Chapter Three. It takes a long time to build things up, I'll get to the good stuff soon, don't worry. Chapters will get longer too.
I had fallen asleep on my bed before Alice and Jasper got back from their hunting trip. I was still in my clothes and I had Jacob's card in my hand. My head floated into unconsciousness and I began to dream. It was the day we first met. Jessica Stanley was telling me about the Cullen family and how they were all adopted. I remembered his cold eyes on me as I stared as his handsome body. I was then walking into Biology and the teacher assigning me the only available seat next to Edward. His hands gripped the edge of the table and his black eyes were on my face. I wished so desperately I could see him again. The dream continued. Next was on my birthday a year ago when Edward seemed so happy to be around me. He was begging me to be happy about having a birthday. His golden eyes locked with mine and I remember melting into an everlasting kiss. If only it had been everlasting.
"Bella! Bella!" Alice yelled at me. I was being shaken by her and suddenly I drifted back into the real world. I groaned. My hands were all wet though.
"Alice, why are my hands all wet?"
"Bella, I walked in the door for two minutes and all of a sudden you start sobbing! Humans are so confusing, they even cry in their sleep!" Alice was fuming at me. "So, are you going to tell me what your dream was about or do I have to pry it out of you myself?"
"It was the same one as three weeks ago. It was the same one as a week ago, it was the same one as last night!" I shouted at her.
"Oh, him again." Alice said looking sympathetic.
"Let's just forget this happened Alice, I'll try and go back to sleep."
"Well, look at your desk first, I think you're forgetting what day it is."
"Uh, it shouldn't be anything important, what time is it anyway?" I asked curiously.
"Well, after midnight, so that makes today…"
"Don't tell me it's the thirteenth, Alice, I don't care. Today does not exist in my books."
"It does in mine! Happy Birthday Bella!" Alice jumped over to my bed and handed me my present before I could even blink.
"Alice, you really shouldn't have, I didn't want anyone to celebrate my birthday, I don't even want to celebrate my birthday. I'm nineteen now, I hate this!"
"Just open it Bella, please?"
I slowly took the present out of her hands and was careful to undo the wrapping, after last year's fiasco I always unwrap presents carefully. It was a little box, it almost looked like a jewelry box. I lifted the lid and saw a beautiful necklace. It was very simple, and the pendant was a letter B.
"Wow Alice," I said. "This is beautiful. I actually like this."
"Well, I thought you would. Here's something from Emmett and Rosalie."
There was another small box that Alice handed me. I lifted the lid on this one and there were pear earrings. They too, were beautiful. Maybe birthdays were not so bad after all.
"Thanks Alice, you and your family. I will wear these in the morning when I get dressed. Say, can I use your phone real fast, I'm going to call your family so I know they're all awake."
"Sure Bella, go ahead."
"Thanks, I think I just want to call Carlisle and Esme and talk to them for a little bit. Alice handed me the phone and I dialed Carlisle's number.
"Hello?" A familiar male voice answered.
"Carlisle!" I said enthusiastically.
"Bella? Hi, Bella! How are you doing today?"
"Well, not bad, am I bothering you?"
"No, not at all, what's on your mind?"
"Well, I just wanted to check in, I haven't talked with you or Esme in such a long time. I feel so disconnected and I also wanted to ask you to pass on a message to Emmett and Rosalie. Tell them I said thanks for the earrings!"
"Oh, that's right, it's just past midnight Pacific Time, Happy Birthday Bella!"
"Thanks Carlisle. It means a lot. I also have something else to ask you, if you don't mind."
"Sure, Bella, anything!"
"Okay, here goes." I gulped very loudly. I could hear Carlisle chuckle. "Have you heard from…Edward… at all lately?"
"Well, No Bella," Carlisle said in a stern voice, with a tone of melancholy. "Why do you want to know?"
"Carlisle, I'm really worried about him. He's been gone almost a full year now, and I know I haven't been over him yet. It's just hard, and I don't know I kind of hoped he was with you and that I could hear his voice. If Alice hadn't come back to Forks at graduation last year, I wouldn't be attending college. Your family means so much to me and I just had to call and hear your voice again too--"
"Bella, calm down. We do care about you. Edward was doing what he thought best, and the rest of us think he's crazy. You changed him in such a big way I can't see him being happy with anyone else. Truth is, I've heard from him once in the past year. Alice doesn't see visions of him anymore; she's seen probably two visions of Edward all year. We will always care for you, Edward too, but he just needs time. I will keep you updated if I hear anything else."
"Thanks Carlisle, I guess I was just getting my hopes up a little too high. Anyway, how's Egypt?"
"Oh it's completely fascinating Bella, you would love it."
"How do you cope with the sun?"
"Well, we're in a remote area, doing some archaeology. So the sun doesn't really bother us, and no one can see us out here."
"That's fascinating. You should take some pictures and send them to me, I'm going to buy a couple more picture frames and--" I yawned "and put pictures of my family in them."
"Bella, sounds like you're tired. You should rest, it's almost one in the morning Pacific Time. I will certainly keep you updated, and feel free to call whenever you like. Happy Birthday again Bella, I hope your day goes well."
"Thanks Carlisle, tell everyone hello for me. Nice talking to you!"
"And you as well Bella. Bye!"
"Bye Carlisle." The phone line went dead. I gave the phone back to Alice and laid back down onto my bed.
"Get some sleep Bella," Alice said. "You need your energy for orientation in the morning."
"Okay, Night Alice." I drifted back into unconsciousness and slept peacefully. That is, until I felt something cold on my face. I jolted up and said "Alice? Alice? Alice?" No answer. "Alice?" I sat up all the way and looked around the room. There was no sign of Alice. I was so confused. Maybe I was dreaming. But I did not remember dreaming. I ran out into the hallway and did not see anyone. Had someone broken into my room? I ran into the bathroom and looked at myself. I looked fine, maybe I was getting sick though. I decided I was hallucinating and went back to my room. Alice still was not there. It had felt like a hand on my face, like a vampire hand. I looked at the clock, and it said 5:30 AM on it. I shrugged and went back to sleep for the rest of the night.