a/n first off forgive me if this seems a bit like the ending to Eclipse. I started writing this story just after I finished reading New Moon and so the ideas I had planned out to write in this story-after reading Eclipse-seem to happen throughout Eclipse. So please bear with me and even better disregard Eclipse. Thanks.
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It was almost warm as I left the gymnasium after my final exam-my final piece of work for High School and I couldn't have been more thrilled. In the parking lot, leaning up against his shiny silver car was Edward. He was absentmindedly staring off into space and I had to call his name twice before he noticed me rushing towards him.
"Hey, how do you think you did?" he asked me.
"A pass I think," I replied.
He let out a long, slow sigh, "Bella, you know you could do so much better than that."
"I know, but really what's the point. Besides I would have studies more if you had of just let me be so I could have some quite time."
He jumped off of the hood of his car and said, "I left you and specifically told you to go study."
"Yeah you did, it's just when you physically leave you never leave my head. I can't stop thinking about you even when I want to."
He shook his head in disgust but still pulled me towards him and gave me a kiss, "Did anyone notice?" he whispered in my ear.
"Notice what?" he didn't have time to answer, nor was it necessary because a group of my fellow seniors came rushing across the parking lot towards us. Mike was at the head of the pack and he looked like he wanted to punch someone out, specifically Edward.
Edward laughed softly in my ear and said, "Good luck, a few of them are out for the kill."
Behind Mike was Tyler, Angela and Jessica as well as a few others that I knew from my classes but weren't friendly with. I involuntarily shuddered and Edward mistook it for me being cold because he gave me his sweater. It was the thought that counted. Behind my classmates I could see Alice running towards us, at a human pace none the less. She raced up to Edwards's side and whispered something frantically into his ear. He nodded in understanding and then turned and studied me intently. He whispered something back to Alice and then she spun and jumped into the passenger seat of the Volvo.
"So Bella," Jessica said, "Do you have something you'd like to tell us?"
"Yeah, care to share with your old friends?" Mike added.
I looked over at Edward and he shot me a sympathetic look. When I shook my head he stared at me blankly. Boy, sometimes I wished he could read my thoughts, because I sure wanted his arms around me right now instead of him sitting back on the hood of the car. Alice had rolled down the car window and was watching everything unfold with an amused expression on her face. She knew exactly what was about to happen and I had a feeling that it could get a little embarrassing on my part.
I figured my best option was to play dumb and so that's what I did, "I don't know what you're talking about," I replied so sweetly it almost made me gag.
"Nice stone," Tyler said, "But are you stupid?"
I closed my eyes and willed myself to be calm. Edward had a scowl on his face but he was not going to come to my rescue, nor was Alice who was quietly laughing.
"No Tyler, if I was stupid it would be your ring on my finger," I snapped.
"Ohhh," everyone mocked him. Alice caught my eye and then she winked. Tyler took a step back into the crowd as he hung his head. Angela stepped forward this time. Instead of looking scared of me like everyone else did, she looked upset. She walked over to me and placed her hand on my arm. I always liked Angela and this was why. She lowered her voice so everyone else couldn't hear what she said, "This is your decision right?" she asked, "He's not forcing you into this, because I really don't want to see you get hurt."
"No I want this," I replied confidently.
"Well don't take this personally but have you ever thought about what you'd be missing out on?" she said gently.
I was truly trying not to think about that. I just had to think of what I'd be missing out on if I didn't go through with this, "Yeah, I have thought it through."
"Okay," she nodded, "Just remember I'm here for you honey," she turned and walked away.
"Angela," I said.
She turned around.
"Thanks," I whispered.
She nodded and then turned to the group of people and said, "Come on guys party's over."
Once everyone was gone I sank onto the hood of the car and let out a long exasperated sigh, "Thanks a lot Alice, you could have warned me," I muttered, "and you as well," I rounded on Edward.
He put his hands up and said, "Hey don't blame this on me."
Knowing by now that news would have reached Charlie about my upcoming wedding I decided to brave the storm and get it over with, "I better get home before Charlie thinks I'm avoiding him. Are you coming?" I asked Edward.
"If you want me to."
"Yeah I do thanks."
Edward tossed Alice his cars keys and she caught them flawlessly. Edward jumped into the passenger seat of my truck and I staggered to the driver's side. Only when we were safely inside the cab and rolling towards home did he finally start talking, "You aren't having second thoughts are you?"
"No of course not," I replied quickly, "I love you and I want to be with you forever."
"Then I'll just assume that you're trembling because you aren't looking forward to telling Charlie that we're engaged.
"Yeah," I muttered under my breath.
We drove the rest of the way in silence. When I pulled the ancient truck into the driveway I wasn't surprised to see Charlie peeking out through the front blinds. As soon as he saw me looking at him he pulled the blinds back into place.
"Ready?" Edward asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be," I laughed, "That sounds so cliché."
"Come on, I won't let anything happen to you."
"Well thank you fine gentleman."
Now in front of the truck Edward's hand groped for my own and I linked mine with his. Once he had a hold of my hand he pulled me towards him and I squeezed his hand tightly.
I pushed opened the door and as soon as the door clicked shut Charlie was calling me. We walked into the living room and if Edward wasn't there beside I would have turned and ran, never to return. But I couldn't. Edward let me to the couch and sat me down beside him. Charlie scowled at Edward and glared at me.
"I hear that you have something you'd like to tell me," Charlie edged us into the conversation.
"Yeah," Edward said, "Last night I asked Bella to marry me and she accepted."
I looked at him with a mix of confusion and gratitude in my eyes.
Charlie blew up like I'd never seen him do before, "I was talking to her you…you…Don't you have the courtesy to come and ask me if you can marry my daughter?" he ranted for awhile more and only when he fell silent did Edward speak again.
"Bella and I have talked this through and we both want this."
"You are to young to know what you want," Charlie started another round of venting, "Didn't your mother and I teach you anything you ungrateful child?"
That was all I could take. I jumped to my feet and pulled Edward up in the process, "Charlie accept it or not but I'm marrying Edward. Now if you want to never see me again fine say the word, but if you want me to ever speak to you again then you better take that all back and apologize," I waited but he didn't reply. Taking my queue I turned to Edward and asked, "Do you mind giving me a hand packing my bags?"
"Bella," it was obvious that he never intended for all of this to happen.
"Are you with me or not," I cried.
"Yes, come on."
Thanks to Edward's speed we were lugging two moderately heavy suitcases down the stairs within 5 minutes. Charlie was standing in the doorway with a disappointed look on his face. I didn't know if it was disappointment because of me or because of what he had said. I didn't have to wonder long because as Edward effortlessly carried my suitcases to my truck and I faced Charlie he said, "Bella please, you don't have to leave. We can work this out."
"Maybe we can, but please let me take a little bit of time to figure everything out."
He nodded and the hurt on his face was evident.
"Thanks for everything. I'm sorry this had to happen like this," I sidestepped around him and walked out the door. Edward was waiting in the driver's seat, none the less and tapping the steering wheel absentmindedly.
Once I was safely secured by my seat belt Edward said, "Are you sure this is what you want? You just walked out on your father."
"I know and I feel horrible, but at the same time I also feel like I should have done that awhile ago. I'm finally free," it started as a soft chuckle but ended up as a full belly laugh. Edward looked at me strangely as he drove through the streets of Forks, not knowing if I was crying or laughing.
"I'm okay," I managed to stutter out, "I'm just really relieved."
We arrived at the Cullen's place and as I kind of expected they welcomed me with open arms. Thankfully I had a family that cared for me and a wonderful guy who loved me.
"I love you," I said, when Edward had settled me into his bedroom.
"I love you too," he replied.
"Thanks for all this," I motioned around the large room.
"What's mine is yours, always remember that."
I nodded, "Thanks."
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a/n so what did you guys think? Well I'll say it again, please review and thanks to everyone that has. It means so, so much to me to see all your positive feedback, but if you have some criticism I don't mind hearing that as well. Thank you.
