“So, as discussed, I am not allowed to wish you a happy birthday, is that correct?” I asked teasingly, hoping that maybe, for once, she would indulge Alice in her ridiculous fantasies.

“Yes. That is correct.” she replied, her voice overly formal for some odd reason.

“Just checking.” I clarified, in case I had hurt her feelings. “You might have changed your mind. Some people seem to enjoy things like birthdays and gifts.” I said lightly.

Alice laughed her musical laugh. “Of course you’ll enjoy it. Everyone is supposed to be nice to you today and give you your way, Bella. What’s the worst that could happen?” she chimed, unthinkingly.

“Getting older.” Bella answered sullenly, her voice quavering slightly. My smile vanished. Leave it to Bella to turn a special occasion into a guilt trip. Didn’t she know how much I wanted to change this unalterable fact? But I was not, under any circumstances, going to risk her soul. She had a choice – and I was not going let her choose the wrong path.

“Eighteen isn’t very old. Don’t women usually wait till they’re twenty-nine to get upset over birthdays?” Alice asked, trying to lighten the mood.

“It’s older than Edward,” Bella murmured under her breath. I sighed in exasperation. She refused to let the subject go.

“Technically,” Alice said, trying her best to appease Bella. “Just by one little year, though.” She glanced at me, hoping for something that would distract Bella from her sulk. I knew nothing would. Bella would get what she wanted eventually, but until then I was going to do everything in my power to prevent it…regardless of the begging I knew I would have to endure. How I hated to refuse my dear Bella anything. We were at an impasse – and had been at one for the last eighteen months. I was not a good enough reason to give up being human, why couldn’t she see that?

“What time will you be at the house?” Alice interjected nonchalantly. The look in Bella’s eyes turned from stubborn irritation to horrified dread as she realized what Alice had planned for her this afternoon.

“I didn’t know I had plans to be there,” Bella answered carefully, obviously attempting to buy a moment of time while she frantically ransacked her brain for an excuse that Alice wouldn’t have been able to see with her convenient talent. Sadly for Bella, Alice overlooking anything was highly unlikely, especially if it was related to a party (or shopping).

“Oh, be fair, Bella! You aren’t going to ruin all our fun like that, are you?” complained Alice bitterly.

“I thought my birthday was about what I want,” Bella whined right back.

I ignored her although she turned to me with pleading eyes. “I’ll get her from Charlie’s right after school,” I told Alice.

“I have to work,” Bella countered.

Ha! I’ve already got it covered, thought Alice smugly. “You don’t actually. I already spoke to Mrs. Newton about it,” she retorted, smirking. “She’s trading you shifts. She said to tell you ‘Happy Birthday.’”

“I-I still can’t come over,” Bella stuttered. “I, well, I haven’t watched Romeo and Juliet yet for English.”

Alice snorted loudly. The phrase ‘grasping at straws’ came to mind.

“You have Romeo and Juliet memorized,” Alice rebuked, with a tone that was perhaps slightly harsher than was really necessary.

“But Mr. Berty said we needed to see it performed to fully appreciate it – that’s how Shakespeare intended it to be presented,” Bella protested fervently. I rolled my eyes in disbelief. Apparently, she was quite desperate.

“You’ve already seen the movie,” Alice said accusingly.

“But not the nineteen-sixties version. Mr. Berty said it was the best.”

Alice lost it. She was going to have this party whether Bella wanted to go or whether Alice had to tie her to a chair and drag her there personally. Angry plans flashed across her mind. I struggled to hide my bemused expression. Glaring fiercely at Bella, Alice threatened, “This can be easy or this can be hard, Bella, but one way or the other -”