Disclaimer: Sorry peoples but you do not stare at the work of Stephenie Meyer. You read the work of me: a girl who wants (and has started-ish) writing her own novels but isn't anything great…yet. I promise to tell you when I am though. Ha.

PART I: WITH YOUNG CENTURIES COME YOUNG LOVE

CHAPTER TEN:

LUCKIEST GIRL, FOR NOW ANYWAY

Recently:

He grinned as we headed to the room that all the guests were in. "Anything for the birthday girl."

JESSICA'S POV

Brandon and I danced the night away, spinning and twirling and enjoying each other's company until I had to quit from exhaustion. Dancing could really hurt your feet when you did it long enough. I sat down on a chair and settled into watch the other couples dance and talk and share affectionate gestures out on the balcony.

"Do you want me to fetch you something to drink?" Brandon said. He was always asking these questions. He was not selfish which was a huge improvement from the last boy I had liked… though he had not actually returned the feelings. He had been notoriously self-centered.

I loved that about him, Brandon that is. "Thank you, Brandon, but no. I am not thirsty at the moment."

With that he sat down next to me. We stayed seated like that, quite comfortably, for a while until Brandon interrupted our little bubble of silence. "Would you like me to put a hold on the dancing after the next song and gather people to watch you open your presents, dear? Or would you prefer to open them one at a time with the people who gave then to you?"

He was stressing too much. He clearly already knew my answer. "Would you? I should love to have an audience." I laughed as he walked over to widow Greenly who had volunteered to play piano for my parties considering my mother and I visited her often.

After the waltz that was currently playing Ms. Greenly stopped.

"Attention." Brandon's clear voice echoed throughout the room. "Today… as you all know, is Jessica's fourteenth birthday. She has invited you all here to help her celebrate in the midst of a war-like era. She hopes that you take comfort in the company and enjoy the merry making. Now she has received a few presents from guests and would like for you to all watch. Please gather round."

I felt myself go giddy with the stares set on me as Brandon carried the packages over to me. He had said a few presents but the truth is practically everybody, except for Morgan but who cared what he thought, had brought one.

"Oh…" I squealed and motioned for my best friend and beau to sit by me on the bench. "Bella…" I hissed out. "Did you even think it was possible to have so many? This is at least twice the amount of last year."

She smiled warmly. "I guess everyone likes you very much, Jessica. Though it comes as no surprise."

She was so sweet! So I hugged her then turned to Brandon and asked if I could open his first.

"Of course." He said and pulled out a small box. It was rectangle wrapped in brown paper with a slick pink ribbon tied gracefully around it. "I hope you like it, sweet."

I did. When I opened the box I found a small silver chain bracelet and a necklace with shining purple stone. "I love it, thank you." I wrapped him up in a hug.

"If you love it, Jessica." He whispered, his mouth at my ear. "You may be interested to know that there is another piece of jewelry to match. I wasn't sure you were ready for it but I bought it anyway. You never know when you'll need a ring."

I pulled back after a moment my face contorted into absolute shock. "Oh… my…" I tried to breath but I found myself mysteriously breathless. "You really mean it?"

"Of course I really mean it." He smiled, positively grinning down at me. "I love you, you know?"

He has a ring… I tried to wrap my mind around the glorious thought. An engagement ring, at that.

I felt faint.

But by the time I came to that realization it was too late, I was already out cold in the arms of my love.

ISABELLA'S POV

"Jessica… Jessica!" I called out to her starting to turn frantic with worry over my friend that had gone from beet-red a moment ago to as pale as death itself.

She did not stir, and that worried me. I started to cry as I called out to her. "Jessica…" I mumbled, as my cries grew weaker.

Edward rambled over and stood in front of Brandon for a while then said quietly so only Brandon and I could hear his condescending tone. "You really should not have displayed your intentions in such a public manner." He said then looked at me before turning back to him. "See here? You have scared a few of the party goers."

What did Edward mean by 'display your intentions in such a public manner'? Did he mean that…? No he couldn't possibly. Brandon did not just propose… did he?

He himself looked befuddled at Edward's accusation. "What ever do you mean?" He asked.

Edward grinned. "You must not think you can hide it that openly. It was quite obvious that you told her you had a ring. The looks on your faces gave away everything."

Now Brandon looked slightly enraged but exchanged it for a look of admiration as Jessica awoke. "Hello love." He greeted her.

She on the other hand remained aloof but was blushing such a bright color that if you knew what had gone on in Edward and Brandon's conversation you would never had doubted it. She leaned over towards the stack and plucked one of the top of the pile after offering a faded, "Thank you," to her sweetheart.

"Oh that is from me!" Called a girl I dimly recognized as Jane.

Jessica unwrapped it and produced a headdress of such beauty. "Oh… my," whispered Jessica fitting it onto her head and proceeding to look lovely in it. "Thank you very much, Jane!" She called from under a gargantuan hat with enough frills and lace to suffice my friend until she opened my gift to her.

Before she selected another she turned to me and asked which was mine. I replied that it was in the mint green wrap and she immediately found it.

"Ooh la la." She stated. "I hate to think you spoil me so. I don't deserve it. From the looks of the huge bow you got me the best of things."

"You most certainly deserve spoiling." I insisted as she ripped off the thin wrapping covering the gown she was destined to adore. "From Edward and I for a dearest of friends." I smiled as she was too entranced by the dress then to notice me. "You know what would go perfectly with it; Brandon's jewelry and Jane's cap.

The dress was one of the fanciest of all those on the ladies at the party. Except for me I suppose. And since the dress Edward and I had combined a large sum of our money to buy for her was significantly plainer I cringed at the amount mine must have cost him. But it cost us much and it was extremely pretty.

She continued to ignore me. "Jessica…" I persisted. "Say something."

"I love purple, Bella." She said but in a far off manner. "I simply adore it."

Grinning I said, "Maybe that's why the majority of your gifts are in purple dear."

By now all the girls had gotten a look at it and all seemed slightly in awe of its beauty.

It was a white dress with light lilac paisley printing. A scandalously low neckline at four fingers south of the collarbone and sleeves that were puffy, just off the shoulders, stopped and made way for a tight light purple sleeve the rest of the way down to her dainty wrists. For a gift during the war time it was exceptionally extravagant.

She seemed to get her bearings after a few minutes and I found myself on the bench beside her while she cried joyfully into my now tear soaked sleeve.

AMUNICAINT POV

With still many more delightful presents to be had it was sure to be a very good birthday for a young Jessica with a kindly beau. If only she realized how truly lucky she was… before all her luck ran out like the draining of used bathwater from a tub.

Gone forever and it you were to get it back it would surely not be every bit the same. But have the unluckiness (or water that was not yours) mixed in.

Oh yes, Jessica at the moment was lucky and happy indeed. But no one can be expected to attain happiness of that magnitude forever. And Jessica's end is just around the corner.

A/N: See… Eddie was perceptive of thoughts in his human life: as to amplify them to mind reading upon changing.

I have a HUGE test the next two weeks and nothing cures anxiety (and fitness testing in PE) like a good criticizing (or kind) review.