Chapter 15: Mutuality
Drops of rain landed on my windshield as I parked outside Charlie's house, to pick Bella up for school. I didn't have to wait long before she walked out of the house, slamming the front door behind her. I noticed she didn't look very happy as she made her way to my car. I leaned over and opened the passenger door for her.
"Good morning, beautiful." I greeted my lovely wife.
"Good morning." Bella slumped in the seat, shut the door, and put on her seatbelt. "Being seventeen stucks.'
I gave her a quick morning kiss. I put my car in drive and stepped on the accelerator. There was obviously something wrong. But what?
"What's the matter, love?" I wondered as we headed in the direction of school.
She let out a frustrated sigh. "Being seventeen really, really sucks."
I glanced at her expecting her to continue though she did not. She only glared out the wet windshield. Her silence had my concern and curiosity festering.
"Care to elaborate?" I wondered, trying to keep my tone light.
"I'm Charlie's prisoner." Bella grumbled. "He grounded me for a month just because I went to Vegas. Now the only place I can go besides your house, is school and the grocery store."
I reached out and took hold of her hand. "It seems the adults in our lives collaborated on punishments." I said and she looked at me, her eyes full of questions. "I'm also grounded for a month. I'm not allowed to leave Forks. My passports, credit cards, all access to my bank accounts, along with the fake IDs I made for Vegas, have all been confiscated. Also, the only places I am allowed to go are your house and school and I have a long list of chores I have to complete each day."
Towards the end of the talking-to Carlisle gave me last night, he had informed me that he was punishing me, making it clear that I was not being punished for getting married. He would never discipline me for that or even leaving the kitchen and bathroom dismantled. According to him, destroying things while love making is in our nature and is inevitable, especially when one is new at it. Not wanting me to be confused why I was being grounded, he explained that he was taking my privileges away because I worried him and my mother with my two day disappearance and that he never wanted it to happen again.
She stared at me in disbelief.
"Yes. I still get privileges revoked. Shocking, isn't it?" I laughed sarcastically then before she could ask, I added. "I may have existed for over a century but Carlisle does as he sees fit to keep all of us in line. Not that I agree with getting grounded."
No, I definitely did not agree with getting grounded. I had stupidly protested the idea which ultimately led to Carlisle adding the unlikely long list of chores to my already impractical punishment.
Bella rubbed my hand, making a surge of wrath run up the back of my hand, to my wrist and all the way up my arm. "So Carlisle punished you because he's the coven leader?" She was trying to understand why a hundred and eight year old vampire would get punished.
I shook my head as the school came into view. "He doesn't look at it that way." Which was true. He never once has viewed himself as a coven leader. Though, in our world, that's what he is. "To him, he's only a father of five nearly identical aged teenagers that he has to keep in line and lay down the rules. He's a firm believer in consequences when we misbehave."
"Oh! That's just great. Something to look forward to for my second life." She said sarcastically, making me laugh.
Apparently she hadn't thought about the unpleasant part of being a teenager for the end of time. That my parents never stop treating my siblings and I like kids. It's a horrible cycle, really.
"Well, Charlie and I called my mom when we got home last night." Bella changed the subject of our conversation. "I told her that you and I are now married." Her voice sounded more cheerful now.
"Was she upset?" I questioned.
Bella shook her head. "Just the opposite. To Charlie's dismay she was actually happy for me. Her enthusiasm about me being in love, getting married in secret and having what she described as a fairy tale adventure in Las Vegas had Charlie downing a bottle Whisky and talking on the phone, cursing up a storm. It was actually kind of funny."
"Oh wow." I was surprised that her parents were so opposite. But then again, that does make a lot of sense as to why they didn't work out.
Last night after Carlisle's little heart-to-heart with me. I went to Bella's room to find her already sound asleep while Charlie was in the living room, passed out drunk with the TV on Cartoon Network, of all channels. His drunken dreams were stange. There was an assortment of shotguns in his mind that were all pointed at me. From his odd dreams I got the feeling that he doesn't like me much.
Bella had been tired from our little trip as well as the flight back home. I could only assume. Because she had fallen asleep long before I arrived, she had been sprawled out on her bed, with her shoes and clothes still on. As gently as I could I removed her shoes, picked her up, lifting up the blankets with one hand and placed her in bed without waking her up. I layed down beside her and covered us up with her blankets. With her being asleep when I entered her room we were unable to get the chance to talk in the dark like we normally do. So we were unaware of everything that happened to each other after she left my house.
While I had laid beside her in the dark room last night. I had counted each one of her heartbeats to calm my irritation I had felt with Carlisle for putting me on restriction. I mean, wasn't a weekend marriage bad enough? When he had informed me that I was grounded and am not allowed to leave Forks until I can earn his and my mother's trust back. The wheels in my mind began to turn. A plan began to form to bypass this whole weekend marriage nonsense. That involved Bella and I flying to a certain private Island that rarely gets used and hiding out there for a while. However, my father noticed a change in my expression at that point and informed me that in our family we have certain rules that my siblings and I need to obey. If we break the rules we have to suffer the consequences. He then informed me that I was not allowed to go to Isle Esme, he then took my passports away. Sometimes I feel that man can read my mind. As much as I would have liked to go to Isle Esme with her and live there until she's legally an adult, a part of me knew that I was being irrational. When I came to my scenes I knew I wouldn't have acted on that passing thought. I vaile Bella's education too much for her to drop out of school just so we could live together. Of course things won't always be like this. In the near future we'll be able to live together just how we had planned. So for the meantime, I'll endure a weekend marriage.
We entered the school parking lot just as a school bus was pulling up. I parked in the empty space next to Rose's M3 that was right beside Alice's Porsche. Emmett left his Jeep at home since he and Jasper got their driving privileges taken away for two weeks for drag racing, but both of them said it was worth it.
Bella and I grabbed our backpacks and got out of my car. We walked through the parking lot with low murmurs, whispers and mental chatter from the few children that were scattered around as we walked up the steps and over to the main building. Since Alice refused to speak to me, Rosalie had tipped me off when I went home to change my clothes and get my car early this morning. She passed on a message from our small sister, apparently the whole school was aware of our absence since Charlie had asked every kid in the 11th grade if they knew where Bella and I had gone. Of course no one did. But that didn't stop rumors from flying around. Though rumors don't bother me much. I can care less what people think. People always have their speculations.
Walking into the hallway there was the deafening sound of lockers slamming shut, students jeering, mindless chattering and heavy footsteps that filled the hallway. I really did not miss the noisy school while we were in Vegas.
Making our way to our homeroom Bella and I were immediately greeted by a very excited Jessica. We politely exchanged greetings with her as we continued to walk down the hallway.
"Bella, where have you been?" Jessica looped her arm around Bella's like they were such good friends. Though in reality she only talks to Bella when she wants something. 'I wonder where they've been hiding. I just have to know where she went and what they did.'
I suppress from rolling my eyes. Jess really didn't care about where Bella had been. All she was concerned about was the gossip, that much was obvious in her mind.
"Edward and I," Bella began as she sweetly looked up at me as we continued to walk with Jessica tagging along. She then turned back to Jesscia. "Went to Las Vegas and got married."
A wide grin spread across my face.
Jessica was not expecting that. Her eyes widened in shock. "Married?" She questioned.
"Yup." I smiled, while we walked towards our homeroom.
"What made you decide to do that?" She looked at Bella. Immediately her eyes drifted to Bella's stomach. 'Hmm. She isn't showing. But that has to be it. I mean, why else get married at seventeen?' Her thoughts then began to race. "Let me see your ring!"
Bella attempted to lift up her hand that was entangled with mine. To help her out, I let go of her hand as she proudly showed off her wedding brand. A simple imitation gold circle with designs of beautiful dainty little flowers etched into it that I picked out for her.
"Oh." Jessica said, clearing unimpressed by the sight of the ring.
"Do you like it?" Bella wondered.
"Yeah. It's nice." Jessica put on a good show of being polite. 'That's a shame he didn't buy her a real ring. Apparently he's really cheap. Either that or he doesn't love her as much as she thinks.'
Jessica's thoughts were really getting on my nerves though I remained well composed.
Suddenly a girl called Jessica before she could continue her questioning. She quickly told Beela that they would talk more in art class, she then took her annoying senseless chatter over to the girl down the hall as the bell rang signaling the start of the school day. Bella and I quickly went to our homeroom and took our seats in the back roll.
Once all the children were in their seats our homeroom teacher passed out the morning newspapers for silent reading. He then sat at his desk and busied himself with the crossword puzzle and his large cup of coffee. For as long as I've been in school I've never understood the point of homeroom. However, today I really enjoyed the ten minutes of peace.
With the open newspapers placed on our desk, my wife quietly opened her backpack. Out of the corner of my eye I watched her pull out a notebook and a pencil. She then discreetly placed the stationary on the desk, on top of her newspaper. I pretended to be interested in the sports section while she scribbled out a message and slid the paper over to me along with the pencil.
On the top of the paper in her untidy handwriting she wrote...
I'm not too fond of this weekend marriage deal. When do we get to the biting?
I wasn't surprised by the first sentence. I wasn't exactly fond of it either, I mean who would be? But her question had me chuckling under my breath. For anyone reading it wouldn't understand what she meant and would probably think we were into some strange fetishes.
I picked up the pencil and quickly wrote out my reply…
We'll have to wait. After graduation.
I slipped the paper across the desk. Her lips turned into a frown as she read it. I could only guess that she was counting on her transformation happening sooner just as we had planned. But it was brought to my attention that just because we rushed into our marriage does not mean we need to, or should hurry up with her transformation. That we should stick to our original plan of turning her after graduation.
The paper once again appeared in front of me. One word was written in bold writing under my reply...
WHY?
Before I could write down my answer I looked at her. She was unhappy. Not giving me a chance to jot down my answer she grabbed the pad of paper and statered furiously writing.
A few seconds later she shoved the paper to my side of the desk.
She was upset and her sloppy handwriting showed that. She had scribbled out...
Don't start this again. Don't tell me you changed your mind. You better not, Edward. You promised! You said it would happen soon. You even promised that after our wedding. Why do you want to wait now? Why?
I sighed. As much as I enjoyed my beautiful bride being human I didn't want to wait for her transformation. Not exactly. I was aware that once she's like me there will be things that will be easier for us. Like for instance, I would no longer be tempted by the delicious scent of her blood on a daily basis.
I took the pencil from her soft warm hand. I began to write…
I didn't change my mind. I'm not going to back out, don't worry about that. I promise. It's better for Charlie if we wait. We'll say we're going away to college just like we had planned. That way Charlie won't freak out anymore than he already has.
I slid the notebook over to her. She read it. Instead of writing down a reply she crossed her arms over her chest. I had known that she wasn't going to be happy about waiting.
In fact I wasn't either. In a way that I once never thought would be possible I was now looking forward to her being like me. Sure, there would be little things I would miss, like the blush that colors her face when she's embarrassed and the musical sound of her heartbeat that I've grown so used to. All that aside, I knew that when she would be like me everything would be less complicated. I will no longer have to worry when she wouldn't be by my side because she would no longer be my fragile little human. She would be able to hold her own. I also wouldn't have to hold back my strength when I'm with her. One thing I was really looking forward to was that sex would be much more easier, I wouldn't have to hold back.
When Carlisle sat in my room and talked to me last night. At one point he began explaining why Bella and I need to put her transformation on hold for the meantime. He knew I wasn't too thrilled about it as he went over the pros and cons about an earlier change for her, all the while reminding me of how her father would feel if she suddenly disappeared. At least with the ruse of going away to college when she is finished with high school we'll have a valid excuse of why we are away. I couldn't disagree with him. He brought up some valid points from a father's point of view that I never thought of.
With the topic of her pending transformation I had asked my father a question that was concerning me. It was about my urge to bite Bella while being intimate. I confessed how the desire for her blood was strong during those moments. Carlisle was caring and compassionate as our talk drifted from one serious topic to another. He said that all that was understandable since craving human blood is in our nature. He advised me that in those moments to resist the urge and bite something that wasn't Bella. Basically, to keep doing what I've been doing.
On top of the desk Bella slipped her hand in mine. Pulling me out of my thoughts and bringing me back to our homeroom full of children reading the morning newspaper that most of them found dull. I looked at Bella. She was nervously chewing on her bottom lip. Her eyes met mine and she leaned closer to me.
"Promise you won't change your mind?" She whispered so low that a normal person would have had trouble hearing her.
"Promise." I mouthed the word. I had no plans on changing my mind. For doing so would hurt her feelings and I would without a doubt lose her trust.
Her mouth cerved up into a small smile. She seemed satisfied with my answer.
With no need to pass any more notes she put her notebook and pencil back in her backpack. We then went back to holding hands and quietly stealing glances at each other with the newspapers in front of us.
Homeroom soon ended and we were off to the Computer Lab. With the events of our honeymoon still fresh in both of our minds it was difficult for Bella and I to concentrate on our assignments without staring into each other's eyes when the teacher wasn't looking or whispering back and forth. Since we weren't getting any work done when Mr. Hartmen walked around the room he assumed Bella and I were having trouble completing the assignment since we were absent yesterday. He then sent Jasper over to help us. My brother sat in between us, that ended up proving to be a challenge for him.
Hearing my brother's thoughts about being in close proximity to Bella and I were interesting. According to him, together Bella and I are now ten times worse than being near Emmett and Rosalie. He wasn't annoyed though. He was more entertained by this. Remaining aloof to our intense emotions he helped us with the assignment.
Once I got the flow of the assignment, the first hour of school went by fast. Same with the second hour of school. Then it was on to Gym class. Which was another story.
Normally I dread Gym class for the simple fact that I have to hold back my strength to appear human as all my siblings do. But today there was another reason why I wasn't looking forward to Gym class. That reason stands at four feet, ten inches tall, has spiky black hair and goes by the name Alice. She was still pissed at me, I knew that much when she passed by me on her way to the girl's locker room. She had a steady stream of mental insults for me, she was also glaring daggers at me. She sure is feisty when she's angry. If looks could kill I would have drop-dead right there on school grounds. I headed to the boys locker room and quickly changed.
Since it was drizzling outside, Couch Clapp had us line up in the gym in alphabetical order, according to last names while we did our warm up stretches. The whole time Alice who was in front of me pretended I didn't exist. I whispered an apology twice to her. Sadly, the first time she out right ignored me, the second time she pretended she heard a fly buzzing around the gym instead of my voice.
I knew my spiky hair sister was furious with me even though her grudge seemed ridiculous to me. After all she was upset about not being able to plan my wedding that Bella or I never even wanted. I had no idea how long this misplaced resentment would last.
Once our warm-up stretches were over Coach Clapp announced that the activity for today would be catching and passing a football. Apparently he thought dividing the class up into teams of two and playing catch with a football would be fun. It didn't seem that fun to me.
Coach Clapp pared the students up so it would be quicker than if we picked our own teammates. Naturally he paired Alice and I together. Which did not sit well with my sister. She was fuming mad about being my teammate as I went to go grab a football from a large bin with a bunch of other children.
"Coach Clapp," Alice's musical voice rang throughout the gym.
"Is something wrong Alice?" Coach Clapp wondered. His thoughts registered that she wasn't her normally overly happy bouncy self.
"I need a new partner. The one you provided me with is a sheer disappointment." Alice explained with a frown as I walked up next to her with a football.
Children whispered and giggled at Alice's comment. It sounded ridiculous.
I put my right hand over my forehead as Couch Clapp looked at us. From my mind's eye I saw the sight he was taking in from his mind. Alice now stood with her hands on her hips looking as sassy as could be. I stood beside her looking at the floor. Anyone with eyes could tell that we were siblings at odds.
"I'm sorry Alice, the teams are set. Whatever is going on between you and your brother you're just going to have to work it out." Coach Clapp gently told her as he wondered why she was so moody today.
Our Coach had the same mindset as our parents did. That we were old enough to work through our struggle without interference. Clearing no one understood Alice, she's capable of holding a grudge till the cows come home.
Seeing that there was no way of trading me for another partner Alice huffed in annoyance.
Our class was then instructed to line up in the gym, each partener several feet away from the other. When the Coach blew his whistle the person holding the football, in my case that was me, tossed it to their partner.
While Alice and I tossed the football back and forth in awkward silence. The rest of the children in the gym we're a bit noisy. Coach Clapp was fine with idle conversation as long as the footballs were being passed from partner to partner.
My sister didn't try to hide her annoyance while she tossed me the football. Anger toward me was clearly painted across her face as well as in her thoughts. It was annoying to me. Why couldn't she just accept my apology and get over it? It wasn't like Bella and I let her believe she could plan our wedding then changed our minds at the last minute. We had even told her that we didn't want a water-wedding several times. She just wouldn't listen.
Since Alice was not going to talk to me and her thoughts were not something I wanted to concentrate on. Not to mention, that gym class was boring and I could literally catch a football with my eyes closed. I decided to check in on Bella who was in art class.
Tapping into Jessica's thoughts I saw that her and Bella were doing some kind of project with twine. From what I could tell they were glueing the twine onto a large piece of paper, trying to copy a cutout picture from a nature magazine of their choosing as they quietly had a conversation that of course, had nothing to do with art.
'So you're married. Now? Like really, truly married?' Jessica wondered. His parents are loaded. I wonder why they didn't have a big 'ol fancy wedding. I would have if I was her. He also could have settled for a more expensive ring. I wondered why he didn't buy her a diamond ring instead of that cheap one she's wearing.
'Yes.' Bella sounded and looked a little irritated. I wondered why. 'You already asked me that three times now. It seems like you want a different answer that I can't give you.'
Ahh! So that was the cause for Bella's annoyance. The same question was being asked to her repeatedly. I tossed my sister the football and she immediately tossed it to me.
'Naw. I'm just trying to figure this out. You and Edward left and came back married but you and him don't live together. Why is that?' Jessica questioned while Bella was gluing more twine onto her paper. Sounds like a strange marriage. I would want to live with Edward if I were her.
Catching the football I cringed as Jessica pictured how she assumed I looked naked and what she wished she could do to me. Yikes! No thank you.
'It's complicated.' Bella admitted. 'Our parents came up with this weekend marriage thing.'
OH! A fuck feast every weekend. Internising. Jessica thought as she eyed Bella. 'So dating on the weekdays and sexs on the weekends? That's not too bad.'
Bella didn't answer. Her face was tomato red.
I was amused as I continued to multitask. Passing and catching the football with my unhappy sister and listening in on my wife's conversation with her nosy acquaintance. Up until Jessica brought it up I really didn't think of this weekend marriage as a "fuck fest" as she put it. But now I was beginning to see the wonderful possibilities of every weekend being like one big honeymoon. That sounded nice.
The fantasies of the possibilities for this weekend flowed into my mind. I felt myself becoming hard. That was not good at all. I quickly got my mind in control of my body. I tossed my irritated sister the football. She was having visions of the events for my upcoming weekend and was not happy about it.
'So did you and Edward do "it" a lot, like a honeymoon?' Jessica asked the obvious question. Just trying to put her nose in someone else's business for her own entertainment. I wonder how big his cock is. Probably twelve inches. No maybe fourteen inches.
As red as a radish Bella only nodded.
Good lord. Jessica's inappropriate thoughts went onto imagine me as developed as a frickin elephant. Seriously, how would I even walk if my penis was like that? No doubt I would have injured Bella.
Why was I even surprised by that train of thought though? All through freshman year, before Bella moved to Forks, Jessica had the most disturbing fantasies of me. It was horrible.
So lost with seeing Bella in the thoughts of Jessica Stanley I didn't realize that Alcie tossed me the football until it fumbled past me and she mumbled that I was a disappointment. I rolled my eyes and went to get the ball. I quickly grabbed it, went back to my spot and tossed the football to Alice who looked as happy as a wet cat who fell in a bathtub.
Alice tossed the football back to me as a couple of girls in our class were mentally noting how extremely moody Alice was. A girl that was standing next to my sister assumed that she was MPSing. Which had me chuckling. Not having the slightest clue what was humorous, Alice shot me a hard look. I only smiled at her which made her even angrier as we continued passing and tossing the football.
Once again I tuned into the strange thoughts of Jessica just so I could get a glimpse of the most beautiful girl in the world. This time I wasn't focusing on the covertaion but Bella's crimson face. Her facial expression was mortified. As Alice tossed me the football when I wasn't paying attention because I was too preoccupied catching the gist of the conversation to find out why Bella looked so anxious, apparently Jessica was pressuring my wife for sexaul details that Bella would not disclose. I found that too funny. At the same time I laughed out loud, the football connected with my stomach and I fell down laughing, disguising my laughter as a cough.
I did an excellent job disguising my laugh as a cough. Maybe a little too good. Because the next thing I knew Couch Clapp was standing over me with an irritated Alice and a few other children by his side. Everyone but Alice assumed I got the wind knocked out of me and was having trouble breathing.
'Looks like Alice has quite an arm.' Couch Clapp thought as he marveled over how hard my small sister must have thrown the football to knock me down. "Cullen, can you breathe?"
Still trying not to laugh I nodded my head as I let out another fake cough.
Mummers and chatter went around the gym. A few boys were assuming that I was weak because I fell to the floor with one hit to the stomach by a tiny girl. It did look pretty silly. Trying to compose myself I got up, still coughing to cover up my laughter.
From laughing so hard and fake coughing my breathing was really rapied. That was not lost on Couch Clapp, who would not accept that I was fine. He told me to go change my clothes and go to the nurses office, he also instructed Alice to do the same. Like it or not she was going to be my escort. There was no talking Couch out of it. Both of us walked out of the Gym and to the locker rooms. We met up outside.
"You just had to draw attention to us didn't you?" Alice grumbled.
My eyes widen. She was actually speaking to me. It wasn't exactly the beginning of a conversation, but hey. It was a start.
"At least we get out of gym class thirty minutes earlier than normal." I was looking on the bright side.
Though Alice was happy about that she rolled her eyes. She wasn't going to put her grudge to rest that easy.
Alice started walking away from the gym and so did I. Even though I had been told to go to the nurses office and Alice was supposed to make sure I went there, we weren't going there, of course. Both of us headed to the parking lot to wait until the third hour of school was over. We were going in the same direction, though neither of us were walking together. I did not like to be at odds with my sister. Especially over something so trivial.
Both of us stepped onto the pavement of the parking lot. She was keeping her distance from me, standing at least three feet apart. Which looked so strange.
"What will it take for you to speak to me again?" I ask as we walked over to our vehicles. Our plan was to wait in our cars until the bell rang.
"Turn back time and let me plan your first wedding." She said automatically with no emotion in her tone.
I sighed. "I don't have a magic clock that makes time go in reverse."
Walking over to her Porsche she shrugged her shoulders as she opened the door. 'Looks like you can't do anything then.' Her "voice" sounded hurt as she got into the driver's seat and shut the door.
I closed my eyes. Why couldn't she see that I never meant to hurt her? Why did she assume I wanted to purposely cause her pain?
I open my eyes. I glazed at my black Volvo. Instead of walking over to it my feet carried me to the little yellow car. Alcie had already "seen" my next move so she wasn't the least bit surprised when I opened the passengers door and got in. That didn't mean she was happy about my decision though.
We sat in uncomfortable silence for a few minutes. The whole time she was mindlessly playing with the straps on her backpack that sat on her lap and I was staring down at my hands, lost in the sight of my wedding band. Something so small, yet very meaningful. A little simple small sterling silver circle with a back metal chain in the middle that Bella picked out for me.
There was once a time not too long ago, yet it felt like a lifetime ago. That Alice and I were sitting in this very car lost in silence just as we were now. The silence was not from hurt feelings, as it is now. The silence was caused by a disagreement between her and I the day I had planned to break up with Bella and only a profound vision she had when she looked ahead for me, stopped that from happening and broke our silence.
At the time Bella and I were sophomores and had been dating for three months. I already knew that I loved her deeply and she loved me. Though I didn't believe our feelings were equal, no not then. Back then I assumed she could not care for me as much as I did for her since she was only human. I also thought myself all wrong for her and wanted to break up to give her a chance at a normal life with someone human that would be better suited for her. Alice had told me that I was crazy, that I would only be dooming myself as well as Bella. We were at odds for about a week. She was determined to make me see things her way and I didn't believe anything she said, of course. I was being a typical adolescent, thinking that I knew everything and I was right where she was wrong. Until Alice and I were sitting in her car on what was supposed to be our second to last day in Forks. At that point I had already talked to Carlisle and he agreed that we would all move to our house in Rochester if that's what I needed. We were all packed up and ready to go.
Alice and I were sitting in her car, ditching health class when she had the vision that changed everything. The images from her mind that played out like a horror movie in mind. I remember the horrible broken images of how my life would be without Bella in Rochester. I would have been a shell of my former happy self. There was nothing pretty to look at and as the vision proceeded forward, it showed what a dreadful state I was in and nobody or nothing was able to snap me out of it. I remembered the images changing to how worried my parents were and the great lengths they would go to fix my mental health. Apparently they would stop at nothing, not even me being a vampire would prohibit my father from making a few calls and placing me in a pediatric psych ward for adolescents.
As crazy and depressing as those images were that wasn't what made me stay. It was Alice's vision of Bella's life without me. Her future was no better than mine if I left her. The images of my precious Bella in a zombie like state, not sleeping, moving or even wanting to eat because I broke her heart. Those images were haunting to me. That's when I took Alice's advice and stayed. Which I'm more than glad that I did. Without Alice's persistence, I most likely wouldn't have a wife.
My thoughts drifted from the past back into the present as I ran my index finger over my ring making the little black chain move around. I had to make things right with my sister. I could only try and hoped it would work.
"I've been living a lonely life, even before I realized I was lonely." I broke the silence and Alice glanced at me from the corner of her eye. "I've been trying to do things right. But everytime I try I seem to do something wrong." I continued. "Bella and I really wanted to get married, we never meant to hurt you. We would never do that."
"I know." Alice's voice was just above a whisper. "I was just very excited to plan your wedding. I was really looking forward to it."
"I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?" I turned my head to get a better look at her.
Her golden eyes that were filled with venom tears that would never fall, looked at me. 'I just did.'
I leaned over, wrapping my her in a much needed hug. She returned my embrace. The seconds that we were wrapped up in each other's arms were meaningful. When we broke apart her eyes were no longer watery. She looked happier and I felt better, lighter, knowing my small sister was no longer giving me the cold shoulder.
"Just promise me I get to be in charge of planning your next wedding." Alice leaned back on the seat. "For next year. Nobody wants to wait five or six years to see you and Bella exchange voles."
I gave her my crooked smile. "Only if it has nothing to do with water."
'I can't make any promises.' There was a sparkle in her eyes, I knew she was joking.
I shook my head. I could already see the plans in her head and how bad she wanted to tell Bella about getting to be the official wedding planner for our "real" wedding. I was sure Bella wouldn't have any objections to the wedding Alice was putting together in her mind. It was a lot nicer and much more practical than an insane water-wedding.
For the rest of the time we sat in her Porsche we enjoyed each other's company and talked until the bell rang for the end of the third hour of school. We got out of her car and walked with each other out of the parking lot. Even though our next classes were on opposite sides of the school she walked me to my class just so she could tell Bella her good news.
When we met Bella at the door to our next class Alice greeted her with a huge hug. Bella looked so shocked, the expression on her face couldn't have been more funnier when Bella learned that we would be having a big wedding next year. She relaxed when I reassured her it would not be on a boat or even near the water.
Once Alice let go of Bella she and I went to our History class and my sister bounced off to her English class. The rest of the school day passed by quickly and was mostly uneventful. The biggest thing that happened was Bella and I being assigned a project in History class that's due Friday. Thankfully we were able to be partners since the project was assigned yesterday and everyone else was all paired up.
With the project we'd have to complete for homework we had an added excuse to send time together after school. The plan was to go to her house after school since Charlie had made it clear to her that she was to go home right after school with the exception of the grocery store which she had to go there too, since her house was lacking food.
When school was out Bella and I went straight to my car. Once we were out of the parking lot we drove a few blocks down to the grocery store. I made a quick call to Esme to inform her of my whereabouts. I was being kept on a very tight leash and needed to check in if I wasn't going home right after school. My mother was glad that I was following the new rules and gave me the okay to spend the afternoon at Bella's house.
Bella and I got out of my car and walked into the market. Being at the supermarket with my wife was a whole different experience than coming here with my brother and sister. Bella knew exactly what she needed and what aisle everything was in. This was her element after all.
I gladly walked alongside her and collated the items that were on her list. When we came to the meat aisle I was grossed out when she needed steak and ground beef. I did not hide my revulsion which made her laugh.
"You're silly." Bella giggled.
"How's that?" I wondered as I placed the horrible smelling meat packages in the shopping cart.
I wasn't meaning to be silly. All I was doing was picking out meat that she needed.
"Most people don't look so disgusted when they are picking out beef."
I shrugged. "I don't exactly fall under the category of most people." I reminded her. She smiled.
With everything on the shopping list now in the cart we were ready to leave. We walked to the checkout line. The line was short, only two people were in front of us. However, it looked like this might take awhile judging by the man in front of us who was buying an insane amount of TV dinners. His entire shopping cart was full of the boxes of frozen food. Another check out line soon opened up and we were soon out of the grocery store.
Soon enough we were at Bella's house. Charlie was already home. I parked my car along the curb, got out and opened the door for my lovely wife. I grabbed most of the grocery bags and Bella carried a few. When we walked in the front door Charlie was sitting in his recliner drinking a beer and watching the sports channel.
"Hi, Dad." Bella called out before we made our way to the kitchen.
"Hi, Charlie." I greeted him.
"Hey Bells, how was school?" Charlie turned in his chair to see us. His eyes were hard when he saw me. He said absolutely nothing to me.
"School was okay." Bella answered. "Edward and I went shopping and we have a History project we have to do." She explained the reason why I was there.
"Alright." Charlie nodded and turned his attention back to the TV. I didn't need to read his muddy thoughts to know that he was not at all happy that I was in his house.
Bella and I headed for the kitchen. I put the groceries in their designated spots as she told me where everything went while she prepared dinner. I put the groceries away in no time. I was soon sitting at the table admiring my beautiful Bella as she opened a meat package.
The awful odor of steak wafting through the kitchen as she placed the bloody slabs of meat in a plastic container and poured some brown liquid from a bottle on them, had me holding my breath. I've been in the kitchen when she's prepared food before. I have no problem being in the room with the odor of raw chicken or even pork. But beef. Well, that's a whole nother story.
She put the lid on the container, placed it in the fridge. After she went to the sink and washed her hands she walked over to me. She ran a hand through my hair. Her touch felt good, so good that I closed my eyes as she continued.
"Would you stay for dinner if I made you a rare steak, where it's still bloody?" She wondered, hopefully.
I shuttered. The thought of consuming cow's blood had my stomach turning.
"Tempting. But I avoid cows at all costs." I opened my eyes and pulled her onto my lap. "Doesn't matter dead and bloody or fresh and alive. I will not eat that kind of animal. It's smell is not very pleasant to me."
Certainly not pleasant at all.
Bella gave me a funny look. "Are you allergic to beef?"
I frown. She had no idea about my reservation for the stinky animal and the horrible tasting blood.
"Or something." I mumbled, touching the tip of her nose with my index finger.
She raised one eyebrow. Her deep chocolate brown eyes were curious. "You won't know until you try it. You may like it."
Good lord. This beautiful woman was trying to tempt me to stay for dinner by getting me to try beef. She's a little late for that. Sixty-eight years too late for that.
I snorted. "Trust me on this." I spoke seriously. "I once had a very expensive cow for an after-hunting snack. All because Emmett dared me to. It was a very vile, unpleasant experience and a series of unfortunate events followed us."
Bella giggled. But something in my expression made her not press anything further.
She got off my lap, grabbed her backpack that was on the floor with one hand and with her other hand, took hold of mine. "Let's go up to my room and get started on our project." She suggested.
"As you wish." I got up and grabbed my backpack.
Hand in hand we walked out of the kitchen. When we made our way through the living room Charlie eyed us weirdly but didn't say anything. He was quietly sitting there with his almost empty beer in his hand, watching at us in his peripheral vision. His mind was on his gun, Bella's closed bedroom door and his favorite football team. I could not make secen of his thoughts. I had no idea how any of those three things could be connected with each other as Bella and I made our way to the staircase.
I began to pay less attention to Charlie's senseless thoughts and more attention to my own as we started to climb the stairs. I liked the idea of going to her room to study. Sure we would get some studying done but I could also have a little fun with my wife.
Charlie loudly cleared his throat as Bella and I were half way up the stairs. The noise made Bella and I freeze in place. "Where are you going, Bella?" He asked. Of course the question was meant for both of us but he was only addressing his daughter.
"Um… We're going to my room?" Bella said the simple statement in the form of a question.
"Why?" Charlie asked skeptically as he turned in his chair to have a better view of us. His eyes were penetrating into me.
The way Charlie was staring at me made me feel really uncomfortable. I kept quiet.
"My husband and I," Bella started and Charlie rolled his eyes at my title. "Are going up stairs to do our homework."
"Homework. Right..." Charlie let his voice tail off. He assumed homework was code for sex.
Bella's hand became slick in mine. "Really, Dad. We have homework and a project we have to do."
There was no response. Charlie's thoughts were on how we took off for two days and he could no longer trust us. Now for the most part he trusts Bella when she's alone but with me, nope not a chance. He now has no confidence in me. He feels that he can't trust us when we are together as far as he could throw me and he really wishes he could throw me. At least that was what I could make out from the jest of his thoughts.
"Come on, Edward." Bella urged as she moved up one stair.
"I'm right behind you." I promised.
Not only was she holding my hand but I would follow her anywhere.
"Hold up there." Charlie shook his head. There was something in his sharp tone that made Bella and I freeze in place. "You guys may be married." He cringed as he said the word "married" and loudly exhaled. "But there's no going upstairs to do "homework"." He actually did air quotation marks. "No hanging out in your bedroom while he's here. You need to get homework done, then the kitchen is the perfect place for that. Do I make myself clear, kids?"
"Yes." Bella and I said at almost the same time.
"Good." Charlie narrowed his eyes at me. I gulped as he extended his arm and pointed towards the kitchen. "The kitchen is that way."
Bella and I exchanged a looked and began walking back down the stairs. From my mind's eye I saw Charlie watching us as we headed to the kitchen. He was pleased that we listened without protesting.
I could tell that Charlie's hostility towards me was him blaming me for Bella sneaking off to get married while she's still under age. Sure, he knew that it took both of us to get married and everything was consensual between us two spellbound teens that he presumed didn't know the difference between what he assumed was extreme infatuation and actual love. He didn't blame Bella for this, no not entirely. Yet, someone had to fall blame. Why not that someone be me?
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Thanks for reading. :)
If you have any thoughts or questions on this chapter - big or small. I'd enjoy reading and responding to them. :)))
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