I was starting to get back into my old routine here in Phoenix. Life had pretty much gone back to the way things were before I had moved to Forks. I continued school at my old high school here, and got to see some of my old friends again.
It was almost as if I was just waking up from a dream, and my whole experience in Forks was not even real. All the myths about vampires and werewolves were just that—myths. But I knew that wasn't true. Nothing could never go back to normal again, not now that I knew the truth. I would never be normal. Especially now that summer was quickly approaching, which meant graduation from high school, and for me, eternity as a vampire.
I sat on the couch watching a rerun on television and eating the mac and cheese Phil had made for me before he and Renee went out. He had insisted on making supper for me, even though I told him it was no bother. Phil really wasn't much of a cook, he and Charlie had that in common.
It was hard to think about Charlie; whenever I did all I could see was the expression of hurt and anger he had the last time I saw him, when he found out about my motorbike. He had lost all trust for me that day, and he had good reason to.
I guess it's true what they say: you always hurt the ones you love. I thought about Edward, and the day he had left me by the edge of the forest. He had ripped out and taken a piece of me with him, leaving me alone, a burnt shell of who I was. I was unsure of how to carry on with my life without the missing piece, at least until I went to see Jacob.
My throat tightened at the thought of Jake. He had been the one person who was there for me when no one else was, not even Edward. He had been my safe harbor, and in return I rushed back to my "bloodsucking" friends just as soon as they decided to return.
It was Jake's fault I had to move back to Phoenix, he was the one who told Charlie the bike was mine. As much as I tried to convince myself that Jake was the guilty one, I knew I wasn't buying it. Everything he had ever done had been to protect me; he had honestly believed that telling Charlie about my motorcycle was the best thing for me.
There was a quick rap on the door and I knew who it was. My heart leaped up, all guilty thoughts being pushed away for another time. I hopped off the couch, set my supper on the counter and opened the door.
"You're late," I smiled, staring up into the perfect golden eyes. "Sunset was 3 minutes ago."
"I had to stop for something. Forgive me?" Edward stepped into the living room, one side of his mouth curling up into his crooked smile.
"Hmmm... Depends what you had to stop for," I eyed his left hand, which was resting in his pocket. I flicked off the television, and sat down on the couch next to Edward.
"I would have bought this for you sooner, but I wanted to pick out one that was just perfect," Edward explained. I sighed, I wasn't good with gifts. The last time I opened one, I ended up needing stitches in my arm.
"Isabella Swan," Edward began, pulling a small black box out of his pocket and holding it up to me. "Will you marry me?"
"Edward," I grinned. "You already asked me that."
"I know," he admitted. "But I wanted to make it official." He indicated the small box in his hands, and opened it to reveal a beautiful silver ring with a topaz gemstone that matched perfectly with the colour of his eyes. "And after all, you didn't give me a real answer the first time."
That was true. The first time had been so sudden and unexpected, I didn't know what to say. Not that this was expected, but I did have a lot of time to think about it. I knew what my answer was even before Edward had walked through the door.
"Edward Cullen," I breathed. "Yes, I will marry you."