All characters except for Annabelle Causley and a few others belong to Stephenie Meyer…and, of course, the writer is not receiving any profit for this story whatsoever.
This is an AU out of Stephenie Meyers' Twilight series. This story starts after Eclipse, two weeks before Edward and Bella's wedding.
Chapter Seventeen
Annabelle stared into the mirror as she pushed another hairpin into her hair. She had decided an up-do hairstyle would look better with the dress she had chosen. Unfortunately, she had so much hair and she was quickly running out of pins.
Sighing, she quickly walked across the hallway and knocked on Alice's door, "Hey Alice. Can I come in?"
"Come on in."
Opening the door, she followed the noise to the large bathroom, where she found Alice working on Bella's hair, "Hey there. I need more hairpins."
Bella looked up at Annabelle, a look of suffering on her face. Annabelle couldn't help but smile as Bella released a loaded sigh.
"Well, I bought extra pins 'cause I actually saw you running out of them once you decided to put your hair up," Alice grabbed a brown paper bag from a vanity drawer and gave it to Annabelle.
"I thought you would wear your hair down," Bella fidgeted on her seat, wishing she could stand up and stretch, "I mean, you have really pretty hair and it looks really nice when it's down."
"Thank you," Annabelle leaned against the doorframe as she watched Alice continue to curl Bella's hair, "I normally would but I bought a halter top dress without a back so an up-do would look better."
"Seriously, Bella, wait until you see the dress she bought. It is sexy," Alice grinned at Annabelle as she shook her head.
"Oh," Bella looked down at her hands, trying not to pick at the pale pink nail polish Alice had applied to them after last night's manicure.
"Don't worry Bella," Annabelle gently squeezed Bella's shoulder, "All the attention will be on you."
"That's for sure," Alice pinned up another curl, moving on to the next section.
"Anyway," Annabelle stepped out of the bathroom, "I'll go finish my hair and put on my make-up…or at least try."
"I'll be there to help you with the make-up," Alice looked up from Bella's head, "As soon as I finish with Bella's."
"Thanks Alice," Annabelle headed back to her room, the brown bag in hand. Standing in front of her bathroom mirror once more, she resumed with her hair.
She couldn't believe that in a few hours, she would be witness to Edward's wedding to Bella. Shaking her head, she finished her hair. Turning several different ways, she was glad to see no visible pins. She had done a good job with this by herself.
Staring into the mirror, she could see the sadness in her eyes and she wondered to herself if it had to do with the fact that she was losing Edward or if it was because with him getting married, she would be alone.
Annabelle walked down the stairs behind Alice and Rosalie, grinning at Jasper and Emmett's good natured whistles. Alice and Rosalie were wearing matching topaz colored sleeveless dresses, accenting the golden color in their eyes.
Annabelle was wearing a deep red halter top dress, the fabric of the bodice crossing over her breasts to her waist, where the mid calf skirt fell in soft folds. Not only was her back bare, but a triangle of her flat stomach, along with her belly button, was displayed by the crossed fabric of her bodice.
"You three ladies are absolutely gorgeous," Jasper took Alice's hand as he pulled her close, looking very handsome in a classic tuxedo, "But you, my dear, are especially smoking hot."
Emmett couldn't take his eyes off Rosalie as she approached him, a seductive smile on her beautiful face. Annabelle stood on the bottom step, looking at both couples, a feeling of longing tugging at her heart.
Would she ever see that look on someone else's face, a look that let her know she was the only one he saw? Or was her romance with Edward a one time shot?
Alice had done an amazing job in turning the Cullens' backyard into any bride's fantasy. Annabelle sat behind the group of females from Denali, having been introduced to them by Carlisle and Esme.
Looking around, she took in the white and golden color scheme among the flowers, the altar, and the canopies that shielded everyone from the pale sunlight. Alice had rented dozens of canopies and created an indoor atmosphere while surrounded by trees and far off mountains.
Annabelle smiled as she looked around, easily picking out the division among those of her kind and those who were Bella's friends, thus, humans. The soft music made her think of a time long gone. Alice had definitely outdone herself with this wedding.
It seemed like she'd been sitting in her chair, legs crossed, observing everything around her for days by the time Emmett walked onto the altar, dressed in a black tuxedo, a Bible on his hand. She smiled at the look of serious concentration on his face. Alice had told her that Emmett had gotten ordained over the internet for the sole purpose of marrying Bella and Edward. She hoped the ceremony would go smoothly without Emmett saying something off the wall.
Soon, Edward walked up to the altar, followed by Jasper, his best man. Annabelle sucked her breath in. He looked so handsome in a classic tuxedo, the breeze ruffling his bronze colored hair. He caught her staring at him and winked, doing his best to help her deal with this whole situation. Annabelle gave him a reassuring smile. She was happy for her friend…yet she hated him for giving someone else everything he had promised her.
Rosalie walked down the aisle, holding a white bouquet of roses and daisies, a smile giving her a beautiful ethereal look. Behind Rosalie was Angela Webber, a school friend of Bella's. Annabelle was amazed at how pretty she looked compared to the plain looking girl she had met the day before at the girls' night party Alice had insisted they have. Following Angela was Alice, a pleased grin adorning her pixie face. Annabelle bit her lip to keep from laughing…if anyone deserved to be overly and obviously pleased, it was Alice. She had done an amazing job on the wedding ceremony.
The wedding march swelled as Bella, escorted by her father Charlie, turned the corner and stepped onto the golden carpet between the rows of chairs. Annabelle's breath rushed out of her as her eyes took in the wedding dress Bella was wearing. It was a beautifully old-fashioned dress that made Bella look like she was from another time, a dress that made Annabelle think of her past life.
She couldn't help but let her mind wander to a past memory as Charlie handed off Bella to Edward, her eyes glazing over with pain.
"I'm going to miss you," Annabelle smiled up at Edward, her big blue eyes bright with unshed tears. She looked down at his chest, a tear slowly sliding down her cheek as he wrapped his arms around her, pressing his lips against her smooth forehead.
"It's just going to be two months, sweetheart," Edward whispered as he tipped her chin up, wiping her cheek with his thumb as he lightly brushed his lips against hers, "As soon as you get back, we'll make our engagement official and start planning the wedding."
"And the rest of our life together," Annabelle smiled up at him, gripping the lapels of his coat and pulling him closer, even though it wasn't really possible.
"I've already talked to my parents – mother offered me her ring –and your father has agreed to talk to me but not until you return from Italy," Edward's blue eyes looked deep into hers, letting her see his heart in them, "I think he's reluctant at the idea of losing his baby girl."
Annabelle smiled up at him, "He loves you as if you were his son…believe me, he'll say yes. He's really proud of you."
"I'm counting on that," Edward kissed her softly, tightening his arms around her, "Because if he says no, I'm kidnapping you."
Annabelle couldn't help but laugh, gasping as he squeezed harder. Wrapping her arms around him, she buried her face into his neck, sighing as she felt him bury his face into her hair, breathing in the faint vanilla scent that was a part of her.
"I love you," he whispered into her ear, "Don't forget that while you're being chased by all those Italian young men."
"Oh, don't worry about them," Annabelle smiled up at Edward, kissing his bottom lip, "Daddy will scare them off. Besides, you're the only one I can think about. You're the only one I see…even when you're not there," Annabelle pouted prettily as she looked at him through lowered eyelids, "But you, on the other hand, are going to be all alone. All the girls are going to try to get you away from me."
"That's not going to happen," Edward kissed her nose before dipping his head to kiss her, "Because I'll be waiting for you."
"Two months," Annabelle sighed, tucking her head under his chin, "It's going to feel like forever."
"No," Edward kissed the top of her head, "Your mother and my mother planning the wedding is going to feel like forever."
Annabelle sighed at the mere thought of the wedding plans, "Mother is going to drive me crazy."
Edward breathed in the vanilla smell of her hair before pulling back, "I have a gift for you."
Annabelle grinned up at him as he pulled out a velvet bag from his coat pocket, "Something to keep me in your mind. Don't open it until tomorrow, when you board the ship."
"Edward," Annabelle whined as she took the velvet bag from him, fingering it to feel the item inside, "That's not fair. How am I supposed to thank you appropriately for this if I don't know what it is?"
"A kiss will be thank you enough for now."
They smiled at each other before leaning into each other, their lips gently touching before they deepened the kiss. Annabelle felt herself melt into his arms, knowing with her entire heart that she belonged to this man and he belonged to her. Their future was a definite promise…as soon as she returned from Italy.
Annabelle crossed her arms, tucking her trembling hands under her armpits. She watched Edward as he looked deep into Bella's eyes. She had remembered to disappear before the memory of the last time she had seen him flooded her. It wouldn't be fair for Edward to see how hurt she was that Bella was the one standing beside him and not herself…the way it should have been. She had to let go before she lost herself in the past.
Jasper laughed as he swung Alice around, pulling her in close as they both moved with the music. Annabelle rested both her elbows on the white table, her chin on her hands as she watched them dance around the glossy wooden dance floor that Alice had made the Cullen boys put down in the middle of the cleared area for the reception.
The sun was setting and Alice had strung fairy twinkling lights throughout the entire yard, around tree trunks, canopy poles and up on the tree limbs. It really was a fairy tale wedding.
Sighing, she looked down at the plate before her, a half eaten stuffed chicken testament to her play acting role. She was not looking forward to throwing up that food after the wedding. In all reality, she had not eaten real food since that last meal in Voltura.
"Hey, want to dance?" Annabelle looked up at Edward, a smile slowly spreading across his face. She took his offered hand and followed him to the dance floor, moving smoothly into his arms as Good Life by Francis Dunnery began to play.
"Don't worry, Annie," Edward smiled down at her as he effortlessly guided her around the dance floor, "Your time will come."
Annabelle didn't say anything. She simply let Edward guide her around as she took in the words of the song, realizing how well it fit their situation…except for the last verse…and the children part. Other than that, it was true. They weren't meant for each other…they wouldn't be here otherwise.
Edward led her back to the family table, kissing her cheek before he turned to look for his bride. Annabelle sat down, wishing she could leave the reception but knew Alice would not appreciate it. Besides, she couldn't do that to Edward.
"Hey, Anna. Dance with me."
Annabelle looked up into Jasper's smiling face, her full-lipped mouth splitting into a wide grin. There was something about Jasper she liked...his charisma and charm reminded her of a simpler time and she enjoyed being around him, getting to know him and becoming his friend.
"I'm not so sure about you calling me Anna," Annabelle placed her left hand on his shoulder, easily following him as he pushed her around the dance floor.
"Well, Annie is what Edward calls you and I think Annabelle is too long," Jasper grinned at her, "So you'll have to put up with Anna."
Annabelle laughed, knowing that Jasper had something to do with the absence of sadness within her. She was grateful for that respite and hoped she could get distracted enough throughout the reception so she won't sink into that sadness.
"You're a real good dancer," Annabelle smiled up at him as he smoothly transitioned them into the next song.
"Why, thank you ma'am," Jasper bowed his head in an effort to look humble but his pleased smile ruined the effect. Annabelle couldn't help but laugh, enjoying his quirky tactics.
"So is Alice playing hostess?"
"You know it," Jasper quickly located Alice, smiling at her over Annabelle's head; "This is her thing. I myself prefer to be with just one person…mostly her. She enjoys the social scene…sometimes I think it's because I bore her."
"You don't believe that," Alice grinned up at him, her eyes twinkling with mirth as his eyebrows lowered.
"And you know that how," Jasper pushed her out to spin her before pulling her back into his arms.
"I'll let you know…all of you," Annabelle looked up at him, giving him an encouraging smile, "As soon as Edward and Bella get back from their honeymoon, I'll tell everything."
"Whatever you have to tell us, know that you will still be welcomed to stay with us," Jasper easily led her into the next song, smiling down at her.
As much as she wanted it to be true, she couldn't count on that assurance once everything was revealed.
Bella looked up at Edward, zeroing in on the sudden tensing of his body. Following his gaze, she sucked in her breath as she watched Jacob Black turn the corner around the house, Embry, Quil and Sam behind him. Looking up at Edward, she couldn't help but worry that trouble was up ahead.
"What does he want," Bella asked as Edward wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close to him as Jacob slowly approached him.
"He wants to talk to us," Edward couldn't help but frown as Jacob got closer, not liking the fact that the werewolf had mastered the ability to block out his thoughts.
"Edward," Jacob nodded his head at him before he turned to look at Bella, "Congratulations Bella."
"Thank you," Bella stayed by Edward's side, trying her best to be unaffected by the look of longing in Jacob's eyes.
"Why are you here, Jacob," Edward pulled Bella closer even though it seemed like an impossible feat.
"You send me an invitation, remember," Jacob gave him a sardonic smile as he pushed his hands into his black slacks, "Besides, Bella's my…best friend. I thought it would be appropriate to come and congratulate her…even though I don't think this wedding should be celebrated."
"Jacob," Bella glared at him, her mouth flattening in anger, "If you just came to be a jerk, then you can turn back around and go back to La Push. You're not welcomed here."
"I'm not here to be a jerk, Bella," Jacob cocked his head to the side, giving her a mocking look, "I'm here to let you both know, as Alpha of the pack, I've decided the treaty still stands. There's no way you can get around it."
"Alpha," Bella narrowed her eyes at him, "I thought Sam was head of the pack."
"No," Jacob gave her a small smile, "Now that I'm back, I've decided to take my rightful place as pack leader."
"Is this why you came back, Jacob," Bella stepped away from Edward, "To ruin my life with your stubbornness?"
"No," Jacob crossed his arms as he watched Bella's face flush with growing anger, "I came back to do right by my people. There's a reason the treaty was made…we expect the Cullens to uphold their end…and since you are now a Cullen, you too have a responsibility to uphold the terms. Which means your voluntary decision to become one of them will break the treaty if you go through with it."
The breeze shifted, brushing against Annabelle's neck and back, bringing with it an unfamiliar scent that filled her head, taking over her thoughts, becoming the only thing that she could think of.
They were still on the dance floor, with Jasper's arms around her, so he was able to feel her tense in his arms and see that familiar dilation of her eyes. Quickly tightening his grip on Annabelle, he was surprised at her sudden display of strength as she tried to turn out of his arms to find the one that had grabbed her attention.
"Emmett!" Jasper growled as he kept Annabelle from turning, not wanting her to see her target. Emmett turned to look at Jasper, quickly understanding the look of consuming thirst on Annabelle's face. Moving quickly to Jasper's side, he grabbed on to one of her arms, slipping the other around her waist. Jasper and Emmett quickly moved her towards the trees, hoping they hadn't made a scene.
Keeping a struggling Annabelle immobile between them was a feat, yet thanks to Emmett's strength and Jasper's experience in controlling thirsty newborns, they managed to keep her from getting away.
Annabelle knew she could get away but only when they let go of her. She would just wait until they weren't touching her anymore and disappear. She hadn't seen who that scent had come from but she knew it would be a matter of time before she tracked it down. Then again, it may take her all night since she never had to hunt for her meals before…
"What the hell is going on," Jasper and Emmett looked up to see Edward standing before them, his displeasure at the situation evident on his face.
"We have a bit of a situation," Emmett nodded his head towards Annabelle. Jasper and Emmett had her up against a tree, keeping their hands on her. Without her knowing, Edward had explained to them how her disappearing talent worked. She struggled against their restraints, completely unaware of Edward's presence.
"Annabelle," Edward stood a couple of feet before her, lightly tapping her cheek in an effort to get her attention. She turned her eyes towards him, the pupils so dilated they swallowed up the golden irises he had seen during their dance, "Annabelle! Snap out of it!"
Annabelle lunged towards him, not because she knew who he was but because she wanted to get away. The shock of hitting the tree trunk as Emmett and Jasper pulled her back brought her back to the present. Breathing hard, she looked up at Edward, her lips parted in surprise as she realized where she was.
"We're going to keep you here in the forest until the reception is over," Edward pushed an escaping curl out of Annabelle's face, tucking it behind her ear and taking her chin, "Once the party's over, Emmett and Jasper will bring you back to the house. You're going to be all right?"
"Yes," the word was so soft it sounded like a breath escaping her lips. She sagged against the tree, feeling a growing shame at her lost of control.
"Annie," Edward forced her to look into his golden eyes, "Its okay. You didn't do anything wrong. We're here to help you through this, okay?"
She nodded, feeling herself falling into a shame spiral. She had never wanted to take a life before; in fact, the only reason she fed on human blood while under Aro's care was because he made sure she couldn't resist. He had played her newborn thirst against her, as well as the natural lost of control most vampires experienced when blood was present.
She'd never before felt this pull, this burning thirst in the back of her throat, this all consuming need to taste that blood and have that scent fill her head until she couldn't think beyond it. She didn't know how to fight her natural instinct to hunt and feed.
