"That Rosa girl, she's something." Emmett chuckled as he cut a white peach into fours with a folded knife in his jean pocket. His curly hair was tamed and short, unlike Edward's. I nodded and ran my sweaty palms over the skirt of my dress, which touched my knees primly. I wore a teal blue one, with my hair in a high ponytail and every strand of hair out of my face. Alice said it made me look like a young girl, accentuated by my prudish black flats. I suppose this wasn't the look of a mafia mans fiancé. I thought i looked like... Bella. He offered me a piece and i took happily, I loved peaches to death. I wanted to grow a whole peach farm of trees, but I doubted he would know what to do with the land he had out here.
When i finished my slice, I twiddled some with the thick ribbon i tied my hair with before looking at up him. The house had a wrap around porch, reinforced wooden railings and pillars to support the new house. I loved the way it felt; mine. "Would you fancy seeing her again?" I inquired suddenly; even if i knew they planned on seeing each other again, with or without my knowledge. Em shrugged and feigned nonchalance as he leaned against a white pillar. My feet didn't quite touch the ground as i swung on the porch swing, feeling a cool breeze run along my body.
"She's an alright gal, why not?" He smirked at me and devoured his last piece of fruit. "Have you decided what to do for the wedding?"
I sent him an odd look. "Why? It's not like you could more less about the dreaded wedding." I pointed out; why did he really want to know?
He lifted his hands up in mock surrender and rolled his eyes. "You're going to be my sister, i just wanted to ask how things were. If you're anything like my mom, all i have to do is say "wedding" and an hour of conversation begins." I mentally teased that no police officer had seen such a sight- Emmett Cullen with his hands in surrender,
Two Days later-
"Worlds on fire, encompass me. Shrieking softly, all around me." Alice sang on a low note, her tiny voice overtaking us. The piano under her fingertips melded to her frame, Ali now taking on an aura of a professional singer, not a wounded girl venting her confusion. "And...you...are..." in-between each word, she played a low G note, "here." There was low applause around the sitting room as everyone silently awarded her with newfound gratitude; I was only put down. That was so depressing! That had none of Alice written in it!
"That was pleasant, Alice." Edward tipped his leaning fedora to her, and Emmett slapped her back a few times. "Play more often." He winked to show her he meant it; compliments from Ed were few and far in-between, but he always meant them.
"Yeah, you really were wonderful. So lovely!" I gushed, fingering the diamond themed pearl necklace I wore around my neck. This was considered my engagement party, so Edward thought it only right to flourish me with a Cullenciano family heirloom to have and pass down to the next generation. When I said the Cullencianos came from old money, I meant it! What other family would pass down a quarter of a million dollar heirloom before the wedding? I shivered thinking about what jewelry I would have to wear on my wedding day. I would like an ice sculpture, really.
"Thank you. It's a song I wrote, my own original piece." I nodded sadly, wanting to take those words from her mouth. Where was Jasper? I needed him!
"Bella used to play the piano when she was younger. No good at it." Rosalie shrugged and sipped from her glass of wine. "She would sit at that thing for hours and hours, reading the notes and playing. But everyday she only got worse." She chuckled, and took another sip. I blushed and tried to shrivel away from the crowd of eyes. That was an embarrassing time, where I tried to play any music instrument a lady could play. I was good at none; and forget singing! I was horrible at that, too. "But look how beautiful she is." Rosa smiled, her pale white cheeks glowing in the chandelier light. I looked down at the folds of my charmuse gown and blushed again. "Who needs the piano when you've got a face like that?"
Was she drunk? I sent her glance to try and hush her down, not wanting anyone to overhear how gloating she was about me. Looks didn't matter, and I certainly was not blessed all that much with them. Emmett must have understood, seeing as he wrapped an arm around her waist and walked them off to meet some of his family. I wondered how he introduced her. "Meet my independent lady friend" or "This is Rosalie, my very own blonde bombshell to stare and enjoy"? I mused silently. A gasp from Ali's tight lips brought my attention back to the present. I looked up and caught her attention. "Hello, Miss Swan." I whipped around to meet Jasper; a sweet southern boy that I hoped would charm the pants off of my new best friend. "Congratulations." He nodded his head to me. I noticed he was without his cowboy hat; why the formalities? Unless Rose really talked him up about the whole thing. I looked at his attire; city-slicker all the way! From his penny loafers to his Oxford top, you could have mistaken him from a man at an interview!
"Jasper Whitlock, meet my fiancé Edward." I took Ed's hand as he and Jasper did their greetings. "And this is to be my sister-in-law, Alice Cullenciano." I gestured to a shivering Ali. She stood right next to me, as frigid as a board.
She soon snapped out of it and went forward to shake his hand, but instead he kissed the back of hers. It made her face erupt into a color of sheer embarrassment and retracted her hand hesitantly. "You can call me Ali." She gushed.
Jasper smiled, and it was a crooked, boyish grin that he laid onto unsuspecting ladies. "You can call me whatever you like, sugar." He winked at her and tucked his hands in his pockets. I looked on, like a meddling spectator ready to explode with excitement. Alice has a crush-hhhhhhhhhhh! I was so happy that she was happy. Was she happy? I wondered silently.
Gee, I was doing that a lot, wasn't I?