Ah, birthdays, I've had too many to count. Granted, I turned 660 back in July, my 'Human' birthday was today, Bella's actual birthday. Bella and I managed to evade Charlie for the most part, and the gifts he had gotten us. Bella seemed shaken, so I decided to drive. "So…" I trailed off. "I'm assuming Happy Birthdays are in order?"
"Alex." Bella whined a little. "No, don't…I don't want any birthday wishes."
"Ok, ok. You're lucky, though, when I was your age…way back when, I was already married and…you know…popping out a baby."
"You were already pregnant at my age?" Bella shifted, turning around to face me.
"Yeah, well, it was the norm in the Middle Ages." It was then I pulled into the parking lot, where Edward and Alice were waiting, the little pixie-like Vampire almost jumping in excitement. We parked, and Alice skipped over to us, clutching a pair of presents in her hands.
"Happy Birthday, Bella!" She cheered.
"Shhh!" Bella hissed at her, looking around as if she didn't want anyone else to know.
"Did you want to open your presents now or later?" Alice asked us.
"Oh, yes please." I said, offering my hand for mine. Alice grinned, handing mine over. I took the golden-wrapped present and ripped the front open. I laughed, reading the front cover. "The entire history of the Romanov family, and the theories of the lost daughter Anistasia." I chuckled, tucking the book into my bag. "Thank you, Alice, surprisingly, I haven't read it." Alice grinned.
"No presents." Bella protested weakly.
"Ok...later then. Did you like the scrapbook your Mum sent you? And the camera from Charlie?"
"Yeah, they're great."
"I think it's a nice idea. You're only a senior once. Might as well document the experience."
"How many times have you been a senior?" Bella demanded.
"That's different." By this time, we had reached Edward. Edward reached out for Bella, who took his hand. Edward reached forward and ran his finger over Bella's lips.
"So, as discussed, I am not allowed to wish you a Happy Birthday, is that correct?" Edward murmured.
"Yes, that is correct." Bella replied.
"Just checking." Edward ran a hand through his hair. "You might have changed your mind, most people seem to enjoy things like birthdays and gifts." Alice laughed.
"Of course you'll enjoy it." Alice insisted. "Everyone is supposed to be nice to you today and give you your way, Bella. What's the worst that could happen."
"Getting older?" Bella offered.
"Eighteen isn't very old. Don't women usually wait until they're twenty-nine to get upset over birthdays?"
"It's older than Edward."
"Technically. Just by one little year, though."
"I think I started getting over birthdays…around my…I'm going to say my late thirties? Closer to forty, it was." I mused. "But that wasn't because I was getting old."
"What time will you be at our house?" Alice asked us.
"I didn't know we had plans to be there." Bella admitted, looking at me. I just shrugged.
"Oh be fair, Bella! You aren't going to ruin all our fun like that, are you?"
"I thought my Birthday was about what I want."
"I'll get her from Charlie's right after school." Edward said.
"I have to work." Bella protested.
"You don't, actually." Alice said, her tone becoming smug. "I already spoke to Missus Newton about it, she's trading your shifts. She said to tell you Happy Birthday."
"I-I still can't come over, I…well…I haven't watched Romeo and Juliet yet for English."
"You have Romeo and Juliete memorised."
"But Mister Berty said we need to see it performed to fully appreciate it, that's how Shakespeare intended it to be presented."
"You've already seen the movie."
"But not the nineteen-sixties version, Mister Berty said it was the best." Alice's face fell.
"This can be easy, or this can be hard, Bella, but one way or another-"
"Relax, Alice." Edward interrupted smoothly. "If Bella wants to watch a movie, then she can, it's her birthday."
"So there." Bella finished.
"I'll bring her over around seven. That will give you more time to set up."
"Sounds good." Alice said, her smile returning. "See you tonight, Bella, it'll be fin, you'll see." Alice pecked Bella's cheek and glided away. I chuckled under my breath.
"That girl." I muttered. "I'll see you at lunch, guys." I gave Bella and Edward a nod before heading into the school. Classes were boring, as usual, I had learned all this ten times over, it was extremely boring. At the end of the day, Edward drove Bella home, while Alice took me back to her place. When I did, I decided to go for a quick Hunt, I hadn't gone on one for a while. When I returned, the Cullens had decked out the house.
"They're here!" Alice cheered happily, bouncing on the balls of her feet. As soon as Bella and Edward entered the living room, everyone cheered.
"Happy Birthday!" We all cried. Esme and Carlisle were the closest, and the matriarch hugged the young girl. Carlisle wrapped his arm around Bella's shoulders.
"Sorry about this Bella." He not-so-subtly whispered, "We couldn't rein Alice in."
"You haven't changed at all!" Emmet said, though he sounded a little disappointed. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms, leaning on the wall. "I expected a perceptible difference, but here you are, red-faced as always."
"Thanks a lot, Emmett." Bella muttered, her already red cheeks turning darker.
"I have to step out for a second." Emmett turned and winked very obviously. "Don't do anything funny while I'm gone." He then left.
"I'll try." Allice then pranced forward, placing her hand on Bella's elbow and steering her towards the cake where a large cake sat with a handful of neatly wrapped boxes.
"Time to open presents!" Alice declared.
"Alice, I know I told you I didn't want anything-"
"But I didn't listen!" Alice took the camera out of Bella's hands. "Ok, Alex first!" I stepped forward, offering Bella a small bag. She took it and reached in, pulling out a bracelet box. Bella opened it and gasped. Inside was a bracelet, with silver and gold metal woven together.
"The silver is you…and I'm the gold." I said softly. "Braided it myself."
"This must have taken you ages." Bella said softly.
"Nah, it's…whatever. You're my sister, Bella." Bella stepped forward and hugged me tightly. I wrapped my arms gently around her, holding her close.
pulling a small box from my back pocket.
"Open this one!" Alice then practically shoved another present into Bella's arms. She barely had enough time to put the necklace box away before starting to open the next. I glimpsed at the tag, it was from Emmett, Rosalie and Jasper. Bella tore open the paper, revealing a box for a new stereo for the truck. Bella opened it to reveal...nothing.
"Um...thanks." Bella trailed off. Rosalie cracked a smile as Jasper laughed, prompting me to let out a small chuckle of my own.
"It's a new stereo for your truck." Jasper explained. "Emmett's installing it right now so you can't return it."
"Thanks, Jasper, Rosalie. Thanks Emmett!" Emmet laughed from the truck.
"Open mine and Edward's next!" Alice said, holding a flat box in her hand. Bella glared at Edward.
"You promised." She protested.
"I didn't spend a dime." Edward defended.
"Give it to me…" Bella took the present reluctantly. She stuck her finger under the wrapping, and then jerked it back, a thin slice of red, and a drop of blood oozed from it. If I wasn't a Vampire, the blood would have escaped my eyes, but the smell was distinct. Edward shoved Bella back with enough force to send her flying across the room, however, I was quick enough to speed behind her and catch her, skidding back a little. Bella let out a cry of pain. Jasper rammed into Edward with a crash like lightning, and Jasper snarled. The blonde tried to move past Edward, thirsting for Bella's blood. Emmett wrapped his arms around Jasper, keeping the rabid Vampire at bay.