Chapter 2
That left me standing still, shocked and incomprehensible this event would surely be the cause of Edwards leaving, and since his hand was already wrapped around mine, in what I knew was a feeble showing of his strength( feeble compared to mine) I held on tighter, and I knew he noticed.
...
When he took me home that afternoon he knew I was thinking about something, and didn't interrupt. But that gave him the chance to think about the strange occurrence this afternoon, I was listening to him absentmindedly, fitting his thoughts into what would be the future.
He thought that I maybe knew he was considering leaving to protect me, then he thought that it was absurd, how could I know his secret plans.
But, I knew, of course I knew. He would leave me and the only way to stop him was to tell him the truth. That thought gave me chills. I didn't want to give him the chance to reject me. He was leaving, but that was to protect me from the dangers he thought his world presented me, but he wasn't rejecting me. That would kill me, destroy me, and I don't think this time I would (or could) come back.
I had that option when I died; I purposefully died so I could go to where I was even more powerful than when I was now. But I always came back to earth to look after what I was bound to protect. One day I knew I would choose to stay, because the world had nothing left for me.
I pondered for a second to stop Edward when he stepped in to protect me tonight, and see my father, my mother and my beloved uncle. Then I realized he would die when I did that , then we could rule the afterworld. But I didn't want that for him, I wanted him on earth with his family, but most of all I wanted him to be happy.
...
I knew Alice didn't have my vision so I didn't have to worry about Edward going crazy beforehand. But I worried, he just thought I was stressed about this party his family had thrown and reassured me, while I just nodded. He also told me to be good.
"This is the first birthday we've had in over fifty years, so be a good sport. Okay?"
I didn't get why it was so important for him that I have a nice birthday. Then I realized he wanted me to stay human, he didn't want his presence in my life to destroy this ageing, sleeping, eating form I had taken. Sure I had been in this form a long time, but my presence in it had become timeless, nothing led me to feel time passing. Till Him.
When he parked in the Cullen's front yard (which was more of a meadow) he raced round in a flash of speed, that he always used when we were alone, to open my door for me. I thought to myself 'one day we will race and see who is faster, my friend.'
He held my hand as we walked to the door, and I could hear the shuffling of the others inside( even though I shouldn't have been able to according to Edward's beliefs). He opened the door for me, I sucked in a silent breath and walked inside.
They all said "Happy birthday" at the exact same time, it was kinda scary. I leaned into Edward, his presence was comforting.
Alice stepped out of the formation they had created and with a smile that was a cross between ecstatic and relieved said in a strained voice.
"Is it finally later?" Answering cheekily, as I always was with Alice, I said.
"Why do you ask?" I bet even if I couldn't hear her thoughts I would have heard the cussing out she was giving me in her head. I laughed, in a tone that I received from my angelic mother, a tinkling of bells many described it as. It was infectious, and everybody joined in. That is everybody except Rosalie.
Rosalie is not my bestest friend, she hates my guts. She's Edward's other adopted sister and married to Emmett, Edwards' favorite Brother and this bear of a man, with a booming laugh. He was fun to be around, so as I was becoming more and more familiar with Edward's family, I spent more time with him as well. Much to Rosalie's disdain. Even though Edward didn't tell me, I knew why she hated me. I was human, and I had everything she ever wanted, opportunities, to have a real family, to grow old with my loved one, and to carry on with a life after college.
"What do you think of the cake?" Alice asked demandingly, cutting off my train of thought.
Then I finally saw the room. Pink tassels were everywhere, with big pink bows attaching then to the walls, glowing strawberry candles, and worst of all, a giant pink iced cake, that looked like a professionals. White candy flowers covered most of the pink icing, it was perfect. I wanted to die.
I dodged attention for fear of being found out, it came naturally, and this was just too much. So as I always did, I dodged the question.
"It looks way too big for only one person." Again my answer annoyed her, so I added.
"You went to too much trouble, its perfect." At that she warmed up to me again.
Esme, Edwards adoptive mother pushed Alice aside and gave me a hug, as she was doing so she whispered in my ear, "Sorry Bella, we tried to rein her in."
At that everybody laughed. Then Alice thrust a big box at me, and I absentmindedly noticed that Emmett had left the room. As I was opening the present, I felt that it felt empty, and wondered why.
The box, as I had guessed had nothing in it.
"Ah, thanks?" I said hesitantly.
"It's a radio for your car. Emmett's out installing it now." Edward explained.
"Oh, then thanks. Thank you to Emmett." I said the last part a little louder so Emmett could hear me. I heard him start howling with laughter as he was coming back in.
"Next present." Alice squealed.
"You went overboard didn't you?" I said sarcastically.
"Pretty much, yep." She added even more sarcastically.
The present she handed to me this time was shaped like a CD case, the same one I saw earlier today. I was at crossroads, I could purposely get that papercut, or I could try not to and save everybody the hassle.
As I was opening I decided to leave it all to luck, and I have always had very good luck so I wasn't too worried.
Then I saw, the vision I saw of this very moment, then was when I realized that I didn't have a choice which way this moment would go.
Three things would happen, this much I knew.
I would get a papercut.
Jasper would charge.
And Edward would leave.
This distracted me and I barely felt my skin slice open.
In a knee-jerk reaction I said, "Ouch! Papercut."
