Chapter 8
A/N:I heard an interview with an author on NPR a while back, and he said that all his characters ate in diners because he couldn't spell restaurant. Thank goodness for spell check! I don't think a Rehearsal Dinner should happen at a diner ...
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, New Moon, or Eclipse. I just like having fun with the characters and world the wonderful Stephenie Meyer created.
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I'm sure that the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner were fascinating for Edward and Bella. Esme and Alice were probably fascinated, too. Perhaps Bella's human parents were also fascinated. Kate and Irina were fascinated with their boyfriends, and I was simply bored silly. I should have known that any wedding planned by Alice would be some type of overblown affair. Bella seemed so down-to-earth that she must have toned it down a bit. But there was still too much hype around. All the perky chatter was beyond what I was interested in - I had given up a lovely evening with a very hot young man for this?
The rehearsal dinner was being held at an unusual restaurant just outside Forks called The Willow Tree. the restaurant was a rambling old home, with rooms that had been beautifully decorated in the style of the early 1900s. There were several private rooms, and then several larger rooms with multiple tables. It was beautiful, and I could understand Alice's choice since Edward had grown up during that time period, but it was also very easy to get lost - once we arrived at our table, I wasn't quite sure how to get back to the door.
I looked around and tried to come up with wedding-related topics for discussion. It wasn't easy faking interest, though getting a wave of boredom after the rehearsal and before the dinner helped reinforce my belief that Bella wasn't thrilled with this hype. At least I wasn't the only person feigning interest to make the others happy. I turned to my left and saw that Alice had sat next to me. "So, Alice, how did you choose the restaurant? And how did you figure out the food for the wedding?" I was honestly interested in this - Alice had planned several weddings, but they were all vampire weddings, so no food was needed.
Alice perked up, "Thanks for asking, Tanya! I talked to a few people around Forks, and heard about this restaurant - The Willow Tree. When I came here, it felt right - the time period of the decorations was almost like a sign. I knew I had found the right place, when I found out that they are a restaurant and a catering company! It was perfect. I, um, encouraged Bella to come here a few weeks ago."
I laughed. "You mean you forced her, don't you."
"I told her I had seen her enjoying the meal." Alice defended herself, but then smiled. "I hadn't really had a vision about it, but she didn't need to know that! Anyhow, it fixed two problems at once - I'm great with all the other wedding related stuff, but I don't have experience with the food. They've even got a contract with a local baker for the cake."
"Oh, that sounds perfect, Alice!" I enthused, wanting to just get through this discussion intact. "You've done such a nice job with the wedding. If I'm ever in need of a wedding planner, I'll go to you first!"
"You, marrying?" Alice looked honestly surprised. I had never seen her like that before.
"I can hope for someday. I've been feeling lonely lately - everyone seems to be so happy with their spouses." I sighed.
"I'll have to 'watch' for you, Tanya! I never thought of you considering a serious relationship. I guess this wedding has affected you more than you're letting on." She looked at me shrewdly.
"Probably. It might just be the straw that broke the camel's back. We'll see how things go after the wedding ends. I do still want to enjoy myself, though. I'm hoping to have some fun before the wedding tomorrow."
"Good for you! Jasper has said you seemed a bit low since you've been here, but you're looking brighter now." Alice smiled at me. I knew that smile, it was the kind that was plotting something devious.
"NO!" I almost screamed, looking at her face. "I don't want that!"
"Excuse me, miss, can I help you?" A lovely young woman had walked over to me after my outburst. I looked at her for a moment, taking in her bright dark eyes with long lashes, long dark plaited hair,and skin tone that suggested some of her relatives were from the nearby Quileute tribe. Her work outfit was lovely, a red dress with a high neckline that still managed to accented her natural curves. A quick glance showed me that her left hand had no ring.
"I'm sorry, I over-reacted to something my friend said." I smiled at the young woman. "But perhaps you could help me remember how to get outside? I think I need to get some fresh air."
"Of course, miss." She smiled at me, and I touched her hand briefly as I got to my feet. A burst of loneliness followed by pure joy spread through me and confirmed what I was thinking.
I looked at Alice, "I'm sorry I over-reacted. I'll see you later, I just need to go for a walk." I looked up at Edward and Bella, "Thank you for inviting me to this dinner, I'll see you later."
"Bye Tanya!" I heard as I followed the young woman through the rooms to the exit.
As we walked towards the exit, I said, "Thank you so much for the escort. This is a beautiful restaurant, and I love the way you have made an older home into private rooms for different functions, it's a wonderful idea."
She smiled. "Thank you! I love working here. We do get a lot of requests for help to the exit, though." Her laugh was light and melodious.
"You are a wonderful server. Are you helping with the wedding tomorrow?"
"Yes, i love working weddings! I was so happy to be able to work at the rehearsal and at the reception! This family has been wonderful to work with, they've given us free reign with the menu, and it's been a lot of fun."
"I'm glad. Thanks again. My name's Tanya, may I get your name? I just want to make sure your boss knows how helpful you were." I smiled, wishing I had that nudging power that was in all the vampire books. Sometimes my smile could dazzle people, but it usually only worked on men or lesbians, and this woman was neither.
"My name's Karina. It was nice meeting you, Tanya. I'll look forward to seeing you at the wedding tomorrow evening."
"Thanks Karina." I said, and walked off into the night, thinking She will have a great time at the wedding, but it will have very little to do with me ...
Listen to me! I'm sounding like a matchmaker. This is a sad state of affairs. I need to use my seductive powers for myself, darnit! It isn't fair to be alone when there are so many happy couples around me. I will have fun before the wedding!
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The wedding day dawned with just a light cloud cover. I was sure that Alice had seen that it would be a nice day. The guys had started working on the gazebo at first light, and when I went out to help around 8 the house was a bit chaotic with everyone arranging flowers, fitting dresses, and finishing up the gazebo and seating outside. I helped a bit, but Alice could tell my heart wasn't in it, and she generously sent me away early. As I was leaving, Jasper walked up to me. "I got you free, Tanya. You owe me."
"What?" I asked, confused.
Jasper grinned, "I told Alice that your sadness was making it hard for me to work. So she gave you the chance to get out of here. Just be back in time to get all prettified by Alice for the wedding, OK?"
"Thanks, Jasper. You're right, I do owe you one. Thanks!" I gave Jasper a quick kiss on the cheek, and checked my watch - 9:45. I still had plenty of time to get to the gas station, have some fun with Jake, then separate so I can let Alice get me ready, and to have him meet me as my date for the wedding that evening.
When I got to the gas station, Jake was leaning against his Rabbit, eating something that looked like a candy bar, but from what I remembered, people don't eat candy in the morning.
Jacob caught sight of me and smiled broadly. "Hi Tanya!"
"Hey Jake!" I replied, kissing his cheek. "I thought people didn't eat candy in the morning?"
"Um, well, ..." he blushed a bit, "I was hungry, 'cos it's been a couple hours since breakfast. They don't have much at the gas station, so I grabbed a couple Snickers bars. I figure those have peanuts, so it's almost like having a peanut butter sandwich." He grinned sheepishly at the rationalization.
"Does it make your kisses sweeter?" I asked, teasing him.
"You'll have to try and find out. But let's go somewhere else first. We can go down to the beach, it's not too gloomy out."
I got into the Rabbit, and Jake drove quickly to a stretch of beach nearby. I was guessing this was a beach that I could go on without violating the treaty. It was fun to drive with someone who wasn't a vampire - you do see more of the scenery that way. Forks is very green, so there actually is pretty scenery.
Jake pulled up to a deserted stretch of beach that was hidden down a dirt road that looked as if no one had travelled down it recently. He grabbed a blanket, a couple of towels, and a bag of food from the trunk, then we moseyed down to the beach.
"This is gorgeous!" I said, laying on the blanket, my head leaning against his warm body. The clouds and waves moved gently around us.
"Gorgeous is right." Jake agreed, and turned to kiss me. Mmmm that's lovely! I thought, kissing him back.
After we had been kissing for a bit, Jake looked a little flustered, and he jumped up. "I'm feeling hot - want to join me for a swim?" He pulled off his shirt and then his shorts to reveal a pair of boxers underneath, and grabbed my hand to run into the water.
"Hey! I don't want to go in with all my clothes on!" I protested, and took off my shirt and shorts. I thought Jake's eyes would bulge out looking at my red lace bra and underwear, but I raced past him and into the water.
We had a great time splashing and dunking each other, with some added fun of kissing when we had come up for air. "Bet you can't catch me!" I teased, starting to run away in the water. Just as I had hoped, Jake grabbed me before I could run off.
"You can't get away from me!" He laughed, pulling me close. He turned me around in his arms, still holding me tightly to him. This time our kisses weren't as playful, and I could tell that I wasn't the only one getting excited.
Jake pulled me back to the blanket, "Why don't you let me warm you up and dry you off?" He offered, holding me tightly with one arm, and grabbing a towel with the other one.
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After our lovely interlude at the beach, I needed to extricate myself from Jake's embrace to return to the Cullen's house to get ready for the wedding. Before I left, I wanted to make sure he would be my date that night, "You won't stand me up, right?"
"Of course not, sweetheart. I look forward to going to the wedding with you on my arm." Jake smiled lazily, and kissed me again.
"I promised Alice she could help me get ready, so I should go now." I grinned at him seductively, "but I'll be waiting for you this evening. Look for the lady in red."
I pulled on my clothes, kissed Jake goodbye, then ran away from the beach, and towards the wedding.
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A/N: OK, that chapter turned out much longer than I was expecting. So the wedding won't be until the following chapter, sorry! I'd love to get chapter 9 up right away, but I have to see a new neurologist, and that is going to suck up the rest of my day.
Thanks for reading, and please review!
