CH6: SOONER THAN LATER

Renesmee’s POV
Weeks flew by in seconds. It was the last couple weeks of November and we had a break from school. Mia and I hung out a lot. I even brought her to the house a couple of times. I hated not telling her who I really was. Best friends don’t keep secrets from each other. There were so many times that I almost let it slip out. I knew that this was for her safety. It’d be too dangerous for her to know, especially since the Volturi would be sending out spies soon.
Daddy and my uncles have been training me almost nonstop. Even Jake would help out most of the time. At first things were rough. For a vampire, I was clearly out of shape! Unfortunately, I inherited my mom’s clumsiness. Within 2 seconds, I’d be pinned down. I’d huff in frustration and then my focus would disintegrate and I’d always find myself spending lots of time on the ground.
After a few days of training with them, Gramma offered to take over and teach me some martial arts. I gladly went to her, wanting to take some time away from the boys. To my astonishment, she was really helpful. After a week with her, I went back to daddy and my uncles, ready to kick someone’s ass.
“Oh, so you’ve come back to us now, huh, Nessie?” Uncle Emmett said with a sly grin on his face while his arms were crossed.
“Well believe it or not, Gramma helped me out more than you ever did,” I replied after sticking my tongue out at him. All he did was laugh. “Whatever you say, Ness.”
Daddy asked, “Who do you want to practice with today?”
My main target today was Jacob. He got me a couple times last week and I wanted revenge.
“Where’s Jake? He’s still not forgiven for not going easy on me.”
“Very well then. I think we should sit out and watch by the patio. I have a feeling we’re going to enjoy this,” daddy said heading over to the patio with my uncles.
Uncle Jasper was the one to call for Jake. He came out with food still in his mouth and a half eaten sandwich in his hand. Seth, Paul, and Quil were still inside finishing their lunch. By the time Jacob was in front of me, he was grinning mischievously.
“Are you sure you want a rematch, Nessie? Cos I still won’t go easy on you.”
“We’ll see about that,” I said walking over to the other side of the backward. We both nodded and then we charged. He threw hooks and jabs left and right but I dodged them all. I ducked one time and kicked him. He fell to the ground. He got back up and charged for me again. I was aiming for his chest, but instead I took a hold of his huge toned right arm and flipped him over effortlessly. The ground shook when he fell on his back. I wasn’t aware that everyone came out to watch us on the back patio. They applauded while Seth, Paul, and Quil laughed hysterically. He was still breathing heavily on the ground and I sat on his chest. I smiled victoriously at him.
“Ha!” I beat you! This was for the last fight session. So unless you wanna get another ass-whooppin’, you better watch yourself, Jacob Black,” I playfully sneered at him while I pounced off of his chest.
“Renesmee!” my mom called. “Language, young lady.” I gave her an apologetic look and my dad just laughed as he hugged her by the waist.
“She never ceases to amaze me or make me proud,” he announced to everyone. I blushed as they started to applause again. Jacob managed to get back up and started making his way over to the boys. I went over to the porch swing, tired from today’s practice. It was incredibly amusing watching Jake chase his pack brothers around the back yard. He finally got a hold of Paul, his obvious target, and got him in a chokehold. This day has been one of the most fun I’ve had in a while. I grinned at Jake and how easily he can turn a serious situation into a funny one. All four of the boys began play fighting.
The sun was setting and that meant it would be dinner time soon. The smell of chicken alfredo enveloped the whole backyard. Jake and the boys must’ve smelled it, too, because before Gramma even got the chance to call them in, they were already jogging over. I was still swinging gently on the porch swing with my eyes set on the changing sky.
Jake cleared his throat and I looked at him leaning on the wall, watching me. “Hey,” he smirked.
“Right back at ya,” I said coolly, getting up. I was a step away from entering the kitchen when he got a hold of my waist to bring me closer to him. He had on a plain white shirt and khaki shorts but it was enough to make me drool. We were so close that I could feel the heat radiating from his body. His eyebrow shot up and he asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Oh, my gosh. Was I really gawking at him?
“Nothing,” I said all too quickly. He gave out a short laugh but instantly became serious again. He was staring directly into my eyes and maybe even to my soul before he said without faltering, “Come with me, tonight.”
I blinked a couple of times, processing what he meant. All that I could say was, “What?”
Ness. It feels like we haven’t seen each other for days even if I do come over everyday. We always used to spend time together and I just miss that, you know? So I was just wondering if you’d come with me tonight?”
I thought about it, crossed my arms and tapped my finger on my chin while looking up and around. He was starting to get impatient. I loved messing with Jake.
“Well what did you have in mind?”
We hooked arms and we started walking over to the kitchen door. “We can go to the beach after eating. If you wanna go for a swim, we can do that. Whatever you want to do, I’m willing to do it, too, as long as we’re together.”
I smiled and nodded without having a second thought. I became opulent about tonight. We were in the kitchen now and we could hear Uncle Emmett and the rest of the boys in the living room watching some sort of game. Luckily his pack brothers left us some food.
After I ate, I went to the music room where I knew my dad would be. I skipped to his side and sat down to place my head on his shoulder. I examined how elegantly his fingers glided across the keys to make such wonderful music. I had almost forgotten why I came in the first place.
“Daddy?” I asked as innocently as I could while nuzzling his neck. I felt him shake from a chuckle and he said, “Yes, you can go with Jacob tonight. Say goodbye to your mother first.” I jumped up from excitement and locked my arms around his neck. (Thank you, thank you, thank you!) I screamed in my head and kissed his neck. “Be back before midnight. Don’t forget that you’re going over to Mia’s tomorrow,” he called as I went up the stairs to find my mom in Aunt Alice’s room with Aunt Rosalie.
As soon as I came in, they looked up from their magazines and smiled. “Good job beating the dog today, sweetie,” Aunt Rose congratulated.
“Thank you” was all I managed to say from all the kisses my mom was giving me. “Momma,” I groaned. She stopped and giggled. “Sorry, sweetie. I’m just so proud of you. You’ve improved so much in such a little time.” (All thanks to Gramma) I thought.
She smiled and asked, “So what’s up, baby girl?”
I told her about my plans with Jake and she nodded approvingly. “Okay, have fun, sweetheart.” With that she kissed me goodbye, as well as Aunt Rosalie. I was making my way out the room when Aunt Alice suddenly appeared, blocking the doorway.
“It’s a blurry sight, but I see you and Jake having a blast in the water. And that only means one thing: SWIMWEAR! Now come with me,” she said dragging me into the biggest closet in the whole entire house. “I’m thinking dark teal will suit you better in contrast with the obscurity of the water. There’s a full moon tonight so you’ll look even more irresistible,” she rambled on. She handed me a dark teal tankini; she and I both knew daddy would rip our throats out if I was in a bikini, and a pair of denim shorts and a white v-neck shirt to cover it up.
Jake and I left everyone and started running through the forest. In 5 minutes we were in La Push and in a minute we reached the beach. I stripped out of my shirt and shorts and I enjoyed Jake’s eyes bulge out just a little when I was in my tankini.
I placed my hand on his chest and stared into his eyes. He stiffened at my touch. And then I smirked and dashed away. “Last one in the water is a stinky werewolf!” I called just a few leaps from the water.
I dove in and stayed beneath the surface for 10 straight minutes. Jake swam after me as I was coming up for air. I shrieked when he got my ankle. We splashed and played in the ocean for who knew how long. We stopped at one point to dry off. He sat down on a bench-like log and I joined him, I had my shirt and shorts back on thinking that I’d shiver without them but with Jacob right next to me it was like having your own personal heater. I acted on impulse and out my head on his shoulder, well more like his left bicep.
We stayed like that for a good while until he finally broke the silence and said, “I never realized the night sky was so beautiful with a full moon.”
I smiled at his comment and then remembered that not too long ago, it was also a full moon when we almost kissed. I slightly stiffened at his side from the memory. He felt it and whispered, “what’s wrong?”
I knew he was looking at me but I kept my eyes straight ahead, fixed on the waves softly crashing against the sand. He turned my head with both of his hands and held me there.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, his tone concerned.
I bit my lip, unable to answer his question. If I told him how I felt, right now, how would he react? The worst thing he could do is run away or shoot me down right here and then. So I gathered up all the courage I had and whispered, “Jake, I like—“
Before I could finish, his cell phone buzzed.
“Bella?” he answered, confused. He kept his eyes on me the whole time he was speaking to my mom. His expression was cloudy and then his gaze shifted from me to the forest. My mom’s words were muffled that I couldn’t really comprehend what she told him. Jake hung up after a minute or two and he got up, dragging me with him.
His grasp was firm on my left wrist as we headed toward his house. “Jake, what’re we doing?” I asked.
“I’m sorry I had to cut you off earlier,” he apologized as we entered the door. Billy was in the living room, watching TV.
“S’okay,” I mumbled, pushing my incomplete statement out of my mind.
“Hey there, Nessie,” Billy greeted me. “Son, what’s wrong?”
Jake sat me down on the couch and started pacing. “Edward and Jasper caught an unfamiliar scent following us when we went to the beach.”
My eyes widened in horror. It was too soon for the Volturi to be sending out their spies.
“Is anyone hurt?” I asked, terrified. Jacob shook his head and I relaxed slightly. “Your mom said for you to stay here for now while they go and investigate. I’m gonna go and help them out,” he said still pacing. I got up and stopped him to touch his face. (No. please don’t leave. I’m scared.)
He sighed after thinking about it for a while. “Fine, I’ll stay. But I’ll have to phase to get someone to help them out.”
I nodded, allowing him to leave. I was left alone with Billy. He assured me that everything would be okay. I smiled. Billy was always caring and soothing. Jake came back in from the back and placed me on his lap. There wouldn’t be enough room for us to be on the same couch. I sunk into him. His dad left to go to sleep and we were alone in the living room. Although I was petrified at the fact there was a vampire on the loose watching me, I was sort of glad that whoever it was interrupted what I was going to say to Jake.
As if he could read my mind, he asked, “So what were you going to tell me earlier?”
I shook my head and said, “Sorry, I don’t remember.” Things happen for a reason, right? So that meant it’s not the right time to tell Jacob how I felt just yet. He nodded and we watched TV, patiently waiting for someone to tell us what happened.
A few hours later, I caught a glimpse at the clock and it was nearing midnight. I yawned involuntarily. “Ness, you’re tired. I can tuck you in at my room if you want. I’ll wake you up immediately when I get some news.”
“No, I wanna stay in your arms and wait until someone comes and tell me that they caught the guy.”
Just then my parents came through the door. I rushed to my mom and touched her face. (Are you okay? Did you guys catch him?)
My dad was the one that answered. “We lost his scent because he went into the water. It’s a good thing he didn’t get a chance to come near you two.”
Jake looked flustered when he said, “I can’t believe I didn’t smell him.” My dad shook his head and replied, “It’s fine, Jacob. I don’t think you guys were in danger. You didn’t smell him because he was watching from afar. He didn’t step onto the sand. We followed his scent over to the cliff and we’re guessing he dove right in and his in the water to watch more closely.”
I shivered at the thought and said, “Can we go home now?” wanting to escape from this nightmare.
“Sure, sweetheart,” daddy said.
“I’m gonna send Seth and Embry out to patrol around the perimeter just to be safe. I’ll take over after I get some shut eye,” Jake said. My dad nodded and thanked him. Jake kissed both me and my mom on the forehead and we left for the main house.