My Child (Twilight)

{2} Slight Tension [7]

Several weeks passed after Rainn's initial nervous encounter with his extended family in the woods. During this time, he slowly acclimated to their presence and began to feel more comfortable around them in the home. The family outings became more frequent, and Rainn found himself enjoying their company; he knew that these wouldn't be as common if he weren't there, but he was enjoying himself.

.

Back at the house for dinner one evening, the atmosphere slightly shifted when Esme dropped a bombshell during a family discussion in the dining room. The family, except for Edward, Alice, and Jasper, were all sitting around the table for Rainn as his dinner lay before him. Rosalie's expression immediately turned guarded as Esme spoke with a warm smile:

"I've enrolled all three of you into the local high school," Esme announced; Esme wanted to talk about this topic for a while, looking around at Rosalie, Emmet, and Rainn.

Rosalie's reaction was immediate. Her jaw tightened, and she shot a sharp look at Esme before speaking with a hint of frustration, saying, "Esme, Rainn is homeschooled for a reason. He's doing fine with the curriculum we've set up." Rosalie did not elaborate on why Rainn was homeschooled, but she said the boy froze slightly when his name was mentioned.

Emmet, caught off guard by the news, looked between Rosalie and Esme, trying to gauge their reactions, not deciding to misinterpret. Rainn, seated quietly across from Emmet, shifted uncomfortably, feeling the tension in the room. Knowing how his mother got, Rainn chose to stay quiet and focus on the food in front of him.

"I understand your concerns, Rosalie," Esme continued calmly, but her tone was firm. "But I believe it's important for Rainn to interact socially with kids his age. High school could offer him opportunities we can't provide here. I know you placed Rainn in his social clubs, but whilst he's here, I believe it will be a good idea." Esme explained that she wanted what was best for her grandson.

"Opportunities like what?" Rosalie retorted, her voice edging towards exasperation. "We've managed perfectly well until now. He's happy with the way things are."

Rainn glanced down at his hands, unsure how to voice his feelings. He appreciated his mother's dedication to homeschooling him, but a part of him wondered what it would be like to attend a real school and have friends his age outside of family.

"I just think it's worth considering," Esme said gently, trying to diffuse the tension. "It's not a decision we must make right now, but I believe it could be good for Rainn's development."

The conversation lingered awkwardly for a moment before Emmet spoke up, trying to ease the tension. "Maybe we can discuss this further another time," he suggested diplomatically, looking between Rosalie and Esme. "Right now, let's focus on what's best for Rainn."
Rosalie sighed heavily, clearly still not convinced, but nodded reluctantly.

As the evening progressed, the tension that simmered over the dinner table refused to dissipate. Rainn sensed it keenly, though he tried to focus on eating his dinner—a dish of roasted vegetables and mashed potatoes that Esme had prepared with her usual care.

Emmet attempted to lighten the atmosphere by bringing up the day's activities, recounting a humorous moment from their hike that morning. Rainn managed a small smile, grateful for his father's effort to shift the focus away from the lingering tension.

Rosalie remained unusually quiet. Every noise she made was without much enthusiasm. Esme, sitting beside Emmet, exchanged a concerned glance with Carlisle, who sat at the head of the table.
After a few moments of uneasy silence, Esme gently broached the subject that had lingering in the air since her earlier announcement: "Rosalie, are you alright with Rainn starting high school?" Esme's tone was gentle, but there was an underlying firmness, indicating she wouldn't drop the matter.