chapter 2
charlie, phone calls and ducks
to my great surprise charlie was completely oblivious when he arrived home from work.
'great' i whispered to edward as dad took off his gun belt 'the one bit of information i want charlie to hear through the grape-vine and he's completely oblivious' edward smiled and kissed my quickly, there was a no kissing rule in front of charlie since the moterbike incident.
'how was school bella?' he said ignoring edward as he normally did
'fine, uneventful' edward gave me a look that clearly said -liar-
'actually charlie something did happen' edward cut in 'something amazing that bellas trying to keep quiet' it was my turn for the looks and mine clearly said -traitor-
'well what happened bella, or are you going to make edward tell me' i scalded edward and whispered 'meanie' as he snickered at me
'it was nothing huge dad, i just found out i have to go to prom'
'why are you going to prom?' evil vampire i thought looking at edward after he said these words
'i have to go to prom because im valedictorian and i have to give a speech' i said really fast hoping charlie wouldnt hear. but it turns out charlie was not losing his hearing in his old age
'oh my congradulations bella this is fantastic' he came forward and grabbed me in a bone crushing hug
'as i have been telling everyone, its not that big a deal' but charlie wasnt listening he was repeating over and over 'my daughters valedictorian my daughter' i sighed as he headed towards the phone, i knew who he was ringing mom. i groaned as edward held me
'this sux' i said as he chuckled 'im sure eric was expecting this he must be pissed, im sure he'd be happy at all of this'
'no going back now bella. your mother knows' edward sniggered as i moaned
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that night turned out to be eventful. i had an hour conversation with Renee trying to convince her not to fly down. but it was like talking alice out of the cloths shopping, hell would freeze over before either of these things would happen. renee spent half the conversation either screaming or jumping up and down [i could tell she was jumping up and down because the phone thumped]. phil came on and said he would organise to get off work so he could come too. it seemed that everyone was over the moon about this, but me.
charlie refused to let me cook. he said 'valedictorians dont cook in this house' and he ordered pizza. secretly i wondered how far i could push this new found joy of charlies. i didnt push it too far, which meant i didnt kiss edward goodnight as he left to take the volvo home.
as i went up stairs to go to bed i distinctly heard charlie on the phone
'hey billy' he whispered 'you'll never guess, bellas valedictorian' i groaned. how many people would know by tomorrow? ten bucks say that charlie gets out the phone book and starts calling the whole town.
edward wasnt in my room when i reached it. i tried not to let the disappointment get to me. he would be back. i told myself. every now and then i get the horrible, gut wrenching feeling that edward wasnt coming back. i would start to feel sick and hyperventilate. i told myself over and over that he would be back but the self-talk never worked. i wouldnt feel better until edward was back and i was in his arms.
i desided to distract myself before i broke down and i went for a shower. twenty minutes later i was clean and smelling like strawberries and cocconut [my new body wash alice kept buying for me, i noticed that she always took off the price tag before she gave it to me]. i re-entered my room to find my soul was laying on my bed.
'nice shower' he smiled
'excellent'
'whose aunt freda?'
'what?' he had completely lost me
'you fathers calling aunt freda' i groaned, it looked like my dreaded nightmare was coming true, dad was working through the family phone book telling everyone i was valedictorian
'she my cooky great great aunt, she nuts' i decided to add. edward laughed
'seriously, for my tenth birthday she sent my 10 live ducks, mom threw a fit and refused all gifts from her ever since' this really got to edward who was holding onto the bed he was laughing so hard
'it not funny' i snapped picking up a pillow and throwing it at him 'they bit' this sent him over the top, lucky he didnt need to breathe, he would have been struggling with all his laughter.
as edward tried really hard to stop his uncontrollable laughter [i had a feeling he was picturing me and mom running after 10 biting ducks] my phone buzzed. edward got tired of me never having a phone to call him. so after my truck broke down, forcing me to walk several miles to a house to reach the closest phone, edward decided to buy me a top of the range, blue, mobile phone. i hid how much i loved it as i didnt want him to start buying me gifts. i went over and picked it up
one mew message
bella,
school is off for seniors for the next two days. we are shopping tomorrow [whether you like it or not]. tomorrow night you have dinner with your parents. thursday you are writing your speech and getting distracted by edwards gift. Thursday night we are having a party [and your coming even if i have to tie you to a chair]. friday morning you are coming over to get ready with me and rose and friday night is prom. dont argue. alice is always right.
alice
i swore under my breath. she had the next three days worked out.
evil pixie.
i made a mental note to put bleach in the next load of washing she asked me to do. edward had finally controlled himself and was only chuckling every now and then so i passed him the phone and he read.
'i love the way you sister asks if it okay to do things' i sighed climbing in to bed
'thats alice, her way, or...'
'no way' i finished. if you didnt do what alice wanted lord help you.
edward put the phone away and turned out the light. he moved over to me and i sank into his arms.
'it will be okay bella'
'promise' i asked sounding like a two year old
'i swear, it will be fine'
'what are you buying me?' i asked. once upon a time i would have gotten cross that edward was spending money on me. but long ago i realised that i was doing nothing but blowing hot air. he didnt listen. it was amazing how much he and alice were a like.
'not telling' i knew he was smiling as he bent down and kissed my hair. he started to hum my lullaby and i fought to stay awake
'nothing over the top' i mumbled. he chuckled and whispered
'i need to give you something my bella, you are the most amazing woman in the world and i want to spoil you' i would have protested but the lullaby got to me and i fell into my dreams.
