Chapter 3
We are together as one
I HAD not yet made love to Bella. In the three weeks we had
been together, we had held hands. Sometimes we had
kissed, but that was all. Usually I moved much faster - ask
the other girls that I'd been out with! Usually they couldn't
resist my looks. I was 6'2'' with green eyes, and copper hair.
The truth was that I was a major hottie.
But Bella was special.
I felt different about Bella and I didn't know what to say to her.
'You're going to fail your exams, Edward.' Bella said.
We were studying in my room one Sunday afternoon.
'Edward, you'll fail your exams if you don't do some work.'
'I am working.' I grouched at her.
'No, you aren't. You're looking at my legs.' Bella stated.
'Only once every chapter.' I admitted
'That book has very short chapters.' Bella said with a smirk.
'Listen Bella, you aren't as good-looking as all that!' I yelled at her.
'I know that Edward, but can I help it if you think so?' Bella answered.
'Dammit, Bella, how can I study when all the time I'm wanting
to make love to you?'
Bella closed her book softly and put it down. She put her
arms around me.
'Edward, will you please make love to me?'
It all happened at once. It was all so unhurried, soft and gentle.
And I was gentle too. Was this the real Edward Anthony Cullen?
'Hey, Edward, did I ever tell you that I love you?' said Bella
'Finally!' I thought.
'No, Bella.' I kissed her neck.
'I love you very much, Edward.'
I love Ray Stratton too. He's not very clever, or a
wonderful footballer, but he was a good friend to me.
Where did he go to study when I was in our room with Bella?
Where did he sleep on those Saturdays when Bella and I
spent the night together? In the old days I always told him
all about my girlfriends. But I never told him anything
about Bella and me.
'My God, Cullen, are you two sleeping together or not?' asked Ray.
'Raymond, please don't ask.' I said.
'You spend every minute of your free time with her. It isn't
natural,' said Ray.
'Ray, when two adults are in love . . . ' I began.
'Love? At your age? My God, I worry about you, I really do.' Ray said.
I answered him, 'Don't worry, Raymond, old friend. We'll have that flat
in New York one day. Different girls every night . . . '
Ray interupted and said, 'Don't you tell me not to worry, Edward.
That girl's got you, and I don't like it!'
That evening I went to hear Bella play the piano with the
University Music Group.
'You were wonderful,' I said afterwards.
'That shows what you know about music, Fratboy.' Bella said.
We walked along the river together.
'I played OK. Not wonderful' Bella said.
She continued, 'Not "Olympic Games," Just OK. OK?'
'OK - but you should always continue your music,' I said.
'Of course I will. I'm going to study with
Nadia Boulanger, aren't I? Bella admitted.
'Who?' I asked.
Bella took a small breath and said, 'Nadia Boulanger.
She's a famous music teacher in Paris.
I'm very lucky. I won a scholarship, too," she finished.
'Bella - you're going to Paris?'
'I've never seen Europe. I'm really excited about it.' Bella said.
I took her by the arms and pulled her towards me.
'Hey - how long have you known this?" I asked her.
Bella looked down at her feet and said, 'Edward, don't be stupid.
We can't do anything about it. After we finish university,
you'll go your way and I'll go mine. You'll go to law school—'
'Wait a minute! What are you talking about?' I bellowed.
Bella looked into my eyes, her eyes looked extremely forlorn.
She began speaking sadly, 'Edward, you're a rich fratboy.
Your old man owns a bank. My father's a policeman in Cranston,
Rhode Island . . . and I'm nobody…a social zero.'
'What does that matter? We're together now. We're happy.' I said to her.
'Edward, don't be stupid,' Bella repeated. 'Harvard is full of all
kinds of different people. You study together, you have fun
together. But afterwards you have to go back to where you belong.'
I began to beg her, 'We belong together. Don't leave me, Bella. Please.'
'What about my scholarship? What about Paris?' asked Bella
'What about our marriage?' I said to her.
'Who said anything about marriage?' said Bella in surprise.
'Me. I'm saying it now.' I said in desperation.
'Why?' Bella asked.
I looked straight into her chocolate brown eyes.
"Because,' I said.
'Oh,' said Bella. 'That's a very good reason.'
Bella took my arm and we walked along the river.
There was nothing more to say, really.
The next Sunday we drove to visit my parents in Boston,
Massachusetts. Bella said it was the right thing to do, and
of course there was also the fact that Mr. Carlisle Cullen paid
for my studies at Harvard.
'Oh my God,' Bella said when we drove up to the house.
'I didn't expect this. It's like a damn palace!'
'Please, Bella. Everything will be fine.'
Bella said, 'Yeah, for a nice all-American girl of good family,
perhaps. But not for Bella Swan, the police chief 's daughter,
from Cranston, Rhode Island.'
I knocked at the door.
"Let's run!" Bella said with wide eyes and a smile on her face.
Florence opened the door. She has worked for the Cullen
family for many years. She told us that my parents were
waiting in the library. We followed her past a long line of
pictures of famous Cullens and a glass case full of silver and
gold cups.
'They look just like real silver and gold,' said Bella, 'they
don't give cups like those at the Cranston Sports Club!'
'They are real silver and gold,' I answered.
'My God! Are they yours?' Bella asked.
'No, my father's.' I said.
'Do you have silver and gold cups too, Edward?' Bella asked me.
'Yes.' I answered her.
'In a glass case, like these?' Bella said.
'No,' I responded, 'Up in my room, under the bed.''
She gave me one of her good Bella-looks.
'We'll go and look at them later, shall we?' she teased.
Before I could answer, we heard a voice.
'Ah, hello there.' It was Old Stonyface.
'Oh, hello, sir. This is Isabella—'
'Hello there.' He shook her hand before I could say her
full name. There was a smile on his usually rock-like face.
'Do come in and meet Mrs. Cullen . . . My wife Esme.
This is Isabella —'
'Swane,' I said - for the first and only time, I got her damn name wrong!
'Swan,' said Bella politely, 'Please call me Bella.'
Mother and Bella shook hands.
All through dinner Mother kept the polite small talk going.
'So your people are from Cranston, Bella?' said my mother.
'Mostly. My mother came from Fall River.'
'The Cullens have factories at Fall River,' said Carlisle.
'Where they cheated their workers for centuries,' I added.
'In the nineteenth century,' said Mr. Carlisle Cullen.
'What about the plans to put automatic machines in the
factories?' said Mr. Carlisle Cullen.
'What about coffee?' my mother said quickly.
We moved back into the library.
We sat there with nothing to say to each other.
So I started a new non-conversation.
'Tell me, Bella,' I said, 'what do you think about the
Peace Corps?' She looked at me in surprise.
'Oh, have you told them, Carlisle?' asked my mother.
'It isn't the time for that, my dear,' said Mr. Carlisle Cullen,
with an "Ask me, ask me!" look on his face.
'What's this, Father?' I asked, just to please him.
'Nothing important, son,' he said.
'I don't know how you can say that,' said my mother.
She turned to me and said, 'Your father is going to be
Head of the Peace Corps.'
'Oh,' I said.
'Oh!' said Bella in a different, happier kind of voice.
'Well done, Mr Cullen.' Bella said with praise.
Bella gave me a hard look.
'Yes. Well done, sir,' I said at last.