Noonday Sun: A Post-Breaking Dawn Twilight Fanfiction

Chapter 12, Denali

Chapter 12, Denali

The morning sun couldn't work its way through the heavy dark clouds that had settled over Forks. Just as Alice had predicted, this was going to be a perfect day to register Nessie and Jacob.

"How do I look?" Nessie twirled in front of me, casually dressed in faded jeans and a t-shirt. She didn't have to wear long sleeved shirts like I did. Her skin had a lovely, slightly luminescent glow in the sunlight. Nothing that would keep her indoors.

"Perfect." I approved, but I sounded pre-occupied, and Nessie's brow furrowed.

"You aren't just saying that, are you?"

This time she had my full attention. "You look great. You don't need to worry. Everything is going to be fine."

Although I was working hard to reassure her, my own stomach felt like it should have butterflies. I wasn't really ready to register my daughter in high school. The school administration would all remember me. I had graduated just four years before. How can I be registering my own daughter for high school?

Even though the Cullens had a reputation as a family that adopted, Edward and I parenting a teen would surely raise a lot of eyebrows. As far as they knew, we were barely more than teens ourselves. That was true for me, but not for Edward.

On the other hand, having a teen registered in the local high school would give us all an excuse to stay put for three more years. As soon as Nessie and Jacob graduated, it would be time for us all to move on. We weren't aging, and it couldn't escape the attention of the local population much longer.

I double-checked the papers I had tucked in a manila envelope then looked at Jacob, who was standing expectantly by the door. "Ready?"

"You know it." He grinned at me. We all headed out to his Escalade.

Edward and Carlisle were gone for the week on some obscure fact-finding trip. It involved meeting someone in Iraq, and I didn't particularly want to be in the middle of a war zone. Esme and I had opted to stay home.

Carlisle was obsessed with finding the history of vampires. Although I didn't share his drive, I couldn't help but be moved by his curiosity.

Jacob made sure Nessie was securely buckled then moved to the driver's side.

"You never used to be so careful with me," I smirked at him.

He chuckled.

Nessie looked a little upset. "I wish you'd quit treating me like a baby. I'm heading to high school now."

Jacob reached over and ruffled her bronze curls. "I just want to make sure you're safe."

She smiled, unable to stay angry with her favorite person.

He drove at a safe speed to Forks High and parked in the student parking lot. A few other cars were parked there. We wouldn't be the only ones registering. The registration had started the previous week, but the sun had been out and that was the first day I could safely handle the registration.

When we entered the front office, I was relieved to see that we were the only ones present. Mrs. Cope, the artificially red-headed secretary, looked up. The small brown eyes behind the thick lenses were full of stunned surprise. I knew my appearance was vastly different from the last time I'd seen her. "Hi, Bella." Her face lit up in a smile. "How have you been?"

Nice recovery. I can tell why she works in the front office. Very diplomatic. Not one word about my strange new appearance, so like my husband's family. I suddenly wished Edward was here so he could tell me what she was thinking. "I'm doing great." I had worked really hard to keep my voice low, but my musical voice was impossible to hide. "I graduated from Dartmouth in June."