(A/N): I've had an absolutely overwhelming response to the last chapter that I've decided I really need to surprise you guys more often :D:D
Seriously, I loved each and every one of those reviews ! Thank you so much for the amazing words of encouragement. Love you guys!
Chapter 24:
I don't know you but I want you You have suffered enough and what with yourself Take this sinking boat and point it home
All the more for that
Words fall through me and always fool me
And I can't react
It's time that you won
We've still got time, raise your hopeful voice
You had the choice, you've made it now
((Falling Slowly – The Frames))
Bella's pov:
You know how sometimes your life takes a completely unexpected turn and you're not sure whether that change is for the better or the worse? Well, that's what happened to me today.
"WHAT?" I cried out in surprise. But the sound of my voice was drowned out by the congratulations that came flooding towards us.
Jasper and Edward shared a one armed hug, as Edward was still holding my hand.
"Wow, man, congratulations!" Jasper told Edward then he came around and gave me a hug.
Then it was Alice's turn. "Oh, my God! You're getting married!" She practically squealed in my ear then she hugged us both.
Grandma came over to us. She headed for Edward first and held his face with both her hands.
"The first moment I saw you, I knew you were going to make my little Bella happy. I just knew it."
The only person who ofcoarse didn't offer any congratulations was James. He was still standing a little far off from our group, looking so angry and hurt that it made me feel guilty. Like I was doing something wrong. But I had no idea what the hell was happening!
Ok, Ok. Just focus on breathing and everything will be ok. I just need to get Edward alone so he can explain why on earth he had said what he said. Fortunately, I didn't have to say anything. Grams did it all on her own.
"Come on children. Let's the leave the little love birds on their own for a while. I'm sure there's a lot that they need to talk about."
And with that she ushered everyone out of the room, including James who looked more than reluctant to leave but still in shock that he couldn't offer any resistance. Thank God for that.
As soon as they got out and the door was closed behind them I snatched my hand out of Edward's grasp.
"Care to explain why you did what you just did?" I said in a low voice, just in case someone was listening at the door. Great, now I'm getting paranoid.
Edward tried to look innocent. I wasn't working.
He sighed. "Well, it was the only thing I could think of after they found us here. You gotta admit though, it wasn't a bad idea. I'm kinda starting to like it." He smiled thoughtfully.
"Edward!" He blinked as I brought him out of his reverie. "We're NOT engaged, ok?"
He looked faintly hurt for a second then his eyes got a teasing glint in them.
"So you're saying that you don't want to marry me?"
"No, I don't. Not yet, anyway." I said, trying to sound firm but failing miserably.
He took a step closer to me then pulled me towards him.
"Not even if I do it right? You know, get down on one knee and all that?"
I played with his shirt buttons, refusing to look him in the eyes no matter what. I knew that if I did, then two things would definitely happen.
1-He would tease me about the blush that I knew was spreading like crazy all over my face and neck.
2-I'd get lost in those greenish blue orbs of his that I'd agree to do anything he wanted me to. Which definitely would NOT be a good thing.
"No. Not even if you go down on one knee."
Stay firm. Stay firm, damn it! Just don't look him in the eye and it'll be alright. I kept chanting to myself.
I felt more than heard him sigh, since my head was rested on his chest by then. How did that happen? Damn, he's good.
"That's too bad. I would've made a great husband." He sounded regretful and a little bit depressed and I started panicking. Did he really want to marry me? No, that can't be right. He was just joking, wasn't he?
I looked up at him, just to check, I told myself and he still looked amused. I breathed a sigh of relief. But still, I felt a little disappointed that it wasn't all real. I mean, I'm not ready to get married or anything. I'm still too young for that. But being engaged to Edward wouldn't have been so bad, would it?
Yeah, I'm not making any sense. Engagement leads to marriage anyway, doesn't it?
"You okay down there?" Edward asked.
I realized I'd been quiet for sometime and mentally kicked myself for making him notice that something was wrong.
"Yeah. Totally fine." I said quickly.
Before he could comment on that, we heard a knock on the door.
Grams called out through the closed door, "Bella. Honey, your mother is on the phone. She needs to speak with you."
"Thanks, Grams. I'll pick it up from here."
I picked up the phone from the room we were in.
"Hey, Mom."
"How could you do this to me?" My Mom said.
"Uh…Do what Mom?"
"How could you get engaged and I'm the last person to know?"
What? Grams got to her already? I threw a frantic look at Edward. He frowned and came to sit beside me and put his arm around me.
"Uh, Mom, we're not really…" Edward snatched the phone from my hand. I glared at him but he only smirked back.
"Hello, Susan. This is Edward."
Silence.
"Yes, of-coarse. I realize that I should've asked for her father's blessing first, but I just couldn't wait any longer."
Oh, he's really good.
"No, we haven't discussed any details, yet. Bella has suggested that we wait a while before we talk about anything, just to make sure that this is really what we want and I absolutely agree with her."
My mouth dropped open, I was sure it was going to catch some flies.
Edward just smiled.
"Yes, it has been great talking to you too." And he hung up.
"Voila!" He said.
"Even I could never lie to my mom that well." I confessed.
He stroked my cheek with his knuckles. "Well, that's just cause you're such a terrible actress."
I threw the closest pillow I could reach at him, he caught it before it could hit him in the face and laughed.
To celebrate our engagement, Grams invited us all (except James who said he had jet-lag) to dinner at one of the best restaurants in California. It was full of people but we managed to find a free table close to the windows with an amazing view.
Although when we went out yesterday, no one recognized either Edward or Jasper, today we weren't so lucky. Girls kept coming up to them asking for autographs or to take a picture with them.
This kept going on for a while that I was surprised when someone tapped me on the shoulder.
I turned around to see who it was and I found a group of girls looking at me expectantly.
"Um, hi, can I help you?"
"Can we please have your autograph?" One of them asked extending a magazine towards me that had a picture of me and Edward on the cover. What?
"Uh sure." I quickly signed the magazine and they thanked me but instead of leaving they hung around nervously.
They started looking over my shoulder at our table and I realized what they wanted.
"Oh, let me introduce you guys to my friends." They all nodded vigorously.
"This is my Grams and my best-friend Alice." I stayed quiet for a while trying to torture them by keeping the best for last. It was mean, I know, but I couldn't help it.
"Oh," I spoke up at last. "And these are Edward and Jasper."
By now they were almost hyperventilating. Edward and Japer stood up, like the gentlemen they are, and greeted the girls.
But the girls looked like they were incapable of any intelligible speech at the moment. I decided to save the say. "Would you girls like to sit with us at our table."
"Uh, sure. If it wouldn't be too much trouble." One of them said, but she was still staring at Jasper.
"No. No trouble at all." My Edward said. My Edward. I loved the sound of that. None of these had better make a move on him. I thought belatedly. But they seemed to only have eyes for Jasper, much to our amusement and Alice's chagrin.
When we got home there was another surprise awaiting me. Rosalie was there!
I squealed when I saw her and we ran to each other, hugged and kept jumping up and down like a couple of teenagers!
"What are you doing here? Where's Emmett? Did he come with you?"
"I came because I couldn't let you and Alice have a vacation without me! And Emmett will be here by tomorrow. He had an interview today that he just couldn't get out of. Oh, and guess what your Mom called to tell me while I was on the plane?"
First Grams and now Mom. News sure travels fast when it comes to this family.
Author's Note:
No cliffy this time Just didn't have the heart to do it. :D
Thanks to all my reviewers and those of you who haven't reviewed Shame On You!
Just Kidding :D Hope you liked this chapter And I promise that next time there'll be some Jasper povs!
ONE MORE THING TO SAY! I wanted you opinions on something here :D:D
Do You Think That Edward And Bella Should Get Married Or Not? Just tell me yes or no and why :)) This'll really help me write the ending to the fic! Which will probably be chapter 30!