Kenyata . harmon 16 I'm glad your enjoying the story I update on Wednesdays and Saturdays, however I might miss this Saturday it will be a very difficult day for me.

4Gracie04 I'm happy you are enjoying the story so much. Jacob is not a shapeshifter and their is no imprinting, it is just a case of good chemistry. I will let Bella explain in chapter 33 why she does what she does concerning Edward. Loved Eddykins. He is behind the missing phone calls but I'm not sure I'm going to address that further, Billy made that last statement because he hasn't seen his son smile let alone laugh in a very long time and he was didn't think he would ever hear or see it again.

Thank you for your reviews.

Chapter 29

Later that night, after they had cake, Bella opened her presents from Billy and Charlie. Billy gave her a book titled, "A Guide For Adulting". Charlie complained that she was too young for that book as they all laughed.

Without even opening it, Bella could tell Charlie had bought her a book as well. He smiled brightly as she unwrapped it. She almost dropped it when she saw what it was.

She held a leather bound writers journal in her hand. Praying the tears in her eyes wouldn't fall, she gave her father the biggest smile she could manage.

She threw her arms around him, and said. "Thanks dad, It's the best gift."

Charlie assumed the tears shimmering in her eyes were happy ones.

"I know you like to write. I figured having a nice book to write in would inspire you."

She nodded into his shoulder. She wasn't sure how Charlie knew she used to write; she also didn't want to bring down his mood by telling him there would be no more writing for her.

Bella waited until she could hear her fathers snores before sneaking down to the basement to put her new book into storage with the rest.

When she got to the bottom of the stairs she was shocked to find a quarter of the basement missing. The wall that seemed to shrink the basement, had a door in it. Taking a quick look around she found the box with all her books was gone. She could see light under the door so she walked over and knocked on it.

"Come in." Jacob's voice came from the otherside.

Bella tentatively opened the door prepared to ask what happened to the box with all the old notebooks in it. The left side of the room held a desk with drawings scattered all over it, a chair, and a boxing bag hanging from the ceiling. To the right was a dresser. Directly in front of her Jacob lounged on a bed with one of her books in his hand.

"What are you doing!" Bella screeched.

"Reading."

"Why?" Bella asked incredulously.

"Because it's a good story." His answer was so matter of fact Bella found it hard to protest.

"Which one is it?" She asked, a little more calm.

"Whispering falls. You have all these people thinking the falls are haunted, then a couple of daring teens discover the whispers were coming from a portal to a whole nother world hidden behind the water. Shit Bella, the details describing the world are so good I could actually see it, look."

Jake pointed to the drawings on the desk, Bella went over to examine them. They were of that world. From the waterfall, to the teen adventurers, to the fairy creatures in the other world. Bella laughed when she came across one of Alice as a pixie.

"You should probably store these in a waterproof container, you don't want them to get ruined." He told her, holding out the book.

"These drawings too." Bella said. "They're perfect."

She went to bed feeling lighter then she could remember.

When Bella woke up the next morning, She found Charlie on the phone with a frazzled Renee.

"What's going on?" Bella asked.

"Your mother tried to get in touch with you all day yesterday." Her father told her flatly.

He was obviously at the end of his rope with this phone call.

"Yeah, I think there's something wrong with my phone. All my friends are having trouble getting through too." She told him.

Charlie frowned and held the phone out to Bella.

"Tell her that."

After a much too long conversation with an over emotional Renee, Bella was stressed. Jacob went outside to wait in the truck at least fifteen minutes before Bella could join him. Expecting him to be angry about having to wait, Bella got into the truck apologizing.

"I'm so sorry about that, she has some trouble letting go."

"No worries. She's your mom, I'm sure you miss each other."

Bella didn't know what to say. Edward would become so impatient, Bella stopped taking her mothers calls when he was around, then Renee would complain about Bella not taking her calls so much she eventually stopped answering her all together. She thought her mother, like her friends, just gave up on her and stopped calling. Apparently she was wrong.

According to what Mike said and proved yesterday Bella was just not getting her calls. Her mom also told her she called once a day since the last day they talked which was at least three months ago. She finally gave in and called the landline. She refused to allow her daughter to prohibit her from acknowledging her birthday.

"I'm the one who went through pain for hours to push you out. I have every right to talk to you on this day." She had said.

"Mom, I wasn't ignoring you. My phone just broke or something." Bella tried to tell her more than once.

Bellas phone buzzed, bringing her back to the present.

Seeing who was calling she answered. "Dad?"

"Seems to be working now." he said.

"Yeah I guess so."

"Since your phone is unpredictable I think you should come straight home after school. Alice can come to our house if there is any party planning left to do."

"Okay." She answered.

They said their goodbyes and hung up.

At school Edward met them at the truck. He was quiet and polite. He walked Bella to her first class not mentioning the day before. He was the same all through lunch. He met her at her last class and walked her to the truck giving her a gentle kiss on the lips. He did however still follow them home.

Friday was much like the day before. When they pulled up to the house Jake asked if she wanted him to stay until Charlie got home, if not he was going to his dads for the weekend.

"Are you coming to my party?" She asked.

"Doubt it." He answered.

He must have seen something in her face because he continued. "I'm just not into parties." and then, "I was with you on your actual birthday. that counts, right?" finally, "Maybe I'll be there, I'll think about it."

Bella forced herself to smile, she said. "It's okay Jake, you don't have to go. I'll see you on Monday."

She stepped out of the truck and tried very hard not to show her disappointment.

On Saturday Alice and Jasper came over at eleven to pick Bella up. Alice did Bella's makeup, nails, and hair. Then she handed her a dress.

It was a short glittery navy blue A-line dress with spaghetti straps, a sweetheart neckline and an open back. Bella felt very exposed in it.

"Alice, you know it's not warm out right?"

"You're not going outside."

"It's too short. it feels like if I bend over my butt's going to be hanging out." Bella complained.

"It's mid thigh." Alice protested.

"It's above mid thigh."

"Not by that much." Alice told her "Besides you're supposed to squat not bend."

Alice gave her a pair of strappy silver heels to finish off the outfit.

"Don't you think this is going a bit overboard." Bella said. "Most people are going to show up in t-shirts and jeans."

"Those people are not the guests of honor." Alice told her.

As soon as guests started to arrive, Edward ushered Bella to his room.

"I have a surprise for you." He whispered.

In his room music played softly, candles were lit next to champagne flutes on the side table and on the bed lie a picnic blanket with horderves on a plate.

"I had this planned for your birthday." He said. "A little reminiscent of our first date."

She closed her eyes waiting to hear him tell her she ruined it.

"Since you didn't come here on your birthday, you will just have to accept my gift now."

He took her hand and led her to the bed. He picked up the glasses and handed her one.

"A toast, to the most beautiful birthday girl."

Bella took a breath of relief, he was in perfect boyfriend mode. They clinked glasses.

After about an hour Edward pulled a wrapped box out of his pocket. Bella opened it with a big smile on her face, it was a large diamond pendant necklace.

"Edward, this is too much."

"Nonsense," He dismissed. He touched the chain that was presently on her neck. "Now you could get rid of this cheap piece of crap."

Bella gasped. She had worn the chain Jacob gave her everyday since her birthday. Edward had never acknowledged it before. To call it a cheap piece of crap felt like a slap in the face. Before she could process what was happening he had gripped the chain and tugged hard, breaking the clasp. Bella could feel the burn against the back of her neck.

"See, cheap crap." He said, throwing it into a waste paper basket near his dresser.

She flinched when she felt his cold fingers on her skin. He buckled the new necklace into place, it hung too heavily against her chest. Suddenly his phone pinged.

"I'll be right back." He told her. "Stay in here, I don't want anyone else seeing you look like a slut."

She was in too much shock to react, he was being so cruel all of a sudden. It was like a switch was flipped. So much for perfect boyfriend mode, she thought. She held herself stiffly until he shut the door behind him.

She ran over to the basket and fished her necklace out. There was a knock on the door. She began to panic before she realised Edward would not knock on his own door.

Thank you for reading.