-44-
I searched the racks again, but this time, luck wasn’t with me. I didn’t find one dress I liked for me.
“Don’t worry Nessie, there’s always Paris” Aunt Alice said.
“You’re right; at least we were able to find Leah’s dress and Jake’s tux.”
We went home shortly afterward. Jacob left for La Push and offered Leah a ride.
“No, you go on ahead; I need to talk to Nessie about something.”
He left then, with an uneasy expression on his face, which was strange…
“Nessie, I’ll be in my room if you need me ok?” Aunt Alice told me.
“Ok, thanks a lot for today Alice.” I told her
“No need to thank me, I live for this stuff” she said and we laughed. Then she walked off.
I turned to Leah. “So, what’s up? You know, I noticed you were kind of pensive at the store”
“Yeah, bridal shops usually get me like that. They remind me that I’ll never be able to find anyone, even without imprinting.”
“Now, you shouldn’t think like that Leah. What if the reason you haven’t imprinted is because you haven’t met the guy yet?”
“Maybe, but I’m not getting my hopes up” she said shrugging.
“You’ll find him, I know you will” I said solemnly.
-45-
We had school the next day, so I decided to go to bed early.
I laid out my outfit for the next morning, kissed my parents goodnight and went to sleep.
I didn’t dream that night, for which I was thankful. If I had, I wouldn’t have been able to pay attention to my teachers because of the lack of sleep.
Despite my happiness, I couldn’t help but be a little sad. Not for me, but for Leah. She was such a good person; she deserved to have her dreams come true like I had.
So on that day at lunch, I suggested to her, that maybe she should go looking for a guy, instead of just waiting for one to come along.
“That’s not really my style Ness. Even though I might not look like it, I’m kind of old fashioned, and believe the guy should make the first move.”
“Leah Clearwater old fashioned?” Jake asked incredulous.
“Yes, what’s it to you?” she asked annoyed.
“Don’t tease her Jake” I chastised.
“Yes ma’am, sorry Leah”
“What ever” she sighed.
Thankfully, before she could become too pensive, the bell for next period sounded, and we had to go to our next class.
Schoolwork would be able to distract her a little, I thought
After school, I was feeling a little thirsty, so I decided to go hunting.
Jacob offered to come with me, but I told him not to worry.
“I’ll be back soon to help you with your homework” I said and laughed.
“Very funny…”
I kissed him on the cheek and left.
-46-
When I got to the meadow, I hoped to run into some deer, my favorite.
As luck would have it, I spotted a group not far from where I stood, and I started creeping along noiselessly so as not to startle them.
The one closest to me was the biggest.
Just perfect I thought
My inoffensive appearance made hunting that much easier. Animals never saw me as threatening, until I attacked that is, but by then it was too late.
I got close enough to touch the deer, and as soon as I got them to relax further, I fed.
I had enough practice at this that I never got dirty, so I could feed as many times as I wanted, and no one would be the wiser, not that I did that of course…
When I was done and gathering my things to leave, I felt like I was being watched.
I looked around me suspiciously, turning this way and that, trying to guess.
Suddenly, from out among the trees, came Huilen.
“Hello Renesmee” she said in a sweet voice I’d come to recognize from her.
“Hello Huilen, how are you?”
“I’m fine thank you, and you?”
“I’m fine too thanks, very happy actually” I said, taking steps back when I noticed that she was stepping closer to me.
“Oh? And why is that?”
“I’m getting married” I said, momentarily forgetting my fear, and focusing on Jacob’s face in my mind.
“Yes, you are” she said.
“My parents told you about my wedding to Jacob?”
“No dear, they didn’t. I wasn’t referring to your marrying… Jacob is it? No, I was referring to your marriage to my nephew”.
I looked at her confused.
“You’re marrying Nahuel, Renesmee. Won’t that be lovely, the two half beings are each other’s other half” she said in a dream like voice.
-47-
“I’m sorry to say this Huilen, but you’re sounding a little crazy to me right now. Maybe we should have Carlisle examine you.” I said, a little worried for her sanity.
“I’m fine Renesmee. It’s just that, ever since Nahuel came here and told you how he felt, and you REJECTED him, he’s been a little out of sorts. You know that as his family, I can’t let that happen, I won’t let that happen.
I figured that if amiable procedures won’t work on you, maybe we’d have to use a more forceful method of persuasion.”
True panic now bubbled inside me, what was this woman going to do to me, what would happen to Jacob when he realized I was gone…
I was preparing to scream, when suddenly, I felt arms wrapping around me, and a hand cover my mouth.
“Thank you Joham, it wouldn’t have been very good for us if someone heard her screaming”
I saw the man named Joham nod.
Joham? I thought.
I shook his hand off.
“I thought you hated this man!” I said, raising my hand to point at him.
“Oh, not at all dear. Well, not anymore. Not since we both saw Nahuel suffering a great deal for you and we decided to come looking for you.”
Joham nodded, never actually speaking.