It was a warm and sunny day, a rare treat in the Pacific Northwest. Hoping to store away some vitamin D for the long winter ahead, Izzy craned her neck upwards and dug her bare toes into the sand.
"Are you ready?" Sam asked.
Izzy opened her eyes and glared at him."For what?"
He was probably about to tell her there was some pressing matter inside that needed her attention. Was five minutes of peace too much to ask?
"For the wedding," Sam said, smiling. "Don't tell me you've forgotten."
Izzy grimaced at the thought of attending yet another celebrity wedding. Why couldn't she just stay home? The happy couple probably wouldn't even make it to Christmas.
"So who's getting married this time?" Izzy asked, watching the waves lap against the shore.
She hoped it wasn't one of the Kardashians. The last thing Quil needed was his mug shot plastered all over the internet again.
Sam smirked. "Oh Izzy, always such a joker. He's certainly going to have his hands full." He offered her his elbow. "Come on, let's go. Everyone is waiting."
"Wait," Izzy said, scratching her head. "Where are we going? Who's getting…"
Izzy froze when her fingers brushed against a lace veil. She looked down at her outfit and gasped. Why was she wearing a white dress? That wasn't practical for a day at the beach! It couldn't be..could it?
"Am I...getting married?" Izzy asked Sam.
Maybe Emily was right. She really needed to ease up on the drinking. Showing up to work with a hangover was one thing. Forgetting her wedding day was on a whole new level.
Sam smiled. "Kind of hard to believe isn't it?"
Surely one night of drinking couldn't erase an entire relationship from her memory.
"Is this some type of joke?" Izzy asked, crossing her arms.
It had to be Seth's doing. He was probably hidden somewhere giggling over her reaction. He wouldn't be laughing when he crawled under the sheets and found a little "present" from Rebel.
"Of course not," said Sam. "It's been a long road. You guys deserve to be happy."
Izzy had known Sam long enough to know when he was kidding. To her experienced eye, he looked sincere.
Izzy cleared her throat. "Um...Sam. Who am I,
She was cut off mid-sentence when Mama, a song from their first album, started to play.
It was a good song, but not very fitting for a wedding.
"Come on," Sam said. "That's our cue."
Cue for what? Did he really expect her to go along with marrying a stranger?
Before she could protest, Sam turned her around. Izzy's eyes widened. Where did all those people come from? The band, her friends from high school, and a handful of celebrities sat on either side of an impossibly long aisle. Even Rebel was there with a bow tie on his collar. "Come on," Sam said, Izzy her down the aisle. "He's waiting."
It was too bright to see who was waiting.
"Who's waiting," Izzy asked, squinting.
"Your true love."
"What true love? I don't even remember getting engaged!"
Izzy looked down at her hand. On her left hand was an engagement ring with the biggest diamond she'd ever seen. While it may have been her eyes playing tricks on her, Izzy could have sworn it was growing by the second.
"Sam, wait," Izzy shouted. "I'm not ready!"
"Yes you are," Sam said, tugging her arm. "This is long overdue."
Izzy scanned the crowd. Surely Jake could talk some sense into Sam. Her chest tightened when she realized Jake was nowhere to be found. He wouldn't skip her wedding, would he? They'd promised to always be there for each other, no matter what.
Sam dragged Izzy and her aching soul the rest of the way down the aisle. When they got to the end, a soothing warmth that had nothing to do with the sun filled Izzy's heart. Jake was standing there wearing a well-tailored suit and a wide smile. Any reservations she had melted away. She couldn't think of anything better than marrying her best friend.
"I was starting to get worried," Jake said. "Thought you weren't going to show."
"I'll always show up for you," Izzy said, barely noticing the sun slip behind a cloud.
"Do you, Jacob Black, take Isabella Swan to be your lawfully wedded wife," The minister said.
"I do," Jake said, grinning like a fool.
"And do you, Isabella Swan, take Jacob Black to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I-" Izzy started.
There was a deafening clap of thunder. The waves started churning and the howling wind kicked up sand and rocks.
A dark shape rose up out of the water.
"Come on!" Jake shouted, grabbing Izzy's hand. "We have to get out of here!"
Izzy remained rooted to the spot as the shape took form. It was Edward. He was pale as marble and streaked in blood.
"Why Bella?"Edward cried. "Why did you leave! You said you loved me!"
Izzy's heart shattered into a million pieces. She'd never meant to hurt him. Before she could put those feelings into words, Edward took off down the beach.
Pulling Jake along with her, Izzy ran after Edward. She chased him across the beach and through the woods she knew like the back of her own hand. Several times, Edward allowed her to get within striking distance only to pull away and speed up. If he was trying to torture her, he was doing an excellent job. Between the pain in her muscles and the pain in her chest, Izzy felt close to passing out.
At long last, Edward allowed her to catch him. Izzy's blood ran cold when she realized where he'd taken her. They were at the cliffs but far above the height deemed safe for jumping. It was the same spot she'd come all those years ago to put an end to her pain.
"Edward," Izzy said, taking a cautious step towards him. "Let's go somewhere to talk. It's not safe here."
Why had Edward come here of all places? He'd always been terrified of heights. He could barely climb a ladder without getting dizzy.
"Why did you stop loving me?" Edward sobbed, staring down at the churning black water.
"I do love you," Izzy said, "I always have and always will!"
Izzy tried to grab his arm, but Edward flinched and took a step towards the edge.
"Why didn't you save me?" Edward asked, taking a giant step forward.
Izzy didn't have an answer for that. While she was having the time of her life in La Push he was wasting away at the hands of a madman. There was nothing she could say or do to make that right.
"I'm sorry, Edward," Izzy said, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I never meant for this to happen!"
Thunder rolled and lightning cracked, Jake shouted a warning, but all Izzy noticed was Edward's eyes turning from amber to black.
"No, you aren't!"
Before Izzy could stop him, Edward hurled himself into the water.
Izzy bolted upright in bed. The pounding wasn't the sound of Edward's body hitting the surf. It was someone trying to get into her room. She grabbed the closest item in reach. Unless the intruder had a down allergy, she was about to star on her own episode of True Crime.
"Izzy!" Emmett cried. "Open the door!"
Izzy dropped the pillow and scrambled to get to the door. In typical Bella Swan fashion, Izzy got tangled in the sheets and fell out of bed. Thank goodness she'd left the door locked. Emmett would have never let her live that graceful move down.
"Emmett? Izzy said, rubbing her sore wrist. "What are you doing here?"
She hoped he hadn't walked over from the hospital. He wasn't wearing a coat, shoes, or a gown that fully covered his rear.
Without saying a word, Emmett rushed past her. He pulled back the shower curtain in the bathroom and peered under Izzy's bed.
"What are you looking for?" Izzy asked.
"Jasper," Emmett replied, peering behind the couch.
"Last I checked he was still in the hospital where you should be too."
Izzy grabbed her phone from the nightstand. As expected, there were dozens of missed calls and texts from Esme. The poor woman was probably losing her mind over Emmett's disappearance.
"Jasper isn't there," Emmett exclaimed. "He's missing!"
Izzy froze. "What do you mean, missing!"