chapter┊ ✦. :: five teen
♡ ﹙birthday﹚ ❋ ˚ ݂ ꛒ

Lydia knew it was a terrible idea, but there was nothing she could do about it. Bella wasn't a party person, but they had already organized one for her, and now they could only watch her discomfort all night. The Cullens really tried to make her feel comfortable in the family, but Isabella didn't fully cooperate. She seemed only interested in capturing Edward's attention and nothing else.

"Here," Carlisle offered her a drink. Lydia took it.

"You shouldn't have bothered, but thank you."

"It's just a bit of wine. I thought you might like it."

She took a sip.

"I love it."

"I'm glad," he smiled.

They were both in the man's study, waiting for Alice to call them. Lydia was sitting on the edge of the desk, looking at a large painting hanging on the wall.

"Is that you up there?"

Carlisle stared at the painting for a long moment. Finally, he reluctantly nodded.

"Yes, it's me."

"You look... different. Who are the other three?"

"The Volturi. The one on the right is called Caius, in the middle is Aro, and on the left is Marcus. They are the oldest known vampires and are considered something like vampire royalty. They keep everything in relative order and if a vampire breaks any rule... they stop them."

Lydia took another sip of her drink, feeling a little uncomfortable now.

"Being with me... is it breaking a rule?" she dared to ask, her tone worried.

Carlisle remained silent for a moment but nodded.

"Yes," he could lie to her, but he preferred not to.

"And... could they kill me for being with you?"

"I would never let anyone hurt you. Never."

She smiled a little.

"I know."

"Come on, Bella's almost here, and Alice wants us to gather in the living room."

Carlisle took Lydia's hand when she offered it, and they began to walk together through the house. Soon they joined the rest of the family, whom Lydia had greeted upon arrival. The couple stayed to the side, Lydia hugging Carlisle around the waist and he wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

"This is nonsense," Rosalie complained, but no one commented on it.

Lydia then looked at the decorations for the first time. It was quite simple but beautiful, filled with candles and small white and red floral ornaments.

"I'll go tell them they can come down," Alice was truly the most excited about the small celebration. She ran upstairs, and when she returned, she was accompanied by Edward and Bella.

The three came down the stairs, but almost immediately, the atmosphere felt uncomfortable. Bella didn't want to be there, Edward didn't want to be there, and neither did Rosalie.

Esme was the first to approach and give Bella a hug, but Lydia would have done the same, but the look Bella gave her indicated that she didn't need more displays of affection.

Alice gave a gift to Rosalie to give to Bella. The blonde huffed and handed it to the birthday girl.

"It's a necklace. Alice picked it out," she said, sounding almost annoyed.

"This one's from Emmett," Alice said excitedly as she handed over the gift. The man smiled at the mention of his name.

"I've installed it in your truck," Emmett seemed genuinely proud of this. "You'll finally have a decent sound system in that piece of junk."

"Hey, don't call it that."

"This one's from Lydia and Carlisle," once again, Alice was the one delivering the gift.

"It's a book," Carlisle mentioned with a smile, "we hope you like it."

"Thank you very much," Bella smiled awkwardly, but it seemed like a genuine smile.

"Now open Esme and Evander's gift."

She handed over the last gift, but Bella's clumsiness unleashed complete chaos in the house. The girl tried to unwrap the package when she accidentally cut herself on the paper, and a drop of blood emerged from her finger.

Everything happened too quickly. Lydia stepped back as Carlisle rushed away from her side to try to stop Jasper, things didn't get better when Edward pushed his girlfriend in an attempt to protect her. The poor girl crashed into a crystal vase, and now there was more blood everywhere.

Lydia ran with Bella to see her wounds, and in a second, Carlisle was by her side. The others retreated from the room.

"Maybe she'll need a couple of stitches," Lydia said, "I can take her to the hospital."

"No!" Bella hurriedly said, "I don't want to worry Charlie."

Carlisle and Lydia exchanged a quick glance.

"I have what I need to take care of her in the study," they all stood up, "Lydia, can you take Bella? I'll go get some water."

She nodded and began to walk with the girl, holding her arm to prevent more blood from flowing. In a moment, they were in the study, and Carlisle was already there, taking out the things he needed.

"Thank you," Bella said.

"Don't worry. I'll go wash my hands. Do you want some water or something?"

"I'm fine."

Lydia left the room and walked to the kitchen, which was the nearest room with a sink. She turned on the tap and washed her hands a couple of times until the blood disappeared completely.

The scene from a moment ago was supposed to make her feel a little scared, but in reality, she felt nothing but sadness for Jasper. Carlisle had explained to her that he was the newest member of the clan and was still adapting to their diet. Surely now he felt guilty and upset with himself.

"Is Bella okay?" she turned around and found Evander.

"She'll be fine," she smiled a little, "the probability of cutting yourself with a sheet of paper is pretty low, and I'm a little surprised that Bella managed to do it."

Evander let out a laugh and sat on the kitchen island, right in front of Lydia.

"That girl is quite clumsy, but the important thing is that she's okay."

"What about you?" Lydia crossed her arms and looked at him.

"Me?"

"Yes. Doesn't human blood affect you?"

"Of course it does, like everyone else. But I'm resilient enough. Not like Carlisle, of course. I've never met anyone with more self-control than him, but I'm quite capable of not jumping for a couple of drops. Still, I prefer to keep my distance."

Lydia smiled, but soon they fell into silence for a moment.

"Can I tell you something?" Evander spoke again.

"Of course," she looked at him confused.

"Since the incident with James... Bella hasn't stopped asking Edward to change her," he was very serious and a little scary, "Edward has told me, when he has problems, he comes to me for advice, more than to Carlisle. And there's only one thing I've told him," they both stared into each other's eyes, "I don't trust Isabella Swan. Edward may be over a hundred years old, but he's in love and a man in love doesn't think. Bella is using him, we all know it, but not everyone accepts it. Lydia... have you ever thought about being changed?"

The girl was silent for a moment. She didn't exactly understand where this sudden question and strange conversation had come from.

"No," she answered honestly, "I haven't

, actually."

"My brother loves you, and I can see how much you love him," he smiled, "has he told you about the gifts?"

"Just a little. About Edward and Alice."

Evander nodded in understanding. He had asked Edward and Carlisle not to talk about their abilities.

"I can read people's intentions," he began to explain, "that's why I'm a good lawyer. I can see when someone is lying to me or telling me the truth, not just from rapid heartbeats or body language. I can really see lies or truths, vampires, humans... whoever. And half of the words that have come out of Isabella's mouth are lies. How could I trust someone like that?"

Lydia felt a little confused. She didn't really understand the situation she was in.

"Why are you telling me this?"

The man smiled a little.

"I apologize, I didn't mean to scare you."

"I'm not scared," she replied immediately. And it almost seemed like she was scared.

"Carlisle is noble, the noblest and kindest man I've known since I was born. He's happy if others are happy, but I also want him to be happy. You should consider what will happen to your relationship in the future. He won't do anything you don't want, but you should know that you're welcome to this family, Lydia. There aren't many genuine people in this world, and I'm glad it's you who's with someone like Carlisle."

Lydia had no idea what to say. But suddenly the words flowed like a river.

"I love him, you know? But I hadn't considered the fact that he'll still be alive even a thousand years after I die. And I'd rather let things happen."

Evander nodded with a smile.

"You're really meant for each other," he jumped off the island and straightened his jacket, "I apologize for distracting you for so long. I'll go see Jasper."

Lydia didn't answer, but it wasn't necessary as Evander disappeared from the room in a second. She stood in the middle of the kitchen for a moment longer and then, after taking a deep breath, she returned to Carlisle's study.

The man smiled, showing his teeth, when he saw her enter. He was putting away his things and cleaning up some bloodstains.

"Bella left with Edward a few minutes ago."

Lydia hugged him from behind without saying anything as she leaned her cheek against the soft fabric of his shirt. Carlisle frowned in confusion.

"What's wrong?"

She pressed a little harder.

"Would you like me to be like you?"

Carlisle stood still for a second, where did that question come from all of a sudden? They had never talked about it before.

"Why do you ask?" he finished putting away his things in the briefcase and leaned his hands on the desk.

"Don't answer a question with another question," she spoke with her lips pressed against his back.

He removed Lydia's hands from his abdomen and turned around to look at her. She seemed embarrassed about something and didn't turn to look at him. Carlisle took her cheeks and made their eyes connect.

"I wouldn't do anything you wouldn't want. And if you want to be a human until the end of your days, I'll be by your side until then."

She shook her head with a small smile.

"I'm asking what you would like."

He looked into her eyes, his palms could feel the warmth of her cheeks, and he loved that feeling.

"Yes. It's something I'd like," he confessed. He felt so selfish, but for the first time, he didn't care, "I'd love to spend eternity by your side."

"Would you love me even if I'm eighty years old and my skin is all wrinkled?"

He smiled.

"Even then, I would love you."

She looked at him with puppy eyes.

"Really, would you still love me even if I'm eighty years old and my skin is all wrinkled?"

He smiled.

"Even then, I would love you."

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