Edward's POV
"Thank you, Alice," I said, wrapping her in a hug. "I wasn't looking forward to it."
She nodded. "I'm going shopping with Annabelle. Maybe you could make a cake while we are gone. Don't worry, you've got plenty of time."
I shook my head. "That is just cruel, Alice."
She smiled and turned before she left my room. "I know," she said, giggling.
I listened as the Porsche drove away about five minutes later. I went down stairs and to the kitchen. I took out some cake mix and set it out on the counter so I wouldn't forget to make it.
Annabelle's POV
"Shit, Alice! You're going to kill us!" I squeaked, digging my nails into the leather passenger seat and holding on for dear life.
She laughed her tinkly little laugh as she zoomed through the traffic at breakneck speeds. "Don't worry. You'll be fine, I swear. I wouldn't want a scratch on you. Edward might kill me. He's protective of his loved ones."
I blushed and turned to look out the window, but quickly turned back because all I could see were blurs. "We are not together, Alice."
"You know you like him," she said as we pulled into the mall's parking lot.
"I thought the mall was an hour away," I said.
"Well, it didn't move," she joked.
Annabelle's POV
"That's right, you jerk! No one messes with Alice Cullen's little sister!" Alice yelled over her shoulder at a teenage boy on the ground holding his nose and rib cage.
I, of course, had started running away. Alice easily matched my speed.
"Gosh, those perves will do anything to get a girl," she said. "It's a shame we have to end our trip so soon. I have to leave tonight and I wanted quality time," she whined as we got to our car. I was huffing and puffing with my hands on my knees. I looked up at her.
"How come you aren't breathing heavy?" I asked.
"Vampires don't need to breathe or eat. We can choose to, though," she explained.
We got in her car and sped out of the parking lot. "Nice punch, Annabelle. I don't have to worry about you not defending yourself, do I?" Alice complimented.
I shrugged. "I'm just wondering why you had to kick him in the ribs when he was down. That was gruesome!" I gave her a high five.
"Hey, why'd you say I was your little sister back there?" I asked.
"Because I hope you will be someday," she answered, shrugging.
"That would be so frickin' awesome!" I shrieked. I, Annabelle Wilkinson, a vampire in the Cullen clan.
"You do know that means marrying Edward, right?" she asked. My face fell. I, Annabelle Cullen… It doesn't have the same ring to it.
"I don't know, Alice. I don't know if I love him," I said quietly. We pulled into the driveway and got out of the car.
"You'll figure it out," Alice said. We walked inside and set down our few bags that we had.
"It's interesting that you were born on Christmas Eve, Annabelle. Hey, can I call you Belle?" Alice asked.
"I guess," I said. Some one grabbed me from behind and wrapped me in a hug, setting their chin on my head.
"Bell has a nice ring to it, but Bells is better," Edward said, giving me a squeeze and kissing my head. I still wasn't used to all this clingy, huggy, touchy stuff. I escaped the embrace and turned around. Edward was gone.
"Just 'cause you can run fast doesn't mean you have to," I shouted. It echoed through the house and reverberated off the walls. Edward grabbed me from behind again and pulled me onto the couch.
"Ugh, Edward, let me go!" I said, kicking.
Alice came out of the kitchen with an extravagant birthday cake in hand and looked at us. "Awww, you guys are so cute together!" she squealed.
"Alice!" I said, exasperated. Edward chuckled and released his grip on me. I sat up and got off of him. He saw that I was upset and his smile faded.
"I'm sorry, Annabelle. I was just playing," he said, taking my hand.
"You don't need to apologize. I'm just not used to touchy stuff," I said. Alice said something else about us being cute together and I gave her the death glare.
"Oh, my bad," she said, turning and walking back into the kitchen after setting the cake down on the table.
I got up and started for the stairs, but a hand stopped me.
"Belles, are you okay?" Edward asked, looking me in the eye with a concerned look on his face.
"It's Annabelle," I walked away and up the stairs to my room. I grabbed my iPod and put the headphones into my ears. I crawled underneath the bed and laid there, listening to music.
Flashback
"Sissy, will you play ball with me?" Maria asked. She stood in Annabelle's bedroom doorway at their aunts house.
"Not right now, Maria. Ask Luke. He'll play with you."
"I hate our cousins. They're mean to me, Annabelle!"
"Go away!"
"But-"
"No!"
"I hate you!" Maria screamed, running down the hallway and down the stairs.
A few minutes passed and Annabelle heard a scream coming from outside. She got up and looked out of her window to see six-year-old Maria laying dead in the blood splattered road, a pick-up truck squeal it's tires and speed away, and a basketball rolled to the opposite side of the road and hit the curb.
End Flashback
