Author's note: All the reviews make me so so happy! It's crazy to me to think people are actually reading the silly ideas out of my head !

This chapter might be a little boring... But I'm setting up for a very entertaining chapter next time, hang in there ;)

Renesmee Pov

" 3, 2, 1….. Happy New Year! "

Around me, my family erupted in cheers. Then came the cringe-worthy part: watching everyone smooch their significant others. Ugh. I loved them to pieces, but spending New Year's Eve as the only single at a party sucked. And, to be honest, I had been in a terrible mood since I had left La Push abruptly. Fighting with a best friend does that to a girl.

My mind couldn't help but drift to Jake. What was he doing right now? Probably celebrating with the rest of the pack. I would have been there if I hadn't royally fucked up two weeks ago. A small part of me couldn't shake the image of him sharing a New Year's kiss with someone. I guess that could have been me too. That thought stirred up a mix of jealousy and longing within me with a little bit of confusion too. Part of me still didn't know what to do with these newfound feelings toward my best friend. Now hugging my family, I quickly pushed those feelings aside, burying them amidst smiles and wishes for a happy New Year

" Lots of conflicted emotions in that head of yours, Renesmee. Want to talk about it?" My uncle Jasper inquired as he hugged me.

I considered his offer for a moment. When I had come home earlier than expected from my trip to La Push, my parents had of course bombarded me with questions. They were so protective, quickly assuming that Jake had done something to hurt me. And okay, he had, but I was not out of blame, either. I had dismissed their questions. Mom was always understanding: she had been a teenager not long ago and understood that there are some things you don't want to discuss with your parents. For Dad, it was a hard pill to swallow. He was so used to being in everyone's head! Although I'm pretty sure if he knew making out with Colin was at the root of my problems, he'd rather not be in the know.

Jasper, however, was a different story. He was the family's resident empath, his gift allowing him to understand without judgment truly. He was the kind of listener who put aside his thoughts to fully hear what you had to say.

"Yeah, there's a lot on my mind," I admitted, glancing around cautiously. Before I could suggest anything further, Jasper caught my eye and offered, "How about a walk? Somewhere quieter?" His intuition was spot on, picking up on my desire for privacy.

With a smile, I nodded, and together we slipped out of the bustling warmth of the house into the cool night air. The forest enveloped us in its quiet embrace as we walked, the only sounds were the crunch of our footsteps on the frosted ground and the occasional rustle of branches overhead. After a while, we reached a clearing bathed in moonlight. We settled on a massive rock that was free of snow.

"Am I correct in assuming you fought with Jacob?" he asked gently.

"Yeah... He was upset with me over something I did," I admitted, feeling a twinge of embarrassment.

Jasper leaned in, his eyes widening with intrigue.

"So, what exactly did you do?"

I hesitated for a moment, gathering the courage to confess.

"I, uh, might have made out with his cousin, Colin... "

His laughter erupted into the crisp night air, mingling with the winter breeze.

" I don't know what I was expecting, but not that".

I sheepishly laughed, feeling a flush creep up my cheeks.

"So, were you trying to provoke him? Make him jealous?" Jazz inquired

"Not even!" I shook my head vehemently. "It's just... his girlfriend was teasing me, calling me Jacob's cute little sister. So, I may have flirted with Colin a bit to prove I wasn't... but it backfired big time. Jacob got mad at me, and I ended up getting riled up over his possessiveness, and then we got in a fight… Eugh, I messed everything up!"

I laid my head in my hands.

Jasper's expression softened, his gaze filled with reassurance. "Hey, it's not the end of the world. We all make mistakes. Start from the beginning, Kiddo. Let's unravel this mess together."

With a grateful sigh, I placed my hand on Jasper's face, allowing the whole story to spill out from my mind to his: how my feelings for Jake began to shift, how Kerry's insult stung, how I foolishly attempted to prove myself, and how it all blew up in my face when Jacob got angry at me, leading to our heated argument...

"I gotta admit, I'm not very happy about what he called you," Jasper remarked, his brows furrowing with concern.

"Me neither," I replied somberly. "He's been trying to reach out to me every day since, apologizing, texting me... But I haven't answered yet."

"You're not ready to forgive him?" Jasper inquired, his tone gentle.

I sighed, feeling torn. "I mean, I can get over our fight. I know he regrets saying what he said. But, it's just... I don't know what I should do or who I am to him now."

Jasper nodded in understanding, his eyes reflecting empathy. "It's natural to feel confused and unsure, Nessie. Especially when it comes to matters of the heart, but don't let fear dictate your decisions. Sometimes, the best course of action is to simply take things one step at a time from there."

I fidgeted with the edge of my coat, uncertainty gnawing at me. "But what if I don't even know what I want? What if I'm not ready for something like this?"

Jasper offered a reassuring smile. "That's okay too. You don't have to have all the answers right now. Just focus on rebuilding your friendship with Jacob. See where it leads naturally. There's no rush to figure everything out."

Feeling slightly calmer now, I leaned on my uncle's shoulder. He was right, of course. Overthinking has always been a specialty of mine.

"Thank you, Jazz," I said, feeling a sense of gratitude wash over me.

Just then, my phone rang, and I glanced at the caller ID—it was Jacob. Jasper chuckled at the uncanny timing. "Well, would you look at that? Speak of the devil."

With a playful nudge, he added, "Better not keep him waiting. Go on, answer that call. I'll give you some privacy," he said, rising from the rock.

As I watched him disappear into the shadows of the forest, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation ahead. I answered the call.

"Hey, Jake. Happy New Year,"

"Nessie! You answered!" He exclaimed on the other side of the line, his voice tinged with genuine surprise. I could hear a door closing behind him, the faint strains of music fading into the background.

Despite my lingering frustration, his reaction drew a laugh from me. Just hearing his voice had a way of lifting my spirits.

"Yeah, I did," I confessed, a hint of guilt creeping in for avoiding his calls lately.

"Ness, I am so, so sorry. What I said was unforgivable. I spoke out of anger without any thought. I truly apologize." Jake always rambled when he was nervous. Despite my efforts to remain upset, I could feel my heart soften at his obvious guilt.

"I know. I know," I replied softly.

"And I had no right to lash out at you. You were right. How I reacted to you on the beach, and why I ended things with Kerry—it's on me."

"Well, I owe you an apology too. I wasn't entirely blameless in all of this," I admitted.

"No, Ness, you were. You were just getting out of the water. How I interpreted it was my own issue."

"Actually, if we are being honest… I wasn't trying to flirt with you, but I was trying to do something," I confessed hesitantly.

"What?" Jake's curiosity piqued.

"I overheard Kerry's comments about me being your cute little sidekick with no cleavage. I guess I was trying to prove her wrong. God, it sounds stupid now that I say it out loud."

Jacob chuckled, a mix of disbelief and affection in his voice. "Ness, I can't believe you'd even think for a second that you're just some little sister to me. " His laughter faded into a thoughtful pause, his tone growing earnest. "And about Kerry's comments... they were ridiculous. You know I think that you're… I mean..You're perfect just the way you are."

"Maybe we're both idiots," I mused, a wry smile playing on my lips.

"We make quite the pair," Jake responded, his voice tinged with amusement.

His words brought a genuine smile to my face, and I pressed my phone closer to my cheek, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. The familiar pull toward Jake seemed to strengthen within me, a comforting presence in my chest.

"Are we... okay?" he asked tentatively, his concern evident in his tone.

"Yeah, we are," I confirmed, a sense of relief washing over me. "I just wish I was in La Push."

"I wish you were, too. You'll come to the cottage for my birthday?" Jake's voice held a hopeful note, reminding me of our plans for his upcoming celebration.

His birthday, January 14th, was rapidly approaching, and our friend group had arranged to spend it in a cozy cottage near the Canadian border, indulging in snow and skiing. Despite the short timeframe until our gathering, the prospect of being together buoyed my spirits.

"Yeah, of course, I'll be there," I replied without hesitation, excitement bubbling within me at the thought of our upcoming reunion.

"I can't wait" he admitted, a smile spreading across my face as I imagined Jake's grin on the other end of the line.