DISCLAIMER: Some of the text and characters are from Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga, which I do not own. Only the characters & text that were not in the original series are mine.

I was trying to not sulk at the breakfast table on Friday, October 30th…my birthday. The week had flown by and Alice, apparently, had, once again, invited ALL of the kids from my school to the party. Most kids look forward to their birthday…mine's hell. People I don't even know or am bullied by in are in my house, my only sanctuary, on my birthday, the only good thing was when after the party was over and it was just my family…especially when my uncle…or I guess brother-in-law…you know what? We're just going to stick with uncle! The best part is when Uncle Jacob shows up with Aunt Renesmee, or Nessie. (There is no way I'm calling her my niece!)

Carlisle walked into the dining room and asked, "Are you ready to go to school?"

"No," I moaned, taking my halfway eaten breakfast into the kitchen, where it went into the garbage. I rinsed off my plate in the sink, and walked back into the dining room, following Carlisle out into the living room.

Just before he walked out the door, he stopped dead (no pun intended) in his tracks and said, "You're going to have to walk or call Hiro's parents…none of us can take you today…"

Shining happily was the sun…I hate the sun! Today of all days, when I really didn't want it to be shining… it was shining!

As I turned around to go call Hiro, Carlisle behind me, Edward shouted from upstairs, "Don't bother, Jacob just pulled into the drive."

I looked at my father for confirmation, and he nodded. So, my day wasn't totally ruined, at least I was getting a ride to school. I grabbed my backpack and slung it over my shoulder before dashing outside.

Jacob smiled when he saw me and said, pulling me into a one-armed hug, "Happy Birthday, Squirt!"

Coming from, say, Emmett or Edward, that would have annoyed me, but Jacob was a giant, so everyone to him was a squirt! I hugged him back, his unusually hot body more unsettling then my family's cold ones. Thinking back on it, Jacob never had been so generous with hugs unless he had several layers of clothes on. Now he was wearing a leather jacket and jeans, plus a helmet. Something told me that was more for show then for his own safety.

After releasing me for his bone-crushing hug that rivaled Emmett's, he tossed me a helmet and leather jacket. He must have stopped at our garage, since the helmet and jacket were the ones Jasper usually would bring for me if he picked me up from school.

I quickly put on the jacket and helmet then I hopped onto the bike, wrapping my arms around his waste. Jacob revved the engine and almost peeled down our driveway…almost. One look from Carlisle, where he stood on the porch, just out of reach of the sun's rays, and the engine settled down, and Jacob pulled out slowly, ducking his head in embarrassment.

Jacob seemed to obey the speed limit, since it took us at least half an hour to get to the school, the first bell rang just as Jacob pulled his motorcycle up to the entrance of the school, ignoring the "No Parking" sign. He cut the engine and pulled off his helmet, "Sorry about taking so long, we'll go faster on the way back when I pick you up after school."

"Why didn't you go faster?" I demanded after yanking off my helmet and unzipping my jacket. Everyone would be talking when I walked in with my attire.

Jacob blushed, "After the Carlisle gave me I decided that going fast wasn't allowed."

I couldn't believe what came out of my mouth next, "Can we just please go faster after school?" I had to add to justify myself, "I think I can beat Alice to my room so she won't be able to dress me in some sort of dress." I turned around and dashed into the school, hearing Jacob's laugh behind me as the doors slammed closed.

Just as the bell rang, I slid into my seat next to Hiro. Mr. Banner gave me a look I could imagine he had given Bella the same look many times. I blushed shame faced as I opened my Biology book, determined to pay attention so I wouldn't anger Mr. Banner any farther.

Apparently, today was just not my day! Not only did I manage to irritate Mr. Banner, but I also managed to irritate all of my other teachers along with the lunch ladies… I was really starting to hate my birthday!

As school ended, much to my relief, Hiro said, "Well at least you can look forward to the party."
I slammed my locker shut. Hiro, of all people, should know that I HATED parties! Especially parties thrown by Alice!

Hearing the tone in my voice, he asked cautiously, "Can I get a ride home?"

I pointed at the sky, and I was feeling about as irritated as my teachers, "The sun is out! What do you think?"

"Right, no ride," he said, sounding slightly hurt and embarrassed.

I softened my tone as I added, "Maybe I can convince my uncle, Jacob to take you back."

Hiro instantly perked up at this, as Jacob pulled up with his motorcycle. He pulled off his helmet and gazed questioningly at me. I quickly shucked off my leather jacket and pulled out my helmet from my backpack, where I had stashed it earlier.

Jacob sighed in exasperation, but he had enough sense not to comment as Hiro gingerly put on the jacket and helmet. With extreme caution, he got onto the bike and gripped the seat with a death grip, I couldn't blame him for gripping the seat, it would have been awkward for him to grip Jacob around the middle.

Before Jacob drove off he said, "Wait here for me, it shouldn't take too long for me to get back."

I nodded. Where was I going to go? I really didn't want to walk! Jacob put on his helmet and drove off, taking things slowly so he wouldn't give Hiro a heart attack.

Just as Jacob rode out of sight, a familiar, yet not liked voice said, "What no big brothers here to pick you up?"

I whipped around and glared at Jimmy, the bully who picked on Hiro and I. He had his two goons with him, Edwin and Dean.

None of them were scary, they looked stupid to be honest, but a girl, even one who lived with vampires, against three, big, muscular boys wasn't exactly the best odds.

Jimmy shook his blond hair out of his brown eyes, while Edwin, a boy with black hair and "movie star" blue eyes jeered, "Too bad, it looks like the little baby can't run to anybody!"

This caused Jimmy and Dean to laugh. Dean added, "Maybe we should help out the baby!"

More laughing…they must think I'm stupid if they thought I would simply stand there and let them beat me up. They seem to think that a track star wouldn't run. While they were laughing at their own "jokes", I took off running, sprinting for all I was worth because Dean was also on the track team, and he could sprint a hundred yards faster then I could. However, he could only keep his sprint up for those hundred yards while I could keep mine up for at least six hundred yards.

It took Jimmy and his idiot friends a couple seconds before they realized I had took off, but I only had a thirty yard lead when Dean started coming after me. At about eighty yards, Dean tackled me and I fell forward, hitting my face against the pavement, we rolled and then slid, I could feel blood already dripping from my upper lip, and cuts, or scrapes, were stinging on my left cheek, my right arm, and both of my legs in various places.

Dean came out of the tackle better then I did; only his arms were scraped, as he sat up, pressing my face into the ground, and twisting my, already stinging, right arm behind my back so I couldn't really move. Jimmy and Edwin caught up within a few seconds panting. I should mention now, that Edwin is not exactly in the best shape and neither is Jimmy really, which is why they had to have at least one athletic person among them.

Jimmy grinned, "I guess we should teach the little baby what happens when their siblings aren't around!"

I really wasn't in the mood to just lie there and let them pummel me into a pulp, especially on my birthday. As Dean swung his fist, I kicked him in 'the family jewels'. Dean squeaked in shock and released his hold on my arm and I twisted around, however, his fist must have had a mind of its own because it collided with my right eye.

Edwin moved forward to pin me again but I took off, sprinting once again, desperate to get away before Dean could recover. After running for several city blocks I slowed down, my legs and face throbbing. I tried to walk but my legs shook under me, and I leaned against a building to catch my breath.

That's when I heard them, pounding feet at about the pace of a jog, I inched around the corner of the building to see who was approaching, hoping that it was just a jogger. Of course I had no such luck.

I took off again, but Dean must have spotted me, because he came tearing after me, obviously wanting revenge for my low blow.

My legs throbbed as I sprinted out of the town and down the familiar rode that would eventually get me home. I could hear Dean catching up when a grisly growl split the air. A black wolf leapt out of the nearby trees, its teeth bared. It was huge! I stumbled backwards, and fell onto my butt, terrified. The chocolate brown wolf that I had seen near Hiro's house had been big, but this one just seemed bigger, but maybe that was because it was up close and personal…

I vaguely registered that Jimmy, Dean, and Edwin were screaming as they ran away from the wolf.

As soon as they were out of sight the black wolf leapt away and darted back into the woods. No need to say that I was utterly perplexed.

I decided to jog, still unnerved by the black wolf, ignoring the pain, I jogged all the way to our driveway, finally slowing to a walk. Gasping for breath, I walked up the driveway, my chest now hurting along with everything else. I clutched my side and continued walking until I was halfway up the driveway; my body was demanding a rest.

Leaning against a tree I looked at the damage. My right arm was scraped to bits, with several spots bleeding, my legs were worse, most of the area that had been scraped was bleeding. My cheek was mostly scraped, no bleeding, my upper lip was throbbing and my right eye was almost swollen shut.

After I had made these assessments, a choked sob escaped my lips, and I sank slowly to the ground unable to stop the flow of tears that came on. I've had a lot of rotten birthdays…but this one took the cake…

I don't know how long I had been crying, probably not that long, when Jasper seemed to appear in front of me, he took one look at me and scooped me up into his arms and started to run towards the house. A wave of calm came over me, and I had enough sense to press the right side of my face against Jasper's chest, feeling the cold through his shirt.

As he approached the porch, I asked, my lip giving an extra throb as I spoke, "How did you know I was in the driveway?"

"We heard your sobs, plus Edward heard your thoughts and I sensed how you were feeling." This answer satisfied me.

Jasper walked in and Carlisle immediately took me from his arms and carried me upstairs to his office. Carlisle brought work home with him usually. Esme followed him closely, closing the door behind us.

Carlisle set me down in his chair behind his desk and opened his work bag, "What hurts besides your cheek, eye, and lip?"

"My right arm, both my legs, and my left side," I answered, my lip throbbing once again.

Carlisle briefly glanced at my scraped up legs and arm before he gently prodded my side. I inhaled sharply as pain shot through me, more so then there was already. He said, "It seems like you have some bruised ribs…I don't think you'll need any x-rays. I will have to sew up your lip though, it's split pretty badly." He turned to Esme, "If you'll help her clean up those scrapes and get her an ice pack for her eye I'll make a quick run to the hospital to get what I need to sew up her lip."

Five minutes later, my scrapes and cuts feeling much better, an ice pack pressed to my eye, and my lip numb with anesthetic, I was feeling pretty good. As Carlisle stitched up my lip I kept my eyes closed, relishing the earlier events of Carlisle coming home from the hospital and putting a stop to the party, though Alice hadn't need much persuading, she was beating herself up for not seeing me getting pulverized, but I was in paradise anyway. My party was now a simple party, just how I like it!

Carlisle finished stitching up my lip and he cut the surgical thread. I opened my eyes and looked around the room. My siblings must have come in when I had my eyes closed; they all stood near the door, looking anxious.

Closing his medical bag, Carlisle said, "I'll write you a note for P. E. come Monday, I don't want you running or doing anything that requires a lot of physical activity. Your ribs will take awhile to heal, but otherwise you're fine."

"Thanks, Dad," I said, ready to get out of the chair.

Esme asked, putting a gentle hand on my shoulder, "What happened?"

So I told them that three bullies had jumped me at school and I had tried to run but one of them tackled me to the ground. I had to use some…unorthodox methods to get the guy away from me and then I had run/jogged home. I decided to leave the black wolf out of the picture figuring it was apart of Jacob's pack.

When I had finished telling them about what had happened, the doorbell rang. Esme got up and headed towards the door, and my siblings slowly followed. I got up slowly and followed them, Carlisle walked behind me, making sure I didn't fall.

A snarl sounded from the living room, and Carlisle scooped me up and hurried downstairs.

Jacob stood framed by the front door while Esme snarled, "How could you let my baby get hurt?"

Sara saved Jacob from answering, "Mom! I snapped at Hiro just as school let out and I wanted him to take Hiro home to make it up to him, it wasn't his fault!"

Esme relaxed slightly, though she continued to give Jacob an evil look, but that quickly changed as Renesmee walked through the door. Jacob sighed in relief glad apparently glad that he hadn't had to face an angry mother vampire.

Renesmee walked up to me and touched my face, an image of how I looked flashed in my mind, startling me slightly, she asked, "How did you get hurt?"

Edward gently touched Renesmee's shoulder and said, "I'll explain, let her get something to eat." He steered her away from me.

Carlisle touched my shoulder and led me into the dining room, "Your lip will hurt, but you do need to eat…I normally wouldn't let you eat this, but since it's your birthday, and I know you'll be careful…" He walked into the kitchen and came out carrying a pizza.

I took a slice and bit into it cautiously, trying my best to avoid where the stitches were.

Carlisle was just about to sit down when the phone rang, and the doorbell rang as well. He stood up and went to the phone, "Cullen residence, Carlisle speaking."

I normally don't eaves drop, but it was hard not to when there was no one else in the room to distract me from the conversation.

Carlisle's gaze hardened as he listened to whoever was speaking, he finally said, talking quietly, though his voice was laced with anger, "How dare you say that I should teach my daughter manners when your son needs two other people there to bully her!" An angry response came from the other end of the phone. He responded, "My daughter has numerous scrapes, a black eye, bruised ribs, and a split lip that required stitches, now tell me who's lying?" The response from the other end was quiet. "Yes, I will be calling the principal about this since they were on school grounds!" He hung up the phone.

I tried to hide my curiosity, but I must have failed miserably, because Carlisle said, starting to dial a number, "Dean Johnson's father said that he thought I needed to discipline you more for kicking his son, and added that he would call the principal about your 'unprovoked' kick." He motioned for me to get out of the room, so I grabbed two more slices of pizza and got out of the room.

As I walked into the living room, I spotted Hiro sitting on the couch, Hiro turned to face me smiling until he saw my appearance, "What happened to you?"

"Bullies," I answered, sitting down next to him.

Hiro nodded, understanding why I didn't want to say Jimmy, Dean, and Edwin's names because I didn't want my brothers to deal with them. It was my problem, not theirs.

The doorbell rang again, and Bella answered it and said, surprised, "Sam? What are you doing here?"

Jacob stood up instantly, Renesmee holding his arm. Edward tensed as did Jasper, both of them knowing something the rest of us didn't.

Sam directed his words to Jacob, "Relax, we only came to talk to Sara." Edward hissed and Jacob clenched his fists, but otherwise there was no other reaction to those words.

We? I craned my neck to see who else was with Sam, and saw two other guys standing just behind Sam

Hiro perked up and said, "Hi, Mr. Ulley!"

Sam nodded at Hiro, but turned his attention to me. I got up and walked towards him. He turned and walked out of the house, I followed.

He led me several yards into the woods away from the house before he stopped and turned to face me, "How are you after getting hurt by those bullies?"

This startled me, "How did you know that?"

"I was the wolf that came out of the woods," he smiled slightly.

"I'm okay," I answered truthfully. My lip had begun to hurt again, but otherwise I was doing pretty good.

Sam nodded, "You'd be better off somewhere away from the Cullens."

"What?" I was affronted, "They're my family! They love me…!"

He cut me off, "They're only interested in your blood."

I glared at him, "A doctor didn't exactly…okay, so a doctor did patch me up, but that doctor is a vampire! My father!"

"True enough," he conceded, "the doctor is the ONLY one who doesn't crave your blood the rest of them…"

Now was my turn to interrupt, "For your information, my father is the one who craves my blood the most, but he would never hurt me!" I turned on my heel to head back to the house, but he grabbed my arm, "Let go!"

A chocolate brown wolf stalked out of the undergrowth, its teeth bared. Same released my arm, "All right, Jacob! I'll leave, but I had to see if I could talk some sense into her before they changed her." The chocolate brown wolf growled in response.

Sam retreated farther into the forest for a minute, but he returned a few seconds later as a black wolf. He stalked past Jacob, his tail held high, and he released a soft bark, before he bounded away. I barely heard the sound of two other sets of paw steps thudding after him.

The chocolate brown wolf, who I now knew was Jacob, padded up to me and then bowed, nudging my left knee with his nose. I was hoping that he wanted me to climb on his back, because that's what I ended up doing. Rising slowly he loped out of the woods and carried me to within a hundred yards of the house. He bowed again and I got off, walking towards the house as he headed back into the woods. I figured he was going to transform back into a human.

The rest of the night passed in a blur, I was surrounded by people who cared about me and I received several cool gifts from my family including a hand knitted blanket (Esme), a punching bag (Emmett), a blue silk dress (Alice), a mood ring (Jasper), Percy Jackson & the Olympians: Book 1: The Lightning Thief (Hiro), a Bob Seger CD (Edward), a tool kit (Rosalie), a turquoise necklace (Bella), a hand carved wolf (Jacob), a heart necklace with her name on it (Carlisle), and a wolf T-shirt (Renesmee).

I couldn't help thinking as I lay down to get some sleep, this day seemed like it was going to be crappy, but it wasn't too bad…it could have been worse…granted it could have been better too. I wonder why Sam Ulley wanted to get me away from my family? That's when it hit me… Sam Ulley didn't want me to become a vampire.