part 20

As I stood still, with Seth's hand on my arm, I wondered why I wasn't following my conman sense. I always had before. Perhaps I was afraid of angering Seth. Maybe I just liked the warmth. Being cold because of vampire default was uncomfortable, but the warmth that came with werewolf default was wonderful. It felt like sitting too long in front of a fogo when it was snowing outside. I knew I shouldn't be that warm, but I couldn't walk away. Seth soon lowered his hand, but I remained warm.

Renesmee asked me if I would use my shadow of her gift to show something to her and Claire. I chose to show them a simple flower. A purple flower. When I was asked for more, I attempted a picture of Jacob and Quil. I was in an odd position. Quil looked uncomfortable with me touching Claire, but the girls were begging for more. Desperately, I caught Quil's eye. I slid a few fingers off of Claire and offered them to Quil. Maybe if he knew what I was showing, he wouldn't mind so much. lobisomens were apparently protective creatures. Showing three people was a little harder, but I managed a ballet dancer in a white flowing dress.

Later, Seth asked me if I would show him something. I was sitting to the little video player herself, but I wasn't touching her. Slowly, almost shyly, I placed my hand on his face. "What would you like to see?" I asked him. He smiled "Whatever you'd like to show me" he answered, sporting an encouraging smile. My mind was pulling a blank. After what seemed like a long time, I decided upon a playground I used to hang out at years ago. Probably decades ago. My face started to twist in concentration. "What do you see?" I asked, teeth gritted. It was difficult, but rather fun trying to pass the picture; my grimace turned to a tired smile. He grinned "A see-saw, a chained link fence and... a floating tire?... oh! A tire swing" I tried to get the rest of it to him, but all I managed was a bit of grass. There was a lot missing.

"Maybe something simpler." I muttered. I wanted something small, but with lots of color. That way it would be challenging, but doable. I closed my eyes and started showing him a Rubik's cube. Eventually, he told me that he had received the whole thing. I opened my eyes. In front of my face, he held a newly packaged Rubik's cube. por his feet was a grocery bag full of them for us to solve. It was really nice of him. Renesmee did hers and I did mine. Seth, Jacob, Emily and a few others tried. Quil and Embry took the colored stickers off of theirs and put them on again so that they looked solved. That was pretty funny. Seth solved his after I gave him a few hints. OK a lot of hints. Renesmee teased Jacob mercilessly for failing to solve his. I was worried about her. Even if he was only angry for a moment, Jacob would be lethal. Fortunately, he didn't seem to mind her teasing. At one point, he even picked her up and swung her around. Quil did the same with Claire and, laughing hard, Sam tenderly lifted Emily to balanço her. Jared and Paul swung Kim and Rebbecca respectively. The boys who hadn't imprinted made fun of those who had por swinging each other.

Laughing hard, Seth grabbed me from behind to balanço me. I don't know whether it was habit or instinct, but I started struggling, completely panicked. Of course, struggling did no good, but he let me go willingly, setting me gently on a log. Suddenly realizing that he had not meant to hurt me, I found I felt bad. I had thought the worst of him, yet it could have been that way. I would never let my guard down around werewolves. Ever.