A/N: Yay! It's wedding day!
This could only mean one thing… a super long chapter! Woot woo for you!
Song (s) for chapter-
When God Made You-
Newsong & Natalie Grant
Chapter 15
The yellow bridesmaids dress swished around as Alice scurried back and forth in the hotel room. She looked great as she popped in an earring and danced along to some music playing from her iPod.
I sat, legs crossed, leaning back on the bed. My arms supported my weight as I watched her. I had on the same dress she had except mine was black. The material fell just above my knee when standing and about mid-thigh when I was sitting.
I stood and slipped on a pair of low black flip-flop heels. Alice appeared beside me and slipped on a matching white pair. She grabbed her purse and gave me a tight smile. I could see the nervousness in her eyes. Truly, she had nothing to be nervous about.
We headed down the long hallway and toward our destination. She chatted on about the guest list, music, and the reception. I knew everything would be perfect though. Organization was a strong point when it came to Alice.
"So what do you think?" Alice asked finishing her speech.
I paused realizing I had just missed her whole spiel. "Oh, sorry. About what?"
She frowned and pulled her keys out of her pocket as we headed toward her canary yellow Porsche. "Bella, are you even listening to me?" I climbed in the car not answering her question. She sighed once more and shook her head in disappointment.
"I was saying that since we have an extra seat at our table we got one of Conley's friends to fill it." She repeated her self-making sure I was paying attention.
I nodded. "Fine with me. Who is it?" I asked curious now that I knew what was going on.
"Some guy named Chace. That's okay right?" Her lips were pressed in a hard line and I knew she didn't want to anger me.
I smiled and she reached for the radio dial. "Yeah, sure. Chace seems like a pretty good guy."
She froze suddenly. "You know Chace?"
I nodded. "Yeah, I met him at Jake's Bachelor Party. Why?"
She shook her head. "No reason. It just surprised me."
I nodded and the buildings disappeared from view as we headed out into the country. "He was at Jake's Bachelor Party?" She asked again breaking the silence.
"Yeah, well he was the bartender at the restaurant we went to." I amended.
Alice nodded. "Hm, interesting." I could see a glint of an indescribable emotion in her eyes. She abruptly pulled off onto the side road and we bounced along the dirt road. The silence had once again found us and she didn't ask any more questions.
We pulled up to the church and I noted there were only a handful of cars in the parking lot. We were an hour early but that was expected. I climbed out of the car, smoothed my dress, and headed with Alice toward the door.
We entered the building and the atmosphere seemed to uplifting. I really couldn't think of a better match for Jake than Conley. The two were truly once soul separated by circumstance. My eyes took in the smiles of those around me. Conley's mom flitted from a door in the foyer of the church. Her eyes fell on Alice and she smiled.
"Oh, Alice. You're here. Conley's in desperate need of you." She blurted out not acknowledging me.
Alice nodded and hustled into the room. I took a deep breath and pushed through the next set of double doors. These doors led to the sanctuary and my eyes went to the front of the church. Jake was pacing back and forth. From time to time he glanced at the back of the church.
"Getting cold feet?" I asked him jokingly as I approached him.
He shook his head. "No, just a little pre-wedding jitters."
I nodded. "Sit down." I urged him.
He flopped down on the pew and I sat behind him and placed my hands on his shoulders. He was tense and it didn't surprise me. He groaned as I massaged his shoulders.
"You're the best Bella." He rolled his head back.
I laughed. "Yeah, I know."
Jordan and Jonathan appeared in the doorway along with Edward. Edward's gaze found mine and I smiled weakly. Edward's face was weirdly void of any emotion. He seemed to be looking at me but he didn't smile in response.
Rachel emerged from the doors behind him and she trailed behind him till he reached the stage. He pulled himself on the stage with one lithe movement and then leaned down to help Rachel up. Jonathan headed toward the piano. He put his fingers to the keys and a soft melody flowed through the room. Edward picked up a microphone and then handed another one to Rachel. They looked at each other and shared a wordless conversation. They gazed into each other's eyes and I watched as they lifted their microphones in sync.
Oh I wonder what God was thinking when he created you,
I wonder if He knew everythin I would need,
Because He made all my dreams come true.
When God made you He must've been thinking about me.
Edward sang the melody and Rachel joined him in perfect harmony. Their voices melted together in a sound as sweet as honey. I knew this was a big reason why Edward had fallen in love with. Even as the small portion of the song came to an end, I could see the adoration in Edward's eyes as he gazed down at Rachel.
There were a few claps that erupted from behind me and I turned to see a few mothers wiping tears from their eyes. The two seemed to be pulled from the unknown trance and Rachel smiled. Her yellow dress swirling as she turned to put her microphone back in its place. She leaned up placing a delicate kiss on Edward's lips and then strolled down the isle disappearing behind the double doors.
Someone tapped me on the shoulder and I turned my head to see Alice with two silver bands suspended from her finger. I smiled and took them. I slipped them on one of my fingers and waited. The double doors opened and I stood to stand in my place. Jake took his place beside me while Jonathan, Jordan, and Edward went to escort people to their seats.
Conley and the others had disappeared into the back room. The flower girl and the ring bearer had showed up. They were both no older than six and they looked so adorable in their wedding clothes. They too were ushered into the back room and I noticed that Jake seemed to get more anxious by the minute. He seemed to be mouthing words to himself and I smiled to myself.
More people showed up and people waited outside to come into the church. All things must come to an end though. Emmett and Rosalie were the last ones through the door and they slipped into a back pew. I stood to Jake's left.
The wedding march began and people nosily rose from their seats. Jake took a deep breath and focused his attention on the double doors. The doors swung open and the flower girl emerged in a lacey yellow dress. She scattered red, yellow, and white flower pedals along the isle. The ring bearer followed holding his pillow with the fake ring on it. He was looking in all directions and then focused on the girl in front of him.
Behind them, Rachel stepped out. Her curly hair was pulled back in an intricate bun and she walked toward the front. Her gaze passed over the crowd. The yellow dress hung off of her like it was made for her. She looked like she could be from a prom magazine.
Nancy came after Rachel. Nancy was average but now she looked anything but. Her hand was pulled back like Rachel's and she flashed a smile. She followed behind Rachel and Alice came behind her.
Alice seemed to dance down the isle. Her movements were lithe and she put any runway model to shame. She took her place on the end of the line and then everyone's eyes flickered to the girl in white standing at the double doors. Her blonde hair was pulled back and the thin veil covered her flawless face. The simple white wedding dress wrapped around her and trailed down the floor. She took slow glides down the path.
I flickered my attention to Jake. A large grin was plastered on his russet colored face as he watch Conley come toward him. All anxiety was taken from his face and he shifted the weight on his feet. Conley made it to his side and they joined hands.
"You may be seated." The pastor said.
The room complied and people noisily took their seats. The pastor went through the bits of the wedding ceremony until he called Rachel up to speak. She ascended the stairs of the stage and took a microphone form its stand.
"I once asked Conley to describe to me what love felt like. She had given me this very answer." She paused looking over a piece of paper. "She said: It's like when you're going down the hill of a roller coaster and you're scared to death but yet you love the thrill. It's like chocolate covered strawberries on a warm summer night, sweet and tangy." She paused again. "And it's like the first day of spring when the flowers peep out from hiding and you twirl around falling back into them like you did when you were a child."
Rachel took another deep breath and focused her attention of Conley and Jake. A tear spilled from her eye. "Love is so many things. For Conley and Jake, I now see love as a journey through this life together, forever and always."
She stepped away from the podium and Edward joined her on stage. He grabbed her hand and squeezed it in reassurance. The same sweet melody weaved throughout the room and seemed to lace within the oxygen we were breathing.
Edward lifted the microphone to his mouth and his sweet voice flowed through the room.
Its always been a mystery to me,
How two hearts can come together,
And love can last forever.
But now that I have found you I believe,
That a miracle has come when God sends the perfect one.
So gone are all my questions about why,
And i've never been so sure of anything in my life
Oh I wonder what God was thinking,when he created you.
I wonder if He knew everything I would need,
Because he made all my dreams come true.
When God made you, He must have been thinking about me.
Rachel pulled the microphone to her mouth and started to sing.
Ooo ooo,I promise that wherever you may go, wherever life may lead you,
With all my heart I'll be there too.
And from this moment on I want you to know,
I'll let nothing come between us, and I will love the ones you love.
She looked into Edward's eyes and I saw the overbearring love in her eyes. Edward lifted his microphone and they sung the rest of the song together.
So gone are all my questions about why
(about why)
Oh I wonder what God was thinking when he created you,
I wonder if He knew everything I would need,
Because He made all my dreams come true.
When God made you He must've been thinking about me.
He made the sun He made the moon,
To harmonize a perfect tune,
One can't do without the other they just have to be together.
And that is how I know its true,
Your for me and i'm for you and my world
Just cant be right without you in my life
He must have heard every prayer I've been praying
I've been praying He must've knew everything I would need
When God made you, He must've been thinking about me.
I looked away from the intimate affection and saw that Conley was quietly talking to Jake. He lowerd his head and placed a soft kiss on Conley's hand. I simled and felt a tear prick at my own eye. My Jake was getting married. I was so glad he had found Conley.
The pastor instructed them to switch rings and then with a few vows they were pronounced husband and wife. Jake leaned down to scoop her up in a passionate kiss and she responded enthusiastically. Laughter errupted in the church and we all strolled out to greet the guests. That's when I noticed Billy wasn't here to see his son's wedding. I watched the guest that descended the steps of the church and noticed that none of Jake's friends from the reservation were present either. I silently wondered if Jake had visited them after going off to college in New York.
After what seemed like millions of pictures, I climbed into Alice's yellow Porsche and we headed back toward the hotel. She suggested that we change in to flipflops for the reception and I easily agreed with her. We walked into the lobby and Alice slipped out of her heels. She handed them to me and dashed off in the direction of the ballroom before I had a chance to protest.
With a sigh, I headed toward the elevators. I pressed the approprtiate button and waited for the elevator to recognize my command. My mind drifted to unsafe places. I couldn't stop thinking of Edward's blank face and the way that Rachel looked at him while they were singing. Edward had an almost overbearing passion in his eyes while he sang and truthfully, it bothered me.
The elevator opened and I stepped inside. I once again pressed the appropriate button and I waited as the elevaor slowly began it's ascent. My mind also wondred back to Jake's friends. Why hand't Embry and Quil been at the wedding? They were life long friends of Jake. More importantly, why wasn't Billy there?
The elevator door opened and I very nearly collided with a very handsome bartender. "Sorry." I said blushing slightly.
Chace chuckled. "No, it's my fault. I shouldn watch where I'm going."
I smiled politely and headed back toward the direction of my room. Chace shuffled his feet and then his body was moving in step with mine. "Where are you going? The party is the other way."
I lifted Alice's shoes. "I'm just going to get flipflops for both me and Alice."
He nodded in understanding but didn't stop his movements. "Do you mind if I follow."
I laughed catching a glimpse of him from the corner of my eye. "You're already following." I pointed out.
I pulled out the key from my purse and saw a cocky grin plastered on his face. "Ah, I guess you're right." He amended.
I stepped through the door while he remained at the door. I quickly slipped out of my heels and slipped on my black flipflops. I then went to the closet and grabbed Alice's white flipflops and traded them with her heels. Feeling satisfied with my work, I grabbed my purse and headed back toward the elevator with Chase at my side.
The meal consisted of salad, grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and a yeast roll. Conley was a country girl and it showed in her meal selection. Conley and Jake walked around the room being sure to talk to everyone and take pictures with them.
Soon, it was time for the couple's first dance. Jake stood and held out his hand to Conley. She smiled shyly and placed her smaller hand in his large one. He closed his hand pulling her toward the dance floor. She held on to him tightly as the song started.
"To be with you" by David Archuleta played through the speakers as the two moved in sync around the dance floor. Conley's form completely melted against Jake and they seemed to be lost in another world. Their eyes stayed fixed on one another and it was almost as if they were reading each other's souls. They had no need to convey the feelings for each other through words. Truly, words would just taint the moment.
The song ended and Conley's dad walked onto the dance floor. He tapped Jake on the shoulder and with a brief nod; Jake reluctantly released Conley into the arms of her father. The song "Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman started and Conley and her father moved along on the dance floor. The exchanged in small talk as they moved along the floor. He whispered something in her ear and she smiled laying her head on her dad's shoulder.
Other dad's led their daughters to the dance floor. They couldn't match the perfection that Conley and her dad moved together. I had a feeling that Conley's dad was the one that taught her how to dance. The songs she had chosen weren't nearly coincidental. Each song was picked for a reason.
The song ended and another slow song started up. I didn't know this song and I wasn't surprised. Conley had a very large accumulation of songs up in her head. What did surprise me though was when someone tapped me on my shoulder. I turned to see who had tapped my shoulder and smiled when I saw Chace with his hand extended toward me.
"May I have this dance?" He asked politely.
I placed my hand in his and smiled. "Sure, I'm not very coordinated though."
He laughed lightly. "Don't worry."
I smiled and let him lead me in the middle of the dance floor. He pulled me closer to him and we moved with the others around the dance floor. I stepped on his foot a couple of times but he showed no signs of faulter. He kept his eyes locked on mine and lifted my chin when I tried to look down.
There was a tap on my shoulder as the next song started. I turned to see Edward standing still with Rachel by his side. "Mind if we switch?" He addressed Chace.
Chace paused in thought and then nodded. "Sure, I'll dance with Rachel." He winked at her and she rolled her eyes.
I once again found myself in Edward's arms. It seemed easy to dance with Edward. My eyes never left his gaze and I never stepped on his foot. We moved together as one. His face had become the same unreadable expression and I tired my best to decipher the meaning behind his façade. The song ended before I could find his secret.
I was returned to Chace but the next song was one of Conley's favorite dances. "The Cupid Shuffle" came blaring through the speakers and Conley's eyes lit up. We formed a couple of lines on the floor and laughter erupted throughout the room as we all did the dance. When that song ended I stepped off the dance floor just in time to miss the "Electric Slide".
I took a seat at our empty table and yawned glancing at my phone. It was only nine but I was completely tired. I sat back and watched as the others did the electric slide. I had never really learned how to do the electric slide and I really wasn't up to learning. The song ended and people started drifting off the dance floor when the tempo changed to something a lot slower.
Rosalie and Emmett had returned to their seats across the rounded table. Emmett had a goofy grin on his face and Rose leaned back so she was lying in his arms. They shared hushed whispers and Emmett leaned down to kiss her lightly on the lips. I focused my attention back on the dance floor where I saw Alley for the first time that night.
Alley and I hadn't talked much but I was pretty sure she was mad at me. She was super protective over her younger sister even though she was an adult now. I had confided in Alley a lot of things. She was someone I could turn to since Alice wasn't there for me. I had expressed my views on Rachel to Alley and now that I made the connection, I had a feeling I would need a new publisher.
The song ended and the DJ announced that the bride and groom would cut the cake. Conley and Jake glided off the stage together and I saw Conley's eyes sparkle with excitement. She cut a piece of cake and gently placed it in Jake's mouth. The crowd started chanting while Jake cut a slightly smaller piece of cake from the sugary tower.
"Smush, smush, smush!" The guys chanted and the girls started joining in with them.
Jake picked up the piece of cake and completely ignored his friends. Instead of smudging her face with cake, he followed Conley's example and placed the cake in her mouth. She smiled and 'boos' echoed throughout the room.
The waiters started cutting the cake and passing out cake while the DJ announced that it was time for the bride to throw the flowers. Jake easily lifted Conley up on a chair and Rachel handed her the bouquet of red, yellow, and white flowers.
"I need all my single women up here!" The DJ's voice boomed through the sound system. Rose stood and looked at me.
"Coming Bella?" She teased lightly.
I shook my head. "No way."
She grinned and walked toward me. "Oh yes you are!"
She clenched her hand around my wrist and pulled me toward the dance floor. "All The Single Ladies" by Beyonce started playing as all the single women crowded into the dance floor. The flower girl was there along with her older sister.
Coley threw one last glance over her shoulder and heaved the delicate bouquet of flowers through the air. I was never any good at softball but I could tell that it was coming straight for me. I lifted my hands to shield my face and the flowers lightly landed in my open hands. There were gasps of all kinds and then I felt a sharp pang in my side.
Alice beamed from beside me as she moved her elbow away from my side. "Guess who's next to get married?"
I looked at the flowers in my hand and then back at Alice. "Who?"
She grinned. "I bet it's you!"
A/N: So, Edward's kinda PMSish. Hmmmm, unreadable emotions? Singing with Rachel again? Wasn't Rachel's voice the reason he started liking her before?
PS. Bella will NOT (I repeat) NOT be cutting herself anymore. She promised Edward that she wouldn't anymore.
Review on my super –long- chapter!
Kayla