"Bella! Come on honey! Come down." My mother yelled from the kitchen, nothing could get me out of bed today, nothing. We hadn't been in Florida longer than a few days and I was already dreading this...
I heard my sliding door open and it filled the room with a salty sea mix of sunshine. I punched my pillow and groaned audibly.
"Come on Bells, Happy Birthday!" He chirped in my ear, laying down next to me.
"Go away." I growled, "I'm not a year older and I'm not celebrating anything today. So go away." I hated birthdays.
"Bella, you're going to get up one way or another. You choose the easy way or the hard way."
"None."
"Okay, hard way it is." He laughed, sliding off the bed.
I heard the shower turn on but he wasn't going to win. Because today was stay-in-bed day and I wasn't about to move. But suddenly I was, Jacob had picked me up and was carrying me into the bathroom.
"Jake!" I squealed, pulling at his shirt. "My bed!"
"Nope, shower." He pulled the curtain back and leaned forward, but I clung to him. "Bella, let go."
"No! If you are going to be an ass you're going in with me!"I did just that too, pulled him in with me. He was soaked through to the bone, his long hair matted and dripping.
He laughed, "Seriously? You know how long it took me to look this hot?"
I, however, was not laughing. I was furious and now my pajamas were ruined. "Guess you'll just have to try again, aim high."
"Bells, let go of my shirt, please." He said, trying to be as gentle as possible, balancing himself on the side of the tub. I wasn't letting go.
"As hot as it would be to shower with you...I'm going to let you take this one on your own."
I blushed and covered my face.
He just grinned, proving he knew how to win an argument with me. "See you downstairs."
I had chosen khaki shorts and a tank top with ruffles on the bust that had been in my closet from Arizona. I was surprised it still fit me, have I stopped growing already? It was the girlish thing I had apart from dresses and skirts that I refused to wear. I pulled my hair into a messy bun and put on chapstick, this was me...dressed up. I sighed and headed downstairs, shooting a glare at Jacob. He had changed and combed his hair but that grin never left his face.
"Aw, Bella you look beautiful baby! Happy Birthday!" Mom rushed over and squeezed me into a bone crushing hug and kissed me.
I patted her back and glanced at Jake, who was now engrossed in a conversation with Phil about baseball.
"Oh, you aren't mad at him are you? You got him pretty soaked." She laughed, nudging me.
"I didn't want to get up. Mom, I really don't want to celebrate, please!"
"Nonsense, we have a huge day planned Bella! But first, presents!" She pushed me towards the table and sat me in a chair, handing me a large box wrapped in pink polka dot wrapping paper.
Jake looked amused and I kicked him under the table. I tore the paper open quickly, wishing this was all a dream. I opened the box to find a hand made blanket of all of our strip t shirts from Arizona. The Snake Pit, The Three Headed Lobster from Maine, all on the quilt.
"Seriously! This is amazing!" I looked over every square, remembering every memory. It was a beautiful gesture, and I jumped up to hug my mom. "Thank you so much, it's the best!"
"Oh I knew you'd like it!"
"So, gifts are over. Yay. Lets do lunch" I said in a mocking tone, truly hoping that was it.
"Oh silly, no! Here, this is from Phil." I took the long skinny box and opened it, once again quickly.
"Seriously, Phil..." Inside was a key-chain and it looked very expensive. It was engraved with my name and had my birthstone on it. It was very impractical for me, but the thought behind it was amazing. "Thank you, so much. It's beautiful!" I gave him an awkward hug, and sat back down while Renee handed me another small box.
Inside this one was a letter, confused I looked at the envelope. "Who's this from?"
"Me, the letter will explain." Jake smiled. I still had it out for him after my wake up surprise.
"Dear Bella. Happy Birthday. Love Jake. Ps. I will give you your gift tonight after dinner."
My heart went ape shit.
"Thanks," I glared at him again but he only smiled my smile.
"One more!" Renee put the final box in front of me, I cringed. I knew it was clothing, she always used the same shaped box.
Inside was a red dress, a cut out in back but red lace covering it. Along with it was a black clutch, earrings and black kitten heels. "Please tell me I don't have to wear this in public, Mom."
She looked hurt, and I rephrased it, "No, I mean it's stunning. But I'm...I don't like dressing up. I look like a little girl playing dress up."
"Nonsense Bella, you are beautiful! Isn't she Jake?"
"Very." He smiled warmly, strike two.
"See, a mans opinion. And yes, we have reservations at a restaurant tonight and a surprise. You have to wear this, or it'll hurt my feelings. You don't want to do that to your dear old mom who you never see anymore...would you?" Renee playfully shoved Bella. "You will look beautiful. Now, we need to hurry or we will miss your first surprise!"
Surprise 1
We pulled up outside of a restaurant that looked out over the riviera, it was breath-taking. Inside a mahogany wood deck overlooked a palm tree littered white beach, jazz music played softly at the corner piano. Servers wore black and white attire and I felt out of place in my khakis and converse. I dug my hands into my pockets and blushed furiously, but followed my mom to the table.
Our brunch was lovely, I had Shrimp Alfredo and some kind of dessert that had raspberries on it. Jacob called it something fancy, he had ordered it thinking I would love it and I did. I was sipping on my iced tea and talking with everyone, it turned out to be a decent time. That was until the music slowed down and Mom and Phil rose from their seats. My heart race picked up and I nearly choked on my tea.
"Bella, you and Jake come out and dance too. It'll be fun!" Mom said, pulling at Phil.
"Ah, I don't dance Mom. Really." So this is how I leave the world. Of embarrassment.
"It's a slow song, you can stand on my feet." Jacob said, extending his hand. Strike THREE!
"See, there you go. Aww." Mom walked off with Phil and I gave my warning.
"You're dead." I mumbled into his ear, he just chuckled in response.
I stepped roughly down on Jacob's feet but knew he barely felt it. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he placed his hands dangerously low on my hips and leaned into me.
"Having a good birthday so far?" He laughed, as I pretended to choke him.
"Oh yes. How bout you? Having a good time?"
He laughed, "Yes, it's fun torturing you."
"Only it'll hurt you in the end." I growled, pulling his hands up onto my back.
"Why would you want to hurt me?" he slowly inched them back.
"You are on my shit list right now. First the tub, then the dance and now you are trying to feel me up in a room full of country club members!" I hissed, pulling his hands away again.
He chuckled and leaned his head on the top of mine, "Nobody is looking Bella. You need to learn to lighten up."
Surprise Photo Op
After the dance debacle we went to the beach and had some fun taking photos of each other. Jacob and I had a cute one taken of us under the pier with the water in the background, it was one of my favorites of us. He had his arm around my middle and I was leaning into him, the smile on his face brought me back to before I was ever mad at him.
"This is a good one. Can I have a copy?" Jake asked as we skimmed through the photos on the camera.
"Yep, I'll print two." Mom said. "You two are so adorable together."
"Thanks Renee." Jacob squeezed my hip, reminding me that he was on strike 3. If I had to 'enjoy' my birthday, making him pay was my fun for the day.
"Okay you two, ready for dinner and the final surprise?" She could hardly contain her excitement as she jumped up and down around us. This lady birthed me. I hoped this wasn't contagious.
Surprise 2
We all headed home to change and get ready for the big dinner. Mom had to help me with my hair and make-up because a bun and chapstick wasn't good enough for her.
"You are so beautiful baby, but why don't you ever do anything with your hair or make-up?" She was applying mascara and I waited to answer.
"I don't know, I don't like it. I don't like being girly."
"Well honey you are a girl. Girls are meant to dress in cute clothes and wear pretty things. Jacob is going to be so shocked when he sees you!" She went on to apply blush and shook her head in disbelief at how beautiful she was making me.
"Jake is a friend."
"Yes, a male friend. There's always possibilities Bella. He is so handsome!" She sounded like a 16 year old fan girl, it was disgusting.
"Mom, gross."
She laughed, finishing up my lipstick. She went with a bright red and I was mortified. "There, oh Bella!" She wiped her tears and smiled. "You look so beautiful and grown up. Oh honey, look in the mirror!"
I stood in front of the mirror in shock, I looked nothing like me. I was a girl, hair in place, make up thick and I actually looked pretty. "Damn."
Mom stood next to me, holding my pumps. "You look beautiful baby, happy 18th. I cannot believe you are so grown up. I remember the day I brought you home from the hospital, so scared because you were so fragile and tiny. I wanted such wonderful things for you and always wanted you to feel loved."
"I have always felt love from you and dad. I have the best parents a girl could ask for. I love you mom." We hugged for a while and fixed our make-up from the tears and headed downstairs to meet the guys.
Jacobs Point Of View
I was waiting downstairs for Bella and her Mom to finish getting ready. Bella was always ready in under 5 minutes so an hour later I was seriously curious as to what the hell was going on up there.
"What the hell is taking so long" Phil laughed, looking at his watch. "It's just a dress."
"I hear ya. I am sure Bella is freaking out, she hates anything girly."
"Oh, I know. I remember she got asked out to a dance when she was 14 and cried when her date got there and saw her in the dress. He ended up leaving empty-handed, it took us two weeks to convince her to wear something other than her favorite black sweatshirt."
I laughed, that's Bella for you. So stubborn, she always had to get her way and it was so annoying.
"That sounds like Bella."
"Takes after her father, that one." Phil laughed. "He seems like a good guy, but she gets her stubbornness from him I'm told."
"They are too much alike." I laughed, it was true. A female version of Charlie.
I saw Bella come down the stairs and my breath got caught in my throat, causing me to cough. I stood up and began to sweat through my tuxedo.
She was literally taking my breath away. She was a vision in this red mini-dress thing with her hair off to the side and pulled back, curled around her face. Those lips, blood red and her eyes all smokey and alluring. My mouth just hung open in disbelief. Bella was a woman.
"What do you think of Bella, Jake?" I heard Renee speak, but could form no words.
"Uhh" I managed. It was no secret that I was in love with Bella, but it hurt every time she turned me down. When I touch her and she moves away, or releases my hand-holding advances. After kissing her I'm not sure where she stood.