Simplify & Solve

Chapter 21: One Week Away

Bella's POV

There's only one week left. I know people are trying to keep me from getting worried and stressed out but seriously, they're acting like I'm a piece of freakin glass. When this wedding happens all hell is gonna break loose anyway so they might as well tell me a little bit about what's going on.

Ryder has been keeping something from me and everyone else is walking on broken eggshells around me. I was stressed, not crazy. You'd think they would treat me like a normal person after I told them to stop keeping things from me. But no. They thought I was sick for asking them to give me stress so Ryder actually picked me up and tucked me into bed while everyone else checked my temperature, got me soup and brought me medicine. I feel like I'm the one that should be bringing them soup and medicine. 

I still havn't managed to get a single detail from anyone but it's getting there. Though I might give up because there's only one week left before I'm thrown into the middle of all the drama. As much as I wished things weren't happening the way they are, I'm still a little excited about getting married. Sure I'm only 18 in a few days and people say that you're reckless and stupid at this age but screw them. I really think that I am certainly in love. I know the word love is tossed around casually. I'm not going to lie, sometimes I say I love people when I don't really.

A lot of people do and it's not a crime, it just lessens the meaning and importance of the word. I've said the dreaded 'I love you' to Ryder before, obviously, but I don't think I meant it to the extent that it's supposed to. It's probably the same with him. We havn't been going out super long either so saying we love each other might sound crazy and ridiculous to some people. I admit, I don't think I have positively fallen deeply in love with him. There is the attraction, a lot of it, and I can say I really really really really, like him but I don't think it's pure genuine love yet.

Now before you all go off at me for trying to preach about love when I know nothing about it yet, shut up. No I'm kidding, but just hear me out. I know that I'm young, he's young, we're all freakin young but just because we're young doesn't mean we can't feel emotions. I honestly think that the statement about teens being clueless about love is stupid and offensive. We're humans and we feel emotions so why can't it be love? And some adults find it difficult to find love just as teens do so don't you old people tell me I can't be in love.

I don't even remember why I started ranting about this. 

Before my thoughts can wonder off again Ryder bursts into my room. 

"Baby baby baby, guess what!" Ryder asks, jumping up and down with the biggest grin on his face.

"Wha-"

"My mum got me a puppy!" he exclaims. There's a moment of silence before I'm laughing and jumping around with him. He's so cute right now. His excitement is contagious. 

"What? A puppy? For real?" I ask to humour him, but I'm secretly just as excited as he is. 

"Yes! She's so small and cute and she's white and has fluffy soft fur and-"

"Breathe Ry, breathe" I say. He stops and takes a big breath before grabbing my hand and tugging it while pointing to the direction of downstairs. 

"Wanna see our puppy?" he asks even though he's already pulling me down the stairs. My heart swoons when he says 'our puppy'. I'm pretty sure his mum got it for him but he still calls it our puppy. Halfway down the stairs I hear voices in the living room. It doesn't sound like anyone I've met. Then I realize. Crap. It's probably Ryder's parents. Digging my heels into the floor I pull Ryder and I to a stop. Ryder turns around when he realizes I'm not moving and frowns at me.