CHAPTER EIGHT
BIRTHDAY BASH

In the year: 1940

    NOVEMBER 29th.

A simple day to most but it's always been a special day for Thea Quarts. It was her birthday and even though she'd stopped aging, Esme wanted to celebrate it anyways.

Thea on the other hand, was uncertain, so she suggested it was a bad idea.

So Thea believed there would be no party.

"Those heels fit you perfectly, Thea," Esme clasps her fingers together, a big smile on her face, "Don't you agree, Rose?"

Rosalie was looking out of the shoe shops window, she only spared Thea a quick glance, "yes."

"Would you like to buy these?" The female worker drapes the towel over her forearm.

Thea looked down at the shoes, she was starting to realize that she loved the color black, the shiny pure color was perfect against her pale complexion. "Yes, I would." She looks up at the lady.

The three women left the workshop satisfied and when they returned home, Esme was hoping Thea would love the surprise she had waiting for her at home.

Thea was the first to step through the door, walking to the living room to be met with balloons and confetti on the carpet. Thea's lips parted, "what—"

"Surprise!" Emmett jumps from behind the couch with a small party hat on his head. Rosalie giggled at how adorable he looked.

Thea looks to Esme, laughing sort of uncomfortably, "what happened to no party?"

"Don't think of it as a party," Esme grabs her shoulders and leads her to the couch, "think of this as a family night that's...centered...around you." She smiles.

Presents were gathered on the couches and Thea knew she should be happy but she wasn't. She didn't want this.

"Carlisle should be home from work any minute and then we can open your presents." Esme smiles to Emmett and Rosalie. "Rose is gonna get you all dressed up and then you'll head back down here, okay?"

Thea kept silent, putting on a smile.

✸

     Thea was lost in thought, she couldn't pull her mind away from the "what ifs." What if she was still human? What if she was able to raise her baby? What if she was never turned into a vampire?

"Thea." Rosalie calls her name.

Thea flutters her eyelids, realizing she'd been staring into the mirror for minutes. "Sorry."

Rosalie curls another strand of Thea's hair, "are you okay?"

"Yes." Thea fakes another smile.

Rosalie rolls her eyes, "you can't fool me. I was the same way as you. Closed off. Scared. It's normal and I understand if you're not up for this party."

Thea shrugs, "it's fine...I'm fine."

Rosalie takes the moment to examine Thea's expression. She seemed like a doll...as if something was pulling every limb. "Whatever you say."

✸

"And so there I am, looking for Emmett and I turn to see him fighting the bear!" Carlisle explains the story of teaching Emmett how to hunt when he was a newborn.

Everyone laughs, even Edward let out a small chuckle.

Emmett was grinning, almost proudly, "what can I say? I'm just that good." He leans back on the couch.

Esme rolls her eyes playfully.

Rosalie enters the living room with a smile, "my work is done."

Esme squeals, quickly standing, "where is she?"

Thea entered the decorated living room wearing a knee length dress, the color was a beautiful navy blue with gloves to match. Her hair was parted to the side with curls that came down to her back.

Her golden eyes flickered to Esme, who wore an excited grin. "Look at you!"

"You look beautiful, Thea." Carlisle wraps his arm around Esme.

Emmett nods in agreement, meeting up with his wife to hold her hand. "What are we waiting for, let's open some presents!" Emmett exclaims.

✸

"A snake ring?" Thea opens Emmetts present, her eyebrows raising.

Emmett nods, "I remember you telling me about how much you loved those nasty creatures, so I got one made for you."

Thea rolls her eyes at his description of them but chuckles, "thank you."

She'd opened all of her gifts and had one more left. One from Carlisle and Esme.

"We're still learning a lot about you, so we hope this gift is good." Esme leans into Carlisle and pats the middle of his chest.

Thea notices it's a simple black box, she opens it to see a silver necklace. "A necklace?" Thea removes it from the box and examines it closer in her hands.

"Press the side of it." Esme instructs.

Thea listens, the small click of the locket opened it so find a black and white picture of a baby boy smiling.

Her smile immediately drops. "What is this?"

Rosalie frowns.

"We know it's not much but we're hoping this makes you feel closer to him. Something you can hold on to." Esme lends her a sympathetic smile.

Thea stands up from the couch, her eyes not shifting away from the picture. Her somber silence hung in the air. Her eyes were soft but her fist was clenched.

"Are you joking?" Thea spoke, her voice trembling.

A look of worry crosses Esme's eyes. "I don't understand what you mean?"

Thea scoffs, "of course you don't. Neither of you understand when to back off."

Carlisle lifts his head, "We didn't mean to bring up any—"

"Bad emotions?" Thea finishes his sentence, "you show me a picture of my baby that I'm not able to care for and expect me to be happy about it?!" Her voice raised.

When she got no response, she huffs and turns around, headed for the door.

"Thea, I'm sorry, sweetheart!" Esme takes a step forward, "I thought this could be a chance for you to grow closer to our family—"

"This is not my family!" Thea cuts her off with a fiery scream, "I killed my family, remember? or did that slip your memory?"

"The only family I have left is my baby boy and I can't be there for him, so what the hell makes you think I want to see someone else taking care of him?" Thea voice cracks from sadness as she throws the locket on the carpet.

A uneasy tension lingered in the air. Thea runs her hand over her face, "I never wanted this party...I told you that." She points at Esme, "I never wanted to be a vampire and I never wanted join another family that means nothing to me!"

She storms off, slamming the door behind her.

Edward spoke up first, "told you this was a bad idea."

"Edward," Carlisle warns. 

Esme was drowning in guilt. The Cullen family knew Esme only does things out of love but sometimes this causes her to blur boundaries. She now wanted to apologize a million times over to Thea. "I'm gonna go find her—"

"No." Rosalie puts her hand out, "let me talk to her...trust me."

ragerwrites, What are y'all's thoughts on Thea's reaction?

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