment.

Oh, boy.

… …

Nahuel

Admittedly, I was feeling lonely.

Homesick, I think was more apt.

I missed the Ticuna jungle of Brazil. I missed all the wild, indigenous animals. I missed all the people in my village. I missed my Aunt Huilen –who was living the life she dreamed of in Chile with her mate.

Do not get me wrong, I loved America. The United States was fascinating and different. A good different.

I wanted to continue exploring what this world had to offer after I kept myself hidden for many centuries.

I wanted to travel more and I was glad I had that opportunity.

However, I still couldn't help feeling this way.

I couldn't shake this feeling of homesickness.

It didn't help that whilst I was here, the only family I had wouldn't even talk to me.

Jennifer.

I really messed things up with my young sister. I took her for granted and used her presence to my advantage instead of actually valuing her sacrifice to be here with me.

She came all the way here to spend more time with me and all I had been doing was chasing after some girl who was already in love with another man.

Jacob.

And now Jennifer wouldn't even live with me anymore.

It wasn't just Jennifer who was unhappy with me.

Renesmee hadn't talked to me for over two months.

I haven't seen her for almost two months.

Since the night she found out that I fed on her friend, Felicity back in New York, I felt a pang of pain and regret that has never seemed to have left.

I tried to apologize but she wouldn't accept any of my calls or return any of my texts.

I sort of just gave up as I gave her the space she wanted and since then, I think I've managed to move on from her.

Yes.

Move on.

Start anew.

I'll find my mate.

She might not be who I wanted but she is out there and I was ready to meet her.

But first, I needed to patch things up with my youngest sister.

Today, Jennifer was returning from her weekend long trip to some school camping trip or whatever. Human things.

I invited her over to stay for the week upon her arrival from her excursion. Maybe this week together will rekindle our bond.

I grinned when I heard her cab pull up into the house driveway and I sauntered over to the door and flung it open to see her unloading her trunk.

I descended the outside steps and made my way to my generally cheerful sister. She was always the more upbeat and happy one in our family.

Serena was cold.

Maysun was logical.

I was idealistic and brooding.

Jennifer was the bright, happy and funny younger sister.

" Bom dia, a meu irmão mais novo," I greeted warmly in my native mother tongue.

"Good day, big brother," She said with an eye roll as she handed me one of her suitcases.

"How was your trip?" I asked her.

She smiled. "It was fun. Nothing too crazy to write home about," She told me.

As soon as we got all of her belongings, we paid the cab driver and made our way back into the big mansion –a house I was able to buy from auctioning off some of my bestselling paintings.

"Home sweet home," I said to her.

She didn't laugh or respond.

"Oh, come on! That's what they say in movies, right?"

"Nobody says that in real life, Nahuel!" She told me off.

I chuckled.

I sped superhumanly up the stairs to drop all of her luggage into her bedroom and then sped back supernaturally down the stairs again in all of ten seconds.

"Do you want something to eat or drink?" I offered.

"A glass of water, please." She smiled.

I nodded as I went to pour her a glass. "Anything interesting you wish to tell me? Did you fight with anyone? Did you do some hunting? Did you makeout with anyone? Did you eat bugs?" I asked randomly.

She laughed at me with mocking eyes. "What do you think goes on at a school camping trip?"

He shrugged. "I don't know,"

She giggled as she flipped her long, creamy, flaxen hair to the side as she collapsed onto the leather couch.

"Your girlfriend was there if you're curious," She said.

I looked at her, my interest piqued.

"Oh, yeah?" I probed. "H-How is Renesmee doing?"

She smirked as she looked at me with a knowing grin as I handed her glass of water.

"Do you want the truth or do you want me to lie?" She said.

"Both?"

She giggled. "I thought you didn't care for Nessie anyway."

"God –You people actually call her that?" I gagged, remembering that was the nickname the dog gave her.

"It's much easier on the tongue than Renesmee," She almost choked on her drink as she spat her name.

"I think it's unique," I pointed out.

"It's definitely unique that's for sure. Can't guarantee it's a good thing, though." She stated.

I sighed as I took a seat on the opposite couch, staring at her a she drank her water.

"So, how is she?"

She rolled her eyes. "She seemed a little irritable this weekend from what I could tell. I don't know if it's related to whatever was going on with her and Jacob or something else entirely."

"Wait – What's going on between them?" I asked inquisitively.

I didn't hide my excitement and curiosity as I thought of potential troubles in their weird courtship.

"Do you want the truth or the lie?" She asked again.

"Jennifer!" I uttered in frustration.

She raised her hand. "Fine! Fine!" She expressed before taking a sip and setting her glass onto the counter after she swallowed. "You didn't hear this from me but, word on the street is that she and Jacob are engaged to be married."

I blinked.

What?!

Engaged?

Engaged?

Engaged?!

"No way," I scoffed, finding it hard to believe but I knew she wouldn't lie about this.

"I promise you," She stated.

Well I be damned.

The man actually did it.

He locked her down for good.

Dammit.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of pain as I let this information sink in. Renesmee couldn't be engaged? Not least to a dog!

"Kinda hope that's the lie," I whispered.

Jennifer giggled. "I thought you said you were over her," She teased.

"I am!" I defended. "I mean – I'm definitely getting there." I rephrased.

She smiled at me. "What are you going to do?"

"There's nothing I can do but wish them well, I guess." I told her.

"Humph," She hummed as she leaned in to grab her glass and take another sip of her drink.

"You sure you don't want some blood? I have some O-negative in the freezer?" I offered.

She smiled. "Maybe later! I'm tired!" She sighed as she flopped her head back against the pillow.

Subsequently, we both heard the sound of the doorbell ringing which immediately caught our attention. I looked at her and she looked at me.

"Are you expecting someone?" She asked.

I shook my head as I shot up from the couch. "No. I'm not."

I sniffed the air to take a whiff of the scent of the unexpected guest and I exhaled a sigh as I realized who the scent belonged to before taking a glimpse back at my younger sister, wriggling my eyebrows and smirking widely.

She was confused.

"Who is it?"

I guffawed as I walked over to the door and immediately flung it open to reveal who it was.

There she was.

Maysun.

The other sister I got along with –not the one who disappeared on us, Serena.

My enchanting second sister stood there in front of us with her arms spread wide and big grin plastered on her face.

"Surprise!" She exclaimed in her thick Algerian accent.

Jennifer gasped from behind me as she sped with full speed past me and collided into our sister's open arms, instantaneously embracing her and engulfing her into her body.

"Maysun!" Jennifer cried as she draped her arms around our sister's neck. "What the hell are you doing here? You weren't supposed to be here in at least a month!"

"I know but I cut my visit short to spend more time with you guys." She expressed as they drifted apart.

I smiled as I went in to give my older sister a hug.

"Hello, May," I greeted in the Algerian language.

"Good to see you, baby brother." She responded in her native language as she embraced me into her arms.

"Who do you have with you? I smell another scent." Jennifer asked as she looked around the vicinity.

Maysun inhaled a heavy breath. "So, I have another surprise for you. This is huge. Serena got into contact with me a few weeks ago to let me know that she was sending someone my way that I had to meet. Joham wasn't entirely honest with us when he told us he was done experimenting,"

I furrowed my eyebrows and glanced back at Jennifer who had the same vacant, befuddled look in her eyes.

"You can come out!" Maysun called out.

As if on cue, a young man appeared from behind one of the trips of my driveway and came into view as he made his way up the stairs.

He looked so much like Joham it was insane.

I was told I looked like our father but I never wanted to believe it myself. I believed I looked more like my mother than anyone else.

This man though, this man was almost a carbon copy of our estranged father sans maybe a few facial tweaks and differences. He looked young. Not older than seventeen or eighteen.

"This is our younger brother, Léon." Maysun introduced as she rested her hand on our newly minted brother.

Jennifer and I locked eyes again in bewilderment and pure shock before darting our heads back at Maysun.

"Brother?" Jennifer and I both shouted out in synchronization.

Léon waved his hand in the air before nervously slipping his hands into his back pockets as he looked at us.

"Buenos dias," He greeted.

He had a thick accent that I only heard from countries like Puerto Rico and Cuba. I was very good with accents and finding out where people were from.

"Holy crap - He looks so much like father!" Jennifer whispered to me.

That he does.

"He looks like you too!" She remarked.

I frowned.

No he doesn't!

There was no denying his parentage but I was left wondering...

Why now?

Why are we only just now meeting our secret brother?

Jennifer gasped and scoffed as she covered her hand over her mouth, shaking her head.

"I'm not the youngest anymore," She stated. "Wow!"

Léon smiled at her.

"Um, hi!" Jennifer chuckled awkwardly as she went in to hug our new brother. "I'm Jennifer. It's nice to meet you."

"Encantado de conocerte, Jennifer. I am Léon," He responded, pointing to his chest.

Jennifer grinned up at him.

She seemed excited to have a younger sibling. I don't think it has registered in her yet what this means.

Maysun laughed as she stared back at me. "Nahuel?"

I gave the young man a quick scrutinizing once-over before shifting my focus back onto my sister.

Maysun gestured to him, gesticulating with her head, scowling at me to be more welcoming to our new guest –or brother I should say.

"My name is Nahuel," I reluctantly extended my hand out to him.

"It's nice to meet you," Léon replied in Spanish, shaking my hands firmly.

I wish I could say the same.

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A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Wait to see what happens next!

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