The Learning Curve: Chapter 113

Bella Swan's Bedroom

"So, obviously you've decided we're getting married," Edward said with a grin, trying to distract me from the pain of the conversation I'd just had with my mom. "But you've never said…do you want to get married before we go to Dartmouth?"

I nodded. "I do. There's no reason to wait."

"I'll call about the apartment, then," Edward said. "When I checked yesterday, it was still available."

I smiled and kissed his neck, which just so happened to be near my lips. "I'm really excited to live with you."

"Me too," he said, nuzzling the top of my head. "I'm so ready to be able to snuggle up to you whenever I want."

"Alice thinks we should have a real wedding."

Edward laughed. "As opposed to what? A fake one? Because I was planning on marrying you for real."

I shook my head. "I thought we'd just…go to the courthouse or something, but she's talking about a big dress and a cake and tons of people."

"And you don't want that?" Edward asked, looking down at me with a furrow in his brow.

"I'm just…not sure I want to draw that much attention to it," I admitted.

"We don't have to invite the whole town, you know," he pointed out gently. "It could just be my family and yours and our friends. I mean, if that's not what you want, we don't have to, but I thought you wanted to share it with the people you love. You know your dad won't want to miss the chance to walk his only daughter down the aisle, no matter how disapproving he acts."

I chewed on my lower lip. "Could we even afford a wedding?"

"We'll keep it simple," Edward shrugged. "We could have it at my house. The backyard is big. And my mom's been known to make a pretty fancy cake in her time. You can wear whatever you want."

I snorted. "No way is Alice letting me walk down the aisle in anything I own."

"This is your wedding, not Alice's," Edward pointed out. "If she really wants you to have a wedding dress, she can just sit down and make you one."

I sat up straight. "That's actually not a bad idea."

He raised his eyebrows. "I was joking, you know."

I turned around to look at him. "But it could work. I mean, Alice is going to school to be a fashion designer. She's made dresses before."

Edward smiled and shrugged. "You obviously have faith in her. Go for it. But don't do it just because you're worried about buying a dress. My parents would help."

Bella shook her head. "They've done so much for me already – and they're going to do so much...no, I'll get a dress on my own, somehow or another."

A/N: I need to find someone to marry soon...it sounds nice. :P