☼Rising Sun☼

☼chapter one☼

JACOB

Ness bounds from one of the smaller boulders to the top of the highest jagged rock in the large, slate outcropping, a beautiful scowl on her face.

"Ness," I call up with a laugh, leaning against a huge spruce tree. "What's wrong?"

We arrived close to a half hour ago, and yet Ness still hasn't found anything at all appetizing in the forest. Her frustration was palpable in the air, and she was ready to explode.

My teasing tone of voice didn't help. At all.

"Shut up," she growls, furious. "There isn't a blessed thing in this whole forest that's alive other than a damn squirrel!"

I bite my lip, trying my hardest to hold in my laughter as I stand up and make my way over to her. Even without trying, she was adorable. "Aw Nessie-"

Her cheeks flush. "Don't Nessie me," she snaps. "You're not cute, and you're not helping." She hops down from her perch on the rock and grumbles under her breath as she stalks past me. A slight breeze blows her scent towards me, and all I can do for a handful of seconds is stand there feeling dizzy, intoxicated by her very presence.

And then the moment passes.

Trying to hide my sense of unease at the longing I feel, I turn and smirk at her back as she continues moving through the forest. Soft, bell-like chimes fill the air as she curses under her breath, her voice having a chilling yet comforting effect on me, and I shiver.

I could listen to her voice forever and never tire of the sweet sound.

"Renesmee," I call out, jogging over to her. "Sweetheart, I know you're upset, but don't lie to yourself. You know I'm adorable."

Nessie whips around to glare at me, and I freeze. She's not amused.

"Okay okay," I say quickly before she has the chance to yell at me. Ness does that sometimes, mostly when I flirt with her, which she thinks is nothing more than part of my boyish charms.

It's not though. I really don't even mean to flirt with her, it's just... its just natural. You like a girl, you flirt with her. That's the way the world works.

Except, I'm not supposed to flirt with her. Not with Ness. Her parents don't allow it. Edward isn't aware of the friendly, flirty conversations we have every so often; if he was, I would be dead.

I step towards her, resting my hands gently on her shoulders. "Sorry," I whisper, my thumbs brushing the side of her neck in a soothing caress. "I'm just being an asshole." All of Nessie's anger melts away, and only a soft, wide-eyed innocence remains.

"You are," she whispers up at me with a voice that is both fierce and small.

"I know, but only for you," I whisper, tugging Ness towards me and wrapping my arms around her in a hug as I momentarily press my lips to her forehead.

She sighs. "That's so cliche." Still, she leans into me, burying her face in my chest as she slips her arms around my waist.

I know she can hear my heart start to beat faster, but she doesn't say anything.

Probably because hers is beating faster too.