Today is my birthday. Deciphering what birthday to call it has always been a problem since I age so abnormally. I've been alive for four years, but I look somewhere between thirteen and fourteen, yet I have the mind of at least a twenty year old. Mom and Dad decided to just call it my fourteenth birthday.

I am so excited. This year, I'm actually having a birthday party. Mom has rounded up all the hybrids she can find. Finally, I get to meet more of my kind.

For the occasion, I bought a pretty blue and green strapless dress. Right now Jane is doing my make-up. I feel like a princess. Cammi is sitting on my lap, yawning as she dozes off.

"Y'know, since hybrids have all the beauty of vampires, and have managed to scrape up the little scraps of beauty humans contain, there are bound to be some cute boys here." Jane giggles. She is not just my favorite babysitter anymore, she is a close friend. She is fifteen, so in less than a year I should catch up to her. I might even surpass her in age before I stop aging for eternity. Though I still have feelings that are much more than friendly towards Alec, we remain just best friends.

"At the rate of one party every four years, I doubt I'm going to meet any nice guy that I'll be able to actually have a relationship with." I roll my eyes, playing it off cool. In truth, the idea of being alone like so many of my family members have been for decades scares the hell out of me.

"Just have fun. Who cares about relationships? Life is about partying!" Jane grins as she applies a bit of lipgloss on me. "Perfecto." She purrs.

"Do I look pretty?" I ask hopefully.

"Beautiful." She breathes. I stare in the mirror as she moves out of my way. Yes, she is right. Beautiful is the perfect word. My big, bluish-green eyes are enhanced by a layer of light green eyeshadow, and a very thin line of black eyeliner. A bit of blush added to my cheekbones, and a small diamond necklace is hanging from my neck.

"You're amazing, Jane." I hug her tightly.

"I know. Now get downstairs. People are already getting here." She begins shoving me towards the door. I listen intently to hear the others downstairs entering the castle. Jane's ears probably can hear it as if it is right outside my bedroom door.

"Well you're coming aren't you?" Fear tinges my voice. I don't want to be shoved into a room full of people I don't know without any back-up.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world. I have to go get Alec ready though. Don't worry, Chelsea and your Mom are waiting downstairs." She assures. Alec's room is right outside my own, so she gives me one last smile before turning and entering his room. I drop Cammi off in her room, much to her disappointment, and walk the rest of the way downstairs alone.

I head into the lounge, which has been cleared out and turned into a party room.

It is huge with a dance floor where kids are already starting to mingle, dancing to the music blaring from speakers by the DJ booth. A bar with snacks and drinks is in the corner. Tonight my family is bringing in a large batch of humans. It will be my first time to actually take a mortal's life. I'm nervous. I hope I don't make a fool out of myself in front of all these much more experienced half-breeds.

"Hi, I'm Chloe. You must be Ryan. Happy birthday!" A short girl with bouncy red hair, vibrant green eyes, and a bright smile says with an odd accent as she approaches me from the side.

"Yeah, thanks, its great to meet you." I almost begin to put my hand out when she grabs me and wraps me in a hug. I hug her back awkwardly.

"So you're Demetri and Heidi's daughter?" She asks with a friendly smile.

"Yup." I feel a little weird around this girl, as if I shouldn't trust her.

"Why haven't I ever heard of you before? Seems like an addition to the Volturi such as you would spread like a wild fire." Her curiosity is seemingly innocent, yet for some reason I feel like I shouldn't be answering her questions.

"Gra- I mean, Master Aro doesn't really want anyone to know about me. Fragile and valuable, never a good mix." I tell her and she laughs. Her gaze begins to roam, landing on the wall behind me.

"Oh my gosh." She whispers, then grabs my shoulders to keep me from turning around too quickly. "Is that Alec and Jane Volturi?" Her eyes are wide with excitement. I throw a glance over my shoulder to where Jane, wearing a red blouse and ruffly black skirt, and Alec, wearing a red silk button up and black skinny jeans, are leaning against a far wall while whispering quietly, their fingers tangled together.

"Oh yeah. They're my closest friends." I tell her, trying to hide my smile. Is being close to Alec and Jane considered cool by everyone else?

"No freaking way. What are they like? Scary? Mean? Intimidating? I heard they took down an army of fifteen vampires all by themselves!" Her voice rises in pitch as her eagerness grows.

"They can be until you get to know them. Jane is really nice and funny though, great to go shopping with, and like a sister to me. Alec, well I don't even know how to describe him.. He is dark, and sort of mysterious and brooding. Yet funny and incredibly sweet. And boy, don't get me started on those eyes. Like an endless, glassy lake of crimson. Hes my best friend." I shrug, trying to force away the blush that is rising to my cheeks as I realize I was dragging on about Alec.

"Oh, please will you introduce me? Please, please please!" She begs. I laugh.

"Of course, come on." I grab her hand and drag her over to Alec and Jane.

ALEC POV

Ryan looks beautiful with her long brown curls pulled back into a ponytail, her short dress swaying around her mid-thighs, smiling brightly as she drags her new redheaded, oddly familiar friend towards Jane and I.

"Another fanatic." Jane whispers and I give her a small smile, squeezing her hand. There are some vampires in our world that are obsessed with Jane and I, our powers, and our accomplishments. We're rare, there is no one out there that we know of that has anything close to what we have.

"Alec, Jane, say hello to my new friend Chloe." Ryan pushes Chloe forward.

"No." Jane puts on her defiant bitch act, crossing her arms over her chest. Ryan throws daggers her way but Chloe seems excited to see Jane The Bitch live in action. A slow song comes on over the speakers, and I decide to make up for my sister's behavior with an act of kindness.

"Would you like to dance, Chloe?" I hold out my hand. Her heart begins pounding faster as she places her fiery hot palm on top of mine. I lead her out on the dance floor as everyone else begins to pair up.

RYAN POV

I watch with envy as Alec pulls Chloe close and they begin dancing. My good mood is restored as a handsome boy my age with shaggy blonde hair and deep blue eyes approaches me.

"Happy birthday, Ryan. My name is Jordan, would you like to dance?" He places his hand in front of me. I bite my lip and gently place my fiery skin against his. He takes me out on the dance floor, and starts to twirl me around.

"So what is it like growing up on the guard?" He asks me. My eyes are trained on Alec and Chloe as a weird emotion brews within me.. Is that jealousy? I have no reason to be jealous.. Its not like Alec and I are or have ever dated.. Its just a crush.

"Its interesting at times. I can't really compare it to anything because its all I know." I shrug slightly.

"You seem pretty close to Alec and Jane." I can hear the frown in his voice as he twirls us around to see I am staring at Alec.

"They're my best friends." I try to seem indifferent.

"Have you ever thought about leaving Volterra, going off to school and making it on your own in the real world? I was part of a coven in England but I split off and its really great being independent for a change." He informs me, as if he wants me to take off to see the world with him though I've only known him a total of two minutes.

"I like it in Italy. My parents are here, and my Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, and closest friends. Maybe when I stop aging and become a bit more indestructible I'll take some time to myself to travel, but for now I'm content staying under the protection of the guard." I tell him.

"Well, if you're ever in England, give me a call." Jordan winks at me.

"Will do." I giggle. He begins to lean down to kiss me. He places his lips against mine and my heart begins pounding. My first kiss. His lips move against mine, and just as I am getting the hang of it, Alec appears out of no where. Jordan and I jump apart in surprise.

"I hope you don't mind if I intervene. I have to have at least one dance with my favorite girl." Alec smiles at me. The anger that had been beginning build up within me because he had ruined my first kiss dissolves into thin air with a single flash of that crooked grin.

"Go ahead. I'll catch up with you later, Ryan." Jordan winks at me again, before heading over to socialize with some other half-breeds. Alec pulls me in a million times closer than he did with Chloe.

"You did that on purpose." I accuse, my mouth near his ear since we are so close. My head is resting limply on his shoulder, my arms wrapped around his neck.

"You're growing up too fast, Ry. I can't bear to watch you flirt and kiss boys." He whispers, his mouth slightly above my ear. He is only like half an inch taller than me.

"I've already grown up, Alec. I know I may only be four years old, and I may only look fourteen, but I'm an adult on the inside. Imagine being twenty years old and never having even kissed a boy." I growl in frustration.

"I can't see it. I know how mature you act, but when I look at you, all I see is a beautiful young lady. Not a sexy grown woman."

"I will never be a sexy grown woman. I will always be a cute teenager. Just like you. You're only a little older than me physically, yet I think of you as an adult. You need to start doing the same for me."

"I know. Its not like I think of you as a six year old anymore. No matter how old you get, though, you will always be my baby girl. Just like Jane. I would hate to see either of you playing tonsil hockey with some guy." He shudders at the thought.

"So that is how you think of me? Like a sister? Nothing else?" A piece of my heart chips a little. But honestly, what am I to expect? Alec has watched me go through all the awkward stages of adolescence, be it my first bra or my first period, which, thankfully, only lasts a day or two at most for us hybrids. Alec will probably always think of me as an awkward, moody teenager.

"What else am I suppose to think of you as?" His voice is a bit strained. I pull back to look him in the eye.

"Have you ever thought of me as anything more than just your best friend?" I whisper, my heart beating fast with nervousness.

"Ryan, your father would kill me. He still thinks of you as a four year old. Of course I've thought of you in that way, but it is wrong of me. Maybe after you've stopped aging we could consider giving it a try, but until then, lets just be friends okay?" His voice is barely audible to my duller ears. A sinking sensation settles in my stomach.

"Of course. I'm a child in everyone's eyes. Even my own father. Why can't anyone see I'm a fucking grown woman?" I practically scream at him, storming out of the room before anyone can stop me. Worst birthday ever.