The Learning Curve: Chapter 90

Bella Swan's House

"Calm down," I told Edward, though I was on the verge of hyperventilating. "We have to open it to know for sure."

Edward rolled his eyes and plucked the envelope from my hands. He ripped open the top flap and pulled the cover letter out. After a quick perusal, he thrust it in front of my face.

Dear Miss Swan,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to the undergraduate program...

I looked at Edward incredulously. "I really got in?"

"You really got in," he said gleefully, and he squeezed my in a tight, over-excited hug.

"I just don't believe it."

"Believe it," Edward insisted.

I was about to demand he let me read the letter again, but at that moment, Charlie pulled up in his police cruiser. He was early, which made me relieved Edward had insisted on checking the mail, but he wasn't pulling into the driveway. Instead, he stopped beside us and rolled down the window.

"Hi, Dad," I said, wondering if I should give him the news.

"Bella," he sighed. His voice was low, grave. "I think you'd better head up to the hospital."

"What?" It was the last thing I'd expected to hear.

"There's been an accident," he said. "The Brandons. I already told Alice in person, and her boyfriend is taking her up. She'll need her friends around her."

I gaped at him. It couldn't be true. After everything Alice had done to prevent it...

"I'll get her there, Chief Swan," Edward said quietly.

Charlie nodded. "Thanks, son. I've got to get to the scene of the accident now. I could be out late."

I nodded dumbly and watched him drive away. Edward put an arm around my shoulder and steered me to his car.

"Come on, Bella. It's going to be okay," he said soothingly.

"It's so unfair," I said, letting him guide me into the passenger seat. "After everything she went through trying to warn them..."

"I know. We just have to hope for the best."

I looked down at the stack of mail still in my hands. Edward had placed the Dartmouth envelope on top. Suddenly, my good news seemed so far away.

A/N: So, I'm living vicariously a little through Bella (on the college part, I mean). I only applied to three schools, one of which was the safe one and the one I attended. The other two were dream schools - one of them accepted me but I didn't know then how to work out going there like I do now, and the other one waitlisted me. *sigh* I'm always what-iffing because I'm in debt up to my eyeballs in spite of not going to McGill, which was the other that accepted me.