The Ladies
Bella walked out of her interview, feeling the way she always did. Awkward and wondering if she actually answered the question. The producer's kind face was encouraging after, and she was grateful that during that the spotlight had been so bright that she couldn't see the expression on her face. Bella always seemed to be wondering if she was on the verge of being kicked off the show. They would no doubt contact her, and say, "hey you. What are you still doing here? How did you make the final cut?"
After the taping of the final interview, this promo where they would take sound bytes to feature bits of each candidate, they released her with directions to meet with the gals at a restaurant. The limo picked them up, and wearing a pair of jeans and a simple white blouse, she still felt a little out of place, even with Alice in the limo beside her. They were about to meet face to face with the third bride, Rosalie. Alice wore her skirts flowy, and a bright yellow top to go with it- she had a sense of style that Bella had never been able to find for herself. As they exited the limo, the producer advised them to act natural, to absolutely not face the camera and in fact, to pretend it wasn't there. Bella's nerves were rattled as she reminded herself to focus on Rosalie, who'd been sipping a drink at a private booth at their designated location. Lights were placed all around the booth, and though people sat at the bar, Bella was sure they were designated extras. She wondered if they were being paid to be there.
Was she going to be able to do this? Lights everywhere. Another camera was facing Rosalie, who'd been sipping a drink at a private booth at their designated location. Microphones attached to long black cords dangled from above their seating areas. The producer followed her, and Alice gestured for them to approach Rosalie. The picture-perfect blonde rose with her perfect smile, even managing to look sincere as she embraced Alice and then Bella. Once more, Bella felt more out of place, a dark contrast to Rosalie's coif and floral perfume. The show's makeup artist had done Bella's makeup and hair and chosen her clothes based on her taste, yet she couldn't imagine in any lifetime being able to measure up to Rosalie's beauty. It's not a competition, Bella, she reminded herself. The blonde has her own mate already picked out just for her, according to her preferences.
Alice scooted into the booth between the two as natural as could be and smiled at both of them. "So, ladies, are we excited?"
"I'll say," Rosalie said.
Alice made her introduction, and Bella marveled at her friend and how easily she seemed to adjust to any situation. They began the conversation by describing their dresses and dates and while Bella stayed quiet. Rosalie seemed to hone in on this, making eye contact with her.
"So, you two are best friends already, I hear. How lucky for you to have your bestie here to go through this with," Rosalie said. Her tone was upbeat and she took a sip from her drink.
"Yes!" Alice said, extending her left arm and wrapping it around Bella's shoulder. "How lucky are we? That they found matches for both of us! I guess it works for them also because we can be a support for one another."
"How long have you been friends?"
"We met in high school. She was the quiet one and I was the weird one who befriended her in trig."
Rosalie smiled as she looked from Alice to her. "How fortunate. I've never been able to keep a friend for very long."
"Why is that do you think?"
"Hopefully this doesn't come out the wrong way. Other girls are threatened by me."
Bella took a drink, musing to herself how Rosalie had known - had she experienced this with others? It gave Bella a degree of comfort that she wasn't the only one who felt threatened.
Alice, doe-eyed and innocent just looked at her. "Why?"
"Honestly, I don't know. There's just something about me or the way I look. Or the way I come off, I guess. It's not just females though. I have this effect on men - as if they're too scared to approach me, like I'm going to bite them or something. Then, the men who aren't afraid, whew! Watch out for them - the alpha male type who looks at me like I'm a wild animal to tame. Do you know what I mean?"
Alice and Bella both shook their heads.
Rosalie zeroed in on Bella. "So, why are you here? I mean it would seem easy enough for you. You seem approachable."
Bella lifted her drink to her lips and took a sip, willing the alcohol to ease her nerves. She'd wished she could just disappear into the background and only answer with yes or no when needed. The awareness that the camera was on her felt like a big beast that was just waiting to swallow her up. This whole time, she'd been perfectly fine with letting Alice go on about colors and flower preferences and background about their friendship. Now, it was her turn, and she hoped she wouldn't fumble in front of the beauty queen and make herself look on television like the fool she thought she was in comparison.
"Alice. Is why I'm here," she said. "I've been having trouble getting over a bad relationship, and I've tried moving on…"
"So, you're not over your ex?" Rosalie smirked.
Alice cut in,"She is. In theory. She just isn't letting herself believe it."
Rosalie's gaze focused razor sharp on Bella. "I mean, don't you have to not have any emotional ties? That was supposed to be a requirement, right?"
Bella retorted, "I'm good. I'm ready to move on." At any point in the past three months had she believed that statement? Yet, the night before at the bar the man with whom she'd kissed still left her breathless, even made her forget about the existence of her ex. Of course, it didn't help that she couldn't stop thinking about him. Who was that amazing gentleman? Why was he there? He insisted that he wasn't hitting on her…but that kiss…
Alice said, "Oh, now you've got her blushing. We are supposed to be a team here. We're all going through this together, so let's be supportive. Bella says she's ready and I believe her, and so should you."
Rosalie lifted her hands in defense. "Oh I'm not the one you have to convince."
She didn't gesture toward the camera, but the awareness that an invisible audience of thousands stayed there in Bella's consciousness. They weren't there now, but there wasn't any escaping it…unless she bowed out, which she'd considered over and over. But, she didn't have the $20,000 to buy her way out of the contract she signed. And the fantasy that kept popping up in her brain that that same man may be at the altar waiting for her stopped her from truly considering it.
Bella made the commitment and she was determined to try her damndest to see it through whether it was the man from the garden, or whoever it was that the show had found for her. It was going to be absolutely perfect. It had to be.
"Are there any things about your groom that you believe you absolutely can't accept?" Alice asked. "Like what qualities are a hard no?"
"He can't tell me what to do," Bella said, and that just flew out of her mouth.
Alice held up her hand in a high five. "Amen to that. God knows… nevermind."
She turned her gaze to Rosalie, "You?"
"Oh, I agree. He absolutely can't tell me what to do. And disrespect. Nope. Won't have it."
Alice nodded. "Agreed."
Rosalie turned to Alice. "You? What's your hard no?"
"Oh…smoking…yeah. No. I can't handle it. The cigarette taste in the mouth, the smell on the clothes. Noooo."
"So, if he's a smoker, then what are you gonna do?"
"I won't kiss him until he quits."
"Awww as easily as that, huh?" Rosalie joked. "I know people - family members who smoked their whole lives and died from lung cancer. Didn't deter any one of them."
"That was their choice. And their significant others chose to accept it. I choose not to."
"Okay, like what if he's not a smoker but maybe a bad kisser?" Rosalie asked.
"Technique can always be perfected," she said and the two giggled.
The topic of kissing had thrown Bella into the memory of the man's lips…and how soft they were on her and the mix of gentle and insistent his arms felt around her.
Alice elbowed Bella. "Right?"
Bella nodded. She had told Alice about the encounter, and Alice assured her that he was just the fling she needed to prime her for this experience. And that under no circumstances was she to entertain the idea of this man and his lips when she had a fiance who was ready to give his heart to her. How well that talk had worked.
"I can tell already, ladies. The three of us are gonna be great friends. Let's toast to friends who are about to embark on a batshit crazy experience."
Rosalie smiled and this time it reached her eyes. "Here, here."
Batshit, crazy experience was right. And Bella smiled as she clinked her glass to theirs.
The guys
The stockiest of them - Emmett - had the tightest and strongest of the grips when it came to handshakes, Edward observed. Though Emmett probably spent hours at the gym, his smile was wide and seemed the friendliest.
The three grooms sat at a square table with a camera person operating behind the blond man, who spoke the least of the group. His reserved nature reflected in the tight way he held his glass, in contrast to Emmett, who was ready to signal for his second.
Emmett was rocking back and forth, like he couldn't control his excitement. "So, how did we get here?" he asked, looking from Jasper to Edward.
To Edward's surprise Jasper, the leanest of them spoke first. "I have a hard time meeting women."
"Don't we all?" Emmett laughed.
"Yeah, but it's really hard for me. Like whenever I'm around a woman, or anyone, I kinda sense how they feel."
"Cool!" Emmett said.
"Yeah, not so cool, when they're looking across the table at me, and I have this sense they are just dying to get this over with."
"Blind dates?" Edward asked.
"No. I refuse. My family…my mom wanted to set me up with some gals from church back home, but no."
Back home? Somewhere south, Edward guessed. Probably Texas or Louisiana. His accent, though slight, was still notable.
"And you?"
"I have the same problem. I can sort of intuit what they're thinking, whether they're really interested in me or not. . Also, my job keeps me pretty busy."
"I heard you're a doctor," Emmett said to Edward. "I've been having this thing with my shoulder…" He rotated his right shoulder, grimacing for effect.
The producer, in the background, made a slicing motion across the neck not to go there. Edward smiled at this because they weren't here to get medical advice nor was he here to give it.
"That is…I have an old football injury…and it bugs me sometimes at work."
"What kind of work do you do?" Edward asked him.
"Firefighter."
Of course. He looked the part, tall, muscular, friendly, had an almost heroic vibe about him. Edward liked him right away. He could tell that while Jasper was the strong silent type that Emmett wore his heart on his sleeve.
"My guess is that they would be swarming you," Jasper said, rolling his napkin into a horizontal cone on the table.
"First dates are easy," Emmett said with a grin. "Relationships are too complicated, especially when they can't deal with the time I have to spend at work."
Emmett's gaze settled on Jasper. "What are you looking for in a wife? Let me guess - little woman who stays at home to raise the kids, takes them to soccer practice, bakes cupcakes for church?"
"Actually, no," Jasper said. "Unless that's what she wanted. I very much prefer a free thinker. One I can actually have a conversation with, who isn't hung up on shopping and her looks. And you?" he asked Emmett.
"I don't have any preferences…except she's gotta love me. That sounds corny, doesn't it?"
"It makes perfect sense," Edward said.
Jasper turned to Edward as a server set down another glass in front of Emmett filled with amber liquid. "What are you looking for in a wife? Good cook? Housekeeper? Or career- driven and ambitious?"
"That's another area where we're similar," Edward said, raising his glass to Jasper. "I agree with what you said. I want someone to be active with, travel, see new places and have experiences. One who isn't afraid to be alive. One who is excited to be with me." And if she happened to have long brown hair and chocolate brown eyes that seared into his soul, it wouldn't hurt.
Emmett took a few swallows from his drink. "She's gotta love sex."
Edward and Jasper raised their glasses to meet Emmett's. "Cheers to that."
"Jesus," Emmett said, "can you believe that we'll all be married within a week's time?"
Jasper shook his head. "I know it on a conscious level but just hearing it said like that is like, what the hell? You are actually going to marry a stranger?"
"Exactly," Edward said.
"My dad, after I told him, wasn't too thrilled about the idea, but when he saw that I was serious about this, he gave me one piece of advice, coming from a man who's been married 35 years."
Edward and Jasper waited as Emmett held their attention, as though ready to deliver the most hilarious of punchlines.
"Happy wife, happy life."
Edward shook his head, "I subscribe more to happy spouse, happy house."
A server set down another round of drinks for the men and scooped up their empty glasses. "Cheers to us finding the perfect mate."
As the producer gestured for the three to toast, she called out, "cut. Thanks, guys." The camera man backed away and adjusted some settings on the lens and a few others pulled away large lighting fixtures.
Edward watched as the producer pulled Jasper away from their group and as he and Emmett continued with smalltalk, he overheard the conversation they were having at the bar. Apparently, the plans had been finalized, and his wedding was to be the last, taking place in 2 days.
A/N: So are we excited for the first wedding?! I'll try to get that up sooner than later, depending on how much editing it needs. Thanks to you all for your support, thanks for reading and hope to hear from you!