The Learning Curve: Chapter 65

Forks High School

Edward let me off the hook until the last song of the night when he insisted we have one more dance. I stayed on my own feet this time and wound my arms around his neck. I wasn't ready to leave his arms, but I was ready to leave the dance. Tired from anxiousness but completely wound-up still, I just wanted to be alone with Edward. Dancing with him was torture; he was warm and firm and he smelled so good. My desire for him was simply a given at this point. When would he give us what we both wanted?

The song came to an end, and I reluctantly let go of Edward. He smiled sweetly at me. "Ready to go?"

We collected our coats and headed for the car after saying goodbye to our friends. I felt my chest grow warm with excitement and hoped he had plans for us now. I was tired of waiting.

When we got on the road, I was instantly confused. We were on the road that would lead to my house.

"Where are we going?" I asked, hoping I was wrong.

Edward frowned and looked at me. "I'm taking you home. Where did you think we were going?"

My throat tightened with the force of my disappointment. "I thought – I thought we were going to –" but I couldn't finished the sentence, embarrassed and a little heartbroken, even though it was unreasonable.

"Bella? Did you think we were going to...have sex tonight?" Edward asked gently, eying my face for signs of the tears that had pooled against my eyelids.

"Yes," I admitted in a whisper. "I've been waiting for it – I thought..."

Edward pulled the car over and put it in park. I felt his eyes fix fully on me and was grateful for the darkness that hid my flaming cheeks.

"Bella, I thought we were beyond all that. I mean, there's no reason to rush this."

I shot him a dark look. "We've done everything else, and we've been doing it for months. What are we waiting for?"

Edward's face looked strained in the dim light. "There's something you need to know before you decide you want to do that with me."

I waited, scared to learn what he had to confess. Was he going to tell me he'd been with more girls than he let on? Was he secretly bisexual? A cross-dresser? What could be so bad that he wouldn't have told me by now?

"Bella, I...I've only ever been with one girl before you."

I blinked at him. "Huh?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose in a gesture of anxiety. "I've only had sex with one girl. My ex-girlfriend Kate."

I felt a rush of relief. "Edward, why would that matter to me?"

He let out a sigh. "You came to me because you thought I had as much experience as people say. I should have told you the truth, but..."

"But what?"

He looked me in the eye then. "But I wanted you. I noticed you the first day I came to Forks High, but by the time I felt like I knew you well enough to want to ask you out, I already had this crazy reputation. I didn't want you to think all I wanted from you was sex, so I stayed away from you – and then you came to me."

I swallowed to clear my throat, surprised that I wasn't more surprised. Deep down, hadn't I always known the rumors weren't true? Now I knew with certainty why he'd agreed to my proposition, and it wasn't a huge epiphany. It was simply the last puzzle piece falling into place.

"Edward, I don't care what you did or didn't do before me. It's not like you seduced me or something. I never did anything with you that I didn't want."

Edward smiled tentatively. "So you still like me even though I'm not an amateur Casanova?"

"Honestly...it's a relief to know for sure. You never acted like guy in the rumors, so I was pretty sure it was all talk. That hasn't mattered to me for a long time."

He let out a breath. "You don't know what a relief it is to hear you say that."

"I can't believe you were seriously worried I'd like you less if I knew the truth," I said, shaking my head. We were quiet, processing the conversation, and a thought occurred to me.

"Edward...if you never slept with anyone in Forks, how did the rumors start?"

He groaned. "It's insanely stupid...but I guess I'd better tell you."

I pulled off my heels and curled up in my seat to face him. "Tell me the story."

A/N: Tomorrow comes the story of Edward's nefarious past. My first day back to work brought a colossal asshole my way. Hope you all had a better day.