reaching dusk (WATTY Awards 2013)

chapter 3

Ness's POV

My stomach was full of butterflies as we drove to my house just outside of Forks. There was only about an hour left of driving, and for the first time I wished we lived further away. Like somewhere on the East Coast, perhaps. I was so worried how to act in front of my parents when I got home. What would they think of this new development? I looked over at Jacob driving and he looked perfectly at ease. He glanced away from the road momentarily to look at me.

"Will you just relax?" he said smiling. "It will be fine. This isn't as big a deal as you think it is, you know. You really should trust me a little more."

I rolled my eyes at him, annoyed. "Easy for you to say. You aren't the only miracle child of two dangerous vampires," I retorted.

He threw his head back laughing. "It'll be fine, Ness. Don't worry. It isn't like you're bringing home a new boyfriend for the first time. I'm sure they'll approve. Besides, this was inevitable, remember?" He teased.

"Just do your best to control your thoughts when we get there, okay Jake?" I warned him. "Let's not give him any visuals."

I sighed at the thought of my utter humiliation as my father got the full instant replay of us kissing in the car as he plucked it out of Jacob's head. I could block my thoughts from him but Jacob's mind was an open book unless he was making an effort to think of something else. He reached over and took my hand in his.

"I have more control than you give me credit for," he said defensively. "My brain may not have the same super self control as yours, but I can certainly think about something inconsequential for an hour or two"

I laughed a little at his description of my gift.

"Control huh? I wouldn't go as far as to say that." I said.

"Well whatever it is...." He trailed off momentarily. "I never really asked you before, but now that we are on the subject....how does it work, exactly?" he asked.

I looked out the window thinking of the right words to describe how my gift worked. I didn't know where to start. I never really had to explain it before.

"Well, it's not that simple to explain" I told him. "It changes. When I was a baby it was the easiest way to communicate. If I wasn't paying attention, my thoughts would flow over to whoever I would touch. As I got older I found I could do it more selectively without having to concentrate on not doing it."

I stopped for a second to make sure this all made sense to him. Jake nodded urging me to go on.

Of course, he could follow, and I was sure this much hadn't gone unnoticed on his part. He had been with me practically every day since I was born.

"Well, now I have a much stronger command of my thoughts," I continued. "For the most part, I never transfer them unless I choose to, but I slip sometimes if I have a heightened emotion. Like if I'm really happy, or upset, or angry-"

"Or when I kiss you," he interjected

I looked down and smiled sheepishly. "Yes, I suppose that qualifies. It's embarrassing though. I'll try to work on keeping that under control, sorry."

He didn't respond right away so I looked up at him to read his face. His expression was still teasing.

"What?" I demanded.

"Sorry, I didn't mean for you to take it that way. Actually, I especially liked that part." He shrugged non-chalantly but the teasing expression was still welded to his face.

"Guys are always worried about what girls think of their kissing expertise. It is good to know I have such a dizzying effect on you. It does wonders for my ego." He explained with a laugh. His grin stretched across his face flashing his white teeth.