Author's Note: I enjoyed writing this chapter so I hope you like it.

Enjoy!

CHAPTER 21: Special Sunday

I wake up staring at the ceiling with butterflies still in my stomach. Everything last night has to be a dream. Edward, in his right mind, would never have kissed me. Maybe he was a lot drunker than I was and with his beer goggles thought I was Tanya? No…that can't be right. I shake the assumption away. Not after the things he told me about her and how he really felt about me could he think that. He also shared my misery.

Finally sitting up, I'm met with a throbbing pain pulsating from my temples. I cringe at the feeling and cower back down into my pillow. Nope…definitely not. Edward can't possibly have been drunker than me. I groan, not wanting to move to keep my head still from the thoughts of drinking like a super lush last night. What was I thinking? Or maybe that's the problem—I wasn't really thinking? Stupid Jacob, too! Today is Sunday so only half of the cast are scheduled to work. Edward says he has a few errands to run since he finally got a break, but wants to meet up later in the afternoon for lunch and I agreed.

"Bella? Bella, open up," I hear Alice's voice and her quick little, annoying taps on my door.

"Come back later," I groan again into my pillow. "Let me feel like death in peace!"

Without my permission, she opens the door and waltzes right in. "Stop being so overdramatic," she says to me. "I drank more than you and I'm perfectly fine this morning."

"That's because you threw up everything you ate last night," I grumble. I think the whole neighborhood heard Alice dispensing everything she could when we got home. She shoved everyone out of her way for the nearest bathroom, Jasper right behind her in case she didn't make it.

"Here. Drink this." She sits down on the edge of my bed.

I slowly turn my gaze to her and see her holding a glass full of brownish liquid at me. "What is that?" I almost want to throw up since it reminds me of beer. The thought of alcohol makes every inch of my insides queasy. I placed my small trash can next to my bed last night in case I didn't sprint fast enough to the bathroom. Knowing me, even if I have plenty of time to make it, I'd almost certainly stumble into something on my journey preventing me access to the toilet on time.

"This is…wait for it…apple juice!" she answers with a smile. I didn't understand how cheery she can be this early in the day.

"Apple—huh?"

"Apple juice…with ice," the Hobbit repeats. "Down this and you'll feel better in no time." She smiles again, egging me to take the glass from her.

I'm very skeptical that this drink for kindergarteners will actually work. But at this point I'm willing to drink dirt if it will help. I make a face due to my hangover as I sit up and chug the juice down like we were in a beer pong match. My throat hurts from the cold liquid but it also feels soothing at the same time. "So how long does it take for this to actually work?"

"Not too long. But you can't stay in bed all day. Today's supposed to finally be sunny. Let's go do something! Want to have a picnic for lunch? Jasper will be meeting with his booking agent and taking some scenic pictures so I'm free for a few hours."

On any given day I would definitely do something with Alice. We haven't spent a lot of time together since Jacob's been here and today Jacob wants to venture out on his own along the countryside before he leaves tomorrow. He promised Renesmee he'd take pictures of Volterra so she can see the different aspects of this place. He's already taken plenty of pictures with us so that's all squared away. And so, he isn't the reason why I'm hesitating to spend time with my quirky little friend. It's because of Edward and the plans we've already made.

When Edward and I got back to our friends last night at the beach, we pretended nothing happened. Alice and Jacob both eyed us suspiciously, of course, but it was hard for them to concentrate on any one thing for too long since the alcohol gave most of us the attention span of a peanut. We agreed to keep things between us quiet for the meantime until we figure out what this thing is and most importantly, if it's something we both really want. Clearly after the events of what happened, the attraction between us is definitely there. But we want to take things slow and he knows I'm afraid of how Tanya is going to react. She's the last person in the universe who I want to inform.

"Well?" Alice is still waiting for my answer. "Picnic? Yes or no?"

"Umm…actually, I don't think I can do a picnic with you today, Alice."

She shakes her head, dismissing my reply. "Oh, don't worry about it. You'll be fine before lunchtime. The apple juice should help keep down food. Just go shower and get dressed. Let's go to that café around the corner for breakfast!"

I sigh. She didn't understand what I meant. Mostly because I wasn't clear about what I meant. "Breakfast sounds great," I nod. And it did because as soon as my ears pick up on the mention of food, my stomach starts growling for sustenance. I get up and look for a clean towel. I didn't have to worry about what to wear because I know she already has something picked out for me, as usual.

"Great! We can discuss what we want to bring to our picnic over breakfast." Alice is walking around my room examining my stuff and cringing at some of the décor and trinkets I have lying around. She's never really spent that much time in here and I'm sure if she had it her way, she'd burn everything first then renovate my entire room from head to toe.

After grabbing a clean towel, I turn to her. "Alice…about the picnic…" I have to tell her somehow even if I break my promise to Edward. Remember, I'm a bad liar.

"Yeah?" She replies, still focused on whatever catches her curiosity around the space she's in.

"It's not that I don't want to have lunch with you, I would love to have lunch with you! …It's just that…I can't," I cringe, waiting for her reaction. I open my eyes one at a time to see how well she's taking my rejection after a few seconds of silence. I imagine her to have such a disappointed look on her face but she doesn't. Instead, she has a suspicious glint in her eyes.

"And why not? Do you have plans today with someone else already?" Aside from the suspicious look she's giving me, a tiny smirk surfaces. I hate how intimidated she can make me feel in an instant. Trying to lie now would definitely not help my case.

I turn red faster than you can say 'tomato.' "Well, yeah…sort of." I look away because I know I'm in the hot seat now. I quickly grab my bathrobe, a new bra and panties and march to my bathroom. Alice won't let me close the door until I'm actually ready to jump into the tub to drown myself before she can interrogate me any further. I'm still adjusting the temperature of the water and for some reason it takes longer to warm up today than normal. Or so at least I thought.

Alice is observing me, leaning against the doorway with her arms folded in front of her. "Hmm…well, since Jacob is out roaming Volterra by himself, it can't be him whom you have plans with. So, who's the next possible candidate with a day off today…?" The annoying pixie-haired fashion designer contemplates on the idea. It's obvious she already knows who it was. She just wants me to sweat.

"Oh, stop it, Alice," I casually roll my eyes. "You know who it is."

"What?" she looks at me confused. "And how would I know?"

I shake my head. She really wasn't going to make this easy for me. "Edward, okay! Edward. Your brother. The actor. The one with the green eyes? There? Are you happy?" I shove her out the door so I can take my shower in private. Before I can fully close it on her and finally get some peace of mind, she sticks her foot in the doorway. She's quick, this tiny one.

"Where are you two going?" her eyes lit up. She's trying to stick her head inside the small opening in the doorway but I refuse to grant her access.

"I—I don't know?" I shrug, still trying to shut the door on her. "Can we talk about this later? I feel gross from last night and want to shower."

"Fine. We'll talk about it over breakfast. Skip no details." She nods as if we've made some sort of an agreement and leaves me to get cleaned and ready for the day. I sigh against the door knowing Alice will be hanging on my every word. And I didn't even know what to tell her!

At the café, the waiter sits us outside and I let Alice order our breakfast. When we finally get our coffee we both take a moment to enjoy it. The taste of caffeine in my system makes me smile. Italians really know how to make their coffees. Even Alice looks like she is in heaven when I glance at her. Since our walk here I barely feel my hangover as well. I guess apple juice did work. Who knew? Looking around the quiet streets and soaking in the sun makes me glad we decided to eat out. Taking a moment to enjoy the scenery truly made Volterra beautiful. The landscape is mixed with old architecture brought into the modern age. And it's days like this that reminds me why Aro loves this place so much.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" smiles Alice. I almost forget my company as I got lost in admiring the scenery, and it looks like so did she.

Alice takes another sip of her coffee then straightens the napkin on her lap. "So, you and my brother are going on a date this afternoon?" I can see her trying to suppress a smile. She appears more excited about this afternoon than I am—but not that I'm not excited myself. As a matter of fact, I am ecstatic about it! Alice's just always giddier about things than I was.

"Well, no," I shrug at her question. "I mean, I don't know? I don't think it's a date? We're just having lunch."

"Yeah, but alone," she grins widely. She doesn't realize she's leaning into the table until the waiter comes back to place our food in front of us. "Grazie," she smiles politely at him. The waiter slightly bows his head with a smile in return. I look at Alice then back at the waiter. He looks fairly young with wispy brown hair, brown eyes, and a dimple in his left cheek. He clears his throat and finally walks away—smitten already—to attend to another table. I just stare at Alice. "What?"

"How do you do that?"

"Do what?" she looks at me strangely. She takes her butter knife and spreads some jam on her toast.

"You and your siblings always have this…dazzling affect on people. You're probably used to it so you don't notice it all time, but whenever you or your brothers are in a room, the whole place focuses on you. Like that waiter for example. I practically had to wipe the drool off his shirt."

She briefly glances in his direction and surprise, surprise…he's still staring at her from where he is standing with his waiter buddies. She smirks a little like it's no big deal and shrugs, still focused on spreading the jam evenly on her toast. "He's probably like eighteen or something and I have my wonderful Jasper. And hey!" she stops what she's doing and looks up at me. "Stop changing the subject!"

I was really hoping we could prolong talking about me and Edward but apparently, it's too late now. Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned her brothers? I smile at her while mentally kicking myself. "I already told you it's just lunch. I don't even know where we're going yet."

"Have you heard from him today?"

"No…not yet. He says he has a few things to take care of this morning."

"Hmm…really…" she says to herself.

"What does that mean?" I ask curiously.

"Nothing. I've just never known Edward to…shop. He can be buying our mother a souvenir of some sort to send to her to…wherever she currently is."

"Souvenir?" I assume that with their mother being such a jetsetter and also a well-known fashion designer, she would have been here plenty of times before. I can't understand why she would want a souvenir.

"Yeah, well, she always makes us send her things wherever we are. Makes it more personal, she says, because it's coming from us and she doesn't see us as often as she would like."

"What have you gotten her?"

Alice starts laughing. "Nothing like my brothers. I always get her fabric from whatever store I find nearby. At least I know it's something she can actually use. On one of Edward's trips a few years ago he got her an antique lamp that she absolutely adores. It still sits in her designing room back home. I couldn't believe he upstaged me!" she shakes her head, cutting into her breakfast sausage.

I had to smile. Alice never likes to be upstaged by anyone. "I wonder what Edward's doing?" I absentmindedly say aloud. Without realizing it, I prop my elbow on the table, my chin in my palm. Clearly I'm daydreaming about my handsome Adonis. The kiss we shared suddenly enters my thoughts and I am lost.

"Hello? Earth to Bella?" Alice waves her hand in front me of me. I sit back in my chair, placing my hands on my lap, blinking back to reality…and blushing. I have no idea how long I was lost in my own little world but Alice is still observing me. She sits back in her chair, smirking at my behavior.

"What?"

"You're smitten, aren't you?" her smirk grows wider.

"What?" I exclaim as if the thought is beyond ludicrous, which it isn't. Who wouldn't be smitten by him? My face begins to blush begrudgingly against my will. My little observant friend chuckles softly at my bright red cheeks. I think my entire body is the color of a tomato. I take a large sip of water to quench my parched throat. "It's okay, Bella," she smiles reassuringly. "I know you really like my brother. And he seems to really like you, too."

My eyes grow wide and I think I turn another shade of red, if that were possible. "Is it…that obvious?" I slouch into my seat. I mean, I know I'm pretty transparent sometimes and lusting over one of my friend's brothers is kind of…weird and new to me. My also gushing over her brother and how he is beautifully perfect in every single way probably isn't something she wants to hear. I keep my eyes on my plate the whole time and slowly look up to meet her reaction.

Alice is still smiling behind her dark sunglasses when it seems we have made eye contact.

"Yes…somewhat," she tries to ease the embarrassing state I'm in. "Well, okay, yes—it's pretty obvious! It's like your whole demeanor changes, but so does his."

"What do you mean?" I'm very curious on her observant eye toward her brother.

"Edward's always been a people person who gets along with everyone. He can be charming, humorous, out-going, very versed in different subject matters from the last office box hit to politics, blah, blah…" she says, using her hands for effect. "But once you enter the room, he goes completely quiet. He becomes more reserved. I'm sure you've noticed it."

Me? Notice Edward's cool demeanor around me? I thought he was always like that. "No…not really."

"Well, he does," she smirks again. "Rarely do I see him act like that around anyone. As a matter of fact, I don't think he's ever acted like that around anyone." She pauses her sausage cutting to think of a time where she's witnessed this strange behavior of her brother's and shakes her head. "Yeah, no. I don't think so." And continues with her breakfast.

I swallow nervously, playing with my hash brown I've barely touched. "So, umm…has he…ever talked about me?" I peek in her direction through my lashes. Alice finally takes off her sunglasses and folds them on the table next to her phone.

"Not in great detail. He's commented on how I have a very interesting friend." The smirk on her lips return. "Whether or not he talks about you with a few or a million words, the way he feels about you says it on his face—especially the way he acts around you. Trust me, I know my brothers. Emmett is the more playful, out-going, jock-of-the-school type. You should have seen him when he first met Rosalie. Every guy in school was drooling over her, most of all, Emmett. He's a pretty confident guy around women since he has the same affect on them, but with Rose…he was just a blubbering idiot." She and I both laugh. I'm sure it wasn't hard for Rosalie to fall for Emmett though, not with his boyish charms and dimples.

"She's so…intimidating," I say quietly. "I don't think she likes me very much." I slink a little further down into my seat. Just the thought of her makes my palms sweat nervously.

Alice shakes her head, telling me to dismiss the idea. "She's like that with everyone, I've told you. Once you've warmed up to her, she's actually not all that bad. Bossy and demanding—yes," she nods, chuckling, "But she can't help it. Her and Jasper come from a well-to-do family and being the way she is…well, I think it's all she knows."

"Jasper's not like that," I point out. He's far from it. Jasper is friendlier, quieter, and more reserved than his sister. He's also polite and a gentleman. Between him and Rosalie, Jasper seems like the one that got pushed around by the other—a lot. The two siblings also being twins are still mindboggling.

"You're right, he's not," she agrees. "They just have very different personalities, I guess." She shrugs and takes a sip of her coffee.

I do the same and casually place it back on the little saucer it was brought out on. "You're not intimidated by her?" I don't think I've ever seen Alice back down to anyone—even in her small stature—but Rosalie could be the exception. It makes me wonder if it took a while for them to get along as well.

"Oh, no. Never. Rose and I got along perfectly! Right from the get-go." She's kidding? "She knew I was an up and coming designer at the time and with her love for fashion, our friendship blossomed right away," she further explains. "I designed some of her outfits to the events and galas her family holds annually and that's where I met Jasper. He was the photographer at one of their parent's charity events."

"And it was love at first sight, right?" I smirk at her.

She smiles on the idea and nods. "Yeah…it was." My over-the-top smitten friend sighs. Contemplating whether or not to break her from her lovey-dovey daydream about her boyfriend, I clear my throat. She shakes herself back to reality and continues her meal. Briefly glancing at me, she furrows her eyebrows. "Bella. You've hardly eaten. Are you not hungry?"

"I thought I was…but I think I just really wanted coffee," I shrug. My thoughts of Edward are too distracting for me to eat. Alice sighs again and doesn't say anything. She's almost done with her meal. The same young waiter ogling her earlier returns and refills her cup. I shake my head, politely waving him off since I didn't want more caffeine making me jittery all morning given how nervous I am about this afternoon with Edward.

Alice barely notices he's here as if his presence is inconsequential. Not being given the time of day he was hoping for, he quietly stalks away. "So, what's on your mind?" she finally asks after he's gone.

"What do you mean?"

All finished with her plate, she places her silverware squarely on the table with the napkin from her lap. "Go ahead and ask me, Bella," she rolls her eyes. My eyes go wide and my jaw drops. How does she do that? I flush, my friend knowing exactly what's on my mind. "Oh, Bella. It's not hard to guess," she answers my inner question. "It's written all over your face." I guess it really is hard for me to conceal my emotions. I never knew I was the type to wear my heart and everything else on my sleeve until recently. It must be something in this city's coffee. I'm sure of it.

"Can you tell me a little about Edward?" I ask like a shy little girl, fidgeting with my hands under the table.

With my question out in the open, she finally looks pleased. Only she can coax things like that out of me. "Yes, I can—so you have a better understanding of him." Wow, I had no idea she was so willing to open the personal file on her brother. But what she says makes me a little uneasy in my shoulders for some strange reason. A better understanding of him? What does she mean by that? "Before I begin, you have to promise me that some of the things I am about to tell you cannot repeat back to Edward. I know my brother would not appreciate—in fact, he might be furious at me–for talking to you about his past."

"Of course," I nod immediately. I'm beginning to get more curious by the second. What kind of past did Edward have? Surely it wasn't too bad…or was it? My hands start to sweat from the anticipation and I fiddle with my hands even more.

"Edward wasn't always this way…" she begins. "He was a good kid at heart—well, he still is—did as he was told by our parents, intelligent, got good grades…and so on—but didn't really have any friends. He got bullied because he was smaller than the rest of the boys in his class and easier to pick on. He had a later growth spurt than most kids his age, although he was still fairly young."

"How…old was he?" my heart sinks. Poor little Edward. I can picture him as a kid surrounded by other kids who are the size of The Hulk, pushing him every which way, taking his lunch money and Edward crying and shouting for them to stop and no one coming to his rescue. Poor thing.

"We were still in grade school so I would say around nine? Fourth grade. Emmett was already in middle school so he wasn't able to defend him. He had no idea what was going on and Edward made me promise not tell him or our parents. He'd come home with bruises that he was able to hide from our parents, which I still don't know how he managed to do. He was more of a loner back then, too, always locking himself up in his room away from the world."

"Did your parents worry?"

Alice nods. "Oh, of course. They were concerned. My siblings and I had a pretty good upbringing; going to the finest schools, getting cool cars and gadgets…but during that time Edward was the only child of theirs who didn't seem to be enjoying his youth. When fifth grade came around, Edward started to change…" She frowns, thinking back on their childhood.

"Changed? How?" I ask quietly. My muscles start to tense at Alice's solemn look.

The waiter comes back to give us our check. She doesn't even look at the bill and just gives him her card. Alice never lets me pay for anything, which is annoying. I usually have to distract her to even see how much the bill is for. After he leaves again, she continues. "Well, when he finally got that growth spurt he was looking for…I don't know…something in him changed. He got meaner toward other kids and by middle school he was always getting into fights. He was almost expelled once for giving some kid a bloody nose. There'd be times when he didn't come home, too. Emmett can be pretty intimidating but Edward never backed down so even he couldn't do anything about his behavior. My parents also considered a physiatrist and boarding school."

I listen quietly in shock. It's hard to imagine Edward as this tough, bad boy who was such a troublemaker in his youth. Looking at him now with his cool reserve, charming smile, and sweet voice and piercing green eyes, one would think he was a complete angel growing up. "So how did he turn his troubled youth around?"

"The theater and music," she finally smiles again. "Our parents took us to a play and Edward was so mesmerized by the costumes—we all were—and the different characters that were being played by one actor, that he wanted to try his hand in acting. To be someone not himself. I knew he wasn't happy with the way he was becoming and acting was a form of release for him. It was therapeutic almost. He was casted in almost every play in high school and Edward was so good in the roles he played that it was always a packed house whenever he performed. I guess you can say acting is the one passion he has that turned his troubled youth around. Besides acting he also got into sports to release any pent up energy he had when he wasn't acting. He figured it would keep him out of trouble as well. That's how he turned into the confident and sometimes cocky, composed person you see now." She rolls her eyes. I think she can only advertise her brother in a good light for so long.

Acting and sports—as I saw during the softball game—he is very good at. Alice's story makes me want to jump up and embrace him tightly, kissing him all over for the proud feeling I have of him overcoming the kind of person he didn't want to become and potentially going down a path that could have brought him to a dark place. "That's really great," is all I can say, trying to suppress a full-blown smile.

"My parents were relieved themselves, trust me," she rolls her eyes again. "We're all very proud of Edward. He didn't have it easy but I'm glad Edward is still the sweet, bossy brother I know."

"Alice…why exactly are you telling me all this?" I realize it's a lot of information on her brother—and very personal. I'm not sure if Edward should be the one to tell me these things. A pang of guilt suddenly hits me. I would never want to get Alice into trouble with him for telling me something so private about his life. I feel like an intruder almost. I doubt even the media knows about this. Oh, boy, would they have a field day!

She looks guilty herself. "I know I probably shouldn't have but I though you should know. I doubt it's something Edward would be forthcoming about since he's a very private person. Or aims to be, anyway, and it's not really a time in his life he likes to revisit. I know how suffocating and over-protective he can be—trust me, I'm his sister—and I just want you to know the reason behind the way he always wants to keep you safe and away from harm. And it's not because he thinks you're a clumsy person."

"You sure about that?" I lightly scoff. Everyone thinks I'm a clumsy person because I am. Judging from the way he always seems to be laughing at me whenever I almost fall on my face, I would have never guessed that Edward's over-protectiveness to keep me safe is because of his past and the urge to want protect everyone he can. He should have just been a Superhero rather than an actor if that's the case. "My case is different though, Alice. I'm not being picked on or bullied. I really am just a clumsy person by nature and he can't protect me from myself or every little inanimate thing."

"Regardless, it's all the same to him," she shrugs. "He really likes you…you know." The smirk is back.

My face turns the color of a tomato again. I shake my head. "We're just friends, Alice." I want to tell her about the kiss but I promised Edward I wouldn't say anything to her—at least not yet. He knows if Alice finds out, she'll be grilling the both of us within seconds.

"When I first heard the encounter between you and my brother at Café Twilight, and the weird affect you had on him, I knew the two of you just had to get together somehow," her eyes beam with giddiness. "When Aro called me to work for him as the stylist for the movie and also finding out he was your uncle, I knew the fates had answered my prayers!"

"Oh, Alice," I shake my head, laughing softly. I didn't know what a conspirator she could be. She also reveals that every chance he and I could be alone together she'd make it happen, hence those times she tried to bail out on me. Even Jasper was in on it.

"But—I didn't want to interfere with your natural connection with each other. I want the both of you to take those next steps with each other on your own." Alice suddenly frowns.

"What is it?" I wonder at the change in her features.

My friend gives me a sympathetic look. "I know how you'd been crying, Bella, and how hurt you were when Tanya showed up on set that day. My heart broke and I though you and Edward would never get the chance you deserve. Trust me, Edward had been sulking behind the scenes. It was evident he was miserable and even more miserable whenever Tanya was around, trying to drag him to places to get in good with the media. He just didn't seem like himself. Sure he was good at putting up a front when it called for it, but in his eyes…he seemed lifeless."

I scoff and laugh. Edward did tell me he was miserable during the times we didn't talk to each other but it couldn't have been that bad for him? "Oh, c'mon, Alice. You're totally exaggerating!" Ms. Observant in front of me is right on the nose about me crying and I appreciated her for allowing me the time to deal with my emotions in my own way. However, I can't fathom Edward being in such a depressing mood over someone like me. There's a lot about myself I'm only now discovering on this trip—all because of one man. A very handsome young man, if I do say so myself. Alice's face still looks very serious when my thoughts bring me back to the present. She almost appears to be mad at me. "What?" What did I do now?

"Bella, seriously!" she snaps at me. "Why can't you see how beautiful you are?" What? Where did that come from? I blink at her a few times. Silent. "The clothes I put you in accentuate your beauty. You wear the clothes. The clothes don't wear you. How many times do I have to tell you that? And stop comparing yourself to Tanya," she eyes me. I was going to open my mouth when she holds her hand up to stop me. I zip my lip back up. "I know you do, Bella, so don't try to tell me you don't. That woman has issues. Edward no longer has any interest in her whatsoever. What you see between them is all Tanya's doing. Edward's only tolerating her to avoid some kind of overdramatic performance from her that will give him—and us, his family—a bigger headache."

"Oh…"

"And Rosalie hates having to clean up the mess she makes when Edward is involved."

I think on the things she tells me. "So…you think Edward really likes me?" I ask hesitantly, which is more my own self asking if it was true. I did blatantly admit I loved him.

There goes the roll of the eyes again. "Yes, Bella! And the way he kissed you last night…that was definitely very passionate."

"What?" I lean into the table bug-eyed and flushed. "How did you…but I didn't…" How did Alice know that Edward and I kissed last night? Was she spying on us? My heart rate picks up again. How embarrassing!

"I didn't mean to spy on you," she says as if she's read my thoughts again. "I wanted to make sure you were okay so I stomped after Edward. I couldn't walk very fast—or very straight, if I remember correctly—so Jasper came with me. By the time we finally caught up to you guys, your lips were locked and I wanted to scream for joy but Jasper put his hand over my mouth and carried me away." She didn't seem very fond of that particular memory but I silently thanked Jasper for what he did. Her confession also eases the tension I feel in my shoulders now that I didn't have to hide that little secret from her because, again, I'm bad at lying. "I can't wait to see what he has in store for you later!" she squeals. I'm not sure what she means but I assume our lunch date. The thought of it excites me, too.

After Alice signs the bill, we walk to the familiar shops around the blocks near Aro's villa to kill time before I meet up with Edward and do a little credit card damage. Her credit card, to be exact. The problem about shopping with Alice is if I see something I like as far as clothing and shoes go, and she thinks it'll suit me well, it's automatically mine. I feel like she's my boyfriend sometimes because she rarely gives me a voice when it comes to something I want to buy for myself. Edward may have a little competition.

"Oh, Bella look at this dress!" she drapes it in front of me, examining how it would look actually worn. "Try it on," she nods with a smile and practically pushes me into the dressing room before I can make my protest. Inside the small space, I sigh. I was tired of trying on all these dresses and having to model them for her to see if she'll approve or not. Alice is definitely in boyfriend mode on me. As I unzip my pants, my phone vibrates in the back pocket, startling me, causing me to fall sideways against the wall with a very ungraceful thud.

"Bella? You okay in there?" I hear her ask.

"Yeah! I'm fine," I try to reassure her, embarrassed. I fish for my phone before it causes anymore damage to my limbs. I answer the persistent ringing as I rub the elbow with my other hand that hit against the wall.

"Bella?"

It's Edward! I blush immediately. I'm glad our conversation is over the phone so he can't see the effect he has on me.

"Hi…" I say nervously.

"I'm almost done with my errands. What are you up to?" he asks casually.

"I'm with Alice…shopping." I roll my eyes.

He laughs softly. Why does he sound even sexier over the phone? "I'd be surprised if you weren't. I don't want to intrude on your time with my sister but…we did have plans." I can tell he's grinning on the other line, which in return makes me have the goofiest smile ever seen on my face.

"Yes, I remember," I respond shyly. "And I've told Alice we were going to have lunch this afternoon."

"Good. Tell her to have you back home in twenty minutes. I'll see you guys there."

We say our good-byes and hang up. For the life of me I can't get this goofy grin plastered across my face to leave. Talking to him and remembering the kiss we shared just hours ago sends me back to cloud nine. I hurriedly strip out of my clothes and try on this floral satin dress Alice gave me. The sooner she sees it and buys it—because I know she will, whether I want her to or not—the sooner we can get back home so I can see my gorgeous green-eyed Adonis!

"Bella, it is perfect!" she squeals then looks down at my feet. "Good. Your shoes already match so we don't have to find you a new pair. Come." She signals for me to follow her.

"Let me change back into my clothes first." I turn to enter the dressing room again when she stops me and rips the price tag off and throws it over her shoulder. "Alice, what are you doing?" I look at her in shock. Did she expect me to run out of the store with this? I was no Winona Ryder or a sprinter. I'd probably fall flat on my face before I even make it down the first aisle of dresses and skirts.

"It's been paid for. Let's go," she replies casually.

"Wait, what?" I have to try to understand what she says. Did she say what I think she said?

She rolls her eyes at me for the millionth time today and it wasn't even noon yet. The Hobbit stops in her tracks and sighs. "I paid for it while you were in there. Here," she gives me one of the store's shopping bags. "Throw your clothes in there and let's go. I'm tired and you have your date with Edward."

That's right! How on earth did I forget when I only heard his voice only minutes ago? I scramble back to the dressing room and throw my things in the bag while Alice waits by the door. As soon as she sees me jogging toward her, she opens the door to exit. "Thank you! Have a wonderful day!" the woman at the counter calls after us.

Any other day I would argue with Alice a little more on her extravagant spending on my personal attire but I've been itching to see Edward so heading home without a fuss on my newly acquired dress I was happy to keep in check. I guess Alice wants me to wear something nice for later. The strange thing is that she usually prefers to put me in something she's designed when I go out. Another thing dawns on me. Was this really going to be date with Edward? He sounds just excited about it as I am. But I'm also nervous, anxious, and giddy with the thought of finally being alone again with him.

"Thanks again for the dress, Alice," I hug her as we enter the house. The way the dress feels against my skin is nice and cool and it makes me feel sexy. I hope Edward likes it.

"My pleasure," she hugs me back. "But don't thank me just yet." A sly smile graces her lips. What's this little pixie chick up to?

We make our way in the dark house to the kitchen. None of the lights are on since the enormous windows around us allow natural light to spill into the different rooms. The house seems eerily quiet for a Sunday and I start to wonder where everyone else is today. It didn't seem Edward's home yet either, which is a little disappointing. Alice continues down the hallway to the kitchen carrying most of our shopping bags, which is also very weird to me. Why is she going into the kitchen? Is she hungry again? I thought she said she's tired?

"Alice?" I call out to her a little confused. She ignores me and keeps walking. There's nothing I can do but continue to follow her. Suddenly, she quickly disappears around the corner. What the heck is up with this girl? As soon as I turn the corner to the kitchen, all the lights suddenly turn on and streamers and different little confetti things are thrown at me. Party horns also fill my ears. I finally get my visual orientation back and see Alice, Edward, Jacob, even Aro and everyone else standing in various places the around the kitchen wearing party hats.

"SURPRISE!" they say loudly. "Happy birthday!"

Oh, crap. Today is my birthday.

Author's Note: How'd you like it? Bella forgetting her own birthday? Didn't see that one coming did you? Hope you enjoyed a little background into Edward's childhood. That was fun.

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