“Hi Dad.” I edged.

“ You’re twenty minutes past curfew.” He was speaking to Edward, I realized.

I exhaled in exasperation, about to open my mouth to protest but Edward squeezed my elbow and cut me off.

“Bella, honey, why don’t you go upstairs and give me a moment with your father.” It was a demand, not a request.

I froze. He lifted my chin with his hand and did that dazzling thing that I hate. Something about his firm jaw-set and confident eyes told me that it would be in my best interest to humor him, just this once, and do what he says. He was not intent on letting me have any part in an argument with Charlie tonight. My rebellious side took over, wanting at least one additional say in the matter. I rose on my tip-toes and pressed my lips to Edwards, smiling discreetly over the sharp intake of breath coming from Charlie’s direction.

“Alright” I agreed in the sweetest voice I could manage. I threw a brief glance at Charlie’s furious face before darting up the stairs. I hoped that my actions weren’t going to make things harder for Edward.

I reached my room and shut the door silently behind me before leaning my back against it and sliding to the floor. I listened intently, waiting to hear the shouts of fury erupt from Charlie at any moment. They never came. In fact, nothing came. I sat up there for close to an hour, just staring at the room. My room. It seemed so foreign to me. Like it didn’t belong to me anymore. My eyelids drooped and I realized how exhausted I was. Alice had made me try on my wedding dress almost 10 times, constantly altering it in some way, insisting that it had to be perfect. I let my thoughts aimlessly wander while I stared intently at the window. Edward wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye. I sighed impatiently.

Almost as if in response, the branches on the tree outside moved against the wind. I stood to meet him, but stopped when I heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Charlie.

I quickly flung myself onto my bed and closed my eyes, hoping that my fake sleeping would help me to avoid a presumably uncomfortable conversation. Charlie knocked and entered the room hesitantly, ignoring the fact that I was likely asleep. I heard the scraping of the rocking chair along the floor as he clumsily dragged it over to the bed side. He was making no effort to be quiet, so I concluded that he wanted me to wake up for this. I kept my eyes closed and steadied my breathing. He sighed loudly as he sat down.