OK, so I'm so glad you guys liked the last chapter, and I didn't want to put you guys off anymore, so here's the second half, It's pretty much just a continuation, but Bellas point of view on that night, all of that night (=
I don't own any Twilight characters, but I do own this story, and that's fine with me (=
Chapter 38 .. Bella
Walking down the school halls was not as easy as it was before. Everyone was staring at me and I felt overwhelmed.
It was Friday, and since coming back to school on Monday, everything was different. Between me and Edward, me and Alice, and me and every other girl in this school. They all hated me. Some how, they all knew what I had said to Edward, and at first, I wasn't proud of it. My initial reaction to the gorgeous diamond ring presented to me that night was wrong. I was almost ashamed of it. The thoughts that went through my mind were all wrong for me. I wanted to yes, I really did, but everything in me was pulling me in the opposite direction, and I couldn't stop it.
In the long run, I knew the answer I gave him was the right one for me. It wasn't what my heart was telling me to say, but instead what my mind was telling me to say. He didn't like my response, and I couldn't blame him. Hell, I didn't even like it. It went against everything I was feeling. Went against everything I wanted. I knew I wanted to marry this man, but marrying him now would only cause problems.
Flashback: That night.
"I want to spend the rest of my life with you. It's as simple as that. I want to be your best friend, the man that loves you, and I want to show it every day." He raised a small, black velvet box and opened it. "I want to marry you. I wanna be your husband and the guy that you give your all to. I want to be beyond what you ever dreamed of."
I couldn't stop the tears from falling down my cheeks. What was he doing? Was he crazy? Marriage, at eighteen? I was now convinced he went off the deep end.
I took a couple minutes to go over everything in my head. My answer was clear; No. But I couldn't say it. I couldn't break his heart like that. So I said nothing at first. But I knew I had to speak eventually, so I wiped my face from the warm tears and looked up at him. "Are you crazy Edward?!" My voice was cracking and fresh tears were flowing. "Getting married at our age is nuts. We're still teenagers! This is silly." I looked away from him and suddenly felt uncomfortable.
"Bella, I know this is crazy, I know it's beyond what some people think are stupid. But I love you." He looked at me with such passion and desire that I had to look away.
"I love you too Edward, but,"
"No, please don't say 'but'." He reached for my hand, but I pulled away. I saw the hurt in his eyes, and I understood it, because I was feeling it myself. I wanted to reach out and touch him, to hug him, hold him. But this was so, so, beyond words.
"Edward. I love you. With all of my heart, but have you really thought about this? Do you know what marriage entails? Do you know the amount of commitment you have to have to spend the rest of your life with one person? Have you thought rationally about this?!" I wasn't meaning to raise my voice, but I needed this to go through his head. I looked down and saw the ring again. "Please close that."
He nodded and did, shoving it behind him. "Yes Bella. I have thought about this. It's the only thing that's been on my mind for the past couple months. It's all I can think about anymore. It's what was bothering my all those times you asked. All those times you knew something was wrong with me, that was it. I was going over and over in my head how this could affect us, but I knew you were worth the risk. You're worth everything I could ever imagine. You make me better. You make me Edward. I wouldn't be who I am today if you didn't exist. There is no Edward without Bella." He scooted closer. "You'll never know how much it hurts when I have to leave you. When I have to be without you. You'll never know the pain and physical suffering this question has put me through. There were so many times I wanted to give the ring back to Esme and tell her I couldn't do it. Tell her I could never do it. Because I knew, knew Bella, that there was a good chance you'd do exactly what you're doing now; turn me down! I knew the risk, and I did it anyways. I did it because as much as I can't handle rejection from you, I can't handle knowing it's not certain whether you'll be there forever or not. I can't take the thought of you not being my wife one day."
"One day Edward! Why now?! Why did you decided to do this now?" I wiped some more tears from my face and looked at him.
"Because I need you Bella!" His voice was urgent and almost angry. "I need you more than I need to live. You are my reason for living. You always have been. Don't you believe we're meant to be together?"
"Yes I believe that. We are meant to be together, but why do we need a paper to tell us that? Why do we need to stand in front of people and say that we are? That's what marriage is, it's a paper and an expensive ceremony showing people you love each other. I don't care if people know or not. I care that I know. I know I love you and I can't live without you and I don't need a document to prove that." I really wasn't that opposed to marriage. I just didn't think it was a necessity.
"Bella, it's so much more than that. Marriage is a bond between two people that no one can break. It's not just a piece of paper, it's a commitment to one another. And I'm not worried about showing people I love you, I'm worried about not having you forever. I don't need an expensive ceremony to show people I love you. If you would rather we went to a court house and signed the damn thing alone, we will! If it meant that I was tied to you for the remainder of my time here, I would do anything." He attempted to lean forward again, but I backed away, gripping the couch for support and slowly standing up.
"I need to think Edward. I need to be alone and think." I looked down at him and thought his face was going to break in a million pieces at my words. I could only imagine how his heart was feeling. I hated that I was the one doing that to him, but what other choice did I have?
He stood up in front of me and kept his gaze down. "OK." He looked up at me and I knew I had broken his heart. I knew I was a bad person that was killing the man I loved. But this was for the best. He turned to walk away and I stood there for a second. When he got to the door, he put one hand on the door knob and the other on the back of the door itself. "Please stay here. Don't leave Bella. You can have as much time as you need to think, but please, please don't leave this house." He didn't turn to look at me, just took his hand away from the door and pulled it open, walking outside and shutting the door roughly behind him.
I flinched at the power the door shut with and fell to my knees. Tears started all over again, only this time, they were more powerful. They fell faster and harder and I couldn't breath. I clutched my stomach and bent down, pressing my forehead to the soft carpet under me. I wanted to scream for him to come back, I wanted to get up and run to him and hold him and tell him I was a fool. But instead, I momentarily pulled myself together long enough to stand and stumble to the staircase. I took them slowly and eventually got to the third floor. Heading down the hallway, I couldn't see through my tears, but I knew where the bathroom was; the bathroom that just a couple hours ago, Edward had set up for me. It was the most romantic thing ever and I loved it. I loved him for thinking of me that much. I loved him for working that hard for me. I finally made it to his bedroom and opened the door. I collapsed to the floor and cried. I just laid there, crying my eyes out, covering them and wiping them, making them red and raw. I was still having difficulty breathing and I didn't know what to do. Edward wouldn't hear me from here, and to tell you the truth, I didn't even know what I was doing up here.
After what felt like a half hour, I pulled myself up on my arms and looked ahead of me. My eyes landed on something just under Edwards bed. I crawled over and drug it out. It was the album he put together for me on my birthday. I had completely forgot it was under there. I opened it up and looked at the first page. Under the two baby pictures of us was our names. It wasn't 'Edward. Bella.' It was 'Edward and Bella' The two of us, the way it was supposed to be. The way it was meant to be. I flipped through more pages, seeing me and him in various stages of our childhood. Me and him in our highchairs right next to each other in Esmes kitchen. Me and him taking a nap in the same crib, then later together in the red race car bed Edward had. Me and him, three years old, with our faces pressed together, laughing and just being children. Seeing me and him playing together on the very park we visited today. Eventually me and him on the first day of school, dressed in matching blues. Seeing the first time we got caught dancing; we were five years old and Edward took it upon himself to teach me. Even though he didn't know himself how to dance.
I eventually came to the pictures of us in middle school, growing up together, and then in high school. Nothing had changed between Edward and I, and I was starting to realize I just made a huge mistake. I needed Edward. And marriage was the logical next step for us. We weren't the typical couple, and I knew that, I just didn't want to admit it. I knew we were different, and this was how we did things. It wasn't right, and it was sporadic and maybe a little stupid, but that was us! That was Edward and Bella.
I slammed the book closed and stood up, running from the room. I ran as fast as I could down the stairs through the living room and out the front door. I looked around, realizing it was really dark out here. I couldn't see Edward anywhere. I ran down the porch steps and noticed it was raining. Not too hard, but the rain was cold. I looked over to the Volvo, and no Edward. Back up on the porch, still no Edward.
"Edward?!" I hollered out into the rain and waited for his response. Nothing. "Edward!" I was screaming as loud as I could, hoping wherever he was, that he could hear me and come back to me. I needed him to come back. I needed to tell him I was a fool and I needed to set this right. Make everything right again. "Edward!" My cries were becoming desperate, and I knew it was slightly pathetic, especially since I'm the one that let him walk out that door. I'm the one that turned him down. I'm the one could have just potentially ruined my whole life by pushing away the only man that has ever meant anything to me. The only man that ever will.
"Bella?" I could hear his voice, but couldn't see him yet.
"Edward!" I started crying again and spun around, only to come face to face with my emerald eyed angel. He was right there, so close.
"Bella, what the hell are you doing out here?! You're in a robe! And it's a short robe! What are you thinking? You're going to catch a cold." He hurried to lift me up and carried me to the porch. "What are you doing?"
I looked up at him and took a deep breath, knowing what I was going to say next. "I love you Edward. I need you. And I know this is silly. I still stick to my first thoughts; that marriage is pointless in a way, but," He didn't let me finish.
"Bella, stop. OK? Look, I thought about it, and I see your point of view. I don't want to, but I do. I know this is stupid, but I'm not going to stand here and listen to you tell me the same thing over again! I heard you in the living room, and I can't take that again. Now go inside and warm up. You can sleep in my room if you'd like, I'll stay on the couch." He was angry with me, and he turned away from me and headed back out into the rain.
I couldn't let this happen. "Edward! Stop!" I ran to the end of the porch and stood there. He stopped walking, but didn't turn around.
"What Bella?!" He quickly spun around. "I know you don't want to marry me, what else could you possibly have to say?!"
I stomped down the stairs and went to stand in front of him. I noticed the rain had picked up, but I didn't care. "I came out here to say I love you! And that I was stupid for saying what I did! You're my heart and soul, and I want you. No one but you. I want to marry you and I want you to be my husband, I want everything you said! Now stop being as ass!"
He didn't say anything, just stood there for a second before taking a step closer. "You wanna marry me?" His voice was quiet. "Don't play with me Bella. You really want to marry me? You want to wear that ring on your finger?"
I nodded. "Forever."
Before I could react, he jerked me up in his arms and carried me inside. He kick the door shut behind him hard and hurried to the stairs. He jogged up them with me kissing his neck the whole way. He finally reached his room and ran inside. He took me to the bed and laid my down, going back to shut the door. I knew we were home alone and would still be tomorrow morning, but it just felt better to have the door closed. He came back over to me and stood there, all wet and dripping, with a fire in his eyes that I knew all too well. I had never seen it before but I knew exactly what it was, because I was feeling it too. I wanted Edward and tonight, nothing mattered. Nothing but me and him, being together, really together, for the first time.
Just yesterday I was worried about how I would react. How he would react. If I would be comfortable and see Edward as a lover, and not just my best friend. But right now, I couldn't think of anything else but him and me and what I knew we both wanted. Needed.
I sat up and held my hand out, gesturing for him to come closer. I reached over and put both my hands on the hem of his shirt, slowly peeling it up. It was soaked and clinging to his body. So were his jeans. He lifted his arms and allowed me to pull it all the way off and I tossed it to the floor. I ran my hands down his cold, wet chest and felt every part of his chest. He was shaking, trembling. But so was I.
My breathing hitched as I got to his pants. I didn't really know what to do from here, but I was just going by instinct. I looked up into his eyes as he put both his hands on my face. "Are you sure Bella?" His voice was husky, and deeper, and I had to close my eyes for a second. Not to think about the answer, but to feel every word of his voice. To feel the meaning in them. I opened them back up and smiled.
"I've never been more sure." My voice was weak and soft, barley audible. But he heard me. He stepped closer so he was pressed in between my knees. He leaned down and took my lips in his, not hesitating to deepen the kiss instantly. Even his lips were trembling. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down on top of me. Only then did I realize I was getting his bed soaked. At least I was at the bottom.
His tongue fought for dominance with mine, and eventually he won out. I couldn't deny him anything. Not even myself. I was going to give myself to him with no reservations. I knew this was right, and I knew I wanted it.
He pulled away and looked at me, then down at the tie keeping my robe together. He looked back up at me and I saw the same fire in his eyes, but it had calmed a little. I needed to convince him this was OK. I knew he wanted it, and I knew I wanted it. I quickly decided I needed to take a little bit of charge, needed to let him know I was going to go through with this. Not just this, but marrying him too. It was what I wanted.
I reached down between us and felt for his belt. When I found it, I struggled to get it undone and pulled it away from him. He lifted up a little to help me, while leaning down to kiss and lightly suck on the base of my collarbone. My head flew back as he tongue grazed my neck. Once I had his pants undone he pulled them off and kicked them to the ground. I decided I wanted to move further up on the bed, but before I did, I had to get rid of the wet robe first. He must have some how read my mind, because he sat up and fiddled with the rope holding it together. I nodded and he slowly undid it. I was now glad that I had come back into the room after my bath and grabbed at least a bra and a pair of boy shorts. He got it all the way open and pulled me off the bed. He slowly pushed it over my shoulders and let it fall to the ground, then lifted me up and softly put me back on the bed. He covered us up and laid over top of me, kissing my neck, and moving down the middle of my chest.
"Edward." I gripped my hand in his hair and gently pulled.
"Bella." I felt his lips vibrate against me and shook.
"Love me." I breathed in his ear. I was getting desperate, and needed him.
He looked up and met my eyes. "I do Bella."
I shook my head and smiled. "No Edward. Love me. Really love me."
He immediately understood and moved up my body. He kissed my forehead and whispered against me, "If you need to, just tell me to stop, and I will."
I shook my head and pulled him closer, "Don't stop."
That night was the most perfect night of my life. I couldn't have asked for better. It was everything I imagined it to be, and more. So much more. Edward was my own personal angel sent to show me how special I really was. He was so gentle, I almost thought he was afraid of breaking me, or bruising me. I knew better, knew he was better than that and he'd never hurt me.
I took a quick look down at the beautiful engagement ring on my left hand. Almost every girl in this school hated me, for the simple face I had Edward Cullens ring on my finger. They all wanted to be in my place, and I knew it.
The morning after our first night together, I set to making everything right.
I woke up the next morning feeling a little pain in my lower stomach, but it was manageable. I attempted to sit up, but felt two very strong, very warm, inviting, arms around me. I quickly gave up and relaxed back into his embrace. I smiled and sighed in content. He stirred next to me and I looked up to meet his smoldering sleepy eyes. "Goodmorning Edward." I smiled at him and laid my head against his bare chest.
"It is a good morning, isn't it?" He smiled and leaned down to kiss the top of my head, pulling the sheet up further over my chest. I nodded and closed my eyes. Only then did it hit me that I didn't have a ring on my finger. I didn't have the ring on my finger.
"Edward, can we go downstairs real quick?" I looked up at him and he gave me a confused expression.
"Um, yeah. Sure?"
I didn't say anything, just crawled from the bed, holding his hand and pulling him with me. He quickly pulled on a pair of boxers and before I could slip his tshirt on, he walked over to the closet and grabbed out a really pretty short, midnight blue, silk robe. "Where did that come from Edward?" I eyed it before taking it in my hands.
He smiled, "Alice gave it to me for you. She said it was given to her, but she never wore it, said it would look better on you. I had completely forgotten about it until this morning." He grinned wider before taking it back and opening it up and putting it on me. It was soft and felt good against my skin. I tied it and took his hand on mine, leading him out of his room and down the stairs. When we entered the living room, I spotted exactly what I was looking for. I dropped his hand and ran over to it, picking it up and turning back to him.
"Here." I held it out and he smiled, walking over to me.
He took it in his hands and eyed it. "What do you want me to do?" He smiled his crooked grin and I saw his eyes get wet.
"Ask me again Edward. Please. Please ask me again." I stepped closer to him and he nodded, getting down on one knee and opening the small black box.
"Isabella Marie Swan, will you do me honor of becoming Isabella Cullen? Becoming my wife? Marry me." A tear spilled over his eyelid and I started crying myself.
Hearing him call me Isabella Cullen set my heart to new heights. And with no hesitation what-so-ever, I nodded. "Yes Edward."
The ring was perfect, the man was perfect, and now my life was perfect. I never knew I could be so happy over being engaged in high school. Sure we only had two days left, but I was engaged and walking the halls for everyone to see. I didn't even care anymore. At first I did, and that's why I was ashamed.
We had agreed it was our business, and we didn't need to tell anyone that wasn't of concern. Let them make there own guesses, I don't care. Of course Jessica Stanley was the first to approach me and ask ten thousand questions about the ring on my finger. She asked if I was engaged and I shrugged. She asked all kinds of questions about the ring, and I finally just walked away. That's how the rumors started. She told everyone! Even her mother! She told every girl in school, and each and every one of them had to come find me on there own and see for themselves. It was pathetic if you ask me. It was our business, and if we chose to tell people, then so be it. But we didn't.
Edward agreed, for my sake, we wouldn't make a huge deal of this. If I had left it all up to him, the whole world would know! But this was how I wanted it. It was my way of handling this. And he was fine with it.
I never pictured myself engaged and walking through a high school hallway. I never even pictured myself in love in high school. I figured I'd save all that stuff for college, possibly after. But having Edward step into my life as more than he's ever been, has completely changed my heart. He's changed my mind and my priorities and everything I thought I cared about. He's changed everything around for me, and I could never thank him enough. There would have been so many times I would have just given up if he hadn't stepped in.
"Hello Bella." I looked up to see Angela sit down next to me.
"Hey Ang." I sat back against the gym wall, thankful seniors didn't have to participate if they didn't want to. "How are you?"
She looked at me and shrugged, not even looking down at my ring. She was the only girl that had came up to me in the last week and not made a big deal of everything. She asked if it was true and I nodded. That was it. She didn't push for unneeded information, and she didn't grab my hand examining the ring from all sides. She was calm and that's what I loved so much about her. She was down to earth and knew when something wasn't her business. Though this made me want to share it with her even more.
"Listen Angela, I wanna thank you." I looked over at her and turned slightly.
She looked at me confused, "What for?" She chuckled a little.
"For not being pushy with this. For not bombarding me with questions after questions. Even though I know you have some." I smiled at her and she looked down. "It's OK. You can ask."
She looked up at me and sighed, "Are you sure?" I nodded and she turned to face me. "OK, well I do have a couple questions. When did he ask you?"
I smiled, "Friday night."
"How did he do it?" She looked so intrigued.
I explained everything to her. Well almost everything. She giggled and smiled through the whole thing. Running it back in my mind, I realized how much I must have hurt Edward by saying what I said. I don't regret it, I just regret saying it like I did. I still do think this could end bad. I still think we're way to young, and I still think we could possibly be making a mistake. But it was a mistake I was willing to make with him. It was a risk I was more than happy to go through, as long as I was with him. And as far as being too young. That just didn't matter anymore. I wanted Edward, for the rest of my life, and what does it matter anymore? We've known each other since our diaper days, and at this point it wouldn't matter if I married him tomorrow, or ten years from now. What mattered was that I was going to be with him for the rest of my days.
That made me think of something. I knew he wanted to get married before we went to college, but he hadn't said so yet. I needed to talk to him.
"So how did your parents take it?" Angela put her hand on my shoulder and brought me back again.
Flashback: Monday; Telling the parents.
"How are we going to this Edward?" I was pacing back and forth in Edwards room, twisting and turning the fabric of the shirt in my hands til I thought it was going to rip.
"Sweetheart, relax. OK? We can do this. We're adults, and I already know Carlisle and Esme are going to be happy. We just have to get past your dad." He walked over and put a hand on my shoulder. "We'll explain that you're an adult and this is our decision. We made it for us, and that's not going to change." He turned me around so I was looking at him.
I was scared of my mind. This was going to be a hundred times harder than telling him we were dating, and we all know how that went. "Edward, he's not going to approve. He's going to tell me this is a mistake, and he won't allow it."
"Bella, he has to allow it, you're eighteen, and so am I. There is nothing he can do but support it. You're not backing out on me are you?" He looked terrified for a split second before I threw my arms around him and pulled him close.
"Never Edward. I made my decision, and I'm not backing out of anything." I looked up at him and saw him sigh relief.
"Good, then kiss me and let's go down there and tell our parents we're getting married. OK?" He smiled and I nodded, stretching up to kiss him.
We headed down the stairs and saw Edwards parents sitting in the living room on the couch.
"Where's Charlie?" Edward looked around and then walked over to the loveseat, sitting down and pulling me next to him.
"He's out front on the phone. He came straight from work, so he had to call and take care of some stuff." Carlisle eyed me and Edward, looking from my hand to my face.
I wasn't wearing the ring. Only to keep Charlie as calm as we could before our announcement. I could tell Carlisle wanted to say something, but he didn't, thank god. Esme didn't know, but I think somewhere inside her, she did know exactly what was going on.
Charlie finally walked in the door, and the first thing my eyes went to was the gun belt. It was still on. Usually at home, he took it off as soon as he came in the door, but seeing as though he wasn't home, I didn't know whether or not he was going to take it off. He thought he was only coming over to watch a game with Carlisle.
"Hey Bella. How was your weekend?" He came over, giving me a quick hug, patting Edward on the shoulder and taking his seat in the chair directly across the living room from us.
"It was, um, good dad." I smiled at him as Edward squeezed my hand. He leaned down and nuzzled into my neck. I turned to whisper, "Knock it off Edward. Not right now." I was trying not to giggle, and Charlie looked at me strangely for a moment, before turning to the TV.
"Charlie, actually we need to talk to all of you." Edward scooted to the edge of the couch and my eyes widened.
I leaned over to him so no one else could hear. "Edward! No! He still has his gun in 'easily access' position! Wait til he at least takes that off."
"What, you think he's going to shoot me in front of my parents?!" He chuckled and turned back to Charlie. "Bella and I have something to share with all of you." He looked back at me and smiled.
I held one finger up and stood up, walking over to Charlie. I motioned for him to stand up, and I reached around and unbuckled the belt, pulling it off and walking to put it by the door. I knew it was a bit dramatic, but I just felt more comfortable knowing he couldn't resort to shooting my boyfriend. I walked back out and past Charlie to Edward. I smiled at Edward, "Continue."
He laughed and shook his head, then looked back to our parents. "We know we're about go off to college, and leave home, and be on our own for once, and we wanna make some changes before we leave." He looked at me, taking my hand in his. "Bella and I have made up our minds, and this is something we're both committed to." He smiled at me and I smiled back.
For just a moment, I forgot that my dad was in the room. He didn't matter at the time, all that mattered was this god like creature sitting next to me radiating perfection. And he was mine.
"Isabella, what's going on?" Charlie cleared his throat and I saw him move to stand.
I tried to stop him from over-reacting without even knowing what we had to say. Though I'm pretty sure he was going to over-react either way. "Dad, please sit down. Just listen to what me and Edward have to say. This is important to me. To us."
He paused, but didn't move to sit back down for a couple seconds. "Carry on." His voice was weak and soft, but still rough and a little angry.
I looked at Edward with a 'should I do it, or you?' look, and he seemed to understand because he leaned over and whispered, "I got it." He turned back to our parents and just let it out. "We're getting married." He stopped breathing after that one sentence. And I think I did too.
My eyes immediately shot to Charlie. His eyes were closed and his mouth was tight. His hand was rubbing his forehead and he was shaking his head. "No Bella. Don't do this." He looked back up at me and continued to shake his head. "You're too young for this Isabella."
"Dad, I'm eighteen. I'm an adult, and I'm going to college, and I love Edward. That's all that matters, is that I love Edward. And he loves me. This is different for me and him, please accept this, because I really don't want to do this without your blessing." I pulled Edward up off the couch and towards my dad. I sat down on the floor in front of my father, while Edward stood beside me, keeping one of my hands in his. "Please understand that I've thought about this, and it's what I want. He's what I want."
"If it makes you feel any better Charlie, she turned me down at first. She told me no and that this was stupid. But we've since talked about it, and we both know this is gonna be OK." Edward squeezed my hand.
Charlie looked up at me, his eyes rimmed with tears. "You're making a mistake Bella. You're making my mistake."
I shook my head. "No dad. I'm not making your mistake. I'm making my own. I'm not saying this is going to end up being a mistake, but even if it was, it would be my own. Dad, I'm going to have to make my own mistakes one day, and if there's anything I've learned from you and Renees marriage, it's that now I know what not to do. Now I know that it takes two people to make a marriage work, and me and Edward are in it for each other. We can do this."
"Bella, me and your mother got married at eighteen. I know the mistake you're making. I know it all too well. You're jumping into things and it's not right. Take more time please. Really think about this." He grabbed my free hand and squeezed tight. Almost too tight.
"Dad we have. We've thought about this over and over, and it's what I want. Like I said, I'm an adult, and I'm going to do this. But I would rather have your blessing and maybe some advice before I do it. I need to know you're OK with the decisions I make for myself." I made him look up at me. "I'm not jumping into anything. You and Renee knew each other for two years before you got married. I've known Edward for eighteen. Big difference. Huge difference. Besides, Carlisle and Esme got married at our age, and look at them." I turned to gesture to Edwards parents on the couch. Esme was crying and Carlisle was smiling at me. "They are more in love with each other every day. I want that. I can do that. But I can't do that with anyone but Edward. He's my world. And nothing is going to change that, so waiting doesn't matter. It's what we want, and it's what we want now."
He took a minute, looking between me and Edward. I could tell he was angry, but his resolve was softening. "You're right. I can't stop you. I can't say anything to change your mind. And I can't make you stay away from Edward. He's good to you, and I can't deny that. As much as I'd like too, I just can't. You're happy with him. But please understand Bella, you're going to have one tough road ahead of you. It's going to be beyond difficult for two teenagers to be married and try and balance school and making a marriage work. It's going to be hard, and you're going to fall apart from time to time, but if I know you, you can handle it. And that scares me. It makes me feel like I'm losing my daughter. My only daughter.
"Dad, you're not losing a daughter. If anything, you're gaining a really terrific son-in-law." I looked up at Edward and smiled. He grinned back and mouthed that he loved me. I stood up and took his other hand in mine. "I love you too Edward."
"OK, I'll agree to this, but on a couple conditions." My father stood before us and looked at Edward first. "One; Edward, you'd better take better care of my daughter than you take of yourself. You treat her right, and you support her, and you love her, and never let her go. Because if and when you do, I'll be right there, and you won't like it. I've told you once, I'll tell you again. I have a taser, and I know how to use it." Then he looked at me, no amusement in his eyes. "Two; Bella, you call your mother. You tell her you're getting married."
"But dad,"
"No buts Bella." He looked at me sternly and I finally nodded.
"Fine." I looked at Edward and he nodded.
Then he smiled at me and reached into his pocket. "Here, I believe this belongs to you." He pulled the ring out and slipped it on my finger. I felt tears hit my eyes again and looked up at him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him.
"Thank you."
The rest of that day was spend telling everyone else. Alice and Rosalie were ecstatic. Emmett was a little shocked and so was Jasper. And of course, Emmett was the first to ask if I was pregnant. I knew someone would, it was only a matter of time.
Eventually gym was over and I was headed outside to meet up with Edward. When I saw him I ran straight for him. I didn't care who said what. I leaped into his arms and he held me up, stumbling back, but steadying himself and me. My legs wrapped around his waist and his hands were under me, holding me up. I gave him a quick kiss, "I love you."
He smiled back, "I love you too Bella." He said it with such emotion, that I almost cried. This was how I'd been feeling for the past week. euphoric and happy and loved. Cherished and cared for.
I lowered myself from his embrace and grabbed his hands. "Can we go home. There's something I want to talk to you about."
He nodded and led me out of the school and to the car. We had been switching back and forth when it came to driving, and it was his turn, so he took me to the passenger side and helped me in, closing the door after I was in all the way. We didn't say much to each other all the way home, just smiled at one another and held hands. It was never awkward between us, even when no one was talking. It was comfortable silence. Not something most couples could pull off.
We got home and no one was there so we went into the living room and sat down. "What was it you wanted to talk about?" He took my hands in his and brought them to his lips, kissing my knuckles a couple times, then placing a soft kiss on the ring.
"Well, I was thinking, and I think I've decided when I wanna get married. And how I wanna get married." I smiled at him and his face lit up. He had asked me when I wanted to get married a couple days ago. But he also said that it was entirely up to me, and he would do anything I wanted. I knew what I wanted, and I knew what he wanted, and I was trying to hard to put the two together and make us both happy.
He wanted a wedding, an actual wedding, and he wanted it soon. Very soon. He wanted everyone there to see us, and wanted to go all out for us. I, on the other hand, wanted a small, just me and him, simple wedding. No white dress, no flowers, no nothing. Just me and him. It probably sounded absurd, but it's what I wanted. I didn't need a hundred guests to see and hear that I love Edward. I just needed me and him. I didn't want to be walked down an aisle, nothing. Just give me the paper, and let me sign it. That was it.
But for him, I was going to meet in the middle. "I want to get married right after graduation. We graduate on a Tuesday, and I wanna get married soon after that. Definitely before we move."
He nodded and smiled. "Are you sure?"
I quickly nodded my head and squeezed his hands. "Positive. And I know you don't want it to just be me and you, so I was thinking we could invite Alice and Jasper, and Emmett and Rosalie. That's it. Is that OK?"
He nodded once again, but I saw hesitation. "That's fine with me. Is that what you want?"
"Edward, this is your wedding too. This is about us, not just me. I want you to be happy with this too, and I'm fine with just them being there. I'll even wear a dress if you want." I smiled at him and he started laughing.
"You don't have to wear a dress. You'll look just as good in jeans and a tshirt. Where do you want to do it?" He looked down at me and I smiled at the same time he did.
Almost simultaneously we said the same thing. "Vegas."
So?? Was it what you expected? lol.
Sorry if some of you wanted me to right more about their first night, but it was starting to get a little awkward for me and I thought it was good to end it there. I'm not that kinda writer, and my sisters read this story, so that's a big NO! lol
And to answer jongley12 question, yes it was build a bear (= Also, I know I don't put songs in my chapters, but there was one song im particular I was listening to while I write this chapter, it's called Domino by Varsity Fanclub. It's not my usual type of music, but it has a lot of meaning to it, and it's perfect for this chapter.