Hey there!
I hope you enjoy my story...I do. And I'm gonna try to update ASAP, but you know life sometime gets in the way, so no promises.(:
A big thank you to my lovely beta, Sidney! (Sidney Loves Werewolves)
Anywho, READ ON!
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight...I'm just maybe a little too obsessed with it...(:
Chapter 2
Bella's POV
13 years old
I woke up feeling refreshed, and ready for anything, but slightly disappointed and scared. Why, you ask? Well, it's my birthday. I had to hurry and get dressed and leave, I didn't want anyone going overboard, but I knew that was inevitable, but it was still worth a try. So, I jumped out of bed, and in my rush, I stubbed my toe on the end of it.
"OW!" I yelped.
I was hopping around, in an attempt to ease the pain.
"Bella?" I heard through the window. I hopped to it and saw Edward looking at me confusingly. We were still the best of friends, and we often still went to our "spot". "Are you alright?"
"I stubbed my toe on the end of my bed." I whined.
Though I'd hit it pretty hard, the pain was starting to subside.
Edward chuckled.
"Oh, by the way, happy birthday." He winked.
I playfully glared at him. He backed away, his hands held up in front of him as if someone were pointing a gun at him. He knew I hated when people gave me any kind of attention.
I grabbed my bag of toiletries and headed to take a shower. Once I was done, I waltzed back into my room, and searched for the perfect outfit. After all, I did have a boyfriend, now. I smiled. This is the only thing that would help me get through the day.
Jacob Black. Cue blush.
Jacob was very muscular, not as much as Emmett of course, but still decent. We'd been together since school started, so, roughly, about 4 weeks, give or take some days. He was in my Pre-Algebra and English classes. Now, he's not exactly the brightest crayon in the box, but he's really sweet. And, that's what counts, right?
Right.
But Jacob's been acting really distant lately, not in a mean way, though. No, Jacob could never be mean. In fact, I'm sure if we were to break up, we'd still remain close friends. Still, I wonder what's with his distance.
Well, I still would like to look nice for him and, dare I say it, my birthday. I was about to do something I knew I'd regret, but hey it pays to look "nice". I walked to my door, and cracked it.
"Al, Rose, come here for a sec!" I yelled through it.
I heard their shuffling feet, and then they appeared.
"Yes?" Rose asked.
Even though we were all sisters, we barely looked anything alike. I had mahogany colored hair, a fairly pale complexion, my eyes were a chocolaty brown, I stood at 5 feet exactly, and I think I look the most plain out of my sisters, though everyone would disagree. What do they know anyway?
Rosalie, on the other hand was very beautiful. Her blonde hair stopped just below her chest, her blue sapphire eyes sparkled with the happiness that she often had, and her body was well-built. Like I said, very beautiful. No wonder all the boys wanted her, but Alice and I happen to know that she had the hots for Emmett. She's the tallest of us at 5' 3".
Lastly, is Alice. She's very petite, standing at 4'8", in her 13 year old body, maybe she'll grow some more. I don't know how she got to be this short, though. Both of our parents are average height. I guess Alice got the recessive gene. Her hair's short, spiky and black. Again, I don't know how, our dad's hair is brown, and our mom's is blonde. Like I said recessive gene. Alice's eyes might be the only normal thing about her. They're blue, like our mom's, only I got the brown eyes. And she had a thing for Jasper.
Another thing is, their fashion sense surpassed mine greatly. I don't like to shop. At all. While my sisters did, just like our mother. I was like my dad, in more ways than one. I was quiet and reserved, while my sisters were loud and proud. Sure, they're crazy, but I loved them all the same.
"I need you guys to help me find something to wear to school." I answered.
I crossed my fingers, hoping I wouldn't have to wear something totally out of my comfort zone.
They zoomed into my closet, and started talking in some foreign language, well foreign to me. I don't speak "shopaholic".
"Oh, oh, oh!" I heard Alice exclaim. I rolled my eyes.
"What is it?" I sighed.
"Look what I found lurking in the back of your closet." She held up a pair of black skinny jeans. "Hmm, I wonder how they got there." She said, looking directly at me.
I shrugged. I knew exactly how they got there. I remembered the day Alice forced me into getting those. Mom had taken us shopping, and Alice and Rose dragged us into every store that was available. She'd come across these jeans in one of the first stores we went in, insisting that these would accentuate all the "right" things. I mean, are there wrong things? As soon as I got home, those jeans, and anything else they got me that I didn't like, was flung into the back of my closet, their new home, where they would stay…until today of course.
"Oh my goodness! I love those!" Rose squealed as she came out of the closet with the rest of the outfit. Alice looked at the top, and nodded. Then, they both turned to me.
"Ok, here's your outfit." Alice said.
They thrust the hangers toward me.
"Have fun!" They chimed as they walked out.
Oh jeez.
Did they really forget my birthday? Or were they finally giving me what I wanted? I know they planned something, they had to. I decided not to give too much thought into it, and instead I looked at what they had picked out.
Aside from the jeans that Alice picked out, Rose had picked out a dressy blue top. It was strapless with a little bit of beading in between the bust area. Eh, I guess it was ok…a little over the top.
The only good thing was I got to pick out my own shoes, and I stuck with some blue flats with white polka dots. (pics of outift on profile) I curled my hair so that it came down in soft waves, and applied a little lip gloss and blue eye shadow. Alice and Rose would be proud of me. With a glance and nod at my appearance, I grabbed my backpack, and made my way downstairs.
I was half-way down the stairs, which led to the kitchen, and once I came into view, my whole family, plus the Cullen's were waiting for me.
"HAPPY BIRT—" They started, but were cut off by me tripping on the last step. Damn clumsiness.
I braced for the impact of the floor, but it never came. Instead, two arms wound their way around my waist. I looked up into the eyes of my savior, and wasn't surprised that it was Edward. His green eyes were mesmerizing. I couldn't look away. Something unidentifiable emotion was spinning in my stomach. I ignored it though.
"Thanks." I mumbled, blushing.
"I'll always catch you." He reminded. I nodded, and looked at everyone else.
"Way to make an entrance, Bells." Emmett boomed.
"Gee, thanks, Em."
I noticed a few people holding squares or rectangles that were wrapped in wrapping paper. No! I internally groaned.
"No guys! No presents!" I whined.
"Well, we already got you some, so suck it up!" Alice retorted, shoving what I presumed was her and Rose's present. I sighed, and made my way over to one of the stools at the island, and started unwrapping what was one of many gifts.
Alice and Rose had ended up getting me a really nice black trench-like coat (pic on profile), and insisted that I wear it to school. I wanted to make them happy, so I obliged.
Emmett and Jasper got me a Dolce & Gabbana wallet, I don't know how they got it, though. Alice and Rose probably helped them. Figures.
Esme and Carlisle got me some lip gloss, or rather Alice and Rose some lip gloss, because I don't wear any, usually except for special occasions, like today. See how everything comes back to Alice and Rose even though it's my birthday. I really didn't care though, it takes some of the spotlight off of me.
Mom and Dad got me a laptop. It's really nice, though I'm sure it won't be getting much use out of me.
After I opened everyone else's gift, I turned to Edward. He said he'd give it to me later, and I nodded, not quite sure what he was up to. I looked over at the clock, then, and found that we'd be late for school if we didn't start walking. Yes, walking. We do, in fact walk to school. We take this deserted road, surrounded by trees. It's our little inside joke that someone's going to pop out and scare the life out of us, yet we still take it.
"Hey guys, we'd better going." I said.
They agreed, and I thanked everyone for their gifts, and we made our way to school.
I noticed Edward was pretty quiet all the way to school, so, as he walked me to first period, like he always did, I decided to ask him what was up.
"Oh, nothing, I was just thinking about something." He answered, coolly.
"I hope you're not worrying."
"Oh no. I was just wondering if…" He trailed off, not wanting to finish.
"If, what?" I pressed.
"If you wo—" He started, but was cut off by Jake calling my name.
"BELLA!" He called over the crowd. I waved him over, and then turned back to Edward.
"What was it you were gonna to say?" I asked.
"Nothing. I'll see you at lunch?"
"Yeah."
And he walked off. I hope whatever it is he was thinking about doesn't affect our relationship in any way. Jake had reached me by then, and was glaring daggers into Edward's back. They'd never liked each other. I didn't understand why though. Maybe it's a male thing.
"Happy Birthday, Bells." He said with a small smile. Then, he reached over, and gave me one of those awkward one-armed hugs. Yeah, him and his distance.
"Well, I gotta get to class. See ya later." He said, and walked off without giving me a chance to respond.
What a way to start off my day. I thought as I walked into first period.
The first four periods of my day were passing agonizingly slow. The classes that I had with Jake, were horrible. I mean, he'd sit with me, but he never spoke to me, other than the "hi''s he gave me when he first entered the classroom. Besides that, nothing. I was starting to get really irritated.
When it came to lunch, I just completely ignored him, and went to our group's table in the back of the cafeteria. They were already there, waiting for me. I slammed my lunch tray down, and forcefully sat in my chair.
"Whoa, Bells. Who's got your underwear all in a twist?" Emmett asked.
"It's Jake. He's been ignoring me all day. I mean, he said 'Happy Birthday' this morning but other than that barely anything. It's making me so very irritated!" I exclaimed, pulling at my hair. Edward grabbed my hand, and saved me from a major headache later. I sent a grateful smile his way.
"Want me to beat him up for you Bell?" Emmett asked, getting excited.
"NO!" I shouted. His face fell, and I slouched back in my chair, only taking the apple and water that was on my tray. I remained silent for the rest of the lunch hour, only reacting when Emmett asked,
"Are you gonna eat that?"
I simply shook my head. I really hoped this thing with Jake was going to get better. I mean, he was a good guy, but now looking over at Edward, I realized I didn't know what I wanted. I don't know where these feelings for Edward came from all of a sudden, but I'm pretty sure he doesn't feel the same way. So, all I have to do is push these feelings down, way down, and try to work things out with Jacob. I was going to work things out with Jacob.
The bell rang just then, and I pushed away from the table, and threw my remnants away, making my way to class. The rest of the day was a blur, and before I knew it I was making my way to my locker. I turned the corner, only to find Jacob standing there, wearing a frown. That didn't surprise me.
"Hey." I breathed.
"Hi."
"So…" I trailed off not knowing where to start, but apparently he knew where to.
"Look, Bells. I think we should break up." He said. Well, so much for beating around the bush.
"But, why?" I asked, tears forming in my eyes.
"Well, I…foundsomeonenew." He rushed.
"Wait, what?" I choked.
He sighed. "Bella, don't get me wrong, you're beautiful, and smart, and funny and all. I just don't think you're the one."
"Jake, we're in the 8th grade, I'm pretty sure not one of these girls is the one." I said, the tears flowing freely now.
"Bella, don't make this harder than it needs to be." He said. "I really hope that we can be friends, Bella, I really do, but I don't think you really even like me."
"What?"
"I see the way you look at Edward, I really think you might have some kind of thing for him." He stated.
How does he know? I'm not even sure of it yet.
"Jake, I—"
"Bells, it's ok. I understand. Look, let's just be friends, ok? I've got to go now, Leah's waiting." He said, and then he started walking off, but stopped abruptly, and turned around.
"I hope you can meet Leah, she's really nice." He said.
I nodded. "See ya around, Jake."
"Of course, Bells." And with that, he walked away.
I turned to my locker, and stared at it for awhile, before realizing that the others would be waiting for me. I quickly cleaned myself up, and made my way to the front. Once I made it out, everyone was shooting me sympathetic glances as soon as they saw my face. I just shook my head, not wanting to talk about it. Edward held his hand out for me, and I gladly took it. Nobody said anything on the way home, aside from Emmett making a joke, trying to cheer me up. It didn't help though, no matter how hard he tried. I just wasn't in the mood.
"Hey Bells, you wanna go to our place?" Edward asked once we got to our houses.
I nodded, not trusting my voice. Edward took one look at me, and threw me on his back. I didn't argue, I just went along with it. He jogged to the beach with me on his back the entire way there. Once we arrived, he gently set me on the sand, and gave me the "look". The 'we're-here-now-so-tell-me-or-else' look. I thought about protesting, but then realized that it would be a lost cause. So, I sucked up whatever was left of me, and began.
Edward was quiet throughout my whole rant, nodding and shaking his head all in the correct spots. Once I was done, I was crying all over again. He just held me until I calmed down. When I was through, I looked up at Edward, and he was staring out at the ocean. I couldn't see his green eyes, but I could imagine, and I knew, then and there, that I was falling for my best friend.
"I'm sorry I'm ruining your shirt." I said.
"Don't worry about it. That's what best friends are for." He said, his voice getting lower on "best friend". He stared at my face for awhile. "Are you ok?" He asked.
I nodded. "I think I'm all through."
"Well, in that case, I never gave you your birthday present." He said, and pulled out a small square with a bow on the top. I grabbed it, opened it, and gasped. Inside was the most beautiful diamond necklace I'd ever seen. It was shaped like a heart, and had diamonds embedded on it. (pic on profile)
"Edward, I can't take this it must've cost a fortune." I shoved it back at him.
"Bella, please take it for me. You don't want to hurt my feelings do you?" He asked, pouting at me. He's such a cheater. He knows I can't resist the pout! I wasn't giving in that easily, though.
"No." I stated, stubbornly.
"Bella," He sighed, turning the full force of his eyes on me. My resolve wavered.
"At least let me pay you back." I said.
His eyes started to tear up. Jeez, this guy should be an actor.
"Ugh, fine! I'll take the necklace." I gave in.
"Thanks, Bell." He said, taking it out.
"Can you put it on?" I asked. He nodded.
I turned around and lifted my hair. He placed the necklace on me, and clasped it, his hands lingering on my neck a little longer than necessary.
"Thanks Edward. It really is beautiful." I said, looking into his beautiful green eyes.
"No problem, Bella." He answered, and held his hand out to help me up. I took it, and we started walking back, then something struck me.
"Hey what were you thinking about earlier?" I asked.
"That's for me to know and you to find out in the future." He smirked. "And hopefully you feel the same." Though I'm sure I wasn't supposed to hear the last part.
I really am falling for Edward. More than I should, and I'm glad I got over the first step, telling myself. Now I have to deal with step two, convincing the other.
Oh great.
Stay tuned for more of my awesome story...next week on I'll Always Be There To Catch You! lol(:
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Anywho, yea!
~TTP