Chapter 9
Planning
"Bella!" Alice squealed. "Bella, I've found the perfect dress!"
I groaned. I knew that anything Alice thought was perfect, was way too much.
"Alice, I know that you might have found the perfect dress for Christina Aguliera, but I don't really think I-"
Alice broke in, "I know, I know, 'I don't really think I could wear it'," she mimicked in a surprisingly good voice of me. "Come on Bella, let me have a little fun."
"I don't know..." I said uncertainly. "Alice, I don't want this to be a huge wedding, just the family and some friends."
Alice said, "Bella, I've invited a few friends, okay? No need for a hissy fit."
I looked around. "Who, me?"
Alice laughed her tinkly laugh. "Just let me take care of it, okay?"
"Alice," I said, "let me see the dress."
She pulled a long black bag from her walk-in closet.
"It's in here!" she said excitedly.
"I guessed as much," I grumbled. She ignored that.
"Open it!" Alice cried, jumping up and down.
I unzipped the zipper and pulled out a long white dress. It was an off the shoulder dress, with a V neck and sparkles all over the top. On the bottom half, it was a long white veil on top of the white skirt. Little white roses were covering all over the skinny sleeves and if you looked really close, you could see the patterns of gold thread weaved through the roses. It was the most beautiful wedding dress anyone could ever own.
But of course, I could never wear it, being the accident prone human girl I am. I'd probably trip and rip it before the wedding even started.
"Alice!" I gasped. "It's gorgeous! Did you design it?"
"Yes I did! And I made the veil, too. Do you want to see it?" she asked eagerly.
I nodded and she zipped out of the room and came back half a second later.
She turned the veil around so I could see it from every angle.
It was a long, white veil, that looked like it came down to my back and it had a pin at the end to slide under my hair.
"I love it!" I cried with excitement. Then I realized to late that it was to extravagant for me to wear. I was no supermodel.
"I can't wear it," I whispered.
"Why?" Alice demanded. "Bella, I made it just for you."
"I know that but... I am too plain and it will look weird for such a normal person to have such a pretty dress on. The contrast will be to noticeable." I whimpered.
Alice sighed. "Bella, please wear it for your wedding day? Pretty please?" she begged.
I pretended to look bored. "Alright, I guess so."
She clasped her hands behind her back and she was the picture of pleased.
I sighed. "Well, I better get back to Edward or he'll miss me."
Alice smiled. "Yes, you two. Go and find out how to tell Renee."
"How'd you know about-" I broke off.
Oh, right. Visions.
"I guess we will both tell her." I thought aloud.
"That's what I saw." Alice said knowingly.
I walked out of her enormous closet and Edward was standing right there.
"Oh!" I yelped in surprise.
"Sorry," Edward apologized with a smile.
"Hey," I breathed happy to see him again.
"Hello. Bella, I think we should both tell-"
"Renee. I know, I was thinking the same thing." I said. It was the best idea because if Renee got angry, Edward would back me up.
"I'm glad we agree," he replied pulling me into an embrace.
I sniffed his shoulder. I couldn't place the vampire smell. Something like vanilla and lilac and something else. He buried his face into my hair.
"I missed you," I whispered into his shoulder, referring to his recent hunting trip.
I could hear the smile in his voice. "I missed you, too. Always."
I stretched up on my tiptoes and kissed him. He held me there for a minute and then pushed me away when he wanted me to stop. He'd said it was for my own safety because he could lose control very easily.
I pulled my face into a pout.
He laughed at my disgruntled expression.
"That was enough for you, right?" I asked teasingly.
"No, it's never enough for me." he whispered into my ear, wrapping his arms around my waist.
I curled my fingers into his hair and someone cleared their throat.
I immediately let go and stepped away, blushing, but Edward held on tight.
Emmett smiled widely at us and Edward muttered, "Go away," but Emmett ignored him.
"So," Emmett said casually. "I heard you two are getting hitched."
Edward glared at him. "Yes, Emmett."
"Bella, I don't think you want to marry him. He doesn't know a thing about romance." Emmett said jokingly, but Edward lunged at him, growling.
"Edward, no! Stop!" I cried, chasing them down the stairs.
I heard Emmett yell, "Let's take this outside, bro!" but I was still worried. Even play fighting could hurt one of them.
"Edward! Emmett!" I screamed, hurtling myself out the door. I saw them rolling on the ground, laughing.
I breathed a sigh of relief. I seriously thought one of them was going to get hurt.
"It's okay, Bella." Emmett chortled.
I felt anger pulse through me. "Emmett! That was so not funny!"
But I couldn't help but laugh because their faces were all scrunched up and it looked hilarious.
They both stood up after a few minutes and looked at me.
"What?" I asked confused.
They glanced at each other and Edward nodded. They grinned wickedly and both jumped at me. My scream was barely noticeable because Emmett clamped a hand over my mouth. I thought about biting him, but what good would that do? Edward's arms locked around me and I was barely shaken.
What is going on? My jumbled thoughts asked me.
I looked up fearfully at Edward, but he just smiled down at me and cracked up.
"What?!" I demanded.
Edward stopped immediately. "Sorry, love. I was just having some fun with you."
He flashed the grin he knew I couldn't resist.
I was too angry for that. "Well, Edward, I don't consider jumping on your soon-to-be wife fun. Actually, that made me kind of mad."
Edward's ace turned apologetic. "Really, Bella. Sorry."
"Yeah," Emmett called, "Sorry, Bella."
I helped myself up and stalked off towards my truck.
"Come on, Bella. You can't be that mad," Emmett said, appearing in front of me.
"Wanna bet?" I muttered.
"C'mon Em," Edward murmured, standing next to Emmett. "Let her go if she wants to."
I walked around them both and was about to open the door when a pale arm reached out and swung me around.
"Hey! What-" I shouted, but Edward's lips silenced me.
At first I was furious and tried to get out of the kiss, but my weak attempts did no good. Besides, I kind of got into the kiss.
"Forgive me?"
I smiled. "Yes."
Edward took my hand and opened the truck door. He helped me in, and then ran to the other side of my truck and got in.
I started the engine and I drove to my house.
"Hey, Charlie!" I yelled.
"Hi Bella." I heard Charlie grumble.
"You know, Edward's here, too." I shouted.
"Ugh!" I could hear him groan.
I looked at Edward, hoping he wasn't going to get mad at Charlie. He just smiled.
I lead Edward up to my room and shut the door. I picked up my cellphone and dialed Renee's number. I turned the volume up louder, but I knew Edward could hear everything that she would say. We heard her cell ringing.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Mom," I said into the phone. "How are you?"
"Oh, I'm fine! I just went cliff diving with Phil," my mom's response went.
"Mom! You shouldn't be cliff diving because it's dangerous." I said.
My mom just laughed. "I think I'll be fine with Phil here,"
I sighed. Crazy Renee. "Mom, Edward and I have some great news," I started.
"And what would that be?" my mom's distant voice asked. She sounded more alert now.
"Mom," I took a deep breath, "Edward and I are going to get married."
"It's about time," she answered.
"Mom! Did you hear what I just said?" I shrieked.
"Yes, Bella. I'm not deaf!"
"What do you mean, 'It's about time'?"
"I mean, it's about time."
"Oh."
"Okay, Bells, well you take care now. I'll be coming up today. Good bye."
"What?" I asked into the phone. Of course she wasn't there, though. I hung up numbly.
"So, what'd she say?" Edward asked casually.
"It's not like you couldn't hear." I snapped.
I turned on my computer and my screen saver appeared on my screen. It's a picture of Romeo and Juliet, the 1966 version.
"I like your screen saver," Edward whispered.
I looked at him, but he was right there, almost touching my face.
"Thanks," I said, self-consciously.
Then I lost it. I grabbed his face and kissed him with so much passion, it surprised me. We had no idea it would go that far, into my bed.
For once, he didn't stop me from being rough with him. It was different, though. He held back more than usual, but he allowed himself more passion. It was the most wonderful time of my life.
