Disclaimer: Twilight is not mine. No copyright infringement intended

18 Candles by llg5437

Tomorrow is my best friend Edward's birthday. He was turning eighteen. I was so happy for him. He was finally leaving our small town because he got accepted to a college on the other side of the country. The entire town was bursting with excitement for him and his family. Carlisle and Esme, his parents, were extremely proud of their only child.

I was sort of jealous of all the attention he was receiving because that meant he forgot about me. For nearly a week and a half, he was out at graduation parties at friends' houses. I was at home, watching reality TV shows with my boring parents.

My mom offered to do something with me, but I shook my head.

"Bella," she said softly, "you know he's leaving soon, and he wants to get in as much time with his friends as possible. Don't act this way. Why don't you head over to the Cullen's and see what plans he has tonight instead of sulking around the house? You two can come back over here and eat ice cream. I bought butter pecan, it's your favorite." She made her point by heading over to our white fridge and opening the freezer door.

I scowled at her and stalked up to my room, stomping on each step loudly to show my disappointment that Edward failed to show up for dinner as planned.

After two loud responses to my mom that I was not in the mood to eat ice cream with her, I was in the bathroom, brushing my teeth and preparing to go to bed. I rinsed and wiped my face with a hand towel. I stared at my reflection in the mirror and went in the hallway.

"Look out!" My little brother, Henry shrieked as he ran straight in my direction. I froze. He had a spiky dinosaur toy in both hands.

I didn't have time to dodge as the energetic six-year old crashed right into my stomach.

I fell to the carpeted floor and clutched my stomach in pain.

"OW! Henry! You are a moron. Why would you run with that in your hand?" I screeched, kicking him.

Henry fell over and started crying loudly. His stupid dinosaurs lay a few feet from my face.

"I-I was trying to show Dad my new toys!" he sobbed, wiping his face with his pajama sleeve as tears trickled down his face and dripped on his shirt.

I glared at him before standing up and heading to my room. I really didn't care right now. I was not in a good mood. I knew my mom would be really angry at me tomorrow.

I locked my door and hopped on the bed. I moved toward the window and saw people in the streets, still celebrating and having fun. I grumbled and turned on my hand-me-down computer. It was my mom's. She gave it to me after she decided to get a better family computer. It was supposed to be my early birthday present- if you could really consider hand-me-downs as presents. I didn't. I wanted a brand new laptop for my birthday. My parents refused to buy me one because they said I wasn't old enough.

They also added that I had no real use for a laptop, anyway. I defended myself by saying that I would be able to use it for academic purposes such as writing papers for school and using it for projects. They also knew I had a passion for writing stories of my own. I often wrote short fantasy stories or random poems, or anything that popped up in my mind; but I wasn't the best with grammar, so errors were present throughout my writing.

The hand-me-down computer took forever to load and by the time it was on the sign-in page for the online chatting messenger, it was nearly eleven. I sighed in frustration. My mom would be coming up to check on me soon. She probably saw the computer light underneath my door, and would scold me for hurting Henry.

All thoughts about my family faded away when I saw Edward online.

I nibbled my bottom lip. Should I say hi? Or would that be weird?

I slowly typed in a greeting and pressed 'ENTER' quickly. My stomach was filled with fluttering butterflies. Even though I was a little angry at him for not showing up to dinner tonight, I couldn't stay mad at my best friend. We'd been close as long as I could remember.

When I saw his response, I licked my lips nervously and planned out what type of reply I would send back. He asked if I was still going to his good-bye and birthday party tomorrow. I said I would. He teased me. I grinned to myself. He was still Edward; fun-loving, sweet, kind and caring Edward. He was my best friend. I loved him dearly. I just didn't know if my feelings were reciprocated. I was thinking it was a crush.

Yes, he was unquestionably attractive, but there was a much deeper side to him. The only side he said I saw. I've always wondered if Edward lied to me. He said he was always truthful. We hardly kept secrets from each other. There were certain times I kept secrets from him though. It was a personal and girl reason.

When I got my period and had cramps earlier this year for the first time, I couldn't explain why I was being so cranky on the phone with him. It was mortifying, having to have my mom call Esme to cancel our plans for a day because I was in bed, curled up into a ball because I was freaked out when I saw blood on my underwear. And then I felt spasms of pain in my abdomen.

My mom spent the day explaining things to me. Now, I'm better informed about the workings of my now 'young body'.

Edward sent a smiley face in the chat box and said that he was tired. He signed off shortly after. I checked his profile again and was glad to see his status as 'Will miss Forks. Especially IMS.'

Surprisingly, my mom never checked up on me. I went to sleep a little bit happier.

The next morning, my dad knocked on my door and announced there was blueberry and chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. I loved pancakes.

"Morning." I yawned as I stepped into the kitchen.

Henry kept his eyes down as I sat next to him. I guessed he was still a little terrified after last night's events.

A plate of chocolate chip pancakes slid in front of me. I dug in immediately.

"Edward called. He wants you to know that he can't meet you for lunch. He's going out with some friends to pick up some last minute college stuff." My dad told me, reading from a Post-It note on the fridge. I frowned and finished off my pancakes.

I sighed and put the plate in the sink. I walked out onto the porch and looked around.

School was out for the year and kids were lazying it up around town. The seniors were packing for college if they were leaving Forks and Washington. Some hung around, and others worked to earn extra money.

I went back inside and fumed at the thought that I had no fun plans for today or the entire summer. It was a little pathetic, actually. I was sure that my mom was planning to bring us to Arizona for the summer to be with her side of the family, but I knew my dad hated the hot and dry weather there so we probably won't go. Well, my mom might, but my dad would probably take me and Henry to California instead.

I was kind of glad. Mom's side of the family was a little bit bizarre. She had sisters that liked to gift me with cactuses when I visited. I also had to listen to them talk about their sick cats.

I spent the day reading and drawing. I eventually apologized to Henry and made small clay sculptures with him until dinner time.

I was eager to get to Edward's so after I finished one square of lasagna; I dashed up the stairs to take a shower. I wanted to look and smell nice when I arrived to his party.

Since I was the only one taking a shower, my family was already at the door when I walked down the stairs. I consciously rubbed my lips together, hoping the lip gloss wouldn't be too obvious on my lips.

"Bella! What are you wearing?" My mom's eyes bulged out of her head and my dad was shaking his head disapprovingly. Henry just smiled, not really understanding the situation.

"Mom, it's called a skirt." I tugged at the ends and hoped it covered my butt.

"No, you go back upstairs and change right now. I am not allowing you to leave the house looking like that when you're barely a teenager." My mom was really getting on my nerves. I huffed and turned back up to my room.

I pulled off the skirt and changed into tan shorts. They ended mid-thigh, so hopefully that would satisfy my annoying mother.

I rolled my eyes as I saw her sigh in relief after I walked back down the stairs for the second time.

We arrived the Cullen house half past six. The entire street was filled with cars, which is why my parents decided to take a ten minute walk to get to the large house.

I rang the doorbell excitedly. Carlisle was the one who opened the door and invited us in.

We saw some familiar faces and some not so familiar. I recognized a few of my friend's parents, but not many were close friends with my family.

My middle school yearbook was tucked under my arm. I wanted Edward to sign something for me in the autographs section. My parents had scolded me for bringing it, but I insisted and I didn't care if they said yes or no. It wasn't their decision. I was bringing it whether or not they liked it.

Finally, I spotted Edward in the middle of a circle, surrounded by high school girls. I swallowed and nervously made my way over to them, but suddenly stopped. I could talk to him a later time.

Everyone gathered in the huge dining room to sing Edward 'Happy Birthday'. He smiled as he stared at the candles on his scrumptious-looking birthday cake.

I was pushed around a lot as people tried to get a glimpse of Edward.

"Happy birthday to you...." The song ended and people clapped and cheered loudly.

I clapped and whistled for him. He didn't seem to notice me in the crowd.

Edward blew out the eighteen candles and Esme kissed him on the cheek.

"Pictures!" Carlisle shouted, holding up his expensive camera.

Everyone crowded around the birthday boy and bent for the picture. I stayed away from the table because I was scared I would get squished.

"Bella?"

I heard my voice and I immediately perked up, no longer picking at my short nails.

Edward was calling for me!!

I squealed on the inside and hurriedly made my way to his side. I pushed through tall people and panted as I wrapped an arm around Edward's shoulder.

"There you are." he said happily, pulling me down for a quick hug and then we both grinned for the camera. "I was wondering where you'd been all night."

He kissed my cheek and I squealed inside my mind again.

"I missed you, best friend." he whispered into my ear.

I laughed and then pushed him away. We had a moment to ourselves as the cake was being cut. The attention was no longer on Edward and I could finally talk to him.

"I'm sorry I couldn't make it to dinner." he said, tucking a lock of my hair behind my ear. "I really am. I know I promised and I feel terrible about it. I hope your parents aren't mad."

I shook my feverishly. "Not mad. Never mad at you. They understood completely." I said, trying to assure him that it was all fine.

He smiled. "Good. Now let's go get some cake."

"Wait!" I grabbed his wrist and placed my yearbook into his hands. He stared at it for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"What's so funny?" I asked.

"I can't believe middle schoolers have yearbooks." He shook his head as he sighed.

"Yeah, we do." I said proudly, sticking my chin out. "So will you sign it?"

"I suppose. Do you have a pen or something?" Edward held out a hand.

He started writing in the corner of the page. I tried to peek but he turned away, scribbling furiously. I bit my lip, eager to see what he wrote for me.

"Done."

He handed back the yearbook and went back into the dining room without another word.

My shoulders slumped.

I ate the cake with Henry at the top of the grand staircase. Seats were taken all around the house.

"Good cake," Henry commented, stuffing his face with chocolate and vanilla frosting.

I nodded in agreement and watched as a girl sauntered up to Edward and wrapped her arms around his neck. They kissed for a minute and broke away. He whispered something in her ear and she giggled, swatting his shoulder playfully.

I swallowed the last of my cake and placed it beside me, unable to eat anymore.

Edward and the mystery dark-haired girl went into another room and the door shut.

I sighed as I leaned against the wall. I was only his little best friend. Of course he wasn't interested in me like that. I was just a little girl, nothing more. I didn't mean much to him. Once he left for college, our friendship would be simply a memory from his small town on the other side of the country. He would forget.

I left with my parents because the party was now turning into a party for high schoolers and teenagers; it wasn't suited for adults and younger kids.

I tried to find Edward throughout the end, hoping to find him before I had to leave, but no such luck. He wasn't anywhere to be found. He was leaving first thing tomorrow and I wouldn't be able to say goodbye at the airport.

I was on the verge of tears as Dad pulled me away from the Cullen house.

--

The next morning, Mom announced Edward had boarded his plane and was heading to New Hampshire, where Dartmouth College was.

I cried for two hours and refused to eat any breakfast or lunch that day.

At dinner, the family was quiet. They didn't want to bring up the topic of Edward leaving because they were afraid it would cause tears again.

This was the loneliest summer. I went to California with the family for a month to visit some family friends, and then to New York for one week. Finally, in August, Mom asked if I wanted to go to Arizona with her. I had no other choice because Dad and Henry decided to go to Alaska with some of Dad's fishing buddies.

After we arrived in Phoenix, I was already bored.

Thankfully, Mom allowed us to stay in a nice hotel instead of staying at one of her sister's places. They didn't have air conditioning. They had weak fans.

I used the super slow dial-up computer that was my aunt's to check my e-mail. I had two e-mails.

Bella,

I am so sorry I didn't get to say goodbye. I was overwhelmed with everything at the party and decided that it would be better if we didn't have to deal with tearful goodbyes and awkward hugs.

I hope you have a great summer. I'll be back for Thanksgiving, and I hope to hear some of your summer adventures.

Your friend,

Edward

I didn't respond.

--

Bella,

Henry and I miss you and your mom. How is Phoenix? Is everything going well? Are you having fun?

Only one more week until we get to be reunited again.

Love,

Dad and Henry

P.S – Hen says he bought you a moose key chain and that you'll like it; it makes noises.

--

I sat on the couch, watching TV while my aunts and mom played cards together.

They made chicken casserole for dinner. It was okay, I guess. Nothing special.

When we made it back to our hotel, I decided to go for a nighttime swim in the hotel's pool.

Mom wanted to come with me so I let her. There was no point in arguing.

I changed into my purple one-piece swimsuit and put my goggles on. I walked down the stairs of the pool and swam by myself.

When I surfaced, Mom sat on one of the chairs, reading a magazine and eating fruit.

I swam some more, loving the feel of water all around me and being able to swim freely. Forks didn't have luxurious hotels with a pool like this. I was going to soak it up as much as I can.

My fingers got pruney after an hour of swimming so I climbed out, ready to dry off and sleep.

"Ready to go?" asked my Mom, as she came over to me. She wrapped a white towel around my shivering body and kissed the top of my head.

I nodded, and for once, I was glad to have my Mom by my side, comforting me.