Enchanting Equinox (Jacob Black Story)

Chapter 3: Rain

Charlotte and Peter didn’t seem to understand how tense the room was. Peter leaned in, his eyes wide and with shock.
“This is Renesmee, Jasper?” Jasper moved forward and nodded, the light throwing his scars into a bright pattern of crescent moons.
“But she’s human,” Charlotte whispered. Her voice was sharp and small, and Renesmee noticed how she leaned towards her, her eyes bright with hunger. Edward stepped into her path.
“Why don’t we take a seat and talk? Alice why don’t you take Nessie upstairs. She probably has homework,” Renesmee noticed how Rosalie and Emmett glided in front of Charlotte and Peter as they sat down. Her mother hovered by the door for a minute, her eyes on Renesmee, and then joined her father on the floor in front of the stairs. Alice’s arm linked through Renesmee’s and they dashed up the stairs at a fast pace. She pulled Renesmee over to her window
“Where are we going Alice?” Renesmee asked, Alice’s eyes were calm, unlike everyone downstairs.
“Not us, you. You’re going to Jacob’s house, even if he’s not there. We already called Billy to let him know which vampires were here so he could tell Jake. And he’s fine with you coming. Your mum and dad don’t want you near Charlotte and Peter because they don’t have the best control,” Renesmee sighed and then her thoughts jerked back to something else.
“Where are Carlisle and Esme?” Alice pulled Renesmee’s hair back into a ponytail for her and Renesmee glanced in the mirror, for the first time in a few days. Alice wouldn’t let her leave the house no matter where she was going unless she looked perfect. Even with the new rule, of Renesmee being able to choose what she wears. She sighed. Her skin was pale and had a subtle glow in the sunshine, not enough to keep her inside on a sunny day. Her eyes were milk chocolate and her hair was curly bronze, falling in soft ringlets well past her shoulders.
“Nessie! Come on before Edward tears my head off!” She whispered. She opened the window and shoved her out before Renesmee was ready. She gasped and fell down the two stories, landing on the balls of her feet. Alice smiled down at her from her window and Renesmee rolled her eyes.
“Nessie!” she hissed from upstairs. Renesmee glanced back up at her.
“Make sure you hunt before you go to Billy’s” She disappeared from the window and Renesmee set out at a hard sprint towards the forest, her hearing fanning out for something to eat.

*Deep In The Forest*
Everything was quiet except for the silent patter of the rain. Renesmee controlled her breathing, trying to make it quieter. She let her hearing take over with her smell. About three hundred yards away she could hear a couple of elks. She took off at the fastest sprint she could manage. She spotted a buck and dove gracefully through the air, taking it down with one quick movement. Hunting was so much easier when Jacob was with her, in the form of his furry russet brown wolf. She ate quietly as the other deer sprinted away, her thoughts on Jacob again. She really hoped he was home when she got there, but she knew he would be on patrol. She sighed and stood; surprised to see she had managed to not be covered in blood. As she ran along the dark under bush of the woods, twisting and weaving through, the rain managed to pick up again. She stopped in front of Billy’s small house, surprised to see that no one was there. Maybe he was over at Charlie’s. She opened the door and stepped inside. It was empty. She sighed and sat down on the familiar small couch, grabbing a blanket that she was sure Billy had laid out. She turned his TV on and let her thoughts fade, her eyes focused on the pouring rain outside. When she realized how tired she was she stood and took herself to Jacob’s tiny room. She opened the door and laughed at the mess. His clothes were slung everywhere, and his bed was a mess. She grabbed a pair of his overly large shorts and a t-shirt, slipping them on, so she would not soak his bed. She climbed in and closed her eyes, sighing happily to herself. Jacob’s scent engulfed her and she fell asleep to his familiar smell. It’s almost like my best friend was here with me.

*When She Wakes Up*

Warm hands were wrapped around her, a steady heartbeat under her ear. She blinked her eyes and her vision sharpened immediately. She stretched and looked up. Jacob was sitting under her, and they were on the couch. Had he brought me down here?
“How come you’re here Nessie?” he asked, his voice making her smile. He smiled back, waiting for an answer. But his eyes were impatient, worried even.
“Alice sent me. Well technically my parents, because Charlotte and Peter are in town, and there not ’vegetarians’. They’re worried they might hurt me, but I know they won’t. Alice called Billy and he said it was fine if I came down here,” Jacob’s eyebrows scrunched together and she giggled at the expression on his face.
“Nessie you have to be more careful when you’re out in the woods,” his eyes were dark and penetrating.
“Why?” she swallowed. He shifted his weight and sat her up, eyeing his clothes on her.
“Today when we were running patrols Collin sounded an alarm because he saw someone. He was about to attack and then I saw exactly who it was,” his fingers tipped her chin up.
“Nessie, Collin almost took you down. But I got there in time and knocked him aside. You have to pay attention sweetie,” His deep eyes were worried.
“I was thinking,” she murmured, a blush running up her face and into her cheeks. His eyes narrowed and he held her tighter. She leaned her head back against his chest and looked at the TV. His breathing evened out and she turned suddenly.
“Why are you guys out patrolling if it’s only Charlotte and Peter?”
“They’re bloodsuckers Nessie. We don’t know these leeches so we’re not going to leave our lands unprotected no matter how friendly they are with your leeches,” she pressed her hand against his cheek, letting the anger that she felt at his comments roll into him. Jacob flinched.
“Sorry Nessie. They’re bloodsuckers no matter what,” she ripped herself out of his arms and backed away towards the door.
“I guess that’s what you think about me too Jacob!” she yelled. Pain lashed across his face and he stepped towards her.
“Just leave me alone Jake,” her hands pushed the door open and she darted into the pouring rain. She didn’t hear him follow her. She took off towards First Beach. The water crashed wildly against the rocks as the wind pushed at it. She glanced up at one of the many cliffs, one where her mother had once jumped from. She said that she was bored, but she had almost drowned. Jacob had saved her. Renesmee walked through the heavy rain until she found what she was looking for. Her mother and Jacob’s driftwood bench, bleached pale white. She sat down on the ground in front of it, hugging her knees to her chest. He was only her best friend. She sighed. Her body and mind were maturing to fast, and she was growing so fast that sometimes things were confusing.
She laughed quietly to herself. It was amazing how many clothes she had gone through; though she knew Alice enjoyed all the shopping. Renesmee wasn’t that excited about shopping but she didn’t mind it. Which reminded her, September 10th was coming up in about a month. Her seventh birthday, technically seventeen. She would finally stop aging completely. She sighed and held her knees tighter.
She heard quiet feet hit the rocks behind her, approaching her. She closed her eyes. Jacob stopped behind her and she turned to look at him. He held his hand out to her but she shook her head. She heard him sigh as he came to sit beside her, stretching his long legs out. His arm wrapped around her shoulder and she realized how cold she was. Jacob spoke after a moment, clearing his throat.
“Nessie. You know I don’t think of you that way. You’re my Nessie, my favourite person in the world,” She made a scoffing sound in the back of her throat. What about the girl he had imprinted on? His eyes read hers and she ducked her head down.
“Nessie you are. You know that I would do anything for you,” Jacob was impossible to stay mad at. She sighed and pressed her hand against his muscled forearm, not wanting to touch his cheek, and let him know what she was thinking.
“Okay Nessie. Come on,” He held his hand out to her as he stood in a fast movement. She narrowed her eyes at him and took his hot hand. His hand was so big that it swallowed her tiny hand. She looked at the differences in their skin. Beautiful russet and glowing white. She sighed and he looked down at her. His hand pulled out of hers and hurt rolled through her, but he quickly wrapped his arm around her shoulder, bringing her closer to his side.
When they got back to Jacob’s house she was so wet it wasn’t even funny. Her clothes were dried now and she changed in his tiny bedroom. When she walked back out to the living room, Jacob was asleep on the floor, a pillow under his head, shirtless of course. Jacob never wore a shirt. She sighed and leaned her back against the couch, sitting next to him. She turned the TV back on and settled for the cooking channel. Jacob and Renesmee were the only ones who could eat human food and Esme was usually the one that cooked for them both. She made to large portions but usually Seth and Jacob would come together and finish everything off. She realized that she was still hungry, but she wasn’t going outside again just to get soaked. Renesmee stood gracefully and slipped into the kitchen. She opened Jacob’s fridge and rolled her eyes. She ended up making sandwiches, one for herself, and left about ten for Jacob knowing he would eat them all. She curled her knees back up to her chest as she sat down at his table. There were finger marks in the table and she wondered what had made Jacob mad enough that he wanted to break the table. Looking out the window, she waited for Jacob to wake up. It was about an hour for him to come to. She heard him gasp in the other room and roll to his feet.
“I’m in here Jake,” she murmured. He heard her and flopped into the kitchen. He stretched and Renesmee slid the plate full of sandwiches towards him. He sat down and sighed.
“Thanks Nessie,” he flashed her a smile, eating slowly.
“Sure, sure,” she said. He smiled at the stolen line. When he was finished he looked at her, his eyes searching her face. She leaned across the table and put her hand against his cheek, replaying him looking at her, a question in her mind.
“Nothing Nessie. You’re beautiful just like your mum. More beautiful really,” she dropped her eyes to the table, a blush creeping up her cheeks. When she looked up Jacob’s eyes weren’t on her face but her wrist.
“You still wear it?” His voice was shocked. He lifted her wrist up, the heat sinking into her skin. She shivered.
“Yeah Jake. I haven’t taken it off since you gave it to me,” She looked down at the Quileute form of a promise ring. It was an intricately braided bracelet.
“You’re so different from your mum Nessie,” he whispered, his voice heavy.
“Is that a good or bad thing?” Her voice was taut. He smiled and she relaxed.
“She hates gifts Nessie. She’s not as free as you are. Maybe that’s why I love you Nessie,” his words froze her. He still had hold of her wrist. But Jacob only loved me as my best friend. He stood and she stood with him. His head snapped towards his front door when a loud howl shook his house. He disappeared out the door and she followed him after a moment, staying under his roof so she wouldn’t get wet again. Seth was standing in front of Jacob, in his human form, only a pair of shorts on.
“Hey Nessie,” he said, tipping his chin towards her. She smiled at him.
“Edward and Bella want Nessie to come home now Jake. The vamps left so she’s all good,” he bounced onto his other foot. Seth was bouncy and excited all the time. He didn’t have a problem with any of the Cullens. He was actually good friends with Renesmee’s dad. Something she would never understand. His sister Leah on the other hand could barely tolerate the Cullens.
“All right. I’ll take her home,” Jacob said. There was a hint of sadness in his voice. Why? Because he had to be alone with me for a few more minutes?
“Go get some sleep Embry.” Seth nodded and took off through the rain, his hands trembling. Jacob stood there for a minute and then he turned to her, some deep emotion hidden in his eyes.
“Come out to the garage Nessie, I can drive you home,” she took his hand and he lead her across the uneven ground back to his garage. Two cars sat inside, both his. One was his old Rabbit, something he had built on his own. The other was a gift, something from her parents. Jacob had done so much for her parents and her dad knew that Jacob loved cars. He had given him this car a year ago to Jacob’s astonishment. The Aston Martin Vanquish was a pretty black and sleek car. Jacob grabbed the keys off of one of the hooks and walked towards the Vanquish. Renesmee smiled and climbed into the passenger seat. It no longer smelled like her parents, but now it smelled like Jacob’s earthy wonderful scent. He started the car and it purred to life under them. He smiled at her and flew out of the garage and onto the road. He slowed down on the main roads, his hand inches from hers. She kept her eyes on the road, watching the trees fly past in clear detail. The rain seemed to pour harder as he pulled into her driveway, speeding up the winding path. The large white house was completely lit and even from the car she could hear all of their quiet breathing and conversations going on. She climbed out of the car and Jacob took her hand, leading her up to the front door. He stopped outside.
“See you later Nessie,” his voice was sweet. She smiled at him and threw her arms around him. He hugged her back and kissed her forehead.
“Tomorrow?” She pleaded. He chuckled his throaty laugh and smiled, disappearing into the rain and down the driveway.

*The Next Morning*

Renesmee’s family were scattered around the room, looking at ease. Her parent’s faces brightened as soon as she walked in and her mum rose out of her father’s arm and danced towards her to give Renesmee a hug. She saw her wrinkle her nose as she pulled away.
“Not my fault,” Renesmee muttered to herself. They all laughed and Alice danced towards her, pulling on her hand. She sat Renesmee down on the couch, curling her legs under her. Her mum fell back into her father’s lap on the floor and he kissed her cheek.
“So you probably are wondering why Charlotte and Peter were here Nessie?” her father’s voice was serious. Rosalie and Emmett sat up and Jasper hovered closer. Esme stood to go into the kitchen, Carlisle following her. Renesmee nodded at her father.
“Well Nessie when you were born we had trouble with the Volturi, the news spread that we were gathering people to stand against them, though they were only needed as witnesses at first. Charlotte and Peter didn’t come because they heard about you, thought that you were an immortal child and wanted nothing to do with you or us. They fear the Volturi. So after all these years they decided to come and visit to come and see us. They wanted to meet you but as soon as you got here Charlotte’s mind shifted towards attack. She never had the best control,” her father’s voice was serious and his teeth ground together.
“You overreact too much Edward,” Emmett laughed from behind the couch, his deep toned voice vibrating the room. Her dad hissed at him and Emmett chuckled again. Rosalie cleared her throat, flipping her hair.
“He’s right Edward. You are too protective,” her mum put her hand on her dad’s cheek and he smiled at her, taking a deep breath.
“But everything is fine now because they’re gone. Hey Nessie?!” Alice said perkily from beside her. Renesmee shifted her eyes away from her parents and looked at her glowing face. The face that showed she was up to something.