CHAPTER 13
The living room was beautifully decorated with bright lights, there was a cake on the center table, it was a three tier pineapple cake with pink flower design made on the edges making it look very beautiful, I didn't even wanted to cut it! The room was stuffed with my family, me, Alec, Jacob and Seth. I and Alec were last to enter with everyone looking at us with a smile. "Happy birthday!" was what everyone was greeting me with.
"It's time to cut the cake!" Aunt Alice announced as she clapped her hands together. She took my hand and pulled me away from Alec towards the cake. Everyone formed a circle around the table and I was being the center of attention. I blew out the candle, but it lightened again! 'Trick candles' I thought to myself and chuckled. I blew them out again and the lit up again! "Let me help my baby girl" Dad said patting my head softly and blew the candles out and a roar of laughter was heard from the crowd and then applauds as I cut a piece of cake. Since no one else ate human food from my family, I made Renesmee eat the first bite and she did the same with me.
Soon the music blasted from the speakers and everyone was happily danncing, I on the other hand was missing grand ma and grand pa. "Hey birthday girl!" Seth greeted me with a grin. "Hey" I said giving him a warm hug, "All grown up, eh?" he teased and I chuckled as I shook my head, "still younger than you" I said. I felt a strong arm wrap around me and I turned to see none other than Alec. "I want to give you something" he said bringing his lips near my ear, "first our turn!" Renesmee jumped up with Jacob from the couch.
I was handed a big box wrapped in blue paper by the two of them. I slowly and carefully opened the box and saw a Teddy and chocolate tower hamper. "Thank you!" I told them with a bright smiled, "Sorry we were really got confused as to what to give you, so we thought why not something for your sweet tooth" they said and smiled back at me, "This is from our side" Aunt Bella told me giving a box identical to that of Jacob and Renesmee's. I opened to see a new I phone, something I have always wanted! "Thank you" I jumped in Aunt Bella's arms. "We are glad you liked it" she said as we dropped out hands. Dad cleared his throat and I turned towards him with a grin, he grinned back at me. His hand was wrapped around mom's waist and other hand was in his jeans pocket. He slowly pulled his hand out of his pocket and stretched his fist out in front of me. Towering his hand over my head he opened his fist and I saw a key. At first I was confused then I realized it was a car key! My eyes widened as I said "Are you kidding me?!" my mouth hung open as they both shook their heads in unison.
"Happy birthday baby" Mom said hugging me and dad handed me the keys. "Thanks mom, dad" I said softly with a smile. "Don't you want to see the car?" dad asked with a smirk and I nodded my head like a baby with a grin. "But let me give her what I bought!" Alec said with a sigh and everyone's eyes turned towards him. He stood in a corner with his hands crossed before his chest and a frown on his face. I walked towards him slowly and stood in front of him, "You already gave me so much" I told him meaningfully. "There is just one thing left, for you to remember me by" he said taking my hand into his. "I don't think I would need any help remembering" I said with a smile and he pulled me closer to himself. My heart fluttered at how close we were, his hand searched something in his pocket and then pulled out a red velvet ring box!
Everyone gasped as he opened the box, even my eyes widened as I saw what he had in his hand; the ring was obviously white gold, with a medium sized amethyst studded in the center of it. I was at loss of words, the ring was simple and elegant, and perhaps the most beautiful ring I had ever seen. "Oh my god!" I heard Renesmee squeal happily in the background. The scene was as if paused, only to be resumed with grand pa and grand ma entered the living room pulling me out of my trance, just like the others they also gasped at the scene. "Don't worry it's not what you all are thinking" Alec said turning towards all of them for a brief second. "He isn't asking her hand for marriage" Uncle Edward made it clear.
"I am not asking her hand for marriage just yet" Alec said looking deep into my eyes. "Eleanor, I have seen you cry, I have seen you hurt, and to be honest, let's admit it, the most of it was because of me" he continued, even though I wanted to tell him how wrong he was, I was frozen in the same position. "But today I am going to promise you something rather say something which I really mean. In my countless years of life I have never felt the way you made me feel Eleanor. This isn't something I am giving you to tie you with me if you don't want to stay, this is something I am giving you to remind you of how much I love you when I am not around. You mean the world to me, even though we haven't been together for years but I know what I feel is real. You have bought the good in me even when I didn't want to show that in front of everyone. I love it when you bring out that good in me, because it's when I realize that even I am capable of loving someone, not just someone – I am capable of loving you, Eleanor. I have finally started loving my life because of you, it is no more feeling of loneliness because of you, I love you and I am going to promise this today that I will steal all the tears from your eyes, love you more than I love anything in this world and protect you even if it meant the cost of my life because there is no me, without you!" he slowly placed the ring on my middle finger of the left hand and it was perfect. He slowly pulled me closer and my hands found my way to his shoulder, he placed one of his hands on my waist and the other on my cheek, I shuddered but closed my eyes. I could feel his breath on my lips and then slowly his lips touched mine and his grip got firm on my waist.
Someone cleared their throat and we broke our kiss. I looked at everyone a little embarrassed; everyone had an identical smile on their face expect grand ma and grand pa. I couldn't see why they would frown when everything was perfect! I danced towards them and hugged them both "Happy Birthday" they wished me one by one and I thanked them with a smile. "We have got you a little something, but we will give it to you afterwards" Grand pa said with a heartwarming smile and I nodded with a grin. I heard the music blast and everyone got in the party mood except for Seth who started to get away from the party. I followed him out and called after him "Seth" I said in a low voice and he stopped dead in his tracks. Turning his face towards me with a smile he greeted me with a "Hey" "Where are you going?" I asked. "I was just getting some fresh air" Seth told me with a fake grin. I could tell when he was faking a smile, his lips twitched. "Tell me what's wrong?" I said taking a step towards him. "I bought you something" He said with a frown, "What is it?" I asked with a smile, "Nothing in comparison to what others gave you" he replied looking at his feet, I knitted my eyebrows together and walked towards him, "Gifts aren't given to measure how expensive they are, gifts are given to show your friendship and love" I told him trying to catch his gaze with mine. "Remember when I was 10 and I gave a card" I said remembering that moment, his gaze finally met my eyes, "everyone had given you expensive gifts bought from shops but you said you liked my card best because it was made with love" I completed, "but you were only 10!" Seth exclaimed, "but I could have still gotten anything, I chose to give you a card because I knew you would love it more than anything, and you did!" I defended myself. "You are right" he said slowly, "So give me my gift" I said stretching my palm out to him with a smile.
He produced a red long rectangular box out of his pocket, "What is it?" I asked with a grin. "Open it, this time I bought you something" he said with a cheeky smile. I opened it to see a golden necklace with my name wired into it in a calligraphic writing! I looked up to Seth with a smile and exclaimed "This is beautiful!" "I am glad you like it" he said with a smile. "I want to put it on" I said genuinely, taking out the necklace from the box I handed it to Seth and turned around. Holding my hair up, away from my neck, I waited for Seth to put it on. He slowly put it around my neck, his fingers brushed against the back of my neck and my eyes flickered up and my heartbeats picked up speed, he clasped the lock.
I covered the back of my neck with my hair and turned towards Seth, who looked at me in awe. It was really strange of him to see me like that. "Let's go inside" I told him and he gave me a nod. I walked across the backyard, towards the living room. As I entered the living room, I saw Alec's eyes glued at something behind me; I turned to see he was looking at Seth. I narrowed my eyes at both of them. Alec walked towards me and wrapped his arm around my waist protectively. "What's wrong?" I asked Alec but his eyes never left Seth's face. I could sense the anger building up inside Alec. I touched his face to bring his attention towards me. When he looked at me I asked again "What's wrong?" "Do I really have to tell?" he questioned back in an empty tone. The room got quiet and the music turned off, Alec's grip tightened around my waist as Seth moved towards us, "Alec, you are hurting me" I told him trying to get out of his grip.
"Leave her" Seth said, slowly walking near us. "You stay the hell away!" Alec warned Seth from between his teeth. "Put your hands off her!" Dad said throwing Alec away from me. Mom pulled me behind her and Alec launched himself towards Seth, throwing him out of the living room. All of us marched out of the living room in the backyard. "I don't want to spoil Eleanor's birthday" Seth said getting up from the ground. "Then you don't touch her next time" Alec warned punching him in the stomach with all his power. Jacob threw himself between them, "Enough!" he said to Alec in his Alpha voice. "That doesn't work on me dog!" Alec spoke from between his teeth. "I will rip you limb from limb if you touch Seth again" Jacob warned Alec in the same tone.
"I have killed more people than you can kill in your entire life time, I can crush the both of you between my fingers at once" Alec said taking a step towards him. I sneaked from behind mom and ran towards Alec, "Alec" I called out for him, Dad stood in my way the next second, but he was surrounded by black mist in no time. Soon he fell on his knees and his eyes rolled back, I saw the black mist leaving from Alec's palm. He was thrown on ground by Jacob, who was trying to rip his throat out of his body. "Stop it!" I cried, dad held my hand and didn't let me go to save Alec. "Stop" Grand pa said in an authoritative voice. All eyes turned towards him and soon enough Jacob let go of Alec and dad let go of my arm.
I ran towards Alec and in his arms. I didn't realize I was crying until Alec wiped off my tears with his finger.
"I think it is time to tell them the truth" Grandpa said to Grandma, she nodded with a frown. Alec and I turned towards them like others, holding hands. "We went to Italy and talked to the Volturi, but they said they are going to stop only on one condition" Grandpa started, "And what is that?" Mom asked in urgency. "They want Alec to return to Italy" Grandma said, "And they will stop?" Alec asked taking a step towards them, "Yes, only if you never meet Eleanor again" Grand pa completed slowly. Alec's hand slipped from mine and all eyes turned towards us. My vision blurred with tears but I saw Alec walking towards the forest in frustration, his hands clenched onto the back of his hair.
He punched a tree down with his hand. "You need to stop him" Grandpa said to me in a low voice, I nodded and walked towards him like a zombie, dragging my feet, it felt like I was being pulled down in the ground, it was difficult for me to lift my feet up.
I put my hand on Alec's shoulder and he shrugged it away. I wrapped my arms around his stomach and I felt his body easy in my arms. He turned towards me and engulfed me in a tight hug. "It's necessary that you be with me, for me to live!" he said as he buried his face in my neck. I don't know for how long we stayed like that because everyone disappeared in the house.
We walked into an empty house. Alec followed me to my room and we shut the door behind us. "I will change" I said walking in my closet. As I removed my heels and put them in the shoe rack I looked for clothes. The whole closet was changed. A note was stuck on one of the dress covers, 'Happy birthday! –Aunt Alice & Uncle Jasper' was written on the note in beautiful handwriting. 'I would thank her in the morning' I thought to myself. Pulling out what seemed like a night suit to me, I changed my clothes in the closet and walked out of the closet to see Alec standing near my bed. As I settled on the bed, I felt a sharp pain on the left side of my waist. "Ow!" escaped from my lips, "Are you okay?" Alec asked me as I put my hand on where the pain was. "I don't know" I said, slowly lifting off my shirt till where the pain was I saw three bruises in a horizontal line, looking like finger marks. "Did I do that?" Alec asked with his mouth hung open, Of course no one else had touched me on my waist, but I kept quiet.
"I am sorry Eleanor" he said in a guilty tone, "It doesn't hurt" I lied and he narrowed his eyes on me. He climbed on my bed and laid me down. I covered my waist with my shirt but he pulled it up again, exposing the bruised area only. He touched his cold lips to the bruises and my heart picked up speed. "I am sorry" he said again from between the kisses. I pulled him up and kissed him on his lips.
As the kiss deepened I held the ends of his shirt but he stopped me. "No" he said breaking the kiss, "why not?" I asked with a frown. "Because you know what taking shirts off would lead to" he said in a matter of fact voice, "I know" I replied with a smirk. "And we can't do it!" Alec said, "Why not?" I asked knitting my eyebrows together, "Because I can't put your life in danger" he answered, "How would it put my life in danger?" I asked with a chuckle, "Bella could have died giving birth to Renesmee, she just got lucky" Alec explained, "We are not having kids" I said with a chuckle, "they were not trying to have kids as far as I know" Alec replied as he shook his head, "Oh" was all I could say and he nodded his head with a smirk.
"But maybe we could do this" I said pulling him down on the bed beside me and hugging me, he wrapped his arms around me and kissed my forehead, "Good night" he said and I slipped into deep slumber.
A/N: Hey Readers,
I know this isn't a good chapter, but I still need your love and support. :) AND also your good lucks since my finals are starting tomorrow! Wish me luck and Review, Keep reading! :D -Fingers Crossed-
-JT