"Time to open presents," Alice declared. She put her cool hand under my elbow and towed me to the table with the cake and the shiny packages.
I put on my best martyr face. "Alice, I know I told you I didn't want anything---"
"But I didn't listen," she interrupted, smug."Open it." She took the camera from my hands and replaced it with a big, square silver box.
The box was so light that it felt empty. The tag on top said that it was from Emmett, Rosalie, and Jasper. Selfconsciously, I tore the paper off and then started at the box it concealed.
It was something electrical, with lots of numbers in the name. I opened the box, hoping for further illumination. But the box was empty.
"Um...thanks."
Rosalie actually cracked a smile. Jasper laughed. "It's a stereo for your truck," he explained. "Emmett's installing it right now so that you can't return it."
Alice was always one step ahead of me. "Thanks, Jasper, Rosalie," Itold them, grinning as I remembered Edward's complaints about my radio this afternoon---all a setup apparently. "Thanks, Emmett!" I called more loudly.
I heard his booming laugh from my truck, and I couldn't help laughing too.
"Open mine and Edward's next," Alice said, so excited her voice was a high pitched trill.
She held a large, 3-D square in her hand.
I turned to give Edward a basilisk glare. "You promised."
before he could answer, Emmett bounded throughthe door. "Just in time!" he crowed.
He pushed in behind Jasper, who had also drifted closer than usual to get a good look.
"I didn't spend a dime," Edward assured me. He brushed a strand of hair from my face, leaving my skin tingling from his touch.
I inhaled deeply and turned to Alice. "Give it to me," I sighed.
Emmett chuckled with delight.
I took the little package, rolling my eyes at Edward while I stuck my finger under the edge of the paper and jerked it under the tape. Unwrapping the silver paper, I opened the box. Inside was a gorgeous blue dress. I took it out of the box and laid it down on the flat table.
The chest was designed with blue stones all joining at the end of the chest where it was tightened by the elastic. Then the rest of the dress flew down to a silk gown clinging slightly with the floor, cut from above the knee on one side to form a flawless 'A'. The dress was strapless and more than anything beautiful.
As I attempted to put the dress back in the box, I noticed a pair of silver high heels, jewellery set and matching mask inside. The heels were extremely attractive with the boot-like high straps chained at the back. The mask too was amazingly designed with blue stones outlining the eyes. Jewellery was my least favourite but these were just heart winning. Silver long diamond earrings, matching bracelet, necklace and one-stoned ring, and silver bag nothing was unlikable.
I put all these back in the box and hugged Alice. "Thank you, Alce, So much. These are simply gorgeous and stunning. But I might have to practice how to not trip in those heels!" She gave me back an excited, elated laugh like the chime of bells in the church.
"These are for your prom. Edward insisted." I glared at him even harder than before as he chuckled. He has to spend money on me, one way or the other, isn't it! "Just to clarify to remove any confusion, Edward I'm not going to the prom. I already had that stupid lifetime experience once and I'm not willing to do that again."
"Why, didn't you like dancing with me?" He pouted teasingly. "No." I replied. "Right, like I'll ever believe that one. Anyways we'll see about the prom later." He stated mockingly.
Then my eyes shifted to the small, flat square Alce held on her hand. Curiosity burned to its extent as to what Edward might have for me under those wrapped papers that did not even cost a penny!
After a little effort I finally tore open the wrapper. Inside was a clear CD jewel case, with a blank CD in it. I looked questioningly at Edward. He simply rolled his eyes chuckling at my lack of obviousness and took the CD from my hands. He hit play as he put the CD on the music player and we all waited in silence. Then magic happened.
I listened, speechless and wide eyed. I knew he was waiting for my reaction, but I couldn't talk right then. Tears welled up, and I reached up to wipe them away before they could spill over.
"What's wrong, Bella? Are you hurt?" Edward asked misinterpreting my reaction. I tiptoed as he got closer to reach his height and threw my arms around his neck. my lips melted in his as our passion grew like a fire.
"Oooo..." Emmett cooed. We ignored him as someone---probably Rosalie---smacked him on his head.
But as usual Edward pulled over too quickly. He looked deep in my eyes searching for the correct meaning to this kiss.
"It's beautiful, Edward. You couldn't have given me anything more perfect, anything I would love more. I can't believe it. See now its worth not spending your money." i shut up, so I could listen. It was his music, his compositions. The first piece on the CD was my lullaby.
"Would you like me to play it on the piano?"
"Sure, I would love that!" I said with extra enthusiasm to express my proper feeling of receiving such an excellent birthday gift.
He tagged me along towards his giant piano and we sat side by side on the bench. His family encircled us, smiling as I looked at them. I hugged Edward's left side and laid my head on his shoulder to enjoy the peaceful journey he played on his piano.
After he finished, I kissed his cheek and thanked him again and again. Then Carlisle and Esme handed me a long, flat, rectangular bow wrapped in red. Edward was out of patience and so took it from my hand tearing off the paper with one fluid movement, revealing a white box. I opened it to find a piece of paper.
"We're going to Jacksonville?" I asked Edward in utter amazement. This day was full of surprises! And I was excited, in spite of myself. It was a voucher for plane tickets, for both me and Edward.
"That's the idea." He replied.
"I can't believe it. Renee is going to flip! You don't mind though, do you? It's sunny, you'll have to stay inside all day."
"If I'd had any idea that oyu could respond to a gift this appropriately, I would actually have spend money on you."
"Well, of course it's too much. But I get to take you with me!"
He chuckled. "I didn't realise that you were capable of being reasonable."
"Thank you so much, Carlisle, Esme. This means so much to me." I hugged both of them, now feeling guilty that I didn't thank them the minute I saw the gift but instead talked to Edward.
"Oh it's our pleasue, darling!" Esme said.
"Um...Esme, Carlisle I have a request for both of you if it's not too much to ask. I have been meaning to ask you this for a long time but never knew the correct time. So here it goes...Can I please call you Mom and Dad? Both of you are more than what my real mother and father are like and its just easier as sometimes I slip up calling you Esme and Carlisle. If you don't want me to that's fine, I'll understa---" I was blabbering.
Esme cut me off hugging me which I considered to be a Yes. She looked like she could cry in joy. "Yes darling, you sure can. You are like our own daughter. And it has been too long since any of my children actually called me Mom."
Carlisle simply smiled at me and said, "I guess you already know my answer."
"Oh thank you so much, Mom, Dad!" Then I hugged both of them, kissing them on their cheeks.
"You know what Bella, five kids are just not enough. You should move in with us, if that's okay. What do you think?" Esme totally made my day.
"Seriously! Yay, that is awesome. I would love to. I mean I can be with Edward 24/7. But do you think its a good idea to stab Charlie in the face like that. He just got me back!" I was confused.
"I can convince him," Alice interceded. "And I would not have to sneak through your window any more!" Edward joked.
"Well I guess I could plan something like visiting him twice every week." I said.
"Very well, then. The decision's made. Today I would join you and Edward to Charlie's house and convince him to let you move in with us. Carlisle and Esme will talk on the phone with him. Now let's cut the cake!" Alice concluded.
"You have a cake as well?" I asked stupidly, scared to hear what else she might add to the list of surprises. "Duh, it's your birthday, sis!" Emmett answered for her. I had to smile at the casual use of regarding me as his sister.
Then we approached the dining room. On a small table in a corner stood a triple sized cake, shockingly with the colour combination of baby pink and vanilla white. 'What am I two years old?' I thought in my mind.
"Oh Wow!" was the only word that came out of my mouth. "Told you she'll like it!" Emmett misunderstood my expression.
After I got over the half-minute traumatization, I asked Alice "Okay, this is very... go..gorgeous but who will finish this huge cake?"
"Don't worry you will not have to finish the whole of it. Only the top one is for you, second one for your friends at school, and the third layer is for Charlie and his friends." Alice answered.
"Now it makes much more sense." I stated.
"Give the first piece to Mike. He'll think you brought as a special treat only for him." Emmett obviously will say something like that. This made all of us laugh in unison except Carlisle and Esme. "And that is so funny because...?" Carlisle asked.
"Mike Newton has the biggest crush in the history of crushes on Bella.He will be so pleased when he finds Bella actually cares for him and brought him her birthday cake. He doesn't stop taking chances with her even after he knows we are together." Edwrad explained.
I cut my cake eventually and got over with the party as soon as I was done shoving cakes at Edward and Emmett, especially their faces. Unlike its looks it tasted very good. Esme later packed two boxes for school and Charlie. Edward and Alice helped her, well Alice did and Edward only barely cut one or two pieces while making distorted facial expressions at the food. That actually kept me entertained for quite a while.
My party ended with dinner at last after which I thanked everyone and left for home. This weekend will probably be the last weekend at my room, where most of Edward and I's memories were made.
Charlie was watching a game when we entered the house. He was elated to see Alice and as usual irritated to see Edward. "So Alice, its been long. What makes you come all the way here today, dear?" Charlie asked.
"Why Chalie, do I need a reason to come down here! You and Bella are like family, but you did guess right.I do have a reason for being here today. Bella?" She looked at me to start but found me staring at her, speechless. To make the moment less awkward and suspicious, she continued.
"Well Charlie, as you know Edward and Bella have been dating for about six months now. She is a sister to all of us and a beloved daughter to Esme and Carlisle. So since my brother can't seem to let go of her all of us wanted her to move in with us. She makes our family more lively and fun. With your permission can she please move in with us? I give you my word personally to keep a strong eye on both of them so that they don't do anything stupid or even share the same room at night. cans he please move in with us?" She batted her eyelashes that would even win over a ferocious lion's heart.
Charlie seemed to have a stroke. He stared at me for straight five minutes as his face changed colours from red to purple to blue to green. "But Bella, who would cook for me? I mean you know I'm a wreck. I can't feed myself." Charlie was definitely trying to convince me to stay.
"Dad I promise to visit twice every week to cook for you. Can I please move in with them, please, please?"
"Fine, I do however need to talk to your parents, Edward. But you move out after this week ends, okay?"
"Yay, thank you so much Dad." Then I hugged him tightly for half a minute. "So I guess my work here is done. Charlie a lot of bella's birthday cake is left. Please give those to your friends and family.I better run now, it's getting late. Bye, you two."
"Bye hon!" Charlie mused.
"Bye Bella, Charlie." Edward said.
"By the way you look very...se..sexy!" Edward seemed to look for the correct word. He whispered this on the doorway making me giggle like a crazy teenager flirting with her crush for the first time.
"Bye." I hugged Edward and gave him a peck on the lips. "See you a little later, sweetheart!" I giggled again.
As I headed for the stairs to my room Charlie asked from the living room, "Are you doing the right thing Bella? Is this the best decision?"
"Hmph..." I sighed walking to the living room. I sat beside him and held his hand in mine to make my words more believable."Dad, I know what I am doing. Edward and I both want this relationship to work. Giving our best in it would only help, it won't hurt us. Trying our best would not harm us in any way. Besides if we don't take a risk, a leap of faith in something we want and believe in, how can we know if its the right thing or not.trust me on this one Dad, believe in me and you'll see that none of this worthless.If it doesn't work out I'll move back in. But how can I be such a pessimist(I was thinking about saying bitch) and think about the negative outcome without even considering being optimistic. You are not losing me Dad. I'll just be a little far now. I'll come by all the time, you'll see."
"Whoo, okay that was a very nice way of putting that. I was wondering if I was a pain in the ass. I'll trust you if you say so. Now off you go. You are distracting me from watching the game." Charlie teased.
"Dad..." I cooed and slapped his shoulder playfully.
Upstairs edward was waiting for me on the rocking chair. I sat on his lap and gave him a long, happy kiss. "That was a fantastic speech down there. I didn't know you memorized Abraham Lincoln's speech. Why didn't you tell me!" I simply glared at him.
"He needed that. Persuasion is the key to trust and believe, understood?"
"Yes ma'am, I mean Miss Bella Swan." Now I smacked his head. "Ow, that hurt!"
"Stop joking around. Now remember to warn your favourite brother later that I'll move out of your house if he doesn't control his mouth. And also tell your favourite sister to control her urge to spend money unnecessarily. I'm not kidding, trust me Edward." I said in a stern voice to make him believe that I was damn serious!
"Where'd the optimism go now, Miss Swan?" he teased again.
That earned him one more non-hurtful smack for the night along with a bonus kiss. I spent a little human time at the bathroom too. Finally after cuddling with him for an hour, I slept peacefully to the humming sound of my lullaby. Thinking of tomorrow, knowing as long as he is beside me I'll never find a better heaven!
Isabella Marie Swan
17th July 2011
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