So right now, my favorite song is Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars (3333 Bruno Mars). I thought the song might be fitting for this story too. Maybe? Or maybe it's just wishful thinking:
Oh her eyes, her eyes
Make the stars look like they're not shining
Her hair, her hair
Falls perfectly without her trying
She's so beautiful
And I tell her every day
Yeah I know, I know
When I compliment her
She won't believe me
And it's so, it's so
Sad to think she don't see what I see
But every time she asks me do I look okay
I say
When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are
Her lips, her lips
I could kiss them all day if she'd let me
Her laugh, her laugh
She hates but I think its so sexy
She's so beautiful
And I tell her every day
Oh you know, you know, you know
I'd never ask you to change
If perfect is what you're searching for
Then just stay the same
So don't even bother asking
If you look okay
You know I say
When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are
The way you are
The way you are
Girl you're amazing
Just the way you are
When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are
I guess, even though Bella is so different now than when Edward knew her, he still thinks she's perfect. She needs fixing, but she's still the same beautiful girl, to him at least. And when she is better, the whole world will stop to stare, I promise
And I know that in chapter 18, Bella told Edward that Jacob wasn't her boyfriend, but in chapter 19 she told Jacob she loved him. I don't mean to be confusing, but I promise things will be cleared up. It's not going to be too consuming or complicated.
Chapter 20
"I think I would like to see your family," Bella said softly. "That is, if they want to see me."
"Of course they want to see you," Edward replied. "But it's three in the morning. Are you sure you don't want to wait until the morning?"
She crooked her head in thought. "No, I don't think I do. I mean, it's not like they are sleeping or anything."
Edward laughed, "Very true." Bella flashed him a small smile before getting up from the bed and grabbing a sweater from her closet.
"What a great idea!" Alice said as she burst through the door. "They all missed you so much, even Rosalie! I promise!"
"Alice, was that really necessary?" Edward asked, sighing.
"What?" Alice said sheepishly as they all heard Liz's bedroom door open.
"Is everything okay?" They heard her call out from the living room.
"Yeah, sorry Liz," Bella said as she walked out of her bedroom. "Alice doesn't always realize that people are sleeping." The three of them stifled a laugh at their inside joke while Liz just stood there, a confused look on her face. "We are just going to go see the rest of their family. I will see you in the morning."
Liz looked at Bella strangely. "Aren't they sleeping? And don't you have class in the morning?"
"It's none of your business," Bella said angrily, shocking Liz. Bella never got angry. Instead of getting angry back, however, Liz just shrugged her shoulders.
"You're right. Have fun," she said as she turned back into her bedroom. As she closed the door, she couldn't help the small smile that came across her lips. Even if the first step was anger, it was still a step.
"Do you have a car here?" Edward asked Bella as they made their way out to the parking lot.
"Um, yeah, it's right over there," she said, pointing to a plain, blue sedan.
"No more truck?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No," Bella grumbled. "That died too."
Edward and Alice looked somber at this news, wondering if she really had anything left. "Okay, well let's go then," Alice finally said as she climbed into the back seat.
"Would you like me to drive, since I know where I'm going?" Edward asked Bella gently. She glanced warily in his direction.
"Sure," she said at last.
The trip to the Cullens took about a half hour, since they lived in a rural area on the outskirts of town. Edward could have gone faster, but he didn't want to irritate Bella. It was her car, of course.
As soon as they pulled up the gravel driveway to the house, Alice was out of the car and in the house to announce their arrival. Bella reached for her door handle, but hesitated, wondering if she was actually ready to see everyone. Before she could change her mind, however, Edward had opened her door for her.
"Thank you," she mumbled as she climbed clumsily out of the car, ignoring Edward's offered hand for assistance.
They made their way slowly up the long driveway to the house, Bella shuffling her feet in an attempt to delay the inevitable. She kept her feet on the dark ground in front of her, willing herself not to trip on any unseen obstacle that got in her way. When she did (as was predicted by both her and Edward) trip on a branch that had fallen onto the pathway, she felt Edward's cold hand grasp her elbow. She just looked up at him, her eyes grateful for being saved once again.
They continued walking, their path becoming increasingly better lit as they got closer to the house. When Bella finally moved her gaze from her feet to the front porch of the house, she was amazed at what she saw. Every member of the family stood there, waiting for her to join them. Even Rosalie stood in the background, her eyes cautiously examining Bella as she walked in their direction.
As she got even closer to the group, she was even more surprised to find every single member of the family smiling. For a girl who honestly thought that no member of this family cared about her, let alone loved her, the idea that they might be happy to see her was bewildering. Any anxiety that Bella had over choosing to see them was replaced by a sense of overwhelming relief.
At the front of the small gathering stood the woman that Bella had wanted most to see. Esme stood with her arms extended, her eyes brimming with tears that would never fall. Her smile was the biggest of them all. Once Bella realized that her open arms were an invitation, she picked up her pace, leaving Edward behind. She thought she wasn't going to get to the woman fast enough.
After what seemed like forever, although it only took Bella a few seconds to close the small gap between them, she was in Esme's arms. It was the motherly embrace that Bella had been yearning for, one that was full of three years' worth of love. Bella clung to the small woman, wanting never to let go.
Esme welcomed the embrace, knowing that her family was once again complete. And she smiled, silently promising her daughter that she would never again be without a mother.