I awoke in the morning to the smell of Edward cooking my breakfast as he always does. I knew Charlie was at work and Edward wouldn't be expecting me for a little while longer. So, I took a few human minutes to get ready for school, lastly putting on the "placeholder." I thought about Edward's comments considering our marriage. The more I thought about, the more and more I slowly warmed to the idea. I wanted to marry Edward. I wanted to be with him for eternity. I wanted to marry him soon. I walked down to kitchen with quick steps of excitement. I couldn't wait any longer to tell Edward, that soon I, Bella Swan, would be Mrs. Edward Cullen.
As I walked into the kitchen, I froze; there was my mother. I saw Edward's face burning with amusement; he was holding back his laughter.
"Bella, sweetie, now why is Edward making you breakfast? Why is he here this early? Now that's a lovely ring you have on where did you get that?" Renee's expression of annoyance seemed to amuse Edward.
I stood there, incapable of movement, incapable of speech, petrified. Renee just stared at me, questioning. I looked at Edward, whose eyes shone his utter glee.
"Renee, may I talk to Bella for a moment, I have to discuss one of our plans for you with her. You wouldn't want to spoil the surprise now, would you?"
"Why of course not Edward, darling, take your time."
Edward gently tugged my shoulder and led me to my room. His face, puzzled and confused, yet his gleaming eyes showed his joy. He may not have had to natural ability to read my mind, but overtime we have developed the skill to know each other's thoughts. I knew he had read the present thought on my mind.
"So I believe you have made your decision on our marriage."
"Yes, I want to be your wife Edward, I want to be with you for eternity."
"This wedding is to be when—"
"As soon as possible, what about a Christmas wedding?"
"Bella whatever you want, as long as you are happy, one second Alice is calling. Yes Alice, Bella did agree to getting married, why yes it will be a Christmas wedding, yes Renee is here, okay we'll see you at school."
Edward closed his Razr, and looked at me. His eyes a brilliant topaz, he lips perfectly curled into his handsome smile, he leaned over and kissed me gently. As our lips parted Renee walked into my room.
"So, Bella, Edward, what was it that you had planned?"
"Renee, um Mom, we're getting married, this Christmas Eve—"
"You two are only eighteen years old. You have only dated each other. You two can't get married."
"Mom, we are both eighteen, legal adults. We have rights; if you don't want to attend the wedding don't go. We are getting married and from now on you will just have to deal with it."
"Oh my god, that boy got you pregnant. You're getting married in two weeks to cover up. I knew that there had to be some reason you two are getting married, you can't be in love after all."
I saw Edward's face flush. One of the few things that angered him was when someone denied our love. I knew it took all of his energy and will power to refrain from attacking Renee. I saw his muscles beginning to tense and his mouth start to frown.
"Renee, I love your daughter, I AM IN love with her. We are getting married; we also have to go to school. We are late. I'm sorry you don't feel that we are ready for this, but, both Bella and I feel we are."
I glanced quickly at Renee, yet she seemed somewhat gleeful. I gave her a quick wave goodbye and followed Edward out to his new Lamborghini. His anger goes away as we drive in silence to school. The speed that normally terrifies me has no effect today. "Edward, when—"
"After the wedding when everyone believes we are on our honeymoon. I will change you and when your transformation is complete, we shall leave for our real vacation. I just want you to be positive about your transformation. Are you sure you are ready for eternal damnation?" His eyes seemed concerned, almost as if I would change my mind now. He was scared.
"Edward, I am positive I want to do this. I really do want to marry you. I want to be with you forever. Nothing could make me change my mind about this now."
His expression softened and he unlocked our doors, as we arrived at school. "Bella, go to your locker, I'll meet you in literature. I have to do a few things first." I got out of the car, and he drove away, speeding, as usual. I could not hide my excitement and started skipping to class when I tripped on fell onto Lauren.
"Bella, excited enough today?" She acted annoyed, which I could imagine.
"Yeah, I am, I gotta go to my locker. See you later, bye." I quickly scurried away to my locker, not wanting to upset her further. As I put in my locker combination, Mike walked by and leaned to the locker next to mine.
"Hey Bella, what's new."
"Well—" I didn't finish my sentence because as I opened my locker, I saw a small sparkling box. I gently lifted the lid when I same the most beautiful ring I had ever seen. It was a platinum base with a blue diamond resting on the center of it. There was a gleaming topaz embedded into the diamond; a note was attached to it:
Bella, my love,
As you know I am pleased with your decision. I decided to buy you an actual engagement ring, now I know you are going to say the placeholder was enough, but honestly I knew you would love this ring, almost as much as my love for you. I will see you soon, perhaps sooner then expected.
Love always and forever,
Edward
"Bella?"
"Edward and I are getting married. We're getting married!" I saw Mike's face drop, almost as if in disappointment. He gave a quick wave good-bye and ran off. I stared at the ring, in approval. Edward really did know what I liked; he was right about the me protesting though. As I started to slide the ring on my finger, I felt I gentle tug on my shoulder. I turned around to see Edward, smirking ever so gently.
"I believe that is my job, is it not?" He dropped down on one knee, and slid the ring on my finger, slightly above the placeholder. I couldn't hold in my joy much longer. I started squealing and celebrating, jumping around in the hall. I couldn't possibly go to my classes today. Edward seemed to realize what I was thinking.
"Bella, I think we would be better off going back to my house today. I'll get us out of school. Let me just bring you to the nurse. Can you fake sick darling?" He smirked, knowing the strings he could pull. So Edward decided to carry me down to the nurse's office, both showing my extreme weakness and his ownership of my heart and trust. The nurse looked at him, waiting for an answer. "I think Bella has come down with a virus, I think I should bring her home and watch her for a day."
"Why of course Edward, Bella feel better dear." Edward carried me out of the school, and gently setting me on the passenger seat. He then silently got into the car and pulled out of the parking lot, he then burst into hysterical laughter.
"Bella, so should we start planning this wedding, we have two weeks, right?"
"Yeah, we might want to do that. So, I was thinking, I might ask Rosalie for help. I was thinking that I could really use her help and that I might ask Alice to be my maid-of-honor." I saw Edward's brow slightly rise and his lips then slowly curl. He was trying to process this through his head, almost as if he was confused.
"I understand the Alice part. Rosalie though? Why would you want Rosalie's help, after all the things that she put you through?"
"Yeah, I see why that may kind of weird, especially coming for me, but you see Rosalie has been through the whole wedding thing, so many times. I think I could kind of use the help and she is almost like a professional in that category."
"Okay—"he stopped as to think about the subject, "but make sure her and Alice are together I don't trust Rosalie with you alone, well I'll be there, but… I mean without a combination of Rosalie and Alice, you will have the wedding, I believe of, who is it that I am thinking of, um… Jennifer Lopez. I was trying to think of a modern day wedding, I kept thinking of Marilyn Monroe."
"Oh, okay. So first, where should we have the wedding?'
"Bella, why don't we just have it at my house? The house is large enough, then it will be more convenient, Charlie won't have to worry about the cost, although I would pay for it, I'd probably get turned down though. Did you tell Charlie yet?" I knew that subject would come up. I didn't really want to tell him though. He seemed concerned; I didn't want to tell him how upset Charlie would be.
"I think our color should be topaz. Don't you think that –"
"You don't have to avoid the subject. You haven't told him and you are afraid of what he will say. Darling, I know. So should we go talk to Rosalie now, she's home now, Alice called her and she and Jasper came right home. I walked up the path to the front door, as I have done so many times, but I was frightened of the normally inviting house, only for the second time I since I had came to this house. I was scared of Rosalie now; I didn't know how I should ask her to help and I didn't know if she still thought I was making the wrong decision. I knew I was making the right decision. I opened the front door and was shocked. I simply do not know how to describe the seen. I was truly incapable of all movement.
I walked into the room and saw not only the Cullen family, BUT ALSO Charlie and Renee. They stared at me; I could feel my face warm as the blood rushed to my cheek. Charlie looked quite upset, not just with Edward, but with me as well. Renee's expression puzzled me more; almost looks of confusion, joy, and anger all together. "Bella, why are you not in school?" my mother asked.
"Um, well, I wasn't feeling well." I stood there embarrassed, I had been caught and well, my parents were too happy about it.
"So, why did Edward bring you back here? Why didn't he take you home?"
"Well—"
"Charlie, I knew Carlisle was home and I wanted him to take a look at Bella, make sure everything was alright and then I was going to take her home when I knew you would be home. I didn't want to leave her home by herself and I believe you have forbidden me from being with her at your home alone. Am I wrong?" Thank God, for Edward. I don't know how he remained so calm in these circumstances. I became scared just thinking about it.
"No, you are right. You made the right choice I guess." I saw Charlie's face flush, as he knew he was proved wrong, it hurt him that he seemed that Edward cared more about me, than he did. Charlie became quiet, knowing he no longer has a say in anything involving Edward and I. I then realized that my father hadn't been told yet about our marriage.
"Um, Charlie, Dad, Edward and I are getting married in two weeks, here at the Cullens' house. Dad, we're getting married on Christmas Eve." His face then flushed, yet showed no emotion; no anger, no shock, nothing.
"What?" His voice rose as he spoke, scaring me slightly. I have only seen Charlie this angry once; when Edward left me. If anything though, I could say Edward was calm. He did not seem upset at all, which I could not begin to comprehend. Charlie stood up, grabbed Renee, and left the house slamming the door behind him.
"Bella I don't think—"