A/N: New chapter! This story is almost 100 pages single-spaced in Word!
Chapter 35- L'anniversaire de Bella
Today was May 25th, my nineteenth birthday, or so it was supposed. I would graduate from Harvard in exactly nine days.
I woke up with the sun and stretched. I dressed and walked over to the window seat, where I had a beautiful view of the sunrise. I didn't want anything special for my birthday, after all, if anyone had told me at this time last year that I would have a family who had accepted me as one of their own, and had accepted Abra as well, I would told them to go see a psychologist.
A few minutes later, Abra woke up, and pulled me out of my reverie. I picked her up out of her crib, and sat her down next to me on the window seat, and we observed the sunrise together.
Abra leaned her head against my chest, and I held her close. I could hardly imagine, now that I had, having gone through these past two years without her. In some ways, yes, it would have been easier, but in other ways, I have no idea how I would have made it, even if I would have made it.
But that was over now. And I had made it through. And now, Abra was making it very clear to me that she was ready to go to daycare, and she wanted some breakfast.
I grinned at her, and got her dressed. I picked up her bag and my keys, and taking her hand we left, locking the door behind us.
Abra skipped next to me as we made our through the already warm May sunlight. It was almost sixty degrees this early in the morning already. It was destined to be a hot day, and most likely, a hot summer. This was Boston, at its worst, or at its best, depending on whom you asked. The grass was still spring green and soft, not the dry brownish green it would eventually become later in the summer. The plants and trees in the Yard's gardens were still flowering as we walked toward the T station.
It was the in-between time of year where it was exactly the same temperature on the underground platform of the station as it was above the ground. In the winter, the T station underground was a nice relief from the cold, and in the summer, a nice relief from the heat. For a couple days in late spring, and a couple in early fall, the temperatures were the same both above and below the ground. I loved this time of year, and not just because it included my birthday.
The train to Davis came in a rush of warm air, and Abra and I entered. The car was empty save for a few early commuters, two men in suits with briefcases, and one older woman in a long dress. The ride went quickly, and soon enough we were outside again, walking away from Davis Square, up Holland Street, toward Teele Square, Broadway, and Angela's house on Hill Street.
The weather made the walk seem even quicker than usual, and in no time at all we had arrived on Angela's doorstep. I reminded her that I would be picking Abra up at noon, seeing as it was my birthday. She told me she would have her and Ben's present waiting, and when I frowned she scolded me.
"You deserve your presents, Bella, for working so hard."
I shrugged. "I still don't like them."
She shook her head at me and grinned. "I don't care if you like getting presents or not. You are going to get one from us. Be glad it's only one."
I smiled. "I'm glad."
She handed me a blueberry muffin, toasted, and covered in a thin layer of cream cheese, and I ate it slowly as I walked back to Davis Square Station.
There were no classes, seeing as it was the last Monday in May, and therefore Memorial Day, so I walked back to my dorm, savoring the sunlight, to clean up and cook.
In a flash it was eleven thirty, and my dorm was spotless. On the table was a sponge cake lightly frosted and covered in fruit (Alice had brought in groceries earlier). There was a stack of plates and forks, which had been supplied by the kitchen downstairs.
I locked the door and left to get Abra, before everybody arrived, around half past twelve.
I was sitting down, reading to Abra when Alice walked in, at about quarter past twelve. I stopped reading, and looked up.
She grinned at me. "Stand up, Bella." I stood up.
"Turn around." She commanded. I turned around.
As I faced her again, she nodded. "Good choice. I approve." I had chosen to wear a short-sleeved shirt and a knee-length skirt she had picked out for me on a shopping trip.
I raised an eyebrow. "Don't you even say hi?"
She looked surprised. "Oh! Hi!"
Abra jumped off of the bed and came to stand next to me. "Hi Alice."
Alice grinned. "Hi Abra." She walked over to the table. "This cake looks yummy. Do I have to wait until everyone else gets here to eat it?"
I grinned. "Thanks, and yes, you do have to wait. They shouldn't be very long, and Abra would love you to play with her."
Abra ran over to Alice. "Joues?"
Alice looked at me, and I grinned. "Play, en Français."
Alice looked confused. "I didn't know she knew French?"
I nodded. "She's starting to pick up a little bit."
"Okay. Oui, Abra."
Abra grinned, and led her over to the toy basket.
A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door, and I opened it to Edward and Jasper. I greeted them both with hugs, directed them to the unfortunately ever-growing pile of presents, and began to serve the cake. Alice and I handed out plates and forks to everyone, and Edward complimented me multiple times on how good it was.
We chatted for a while about school and graduation, as Alice was graduating soon as well, and a while later, after much urging, I was persuaded to open my presents.
Alice gave me a brand new shirt, that fit me perfectly, and she somehow knew I would like, and a long novel that looked like it ought to be quite interesting, if I was ever able to find the time to read it. Edward gave me an encyclopedia of contagious diseases, a very expensive, and highly interesting book that I had been eyeing in the Medical School/School of Public Health Bookstore for quite a while. He also gave me a long and complicated piece by Bach, which I was looking forward to playing. Jasper gave me a CD of Hebrew lullabies for Abra, and a small leather-bound journal. Ben and Angela's present was a painting by Abra that they had framed in tagboard, and a subscription to a magazine for toddlers, full of simple rhyming verse, and fun short stories. They had included the first issue, and Abra took to it immediately.
Around three in the afternoon, Abra, who had not yet had her nap, began to sag. Jasper, and Alice left, and Edward helped me put Abra to bed, kissing me lightly on the cheek before going upstairs to his dorm.
I put the new CD of Hebrew lullabies in the CD player, sat on the window seat, and began my new novel. It had been a lovely birthday.
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A/N: I almost feel like I deserve to be flamed… What sort of awful author am I, who didn't finish a single chapter over her Spring Break? I am so so sorry to all of you readers, and thank you all for waiting so patiently. Thanks for sticking around and reading this chapter, and thanks to iheartcsinewyork, bella-cullen1989, Twilightx28, Leon McFrenchington, MsssT, CullenGirl30, piowpiow, SparklingTopazEyes, Sinthya Van Dan, ari0568, ange87, babylopez2008, liv3609 (x2), Tim England, For Ever And Ever a Twilighter, bubble bubble toil and trouble, Amber Quible, twilightersunite, Kynicole, PeOtIcalLyPtheTic (x2), xXxEternallyDazzledxXx, Madziorsk, .life, and Soccer11 for reviewing!!
Happy Passover/Easter/Spring to everyone, and I hope to have another update out before three more weeks go by!
:Ducks and covers in preparation for angry readers: