Chapter 21: Temper, Temper…
When we got to my beat up, white 2000 Ford Tempo we all jumped in and Seth took my keys. Jake carried Nessie quickly into the backseat. Seth pulled out of the parking lot a little too speedily and the car peeled out, everyone looked at us as I slunk down in the passenger seat. I truly hated being in the spotlight. We were only driving for a couple of moments before I realized that Nessie was still shaking, and her breathing was hard. “Is she ok?” I half shrieked as I looked back at her in concern. “She’s going to be fine” Jake said as he opened his phone, “Seth go straight to the Cullen’s” he directed as he dialed and then spoke urgently, “Hey you heard everything that happened, right?” He asked into his phone, “Uh huh, I know. It was the same thing again. Is Carlisle there? Ok, good we will be there in a minute or two.” He hung up his phone and turned to Nessie, “Can you hear me?” He asked her. I couldn’t tell if she nodded or if it was just that she was still shaking, it looked as though she were having convulsions. He whispered into her ear, “You need to calm down, forget that jerk just breathe and think of something else. You don’t want to hurt Sienna do you?” He asked. All of a sudden Nessie looked up in alarm. “I would never hurt her,” she mumbled. Jake rubbed her shoulder, “I know that you would never hurt her intentionally but you have to be careful, if you let your anger go like this your instincts take over and accidents do happen.” Her eyes were wide with horror, “Emily…” she whispered. Jake nodded. “Exactly, now keep breathing and think of something that won’t make you angry.” She closed her eyes and gradually the shaking calmed down to the point that she just looked as though she were cold; and then it was gone. Her eyes returned to their placid tawny color and it was as if nothing had happened. “What the hell just happened?” I demanded in fear. Nessie closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them, “I’m sorry you had to see that. There is a lot more to my story that I haven’t told you. I was afraid for you to know too much, but I can see that it’s too late for that now. Regardless if you know my secrets the Volturi will only care that you know that vampires exist.” I looked at her curiously. She continued, “Sienna, Bella and Edward are not my aunt and uncle they are my parents.” My mouth hit the floor, “What?” I gasped. “I am half human and half vampire.” “But how,” I demanded “your aunt and- I mean your parents are both vampires,” I struggled to grasp what she was telling me. “That was not always the case, she said quietly. My mother was a human and she fell in love with my father, they were married 6 years ago and had me right away. I was too strong for my mother throughout the pregnancy I all but sucked the life out of her, “I noticed Jake wince as Nessie was telling her story, “I actually killed my mother but at the last moment my father changed her into a vampire and saved her.” I thought for a moment I was trying to do the math mentally, “Wait, if that was only years ago then how are you 16?” She looked at me with a sad smile, “um, freak of nature?” she offered weakly. “I grew very rapidly, but I am now full grown I am technically more around the age of 18 and immortal I will not grow further. My parents and family decided that I should be 16 as far as the rest of the world is concerned and experience high school and college,” she looked at Jake wistfully as they had a private exchange that I did not understand. “I have certain powers some of which I know but now I am developing a new one and I am not sure what it is.” Jake looked down at her, “ I think that I might have an idea as to what it is,” Nessie's head snapped up, “What?” she demanded. “We will discuss it when we get to your family,” he said. Nessie looked at me warily, “Is this too much for you? I understand if you are mad at me for keeping all of this from you but I was truly just trying to protect you.” I smiled at her, “Ness you are practically a sister to me, you know I wouldn’t get mad at you that easily. I know that you had your reasons to keep it to yourself.” I looked down, a tear slid down my cheek, “I can’t believe that happened to your mom too, who knew we had so much in common,” Nessie leaned forward and put her hand on my cheek, all of a sudden I heard her voice and pictured her hugging me, “It’s not your fault Si, please don’t beat yourself up over it. Your mother would never blame you and your father and sister are mistaken to do so. Your mother loved you more than anything, just hold onto that,” I gasped and looked at her, “Am I going crazy?” I asked. She smiled, “that was just a taste of power number one,” she grinned impishly. I smiled at her, “thank you.” She looked surprised, “For what?” “Well, let’s see for kicking Jeff’s butt, and for what you told me just now. It’s nice to have someone truly understand.” She shrugged it off, “Hey don’t thank me for what I did to Jeff THAT was my pleasure, and as for the other thing just don’t forget what I told you, it’s time for you to forgive yourself.” Jake sighed in mock frustration, “Well Seth apparently we are going to have to get used to being left out of the conversation. Seth grinned, “Well we can do it to them to remember?” Nessie chuckled, “Yep a car full of freaks…” “Hey speak for yourself I grumbled I don’t have any special powers.” Seth looked at me for a moment, “I think you’re pretty special, “he said admiringly. I scoffed, “You have to say that you are biased.” He snorted with laughter. We pulled into the driveway and walked into the Cullen’s living room. They were all waiting there, looking concerned. Nessie’s parent’s faces were mixed with worry and anger. Rose and Emmett came right over to me, “Move it dog,” Rose directed, Seth and Jake moved not knowing whom she was referring to, “Are you alright” she gushed as she hugged us both. “We’re fine”, Nessie said, Emmett hooted with laughter, “I would have paid to see the whole thing Nessie”. Her eyes lit up, “How much?” she joked as she placed her hand on her uncle’s face. After a moment he laughed raucously, “You scared that boy pretty good, I’m proud of you” he scooped her up in a big hug.” “Emmett” Nessie’s mother said coldly “put her down, now. This is not something to encourage.” Nessie flinched away from her mother, “I’m sorry mom, but you should have heard the things he said about you guys and me and what he said to Sienna it was horrible,” I spoke up on behalf of my friend, “He did start it Mrs. Cullen, I swear Nessie was just defending us.” She nodded at me, “I know Sienna, and we just have to be careful. We cannot draw attention to ourselves,” She spoke each word clearly and pointedly at her daughter while keeping her steely gaze locked on her. Nessie looked down ashamed. “Bells don’t be so hard on her,” Jake chimed in; I honestly don’t think it way entirely within her realm of control.” Nessie’s dad looked at him quietly; it was as if they were speaking through their eyes. “Really?” He asked in surprise. “Tell Carlisle, Jake.” Jake turned to Carlisle and said, “I think I have an idea of what Nessie’s new power is, you know how the other day you said that it might have to do with adrenaline? Well it reminds me of when we phase. If something gets us worked up it triggers it.” Rosalie hissed, “What are you trying to say, that she is turning into a DOG?” Jake narrowed his eyes at her, “Stop trying so hard to think Blondie you might strain yourself.” Carlisle thought for a moment. “Hmm, this is all very interesting. Did she have increased strength?” he asked. Jake nodded “She was smashing a guy the size of a football player against a locker,” Emmet hooted again and was immediately silenced with an icy look from Nessie’s mom. “Great” she said, “this will be easy to explain when we get a call from the principal. What’s our story, Nessie is on steroids?” Suddenly Nessie started shaking with anger again, “I never wanted to go to high school, and YOU forced me to do this so you will have to deal with it I guess.” With that she stormed out of the house. Her father sighed, “I will go talk to her.” He kissed his wife on the cheek, “You need to calm down, this isn’t easy for her either my love.” She glared at him. As he turned to walk out the door Alice called after him, “Um Edward, I can already see that this won’t take long but can you just hurry it up a bit, we are going to lose out on shopping time.” She said with a pout. He just looked at her in annoyance and then walked out without a word. It was extremely awkward, after he left. I am so sorry I said "this is entirely my fault if it wasn’t for me the whole thing between her and Jeff never would have happened”. Nessie’s mom looked at me kindly, “Sienna this is not your fault”. Rose looked down at me, “You need to stop being so hard on yourself. Not everything is your fault; I know that you were raised to think that way but you have to try to be nicer to yourself, ok?” Emmett looked at me teasingly, “Believe me, we will tell you if it’s ever your fault.” He laughed at his own joke as Rosalie threw him a dirty look. Esme looked at her watch, “Sienna why don’t I grab you a quick bite to eat, before we go shopping.” “We?” I asked, Esme smiled gently, “Yes Bella and I are going to come too,” I smiled and started to follow her in the kitchen but just then I hear what sounded like a tree falling over and a yell, Jake and Seth ran out the door closely followed by the rest of the guys. I stood there frozen in horror, waiting…