Thank you to everybody who has reviewed my story so far! Sorry that this chapter took Soooo long to update but I'm currently running for head girl at my school and have been really busy, speech writing and whatever. Hope you like it!
Chapter 4 – The big shiny white house in the woods
I didn't even make it through the front door of the big white house in the forest before being pulled up into a pair of strong white arms and hugged to death.
"Belly, I've missed you! Honeymooning with Rosie was amaaaazing and all" he said waggling his eyebrows at me "but we won't go for as long next time, you've changed a lot since then, you got hot." I'm sure his booming laugh could be heard for miles around. I looked at Rosalie over her husbands shoulder and it was definitely apparent that she did not agree.
"Emmett put her down, you'll crush her!" Alice chided appearing at the door frame. I was thankful to Alice until she said her next sentence, "Besides it's my Bella-time now, you can have her later." I huffed angrily and stomped into the living room to find Edward or Esme.
"God guys, I'm not a doll for y'all to play with whenever you like. I do have my own thoughts and feelings." I said, knowing they could hear me from outside.
"Up here Bella." Edward shouted down to me from the third floor, his own private floor where his bedroom and lavish bathroom could be found. I bounded up the stairs, running away from the vampires downstairs as soon as I was given an escape. I made it to the second floor panting slightly before realising that any other person in this house could catch up with me easily and it was definitely a wasted effort. A giggle at my own stupidity burst from my lips.
"What's so funny, love?"
Edward was stood above me, watching my ascent. I just shook my head at him, he smiled anyway but he seemed wary of something.
He walked toward me slowly with his hands in the air, "Don't freak out Bella." And then I was in his arms. Stupid bloody vampire super powers.
"That's not nice Bella." Oops, I had said that out loud.
"Now please, try to be open minded about this." Uh oh. He carried me up into the beautiful golden bedroom and the smell of roses immediately assaulted my senses. I knew vamps got these things done fast but, damn! Edwards's room had been transformed into a romance wonderland. He was watching my face; I could feel his eyes on me.
"Aw Edward you shouldn't have!" he still hadn't moved. I fidgeted in his arms until he set me down and then I wondered over to his book/ CD shelf running my fingers over the smooth cherry coloured wood and smelling each of the adorable, sparkling candles he had laid out. I turned to look at him, smiling so hard my cheeks hurt. I made my way over to the bed next, still keeping my eyes on his still frame, leaning against the wall where I had left him. I lay down in the mess of rose petals, closing my eyes and patting the bed next to me.
I didn't hear Edward make his way across the room bed I knew he was next to me when I felt his weight press down into the bed. He slid his cold stone hand into mine and we lay in comfortable silence for a moment before my curiosity got the better of me.
"So what's all this about Mr. Boombastic?" He chuckled in spite of himself but he had that cautious Bella's-not-going-to-like-this look back in his eye.
"Bella, I've told you before please don't call me that. Emmett will never let me live it down if he hears!" I laughed, secretly plotting to let it 'slip out' during a family event. Then Edward put on his 'serious big boy' face.
"Please don't freak out about this Bella." Oh god, that's twice he's said that now, which must mean a guaranteed freak out.
Edward Jumped agilely off the bed and retrieved something form his bedside table before proceeding to kneel down in front of the bed. Oh shit, warning bells going off here.
"Bella, I know that I have asked you this before but I wanted to do it properly. All cards on the table, okay?" He smiled his gorgeous crooked smile and produces a small velvet box from behind his back. I'm not going to lie; I was slightly intrigued. I lent up onto my elbow and watched him carefully.
"Isabella Marie Swan, will you marry me?" he seemed nervous. Good. I was sweating bloody buckets, how in god's name do you escape a situation like this? I mean, I really loved the man, vampire whatever but I was definitely not ready to get married. I'm eighteen for god's sake!
Who in there right mind gets married at eighteen?
"Edward I-" I fumbled for the right words while his face dropped, he was looking at the floor now, sat back on his knees in resignation.
"It's okay; you don't have to explain yourself." Aw bless his frozen heart! I slid down onto the floor beside him and pulled his face up so he could meet my eyes.
"No honey, actually I do have to explain. I love you." He tried to interrupt me here but I wasn't having any of it.
"I know that you know that and I also know that you think you love me more, so no interruptions. I don't want to marry you Edward. No, that's a lie; I don't want to marry you yet. I fully intend to spend the whole of eternity by your side Cullen, and most of that time as your wife. But I'm so young; I am determined to enjoy my youth, my humanity. It's selfish really; my heart, my soul and the rest of my life belong to you but this next year I want to give to my family and to my friends. I am not ready; I want a year to just be me. Then I will say goodbye, we will get married and I will make the change. Until then baby, please be patient with me."
Well, he looked impressed at least, but he had this strange calculating look that I didn't like. Then he broke into a breathtaking smile.
"You didn't say no." I looked at him strangely.
"Edward baby, I just told you I-"
"Yes, I listened and trust me Bella I understand. It's just you didn't really say no, just 'not yet'!" well, he had me there. I fully intended to marry him one day. Why not let him have his fun?
"Huh. I guess you're right, I didn't refuse you." He still had that ridiculously bloody happy grin that made me want to dance and sing and frolic in the sunshine.
"Edward?"
"Yes Bella?"
"You really want to tell the family that I agreed don't you?"
"Almost as much as I want the wedding to be tomorrow." How could I refuse him anything? Sigh.
"Go ahead, but only your family and nobody else!"
"Thank you Bella! Esme will be so happy. Oh also I, I, erm, never mind."
"What is it Edward? Spit it out."
"Do you want to see the ring darling?"
I don't think I've ever run from a room so fast in my life. Crap, I hope I didn't hurt his feelings.
Ah well, I'm sure I'll feel better when I get down stairs and get some of Esme's in famous chocolate cake in my empty stomach.
Esme was in the kitchen humming to herself when I burst in, out of breath and sweating.
"Gosh! Bella darling what on earth is wrong."
"Nothing mom. Just. Really. Unfit. Miracle. Didn't. Trip" Esme eyed me suspiciously then gave up and set a plate of fresh brownies in front of me.
"Enjoy" I did.
We chatted for a while about nothing in particular and Edward did not venture down from his room. Then the others got home from hunting. Alice and japer entered first, there eyes shining and there cheeks flushed. I could hear Emmett and Rosalie talking in the living room and I knew that Rosalie was trying to avoid me.
"Hello Bella. Mom." Alice sang dragging Jasper into the room by his arm. We both smiled at the adorable couple when they entered.
"Where's Eddie?" Japer asked, smirking when he felt my rush of humour at the nickname.
"I-told-you-not-to-call-me-that." An angry Edward had suddenly appeared at the breakfast bar beside me. Japer chuckled quietly but didn't say anything more.
"I think I should take you home soon Bella. Carlisle finishes his shift at the hospital at four and I would like to call a family meeting." His eyes were shining with excitement. I frowned at his eagerness, sure that he would twist our arrangement and make it out as more than it was.
"Unless of course you would like to stay Bella?" He asked smirking.
"No! I mean, Charlie will be expecting me home soon anyway." He nodded knowingly.
"Are you feeling okay Bella?" Jasper asked, knowing full well how much I was panicking. I really, really did not want to be present when Edward announced our kind-of-engagementy-thing. I couldn't handle Esme's pride or Alice's Excitement right now.
"I'm fine thanks Jazz. I'll take the truck home baby." I leaned up to kiss Edward and he complied pulling away when I opened my mouth slightly.
"No offence Bella, but you taste like human food." He stated wrinkling up his nose. Alice and Jasper burst out laughing and I could hear Em and Rose join in from the living room.
I giggled and then said maybe a little defensively, "No shit Sherlock."
"Language darling." He said into my ear, kissing the sensitive skin there and then kissing all along my face back to my lips.
I pulled away and smiled at him.
"Baby, if you keep kissing me like that I won't ever leave."
"Yeah, that's the plan." He whispered. I jumped up from the bar stool and left the room shouting goodbyes to each of the family members over my shoulder.