Party
She was mumbling in her sleep again. This time it was Grandma Marie. I didn't know much about this dead family member except she was dead for about six years.
"Edward"
The name startled me in my train of thought. Her breathing was still in its steady beat so I knew she was still sleeping. The frequency of my name being said in her dreams worries me. She was so eager to be damned, to turn away from all that is human, mortal, good.
I'm not going to let her go down my path. However, unless I did something to change the future, something totally unplanned, Bella was going to end up damned or dead by my hands. Alice had seen that, and I would never place a bet against Alice.
The sky was gradually beginning to lighten. Bella would be getting up soon. Today is her birthday, so I left her to get up alone so I could hunt and change for another uneventful day in Forks High School.
***
I pulled up to school. I got out and leaned against my Volvo. Of all my cars this was probably my favorite, besides my Vanquish. Inconspicuous when I drove it around town, yet it packed a punch when I drove on the highway. I told Bella a million times to get rid of her old truck that her father bought from the old Billy Black down in LaPush. Not only was the truck so decrepit that it struggles to get passes 50 miles per hour, it also smelled bad, like wet dog. Bella never notices the smell, but I do whenever she not in there to cover it up.
I drove Alice to school, too. We were acting like seniors while Rose, Emmett, and Jasper all "graduated" last year. Alice was overly happy on account of the party she was throwing for Bella's 18th birthday. Despite all the not-so-subtle hints about Bella not wanting anything big, Alice decided that she was going to throw one anyway. In her head she was going over where all the decorations were going in the house and how to get Rosalie to act civilized around Bella. I groaned as Alice thought of the gigantic cake she was baking for just Bella, the only one who ate that nasty compound of eggs and flour.
"Here comes the mortal," she sang under her breath.
Bella's drove up to the school. A shower of rust fell off the truck as she shut the door and walked over to us. Joyful Alice ran skipped towards Bella.
"Happy Birthday, Bella!" She yelled.
"Shh!" Bella glared at Alice with distaste. She is such and enigma to my world. She must be the only human who did not enjoy or look forward to her 18th Birthday. As Alice and Bella made their way to me, I could hear Alice harass Bella about presents.
"Your only a senior once, might as well document the experience," Alice was saying.
"How many times have you been a senior?" Bella retorted. I could not let her be damned like me. Bella would only be a senior once, I had to make sure of that. They reached us and I took Bella's hand. Her heart beat speed up, as it always does when she first comes up to me. Her heartbeat made me smile, she was still mortal.
"So, as discussed, I am not allowed to wish you a happy birthday, is that correct?" I asked her.
"Yes, that is correct"
"Just checking. You might have changed your mind. Most people seem to enjoy things like birthdays and gifts," I teased.
Most people also stay away from vampires, Edward. Since when has Bella been like most people? Alice laughed at her thought. Out loud she said, "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 can happen?" It's a rhetorical question.
"Getting older." I cringed at her answer.
I'll try to reason with her. Don't worry. Alice thought.
"Eighteen isn't very old. Don't women usually wait till there twenty-nine to get upset over birthdays?"
"It's older than Edward"
Why does she think that? Technically I'm over a hundred. Sure physically I am still seventeen, but that doesn't mean anything. Bella's mortality meant everything to me and yet nothing to her. Why can't I make her realize that human experiences are important?
"Technically, just one little year though." Which won't make a difference if you make her immortal, Edward. Stop being stubborn and save yourself and Bella some pain.
I made a quick frown in Alice's direction. Bella didn't see it but Alice did.
Okay, time to change the subject. "What time will you be at the house?" Here we go. Alice was a little too excited for this party. She wasn't the only one, though. Esme was just as excited.
"I didn't know I had plans there"
Oh no you are not getting out of this, Bella. It's party time. Alice spent the next few minuets convincing Bella to come. She even switched her shifts at Newton's. Bella really did not want to come; she even resorted to the homework excuse. Alice was going to threaten Bella, time to intervene.
"Relax, Alice. If Bella wants to watch a movie, then she can. Its her birthday."
"So there" Bella added.
Edward you're supposed to be on my side. I can't believe you would do this. This is the first time we can have a legitimate party in seventy years and you are sabotaging it. Next time you see your Vanquish it's going to be in little pieces around the house. I could see that I had to make Alice happy. They don't make that car the way they used to.
"I'll bring her over around seven. That will give you more time to set up."
Oh. Thank you, Edward. Its going to be so much fun! You can't let her get out of this. She continued to tell Bella about the party.
Once Alice left Bella looked at me and said, "Edward please-"
I interrupted her, "Let's discuss it later. We're going to be late to class."
We walked into class. The thoughts became less stunned about Bella, and me but it was still there. Here comes the gorgeous couple. Cullen is so weird, he kept to himself until she came and now he's sociable. Why couldn't he leave us well alone and gradated early, with his giant freak of a brother? He's smart enough. How can a normal guy compete with him? This came from Mike Newton. It takes all my strength to keep calm around him most of the time. Bella seemed to attract the most annoying followers. Mike always annoyed me with his view of Bella. My only respite was that Bella couldn't stand him either.
School was uneventful. Because of my gift I could get lost in my thoughts and still appear alert to the teachers. They always wanted to catch me off guard but I never gave them the chance. When you know more then the teachers there isn't much they can challenge you with. Before Bella high school was purgatory. Bella makes my fifth high school experience a little more interesting.
I walked Bella to her car, opening the passenger door for her. Alice was taking my Volvo while I stayed with Bella preventing her from running out on the party. She looked at with a glare in her eyes.
"It's my birthday, don't I get to drive?"
She is not playing the birthday car to keep me from driving. "I'm pretending it's not your birthday, just as you wished."
"If it's not my birthday, then I don't have to go to your house tonight."
She got me with that logic. "All right," I said walking over to open the driver's door for her.
"Shh," she said. I could tell she wanted me to take the other offer. Anything to get out of this party.
I started playing with her radio. The car is so old, and her radio is the worst part of her car. I had to shake my head in disapproval.
"Your radio has horrible reception." But not for long, Emmett is going to install a new one tonight.
"You want a nice stereo? Drive your own car." I know she was in a bad mood on account of this party, but she's funny when she tries to be angry with me. I struggled to keep the smile off my face. I lost.
As we pulled up to her house I took her face in my hands. I traced the outline of her face like she was a glass figure, which is a good comparison compared to me at least. "You should be in a good mood, today of all days," I whispered in her ear.
"And what if I don't want to be in a good mood?" She asked. Her uneven breathing betrayed her.
"Too bad."
We kissed. Kissing Bella was always a complex feeling for me. On one hand I had the feeling of complete joy. Bella was beautiful and mine and when we kissed I remembered how lucky I was to have her by my side. However, there was a negative side to kissing. Every time I was overwhelmed by her sent. The monster in me wanted it so badly yet I kept him caged by Alice's vision of Bella dead. I had strict lines for a physical relationship with Bella, yet she tried to push these lines very time we kissed. She tended to forget things, like how I'm a dangerous bloodthirsty vampire, when we kissed. Like now for instance.
"Be good, please," I warned her as I pulled away.
"Do you think I'll ever get better at this? That my heart might someday stop trying to jump out of my chest whenever you touch me?" She asked.
"I really hope not," I said, maybe a bit smugly. If her heart continues to behave like this then she is still human.
Se rolled her eyes, perhaps she thought I was a bit smug. "Let's go watch the Capulets and Montagues hack each other up, all right?"
"Your wish, my command"
I sat on the couch as Bella started the movie, fast-forwarding through the incredibly long opening credits. She sat on the edge of the couch until I pulled her close to me. I wrapped her in a blanket to keep her warm.
I never liked Romeo and Juliet. I decided to ask Bella about it. "You know, I've never had much patience with Romeo"
"What's wrong with Romeo?" She asked, a little offended. So, Bella was a fan.
I went on my rant about haw Romeo is a fickle lover and it seemed to offend Bella more. Finally she decided to threaten me, "Do you want me to watch this movie alone?"
"No, I'll mostly be watching you anyway. Will you cry?" Bella's emotions were interesting to watch.
"Probably if I'm paying attention."
"I won't distract you then." I wasn't distracting her, even if I was whispering Romeo's line in her ear. The movie ended and true to her word Bella did cry when Juliet woke to find Romeo dead. It was so easy for humans to kill themselves.
"I'll admit, I do sort of envy him here."
"She's very pretty." What?
"I don't envy him the girl- just the ease of suicide. You humans have it so easy! All you have to do is throw down one tiny vial of plant extracts..."
"What?" Bella was ignorant to many of the ways of vampires. I described for her how it's hard to be immortal and kill yourself. I told how last spring, when she was nearly killed by James (damn him to the pits of hell), how I wouldn't live without her. I told her about the Volturi. Apparently she wasn't inclined to the idea.
"What would you do if the situation was reversed?" I asked.
"That's not the same thing." Right. She was my reason for living. Without her what's the point.
"What if something did happen to you?" She asked, "Would you want me to go off myself?" The world without Bella is dark and gloomy. Picturing it brought me pain.
"I guess I see your point... a little," I admitted, but its still not over. "But what would I without you?"
"Whatever you were doing before I came along and complicated your existence." So purgatory again.
"You make that sound so easy"
"It should be. I'm not really that interesting." Bella never did see herself clearly. Se is still the most interesting thing in my century of existence. But I decided not to argue, giving up.
I heard the familiar sound of Charlie's cruiser down the road. I pulled Bella into a more appropriate position on the couch. Charlie would shoot me in the previous position. I think he would notice if the bullets didn't do any damage.
As Charlie walked in the stench of pizza followed. Good, it would save Bella time from doing the dishes and cooking. Charlie is used to me passing dinner. He thinks I eat something before coming over. When they were done eating I asked him if I could borrow Bella tonight.
Good I didn't know what to do tonight. Thank God for the Cullen clan. "That's fine. The Mariners are playing the Sox tonight. So I won't be any kind of company" He paused as I saw Bella's face fall. She really didn't want to come over. "Here." He said while scooping up a camera that Renee got Bella. Bella couldn't catch it so I save it from crashing to the floor. After a suggestion to take pictures and another to say hi to Alice we left for home. I was driving Bella's truck this time.
The engine started to wine loudly as it passed fifty. "Take it easy," Bella warned me.
"You know what you would love? A nice little Audi coupe. Very quiet with lots of power."
"There's nothing wrong with my truck. And speaking of expensive nonessentials, if you know what's good for you, you didn't spend any money on birthday presents."
"Not a dime." The rest of my family however spent money on presents.
"Good." Bella didn't know yet.
"Could you do me a favor?" I asked.
"That depends on what it is"
I got serious, "Bella, the last real birthday any of us had was Emmett in 1935. Cut us a little slack, and don't be too difficult tonight. They're all very excited."
"Fine I'll behave."
"I probably should warn you-"
"Please do."
"When I say they're all excited ... I do mean all of them." I hoped Bella got the meaning.
"Everyone?" She did, "I thought Emmett and Rosalie were in Africa."
"Emmett wanted to be here." He did too. Emmett gets a kick out of every time Bella falls, so that I kick him hard after she leaves.
"But... Rosalie"
"I know Bella. Don't worry she'll be on her best behavior." Alice had made sure of that by stealing the keys to her BMW. I decided to change the subject. "So, if you won't let me get you the Audi, isn't there anything that you'd like for your birthday?"
"You know what I want." She wants to be damned.
"Not tonight, Bella. Please"
"Well, maybe Alice will give me what I want." I growled. Alice was planning on it to. Alice would be dead if she gave immortality to Bella.
"This isn't going to be your last birthday, Bella." I would make sure of that with every bone in my body.
"That's not fair!" I clenched my teeth together.
We pulled up to the house that glowed in the night by Japanese lanterns. Bella moaned. "This is a party. Try to be a good sport" I teased her.
"Sorry"
As I came to her door she asked me a question. "If I develop this film will you show up in the picture?" The joke calmed me down and I laughed at it as we walked up to my house.
My family wished Bella a happy birthday as we walked in. Alice and Esme had covered the house in the smell of roses. 256 roses, Edward. Alice thought proudly.
Carlisle and Esme greeted us. I'd better apologize to Bella before she faints. Carlisle thought. "Sorry about this, Bella. We couldn't rein Alice in."
Rosalie and Emmett stood behind him. Emmett was grinning. I'm betting she trips fifteen times.
Rosalie was thinking about a song she heard twenty years ago to keep her jealous thoughts from me. She faked a smile at Bella as we walked past. My hand was on around Bella's waist.
"I have to step out for a second" Emmett said with a wink in Alice's direction, "Don't do anything funny while I'm gone." A could hear him get Bella's new radio from the garage.
Alice stepped away from Jasper, who was in pain since he forgot to hunt. "Time to open presents."
"Alice, I know I told you I didn't want anything"
"But I didn't listen," Alice never listens if it gets in her way, "Open it." She commanded.
The first present from was empty. It was the radio that Emmett, Rosalie and Jasper got her. She didn't get the joke. "Um...Thanks"
Every one laughed. "It's a stereo for your truck," Jasper explained, "Emmett's installing it right now so that you can't return it." Emmett laughed outside.
Bella thanked them and laughed as Alice gave Bella the gift from her and I. "You promised," She said to me.
"I didn't spend a dime"
Emmett came in pushing in behind Jasper, who was closer to her than I would like. But he was curious about the present.
As Bella opened up the package her finger hit the end of the package tearing through the soft skin. "Shoot" she said as a single drop of sweet crimson blood dropped from the tiny cut.
Jasper's thoughts turned to the hunt as Bella's sent reached him. "No!" I yelled as I threw myself in front of Bella. I pushed her back, too hard, as I heard her fly across the table and shatter crystal. Jasper slammed into me. His thoughts were tormented, but he was acting upon his vampire instincts. His teeth were inches from my face and I wasn't able to hold him much longer. Just when my strength was about to give out Emmett came up and locked Jasper from behind. This happened with in two seconds.
Within the next second I heard Bella fall of the table onto a shard of glass. The glass tore at the skin. There was a long gash from her wrist to her elbow on her arm. And it was gushing blood.