A/N: I still don't own anyway of the twilight characters
Chapter 8
KPOV
I have to admit that Rosalie's secret shocked me. I tried not to let on that it did. She was my best friend and nothing was going to change that….but vampires, seriously?!
She spent several hours answering my questions about life as a vampire. She left with my assurance that everything was the same between us.
I sat up most of that night thinking of the magnitude of the secret revealed to me. I had just been told that the 'things that go bump in the night' are real. I had a strong desire to check the closet for the boogieman.
Finally, I reasoned that I was being ridiculous. The Cullen's were basically just people with abnormal eating habits. I mean I liked to eat frozen french fries and raw ground beef. They just liked their meat a little more rare.
Sure there was that whole immortal thing and the sparkling skin, which I still had to see, but really did that matter. Yes, Rosalie would outlive me….so? Yes, we couldn't go to the beach. Well, I burn easily anyway.
Actually, the more I thought about it the worse I felt. How could I think it was such a big deal. It was simply a matter of dietary preferences. I just hoped the rest of the Cullen's would feel that their secret was safe with me.
Rosalie wedding was here before I knew it. Because of the odd number of Cullen's Edward graciously agreed to accompany me.
"Jasper is going to serve as best man. It will make Alice happy since she's maid of honor and its only fair, the last wedding I was best man." Edward assured me.
Since Rosalie had told me about the Cullen's huge secret, statements like 'the last wedding' were coming more often and becoming less of a shock.
Of course, there was a 'last wedding' and probably one before that. I would have to ask Rosalie how many times she experienced the most special day in a woman's life.
I managed to pool my resources enough, and get enough credit, to buy a new dress and shoes. It was an evening wedding obviously, so I bought a floor length gown. It was strapless column gown made from silk chiffon. It had a watercolor floral print and was belted under the bust with a lavender ribbon. I had silver heals and a silvery gray cardigan. I pinned my hair behind my ear with a while gardenia.
"You look exquisite." Edward remarked as he ushered me to our seats on the bride's side.
I was grateful to me for putting me at ease. He looked positively dashing in a black tuxedo with a red rose on his lapel.
"I'd much rather wear a simple suit. Getting dressed in a tuxedo every time your sister gets married is tiring. But Rosalie insists on a tux." Edward informed me. Seeing Edward, I was quite glad Rosalie had a flair for the dramatic.
The wedding took place in the Cullen's backyard. It looked magical with Chinese lanterns hanging from the trees. It made it look like the backyard was full of floating moons.
Rosalie said she was going for a 'rustic' look this time. It made me wonder what an extravagant affair would have looked like.
The seats were filled with acquaintances of the Cullens. Carlisle's colleagues from the hospital were there, as were some of Rosalie and my classmates, even Esme's friends from her home renovation group were present.
All of them, however, looked slightly befuddled as to why they were there. It was as if they were extras in a movie and didn't know what scene they were in.
A string quartet began to play as Esme and Carlisle walked down the aisle together toward a waiting Emmett. Emse wore a teal satin gown with a sweetheart neckline. Her wavy hair was tied loosely in a chignon and pinned with a pearl hairpin. Carlisle wore a black tuxedo that was identical to Edward's except that Carlisle's lapel held a white rose.
Next came Alice and Jasper. Alice was naturally small but next to Jasper she looked like a tiny porcelain doll. She wore a silk dress the same shade of teal as Esme's. Alice's dress was strapless and a-line. Her waist was belted with a wide white ribbon. She wore a pearl bracelet. Jasper, too, was dressed identical to Carlisle.
Finally, Rosalie came into view of the guests. There was an audible gasp. I looked to Emmett. I knew that this was not the first time he saw Rosalie coming down the aisle, but you would never know it.
That moment made me more secure in my decision that the Cullens were like any other family. The look of love that spread across Emmett's face was remarkable. The love that Rosalie and Emmett, Alice and Jasper, and Esme and Carlisle shared was human. There was no way that any 'monster' could be capable of such a beautiful emotion.
As I turned back to Rosalie I had the distinct feeling that I was seeing an angel, literally. Her skin was luminescent. Her wavy platinum blonde cascaded over her shoulders. She wore a long cathedral length veil but just on the back, her face was clear to the spectators.
Her signature red lipstick contrasted with the ivory of her dress. The gown was made from French lace. It was v-neck and finished with a mermaid tail.
She also wore a single strand of pearls and carried a bouquet of black magic roses.
"Rosalie always walks down the aisle alone. I think she likes the extra attention of a solo entrance." Edward whispered this to me. His cool breath breezed over my ear and I was light headed for a moment.
The ceremony was surprisingly traditional. Although I could swear I saw both Rosalie and Emmett smirk as they promised to love each other as long as they both shall live.
The reception was very low key. Once everyone had told Rosalie how beautiful she looked, she quickly lost interest and I caught a final glimpse of her dragging Emmett into the house to begin their honeymoon.
"So, how did this wedding stack up to all the ones before?" I asked Edward. We were secluded, off by a old willow tree that was lit with the Chinese lanterns.
"It wasn't nearly as theatrical. No gospel choir, no Eiffel Tower, no white peacocks…but I have to say I enjoyed it better. I think it might have something to do with the company." Edward responded cautiously eyeing me.
For the briefest second a thought flickered through my mind. Did he mean me? Did he mean me romantically?
But just as quickly as it came into my head I shoved it out. Of course not, that was ridiculous. Edward was an Adonis. He was perfect in everyway. He was still in love with the girl that broke his heart. He probably just meant he was glad Rosalie actually had a friend here. From what I can gather she had probably never had a human friend at her wedding that truly cared for her.
After a moment of awkward silence that I spent trying to think of how I was going to pay off this outfit, the rest of the Cullen's made there way across the yard to Edward and I.
"Well, Kate, did you have a good time?" Esme asked. She was always so sincere in her words it left no doubt that she cared about those around her with her entire being. It was ironic that a vampire would have the biggest heart of anyone I know.
"It was beautiful Esme. Thank you so much for inviting me. Can I help clean-up?"
"No, dear. This won't take long. Plus the lights make the yard look so enchanting, I may leave them up for a bit."
With that Carlisle whisked her away into the darkness where I heard her giggling.
"I'm really glad you could make it Kate. It was nice to feel real happiness coming from the guests. We all have been through this so much sometimes it doesn't feel like a real wedding and our usual guests are usually too wrapped up in being at the Cullen residence to care about Rosalie and Emmett." Jasper informed me.
Rosalie told me that some vampires had special gifts but I hadn't asked about her family specifically. It struck me then that Jasper could feel the emotions of those around him. I realized at once that although at times it might be wonderful, it was really quite a burden to feel so much at once without any control as to what you would feel.
I also wondered what kind of other gifts the Cullens might have.
"Weddings always make me sentimental. Jazz, can we take a walk to the waterfall?" Alice asked batting her eyelashes. I could tell she didn't need to, Jasper would have done anything she asked.
They strolled away hand in hand, leaving Edward and I alone again.
"Would you like to come in with me? I noticed at the club that you were a fan of music and I have quite an extensive collection." Edward asked leaning close enough for me to smell his sweet breath.
I had to take a moment to collect myself. "I'll have to take a rain check on that. I had to trade shifts to get tonight off so I have a double shift tomorrow. I should go home and get some sleep."
"Oh, okay then, another time."
Edward escorted me to my car and opened the door for me.
"You really are from another time, aren't you?'
"Just treating a beautiful woman the way she should be treated."
As I drove off I began wondering if I had read the Edward situation all-wrong
EPOV
Another first. With Bella I just couldn't hear her thoughts. It drove me crazy. With Kate, I can hear them but they aren't at all what I'd expect. She zigs where I expect a zag. Its frustrating.
In all my years of solitude, every time I wanted to charm a woman it was no problem. As Bella said, I dazzle people.
But Kate said no. I can't even tell if she wanted to say yes.
I stayed up in the living room trying desperately to block out the thoughts of Rosalie and Emmett. Several hours later Alice and Jasper came back from their walk. Both looked slightly disheveled.
"Alice may I have a word with you?" I was already walking back into the kitchen and Alice followed.
"What's up Edward?"
"I need to ask you if you see anything?"
"Are you looking for anything in particular?"
"Now this is just out of curiosity, but, do you see Kate with anyone? Romantically?" I grimaced as I asked this. I was worried Alice would become defensive and become determined to get Kate out of our lives. For some reason that idea terrified me.
"No." She gazed long and hard into my eyes her pupils narrowing. "Why?"
"No reason. Just curious as to her future."
'Edward Anthony Masen, you are lying to me."
"Alice, I'm the one who can read thoughts. Not you. There is no way you can know I'm lying."
"I may be a vampire but I still have a woman's intuition. You are interested in her! Again, Edward, really? Another human?" She wasn't mad at me. Her questions were more pleading me to re-think my feelings.
"Its just an interest. She intrigues me. It probably means nothing."
"What does she think about you?"
"That's the problem, I can't tell. If I heard anything, believe me, I wouldn't be asking you This evening I was trying to…well, I was trying to dazzle and she was thinking about paying her bills! I was half tempted to tell her I was giving her 1,000 just to get her mind off the bills to see what she thought of me."
"There is hope then after all, maybe your dazzling techniques have gotten rusty.'
