"Look, I do not want a birthday party," I said firmly.

"Well, that's just too bad," Alice replied as she, Edward, Jasper, and I walked down the school hallway. "It's all planned for this weekend. Our cousins are even coming in." I liked our cousins, Tanya, Kate, Irina, Carmen, and Eleazar but I was not a fan of parties.

"I just don't see the big deal."

"It's your eighteenth birthday, Bella. It's a huge deal."

I sighed. "It's just another day of me getting older. I can feel my aging," I despaired.

Jasper rolled his eyes. "You can feel it?"

"Yes," I insisted. "Everyday I get closer to wrinkles."

"I'm sorry that you're worried about aging but this party is happening. But...if you want, you can invite Jacob," Alice suggested hesitantly. I considered this but ultimately decided against it,

"I don't think that's a good idea. I don't think's our cousins would be understanding about what Jake is."

"You're right," Edward replied.

"Okay good. I promise you'll love your party," said Alice but I just shook my head. It was only one party. Surely nothing could go too wrong.

Alice made Edward keep me away from the house all day so she could prepare for the party. Edward took me to the park and we sat on a bench for a while just relaxing but eventually we had to leave because I had promised to stop by Charlie's today. When we arrived, Charlie ushered us inside with a "Happy Birthday, Bella!"

"Thanks," I murmured as I blushed. "You remember Edward, my boyfriend."

Charlie eyed Edward suspiciously as they shook hands and Edward greeted, "Nice to see you again, Chief Swan."

"You too," he responded gruffly before turning me and smiling. "I know but I figured I should get you something for your eighteenth birthday." Charlie led us into the living room and handed me a wrapped package.

"You didn't have to," I murmured and he shrugged uncomfortably. I opened the package to discover a camera and a photo album. "Thanks." We shared uncomfortable hug and then I stood. "Let me get a picture of you two."

"Oh, I don't know," Charlie said.

"Yeah, come on. Smile." I wanted to have a picture of him, you know to remember him in the future.

After what seemed to have turned into a photo session, it was beginning to get dark so we left Charlie's and headed for home. I was created by purple twinkling lights leading from the way to the house.

"Oh geez," I murmured.

"Be happy Bella. You only turn eighteen once," Edward stated as we neared the house.

I rolled my eyes. "Hopefully this'll be my last birthday party." He sighed, but said nothing about it as he parked the car. He opened my door for me and held out his hand. As I took his hand he encouraged,

"Try to have fun."

"I will," I said, mostly for his benefit. With a deep breath we walked up to the door and as soon as it open 'Happy Birthday' was being sung to me. The whole room was organized design of various shades of purple. By the time they were done singing, I knew my face had to be bright red. "Thanks," I murmured.

"Happy Birthday," Carmen cheered as she gave me hug.

"Thanks. It's nice to see you."

"How are you doing?"

"Oh, great. In aging quite comfortably," I said sarcastically.

"Very funny," Alice said as she grabbed my hand and drug me over to a three-tier cake.

"Um, Alice?"

"Yeah?"

"You're aware that I'm the only one here that eats, aren't you?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Well," I began. "As delicious as this cake looks, I'm not sure I'm ready to be old and fat." I heard a few laughs behind me and Alice just rolled her eyes.

The whole party was me nibbling on cake and everyone catching up. There were lots of gifts for me to to open and I did so slowly. Eventually though I opened every gift card, piece of jewelry and weird monogrammed items. Towards the end of the night, we were all gathered around, talking.

"So, why didn't Irina come?" Mom asked our cousins, the Denali's.

"She didn't think she could control herself," Tanya explained. Truthfully, I was a little afraid of Irina. She had no frightening talents like Kate who could shock anyone with her hands but Tanya had always had for Edward. I could only she'd gotten over it.

"Why?" Carlisle asked, surprised. Carmen explained,

"A few weeks back she was in town when a young man slipped and fell against the concrete and scraped a knee open. She...well, she slipped up." Oh.

"It really shook her up but truthfully, I think she's already gained her control back," stated Kate.

"Then why didn't she come?" Esme asked. Eleazer, who's married to Carmen said,

"I believe she was worried about having earned your disapproval, Carlisle."

Carlisle sighed. "I understand, these things are bound to ha-" his thought as cut of with ring of the phone.

"I'll get," I said, standing and they continued their conversation. "Hello?"

"H-hello," a soft voice responded. "Is Isabella Swan there?" I wasn't very surprised by the use of my original name. Now that Charlie knew of me, my name had circulated around town. Still, this women's voice sounded rushed and concerned yet shockingly perfect.

"Speaking," I answered and noticed Alice and Edward staring at me with concern. A slight murmuring occurred at a decibel below my hearing capabilities and then suddenly everyone in the room was staring at me.

"Oh, Isabella," the voice said with relief. "I knew you'd be there. I knew you'd fine. I always knew they were good people."

"Um...who is this?" This woman and all eyes on me we're making me extremely nervous.

"Oh, of course, you wouldn't remember, would you. I'm-" suddenly her voice was caught off my a man in the background screaming,

"Who are you talking to?"

"Nobody. No one, I swe-" the line cut off. I put down the phone with confusion and looked to Alice,

"Who was that?" Alice replied softly,

"Bella, that was your biological mother."