11. Reception

We all went upstairs to our rooms to get changed. Carlisle got changed out of his suit and into his doctor's clothes. He left after we all had gotten changed and left for school. With Edward's and Rosalie's fast driving, we only had missed the first ten minutes of first period. We parked and ran into the office. Once we got there, we got our last passes. Once we exited the office, we split up and headed to our classes. The classes before lunch seemed to fly right by and I was happy when the lunch bell sounded. I gathered my books and headed to my locker with Edward. I put my books in my locker and grabbed my bio book. Edward and I took hold of each other's hand and walked to the cafeteria. We waited outside the café for Rosalie, Alice, Jasper, and Emmett. When they joined us, we all walked in. We got in line and got our food. We went to sit down at our usual table in the corner. Rosalie sat by Emmett, Alice by Jasper, and me by Edward. Our lips were almost trembling because we were talking so fast and low. We talked about school, the classes, homework, ect. We especially talked about the plans after school for Edward and me. If felt like lunch ended quicker than usual; that made me very sad. Edward and I said goodbye to our family and walked to bio. When we got there, we walked to our table and sat down, sliding our seats as close together as possible. We didn't pay attention to anything going on in class and before we knew it, that class was over too. I said goodbye to Edward and kissed him right outside the bio room and headed for gym. Edward started after me.

"You will try to still look clumsy, won't you?"

"Of course. You may not want to admit it, but I've gotten better at acting."

Edward smiled and kissed my head. "I believe it." He turned and headed off to his class. I walked to the gym. When I got there, I went into the locker room and changed. When I was done, I went into the gym; I found Mike waiting for me.

"Hey Bella," he called.

"Hey Mike," I called back. "Do you need something?"

"Well, actually yes. I had a question."

"What is it?"

"Well, I was wondering if...if you were doing anything tonight."

"Well, actually yes. I have plans with Edward tonight."

"Oh, I see. Well how about Thursday?"

"I don't know. I'll have to ask Edward. I'll call you tomorrow and tell you."

"Aren't you coming to school tomorrow?"

"No. I have plans."

"Oh, I see."

Nothing more was said throughout gym. I did a pretty good job being clumsy. It was actually hard to do, though. When gym ended, I went to get changed. When I was done, I met with Edward outside the gym. Mike followed me out. He glanced at me when he walked past. A flashed him a smile.

"Edward? Do you think I could go out with Mike on Thursday?"

Mike must've heard me ask Edward because he stopped walking. He turned and started walking back toward us.

"It's just a movie," Mike assured Edward. "There's this new movie coming out that I think Bella will like."

Edward thought about it for a minute. I thought I heard a growl grow in his chest, but he spoke.

"I don't care. Just as long as nothing happens to her."

A smile grew on Mike's face and he nodded. "Don't worry Edward; I won't let anything happen to her." He walked away still smiling.

Edward took hold of my hand and we walked to the car. Alice, Jasper, Rosalie, and Emmett were there waiting for us. Alice and Jasper got in the back of Rosalie's car while Emmett sat next to Rosalie. They took off toward home while Edward and I sat in the car for a minute. After everyone had left the parking lot, Edward started the car. We drove off in the direction away from the house.

"Where are we going exactly?" I asked.

"Well, I have to stop and get something, and then we'll head to the house for the reception."

We drove for awhile and then he stopped.

"Bella, are you happy that we're going to spend the rest of eternity together?"

I gave him a puzzled look. "Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"

"I don't know. I just felt like asking. There wasn't any real reason behind it."

The puzzled look remained on my face though. His perfect lips grew into a frown.

"Do you want to know why I asked?"

I nodded.

"Well, I don't know. I just wanted to know if you truly loved me or not. I was afraid that you didn't?"

I took Edwards face in between my hands. "Edward, don't you ever ask that again. You know I love you. There's nothing in this world I love more than you. Don't you ever forget that."

He nodded and a smile formed back into his perfect lips. "Thank you, Bella. I love you. I'm sorry I ever doubted you. Will you forgive me?" he pleaded with his velvet voice.

Even if I wouldn't have, I just couldn't say no to that voice. "Of course I will. And I love you too." I leaned inward and kissed him. He started the car back up and turned around and headed back to the house. We arrived at the house in twelve minutes. We got out and walked into the house. The house was beautifully decorated. It had a long table next to Edward's grand piano. The table was covered in a white tablecloth with five silver presents on it and one sitting on the floor. There was a beautiful wedding cake there, but only one. There were also alcoholic beverages and some glasses sitting on the table. Everyone was waiting for us by the table. We walked over to the table. Once we walked over to the table, Alice came over and kissed us both on the cheek.

"Welcome to the family, Bella," she said.

"Thanks Alice."

"You must open the presents now." She had a small flat square in her hands. She handed it to Edward. "It was hard to find this. I had to look through your collection and call many collectors, but I found it. When Edward opened the gift, a smile broke out over his face.

"It's Nightmare City from the Alley Cats! How'd you get this?! The only reason that I don't have this already is because the CDs were already sold out before they were practically on the shelves."

"Well, like I said, I had to look far and wide to find this." Edward gave Alice a hug. Rosalie was already standing next me with the next present in her hands. She gave it to me and flashed a smile. I smiled back and looked down at the present. It was a little square box. I unwrapped the present. I opened the small box to find a key inside it.

"I know how much you love your truck, Bella, but I just couldn't say no to it. Come here." Rosalie guided me to the kitchen and told me to look out the back door. When I looked out the back I saw a red car. I walked out to it and Rosalie followed.

"It's a 2000 Dodge Stealth. It has twin turbo and an estimation of 320 Horsepower. It has Factory chrome wheels 0-60: 4.9 s and has black leather interior."

"Thank you, Rosalie. I love it."

"You mean you're not mad that I got you this car?"

"Of course not. I've actually been thinking of getting rid of that truck." I gave Rosalie a hug and we all went back inside. When we went inside, Carlisle had a present in his hands.

"Here," he said as he handed the present to Edward. "It's actually for both of you."

Edward opened the present flawlessly. It was another key. Edward looked at Carlisle with a puzzled look and then smiled.

"Thanks Carlisle," he said with a laugh.

"What's the key for?" I asked.

"It's for one of our other houses. That's where we going tonight."

"Oh, I see."

Esme handed me the next present. "I think this will help you for when you go shopping again, dear."

I opened the small package to find a wrapped credit card. It was silver with a gold strip across the middle. I gave Esme a hug. "Thank you, Esme. Now I don't have to worry about Alice or Rosalie or you paying for my clothes when I go shopping with you." By that time, Emmett was holding the package that had been sitting on the floor. He handed it to me. I looked at it suspiciously.

"Go ahead and open it. It's for your room at Charlie's, at least until you move in with us," he chuckled.

"Thanks." I sat the box down on the floor and opened it. It was a stereo system for my room. "Oh my god! This is perfect."

"And even though it's a system, you can put it right by your bed. It's true that it's not as big as Edward's, but that used to be his."

"His?" I asked amazed. Edward smiled and shrugged. "Thanks Emmett, I love it." I looked at Edward. "Now you'd better make me a lot of CDs to listen to on my new stereo system," I said with a laugh.

"I'll do my best," he laughed back.

"And this last present is for you, Edward," Jasper said as he walked toward Edward with the last present. "I guess you could say that this came from all of us, Bella included. We actually did it last night."

Edward looked at me. I mimicked his gesture earlier. I smiled and shrugged. Edward took the package from Jasper and opened it. It was a picture frame with a picture of the whole family in it. The frame was oak and had a little red button at the bottom in the middle. Jasper saw Edward look at the button.

"Go ahead and push it," he said.

Edward pushed the little button. What he heard next was my voice. I was singing Lips of an Angel. "I thought you said that you worked on the song all night long?" he asked confused.

"I said almost all night. And I did. I just did it with the family." I smiled at Edward and before I knew it, he was scooping me up in his arms and kissing me.