EDWARD CULLEN
"You're pregnant!" Charlie accused.
I stole a glance at Bella. Her face was as red as a tomato, her skin flushed, her blood racing.
"No, no, no, no…" she reassured, mortified, and dropped her head.
I knew this was hard for Bella. Truthfully, it was hard for me as well. Not the drawback of having to tell her father we're getting married – that was a piece of cake, considering I'm able to get inside Charlie's head – it was what this was doing to my fiancée. She was being awfully brave. Bella wasn't just losing her single days and moving out of home. There was a new evaluation of her as "the eighteen year old who tied the knot fresh out of her senior year", plus the embarrassment that tagged along with it.
She was also kissing goodbye her relationship with Jacob Black; a loyal companion wanting to be more than 'just friends', but completely satisfied with anything less. Jacob had turned his back on human nature and saved Bella from evils I couldn't possibly encounter for. To that I owed him a lifetime of gratitude.
I jumped in. "Charlie, I am in love with your daughter. She makes me so happy and she believes I return the feeling. I have already asked for her hand in marriage, untraditionally as it may seem. I can't dishonour her wishes, so what I am asking of you is that you'll give us your word." Bella clutched at my hand. I winked at her.
"'Spose I should have been ready for that." Charlie grimaced, "Marriage, pregnancy…" He trailed off.
After a string of polite comments were exchanged, I took a brief pause as the opportunity to leave. Pulling Bella by the hand, we walked down the hall, through the front door and headed in the direction of the lush, green forest.
Out of nowhere, Jacob appeared. He was in his wolf form; a gigantic, russet-toned body towering over us. Despite my indestructibility, I felt vulnerable in his presence. Jacob Black had every right to steal Bella away from me. He was the natural choice, a perfect match for her. I was his date with destiny, the perfect rival. I wouldn't stop him if he took Bella. I couldn't, either.
Jacob was yelling at me in his head, "Okay, you filthy leech. Even though you could kill Bella, even though inevitably you would anyway, I trust you. Yeah, it kills me to say it, but I gotta give it to you. I can't fight that and I don't want to. We're not starting a war, whatever you choose to do."
What, no sarcasm? "That's very kind of you." I commented aloud.
"A lot can change in time, can't it? You learn all sorts of things about people… your enemies can even turn into your friends."
Carefully, I thought, werewolves can be unstable. I smiled, wary.
Jacob continued, "You love Bella. You make her happy. I want that for you, man. I won't put up a fight. She's made her choice and she's chosen you. Change her, Edward. Make her a bloodsuc – "
"Excuse me?"
Jake backtracked, "Make her a vampire, Cullen, 'coz I have faith that time will heal all wounds."
"Your words have touched me, Jacob."
"Hey c'mon, brother! No mushy stuff."
Bella glared at Jacob, then it was my turn to receive a greasy. The process repeated for approximately ten seconds, until it turned into confusion. Bella usually tried to come to her own conclusions for these one-sided conversations, but ultimately relied on my translation skills.
"Is it impossible for you two to get along?!"
Chorused barking laughter echoed off the trees.