Black Rose Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Preparation
“Hey Jacob, you ready?” I called to Jacob Black.
“Almost, I can’t find my keys.” He was always too slow for my tastes.
“Well I’m going running before we leave.”
“Be careful.”
Every morning since I was thirteen, I’ve been working on my fighting skills by running out to an old tree on the beach and practicing my climbing, balance and speed. Mostly the speed though. I can run faster than a car and still not get tired after a twenty mile run. I can jump high too. Today though I just wanted to relax and try to find myself in the old familiar place.
A cool Saturday morning. My mom, just months before her wedding, before her change, with Jake. “And yet you don’t see the fish trying to plant a kiss on the eagle. You never see that!”  He was the hardest to say goodbye to, she said but she didn’t have to. I had seen that memory though her eyes, when I was sleeping. I loved it when my mom told me all about her human life. About how Jacob kissed her without her permission and she had broken her hand just before graduation trying to defend herself. How she had asked him to kiss her and she had seen me and a little boy run into the woods. “I never thought I would have that, but I did.” She would say before she kissed me goodnight.
As I was fixing my bike up, a black looming shape came up behind me.
“Leah, you know I don’t fall for that.” I told the only female wolf in the pack.
“Nuts, why did you have to get that bloodsu….” Leah caught herself mid-sentence. “Sorry, Nessie, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I was used to the packs’ swears; bloodsucker, leach, parasite and others. All towards my vampire genealogy.
“Here’s my stuff.” She threw her duffel bag into the car, changing the subject. “Why are you using that backpack?” Leah pointed to my old worn monogrammed backpack.
“I want them to recognize me. After all it’s been at least twelve years since I saw Robbie in person.” After I left, Rosalie and Emmett moved to Alaska and opened a car and bike repair shop. Robbie and I started exchanging phone calls and emails about three years ago. “That’s why I’m wearing my bracelet.” I jingled my mom’s charm bracelet, which had more than the original two charms, as I answered the question in her head.
“Hey Vamp Sis,” I heard my BFF, Elisa Panning, or Elly, as I call her, say behind me. “You ready?” She had come to the garage with her customary pixie pigtails, rainbow arm socks and blue backpack with pooh bear charms she got from gas stations.
Elly and I had started a band named Vamp Lilies. Elly played the drums and I was the guitar and lead vocals. Robbie was going to join us as our bass and money manager. We were going to go on a two month tour from my hometown Forks, Washington to my parents current home in Beverly Hills, California. A sweet sixteen tour with five thousand fans in every state in the continental United States.  
Robbie got off the plane with Aunt Rosalie and Uncle Emmett. He had a guitar case and two bags made of Italian leather.
“Nessie!” My uncle screamed out of excitement of seeing me. He then gave me the biggest bear hug in the world.
“Emmett, you’re going to squeeze her to pieces.” My beautiful aunt said to her husband. After he put me down, she gave me a quick hug. “I got you something to keep your charms on,” She handed me a small gift box. “Robbie told me about how you were complaining how you couldn’t find a space to put new charms.
Inside the box was a gold charm necklace with a locket that had the letters “NC” intertwined in diamonds.
“Happy Birthday, Nessie,” Robbie congratulated me as he gave me one of the bags. “I thought your dad might want his backpack back,” He turned the bags to show the initials NC on one and EP on the other. “Mines in the tour bus.”
“Thanks, Robbie.” I said in gratitude.
“Wow,” Elly was staring at Robbie with goo-goo eyes. “I thought that Ren was the only person to remember my birthday.”
“Hey, let’s go have some lunch in the food court.” Jacob suggested.
All lunch Robbie and Elly were making goo-goo eyes at each other and catching up on their stories. Elly had known me since preschool and Robbie since she saw him on her web cam.
“You look just like Bella when she was human.” Rosalie cooed.
“Except paler and not as clumsy,” Emmett joked.
“Where do Papa and Grandma live?” I asked in expectation.
“Denver,” My aunt stated. “Carlisle is a pediatrician in their emergency room. Is it on your tour route?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll call him to tell that you’re coming.” My aunt gingerly kissed my forehead.  
“Thanks.” I was glad my grandparents would see me.