The Learning Curve: Chapter 116

Forks High School

My day was tied pretty evenly between good and bad by the time I walked out of the gym after the final bell.

Then I saw Mike Newton leaning against the wall along the sidewalk that led to the parking lot, and the score went decidedly to bad.

He straightened as I approached, and I met his eyes with a resigned sigh. "What, Mike?"

His eyes fell on the ring gracing my left hand. "So how did you talk Cullen into that?"

I had to purse my lips at the assumption. "It was his idea."

Mike gave me a cynical smile in return. "Sure. But I bet you pushed him into it, didn't you? A guy like that...he's used to getting what he wants, and you come along, and you've probably been refusing to put out the whole time – you're a fun little challenge for him, and it's going to fall apart."

I felt my skin burning and prickling with my anger. "You know what, Mike? Which is it? Am I a prude again? Because last I checked, you were one of the ones telling the whole school I was some kind of degenerate slut. Newsflash, Mike: I'm not a prude or a slut. I didn't put out for you because I just didn't like you very much, and here's the best part - I have had sex with Edward and he still wants to marry me."

I took a deep breath during which I reveled in the slack-jawed expression on Mike's face. "You and I both know the only reason you're talking to me right now is because you're jealous. Edward is everything you'll never be and you know it, so you have to make other people as miserable as you are. But you can't make me miserable. I love Edward, and I'm happy, and that's that."

I ducked around Mike, eager to get to the parking lot, and that's when I saw Edward standing behind him, grinning at me as though he'd heard every last word.

"Edward," I said sheepishly, not entirely proud of my outburst...but not all that ashamed, either.

"You are so far out of my league, it isn't even funny," Edward said as I walked up to him. He drew me into his arms, locking his hands on my lower back. "But for what it's worth, I love you."

I just shook my head. Out of his league – as if. "I love you, too. Take me home with you?"

Edward tilted his head. "To my house? My mom is there today."

"Exactly," I said. "I've got to talk to her about a wedding."

A/N: Sorry for the lack of update this weekend. Normally, I work Saturday mornings and I get my Saturday chapter written then, but I worked late Friday night and was thus off on Saturday and subsequently spent the weekend lolling around and playing the Sims. ...Yup. That's my life.

Also, ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK K FUCKING U.