Nessy

Forks

"I don't like this," I said. Jacob turned his gaze towards the group of girls sitting behind us, their voices easily audible to both of us, and then he looked back at me before taking a bite of his burger, holding it with one hand.

"You resemble your mom in some ways," he said, and I couldn't help but grin with him. Being compared to Bella had always been something that cheered me up, no matter the situation.

Due to my appearance, I had been forcing myself to call her by her name for a long time now. During our time in Seattle, there were a few instances where people who saw us - two young looking girls, one seemingly a teenager and the other barely an adult - referring to each other as mother and daughter gave us strange looks. My mom would always look beautiful and nineteen. I, on the other hand, could easily pass for older than her right now. But according to those who knew us, my face grew more like hers as I aged, though I inherited my hair from my dad.

"Why did you bring that up?"

"I remember the first time she came here as a young girl. She had this disappointed look on her face when she found out I wasn't attending the same school. She wanted to be here but hated being anywhere she could be seen by others. I loved witnessing that."

Jacob spoke about my mother with such pure love evident in his eyes. Every time he looked at me, I could feel that same love in his gaze. I was torn between whether he loved the Bella he found in me or the version of me that came to him through my mother.

"Don't worry. Being new is frustrating for everyone. You're not alone. I got you."

This middle-aged man, who had been by my side since the first hours of my birth, had always been there for me unconditionally and without hesitation, providing me with the best support whenever I needed it. I knew he was the last person who could ever harm me in any way. My mother, father, aunts, uncles, and even anyone who truly knew us, they all knew this.

"Tomorrow, all you have to do is be yourself. Let people love you."

Jacob's encouragement and support meant the world to me. His love was a constant anchor in my life, and I knew that he would always be there for me, no matter what. With his reassuring words, I felt more confident in facing the challenges that lay ahead and embracing who I truly was.

Since the day I was born, for seven years, my family hadn't introduced me to anyone they didn't trust. I had no communication with anyone who would have to know me for a long time because it was undoubtedly suspicious why I suddenly appeared twice as old as them when I was supposed to be their age. I started learning at a very young age. When I was only two years old, my father taught me everything he knew about the piano. My comprehension was far beyond that of a normal human. Before even turning five, my family had taught me all the subjects that normal children would encounter in elementary, middle, and high school.

By the time I turned seven, I could speak Spanish and Italian. After my development stopped, we moved to Canada for a few years and I learned French. I had read all the books in my father and mother's library and listened to everything they had heard. Although the Cullen house in Washington is currently empty and desolate, I had spent my first few years in that big house, happy and fulfilled.

Now, I had returned here as the so-called distant cousin of the Cullens, living in our small house in the forest that Alice insisted on, shortly after my mother's transformation. I was enjoying being close to Charlie. He knew he shouldn't question anything and had to get used to his little girl being away most of the time, but he was thrilled that a part of her was still around, and he loved me to death.

It had been two weeks since I arrived. Jacob's family and his old pack might secretly resent me for keeping him away from them, but we all knew it was superficial, and deep down, they respected him and loved me.

"Thank you," I said. "You enjoy your time with your family too."

"I am always with my family."

The whispers of the girl group who will probably be my new school friends were left behind in my mind. Jacob always made me feel good. Tomorrow would be my first day to experience things like everyone else in my family, and the excitement of that was enough to disregard those unfamiliar glances and smirks.

After finishing our meal with Jacob, we returned to Charlie and Sue's house. I couldn't start my first day of school without spending a lovely evening with my dear grandfather and toasting with a beer.