Purple Sky by A. Teller (unputdownable books .TXT) 📕

Finally, the day came where I could go out on my own again. I was desperate to hunt, and my eyes had gone totally charcoal black. Jake said I looked like a freak show, and I’ll admit, the black had me a little wary of mirrors as well. I’d only gone without blood for so long maybe once or twice before, so the black darkness of my eyes was something I never got used to. But first was the real question: Could I even run, let alone hunt?

“Maybe we should wait another week,” Jake suggested. Again.

“Jake, come on, I’m thirsty,” I complained as Alice and Bella moved towards me to lift me up by my arms. My legs were firm, but my feet felt a little flimsy. I felt the venom start to release itself. Now it was only cringe worthy, but it still stung.

“Bella, you sure you got her? You’re sure?” Jake asked for the thousandth time.

“Yes Jacob! God, you’re worse than him,” Bella said, gesturing to Edward. He smiled, a bit proud with himself. Jake was standing up in the corner, arms crossed, much more on edge than anyone in the room.

“It’s fine Jake, really,” I said, putting on my best innocent smile for him. I needed to get some persuasion into him. My throat burned with the power of ten forest fires plus two. And I missed the chilled air and sunlight of the outside. I hadn’t stepped outside in almost three weeks. Hadn’t smelled anything but the scents of my family and Jake. My nose itched for something new. Or at least, something different from what I’d been enduring.

I struggled to force my feet to grip the ground. I took a few steps, stretching out my joints. My toes twitched a little from the soreness. My knees quivered a bit. But after walking around the room a few times, they felt as sturdy as before. I jogged over to Jake.

“Wanna try and catch me?” I asked playfully. With very serious eyes, clenched jaw, and crossed arms, I managed to coax a smile out of him. I walked towards my window. His arms dropped and he followed me over, opening it for me.

“Such a gentleman,” I commented. He laughed.

“Just jump out the window. You won’t think I’m much of a gentleman when I win,” he said. I giggled, and grabbed the window pane. Pulling myself up onto the windowsill, I looked down at the green grass below me. Even though I’d made this jump a thousand times, it seemed higher above the ground than ever. Like I was jumping from twenty stories instead of two. I breathed in deeply, and stepped off.

Although I laded perfectly, my legs trembled a bit, like they do if I run for too long. I started running at a human pace, slowly adding on speed as I got closer and closer to the forest. The woods engulfed me in all its wonderful, natural scents as I flashed through the trees. A flock of birds flew up in a cloud of blue and white, bunnies scurried away, and squirrels ran for cover. My hair bounced and felt as though it came back to life. The cold bit at my face, but I liked it. It wasn’t raining, and snow still lined tree trunks and rocks. I smelled the pine and air and animals around me. And of course, the unmistakable scent of cinnamon that followed not far behind me.

As I ran through the woods, remaining clueless to direction or pace, I let my mind wander. Though this wondrous calm has waved over me, and everyone I think, I knew this happy time would not last. It was peaceful in my mind, but there was always calm before the storm. I felt as though we haven’t seen the end of the two vampires. And the girl that reminded me so much of Alice…she’d be back. The Volturi still lingered in the back of my mind, but they remained locked away. I wasn’t concerned with them. They knew we were as much a threat as they were. Equals. Although these enemies clouded the future for me, for us, I aloud tranquility to consume me instead. Why should I worry when everyone else sees that as their job? No, this is a time to be happy. Be content with one another. Be at peace.

I’ve just started to think about me and Jake’s future when I realized where I was running. I stopped. The trees about three yards ahead of me have stopped. I walk at a slow pace towards the edge of the tree line. I see more trees on the other side of the clearing, and I stop. My heart sinks, my breathing turns faster, and I’m filled with grief. My meadow, covered in a thin layer of snow. Just like in my dream. My dream when Jacob left. I haven’t returned to the meadow since.

I heard Jacob coming up from behind me. His gate was human, so he must’ve phased back. Wearing nothing but dark green cargo shorts, he came up next to me, wrapping an arm around my waste. The sky remained light and grey, nothing like the purple color from my dream. And the forest was alive with birds. A few sun beams flash through the clouds, and I slowly move onto the plain. The snow cracked beneath my boots, and I cupped my elbows as I tread lightly. I stopped once I felt the warmth of the sunbeam on my back. And then more warmth. Jacob.

“Hey,” he said, moving in front of me. He lifted my chin with his fingers, and I looked into his eyes. His face was soft, and his hands engulfed my neck, stroking my cheeks with his thumbs. His fingers brushed over the bite mark, which I could see reflecting light brighter than the rest of my skin. He traced the crescent, frowning a bit.

“Will it ever be over Jake?” I asked him. He stopped looking at the crescent on my neck and his brown eyes bored into mine.

“I hope not,” he said, before pressing my lips to his.

This is what I live for. The warmth of his body, hugging me and sharing the heat with me. His lips keeping mine warm and soft. His hands, holding me tight and making me feel so safe that I never want him to let go. This kiss, right here, in the beam of the sun and the sparkle of the snow around us, suddenly flashes every kiss into my mind. From the first one, on the beach, to the kiss on the forehead when he told me he loved me. To the little kisses, to the love bites and the hugs. To the laughter, to the feelings of safety and happiness. It all flows through me as I grip his neck with my palms, sending it all flashing through his head as well. His head pulls back slowly, and he looks at me with the most love-filled, most cherishing eyes I’ve ever seen on him.

“Renesmee,” he says, breathing heavily. He smiles, bright and exuberant, and kisses me again. And although this kiss would be the same to an onlooker, it feels even better than the last.

Text: Alyssa B
Proofreading: Alyssa B
Publication Date: 11-27-2011

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