Hello again! Sorry it took longer to post this chapter than I thought it would. This chapter may be slightly boring and may contain errors; I didn't get the chance to look over it further.
Somewhere after Edward and I celebrated his proposal and had once again lain down on the towels, cuddling each other in the fall night or morning was more precise, we had both fallen asleep.
With the sun shining brightly over head, my eyes stung as I opened them. With my eyes adjusting to the brightness, it took my mind a minute to realize where I was. The meadow, I remembered, as last night came flooding back to me. Skinny dipping in the lake. Holding each other as we watched the stars. Edward promising to me that one day, he would make me his wife.
I inhaled deeply as I glanced down at the small ring on my finger. And although it wasn't much, it seemed to a weigh a ton on my finger. As if its importance was hanging with it, making my finger seemed weigh down too.
I rubbed at my forehead, pushing back the hair that had fallen in my face. I couldn't even imagine what my hair must look like right now.
Then like a bomb hitting me, I realized that I had no idea what time of day it was. My mother was probably already home and I wasn't. She must be worried sick. I wouldn't be surprised if she had already called the police and half the neighborhood by now to search for me.
I franticly started to shake Edward's arm, praying that he would wake up quickly and without my effort.
"Edward! Edward, please wake up! We have to go! Now, Edward, wake up!" he began to groan and I leaned forward, still shaking his arm as my eyes searched for my clothes.
"What? Where… Bella, what's wrong?" he rubbed the sleepiness from his eyes.
"Edward, we have to go. We stayed out all night. My mother is going to be furious. And just imagine what your parents are going to stay. Get up, we have to go!" I grabbed the blanket that was still covering my naked body and went to retrieve my clothes that had been hung on the tree.
"Oh, don't panic, Bella. We will fix this. We will explain what happened. It was all innocent. Nothing inappropriate happened. It will be fine." he muttered the last part to himself, as he grabbed his slacks.
"Try telling my mother that, Edward." I shouted back. "And really? Nothing inappropriate? We went skinny dipping together, Edward! I think that is pretty frowned upon." I tugged on my nightgown and robe.
"Oh god!" I moaned. My knees gave out and I fell to the grass, beside the tree. My mind was flying at what would happen to us and what people would say about us. We were pretty high up in society, people would find out, and Edward and me, not to mention our parents, would be embarrassed, disgraced.
What had I done? I shouldn't have come with him last night, we if anything, shouldn't have stayed out so late. But in another way, even though this may turn out worse than I hoped, I didn't regret last night. It was one of the best nights of my life. The most memorable. What I had done may not have been the most responsible, but I have never been the spontaneous one. And last night was just what I needed. To be with the man I loved with all my heart, to have some fun, and for once in my life, not care what other thought.
I felt Edward's clothed arms wrap around my waist as he picked me up to cradle against his chest. I leaned up to wrap my arms around his neck and rested my face in the crook of his neck.
"I'm sorry, my love, for everything. I should have taken us home last night. I shouldn't have let this get so out of hand. I never meant for this to happen. Please forgive me for this, Bella. I am so sorry that after such a lovely night, you regret what happened." From where my face laid, I could feel the vibration in his throat; it tickled my cheek.
As he spoke those words, my heart seemed to break into a million pieces. "Oh, Edward. Please do not think I regret last night one bit. It was wonderful, magical. The thing is... is that I am just worried about what might happen to us. You know that our parents are going to be furious with us for staying out so late. And of course, someone is bound to find out and then it will be the newest gossip. I am just frightened for your family's reputation. I know that your father is highly respected in town, being a lawyer and all. You…" he cut me off.
"Bella, there is no need for you to worry of such things. This will be hushed. You needn't worry about my family at all. As for our parents, will we be honest with them. Nothing that they would disapprove of happened. They don't need to know about our late night swim and there is no way for them to find out. So just take it easy, breathe a few deep breaths. It will all work out eventually, okay?" his kissed my nose comfortingly.
"Thank you, Edward. And I truly hope that you are right." I smiled weakly and attempted to gather myself together to stand on my feet.
"Of course I'm right. When have I ever been proven wrong?" he smiled smugly as he took my hand again.
The walked back was slightly more stressed than the walk leading to the lake yesterday. Edward's thumb continuously rubbed against my hand, reminding me of his affection and dedication for me. That we would battle whatever the future held for us, together.
As my house neared in sight, more butterflies began to flutter in my stomach. "Maybe I should do this alone, Edward. My mother can not react well to seeing you after you kidnapped her daughter for the night."
"Not happening, Bella. If your mother has a problem with us, she will speak to me as well. End of discussion. Now, let's stop procrastinating and just confront this issue face to face." And with that Edward leaned around me to turn the doorknob.
Stepping hesitantly inside, my eyes searched restlessly around the rooms, finally landing on the den. My mother sat-arm forward, biting one nail, while her left foot tapped impatiently against the wood flooring- in my grandmother rocking chair near the entry way.
When the door clicked shut, her head lurched up. Her eyes were wide and I could already feel the atmosphere become frenetic and edgy. Her ragging comments were not far off.
"Where in the hell have you been, Isabella. I was about to call the police." And that was when she noticed Edward standing silently behind me.
"You spent the night with this boy, didn't you? Didn't you?"
"This boy's name is Edward. And yes I did, but it's not what you think, mother."
"What I think? You have no idea what I am thinking. Don't think that you are going to throw away your life, all your plans and goals, because of him, Bella. You are too young to have children. He can't support you…" I cut her off. I couldn't have her speak of Edward that way.
"Mother, nothing happened. We fell asleep and didn't wake up until just a little while ago. And really, I wouldn't be the one talking. You spend all off your nights off with Phil. You don't tell me where you go or who you are with half the time anymore. And then you waltz in at the crack of dawn as if nothing has changed."
"Yes, but I am the adult here. That is none of your business." she turned around from us, holding her head in her hands. Edward's arm wrapped around my waist, holding me closer to him.
"Really, Isabella. Do you know what people must think? They see you walking around with him and then you disappear at night…" she stopped abruptly, her eyes screwed in on my left hand.
I had completely forgotten about the ring that Edward had given me yesterday. The diamond was sparkling in the morning light; making it much more noticeable than it was in the darkness of the night.
"Is there something that you two want to tell me? Did you propose to her?" she didn't even wait for either of us to respond. "Oh, Bella! How irresponsible are you. I thought I had raised you to know that you can't just elope because you are suddenly in love with this man that you have only known for a few weeks!"
"Mother! We are not married, nor are we engaged. You make assumptions before I can even try to defend myself. Edward gave this ring to me last night as a promise ring. That someday, when we are both a little more prepared, we will be married. But you don't hear what I say, only what you want to hear." I spat at her, turning around to run back through the open door.
I didn't know where I was going, I just started running. I had to get away from her, from here.
I didn't realize that tears had started to spring from my eyes or that Edward was running after me, calling my name, until he reached for my arm, tugging me to a stop.
Trying to struggle free was completely useless; Edward's grip was much stronger than my will to escape. Finally, I collapsed against him, my hands grasping tightly to his cotton shirt. His arms held me up as my knees began to collapse. With one fluid motion, he swung me up into his arms.
After smoothing out his jacket on the ground, on the side of the road, he sat down and cradled me in his arms. He was perpetually patient with me as I cried into his shirt, staining it with my seemingly unending tears. His hand ran through my hair in soothing ministrations. Neither of us spoke a single word. And the only sound audible around us was my sobbing and the occasional bird whistling.
Minutes came and went faster than it seemed possible as I began to calm myself and my tears slowly ran dry. My apologies started to establish themselves for my abrupt behavior, but his finger hushed me instantly.
Repositioning myself so Edward and I were both more relaxed, we sat on the roadside talking about absolutely nothing important. Eventually, Edward reminded me that I should return home to talk to my mother. Even though she may have gone too far in her implications about Edward and me, I also could have handled the situation better by reacting much more calmly.
After convincing Edward that I needed to discuss this situation with my mother alone, he finally caved and left me with a chaste, good luck kiss at my door.
Taking in a deep breath, I pushed open the door for the second time this morning.
"Bella?" my mum's voice was barely recognizable from the kitchen.
She enveloped me into a hug the moment I entered the kitchen. And just like that all was forgiven. Yet, the subject would be discussed later, but as for now, neither of us wanted to speak of one of our atypical fights.
Sorry, no song fit this time. Next chapter will be a few weeks ahead of time again!