Disclaimer: I do not own these characters or the universe S Meyer created. There may (or may not) be strong language or subjects in this chapter... Oh and I don't own Hallmark either.

Happy Birthday to Me
Chapter 9

I woke up smiling. I was happy… so happy that I was one of those clichés. Or maybe all of them. Happy as a clam. Happy as a lark. Happy as a hippo. No hippos were hungry… but I was still over the moon, on cloud nine, and even tickled pink. I hadn't realized how stressed out I had been over the Masen house, but knowing that Esme was Mrs. Cullen, everything seemed better and easier. I didn't have to worry about the Cullens being one of those creepy psycho families and all of Tilde's things were safe and appreciated.

Dad had already left for work by the time I got downstairs. After I got home last night, I tried to be mad with him for not telling me about Esme, but I couldn't even wipe the smile off my face to yell at him. I quickly made some toast and joined Rose and Jaz in the car.

"Hey there, someone looks cheery this morning," Jasper nodded from the driver's seat.

"Do you think she's still giddy from yesterday or maybe for once she's excited about her birthday?" Rose turned to him. I looked down at my lap scowling. I had forgotten it was my birthday. It's not something that we really like to think about in my house…

"I wonder what-"

"No! No, we are not discussing it anymore with anyone. In fact, you can ignore me for the rest of the day," I told them, annoyed. They remained quiet after that and even until we got out of the car.

"Hey guys," Emmett appeared next to us and I watched as Jasper and Rosalie led him away from me.

"Hey," Edward sounded behind me. He looked better than yesterday though his nose was still pink.

"Hi, feeling better?"

"Yeah, thanks for the soup."

"Oh, you're welcome. I wasn't sure if you'd remember I was there; you were kinda out of it." I wondered if he'd remember the stripping…

"I remember the soup. So… you've known Esme for years?" he asked as we started walking to the building.

"Yeah, her mother used to take care of me when I was little. It's why I know about the meadow."

"The meadow? That's what you call it?"

"Yeah that's what Matilda called it; it was her favorite place," I told him clearing my throat as the warning bell rang.

"Alright, see you at lunch?" Edward asked with a smile.

"Yeah," I said as he turned away. I watched him as he walked down the hall, Jessica joining him, her hand on his arm.

I spent the rest of my morning doodling in my notebook, trying to tune out everything. My ipod had died because I had forgotten to charge it, and I was ready to kick Mike Newton in the shin for his pervy thoughts.

"Bella!" Connor stopped me in the hall with a sneaky smile on his face. "Don't sit with Angela today."

I nodded in return understanding his plan to leave Angela and Ben alone together. I got to the cafeteria later than usual and everyone was already seated at our usual table. Angela and Ben were alone at a table smiling and not noticing that no one else was sitting with them. I sat down next to Rose, and she completely ignored me, continuing to eat her chicken sandwich. Our side of the table stayed silent until Emmett got paranoid and panicked.

"Okay why are you being so quiet? Is something happening?" he whispered looking around him.

"Emmett when's you're birthday?" Rose asked him with a roll of her eyes in my direction as I tried to kick her under the table.

"October 4th...when's your birthday?" he asked unsure, looking at us with knitted eyes.

"January 11th..." Rose answered.

"Oh... and yours Bella?"

"September 13th," I muttered covering my face in my hands.

September? Isn't today the .... Twelve- Oh Thirteenth... "Oh happ-" he started.

I slapped my hand over his mouth and shushed him. "No don't!" Other kids around us turned our way, and I blushed pulling back my hand. Edward and Rose busted out laughing and I shrunk in my seat embarrassed. "Thank you, but I don't celebrate that holiday," I told them mumbling through my hands.

"Wait you don't do anything?" Edward asked me surprised.

"Nope, no party, no presents, and no cake," Rose shook her head.

"No cake?" Emmett gaped. "I at least get to miss a day of school because Edward has a summer birthday. He doesn't go, so I don't have to either."

"Nothing?" Edward shook head in disbelief.

"Well the cake thing is actually Jasper's fault," Rose told them.

"Hey," Jasper caught attention of our conversation. "Sugar is powder! I didn't know there was difference between powdered sugar and granulated sugar. My bad…"

"I don't really care about my birthday," I told them.

"Come on," Edward stood up abruptly and walked around the table to me.

"Hey, what-" I tried to object as he grabbed my elbow and pulled me out of my seat. I looked to the others for help but they just stared at us with wide eyes and cheeky smirks as we left the cafeteria. "Where are we going?"

"We're skipping the rest of the day."

"We can't… we have that fitness test in gym. We can't miss it, and you've already missed a day of school," I told trying to get out of leaving.

"Right, so what are we doing in Bio today?" He stopped, looking at me waiting for a good excuse.

"Watching a video…"

"Look really sick," he said continuing our way down the hall.

"What?"

"Pretend to be sick."

"But you're the one who's actually sick," I said as he pulled me into the office. Mrs. Cope greeted us with a bright smile and I sat myself in a chair unsure what Edward was doing.

"Mrs. Cope?" Edward asked with a sickly sweet voice.

"Yes dear?"

"Bella isn't feeling well today and I was wondering if I could take her home so she wouldn't have to walk in the rain," he smiled at her. Mrs. Cope glanced at me giving me an unsure look, raising her eyebrow.

"Oh couldn't I just call her father to come pick her up," she said in a sweet tone, mocking him. I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing.

"Oh but he's not in Forks right now. You know, official business."

"Alright dear, just sign out right here." She handed him a clipboard and rolled her eyes at me. Edward quickly signed our names on the clipboard and turned to me with an excited smile.

"Come on," he whispered.

"Oh Bella wait," Mrs. Cope called. "Happy birthday, I still have that pumpkin recipe whenever you want it."

"Thanks Peggy, I still haven't gotten enough pie courage," I shook my head at her, using her first name to rub it in Edward's face.

"Alright, but I have plenty of other recipes for you when you do."

"Okay, and oh we'll actually be back for sixth period," I told her as she waved me off.

"What was that?!" Edward turned to me as soon as the door shut behind us.

"I didn't want to interrupt. You were doing so well," I mocked him.

"You're on a first name basis with her!" he looked at me appalled.

"It is a small town Edward… and she used to baby sit me when I was little."

"I can't believe you let me do that. I'm so embarrassed," he shook his head leading us outside to his car.

"I tried to stop you… oh, I can't ride with you - my dad's rule. I'm not allowed to ride with anyone besides Rose and Jaz until I'm eighteen," I said staring at his shiny car.

"Oh okay… so where do you want to go?" he asked running a hand through his hair.

"I don't know. You're the one who wanted to skip." I wanted to yell at him for dragging us out into the rain.

"And it's your birthday," he argued smirking at me.

"Come on, we can go to my house," I sighed starting for my house in silence.

"What did you mean when you said you didn't have pie courage?" he asked looking at me with such attention that I had to look away from him.

"Mrs. Cope loves pies, but I don't know how to bake one; no one's ever shown me how to. I'm sure it's not that difficult, but I mostly just do cookies and cakes."

"I know how..."

"To make a pie? Really?" I looked at him surprised. I couldn't see him wearing an apron or working in a kitchen.

"Maybe I'll show you some time," he suggested as I nodded knowing I wouldn't take his offer. Edward still intimidated me and I didn't think I could stand to be around him without making a fool out of myself for too long… unless I hadn't done so already.

We turned onto my street and I could see Dad's cruiser in the driveway with an old red truck. I thanked the gods it wasn't Sue's blue SUV.

"Oh should we go? Your dad's home," Edward asked noticing too.

"No it's okay." I shook my head. I didn't know if he would mind. I'd skipped plenty of times before, but that was for a whole other reason that involved my curse. This time was because of Edward… yeah Dad was going to be mad.

"Your dad doesn't care if you skip school?" Edward looked at me surprised.

"Well it is my birthday," I mocked him.

"Wait you should check your mailbox." He walked over to my mailbox as I just stood there. I hadn't received a real birthday card in the mail since… never. Jasper and Rosalie sometimes made me homemade cards… "See you got something!"

"What?" I looked at the large pink envelope in his hand.

Isabella Swan printed in swirly letters with no return address in the corner. I let Edward in and tore open the envelope pulling out the girliest Hallmark card ever made. It was green with pink and purple flowers with words scattered around them.

Daughter
What's a birthday other than candles, some cake, and a song?

I was extremely confused. Dad had never bought me a card before, and he would never mail me one.

"Who's it from?" Edward peeked over my shoulder. I opened it and looked at the bottom seeing the same swirly letters as before.

Love Renee

"My mother," I barely whispered.

"Bells? You home?" Dad's voice sailed from upstairs. "What – shit…" he cursed staring at the card in my hands. "I can explain."

"Please..." I stared down at the printed words.

It's a day to simply enjoy. To be reminded how much you mean to the people who love you. To make a wish and believe in it a little bit extra. A birthday is yours, from start to finish... one small space in time to honor all that you bring into the world.

"She sends one every year on your birthday," Dad started. "When you were three, you got so excited about it you thought she was coming back. You waited by the front door all day and you'd scream if I pulled you away. Even when she didn't come, you watched out for her for a whole month, and then you were devastated. I didn't want to see you go through that again every year."

"What did you do with them?" I wondered. I never knew any of this. He kept it hidden so well.

"Burn them…" he mumbled looking away. I stuffed the card back into the envelope and hugged him placing the card in his hand.

"Thanks Dad," I murmured into his chest as he held me tighter. It wasn't until I heard the shuffling of feet behind me that I remembered Edward was there. "Oh Dad you remember Edward." I pulled away wiping the tears from my eyes.

"Yes…" he cleared his throat. "Why are you here? I mean why aren't you in school?"

"I had a headache, but we're going back for sixth period. What's Billy's truck doing here?" I asked, changing the subject.

"No that's not his," Dad shook his head.

"Whose is it then?" I looked around the house listening for someone else.

"Yours," he gave me a sheepish smile pulling out a key.

"What?!"

"I know it's not much, but Billy needs the extra money and-"

"No it's perfect… Rose is going to hate it," I smiled, almost squealing. "Can I drive it back to school?"

"Just to school and back," Dad nodded handing me the key. I hurried to the truck and jumped in and just smiled inspecting everything. The opening of the passenger door startled me. Edward. He looked confused as he climbed in and ran a hand through his hair. His mouth parted a few times like he wanted to say something.

I had a lot of explaining to do…

"I'm actually surprised you don't know the story already," I sighed. "I'll always be sort of infamous in Forks. The reject, the golden child, and the Baby Swan Scandal of 92. My parents were still in high school when they got pregnant. My dad was so excited and happy; he had job, bought a ring and got a loan from the bank for the down payment on the house. And he wouldn't even take their parents' help. Everyone respected him… and then six hours after I was born, my mom was gone. She left us. Ran off to Mexico or Arizona or somewhere, at least that's what the note said…

"When I said my mother was dead, I meant she was dead to me," I finished, sitting in silence waiting for him to say something.

"It's why you don't like your birthday," he murmured.

"It's not much," I said changing the subject as I watched him finger a tear in the leather of the seat. "But this truck used to be my dad's and he had to sell it when he got the cruiser-"

"No I understand. My Volvo was actually my mother's car."

"Oh..." I felt bad remembering when we in the emergency room, how I thought he was so spoiled for worrying about his car after the accident.

"Yeah, it's one of the many reasons why I like Forks. I drive a lot more here than I did in Chicago. The city traffic made me too nervous; I didn't trust other drivers."

"So you like Forks for the weather and the driving?"

"Yeah, but there are some other perks too," he smiled at me in a way that made me blush and look away.

Fortunately everyone showed up for gym, and Coach Clapp was in a better mood than he had been yesterday. Unfortunately he had paired us up boy-girl, and lucky me, my partner was Mike Newton.

I was a regular Charlie Bucket.

We had to run a mile which was about fourteen laps around the gym then we had to go off into pairs with a stopwatch and do sets of sit ups and push ups.

Damn Bella Swans got stamina... Mike was a pig. He'd been staring at my fruits instead of the stopwatch so I ended up doing like 113 sit ups in two minutes, and somehow I impressed with him with my push ups because I didn't do it the "girl way." I wish I could do it the girl way, but my knobby knees against the hardwood floor were extremely painful.

She really could be a freak in the bed... He continued with thoughts of me as a sex slave. I'd be his student, and he would teach me all the things to make him feel good... I was ready to kick him hard in between the legs, but the urge to vomit was overpowering it.

"Whoa Bella you're a work out machine," Emmett joked as Coach blew the whistle and everyone made their way to the locker rooms.

"Uh thanks," I flushed. "Jasper went through this phase last summer about wanting to get into West Point, so I'd do these crazy workouts with him."

"Wow does-"

Bella Swan? … My name echoed in my head and the scene played out like a movie in my head since everyone was focusing on it.

What the hell is Mike talking about?...

"I bet she's a freak in the bed. All weird chicks are," Mike gossiped.

"Mike stop," Edward called from across the room.

"What? Bella Swan is going to be a wild sex freak… unless Hale hasn't already banged her into one..."

"Mike, Bella is my friend," Edward was next him, pushing him against the locker. "I swear to god if you don't stop, I will bang your head into this locker until there's a hole in it."

"Alright geez", he scoffed pushing Edward off of him. "I get it you called dibs first."

Mike flew back against the lockers.

"Bella? Bella you okay?" Emmett asked with a puzzled look, pulling me out of my own head.

"Yeah, you might want to help Edward," I shook my head feeling dizzy. "Hurry," I urged him waving him away with my hands.

Emmett hurried to the boys' locker room and I turned to the girls'. Edward had stood up for me. He called me his friend in a room full of witnesses… Oh boy, I was going to tell him about my stupid curse. I had to... one way or another and sooner or later. I would do it... one day. Eventually.

When I entered the room, the other girls were all giggling as they finished getting dressed filling the room with different spurts of perfume.

"I know, I know, I'm working on it," Jessica smiled from her locker. "He really does have the most beautiful lips ever though."

"Oh my god, I'm so jealous. You're so lucky. Edward is hot as... as a… I can't even think of anything he's that hot!"

"I know," Jessica laughed as they left the room.

Guess we knew who Edward was sexing up with now.

I dressed quickly and hurried out of the building. It wasn't until I even saw the truck that I remembered I had driven it. Edward stood next to it shuffling his feet and fiddling with the strap of his book bag.

"Hey are you okay?" I asked him as I got closer.

"Yeah…." he nodded his head. "No… no, Mike Newton is a pervert and a jackass, and as your friend Bella, I suggest you should stay as far away as you can from him," he ranted. He didn't need to tell me twice.

"Okay," I nodded fervently, afraid to disagree with him.

Edward turned on his heel agitated, and I dragged Rosalie from her car to my new truck. She made a face but tried to hide it as she mumbled off a list of things to work on. She took inventory of the inside as I drove us home.

"It's... great Bella," Rose said jumping out when I pulled into the driveway.

"You hate it," I smirked at her.

"Yeah, but it suits you," she shrugged at me. "Want to watch a movie later?"

"Yeah, bring one over," I yelled as we both hurried toward our own houses as the rain started to pour.

I spent the rest of the day cleaning and doing laundry as it stormed outside. When I heard the front door open, I'd thought it was just Rose… until I heard the heavy foot steps and their howling.

"Stop pushing me!"

"You pushed me first!"

"Watch it!"

"Oh Bella, we're heeere!"

I peeked down the staircase and groaned at the sight of the pile of large shoes.

"Why are you dogs in my house?" I groaned finding them spread out in the living room with a stack of pizza boxes.

"Well since you're in to parties now, we'd thought we'd come over to celebrate your birthday," Paul smirked at me. He'd looked happier and his eyes were lighter than Friday night. Maybe Jake had finally done some damage control…

"Don't worry we brought ice cream too. It's in the freezer," Seth nodded behind me as he gulfed down a slice.

"Alright just save me some please," I sighed giving in.

I really did miss my friends and I was happy that they came over; and I can't wait for another ten years when they're all married with kids for everything between us to be good again. We took turns playing Nintendo and snacking on junk foods. Dad nearly had a heart attack when he got home when he saw greasy stains on the controllers. He made everyone of them wash their hands before taking their turns again. Rosalie and Jasper came over eventually and we watched some movie called Transformers… at least now I knew where Megan Fox came from.

I finally snuck out onto the front porch to be alone. It had finally stopped storming, but the night air was still wet with mist. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths, my head feeling better and clearer. My eyes flicked open at the sound of car door closing, and they found the dark figure walking up the driveway.

"Hey," Edward muttered holding something carefully.

"Hey what are you doing here?"

"Well uh… sorry I didn't know you were having a party…" He looked behind me through the windows, hearing the rowdiness of the wolves.

"Yeah I didn't either. The dogs sort of attacked me. I had no choice," I mumbled looking away from him.

"I made you a pie." He held out his hands.

"You made me a pie?" I looked back up at him surprised.

"It's strawberry rhubarb…"

"You made me pie?" I smiled. No one's ever made me anything before except for that one time with Jasper's cake.

"It is your birthday, you can't NOT have a cake or something," he said shuffling his feet.

"Thank you so much," I told him feeling dazed.

"Alright well I'll see you tomorrow," he turned to leave.

"Wait," I stopped him. "Don't you want to stay… and have some pie?"

"Yeah sure," he smiled that same half-smile at me.

I carefully guided Edward inside through the kitchen grabbing forks and spoons and the ice cream from the freezer and led him upstairs. I didn't realize that I was taking him to my room until I opened the door. My eyes scaled the room looking for anything embarrassing. Thank the gods I cleaned today. My room was me… plain. Twin bed with the same purple bed sheets since I was eight. A bookcase completely filled with some books piling up around on the floor. My dresser with my shower stuff splayed on top of it. A small desk with my laptop that never left it. And the rocking chair by the bed that my dad used to hold me in, rocking me to sleep when I was a baby.

I sat on the floor leaning against the bed and used a pile of books as a little table. I didn't think Dad would appreciate me having a boy on my bed. I wasn't too sure on the whole boy-in-my-room topic either because it just didn't happen. Jasper didn't count, but during that brief time that we were "dating", Jasper was under strict orders to go back to his own house at night…

"Why'd you bring up all of these?" Edward asked pulling a spoon the pile. "I remember you gave me a fork with my soup too…"

"I didn't know if you wanted to use a fork or a spoon. I don't know what people generally use for everything. It seems like Jasper and Rosalie always use the opposite of other people," I tried to explain.

"Well with pie, I guess it could be either one," he said thinking aloud. "If it's just plain – a fork. With ice cream – a spoon."

"Makes sense," I mumbled taking a small bite. "Oh my goff, ffhis fis goooffd." It was sweet and tart at the same time and still warm from the oven.

"Thank you," he smiled with the spoon in his mouth. "Are you a vampire?"

"What?"

"A vampire? Is that your secret?" he asked with a serious expression.

"Uh no," I snorted. "Isn't a vampire only supposed to come out at night and turn into a bat and suck people's blood?"

"Well they can't be in sunlight and there's basically no sun in Forks, and I have no idea what you do in your own time," he raised an eyebrow at me.

"No I'm not a vampire," I shook my head at him. "Where did you even come up with that?"

"It was something that… Jake? Jake said. He called you a vampire."

"Oh well when we were little we used to play this game – kind of like cowboys and Indians but instead we were wolves and vampires. One time they'd pin me down and rolled on this body glitter stuff and chase me around in the woods. Sometimes I would bite them and change them into a vampire…"

"Wow… so what kind of music do you listen to?"

"Um I don't really like listening to music that much," I admitted, taking another bite. I saw Edward freeze, slowly pulling the spoon from his mouth.

"It's getting late I need to get home," he said setting down his spoon. I watched him, confused as he stood up.

"Wait did I say something wrong?" I asked analyzing my answer. I-don't-like-music.

"Bella I get it. I'll leave you alone, I'm sorry," he shook his head not looking at me.

"What-why-how did you get leave me alone from I don't like listening to music?"

"Because you listen to music everyday. Everyday you have your ipod in listening to music and sometimes it's so loud I can hear it," he said angrily. "I can't get it. You don't want to be my friend."

"I don't want to be your friend? You're the one who – ugh! You are sooo bi-polar! It's like a cycle. Every three days you get in a pissy mood especially towards me for no reason. I don't understand it. You're the one who doesn't want to be my friend."

"Well that's not true. I want to be your friend!"

"Everyday?" I asked sarcastically.

"Yes everyday…" he rolled his eyes at me.

"Fine then we're friends. Sit down and eat some pie," I growled at him.

"Fine," he sat down spooning a big scoop of vanilla ice cream in his mouth. His face scrunched up and his mouth opened trying to warm it up. "Isst's colf." I couldn't help but laugh.

"I'm sorry," I apologized still confused about what we were fighting about.

"No, I'm sorry. If anything came across wrong… I'm sorry. I want to be your friend Bella, and I want you to want me to be your friend," he said slowly figuring out the right words.

"Okay," I nodded. "So we're friends…again."

"And will be everyday," he agreed smiling.

"The music," I sighed. "I like music but I don't listen to anything new or popular. I'd actually like… silence. But the music keeps everything out."

"Keeps what-"

"Bells?" Dad's voice flowed up the stairs.

"Uh yeah Dad?"

"Am I allowed to be up here? Should I hide in the closet? Climb out your window?" Edward whispered walking to my window.

"You're not climbing out my window. You'll fall and break your neck!" I whispered back.

"The guys are leaving, say goodbye," Dad appeared in my doorway looking around my room. I was sitting on the floor with a pie tin and a carton of melted ice cream as Edward stood at the window with his fingers on the ledge trying to open the window.

"Okay, look Edward made me a pie," I smiled innocently pointing to the now empty tin. "Well there was pie…"

"Uh-huh, downstairs now both of you," he grunted turning to the stairs.

"I should have gotten in the closet," Edward mumbled.

I said my goodbyes to everyone promising to see them soon. Rosalie had escaped earlier in the night, Edward left to meet his curfew, and Jaz stayed behind for a while to help clean up. When I finally got in bed, the words from the card my mother sent me popped into my head.

To be reminded how much you mean to the people who love you.

For me, my birthday seemed to have the opposite effect. My birthday reminded me how much I loved the people around me and how much I needed them. The ones who were willing to stick around…

AN: Sorry this took so long to post. Work and viruses and blah blah blah.

This IS a ExB story okay guys. Please trust me. Not everything is as it seems.

Charlie Bucket is the little boy from Willy Wonka.

Fact: I once made the mistake of thinking that regular sugar was powdered sugar... But you can't really blame me. I mean sugar is powder! haha

Fact2: the rule about Bella not riding with anyone until she's eighteen is the same rule my mom put on us. I know! insane right?! and she wondered why I didn't have a social life in high school... but also in her defense, she'd been to a lot of funerals for kids our age...

I'm not sure what happens next chapter except for a shopping trip… yikes!

But I might be working on a wolf story – possibly maybe in the way distant future. Or at least a little oneshot. We'll see. Woof woof.

THANKS FOR READING!!