Alissa Swan

Part 43

My truck lumbered down the two-lane highway. I got to the school and climbed out of my truck, shouldering my book bag. I looked around the parking lot, seeking Edward.

I turned as Mike, Eric, Angela and Jessica apprached.

"You finish the Shakespeare assignment?" Mike asked me.

"He means will you finish his assignment?" Jessica translated it for me.

"No, I don't -- okay I do." Mike admitted.

"I can help you with it -- but first --" I pulled out my camera, "I need a picture. My mom's expecting a scrapbook full of memories."

Angela held up her own camera. "I take 'em, I don't pose for 'em."

"You do today," I said. I pushed Angela to the others, as they rearranged themselves.

"You'll photoshop my nose if it looks big, right?" Jessica asked.

"Don't worry," Eric said, "I'm in the picture; no one will be looking at you guys."

Jessica scoffed. Angela pointed her camera at Bella as Mike and Eric joust. I took the picture.

I put the camera down, and the four looked behind me.

"Oh good," Mike said dryly. "Cullen's here."

"Yay," Jessica said, even dryer.

"Check ya later," Eric said to me as the four of them walked away.

I didn't register their tone. I was transfixed by Edward who approached, eyes never leaving mine. He reached me, washing away all my concerns...

"Happy birthday."

... Except that one.

"Don't remind me," I said.

"Your birth is definitely a day to celebrate," Edward told me.

"Not for me," I replied.

"Eighteen is a little early to be worrying about your age," he added.

"It's one year older than you," I replied.

"Bella, I'm ninety," he replied.

"True," I gave in, but needed just a bit more. "Maybe I should be creeped out that I'm dating such an old guy."

Edward smiled. "Yes, it's the age that's creepy, not the fact that you're dating a vampire." He kissed me.

I kissed him back, and despite our restraint, the passion mounted... until he pulled away. As always, I was left wanting more. Edward nodded toward the school building. "Class," he said to me.

"Right," I replied. "Class."

Catching our breath, we started toward school... but Edward stopped, hearing something in his mind. Irritated. "Someone wants you," he warned me.

"Bella!" Jacob called. He ran up, carrying a used car part, long, black ponytail wagging. He was 16, but looked 18 due to his tall, muscular body, but the gregarious Jacob was a little klutzy, still catching up to his growth spurt. He nodded to Edward, who moved off to the side but eyed us.

"God, Jacob, what are they feeding you on that rez, steroids? You're huge." I smiled.

"Wouldn't seem so drastic if you came around more," he replied.

"I will, soon. But isn't your school, like, ten miles that way?" I pointed to the opposite direction from us.

He gestured to the car part he was holding. "Just here buying this for the Rabbit. I'm almost done with the rebuild. Gotta come take a ride when it's done." He remembered something. "Oh, and hey, happy birthday. Your dad told my dad. So..." He pulled from his coat a small woven dreamcatcher, feathers dangling from it. He handed it to me. "I saw it the other day and thought of you - it catches bad dreams."

"This, I need," I said, thinking about my dream from last night. "It's great."

Edward walked over to us and turned to me. "The bell's about to ring."

The bell rang. Jacob gave Edward an amiable smile, with just a hint of snark. "Ooh, look at you, all psychic."

"I don't have that particular gift," Edward replied. "But I can read a watch. I'm clever that way."

They shared a tight smile. I interceded, squeezing Jacob's arm. "Bye, Jake, and thank you."

Edward guided me away. We talked as we walked off.

"How come Jacob Black gets to give you a gift and I don't?" Edward asked me.

"He's just a friend," I replied.

"'Friends' don't spend two weeks looking for the perfect dreamcatcher," he said.

"Stop reading his mind if he bothers you so much," I replied.

"Little hard to tune out," Edward said.

I just laughed, but Edward looked back at Jacob with resentment. Jacob held his gaze.