Someone I Once Knew

"Ouch, that hurt!"

"Hold still and maybe it won't." Jenny spoke through clenched teeth, as she hemmed the bottom of Bella's birthday dress. It had taken all night to sew it, and for some reason it was still too long, Jenny thought. She yanked at the thread and brushed loose string off of the black satin material. "There you go… Wow, you look hot." Bella blushed and forced herself to look in the mirror at the finished project. "Now come here and let me touch up your eyeliner."

"No, no I'm fine. It looks good." Bella bit her lip and crossed her arms in front of her. "What's wrong? You're hiding the dress when you do that; don't you want people to see what I made for you?" Jenny tapped her foot impatiently, until Bella finally dropped her arms to her sides in defeat. "Sorry, I'm just not used to wearing stuff like this. You can totally get away with it, you're like, perfect. I was not cut out for this kind of stuff." Bella pulled at the bottom of the dress and smoothed out any wrinkles.

"You look amazing Bella, admit it! Just wait until Edward see's you…" Jenny shivered at the thought of that perfect chiseled block of ivory stepping foot inside of her home. He was so perfect, like sleet marble or stone. But she also got that sick nervous feeling inside of her stomach… Edward didn't seem to like her very much, and she always got the weirdest vibe from him and his so-called siblings. "And I thought New York was scandalous…" Jenny thought aloud, recalling what Jessica had said about the Cullens all being adopted, yet all dating each other.

"What was that?" Bella turned her attention to Jenny, who just blushed and shrugged. "Nothing, just spaced out, that's all. Now let's get you downstairs so the others can see!"

Downstairs, Charlie and Alison were cozied up on the couch, waiting patiently for their daughters. A clearing of the throat, and then an announcement "May I present to you, the birthday girl, Bella!" Charlie sat up and took one look at his Bella, almost having a heart attack at how short her dress was and how dark her make-up looked and how the thin satin material clung to her body in a way that screamed prostitute. He fought the urge to contradict Jenny's choice of fabric and particular dress style; or lack of. It was, after all, his little girls' birthday, and if she wanted to look like she came straight from a brothel, then so be it.

Alison on the other hand, was ecstatic. "You look so good Bells! Oh my goodness, both of you get over here right now. Jenny, you did an amazing job with the dress! Charlie, go get the camera!"

It was all flashy lights and smooches and ooh's and ahh's and fussing over minor details, but finally, the two girls made it out to the porch where they sat in silence. "I'm not used to getting this much attention. Is this what it's always like for you?" Jenny sighed and shook her head. "It's much worse than this. You will not believe the amounts of attention I get in New York… but believe me, it's never good attention and if I could go back, I would've definitely stayed 'little Jenny Humphrey from Brooklyn'.

"That bad, huh?" Bella picked at the grass growing in between the cracks in the concrete steps they sat on. "Look… I know Forks isn't the greatest place to make a life… but it is the perfect place to escape to and start over. Once you get on track, I'm sure you'll be able to move back to New York and live with your dad. Heck, maybe me or your mom could talk Charlie into taking a little vacation over there." Jenny snorted and picked a dandelion from the lawn.

"Good luck with that." She said, plopping down in the grass and laying on her back. "I think my mom is done with New York… like, I thought she would miss it but she seems so happy here, with your dad and stuff. She never really had it easy, you know? Even before they divorced, my dad really never loved my mom in 'that way'. He always loved someone else, and that wasn't fair to my mom. I'm glad that we came here…" Jenny looked up at the clouds that spotted a nearly blue sky.

"Everything is so fresh. I feel like I have space to think." A relaxed smile formed on her face, and she closed her eyes, inhaling the scent of pine and rain.

There was a sound of gravel shifting, and in an instance, Jenny jolted up. "Edward's here!" Bella jumped off of the stairs and ran to the silver Volvo parked in the driveway. Jenny felt that nauseous churning in her stomach again and held back today's breakfast that was lumping in her throat. Why did she feel like this whenever she was near him? Or any of the Cullens, for that matter? She'd had her share of bitches and broads at Constance, but none had ever made her feel so cold and unwelcome.

"I think I'm gonna go inside." She said, jumping up and racing towards the front door. "Um, happy birthday Bella… hope you guys have fun with whatever you're doing." Jenny bolted inside, holding her gut, and ran upstairs to the room she shared with Bella. She threw herself on her bed and buried her face into the sheets. Something about Edward made her feel sick… he reminded her so much of somebody… his prominent European features, his dark hair and mysterious eyes. He reminded her of the one guy that had managed to disgust her in this same way. Chuck Bass.

"That Basstard."

"Edward, why are you acting like this? Can't you just tell me what's wrong?" Bella questioned Edward, who was speeding madly to his house, and clearly upset. "C'mon Edward…" she said, touching his icy hand. "…It's my birthday! You have to be nice on my birthday." Edward flashed Bella a cynical, dark smile, the one that would scare most but made her want him more. "I thought you didn't want to celebrate your birthday. All that crap about you being one year older than me. Wasn't that the case?" Bella couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or just plain mean. She frowned and kept her mouth shut.

If talking didn't help, maybe silence would get it out of Edward, whatever he'd been hiding.

A minute passed until they reached Edwards house in the woods, and still no answer as to why he was being so moody. "C'mon, let's go inside." Bella shook her head. "Not until you tell me what's going on." Edward snarled at her, a clear sign for her to back off, but Bella pressed further. "Edward… Please? My birthday won't be worth celebrating unless I know that you're happy. You can tell me…" Edward quickly made something up to get himself of telling Bella what was really bothering him; the truth, that he'd have to leave her in less than 24 hours, that he'd have to break her heart… and his own, if that's what you could call it. His stone heart.

"I'm sorry, I've just been on edge. I haven't been hunting in awhile and Alice has been driving me crazy trying to get this all set up. I knew you didn't want a big, special party or anything… but she insisted. Forgive me?" Bella leaned in and pecked Edward on the cheek. She loved him for that… for the honesty that he always portrayed. She knew that it couldn't be easy living a lie, let alone doing it around the things you're supposed to be… feeding off of. Bella admired him for his courage. "I love you Edward." Edward forced a smile and returned the vows. "I love you too Bella."

Lies. If you truly loved her, you wouldn't leave her behind.

As they walked up the stairs to the glass house full of secrets, Edward fought with his conscience and hoped for the best.

Happy birthday, my love.