Renesmee's POV

Colin's apartment was a cool mix of beachy vibes and urban charm. Surfboards leaned against the wall, and the soft glow of string lights gave the space a cozy feel. It was the kind of place you could kick back and relax in, with just the right amount of personality to make it feel like home. We settled in the living room. As we lounged on the couch, Colin leaned in with a smirk.

"So, Renesmee, Law at Stanford, huh? Impressive. I guess I should watch my words around you," he teased, raising an eyebrow.

I chuckled, taking a playful sip of my drink. "Oh, I promise I only use my powers for good... mostly," I retorted, shooting him a wink.

Colin's laugh was warm and genuine as he leaned back, studying me with a twinkle in his eye. "Good to know. It will be good to know a lawyer next time I get in a sticky situation," he quipped, a suggestive grin playing on his lips.

I rolled my eyes, unable to suppress a grin. "Oh, do you get in those often?" I replied, a hint of flirtation lacing my words. He answered with a wink, taking a big sip of his drink.

"So, what about you?" I said, swirling the ice in my glass, "what did you study in college, or did you start working straight away?"

"I studied finance at the University of Washington," he replied, his eyes lighting up with enthusiasm. "And now, I'm working on... well, figuring out what comes next, I suppose."

"What made you decide to move back to La Push?" I asked, curious about his journey.

Colin leaned back, a nostalgic smile playing on his lips. "Honestly, I missed the surf," he admitted, a hint of longing in his voice. "There's something about the waves, the salty air... it's like coming home."

I nodded in agreement, thinking of my own temporary stay in Forks for the summer. "I can imagine," I replied. "There's a special kind of peace by the ocean that's hard to find anywhere else."

As our conversation continued to flow, Colin's gaze held mine, a playful glint dancing in his eyes.

"You know, Renesmee," he began, his voice dropping slightly, "It's getting late. Should we move this party to my bedroom?"

Internally, panic surged through me. I might have flirted a little too hard, had I given him the wrong impression ? I liked Colin, and flirting with him was fun, but I wasn't ready for anything more than that. I scrambled to find the right words, wanting to make sure he didn't expect too much by inviting me for a drink.

"Um, Colin," I began, my voice hesitant and shy, "I-I just want to make sure... I mean, I don't do one-night stands or anything like that, if you know what I mean"

"That's okay. I didn't invite you here expecting anything"

I looked up at him, still uncertain that I was somehow letting him down.

Colin flashed me a playful smile. "Besides, I don't have a death wish. I know better than to mess with the alpha's imprint."

I laughed nervously, relieved by his good spirit. But I couldn't help by getting a little annoyed at his mention of Jacob imprinting. I wasn't his property. He didn't get to dictate who I could or could not see, while he was surely back at the hotel right now, sharing his room with Kerry.

" He's more bark than bite," I said, my voice dropping lower.

Colin's gaze darkened, and with a playful smirk, he leaned in closer. There was a subtle shift in the air, a tension building that made my heart race with anticipation, and okay, a little bit of nerves on my end.

" I guess I'm willing to risk the big bad wolf for a kiss, then"

As Colin leaned in, a playful spark danced in his eyes, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. His lips met mine in a kiss that was surprisingly electric, sending a rush of heat through my veins. For a moment, I let myself get swept away. Colin's lips are rough against mine, in a good kind of way. But even now, I can't shake the nagging thought of Jacob lingering at the back of my mind. It's hard to distract my hyper-focused hybrid mind from complicated mess of emotions swirling inside me.

When we finally pulled away, Colin grinned at me, his eyes smug. "Well, that was fun," he said, his voice low.

I laughed, feeling lighter than I had earlier. "Yeah, it was," I agreed, unable to keep the smile off my face.

"I need a refill," he said, gesturing toward the half-empty bottle of wine nearby.

As Colin returned with our drinks, I lounged back on the couch, feeling the warmth of the room and the buzz of the alcohol seeping into my bones. Colin settled back beside me, his grin playful as ever.

"You comfy there, princess?" he teased, nudging me gently with his elbow.

I laughed, swatting at him playfully. "Don't start with me" I retorted, a smile playing at the corners of my lips. We bantered back and forth, the easy familiarity between us making me feel more relaxed than I had in ages. But as the night wore on, the exhaustion of the day began to catch up with me, tugging at my eyelids and weighing down my limbs.

Colin must have sensed my growing fatigue because he draped an arm around me, pulling me closer. "You look like you could use some shut-eye," he remarked, his voice soft and teasing.

Despite my best intentions to head home, the fatigue of the day weighed heavily on me, pulling me deeper into the plush cushions of the couch. "Maybe you're right," I conceded with a sleepy smile, my eyelids growing heavier by the second. "Just for a little while."

I blinked awake, the morning light filtering through the windows, casting a soft glow over Colin's living room. My head felt heavy from sleep, and as I shifted on the couch, I realized I was still fully dressed in the same dress from last night. Glancing beside me, I saw Colin still asleep, his features relaxed in slumber.

A grin tugged at the corners of my lips as I remembered the events of last night. Despite the fun and laughter, a little embarrassment fluttered in my chest. Falling asleep on his couch after a few too many drinks wasn't exactly part of the plan. Anyway, I'm sure it will make Leah laugh.

Carefully, I extricated myself from the tangle of blankets on the couch, trying not to disturb Colin's peaceful sleep. Gathering my belongings, I straightened my dress, trying to smooth out the wrinkles. My hair must be looking like a crazy mess, too. I guess, could qualify as a walk of shame.

With a final glance at Colin's sleeping form, I tiptoed towards the door, the silence of the early morning amplifying the sound of my footsteps. The cool air outside provided a sharp contrast to the warmth of the apartment, sending a shiver down my spine.

Jacob's POV

I left my hotel room in the wee hours of the morning, sleep eluding me. The entire bed and breakfast was silent, everyone probably sleeping in after the party. Deciding to go for a run to clear my head, I didn't expect to encounter Nessie on the street. At the sight of me, she blushed slightly and ran up to meet me halfway.

"Good morning, Jake," she greeted, giving me a small smile.

"Morning, Ness. I was just going on a run, wanna come? I texted you but you didn't answer."

"My phone died yesterday, I need to charge it," she said, holding up her device. A flicker of discomfort passed across her features, barely noticeable but enough to catch my attention. It was then that I noticed her appearance. She was still wearing the same dress she wore yesterday, her heels held in her hands. It clicked. A surge of anger and jealousy surged within me, threatening to boil over as I struggled to maintain my composure.

"Wait a minute," I blurted out, my voice sharper than intended. "You spent the night at Colin's?"

She looked a little embarrassed but shrugged her shoulders casually. "Yeah, okay, I did. If you don't mind, I really want to go home and take a shower."

Before she could walk away, I moved in front of her, blocking her path.

"You can't be serious."

"What? It's none of your business who I spend my nights with." Her words stung like a slap to the face, igniting the flames of my anger. "Besides, why do you care? You spent the night with your girlfriend."

"We broke up last night,actually " I snapped, the words exploding from my lips like shrapnel. "And it's because of you."

"What? When? Why?" she demanded, her voice tinged with disbelief.

"After your little performance on the beach last night, you think I could stay with her and pretend?"

She blushed heavily, guilt passing through her eyes. She placed her hand on my shoulder. "Shit, Jake, I mean, I wasn't trying to… I'm sorry you guys broke up."

I jerked away from her touch, my anger simmering just beneath the surface. "So you put on a little show at the beach, try to seduce me, and then go sleep with my cousin?" My words were sharp, accusatory, cutting through the rising tension like a knife.

Her frown deepened, her own frustration rising. "Seduce you? Oh, come on, Jake. I was just getting out of the water. You're acting like I put on a striptease or something. And I didn't sleep with Colin either. Not that it's any of your damn business!"

"Of course, it's my business!" I shot back, my voice rising with each word. " And Colin? He's my cousin, Renesmee! How could you even consider…"

"Consider what, Jake? Huh? You spent all night making out with someone. You have no right to be mad at me for doing the same" Her voice matched mine in intensity, her eyes blazing with anger. "We decided to be friends, Jake. You're going to have to accept that I'll sometimes get with guys, just like you're allowed to do"

"I didnt decide anything ! And friends don't get with each other's family" I spat out, my anger getting the best of me.

Deep down, I knew my jealousy was unreasonable, but it consumed me nonetheless. Why couldn't she see that we were meant to be more than friends? Why did she insist on denying the undeniable attraction between us?

Nessie's arms crossed defensively around her chest, and I could sense her frustration.

"Well, friends don't gossip about each other with their partner, either." she shot back.

What the hell was she talking about now?

" What ?!"

" Nevermind. You're just like other guys. You all say you're okay with being just friends, and then get mad at me when it turns out I don't change my mind"

I clenched my fists at my sides, my chest heaving with pent-up frustration. " Don't give me that shit. You know I'm happy to be your friend. Maybe I just don't want to see you throwing yourself at every guy you meet like a slut !" I shouted.

The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them, each syllable heavy with the weight of my anger and insecurity. Nessie's expression shifts from defiance to hurt. Her eyes, those beautiful eyes that I loved so much, filled with tears, sending a knife to my heart. She took a step back, her expression hardening, already closing me off.

"Fuck, Nessie, I didn't mean that," I interjected, my voice tinged with remorse as I scrambled to backtrack. "I let my anger get the best of me. I'm sor—" But before I could finish, she cut me off with a sharpness that matched the ice in her tone.

"No. You said it. Now, live with it," she retorted calmly before storming off.