Chapter Eleven Notes: Finally, we reach an actual event from New Moon, Bella's birthday. It makes me sad to think of what happened in this week in the actual story, but in this story, it will be much less depressing. This chapter and Chapter 12 set up Chapter 13, my favorite chapter to write so far. Chapter 11 and 12 were originally joined as one chapter, but it was literally twice as long as all my other chapters, so I split 'em up. Don't worry, Chapter 12 will be up in a flash. I wrote this while on my death bed (I'm super sick), so I hope it makes sense!
CHAPTER ELEVEN: Birthday Girl
I woke up from a dreamless slumber to the sound of thunder crashing overhead. Rolling over, I saw the usual red glow that streamed from the digits on my alarm clock was replaced with darkness. I groaned. Nothing said "happy birthday" like a thunderstorm and a power outage.
Stumbling down the stairs in the dark, I dug through the drawer next to the stove for matches. I lit the candle that sat above the kitchen sink, trying to ignore the irony. I knew, however, that at some point during the day, I'd be seeing more candles and probably a cake. The thought made me roll my eyes; I didn't even like cake.
I grabbed a snack from the fridge and poured myself a glass of water. Judging by the color of the sky, it was still the middle of the night. I decide not to bother to figure out the exact time; if I overslept, perhaps I could avoid the entire day. With the dim light off of the candle guiding my path, I went back to bed allowing myself to hope.
My dreams were dashed when my father charged into my room hours later. "Happy birthday, Bells!"
"Ughhhhhhhhhhhh" was the only sound that drifted out from beneath my pillow.
"You're eighteen, kid. Time to be an adult. C'mon, out of bed."
I glared at him from the small peephole I'd made between the pillow and the mattress. As my vision adjusted to the light, I saw that he came bearing gifts.
"If I let you take the presents back, can I just stay in bed all day?" I knew my attempt at bargaining was a fool's errand.
He sat two brightly wrapped objects on corner of my bed. "You can open them now, if you want."
I didn't, but I also wanted to spare Charlie from my perpetual birthday grouchiness. Propping myself up on my elbow, I wordlessly tore the wrapping off the flatter of the two boxes.
"That one's from your mom, but my present kind of goes along with it too." He seemed excited, so I pasted a smile on my face.
"A scrapbook, cool." Not wasting any time, I ripped open the second. Inside was a camera. "Thanks, Dad. I love it."
He grinned down at me. "I have batteries and film for you downstairs." He gestured to the empty scrapbook on my lap. "Your mom figured you could fill it with the pictures you took. You can show it to her once in awhile. I think it'll help her feel like more a part of your life."
I knew I should have sounded more grateful, but I was still hung over with drowsiness. "I don't see why a book full of pictures of Jake and me hanging out in his garage and watching television is going to make her feel any better."
Charlie furrowed his brow. "You know, Bella, you do have other friends. Maybe you should make more of an effort to spend time with them. There is a world out there beyond Jacob Black."
I rubbed my eyes. "I thought you liked Jake."
His expression softened. "I do, honey, very much in fact, but you two are inseparable. Your mom mentioned that she's worried that you're getting too wrapped up in him to enjoy the rest of your life."
His point was proven by the first thought that popped into my head. Jake is my life. "Fine, Dad, I'll be more social." I smiled and gave him a hug to show him I appreciated my gifts.
It was true that I never hung out with anyone aside from Jake and his friends. As I brushed my teeth, I began to mentally list off other, non-La Push company I could spend time with to appease my parents. I did sincerely like Angela; maybe I could talk her into going to a movie over the weekend. I refused to let myself consider the other person from school I wouldn't mind getting to know better. I doubted he ever did anything that even remotely resembled normal teenage shenanigans; instead, I pictured Edward spending his weekends reading War & Peace or buying things that were not for sale.
From below, the front door slammed. I hoped Charlie hadn't forgotten that he had to drive me to school. Grabbing my backpack from off of my desk and my crutches from the floor, I hopped down the stairs. Jacob stood in the kitchen, grinning from ear to ear and holding a brown paper bag. "Happy eighteenth, Bella!"
My face lit up despite myself. "What is this?" Inside the bag was my favorite, a blueberry muffin from the local bakery.
"You know I hate gifts, Jake, but you can never go wrong with food." Unless, of course, it's cake. I took a bite and felt my dismal mood brighten. "So are you chauffeuring me this morning?"
"Yeah, I asked your dad yesterday. Hope you don't mind."
I nudged his side. "Yes, I mind terribly because you know how I love to ride around town in a police car." I kissed his cheek. "Thank you so much!" I began to head out the front door to the Rabbit.
"Bella Swan," Jake called after me, "if you think that all I got you for your birthday is a muffin and a ride to school, I am seriously questioning your opinion of me."
I tilted my head back in mock frustration. "More gifts? You know that is not the way to my heart, Jake."
He thrust a small box into my hand. "But I already have your heart, so you're going to have to deal with one little present."
I ignored his smirk and lifted the lid. Inside was a small silver chain. As I lifted it to get a better look, I noticed a small green jewel dangling from the center. "An emerald?" I asked in confusion. I didn't want to hurt his feelings, but my birthstone was a sapphire.
"Yeah. It's not real or anything." He shifted his weight nervously. "I know you wouldn't want anything to remind you of the dreaded day of your birth, so I went with an emerald instead. It's the birthstone for May, the month you and me became, you know, us." He was blushing. "I know it's kind of corny."
I shook my head. "No, it's really very cool. I love it. Plus, it celebrates you and me and not my birthday, so win-win." I wrapped my arms around his neck and placed my lips on his. I noticed that my neck was strained more than usual. "Hey, did you have a growth spurt or something? You seem taller all of a sudden."
"Two inches in a month. I'm almost six feet now," he boasted.
"Well, well." I met his cocky grin with my own. "Just don't outgrow me."
"That," he said, wrapping his arms around my waist, "will never be a problem."
I pinched his cheek. "Okay, giant, we need to go. I'm going to be late, and you're going to be really late." We rushed out to the car, and I put on the necklace on the way to school.
I barely made it to Spanish on time. As I pushed open the door, I was surprised to see Alice Cullen watch me closely as I headed to my desk. I wasn't sure if I preferred her sudden attention to her usual indifference. She never spoke a word to me, but the brief seconds her eyes had been on me made me curious. I reprimanded myself instantly. No, Bella, he is NOT talking about you to his sister. Stop being so self-involved. Maybe she just liked my new necklace…
I pushed the thought out of my head and focused on forgetting that today was my birthday. I hated being the center of attention and would have successfully avoided any hoopla had it not been for the fact that Mike's birthday was just two days after mine, so, of course, he unfailingly remembered my birthday every year. Today was no exception.
"Hey, birthday girl," he called to me from across the cafeteria at lunch. Several students looked up. Great.
Jessica's eyes widened. "Why didn't you remind me it was your birthday?"
"I guess I forgot," I replied automatically.
She rolled her eyes. "You did this last year. What's the big deal? It's not like your thirty or something. Eighteen means freedom, right?" Jessica was always excited about something.
"So what? I can vote and buy cigarettes. Jess, I don't like politics and I don't smoke, so there's no reason for making a big deal out of this."
"I just don't get you." She turned her attention to admiring Tyler's new haircut, and I was again reminded of why I didn't socialize with most of my classmates outside of school. Keeping my promise to Charlie would prove to be quite a chore.
As Angela and I walked into English after lunch, I asked her if she had any weekend plans. "I think there are a couple of decent movies out. Interested? We could go Saturday." I prayed she'd say yes or I'd have to resort to Jessica, who always favored syrupy romantic comedies.
However, before Angela could respond, Mike rushed over to where we stood near my desk. "No, no. You guys both have plans already."
Angela and I exchanged confused glances. "We do?" I asked suspiciously.
"In the greatest stroke of luck ever, my parents are going out of town, so I'm throwing myself a birthday party. Saturday night. Possible keg. It's going to be awesome."
"Uh, I don't know, Mike. I don't really drink… Plus, if it gets busted, I'll have to deal with my dad." I was certain that when Charlie suggested expanding my social calendar, he didn't have underage drinking in mind.
Angela seemed hesitant as well. "Yeah, I don't even like beer, Mike."
"Oh, come on, you guys. We're seniors. We're supposed to do stupid stuff like this." Mike looked genuinely disappointed. "You don't even have to drink. Besides, Angela, Ben is going to be there."
She turned red as she darted her eyes over to Ben's desk to make sure he didn't hear Mike's insinuating tone. "Um, maybe, okay?" She bit her lip, clearly conflicted.
Mike now turned to me. "We can make it a joint birthday party, Bella. You and me. I'll even get a cake."
I glared at him. "You know me better than that, Mike. If there's cake, I will definitely not be there."
He exhaled an exasperated sigh. "You can bring what's-his-name with you. It'll be fun, Bella. Lighten up."
To get him off my back, I shrugged. "Maybe, Mike, but I'm not making any promises."
This seemed to placate him. He practically skipped back to his desk, nearly shouting across the room, "Be there around eight, birthday girl."
"Call me 'birthday girl' one more time, and I will cut your tongue out," I muttered indistinctly under my breath. I was extremely grateful he only could call me that once a year; still, he always managed somehow to wear it out.
Without turning my head, I knew Edward was sitting there with some smug look on his face; he always seemed to find my uncomfortable interactions with Mike amusing.
"What?" I asked in a flat voice.
"Oh, I don't know, birthday girl," he smirked at my aggravated reaction, "I was just curious as to why you're not in a more festive mood today."
"Birthdays are pointless. It's just another day."
His mouth curved into that crooked smile that I both loathed and secretly adored. "Again with the pessimism. So what are your plans?"
"Work after school. Then, I am going home and watching the 1960s version of Romeo & Juliet. And then," I sighed, dreading the final part of the evening, "my father is subjecting me to a birthday dinner at the Lodge." Billy and Jacob were coming as well, but this did not brighten my mood.
"Not a fan of that restaurant? I heard it was one of the better places to dine in the area." I could tell by his tone that he knew that even a good restaurant in Forks was unlikely to rival McDonald's.
I let out a dry laugh. "Yeah, it's great if you like eating overcooked sirloin while the corpse of an elk stares at you from the wall."
He barely succeeded at holding back his grin. "Well, have a good time, then."
"I won't, but thanks anyway." Class had begun, but I wasn't interested in paying attention. I leaned slightly into the aisle. "So what do you do on your birthday, anyway?" My voice was barely a whisper, but of course, just like all of his other features, Edward's hearing was flawless.
"I don't celebrate my birthday," he whispered offhandedly with a shrug.
"Lucky you. Let me know how you convince your parents to go along with that. I could use some tips."
Keeping his eyes on the front of the room, he quietly retorted, "Stop being such a grouch."
He was right, of course, but if it was my birthday, then I could choose to spend it in a prickly mood.
English wound up, followed by History, and soon I found myself at my locker, packing up to spend another afternoon at Newton Outfitters, where Mike was planning a tutorial on fishing rods for today's training session.
This week had been difficult on Jake and me, as it made little sense for him to drive all the way to Forks from La Push to drop me off at work five blocks from school. As a result, Mike was giving me rides each day. I was dreading today's conversation on the way over, likely more pleading regarding his Saturday night kegger. Staring down at my cast, the source of my inconvenience, I rejoiced that I only had two more days until I got a nice, waterproof splint that I could walk on. I wasn't sure if Dr. Snow would give me permission to drive on it, but I hoped that if I didn't ask and he didn't say no, that meant I would soon be behind the wheel of my beloved truck once again.
Just as my mood lifted, Ben and Tyler passed me in the hallway, each wishing me a happy birthday. I could barely contain my displeasure as I responded with a fake smile. As I reached the student lot where Mike's Suburban awaited me, I came to an abrupt stop as Edward passed in front of me en route to his Volvo. Over his shoulder, he threw me a sarcastic grin as he softly said, "Have a nice evening, birthday girl."
"Shut up, Edward." My voice was curt, but I had to bite my tongue to keep my lips from curling up into an involuntary smile.
Chapter Eleven End Notes: "Buying things that are not for sale" is my favorite line from Batman Begins. Something about Edward reminds me of Bruce Wayne; probably the hotness or the fact that both are loaded. Also, I want to explain Edward's frame of mind right now. I know he's being rather chatty with Bella, but in his mind, he enjoys talking to her and there's no risk because he knows she loves someone else. Plus, he won't admit to himself that he likes her like that; he just sees her as an interesting way to pass the otherwise boring time he's forced to spend in high school. Finally, Bella is especially jerky in this chapter about her birthday… I promise in Chapter 13, her mood will improve for the better. Next chapter is kind of plot intensive (the second half of Bella's birthday, including her dinner at the Lodge), so hope it makes up for not as much happening in this one. Thanks for all your supportive reviews! You guys rock!