The Morning's Dusk

Chapter3

I froze in the middle of the room-and NOT because Alice was still gripping me in a choke-hold-hug. I shook her off and said, "Ok, no woods. But where will we hunt?" Emmett chuckled in light of the tense room and said, "Anywhere with grizzlies." Rose mock-smiled and rolled her eyes. Jake said, "I'm not sure how far out we should go.." I said, "Well, it's not like the other people are vegetarians." They nodded, but Edward had a really cruel look on his face. "What?" Bella asked. He shook his head and said, "They have more people than we do. Just one." I said, "Won't you include me, Daddy?" He cracked a crooked smile and said, "I wouldn't include the person they want to kill, love." I looked down and put my head between my knees. He whispered, "Sorry, Ness." Jake put an arm around me and said, "C'mon, Nessie. Let's go to your room. We need to talk." I let him drag me to my room, which was painted white, with white carpet, and white rugs, and a white comforter, white pillows, and a white flat-screen...well, you get the picture. He plopped into my white desk chair, next to my white desk holding my white Mac laptop. He said, "Nessie, I really want you to be more careful. Like riding with Seth, Leah, and me. You know Seth would die for you, and so would Leah. You know I would do so much more." I rolled my eyes and said, "Yeah, but I never asked for a death sentence, Jake." He said, "I just need you to promise me that." I said, "Sure, I'll try." He handed me a bracelet with a little russet wolf on it-and two smaller black ones beside it. He said, "We couldn't find any other wood colors. We made them." I turned it over and over and slid it on my left wrist. He smiled and looked out my window. I said, "Jake, it's gorgeous. Mom has one just like it-only without the little black wolves and with a crystal heart. Sort of like the one Noel gave me." He growled when I said Noel's name. (He was my ex. He was a hundred years older than me.) Edward and Bella were in the room five milliseconds later. Edward asked, "Why did I hear you growl?" Bella said, "Noel gave you a crystal heart?" I nodded and said, "Yeah. Why?" She pulled the chain gently off of my neck and looked it over and over. She suddenly got angry and crushed it in one move. I looked her up and downa nd said, "Why did you do that?!" She said, "Because it had his scent on it... so he could find you, even wih a werewolf nearby." I shuffled through every moment with Noel, mostly his angry ones, where he had threatened to hurt either me or Jake. I knew Edward would probably see this, too. He growled loudly and suddenly Alice was next to him. She said, "I've been watching them, and it turns out your boyfriend is part of Chase's family." I looked at Jake and she said, "Oops, I meant your ex." I brushed back a ringlet of my bronze hair with my left hand and noticed everyone's expression. Alice froze, Bella and Edward looked away knowingly. And Jake looked pleased. Edward sighed sharply and said, "Jacob, please try to keep your fantasies about you and my daughter to yourself. It's like you're yelling them at me." I darted down the stairs and sat next to Emmett. He smiled at me, and started a rumble of laughter. Rose bit her lip, trying not to laugh, and Jasper was shaking his head. Carslisle was calm; Esme looked happy. I sighed and said, "Yes, I'm wearing a bracelet. By the way, thanks Seth. And Leah." They smiled and Seth jumped up to give me a sweltering hug. I said, "I, uh, I'll be right back." I walked to the library and took out my iPhone. I dialed Aunt Jane's number and waited for her to pick up.

When she did, she greeted me with a, "Hello, Renesmee. Graduate kindergarden, sweetie?" I forced back a smart remark and said, "Actually, I'm a junior in high school." Her shocked gasp sounded and dissapeared at once. She said, "My, how you grow. So, what do I owe the pleasure of this call?" I said, "Well, there's this group of vampires who want to kill me..."

The next morning, I pulled on a short white sun-dress and straightened my soft hair. I walked out to the open living room and waited for someone to come when they heard me. Our cottaqge had been knocked down, so I had no place to go other than my room when I got mad. Esme was down in seconds, dressed and all, with a vase of fresh flowers in one hand, and a crystal bowl of cooled hot rocks in the other. She placed them carefully and waved.

I smiled and said, "Hey, Grandma." Rose was there at the sound of my voice. They were both wearing different shades of purple and different colored pants. I was the only one wearing summer clothes, I realized. Oh, well. I said, "So, I called Jane last night." They both froze momentarily, then sat beside me. I said, "She wants to help us, er, take care of the carnivores. She and Aro, of course." They nodded, encouraging me to go on. I was sure everyone was listening, anyway. Well, I would tell Jake later. I continued, "They have no reason not to know what we face, considering we're all family." Alice and Carslisle were there next.

Alice smiled at me and said, "You look...amazing, Nessie. The student has officially mastered the teacher. I love the lace on that dress. It's...um, kinda short, though, Ness. I mean, you know, just don't go around guys too much." I laughed, but she kept a serious face. Carslisle said, "So, Jane and Aro will be visiting soon?"

I nodded and said, "Yes. They're becoming very protective of me." He smiled and turned a second before Emmett and Jasper came in, arguing about some stupid bet. They were always betting. Emmett stopped chattering when he saw me. He boomed, "No way, Ness. Go change. If you don't want guys after you, maybe you shouldn't show so much...skin." I rolled my eyes and pulled my hair up, tying it with more hair, creating a crown.

I giggled when he crossed his arms at my exposed shoulders and collarbone. Jasper eyed me and before I knew it, we were racing to Edward. He was sitting up, reading a book, flipping pages at inhuman speed. He took one look at me, and called out, "Bella!" She appeared before me and said, "Oh, come on! It's just a dress, Edward." He shook his head and said, "No, she reminded Emmett of Rosalie. Rosalie!" I rolled my eyes at he and Jasper, mimicking Edward as I did, and said, "Whatever, I'm going to La Push. Bye." Then I was out the door of the house, heading straight as a bullet through the forest, pushing through scraggly trees as I reached the sand of La Push, Jake's favorite place.