A/N
I just want to thank everyone who has reviewed the last few Chapters! I those of you who have add this story to their favorites, thank you so much I feel so loved!
Just remember I don't own these characters, that honour belongs to the amazing Stephenie Meyer! I'm just having a little fun with them!
Chapter 7
EPOV
"Hey Eddie!" Emmett's voice carried from the other side of the store. "So what do you think, will the pixie like this?" He was holding up a fluoro pink shirt.
We were in a mall somewhere in Seattle shopping for Alice's birthday present. Incidentally, her and my birthday was tomorrow.
"You know," Jasper said beside me. "I don't think he knows his sister at all."
I shook my head at Emmett. He put the shirt back on the rack and pushed his way through the crowd. Oddly enough, no one complained.
"I hate shopping!" he informed us.
"What, you think we do?" Jasper accused.
The sales assistant, who had been ignoring us for half an hour, finally decided to help. "Can I help you?"
"Yeah, if it was your seventeenth birthday, what would you want?" Emmett asked.
I watch her looking him up and down. Yep, I knew exactly what she was thinking.
"It's for our sister," I added.
"Oh, well, we have an excellent range here. What's her size?"
I looked at Jasper, who shrugged. Emmett's answer made the sales assistant's lips thin. "Tiny."
"Her favorite color, then?"
"I think it's blue," I answered.
"No, it's purple." Argued Jasper.
"I always thought it was pink." Mused Emmett.
She gave us a look that clearly said she wasn't happy.
"May I suggest jewellery?" she said acidly.
With a withering look at the three of us, she walked away.
"Well, that was helpful," I said.
"Come on; let's go have a look at the jewellery store. This is the first present I'm getting Alice as her boyfriend, and I really don't want to screw it up." Jasper sounded worried.
"Just do what I did for Rose," Emmett told him.
"What did you do for her?" Jasper demanded.
"Well, I... Um...on second thought, let's go to the jewellery store."
From where I was standing, I could see his ears turning pink.
"What did you do, Emmett?" I pressed.
"Nothing, don't worry about it."
"You gave Rosalie nothing on her eighteen birthday!" Jasper exclaimed.
"Oh, I think he gave her something, Jazz." I was grinning now. "But, he just doesn't want you to do the same thing to his little sister."
"Fuck up, Edward," Emmett snarled.
Jasper grinned openly, as Emmett stormed through the mall toward the jewellery store. Unable to let it slide, Jasper and I continued to make outrageous guesses and finally worked out that Emmett's present had involved candles, sappy music, and a big bow. After the last one, we stopped guessing.
In the end, Jasper decided on a heart shaped pendent made of amethyst on a thin gold chain. Emmett bought the matching earrings, and I got Alice a gold bracelet and anklet set.
On the ride home, Emmett asked, "What do you want for your Birthday Eddie?"
"Peace and quiet, no party, dinner with just family and a few friends," I answered.
"Like that's ever going to happen," laughed Jasper. "According to my sources, it's going to be bigger than last year."
"Wonderful," I groaned.
Later that night, I got my orders from Alice. "Edward we ARE having a party tomorrow night for OUR birthday. You WILL be here, you WILL talk to people, and you WILL NOT hide out in your room or the music room. Understand!"
I was left with no time to argue and standing in the kitchen with dad.
"You know, for twins, you aren't much alike," he observed.
"I know..." I sighed "...I hate parties."
"So why do you let Alice do this every year?" Dad asked.
"I love her. I like making her happy."
"You're allowed to be happy, too." He patted my back as he left the room.
I decided to go to bed early; I was going to need all the sleep I could get.
The house was in uproar the following morning, and the party wasn't starting until that evening. But, there where people setting up everywhere, so to escape the chaos, I went for a walk in the woods. The only problem with the quiet was that it made it way too easy to think. It had been just over a week since I'd woken up to find HER in my arms. I'd lain there with my eyes closed in complete amazement at how nice it felt. The real male part of me had needed a cold shower not long after that.
I had no idea how it had happened, but I had to admit that with my eyes closed, and not thinking about whom I was holding, it had been really nice. But that just the problem, it was HER. Alice knew about the whole thing; she had seen us asleep together. Which, of course, meant Rose knew. For some reason, neither had told Emmett or Jasper. Whether SHE knew, I had no idea. I'd seen HER a few times this week and never for more than a few minutes here and there. SHE hadn't said anything about it. that I'd heard of.
I' been walking for a while when the sound of music interrupted my musing. I could hear a guitar. I couldn't make out the song, so I headed towards the music. Whoever was playing was very good.
I noticed that I was getting closer to the meadow I'd found the other day when Jake had thought I was lost. As if thinking of him caused it, he stepped out of the trees. He just looked at me and turned and headed back towards the meadow. As I got closer, the song ended. Just when I thought I wasn't going to find out who was playing, a new song started. I knew this one - Green Day's Wake Me Up When September Ends.
I had reached the last line of trees, when I saw who was playing. It was HER. For reasons I couldn't explain, I sat in the shadow of the trees to listen and watch. I didn't know how long she'd been playing when she stopped and pick up her cell phone.
"Yes, Alice?" She was smiling.
I watched her. Alice must have asked if she knew what day it was, because she said, "The 20th of June - the day the world was blessed with your presence seventeen years ago."
She was grinning openly now.
"Yeah, I'll be there in half an hour, I have a few errands to run first."
Alice said something else.
"Alright, Alright, I'll hurry. See you soon birthday girl."
She hung up, pack up her guitar, fold up the blanket she had been sitting on, and called Jake. Who came run out of the woods right beside me, scaring the shit out of me!
A few minutes later, after I was sure SHE was gone, I got up and made my way back to the house. If Alice was looking for HER, she'd be looking for me, too. Sure enough, as soon as I entered the house.
"Edward Anthony Mason Cullen! Where have you been?" For someone so tiny, Alice could yell!
"I was getting some fresh air, to clear my head. I wanted to be ready for tonight," I answered.
"Well, I need your help setting up outside, please." The please almost sound like an afterthought, but I'd take it.
The rest of the morning and afternoon was taken up with a list of tasks dictated to everyone by our little party planner.
About an hour before the town was due to arrive, Alice declared the yard ready. We all almost fell over where we stood with relief. We did sit in the middle of the new dance floor...that was now in the center of the backyard.
"Wait," SHE demanded. "Where the hell is Rose?"
Looking around, I couldn't see her anywhere.
"She said this was taking too long, and she needed to get ready," Jasper informed us with a roll of his eyes.
"This look takes time." Rose was walking towards us. "Besides, I thought you might like your presents."
I groaned. I always got amazing presents, but I just didn't really want any of them. But with Rose's announcement, everyone went running. Alice loved the jewellery we had picked out, the amethyst matching the dress SHE had bought her perfectly. Rose's gift had perfume and something that we males were not allowed to see, but had reduced all three girls to giggles.
My gifts where video games from Emmett and Jasper, Alice had bought me so new clothes, and Rose had gotten me some new CD's. As I opened my gifts, I noticed HER watching me. I didn't expect a gift from HER, so I wasn't surprised when there was none.
"Hey, What's that?" Alice yelled, grabbing at something in HER backpack.
"Nothing," SHE stood up pulling the back pack out of reach. "I call first shower," SHE yelled running for the house.
Half an hour later, as I walked past Alice's room on the way to my own, I could her arguing.
"Please Bella!"
"No, Alice. I'm wearing the dress you insisted on, you and Rose have attacked me with make-up, at least leave my hair alone!"
The door busted open, and SHE stormed out, almost waking straight into me. HER hair was free, cascading down her back and right shoulder. The dress she wore was black and short, and it hugged every curve beautifully. She was wearing what looked like black knee hi hi-tops fit with navy laces.
"Oh, shit, sorry Edward." Did SHE just blush?
"Edward!" Alice was standing in the doorway. "Why aren't you dressed?"
"I'm going now, calm down."
As I closed the door to my room, I heard HER make a run for it, and Alice cursing her. After that, I noticed what I thought was a large book on my bed. On closer inspection, I found it wasn't a book; it was a black box with a note on the top. I read the note:
Dear Edward,
I noticed downstairs that you weren't a big fan of all the attention the presents brought you, so I thought I'd just leave this here for you. I hope you like it. Happy Birthday!
Bella
I opened the box. Inside was a stack of blank sheet music paper. The paper had the aged look, and at the bottom of every page, written in beautiful calligraphy, was: composed by E. A. M. Cullen.
I was staring at the paper when Emmett burst in to the room.
"Hey, bro, you're not planning on wearing that are you?"
"No, I was about to have a s..."
"What's that?" Emmett's attention was immediately captured by the box.
Placing the note that was still in my hand in the box, I closed it and put it on a shelf in one of the bookcases.
"Nothing. Now I'm going for a shower."
"Alright, I'll be here when you get back, Alice sent me to make sure you are dressed properly. She's on the war path, now that Bella won't play hairdresser Barbie."
"Her hair looks better down," I said, retrieving the clothes Alice had set on my dresser.
With a sister like Alice, you gave up a few freedoms - quiet birthdays, your car when she wanted it, and on special occasions, the ability to pick your own clothes.
Emmett had made himself comfortable in the middle of my bed and was giving me a strange look.
"What?"
"Nothing. What was in the box?"
"None of your business."
"I'll just look while you're in the shower," he grinned.
"No you won't." I told him.
I grabbed the box off the shelf and took it in the bathroom with me. I just didn't want anyone to know what an amazing gift SHE had gotten for me. I also didn't want anyone to know how much it meant to me.
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