Enchanted Equinox
Chapter 1: Silver Raindrops.
The glass was cold against her palms, as Renesmee pressed them to the window. Rain poured down outside, running like a waterfall across the outside glass. It was cold, but she didn’t want cold. The house was empty; of course they were out playing baseball. Even her mother had gone, though Renesmee knew she would only be umpire. Bella still had no interest in sports. But they had left her there, all alone, to shiver in the cold Cullen house. She was supposed to be asleep. It was a school night but the booming thunder and the aching cold had kept her up. She didn’t want cold. She wanted warmth. And she knew who could give her that. Her best friend in the world. My Jacob. He had been mine since I was little. My protector and now my best friend. Though lately, even though she was only six, but appeared sixteen, her feelings for Jacob had seemed to change. Desire was clinging to her whenever he came near, and sometimes she wished he would feel the same about her. But she had overheard Alice the other day, her perfect auntie whispering in the other room.
“He’s already imprinted and it’s not something that you can stop Edward,” Alice’s voice pierced as she moved around in the house, I supposed she was shifting flowers or straightening something. Her light footsteps were barely whispers, lighter than the most graceful ballerina.
Renesmee’s father let out a snarl, low and fierce, and she heard her mother sigh.
“I just don’t like it. Poor Nessie,” she hadn’t stayed to hear the rest of the conversation. Renesmee walked like a ghost up to her room, and sat down on the light purple bed, something Alice had picked out. Of course the whole room screamed Alice and Rosalie. But once they started you could never stop them. But depression was settling over her. My Jacob had imprinted on someone else. My Jacob. But if he had imprinted with some girl, probably more beautiful than I was, why had I never seen her, and why did he spend so much time with me? A horrible pain had rattled through her body and her eyes stung with tears, that unlike the rest of her family she could cry. But why did it hurt so bad that my best friend and my protector loved someone else. Someone he could wrap his warm arms around?
She shook her head and pulled her now clear mind back to the window. If she was all human she would not have been able to see through the pouring rain into the thick line of trees. But sure enough she could. Renesmee heard the sound before she saw it. Soft paws hitting the wet muddy ground. She jerked her head to the west to see a large wolf running through the woods, towards the house. Her heart soared and she raced to the door, knowing he would be there a moment after she had opened it.
He stepped into the light and relief seemed to spread through her. He stepped into the house, the heat rolling off of his body already drying his sopping wet hair and clothes. He gripped the door frame with his big hands and shut the door. He smiled at her and her fluttering heart stuttered for a moment. His smile was like the sunrise bursting through the clouds every day. Renesmee turned suddenly and disappeared down the hallway that was hidden quite creatively under the stairs. She needed to be away from him for a moment so she could concentrate on becoming herself again. I am Renesmee and I could do this. She grabbed a dark towel out of the bathroom and danced back into the room, her footsteps not as graceful as a vampire, but close enough. He rolled his eyes at her bouncy smile and took the towel from her. After a moment he was completely dried. Renesmee moved her eyes away from his as his smile melted into a frown.
“What?” she asked. He shivered at the sound of her high clear voice.
"You’re funny Ness, that’s all." Jacob’s eyes tightened just slightly, and then a smile broke over his russet skin as he slung his muscular arm around her. As soon as his arm was wrapped around her, the heat from his body dispelled the goose bumps that were no longer raised on her arms. His body was almost the same temperature as hers, but if you asked her he was hotter. Always hotter. He pulled her down onto the couch and her hand shot out for the remote before he could grab it. Jacob’s smile froze her again, and he took the momentary distraction to yank the remote from her hand.
“Jacob,” she wined climbing onto his lap so she could try and grab the remote. He slipped it under him, sitting on it. She put her hand on his cheek and showed him an image of her beating him to a pulp. His booming laugh echoed around the house, making her spine tingle. He was…beautiful.
Jacob’s hand rested on her cheek.
“What are you thinking about?” his husky voice was like her personal lullaby. Renesmee rested her head against his chest and listened to the steady beating of his heart. He hadn’t bothered to change the channel, so it was still on the cooking channel. His big warm arms cradled her small body, something that she had inherited from her mother. She had also received her milk chocolate eyes, the ones that had pulled Jacob in a long time ago. Renesmee wondered if when he looked at her, he saw her eyes, but her mother’s face. She cringed at the thought.
“Can I ask you something?” her high voice trilled off quietly. He pressed his lips to her hair.
“Of course Ness. You can always ask me anything,” The kiss he had given her was something familiar and safe, nothing more than friends.
“Do you love her?” He pulled her face up to look into his eyes.
“Who?” His voice was dull, and she was sure he already knew the answer.
“That girl” He pulled her chin back up.
“What girl Ness” He looked worried.
“You know who I am talking about Jake”
“Ness it was a long time ago. She belonged to someone else and I belong with…” his voice had trailed off and she had frozen. He had almost said her name. The girl he belonged with. Renesmee hadn’t realized what she had done until it was already over.
She had ripped herself out of his arms. Pain lashed across his face but he quickly fixed his expression, his black eyes bottomless.
“What’s wrong Nessie?” she feebly tried to remember the last time he had called her Renesmee, maybe the first day she was born? But other than that her thoughts were hopeless. She had to know who it was. She just had to.
He lurched off the couch and she took a step back, her hands brushing the back of the unspoiled piano.
“Who is she Jake? Who did you imprint on?” Surprise and shock flitted across his face, covered by a big swipe of pain.
“I-what are you talking about?” His husky voice was hesitant and he kept the space between them.
“I heard Alice and my dad talking about it. You imprinted and I want to know with who?” His eyes softened and she kept her eyes on his jaw, not his dark eyes.
“Ness that’s something that I can’t explain right now…” his deep voice trailed off and he closed the distance between them in two long strides, tucking a piece of her bronze curls behind her ear.
“Why?” she realized that tears were beginning to form in her eyes. His arms wrapped around her and she leaned her head against his chest.
“It’s just something that we have to talk abo-” but suddenly he froze, not speaking. A low growl erupted from him. He pulled away from her.
“I have to go Nessie.”
“Why!” she demanded, fury breaking out over her face.
“There on their way back and I don’t want to be here. My thoughts aren’t exactly the best for your dad to hear right now.” He pressed his lips to her forehead and before he could pull away she placed her hand against his cheek. She showed him a vision of him sneaking through her bedroom window, telling him to come back to her. He smiled, fast and mischievous.
“Later Ness,” he whispered, ducking out the front door into the heavy rain, his hands already trembling.
It was maybe a minute later that her family filed in, slowly one by one, trailing in together. They were all soaked, Rose looking rather disgruntled.
“Seems Alice was a bit off on where the rain would hit,” she grumbled to herself, though everyone could hear her.
Alice winked at Renesmee from across the room. Rosalie stood in front of the mirror and picked at her blonde hair, her face still loving. Rosalie was completely in love with her reflection. It was an amazing accomplishment that Emmett had ever managed to keep her away. Speaking of Emmett, she was suddenly hanging upside down, being dripped on by a soaking wet vampire.
“Hey kid,” he said, dropping her easily. She jumped to her feet and stuck her tongue out at him, Rosalie coming up from behind him to wrap her arms around his big frame. He laughed and suddenly her nose crinkled.
“I hate that dog! Right when we get the smell out that mongrel has to waltz back in here and stink up the place,” Rosalie growled, talking about Jacob. I loved Jacob’s smell. Emmett just shook his head and Renesmee watched them as they disappeared up the stairs, his arms pulling her into his side. She heard a soft groan from behind her and she turned to look at Alice her expression pained
“What are you wearing?” she wined as she bounced towards her.
“Um clothes?” Renesmee answered back. Alice’s eyes narrowed on her.
“You’re as worse as your mother,” Jasper rolled his eyes from behind her. Renesmee’s big blonde uncle stood beside Alice and happiness radiated off of him. She was sure he felt the stinging sadness within her.
“What’s wrong Ness?” his deep honeyed voice spread calm through her. She shook her head. I was at least a better liar than my mother.
“Nothing Jazz. I’m fine,” Alice rolled her eyes and sniffed the house momentarily.
“Jacob,” she said it as an explanation. This time Renesmee’s eyes narrowed.
“Goodbye Alice,” She took the hint and bounced forward to kiss her forehead. Jasper passed his hand against her shoulder before leaving, engulfing her in calmness.
“Yes goodnight Ness,” Carlisle strolled in gracefully, his blonde hair soaked through, Esme on his arm, her caramel hair wet as well.
“We’ll see you in the morning Ness. I’m not sure who’s going to drive you to school tomorrow. I’m sure they’ll fight over it like any other day,” Esme sighed and hugged her loosely, giving her a parting smile and disappearing with Carlisle. The only people left were my…parents.
Renesmee heard her mother’s laugh before she saw her walk into the door. A smile spread across her face, making it more beautiful than it already was. Her once red eyes were now a bright gold, the same shade as her fathers, who followed her in, his arm around her. Renesmee’s mother’s dark brown hair was soaked through, looking almost black. Her clothes hung tight to her thin perfect frame. Her father’s hair was bronze and soaked by the rain. Renesmee had received his hair colour, though her grandfather’s curls. His eyes were always for her mother, even though he still loved her dearly, reading her thoughts from across the room. His eyebrows raised and her mother put her hand against his cheek.
“Edward,” she warned. He breathed deep and Renesmee knew he would catch the werewolf scent. Her mother smiled at her, her eyes loving. She walked towards her, her father following.
“How long was Jake here?” she asked. Renesmee swallowed.
“About ten minutes. I freaked out on him though?” she raised her eyes questionably and Renesmee placed her hand against her cheek, rather just to show her rather than say it all out loud. After a moment she pulled away.
“Oh Ness I’m sorry,” she murmured. Her father’s eyes tightened. He didn’t have to have me touch him to know.
“We’ll talk about it later,” he said through his teeth. Her mother kissed her forehead and her father hugged her.
“Goodnight Ness. Get some sleep. We’ll be out in the cottage,” she nodded. She had moved out once she had technically turned fourteen into the big Cullen house. Rosalie and Alice had gone crazy with decorating, and of course Alice had given her a closet larger than her room. Her father eyed her oddly before leaving, their whispers trailing behind them. Renesmee stared around the empty room.
“Go to bed Ness!” Alice said from upstairs, it was barely louder than a whisper, but she heard it. Renesmee dragged her feet up the stairs and disappeared into the closet to find a pair of old sweats and a t-shirt. She laughed pulling on a pair of her mums old clothes. They still smelled the way she did when she was human. Renesmee cringed thinking of the time she had been human. She sighed, trying to keep Jacob out of her mind. She closed her eyes. It seemed like a few minutes later she jerked up. Renesmee heard someone land softly on the balls of their feet, just near her window. She listened and heard a steady heartbeat, and felt heat roll off their large body.
“Jake,” she whispered happily. He smiled and hugged her.