Author's Note: This chapter is a bit fast-forwarding. I hope it won't be too confusing. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Chapter 20

"Bella!" Jessica hollered as she fought her way through the crowd to catch up to me. "Bella, wait up!"

I knew exactly what she wanted to hear from me. I quickened my pace, pretending not to hear her. Of course, it didn't help.

"Bella!" Jess said, sounding annoyed when she finally caught up to me. "Didn't you hear me?"

I glanced at her before my expression soured. I looked away and focused hard on my locker, straight ahead of me. "No."

"Are the rumors true?" she asked as I began twirling my lock upon arrival. "You agreed to marry him?"

I opened the locker, then paused. Agree…to marry him. "It's just a rumor."

"What's there to hesitate about?" Jessica nearly shrieked in agitation. "If I were you, I would've said yes a long time ago!"

My mouth twisted as I merely replaced my books and binders with the things I needed for my next two classes.

Suddenly, she was nudging me hard in the ribs. "Bella. Bella. Oh, my gosh. Pinch me."

"Quit it," I told her. "It hurts."

She leaned in, her eyes still on something at the end of the hallway. "Fiancé alert!" she sang.

I bit my tongue from retorting. He was not my fiancé. I still couldn't decide. Was I brave enough to take that big step and change my entire life?

"Hello, Jessica," I heard Edward's polite voice behind me. I refused to turn around to greet him. I was afraid of what expression my face held at the moment. I wasn't confident enough. Just the thought of marrying someone who was like a brother to me sent shivers down my spine.

"Hi, Edward," Jess murmured, almost shyly.

"Bella?" he asked softly.

I paused before taking a deep breath and closing my locker. I turned around to face him. "Edward."

"I guess I'll see you guys later," Jessica mumbled before walking away, looking disappointed.

Edward looked wary, wondering what was going through my mind. "Anything wrong?"

I studied his handsome face before smiling slightly and plopping my textbook in his arms. "Carry this for me."

At that, he smiled, and as we walked through the hall, it was almost like everything was back to normal. Despite the fact that everyone was staring at us, of course, wondering if the rumors really were true.

I no longer felt the stab of annoyance as Sean and Peter resumed their job in trailing me. It was as though I had gotten used to their presence rapidly, almost as if I was resigned to my fate. Bodyguards and stares…

I was sure that Edward knew of my continuous hesitance. Because on Valentine's Day, he went further than he had ever gone.

Students were wondering when my usual roses would arrive. And then, there was that familiar knock, and everyone straightened up, including the teacher.

But this time, instead of the tall figure of the office TA, a group of boys and girls filed inside. One of them was carrying a basket of beautiful red and pink roses. He smiled at me as he set the basket on my desk before retreating to rejoin the group.

"What's this?" the teacher asked, smiling. "Looks like Edward's sent a little Valentine's gift to you today. Hiring the school's best choir to do the job, eh?"

I stared at them, my eyebrows raised. Would Edward really go this far?

The obvious leader, a tall girl, raised a pitch pipe to her lips and blew a note. And then, suddenly, the room was filled with harmonic music as they sang a love song.

Incredulous, I gawked, wide-eyed, as I listened carefully to the lyrics. It was an unfamiliar song, but it was beautiful just the same. And I knew that he had written the song himself.

For the first time, I was touched. His lyrics sounded sincere and compelling, and as the choir sang for me to become his girl forever, I couldn't help but feel that I could really play a role in his life. It may not be the role that I wanted to play, but at least he would be in my life as well.

And that would be enough.

When the choir finished singing, everyone erupted into applause. I smiled at them gratefully as I clapped along. They all stopped clapping and looked at me expectantly.

"That was beautiful," I said sincerely. "Thank you."

The choir looked relieved and looked as though a hundred pounds of burden had been lifted off from them shoulders.

"Thank goodness," a girl sighed. "We were under so much pressure, trying to memorize the parts and lyrics in such a short amount of time. Edward gave it to us three days ago."

"I'm curious," the teacher said. "How did he get you to come here? You usually don't make individual visits."

"He bribed us," the leader girl said, smiling amusedly.

Sean and Peter stifled their laughter from the back of the room.

"With what? Cupcakes?" a jock called out, snickering. "You choir people are always eating cupcakes."

It was true. If we passed someone with a cupcake in their hands during snack in the quad, it was most likely a choir member.

"Nah, with money," the girl said. "The choir department was suffering a bit because the district wasn't giving us money. Edward offered a million dollars for this. So our director forced us to do this."

My eyes were round. A million dollars for this?

"Wow," the teacher said, looking impressed. "I guess you can do anything if you have the money to wave around." The class laughed.

"Good luck!" The choir waved as they filed back outside again.

I made Sean and Peter carry the basket to my car. It was too beautiful to return, and I'd come too far to tell him off for doing this.

With a sigh, I walked toward his group of friends, where he was waiting for me.

He greeted me with his crooked smile. "Did you like my surprise?"

"It was a bit too expensive," I said. "But I loved it. Thank you."

His smile widened. "I'm glad." He hesitated, then reached up to tuck a lock of my hair behind my ear. "I was wondering…if you'd like to go out with me after school today."

I was surprised, yet again, by his pushiness. But I thought that I might as well learn to love him the way he loved me. "Where are we going?"

"That's a yes, right?" Edward asked. He leaned in and kissed me on the cheek.

The whole school was in an uproar over a simple yes I'd given. No, strike that. The entire city of New York was freaking out.

I couldn't go out to buy milk, afraid that the reporters would mob me. I couldn't go out on a date with Edward, fearful that they would capture me on camera and have me on the news that same day. I was already feeling the pressure of choosing to stay by his side.

He was happy. He loved to hold me, kiss me, and take me out on dates. His family was happy. By agreeing to marry him, I had sealed the deal, which meant no more pressuring comments from the board of directors of the company.

Everyone was happy. Except me.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't do it. I just didn't see him in that way. Edward Cullen could not be a man to me. I saw him as a brother that I did not want to lose, which had made me make the desperate decision to stay by his side as his wife. If I couldn't be a sister, I would be his wife.

I was disgusted with myself for making a decision like that. What would people say? People were intelligent. They weren't blind. They would know. They would think that I only married him for money and fame. They would point fingers at me secretly and accuse me of seducing a perfectly handsome young man.

I told myself that I would fall in love with him eventually. The key point was time. If enough time passed, I was sure I could fall in love with him. I was sure of it.

I knew he was disappointed. It was supposed to be a honeymoon. It was a honeymoon. And yet, we had gone to Italy for nothing.

What was a honeymoon? To me, it was a trip to a place where newlyweds had sex for the first time after their marriage. And yet, we didn't even do that. I had refused. How disappointed Edward must be with me.

We'd slept on the same bed. That much was an accomplishment to me. Edward didn't push the matter, since he understood how different and unfamiliar and strange it must be for me to be married already at seventeen. And I was thankful for that.

I felt guilty. I was supposed to be a helpful wife. I had to support him very well. And yet, I was already failing at that.

"Hey, girl," Alice chirped when we arrived home after our flight. "How was Italy?" She had a knowing look in her eyes as she smiled at me brightly.

The Cullens loved me. Even though they knew that I'd married Edward without even being in love with him, they loved me. At least I wouldn't be miserable because of my in-laws.

I resisted the urge to glance at Edward, who looked troubled. "Fine. Italy was beautiful."

Emmett was next. "How was it?" He wagged his eyebrows playfully, grinning.

I looked down, unable to answer that one. How can I tell them that we didn't have sex? That was my job. To have sex with Edward and produce an heir for him. And yet, I wasn't even doing my job. How can I tell them that?

To my shock, Edward said, "It was fine. Now butt out of our sex life, Em."

I swallowed, then slipped away to go upstairs to our new bedroom. Behind me, Emmett and Alice were laughing as they teased Edward by congratulating him for becoming a man.

I closed the door behind me and collapsed on an armchair, biting my lip. Why had he saved me? Why had he lied?

Five minutes later, Edward slipped inside. He laid down our luggage by the walk-in closet, then proceeded to taking off his shirt right in front of me.

"Why did you do it?"

Edward paused, then turned to face me, his chest bare and muscular. Was he doing it on purpose to seduce me? It wasn't working. Why wasn't it working? Be impressed! Stare at him! Why couldn't I do it?

"Because I know you aren't ready," he answered. "And that's fine with me. But if my family knows, they'll begin to pressure you." He threw his shirt on the bed lightly, then headed for the bathroom.

I watched as he closed the door quietly, and listened as the shower turned on. I swallowed down the lump in my throat.

"Help me," I whispered. "Somebody."

I felt frustrated. It was summer vacation, and it had been a few months since our marriage. If a girl was married, she should feel less burdened and happier. Why wasn't I happy?

All I felt was frustration. So this is what it felt like to be part of a rich family. To be the wife of the heir. Never being able to step a foot outside of this huge, yet stuffy mansion, unless it was for school or going to parties. Never being able to go to the bookstore or the grocery to run an errand.

But slowly, I was beginning to learn. To adapt to this new lifestyle of mine. It was easier to just block everything out. My feelings, my emotions. Who cared about my stupid feelings? All they cared was that Edward was married, that he stayed married until he died, and that he produced an heir. That was all.

So if I stayed quiet and just went along with it without thinking about how I felt anymore, it was easier. I did that. I went along with it. I did things because I had to, not because I wanted to. This was my new life.

Accepting without question was the way I lived my life. I no longer asked why I had to accompany Edward to those many parties. Why I had to buy so many expensive dresses for a simple party. Why I had to be careful even with every breath I took.

I felt suffocated. But I didn't acknowledge it anymore. Why? Because it was my duty to never question, and just do it.

Perhaps my new family knew how I felt. Maybe they saw this too. Maybe they felt sympathetic and apologetic for taking away my future. What could've been. Because one summer afternoon, Alice visited me in the library.

"Hey, Bella," she said cheerfully as always. "You're always reading. Aren't you getting tired of seeing these books?" She looked around. "Ugh. I was tired of seeing these books when I was five."

I smiled slightly. "I'm good."

"I know you're probably frustrated," Alice said sympathetically. She grinned. "How about a girl date today?"

I looked up from Pride and Prejudice. "Girl date?"

She nodded. "Get dressed. We'll go catch a movie, then have lunch."

"No shopping?" I asked hopefully.

She laughed. "No shopping. I promise."

"That was a good movie," Alice said happily as we walked inside the fancy restaurant to have Italiano for lunch. "Did you see the male lead? He was hot."

"Sorry," I teased. "I didn't notice. And you shouldn't have noticed either. I personally think Jasper is an amazing guy."

Alice pursed her lips. "Of course, no one can compare to my Jazzy. And I suppose your Edward is pretty hot too." She made a face as she shuddered. "Ugh. I can't believe I just said that about my brother."

My smiled faded slightly. Luckily, she didn't notice, as the waiter had just arrived to take our order.

As Alice ordered, my eyes wandered around the restaurant. The clients were all staring at me. I felt self-conscious in my fashionable and expensive clothes. Even my hair was up in an elegant French bun to match my outfit. I probably looked older than I really was.

Most people wouldn't be able to afford a place like this. The customers here were businessmen and women, as well as celebrities or just rich, normal people who could afford the price.

"So…" Alice said. "I wanted to ask you about your college education. You're a senior now, so you'll start filling out those dreaded college applications. What did you have in mind?"

I needed a source of escape. Somehow, I had to escape this. Even if it was college. I would go to college to escape my duties for a little while, even if I didn't have any major I wanted to study in.

I opened my mouth to speak when someone approached us and cleared her throat. Startled, Alice and I glanced at the newcomer.

"Can we help you?" Alice asked, her eyebrows furrowed.

The visitor was an elegant-looking woman in her mid-thirties. She was wearing a one-piece, ivory-colored dress with matching heels. Her makeup was done perfectly, and her hair was up in a ponytail. She was pretty, but not in a striking, obvious way.

"I'm sorry for interrupting your conversation," the woman said. "But I just couldn't help it. Forgive me."

"Of course," Alice said.

The woman smiled. "My name is Yvette Reynolds. I'm a talent scout from Hollywood. I'm actually on vacation, but my boss wanted to meet here for an emergency meeting. It seems that one of our actresses has backed out of a movie because she's pregnant…"

Yvette droned on and on while I wondered where she was going with this. But neither Alice nor I interrupted. We were trained to be polite.

"So I was wondering," Yvette said finally. "I've been thinking this ever since you came out on TV for the first time, but I really think that you would be a perfect actress, Mrs. Cullen."

It took me a moment to realize that she was talking to me. Alice wasn't married, and even if she was, she wouldn't be using the name Cullen. Then…

I looked at her, startled. "Me?"

"Oh, yes," Yvette said. "You have the beautiful face of an elegant, mature actress, and a perfect body figure too. I personally think that you would be perfect for the role of this movie. What do you think, Mrs. Cullen? Are you interested? Will you help us out of this tight spot?"

Alice was gaping. Her eyes were shining. "Wow! Bella, I can't believe…!"

I laughed, incredulous. "I'm sorry, Miss Reynolds. I think you have the wrong person. I can't act to save my life!"

Yvette chuckled. "We'll see. If you're interested…" She handed me her business card. "I'll be waiting for your call. I trust that you will make the right decision."

AN: The next chapter will probably be a time skip. Like I said, this chapter was a bit fast-forwarding, but I hope everything made sense. Leave me lots of reviews, please!