Chapter One: Telling Charlie
This story takes place directly after Eclipse…
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of TwilightNew Moon, or Eclipse. I am not responsible for the creation of the story. I am just a fan!
The ring finger on my left hand felt heavy. Too heavy. And not the sort of heavy that was measured in pounds; it was the sort of heavy that was measured in how much you were sweating.
I knew the second I was going to walk into my house would be the second Charlie would kill me. I closed my eyes and just tried to be daring.
"Bella?"
"Yeah, Dad, it's just me." I wiped my forehead. But I still must have looked quite sweaty and nervous because he asked me if I needed to sit down. I was attempting to say 'you're the one who will need to sit down' but the words were so caught in my throat. I sat down at the kitchen table and let my hands fall gently into my lap.
"I…well…I—I…." I stuttered.
Charlie looked at me as if I were having a heart attack. It was too funny of a face for me to see and I burst into a fit of giggles.
"Are you alright?" Charlie asked, so clearly thinking of throwing me into the basement so as to protect himself from being murdered by the crazy girl.
"I'm…I'm more than fine actually," I said. Well…I sort of was.
Charlie raised an eyebrow.
"Edward and I—well Edward sort of asked me to marry him…" I lifted my left hand and set it onto the table. It almost looked like a casual motion.
Charlie's mouth became an open cave, in which no sound was produced. My face felt hot and my palms began to sweat.
"Wow that's very…uh…" Charlie could not finish his sentence because his face was becoming a tomato.
"Very fast," I said. Uh oh, wrong words. Now Charlie was probably going to think that I was forced to say yes. "And very nice." Okay, that didn't sound like it was even grazing the truth. Nice?
"Can I just say something?" Charlie asked.
I nodded hesitantly.
"You're too young. Eighteen? That's too young for you to even consider getting married. Bella, what about college and your future?"
"I'll still be going to college, but I'll just be married. You're not going to stop me, Charlie." It was the first time I had called him Charlie in a long time. He seemed frightened by my sudden confidence. But I was more surprised than he could ever be. I didn't know I had it in me…
Charlie cleared his throat and said, "I think you should go to your room…. I need to make a phone call."
I nodded. I guess it was appropriate that I be sentenced to my bedroom until the end of eternity.
I trudged up the stairs and sat on my bed silently.
"It'll be fine with time; don't worry," Edward said, as I felt the bed drift down a bit on the other side. I jumped a tiny bit when I heard him—Edward…always coming around at a silent time.
I sighed and let myself fall back onto my pillow. Edward stroked my hair and my face as I tried to feel relaxed. Nope, not working at all. He disappeared and I heard someone coming up the creaking stairs.
Charlie didn't bother knocking—privacy was a privilege…and engaged teenagers don't get many privileges. I was surprised to see that Charlie's face looked fresh with tears when he walked in.
"Dad?"
"I love you kiddo," he sobbed and walked towards me to give me a hug. "I'm glad you let me say goodbye before you left for good."
"Well, I'm not leaving just yet," I said, sprouting tears of my own. I didn't know he could be emotion.
"I suppose, if this is going to happen, you should tell your mom. And your friends if you'd like."
I nodded. He slowly backed out of the room, about to close to the door. "And Bella?"
"Hm?"
"I think you should tell Jake as well." My stomach sank.
He already knows.
End of Chapter One