Gaia not being the yearbook editor was probably the oddest feeling I had by far. However, the worst feeling was the one I got when all my classmates started talking about where they were going to apply to school and what they would be going for. The SATs were around the corner and my throat may well have been super glued shut with the trouble I was having breathing. Edward had been a wonderful boyfriend of course and constantly reassured me that I could go in undeclared and get all my core studies out of the way before declaring a major. That of course would never do. I needed a plan that could be easily mapped out on a timeline or spreadsheet. Problem was, that plan would require a direction I was not ready to give it.
It wasn't until I sat in the library during my free period that I realized there was a bigger problem at hand. Without a direction I didn't even know what school I wanted to attend. I stared at my notebook feeling untethered, my future twisting and flipping in the wind like a loose tarp. While I was certainly no valedictorian, I had decent enough grades and a broad enough student profile. Even removing the supernatural elements of my life I still had some decent admissions essay material in there. I could probably apply to Ivy Leagues if I wanted to. I have an extensive portfolio if I wanted to explore an art degree. So many paths lay before me that I could plan through with Edward. I could barely focus on the pages in front of me, my reading report seemed to be swimming across the page before I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder. When I looked up I met Gaia's eyes, and she simply sighed and quietly spoke. "Yeah. I thought that was your 'the world is ending' shoulders."
"What? I don't have specific shoulders!" I whispered in shock as I became acutely aware of how stiff my joints felt.
"You've been white knuckling your pen for fifteen minutes and haven't made a single mark on your page." Edward piped up, causing me to jump. I had forgotten that half the books that littered the table were his. When I turned my gaze I saw him exactly as I had left him, sitting across from me with a book in his hand and a blue pen twirling lazily between his fingers. He was good at this human thing, it really did look like he was reading Jane Eyre for the first time. "Ahhh, welcome back to the land of the living. Wanna clue us into what was happening in that angry swarm of bees?" Edward's cool whisper sent a chill down my spine.
"College." I grumbled, tossing my pen down and cracking each individual knuckle.
"You have a year and a half to obsess over this." Gaia sighed, flopping into the seat beside me. "Besides. I thought it was obvious what degree you would go for." She procured a jolly rancher from her pocket, dumping a handful on the table, and then taking her sweet time to unwrap it before finally popping it into her mouth and declaring my major. "You would get a degree in fine art or something and then become the next hotshot artist."
"Is that so?" I asked with a smile, suddenly remembering that it had been my dream job just five years ago.
"Seems like sound logic to me." Edward smiled over his book. "I'd support the decision."
"You have to say that. You're a good boyfriend." I shot a look at him as I turned my attention back to Gi.
Gaia rolled her eyes at me before looking at Edward with a "can you believe her" look on her face. "Duhh, because I am going to become a freelance photographer and cover your first gallery show."
"Well you'll be too busy shooting for Time magazine and National Geographic covers like your dad." I countered.
"Oh my god! He's coming home!" Gaia was suddenly flapping her arms excitedly.
"Yeah! For Thanksgiving, right?" I asked, vaguely recalling the conversation we had after back to school shopping.
"No! Next month! Coming home." She gripped my arm and widened her eyes, a smile that seemed to be at critical size and growing only further.
"Wait! Wait, he's staying!?" My back straightened immediately as I sat up in my seat, leaning forward and my breath catching.
"He's staying!" Thank god the library was empty, because every rule about being quiet was broken in mere seconds. Edward sat there with a smile on his face as he watched the gleeful hugs and unsuccessfully suppressed squeals erupting from us.
"What brought him home?" I asked finally once we settled down and order was restored to the little corner of the library.
"His contract with NatGeo was up and he missed us so he's going to fly back to the East coast this week and then drive across America and take photos along the way for a Time article." Gaia drummed her fingers on the table excitedly as she recounted the information.
"It's been like, what? Three years since he was home officially?" I asked as I sorted my books back out and plucked one of the jolly ranchers from the table.
"Three years, eight months, twenty seven days, and…" she looked at her watch comically, "sixteen hours." She nodded her head.
"So what's he gonna do when he comes back? Like does he have anything lined up or is he gonna live the house husband lifestyle?" I wriggled my eyebrows at Edward. You probably don't know what a house husband is, do you. I thought teasingly.
"I'm old fashioned but I know what a house husband is." Edward mumbled with a smirk as he flipped another page of Jane Eyre. Gaia watched the exchange for half a second before deciding she didn't care and continued with the conversation.
"I think he's gonna be as calm as he can and stay out for a bit, he said he wants to be here for my senior year, but the contracts are usually a couple years at a time so he's stepped back from that world until after my graduation. My guess is he's going to work on photography on the side."
"Won't that feel slow for him? I mean wasn't he just hiking through Tibet for NatGeo?" I leaned back in my chair again, sprawling my legs out and accidentally bumping Edward's. With a smirk and a swift hand he scooped my legs and laid them over his lap, instantly making me more comfortable.
"I think slow would be good in this case." Gaia smiled, leaning back in her chair and mimicking my posture, throwing her legs into my lap. "He has seen things in some of these locations, some of the war and some of the poverty. While he's seen beautiful things and always makes a comment on the communities and how their lives differ from ours here in America, I think he wants to return to his normalcy for a moment." It wasn't often that I heard Gi become introspective, more often than not she left the deep discussion to be said by her photographs.
"In that case, I think it will all work out wonderfully for you, and I can't wait for your dad to be home." My smile only grew as I looked at my best friend's face. Moments like these would live on in my memory forever, at least I hope they will. When I am old and gray and people think I'm your grandma, remind me of the good times. Remind me that I wasn't just a teenager, I was a teenager with a best friend who meant the world to me. I turned my eyes to Edward, who was smiling at me softly. BUT PROMISE ME, the moment these eyes get crows feet you will move on. Just visit me as an old friend. I would rather hear stories of the world and the unwitting tales of your vampiric life than hold you back. Even if it is just for a short blip in your eternity. As I thought about the next demand, Edward's face dropped.
"Thank you, and now it seems like you two are having a moment, so I am going to see myself out." Gi smiled as she slipped her legs from my lap and gathered her jolly ranchers, leaving a blue and a green one behind for me.
"Are you sure?" I asked with wide eyes.
"Absolutely, I should be getting candids for the yearbook right now anyway." She smiled a small smile. "It's nice not being editor and chief this year."
"I'm glad it's working for you." I made note of the lack of eczema on her arms, and slowly let myself acknowledge how selfishly I had been hanging onto my own idea of how our lives were supposed to go. Gi had been falling apart silently all last year, but I had been so wrapped up in myself and everything happening to and around me I didn't notice. I was too busy self sabotaging to have seen how much everything was already changing.
"Oh, I want to get another shot for my portfolio this year, and then the last one for the series will be during senior year. So, while the leaves are doing their thing I have a dress on the way for you." She smiled a sweet and excited smile.
"What color is this one?" I thought excitedly about the four year project she had been working on, but refused to tell me what it all represented.
"Black." She smiled a devious smile.
My eyes widened at the thought of a black gown that would stand out so starkly against the fall foliage. "Same style?"
"Always!" She grinned and spun on her toe. "I've really gotta go!" With those four words, Gaia slipped between the stacks and disappeared from view, though I thought I heard the faint sound of a shutter click as I turned back and smiled at Edward.
•••
A perfect harmony swelled around me as I sat at the Cullen's dining table, the overhead lights off and only the light of my birthday candles illuminating the faces around me. To be entirely honest it was slightly creepy to see the way the fire caught in topaz eyes while they sang hauntingly beautiful words to me. "Happy birthday, Ara." Carlisle said with bright smiling eyes. I leaned forward and exhaled, extinguishing the small inferno that marked seventeen.
With a round of cheers the lights returned and I took in the faces around me once more, pausing for a moment as I met Beatrice's eyes. Acknowledgement rang between us at that moment. We hadn't spoken much about the biological family that ties the two of us together, but having her here both healed and made fresh the wound I often forgot about on days that contain happiness. I know this world often contains multitudes, yet it always seems to shock me when I realize I do too.
Cool hands broke me from my thoughts, their fingers twisting in mine and drawing my attention to the left. How was this ever something I gave up? I thought with a growing smile as I stared into the eyes I could get lost in. Edward returned my smile, slowly drawing me forward for a kiss.
"Blehh! In front of the cake!?" I heard Emmett tease, to which I promptly raised my middle finger. I caught the glimpse of Edward flying the same salute as my eyes drifted close and I soaked in the bliss of our brief kiss. "Get a room!" Emmett mockingly said as we pulled away.
"Get a brain." I mocked back, wobbling my head back and forth like a bobble head. As I looked around the room with a newfound appreciation I took it in once more. Carlisle stood with his arms lovingly around Esme, in the corner Emmett was like a hulking bear with a coy smile and his arm over Rose's shoulders. Alice had interlocked her arm with Jasper and had the other placed affectionately on Beatrice's shoulder, who was still watching with an unreadable but obviously jubilant expression. Never in my life had so many people wanted to celebrate my birth, but here I sit at the first of three birthday celebrations this weekend. I had come right over after school, per Alice's instructions of course.
Before I could finish taking it all in, there was a stack of presents in front of me. I jumped as I flashed my eyes toward Edward, who had jumped up and slid the cake out of the way before placing the pastel parcels in front of me. He smiled and motioned forward. "Go on, open them. I think Esme will implode if you make her wait any longer."
"You guys really didn't have to get me anything." I said as I sank into my seat. "You already do too much."
"Oh shut up and open the presents." Rose teased from the corner of the room. "I want you to see what I got you." How I had gone from having zero sisters to three in such a short time was mind boggling to me.
"Well at least stop standing around and sit with me so I don't feel like the lazy human." I teased back as I picked up the first present, which was wrapped in delicate green tissue paper and topped with a white ribbon. It was small and light in my hand, and as I slowly pulled the ribbon off and tore the tissue paper I realized it was a necklace box.
With the slow creak of the lid I peered inside and took in the sight of a gleaming silver locket. With a careful hand I pulled it from its velvet resting place and pried open the tiny latch. Beatrice stepped forward first, sitting at the table directly across from me as she spoke. "That's Mama and then-"
"Our Dad." I whispered, cutting her off.
"Yeah… you don't have to wear it, I figured you would like to have it though. The locket was Grandmama's." She said with a shaky smile.
Through teary eyes I looked up and met her gaze. "I love it." I immediately turned to Edward with expectant eyes, wishing to wear the locket before continuing through the rest of the gifts.
"Way to show us all up, Bea." Emmett teased, and it made me happy knowing that she had found more family than just me. She found Alice and Jasper, who understood her better than everyone; Rose and Emmett, who would always protect her; Carlisle and Esme, who would always be parents in a way she hadn't been so lucky to experience. As I took in the playful atmosphere I felt the locket snap into place and rest delicately against my breastbone.
"Thank you so much." I smiled, pausing a moment before reaching forward to the next gift, which was wrapped in a pink glossy bag with white tufts of tissue paper exploding out of it. This one was surprisingly heavy and thudded against the wood of the table as I brought it toward my lap. "What the?" I looked up to the beaming faces of Rose and Emmett. As I pulled the bag open and peered inside to a greasy and mysterious car part, Rosalie began to explain.
"I fixed your car while you were at school. Now it wont shake when you go over fifty, and it should be able to withstand one of those big road trips you keep talking about taking with Gaia." She spoke so proudly, and my heart only swelled.
"And I fixed that godforsaken sound system." Emmett smiled. "If I had to hear your radio crackle one more time while you come up the drive, or the speakers just entirely give out, I was probably going to enter it in a demolition derby."
"Rude!" My jaw dropped as I listened to Emmett smack talk my beautiful beater with a heater. "Thank you Rose, that was such a thoughtful gesture and not self serving." I smirked, hoping Emmett knew I was only teasing.
Rose smirked and leaned into Emmett, further emphasizing the idea that rather than being a match made in heaven they were one forged in the fires of hell. "Oh no, I would have figured out how to cry again if I had to hear your frame rattle over one more pothole on your way to school."
Devious little shits. I thought as I chuckled and shook my head, earning an earnest laugh from Edward as I grabbed the next present. This one, covered in white wrapping paper with a delicate pink ribbon that was wrapped into a bow with careful precision, was met with a wide grin from both Carlisle and Esme. I carefully pried the tape up, not wishing to disturb the ribbon, and took in the small wooden case before opening it. Art supplies. "Oh Esme, Carlisle! Thank you!" I smiled sweetly at her, she had selected such a careful and handpicked array of colors.
"I had Edward go through your art supplies while you slept, he told me what you used the most of and what you always seemed to need more of. Even found that little color wheel wishlist of yours." She winked as she mentioned the little note I kept hidden from everyone, only ever grabbing it when going to a store that sold the paints I use. There were brushes of sizes I didn't have, or had lost to damage or general wear and tear. Pastels filled a corner of the case, and a new set of graphite pencils.
"It is perfect, thank you so much." I made the mental decision as I shut and relatched the case that I would paint Esme a painting for christmas this year. Perhaps a custom portrait of the entire coven. As that decision crossed my mind I immediately made eye contact with Alice, eyes narrowed in a way that could only suggest that silence was best found by her.
"Okay!" Alice said, answering my gaze but hiding it beneath her excitement for the final gift on the table. "Open mine, I can't wait any longer." I did just as I was told and found a gorgeous golden silk dress with a cowl neckline.
"Oh my god!" My jaw dropped as I looked up at Alice. "What is the occasion?" Just as I said the words, Edward cleared his throat. As I turned my attention toward him, he held out a pair of tickets.
"It never escaped my notice, how badly you wanted to go to a masquerade whenever we watched Pride and Prejudice." Edward smiled slowly. "There just so happens to be a Christmas Masquerade happening in Seattle."
"Really?" I breathed, my eyes widening as I took in the information. Looking back at the dress I noticed a lump under the metallic fabric. As I moved the material I caught sight of a delicate metal mask that was golden and looked like vines. Inlaid diamonds sparkled in the light and my chest swelled as I took it in.
"I've also wanted to put you in a dress like that since you agreed to take my fashion advice, so this was a win-win for me too." Alice grinned.
"How is it that you are all such amazing people?" I pouted as the emotions overwhelmed me. "You're gonna make me cry." Laying my head on Edward's shoulder, I smiled at each of them that now populated the table.
After the festivities of the night ran out and Edward drove me home, my actual birthday came at the toll of midnight. Edward laid in my bed beside me and softly sang another round of 'Happy Birthday' to me, his voice vibrating in his chest as my head rested upon it. I felt so incredibly sleepy, but not ready to drift off at the same time. I had my dinner with Dad and Gaia to enjoy still, and then Sunday I would get to go and celebrate with the wolves. "Next year," I mumbled after Edward stopped singing. "I am just going to have to combine some celebrations, because this seems a tad bit excessive."
"Look at that." He clicked his tongue. "You're just barely seventeen and already so civic minded."
"No," I corrected, "I'm just barely seventeen and already so exhausted."
Edward brushed my hair away from my face in a velvet soft touch. "Then rest."
"No." I pouted, angling my face to look up at him. "I don't think I will."
"Why the sudden sleep strike?" Edward smirked, a playful yet curious glint in his eyes.
"Because. Sleep means this day ends. I don't want it to end, I want it to expand." I moved my hand slowly towards his jawline.
"Ara." Edward chidded, ever vigilant.
"A kiss for the birthday girl?" I smirked, "We are the same age now."
"I still have a hundred years on you." He whispered, though his face drew nearer.
"Minor details." I mumbled, losing myself in his eyes.
Just as his lips brushed mine, he broke any silence that had begun to form. "Go to sleep."
"Party pooper." I grumbled and rested my head back on his shoulder. I heard a small laugh, watched the way his chest moved with the emotion, and felt a kiss press into my scalp. "I love you." I whispered as he began to hum once more, this time a different and much softer song.
I hadn't even realized I had fallen asleep until Dad burst into my room with Maddie excitedly bouncing around him. "Ahh! You're seventeen!" He laughed as he flopped next to me on my bed, having woken me up with the commotion. "Happy birthday sweetheart." He smiled, holding forward an envelope.
"Oh god, another one?" I asked with wide but bleary eyes.
"What? OH!" Dad looked dumbfounded as he realized the significance. "NO! NO NO NO!" He shook his head frantically and pushed the envelope into my hand. "This one is from Gi's dad! It came in this morning and I thought I would bring it up for you."
"Oh… don't scare me like that." I sighed, glad to open the card and see what photos had been selected for my ever growing collection. It had been a little pet project of mine for the past few years, sometimes the photos arriving late. I always forgot it was there until the letter came in with the story behind each photo, usually taking care to send it around my birthday. One day soon I was going to make a collage of all the photos he had sent me, but they still all resided with the corresponding letters in a hat box at the top of my closet. It was always photos that just barely missed the mark for publication. The single frame before or after the chosen photo. and I had gotten into a huge discussion one year about the beauty in the before and after, how mere seconds could change a photo entirely.
"Read that later." Dad waved impatiently at the letter, despite the fact that I knew he loved looking at them as much as I did. "Come eat breakfast while it's still warm."
"Okay." I frowned in confusion, setting the half opened letter on my night stand and leaping from my bed. Maddie did figure eights around me, barking excitedly as she did so. "You got her all riled up, now she's gonna want to go for a run." I complained half heartedly as I also played with her.
"Just go to the kitchen, Ari." Dad said with an exhausted sigh.
Weird. He never acts like this on my birthday. I thought as I pranced down the steps, freezing when I heard a bark that was not the familiar one to bounce through these halls. "What was that?"
"Go find out." Dad's barely contained enthusiasm gave it all away. I broke into a dead sprint, Maddie on my heels, rounded the corner to the kitchen and laid eyes on the best sight I'd seen in this kitchen since the fourth of july.
"YOU GOT ME A PUPPY!" I jumped up and down before running forward to free the little puppy from the pen it was contained in. "Ohhh you're such a sweet little girl." I mumbled as I received the best known feeling on the planet, puppy kisses.
"She is a purebred beagle, and I will leave it up to you if you want to get her trained to be on the force, you're getting so close to college and Maddie still has another couple years before retirement." Maddie cocked her head at the sound of her name, and I couldn't help but giggle.
I flopped into the kitchen chair and looked at my dad where he stood in the doorway. "Dad, don't say the R word in front of her, she will think you're calling her old." I rolled my eyes and kept loving all over the nameless puppy.
"My bad." Dad said with a smile as he pat Maddie between the ears. "She's barely even gray around the muzzle, how could I suggest such a thing."
"That's her sparkle." I huffed as I placed the little puppy in my lap. "Now what should we name this little beastie."
"Bailey? Bailey the Beagle?"
"Oh. Real original dad." I rolled my eyes playfully again. Despite all the excitement the puppy in my hands was so tiny and soft and sleepy my heart continued to melt. "Oh you are gonna make me a little softie." I gasped and looked up at Dad with wide eyes. "Sophie!" The little puppy looked up like she already knew that was supposed to be her name. "Are you Sophie?" She tipped her head similar to how Maddie did. "Sophie Sophie Sophie!" I smooched her atop her little head and grinned.
"So that's the name." Dad nodded, knowing well enough from the naming process for Maddie that it just made sense to agree with me.
"Your name shall be Sophie and you shall be mine. You shall be my Sophie."
"Okay Dory," Dad laughed, "Put the puppy down and eat your breakfast before it actually gets cold."
"Yes sir!" I grinned and wiggled with the puppy in my hands.