Twenty-eight

It had been a few days and Eve had around fifteen read text messages from Chris, yet she hadn't responded to any of them. She felt horrible for giving him the cold shoulder when he was such a nice guy, but she didn't know what to do. Alright... so she knew what she had to do, but she didn't want to do it.

She didn't want to tell him "No", that she didn't want a relationship at the moment. Or perhaps it wasn't that she didn't want a relationship at the moment, but she didn't want a relationship with him...

She wasn't sure. She actually wasn't sure of anything right now...

Her eyes scanned over her phone's calendar and took notice that it was December 12th, there were only three more days until she turned eighteen, until she was an adult. It would also be first birthday she would celebrate since the death of her mother. It wouldn't be the same...

Eve's thoughts traveled to Darla. She missed her mom, there really wasn't a day that she didn't think about her. Of course she tried to focus on the positive than on the negative.

Eve got up from her bed and sauntered out of her room. She headed down the halls and descended the staircase, heading into her father's study after knocking three times. She saw her father sitting at his desk, typing away on his laptop like he usually did.

"Dad...?" She called out.

He looked up at her through a new pair of rectangular black rimmed glasses. "Yes, Eve?"

"Um, I've been thinking about my birthday..." She began quietly.

"Yes, what is it? Did you want something?" He smiled.

Eve chuckled. "Well, kind of..." She replied, lamely shrugging her shoulders. She walked completely inside the room, closing the door behind her and sat down at a chair in front of the desk. "I was thinking about going to La Push to put flowers on mom's grave on my birthday. Would that be alright with you?"

"Well, I'm not going to tell you what you can and cannot do on your eighteenth birthday, Eve." Evan smiled. "I was going to be taking you, Dylan and Joanne to dinner, but I think some strings can be pulled to have it the day before. I'll go ahead and book your flight right now, too."

Eve smiled and walked over to her dad, engulfing him in a quick hug. "Thanks, dad."

"You're welcome, Eve. Now I've gotta get back to work, honey."

Eve nodded her head in understanding and left the room, feeling happy that she would go and put flowers on her mom's grave on her birthday. There was just a sort of comfort in that that made her smile.

A few days later, Eve stood at LAX eagerly. "Dylan!" Eve grinned and ran up to her sister.

The step-sisters embraced one another and exchanged hellos. The pair then walked out of the building and loaded her suitcases into the back of the car, both of them getting in and driving away.

"Oh, I've missed you so much, Eve!"

"I've missed you, too, Dyl!"

"So, how've things been with your new beau? And I saw the pictures, so don't try to lie to me!"

"Chris and I aren't together, Dyl."

"Yea, right! I saw you all smiling! Besides, how can anyone not want to date a Victoria's Secret model?"

"I'm not kidding, Dylan. Look through my texts if you don't believe me."

Dylan looked over at her sister puzzled. "Well, now that you say that I can believe you." She mumbled. "Why, though?"

"I don't know... I just, don't want a relationship right now. It feels like it will be too soon, I mean, I just got out of a relationship with Jacob."

"That was two months ago, Eve, maybe even longer. I don't mean to sound inconsiderate or anything, but I think it's best if you look for someone new."

"It's alright, and I guess I can try looking." Eve sighed tiredly, running a hand through her hair. "It's just going to feel so wrong." She whispered silently so Dylan wouldn't hear.

The rest of the day, the step-sisters spent it at the spa, getting their nails done and indulging in the relaxing atmosphere they put themselves in. Eve hadn't felt this good in what felt like forever, the only things missing were Jacob's large, muscular arms wrapping around her protectively and his voice whispering sweet nothings into her ears.

"Eve, are you alright...?" Dylan looked at Eve with concern.

It was then that Eve felt the small streaks of water on her cheeks. It didn't take her a second longer to realize that while she reminisced about Jacob she had begun to cry. "Nothing, Dyl." She insisted, wiping away the tears frantically. "It's just... I'm so glad that you're here. I hardly get to see you anymore."

Dylan knew that what her sister had told her was a lie, though she didn't mind it. She had seen the look on her face when she mentioned Jacob. There was a flash of distress, of loneliness. Embry had told Dylan that a pair of imprints that were separated was a horrible time to go through. Dylan had a few doubts, but now she knew. Eve was hurting and missing Jacob, her imprint. They needed one another...

Dylan didn't think they would make it much longer...

"Oh, alright. I am, too!" She replied with a fake giddy tone, playing along.

They went home after they finished up their manicures and got to looking for what they would wear to dinner later that night. Dylan ordered Eve to pick out something that would catch any man's attention, but Eve wasn't really trying. Dylan then shoved Eve onto her bed as she searched for her outfit.

Dylan then handed her a D&G black satin tutu dress and some black and silver heels. Eve was somehow relieved. She had thought that Dylan was going to make her go in some skimpy outfit. This wasn't that bad. Eve went into the bathroom and slipped into it along with the heels. She analyzed herself in the full-body mirror and smoothed out a few creases in the dress before heading back out.

Dylan was already dressed in her black and purple sequined dress and was slipping on her purple heels as Eve entered the room.

"That looks nice, Dylan, but don't you think it's a bit much? We're only going out to eat dinner."

"No, I think it's fine." She replied. "Look at you! You look so gorgeous!" Dylan then pointed to a chair that was placed in front of a vanity mirror. "Sit, I'll curl your hair with the straightener!" Eve obliged and sat down, her hair soon being taken into Dylan's hands. "I swear, Eve, you look so pretty. I never got around to it, but... Happy eighteenth birthday, baby sis."

"Thanks Dylan, but it's not my birthday till tomorrow." Eve chuckled.

"Eh, so what?"

After Dylan finished curling Eve's hair, they got their purses and went downstairs. Evan and Joanne were already there standing in their formal attire and they smiled at their children lovingly.

"You both look great." Joanne grinned.

"Our girls get more beautiful every time we see them." Evan agreed.

Eve and Dylan hugged their parents and the family then walked out. They all got into the GMC Yukon and Evan began to drive down the street. Eve wondered where they would be going for dinner. They left Beverly Hills and were soon entering Hollywood.

Eve began to daydream about La Push and what everyone was doing. She wondered if Emily and Sam were finishing up the preparations for their wedding. She wondered if any of them ever brought her up in conversation. Most importantly she wondered if Jacob thought of her as much as she thought of him...

"Here we are." Evan's voice snapped his daughter out of reality.

Dylan was off the car first and Eve scooted out through the same door, smoothing out her dress. Eve looked at her parents who remained in the car and looked at them in curiously.

"Aren't you coming?" She inquired.

"I think we're a bit too old for the clubbing scene, Eve." Joanne chuckled, pointing to a sign above the double doors that read Boulevard3.

"I thought we were going to dinner...?"

"Really, Eve? Celebrating your eighteenth by going out to dinner? That doesn't sound very memorable." Evan laughed heartily. "Joanne and I will be at dinner. Whenever you're ready to come home, just call Anthony's phone, he'll be waiting around the corner to pick you both up. We'll probably be asleep by the time you get home, so Happy Birthday, Eve."

"Yes, happy birthday!" Joanne agreed. "Have a great time tonight. You deserve it."

Eve smiled before nodding vigorously. "Thank you!"

After saying goodbye, the sisters entered the dramatic club and Eve couldn't smile bigger than she already was. She saw celebrities and a few friends she had made over the years. She saw flashing lights and felt the pounding of the bass. Her heart was pounding in her chest, it was as if it were trying to become synchronized with the music.

"EVE!"

Her head snapped to the side and saw Lily along with a few of the other Victoria's Secret models waving enthusiastically at her. Dylan and Eve smiled and didn't waste a second more to get over there. After some hellos, everyone wished Eve a happy birthday.

Eve couldn't help herself. "Hey, uh, Lily... do you know if Chris is here...?"

"Um, no, I don't think so. Not yet anyways. Why do you ask?"

"No reason." Eve laughed it off and excused herself quickly.

After leaving her friends, she and Dylan went off to the dance floor where they did exactly that. As the clock was about to strike twelve, everyone counted down. As big hand landed upon the digit, everyone shouted "Happy Birthday" and confetti and streamers exploded all around.

Dylan led Eve out of the dance floor and to the bar. "And this is where the real fun begins." She smirked, soon retrieving a few alcoholic beverages and handing one to Eve.

Eve listened to the song that the DJ played and laughed lightly before nodding and singing a small part. "Bottoms up."