Disclaimer: regardless of our hopes and dreams, the Twilight series cannot be called our own. It is Stephenie Meyer's fantastic creation.
Wedding preparations
Bpov
I understood. Suddenly. Edward wanted me to be happy. He needed me to be. That's why he invited Jacob.
I also understood, suddenly, that Jacob still loved me. LOVED me. And Edward LOVED me. And I loved Jacob…they way I love the rare sunny weather in Forks. It is pleasant, but capable of becoming old and boring. Like a brother.
But, I LOVED Edward. And the wedding that was coming closer and closer by the day didn't bother me anymore. I was excited. Not just excited…I was pumped!
What should I do about Jacob? Do I call him? Write him? Let Edward handle it? Or forget about it and let life take its course? Arghhh.
I wondered quietly as I paced the room waiting intently for Alice to barge in and the day begin.
"Edward?" I called out while knowing there would be no response. He had gone out hunting with his brothers, promising me that he would be here waiting for me by the time Alice and I got back from our day of wedding planning (we were to make the final food decisions and final dress alterations) and shopping. I smiled to myself remembering the many fights I had put up to save me from days and days of shopping.
"Bella… Bella Barbie?" Alice called out as she started the shower so it would be hot by the time I got there. "You did pretty well on your appearance the other day, Bella. But the Cullen's can certainly still teach you a thing or two."
"Gee, thanks Alice. The Cullen's almost approve of my outfits? This is the day I have been waiting for my whole life." I said dully in a sarcastic tone as she scowled. I headed to the bathroom smiling.
"Haha Bella. You get funnier by the day." She said in an equally cynical voice. She then turned her full attention to the closet and she disappeared behind the heavy French doors that held her clothes from the rest of the world.
I then stepped into the steam covered shower. I scrubbed and lathered until I was squeaky clean and I cleansed my skin to unblock my pores before they were clogged with a heavy mask of make-up. I carefully turned off the water and wrapped a fluffy light-blue towel around my hair. Then I pulled a cashmere bathrobe around my body and mentally prepared myself for the outfit that was set just outside the door though I had absolutely no idea what to expect from Alice, as usual.
I walked out pretty bravely if I do say so myself. Then I scrutinized the bed for any fashion forward creations. Laying on the bed was a pair of white skinny jeans that looked fairly comfortable. Then there was a hot pink simple T-shirt that had a band around the ribs and a row of buttons from the band to the top. Of course they were all unbuttoned. The outfit also included a heavy, thick, silver, braided belt that I could never get to fit through the small loops the jeans supplied. That's why it was draped at an angel over the top of the shirt. Next to that was a pair of matching hot-pink pumps and a light pink camisole that had silver detailing. Beside the whole outfit was a light pink push up bra and matching underwear. Alice. I sighed as I picked the outfit up and walked back to the bathroom to change.
I emerged in the amazing outfit and slightly towel dried hair. I smiled as I walked up to Alice sitting by the vanity in her room. She grinned back and pulled the blow drier up to my head and dried it completely. My naturally wavy hair was then flat-ironed into pin-straight perfection. My make-up was light. Just foundation, eye liner, mascara, and light pink lip stain that was topped with a sheer pink gloss.
Smiling, I studied my reflection. "Good to go." I decided. And headed out.
"Not so fast!" Rosalie said blocking my way. She had a Dooney and Bourke bag dangling from her perfect finger. I smiled and snatched it from her grasp looking through it. "Yes, its all there. Cell phone, credit card, keys…everything."
"Thank you!" I mumbled as I hugged her. "You're coming too, right? My two maids of Honor's need to try their dresses on again!" I said slowly letting the news sink in.
"Oh, Bella! And I thought you were going to be traditional with this wedding." She smiled as she spoke.
"Nope. I need both of my almost sisters beside me!" I responded, happy to please Rosalie.
"And who are your brides maids?" Alice asked thoughtfully.
"I was thinking Angela and Jess. I just want to keep it small and you four are the only girls I hang out with a lot." I spoke honestly. And then I smiled. I grabbed my cell phone and told Angela and Jessica to meet us for final dress fittings. Alice had already picked out a style and the colors of the wedding were Navy Blue and Royal Blue. Everything was going to be perfect!
I walked past the girls and down to the kitchen where I grabbed a pop-tart. Then Alice pulled me outside and waited impatiently for me to find my car keys. I unlocked the doors and slid into the driver's seat. Rosalie beat Alice to the passenger seat and Alice huffed loudly as she pulled open the back door. Once we were all in and I, at least, was buckled we were off. I drove us to the small bridal shop where the dresses had come in and I tried mine on first.
I pulled the thin white silk over my body and marveled over the unique design. The top was made to look like a corset with great detailing. It was sleeveless. The skirt was full and long with a train that went on for miles. I smiled at my reflection and walked out to show the girls. By the sound of the cheering I think they liked it.
Then Rosalie and Alice disappeared to try on their matching navy dresses. There's had a similar design up top but went into a skirt that puffed out slightly and then kept the slightly raised shape.
My two bridesmaids wore dresses with a low V-neck and puffed up sleeves. It had a sash across the waistline that tied in the back. The skirt was slightly puffed out and it fell below their knees.
Everything was pulled together by silver, strappy, high heeled, sandal like, shoes for the bridesmaids and Maids of Honors. And similar white shoes for me. I thought everything looked amazing!
After we had all agreed on the perfection of the looks, we thanked the dress makers and left them to do the alterations. The final products would be picked up tonight. We all headed to my car which, thankfully, fit five people comfortably.
"Where to, Alice?" I questioned while looking at the black haired beauty that sat beside me.
"the caterer's" she responded immediately.
Good idea. I thought. Its about time for lunch anyway.
"We are going to test out dishes for the reception." Rosalie announced excitedly though I knew inside she was gagging at the thought of human food. OOOh's and AAAh's erupted from the back seat as my two bridesmaids squealed in excitement over the idea of eating a very fancy lunch. I smiled, pleased by their reactions. I took my seat at the head of the table and dug into the skillfully prepared lasagna that had been placed in front of me. I squirmed in my seat as the scalding food slid down my throat leaving an uncomfortable burned sensation in it's wake.
Alice sat to my left and Rosalie next to her. On my right Angela and Jess were enjoying their meals. I peaked to my left again and saw my two vampire almost-sisters convincingly swallowing their meals. They looked to me for a sign of liking or distaste. I discreetly gave them a thumbs up, signaling to them that I liked the food. Alice winked to me and called the waiter over.
"We all like this one, we would like to add it to the menu." Alice said to the waiter as he came over. He whipped a notebook out of his pocket and grabbed a pen. He noted the dish we had on the table and scribbled something in the small steno-pad.
"Lasagna, Ms. Cullen?" he asked in a thick French accent while knowing it was the correct answer. "Good choice for the um…event?"
"Yes, Pierre. Thank you. And this menu will be for the wedding of my dear brother Edward and Bella." Alice informed the waiter while motioning to me on the last part. I smiled as his round brown eyes darted from the pad of paper to me.
"Ahhh, so this is the lucky girl?" He asked slowly as his eyes drank in the sight of me.
"Yes, I am the one." I replied cheerfully. I could see the boredom in Alice's eyes and I knew she would jump into the conversation any moment.
"Pierre, next we would like to try the chicken parmesan." She said to him plainly as she smoothed down her already perfect pixie-like hair cut and placed a pale hand over the handle of the knife provided with the dining set.
"Right away, Ms. Cullen." He quickly answered, knowing not to mess with Alice. I wondered how he knew the Cullen family so well.
"Girls?" Rosalie asked, then she paused for just a minute, waiting to make sure she had our attention. "You know we are going shopping after this right?" she asked curiously, but then didn't give them time to answer. "Well, despite Bella's pleads, we have decided to sign Bella up at the gift registry in some of the stores. You wouldn't mind helping out right?"
"No! Of course not. Anything for Bella, right?" Angela responded quickly, too quickly. Then she elbowed Jess in the ribs.
"We would lovvvve to help!" Jess mumbled sarcastically while letting the V in love go on longer than the rest of the sounds.
"Great!" Alice exclaimed and I knew she had to work extra hard to keep herself from making her tone hard at Jess's reaction. I kicked Alice's foot under the table to tell her to be careful. Then I kicked both hers and Rosalie's. They looked up at me in the exact same second with an almost identical mask of confusion lighting up their pale beautiful faces.
"I'm just playing, I knew about the registry." I whispered hardly loud enough for the two of them to hear. Then they got it, I could from the way their faces went from deep confusion to understanding.
"Alice." I whined slowly. "Come on, you know I don't want gifts." If Jess and Angela weren't here no one would have bothered with registry business, knowing that the two girls would have made one at a later date.
"Bella. It's your wedding day, forget about everything that you usually stand against. Besides, you will thank me for it later." Alice said slowly.
This was usually the time Jess would jump in and say something stupid about only living once. But, recently, she hadn't been her usual chatty-Kathy self. Did it have to do with the Cullen's? I guess I would have to talk to her later.
I was about to stop and just openly agree, but I saw Pierre come around the corner with five steaming of plates of sauce-and-cheese covered chicken.
So, I pointed at Alice and smirked. "O.k. Alice. Just you wait for your wedding. I will do something so horrible tha-" I started. But Pierre cut in just in time like I had planned.
"Sorry to interrupt you girls, but your next dish is here." He said with a small smile. I took my plate of hot poultry and stuffed a bite into my mouth. Hopefully by the time I was done with my food, everyone will have forgotten about the whole gift registry thing.
I tilted my thumb to the left so it was half up and half down.
"You like it?" I asked the girls. Alice and Rosalie shrugged and Jess nodded. Angela considered the question slowly and then smiled and gave me a thumbs up sign.
"Pierre." I called so that my voice rang out clear to the server. He rushed over and I started talking. "We would like to add this as well, bring out the next dish please." And it went on like this until we had a menu that looked like this:
Isabella and Edward Cullen's wedding meal,
Entrees,
Chicken parmesan
Lasagna
Baked ziti
Small, singles cheese pizza
Deserts
Cullen Apple Crisp
Isabella's ice cream sundae
Edward's easy apple pie
Swan's strudel
Appetizers:
Grandma's garlic bread
-OR-
Regular club's bread and butter basket
Once we were all satisfied that all of the groups favorite's meals were put onto the menu we headed out to face my personal death…shopping.
"Come on, Girls!" Rosalie shouted, loud and proud as she swayed her hips to whatever song was playing in her blonde head. I laughed at the sight of Rosalie making a fool out of herself. But, as usual, she looked great doing it. "Let's SHOP!" she called as she flashed her gold credit card.
I pulled open the drivers side door and pulled myself into a comfortable position on the leather seat. I opened my mouth to delver the dreaded question but Alice beat me to it.
"Where to?" she asked in her twinkling soprano. Rosalie turned around and shot her a look. And then tilted her head to the side.
"You're choice." She stated with a smirk plastered onto her face. She didn't want to be the one to deliver the verdict of the first shopping destination, though I was pretty sure both sisters knew exactly where we were going.
"Um…" Alice stammered while looking out the window. "I don't know, what do you think girls?" she asked. This confused me. Those two probably weren't in on the plan.
"I think we should go to Victoria's secret." Angela said slowly as if it were a line she was reading to try out for a role in a movie. Alice's lips twitched upward as Rosalie's eyes slanted into a glare. I am sure I looked like Rosalie at that moment, though not quite as breathtaking.
"Is this some kind of plan I, we, weren't let in on?" Rosalie growled as I nodded
"Well, yeah. We couldn't tell Bella because she would refuse to come and we couldn't tell you because you are no good at blocking things from Edward. Plus, Bella needs underwear." Alice said and she threw in a wink at the end.
I sighed and parked the car. Then I walked into the mall with the girls at my heels.
"That's the last of it." I called to Rosalie and Alice. We were finally done unloading the car. Every last bag was out of the trunk or pulled out of the once loaded backseat.
"You're sure?" Alice questioned as she poked her head out of the front door. She looked unsure as she studied my face and then the car.
"Yes, or you can check for yourself." I said, exasperated. Of course Alice sprinted down the steps, never trusting me.
"I could have sworn there was another bag in there somewhere." Alice muttered loudly to herself as she passed by me in a blur of short black hair and pale marble skin. Never bet against Alice. I thought as I walked closer.
"No, you are probably right." I told Alice as I hunched over and peered over her shoulder and into the car.
"Unbelievable." Alice murmured quietly.
"What?" I asked curiously. She ignored me and pulled up the most important bag of them all out of the trunk. "What?" I asked again as she pulled the top of the bag out and shoved it into my arms. "What, Alice, Wha-" I started.
She sighed and yanked the bag from my hands. "This." She said pulling a long, white, plastic garment bag from the shopping bag.
"This…?" I asked slowly. And she sighed again.
She didn't even bother explaining. She just unzipped the bag and revealed my wedding dress. "Bella, how did you forget this?" she interrogated. I groaned and pressed my hot forehead to the side of my car.
"Oh, Alice. I don't even know how." I complained looking deeply into her bright eyes. I slumped into the side of the car.
"You need sleep." Alice confirmed. I just nodded, blinked, and headed to the house. As I approached the house Edward came over and locked his strong arms around me. I let my mouth curl into a smile and aloud him to pick me up and bring me in. I yawned and leaned my head on his shoulder.
"Change. Have your 'Bella Time' o.k.?" Edward said softly as he set me down in our room.
"Mmhmm, I will." I answered. And I walked slowly toward the bathroom. Rosalie had already unpacked my clothes leaving pair of light blue silk Victoria's secret pajama's in the bathroom with a matching bra and underwear set. Then I brushed my teeth firmly and thoroughly and used mouth wash. Then I opened the door and rushed out. I climbed into bed and let myself find a comfortable place as I took a deep breath. Edward came toward me and laid down beside me on the bed. He once again wrapped his strong, cool arms around me. I smiled up at him and gave him a small kiss. I knew I wanted more, but I could wait. And then I looked up at him again. One more day and I would be Isabella Marie Cullen. And that was my lst thought for the night.
A/N: 7th chapter! Want us to keep going? Well, we will because we love to write! But…we have only a few reviews and we NEED to know what you think. So please tell us! 8th chapter up soon! It's going to be good!
