Edward's POV
Don't stare at Bella. Don't stare at Bella…
Damn this was hard. Why was she so beautiful? Even Jasper can't help me right now. Alice and Rosalie were trying to talk to each other but quickly ended up texting. In fact, everyone started texting and Esme noticed how rude we were being and put an end to it.
To my beloved family,
STOP TEXTING IT'S RUDE!
*death glare*
Don't make me text again!
- The best second mom you could ever ask for
Everyone immediately sent back an apology and a sad face emoji.
To the best mom ever,
Sorry for the texting, :( but Bella and I have a problem. I can't compliment her or say anything of the romantic kind because Bella doesn't want her dad to know we are dating yet. I promise to try and make the texting less obvious.
- Your favourite least annoying son
To my least annoying son,
Fine. You're forgiven. Only because you seem to be the only one with a decent excuse. But why is Bella not telling Charlie about her relationship? She should tell him! He has a right to know!
- Your very concerned mother
To my mother who takes things way too seriously,
Now who's texting excessively? Anyway, I don't know why she's no telling Charlie. Maybe she's not ready. Don't push her. She'll do it in her own time.
- Your caring son
To my caring son,
Well that's nice but I still don't think Bella should be hiding things from her father. At least hint to her that she should tell him. I know she probably doesn't think it's a good idea but you never know. This might be a good thing and maybe Charlie would stop worrying about her so much. He's been calling me to ask about her as she seems distant to him somehow. That's probably why he invited us out tonight. He wants to get to know the people who have become a big part of Bella's life. Anyway, let her know that she should say something and PUT YOUR PHONE AWAY.
- You know I'm right
Damn it she was right. I put my phone away and waited for them to bring out our main course. Everyone made their way through the starter without a problem, well almost. When we were ordering drinks, Emmett protested that Esme and Carlisle got to drink wine but he didn't. He claimed he was nearly 21 and demanded to get some. I don't know why, considering he didn't like the taste of wine anyway but it is Emmett so who knows what he was thinking.
"Emmett honey, no you're not. You're nineteen remember?" Esme hissed.
"Oh right, sorry mom." And that was that.
When we started to eat, Bella looked at us in amazement. She knew we didn't eat so watching us chew and swallow was a novelty. Not that anything tasted good because when we became vampires our taste buds were craving something else but we were very good at acting.
Charlie looked awkward being around us. Like we were royalty or something and he was just a peasant. Which in a way is true, I don't mean to disrespect Chief Swan in any way. But we just seemed to have an air of gracefulness around us compared to humans.
He could see how happy Bella was around us and he seemed happy that Bella had made friends but there was something about the way he looked at us that said why them? In fact, I can prove that he did say that. Well he thought it. He was thinking about how different we seemed the whole dinner and almost seemed oblivious to Esme's small talk as he tried to figure out what was so different about us compared to everyone else.
"So Charlie how's work?" Esme asked. She was asking more direct questions now because Charlie wasn't really picking up on rhetorical questions and my mother hated being ignored.
"Oh you know, the usual, not much going on for a small town." Charlie replied. He was looking at Bella who was looking at me. What's with them two? I wonder if I should say something or would that upset Bella?
I thought that maybe I should say something but I didn't want to get on the wrong side of Bella and her father right now. I nudged Bella and she blinked and then looked at me. her eyes weren't just looking at my face, she was looking at all of me and I wondered what she was thinking about.
"Bella I think you should tell your father about us." I said quietly.
"Why?" Bella asked.
"Because I think he might be okay with it. I was reading his thoughts and it seems that we aren't very good at being subtle. He already thinks something is going on between us. At least if we tell him, he'll hear it from us and not someone else. I think it'll be fine. I hope, or we can consider telling him and Alice can see how he reacts."
"Hmmm…okay."
The main course arrived and we all stopped talking for a while to eat. Before we came to dinner, we had a plan to get the food out of our systems. Carlisle said if we can make ourselves sick and bring it all back up it should be fine. I hope he's right. I don't know what would happen to the food that stayed in our stomachs forever, it would probably just stay there, undigested. And that's horrible to think about.
When we were halfway through the meal Bella texted me letting me know she wanted to tell her father just before desert. After sending the confirmation text, I was sure she wanted to do this. Well until a new topic was brought to the table.
"So Edward, I've been hearing around town that you have been teaching an extracurricular class at the school. That's interesting. What do you teach?"
Shit. Did he have to ask THAT question? All I knew was that I was not about to let the father of the love of my life know I taught a stalking class. Emmett was about to answer but there was a loud sound at the table and he shut up. I think Rosalie kicked him. I looked at Alice who looked calm and she gave me a tiny nod before speaking.
"Edward does teach an extracurricular class but it's following on from a project the teachers started last year. So it may sound strange…" Alice never took her eyes off me to see how I was reacting to what she was saying. "What has everyone been saying about the class Chief Swan?"
"Well a lot of people have come to me and asked if Bella was involved in the class. But I know she wasn't because she signed up for Home Economics or something. Although maybe she transferred to your class? The parents seemed relieved with that and then walked away. Some of them did mutter something about the class while walking away like 'I'm glad, it wouldn't look good for the Chief if his daughter was in that class'."
"Who has spoken to you about this?"
"Mrs Newton for one. She said Edward and his brother got Mike sent to the mental hospital single handed. I didn't believe her due to the Newtons' reputation but maybe I should."
"We did not send Mike to the crazy house. I know we did help him off there but I really do think he deserved to get the help that he needed." I interjected. I did not want Charlie to stop me seeing Bella because I did something to Mike of all people.
"So what is it that you teach?"
"I teach…" Maybe it's better he know what I teach than to find out what I really did to Mike.
"He teaches self-defence dad." Bella blurted. Chief Swan and I stared at Bella in surprise.
"Really?" Charlie spoke after a moment. Everyone had gone silent.
I coughed a bit before getting a mental note from Alice saying to play along with it and that he would believe us. "Yes I do. The teachers tried to teach it last year but it didn't go as well as they had hoped and I thought maybe if a student taught it to other students they would be more inclined to learn. After all, it's important to know how to defend yourself it you're ever in a position of danger." I kept my eyes on Bella the whole time. Even if she did take a self-defence class I was sure she would find a way to injure herself.
"Well I'm surprised. Bells, if you needed to know self-defence I could have helped you with it."
"I know dad but you're always busy and I didn't want to bother you. Besides Edward is a really good coach." She was smiling and I would give everything to know what she was thinking.
"That's nice," Charlie spoke through gritted teeth before taking a bite of his steak. He's up to something with my daughter and I know it. I should call them out on it.
Bella,
Your father is on to us.
Eddie xx
Chill out! Why what's he thinking?
Bella xx
Well ever since you made that comment about me being a 'good coach' he probably thinks we're hooking up. Okay, his thoughts haven't exactly went there but he's pretty close.
Eddie xx
Don't worry! He will find out soon and everything will be okay! Promise!
*Virtual kisses*
Bella
Thanks Bella, you always know how to make it better.
*Virtual kisses*
Eddie xx
To the love birds,
PLEASE STOP! It's getting really soppy and cheesy. Virtual kisses, I mean really?
Evil Little Annoying Lying Pixie Bitch Attention Whore xx
To Little Annoying…WHATEVER,
I don't care. Now put your phone away Esme is in the middle of sending another death glare text.
The person who thinks you just stick with 'Alice' as your signature.
To Dude-look-who-has-the-long-names-now,
I AM OFFENDED YOU DID NOT SEND ME ANY KISSES! RUDE!
Evil Little Annoying Lying Pixie Bitch Attention Whore
P.S You don't deserve my kisses
To Mr and Miss I Promise to Stop Texting,
*DEATH GLARE*
The 2nd reason for your existence.
I wondered how Bella reacted to Alice's text. Probably by telling her to shut up and that she'd just have to deal with the fact we were in love. But she never texted me back. Maybe Esme sent her a text too.
As soon as our plates were cleared I looked and Bella and she looked back at me. She took my hand under the table and gave it a squeeze. It seemed like we were really going to do this. I waited for Alice to give me a thumbs up before I got everyone's attention.
I took one last look at Alice who had just finished smashing the keys on her iPhone and then looked up at me. Everyone in my family took a glance at their phones right after, and then turned their attention back to me. Alice was telling them to act surprised when I told Charlie that Bella and I were dating. That way, he wouldn't feel blindsided as the only one who didn't know this was happening. Gotta love my sister, always thinking ahead.
Bella's POV
"Dad, Edward and I have something to tell you…" I said squeezing Edward's hand tighter. He probably felt it but of course it wouldn't hurt him. My hands were also sweating because I was so nervous, sexy.
"What is it?" He looked at me expectantly. Oh crap, I can't do this. I turned to look at Edward with a scared look on my face. I hoped he would get the hint that I needed help. I don't talk to my dad about boys!
"Chief Swan?" Edward spoke, he was almost as nervous as me. But damn was he good at hiding it.
"Yes…" My dad dragged out the word.
There was silence for a minute. A long minute, a long 60 seconds, a long 60,000 milliseconds. I didn't know how to say it and neither did Edward. I mean I knew how to say it but I didn't know how to explain it in a way that would make it okay. I knew my dad wasn't a big fan of the Cullens because of all the talk going around that they sent Mike to the crazy house. Edward already tried to explain it earlier but I knew my Dad wasn't buying it. It probably had something to do with Mike's Facebook status the night he got taken away. He had managed to get the status in just before his mom shut down the account.
THE CULLENS DID THIS TO ME! I AM NOT MENTALLY UNSTABLE! YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE ME! I AM NOT INSANE!
That obviously created talk. And of course, Charlie would believe Mike over Edward. Mostly because Edward seemed like someone I was dating, Mike was not. Charlie would use this as an excuse to stop me from spending time with such 'bad influences'. So, he probably won't be thrilled to find out I'm dating Edward. Or maybe, just maybe, there is a tiny chance he might be happy for me? Who knows?
"Ugh, Okay. Chief Swan? Bella and Edward are together, an item, a couple, in a relationship, they like each other, they spend all their time together, oh for crying out loud they're IN LOVE." Emmett let out in one go. Everyone was stunned into silence. Well that sure is one way to tell your dad you're going out with someone.
"Wait what?" Charlie spoke after a while. Emmett groaned.
"Didn't he just hear me?"
"Yes Emmett he did, so did everyone about five tables from here." Edward sighed.
"Well I'm sorry there was too much tension and pressure that I couldn't take it!"
"Emmett, sweetie, wanna go for a walk?" Esme suggested before excusing herself and Emmett, pushing him out of the restaurant.
"So…you two are dating?" Charlie asked.
"Yes," I confirmed. I'm surprised he found another way to say it with the way Emmett was going.
"And you're in love?"
"Very much so," I smiled as I leaned into Edward.
"Damn…"
There was more silence as Charlie was processing this. I didn't want to say anything else that might freak him out so we all stayed quiet until Esme came back, without Emmett. She told us he would come back when he was ready to apologise for the outburst. She also continued to say she was happy for me and Edward as were the rest of the family. Obviously, they were okay with it but my dad didn't look so sure.
For the rest of the dinner I kept one hand in Edward's. Charlie still never said a word and it worried me. Edward had already texted me to tell me he was fine and was just trying to get used to the idea of me dating someone but I didn't believe him. I was just concerned about my dad. He didn't look very well and didn't eat much dessert which is unlike him.
Edward's POV
Charlie was slowly getting a hold of this…he was thinking of all the possibilities now that Bella and I confirmed we were together. There were a lot of happy thoughts but along with those came bad ones. Of course, he had to dwell on the bad. He thinks we're going to kidnap Bella and never bring her back and stupid things like that and I just don't understand. He was aware that everyone was waiting on his reaction to the news though.
I wanted to tell him: "The only one you should be worrying about is Bella because we're all fine if you decide I can't see her anymore – I'll find a way to see her anyway – but Bella really wants your blessing." Obviously, it wouldn't be the best thing to say right this second but I wished I could.
Damn there they go staring at me again. I hate attention. I better just give them my blessing and then talk to Bella when we get come. She should know how I feel about this, especially since I know the self-defence thing is a load of crap. Mrs Newton told me exactly what he was teaching, stalking. Does he really want to send those poor innocent kids to jail? Seems like it considering how fast Mike was taken down…what if Bella got on the wrong side of them? Charlie thought looking around the table.
Okay, ouch, that hurt. He doesn't actually think I want to teach this class right? Although even if he did know the real reason this was going on it wouldn't be much better. Even so that's not the main point right now, it's about Bella's future.
Mine? Oh I already know what will happen. Alice knows and she hopes it doesn't happen but if I lose Bella I will go to the Volturi. Bella doesn't know anything about that so I'll keep that under wraps, she doesn't have to know until she's one of us.
The Volturi always get notified when a new 'vegetarian' vampire comes along because they think we're different. I mean we are but it's almost as bad as singling out gay vampires – which doesn't happen often. Anyway, the point is, they all come around with a welcome package and talk the new born through who they are and blah, blah, blah. They feel they have to tell us because if we snap one day and start a human feeding frenzy they want to be there saying 'I told you so'.
But anyway, if I wasn't allowed to be with Bella I would have no reason to exist. I know I'm being dramatic but that's how I feel right now. I have considered committing suicide in the past but Esme or someone was always there to pull me back from the edge. But if I lost Bella, I don't think anyone would be able to stop me.
"Edward?" Bella waved her hand in front of my face. Oh, with my crazy inner monologue I hadn't realised Charlie had actually spoken. My family sent me mental notes of what I had missed so I acted like I had been listening to Charlie this whole time. He was giving us his blessing. But would he still talk to Bella later after we had gone? I didn't want that to be the case, if he wasn't happy with me seeing Bella he could at least say it to my face.
"Yes Bella?" I asked kissing her cheek. Her heart rate sped up and she blushed.
"Dad just wanted to know if there were any other secrets you might be keeping from him." Bella said faintly, just about getting the words out.
"No I think you have learnt everything there is to know about me. I don't have anything else to say." Apart from the fact I'm a vampire and soon Bella will be one and we'll be together for all eternity and you can't do anything about it. "But you're welcome to ask me anything you would like to know."
"No I'm good. But thanks for offering. I'll keep that in mind."
The waiter had collected the last of our plates and had come out with the check. Charlie was going to pay but Carlisle insisted it was our treat, flashing his platinum card before putting it into the leather wallet. Fancy, rich family, no wonder Bella wants to hang out with them. A gold-digger like her mother, ha. Hopefully she breaks his heart, takes him for all he's worth. Charlie thought as the waiter came back with Carlisle's card.
Wow. So, Charlie will only accept Bella dating me if she'll take all my money? Who would have thought. But I mean Bella's clearly not a gold-digger. If she was there would be talk, I mean come on, it's Forks. People gossip about everything here.
We stayed in the restaurant a little bit longer, everyone becoming more at ease after eating. Bella had taken off her shoes and pulled her chair close to mine so she could lean on my side. I could tell she was tired. Rosalie and Alice had excused themselves to touch up their makeup – well they said that but in reality they just wanted to get rid of the food in their stomachs.
"Well Bells, we should really get going. It's almost midnight and you have school tomorrow." Charlie said checking his watch.
"Oh come on dad! It's only the last day, can't we stay just a little bit longer?" Bella pleaded.
"No, no I'm sure Carlisle and Esme want to get their kids home too. Especially Edward who has a class to teach tomorrow."
"Your father's right Bella." I agreed twirling a lock of her hair around my fingers.
"Oh so that's what this is now huh? You're going to team up against me?" Bella looked up at me.
I laughed and kissed the top of her head. "Maybe. But you do need rest. Don't worry I'll see you tomorrow."
"Fine," As Bella and Charlie were leaving a waitress came toward our table pulling Rosalie and Alice behind her.
"What's going on?" Esme demanded.
"These two were throwing up in the toilers." The waitress said shoving them in our direction and wiping her hands on her apron. "Now either they drank too much or are bulimic but we certainly do not tolerate either here." She gave Alice and Rosalie another disgusted look and walked back towards the kitchen.
"Bulimic?" Charlie repeated. I knew there was something else going on. Bella shouldn't be hanging around girls who force their fingers down their throat to be skinny. They are a horrible influence on Bella. I thought Carlisle and Esme had raised their children better.
"We're not bulimic." Rosalie protested. If she was human she'd do anything to maintain her figure but she would never resort to unhealthy means. "We might have some food poisoning though. I think it was the salmon."
"Yeah I think it was Rose. I don't think the ice cream helped." Alice agreed.
Charlie looked at them for a while as he tried to work out if they were lying or not. In the end, he believed them and left.
As soon as he and Bella were gone, Esme started to yell at us for how we behaved.
"I can't believe you, every single one of you. Except for maybe Jasper. But the rest of you! Shame on you!" She started as Carlisle lead her out of the restaurant before any more attention was drawn to us. I felt like the whole restaurant had been watching us all night. "I mean have you ever heard of manners? Charlie will never want us to be around Bella ever again! I am also confiscating all of your phones right this minute!"
The ranting did not stop there. It was a long ride home and a lot of talk about blending in and social norms and a bunch of other crap. I was so glad when Carlisle finally told Esme that we had all been through enough for one day and she should rest. I could tell she had more ranting in her but she agreed to be quiet and sent us to our rooms for the rest of the night.
I sat up thinking about Bella for the rest of the night. I could only imagine the kind of things Charlie would be saying to her to stop me from seeing her again. I just hoped he would give me one more chance to win him over …without my family.
(***)
