Noonday Sun: A Post-Breaking Dawn Twilight Fanfiction

Chapter 18, School Starts

Chapter 18, School Starts

I'd never seen Nessie so flustered. She must've changed her clothes four times. "Honey, you really need to get ready now. Esme has breakfast waiting, and you don't want to be late your first day of school."

"I know. I know. Just give me a minute." This time she'd decided on her standard t-shirt and faded jeans.

I nodded my approval. "I think you'll be more comfortable wearing your favorite clothes. You and Jacob walked over the campus yesterday. Do you think you can remember where your classes are?"

Nessie rolled her eyes. "That isn't what's worrying me, Momma. I've never been around so many humans. What if I do something wrong?" Her voice was rising in panic. I needed to get her to Jasper.

"Come on, honey. You'll feel better after you eat some breakfast."

She snorted. "Yeah, right." She narrowed her eyes. "It's not like Jasper can follow me to school, you know." I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. She'd seen right through my ruse. It wasn't easy trying to raise a daughter as intelligent as Nessie. She really did know it all.

I smiled encouragingly. Edward slid into the room and kissed her on the forehead. He had been careful to keep his distance until he was sure she'd decided on an outfit. Nessie was developing and liked her privacy. I was hoping we wouldn't have a fiercely raging hormone problem soon. I didn't think I was ready to deal with an emotional teen and I didn't think Edward was, either.

We rushed to the Cullen home and Nessie raced to the kitchen. Jacob had already finished his breakfast and was leaning against the kitchen counter. "Hurry up, slow poke. School starts in twenty minutes."

Nessie sighed. "I couldn't find anything to wear."

Jasper sensed Nessie's agitation and ambled into the kitchen. Nessie visibly relaxed, but she was right, he wouldn't be following her to school.

"What—you have enough clothes for ten kids and you couldn't find anything to wear?" Jacob had seen her closet. He wasn't exaggerating.

She stuck her tongue at him. Jacob grinned and ruffled her curls. She grabbed a huge lemon poppyseed muffin with lemon sauce dribbling down the sides then headed out the door.

She stopped to kiss Esme. "Thanks, Grandma."

Esme looked wistfully after her. "Have a nice day, dear. Good luck in school."

Nessie nodded and headed out the door. We followed her out. She kissed Edward and me good-bye. I suddenly felt like I was joining in the routine of millions of other families across America, and I understood why so many Kindergarten mothers were in tears as they dropped their kids off. Only this wasn't Kindergarten and my daughter was racing through her childhood in record time. My throat constricted with unshed tears.

I couldn't say anything. My voicebox wasn't working. Edward and I watched as Jacob's Escalade disappeared down the Cullen's winding drive. I turned and buried my face in Edward's shirt. Tears wouldn't come to my vampire eyes, but he wrapped his arms around me in the only comfort he could give. My baby was growing up. Even though I knew her future involved Jacob and I knew they wouldn't ever be very far away, she'd never really be mine in the same way, and I was surprised by how much sorrow accompanied that thought.

Nessie

Sitting next to Jacob in the Escalade, I downed Grandma Esme's poppyseed muffin. There wasn't much she cooked that I didn't like, but I was worried about the school cafeteria food. I wasn't sure I could eat something even humans turned their noses at. I'd heard horror stories from the Quileute teens. But then, maybe they'd just been trying to scare me.