The Learning Curve: Chapter 110

Bella Swan's House

I could kill Edward.

He'd just called to warn me that he'd tried to talk to my dad without me and that it hadn't gone well. No shit, Sherlock. Getting my dad to warm up to something took a lot of strategy. He had to be put in the right frame of mind. It helped if you could make him think it was his idea to begin with, which would be tricky with the concept of marriage, but I'd had some plans. And now my dad was going to be totally freaked out.

Didn't Edward know that we were supposed to be partners? I had some cleaning up to do now.

I decided the best way to go about this was to pretend I knew nothing about Edward's surprise visit. I carefully tucked away my ring in my underwear drawer and spread out on my bed with my math homework, acting as though this were just another day.

When Charlie got home, he gave his usual shout of greeting up the stairs but didn't come to see me at all. After a few deep breaths, I went downstairs to put dinner in. Charlie didn't say a word to me, but that wasn't exactly unusual. When I served dinner – standard meat and potatoes, the best way to get Charlie in a comfort zone – he ate quietly, not saying much.

When he was halfway through his dinner, I took the initiative. "So how was work today?"

His mustache twitched. "Fine," he said gruffly.

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Fine?"

He finally let it out. "That boyfriend of yours came to see me today."

I pursed my lips. "I know."

He set his knife and fork down in a clatter against his place. "And do you know what he asked me?"

I nodded. Charlie huffed, his mustache twitching again. His face was going a bit red, too, and I knew I had to proceed cautiously. The last thing I needed was having to rush Charlie to the emergency room with a heart attack.

"Dad, you shouldn't have dismissed him the way you did. He came to you with a serious question. He deserved a serious answer."

Charlie's eyes narrowed. "I was dead serious, Isabella. You know damned well you're too young to get married. You of all people should know better."

"Why?" I challenged. "Just because you and Mom didn't work out?"

"Yes, exactly. If we'd been a bit older –"

"Mom still would have wanted to leave Forks, and you would have wanted to stay," I finished for him. "Dad, I know you never quite got over Mom. I'm like you, okay? My feelings don't change easily. And Edward is nothing like Mom. He makes plans, and he carries through with them. He's so prepared all the time. We're both in this for good."

Charlie shook his head. "Where is this coming from, Bella? Did that boy get you pregnant? If he did, I'm gonna –"

"No, Dad! God, of course I'm not pregnant. Do you really think I'm that stupid?"

Charlie scowled. "I think you're a teenager. You always were mature for your age, but this boy…he's changed you."

"For the better," I said passionately. "I didn't have any dreams before Edward. My only plans before him were to go to college in-state, maybe become a teacher. I would have ended up in a small town teaching high school English and dating lame-asses like Mike Newton!"

"Watch your language, young lady."

I ignored him. "And now, Dad, I'm going to Dartmouth. I'm going to learn so much, and maybe I don't have to be just a teacher, and I'm going to be with someone that I know I'll always be proud of. I'm going to have an amazing, full life and now that I know it's possible, I'm not going to settle for anything less."

Charlie sighed, casting a forlorn look at the baked potato that I'd ruined with my declaration.

"Why are you doing this to me, kid? You've never given me any trouble, and now…"

I softened a little, knowing he was only doing his best as a father. "I'm not trying to give you trouble, Dad. But I know what's right for me. I'm going to marry Edward at one point or another, and I'm going to be happy – but it won't be complete without your support. I love you, Daddy. I just want you to be proud of me."

Charlie let out another huff of frustration. He was helpless against the Daddy card, and he knew it. "You're going to do this whether I like it or not?"

I nodded, grave-faced.

"Why'd you have to end up so much like your old man? If you were more like your mother, I'd be able to talk you out of this."

I laughed. "If I were like mom, I'd be eloping to Vegas," I pointed out. "Being like you means I've thought long and hard about this and know it's the right thing to do. Isn't that better?"

Charlie scrunched his nose up. "Better. Sure."

I looked down at my plate to hide my amusement. Charlie began to chuckle, and I looked up in alarm. "What?"

His chuckle burst out in a full-on guffaw. "You still have to tell your mother!"

My stomach suddenly felt full of lead and I knew my face had to be ashen. Charlie got the last laugh after all.

A/N: Lots of mixed reactions to Charlie, and lots of mixed feelings on the marriage question. All I can say is, no matter where this story goes, some of you will not be satisfied. :P I hope you'll forgive me.