Day 7: In which things change.

After Jake left last night I laid in my room for some time, staring at the ceiling.

Saturday had been different. I hadn't set my alarm. I'd gone out early, spent time with someone I barely knew despite years of staring at him. Bought condoms and played a piano.

Now it was Sunday morning, I wasn't out of bed yet and I was already behind schedule. One day off my plan and everything got jumbled. There was so much to do today before...well, before things changed.

I had to make a grocery list without examining the kitchen first because I had to get the shopping done early. I had to do my homework, and practise the violin. I had to get ready for tonight, and as I'd never gotten ready for sex before I didn't know how long it was going to take.

And somewhere in all of that, I had to tell Charlie I was going out tonight.

How long should I tell him I would be out for? What if he gave me a curfew and it wasn't enough time?

How long does it take for one to lose their virginity?

I sat up and pulled Bob off his charger to start planning my day. Groceries, homework, violin, some research, getting ready, early dinner, and sex were all written down with exact times. If I planned everything right I might even have some time to read.

Sunday was going to go exactly as planned. And the plan was sex. It wouldn't be hard to tell Charlie I had to go out. It was a part of the plan. We were eating lunch together today. Tuna sandwiches. If I stuck to the plan, the plan would get me through.

I got dressed in clothes fit for chores, ate my breakfast, and cleaned the kitchen and living room. As soon as ten o'clock rolled around, I drove to the grocery store, Bob in hand, grocery list for the next two weeks folded into a perfect square in my pocket.

"So, I'm going to make dinner early tonight."

Charlie and I were sitting at the kitchen table.

"You don't have to make dinner tonight, Bella. Edward's taking you out isn't he?"

I almost spit my tuna sandwich all over Charlie at those words. "Excuse me?"

"Edward said yesterday that the two of you had plans tonight. Don't worry about me at all. I can order a pizza."

I spluttered a bit. How early had Edward gotten here? What had he told Charlie? What did Charlie think he was giving his blessing to?

This must have been one of the rare observant moments of his life because he noticed my bewilderment and answered some questions before I could ask them.

"Look, Bella, I know that in normal cases a father would want to scare any boy off with a shotgun, but," he paused and looked everywhere but at me, "but it seems like this Edward is just what you need."

Charlie was a man of few words, and the last time I heard him say so many words at once was when I had been given a week's worth of detention in grade seven. I had yelled at the teacher for being late. To say I was freaked out was an understatement.

"I thought you always wanted me to have a thing with Jake." Charlie's encouragement was not part of the plan.

Charlie sighed. "I always encouraged Jake because he was the only one your age that saw through your, uh, tough exterior and understood that you were a person. But he never made any headway. In ten years. Edward gets under your skin."

"Dad, I," I was going to tell him that Edward did not get under my skin, but he interrupted before I could finish.

"Bella, you'll be graduating soon and I, well, I'm worried about you."

"Dad, you don't need to worry about me. I have my future all planned." I felt bad that Charlie had wasted time worrying about my love life, of all things. It was nice that he cared, but I had it under control.

"That is exactly why I worry," he mumbled toward his feet before looking back up at me. "One day, something is going to go wrong."

Charlie didn't seem to understand. "Nothing is going to go wrong with my plan. That's why I have a plan."

Charlie sighed and shook his head, getting up from the table.

I don't know why I said what I did next.

"Dad, tonight, Edward and I are-" Thankfully he interrupted me.

"Please. Bella. I know you're eighteen, and your mom and I were married at nineteen and that certainly wasn't the first time we had-but I, well, I just don't want to know." Charlie looked at me with wide eyes and an innocent expression, then turned and hurried out of the kitchen.

I decided to put Charlie's warnings out of my mind. I loved my dad, I really did. But he lived his life without a plan and he just didn't understand that mine was sound. It was airtight. It was going to get me through life.

The afternoon was both the longest and shortest of my life. Every single task felt like it took forever, but the clock seemed to be racing ahead to the appointed time of pick up.

I was still bitter about that. I wanted to drive myself.

At five the alarm on Bob went off and I put down my book. It was time to get ready for the evening.

I had rescheduled my morning shower. I figured if I waited until the last moment to shave there would no chance of stubble. This presented more dilemmas because I didn't know how much to shave. Below the knee, definitely. And under the arms. But were you supposed to shave your thighs? I'd never bothered before, but it hadn't mattered to anyone but me.

I shaved the thighs. And once I was there, I couldn't help thinking I should continue shaving. If I knew Edward's opinion...but I didn't. In the end I decided to trim down, but not get rid of it completely.

I threw on clothes that would be easy to take off. Unfortunately, I didn't have one of those bras that have the clasp at the front. Well, he'd had sex before, so he could deal with getting a bra off, right?

Other than that I put on a simple long sleeved shirt and some jeans. Everyone knows how to work jeans.

I was going through my plans for tomorrow when Charlie knocked on the door.

"Yes?"

"When are you heading out?" He peeaked his head in the door, and upon seeing me sitting on the bed, fully dressed, stepped into the room.

"Edward is picking me up at six thirty."

"Ah. that's soon."

"Yes." I stared up at him and he stared back at me. He appeared to be trying to say something with his eyes. I had no idea what, so I went back to Bob.

"Aren't you going to get ready?" Charlie asked after a moment of silence.

"I am ready." I didn't look up from Bob's screen.

"That's what you're wearing?"

"Yep."

"Oh."

Giving me fashion advice for dates was a little too much for Charlie. He looked at me pointedly for another moment than headed downstairs. As soon as he left I looked at my clothes. I was sure they were perfect for the situation. Pants that came off normally and a shirt that went over my head. The underwear wasn't exactly a red lace thong, but it wasn't granny panties either.

I had thought of putting on a skirt, as that seemed like very easy access, but all my skirts lived on the business end of my closet and weren't good for pushing up to the waist.

My outfit made complete sense. It wasn't my fault that Charlie didn't think of these things.

I heard the doorbell ring fifteen minutes later. Six thirty on the dot. The boy was learning, I would give him that.

"Bella!" Charlie's voice called up the stairs before I could get out of my room. "Edward's he-Oh."

I was halfway down the stairs before Charlie had finished talking.

"Hey." Edward looked...perfect. He was in jeans and a shirt as well. And he'd shaved. I wondered what kind of underwear he had on.

"Hi. Thank you for being on time." I grabbed my jacket as passed the front closet, and slipped on some comfortable shoes.

"You kids have fun." Charlie said as we turned out the door.

Both of us paused and looked back at him. He sounded genuine and we didn't know how to respond.

Charlie shut the door on us so that we didn't have to.

"Well, you ready?" Edward asked.

I looked over at Edward. I felt Bob in my pocket and thought of the plan. This was one of those moments that would make or break the plan. I had been in them before. A split second where I could change my mind, do something different. And my whole life would suffer the consequence, for good or ill.

Edward paused in his walk to the car, also recognizing the moment for what it was.

"Yes, I am." I made sure to enunciate each syllable, to be very clear. I was ready. My plan was right.

Edward took my hand and led me to the car. I felt his skin next to mine and realized that in a few short minutes, I was going to be feeling so much more of it. My hand flexed around his and I wondered if all of his skin was as warm. What was it going to be like to have that warmth touching me?

He dropped my hand once I was seated in the car and I stared at it. What was it going to be like to touch him? I turned my head and watched as he got situated in his seat, noticing all the movements each part of him made. He was going to let me touch any part of him I wanted to.

His hand was suddenly on mine again, and he placed our hands so they were resting together on the console between us.

He started driving and after a minute I could tell where we were going.

"The Dew Drop Inn?" This was his plan?

"Uh...Yeah. Well, it was within my price range and not quite as cheesy as the Forks Motel." He had the grace to look sheepish.

I glared at him. An inn? With two Ns. We weren't having an affair.

"Hey, none of our parents will be there. That's the point, right?"

"They won't be there but they'll know about it soon enough. Jessica works there. In fact, half the school works there. "

"Don't worry. I checked in earlier today. Everyone thinks I just want to get out of the house to do some studying. Another reason why it made sense to only come in my car."

I nodded and looked back out the window as we pulled into the parking area. Thankfully, you could park right in front of your room, and our room was on the ground floor with a parking space next to it. Edward dropped my hand as the car came to a stop and we got out.

It wasn't until we were standing outside the door and he had the key card in his hand that two things occurred to me. I couldn't see any condoms on him. And we were about to enter the room in which I would lose my virginity.

I almost hyperventilated. My near asphyxiation was alleviated by Edward taking my hand again. He pushed the door open with his foot and led me inside.

My eyes were immediately drawn to the box of condoms by the side of the bed. He had stuck to the plan. We were both on the plan. My breathing evened out again.

As soon as the door closed behind me, I wriggled out of my jeans. We were scheduled for 7:00, and we had to get moving.

"Bella!" Edward appeared to be fighting with himself not to stare at my nude legs. I was clearly going to have to be the adult here.

"Dammit. I forgot my shoes." I slipped them off, kicking them toward the door then got a look at Edward, who hadn't moved. "Well? What are you waiting for?"

Edward stared at me slack-jawed. "Uh, don't you want to...I don't know...umm, work up to it?"

"No. It's nearly seven. Sex is planned for seven. Let's go." Whenever I thought Edward beginning to get the plan, he would make a crazy suggestion like that.

"Bella, this speedy behaviour isn't really conducive to me being...uh...ready to go."

I looked at him for a moment and thought of my book.

Sexual intercourse occurs whenever a man puts his penis into a woman's

vagina. When the penis is in its normal, flaccid state, this feat is difficult

(though not impossible) for a man to accomplish. However, when the penis

becomes erect and hard, most men learn quite quickly the technique of

inserting the penis into the vagina — sometimes too quickly (for more about

that, see Chapter 20)

Still staring at him, I reached down and shoved the underwear to the ground. His eyes immediately dipped and didn't come back up.

I stepped backwards toward the bed that I knew was behind me. It came up quicker than I thought and instead of gracefully lying down, my upper half fell down onto the bed my feet still on the floor, my knees spread.

Edward gasped. I turned my head to look over at him. Apparently grace is over-rated.

I had always thought the "pop-tent-syndrome" was a myth. I'd never noticed a guy in class have problems. Or any guy, anywhere having to hide anything. But Edward proved me wrong.

"Bella, are you sure you don't want-"

He was still trying to be a gentleman, so I interrupted his misconceptions.

"Edward, take your pants off. The clock is ticking." He looked so concerned for a moment that I thought he might not be an actual teenage boy.

I shifted onto the bed a little, to be more comfortable, and something must have changed in his view because he groaned, and finally started to follow my example. Except he remembered to begin with kicking his shoes off.

As he moved toward the bed, I realized I had made a tactical error. I was lying down with my shirt still on. I couldn't take it off, and I was afraid that if I sat up and deprived Edward of his view, then it would all stop.

Besides, with the shirt on it almost felt as if I wasn't naked. As if he wasn't staring at that part of me. As if he wasn't going to be touching me.

Then he was touching me. The back of his hand was resting on my ankle and as he moved closer to me on the bed, he trailed his hand, slowly, up my leg. He stopped around mid-thigh, turned his hand and gripped my thigh.

I think I might have whimpered, or something. His touch made me feel weird. Like I had a lot of energy but couldn't move. I would jerk or shiver without warning or intention.

Edward moved my leg up farther onto the bed, and his eyes roved up and down the inside of the leg, the same way his fingers had. He took his jeans off and must have pushed his underwear down with them because, quite suddenly, there was no pop-tent syndrome.

For a split second I was disappointed that I didn't get to see what type of underwear he had chosen for this evening. Then I realized what I was staring at.

I pushed up a little on my hands to get a better look.

"Huh," was all I could think to say. There had been diagrams in my book, so I knew what to expect. Still, seeing a picture and seeing the real thing were two different experiences. The diagrams made everything look like it belonged. But the actually thing looked like, ...well, it looked as if he tried to develop a third leg but couldn't manage it.

If he were shrub, I would trim it off because it looked so out of place.

Edward smiled down at me. I could tell he was suppressing laughter.

"What are you laughing at?"

He pushed me farther up on the bed and crawled up onto his knees, bringing my left leg up behind him so that he was kneeling between my legs.

"You continue to surprise me. I like being surprised."

"Oh."

And then without warning he hands moved up the inside of my thighs and started rubbing lightly on the freshly shaved part between my legs. I thanked Bob I had decided to trim down.

"Do we want this off?" He fingered the bottom of my shirt with one hand while the other continued rubbing. I was still staring.

I forced myelf to stop staring and looked up at the shirt he was still wearing. "I'm good like this, if you are." How would he get my shirt off? He would probably have to stop what he was doing down there, and that was feeling nice. I didn't want him to stop.

He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. His mouth was just there. Open. With lips straight out of any girl's fantasies. Not that I had fantasies, but the point is that he had perfect lips for kissing.

Then he closed it and nodded. His fingers between my legs moved suddenly and I jerked and let out the weirdest noise.

"What are you-." He brushed over that same spot again before I could finish talking.

"Relax, Bella. There's plenty of time."

We were both silent as he continued moving his hand down there. It would feel kind of good, but then my legs would jerk or I would make a weird noise or something else I couldn't control.

And then he moved his hand down a bit and his fingers embarked upon a pioneer journey. That is to say, his finger was in me. In me. Nothing had ever gone in there before. It didn't hurt, but it wasn't amazing, either. And I was pretty sure I was supposed to be doing something for Edward while he was, um, touching me. My hands were still at my sides, gripping the comforter whenever he did something that made me edgy. He still had his shirt on, so it wasn't like I could be touching him on his chest. I could maybe reach his head? Did guys like to have their hair touched? It wasn't covered in the book.

After several minutes where I unsuccessfully attempted to catalogue the sensations I was having, he removed his hand.

It was show time. Finally.

"Do you need one of these?" I reached over to the nightstand and grabbed the box of condoms. "Really? The Magnums?"

He shrugged. "They were first ones I grabbed when I reached into the bag."

"Are they going to work?" Never having seen a live one before, I didn't know if he was boasting or if the he actually needed the extra-large variety. I glanced back down at his awkward third leg, he was big and all, but weren't they all supposed to be big?

"Don't worry, it'll work just fine." He grinned down at me.

I opened the box and pulled out. Without looking at what I was doing, I ripped the corner of the foil packet and then stopped.

"You can." Edward whispered.

"I-" I handed the condom to him. "I don't want to do something wrong or anything."

Again, he looked as if he might say something but stopped himself. He took the condom and put it on himself.

As I watched him, I thought of Yoda.

That is, I thought of one of Yoda's proverbs. "Do, or do not. There is no try." Edward didn't try to put the condom on. It went on without effort or worrying.

I was a little sad to have my view change. I had been enjoying it.

He shuffled forward on the bed, bringing his...Pen-...His erec-...His...Thing, closer to me. My hands slipped out from under me and I flopped to the bed.

Edward chuckled and brought both his hands to my thighs, shifting me until I could feel him.

That was the instant that it dawned on me what was going to happen.

"Wait."

Edward stopped moving and looked down at me. He wore a funny expression. He almost looked relieved.

I didn't have time to think on Edward's feelings right now. Instead, I let me nervous gibberish fill the air. "Are we even sure this is going to work?"

"Pretty sure."

"I mean, everyone does it and all, but does it always, you know, work? Should I be worried? I've heard it hurts the first time, and I have a high pain threshold, but my book didn't describe the pain that well. I'm better if I'm prepared for the pain."

"Bella?" Edward tried to interrupt, but I couldn't stop.

"And really, I read a statistic that only twenty-one percent of women feel pain during their first time, so chances are it will be fine." Edward didn't need to know that statistic was from VH1's Pop Up Video of Madonna's Like a Virgin.

"How long do you think this will take?" The word vomit kept pouring out like a river that had broken through a dam. "I understand teenage boys aren't the best at lasting, though you didn't seem to react to the condom. Are you not in the mood? Do I need to put you in the mood?"

"Stop!" Edward almost shouted.

"Shush. People next door might hear you."

Edward shook his head. "Do you want to do this or not?"

I stopped talking, in fact I stopped thinking. I just stared up into his eyes.

"If you want to stop, we'll stop. If you want to go on, we'll go on."

I thought for a moment, I wanted to be sure after all; I didn't want him to feel bad about all this when it was over.

In the end, it was his hands that convinced me. They were high up on my thighs, and they kept clenching and unclenching. They were the only sign that he wasn't as patient as he was acting.

"Edward?"

"Yes?"

"I want you to. I want us to. I mean, let's do it."

"You're sure?"

"Yes."

One of his hands moved away from my skin, I didn't want to look at what it was doing.

The irrepressible energy was back and it was hard to stay still. I turned my head to give myself something other than his face to look at and caught sight of my jeans.

I gasped as I heard the seven o'clock alarm on Bob chime just as he entered me.

"Huh."

"Are you okay?" His voice sounded odd.

"Ummm," I thought about it for a did hurt. But it wasn't unbearable. "I think I'm good."

"Bella," His hands came forward suddenly, until they were resting on the bed beside my shoulders. He followed them down toward me so that our shirts were rubbing against each other as he started to move inside of me.

"Oh." It was an entirely new feeling. Nothing I had encountered before had prepared me for this.

It was a little painful, but mostly it was just...alien. Not good. Not bad.

Edward's breathing grew rougher and I took a metaphorical step back from the situation. Edward's face was next to mine, his nose kept hitting the pillow and his cheek kept grazing mine.

He was using what modern-day jean companies had decided was the waist to thrust, although I'm pretty sure it was actually his hips to move himself in and out of me. Our legs were lying against each other, our skin creating heat as he moved back and forth. And his feet touched mine every time he thrust in.

Despite our shirts, it felt like too much of him was touching too much of me. He was too close. Closer than anyone else ever had been. With each thrust in, every exhaled breath on my ear, I felt that he was getting more of me than I wanted to give him.

Then he moved. He pushed in and it was different then the other times. It was harder and more intense. As if he'd lost control. I gasped and arched up a little without meaning to.

And this time he didn't pull out, he groaned loudly, whispered my name and was done. He collapsed into me, burying his face in my neck and the pillow and stayed that way for five minutes.

He whispered my name again and kissed the area that might have been my neck, or it might have been my shoulder.

Edward rolled off me then and got up. I didn't watch him. I turned over on my side and stared at my jeans where the light was still blinking from the pocket because I hadn't told Bob that I had gotten the alarm.

The bed moved as Edward got back on and sidled up to me.

"Hey." He whispered into my hair.

"Hey." I whispered into the empty air.

"You okay?"

"Umm," I wasn't sure what he meant by the question. "Yeah? I mean, I think so. I don't really feel any different."

I waited for Edward to answer but he didn't. Craning my head a bit I saw that he had fallen asleep.

Firstly, I am sorry for the long wait. November was a tad insane. Hopefully there won't be another wait like that one.

Secondly, and as always, this chapter is only worth reading because of limona. Believe me, you would have hated the first draft of this one.

Thirdly, thank you to everyone who bid on me in the fandom gives back auction! An Epov outtake of this story went for $225! Which completely blows my mind. The outtake will be available for everyone to read once the story is over (I'll post as a chapter of this one so you'll all get an alert for it) but the lucky winner will get it in December and have a nice look into Edward's thought process. I'm looking forward to writing it!