☼Rising Sun☼

☼chapter nine☼

RENESMEE

I wake up in a cold sweat, shivering and alone and almost empty. Normally Jake sneaks in sometime during the night to stay with me, but for whatever reason he's not here.

And then I remember everything that happened, and I realize it might not even be morning.

Glancing out the window in my room, I'm greeted by the sparkling night sky, so full of stars that it almost steals my breath away.

But I hear Jake's heartbeat, coming from downstairs, and every other thought in my mind falls away.

I'm out of bed in less than a second, nearly flying down the stairs and rushing into the living room. He's there, sitting on the very edge of the couch with his head in his hands, and when a lump forms in my throat, I realize just how upset I still am that his surprise party is ruined.

Before I even have to call his name, Jake is lifting his head and standing up, opening his arms to me with a soft, gentle smile, and I'm in his grasp within moments. Even though much time couldn't have passed between the last time we were together, and even though I was asleep the whole time he was gone, the ache in my chest is immediately soothed by his touch, and I find myself relaxing immensely.

I've missed him.

Clutching him close to me, I bury my face in his chest, my throat full of words I want to say but can't actually voice.

Jake fills the silence for me by breathing softy into my ear, "Hey Nessie."

I grin against his shirt. "Hey Jake." I finally whisper, my hands automatically tightening and grasping the fabric of his shirt in my fists. "I missed you."

He chuckles, the vibrations passing from his torso to me. "I missed you too, sweetheart. How'd you sleep?"

Honestly, not that good. I still feel pretty tired, as if I barely slept at all.

"Fine." I say instead, but Jake sees right through it.

"Really?" He asks, sounding unimpressed, as he pulls back just slightly from our embrace.

I don't even try to keep up the facade. "No. You didn't stay with me." My voice sounds slightly accusing, and Jake's whole expression softens when he hears it.

He presses his lips against my forehead and murmurs, "I figured it'd be best to not push your parent's buttons any further after, uh-"

A laugh falls from my lips. "Yeah."

Grinning, Jake steps back half a step, just far enough that I can look up into his face and see the happiness and adoration in his eyes. A piece of my melts inside, and I can't help but step forward and press my forehead against his chest.

"Have you talked to them?" I ask, my voice slightly muffled by his body. When I peek up at him, I see him shaking his head.

"No. They went out hunting not too long ago. I think your mom just wanted to get some space between us, cool him down a bit before you woke up." His whole face twists with anger. "I swear to fucking god, if he loses it near you, I will take you far, far away until he can get his shit together."