Chapter 1: Plans and Proposals
"Isabella Marie Swan!" Charlie called from downstairs, with a hot temper, I could just tell by the tone, of course. I had woken up late-which was kind of unlike me-and Charlie had been out fixing the final pieces to my truck because it had broken down for a month and I had been taking the bus. You might be wondering, but what about your god-like prince? Well, he's still banned and I don't get to see him until I step into the school.
With a heavy sigh and got up, put on a white snug fitting long sleeve shirt and a pair of blue faded jeans that brushed to my legs and slipped on my tennis shoes. Rushing to the bathroom I stared at my reflection and made a face. My hair was impossible. But a girl could still try? Brushing it out it smoothed (as smooth as it could get) and brushed down my back gently.
Satisfaction crossed my features and I picked up my book bag and all of the junk that rumbled inside and checked the zipper to make sure nothing would fall out. I slipped on my coat the way down, thankfully I didn't fall.
"Bella, be careful on the ice, lets not have a replay of car crashing."
"Right dad." I mumbled but gave a smile.
I nodded. How could I not forget my intensive head-on-head collusion? I walked over to my truck, hopped in and drove out of the driveway slowly, but then gained some speed as I headed down to the school. The green which I couldn't stand, was sheeted in a snowy blanket which I wasn't too fond of, but hey, I've seen a winter before. Now that I lived in Forks.
Charlie had also bought me a cell phone, which he constantly called me from daily to make sure I didn't plunge into danger without him getting a heads up. He still thought Edward was simply a shrug from the past that I needed to get over. Please. Getting into the parking lot I grinned seeing a silver Volvo and almost slipped on the ice, on my way out, but two irons fingertips caught me gently around my smooth waist.
Edward and sighed and pulled me close to his chest and inhaled deeply as if he were sniffing my hair.
"Bella, Bella, Bella." He said sympathetically, but I knew, I knew he was grinning. But it was cute all the more.
"Yeah, yeah, come on before we're late." I smiled back at him teasingly although it came out in a hoarse voice as I clapped my hands over my mouth and coughed just lightly. Edward wouldn't miss it. He instinctively put a hand over my forehead as we walked up to the front doors of the school.
"Mhm. Its warm. But I like that." He gave me his oh so famous crooked smile.
God I loved that.
I brought my hand up overtop of his and shook my head. "Please, it's the morning, not my time of day, you know? Nothing is wrong with me Edward." I spoke simply leaving it to that. His first class was different from mine but the rooms were close. I smiled up at him and leaned up on my toes and gave him a peck on the lips. He whispered a few soothing words in my ear and ran cool fingertips down my cheek then left for his class. I stood there in a daze but jumped as the bell rang. Without further zombie-like dazing, I rushed to my seat. Mr. Brisker, my math teacher tapped on his chalkboard and begin his lecture for the first period.
Before I knew it, I was up out of my seat, but stopped by a friend, well sort of. Mike Newton, still overly obsessed, still an often pain.
"Hey Bella, what's up?" He asked in his boyish voice that was neither deep, nor high.
"Oh, nothing Mike. What are you going to do this weekend?"
I asked this politely but looking over my shoulder to see a glimpse of bronze color. Biting my lower lip and nodded my head to his babbling I tried to slither my way to the door. Too late for that. Edward wrapped a cool arm around my waist. Mike stiffened almost instantly.
"Edward." He said, seriously, almost sneerling, which was not an often thing.
"Mike, hello." Edward replied through his teeth.
It was like a staring competition. Mike knew that Edward and I were together, and apparently so did the world. I tugged on Edward's arm and he snapped out of it, glancing down at him, letting my eyes do the talking. Mike gave me another smile and waved a hand. "Okay Bella, I'll see you at work then tomorrow." With that my blonde haired puppy dog strolled off down the hallway.
Edward towed us to our next four classes as the day seemed to fly by. Soon lunch came and I was excited to see my "family" I could say. Or so they had considered me in it, I would have hoped. Since the whole trip to Italy and jumping off cliffs had affected us all, Rosalie who was always the beauty of all eyes, whom hated me with passion was now a close friend. Just like Alice. And Emmett, oh Emmett. How could I not love that big teddy bear? Although when, angry he was fierce. And Jasper, who could calm me within moments always smiled at me often but kept his eyes on Alice and his distance careful. The three of the older ones came back only on some lunch days, sneaking their way in and blending with the crowd. Though it was hard for Emmett, but we managed. And thankfully, the kids around didn't seem to care when they did appear beside Edward, Alice and I.
Alice was the first to see me and Edward come over to the table. She smiled. "Hi Bella!" I always loved her voice, it was sweet but always uplifting in her own pixie like way. Rosalie waved a hand at me and invited me to sit next to her. I sat down carefully and glanced over to my left. My other group of 'friends' I guess. Jessica had slowly started to forgive me and Lauren had backed off a little. Not a lot, but a little, now that Tyler had noticed her more. The boys were fine and they didn't seem to mind that I sit with the Cullen's. They knew the relationship. Angela saw me and waved a hand giving me a timid smile. I waved back in return then pulled my attention forward was Edward scooted beside me with ease.
"So what's on the agenda today?" Emmett asked, poking at the meat, looking disgusted which made me chuckle as I shooed his fingers away. Poor guy, probably wanted a bear's leg.
Rosalie tilted her head taking a sip of her water, which probably to her, tasted like nothing at all. "Well actually, Bella, Alice and I were going to go and have a girls night out."
"Oh really?" Edward asked, his alabaster eyebrows perking up in curiosity as he twirled the ends of my hair with his slender fingertips, watching me take a bite out of my small steak.
"Well then, guess I'll go hunting with Emmett tonight." Jasper smiled casually as Emmett gave a thumbs up.
Alice chuckled darkly looking at me with those eyes. "We're going to take Bella shopping down at Port Angeles. Sound good Bells?" Oh, how I wanted to glare back, but that angelic marble face she was giving me, was nearly impossible to refuse. I flushed red and looked down nodding in defeat. Edward caught that and grinned, kissing my cheek with icy lips.
"Don't be so centered." He teased me.
"Good! Then its settled. Rosalie?" Alice looked at her lovely blond sister with enthusiasm.
"Course, I'll pick Bella up at five and we'll head down there and grab a bite to eat." She flashed me a perfect pair of pearly white teeth. If I had perfect teeth, I'd do that too. But hey, my teeth weren't crooked or anything.
Jasper and Emmett had already stood up and gave all of us a look and headed out the back doors to head back to the house. Rosalie brushed a lock of perfect blond hair back and stood up. "Alright. See you all later." With that, the elegant beauty was off, holding Emmett's hand. To my sudden surprise the bell rang and looked down at my plate to see my tray was gone. Alice had just the hint in her eyes. Man she was quick. I turned to Edward who gave me an obvious look. 'Duh, vampire.'
"Thanks." I said to Alice.
"Your welcome Bella. I'll see you tonight." With that, she danced across the floor and to her next class. Edward held my hand as we walked to our next classes together. Every so often he would bring our hands up and kiss my palm giving me his god-like smile and his perfect lips formed my crooked smile. And of course I had to break it right before we headed to our cars, he went to mine naturally.
"Edward..I've been thinking." I asked shyly, scratching the side of my nose.
"Mm?"
"Well..do you remember when you proposed to me a few months back?"
His face could not have brightened up fuller. But my serious face, brought his own back down to Earth. "I'm really starting to think about it..and..and well I'm liking the idea." I said bashfully staring down at my feet like a child until Edward gripped my chin tenderly and made me look into his topaz eyes.
"Do you feel pressured to tell me this?"
"No." I replied. He looked, scanned my eyes. I wasn't lying.
His features seemed to soften a little bit. "Dinner, after your shopping tonight."
"But I thought Rose and Al-"
"They'll change plans and drop you off at a nice restaurant around seven o'clock, with me."
Its as if my cunning vampire had it all planned from the start. Well he could read minds to put that fact in motion. How could I even begin to say no. With a nod, he seemed pleased and leaned down to brush his sweet lips against my own, which I hoped seemed just as sweet to him. With that his breathe blew in my face once more before he disappeared. I sighed once. I wonder if Heaven felt this way. Getting into my car I drove carefully back to the house. Charlie was still at work, no doubt, and the phone rang instantly, making me having the sudden rush and chills.
"Hello?"
"Bella, hey, its Jessica."
"What's up Jess?"
"Oh! Nothing, but I really need your help with this math, God I was so good at this shit last year.."
I snickered. "Sure." For the rest of the hour I helped Jess, via phone and she thanked me and thanked me some more. "So what are you doing tonight then?"
"Well, Edward is taking me out to dinner to..talk." I managed to whisper out.
"Ooooh. Like, bad talk?" She asked, I could see her eyebrows raising higher and higher for more gossip.
"No no..more like..something to do with..commitments."
That was the only word I could even think about. And damnit, Jessica got the hint and squealed. "Oh my God Bella! You need to call me tomorrow and tell me everything!! Man I need to call Angela." I tried to sound just as enthused. "Okay, alright you do that. Now I got to go get ready, see you alright?" I could hear a blow dryer in the background and Jess finally replied. "Sure, later then." She replied quickly and the phone on the other end clicked and I shook my head, heading up the stairs.
TGIF baby.