AN - I'm baaack. So, who missed me? I got back a week ago, but with jetlag, personal stuff.. you understand the delay. I had a wonderful time on vacation and hope to go back in March. Due to a guy. -swoon-.. For those of you who were concerned - last chapter was NOT the last. Broken Promises has three more chapters to go after this plus an epilogue. I apologize for not being able to respond to some of your reviews. There were just sooo many emails. I'm not lying. But I read them and I love, adore and appreciate every single one. I've said time and time again - the fact that you're still with me, reading this and enjoying it.. it makes me unbelievably happy. I've gained so much from this story; personally and.. well, almost professionally? You guys have made me believe that I'm actually good at this, and I thank you for that. If I never have the time to review - just to know that I love and appreciate every single one of you.
I also started a new fanfiction called Bella in Wonderland, which I would LOVE for you guys to check out and maybe give me some feedback? It's different than anything I've done. It's like Alice in Wonderland with a twist. I thought of the plot last year and only now started to work on it.
Last thing - did you notice we passed the mark? I've been working on Broken Promises for a year now. WOW. It doesn't seem like that. Once again, thank you, guys.
Previously on Broken Promises;
Bella went back to her parents house for Christmas which nearly very ended in killing her. Coming back to Chicago, she came back as a zombie, abiding her parents' wishes to be under her rule. Edward and co. were concerned but there was not much in which they could do. Bella isolates herself and eventually starts to feel people following her. One night on the way home from the library, she is captured by the stalker/secret admirer. It is indeed Irina, her thought dead sister, seeking revenge. And Jorge/George, her classmate who had joined Irina. They torture Bella. Edward and co. figure out with Angela and Tanya's help where Bella is. They rescue her and get her to hospital. Irina is placed in a mental institution. Bella and Edward talked, and forgave each other.
"I can't believe you're making me do this," I whispered into Edward's ear.
"Oh, hush and smile. It will be fun," he whispered back, seeming half amused.
Edward, the gang and I had finished all of our classes at this year of college. As a celebration of the end year; they were holding a dance. And just my luck – Edward had made Alice kidnap me to her parents' house and held me hostage while her, Rosalie and Esme all did my hair and make-up. Attempting to make me look 'pretty' as I had called it in my mind.
When I walked down the steps, Edward's face was pretty much expressionless. He only had one expression and to be honest, it looked like a fish. He took my hand, kissed it and placed a corsage on my wrist. He told me that since I never went to my own, this could be like our own prom. It was sweet of him to think of me like that.
His parents, of course, took pictures and aww'ed at every moment; calling us the "perfect couple". That was far from true – neither of us were perfect. But if Edward's parents thought that.. then, I would be that for them. Anything to make them happy.
Edward had somehow got me out of the house in a blue dress which, for some reason, he could not stop looking at. He managed to talk Alice out of giving me high heels to wear, so I was allowed to wear my black chucks. I would probably look out of place within the gorgeous girls with revealing dresses and expensive stiletto's, but I don't care. I'm already clumsy enough without those and my feet are more comfy in sneakers anyway.
"Alright, let's do this," I said confidentally and grabbed a hold of Edward's hand and pulling him forward as I marched up to the door of the gym.
"Eager, aren't we?" he chuckled at me, never faltering in his step.
"Not really. Just ready to get this over with." I sighed, pushing our way through the doors.
We were greeted with a flashy disco ball, fluroscent lights swimming in all directions. Our peers were dancing to the up-beat music and, as I expected, all the girls wore flashy dresses and killer heels.
"You okay?" Edward asked, wrapping his arm around my waist.
"Yeah, I'm good. Apart from the fact that you are trying to kill me! You know I can't dance, right?"
"Bella. Relax. It's all in the leading," he said, smirking and took his hand in mine, leading me over to the side where our friends were.
"Bella! You made it!" Alice jumped up, hugging me. "I'm glad to see that Edward didn't have to drag you out of our house."
"Almost." Edward smirked and feigned hurt when I smacked him on the chest.
I took a seat beside Alice, and Edward took the one vacant next to me.
We talked amongst ourselves for a while, and everybody tried to get me up and dancing everytime a good song came on. I politely refused, saying I was waiting for the right 'moment'. I was lying. I was just secretly hoping that I could get away with it all night and escape dance free.
Edward was just trying to persuade me to dance for what felt like the twentieth time when I was surprised by the girl who came up to our table.
"Hailey!" I jumped up in surprise. Edward turned around, his face smiling with delight.
"Hey guys," she said, sitting down opposite us. "What's up?"
"What's up? Where have you been, girl?" Edward asked, giving her a brief hug across the table.
Hailey, Edward's best childhood friend, had drifted away from the group ever since I entered my 'zombie-like' period. We just hadn't seen her around ever since. I knew that Hailey and Jacob has broke up and they each went their seperate ways. Jacob was still friends with us; now taking a nice girl called Vanessa. But we had heard nothing about Hailey.
"I'm sorry I haven't been around, guys. I've just been busy with school.. and my new boyfriend, Josh. See, he's over there, talking to Tyler Crowley," she said, pointing towards the drinks table.
"Oh, that guy. Isn't he a transfer from someplace down the south?" I asked.
"Yeah, Louisiana. See, that's the thing.. I've been distant these past couple of months because I'm planning on enrolling at LSU with him in the fall," Hailey said dreamily.
"Are you serious, Hails? What are we going to do without our quirky bodyguard?" Edward teased.
"Oh, I'm sure you'll find some way of surviving," Hailey teased back.
"Well, we're sure gonna miss you, kid. Don't forget to write, eh?"
"Yeah, Hailey. In the short while that I've known you.. I've grown to like you. I'll miss you, too." I said as I stood up with Edward and hugged her.
"Me too, Bella. Take care of this big guy for me, will you?" she smirked, poking Edward in the chest.
"Will do." I smiled.
We hugged her one last time before she started to get teary eyed and walked to her boyfriend and they left. I guess they had some packing to do. Or, she did, anyways. I would miss her. We all would.
"Are you okay?" I asked Edward, hugging his chest.
"Yeah," he sighed, resting his forehead upon mine, "I'm just going to miss her. You never really saw how much she means to me. You guys never really got to hang out much. However.. there is one thing that would uplift my spirits."
"And what is that?" I asked, my cheek resting against his chest.
"A dance." he smirked, knowing he had already won.
"Fine," I sighed. "One dance." I glared at him as he pulled me towards the dance floor.
Just my luck, a slow song came on. A ballad. Unbeautiful by Lesley Roy.
"I guess you're just in luck," Edward teased as he placed his hands on my hips and I wrapped my arms around his neck.
I started to sway to the music with Edward guiding me. Dancing was not hard, as long as he was with me. With Edward, I didn't need to worry about making a fool out of myself. With him, I felt like I was flying mid-air. Peaceful. Happy. Light. Free.
"This is nice," I said, letting my voice breathe softly against his neck.
"See, I told you it wouldn't be that bad. And just think, we have plenty of moments like this to look forward to in the future," he said back, rubbing my shoulder tenderly.
After a few moments, the slow song stopped only to be followed by a fast, up-tempo song.
I pulled away from Edward reluctantly, gazing up into his eyes and he already knew that our dancing time was over. For now, anyways.
"You want to leave?" he shouted over the loud music.
I nodded my head in reply.
He took my hand in his and led me out of the hall. We waved goodbye to our friends as we exited. They were having too much fun to care about our leaving.
We walked outside in the cold Chicago air, circling the block a few times. Finally, we settled down on a cement bench that gave us a perfect view of the college we were enrolled in.
"What a year we've had, huh?" Edward sighed, staring up at the campus. "So traumatic, so dramatic. I can honestly say that this been the most best time of my life. We've had our ups and downs, but we made it," he finished, taking his hand in mine.
"You took the words right out of my mouth, Edward Cullen," I said, my voice trembling a tiny bit.
Walking through the cold and sitting in it is two different things. Once you're in a sleeveless dress and sitting on a cold cement bench in the most windy city of America; cold starts to hit you.
"Here," Edward said, taking off his jacket.
"Edward, no. I'm not taking your jacket." I said, moving away.
"Bella. For once in your life, stop being so stubborn. You need this jacket more than I do. Or else you'll end up like a popsicle and I don't want to be the one to explain to my father that I allowed you to get hypothermia."
I sighed. He won, again. Sneaky Adonis.
I complied, unwilling, and took his jacket. Allowing him to wrap it around my shoulders and I stuck my arms through the large sleeves. I was instantly warm.
"Thanks," I mumbled, snuggling against the jacket.
"No problem," he said, wrapping his arm around me and pulling me close.
"I love you," I whispered.
"Bella.."
"Yes?" I asked, looking up at Edward.
"You.. with you.. you are my life now. I don't know what I would do if you weren't in it. I may seem obsessive and attached to you, but I just feel.. if you weren't in my life – I would have no reason to live. I know that sounds crazy, but it's true. I love you, too, too much."
"Edward -"
"No. Let me finish.." he said, sitting up straight and facing me. "Bella, before you; my life had no meaning. All those girls could never even measure up to you. To how you make me feel. It's like I was dead.. and you woke me up. You brought me back to life. And now I'm living. I have this aspiration for life that I never had before. I love having you in my life. Even when we're fighting, even when you bend my book covers, even when you leave those damn water bottles all over the room," he broke off with a chuckle, "I still love it, deep down. I love those irritating moments as much as the amazing ones. There is not one part of you that I do not love."
Edward's voice spoke with love and wisdom beyond his years. His statement spoke every true thing that I was feeling inside.
And then he let go of me and got to one knee on the ground, looking into my eyes with dark irises.
"Isabella Swan. I love and cherish every single thing about you. You are my hope, my dreams, my life. There is not one part of you that I'm not in love with. I want to spend every single moment with you. And if you grant my request, which I hope you will, you will make me the most happy man on earth. I know that's what every guy says, but trust me – no single boy or man on the planet can come close to my feelings right now. I will promise to love you each and every single day of the rest of our lives. Even when you're disgusting and sick, even when you bitch about getting your wisdom teeth out, even when you're bloated with our child, even when you're wrinky and old with me – I will love you until my dying day. So, Isabella Swan, will you marry me?"
I blinked back a few tears, wiping them roughly from my face before I gave my answer. It was an answer so obvious but so true. I could barely hold it on.
"Yes. Yes, yes, yes! Of course I will marry you, Edward Cullen!" I practically screamed, knocking him over as I jumped into his arms.
"I love you, Edward Cullen." I said, pressing my lips to his.
"Not as much as I love you, Bella Swan." he said, kissing me back. His happy tears melding with mine.
xoxoxoxox
"Bella? Is that you?" I heard Esme's dear voice whisper as she entered the kitchen.
"Yeah. Sorry, Esme. I couldn't sleep and I was feeling quite peckish, so I decided to hijack your Ben & Jerry's." I smiled apologetically.
"That's what it's there for," she chuckled, "I was just wondering what you were doing up at this late hour. After the day you've had, I'd have thought you'd be fast asleep. It is after four in the morning."
"I guess I'm just too happy to sleep." I said, admiring my engagement ring and smiling.
"I still can't believe that you're going to be my daughter-in-law. After what you've been through, you deserve happyness. And, I know your mother wasn't the.. kindest to you, and I wouldn't want to try to replace your mother in any way.."
"Just say it, Esme," I teased and she chuckled.
"I just want you to know that you have a mother in me. Even though Edward is my son, I still want you to feel like you can come to me with anything. Boy troubles, cravings, shopping.. anything. I want you to know that I am here for you, as a parent. I already think of you as my own daughter."
"Oh, Esme." I whispered, hugging her, trying to fight the tears back.
That was possibly the sweetest thing that anyone had ever said to me before. My own parents didn't even think of me as their daughter, but my fianceé's mother did. Words cannot describe the emotions that were running through me at that moment, until..
"That goes for me, too," Carlisle said, entering the kitchen. "I know we've barely begun to know you, but you are too good for our son. You are a one in a million, Bella. To be treated the way you have been treated.. that ends now. We are both here for you. We love you as our own and only want the best happiness for you. Whether you stay with Edward or not, and I'm sure you will, we will always be here for you. No matter what."
Esme and Carlisle both hugged and kissed me on the forehead. At the moment, I felt loved. I knew that we were a family. Nothing could break us apart.