I don't own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.
Cheryl, Noles, and Gabby, thank you for pre-reading, and April, thank you for editing. Any mistakes left are my own.
Ch . 4
After I settled in the chair, I spotted a card with my name on it and a cupcake on the stand. I opened it and a gift card to a bookstore fell out. Inside was Esme's neat script.
Happy Birthday, Bella. We hope you do something nice for yourself today. Hopefully, next year we can have a big celebration. Love, Esme and Carlisle
"I can't believe I forgot my own birthday." I chuckled sadly. "I guess my mind has been elsewhere." I sighed as I looked at Edward.
"I hope your mom is right, and next year is better and you're able to celebrate with me," I told him.
There had been many epic birthdays over the years. My first in Forks, Esme convinced my father to rent a big bouncy house for me. But that wasn't my most memorable birthday.
Hero
(Bella, 16)
"—and the home of the brave." I finished singing the national anthem.
The crowd around me burst into cheers as I made my way off the football field. As I passed the players, Edward gave me a wink and Emmett nodded his head to me. Alice gave me a huge smile and shook her pompoms. I found my way into the stands and took my seat beside Esme.
"That was beautiful, Bells," Dad complimented me then handed me a hot chocolate.
"Thank you, Dad." I took an eager sip and shivered.
"Brrr, it's going to be a cold one. Want to share?" Esme lifted the blanket so I could have some.
"Please." I scooted closer to her.
"Happy birthday, Bella." Dr. C looked over at me.
"Thank you." I smiled shyly.
"I'm surprised you're sitting with the old folk and not your friends," Dr. C teased.
"Esme isn't that old," I countered, making him laugh. "Besides, Alice is cheering, and Angela is working for the yearbook, down at the sidelines."
Esme winked at me and offered me some popcorn. "Are you sure you don't want to celebrate your birthday tonight?"
"I'm sure. This should be Edward and Emmett's night. It's homecoming of their senior year, they'll only get one of those. Well, at least Edward will," I said.
"Bella, be nice." Dad chuckled.
"And you only get one sweet sixteen," Esme pointed out.
I shrugged; it didn't feel any different from any other birthday. "I'm fine really. Today can be theirs, tomorrow can be all mine."
"I'll make sure you get an extra big slice of my chocolate cake," Esme promised.
I watched as Edward took the ball and ran down the field with it. "Go, Edward!" I cheered as he plowed into the end zone, scoring our first touchdown.
H
Hours later, I was getting ready for the homecoming dance with my friends. I was seated in front of Alice as she did my hair. I glanced in the mirror and felt all grown up in my blue strapless dress that Esme helped me pick out last weekend.
"I can't believe we're going to spend the dance behind the refreshment table," Alice complained.
"You didn't have to volunteer with me," I reminded her.
"Yes, I did. You're my best friend, and what kind of friend would I be if I abandoned you to some mundane job that could do itself on your birthday?" She pinned a curl on top of my head.
"Dramatic much, Alice? I thought you'd be more willing since it's our class raising money for our prom," I told her.
"True," she admitted, then looked at me in the mirror. "Promise me, if a guy asks you to dance, you'll say yes."
"I doubt any guy will ask me. No guy even looks at me," I lamented.
"You know why, don't you?" Angela glanced up from painting her nails.
"No, why?" I turned my head in her direction.
Angela put down the nailbrush and adjusted her glasses with her dry hand. "I overheard my older brother talking to someone on the phone. Apparently, Eric Yorkie was going to ask you to the dance until he was threatened not to go near you."
My mouth dropped open in shock. "What? Why did Emmett do that?"
"What makes you think it was Emmett?" Alice scoffed.
"Who else could it be?" I questioned.
"Uh…Edward," Alice said in a no duh tone.
I glanced over at Angela, and she shrugged. "I don't know who Garrett was talking about. But Alice is right, it could be either. Both are very protective of you."
"Ugh, I'm not going to have a boyfriend until both of them graduate, am I?" I complained.
"Not likely." Angela sympathized with me.
"Well, it sucks. Today is your birthday and it should be celebrated. I know—" Alice got a twinkle in her eye, and I put an immediate stop to it.
"No, Alice." I shook my head.
"You don't—"
"I do. Do not go to the DJ and have him announce it's my birthday. I hate being the center of attention," I said firmly.
"Please, you sing on stage all the time. You had the lead in last year's musical. The first freshman to ever do so," Alice pointed out.
"That's different. When I'm on stage, it's like I'm a different character, not myself," I explained.
"You sound ridiculous." Alice rolled her eyes.
"Whatever. Promise me you won't tell the DJ or anyone else it's my birthday," I told her.
"Fine. I promise," Alice said all too innocently.
I narrowed my eyes. "I don't believe you. Repeat after me, I, Mary Alice Brandon—"
"Seriously?" Alice huffed.
"Seriously, I know you all too well." I raised an eyebrow, challenging her.
"Fine. I, Mary Alice Brandon…"
"Promise not to tell the DJ or get anyone else to tell the DJ that it's Bella's birthday," I stated.
She repeated after me. "Happy?"
"Not yet. If I do, Bella gets to choose my dress for the winter semi-formal." I smirked.
Alice scowled and repeated me, while Angela was giggling across the room.
"Aren't you going to make Ang promise?" Alice huffed, sticking her tongue out at our giggling friend.
"No, I trust her. She's shyer than me and understands." I grinned.
H
Near the end of the night, Alice skipped back to the table after her second dance with Jasper. He was a junior and was the team's backup quarterback. She had the biggest crush on him and was thrilled he had noticed her.
"Having fun?" I asked, bopping her with my hip playfully.
"The best. He asked me to the movies next weekend." She sighed dreamily then turned to me. "You should go dance."
I snorted. "With who? In case you haven't noticed, every guy who walks up here won't look me in the face."
Alice frowned for a second before a Cheshire grin formed. "Not every guy."
Edward was walking toward us, looking as handsome as ever. He didn't look much like the young boy I met anymore. His hair was darker, and his jaw was more defined. He never failed to make my heart flutter when I saw him.
"Hi, Edward, how's tonight's MVP?" she asked cheerfully.
"I'm doing good, and you ladies?" Edward said politely.
Alice beat me to answering. "Well, I've been having a nice night. But I can't say the same for poor Bella. All night, the boys of this school have been treating her as if she's diseased."
"What? Why?" Edward looked around angrily.
"Please, you know why. You and her brother have threatened all the boys in this school not to go near her." Alice placed her hands on hips and started tapping her foot.
"Alice, stop," I hissed.
"I won't stop. Just because you won't speak up for yourself, it doesn't mean I won't. It's her birthday…her sixteenth. She should be having fun, not serving punch." She glared at Edward.
"Tomorrow is her birthday. We're having dinner at my parents like every year." Edward looked confused.
"Today is her birthday. I know when my bff's birthday is. She put it off since she didn't want to take the day away from you two jokers. The least you could do is ask her to dance."
Edward shifted uncomfortably. "I…uh. Bella, do—"
"Edward, ignore Alice. She's had too much sugar," I pleaded, handing him two cups of punch.
He glanced back and forth between us before giving us a short nod then turning away. Once Edward made his way back to his table, I turned on Alice.
"Oh. My. Gawd, Alice. I can't believe you ordered him to dance with me." I cringed
"I want you to enjoy tonight. Don't you want to dance with Edward?" she asked.
"Not because he feels guilty. Besides, he's here with Heidi." I looked over at his table, but he wasn't there.
"Please, all he has to do is tell her he'll be back before she can count to ten, and she'll be busy the rest of the night," Alice joked.
"Alice, you're horrible." I snickered. "Where did Edward go?"
Alice glanced around her eyes widened. "Uh…this doesn't count. I didn't tell him to tell the DJ."
"What!" I spun and spotted him, leaning over the table to talk with the guy. "No…no."
I hurried in his direction. Before I could reach him, he started in my direction, smiling. He took my hand and started leading me to the center of the gym.
"Edward, please tell me you didn't do what I think you did," I begged.
"May I have your attention, please? This next song goes out to a birthday girl in the house. Happy Birthday, Bella," the DJ announced.
"Of course, I did. Happy Birthday, Bella. It will be my pleasure to dance with you. You look too beautiful to be standing behind a table all night."
An oldie, Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen, started to play. Edward spun us around the dance floor. A few people shouted out to me as we went by. My cheeks burned like they never had before.
"Did you have to embarrass me? Couldn't you have gotten me something with Scooby on it, like you do every other year?" I mumbled.
He chuckled. "Your present is at home. I seriously thought tomorrow was the thirteenth. Plus, I feel guilty for all the guys treating you like a pariah."
My hands dropped from his shoulders. "So, it's true? You and my oaf of a brother told everyone to stay away from me."
"Bella, don't overreact," Edward pleaded.
"I'm not overreacting. This would be overreacting." I stomped on his foot then spun on my heels.
I headed for the doors which led out to the quad. I could hear Edward calling my name behind me. I didn't stop until I reached a bench. The area was mostly empty since it was cold. Edward dropped his jacket over my shoulders then sat next to me.
"Look, I'm sorry. We were trying to protect you. You deserve better than the guys at this school," he apologized.
"Don't you think I can decide that for myself? I'm the only girl I know who has never been on a date. Or better yet, who hasn't been kissed. It makes me feel like a loser," I said sadly.
"You're not a loser. You're a beautiful and intelligent girl, and you deserve better than these jerks. Don't be in such a hurry," Edward argued.
"You're a hypocrite. You had your first date at fourteen. Did you kiss her?" I demanded. "Aren't you going to kiss Heidi tonight?"
"That's different. I regret kissing Chelsea. I barely liked her and did it on a dare. You deserve more. Your first kiss should be from someone who really cares about you," Edward whispered.
"Then you kiss me if you think it should be someone who cares about me." The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them.
"Emmett would kick my ass." Edward didn't respond how I thought he would.
"Then don't tell him," I countered.
Before I could tell him to forget it, Edward surprised me by leaning forward and placing his lips against mine. It was very soft at first, then the pressure grew. His hand slipped behind my back, holding me to him. My heart thudded in my chest and my breath caught. I had imagined kissing Edward a thousand times before, but all those times paled in comparison to the real thing.
"Bella? Edward? Are you guys out here?" Emmett bellowed.
Edward broke the kiss quickly, looking confused and nervous. He ran his hand through his hair. However, I recovered first. I stood and met my brother coming toward us, his new girlfriend was behind him.
"Emmett McCarty Swan, you have some nerve. How dare you threaten all the guys at this school to keep them from asking me out," I yelled at him.
"Hey, it's my duty as your brother to check out all these losers before they can even look at you," Emmett argued.
"Fine, then it's my duty as your sister to do the same. Maybe I should be checking Rose out," I snapped.
Emmett looked ready to argue, but Rose stepped out from behind him. She tossed her blond hair over her shoulder, placing one hand on her hip.
"Sounds more than fair to me," she agreed.
"Rose…" Emmett looked upset.
"Oh no, Emmett, fair is fair. I certainly know what I'd do if Jasper tried to pull what you did." She turned to me "How's next Saturday?"
"I'm free." I liked how the tables had turned and smirked at Emmett.
"Wait, I have a game." Emmett pouted.
"You can miss me for one game. You're not afraid Bella's going to tell me your dirty secrets, are you?" She grinned, giving me a wink.
"No?" Emmett looked uncertain.
"Bella is right. We went overboard," Edward admitted, coming to my side.
"We didn't…" Emmett sighted heavily. "I can't stop trying to protect you. I still remember what the fucker tried to do. Now that you actually look like a girl, and if you heard how these jokers talked in the locker room, you'd understand. I'll be damned if I let them talk about you that way." Emmett looked frustrated.
My anger melted and I hugged him. I could sense he was having issues with our past. "Not every guy is going to try and hurt me or talks badly about girls. Surely, you and Edward don't. But if they do, nail them then."
He grumbled. "Well, Edward is a moot point, you two will never date. It would be too weird."
I frowned and glanced at Edward, and his focus was on the stars. Rose approached us and kissed Emmett's cheek.
"You're sweet to care, bear. But your sister is right, too. You have to let go. I'm sure if Bella ever needs you or Edward, she'd never hesitate to come to either of you," Rose said softly.
"I will. If a guy needs to be punched for being a jerk, you'll be the first one I'd turn to, But, in the meantime, I think you should speak to Esme," I told him.
He frowned and shrugged his shoulders.
"Now this isn't how Bella's birthday should end. Shall we all go back in and have some fun?" Rose suggested, changing the subject.
"Please." I nodded.
We started walking in, Edward was walking slower than the rest of us. I hung back and looked up at him. I checked to make sure Emmett was out of earshot before I spoke.
"Thank you for the dance and the kiss," I said shyly.
"You're welcome. But I think it's best we never bring up the kiss again." Edward looked over the top of my head, instead of right at me.
Hero
"Funny enough, I made a great friend that day." I thought of my sister-in-law. She knew how to handle Emmett better than anyone.
Although, I was left confused back then. Years later, I understood Edward had felt conflicted after the kiss. He had enjoyed it as much as me—only it freaked him out.
I picked up the cupcake, and although it didn't have a candle, I made a wish.
"Please wake up soon."
A/N: A little of a roller coaster in this one. For the record, Edward didn't forget Bella's birthday, he was just confused on what on the day's date was. Being told they were celebrating it the next day threw him off. I know some of you will think the boys were overprotective jerks. I am curious to know what you think of Alice and Rose.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me