Chapter Fourteen - Nessie's POV

I zoned out even as my pen moved across my paper, scribbling down the teacher's droning lecture word for word. In the desk beside me, Jay was doing the same, his thoughts consumed with Ciel. It was clear from the slight furrow of his brows that he was beginning to have doubts, but I would not foster them. I would do anything to keep my brother safe and happy, even if that meant protecting him from the truth of his beloved.

Love. It was such a strange and strong emotion, one I felt for many but had never experienced the way Jay was now. I loved my family, and would do anything for them. I loved Jacob, my valiant protector from the day I was born. I loved the wolves, who were a part of his family and thus mine as well. But loving a singular person in a romantic way? The concept was one I'd never even imagined exploring.

My eyes of their own accord drifted to Manny, who sat to my right with Zaby in between us. Why, when I thought of love, did he come to mind? I couldn't lie and say I wasn't attracted to him, but it wasn't the same as the way I felt for Jake. Which only made sense, as he was my imprintor. However, he'd made it abudantly clear that he didn't want to take the next step in our relationship. And I wasn't going to sit around waiting for him. Besides, Manny was cute and funny, and obviously crushing on me hard. Plus, it wasn't like it could go anywhere really, seeing as he was a human and I was a dhampyre. So what was the harm in being with him?

Because he'll fall in love with you, my brother's voice hissed in my mind. His frown was much more pronounced. And then you'll go and break his heart.

How do you know that? I argued stubbornly, opening my textbook as Mr. Mason ordered.

You're the ideal woman for any human male: utterly gorgeous from their standards, as well as smart and kind. We're designed to attract our "prey", Mei. You know that.

His words rang true, despite how much I wished they didn't. If I actively pursued a relationship with Manny, then he was bound to fall in love with me eventually, and it would only lead to heartbreak in the end. Worse, I could end up genuinely having stronger feelings for him, and I was certain we would not end up the same way my parents had. Plus, there was always Jake to be considered.

The page held between my fingers began to crumble as I clenched them imperceptibly. I wasn't going to think about him right now - I refused to think about him. The Hispanic human boy could serve as a distraction, but I would resist the urge to use him, no matter how tempting it was. When the bell finally rang, I saw Reelie tap my brother's shoulder from the chair behind his and ask, "Do you want to get started today?"

"Ah, sure," Jay replied with just the barest hesistation, smiling as they both rose from their seats. I followed suit as he turned to me. "Mind telling Mom and Dad where I went?"

"Yeah, no problem. Have fun on your study date."

"It's not a date!" He glared at me as the blonde flushed, and I couldn't help chuckling as he lead her out of the classroom.

Zaby snorted from behind me. "Are you trying to set those two up?"

"No, why?" I asked, curious. "Do you think they'd make a good couple?"

"I think EJ is more interested in Ciel than in Reelie," Manny answered, pulling on Zaby's ponytail and making her stick her tongue out at him. He returned the gesture as he slung his bookbag up onto his back, setting his sights on me. "Can I walk you to your car? I need to talk to you."

"Ah, sure," I said, echoing my twin's earlier statement as Zaby jetted out to catch her bus with a quick wave goodbye. We followed her out at a slower pace, strolling across the lawn towards the parking lot, and I began nervously twisting one of my ringlets around with my finger. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

"The party this Saturday. I-I was wondering if you'd go with me," he began, twin spots of color appearing on his high cheekbones. "Y'know, like...like as my date."

"Oh," I breathed, quickly inhaling once to steady my haywire pulse. What was wrong with me? "Oh."

"Is that a no?"

"What? No!"

"So it's a yes?"

"Wait, no - I mean." I looked up into his endless brown eyes and got lost. "I, ah, I - yeah. It's a yes."

"Really?" Manny grinned down at me hopefully as I tried to breathe. Since when did I stutter?

"Yes, really." My lips couldn't help but return his smile, and a wave of heady desire washed over me as I saw the glint in his gaze when it drifted down to my mouth. Somehow, I found my hands on his shoulders as I pulled him down to my height, and those brown irises were all I could see before I brought his mouth to mine and closed my eyes.

As we kissed, softly yet urgently, I felt an encroaching sensation that burned through me as it passed from my lips slowly throughout my entire body. It was like lava, molten and dangerous yet inescapable. My teeth gently bit down on his bottom lip, and Manny gasped, his arms going around me to pull me into his chest as our kiss grew hotter, tongues just touching -

A blaring horn had us hastily backing away from each other, and both our faces turned red. I looked over his shoulder to see a unwanted sight awaiting me. Stradling his bike with a helmet tucked underneath one arm, Jacob Black sat there waiting in the parking space just feet from us, his brown eyes glittering with some emotion I couldn't place. We stared at each other, me mortified and he...something, until his voice broke the silence that had descended upon us.

"Who's this, Ness?"

Belatedly, I realized Manny was still standing here, looking back and forth between Jake and I in confusion. "Jacob, this is Manny, a classmate of mine. Manny, this is Jacob, and old family friend."

"Uh, it's nice to meet you, sir," my friend said, ruffling curly hair nervously. My wolf only grunted in reply. "Well, I better get going. See you tomorrow, Nessie."

"Bye." I waited until he was out of hearing range before turning to Jake, placing both hands on my hips. "What are you doing here?"

"Your folks sent me to pick you up," he explained, holding the helmet out to me.

I rolled my eyes and argued, "In a crash, I'm more likely to survive than you."

"You know the rules. You - "

"Come first," I finished, snatching the headgear and strapping it on. "I get it."

White teeth flashed in russet skin as Jake smiled. "Great. Now hop on so we can ride."

Doing as directed, I folded my arms around his waist as he kicked the bike into gear, burying my face into his broad back. I felt his muscles shift underneath my nose as he manuevered out of the parking lot, and something shifted within me. That same sudden desire welled up again, this time stronger, making me press my whole length against his back as my hands wandered downwards.

"Nessie, what are you doing?" Jake asked, his voice sounding breathless though it couldv'e been due to the wind. I wasn't really bothering to pay attention at the moment.

"I just want to feel you," I whispered, knowing he would hear me as my fingers slipped beneath his shirt to touch his abs. I'd felt them many times before, but this time it was different. This time, I wanted to kiss and lick each inch of those incredibly enticing muscles.

He cursed, and suddenly we were decelerating. I blinked and found us at the end of the driveway that lead to the main house, out of sight from the road we'd just been on. Jumping off the bike, Jake spun around to place his hands on either side of the seat cushion, pinning me with a smoldering glare of agitation coupled with longing. "If you wanted a real kiss, you should've asked me, not that dorky looking boy Manny."

Slightly peeved, I lifted my head and crossed my arms. "You wouldn't kiss me before. And Manny's not a dork - he's actually quite cute and funny - "

I couldn't finish my sentence because Jake was kissing me as if the world would stop spinning if he didn't. His warm, wet tongue dueled with mine as we greedily kissed, gripping each other tightly so that there was no escape. However, I didn't want to escape - I wanted to stay here, clinging to Jake so closely that it felt as if we'd been molded together. There was no slowly approaching lava in this kiss; we caught fire immediately, the flames of passion consuming us both until reason and rational were left behind.

Jake pulled his mouth from mine only to press it against my neck, taking little nips as he traveled furthed down my shoulder. Panting, I raked my nails down his chest, hearing fabric rip as I felt that taunt body beneath my fingertips. He picked me up and spun around, walking into the forest as our tongues met again, both of us fighting for dominance. Suddenly, my back was up against a tree, and his hands were running up my torso beneath my shirt, which was soon disgarded along with my jeans. I pushed off his jacket and the remainder of his shirt as his lips trailed down my collarbone, eliciting a sharp cry of need as they traveled down further.

"Jake..." I whimpered, ripping at the waist of his pants so that they fell to the ground. "Jake, please, I need you."

He groaned, voice muffled as he snuggled into my chest. "Renesmee. Renesmee. God, I can't stop. I don't want to stop."

"Then we won't," I said, gripping his face so that I could bring it back to mine.

And we didn't.

~~~~~

Looks like the rayen caught hold of a different dhampyre! What'll happen to Nessie and Jake now in the aftermath? What about Manny? And how's EJ and Reelie's "study date" going? Well, find out the answer to at least the last question in the next chapter! Comment your thoughts and vote if you enjoyed it. (:)