It's here! It's here! Call the village crier! It's here!

I DON'T OWN ANYTHING NEW MOON (cus if I did, Jacob wouldn't be an issue...ever)

ANNNYWHOOOO...I'm working as fast as I can on this story so bear with me...you will be rewarded! I promise!

Enjoy the official first chapter of the new story! Review too!


It's So Not My Birthday!

September 13th, a day from hell. It very well could be the worst day of the year. It's a day when some of the vampires of the vegetarian variety around the Forks, Washington area come together to mutually scare the hell out of one innocent victim. And do you know who that victim is?

Me. The girl who suddenly popped into their story, albeit, not unwillingly.

I'd always wished I could have a true love like Edward ever since I read Twilight, and, one fateful night, my Uncle Charlie met and eventually agreed to marry Sue Clarey-slash-Clearwater, who then proceeded to allow me to move with them to Forks, Washington. The only thing that I had to adjust to when I got here was the fact that I'd unknowingly had my name changed within the first twenty-four hours of arriving. I was forever changed from Sarah Ann Stiles to Isabella Marie Swan, not that I objected much. I got my very own Edward, a new best friend in Alice, two new parents, two annoying brothers, and tons of enemies. And my other best friend, Ava, fell in love with another vampire named Angel and, incidentally, got turned into a vampire when James got to her before me.

She, Angel, and the rest of the Cullens all know about Twilight, and surprisingly, the Cullens were extremely calm about it. Even Edward didn't care that I wasn't really the Bella from the book. He told me he loved me despite my name not really being Bella. But I still insist upon him calling me Bella anyway, it's grown on me over the past 9 months.

Despite my misgivings about telling them about the books in the plural sense, I eventually cracked and spilled everything to Alice. Well, not everything. She knows the number of books, but I haven't let her read the last one. I only let her read Eclipse so she would stop hounding me about when Edward and I are going to get married. And I had to let her read New Moon just so I would be safe from having a rogue birthday party.

Which brings me back to the reason why I now hate September 13th. Alice and Ava told me that they were going to protect me all night, just in case some sort of random act of fate happened. At the moment, I was being held hostage in Angel and Ava's new house in the middle of the forest that Esme had built for them over the summer. And no, it's nothing like what mine and Edward's will be after we get married. Oh, I forgot to mention that Ava and Angel had an impromptu visit to Vegas the day that Ava would have turned eighteen had she not been turned into a vampire. Alice was furious with them both and is now in the middle of making plans for another, grander, and all around better than getting 'hitched by Elvis' wedding for Ava's next birthday, June 25th.

Anyway, back to my current dilemma. I'm being held hostage, against my will, away from my loving boyfriend, and with two very short and very fashion-conscious vampires. And, on top of everything, nothing was making any sense!

First, they told me that the other Cullens had gone feral and were all out on the hunt for me. Then, they covered every exposed part of my body with hideous clothes, except my face so that I can talk and see what's going on around me. Finally, they flipped on all of the lights and revealed the rest of the Cullens watching us some with red eyes and some with black eyes.

I turned to look towards Ava and Alice, but they were suddenly clutching my arms with their vampire strength to keep me from running. Edward stepped forward, keeping the rest of his family back. "Thank God, Edward. What's going on? What are you all doing?"

He whipped his head around at vampire speed. His red eyes turned coal black and his normal loving smile turned evil and wicked. I realized I wasn't breathing. He grabbed my neck, ripping off whatever it was that Alice put on me and whispered in my ear, "Happy Birthday, Bella," before biting down on my neck.

And what freaked me out even more before I was having the life force sucked out of me was that my crazy grandmother was standing in the room shaking her head saying, "I warned you about them damn vampires!"

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

I woke up screaming my head off. Literally, I hadn't screamed like that since the last time I was on a rollercoaster. I looked over to my alarm clock and it said it wasn't actually September 13th, but my actual birthday instead, October 30th. I stopped screaming when Edward rushed towards me. "NO! Don't touch me!" I whispered fiercely. He looked weary, but quickly jumped into my closet when Uncle Charlie and Sue ran in my room.

"Bella! What's wrong, sweetheart?" Sue asked me quickly smoothing back the hair that had fallen back into my face.

I just shook my head. "Nothing. Just a bad dream." A really bad one. How many people could handle having a dream about their deaths? And on their birthdays? Truth be told, I've been having some sort of nightmare about my birthday probably since September 13th, just because of how nervous I was about it.

Uncle Charlie chuckled. "Well, Bells that's hardly fair. You shouldn't have a bad dream on your birthday, especially one that makes you scream like that. Must have been a hell of a dream. Come on, Sue, she's fine, let's go back to bed so we can all get about," he peeked over at my clock, "twenty more minutes of sleep." I smiled as reassuringly as I could at Sue before she and Uncle Charlie left. I waited until I heard their door shut and the squeak of them sitting on their bed before I whispered for Edward to come out.

He was sitting on my bed in a flash. He didn't touch me, though, as I ordered. "Bella, are you really okay? What did you dream about?"

He reached for my face, but I held up my hand to stop him. I had to check something first. I reached over to turn on my lamp beside my bed. I turned back towards his face composing myself before I checked. I looked him straight in the eyes just to make sure.

They were full of worry and hurt, the second probably because I wouldn't let him get anywhere near me, but they were a molten amber color, the tell-tale sign that he had hunted recently and on an animal. I threw my arms around him, not bothering to give him my 'look.' "God, it was awful. It was Alice and Ava and the rest of your family in Ava and Angel's house in the woods. And you, you were there and you killed me…bit me, I mean. But you had red eyes, so I mean you must have intended to…you know, eat me."

I kissed me lightly on my forehead. "Shh, Bella, it's okay. Is that why I was prohibited from coming near you?"

Thankfully I wasn't crying on his shoulder. I've done that too much in the past. I think it's because of the rain. If the sky cried too much, then so will I. "Yes. I had to make sure your eyes were still my favorite color."

"My eyes are blue?" Okay, it's like six in the morning. This is sooo not the time for sarcasm.

I pulled away from Edward and threw him an angry glare before throwing my sheets over my head. "Alright, stalker, I'm going back to sleep for a few more minutes. You can leave now if you want. Alice is still probably trying to put an acceptable gift ready and may need your help."

I heard him chuckle and felt him tug on my sheets lightly. But since I wouldn't let go, eventually he resorted to vampire strength. Suddenly he was practically on top of me. Not that I had minded too much, but I will reiterate, it's like six in the morning and I am really tired. "Fine, then, I'll go, but don't you want your gift now?"

"Gift? Already? I thought you were going to wait until later."

I thought the evil smile from my dream was going to spread across his face, but no, it was just his regular old mischievous one that I have become oh-so familiar with. "Well, this is just the first one, but I'm saving the best for last."

"Hey, you know my rule. I don't want something that cost you hundreds of dollars!" I didn't want him spending obscene amounts of money on me, but I wouldn't be completely upset if he spent a little. And I especially won't mind hand-me-downs. Or diamond rings, but I'm not expecting one of those anytime soon…

"I know, I know, but this one doesn't cost a penny." The smile was still there and it was getting wider.

"Oh, yeah? And what exactly is it?" Now I'm worried. He hasn't changed his mind finally, has he? No, it's impossible. He wouldn't turn me into a vampire in Uncle Charlie's house right now unless he was absolutely crazy. But then again, I've changed this story around a bit. Or a lot. Just the date of my birthday gave me a whole extra month to make more safety measures for today's events.

"This." He pressed his ice-cold lips onto mine. I hadn't really overcome the whole 'freaking out' thing whenever he kisses me over the summer, so he had to break away before he could actually hurt me and before I could accidentally mess up his perfectly unruly hair. "Happy Birthday, Bella." He pecked me lightly again before he pounced off of me and leapt out of my open window.

Birthday. Wow, today I'm going to be eighteen years old. Officially older than Edward in human years. I'm not horrendously upset about it like Bella was in the book, and I'm not planning on banning anyone from telling me 'Happy Birthday'. I just keep telling myself that Edward isn't really seventeen, but one hundred and eight.

I figured I might as well get up now to get through my morning routine before Seth or Leah get up. It's freaking hard getting to school on time when you have to share a bathroom with two other people, but neither of them was even close to being awake. I guess my little screaming act hadn't woken them up.

Both of them were waiting by the door once I was completely finished, and yelled, "Happy Birthday, Bella!" at the top of their lungs.

I mumbled a tired thanks, slugged Seth lightly on his arm and gave Leah a hug, and stumbled back into my room. Alice wanted me to dress up in some sort of Halloween costume, but there's no way. I love Halloween because it's so close to my birthday, but the whole dressing up the day before just because it's my birthday is not happening. It's going to be a regular old jeans and t-shirt day. Okay, maybe a sweatshirt and scarf day too because it gets really cold during the later months here. Way too cold for my liking.

My presents from Uncle Charlie, Sue, Seth, Leah, and my parents were stacked neatly on the table. There was also a note from everyone in the house telling me to open them before I left for school because they were going to be useful. Hmm, I wonder what they could be…a camera, perhaps? Before opening any of them, I ran to grab my thin mittens just in case I got a paper cut. Today paper is my enemy.

I opened them all carefully. Uncle Charlie and Sue had gotten me a…camera, no surprise. I would smile about it anyway. Seth and Leah bought me a book of Quileute legends because Jacob had told them how much I had liked them however long ago it was that he told some to me on the beach. Oh, jeez, Jacob. I'd sort of forgotten about him as of late. The next time he and Billy are around I need to be sure that I have him on speed dial just in case the worst happens.

But it won't, so he's a moot point. Anyway, Mom and Dad sent me a scrapbook, but my mom sent me something else too along with a note. 'Sarah, fill this up with more than just you and Ethan(I swear, my mom knows about the Cullens but she won't say anything) and tell Allison and Lizzie to take pictures of your 'girls nights' the next time you have one! Love you, Mom.' She also sent me a replica of Alice's chocker from the movie. I laughed just thinking about what Alice will actually say about it if I wear it to school today. My crazy grandmother also sent me gift box full of items she deemed necessary for me. I noticed it smelled a little strange, so I opened it quickly. It was full of cloves of garlic, crosses, and vials of holy water. Good grief, grandma, good grief.

I grabbed all of my gifts (minus grandma's little care package) and ran to my truck so I wouldn't be late for school. I pulled in next to Edward's Volvo right on time. He, Alice, and Ava were all waiting for me. Ava was still donning her bronze wig, and also stuck her wedding ring on a chain around her neck. Something about not wanting the teachers to be jealous of her huge rock if she wore it on her hand. "Happy Birthday, Bella!" They all sang when I jumped out of the car. I snapped a picture of them all standing by the Volvo. Mom would love that one.

"Thank you! Now, please, shut up before Mike or Tyler comes over here to give me a birthday kiss or something." I was looking around everywhere for signs of my pack of followers. Since Mike and Jessica broke up over the summer, he would be out on the hunt for me.

Edward growled and put his arms around my waist. "No one is allowed to do that except for me. Oh, by the way, here's birthday present number two." He reached into his car and pulled out a bouquet of my now-favorite flowers, freesias.

"Number two? When did you give her a number one?" Alice pouted.

"He kissed me this morning before he left my house, Alice. Morning Ava, how's the new house working out? Knocked it over yet?"

Since she was the only one who actually knew what I was talking about, she gave me a half-hearted glare before giving me one of her famous bone-crunching hugs. "No, but it's starting to get on shaky foundation. Alice, should we give her our present now or later?"

"Now! Bella, please, open it now! You'll love it! Hey, wait a minute, is that my necklace?" Alice took my necklace off to examine it. "It is! I didn't know your mother sent you this necklace!"

"Alice, I do believe you're slipping! But now I'm curious to what you and Ava got me. Can I see it?"

She snapped out of it and the two of them got some huge box out of the trunk. I could tell by the box that it had to be expensive. "Alice! Ava! I told you not to spend too much money on me!"

"We didn't spend a thing. I made it, okay? With the help of Alice, but still. Okay, she designed it, but I sewed it." Ava informed me. Well, now I know it's some sort of clothing item. I threw a cautious look at them both before grabbing Edward's hand and leading him around the car to the back. He looked just as curious as me, so I'm guessing Ava blocked him out of Alice's mind when they were making it. I opened the box slowly just to get on their nerves, and then folded back the tissue paper.

It was a pale purple and white princess style dress with delicate little roses sewn in multitudes around the bottom which would come up to around my knees. It was absolutely adorable! "Oh, my God! Thank you guys! But where on earth am I going to get a chance to wear it?"

Alice rolled her eyes. "Tonight at our house, silly. We can't officially have a party without a theme to it, and your theme is Halloween, thus a costume. And because you are the birthday girl, you are the princess. I'm going as a pixie," how fitting, "Ava's going to be a cheerleader," again, how fitting, "and Edward…" oh, dear, what are they going to put him in, "Edward's going to be Prince Charming."

Edward grinned down at me. So, he was in on this. Or he's at least seeing the details about the party tonight. "Alice, does this magnificent dress come with gloves perhaps?" I had to ask. Gloves and mittens were my only defenses against the evil birthday wrappings which could ruin my life for the next months. I really really am going to avoid it. I know it.

Alice and Ava both caught on to my meaning and I suddenly saw Edward's eyes widen before he scrunched his eyebrows together and glared at Ava. She shrugged but threw me a worried glance at the same time. She's worried what's going to happen to me if Edward chooses to leave. I'm worried about what she'll do to him now that she's got all of her newborn vampire strength. Edward was still frustrated when Alice piped up, all traces of worry gone. "Of course, Bella. It wouldn't be a full costume without them. Oh, and we three will be getting dressed and ready at your house, Bella, but Ava and I will be there after we set up the decorations. Oh, you are going to love it!"

"I'm sure I will Alice." I glanced back at Edward's still frustrated face before asking Alice something of major importance. "What kind of decorations?"

"You'll be fine, Bella. Just don't trip." We all started the walk towards English class. Alice suggested that he use his powers over the female population of the school so that we all have close to the same schedule. I think she just wanted to see if he'd do it.

"Can I make a suggestion for the inside of the house?" Ava asked nonchalantly as we walked in Mr. Berry's class.

"How about bubble wrap?" I asked. Only Alice and Ava laughed. Edward wasn't very happy that he was being left out. I kissed him on the cheek, which made his fantastic crooked smile come right back to where it was supposed to be. "Oh, and Alice, would you mind it terribly if Edward and I watched Romeo and Juliet before I get to the house?"

Alice glared at me, despite her knowledge that I was just messing with her. "Yes I would mind it terribly! Besides, Bella dear, I've made sure that you watched every single version of it ever made." Which is completely true because she was worried I would back out of a party because I was going to be afraid of getting a paper cut and nearly bitten by her husband. Now, why would I be afraid of something like that?

Edward was his normal cheerful if slightly angsty self all day, which I made sure to document. I think I took up at least half of my new memory card with pictures of him and me doing various things around school. I took pictures of the rest of my little group of friends too, just in moderation since they were only minor characters in my overall story. Just kidding, I let them take all the pictures they wanted.

Alice and Ava left early so that they could get everything ready for tonight. They said they had to make everything absolutely perfect. And Bella-proof. I told, no, demanded that Alice have no glass plates within a twenty-mile radius and that Jasper be completely in control by whatever means necessary. Alice and Ava leaving early meant that I was going to have Edward with me all afternoon, at least until Alice and Ava show up to get me ready for my grand party.

I climbed into the driver's side before he had a chance to protest. Before pulling into the driveway, I noticed him shaking his head at my dashboard. "Don't even think about making fun of this car or anything in it. My stereo included."

He may not know that there is a second book, but he knows me well enough to figure out this had something to do with my extreme love and devotion towards Twilight. "I know, it's the truck from the book and you love it." He leaned in close enough for me to stop breathing from sheer joy. With a grin plastered on his face, he closed the gap between us. For a second, I thought my heart fell out of my chest. It just completely stopped beating. Edward pulled away in alarm, but once he was detached my face lit up and my heart started beating in some hyperactive manner.

"Come on, Romeo, before you give me a coronary."

He frowned as I said Romeo's name. "You know, I've never had much patience with Romeo."

"Fine then, you'll be Prince Charming again, but then again you do come into my bedroom through my window, which could stand for a balcony. You could just burst out in a long monologue one day like 'But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Bella is the sun'."

"Very funny, Bella, but I don't think I'm as fickle as Romeo. And I don't plan on killing any of your cousins anytime soon. Mistake after mistake. Could he have destroyed his own happiness any more thoroughly?" I can think of a way—leaving me! "Besides, he has it so easy in the end. You humans have it so easy! All you have to do is throw down one tiny vial of plant extracts…"

"EDWARD ANTHONY MASEN CULLEN! I never ever never ever want to hear you talk about suicide ever! I don't care if I die or something happens like that. Besides, you won't have any way to do it except get ripped apart and burnt, and I sincerely doubt that anyone in your family would likely help you do that."

His golden eyes burned with agony into mine. "But I did have to think about it, Bella. When you almost got yourself killed last spring…well, I wasn't going to live without you. You're right about everyone else, so I was thinking maybe I would go to Italy and do something to provoke the Volturi."

I shivered at the mere thought of Edward around Italy and that God-awful Michael Sheen dude. Aro really needs to stop acting so…pretentious and just be a regular jerk. The nice act will always be annoying. "No more, Edward, I mean it. Would you want me to go off the Volturi if you ever got somehow killed?"

He eyed me curiously. "So you know who they are?"

Crap, crap, crap! "Umm, Alice told me." Sorry, Alice. I'm blaming her for everything these days. Or Ava, but Edward won't pick a fight with her most of the time since she could make him do the chicken dance for days if she really wanted to. Edward looked suspicious, but we had to maintain a casual stance since I heard Uncle Charlie's cruiser pull up. "Good luck explaining to Sue why I'm not here for my birthday."

Uncle Charlie and Sue came in at the same time, holding pizza and soft drinks. "Happy Birthday, Miss Bella! We got pizza since I've heard you say how much you missed it lately. Hello, Edward, you and Bella going to do something fun tonight for her birthday?"

Well, Sue, that was way easier than I thought. I thought she was going to say that she was fixing a huge dinner that everyone was supposed to attend, but I guess Seth and Leah already had plans down at La Push tonight. "Actually, Mrs. Swan, I was going to ask your permission to borrow Bella tonight. Alice and Elizabeth were planning on throwing Bella a Halloween-Birthday party. Nothing big, of course."

"Oh, that sounds great! You two have fun tonight. Don't forget to take your new camera tonight, Bella!" Sue handed me my new camera, at least she didn't throw it like Uncle Charlie would have.

Alice and Ava came not too long after. They had to pry me away from Edward, but they eventually succeeded in dragging me upstairs. First, Alice tugged and curled and pinned my hair until I thought I was bald, but instead, I had a very stylish up-do with tiny curled strands falling loose around my sparkling headband. She put a huge amount of lip gloss and purple eye-shadow on before Ava came in, already in her costume and makeup, with my tremendous dress. I was finally ready by seven o'clock, but I had to remind Alice to let me wear flats in case of tripping and gloves in case of…well, she knew.

Alice was already dressed in her costume when she arrived and looked like a little kid with her bright pink wings on. They drove me to the Cullen's house, which had multitudes of purple and white flowers lining the porch strewn randomly, not in glass bowls. Edward, in his Prince Charming costume, took my arm the second I set foot out of the car. "You know, you never told me exactly what you wanted for your birthday." He reminded me.

I had to think about it for a second. He'd already taught me how to play my lullaby over the summer, so I couldn't ask for that. And he wouldn't turn me into a vampire, but maybe I'll spin it. "How about a promise ring?"

His eyes glistened in the rising moonlight. "A promise ring?" He thought I meant marriage, which I did, but only a little. I meant a different promise.

"Yes, a promise-to-turn-me-into-a-vampire ring." He didn't look so happy then, but we were inside so he couldn't argue. I had to laugh at what Alice had done to the inside of the house. There were purple candles lit all around the room, giving it a purple glow. I saw a huge cake with figurines of Edward and Bella from the movie on it. I whipped around to glare at Alice, before bursting out laughing at everyone's costumes. Carlisle was normal in his scrubs, but then Esme was dressed as Snow White, Jasper was in a confederate soldier uniform (probably his real one), Angel was dressed as…an angel, Rosalie just put on a long black dress, but Emmett was by far the funniest thing I had ever seen. Emmett was dressed up as a giant teddy bear. "Wow, Emmett, just wow."

Carlisle and Esme were the first ones to wish me a happy birthday and tell me how cute I looked in the dress that Alice and Ava had made. Angel said I rocked it, but also congratulated his new wife on her creativity. Emmett…there were no words to describe Emmett. There will never be any words to describe Emmett. "Jeez, Bella, you haven't changed at all. I expected a perceptible difference, but here you are, red-faced just like always."

"Tell me something Emmett, did you agree to this costume or did Ava warp your mind into thinking it was a somehow cool costume?"

He glared at Ava, but she just taunted him by trying to look innocent. He turned back to me with the grin back on his face. "I have to step out for a second," he winked at Alice, "don't do anything funny while I'm gone."

First thing I did while he was gone was trip over my own foot. Edward caught me before I rammed into the pile of gifts thank goodness. There weren't any glass plates around, but I wasn't going to take too many chances. I had my gloves pulled snuggly on before Alice bounced over carry all of my gifts with one hand. She handed me the first one 'From Jasper, Rosalie, and Emmett'. "Hmm, I wouldn't want to open it without Emmett in here. I wonder what he's doing out there. In my car. On the dashboard. Close to the thing that makes music." I figured I'd stop giving hints. I opened the box to find it empty, of course.

"It's a stereo for your truck." Jasper piped up for the first time tonight. I think he was too busy laughing at Alice's wings before to say much of anything. "Emmett's installing it right now so that you can't return it."

"I'm shocked Jasper that you would think that I would return a gift! Especially one from my…close to favorite vampires!" He chuckled at me and Ava handed me her and Angel's gift. I only opened it enough to peek inside of it and throw the lid back down before anyone else could see it. The note on the outside said 'For when the Dawn Breaks on the island.' I was blushing furiously since Ava, my best friend in the entire world, gave me a nightgown that wouldn't even be fathomable to wear until I was married and a vampire. I couldn't even try to pull it off without being a vampire. "Next…" I said through clenched teeth. Alice had seen what Ava had given me and Edward was looking almost as embarrassed as I was.

I opened Carlisle and Esme's gift next and, as expected, they gave me two plane tickets so that Edward and I could go visit my parents. When I tried in vain to refuse them, Carlisle told me they wanted me going in a plane instead of having to drive with Alice and Jasper the entire way there again.

I thanked all of them over and over again, and moved on to the last present with trembling hands. I looked at the wrapping paper wearily. I wasn't about to ruin my life over some present. "Open Edward's!" Alice sang behind me. How quickly she's forgotten about what may happen! This was way too much pressure. Surely Jasper could sense my emotional distress, right? Of course he could, he's just too caught up in everyone else's excitement.

I opened Edward's gift as slowly and carefully as I possibly could, tearing the tape not the wrapping. I didn't entirely know, either, what it was that Edward got me since I didn't exactly give him a huge limit on what he could spend on me. The box was small, whatever it was. "COME ON, BELLA! WE MAY NOT BE GETTING ANY OLDER HERE, BUT YOU ARE DRIVING ME WILD!" Ava practically screamed.

"Alright, alright. Here it goes." I flung the wrapping paper to the floor before Ava could say anything else about my technique in opening gifts. There was a black CD case with a CD inside. It didn't say anything on the outside, but Alice, Ava, and I all knew exactly what it was. Edward walked over towards me, took the CD, and put it in a conveniently placed CD player. It was only when my lullaby started playing that I noticed everyone else had left the room. "Wow, I can really clear a room."

Edward ignored my sarcasm and pulled me to the open spot in the room. We sort of swayed to the music, but mainly just started into each other's eyes. I almost fell due to weak knees many times. "Happy Birthday, my Bella." He kissed my forehead before the song ended. "Oh, there's one more present."

"Oh, yeah?" I'm curious I'll admit, and slightly dizzy but that's not entirely relevant.

He pulled out a small box that looked a lot like a jewelry box. Ooh! Jewelry! "Angel suggested that I get you this, something about showing undying commitment and love, in our case anyway." He opened the tiny box that held a Claddagh ring. Oh, yeah, I forgot Angel was from Ireland originally. Edward slid the ring on my ring finger with the heart facing down to show that my heart was taken.

"Thank you, Edward, for everything tonight. It's officially been the best birthday ever. I love you," I rose up for a kiss, "oh, and forget that little comment about a promise to turn me into a vampire ring. We'll figure it all out later." I kissed him with too much enthusiasm. I was just so happy I opened all of my presents without any incident and I wouldn't have to worry anymore about the months ahead. He started kissing me as passionately as I was trying to do, but broke away quickly when he heard someone clear their throat in the doorway.

"Well, Bella, I guess you'll be needing my gift a little sooner than expected." Ava smirked. I'm going to kill her! Or, or re-kill her!

"Well, Lizzie, I think you should worry about knocking your own house down before I start on one myself. Who knows, I might just knock yours down on accident." I shot back at her. No one else had any idea what we were talking about, so they were just kind of staring at us looking confused.

"All right, enough ladies, I think it's time the birthday girl get some cake and go home. She does have school tomorrow and she needs sleep." Esme soothed the situation before either Ava or I could try to spring at one another. Sure, Ava would win, but I'm feeling fearless now that I made it through the evil round of wrapping paper.

Alice wrapped up like half the cake for me to take home. Something about Seth eating a good four pieces. He'd better not be turning into a wolf yet. The whole Cullen clan including Ava and Angel walked me out to my car just so they could 'wave off the princess'.

I was still blushing and slightly dizzy from mine and Edward's kiss that I wasn't really paying attention to my footing. I tripped on a crack in the drive. WHERE THE HELL DID THAT COME FROM? REALLY!?!

No one caught me either, which was the strange part. I mean, I've fallen hundreds, no, thousands of times in their house, and I think there has been possibly five occasions where no one was around to catch me. Still, I was surrounded by Cullens, vampires for goodness sake, and not one of them caught on to the part where I was falling over.

As I landed on my knees and braced myself for the impact on my hands, everything went in slow motion. Tonight's frivolity, Edward's fantastic kisses, and especially not getting a damn paper cut! But all of tonight's careful planning went down the drain because of my clumsiness. My inerrant ability to fall over any flat surface is single-handedly responsible for breaking my heart and Edward's heart and, eventually, Jacob's heart. I wasn't really thinking about Jacob then, but still, he would be affected by the ten seconds it took for me to go from a vertical position to a horizontal one. I felt by leg start to burn as my knee collided with the ground.

Blood oozed slowly from my skidded knee through the stockings that Alice insisted I wore. I probably just ruined this dress too. My head snapped up as two things happened instantaneously. Edward crouched down in a defensive position in front of me as Ava and Jasper let out snarls that no human could ever make. I thought it was Ava who was losing control, but no, she was just snarling at Jasper since he was trying to spring towards me.

"JASPER! STOP! FREEZE! HALT! DESIST MOVEMENT!" Ava shouted at him, but nothing was getting through to his mind. He was far too lodged in his instincts to even be to a point of being manipulated.

Apparently no one was quite able to stop their instincts from taking over as I stared at seven suddenly ravenous vampires. Crap…


And that's what I like to call a hanging half way off the cliff...

I have no preview for you :(...I want to keep the tension high! And besides the first three chapters make my heart beat soo fast it's not even funny...