Ness' Comet

Ch 26: Family Matters

I put a few things in a cute little backpack I bought the last time Bella, Edward, Jacob and I were in Europe. It was handmade, and though I rarely asked for much of physical value, this was something I had to have. I didn't care much for material things, not because I'm so saintly, but mostly because everything fades over time anyway. There's almost no point to it. However, I couldn't help having all the nice clothes Alice had bought for me over the years, despite having very few places to wear them.

I placed my wallet, with my fake driver's license and emergency credit card in the backpack, as well as my phone and a few other assorted things. I made sure to put on sneakers (fashionable ones of course) since Bella and I would be walking around the city all day. I didn't tire easily, but I knew after a while I would appreciate having on comfortable footwear.

After I put myself together, I made my way leisurely downstairs. I was met by both my parents standing around the kitchen island with serious expressions on their face, as though I'd walked in on something they'd rather I not hear. I hated when they did things like that. I found it endlessly unfair that I was incapable of having secrets, yet they kept things from me constantly. Jacob was sitting at the kitchen table, scarfing down a large bowl of cereal, as expected. I gave him a look, asking non verbally what was going on. Jacob replied with an exasperated shrug.

"That's enough Jacob," said Edward, his tone stern yet his voice was calm.

Jacob looked up, his hands out defensively. "I didn't do anything."

Edward eyed him. "No, but I know what you're thinking, and it's not up to you."

I groaned loudly. "Could we skip all the annoying vagueness, and get to whatever it is you're going to fail at keeping from me?"

Neither Bella or Edward looked amused. Bella sighed. "There's been a lot of things going on in Seattle right now that your father is concerned about."

I raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?" I said flatly. "What could a vampire possibly be worried about?"

"Other vampires," Jacob chimed in.

Edward and Bella both shot him an angry look. "She's not a baby you guys," responded Jacob. "You're only going to make things worse if you don't tell her what she needs to know."

I was thankful Jacob had said something for me. I'd been complaining about this very thing for a long time. I didn't understand how they thought not giving me information was protecting me in any way. If I knew what was going on, then I could be prepared if or when something bad happened.

Edward turned back to me and I stared at him expectantly.

"You're referring to all the murders that have been happening in Seattle and in the area," I began. "You think they're vampire related?"

Edward sighed before nodding his head reluctantly.

"Renesmee," began Bella. "Your dad is just concerned about us. Things are dangerous in Seattle right now."

"So what, now we can't go?" I said curtly.

"No," replied Bella. "That's not it. We were only talking about it. That's all."

I wanted to get angry, but I knew that wouldn't be very productive, and quite honestly, childish. It made me consider for a moment whether or not spending all this time with a bunch of immature teenagers was rubbing off on me. I drew a deep breath, and tried to consider things from Edward's perspective. I was his only daughter and my mother was his mate. Potential vampire danger, though unlikely, understandably worried him.

"Dad," I began calmly. "Please don't freak out. Mom will keep us safe. I doubt anything will happen to us, especially since if there is a vampire stalking around Seattle, they won't pay us much attention since we don't smell like food."

"You might," countered Edward.

"Not enough to attract attention in a sea of other people who smell more appetizing."

Edward's mouth formed into a hard line. He didn't look happy but he could also probably see that I was determined to go to Seattle with Bella today.

"If they won't take you Ness, then I will," offered Jacob. My eyes widened and my heart skipped a beat, which I was sure both my parents could hear.

"Jacob!" exclaimed Bella, but I ignored her.

"Thank you Jake," I uttered sincerely, which he returned with a warm smile.

"You're crossing a line Jacob," said Edward, his composure calm but there was a dangerous cold fury behind his eyes that I had seen before. "How dare you offer to help her deliberately disobey her own parents?"

"She wants to go, so I'm helping her go!" Jacob exclaimed defensively.

"And you think you can just give her whatever she wants despite what Bella and I say? I don't care what your idiotic wolfy excuse is Jacob, you can make her happy only under her parent's conditions!"

I didn't miss the "wolfy" comment, which caused me to become visibly confused. What did he mean by that? Before I could ask, Bella chimed in.

"Stop it!" she demanded. "Nobody is deliberately disobeying anyone. Renesemee and I are still going to Seattle, but," she turned to Jacob, her expression serious. "I want to talk to you later."

Jacob rolled his eyes which did not go over well with Edward, though he decided not to say anything.

I knew I might have been reading into it a bit much, but there was something about Bella's timing that suggested to me that she knew I wanted to ask about Edward's comment and was trying to prevent such a question. I shook it off however, since it would have been typical of me to simply be overthinking it, and Bella had just made the assertion that we were in fact still going to Seattle. That was all I wanted anyway, and I thought it best to quit while I was ahead.

"I'll meet you in the car," Bella said to me. I nodded in reply before looking to Jacob again. I mouthed the words "thank you," again and smiled at him. Bella didn't see this, but Edward scowled at both Jacob and I.

"Bye dad!" I offered quickly but also apologetically, giving him a quick hug, which he returned so I figured I was at least partially forgiven already. Edward could never stay mad at me for very long, and it was more likely he would put any irritation he felt onto Jacob. Before I left, Jacob gave me a little wink which made me giggle to myself, and also caused me to blush which I had to hide behind my hair.

The last thing I heard as I closed the front door behind me was the sound of my father's stern voice saying, "She doesn't belong to you, Jacob." I frowned to myself. Something in the pit of my stomach told me there was more to this than anyone was letting on.