Ok, so here is the second chapter. I hope you enjoy it as much as the first, and remember to review and let me know what you think. Thanks. (:
Stpehenie Meyer owns all of these characters, but I make them do cool things.
Chapter 2: A Woman's Story
12 Years Later
"Bella! I can't find my veil! What am I going to do without a veil!" Alice screeched. I walked over to her, veil in hand.
"Here, Alice. Chill out. If you need anything else, just yell. I got you covered, girlfriend." I said, trying to make her settle a little. She hugged me.
"Ugh, thank you Bella. You are the best maid of honor/best friend anyone could ever have!" she said letting me go.
"I know, I know. Now you're on in five minutes, so get your earrings on, and I'll meet you at the top of the stairs. Rose, why don't you go check and see if the groomsman are ready, because we're starting, and if they are, take them to the stairs and we'll mee you out there." I told her.
"Yes, ma'am." she said, and soluted me, walking out of the room, laughing. It was good to know at 30-years-olld I still had it. I helped Alice with her last little things, and we walked out to the stairs where the groomsmen, and Carlisle were standing.
"Ready?" I asked, stepping in front of Alice and taking hold of Eric's arm.
"Yes. Finaly." she breathed. I winked, and the music started up. We made our way down the stairs, and took our places at the alter. After us came Rosalie and Emmett, then Ben and Angela. The Wedding March started and everyone stood, to turn to the back. I looked at Jasper, and his eyes lit up as she made her way with Carlisle down the isle. I smiled, and turned to watch her decsend. She got there, and everyone was seated again. She handed me her boquet, and I took it.
"Alice, do you take this man to be your lawfull wedded husband, to have and to hold, through sickness and in health, until death do you part?" the preacher asked.
"I do." Alice replied, smiling.
"Jasper, do you take this woman to be your lawfull wedded wife, to have and to hold through sickness and through health, until death do you part?"
"I do." he said, and took Alice's hand. They were so cute. I smiled, myself.
"By the power vested in me, and the great state of Washington, I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Jasper Hale. You may now kiss the bride." he finished. Everyone clapped, and Alice and Jasper kissed sweetly. I handed her her boquet back and she took it, then walked down the isle, holding Jasper's hand. "The reception will follow at the park, under the tent. You have directions on your invitations, and if you have lost your invitations, there are extra directions at the front." the preacher said. Eric and I were next to walk, and we met up in the middle, walking to the end. We got to the limo and made our way to the park. We sat at the table, and started discussing things.
"Ok, Alice. We are going to eat, then make the toasts. A little after that and we are going to do the dances, then you are free for the rest of the night." I said.
"Thanks, Bells." she said smiling. People were walking in, finding their names and sitting in their place. The waiters brought out the food, and everyone started talking and eating and drinking. Everyone looked happy, and Eric got my attention to start the toasting. He stood, and tapped his glass, and it quieted down.
"Hello, I'm Eric, and I'm the best man. And I would like to make a toast to Alice and Jasper. I've been Jasper's best friend for ages. And I am so happy to be here and to be toasting the happy couple." he said, raising his glass. Everyone did the same and took a swig of the expensive champeighn Alice had to have. "And now here is the made of honor." I smiled, and stood.
"Alice and I have been best friends since first grade, and I seriously never thought Jasper would propose, because that's how long they've been together. But he was just waiting for the right moment. And he found it. So, I would like to say, thank you, Jasper. For making my best friend the happiest woman on the planet. And good luck to the happy couple." I said, raising my glass. Everyone followed after and took another swig, and I sat back down. Alice hugged me, then made her way to the dance floor with Jasper in tow. I got up and decided to start walking ariund to talk to people. I found Jessica, someone I hadn't talked to in years, and started having conversation.
"So what happened with you?" she asked.
"Well, I went to school, got my degree in english, wrote a book, and became an english teacher. And I got-"
"Bella? Bella Swan?" a soft voice asked. I turned, and standing in front of me was Edward Cullen. I knew he would be here, but it never really crossed my mind. I took in the way he looked. Just the same. Messy bronze hair, bright green eyes, and a built body. He was wearing a nice black suit and tie, and looked very nice. I hadn't seen him in twelve years. Since grad night.
"Edward?" I whispered, slowly walking towards him. I smiled a little and his crooked smile apeared, too. He walked towards me, and we hugged. "Oh my God, it's so good to see you." I said, laughing.
"You, too. God, let me look at you." he said, pushing me away at arms length and staring at my black floor length bridesmaid gown. "Yeah. You look the same." he shrugged. I laughed and playfully hit him. He took my hand and led me to the nearest table so that we could sit. "So tell me about what happened to you after high school. What did you do? Did you get married, have kids?" he asked.
"Well. I went to Harvard, like planned and I majored in english. I wrote a book, and it didn't do very well. Uhm, now I'm an english teacher at Forks, I know, never got away." I laughed. He laughed, too. "And, yes, married." I saw his face drop a little bit, then said my next words. "And divorced." I said, looking down.
"Bells, I'm sorry. What happened?" he asked.
"Oh, you don't want to know the story. It's long and boring." I laughed.
"No. I want to hear it all. How you met, everything." he said.
"Ok. Well, I'd been at Harvard for about a month, and I was in the library. Suprise, suprise. And, it sounds so cliche, but I dropped a book. Mike picked it up. He was sweet, and we talked for a few minutes. After that we just saw each other everywhere. It was crazy. And after all of the waves hello, and smiles, he finally got the courage to ask me out. Our first date went horrible. The reservatins that he had made at one of the nicest restraunts in town had been lost, so we ended up at a Burger King. It was horrible, and yet I still agreed to go on a second date with him.
"We spent the summer together, only going where the other went. We were inseperable. He met my parents, and I met his. And by the begining of the next year we were openly admitting that we loved each other. Around the middle of the year we got into a fight, and broke up. The next day he showed up at my dorm with coffee and flowers. We made up and were back on track. At the end of that year we went on a vacation together, to Greece. He proposed there, and it was beautiful. We promised each other that we would wait until we graduated to have the wedding. And we did.
"Two years later, we had graduated and we were going to get married in three months. I had my dress, the colors, bridesmaid dresses, bridesmaids, everything was ready. Three moths later we were married. It was a beautiful wedding, and Alice was my maid of honor. And everything was perfect. We went on a honey moon to Cabo San Lucas. It was amazing. A few years in, and we decide to try for a baby. We tried, and tried, and tried, but I would never get pregnant. So, we went to the doctor. He told us that I wasn't able. And it killed me, both of us. We went on with our lives, but we got into more fights, and we talked less. It went like that for a year. Then one morning I woke up, and he had gone to work. I was going through his hdrawers, I don't even remember what I was looking for. Just a shirt or something, but the drawers were empty. He had taken all of his stuff with him into work. That night he showed up on the doorstep with divroce papers ready for me to sign. He couldn't handle it. I told him we could adopt, but he wasn't for that at all. So, here I am now." I said. Edward put his hand on top of mine.
"Bella, I am so sorr-"
"Edward, please don't appologize. It's not something that you can help, and it's not something that you should be sorry for. It's not a big deal."
"Bella, it is a big deal. He left for something you couldn't help. And I have no respect for anyone who could do that. Especially to you." he said. I smiled a little, and he returned it. I was about to say something when Alice walked over to us.
"I was wondering when you two were going to find each other! But, dear brother, I need to borrow my maid of honor for a few minutes. We need to take pictures." she said, and grabbed my hand. "And then after that you two can dance. I do recall Edward teaching you how to dance sophmore year." she said, smiling. He laughed at the memory, and I smiled.
"Whatever, Alice. I'll be right back." I told him, and walked off with her.
"Well, you two looked comfie at that table." she said.
"Al, I was telling him my divorce story!" I laughed.
"Bella! Why the hell would you do that? That is such a downer!" she said, then we smiled for the first picture.
"What's a downer?" Rose asked, repositioning herself for the next picture. The photographer clicked it, and we went on with our converation.
"Bella found Edward." Alice said.
"Ohhh!" Rose rebutled as the next picture clicked.
"And she told him the story of her divorce." she continued.
"Oh..." Rose said. The next picture snapped.
"For your information, he asked." I said, and the photographer got the last picture. We started walking back to the dance floor and finished our conversation.
"That still doesn't mean you tell him the whole story!" she said.
"But he wanted to know." I replied meekly.
"Oh, just go dance with him." Rosalie said, pushing me towards him. I stuck my tounge out at them and made my way over to where he sat. He stood when I got there, and I smiled. He was still a gentleman.
"Do you want to dance? I didn't spend that four hours for nothing." he said. I laughed, and nodded as we headed to the floor. He took one of my hands, and placed the other on the small of my back. I took his hand and placed the other on his soulder balde. We swayed for a few minutes before we started talking. "Man, whoever tought you how to dance was a real pro." he joked. I went with it.
"Yeah, but he was really kind of creepy. If I remember right, he tried to kiss me after." I said.
"And if he remembers right, you went right along with it." he said, laughing.
"Indeed I did. He was a good kisser." I said. It was quiet for a minute. "I remember everything with you. Everything. To where I don't even remember what Mike was wearing on our wedding day." I whispered. He let go of my hand and wrapped both arms around my waist. Mine went to his neck, and I burried my face in his neck. We swayed there.
"Me, too. I remember the last night we were together. I think about it every day. Every day I think about you, Bells." he whispered.
"I know. I do, too. But it was what was best." I said.
"You just left me." he said.
"It's what you wanted, what was best for us both." I said. He pulled away, and we stopped dancing. Standing in the middle of the dance floor.
"It was never what I wanted. But you said you were ok. I thought you would at least call, something. But you never did. You made no effort." he said.
"Neither did you, but, Edward, there wasn't any effort to be made. It was something that happened. And don't tell me how much it hurt, because I know. I cried every day. When I was around anyone I would hold myself together, but everytime I was alone these tears just came out of no where. It was a mutual thing, Edward." I whispered the last few words, and placed my palm on his cheek. He leaned in and nodded. He grabbed my hand again, and we continued dancing. The song ended, and a fast-paced song came on. Alice ran over to us in her dress, and dragged us to the center to dance. It was a rap song, and I didn't really recognize it.
"Alice, I'm thirty years old. I don't dance to this kind of music." I laughed.
"Just let loose, Bells." she said, and started dancing with Jasper and anyone else who was around her.
"Yeah, let loose." Edward said, mocking her. I laughed, and he grabbed my hand. We danced for a little while, then made it back to the table he was seated at.
"Sorry about earlier, I don't know what happened." he said. I nodded.
"No, it's fine. We were caught up in the moment." I said, smiling at him. He nodded, and looked down at the floor.
"So, Mr. Cullen." I said, and he looked up at me. "I haven't heard your story yet."
Cliffie! haha jk. Not really a cliffie. ok, so review and please let me know what you're thinking. (: Thanks.