The American Dream

Ch. 10

I didn't make it home until the wee hours of Saturday morning. I had Jasper drop me off back at the dance so my dad wouldn't hear his car pull into our driveway. I smiled to myself as I silently climbed the stairs to my room. The night could not have been more wonderful. It had been unlike anything I had ever experienced. I mean sure I had been on dates before, but none of them compared to Edward Hale. Even the way Edward kissed me was so different; I could feel his kisses from my lips all the way to my toes. My dreams that night played the evening back for me like a glorious , vivid movie. When I awoke I half expected to be in Edward's arms beside the fire.

My Saturday was spent helping Mom clean house and working on my homework. Alice called twice but because my dad was sticking firm to my grounding I wasn't allowed to talk to her. After the second phone call Dad came into the kitchen where I was shelling peas for dinner, "Bella do you know who that just was on the phone?"

I looked up at him from where I perched on the edge of a kitchen chair, "No sir."

"Well I'll tell you who it was young lady; it was Alice Brandon. Didn't you inform her you are grounded and not allowed phone calls?" His eyes bored into me as he stood over me. I knew better than to tell him, "Well of course I told Alice I am grounded and can't talk on the phone but do you really think that would stop Alice?" so instead I simply answered, "Yes sir, I did tell her that."

"Well then," he huffed, "she shouldn't be calling then. Is that how her parents raise her over there? Is she taught it's okay to disrespect adults and the rules they set in place?" His voice grew more accusing and more angry with every word. I found myself tensing every muscle in my body while I simultaneously shrank away from him and cowered further into my chair.

"I'm, I'm s..o..rry," I apologized to the bowl to peas in my lap. There was a loud crack as my father brought is open hand down on the counter next to him. I jumped a little at the sound but kept my eyes on my lap.

"Well you certainly will be if you start following your friend's bad example," and with that he turned on his heel and made his way to the living room. I let go of the breath I'd been holding and returned to my bowl of peas. I said a silent prayer that Alice wouldn't push her luck and try calling again; thankfully my prayers were answered and the rest of the night carried on without incident.

My dreams that night were once again full of images of Edward and the time we had spent together. When my mother woke me for church Sunday morning I was smiling; I couldn't help it.

"What's with you?" Rosalie raised her perfectly arched eyebrow at me and smirked. "You've been smiling all morning." We were standing at the kitchen sink, depositing our breakfast dishes. I smiled back at her and glanced over my shoulder to make sure we weren't be overheard.

"Oh Rose," I felt myself busting open like a dam, "I had the most amazing night!" Rose's perfect mouth fell open in disbelief and she leaned in closer towards me.

"What are you talking about Bella?? You're grounded! Oh my gosh, what did you do?"

"Shhhh," I held a finger to my lips as I grabbed Rose's hand and pulled her out the back door where we could talk on the back steps without being overheard.

"Well you know that dance that was on Friday night?" Rose nodded and gave me a look that said keep going.

"Well I went," Rose's eyes bugged out of her head.

"Oh my goodness Bella! You snuck out!?!" I smiled and nodded.

" Yep, and Alice and I went to the dance, but that's not all. While we were at the dance Edward Hale and his brother Jasper showed up and they invited Alice and I to go for a ride with the so we did-,"

"WHAT!?!" Rose's face went from mischievous curiosity to downright disbelief, "Bella! Dad would kill you for hanging out with the Hales! They're hoodlums!" Now I was angry. Who was she to call Edward and Jasper hoodlums? She sounded just like our dad. She didn't even know them.

"Rose, you don't even know them!"

"Bella, honey, I may not know them but I know of them and they are trouble, no good, you need to stay away from them." I opened my mouth to argue with her again but stopped short as the back door opened.

"Well there you girls are," my mother was standing in the doorway dressed in her church coat and hat, "now get in here and get your coats on. We're going to be late." She glanced from me to Rose.

"Is something wrong?"

I looked sideways at Rose then back to Mom, "No mom, just girl talk ya know."

She smiled, " Well girls your chit chat will have to wait till after church. Now lets get going."

Church was a mandatory thing in the Swan house. I can't remember ever not going on Sunday. It was where I had first met Alice. She sat next to me in Sunday school one morning and had gotten in trouble for asking if Jesus had a girlfriend. We'd been friends ever since.

Church service was typical; hymns, prayers, and sermons. I could barely contain myself through the closing hymn. I wanted to hurry and find Alice so we could discuss the other night. Finally Pastor Webber dismissed the congregation. Filing out of the sanctuary seemed to go horribly slow as I scanned the crowd for Alice. My parents and Rose were quickly lost in conversation with Emmett and his parents so I snuck off to find Alice. When I found her I immediately grabbed her hand and off we went to find some privacy. We ducked into the empty nursery at the end of the hall and shut the door behind us.

"Oh Bella I've been dying to talk to you all weekend!" Alice squealed, squeezing both my hands in hers.

"Yeah I know. My Dad nearly flipped when you called.....twice!" Alice released my hands as hers shot up to her mouth.

"Oh know Bella! I am so totally sorry! I didn't get you in trouble did I?"

I waved my hand dismissively, "Nah, no more than usual. My dad just thinks you're a disrespectful, unmoral young lady."

Alice rolled her eyes, "Oh well, he always thinks that." We both laughed out loud.

"So anyway, wasn't Friday night just a dream?"

"Alice it was the best night of my life!" Alice giggled.

"Jasper is so amazing Bella. We talked about everything! Oh and he is such a good kisser!" Alice held her hand to her forehead and pretended to faint. I giggled as she landed in my arms. She popped her eyes opened, stood back up, and smiled.

"So?" she looked at me expectantly, "You and Edward seemed to hit it off," she wagged her eyebrows suggestively.

"Oh Alice," I swatted her shoulder, "yes we did hit it off. He is so sweet Alice. He's not like any boy I have ever gone out with. He held me in his arms and oh my gosh he smells so good!" Alice lunged and wrapped me a exuberant hug.

"Oh Bella I am so excited for us!"I hugged her right back because I was excited too. We continued gushing over every detail of our night. Turns out Jasper was actually pretty shy. He had told Alice he had wanted to talk to her for years now but had never gotten up the nerve to actually do it. As Alice told me this I thought back to Rose's words from earlier. She had no idea what she was talking about. Edward and Jasper were not hoodlums. They were shy, sweet, wonderful boys. They were amazing.