A Beautiful Bouquet

Chapter 4.

"Staring at it won't make it seem any more appealing," Carlisle laughed.

"I dare you to take a bite out of it," Emmett whispered in my ear.

I grimaced. The thought of taking a bite of the pile of slop sitting on the table disgusted me. "I don't understand why there's a cake sitting on the kitchen table."

"A few nurses at the hospital thought it would be nice to celebrate my birthday," Carlisle explained as he slipped into the empty bar stool next to me.

I took my eyes off the disgusting mess. Not only did it look unappealing but it smelled disgusting. "I suppose that was a nice gesture..."

"I know right? It's a shame that I can't digest it." Carlisle sighed. "Although, I didn't exactly have a sweet tooth when I was alive."

"Was today the day you were born or the day you were turned?" No vampire I knew, kept tabs on the day they were born. It's been so long it's mostly slipped their minds. However, sometimes, there was a celebration to commemorate the day someone was turned or the day they joined the Volturi.

These celebrations only were reserved for the higher members of the Volturi. Aro, Marcus, and Caius got balls every year. Jane, Alec, Demetri, Felix, and I typically received a few gifts. Coincidently Demetri and I joined the coven on the same day, though I arrived decades later than he had. As a result, he tended to gift me an object every year. Then eventually, he started getting me gifts constantly. Not that I minded it.

"It's been a few years, I can't recall the exact day that I was born. But it's supposed to be sometime during this month." Carlisle said.

"Does your coven celebrate birthdays?" I asked. I didn't really see a point in it. I could hardly remember the date of my "birthday". All I knew was that it was sometime in the Spring.

"No. We don't see a point in celebrating them." Carlisle explained.

My ears picked up on the sound of something moving towards me from behind. I slightly tilted my head, allowing the object to blow right past me and nest itself into a wall. I turned back to see Emmett scratching his head nervously.

"I don't think Esme will be ecstatic to see what you've done." I laughed. Emmett had already managed to break two vases in a two-day timeframe.

"You were supposed to catch it." Emmett pouted.

I didn't understand his logic. What was the point in catching the object when I could dodge it with ease? "It's not my first instinct to catch an unknown object."

"Oh."

"Especially not if it's being used as a weapon against me," I added.

"I wasn't trying to kill you. I swear." Emmett explained. "I just wanted to see if you'd hear the ball coming."

I figured he wasn't trying to kill me. He wouldn't still be alive if he had.

"You noticed it the moment it left his hand," Carlisle told me. "You're doing an amazing job at paying attention to your surroundings. It's so easy for vampires to get zoned into what's happening right in front of them."

"From what I can tell, you seem to be a natural at being a vampire." Emmett pulled another ball out of his pocket. This time, he chucked it at me while my eyes were on him.

I caught it effortlessly. "Thank you."

"If ever need any help getting ahold of things, don't be afraid to ask for help. You're not alone." Carlisle assured me.

I smiled sweetly. "Thank you. But I know all about what being a vampire entails. The bloodlust, the enhanced abilities. Such as speed, hearing, and sight. The coughs..." I knew the coughs that I had were unusual. But I assumed it would be better to mention my coughs before I ended up having a coughing fit in front of them.