"She's going to give you a hard time about this you know." I said to my brother Edward. We were both leaning on his Volvo, waiting for Bella to show up. "I think it's all rather stupid. You know it's going to happen, I know it's going to happen, she wants it to happen!! Why don't you just change her now?"
"I've already told you Alice," he growled at me," I will not end her life!"
"Ok, ok! Point taken! Geez, it was just a suggestion…" I muttered. Just then, Bella pulled up in her truck. She frowned at me as she slammed the door of her car and walked over to us. She was going so slow that I skipped up to her and said happily," Happy birthday, Bella!"
"Shh!!" she hissed looking around, but I ignored her.
"Do you want your present now or later?" I asked, unfazed by her dark expression.
"No presents," she mumbled.
"Okay, later then," I said. As I tucked her present back in my designer oversized bag, I asked her about the presents her parents gave her. She didn't seem any happier about the camera and scrapbook than she was about mine and Edward's gift. "I think it's a nice idea. You're only a senior once. Might as well document the experience."
"How many times have you been a senior?" she asked, an acid tone in her voice.
"That's different." I replied lightly, hoping she wouldn't bring up the subject around Edward; she knows how tense he gets about it.
When we reached Edward, I politely tuned them out, giving them a little privacy. But something Edward said got to me. He was talking about enjoying birthdays and gifts. I laughed, saying to Bella, "Of course you'll enjoy it. Everyone is supposed to be nice to you today and give you your way, Bella. What's the worst that could happen?" I ended rhetorically, but Bella answered anyway.
"Being older than Edward…" she mumbled, knowing perfectly well that we could hear her.
I kept the conversation light," Technically. Just by one little year, though." Before I ran off, giving them more privacy, I made sure Bella would be at the house that night. Edward said he would bring her around at seven. That would only give me four hours to set up everything!! "It'll be fun, Bella! You'll see!" Then before she could argue, I pecked her on the cheek and took off for my first class. Tonight is going to be so much fun!!!!!