One of A Kind

Pre-Twilight: Chapter Sixteen

We get to the house in about twenty minutes. My new baby drives so amazingly. The tires drive through the snow very well. I still can't believe Dad and Anna got me this. I pull up into the driveway and park the car.

"You can go ahead in. I'm going to call my mom and Bella to check in." I say to Jasper.

"Okay, sweetie." He says. He kisses my forehead, gets out of the car, and heads into the house. I pull out my phone and dial the home phone. It rings a few times before someone hangs up.

"Nettie! Oh, my baby. Happy birthday!" My mom says.

"Thank you, mom. How are you?" I ask.

"I'm great. How are you? Feel any different being seventeen now?"

"A little. Dad and Anna got me a car."

"I know! I helped with the down payment. You wouldn't shut up about that car, so the three of us agreed to get you it."

"Aw. Mom. They didn't tell me that you helped."

"I wanted to be the one to tell you."

"Aw, okay."

"Now tell me about this boyfriend of yours." I instantly feel the heat rising in my cheeks.

"He's not my boyfriend. At least, I don't think so."

"What? Your dad says he is."

"You talk to dad?"

"Yeah, we had to work out the kinks for the car."

"Oh, okay. I mean, he hasn't actually asked me to be his girlfriend. We act like it, but it hasn't been said officially."

"He's a man Nettie. He may need a little help. No offense to your dad or Phil, but men can be clueless sometimes." We both laugh at that statement. "Does he treat you right?"

"Yes! Oh my gosh. He treats me like a queen." I happily sigh. "Can I tell you a secret?"

"Of course, baby."

"I know it's only been a month of knowing him, but I'm almost 100% sure I have fallen for him."

"Aw, sweetie. That's amazing. Most people would say you're too young to know what love is. But you, my darling. You have been mature your whole life, so it's not too shocking. You know what you feel and what you want." Even though we live far away, my mom knows me so well. "I am so glad your first love is this boy. You seem extremely happy whenever you talk about him."

"You're right. You're always right." My mom has always been a hopeless romantic, so she is always right about this stuff.

"Oh! Bella just got home from school. I'll give the phone to her. I love you, baby. I hope you have a great rest of your birthday."

"I love you too, mom. And thank you. For everything." I know she knows that I mean the car and the advice. I can hear the phone being passed from Mom to Bella.

"Hey, sis," I say to her.

"Hey, Netta! Happy birthday!" She says back.

"Thank you. How are you?"

"I'm doing good. You?"

"I'm pretty good."

"I hear you got yourself a boyfriend." I can practically feel the smirk on her face.