Disclaimer – Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight. No copyright infringement is intended.
A special thanks to my wonderful Beta, shelikesthesound.
In the Long Run
Chapter 13
BPOV
I woke up before the alarm clock disturbed the silence of the morning. As I turned over in bed, I saw Edward's eyes find mine.
"What are you doing awake this early in the morning?"
"Watching my fiancée sleep," he said.
"I'm not sleeping."
"I see that. Why are you awake so early in the morning?" he repeated my question.
"I couldn't sleep. I guess that I'm still worried about what Mr. Green wants with us."
"Worrying isn't going to solve the problem. Why don't you come on over here?" he gestured to his chest. I scooted over to lay my head onto his chest. He began running his fingers through my hair and lightly massaging my scalp, while he started humming to me. I didn't recognize the song, but it sounded familiar.
"What's that song?"
"That's the song that was playing when you danced with me for the first time at Roger's house. I kinda adopted it as our song. Kinda creepy. I know, right?"
"No, I think it's sweet," and I snuggled in closer to his body, relaxing into him, just letting my muscles go, allowing his body to hold mine together. I must have dozed back off, because the next thing I remembered was the alarm clock buzzer interrupting the wonderful humming that we were dancing to, twirling around and around in a meadow full of flowers next to our waterfall. No cast to get in the way or to step on his foot.
Edward jostled me as he moved to turn off the blasted alarm. He was wide awake.
"I'm sorry. I think I dozed off on you," I said, pulling myself up in the bed.
"Not at all. I wanted you to sleep. I'm just sorry that we have to get up now. Do you need help with the bathroom?" I shook my head. "Do you need your meds this morning?" I didn't feel nauseated right now, but who knew how I would feel later in the morning.
"Yeah. I think that would be a good idea." He jumped out of bed and left the room after helping me to the bathroom. He returned with my nausea medication by the time that I'd brushed my teeth. I took it and left the bathroom to get dressed. When I entered the closet, I took a little while to decide what to wear. I ended up choosing a dress that was flattering to my figure, above the knees, but within the fingertip rule per the handbook. I put on a pair of matching flip flops and stepped out of the closet as Edward was stepping out of the bathroom, a towel around his waist and one drying his hair.
"You are beautiful this morning," he said as he pulled me into his arms and kissed me.
"Well, I thought that maybe I should dress up a little, you know, because of the meeting," I said, pushing him away. "I've got to do my hair. I bet you left the bathroom all foggy, didn't you?"
"Yep, all foggy," he said as he went to his drawers and got his clothes for the day out.
"Don't forget that you have to go in front of the judge today. You want to look good for her," I said from the bathroom as I ran the hair dryer over the mirror.
"I know. I'm gonna dress nice. Mom would have my hide if I didn't," he said, popping his head into the bathroom. He had on a dress shirt, and when I was finished getting ready and walked into the bedroom, I noticed a tie and jacket on the bed. Edward grabbed them, and then he picked me up, and we headed downstairs where Esme had breakfast on the table.
"My, aren't you two handsome this morning," Esme said. Carlisle turned in his chair to see us and whistled.
"Your mother told me about Mr. Green's phone call last night. Don't let him get to you. You have every right to be at that school, and if we need to, we'll call in George. He might not agree with what you're going through right now, but he is as protective as a mother bear when his family is in trouble," Carlisle said.
"Thanks, Dad," Edward said. "It's good to know that you're on my side."
"Edward, I don't approve of everything that you've done. You know that. In fact, we still have several conversations and punishments to discuss, but you're my son, and I'm always on your side," Carlisle said.
"Yes, Sir," Edward said. I looked at Edward questioning him. I had no idea what Carlisle was talking about. What had he found out about that he would want to punish Edward for? Was he going to punish him for getting me pregnant? Was he going to punish me, too?
I must have let my fear show on my face because Edward pulled me to him and leaned over to whisper in my ear, "He found out about me drinking at the parties. It has nothing to do with you, sweetheart." Oh Shit! Carlisle was going to beat the hell out of Edward. I crumpled to my knees, and my gasp was loud enough to be heard in the kitchen. Esme came out to find me crumpled in the floor, holding onto Edward. Carlisle had already left the house, but Esme ran to the door and called him back.
"No, Mom, she's okay," Edward said, holding me closer to him, but it was too late. Carlisle had already come back through the door. When he saw me on the floor, he threw his jacket over the chair he had just vacated and knelt beside us.
"Bella, what happened? Do you remember?" Carlisle asked. I nodded.
"I'm fine. I just tripped over an invisible line in the floorboards," I said. "Edward caught me before I could fall."
"She was pale as a ghost and clinging to Edward for dear life," Esme said. "I don't believe for a second that she fell."
"Edward, why was Bella pale?" Carlisle asked.
"Dad, I told her something that upset her, that's all. She's okay," Edward said.
"What could have upset you so badly, Bella? And most importantly, why would you want to lie to Esme and me about it?" Carlisle asked me. I buried my face in Edward's shoulder. I shook my head. The last thing that I wanted to talk about was Edward getting in trouble. Carlisle was a very strict disciplinarian. He wasn't abusive, but once he had punished you, you knew you had been punished. He didn't do anything half-way. I guess that is why Edward had never lied to him. I couldn't imagine what would happen to him if Carlisle had ever caught Edward in a lie. "Have Esme and I ever done anything to make you not trust us?" I shook my head. I trusted them with my life, and I was gonna trust them with the life of my child. "Then I must ask you never to lie to us again. You may tell us that you don't want to answer a question we might ask you, but if you tell us something, I expect nothing but an honest answer from you in the future. Am I understood?" I nodded my head. "Bella, I think that Esme and I deserve a verbal answer."
"Yes, Sir. I understand," I said, my voice shaking.
"Now, I'm asking from a medical standpoint. Did you fall, or get dizzy?" Carlisle asked.
"No, Sir. I got upset about something that Edward told me. I'd rather not talk about it," I said. Carlisle stood up and took his jacket. He kissed Esme and told her good-bye, and then he left again.
"Is there anything that you'd like to tell me before we leave for the school," Esme asked me.
"No, Ma'am. I'm just ready to get today over with. What I'd really like to do is start over," I said.
"Sorry, sweetheart. Not possible. Gotta go face the music again. Let's go," Edward said as he grabbed both of our bookbags and led me to his car. I got in and laid my head against the seat. When he got in, he tapped me on the shoulder. "It's gonna be okay, Bella. I don't think that he's gonna beat me. He's probably just gonna ground me."
"How much more grounded can you get?" I asked him.
"I know, but that's the court's doing, not his. Once I'm done with the house arrest, I fully expect him to ground me forever," he said.
"Well, what if we're married by then? He can't punish you if you're married, can he?" I asked.
"I never thought about that. I don't know. We'll still be living here. We'll have to see. That is an interesting idea, though." I nodded as we pulled into the empty student parking lot. We'd never been the first ones there before. Esme pulled into one of the visitor spaces.
Edward opened my door for me and carried me to the office where he put me down. We entered together to see Mrs. Hope at the front desk. Esme came in right after us.
"He's expecting you. Go on back," she said.
"Thank you," Edward said, and he took my hand and led me to the back of the office to the door marked Principal. He knocked on the door, and a gruff, "Come in," answered the knock.
"You wanted to see us, Mr. Green," he said, still holding onto my hand, while at the same time, holding the door open for his mother to come into the room. "I'm sure you remember my mother, Esme Cullen."
Esme walked into the room and up to Mr. Green. "Theo, it is good to see you again," she said.
"Mrs. Cullen, I told Edward that there was no need for you to interrupt your busy day to attend this meeting. I only needed to meet with him and Bella this morning," Mr. Green said.
"Bella and him," Esme said.
"Excuse me?" Mr. Green said.
"Bella and him. 'I only needed to meet with Bella and him' is the correct way to say the phrase in English, Theo. And if my son is uncomfortable meeting with you without my being present, then, Theo, my presence is required," Mrs. Esme said. I wanted to either lick my finger and give her the point or do a quick fist pump; I couldn't decide which.
"Well, your being here certainly won't change the fact that Bella is, in fact, pregnant," Mr. Green said.
"No, it doesn't change that fact, and I don't believe that either Edward or Bella has tried to deny that fact," Mrs. Esme said. "Take a seat, kids, and let's find out what's on Theo's mind." Edward held my chair for me, and then he held the other chair in the room for his mother to sit down. He finally came and stood beside me, taking my hand within his own and squeezing it.
"What did you want to see us about, Mr. Green?" Edward asked.
"Well, Edward, Bella. Because of the pregnancy, it is my duty as principal of this school to inform you that you, Bella, will be removed from the cheerleading squad effective immediately. You are to turn in your uniform in the morning. You will no longer be allowed to represent Forks High School in any manner until you are no longer pregnant. It is a disgrace that you have allowed this to happen, and this school will not allow people with such low morals as yourself to represent this school."
I looked up at Edward. I couldn't help it. I knew that the tears were running down my cheeks. I had said the same thing to myself a hundred times, but to hear them come from someone like this asshole was too much. It was one thing for Charlie to disown me. It was one thing for Esme and Carlisle to be disappointed in me. It was one thing for Brother Tucker to be disappointed in me. They had known me all of my life and had all helped raise me to be the person who was sitting in this chair. But the man in front of me, he didn't know me. He didn't know the person I was. He didn't know my soul any better than the next Jane Doe walking down the sidewalk. Who the hell was he to pass judgment on me? Who the hell was he to decide that I wasn't good enough to represent Forks High School?
"What about me?" Edward asked in a voice that seemed a thousand miles away. What was he doing? Was he trying to get into some kind of trouble? "Am I suspended from the football team as well?"
"Are you pregnant?" Mr Green's voice asked from the distance. I looked around to try to see where the sounds were coming from.
"Yes, I am. I'm responsible for Bella's condition. I told you that on the phone last night. It's my baby, too," Edward said.
"Are you going to get fat and obviously pregnant?" Mr. Green asked.
"No, but I'm just as pregnant as she is. That's the way that we're looking at it," Edward said.
"It doesn't matter for the guy. You're not going to get disgustingly, obviously pregnant are you?" Mr. Green said.
"That's the most unfair thing that I've ever heard of," Edward said. "What makes you think that it's right to take it out on just the girl? She didn't do this on her own."
"Because I can," Mr. Green said. "Now, the two of you get to class."
"Mom, he can't do that can he?" Edward asked.
"I don't know, Edward. We'll have to consult with George, but I have it all on tape, so we'll see. You and Bella go to class, and we'll work something out. Bella, don't forget, I'll be picking you up today after last period," Esme said. "In fact, I'll check you out when Edward checks out, okay."
I nodded, not being sure of my voice at that moment. Edward took my hand, and we all left the office together. By that time, several students were milling around the campus. They were all in costumes. It was Halloween, and Edward and I'd completely forgotten about it. We were supposed to dress up today, per Alice's orders, as Rhet Butler and Scarlet O'Hara. I looked at Edward. He took my hand, and we said good-bye to Esme and headed to our lockers where we met the gang waiting for us.
"You're running late this morning, and where the hell are your costumes?" Alice asked as we walked up, but then she looked at me. "What's wrong?"
"He kicked me off the squad," I said.
"Who did?" Alice asked.
"Mr. Green. We had to meet with him this morning. He kicked me off the squad," I said.
"Why?"
"Because I'm pregnant."
"That's not fair. Did Mrs. Hall agree to that?" Alice asked.
"She wasn't there."
"I can't believe that she'd agree to that," Rosalie said.
"I don't think she has a choice. I think he's mad about Jessica and Tanya being kicked off the team, and now he has a reason to get back at Edward and me."
"I don't think it's you at all, Bella. I think he's getting back at me. He didn't even call you last night. Nobody knows but us that you're staying at my house, and he still called me. He wanted me to tell you we had to come in. This is all my fault," Edward said.
"Then why aren't you kicked off of the football team?" I asked as the first bell rang. We threw our books in our lockers, grabbed what we needed for our first two classes, and raced down the hall to make it to our first period class before the tardy bell rang. Neither of us wanted to see Mr. Green for a second time that morning. We managed to squeeze through the door just as the bell rang.
"Sorry, Mrs. Sims," we said at the same time as we slid into our desks and started pulling out our notebooks.
"Tell it to the class. You know the rule. Pop-test everyone. Take out a piece of paper and number it one to ten," Mrs. Sims said. The class let out a collective groan, and the guy behind Edward took it upon himself to pop Edward in the back of the head for being late. He took it like the gentleman he was, just turning and giving Eric a dirty look. He also gave Judy, the girl sitting behind me a dirty look, just for good measure. The pop-test turned out to be easy, and the class didn't hold it against us for long. It was Advanced English, after all, and we were in the class with the brightest people in our year.
After lunch, Esme arrived to check both of us out. We drove to the court house in silence, Edward putting on his tie and jacket while I smoothed down my dress. I was more nervous than I'd ever been in my life, even more than the night that we told Charlie about the pregnancy. The judge was a lady that could take Edward away from me. I didn't think I'd be allowed in the room with her, but I hated her without even knowing her. I hated the thought she could have that much control over my Edward, and that she could decide whether he could come to my appointments with me, whether he had to be confined to the house, or whether he had to stay in the juvenile detention center. Yes, I hated the power over my life she had.
George met us outside. "Let's go on upstairs," he said.
"Okay," Edward said, and he took my hand in his. He was shaking, and I squeezed his hand. George led us toward the metal detector, and we all passed through. Then we went to the juvenile court. The three of them went inside, and I sat down on a bench outside the courtroom. While I sat there, my mind went crazy. I thought of everything that could possibly go wrong. I imagined that the judge had talons and a beaked nose. I saw her swooping down and taking Edward into her claws and ripping him to shreds.
I guess I was crying, because before long, a young woman sat down beside me. She had blonde hair, and I recognized her from the football games. She had a daughter in the band. I think she played the flute. Anyway, I didn't expect to know anybody there, and when she sat down, I was embarrassed to be caught with tears on my cheeks. I rubbed them away and tried to stifle my sniffles.
"You're one of the Forks High Cheerleaders aren't you?" she asked.
"Yes, Ma'am," I said.
"Is everything all right?"
I nodded. "Yes, Ma'am. Everything's fine. I'm just a little emotional right now," I said.
She put her arm around me and said, "Are you sure. You look like you could use a friend right now."
"I'm sorry. I'm not allowed to talk about what's bothering me," I said. "I'm just really scared and worried, and I'm not handling it very well."
"Why aren't you allowed to talk about it? Sometimes talking about it makes it better. Who told you that you can't talk about it?" she asked.
"I'm sorry. It's concerning my boyfriend, and I can't say anything else," I said.
"What's your name, honey?"
"Bella. Bella Swan."
"Well, Bella. Why don't you come with me?" She got up and walked towards the court room. I followed her, and when she walked in, I didn't know what to do. I followed her into the room, and as she entered, the bailiff called for everyone to rise. The rest of the people in the courtroom stood. She pointed to where Mrs. Esme was sitting, and I sat down beside her when the bailiff said for everyone to be seated. The lady took a robe off of a hanger and put it on, and then she sat down at the judge's bench.
"Mr. Cullen, I understand that you are here on a petition to modify the house arrest order. Is that correct?" the lady asked.
"Yes, Your Honor. Extenuating circumstances have occurred, and Edward wishes to add two, possibly three places to his exceptions to his house arrest. He would like to attend physician visits with his girlfriend who is expecting their child; if necessary, he would like to attend any visits involving the hospital with same girlfriend; and he would like to attend church. Thank you," Mr. George said.
"Mr. Tyne, any objection?" Judge Maye asked.
"Yes, Your Honor. I have some concerns that Edward may have perjured himself during questioning," the man who answered to Mr. Tyne said.
"I object, Your Honor. There isn't any new evidence that would support a charge of perjured testimony," Mr. George said.
"I think Mr. Tyne is going to be allowed to produce that evidence," Judge Maye said. "Go ahead, Mr. Tyne."
"Edward, do you remember during our last meeting you were under oath to tell the truth?"
"Yes, Sir," Edward said.
"Do you remember me asking you if you'd had any sexual relations with Bella Swan?"
"Yes, Sir."
"What was your answer?"
"I told you that I had not, that we were both still virgins."
"And do you want to change that testimony today?"
"No, sir. The day you asked that question, it was still the truth."
"And yet, you are here, today, before the court, less than 2 months later, and the same girlfriend is pregnant?"
"Yes, sir."
"Would you like to explain the circumstances to the court?"
"We were together, intimately, that afternoon," Edward said, blushing. "That was the day she conceived."
"And how are you so sure of that fact?"
"It's the only time that we've been intimate with each other."
"I see. No more questions, Your Honor. I have no objections to the change in house arrest request."
"Anything else, Mr. Cullen?"
"No, Your Honor," George said.
"Would you like to say anything, Edward?" Judge Maye asked.
"Yes, Ma'am. It is my responsibility for the condition that Bella is in, and I promised her I would be beside her every step of the way. It's not her fault, and I don't want her to have to go through any of this alone. I don't want people staring at her or saying anything to her without me being there for her. Please allow me to be by her side."
"Well, Edward, I met Bella outside before I came in today, and she seemed really upset about something. Now I think I understand what it is that has her so worried. I will grant you the exceptions to your house arrest as you have asked for in your petition. Court adjourned. Now, one more question, Edward. How does the game look for Friday night? You had some problems last week."
"We should have this game in the bag. Hale and I've been working on some new plays. It'll be good. Will you be there?"
"Yelling as always. Don't let me down."
"No, Ma'am. I wouldn't dream of it." He stood and came to me. He took my hand and brought it to his lips. Then we left the room and gathered in the hallway. "How did you meet Judge Maye?" he asked me.
I told him all about our random encounter and subsequent conversation on the way back to school. When we got back, we were still in Anatomy & Physiology so we joined the class late. Mrs. Conner gave us a worksheet they'd done during the first part of the hour to complete for homework. We hadn't missed much of her lecturing which was good luck on our part.
After a short time later, the bell rang for our last period of the day. Edward had football practice, and I had cheerleading. I didn't know what to do about the situation, but I knew that I wanted to speak with Mrs. Hall, so I went to the gym as if nothing was wrong. I hung back from the rest of the girls and waited for her in the hallway outside of the gym. When she came through the door and saw me, her face fell. I knew then that Mr. Green did have the power to kick me off the team. I turned to leave the gym when Mrs. Hall called out.
"Bella, wait. I want to talk to you," she said. I stopped walking and waited. After all, what could she possibly say? I'm sorry. That wouldn't change the fact I'd been kicked off the team. She walked up to me. "Come into the gym and sit with me, please," she said.
"I'd rather not," I said. "I'd rather not be humiliated in front of the whole squad."
"Do you think I'd say or do something to humiliate you? I thought you knew me better than that. I just wanted to make sure you're okay."
"No, I'm not okay. I've just found out I'm pregnant. I'm fifteen years old. The whole school knows about it, and now I've been kicked off the cheerleading squad because of it. I'm so not okay," I said, the tears starting again.
Mrs. Hall took me by the arm and took me to the stairwell that led to the second floor of the gym. We sat down on the steps. "I didn't think you'd be okay. I didn't know about any of this until about an hour ago. Mr. Green called me into his office to tell me you'd been removed from the squad and why."
"You didn't hear the rumors? They were all over school yesterday."
"I honestly thought that if there was something this big going on, you'd tell me yourself. I thought that the rumors were false, just another way for Jessica and her gang to get at you and Edward."
"I'm sorry. I'm having a hard time coping with the idea. We've only just told our parents. Edward opened his big mouth at the after-game party Friday night when he was telling Jessica off."
"You must have been devastated."
"Yeah, I was, but there was no reason to hide it at that point. I'll eventually start showing."
"So, you're keeping the baby?"
"Yeah, we wouldn't kill it, and I can't give it away."
"Bella, I'm so sorry about the squad."
"Is this his decision, or is it your decision, too?"
"It's in the bylaws of the squad, I'm afraid. It does go to the morals the girls are expected to uphold. I'm so sorry. I would've told you instead of him. Somehow, I think it would've been better coming from me."
"So, you're telling me that the girls on the squad can sleep around all they want, just as long as they don't get caught, and by caught, I mean pregnant. If I were to abort this baby, I could stay on the team. So you'd rather have sluts on the pill and murders than me. I get it." I got up and ran out of the gym and headed towards the football field. I needed Edward.
EPOV
I made it to football practice with everyone else. Coach Davis was in his office and before I dressed out, I went and knocked on his door. He looked up, and I swear, the look on his face was as if he expected me.
"Enter, Cullen," he said, "and close the door."
I walked through and shut the door before I sat in front of his desk and put my head in my hands.
"Did court not go your way?" he asked.
"No, Sir. Court went well. I got permission to go with Bella to all of her doctor's appointments and back to church," I told him.
"Then what's on your mind," he asked.
"Bella is. This morning Mr. Green called us in to his office. He kicked Bella off of the cheerleading squad because she's pregnant, but he didn't kick me off the football team."
"Did you want him to kick you off the team?" he asked.
"No, Sir. But it isn't fair that he kicked her off her team and is allowing me to play. I feel so bad for her."
"Edward, the cheerleader squad has a rule, for lack of a better word, against them getting pregnant. It's in their charter. There is no such rule against getting someone pregnant on the football charter. I'd lose a third of my team."
"Really?"
"Really. Bella didn't know the rules of her charter?"
"No, I guess not. I don't know the rules of ours."
"Well, they're basically about maintaining your grades and such. If you get arrested, and I mean charged, there will be a problem with your playing, Edward. The charter does have its standards for behavior as well."
"That's why you pulled me in here the first day when I came back? To see if I could still play?"
"No. I pulled you in here the first day to see if I wanted you to still play, if your mind was on the game enough for you to play without getting hurt. The fact that you were at school was good enough for me that you weren't charged. I didn't think that you'd be released to your parents if you were charged with raping Jessica."
"How'd you know about that? That was before Jessica opened her mouth and let everyone know?"
"You don't know? Jessica is my niece. Her mother is my sister. I knew about it on Monday morning before they took her to the hospital. I tried to talk them out of going, knowing about what kind of girl Jessica is, but I couldn't talk my brother-in-law out of it. When it comes to her, he has on rose colored glasses, you know?"
"No, I had no idea. I'm sorry for everything she's put you through," I said.
"No, I'm sorry for everything she's put you through. I don't believe, for a second, what you've been accused of."
"Thanks coach. That means even more, now. Anyway, what should I do about Bella?"
"Just try to explain it to her. That's the way the rules are written. It's not meant to be discriminatory; it's just the way it is."
At that moment, a junior knocked on the door. Coach looked at me to see if we were finished, and I nodded. Coach waved for the player to open the door. He said, "I didn't mean to interrupt, Coach, but Bella Swan is outside, and she is crying. I came to get Edward." I looked at Coach, and he nodded at me. I left his office and ran outside to Bella.
She was standing by the tree where she waits for me after the games. Tears were streaking down her face, and her eyes were red and swollen. I ran up to her where Jasper and Emmett were standing. "Okay, guys, I've got her," I told them. "Bella, honey, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. Can I have the keys? I wanna go home, now. Please?" she asked.
"Sure, here," I said, digging them out of my pocket. "Won't you tell me what's wrong?"
"Not now. Later. Let me get my mind around it, okay?"
I nodded. "Okay. Just tell me that you're okay to drive."
"I'm okay. Just a long day that I'm ready to end. I wanna go home and go to sleep."
"Okay. I'll get one of the guys to take me home. Don't worry about coming back to get me, all right?" She nodded, and I kissed her. She turned and walked towards the car, not one book in hand. I knew something was very wrong with her, but I had to trust her to tell me when she was ready, so I gathered my emotions and went back inside the field house to change for practice.
When I got home that evening, I went upstairs to take a quick shower before supper. Bella was still asleep, and I got ready as quietly as I could, believing that she could use the rest. When mom had supper on the table, I went back upstairs to wake her up. She was sound asleep, but her eyes were still swollen as if she'd cried herself to sleep. I kissed her on the forehead, gently, not wanting to scare her. I whispered her name, and then I kissed her on the cheeks, making my way to her lips where I gently kissed her again. That time, she took a deep breath and kissed me back, her eyes fluttering open. She smiled when she saw me next to her.
"Bella, supper is ready. Are you hungry?" I whispered as I broke our kiss.
"I could eat...I think," she whispered back. I carried her downstairs, and just as we were sitting down at the table, the doorbell rang. I got up to answer it, and it was our first set of trick-or-treaters for the night. It wasn't even dark, yet, and they were starting already. We could barely eat the pot roast that Mom had prepared because of all of the interruptions. It finally got so that Dad and I took turns opening the door.
One time that Dad got up to answer the door, he was surprised to find the gang there. Alice and Jasper were dressed as Antony and Cleopatra, and Emmett and Rosalie were dressed as King Kong and his girl. I don't think that either Jasper or Rosalie was very happy with their choices, but Alice and Emmett were Halloween aficionados. They were all going to a Halloween party and had just stopped by to show us their official costumes. They again offered to stay at home with us for the night, but we shooed them off. We had homework and things to talk about. I didn't need them to get in the way.
Once supper was cleared and cleaned, I took Bella to our room. We sat in the floor as usual and did our homework. There wasn't much because it was Halloween, but we did have a paper due for anatomy and physiology. When we were done, I took Bella's hand, and said, "Are you ready to tell me what was wrong this afternoon?"
She told me about her conversation with Mrs. Hall. I held her hand the entire time we were talking, and then I told her about my conversation with Coach Davis. I told her I didn't think that Mrs. Hall meant anything bad by what she had said. In fact, I think that Mrs. Hall was trying to take up for her. Unfortunately, neither one of us had looked at the rules of the sport we were playing when we signed up for it.
"I know, Edward, but that didn't help my feelings at all. It didn't help that if we'd decided to kill our baby, I could still be on the squad. It didn't help that our friends sleep together a hell of a lot more than we do, and we're the ones this happened to."
"Our friends are a lot more careful than we were, and you know it, sweetheart. We can't fault them for that. This was our mistake. Not theirs."
"I know, but that doesn't make it any easier to look at Alice and Jasper or Emmett and Rosalie. Edward, do you even know how many close calls they've had between the two of them?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean pregnancy scares? Between Alice and Jasper? How many negatives they've had? How many late periods? How many tests they've taken? Do you? Have the guys even told you?"
"No, I guess not. I was aware that Emmett and Rosalie had a close call once," I said.
"No, Jasper and Alice have had several close calls, too. Like she keeps a test in her locker at school just in case. She's been late three times just this year alone. And Rosalie was late twice. Last year, she was over three months late and had a positive test once. The second test a week later was negative. I think she miscarried."
"Yeah, I knew about that one. Emmett was scared to death. They were like us, only fifteen and in the tenth grade. He was shittin' bricks. I've never seen him so relieved as when she started."
"So why us? They're the ones who are sexually active. We were together once. Once, Edward. And now we're pregnant. It's so not fair. I want to pull my hair out!"
"Please don't do that. You wouldn't look good bald. Seriously. I don't know why it happened the way it did. I sometimes think it's not fair, either. I know all about the guys on the team who sleep around, and I know it's not fair, but I'm trying to accept it. It won't do me any good to wallow in self-pity."
"Is that what you think I'm doing?"
"No, I didn't mean it that way. You've been asked to give up everything. I haven't been asked to give up anything. I don't think you're wallowing in anything."
"Okay then."
Dad was right. I was learning when to grovel to get out of trouble.
The rest of the week went as well as could be expected. Dad made us an appointment with an obstetrician for the following week. The football game came and went with a score of 63 to 7 our way. We had won our first playoff game of the season.
Monday rolled around, and Bella and I anxiously found ourselves in Dr. Caroline Bush's office. There were many other people also in her office waiting to see her, and we found ourselves to be the focus of many of their stares. When the nurse finally called Bella's name, we were relieved to finally get up and go into the back of the office. The nurse had Bella weigh and give a urine sample. Then we went into an exam room where she took Bella's vital signs. After Bella got comfortable on the table, the nurse began asking several questions. She confirmed that we were there for a prenatal visit, and though she tried to keep her face blank, I could see the frown between her eyes when she asked Bella her age, and Bella replied fifteen. She asked Bella all kinds of history questions about both herself and her family, and then she asked her about the father of the baby. I spoke up and said that I was the father. She looked at me, and asked me several questions. When I told her my name was Edward Cullen, she wondered out loud if I was related to Dr. Cullen. I told her he was my father, and he knew we were there and why. She then continued asking me about my history and my family history. She again frowned when she found out that I, too, was fifteen. Once she was finished with my questions, she took out a gown for Bella to put on and a sheet that she told her to drape over herself.
I didn't know what to do. I knew that I had seen Bella before, but I didn't know if Bella would want me to stay for such a personal exam. "Do you want me to leave? I could wait for you in the waiting room?" I asked.
"Don't you dare. I want you to hold my hand, please," she said.
"Okay, I won't look."
"Edward, you've seen it all. We're gonna have a baby. Don't you think it's okay if you look?"
"No, I really don't. We're not married, and we promised that we wouldn't do that until we're married. I don't see any reason why that should change now."
"You're hopeless. You know that?"
"Yep."
At that moment, Dr. Bush came in the door. "Bella. Hi. I'm Dr. Bush. It's nice to meet you. And this is…?"
"Edward Cullen, Ma'am," I said, standing to shake her hand.
"Oh, are you any relation to Dr. Carlisle Cullen?"
"Yes, Ma'am. He's my father," I said.
"Oh. Well, tell him I said, 'Hello,'" Dr. Bush said. "Now, let's see. No significant history for either of you. You state that you conceived this child on Sept. 11th. Are you sure of the date?"
"Yes, Ma'am," Bella said. "It's the only time that we've been together."
"I see," Dr. Bush said, making a note in the margin of the chart. "And you had a positive pregnancy test?"
"Mr. Carlisle did a test in the ER the night that I broke my ankle. That's the way that we found out," Bella said.
"Oh, well, that must have been quite a shock for all of you," Dr. Bush said.
"Yes, Ma'am. He took it well, though, all things considered," I said.
"And you are already on pre-natal vitamins?" Dr. Bush said.
"Yes Ma'am, and phenergan for the morning sickness," Bella said.
"How bad has that been?" Dr. Bush asked.
"I don't know what usual is, but I get sick almost every morning until about ten o'clock, then things seem to settle down," Bella said.
"And the phenergan seems to keep it under control?" Dr. Bush asked.
"Most mornings," Bella said.
"All right, let's see. Your due date is June 18th of next year. Okay. Now, Bella, I'm going to do a complete exam. Have you ever had a pap smear before?" Dr. Bush asked.
"No, Ma'am," Bella answered. I think that I got pale just listening to Dr. Bush explaining to Bella what she was going to have done. I stayed up by Bella's head during the entire procedure, holding her hand during the uncomfortable parts.
When it was over, Dr. Bush told both of us that we would need to have our blood drawn for testing. As Bella got dressed, I couldn't help but to look at her. She was getting bigger in the chest area, and I couldn't help but notice. I was trying to keep my eyes to myself, but she caught me oogling her. She just smiled at me and came to give me a kiss. I needed several moments before we could leave the room to get our blood drawn.
After we left the lab, we went to the business office to discuss our bill. The older lady behind the desk turned her nose up at us when we walked into the room. I held the chair for Bella to sit down, and then I sat down next to her. We looked at the lady behind the desk, Mrs. Douglas, the nameplate said.
"We don't take Medicaid," the woman said.
"We don't have Medicaid," I said.
"Then you are on your parents' insurance?" the woman asked, a snide look hidden in her frown.
"No, Ma'am. We'll be paying cash," I said.
"I see. Well, our installment plans cover the visits and the delivery. The lab is billed separately. There is a twelve percent interest per annum, that means per year, which breaks down to one percent interest per month that there is an outstanding balance. We expect at least a ten percent payment per month. Are those conditions acceptable to you?" Mrs. Douglas asked.
"No, Ma'am. We'll be paying as we go. What are the charges for today's visit?" I asked.
"Well, I see. The visits and the delivery charge are combined into a lump sum fee. If there is a vaginal delivery, then the sum is fifteen thousand dollars even. If there is a C-section, then the fee is twenty thousand dollars. That is for the doctor's charges only."
"Well, we'll assume that she'll have a vaginal delivery, then," I said, and I took out my checkbook. I wrote a check for fifteen thousand dollars and handed it to the woman. "I'll need a receipt for tax purposes, please," I said.
"You understand that I'm going to have to verify this check," Mrs. Douglas said.
"By all means, please do," I said.
Mrs. Douglas picked up the phone and called the bank. It wasn't five minutes later that she handed me a written receipt. "Thank you for your business, Mr. Cullen," Mrs. Douglas said.
I stood up and helped Bella up from her chair. We walked out of the room holding hands. "That was great, the way that she started Mr. Cullen'ing you. I almost burst out laughing," Bella said.
"I hate how people are so two-faced. They act one way until they find out that you have money, and then they act a totally different way. You'll figure it out, too, Bella. You won't like it either."
As soon as we got to the car, we took turns calling everybody to tell them the due date. Dad already knew, the jerk. He could have clued us in on it, but he just said that we deserved to find out like other expecting couples. Mom, however, was delighted. A June baby, she kept saying. Our next appointment was scheduled for one month from that day, unless we had any problems.
That week went as good as could be expected. Everyone knew Bella was off of the cheer squad after Friday night's game, and when we returned to school on Monday afternoon, everyone had questions for her. We'd decided to tell everyone that it was for the baby's protection. We couldn't have her jumping around while she was carrying our baby. I think that explanation made her feel better about being off of the team.
The semifinal round of the playoffs was just as great as the first. We won an outstanding victory, 49 to 10. Jasper was playing as if he had superglue on his hands. Nothing I threw him was uncatchable. He was the true star of the game. When we left the field house to go home, there was a surprise waiting for me with the girls. Judge Maye was standing there talking to Bella. I walked over to see if I'd done anything wrong. I took Bella's hand, and Jasper and Emmett took Alice and Rosalie into their arms. They looked at me as if I'd bitten off something bitter to chew on, because an adult waiting for me was something that had never happened before.
"Hi, Judge Maye. Can I help you with anything?" I asked.
"Yes, Edward. You can introduce me to Hale. He was outstanding this game. I'd like to meet him," she said.
I turned to Jasper, and grinning, I said, "Judge Maye, this is Jasper Hale. Jasper Hale, Judge Maye."
Jasper turned as red faced as I've ever seen him. He held out his hand to shake hers. Then he lowered his hand, not knowing if it was the right thing to do. She held her hand out and took his, shaking it. "I don't mean to embarrass you, but I think that you are wonderful. I'm going to be sorry when the two of you leave in two years. Do you two have any idea which college you're going to play for?"
"College? I just wanna graduate from this place. Edward is the one who'll get to college. I can barely make the grades to play here," Jasper said.
"Oh, I think if you put your mind to it you could go to college," Judge Maye said. "Edward, I got Mr. Cullen's report about you two going to your first doctor's visit. I assume that everything went well."
"Yes, Ma'am. Everything is fine. We're due June 18th," I said.
"Well, we've got to go. See you later, Judge. We'll be over after the party, Edward. Don't wait up on us. Just leave the door open. We'll see ya in the morning."
"And you aren't going to the after-game party with the team, Edward?" Judge Maye asked.
"No, Ma'am. I'm not allowed to go anywhere except home, and school, and school sponsored events. The after-game party isn't school sponsored. It's parent sponsored," I said.
"Well, that's not very fair. What jerk told you that?" Judge Maye asked.
"With all due respect, Ma'am, you did," I answered.
"Yeah, I did, didn't I? I can be a jerk at work sometimes, can't I? I'm sorry about that, Edward," Judge Maye said.
"That's okay, I guess. It'll be over when the labwork comes back," I said.
"I sure do hope so, Edward," Judge Maye said. "I sure do hope so," and she walked off towards the band hall.
"That was just weird," Jasper said.
"Yeah," I agreed, and we went our separate ways.