Chapter 23

The day passed slowly and my mind wandered to Edward over and over again. If this kept up I was going to fail all of my classes but it was my first crush on a boy that wasn't well a doctor or a nurse at the hospital. Those had no potential to turn into anything I think the youngest was 27 and I was 14, oh yeah match made in heaven.

Edward was real, a boy physically my age though I had to wonder how old he was. 40-50 or was it closer to 1000? I shook my head as the image of Edward in Egypt filled my mind. Alice looked over at me and I shrugged.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to go so far away." I told her and she smiled at me.

"Still thinking about what Erik said?" She asked and I shook my head again. No, or was it yes? I guess Erik had started me thinking on my relationships and then I twisted it to thinking about me and Edward dating. It was a leap most people wouldn't make so I guess it was no.

"No, I was thinking about how old you guys might be. No offense but I was imaging you guys in Egypt with the pharaohs and all." I answered and Alice giggled, guess there was something obvious I was missing since I didn't see the humour. Maybe she had been there and my stumble onto the truth was amusing to her.

"None of us are that old Bella." Alice told me and I shrugged. "Carlisle is the eldest and he's under 400." She told me and I blushed, I was way off. So none of them was over 400? That still left a huge amount of possible ages. "And we don't do direct sunlight, we're too obviously different when we stand out in it." She added and I brushed it aside for another day, cause I seriously don't think they burst into flames.

"Oh, so how old are you Alice?" I asked and she looked at me feigning horror. "Not that you look a day over 6 Alice." I told her giggling she joined me and then the car stopped in front of my house.

"I'm not entirely sure. I was turned early in the 1920's so about 100-105 in total but only 85 as a vampire." Alice told me and I just looked at her, trying to see her as more than Alice, as a century old being. Needless to say it didn't work.

"Cool old lady." I said and she frowned and we both ended up in giggle fits. It was nice to still see her as just Alice a century or 17 years old. "I should get inside and make dinner, thanks for the ride and the outfit. It worked well for painting, which you probably knew." I told her as I opened the door and grabbed my bag.

"No problem, maybe I'll drive you tomorrow too." She said and I frowned looking over at my car.

"I would rather drive you, Nia is being neglected." I told her and she smiled at me and shrugged.

"Pick me up at dawn." She said as I closed the door she drove off before I could say anything. Dawn, oh heck no. Then I realised what tomorrow was and knew that I could easily drive to her place for dawn if I could pull myself out of bed that is. Walking up to the front door, I heard Charlie coming down the street, turning I watched as he stopped the car and walked up behind me. I wrapped my arms around him and we stayed like that for a few minutes.

"Hey." Charlie said as he opened the door and pulled me inside. "How was your day?" he asked and I shrugged. A few moments ago I would have said great now I just wanted to go to bed. Pushing my head up, I rewrapped my arms around him and rested my head on his chest.

"It was great, I worked on the mural with Jasper, mocked two school ruling girls, ate lunch with everyone and they got along." I told him it was all true and yet it didn't brighten my mood. Charlie kissed the top of my head and scooped me up into his arms and walked into his bedroom.

"I thought I would come home early and spend some time with you." Charlie told me as he threw me on the bed, it got a smile out of me but it fell fast. "Talk to me kiddo." He sat down and cuddled me to his chest. I remember when Charlie didn't show his love easily, when he was awkward and physically distant.

"Do you remember when I used to attack you?" I asked him and he looked at me confused. "When I was small and would come to visit and would throw myself at you in order to hug you?" he chuckled and nodded at this. "It seemed to me the only way to get a hug from you. After a while you would lift me up off the ground and swing me around. It was the best; you would do it no matter who was watching and even when mom would glare at you." I giggled at this and he blushed lightly.

"I was more distant then huh?" he asked and I nodded blushing back at him. "I'm glad you softened me up kiddo, even if it got me in trouble with Renee. She was a fierce younger sister that girl." He said with a sigh, Charlie told me once that ridiculously he believes that Renee died because of him. Because he hadn't managed to notice that something was wrong in the delivery. He said that we all hold more guilt and regret then is every really ours. "I may have stayed a distant uncle if it weren't for that little sister of yours."

"Clara taught us all so much." I said and he nodded holding me tighter to him. "I want to visit them. Not now or tomorrow but I want to tell them that I'm okay now, that I'm with you." I felt a warm drop of water and looked up at Charlie again. Tears rained down on me as he nodded.

"Sounds like a plan Bells." He whispered and kissed the top of my head.

We stayed wrapped in each others arms until I fell asleep and Charlie moved me to my bed and kept watch over me from the rocking chair. I woke to find him dosing in it and wrapped a blanket around him and set at my window looking out over the still very early morning. Neither of us had eaten but I felt no hunger and I don't think either of us really wanted food.

As the light changed I decided I would go and get Alice for school. I didn't want to continue to sit in my sadness and I knew Charlie had to work today. The day would be too long for either of us if we didn't find something to distract us. I heard Charlie's alarm go off in his room but it didn't stir Charlie. Slowly I moved towards him and kissed his forehead.

"Morning Charlie." I said and he opened his eyes and looked up at me. I was still dressed in my clothes from the day before.

"Morning Bells, going to school today?" he asked as he stretched and yawned, I nodded and went to make him some breakfast. He had to be active all day he would need the food even if he didn't want it. Soon he joined me at the table and ate his toad in the hole, a simple breakfast but one I like to make. It was amusing to say and well easy to make. Really pull out the center of a thicker slice of bread and butter it and the pan then crack an egg and pour it into the hole, cook flip cook and your done. Protein and not too much food.

"Take care of yourself today." I told him and he kissed the top of my head as he pulled on his coat.

"Same to you Kiddo." He said as he waved goodbye. I smiled at him and waved back as I closed the door and went to my room to dress for the day. Today was my little sister's 10th birthday and I was going to dress up for it.

Looking at my closet I decided that I would be dressed by my mom and the birthday girl. Hunting for a few minutes I stumbled upon two dresses that were my mom's one was a lovely red Asian styled red dress with a floral pattern on the bottom the other was a simple white dress. Both were much too short and I went with the white that I could pair with jeans and be slightly warm.

As I pulled on the jeans and adjusted the top or dress I knew that Clara would love me to wear high heels like a grown up. I pulled out the several pairs of high heels that were hidden in my closet and stared at them. I grabbed the white ones praying that the thin strap would keep the shoes on me even when I hit the ground the probable many times today. Looking myself over I cringed at how bare I looked and went back to the closet and hunted for a wrap or something that would work with this outfit.

I came out with no wrap or sweater but a necklace and bracelet. The necklace was simple chains each on hanging at a different length from the others and the bracelet was a present from Clara when I was 12 it had butterflies on it and was a simple silver piece. All in all, my outfit went together rather well. As I looked over myself in the mirror I decided against makeup it would only ruin the natural and simple look so I grabbed a pair of blue heart studs and put them in my lower holes then changed my mind and moved them to the upper ones and grabbed the larger blue stars and put them in. Clara would be proud of the earrings; she had loved them when I showed them to her the day I bought them.

It was the perfect outfit because the dress and shoes were moms and the bracelet and earrings were Clara approved. Throughout the day it would bring me happy memories of them, though I will probably cry. Another bonus to no makeup. I checked the clock and it was only 5:30, surprisingly it had only taken my half an hour to get ready. Grabbing my normal green coat and my school bag I got into my car and drove over to the Cullen mansion.

Nearly missing the entrance to the drive I drove slowly up to the house and noted that all of the Cullens were home. I guess Carlisle has the day off or works later then 6 am today. Parking a little to the side I hoped that I wouldn't block anyone. Walking up to the front door I raised my hand to knock when the door swung open and I was being hugged. Blinking a few times I looked down at the mop of black hair and chuckled.

"Good morning Alice." I said and smiled down at her, she didn't release me right away and I began to wonder what was going on. I know that they know what today is but still this seemed a little extreme.

"Bella, I want to do something for you will you let me?" she asked when she finally let go. I raised an eyebrow and pondered what it is she would want to do that she felt the need to ask. I may not have known them for that long but Alice was like a sister to me. Heck the whole family felt like family.

"Are we going shopping?" I asked trying to figure out what Alice had planned.

"Nope, don't you love me Bella?" Alice asked making a pouting hurt puppy face and I giggled at her.

"I'm not going to the dentist, doctor or whatever that evil look is all about." I told her and she looked at me confused. I giggled and finally entered the house. "My mom asked me that whenever it was time to do something I loathed." I told her and she nodded eyeing me closely. "Alice my mom didn't die yesterday I'm okay. But what is this all about?"

"I planned something and I want to know if it's okay." She replied and I was even more confused.

"We all helped." Esme said and I turned to look at her and everyone else sitting in the front room. It looked like a party, what was going on? Was there some party that I... oh.

"You're throwing a party?" I asked and blushed crimson. Alice giggled and pulled me into the room.

"Well you said that you shared your birthdays with Clara so now Clara's sharing with you." Alice told me as I took in all the decorations. Streamers were tied to all the columns and beams all bright blue and green. There was a rather large cake with green leaves and flowers, even parcels on the table near a punch bowl filled with a deep purple drink. Everything looked beautiful and was simple but bright. It was a party day not one for mourning.

"Bella?" Carlisle and Edward asked at the same time. I realised I was crying and quickly hugged Alice who had remained at my side.

"It's lovely thank you." I said as I brushed the tears off my face both men seemed to relax at that.

"I'm glad you like it Bella." Esme said as she took my hand and gave me a gentle hug. I wanted to weep for the love this woman gave to everyone in her life. I smiled at her and she gave me a glass of the purple drink. Taking a sip I realised it was pomegranate not grape.

"I love pomegranate." I said and she smiled at me as we moved to sit on the couches. Looking about at this wonderful and kind group of people I felt so loved. For a moment I wished Charlie were here to enjoy this with me but knew that he couldn't. "May I brow...?" I started as a phone appeared in my hand. I shook my head and laughed at Alice. "Thank you."

I dialled the number and waited as it rang. I wonder if Charlie's the only one at the station this early or was everyone including Charlie at a donut shop? I giggled at the image of Charlie sitting in a cafe with a donut in one hand and a coffee in the other. He hated donuts said that they were tasteless rock hard bread over sweetened and nasty.

"Hello?" Charlie asked and I smiled.

"Charlie, I just wanted to tell you that I'm over at the Cullen's their throwing a party for Clara's 10th birthday." I told him knowing that he would love this as much as I did.

"Really? Does that mean you get all the presents if I can't get over there to claim a few?" he asked and I noticed how some of the sadness was out of his voice. We both laughed at this I have never been much for getting gifts.

"Nope, even if you managed to get here their all mine so ha!" I told him giggling and I heard a sigh on his side of the phone and knew he had been worried about me. I was glad that I could take some of that worry and sadness from him today.

"They had better not spoil you or they'll have to do it again in three months." He said and I stuck out my tongue though he couldn't see. "I have to get back kiddo but have some fun for me and tell me all about it tonight when I get home okay?"

"Definitely, I'll bring you home some cake if I don't eat it all." I said laughing even harder that cake could feed an army and it was all for me, totally nuts.

"Sounds perfect for a late dinner." He chuckled and we said our goodbyes and I hung up. I smiled at the Cullens happy that they had thought to do this on one of the hardest days for my family and me.

"That was kind of you Bella." Jasper said and I shrugged.

"He lost his sister and I lost my mom. But he came home early yesterday worried about me, he needed to know that so far today was going well, really well." I said and smiled at them all.

"Open presents or cake for breakfast?" Emmet asked and I thought about it for less then a second.

"Cake." I said I was surprisingly hungry now. Alice giggled as she helped Esme cut the cake and hand me a piece. I looked at it and my mouth watered it was angel food cake and looked wonderful and fluffy! I ate two pieces as the others talked amongst themselves but watched me. It was a little odd to have an audience but the cake was wonderful and I was starved.