November
Renesmee POV
As I stepped off the plane in Seattle, the excitement of returning to La Push surged within me. The drive from the airport to the reservation was a familiar one, the winding roads lined with towering trees whispering tales of homecoming. With each passing mile, my anticipation grew. After a short drive, I arrived at my parents' cottage, the familiar sight of the quaint little house nestled among the trees filling me with a sense of comfort. Dropping my bags by the door, I quickly washed up and changed into a cuter outfit, eager to begin the day's adventures.
I knew Jake had pack duty this morning, and although I longed to see him, I also understood the importance of his responsibilities. So, instead of heading straight to my cottage, I decided to make a detour to Seth and Kaya's house. Leah was staying with them for the weekend, and I figured one of my friends was bound to be home.
With a skip in my step, I headed out the door, the chilly November breeze whipping through my hair. Arriving at their doorstep, I knocked eagerly, hoping to catch up with whoever was home. No one answered, but I could hear noise inside the house, so I let myself in.
Big mistake.
In the dimly lit living room, Leah and Embry were locked in a passionate embrace, their lips pressed together in a fervent kiss. My jaw dropped. They were both too occupied to notice my arrival. So much for werewolves' sharper senses!
I stood frozen in shock for a moment, unsure of what to do next. Should I make a dramatic exit? Pretend I didn't see anything? Or perhaps just stand there and watch, like an unwitting audience member in some bizarre romantic drama?
"Well well well… What do we have here ?" I teased, unable to contain my amusement at this unexpected turn of events.
Leah and Embry jumped apart, their faces flushing with embarrassment as they realized they had been caught in the act. Leah turned to me, a sheepish smile playing on her lips. "Well, this is awkward."
I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation. "Just a little," I agreed. "But hey, it's not every day you stumble upon your friends making out in the living room."
"Hey, um... this isn't what it looks like," Embry mumbled, his gaze flickering nervously between Leah and me.
"Well, this is certainly one way to start my trip home," I joked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Hey, cut us some slack," Leah retorted, attempting to salvage some dignity. "We're both adults. This is none of your business, nosy."
I laughed.
"Well, duty calls," Embry chimed in, his grin betraying his embarrassment. His eyes met Leah's for a brief moment before turning to me. "You ladies have fun at dinner. I'll catch up with you later."
With that, Embry made a swift exit, leaving Leah and me to exchange knowing looks before we set off toward Emily's house, our laughter echoing in the wake of the unexpected encounter.
As we walked side by side, the cool evening air wrapping around us, Leah glanced at me, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "So, Ness, about what you just saw..."
I raised my eyebrows, encouraging her to continue.
"It's just casual, if you know what I mean. But I'd rather keep it on the down low," Leah confessed, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
I nodded, understanding the situation. "Of course, Lee. Your secret's safe with me. But I'm definitely going to need some explanations later."
Leah chuckled, her shoulders relaxing as she nodded in agreement. "I promise, I'll fill you in on all the details. It's just... complicated."
I squeezed Leah's arm reassuringly. "I get it. Take your time. Whenever you're ready."
With that, we fell into a comfortable silence, the soft crunch of leaves beneath our feet the only sound as we made our way toward Emily's house.
As Leah and I stepped into the cozy home, the warmth and aroma of Thanksgiving enveloped us in a comforting embrace. The sound of laughter and chatter filled the air, mingling with the clatter of pots and pans as Emily and her kids bustled about in the kitchen.
"Renesmee!" Emily exclaimed, her face lighting up with a radiant smile as she rushed over to greet us. "It's so good to see you! We've missed you around here."
I returned Emily's smile with a warm hug, the familiar embrace filling me with a sense of belonging. "It's great to see you too, Emily. I've missed this place so much."
As we made our way further into the kitchen, I spotted Rachel, Jacob's sister, chopping vegetables with practiced efficiency. Her face lit up with surprise and delight as she caught sight of me. "Hey, Nessie!" Rachel called out, setting down her knife to give me a quick hug. "Long time no see! It's good to have you back."
With greetings exchanged and hugs shared all around, I joined in the bustling activity of the kitchen, eager to lend a hand in preparing the Thanksgiving feast. As I focused intently on my cooking, the familiar sound of footsteps entering the kitchen went unnoticed. It wasn't until a deep voice broke through the din that I looked up, my heart leaping with joy at the sight of Jacob standing in the doorway.
"Looks like my favorite girls are hard at work in here," Jacob said with a grin, his eyes twinkling with affection as he gestured to his sister and me bustling about the kitchen.
My face lit up with delight at the sight of Jacob, my heart soaring at the sound of his voice. With a joyful laugh, I abandoned my cooking duties and rushed into his arms, enveloping him in a tight hug.
"Jake!" I exclaimed, unable to contain my happiness. "I've missed you so much!"
Jacob returned my embrace with equal enthusiasm, holding me close as if unwilling to let me go. "Missed you too, Nessie," he murmured, his voice tinged with emotion.
A flicker of movement caught my eye. Stepping back slightly, I noticed a girl standing behind us.
"Hey, Nessie," Jacob said, his voice tinged with a hint of hesitation. "I, uh, brought someone with me."
My gaze shifted to the girl standing beside him, her expression a mix of uncertainty and curiosity. Recognition dawned on me as I realized who she was – this must be Kerry, the girl Jacob had mentioned he'd started seeing. She looked older than me, probably closer to Jake's age. She was pretty, with blonde hair cut in a fringe above her eyes.
"Hi, Renesmee," Kerry said, offering me a tentative smile. "It's nice to finally meet you."
A warm smile spread across my face as I extended my hand in greeting. "Hi, Kerry," I replied. "It's a pleasure to meet you too."
I could sense Kerry's nervousness, her uncertainty palpable in the air. I placed a reassuring hand on her arm, my voice filled with sincerity.
"I remember what it's like, being the new one here!" I said, offering her an encouraging smile. "We're a big, loud friend group, but we're all really welcoming. You'll fit right in." Kerry's eyes softened with gratitude, a hint of relief flickering across her features. Jacob smiled at the both of us, and we made our way towards the living room to greet the rest of the Pack.
Sam and Emily's dining table had been extended to accommodate our large group. Enormous plates piled high with turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and all the fixings awaited us, in a ridiculous quantity that would satisfy even the hungriest of wolves.
As we dug into the meal, laughter, and conversation filled the air. I caught up with my grandpa Charlie. Across the table, Jacob's dad, Billy, regaled us with tales of life on the reservation, his booming voice filling the room with warmth and laughter. As the last remnants of Thanksgiving dinner were cleared away and the kitchen fell into a comfortable silence, the younger members of our group exchanged knowing glances, a silent agreement passing between us. After helping with the dishes, it was time to continue our Thanksgiving celebration elsewhere. With a chorus of goodbyes and promises to meet again soon, we bid farewell to the rest of the family, setting off towards Seth and Kaya's house for the next phase of our evening.
Jacob's POV.
Seth and Quil wasted no time in mixing drinks, their expert hands moving with practiced efficiency as they prepared a round of cocktails for the group.
Seth flashed me a grin as he handed me a glass. "Here you go, Jake. The usual?"
I nodded in thanks, accepting the drink with a smirk. "Thanks, man. You're a lifesaver."
As I sipped my drink, I couldn't help but steal a glance at Nessie. She was seated across the room, chatting animatedly with Claire, her laughter ringing out like music in the air. Despite the distance between us, I felt a surge of warmth in my chest at the sight of her, a reminder of the special bond we shared.
But my thoughts were interrupted as Kerry approached, a coy smile playing on her lips. "Hey, Jacob," she said sweetly, her gaze lingering on me. "Mind if I join you?"
"Sure thing, Kerry," I replied casually, motioning for her to take the empty seat beside me. "Pull up a chair."
As Kerry settled in beside me, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease gnawing at the back of my mind. We had met at my work when she had brought in her car to the garage for a fix. She had asked me out, and I had agreed, thinking it would help keep my mind off Nessie. I insisted I only wanted something casual, which she was fine with. However, part of me was thinking that she might want more. Why else would she have insisted on coming to Thanksgiving dinner with my family? The uncertainty lingered, casting a shadow over what should have been a joyous occasion.
"Renesmee, isn't it? Jacob mentioned you're still in school. What's your field of study?" Kerry called out across the room while placing her hand on my lap.
"I'm actually in my final year of law school at Stanford," Nessie replied with a smile.
Kerry's eyebrows shot up in surprise with disbelief. "Law, really?" she echoed, her tone incredulous. "Well, I'm surprised. I guess looks can be deceiving." Her gaze lingered pointedly on Renesmee's outfit, a smirk playing at the corner of her lips. "With your fashion sense, I would have thought you were more into, I don't know, something a bit more superficial," she remarked, her tone laced with subtle disdain. "But I guess there's more to you than meets the eye."
Nessie's smile remained composed, though a flicker of amusement danced in her eyes. "I like to keep people guessing," she replied smoothly. "What about you, what do you do?"
"I'm a dental assistant," Kerry said, her tone a touch defensive.
"That's interesting! You're an angel for dealing with nervous little kids at the dentist, I would not have that patience," Renesmee joked lightly.
Kerry chuckled softly, her tone carrying a subtle edge. "Oh, yes, it's quite fulfilling work," she replied. "Not as fancy as being a lawyer, of course, but not everyone has the money to attend Law school, I guess…"
Leah interrupted her abruptly. "And not everyone has the brain to attend law school, either," she added sharply.
What was Leah's problem? I gave her a sturdy look, furrowing my brows. While the rest of the group joined in the conversation, she frowned back at me, rolling her eyes as if I were an idiot. Girls can be so complicated sometimes.
Renesmee POV
As the evening progressed, I couldn't shake the puzzling behavior of Kerry. Despite my efforts to maintain a friendly demeanor, her jabs and thinly veiled disdain left me feeling perplexed and somewhat hurt. I couldn't fathom why she would be so cold towards me when I had done nothing but be nice to her.
Was it simply a matter of insecurity on her part, threatened by the presence of another woman in Jacob's life? Or perhaps there was something more beneath the surface, hidden layers of resentment or jealousy that fueled her passive-aggressive remarks.
Leah's interruption, though abrupt, was a welcome distraction. I appreciated her loyalty, even if her methods were sometimes less than subtle. But as I caught Jacob's gaze, a silent exchange passing between us, I couldn't help but wonder about his thoughts.
Why did he bring Kerry here? Did he genuinely see something serious in her? And why was I feeling this weird mix of jealousy and concern? I'd been the one telling him to get out there and date, to find someone who could make him happy. Shouldn't I be cheering him on instead of getting all tangled up in my own emotions?
Once again, I was being selfish. After all, it was I who had encouraged Jacob to explore relationships with other girls and to find happiness beyond our complicated bond. Shouldn't I be happy for him, supportive of his endeavors to move forward with his life?
Yes. Jake deserved to be happy, plain and simple. And if that meant swallowing my pride and enduring Kerry's snide comments with grace and dignity, then so be it. I would do whatever it took to support him, to stand by his side as he had done so many times for me.