CHAPTER 10: LOSING TIME
Edward woke me in the morning with a kiss on the forehead. As usual I was sure I was still dreaming, how could I, end up with him, he was so perfectly wonderful.
"Alice was about to come up here and wake you herself, she's become very impatient recently, with all of the planning and preparations she has to do before the wedding, as she puts it," he said politely, while he helped me out of the bed. I dressed in my jeans and favorite, blue top and headed downstairs. Charlie had already gone to work and Alice was bouncing up and down on the couch.
"Umm, Alice that's a really old sofa and it may not be able to stand much more of that," before I'd finished she was up and leading me to the kitchen. She had made scrambled eggs and toast, with a glass of juice.
"Eat up," she chuckled. "We have a big day a head of us." She had that evil grin on her face, the one that meant SHOPPING!
"Alice, please, please, please, no more shopping," I begged as I scoffed down the food she had prepared.
"Oh silly Bella, I've already bought everything we need and more, all you have to do is choose what you want," she was still beaming.
"Alright, but can Edward stay with me, I haven't spent a day with him in weeks, its been planning, shopping, and sleeping," I sighed.
"Naturally, its his wedding too. Not that he gets a say over what you decide," she chuckled again.
"You're really enjoying this aren't you," came Edward's voice from the doorway.
"Immensely," she beamed. I finished eating and we piled into Edward's Volvo. As I walked into the house, I noticed the furniture had been moved into the corridor. She had turned the living room into a reception, with 3 tables, each set differently, there was also food, so much food.
"Alice this is crazy!" I exclaimed.
"No Bella its variety!" she was smiling so much I think she might have pulled a muscle.
"Well I guess I better get started. Where do you want me first?" I was going to regret letting her organize my wedding.
"Over hear Bella," she sat me at the first table. It was a long rectangle and had a white table cloth, with a gold runner down the middle. In the middle of the table there was a beautiful crystal vase with white roses in it. Each setting had silverware, a white plate, a smaller white plate with gold trimming, a water glass, a whine glass, and a tissue paper, origami blue bird.
"Where did you learn origami?" I asked.
"Jasper did, on one of his business trips. He and I have a large amount of shares in a company, in South Korea and he was venturing over to check on our progress. They also taught him how to use chop-sticks, although most of the time he breaks them," she giggled. "What do you think?" she asked.
"Its great, but what about name tags?" I asked.
"There will be a gold, helium balloon attached to each chair and the name cards will be under the balloons."
"Very nice," I replied.
"Sorry that I didn't have the balloons, but Emmett and Jasper, thought it would be funny to see what helium would do to them, and they used the whole bottle," she grumbled. "Okay, next." She yanked me out of my seat and sat me at the round table; it was white as well with a blue runner. The setting was basically the same but with blue trimming on the plates and small fish tanks containing small, brightly colored, blue fish in front of each setting. The name tags were on the fish tanks.
"Ooo, I like the fish," I exclaimed.
"I thought you might," she grinned again. "NEXT!"
This table was square, again with a white table cloth. There was silver, love heart, sequin, confetti sprinkled along the table. The setting was the same again, but with silver trimming this time. The name tags on this table were just simple and sitting on the plates.
"Alice I think I know what I want," I finally said.
"And..." she exclaimed.
"Can I have the blue table cloth, on the square table, with silver, love heart, confetti, one vase of white roses in the middle, the plates with the blue trimming and silver and blue balloons with the name tags on them. Oh and can I get a fish for every person as well?" I smiled.
"Of course you can Bella," she almost screamed with excitement. Then she was zipping around the room rearranging the furniture again. Before to long she had created my table, it was perfect!
"Alright, onto the food," she gestured towards the remaining 2 tables that each had ten plates on them.
"For an entrée, you can choose; Beef Salad, Casseroles, Mini-Pizza's, Pasta-bake or Satay Chicken Sticks." Each meal was in a small white dish with blue trimming, it all looked wonderful. I tried each one and my favorite had to be the Casserole. So that's what I chose.
"For main course you can have; Spaghetti, Smoked Salmon, Marinated Steak, Chicken Stu, A Roast of your choice or Lamb Curry." Again they were all so wonderful, but I had to go for the roast.
"Can I have the roast, but can I have a variety, with Chicken, Beef and Lamb. With potatoes, peas, corn, carrot, broccoli, pumpkin and maybe a potato bake as well?"
"Anything you want Bella, this is going to be perfect, I promise you," she assured me.
"And finally dessert. You can choose from; Deep Fried Ice-cream, Banana Fritters and Ice-cream, Jelly Tarts, Caramel Tarts, Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pie, Boston Cream Pie or Cherry Pie."
"Is it alright if I have Banana Fritters and Ice-cream, Caramel and Jelly tarts, and Apple and Cherry Pie?"
"Bella like I just said, it's your wedding anything you say goes," she giggled.
Edward grabbed my hand and led me to the bedroom, as Alice called after us.
"I'm not finished yet!"
"Well you can wait!" Edward yelled. He was really missing me we hadn't had alone time in so long. We just lay on the bed all cuddled up staring into each others eyes. I lost my train of thought and I ended up spending several hours locked in the safety of his arms. Before finally he began brushing his fingers through my hair.
"Alice is become unbearable, she is screaming at me in her head, it's really quite annoying. She says if I don't let you go now she'll keep you forever. Not that I would let that happen, I promise," he grinned. I slid off the bed and headed for the door.
"I'll be back as soon as I can, I promise." And I meant it, the only place I wanted to be was with him, it's the only place I'll ever want to be. Alice was in her room pulling out bags from the Paris Trip.
"We're doing a practice run of your hair and make-up," she declared as I walked in the door.
"Is this going to take long?" I groaned.
"Three hours at the most."
"Alice I'm giving you an hour and a half and if you're not done by then, I'm going to scream until Edward saves me," I replied.
"Fine," she grunted. And so it began, an hour later she was putting the final touches on my face and Rose was attaching the veil. They had curled my hair and it was pinned up into a bun, with little diamante's poked in it. The veil was lose and flowing with a white rose head piece and little diamond blue birds. My make-up was amazing; I almost looked nice standing next to Rose.
"Alice it's perfect, everything is perfect," I gleamed. They called Esme up and they all agreed I looked stunning. They made me take off the make up and took the Diamante's out of my hair before they finally were finished with me. I almost ran out the door when she said I could go. Edward scooped me up in his arms and swung me around.
"You look very sexy with your hair like that," he grinned.
"Edward!" I exclaimed "Please save it for the wedding night!"
"Bella you have no idea how much I am looking forward to this wedding," he whispered.
"I know." Was all I could manage to get in before he threw me onto our bed and began kissing me passionately. I fell asleep, tired from all of the planning that I had done today. He must have carried me down to the car because when I woke up, we were parked out the front of my house. Charlie wasn't home yet, which meant I had time to cook him dinner, then maybe Edward and I could go to our meadow.
"If I get dinner done before Charlie gets home, how would you like to go to our meadow?" I suggested.
"Bella I was just thinking the exact same thing!" he gleamed. I made lasagna, quickly ate and washed up. Charlie was pulling up as I was locking the door.
"And where are you 2 off to?" he questioned.
"Actually I was going to take Bella to the movies in Port Angles," Edward said.
"Oh well have fun!" Charlie said, before heading inside while muttering under his breath.
"Don't worry," Edward said when we were in the car. "He's just annoyed because he misses you"
"Everyone misses me," I replied. "Even I miss me; this wedding stuff is just so exhausting."
"Well tonight you're all mine, so everyone else is just going to have to deal with it," he smiled.
"I'm always yours," I whispered as I reached for his hand and stoked it. We were at the forest in no time. I jumped out of the car and clambered onto Edward's back. He took off and again we were the within minutes. We lay there holding hands, watching the stars for hours. It was past midnight by the time we got home. Charlie was asleep on the couch, the TV still on. He woke up as I opened the door, and sat up looking annoyed.
"Bella it's late you should go to bed," he said in his parental tone.
"Dad I'm not a child," I spat back.
"I know but you're still living with me and it's time to go to bed," he was becoming irritated. I didn't want to fight with him, not this close to the wedding, so I gave in, kissed Edward goodbye and headed up to my room. Naturally Edward was already there and sitting on the bed.
"I just need a few human moments I promise I won't be long," I whispered, before kissing his cheek and running to the bathroom. I made the water as hot as it would go and jumped in, I washed my hair and cleaned my teeth. Before heading to my room I checked to see if Charlie was asleep, the TV was off and so were the lights so he must have been. Edward was sitting on the bed in the same place he had been when I left but this time he held his arms out for me. I almost ran to his welcoming embrace. As he gripped his arms around me he pulled me onto him and lay on the bed.
"Bella I really have missed you," he grinned my favorite crocked grin.
"And I have missed you, but we have tomorrow to ourselves and we can spend the whole day in the meadow." I smiled, the meadow was the one place where no one ever bothered us, and it was truly our place.
"Bella tomorrow the Cullen men, Charlie and I are going to Seattle to be fitted for suits, Alice has already order them but they need to be adjusted," he frowned. A tear trickled down my face. "Bella why are you crying?" he suddenly looked like someone had stabbed him.
"This wedding is keeping us apart," they were falling fast now. "Weddings are supposed to bring people together."
"Bella we are together, as long as you love me I will be with you, and even so I will always! Always! Love you," he kissed my cheek. That made me feel better, it was amazing how quickly I could lose all thoughts in my head when he kissed me. I must have smiled because suddenly his kisses became more passionate; he kissed me fiercely, leaving me breathless.
"If I had of known crying was all it was going to take to get you to give in I would have done that earlier," I smiled as he kissed down my neck.
"Oh that won't be happening tonight, I just thought I would get your mind of it and have some fun in the process," I could feel him smiling against my skin.
"Edward! I'm not some teenage girl who gets all lightheaded when her charming, wonderful and handsome fiancée kisses her," I giggled. Suddenly he grabbed my head and pulled me into the deepest, longest kiss we have ever shared. And when it was over there I was lighted headed and out of breath. He chuckled as he pulled the blanket down and placed me under it, tucking me before cuddling his arm around me. Then he sang me to sleep with my lullaby, while whispering the words I love you Isabella over and over.
When I woke the next morning he was staring out the window, deep in thought. I sat up and he smiled at me.
"Charlie's up," he said.
"What time are you leaving?" I asked.
"Half and hour, Charlie is about to come and wake you, to say goodbye is his reasoning but really he wants you to make him breakfast," he smiled my favorite crocked grin as he help me out of bed. Charlie was sitting on the couch as I came down the stairs.
"Morning Bells," he chirped. "How did you sleep?"
"Alright, it was a bit cold," I lied, every night I slept perfectly with Edward there.
"Well I don't know if Edward told you but we're going to Seattle today to get fitted for our suits, apparently the one I've got isn't going to match you're color scheme, so I have to get a new one. The only thing is, is Carlisle insists on paying for it, apparently they've got more money than he lets on." I chuckled at his innocence, if only he knew what the Cullen's really were and what me getting married to Edward really meant. But Charlie was not the kind of person who believes in ghosts, vampires or werewolves and I don't think he would take too kindly to the idea of his only daughter being one, so we had decided it would be best that when I'm turned we fake mine and Edward's deaths. I didn't like the idea of this, hurting Renée and Charlie like that, but it would be better than their only daughter never calling or talking to them, never seeing them. It was going to be hard but this was months away and I didn't want to think about it. I headed to the kitchen and made Charlie toast with boiled eggs. I got the juice out of the fridge and poured a glass for Charlie and myself then I started making some scrambled eggs for me. We had so many eggs I needed to do something with them, Sam had chickens and they had just started laying eggs by the truck load so of course Billy had come over to deliver them. He was quite lonely with Jake being gone and he visited often always warring me about Edward and his 'kind' well I've got news for you Billy, as far as I'm concerned I am one of his kind. I had been to busy thinking about Billy and burnt my eggs. I settled for a piece of toast with Jam. Edward arrived right on 9 o'clock with Carlisle, Emmett and Jasper in tow. As Charlie put it Emmett had come all the way back from Africa just for this wedding. It was quite funny sometimes that Charlie had no idea about what they really were but most of the time it was just more pain about the lies I was telling and how much I was going to hurt him when I left.
The day seemed to drag on with out Edward there, Alice came over and talk to me while I did the washing. I hadn't washed the sheets in ages and they were starting to smell. We mostly talked about the wedding, until Alice asked me how Edward and I were planning on spending our honeymoon.
"Edward's planned it all, he's booked the flights or what and accommodation, I have no idea where we're going." I replied, I was quite annoyed by this I had tried many times to seduce him into telling me but each time the tables ended up turned with him teasing my longing for him. Alice giggled as I frowned.
"What is so funny little Miss Physic?" I teased.
"Oh nothing, just Jasper is wishing he was here with me and he's sharing his feelings with his male companions so now everybody is homesick," she chuckled.
"It's like you have your own little news feed in your head sometimes Alice, and Edward would have already been missing me." I stated the facts, it only took me 10 minutes to have a shower and every time I walked through that door he looks like he hasn't seen me for years.
"Yes but Charlie doesn't so now he is sitting there terribly missing you, his couch and TV." I laughed loudly at this, but then it made me think. I was all he had, and I was going to leave him, how could I ever leave Charlie now. He needed me, and I think I needed him to. But not as much as I needed Edward and to be with Edward I had to be a vampire, there was no other way. I explained this to Alice and she sat with me and tried to make me feel better as I sunk lower and lower into a pit of despair. Finally she talked me out of it reasoning that I didn't have to do it yet, so I should make the most of the time I had with him. I no longer felt like cleaning so I headed to the kitchen to start making Charlie's dinner. Alice had invited me to dinner and I didn't want Charlie eating leftover lasagna again. Alice said she needed to grab some food for tonight and excuse herself while I cooked. When I was finished I trudged up to my room to change. I opened the door not looking forward to the un-made bed that meant more work later, but it was made. There were clean sheets on it and my room was tidy, someone had picked up all the clothes of the floor. Alice, some times that little bundle of shopping could be very sweet. Who was I kidding I loved Alice she was always kind and understanding, she was the best sister a girl could hope for. I decided with the time I now had I would have a shower. I took my time making sure that I was clean head to toe before stepping out of the shower. I got dressed in some of the more dressy clothes Alice had bought for me and blow dried my hair. I actually looked half decent, everything Alice had bought for me flattered me in every way, it was handy having a sister who could see visions of clothing she was planning on buy for me. I decided that I was presentable and trudged downstairs; I grabbed my keys and jumped in the truck. To my surprise it started without a sound, I had forgotten how good Rose was at car stuff. I drove off and passed Charlie's cruiser, he waved to me and I tooted my horn in reply. As I got onto the highway to the Cullen House, Emmett's Jeep came up behind me; he laughed as he sped around me and took off down the road. As I pulled down the road I noticed that Alice had put the fairy lights from our last party back up, leading me to the house. The lights were off in the house and everything was quite. I opened the door and called out. "Hello? Is any one there? Edward? Alice? Guys this isn't funny, come out right now!" I tried to sound threatening.
"Hello," came a voice from behind me. I jumped. Quickly I spun around to find Edward standing there; my favorite crocked grin on his face.
"Where is everyone," I asked.
"Hunting," he replied.
"But I saw Emmett in his jeep."
"He was just getting me some supplies," he chuckled.
"Oh, well does that mean I have you to myself?" I teased.
"Oh no Bella, it is I who has you," he grinned devilishly.
"Suddenly I'm not so hungry," I smiled in reply.
"Bella as much as I do not feel like watching you eat right now, you are going to need the food energy," he said in his stern tone.
"Oh am I now, and what, may I ask, will I be needing it for?"
"That is for me to know and for you to find out," he teased.
"That is such a cliché."
"I'm all about Cliché's," he chuckled. He was being so romantic I just wanted to throw the plate of food across the room and kiss him until I was satisfied. But I was hungry and it did look good, Chicken Soup with fresh bread to dip it in. So I scoffed down the food and then proceeded towards Edward.
"Now. I'm ready to find out if you're ready to show me," I tried to sound sexy, but it didn't work.
"You wouldn't be trying to seduce me would you Bella? Because our wedding is three weeks away and we made a promise."
"Please," I begged him.
"Bella all I want to do tonight is hold you in my arms, the way it used to be, when we had time for each other," he sighed.
"Edward you are my time, I find it hard to find time to do or think about other things. You are my number one priority and if you haven't felt that then maybe I'm not making it clear. I love you and you are my all my whole, no matter how busy I get with this wedding you are the only one who is on my mind." And that was true, for the last two weeks Edward and I had barely gotten a minute alone and all I could think about was how I missed those hours we would spend just cuddling side by side. So it felt like pure bliss when we spent the whole night cuddled up on the couch by the fireplace just watching the fire and chatting about how we were going to do this. I had decide I was going to give College a shot, after all how bad could it be if Edward had done it several times? We were going to move to Alaska and buy a house there big enough for, lets say four couples. I was going to do a term of college and if it wasn't to my liking Edward would finally take the final step in making our love eternal. And Edward still agreed to fulfill his promises on the wedding night. Suddenly three weeks seemed like a very long time. At 11 I still wasn't ready to go home I was about to tell Edward, when he suddenly had a brain wave.
"I almost forgot, Alice said that you would be wanting to stay the night, naturally all the arrangements have been made and you will be sleeping in my room. That won't be a problem, will it now?"
"Of course not, the only problem is I don't know how much sleeping is going to happen, I haven't had you all to myself for sooo long!" I giggled. As usual he scooped me up and we were in his bedroom before I'd blinked. Before I knew it hours had passed and it must have been close to midnight. Like clockwise Edward began singing my lullaby, sometimes it was like he could read my mind.
"How did you know I was tired," I whispered sleepily.
"You're eyes," he smiled. "And I heard you suppress a yawn." Dam I thought I fooled him, he was to clever for that.
"Sleep my Bella, dream happy dreams. Tonight you are mine and will protect you; you are safe in my arms." He didn't need to say that, I always felt safe in his arms, like nothing could ever touch us.