My night was almost sleepless. Ever since I found out that I loved Jacob, all I could do was think about him, preventing me to sleep. Once atau twice I swear I saw him looking through my window, but that was probably just my imagination running wild.
After giving up on sleep, I got up early, dressing in faded blue jeans and an old top. It would kill Aunt Alice, but I was going to be covered in paint soon anyways. I didn't have to be at the meeting room until four, so I was free to enjoy my Saturday. atau try to, at least.
Aunt Alice had called last night to check up on me. I spilled everything to her, and she was sympathetic and understood. I told her I was coming utama (all I wanted to do was be in Jacob's arms, finally selamat, peti deposit keselamatan and happy), but she berkata he was out of town. I tried to be cheerful, but I was crashing down inside. I wondered where he went, and if it was because of me; was he running away again? I had seen in Mom's thoughts how he had left once, because of her. She had caused him endless pain and I didn't want to do that to Jake if I could help it.
I tried to call Jacob a few times, but he didn't answer. Was his phone dead? Was he ignoring me? Was he hurt? soalan like these stung my head over and over, like angry hornets.
The hari dragged on longer and longer. I tried to do something progressive, but everything reminded me of Jacob and brought my pointless thoughts back to him. I tried to do my Mythology homework, only to realize too late that we were studying Serigala Jadian (I found this hilarious and desperately tried to call Jacob over and over again to tell him). The shadows in the dorm room's corners started to take on the form of Jacob.
Finally it was acceptable to start heading over to the meeting room. It was a long walk, so I started a little early, hoping to clear my head with the fresh air. I was almost positive I saw Jacob peeking out from behind the trees every so often. I shook my head. I was going crazy.
I passed many romantic couples on my way to the meeting room. There were several bunga stands around, each selling fragrent Bunga of many colors. Boys were bringing girls chocolates, couples were Ciuman on the benches, almost everyone was holding hands...
Ugh. I tried to keep walking with my eyes closed to shut out all of the romance.
"Nessie?"
I opened my eyes and Ryan, a boy from my Latin class, was standing in front of me.
"Oh. Hey, Ryan."
"Hi. Um..." he looked really nervous, standing there, holding a bouquet of roses.
"Something wrong?"
"No, no. It's a little late to ask but...will anda go to the dance with me tonight?" he shyly held out the bouquet of roses.
Ryan was cute, I supposed, but pale skinned and freckled with shaggy black hair. Nothing like Jacob.
"It's nice of anda to ask, but I have to decorate, anyways. I have nothing to wear..."
"You look nice now."
I smiled, pleased sejak his admirance. It would be even lebih wonderful if someone else was giving me compliments...
"Sorry."
Ryan's face fell a little. "I understand. Take the Ros anyway, though."
"Thanks." I smelled them appreciativlely. Ryan really was a nice boy, and I hoped that he would find someone to go to the dance with tonight.
I continued to walk towards the meeting room, pretending that Jacob had telah diberi me the roses.
I got there at a few minit to four. I was the first one there, besides Mrs. Malagwa.
"Renesmee, hello!" she exclaimed, coming over to me.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Malagwa. Anything I can help with?" Anything that will get my mind off this horrible Valentine's Day?
"Yes, in fact. anda can paint some posters. If anda start on them now, they should be dry sejak the time the dance starts. After you're done with that, anda can hang some of this garland."
I got to work on the posters, painting big letters that read WELCOME TO THE VALENTINE'S hari DANCE! and HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! and HAVE FUN DANCING! I decorated them with hearts and glitter, and pretty soon I was so depressed that I could hardly move. I wanted to curl up in my katil and wallow.
I hurried to hang up the garland with Mrs. Malagwa, making small talk about how Valentine's hari was 'so wonderful!' and 'my kegemaran holiday, too!' Ew.
To my relief, it was five'o'clock sejak the time we were done hanging the garland, and couples were arriving. Mrs. Malagwa thanked me fervantly, and I rushed out of there.
A big, huge frame blocked the door. I didn't bother to see who it was, I just pushed past them.
"Wait!" A hand grabbed mine.
A soft hand. A burning hand.
I turned slowly, not believing my eyes. I had been seeing things all day; how did I know this wasn't a hallucination?
"Jacob?" I whispered. I was frozen, unable to blink.
A wide grin spread across his face, making his white-white teeth stand out. "Hi, Ness."
"Jacob!" I shrieked. I threw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his waist. I was crying out of joy.
He hugged me back tightly, and yet it wasn't tight enough for me. I looked up, my eyes streaming.
"I Cinta you," I whispered.
His grin grew wider. "Me, too, Ness. With all my heart."
"I tried to come back last night, but Aunt Alice berkata anda were out of town..."
"On my way here, actually," he said. He could not keep that darn grin off his face! "She had a vision that anda were in Cinta with me, and I didn't think; just acted. I flew here. I've been here since three a.m...spying on you." he didn't seem ashamed, though.
So I wasn't crazy. Hm.
"What took anda so long, Nessie?" he teased. "I've loved anda since anda were born, did anda know that? What took anda so long to Cinta me back? I've been waiting and waiting!"
I grinned. "I'm slow. But I know now. That has to count for something, right?"
He smiled and I knew it was a 'yes.' He removed his hand from mine, and wrapped two around my waist instead, spinning me gracefully onto the dancing floor so we melted in with the other couples. Some people stared, but it was as if they didn't exist. I was on awan nine!
I finally tore my eyes away from his face to evaluate his appearance. I touched the buttons on his fresh shirt. "You look nice," I said.
Jacob laughed. "Alice called me only about twenty times to make sure I had something nice to wear. Shopping with Alice...now that was even lebih frusterating than waiting for you!" he joked. "You look nice, too."
Typical boy. I rolled my eyes. "Please--I'm covered in paint and glitter!" Glitter fell from my clothes as I spoke, and Jacob plucked a paper hati, tengah-tengah from my hair. I blushed a little.
"You always look good," he insisted. His hands were still on my waist, and I was getting Goosebumps from where he was touching me. I was purely happy.
We had melted in with the other couples now. I caught Libby and Ashlie's eye as we danced past them. They glanced at me curiously. "Jacob," I mouthed. I had told them about him yesterday night. I needed to tell somebody. They grinned at me, knowing I was happy. I smiled back at them, trying to picture what my face looked like to them. It was probably leaking happiness.
I turned my attention back to him as quickly as possible, unwilling to let any moment go to waste.
"This is really amazing, Jake. How did anda decide to do this? And what do anda mean, you've loved me since birth? anda didn't even know me. In fact, I think anda wanted to kill me." Yes, I remembered those dim memories. Jacob's face, dead from all emotion, but also fierce, violent, drawing nearer and nearer to attack me in Aunt Rosalie's arms. Then a sudden jerk, a look into my eyes, and he was holding me.
He laughed. "I did want to kill you," he agreed. "But only because I thought anda had killed your mom. Then, right as I was about to spring, anda looked into my eyes. They were beautiful, beautiful eyes, like chocolate." He looked into them now, stroking my face. "It's called imprinting. You've seen Sam and Emily, the special bond they share. It's true Cinta only stronger. Think of your parents. Think of Emmett and Rosalie. Then multiply that sejak one thousand. That's how much I Cinta you." I was stunned.
"Imprinting?" I could only whisper like an idiot.
"It's a serigala, wolf thing. When anda find your other true half, that is, the one you're destined to be with, the entire universe just falls into place. You'd do anything for that person. Die, even, to keep them safe. Sam, Jared, Paul, Quil and I have all imprinted so far. The others might, too, eventually."
I couldn't speak. It was mind blowing to me that anyone could be in Cinta lebih than Mom atau Dad atau Emmett atau Rosalie. But we were. I tried to grasp it all.
"It's a little confusing, isn't it?" Jacob laughed.
"Yeah, it is," I had to admit.
"Are anda done dancing?"
"Yes I am." Mrs. Malagwa was giving me a creepy look from across the room, particularly eyeing Jacob up and down in approval. Ew.
"Let's go somewhere, then." He grabbed my hand as if he would never let go--and that was fine with me--and we headed out the door.
The blaring Muzik of the meeting room was fading behind us as we walked across the campus. It was a clear, warm night. The stars and moon were shining brightly, casting silver glows on everything. Jacob led us to an old tree, just out of sight of the dance.
We sat down and I shivered, even though it was warm out. He put his arm around my shoulder, tucking me into his side.
I looked up at his face, and he was looking back. We stared into each other's eyes in wonder.
"How did I not know?" I whispered, still looking into his black eyes. "How could I have known anda for all these years and yet not know I loved you?"
"You're slow," he reminded me, chuckling. I had to laugh along.
"Well I know now..." The moment was perfect; everything silver, the trees above us creating a canopy of leaves. I think he knew what I wanted.
He leaned towards me, still watching my expression--I hope it reassured him--and pressed his warm lips to mine.
It felt like the world had gone up in flames, but I knew it was just Jacob's close proximety that made it seem so fiery. And it was nice, not too hot at all. My fingers twisted around his hair to hold him to me, and he pulled me onto his lap, so we were even closer.
After a long moment, we each broke away to breathe, panting heavily. I nestled my head under his neck and he kissed my glittery hair and put his chin on bahagian, atas of my head. We looked out at the silvery world, each of us finally complete.
