Brand New Beginning

Chapter Twenty Three

         I ran as fast as I can back to Forks, I got lost though. I tried to remember where I was but I made another wrong turn. I ran farther ahead but found myself in the same place. I sighed and stopped, why couldn't I remember where my town is? I sat down and leaned on a tree, the forest was silent. I looked around the forest for anything that looked familiar. I found nothing and just stayed where I was. Suddenly that old mans story came to mind. They reminded me of my love for Seth, I realized I would go out of my way to be with him and that he would do the same for me. Thinking of Seth made my heart ache, I left him alone. I ached all over for his touch, if only I can just see him. I put my head in my hands when suddenly I heard fast foot steps. I jumped up and climbed the tree, suddenly a familiar scent hit my nose. I jumped down from my tree and nearly dropped my book. I adjusted it and ran towards the smell, I scanned the forest for the source of the scent. Suddenly I saw a huge wolf appear and its fur was a sandy color. "Seth!" I yelled and ran faster, I heard a bark come from the wolf. I tackled Seth and hugged him around the neck. "Oh my god! How did you find me?!" I yelled squeezing me, I heard him choke so I let him go. He whined and nudged me with his nose. "I missed you so much" I said rubbing his nose and kissing it. I saw two more wolves appear, it was Jared and Embry. Embry came over and nudged me with his nose, "I am fine" I told him. He nodded and looked at Seth, I saw that he had a tear in his eye. I wiped away the tear and kissed him on the nose again. "Take me home please" I said, Seth stood up and I jumped on his back. I placed the book underneath my leg so it wouldn't fall and held on to Seth's fur. Seth ran at top speed once he knew I was ready. I watched where thy ran and realized that I was close to going home if I had made a right instead if a left. I made a mental note to remember that if I ran this way again. I watched the forest pass by as I rubbed his fur. 

          I leaned over and scratched his fur under his ear. He looked at me and gave me a wolfy smile. "I missed you so much" I said. He whined back at me and ran faster. Soon we made it I the beach, Seth stopped running and the other two ran ahead. I jumped off of Seth's back and turned around, I heard him run into the forest. I sighed and leaned on the rock, I missed this place so much. I turned around and saw Seth standing there, I have him a sad look and he jogged up and gave me a huge hug. "Please don't ever leave me again" he said and squeezed me. I squeezed him back loving how it felt to be in his arms. I had missed this so much, I took in his forest smell and looked him in the eyes, "I'm so sorry Seth" I had a tear in my eye, I hadn't realized how strong of a longing I had for him. He wiped away my tear and pulled me in for a long hug. "Next time you run away let me go with you" he said. I nodded and leaned my head on his shoulder. I wanted to stay in his arms for as long as I can, he must have felt the same because he lifted me into the air and carried me bridal style to the nearby boulder. He sat down and placed me on his lap, "I worried so much about you," he said, "I was looking for you everywhere but I couldn't find you anywhere." I could hear his voice breaking, "I thought you were going to leave for good." "I was gone for a couple of hours Seth," I said turning myself around and looking him in the eye, "besides I couldn't leave you for very long." I kissed his lips gently and wiped away a tear. "I promise to never leave you again" I whispered. He smiled at me and pulled me in for another kiss. I melted into him, I craved his touch. We kissed for a long time, our lips moved in sync and we clung to each other. I felt something warm and bright break through the trees. We broke apart and watched the sunrise. I hadn't realized I had been gone for so long, 'We need to go" I said and leaned into his chest. He sighed, "Yea we should be going now, Rose and Emmett are really worried about you." I sighed and lifted myself off of Seth, I stretched and moved so he could get up. Once we were both ready I took his hand in mine and we walked towards the Cullen's house.

       We were quiet, I looked up at Seth and saw that he looked like he was thinking about something. "What's on your mind?" I asked squeezing his hand. He looked down at me and smiled, "I haven't taken you on a proper date." I giggled, "What about the beach? Also the picnic?" He shook his head, "They were all interrupted by something" I looked back on it and realized we did have a lot of interruptions. "Well maybe one day we can go on an actual date with no interruptions" I said bumping into him. He laughed and bumped into me, "I will take you on a proper date," he said confidently, "maybe to a restaurant." I laughed, "That sounds nice, but maybe after the battle." He chuckled and then his grew somber. "I don't want you to fight to be honest," he said. "I am going to fight Seth," I said stopping in my tracks and looking him in the eyes, "nothing will stop me from fighting." He looked down, "I know but I want to be there to protect you," he said looking back up at me, "I don't know what I would do with myself if I knew you got hurt because I wasn't there." He cupped my cheek in his hand, I leaned into his hand and smiled. "I won't get hurt" I said taking his hand in mine. He gave me a small smile, I put both my hands on the side of his face and kissed him. "I will be fine don't worry" He smiled and hugged me. I hugged him back, suddenly we heard someone cough behind us. We jumped apart and looked at Jasper. "Sorry to ruin the moment but we are waiting for you Nikki" he said smiling. I ran up and hugged him, "Sorry for running away" I said. He nodded, "Edward and Rose ran away when they were first changed as well." Why would they run away? I looked over Jaspers shoulders and saw Alice. My smile widened and I ran and hugged Alice, I may have been gone only for a night but I missed all of them.

      "Hey" she beamed and gave me a huge hug. "Be happy cause this may be the only hug I am giving you on my own free will" I joked. She laughed, "We have missed you so much" she said letting go of me. "You were only gone for a night but we were worried so much" she said looking me over for any scratches or bruising. "I am fine, I actually met a nice man who gave me this book" I said, but when I realized I didn't have it I panicked. "My book!" I yelled and started searching the ground. "You mean this book?" Seth said holding up my book. I ran over to him and snatched it out of his hands "How did you get this?" I asked him looking over my book. "Well when you jumped off my back it fell but you didn't see it. I picked it up and placed it in my pocket, since I have huge pockets, and forgot about it cause I hugged you and we kissed" he said. I jumped up and gave him a huge hug, "Thank you so much," I said and walked back over to Alice, "this is the book the man gave me." She took the book from my hand and jumped up and down when she saw the title, "I love this book!" she squealed and started flipping through the pages. Jasper came over and looked over Alice's shoulder, "She's right this is a good book." "When am I ever wrong?" Alice said teasingly and hit Jasper with the book. He smiled, "Pardon me madam" he said slightly bowing to her. "Awe you know I can't stay mad at you when you do that" she whined. He chuckled and smiled at her, "Sorry dear" he said and gently kissed her. They make such a cute couple, "Hey there are other people here" Seth teased. I turned around and hit him in the arm, "They are having a moment, please Seth" I said pretending to wipe a tear away.

        We both cracked up laughing, "Ow!" I yelled, Alice threw the book at my head. "Ok come on everyone is still waiting for you" she said laughing and took Jaspers hand and ran off in the direction of the house. I ran with them and soon heard Seth running next to me, I watched the trees pass by and saw a lot of birds fly around. I felt the sudden urge to attack them. I haven't fed in such a long time. Seth barked and brought me back to reality, I saw my house coming into view. I jumped onto the porch and stood at the door. I looked back and saw Seth disappear in the forest, I opened the door and walked in. Before I was even able to look and see who was inside I was attacked with a huge hug. "Don't you ever run away like that again!" Rose was squeezing the life out of me. "S-sorry" I gasped and tried to hug her back. She released me but she still held me, "We thought you weren't coming back" she said looking me over for any marks or bruises. "Actually she was the only one really worried," Edward said, "we knew you would come back safe." I laughed and hugged Rose again, "Well I am fine and don't worry I won't run off again." She smiled and let me go, I heard the door open behind me and Seth stood in the doorway. "Sorry" he said and backed off into a corner. I would have gone over and held his hand but I saw Esme appear from the kitchen with a plate full of strawberries and a sandwich. "I thought you would be hungry" she said and placed the plate of food on the coffee table. I walked over and hugged her, she gently squeezed me and then let me go. "I am glad you made it home safe" she said. I nodded and she handed me the plate. I dug into the sandwich and soon it was gone, I took my time with the strawberries since they were my favorite. Everyone was watching me but I didn't care. I was just glad I was home.