The Way We Was

Chapter 8: Young Love

Standard disclaimers apply.

BPOV

Chicago - September 13, 1917

My birthday. Everyone I knew, and it wasn't many, knew that I hate attention, but they all gave me attention anyway.

I told Renee and Charles especially to not give me any gifts or throw a party. Thoughtful Renee wanted to throw a party anyway, just so she could continue with her social climbing. Charles didn't want to get in her way, so he went back over to his radio with the newspaper and stayed out of the whole thing.

Thanks for helping, Charles.

At least it wasn't a surprise party. Surprises threw me off even more than regular parties filled with attention. Renee wanted it to be a surprise, but Edward managed to talk her out of that one. Or so I'm told by the magnificent gentleman himself.

I was so head over heels in love with Edward that Renee kept constantly asking me, "So, when are you going to marry him?"

It was embarrassing. Every time she asked me that I'd look the other way because my face would turn a deep shade of red. It wasn't that I didn't want to marry him; it was because I was always having fantasy dream weddings at night and during the day. If anyone knew about those, particularly Edward, I would simply die of embarrassment.

I wasn't sure what it was, but something about being with Edward had changed me. Both of my parent had noticed, and it appeared that they didn't mind so much. But what exactly was it that had changed so much? I tried not to dwell on it too much, instead focusing on the task at hand.

Edward held my hand and walked me into the large ballroom that Renee had picked out for my party to take place. It was obvious that I had no say in anything. Not even a small piece of decor hinted that this had anything to do with me. In all honesty, the party was all about Renee. I wouldn't rain on her parade, so I went along with it. That, and there was something in the way Edward's face got all lit up whenever he heard the word "dance."

For over a month Edward had tried desperately to persuade me to go dancing with him, with me stubbornly saying no each time. I wasn't know for my grace; in fact, I was known for quite the opposite and I wasn't going to demonstrate that to Edward any time soon. I'd flush red for the next decade. I was that terrible at dancing and Edward just wouldn't listen.

"It's all in the leading," he kept telling me. "Trust me."

Sigh. The music began now that the "star" was here. Edward positioned us so that we could start dancing. I braced myself for utter failure.

Then something amazing happened. I was moving, twirling, dancing, and I was graceful. I didn't trip over my feet (they were placed gingerly over Edward's feet), I didn't fall to the floor, and I felt really, truly happy. I was in Edward's arms, the only arms I would ever want to be in. I felt light, sunny. This was one of those moments that you wish would never end. But of course, like all good things, it ended.

Edward safely secured myself to his side while many of the guests clapped at the performance. Quite a few looked surprised that I hadn't made a fool of myself. They must not have realized that it had nothing to do with me and everything to do with Edward. I'd just go ahead and let them think that.

Then Renee came up to me, her bright eyes gushing with happiness. "Honey, that was wonderful! When did you learn how to dance?" Even Renee was fooled into thinking I could dance. She of all people should know that no matter what miracle befell me I'd never be able to dance. Unless I was with Edward, of course.

"Trust me, Mom. It had nothing to do with me. Thank Edward for making sure I didn't fall." I looked up to see Edward smiling. It was beautiful, naturally. He was beautiful and it was apparent that everyone else in the room thought so too. I remembered my jealously from our first date and put it all aside. In the time we had now been together, I realized that Edward wasn't going anywhere, nor did he even care about other women. I was the only one he saw and that elated me to no end. Especially right now, I could see that he was blocking out everybody in the room. I silently gushed in my mind.

No one bothered to ask me about my sudden dancing debut after that. Many of the guests thoughtfully remembered that I preferred to not have the attention drawn to me and so they focused on Renee like she knew they would. It gave Edward and me more privacy, for which I was very thankful. Who knew how much time we would be able to spend together. Life was only so long, after all.

Edward danced with me some more. We alternated between dancing for a song and then sitting or being slightly social for a bit. It was still technically my party, so I had to talk to everyone at least once. I would always show proper etiquette, and with Renee around, not doing so wasn't an option. It just came natural to be proper. Perhaps I was more meant for the world that Renee wanted to join so much than she was. That didn't meant I wanted to be apart of it; I just got the slight feeling that I was better suited than she was.

At heart, Renee was still young, still a child. Charles and I were constantly babysitting her to make sure she did what she needed to do and did what she wanted to do within a certain limit. That was the thing wit Renee: she didn't have any limits. Like a young child, she felt that she could do anything and nothing could go wrong. It was very naive of her to even think that, but her happiness came before everything else.

Right in the middle of that thought, a certain velvet voice broke through. "Bella, you do realize that this is your party, not hers, right?"

Hadn't I just explained this? "Yes, it is, but Renee likes the attention more than me, so she should have it."

"Don't you ever do things that make you happy? You and only you?" He stared at me intensely.

Did I? "Sure I do. Being with you makes me the happiest of all." I beamed at him. I did do something just for me. It was a good thing too. Oh, Edward. . . .

He sighed. "You have me there. But really Bella, you should do more for yourself than be with me. Aren't there other things that you want in life too?"

"I never really thought about that," I admitted sheepishly. "I don't have any immediate plans for the future. I guess I've just been so focused on my parents that I forgot about everything else." I felt terrible at that moment. I felt like I was being controlled by something that didn't have any right to even be near me.

"You don't have to think about it right now if it'll upset you. Today is your birthday and you should be radiant." His smile revealed more than I think he intended it to because he quickly hid it before getting up and heading toward Renee.

He whispered something into her ear and her face suddenly lit up, like she was a child being told that she could get whatever she wanted at a candy shop. This couldn't be anything good.

"I have an announcement to make," Edward started. "There is a woman I love more than life itself, and her name is Isabella Swan. But I'd like to change that." My heart started beating frantically. What was he doing? "I've already asked her father," he said, dipping his head toward Charles. "Bella, will you marry me and become Mrs. Isabella Mason?" My heart was hammering away so fast and so loud that I could no longer hear what anyone was saying. Maybe they just weren't saying anything. Their faces were lit up in shock, much the same way I imagined my face to look. "Bella?" Edward asked again.

I gathered all of my thoughts up and remembered all of my dreams, night and day. "Edward, I would love to be your bride."

The ballroom filled with cheer. I would finally have my dream, and it would all be for me.

AN: Happy birthday, Bella!! I totally did this on purpose. I think I'm cool I guess. . . . Review! Don't forget to celebrate Bella's birthday :)