I want to give a quick thank you to everyone that has reviewed this story and added it to their favs/alerts, you guys always blow my mind with your support :0)
See I didn't make you wait too long for a change...lol. I thought I'd get busy with Lionel and set to with another chapter so here it is.
Oh and because I haven't put it for a while....I DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT...The other writing Mormon does and she goes by the name of STEPHANIE MEYER
Bella's POV
"Well I don't care if the woman is off sick...well ok I do and I hope she gets better soon but this is my wedding! You only get married once...ok so this is technically the second time for me...but that's besides the point! I ordered those flowers two months ago!" My mother frantically yelled down the phone to some innocent news barer that clearly didn't deserve her wrath. "Well then you'd better come up with a solution pretty sharp because they're an integral part of my whole day!...Yes...Marrying my fiancée IS the most important part...Am I paying extra for this sarcasm too because I don't ever remember that being in the brochure...maybe it was in the small print...Well you too!" she screeched and slammed the phone back down on the receiver before letting her face fall into her hands while she sobbed.
Seeing her so upset broke my already weak heart.
Her wedding to Charlie had been a small family affair...or at least that's how he'd tried to pass it off to her as but in reality it was a ten minute ceremony in the city hall and the whole event was achieved for less than three hundred dollars. Not that there was anything wrong in the intimate little setting...and she'd loved him and didn't care if they got married in the alley behind tikki hut where a few homeless people would stand in for their witnesses...But he'd promised her grandeur. She'd told him she didn't need or want all that stuff and he told her she was his princess and deserved it so she let her mind and heart run away to the possibilities and set it on a quaint little lakeside venue. He let her book it and put a substantial deposit on it to secure the popular venue...pick out some beautiful flowers and a stunning grown fit for real royalty. Then three day's before the wedding he broke the news that he'd used the money to put a down payment on a house instead; meaning that she couldn't even be too angry with him because it would be for the roof over their heads and a place to start a family together. She'd been good at hiding her disappointment from him as she rung around the various vendors to cancel and bit back her tears as they asked if the groom had changed his mind about the whole marriage thing.
This time was different.
She still didn't need the whole big affair and flouncy dress but a little bit of her wanted it. Phil was nothing like Charlie...thank god. He'd shared an interest in the whole planning of there union and told her she could have anything she wanted. She'd told him she only needed him.
"That's all I needed to hear." He'd answered with a loving kiss. "But...I want you to have something special with no broken promises." He handed her a shiny bit of plastic.
"I don't get it...Why do I need this?" She'd eyed him suspiciously.
He'd informed her that it was for an account he'd set up especially for her to use for wedding plans and payments leaving her looking at him shocked. It turned out that Phil was one hell of a saver and had been putting money away most of his life and had a really large bank balance; not that you'd know, he was like the Cullen's in that respect...He didn't flaunt it in peoples faces.
She'd finally gave into the wave of possibilities and booked the ball room civil service package at Chatterton House, a stately home on the outskirts of town.
So being told three days before the wedding that her florist had cancelled on her due to illness was not something she was prepared for...and the fact that she hadn't arranged any cover to fill her commitments pissed my mother off no end. She would now have to start from scratch trying desperately to find someone who could pull off her order at such short notice.
"Renee...Don't worry honey, We'll sort this." Esme offered her comfort and a consolatory hug...squeezing her tightly to show her love for her friend of many years.
"How are we going to sort this?" She asked weakly as she broke down further.
"We'll ring around and see if there's anyone else around that can fill the order." Edward's mother's brow creased as she thought about the slim chance of that being possible. "Please don't lose hope sweetie."
Phil was on his feet and pulling my mother from Esme's arms into his own, resting his chin on the top of her head and wrapping his arms securely around her.
That's how he differed from Charlie...Charlie would have shrugged and stated that 'Shit happens' before raiding the fridge for another beer.
I couldn't take it any more and turned to leave the family room where our parents had been enjoying a relaxing afternoon getting to know each other.
Esme knew Phil from when he and my mother were friends before but she'd been eager to reacquaint herself and introduce her husband Carlisle. They'd hit it off immediately and been talking baseball most of the time. Edward would interject the conversation sporadically about players he'd seen improve their swing over the course of the season and who he thought 'couldn't bat for shit'. Phil had chuckled and agreed with most of his choices before adding a few of his opinions into the mix.
But the lazy chilled atmosphere was lost with that one phone call and I left before I cried for her. I skulked over to the kitchen, grabbed a glass and poured out some soda before walking over to the French doors. I leaned against the door frame with a sigh and a tear.
"Hey you." Edward's velvet voice calmed me as he walked up and propped himself on the other side of the frame.
"Hey." I answered meakly as I sipped at the cooling liquid.
His brow creased at my sadness and I knew his mind would be racing to find a way to cheer me up...that's just how Edward was, he hated to see me upset over anything.
His hand rose to tuck a stray piece of hair behind my ear.
"I hate seeing her like this." I admitted.
He pulled me into a hug and mimicked Phil's hold on my mother, his chin resting on my head while my arms snaked around him and hooked over his toned shoulders. I pressed my cheek to his chest and felt him sigh.
"I know you do." his voice was as soothing as our embrace.
"It always reminds me of when he left." I injected venom into my voice at the mention of my biological sperm donor.
Phillip Martin had been more of a father to me in the short time he'd been in our lives than Charlie had ever been.
I'd been devastated when he left as was my mother, and I'd had to listen to her quiet heart breaking sobs as she cried herself to sleep night after night, trying to keep a brave front on simply for my sake...But as I'd grown up and understood some things better I'd soon learned that he wasn't as wonderful as he appeared to be to a child's eyes after all.
Edward held me for what felt like hours yet only a few short minutes had actually passed. He didn't once loosen his hold or rush me to let go.
"Phil seems like a good guy Bella...And he's nothing like Charlie." He reassured me, squeezing me tighter in a silent way of telling me I wouldn't have to go through that again.
"Yeah he is a great guy." I agreed with a half smile.
"We're not all bad you know." He suddenly added...like he needed me to know that he didn't want to be tied with the same brush either.
I knew he wasn't like that...He was Edward. My best friend...My Phil.
Warmth spread through me as I remembered the ties of our friendship and how strong they were...unbreakable...But I wanted more of him than just his friendship, especially at times like this when he showed me his soul and I could marvel in it's beauty.
My problem was...I was scared and was constantly plagued by what if's
What if he didn't feel the same?
What if he thought I was crazy?
What if he did feel the same and we gave it a shot...but it didn't work out and we ended things on bad terms?
Surely that would ruin our friendship?
So for that reason... I'd keep the pangs I felt to kiss him locked away.
The rest of the day was spent looking up numbers for florists and offering a 'thanks anyway' when they couldn't help.
Edward would throw me reassuring smiles as we helped my mother pour over telephone directories and looking places up on my laptop.
Alice heard over Renee's plight and rushed over to use her powers of persuasion to try and talk someone round into helping out but even her pixie force was being thwarted.
"What is it you're trying to do anyways?" Jasper asked as he helped himself to an apple from the fruit bowl on the coffee table.
My mother gave him a disapproving glance but turned her attention back to the long list of numbers in front of her. "My florist cancelled on me so we're trying to find someone that can maybe sort out my flowers at such short notice." She grumbled while watching him put his dirty shoes on the table. "Feet!"
He didn't look at all remorseful as he lowered them back to the floor and pulled out his cell phone.
Everyone continued what they were doing while he played with his phone.
"Hello?...Aunt Carol? Hey! Yeah it's me...yeah I know it's been a long time...yes my hair is still longer than you'd like and no I'm not getting it cut...Listen I wanted to ask a favour...Yes my mom is still dating that fat bald guy...back to my favour...Yeah I have a...friend that's friend's mom has just been shit on with her flowers three days before her wedding and she's in a real bind...I don't know she lives in Boston...Yeah I'm there now..."
The room had fallen silent as we all eavesdropped on his conversation...suddenly wrapped with interest.
"I know I have a potty mouth but that's not really the issue at hand Aunt Carol...If I promise to not swear when talking to you again could you help her out?" He passed the phone to my mother who sat looking at him in complete shock before taking it.
"He-hello?" She spoke timidly into the receiver "Yes...in three day's...White lilies and roses...uhuh...uhuh...Oh my god! Really?" My mother paced up and down over the same spot of carpet and was in danger of wearing it down to the threads. "One second." She covered the microphone end up and looked at Jasper in wonder "She...She says If I can send her pictures in the next two hours of what I want...she'll make them up as close as possible and have her husband deliver them in time for the wedding...and she say's I can have a discount for knowing her favourite nephew..." Her hand was shaking as she continued to hold the phone out in front of her.
"Seriously?" both Esme and I asked at the same time while my mother squealed and made a bee line for the door so they could talk better but not before kissing Jasper on the cheek and calling him an angel...the name caused Edward to nearly choke on his drink.
With that she took off to the kitchen closely followed by Esme and Phil. Jasper over his shoulder as they passed with a huge grin on his face.
"Where exactly does your Aunt live?" Alice asked from across the room.
"Just over in Hartford." He beamed as she launched himself into his lap and started to attack his lips with vigour; mumbling something about him being her hero.
It was amusing at first until she started to moan and his hand made it's way under her top.
"Oh my god!..." I averted my eyes as a scarlet blush covered my face."...Get a fucking room."
"Now there's an idea!" She grinned at him.
They were saying a quick goodbye before heading for the door and leaving Edward and me in a slightly awkward silence.
"She certainly moves fast!" I huffed at her retreating form.
Edward decided to colour coordinate with my crimson.
"That's Alice I guess...All grown up." He popped the 'p' on up and ran a hand through his hair and turned to face the open fire that was warming the room as well as giving off a subtle glow.
Edward's POV
Bella had been so upset for her mother earlier on and I comforted her the only way I knew how...the way I had comforted her countless times when we were younger...I held her until she pulled back. The feel of her warm body against mine again stirred me and I had to fight back the blood trying to head south. I rested my chin on her head in hopes that she wouldn't question the strained look on my face as she pulled me tighter to her.
Now she looked exited and full of life as she watched her mother squealing like a teenager.
Jasper's Aunt was more than happy to try and salvage Renee's floral disaster and help make her day special. I mentally reminded myself to thank him for that shit later. After all, Renee's happiness induced Bella's and I wanted nothing more than for her to be happy too.
Alice had thanked him in her own way...in fact she was probably still thanking him right now.
Bella blushed at their audacity and open behaviour in front of others.
She was even more beautiful when her cheeks were tinted with a hint of rose. The contrast against her flawless ivory skin was remarkable. My mind started to race and wonder if the rest of her slight body would flush like that if I were to kiss my way down from her ear to her collar bone...nipping and devouring her milky flesh....I'm pretty sure my eyes glazed over at the thought and I couldn't stop getting a little fluster of colour in my own cheeks.
"So tomorrow..." I broke the silence.
"What about tomorrow?" She asked looking me straight in the eyes and my fucking dick twitched...My mouth was growing drier by the second as she bit her lip.
I wanted to bite it.
"Your mom and Phil are heading out for the night with my parents; Tanya and Cedric are going too and Emmett mentioned something about going over there and all hanging out, maybe having a few drinks...You want to go?" That wasn't asking her out on a date right?
I was expecting her to say no point blank after the mention of alcohol but she pleasantly surprised me.
"Ok...I could do with letting my hair down for a night...Have a break from all this wedding stuff...If anyone is ever stupid enough to ask me to marry them...I'm insisting on a simple affair without all this hassle...I've never seen my mother this stressed!" She chuckled.
"Don't do that." I couldn't help myself.
"Do What?" She looked at me questioningly in earnest.
"Put yourself down like that...'If anyone's stupid enough to have you.'" I grimaced at how lowly she thought of herself.
"Hey I'm not delusional...I know life is no fairly tale and there's no such thing as a happy ending." She shrugged, frustrating me even more to the point I wanted to growl at her.
"I guess you don't expect your mom and Phil to work out then?" I probed; deliberately trying to trip her up and call her out.
"Well they're different..."
"NO they're not! Bella...Any man out there would be beyond lucky to have you...Not that any of them will ever be good enough for you in my eyes but hey...It's your choice right? And you'll get your happy ending...I know you will." I lowered my voice as I spoke and watched her eyes fill with tears.
"And you'll always be my best friend?" She whispered. "No matter what?"
"Always means forever Bella and I meant that always when I promised it.
A/N Aww.
Don't quite know where this chapter came from but hey it's out there now. Hands up if you liked Jasper the night in shining armour...
So there's going to be some alcohol involved with the next chapter...maybe a little bit of drunken...something...IDK we'll see what happens...You know how I write by now...I just make it up as I go along lol.
So reviews are awesome...as are the peeps that leave them :0) so please be awesome hehehe.