The Learning Curve

by Amethyst Jackson

AU and AH. Short chapters with daily updates. When Bella's boyfriend brings up the issue of her virginity with his ex, she decides to take charge of her own fate. Now complete with occasional snippets to come.

17. Chapter 17

The Learning Curve: Chapter 17

Bella Swan's house

After passing my kissing lesson with Edward, he sent me home. I was disappointed. Even if we didn't go any further today, I would have been happy to keep kissing. Unless I was reading him wrong, he wanted to keep kissing, too. So why was he so ready to get rid of me?

Instead of making dinner when I got home like I usually did, I went up to my room, crawled into bed and hugged my pillow. This was weird, I decided. Maybe because we hardly spoke to one another - neither in biology nor during our "lesson." I wasn't going to be comfortable with this until I felt comfortable with him.

Charlie came home just after 5:30 and called worriedly up the stairs.

"Bella? You all right?"

"Fine," I yelled back. I didn't move to get up.

There was a long pause. "Am I ordering pizza for dinner?"

"Yes," I called back without hesitation. "Extra cheese." Tonight was a night for comfort food.

After Charlie had ordered the pizza, I called Alice.

"Tell me everything," Alice said in lieu of a greeting.

I tried to relay the afternoon without giving too many gory details. When I was finished describing the kiss to end all kisses, Alice was uncharacteristically quiet.

"What?" I demanded.

"Bella, that boy likes you."

"He's Edward Cullen. He likes all girls."

"No, Bella, I think he like-likes you. Guys don't just punch other guys for nothing. They don't call you adorable when they're only in it for the sex. And they don't ask to be exclusive unless they want to be, either."

"But he didn't mean it that way," I argued. "He probably just doesn't want any jealous boyfriends coming after him."

"Yeah, you just keep telling yourself that," Alice snorted. "Is that why he punched Mike? Because he wanted to keep him from becoming a jealous ex? Because I think that totally defeated the purpose. You know everyone's talking about it, right?"

I groaned. "Well, Idon't want to talk about it anymore. And I think the pizza just got here."

Alice sighed. "I had a dream about you and Edward, you know."

I froze. "You did? Tell me, Alice."

I could almost hear her shake her head. "I think it's better if you don't know. You'll ruin it."

Now I was confused. "Wait – was it a dream of something good?"

"It was, but I think you'll freak out about it. So just...be careful, okay? And think about what I said."

And as I hung up the phone, I knew I'd be thinking about little else.