First and foremost please excuse all my mistakes in the last chapter. I wrote it while sick and I guess just didn't pay close attention, so I am so sorry!
And I love the fact you are all ready to go kick Edward's butt. I'm right there with you. Totally wasn't planning on going that way with the story, but it went there.
Chapter 17: She Said Yes
I hadn't seen Bella since that day. It wasn't that I was avoiding her; school was coming to an end and I actually wasn't seeing anybody. Finals were coming up and I was stressing over those. Plus I was waiting for my test scores. I was a nervous wreck.
I was in the middle of studying when there was a knock at my door. I went to open it and Alice came barging in.
"Why have you not asked her out yet?"
"Hello Alice. Nice to see you too. I'm well, and yourself?" I asked sarcastically.
She rolled her eyes. "Cut the crap Edward and answer my question."
"Well if you haven't noticed we all have been a bit busy with finals. I haven't seen any of you since that Sunday nearly three weeks ago. And I'm sure Bella is busy getting ready for finals as well."
"So you're not avoiding her?"
"What! No. I'm freakin' stressing over finals and waiting for my test scores. Nothing else has really been on my mind."
"So are you going to ask her then?" she asked.
This time I rolled my eyes. "We'll see Alice."
"No I need an answer," she said as I pushed her towards the door.
"Alice go study instead of playing cupid please. We'll talk more after finals. Now please go; I have a test tomorrow."
She kissed me on the cheek and waved bye. I returned to the couch where my books were. But instead of opening them, I thought about Bella for awhile. I felt bad that I hadn't given much thought to her. I really hadn't debated over whether I was going to pursue her or not. I mean, I didn't even know if she liked me in that way. What if she turned me down? I would feel so stupid. I don't know if I could handle to rejection. I had only asked out one girl, and that was after I was sure she wouldn't turn me down.
Flashback
We were sitting in the student center, studying for a test we had in a few hours. I kept sneaking glances at her. I was trying to build to confidence to ask her out. I felt sure she would say yes, but it was still nerve wracking all the same.
She pushed some hair behind her ear, and I wish it was my hand grazing her hair, touching her face. That's' when I decided it was now or never.
"Natalie."
She looked up and smiled at me. "Yeah?"
I took a breath. "I was wondering if you would like to go to dinner with me tonight."
She sat there for awhile, stunned I think. Finally she shifted in her seat and asked, "You mean like a date?"
"Yes."
She sat there again, my nerves getting the best of me. She finally smiled. "Yes."
"Yes?"
She giggled. "Yes Edward. Of course. I've been waiting for you to ask me."
End Flashback
I sighed as Natalie filled my mind. I missed her like crazy. I had gotten over it, but it still stung a bit when she crossed my mind. But I knew at some point I had to move on. And maybe Bella was the best person to move forward with. I told myself that when I see her again, I would ask her.
The next day I was walking back from campus. I had just finished my last final, and was praying my mail had come. I rushed home as fast as I could, gripping my mailbox key tightly. When I got to my building, I nearly knocked over one of the other tenants.
"Easy there Edward!" called Mr. Mack
"Sorry Mr. Mack! But I should hear today."
He knew I had been waiting my for my test scores. He smiled and gave me a thumbs up. I rushed over to the boxes, finding mine quickly and opened it up. I started going through the mail looking for that one envelope. And there it was. I sat down next to the boxes, my hands shaking. Here was the answer to my future. This would determine my life. I slowly opened it and pulled out its contents. I overlooked it all, my eyes bugging out. I couldn't believe what I was reading. I jumped up and grabbed my things. I rushed out the door and headed in a familiar direction. Someone was coming out of the building so I headed on up the stairs and started knocking on the door.
The door opened and there stood a shocked Bella.
"Edward what ar…" She didn't get to finish the sentence before I picked her up and spun her around. I was laughing, she started laughing. I finally set her down and she looked at me like I was crazy. "Edward, what is going on?"
I held the paper up for her to see. Her eyes got wide and she snatched it from me. She began reading over it, and her smile grew. She looked up at me.
"A 12.1Q?
I just nodded my head. She looked back at the paper, and then jumped on me, hugging me tightly. I knew she was the person to come to; I knew she would be so happy for me.
"Edward I knew you would do well! I'm so proud of you." We let go of each other. I just looked into her big brown eyes, seeing the happiness fill them.
I took a deep breath and began. "Bella, I've got to celebrate."
She smiled. "Well of course you do."
"I want to go out tonight."
"Well let's start calling everybody. I'm sure Alice wants to…"
"No no, I didn't mean with everyone."
She nodded slowly. "Oh, you're going out with someone. Ok, well we can all go out another night."
I laughed quietly. "Yes, I was planning on asking someone special to join me tonight."
She just nodded her head. "Well, she is one lucky girl."
I grabbed her hand and I could tell that shocked her. "Bella, I want you to go out with me tonight. Come celebrate with me. I want you to go on a date with me."
She looked so shocked. "You're asking me out?"
I nodded. "Yes Bella. And I hope you say yes."
She stood there for a bit, still shocked.
"Bella just say yes!"
We both turned to see Renee and Sophee standing at the door. Sophee was giggling and Renee was smiling widely.
I looked back at Bella, waiting for her answer. She took a deep breath, looked back behind her at her family, and then turned to face me.
"Yes."