(AN) Hope you like this chapter! Thanks for the reviews and adds! Next chapter will be in Jacob's POV again, because I like doing his POV and it's my fanfic :-p Besides, don't you want to see the upcoming conversation.
Story.teller1992: You stroke my ego too much! :-) Thanks so much!
Kiara Kou: Thanks! Hope you enjoy this one!
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, but I wish I did!
"C'mon. I know you have a pointy black hat somewhere, and I bet your broom can fly too. Do you have a sister that was crushed by a flying house?" Emmett joked as we followed him into the kitchen. There was a human woman there, surrounded by boxes. Alice sat in one of the chairs and smiled brightly when we walked in.
"These are my brothers, Emmett and the groom Edward. The lovely lady beside Edward is the bride to be, Bella, and the one bearing the brunt of the witch jokes is the other bridesmaid, Cassie.
"Nice to meet all of you!" The caterer grinned widely at all of us as we moved in. I noticed Alice throw Cassie an odd look, but I paid it no mind. I settled down at the table, but I heard Alice giggle.
"Cassie, you have to taste test too! Two opinions are better than one!" Cassie blushed and shot daggers at Alice.
"How about you taste test it." She retorted. Alice giggled.
"I can't, I gain weight so fast, and you could eat everything and not gain an ounce." The way the caterer looked at Alice, she obviously thought it was untrue. I turned to Cassie smiling warmly.
"You don't have to, Cassie."
"But can you anyway? Pleeeeeeeease?" Alice whined. With a sigh, Cassie sat down. Alice didn't tell me that we didn't just have to test cakes, but figure out the whole menu. We settled down on a buffet so that nobody would notice my new family didn't eat. I picked out everything I tasted that I liked, only turning to Cassie when I couldn't make up my mind. Unfortunately, when it came to cake I couldn't decide anything.
The design was easy, a simple four layer cake with purple icing and a long cascade of golden lilies. The flavors were substantially harder to pick out. I watched as Cassie pushed a plate away from her, shaking her head.
"I can't eat anymore, I'll be sick." She did look a little green. I sighed and tasted the cake in front of me. Strawberry, it was excellent like everything else. I sighed and looked hopelessly at Alice. She was trying to suppress giggles and I knew I wouldn't get any help from her.
"I think that marble one looks really good. Then you can do a layer of that chocolate one you liked, the vanilla one Cassie liked, and the strawberry one on top." I nodded, glad to be over with that. Alice had some hushed words with the caterer as she led her out.
"That woman can't believe we're spending so much money. She'll want to plan everyone's wedding in the family. Cassie stood shakily, her hands on her stomach. She did look in pain.
"Neither can I. Cassie, are you going to be okay?" I asked, concerned. She shook her head randomly and I looked at Edward. He was smirking, amused, and I had to fight the urge to punch him for being so thoughtless.
"I just want to go home now." She whined. I stood, but Alice was back in the room.
"You don't want to get in a car just yet. Trust me." Alice said, she approached Cassie slowly, guiding her to the living room and laying her on the couch. I stared after her worried, but Alice simply shook her head.
"Sorry, I didn't see this coming. Must not have been paying attention." She apologized. I smiled warmly.
"She'll be fine though." Alice answered as she herded us back to the kitchen. "Now, Bella, about the centerpieces…"
I spent the next two hours going over minute wedding details with Alice. It was tedious to say the least, and the only thing that made it better was Edward's gentle touch and seeing how he smiled as we talked about the day I would be his. It was getting better now, as long as I made him happy, I thought I could go through with this whole thing. It was only one day.
"Goddamnit!" Emmett growled. I heard Cassie's musical laughter. I stood, ignoring Alice and Edward as they discussed honeymoon plans and went into the living room. There I could see Jasper, Emmett, and Cassandra. Jasper and Emmett were holding tiny plastic guitars and trying to strum along to the TV.
"Vampires play guitar hero?" I asked. Cassie giggled.
"Badly." She answered. Emmett growled as the TV squawked. She continued to giggle as she stood, turning to me.
"Alice done with the wedding torture?" She asked. I grinned and nodded. "Ready to go home?"
"Yeah, better leave now. It'll take us two hours to get there in your truck." She teased. Emmett laughed.
"See, Bella, even witches like to go fast. Too bad she can't run like a vampire."
"Like I'd want to." She replied, but Emmett had a look in his eye.
"I bet you'd like it more than you think. C'mon, I'll run you back to your house. Edward and Bella can come too." I moaned and Edward was beside me.
"Emmett..." He warned, but Emmett began to gloat.
"We can make it a race. Edward's just worried he won't win." Emmett teased and I saw Edward tensed. Boys would be boys.
"I want to race too." Jasper declared. "I'll carry Alice so it will be fair. They're all about the same size."
"Only if you two want to be involved." Edward said, but I felt I had to defend Edward's honor. Cassie's eyes were curious.
"I'm in, are you?" I asked. She bit her lip cautiously, but nodded. Everyone was filtering out the door, including Rosalie. She looked amused by the whole thing. Edward, Emmett, and Jasper lined up in a row. Edward hoisted me onto his back and I watched as Alice leaped onto Jasper's. Rosalie helped Cassie up, who was giggling nervously. She then stepped back and started counting.
"On my go, Ready…" Everyone tensed. I clung to Edward's neck. "Set…" Cassie said something I couldn't hear that made Emmett laugh. "Go!" Everyone took off. The forest was a blur and I could hear Alice's laughter ringing through the trees. Edward chuckled as we moved and I whispered softly into his ear my love for him. I couldn't wait to be able to run along side him. It took us about 15 minutes of hard running before Edward slowed and we were outside Cassie's house, emerging from the woods. I slipped from his shoulders in giggles, but he wasn't happy about winning. He looked cautious and angry. He stretched his arm out to prevent me from stepping forward.
Jasper emerged from the woods next and Alice was off of his back instantly, standing defensive. She moved closer to Edward and I, but I still couldn't see what had gotten them so upset. When Emmett emerged he growled, his eyes glaring straight in front of him. Cassie lifted her head, looking over his shoulder.
"Jacob?" She questioned softly. The name sent me reeling like a bullet to the chest and I pushed aside Edward's arm. True enough he was standing there, same as he was when I'd last seen him. He didn't even look at me though, his eyes were focused on Emmett and Cassandra. It hurt that he didn't even acknowledge me, and I grasped Edward's arm tightly.
"Put Cassie down, Emmett." Edward said softly. He wasn't moving and he turned back to Jacob. "Calm down, or you're going to hurt them."
His eyes flicked to mine, met them for an instant, and then flicked back to Cassie. Emmett had let her down, but stood protectively in front of her. Cassie looked confused, and she stepped forward unconsciously. Jake pulled back.
"You wanna be a fucking leech too, Cassie? Cause I tell you what, I'm done with it, I can't handle it anymore." He swore, shaking.
"Leech? How does he know?" She asked us, looking around before her eyes met mine. I instantly felt terrible, like I had betrayed her trust. I let my eyes fall to the ground.
"Jacob, we were just bringing her home." Edward spoke again, calmly. "You should leave too, and then you can discuss this with her later when you're calm."
"I am calm, leech." He sneered. "I think you should go."
"I agree!" Cassie said loudly. We all looked at her. "I think we should all go to my house and sit calmly in my kitchen. Then you can all tell me what the hell is going on. Mmmkay?"
Everyone stared at her. She looked angry, but in a controlled way. Jacob relaxed and as soon as he did, so did all the vampires. Edward wrapped his arm tight around me as we followed Cassie across her yard. She held up a finger to keep us all in the driveway before she opened the door. She disappeared and the house shimmered again, like it had the first time I visited. She reappeared at the door and motioned us inside. We made ourselves comfortable in the living room. I noticed more haphazard boxes there along with several comfy chairs and couches. Edward and I took up a chair, he drew me close to him. Jasper, Alice, and Emmett took up a couch. Jacob didn't sit, but stood near a fireplace, his arms crossed warily. Cassie took the last chair, curling into it. He continued to let his eyes flick to her, and then warily at all the vampires. It looked like he was preparing to have to save her from them. He didn't even look at me, which made my heart drop down to my stomach.
"Well then, isn't this cozy." Alice said sarcastically. I could feel waves of calm radiating from Jasper.
"Maybe I should go first, for Jacob's sake?" Cassie offered. Edward nodded and she leaned back in the chair. She repeated most of the things she had told me, although she left out the bit about past lives. She looked at Jacob the whole time.
"If you're a witch who is meant to fight vampires, why are you playing tag with them?" Jacob asked pleadingly. She shrugged.
"It's complex…Bella is my sister witch. I don't want her to marry a vampire and become one of them." She answered honestly, her eyes flicking sadly to mine and then back to Jacob. "But, I know she'll never be happy as a witch. Witches aren't happy people, we don't live long lives. If she is happy now, then I want her to be happy."
I felt instantly sad, but not for myself. Cassie was right, witches weren't happy people and their lives weren't fairy tales. I had a feeling she was breaking a lot of rules to make sure I got a happily ever after.
"I don't believe it." Jacob sighed in disbelief, running his hand through his air. Cassie smirked and waved her hand. I gasped as the sweatshirt she had been wearing that morning floated from the kitchen and landed in a heap in front of Jake. He bent down and picked it up, shock on his face.
"Thanks for letting me borrow that." She said with a grin, before sinking back into the chair.
"I guess it's my turn next." He said, looking up at Cassie. He couldn't tear his eyes off of her.
"I'm…I'm a werewolf." He said. "I can change into a wolf at will and whenever I'm angry. We use our other forms to fight off vampires." He glared at Edward.
"Okay." Cassie said simply. If she was shocked she didn't let it show. Emmett and Jasper looked at her like she might have hit her head.
"Have you encountered wolves before?" Jacob asked uncertainly. She shook her head.
"No, I haven't. But once you've learned to accept that vampires, witches, and other childhood nightmares that go bump in the night exist, it becomes easier to accept everything else you've never even imagined. Someday I'll meet the boogieman, and I won't even want his autograph. It's weird and disappointing to be that jaded. Nothing will ever surprise me ever again." Alice nodded in sympathy, but Emmett looked kind of concerned.
"Ghosts?" He mumbled. "That's a piece of information she could have kept to herself."
"I think we should go then." Edward mumbled. Everyone stood except Cassie. Jacob didn't move from his place, trying to form the words.
"Jacob wants to stay and talk to you about something else, Cassie." Edward said impatiently. She nodded to Jake and smiled as we left.
"Bye guys! I'll see you later, call me if you need help with wedding stuff." Cassie called as we left. I tried to smile, but I couldn't. Edward practically carried me to the edge of the woods.
He lifted me into his arms when he began to run, dodging around trees effortlessly. I knew the others were following, but I didn't look back, I couldn't look back. When we finally made it to the edge of the Cullen's yard, Edward sat me down on the grass.
"Bella…he was bound to imprint sooner or later." Edward replied soothingly. I nodded and choked out a small sob.
"But did it have to be on her?" I asked tearfully. "Couldn't he have found someone that wasn't close to me?" Edward held me close while I sobbed selfishly, but I couldn't help it. I just couldn't.