Before you begin embarking on the craziness that will be these upcoming chapters, I just want to say a few words. Thank you for all those who review, you're my motivation... without reviews each chapter, I would have most likely stopped at chapter 10. So don't stop now! I'm glad you've also decided to stay with this story because you'll about to be rewarded. Also, I can't believe it, but i've almost reached 20000 hits to this story in total! SO THANK YOU READERS! And for all you who said the wedding went off without a hitch, excuse me but its not over, yet. :)
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Anyhow, put your virtual seat-belts on. Here it starts:
25. FRENZY
During the reception, I sat with Edward, Leah, who didn't bring a date, and Seth, who bought a young Quiluete girl named Neena. She had russet skin and long, black hair that waved side to side whenever she moved. Her brown eyes were piercing. She also did not seem to like Edward or me. Whenever she'd glance our way, her face always contorted into a scowl.
While Seth and Neena chatted, I noticed that two tables across from me, Mike was sitting with his parents as well as Jessica, who was wearing a pink satin dress a little too revealing for a wedding. Her parents also sat with her, so it seemed as thought neither Mike or Jess brought a date. Alice was evil. There was no other explanation for this pair up. If she wanted an explosive event, Alice was going to get one. If something was going to go wrong, it would be those two trying to talk about their relationship or what was left of it. Maybe, that was the reason for Jessica's outfit, but then again, I thought Mike had told me Jessica had dumped him.
All of a sudden, Jessica view switched from Mike to me. I quickly whispered in Edward's ear, "So, what's she thinking?"
Edward immediately got that I was referring to Jessica. He sighed. "What gym you signed up at, what salon, what make-up brand you use, what---would you like me to continue?"
I couldn't help but chuckle. "No, I got it." Edward face then fell and his eyes squinted. I grew a little concern. "What is it?"
"Newton has a death wish."
Taking a deep, unnecessary breath, I asked, "What now?"
"He wants you to talk to you...."
I smiled at Edward, relieved that it was nothing serious. "Well, if that's all, I guess I'll go see what he has to say."
"Into considering him, love, if you had let me finish."
Oh, jeez. I looked back at the table where Mike sat and saw that Jessica had gotten up and was headed my way.
I quickly got up and met her in the middle. "Hi, Jess." Her eyes widen. Crap, I knew even if I wore the brown contacts, everyone would still hear the difference in my voice. I coughed a few times to alter the tone a little.
"Wow..." Jessica trailed off. "I mean why-hi. How have you been doing, Bella?"
"Good, you?" I spoke, sounding off key.
"Great." She nodded while her heart thudded like a drum. Her eyes then lingered on my left hand, specifically my ring finger. "Just great. So...this wedding. Wow."
"Yeah, Alice is a miracle worker. I think she might have found her true calling in party planning."
Jessica smiled slightly. I realized, though, she was beginning to get more comfortable as her heart started to beat at a normal rate. "I'll say. So, you're not going to believe what has happened to me at college this year. It all started like this one random Friday night and I had way too many tequila shots and..."
"Excuse me, Jessica. I do believe they're serving the meals at this moment. I wouldn't want our food to get cold."
Jessica stared up at Edward. "No-o-o, of course not..." Jessica looked at me. "I'll talk to you in a little bit?"
"Sure."
"You sure have changed." She blurted out. "I mean, in a good way."
While walking back, I thanked Edward for pulling me out of another one-sided conversation with Jessica Stanley. It wasn't until I sat back down where I felt like that could have just been the last time I would ever speak to her.
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During the meal, I stood up and went to the bathroom to change my contacts. I just made it, seeing as the contacts had completely dissolved by the time I saw my reflection in the mirror. On my way out, Greg headed towards the restrooms. He looked different without his police uniform on. His brown hair looked like a comb had been brushed through it. He was cleanly shaven without the five o'clock shadow I was use to seeing. His eyes looked greener if that were even possible. Greg was also wearing a black suit that accented his every muscle. I could tell, though, on his left leg, was his gun holster. He was on call even at the wedding.
Amazingly enough, I felt fine being in proximity with him. I could breath in his scent and only feel a slight burning sensation.
However as he walked closer, cinnamon, sugar and a hint of alcohol filled my head. I could feel myself wanting to give in. His heart echoed in my ears. The blood pulsated through his veins. My hands tightly squeezed into fists. I held my breath. I stood still as stone while Greg just simply smiled like an idiot. He had no idea if he had inched any closer, I wouldn't have been able to restrain myself.
"Bella. Long time no see." Greg had said as he passed me.
I clenched my teeth and just nodded. I didn't like being this near to temptation. Luckily, my throat was not on fire, but just because I wasn't thirsty didn't...
"Hey you okay? You look like you're in pain." He asked while breaking my train of thought.
I shook my head. "I'm fine."
"Alright, well I'm glad I ran into you. I was wondering if we could talk. I know it's not good timing but--"
I cut him off. "Look, Greg, I just don't think that's such a good idea."
He looked utterly confused and even a little offended. "Sure, uh, I should go. I was headed this way so..."
The expression on his face lead me to suddenly feel bad. Plus, I didn't want him to think I was rude. I couldn't risk him hating me because by chance he had realized my eye color kept changing. Suspicion could arise. I knew a few of the times that I went in town to desensitize myself, which ultimately only alleviated a small fraction of the pain I would feel every time Greg ever approached me, I definitely forgot to put on the contacts. And anyway, I needed him to be on my side. For whatever reason, I had a gut instinct that he needed to trust me. Maybe, it would lessen suspicion if the police liked the Cullens. Whatever it was, I couldn't afford not being on good terms with him. "No, sorry. I should be in a better mood. It's my dad's wedding for God's sake.... What were you going to say? Oh, by the way, watch out. Jessica is here."
Greg nodded. A smile escaped from his lips. "Ah, the one you were talking about before. She'll talk my head off is that right?"
"Good memory. So, what did you have to say?"
"Hold that though, I sort of had a reason for walking this way."
"Okay, I should probably get back to Edward."
Greg then pushed the door open that led into the male bathroom.
I hurried back to my table, figuring it was better to speak to Greg after my head began to feel clearer. As I sat down, I got a glimpse of Edward in my peripheral view. He looked agitated. Someone else's thoughts was probably the cause. Greg or Mike's, I presumed, or both.
I decided to let him listen to whoever it was while I glanced over at the table that housed the rest of the Cullens. Nessie, was the only Cullen to sit with the Quiluetes. Her seat was right next to Jake, a placement Alice had set on purpose. All the Cullens, except for Nessie, of course were pretending to eat as was I. At vampire speed, Jasper and Esme were tucking food away in napkins to be thrown away. Rosalie, who looked like a supermodel in a form fitting, beaded red dress, absentmindedly, played around with her fork, creating art with the food on her plate. I, however, had Seth who took the liberties to clear my plate of all its contents. Leah picked at what Edward had gotten as well so when the servers came, it appeared as though everyone had eaten.
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A little while later, I noticed Rosalie talking to Emmett about the wedding and how she would like another one soon. Of course, every few years and in a new town, they celebrate their love with another ceremony. Alice, I saw, however, was not talking at all. Instead, she looked just like Edward: deep in thought with a crinkled forehead and stern frown. It then clicked that she was having a vision and Edward was watching as well. I could only imagine Alice was thinking about the Volturi and when I asked Edward, he confirmed it.
"They're not in Volterra and I am not referring to just the four who have been converting humans. All of them. Only a couple guards and the wives remain in Italy."
So Aro, Caius, Marcus and the rest were traveling and probably in the direction of Oregon. "Does Alice know where?"
"No, Aro knows her gift inside and out and he's not making any conscious decisions. We need Linus. I'll tell Carlisle to call him."
As Edward rose up from his seat, he pressed his lips to my forehead before ambling to the location where Carlisle rested. Suddenly out of nowhere, I had an overwhelming amount of anxiety wash over me. I stared at Seth who sat across from me. He was in a deep conversation with Neena. They were going back and forth between trivial topics that never held my interest for longer than a minute. Leah, on the other hand, seemed to be somewhere else entirely. Whether she was daydreaming or not, Leah didn't break out of her trance until she noticed the look on my face. Even as a vampire I was still as easy to read as a book.
"What is it?"
I sighed. "The Volturi."
"Should I tell Jake?"
"No...I will. Just stay here and make your mom think every thing is fine. If we're all scrambling around, my dad will easily figure that something's up and he already thinks...well, it's not important." I hastily got up, but as I headed towards Jake, I noticed Greg at the bar, downing another glass of wine.
I could already smell his blood being contaminated with alcohol and tragically enough, the mixture of alcohol and cinnamon and sugar was the best aroma I ever encountered. I found myself leading myself farther away from Jacob and towards Greg. Once I got to the bar, I couldn't stop the words from coming out. "So, what did you want to talk about before?" In the time between when Greg first saw me to this second sight, he was now fully under the influence. "How many is that tonight," I asked curiously. I honestly wanted to leave and inform Jake of what was about to possibly happen, but my body would budge. I was too interested in finding out why Greg was intending on getting wasted.
Greg looked down at his one hand and counted three of his fingers twice. He than raised his non-drink hand. "Five."
"Okay, I think you've had enough."
"I think I can judge myself, thank you very much." He stumbled a little off balanced as he took another glass of wine from off the counter.
"Not when you're judgment is impaired." All of a sudden, I could feel my throat starting to burn. The thirst was trying to take over. I was somehow too weak to win.
It whispered in his ear, "Come with me." It then grabbed his hand and pulled him outside so he wouldn't make a scene. It, luckily, wasn't going to let a drunk officer ruin my dad's wedding. Outside, the wind was howling and the moon was full and bright. A few lit candles were placed on top of patio furniture. "Hopefully you'll date is sober enough to drive you home."
"I didn't bring a date tonight." He took another gulp of wine.
"Listen to me, you've had enough."
"Fine." Greg loosened the grip and the wine glass dropped from his hands. It shattered on the asphalt and the rest of the wine splattered all over our shoes.
I stared down at my feet as unexpectedly, Greg lifted my chin and kissed me. As a reflex my teeth clenched, but I bit his lip in the process. His lower lip bled and with all my inner strength I pushed myself away.
My mind never felt more dissociated then at that moment. The fragrance of cinnamon and sugar cookies swirled in my head. I never thought I would have ever had an out of body experience. However with my hand, which I couldn't control, it raised up to my face and gently with my index and middle finger, I touched my lip. I shivered as I felt the blood on my fingertips. The smell was intoxicating. Not thinking---succumbing to something buried inside of me---I slid my finger with the drop of blood in my mouth.
I then licked my lips.
Edward was right. When you taste human blood, it starts a frenzy, making it impossible to stop. I was becoming less human by the second as I felt myself gravitating closer towards Greg. His hand was over his mouth, trying to hold in the screams. He was in agony and It realized the venom had started to spread from where It bit his lower lip.
It continued to speak as though what It knew was about to happen wasn't a big deal. Greg wasn't a person, he was food. "Wow, incredible even with your blood saturated with alcohol, you still taste a billion times better than filthy deer." It laugh sinisterly as It crept closer to Greg, who had fallen to the ground on his knees. His right hand still covered his mouth.
"Burning. Hah...hot. OW... GOD!" He slurred. "F-F-FIRE. TAKE IT OUT!"
I couldn't force myself to stop the advance. Greg was prey and my throat was suddenly scorching.
The vision, which I so adamantly tried to avoid, was inevitably going to come true.
It picked Greg up from off the ground by his collar. "Don't worry, this will only hurt for a moment…."
"Wh-h-h-at are you-u-u doing!?!" Greg mumbled. His voice never reaching an octave higher than normal and since it was dark out, no one from the inside could see or hear us.
A moment of clarity reached me for a half a second. "I'm sorry---I can't." Then it was gone, and It leaned forward, bending his head to the side. My teeth barely grazed his neck when in that same split second, I was somehow smacked against a tree on the opposite side.
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