Chapter 7
Alice was practically dancing around the island as she finished her preparations for yet another party. It had been two weeks since Zach started high school and she was ecstatic that the family were all back together again on the island to celebrate his sixteenth birthday. While she appeased Renesmee by agreeing to not celebrate her birthday that year, Alice refused to downplay the importance of Zach's. Jasper smiled adoringly at his wife as he followed her around the backyard to help her set up, her euphoric state washing over him.
"Do you think the cake is big enough, Jazzy?" Jasper chuckled as he looked at the five tiered cake. It was red and white, with gold trim, plus had Zach's name etched elegantly on top of it.
"I think it is more than enough to feed the handful of guests that will actually eat it."
"That is not the point. It is Zach's sixteenth birthday, his sweet sixteen! The cake must be perfect."
"It is an impressive cake, darlin'. The guests are starting to arrive. I can hear a boat about to pull up on the south shore."
"That is the Denalis. You know they love to be the first ones to arrive. Marcus, Didyme, Lena, and Alexander are flying in. I told them to just make Connell useful, but they need the plane to head down to Mexico after the party anyways." Jasper frowned.
"I hope everything is alright. Vampires in the south…."
"Don't worry, Jazzy. Everything is fine. Their trip is more pleasure than business."
"And you are sure Peter and Charlotte will be able to make it?"
"Are you really questioning me?"
"Of course not darlin' that was a silly question. I am just excited to see them. It isn't every day they decide to come to our neck of the woods. I still cannot believe how many people are actually coming tonight."
"Yes, it seems our nephew is quite a popular young man. Speaking of which, we should head to the main house. The party will start soon and I want to make sure everyone is ready to go," announced Alice as she clapped happily and Jasper tenderly kissed his wife.
Charlie fumbled with his tie and muttered curse words under his breath while yanking at the offending article of clothing. Sue moved his hands out of the way and giggled at his frustration.
"You would think you would know how to dress yourself after all of these years," teased Sue.
"Alice and her parties, whatever happened to kicking back a few cold ones and grilling?"
"Cold ones, do not kick back cold ones, dear." Charlie picked her up into his arms and tickled her as she laughed.
"You think you are so funny," he chuckled and she playfully swatted at him.
"Put me down, Charlie Swan."
"Or what," he teased. She wrapped her arms around him with a coy smile.
"Or I will have to make us late for the party." He grinned from ear to ear as he headed for the bed, but a loud knocking interrupted them. Charlie groaned and straightened his suit.
"Come in," he called and Seth, Kaya, Edward, and Bella entered the cottage. Sue giggled when she and Charlie walked into the living room to see Bella and Seth covering their eyes.
"Please tell me when they are decent, Kaya," said Seth.
"Grow up, you two," said Charlie and Bella grinned mischievously at her father.
"Just checking," she teased. Edward handed Charlie a large envelope and Charlie frowned in confusion when he saw the materials inside.
"What is all of this," questioned Charlie as Sue looked at the documents and tickets.
"It is the start of your new life together. Mom, I know you have always wanted to travel and Charlie, you said it yourself. You have plenty of time to do the things you couldn't before. We just figured this would help you get a jump start," explained Seth.
"Edward and I made sure the proper paperwork has been filed so that you two can go wherever you want and not have to worry about identification," said Bella.
"Charles and Sue Hale, what happened to Swan," asked Charlie.
"They still exist," reminded Kaya and Edward nodded.
"Charlie and Sue Swan are currently in Europe. They are also much older and retired. Charles and Sue Hale, however, are a young, wealthy couple that enjoys traveling the world whenever they can. If that is what you want, of course," said Edward. Charlie sighed and pulled Sue into his arms as he stared at the new identification cards and passports.
"What do you think," he asked and she smiled.
"I think staying on the island forever isn't an option for us. This isn't our home. We both know that and I don't like hiding away like we are fugitives either," explained Sue.
"I know, I guess I just wasn't expecting for all of this to come together so quickly," admitted Charlie.
"It has been months, dad," giggled Bella.
"Well it sure doesn't feel like it. It isn't every day a guy gets a new identity, Bells."
"I know and you can stay here as long as you want. We just wanted to give you options," added Bella. Sue cupped her husband's face and gazed into his eyes.
"You know I will go wherever you are, wherever you can be happy," assured Sue and he passionately kissed her. Seth and Bella averted their eyes.
"You make me happy and I know you have always wanted to travel. A part of me has as well. I just never had the money," confessed Charlie.
"Alice has taken care of that for you. Charles Hale comes from an affluent family and is a big fan of the stock market," informed Edward.
"Well look at me, I married into money," teased Sue and Charlie laughed.
"I suppose you did. Can I at least be Charlie and not Charles," asked Charlie. Edward nodded.
"Charlie Hale, I like that," agreed Edward. Charlie offered his arm to his wife.
"Mrs. Hale, shall we head to the party?"
"Of course Mr. Hale," said Sue as she linked arms with him. They followed their children out of the cottage and to the backyard where the guests were starting to arrive.
Zach rolled his eyes at his best friend as Josh checked his hair in the mirror yet again. The boys were in Zach's bedroom on the island, getting ready for the party. Zach put on his dress shoes and chuckled at Josh, who was still primping in the mirror.
"I think this is a personal best for you. It didn't take you this long to get ready for Courtney's party," teased Zach.
"Courtney's party didn't include flawlessly beautiful, impeccably dressed vampire women. I have to be up to their standards, of course."
"Of course, now can we go? I am the birthday boy and I am ready to party."
"Fine, but before we go out there, I want to be the first partygoer to give you your birthday present. I know your family already showered you with gifts and it is hard to find something for a guy that gets a yacht from his grandparents, but I tried," informed Josh as he handed Zach a gift wrapped in white tissue paper.
"A wad of tissue, you shouldn't have," teased Zach.
"Just open it," chuckled Josh. Zach's eyes widened when he saw a deep brown, hand-crafted wooden cuff with the symbol for beta etched in the center of it.
"Dude, did you make this?"
"Yea, I just figured….well, I know the pack feels like I could be their alpha someday and while I don't have any plans to ever do that, I want it to be officially known that if I did form a pack, you would be my beta," explained Josh. Zach beamed with pride as he slid the cuff onto his wrist.
"Thanks, J."
"Happy birthday, Z." They chuckled as they performed their secret handshake and Zach smiled mischievously.
"One thing though, you do know that if we ever had a pack, I would totally be the alpha, right?"
"We have been over this."
"Right and I won the race. I am the alpha."
"You cheated! That is not becoming of an alpha."
"Whatever, you better just hope when I form my pack, there is a place in the Zach Pack for you," teased Zach and Josh guffawed.
"Oh there would be a place. After all, you left the island and moved to Forks for me. I am pretty sure I can convince you to let me join your pack whenever I want." Alice poked her head into the bedroom.
"Alright you two, you can play around later. Your guests are waiting, Zach," announced Alice and Zach straightened his tailored suit that Alice designed specifically for his birthday party.
"Come on J, let's go have some fun," urged Zach as he and Josh followed Alice out to the backyard.
The party was better than Zach could have imagined it would have been and Alice made sure that his sixteenth birthday party was the best one yet. He was surprised at the amount of people that came to celebrate with him. Didyme and Marcus did not just bring Lena and Alexander with them. Sofi, Caleb, Roman, and Iris were in attendance as well. Connell and Tia brought along Liam, Siobhan, and Maggie to join in on the festivities and even Micah showed up with Titus, which made Keegan and Garrett ecstatic. Zach was amused when his Aunt Alice demanded that he make a show of blowing out the candles for his cake, but he appeased her as the guests gathered around and Keegan lit the candles.
"Make a wish, baby boy," encouraged Rosalie as she beamed with happiness and Emmett nodded.
"Make it a good one," added Emmett. Zach closed his eyes and took a deep breath before blowing out the candles. Everyone cheered for him and Alice gave him a knowing smile.
"Really, Zach, a stealth private jet," she asked and he shrugged.
"Marcus and Didyme have one," he chuckled. Senna tapped him on the shoulder and he grinned from ear to ear as she held her hand out to him.
"Come on birthday boy, how about a spin around the dance floor," suggested Senna. Zach twirled her onto the dance floor and winked at his best friend, who was dancing with Kachiri.
"Are you enjoying your birthday," asked Senna and Zach happily nodded.
"Yep, I am glad you came. You are a great dance partner."
"Thank you. I would like to think it is because you know how to lead." Zach winked at her and gave her another twirl. However, he frowned in confusion when she let go of his hand and abruptly left.
"Senna," he called, but a sly smile crept onto his lips when a familiar scent caught his nose.
"Mind if I cut in?" He shook his head in disbelief when he turned around to see Tesla standing there with a mischievous smile.
"What are you doing here?"
"I am passing through and I figured I should have a dance with the birthday boy."
"I don't know, Tess. I am not sure my mom or grandma would like that."
"This time I was invited," assured Tesla as she pulled him toward her.
"Who did you have to manipulate to make that happen?"
"No one, Alice just wanted to make sure you could go back to school on Monday and brag about getting to see me. I am your girlfriend after all." She giggled as he let out a whine.
"Aunt Alice, are you kidding me," he groaned and Alice blew a kiss at him from across the yard where she and Jasper were chatting with Peter and Charlotte.
"I am flattered that you would make me your imaginary girlfriend. It is quite the honor, even if it is just to keep the humans from flirting with you. I have two presents for you, but I would prefer to give them to you in private. Come on," urged Tesla and he glanced over at his mother, who gave a curt nod. She watched them like a hawk as they left the backyard together.
"Tread lightly, Alice," warned Rosalie as Alice patted her shoulder.
"I know what I am doing. It will make him happy and that is all that matters. It is his sixteenth birthday, let him live a little. It will be fine. I have seen it," assured Alice and Rosalie rolled her eyes.
"Meddling pixie, he lives plenty," she grumbled.
Zach eyed Tesla curiously as he joined her by the cliff overlooking the ocean on one side and the island on the other. He noticed the present in her hand and flashed his dimpled grin at her.
"You are making quite a show of giving me my presents."
"I wanted you to myself for a minute, call me selfish." He smiled as she handed him a long, wooden box. He opened it to see a golden medallion on an antique, gold chain with ancient symbols formed in a circle around the middle of the medallion.
"Wow, this is amazing. Where did you get it?"
"I won it from a merchant centuries ago in London."
"Won it," questioned Zach and she giggled.
"Won, persuaded to give to me, same difference, but I never had much use for it. I have never been one to believe in love very much, so I thought you should have it. It is what they call a love token. It is supposed to bring you success when finding your true love. I thought you would like it and hopefully it brings you luck in finding your mate someday."
"Thank you. I don't know what to say."
"Well, now you have something to show off when the girls at school get too eager to win your affections. Just tell them your girlfriend gave it to you as a token of her love." He slowly nodded as he put on the medallion.
"I think you know more about being a girlfriend than you think," he teased and she smirked.
"Trust me I am not girlfriend or mate material for that matter."
"One day, you will find him and he will make you happy."
"You Cullens are such hopeless romantics."
"I will take that as a compliment. I have to confess something to you. I am surprised you are here."
"Your Aunt Alice thought it would be fun to tease you about your Alaskan girlfriend and I agreed because well, you have a way of leaving a lasting impression on a woman," confessed Tesla and Zach flashed his dimpled grin again at her.
"I will keep that in mind." She nodded and turned to leave, but he grabbed her hand. "Wait, you said I had two presents."
"I was hoping you would catch that," she giggled and before he could react, she softly kissed his lips. He recovered from the shock and returned the kiss for only an infinitesimal moment in time, but one that made him grin from ear to ear as she pulled away. His smile was breathtaking and matched hers.
"What was that for," he questioned.
"Now you can say with confidence your girlfriend is the best kisser you have ever had as well. I have to go. Happy birthday, Zach," she informed before taking her leave and he stood there completely dumbfounded. Josh ran over to him, jaw slackened and eyes wide.
"Dude, did she just kiss you? Senna was pissed that she used her Jedi mind trick on her and I was coming to find you. Did you two just….did she just…." He couldn't form the words and Zach grinned smugly.
"Yep," he practically sang.
"But that's Tess, I mean….but…what does this mean?" Zach chuckled at his friend's confusion.
"It doesn't mean she is my mate, Josh. It was just a really nice kiss."
"I can't believe you actually kissed her!"
"I kissed Sofi and you are one to talk. What about Nina?"
"Yea, but that's….that's Tess." Zach shrugged with a bright smile as he touched his lips again and Josh nudged him with a grin.
"Be honest, was it better than Sofi's?"
"Honestly," asked Zach and Josh eagerly nodded.
"Yea, come on, you can't keep stuff like this from me, we are best bros."
"Sofi's was sweet. It was nice, but that was…..wow," he said, trying to find the words to describe it. Josh let out a low whistle.
"Well look at you, kissing all the ladies. Moving to Forks has changed you," teased Josh and Zach rolled his eyes.
"Come on, let's get back to my party," laughed Zach.
"Dude, wait, we have to talk about this some more!" Zach shook his head at his friend's sudden need for gossip and details about the kiss, but refused to give in.
Rosalie arched an eyebrow at her son as he and Josh entered the backyard again. Zach's dimples were on full display and he could not hide the smile on his face as she walked over to him with his father.
"Where did Tesla go," asked Emmett and Zach shrugged.
"She just wanted to stop by to say hello and give me a present." Rosalie traced the outline of the medallion around his neck with her finger, causing him to gulp.
"A love token, I have read about these. They are rare these days, practically extinct," informed Rosalie and Emmett guffawed.
"That's some gift. She gave you a love token," questioned Emmett.
"It is not a big deal, dad. It was just her way of wishing me luck in finding love," assured Zach.
"What else did she say? You were gone for a minute," asked Emmett and Rosalie eyed her son as his smile deepened.
"She just wanted to make sure I had a very special birthday," he added. Emmett was satisfied with the answer and went to go speak with Garrett and Benjamin, but Rosalie crossed her arms. She scanned over her son and he smiled sheepishly at her. She gave him one last look before sighing and kissing his cheek.
"Go enjoy the rest of your party," she encouraged and he quickly nodded before going over to dance with Senna. Rosalie watched him apologize to Senna for Tesla's actions and the woman hugged him in thanks. Zach laughed with her, Kachiri, and Josh as the group talked about the size of his cake and Alice wrapped her arm around her sister.
"See, told you, it was innocent and made his night."
"Says the woman that tried to set him up with Sofi," informed Rosalie and Alice scoffed.
"Hey, you know I always have his best interest at heart. Look at him, isn't he happy?" Rosalie beamed with pride as she gazed at her son.
"Extremely happy," agreed Rosalie.
"Then my job is done. Don't worry about Tesla. She isn't interested in him in such a way. I mean of course she thinks he is handsome, but doesn't seem to think he hangs the moon like those girls at his school do. They are a different story. I have my eye on a couple because they are…"
"Need to know basis, Alice. I only want to know such things on a need to know basis. I have more than enough on my plate with him going to school with humans in a territory right by a pack of wolves."
"Good point. Besides, we should bask in the greatness of this moment. Can you believe he is sixteen," asked Alice and Rosalie sighed happily at her son as his booming laugh echoed around them. It reminded her so much of his father's.
"No, but it is something I will get used to. I am going to have my hands full with him this year, aren't I," questioned Rosalie and Alice sifted through her visions of Zach and Josh with a knowing smile.
"Yes, but it will be worth it," giggled Alice, knowing that Rosalie had her hands full now that Zach was a senior at Forks High School.
AN: The End….for now! I hope you enjoyed Zach's Choice and feel free to send me feedback through reviews, tweets, or PMs. I am always open to ideas. Thanks for reading and I hope you continue to follow The Choice Series!
~Rachelle