Chapter 18

Don't Start Now

Aren't you the guy who tried to

Hurt me with the word "goodbye"?

Though it took some time to survive you

I'm better on the other side

I'm all good already

So moved on, it's scary

I'm not where you left me at all, so

Since Bella wasn't speaking to Edward, he decided to sneak into her room later that evening. He could see Charlie lounging on the couch in the living room before he went to the back of the house and climbed the tree.

"What the fuck...Edward!" Bella was half asleep on her bed with her Ipod listening to music when her window opened and Edward climbed inside her bedroom. The song, "Don't Start Now" by Dua Lipa played loudly in her ears. Bella was dressed in a white spaghetti crop top and grey drawstring lounge shorts. She grabbed her gray open cardigan, and immediately got off the bed to lock her bedroom door. Bella slipped a bit getting out of bed and hoped it didn't alarm her father. "Charlie is downstairs." Bella closed her cardigan around as Edward's eyes zoned on her breasts.

"I know, I wouldn't have climbed the tree if he wasn't. I would have used my key," Edward said stepping into her bedroom, closing her window halfway.

"You mean my key that went missing like a month ago and now you have one too?"

"Yeah well, I guess you can't yell at me so loudly about that with Charlie downstairs."

"You have to get out."

"Why?" Edward asked Bella and placed his hands on her arms. He reached down to kiss Bella on the lips. She turned her head and he caught the corner of her mouth before she moved away. "What's wrong?" Edward asked. Bella never refused his kisses before. "What happened?"

"You can't be here right now." Bella tried to stand firm away, but Edward grabbed on to her arms pulling her closer, burying his face into her neck, kissing the skin there. He moaned, nuzzling her neck, drowning in her lovely floral scent. Bella sighed. "You have to get out Edward. Seriously... " Edward didn't hear the warning in Bella's voice as she spoke. He opened her cardigan, seeing her ample cleavage and toned stomach. Edward groaned.

"Are you upset with me? Did I do something wrong? Whatever I did, whatever I said, I'm sorry. I was stupid and a guy. You are right. You are always right. I'm so sorry, and it will never happen again." Edward hugged Bella. Bella sighed in the warmth of Edward's arms around her. She felt safe. She felt loved. Bella rubbed her face against Edward's chest, wrapping her arms around him, taking in his smell, before realizing her father was just downstairs. If he sees Edward, Edward is dead, and she would be dead alongside him.
"Edward seriously go…" Bella begged.

"You didn't answer my texts or calls. I even emailed you!"

"I'm grounded."

"For what? The Halloween party?"

"For having a boyfriend named Edward Cullen," Bella said in hushed tones.

"Did he say that?" Edward asked.

"Yeah."

"He actually said that."

"Yes Edward. Charlie said he didn't care I went to a party, most 16-years old secretly party behind their parent's backs. And if I had a boyfriend, then we would have talked about it and set boundaries. What upset him is the fact that he had to find out from Mrs. Grey that I was dating Edward Cullen."

"How did she find out?"

"I don't know maybe some of the kids from high school were talking about it at the Diner and she overheard and immediately told Charlie."

"Or, that time at the diner last week when we thought no one was around," Edward said, thinking Mrs. Grey could have heard them in the back or saw Edward secretly kissing Bella before leaving.

"Yeah."

"Well shit. So, we can't date?"

"We can't date, talk, or see each other ever again," Bella said, counting it out on her fingers.

"What about school?"

"We can't even work on school projects together. Charlie is talking to the principal on tomorrow," Bella said.

"Shit!"

"Shhhhh! That is why you have to go."

"Fuck! I don't want to go," Edward said.

"I know, which is why you need to go now. He can't find you here. If he finds you in my room..."

There was a knock on the door. Bella and Edward froze.

"Bells…"

"Shit! Uh, in a second Dad," Bella said. "Go!" Bella shoved Edward towards her window. Charlie went to open the door as Bella and Edward froze for a second at the window.

"Why is your door locked?! Who are you talking to?!"

"No one Dad! I said I'm coming, Dad! Go!" Bella and Edward opened her window wide enough so Edward could fit through.

"Open the door!" Charlie wiggled the door knob. "Open this door right now!" Bella helped Edward as he threw his leg over the ledge of her window. He kissed Bella on the lips. He hoped not for the last time.

"I said I was coming, Dad!" All of a sudden, Charlie busted the door off the hinges to find Edward, half in, half out of Bella's window with Bella pushing on him to leave. Both stopped moving, as their heads turned to see Charlie. They froze again with wide eyes, filled with fear.

"I'm going to kill him!"
"Dad no!" Charlie rushed to the window. Edward tried to scramble out the window more, but Charlie grabbed him first, pulling him halfway back inside. "Daddy please!"

"You're dead!"

"Daddy no!" Bella tried to hold her father back as Edward and Charlie were pulling on each other before Edward lost balance and Charlie let go. Edward fell from Bella's window. Bella screamed as she watched Edward fall from her window to the ground.

"Edward!" Bella screamed.

Bella was holding Edward's hand and a frozen bag of broccoli on his shoulder, as Edward held a pack of frozen vegetables against the back of his head. Bella was trying to protect Edward from ice burn, so she would remove the ice pack often and check for it. Dr. Cullen, who Bella was meeting for the first time face to face, along with Mrs. Cullen, sat around the couch. Bella threw on some black stretch pants and a gray tank top as Edward insisted he was fine, while they waited for Dr. and Mrs. Cullen to arrive. Bella could remember pushing her father aside as she leaned out the window of her bedroom to see Edward laying on the ground, motionless. She thought he was dead. Her mind went into madness, as she ran out of her bedroom, stumbling down the stairs and out the backdoor to get to Edward. Once she reached him, he was slowly coming too, as she touched his arm and chest. Charlie had to call his parents to come over since Edward refused to go to the hospital after falling out of his daughter's second story window.

Edward closed his eyes as the blinding light hit his orbs. He sighed.

"Could you count backwards from 10 for me," Carlisle said while shining a tiny flashlight into Edward's eyes.

"Dad, please…"

"Humor me son." Carlisle was rubbing with his finger around Edward's scalp.

"Fine! 10, 9,8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1….happy?" Edward said.

"Extremely. Now I still think we should get a CAT scan of your head and shoulder."

"My shoulder is fine. And my head is just as messed up as before."

"Obviously since you've been climbing trees into bedrooms now."

"One tree into one bedroom," Edward said.

"It's gonna bruise," Mrs. Cullen said, seeing Bella hold the frozen bag against her son's shoulder again after Bella checked for ice burn.

"I'm fine Mom."

"So Isabella…"

"Just Bella…"

"Ok, Bella, can you tell me if anything odd happened since my son fell from your window."

"He didn't remember falling from the window at first Dr. Cullen."

"I didn't forget, it just took me a second to recall," Edward said.

"It took him a minute to fully remember and grasp what happened. And then a lot of pain came in his back and shoulders, especially his left shoulder, Dr. Cullen." Dr. Cullen nodded. "He didn't move for a few minutes."

"I was in shock, but it wasn't like I couldn't move. I just didn't. I did just fall out of a window. But I am fine now. I was able to get up alone. You all really need to calm down. I am fine."

"Thanks for telling me that Bella. And it's Carlisle." Bella nodded. "Anything else? Headaches, nausea, loss of speech?"

"No, nothing like that," Bella said.

"I am sitting right here. You two don't have to speak like I don't exist."

"He's been fine."

"Ok, good. Now since you want to talk. Would you mind telling your mother and I, what were you thinking pulling a stunt like that?" Carlisle asked.

Bella could see the easy appeal and lust after Dr. Carlisle Cullen. He could easily pass as Zeus's younger better-looking brother. He looked young. Too young to have 5 kids, ages 16-18. Blonde hair, but not golden blonde like Rosalie and Jasper's hair color. But the prettiest blue eyes, much like Alice's blue eyes. He could look like a model with his collar-length blonde hair, over 6 feet. Bella can remember Jessica joking that her mother is a nurse and she sees other nurses, and staffers in the hospital having a hard time concentrating on their job whenever he is around.

And Mrs. Esme Cullen is beautiful too. She had a heart-shaped face with a warm compassionate smile, billows of soft caramel and bronze-colored hair, delicate eyebrows, green eyes, and a small, slender figure that was less angular and more rounded like a mom. Bella could tell how compassionate and loving Mrs. Cullen was with the way she cared and was concerned about Edward and Bella. Very kind. She didn't once show disgust when Bella took Edward's hand or when Edward squeezed her hand. Carlisle stood up going to stand behind Esme. Carlisle put his hand on Esme's shoulder.

"I was thinking, I missed my girlfriend and I needed to see her," Edward said.

"You two are dating?" Carlisle Cullen asked.

"Girlfriend," Charlie said in disgust. "You are not seeing my daughter ever again after tonight."

"Dad! You can't stop us from seeing each other."

"Watch me." Charlie was pacing in front of the fireplace while Mr. Cullen took care of his son.

"You pushed Edward out of the window," Bella said flatly looking at her father when she stood up. She kept her hand on the frozen peas on Edward's shoulder. Charlie froze.

"What?" Dr. and Mrs. Cullen said looking angrily at Charlie.

"You did what to my son?" Esme said standing up as the mother bear came out of her. Carlisle grabbed his wife's arm to calm her down.

"I certainly did not!" Charlie yelled.

"Yes you did. I saw it! At least that is what I'm going to say every time someone asked me what happened tonight."

"I am the Chief of Police, I would nev…" Charlie pointed a warning finger at Bella for her lie.

"You are the Chief of Police and imagine how it would look when they find out you pushed my boyfriend out of the window, so we couldn't date."

"That is blackmail Isabella Swan and I could arrest you for…"

"Go ahead, and I will tell everyone you pushed Edward out of my window!" Bella stated again.

"You know it didn't happen like that!"

"Do I Dad? Edward clearly was trying to escape my room and you were pulling him back. And then you just let go after saying, you were going to kill him."

"It didn't happen like that Isabella Marie Swan, you know it!"

"I don't know Dad, do I?"

"You are just 16 years old silly girl, too young to date or see any boy. And as long as you are living under my roof, if I say, I don't want you to date that boy…"

"You are right. I am only 16, and yes you can say I can't date anyone until I'm older that's fine. I can wait. And I will wait for Edward. Because when I turn 18, I won't just be dating Edward. I'm going to marry Edward and never see you again." Mrs. Cullen gasped. Edward looked at Bella.

"I want to marry you too." Charlie rolled his eyes and threw his hands up in the air in offense as Edward and Bella stared at each other with loving eyes. He now wished he did push Edward out the window, maybe if he killed him, Bella wouldn't want him anymore. Stupid thought. But name a father that didn't wish death on his daughter's first boyfriend. Charlie shook his head.

"Jesus Christ Bella! This is ridiculous! You are not seeing this boy!"

"Dad, I love Edward. And he loves me."

"I do, I love her Chief Swan. And I should apologize to you for sneaking into Bella's bedroom at night. That was wrong of me. I should have formally introduced myself to you and begged for your forgiveness right from the very start. I am sorry I was too much a coward to do the right thing back then. And I know I am not good enough for Bella.."

"Edward…"

"I know Bella. I know I am not the right boy for you, but I know I can be if given time. I am so happy that you love me. I love you too. But I need to do better and I will be a better man for your father. And I will do everything in my power to prove to your father that I won't make any more mistakes with you or my life ever again," Edward said staring at Bella. "Chief Swan, please, what can I do to prove to you, I will anything you say," Edward said.

Charlie looked at Bella and Edward. It was obvious if he fought them and tried to separate them, they would just be together anyway in secret and possibly run away together. And Charlie would be damned if that happens. He already lost Bella for years. Charlie knew he would have to play this break-up plan another way. It was a high school crush. Puppy love. High school loves don't last. They are teenagers. Teens break up over stupid shit in the end. It's not forever no matter how much they want to believe it is. Charlie sighed.

"You are never allowed inside my daughter's bedroom, door opened or locked ever again. Do you hear me, Edward?" Bella's head shot over to look at her father.

"Does that mean…"

"I mean it Bella. No boys are allowed in your bedroom as long as you are living in this house. Ever."

"Fine."

"Yes," Edward said nodding his head. "I will do that."

"And you are never allowed inside my house without me and my gun being home. I mean it. If I am not home, you are not allowed alone in this house with Bella."

"Dad!"

"I can do that sir," Edward said, nodding. "We can do that Bella."

"You will eat dinner with Bella and myself at least twice a week so I can keep my eyes on you both."

"And Bella, you are welcome to over for dinner and weekends anytime you like," Mrs. Cullen said smiling. Bella blushed as Mrs. Cullen was welcoming her with open arms into her house. Mrs. Cullen went over and hugged Bella. "I would love to get the know the girl that has melted my son's icy heart." Bella smiled.

After just seeing Bella in passing once a year ago, Esme felt Bella was going to be part of the family even after they were both left heartbroken after that fight at in the mental hospital and Edward pretended not to care. She can remember finding Edward playing his piano after years of it collecting dusk. And then he went back to moody Edward not touching it for another year once Bella was out of his life again. Now once again, Esme found Edward on the piano the past month. Happy. Playing for hours. When she asked what song he was playing, he called it a lullaby. A sweet love lullaby. She remembered him playing this same song over and over again years ago. He had created this song inspired by his love for Bella.

Edward used to compose several pieces for Esme on the piano as a child since she loves to hear him play. Even though Edward is not her actual son, he holds a special place in Esme's heart above the rest. Alice joked Esme loves Edward the most because he reminds Esme of her sister who she loved deeply and lost so tragically. Esme blamed herself for her sister's death. If she hadn't let her sister leave town after the divorce or did more to find her after she left town, maybe Edward's mother, her sister would still be alive today.

Bella got up to walk Edward, Dr. and Mrs. Cullen out of the house and to their car.

"Bella…"

"I'm just saying goodnight Dad." Dr. and Mrs. Cullen got into the car, giving Edward a moment to say goodnight to Bella. "What a night huh?" Bella asked.

"I almost died for you."

"That's not funny Edward."

"No, I almost died for you. If that doesn't prove how much I love you," Edward said.

"Jumping out of a window doesn't prove shit other than you're crazy," Bella said.

"Crazy in love with you." Edward leaned down and kissed Bella on the lips. The lights from the front porch flickered as Edward looked up. Bella looked back. "Guess that's my cue."

"Oh, screw that.." Bella threw her arms around Edward's neck and kissed him hard.

"Ok, now you really want to see me dead kissing me like that in front of your Dad." Bella smiled. Dr. Cullen rolled down the window as the porch lights flickered rapidly again.

"Edward, it is late. You will see your girlfriend tomorrow as soon as you get a good night of rest. If not, I'm taking you to the hospital to get your head examined and keep you there a whole day."

"Fine!"

"Goodnight Mr. and Mrs. Cullen."

"Please, call me Esme dear!"

"And it's Carlisle Bella."

"Ok, goodnight, Carlisle, goodnight Esme." Edward hugged Bella again. "Good night Edward."

"Good night my sweet Bella." Edward placed a sweet kiss on her lips before climbing into the backseat.