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The Reception

M.A Patraic

There I was sitting in a corner wondering who all these people were half of them I didn't even recognize but Edward had insisted on inviting the entire population of Forks High. I was pretty sure it was because the wedding would have been extremely small which I wouldn't have objected to, but Alice being the traitor that she is agreed with Edward. So I sat and watched and wondered who was who Vampire or Human I dissected the crowd carefully figuring who was from Edwards extended family. Then I saw them in the corner opposite me Three beautiful creatures who were obviously not human there were all dressed elegantly and whispering to each other.

"That would be the fair ladies of Denali." Edward's velvet voice interrupted my private little game.

"Tanya certainly is beautiful?" My response wasn't much like

"Blondes are too generic for my tastes. So tell me love why are you sitting here?"

"I am waiting for it all to end so I can take this dress off." I replied pulling the fabric up and letting fall.

"Bella you are being ridiculously impatient."

"You would be too if you had hormones."

"Touché. We're almost ready to cut the cake." He let a smile escape his lips before he walked away from me. I remained in my seat scowling at the people around me placing names to faces of people I had barely talked to in School. Bobby, Joey, Lauren, Susie, Jessica, Wait Jessica? She was walking towards me quickly our eyes had met already and there was no possibility of escape I was trapped in my seat no salvation in site anywhere I let out a heavy sigh of disappointment.

"Bella oh my god I haven't seen you in ages. How long has it been?" She cooed

"It's been about four months since graduation." I sighed

"I am so happy for you, you know I never believed you two would get this far. I mean men are so fickle usually they don't know what girl they want." I let her drone on and on barely even listening. I don't know how long it had been but I must have been asleep because all of a sudden it was all gone I was sitting in my chair and the room was empty the walls were an eerie white and I was alone in my dress. I tried to scream but nothing came out then I felt her hands warm and small shaking me awake, "Bella are you okay?" Jessica?

"Oh I'm fine, just a little warm that's all." I breathed in deep. Then I saw him staring at me from across the room Jasper was trying to tell me something. I couldn't understand it yet but I kept my eyes fixed on the butterscotch of his and waited for him to do something. I listened intently to Jessica now but I was more focused on the eyes that held me captive and then no quicker then it had happened he motioned for me to follow him.

"Excuse me Jessica I have to go fix something," I gave her a peck on the cheek, "It was nice to see you again." I rose with as much grace as I could being human still I was clumsy. I crossed the room as quickly as possible to where Jasper stood in the double doorway, Edward catching my glance as I hurried. Strange though that he didn't looked perturbed or anything like that as I followed his brother into the hallway where we walked in silence. I watched my feet as a followed listening to the rustle of my dress. Then he stopped without notice at all and I of course tripped into his arms which he already had out waiting of course I was so predictable to them all.

"Bella?" He said my name too quietly for comfort.

"Yes."

"Can I ask a favor of you?"

"Of course." I was appalled that he had to be so formal.

"Let me be there when Edward changes you. I know you have asked that nobody be there when it happens but I would like to be there. I thought that maybe I could ease the pain it would be a great chance for me to fully stretch my gift to the extreme."

"I think you'll have to ask Edward about that Jasper. I love you as a brother, and Edward is everything to me I know that he worries about your self control."

"There's something more." He hesitated which is not like him.

"What is it?"

"There coming to make sure it happens. Jane and Felix they are on a plane from Italy as we speak. Jane being the glutton for suffering of course wants to watch and Felix is just along in hopes that everything changes so he can pick a fight."

"Why aren't you telling everyone else this Jasper?"

"Because we already know." A small child like voice came from behind. This wasn't a voice I knew at all but I knew it wasn't human. I turned to see a slim woman with long blonde hair and an oval face looking at me her eyes intent on mine, "I'm Tanya." She spoke again jutting her hand out small fragile looking with perfectly trimmed nails. I shook her hand bashfully and wondered why she was approaching me like this.

"So good to meet you." I choked out.

"Bella its time." Edward's words shattered everything.

"Time?" I asked confused

"The cake you silly girl."

"Right the cake." I responded dazed. The cake was more then I expected three tears of chocolate cake iced in strawberry with black roses all around the edges. Alice handed me the silver chef's knife and I took it with one hand suspicious of what would happen if I let Edward change me now. Alice's eyes flickered and then I felt Edward's cold body against my back taking the other side of the knife so we could cut the cake, "So eager to die. No passion to live." He whispered as we made the triumphant first cut into the cake. I took the triangle of cake Edward and I had cut "What happens if someone dares you to eat." I asked playfully through the cheers.

"Don't do it Bella." Edward new the game well. We had been playing it for a while now I force something gooey and sticky into his mouth smearing it everywhere then he would spread whatever he removed on me.

"But it's our wedding it has to be perfect." I smirked

"I'm War- - -"I cut him off shoving the cake in his perfect mouth as far as I could. Everyone laughed of course even Edward as he swallowed the cake and whipped the frosting from his face save on speck. I gently pulled his face down to meet mine there in the corner of his mouth was one last little piece of rose I gently kissed the corner making a point to lick his bottom lip. My cheeks flushed as I realized what I had just done to myself making the anticipation worse before I could expand on my thoughts I felt Edward smashed the remaining piece of cake on my face

"I warned you." He chuckled. Everyone cheered of course.

"I hate you." I sneered

"I love you too dear." It was at that point that everyone else started to crowd around the cake eager for a piece. I became aware of my claustrophobic tendencies all too soon but Edward saved me pulling through the crowd of hungry people and vampires, strange I thought quietly. As Edward towed me away I watched the people circling the beautiful cake ogling all the decorations on it. We finally stopped in front of my chair the one I had demanded Alice bring in from Edwards and my apartment in Alaska so I could be comfortable. She had stubbornly put in the middle of the bridal table so everyone would see me no matter what I sat as gracefully as I possibly could and Edward flawless as he was copied me. Just then the three women of Denali walked up to our table Edward gently picked up my hand and began rubbing the small crescent from James's attack forcing me to remember how this started.

"Edward," Tanya bowed, "I am so happy for you and you're love on this day."

"Thank you Tanya." Edward replied graciously still rubbing the scar on my hand.

"I have a gift for you dear actually it's from all of us." She spoke to me softly as if I was a child.

"Okay." I sheepishly choked. She placed a small red velvet box in front of me. I was a little hesitant to open the box. Edward smiled at me warmly letting me know I could trust the gift from a woman who I would soon call family in a strange sense. Inside was a small heart shaped vile attached to a silver chain I held the small piece of glass in my clumsy hands and wondered what it was for.

"It's for your blood, prick your finger before the change and fill the vile. This way you can always keep a piece of your human self. I have never met anyone who has chosen this way of life before and I admire your courage." Tanya explained.

"Thank you Tanya." I rose to hug her and she accepted my affection.

"She does smell delicious, how you resisted this long is beyond me." She chuckled

"Thank you for coming Tanya." Edward returned

"Yes well we must be on our way we are not acquainted with the Volturi and wish for it to remain that way."

"Thank you." I replied graciously.

"Goodbye Tanya." Edward bowed his head. I waited and watched as several people departed in small groups some of them coming by to give me gifts and some just to thank us for the invitation. As the guest became fewer and fewer I began to dose of slowly wishing for this all to end and then it did. Charlie went home to watch some kind of baseball game on ESPN and Renee and Philip had gone earlier to catch their flight back to Florida because Phil had a game in the morning. All that was left now was my family, I watched as Rose and Emmet cooed over the center pieces Jasper and Alice dancing slowly in the middle of the dance floor, and Carlisle and Esme watching their children from a corner with euphoric smiles. Edward off course was watching them without really watching he was somewhere else completely but I didn't mind I let my eyes close for a second and my vision was back. Empty walls and nothing but my chair, I was still in my dress and alone again before I could even panic I felt my body rise and my eyes snapped open.

"Its time to go love." Edward whispered. I looked and saw the backs of my family walking hand in hand in front of us.

"Where are we going?" I asked stupidly.

"You and I are going to take a private Jet to Paris for tonight and tomorrow, before we return tomorrow evening. I think it would be a good idea for jasper to be there when I change you."

"Okay." I whispered before falling into slumber once more.