Summary: Okay, maybe marrying Edward Cullen wouldn't be so bad. After all, he's filthy rich, and is apparently ridiculously good looking. I mean, lots of girls would have fought to be in my place before he got into coma. And if he actually dies, I'll be a billionaire. Gosh. Billionaire at eighteen. But…what if he wakes up?
"Mom? Dad?" I look incredulously at my parents, who are sitting grimly on the family couch. I put down my bag and scan their expression worriedly.
"What's wrong? Why are the both of you here?" My real question is: Why are the both of you here together? My parents, Renee and Charlie, have been divorced for about 2 years now. Things are still a little awkward between them; especially since Renee's starting to see another guy (Phil's nice. But he's kind of…young. Well. Anyway. To each his, or rather, her own, I guess.), so I am shocked to see the both of them sitting together in the living room of my dad's house.
"Well, Bells," my father says gruffly, looking uncomfortable. He glances at Renee and she looks uneasily back.
Oh God, I think. Maybe Renee's broken up with Phil. Maybe Charlie and Renee are going to reconcile.
I feel my ears prick in anticipation at what Charlie's going to say.
Okay. To be honest, I haven't really gotten over the divorce. I mean, I could tell that the atmosphere was…strange every time they were together in the same room, but I thought they were trying. When Renee finally broke the news that she was moving away, I felt…betrayed. Well, not exactly. But I did feel hurt. Now I pretend that things are more normal, but secretly I still feel a little sore about the divorce.
I tried living with Renee for a while, but as much as I love her, I didn't like that she moved around so much. I mean, in the past 2 years, we've moved to 3 different cities. And finally, when she met Phil, I decided to come back to live with Charlie.
Forks is nice. A little too green maybe, but it was where I grew up, after all.
"It's okay, just…shoot." I say, trying to look nonchalant.
Subconsciously I'm aware that I am rubbing my palms together.
"We…I mean…You're…" Renee starts sputtering.
Getting together. Getting married. I've dumped Phil and I'm moving in too.
"—rried," my mom is saying.
"Sorry?"
"Oh gosh, you didn't hear that?" Renee says, looking dismayed.
"Sorry, can you repeat?" I say, sounding apologetic.
"I said, you are getting married."
I choke on air, and start to beat my chest furiously.
"What?" I splutter, bursting into hysterical laughter. "Me? I am getting married?"
Calming myself down, I mutter, "I'm going to get a drink."
"We're being serious here, Bella," Renee says in a serious tone.
I half turn to face her soberly. "Mom, don't be ridiculous. I mean, you're usually funny but I think you're losing your touch."
"We wouldn't lie about your marriage, Bells," Charlie says, frowning.
"But Dad!" I say in slight hysteria, "I'm only eighteen! You guys had better stop this joke now. It's not funny anymore."
"There's nothing funny about this," Renee says in exasperation. "Esme Cullen, your prospective mother-in-law, came here this morning while you were in school. She asked on behalf of her son for your hand in marriage. And we've agreed."
"WHAT!" I exclaim. "You've got to be kidding me."
"There's nothing bad about this arrangement." Charlie adds. "I was apprehensive about letting you marry so young…" I can tell there is an underlying meaning to his words. My parent married young. And look what happened to them. "But you're different. You're a matured, sensible girl…"
"Thanks Dad," I say sarcastically.
"But if you're not willing to," Charlie continues, unperturbed, "we can speak to Mrs Cullen again. I'm sure she'll understand."
"Charlie!" Renee argues. "We have no choice! Bella has to marry, because— "
"Because what?" I interrupt.
"We…actually owe them a lot of money. By them, I mean the Cullen Enterprise. It has to do with some investments and stuff…but I won't elaborate. Anyway, we've been trying to pay them, even before…the divorce. But things are getting harder and when she came to us, we couldn't say no. Her son, Edward, was a fine young man, until…until the accident happened…"
"What? What accident? Investments? You have been investing?"
"Well, we had to pay for your expenses and your education. And Charlie wasn't making much," Renee says defensively.
"Now you're blaming me?" Charlie turns to her incredulously. "I was the sole breadwinner! Can you imagine the stress I felt? You were constantly complaining and I…"
"I thought that you could support us, which was why I ran away with you! My mother hardly approved of us, but I still believed in you! And look at what we've become!" Renee shouts.
"I tried my best, didn't I? I still—"
"Cut it out!" I screamed. "What's wrong with the both of you?" I exhale heavily.
"Why didn't any one of you tell me?" I demanded. "Did you think I would be happy? Did you think I would appreciate the both of you keeping things from me? I thought we were doing fine! I thought—" I trail off, my eyes smarting with tears.
"Bells," my father looks at me apologetically. "We're sorry. We thought we could handle it. You can say no. I'll…I'll try to raise the money."
"How? With your job as a small town chief police?" Renee says in heavy sarcasm.
"Mom!"
"Okay, okay," Renee sighs in defeat. "We honestly wouldn't let you marry a half-dead boy if not for the circumstances." She exhales sharply and looks at me, her lower lip wobbling. "I'm not ready to give away my little girl…"
I take in a deep breath. "What exactly did Esme Cullen say?"
They recounted to me how Esme had first contacted them a month ago, making the offer of forgetting their debts if I agreed to the marriage, and then proceeding to reveal how they had researched on Edward Cullen, whom I was supposed to marry. Apparently he's my age, but he doesn't go to school anymore because he's already preparing to take over the family business. And he supposed to be incredibly smart. He was a successful young man until an accident three years ago. A drunk driver crashed into him and he fell into a deep coma. And he hasn't woken up since.
"Gosh." I say after a while. I haven't quite digested the whole thing yet.
"And he's really good looking too," Renee adds in. "The accident hasn't mangled his features at all."
"Renee!" Charlie remonstrates.
I roll my eyes. "But he's in coma."
A three year coma.
"There's always a possibility of him waking up," Charlie reasons.
"And even if he dies, imagine the inheritance you'll get!" My mother says jokingly.
"Renee!" Charlie shouts in exasperation again.
"What? A few million?" I say in an uninterested, deadpan voice.
"You'll be a billionaire! Or possibly even more!" Renee exclaims.
I sigh. "But what if he never wakes up? Will I die without a real husband? What if I find someone else I love? I wouldn't be able to marry him!"
"Bella— "
"And if he dies, I'll be a widow! A widow at eighteen!" I realize in horror.
"We understand, Bella," Charlie sighs. "We'll tell Mrs. Cullen. I won't give away my baby girl to a dying man."
"But what about the money? Your debts?" I raise my brows.
"What about debts?" Charlie shouts in agitation. "I don't care about the debts. I can't sacrifice my baby girl for a few stupid pieces of cash!"
"You're right," Renee says after a while. "It won't be worth it. Exchanging Bella's life for money is a ridiculous idea." She shakes her head. "I don't know what I was thinking."
I frown at eye my parents warily.
Finally, I sigh, "You know what? I'm dead beat. I'll think about it, okay? I just want to go to my room now."
"Okay," Charlie says. "Bella? Don't worry about it. You don't have to bother about our debts. You shouldn't be involved."
"That's right. We'll call Esme Cullen tomorrow. You go and take a rest." Renee adds in.
I walk upstairs to my room, thinking deeply.
Maybe I should Google him. You know, just to see for myself what kind of a person he is.
I mean, it can't hurt to be curious.
I switch on my computer and drum my fingers impatiently, waiting for the screen to light up.
As soon as I get on to Google, I type: Edward Cullen
I click anxiously on the first picture and wait for it to load.
Oh.
Wow.
Okay he's ridiculously handsome. I don't know if they photo shopped this but if it's really him, I really think he's really unlucky to be in coma.
He looks totally like a Greek god in this picture. His hair is sort of mixed with brown, red and gold and sits on his head in a disheveled fashion. I don't know how he does it, but he pulls off the messy hair perfectly. His warm, expressive eyes stare at me from the computer screen. There is a slight teasing expression in his eyes. And they're really, really green. His nose is a straight, sloping angle on his perfect face. And finally his mouth. His mouth is…It's really…
Oh gosh, I sigh mentally.
His mouth is set in a crooked grin, one of slight humor. I can't help but think what a perfect set of lips he has.
Okay, maybe marrying Edward Cullen wouldn't be so bad. After all, he's filthy rich, and is apparently ridiculously good looking. I mean, lots of girls would have fought to be in my place before he got into coma. And if he actually dies, I'll be a billionaire.
Gosh. Billionaire at eighteen.
But…what if he wakes up?