Chapter 3: Please Be Mine [Wedding Problem]

“Oh crap.” I muttered to myself, so low that it was impossible for anyone to hear. Oh, who am I kidding? Of course they’ll hear it. I feel my stomach turning.

Esme was at my side in an instant, rubbing my back gently. “It will be fine, dear.” She flashed her sweet, motherly smile. “Good luck, Bella.” she said as she walked to her seat near upfront.

I could tell Alice was practically bouncing up and down with excitement. “Bella!” she began in a whisper. “Aren’t you excited? Now, please try not to trip for just a few meters.” I looked at her and saw that she was concentrating really hard, staring into space, her long brows slanting. “No, you’re good! Everything’s going to work out perfectly!” She added, all bubbly, as she held my hand lightly. “Thanks.” I sighed.

I carefully thought about all my options before the wedding will finally start. I could only think of two options and went through it.

Well, there was option one: just get this over with. At least I’ll officially belong to Edward and he will belong to me—forever. That thought made me smile a little.

Then there is option two: make a run for it now. Avoid any coming embarrassment and denial, probably. Though, Alice could probably see this as I’m planning it and stop me instantly. She, and probably everyone, wouldn’t want me to ruin my own wedding—Edward’s condition.

His happiness is important to me. My own personal happiness, well, that’s different. Though I am sure my—total—happiness is being with him—and him alone. Edward is the love of my life—soon to be an existence. So more or less, I’m much more liable to choose option one.

My thoughts were suddenly distracted by another sudden playing of the organ. It seemed like I only have minutes—seconds—left for me to decide this. Well, duh, I do.

‘I do’. Something both Edward and I will say today. Two simple words that will start a brand new beginning for the two of us. Two words that will bind us together—for the rest of our existence. Two words that will bring us closer for more than an eternity.

I lost my train of thought when a hand held one of my shoulders and a familiar voice beside me.

“Ready to tie the knot, Bells?” Charlie—probably still not that happy about me marrying so fast, or me marrying Edward—already accepted the fact that I will, in fact, marry Edward today. “Yeah, Dad.” I sighed.

From the corner of my eye, I thought I saw him frown and glimpse of sadness suddenly filled his eyes. “You know, Bella,” he started, his voice didn’t hide it. “I only want you to be happy. But in case you ever change your mind or isn’t ready right now, well—”

I cut him off. “Dad, we talked about is.” I sighed again. “I will marry Edward…Today.” I stated my point. I know he’s only worried about me like any father—whose teenage daughter would marry a vampire—would. Though, he didn’t know about the “vampire” part just yet.

He still hasn’t gotten over the time when Edward left me and I went with Alice to Italy to go get him. He doesn’t know about the Italy part too. He thinks Alice and I went to L.A. for him. But before that, I have been moping around all day, not waking up from my zombie-state for about—a painful—five months. That memory made me shiver.

“Well then,” Charlie continued. “If it’s what you want and you’re sure you’re going to be happy, then…” he trailed off, looking down thoughtfully. There was a short pause. I looked at him. What was he trying to say? He met my gaze and added, “Then it’s fine with me.” Charlie smiled and hugged me, and I hugged him back.

I know Charlie isn’t that happy about it—but as much as I love Charlie—I want to spend the rest of my life with Edward. “Dad, thank you so much.” He stood by side and gestured his arm like escorts normally do and I wrapped my arm with his.

“Remember Bells, I’ll always love you. No matter what your decisions may be.” he added. “I love you, too, Dad.” He flashed me his smile once more and I smiled back, then turned to face front, as did Charlie.

In front of me formed two lines. The line on my left had Alice in the front as my maid of honor. The white flower in the left parted side of her hair made her look more child-like than she already is. She was absolutely bouncing with impatience and excitement. If she bounced any higher—and I’m not sure if I’m exaggerating—she’ll hit the roof. Her quirkiness made me smile; she had her fun, the one I promised not to deny. Alice was like a sister to me.

Behind her was Rosalie. I’m glad Rosalie isn’t that displeased—if that was the right word—with me anymore as to becoming one of them and agreed to be one of my bridesmaids. Like Edward—only less stubborn and ridiculous—she wanted me to stay mortal, even for just a while longer. She even added that it’s lucky for me because I still have a choice. My decision was final, I’m not changing it. There’s no turning back.

Then behind Rosalie, almost touching her long, loose blonde hair was Angela Weber. With her white, knee-length, strapless dress, with a ribbon wrapped around the waist, showed how tall she is and her light brown hair parted neatly at the side of her head, sent her brown waves accenting her ‘always gentle’ brown eyes.

I was so happy when she agreed to be one of my bridesmaids. She had been a really good friend to me, especially when I just got out of that horrible, moping phase when Edward left me. Only Mike Newton and Angela, with his boyfriend Ben Cheney, were the ones who accepted and took me back. While Jessica Stanley, my first ever friend since I entered Forks High School, joined the ‘dark side’ with Lauren Mallory.

Ever since that incident in Port Angeles with Jessica, she has been ignoring me for consecutively almost the rest of our senior year. But—as I remembered—Jessica started talking to me again since graduation, until the party after that. As for Lauren, she never really liked me, and I didn’t really like her as well.

Looking around the rest of the people who attended this special day, I could see Jessica with Mike somewhere in the middle of the crowd, sitting down, backs turned on me.

I remembered the groomsmen not needing to wear all white, but probably to please Alice, Jasper wore an all white tux, different than the rest. I giggled quite a bit when I took a glance at the left line. Emmett was trying to pump up. Jasper, on the other hand, was trying to calm him down. I think I saw him mouthing ‘this is a wedding’. And Emmett stopped and stood calm. I giggled again.

Jasper, as Edward’s best man, is opposite Alice. Emmett, behind Jasper, is opposite Rosalie, but this time, he was now relaxed—behaved.

Emmett always finds a way to make me laugh without meaning to, or knowing he did. He was the big brother I never had. But after this is over, he probably will be. The thought of me becoming one of them made me a little nervous and I felt shivers. My mind went back to observing the line for the groomsmen.

At the end of the line, there was Ben sporting a black-coated tux with no tie or ribbon. I was pretty much surprised when Edward asked him to be one of the groomsmen. Though, it surprised me even more that Ben agreed to it. I know Angela wouldn’t probably make him do it if he didn’t really want to.

Ben was Angela’s boyfriend and they’re pretty much in love. The height difference wasn’t that of a problem though. Angela was taller than Ben by an inch or two. It was kind of obvious, but they don’t really mind it at all. When they want to kiss, Angela would just bend over a little or Ben would stand slightly at the end of his toes.

Damn it. Why am I always distracted? If little things like this could distract me so easily, no wonder Edward has—almost—no problem in distracting me. I felt nauseous as my thoughts flitted back to my wedding. I might as well avoid any humiliation while I’m at it. I wouldn’t want to remember this day as an embarrassment, a decade—or century—or so from now.

Something suddenly dawned on me. Why is it that the organist starts playing, and then stops after awhile? I’m getting a little confused.

Then I saw—way over there, near the altar—Carlisle talking to the organist. Probably about confusing all of us. He was probably telling her to start only when he asked her to. Well, time’s up. Carlisle went back to his seat next to Esme in the bench just behind where the bridesmaids were supposed to sit.

Oh no. It’s starting—unfortunately—for real. It was definitely time. I breathed in deeply, and then exhaled with almost a loud sigh. At this point, there is totally no turning back.

The bridesmaids and groomsmen started walking down the aisle to their seats up front, stepping on the scattered white rose petals on the white carpet. I closed my eyes for a moment and tried to breathe evenly. I felt Charlie starting to walk and I followed his lead, arm in arm with him. I’m actually begging myself not to fall down this time.

Great, we’re almost at the end. When Charlie let go of my hand, smiled at me and went back to his seat, I caught a glimpse of my fate. He looked beautiful. Dashing. Perfect.

I had to go up a short flight of stairs to the altar when, suddenly, my foot hit a step and I almost tripped. I knew not tripping would be impossible. But luckily, I caught myself in time and continued until I was beside my Edward.

He looked at me; his golden eyes were soft and full of joy. He smiled my favorite crooked smile once again and asked, “Ready, love?” His voice velvety smooth.

I looked—stared—at him taking in everything I saw, memorizing each perfect feature of his beautiful face. My fingers twitched, wanting to touch his face, making sure this wasn’t a dream. I set my thoughts straight before I forgot to breathe again. I sighed and smiled. “Of course.”

He smiled again, held my right hand, his cold thumb rubbing soothing circles at the back of it as we faced the altar, our destiny soon to happen. The priest started and my stomach had butterflies.

“Brothers and sisters,” he began. “We are gathered here today to witness the unity of this couple, Edward Cullen and Isabella Swan, in Holy Matrimony.”

This was it. I never thought this day would actually come. I could cry—but I won’t.

“Now if there is anyone who think these two should not be wed, please speak now, or forever hold you peace.”

I looked back at our ‘witnesses’, hoping no one would stand up and object. Heaven knows what I would do if anyone did. I gave myself at what I thought would be a quick glance at Edward and his face was tense. But I could tell he was trying to hide it as he started to rub the circles at the back of my hand again. He looked at me and smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

When I looked back again, I caught Alice whispering something to Rosalie, their eyes tense and faces worried. So were Carlisle and Esme’s. Still, Jasper looked calm but his eyes seemed to have a different emotion. Emmett, on the other hand, had a slight grin on his face. Maybe Jasper was trying to make everyone calm down but had very little effect. I looked at Edward again and this time his jaw was hard, his eyes burning, but he was still facing the altar. His left hand was tightening a little bit around mine. His right hand though, was clenched into a fist at his side.

No one seemed to want to speak up and object so the priest started again. “If there isn’t anyone willing to object then we will con—”

He was cut off by the sudden opening of the church doors. I turned by head unwillingly to see, though I did not want to know what was going to happen. I couldn’t make out the faces of the person—three person, in fact—standing in the door way.

There were huge, all three of them. All had dark russet brown skin and straight black hair………

My mind trailed off. I suddenly realized who they were and what their business here was.

Crap. I glared at Alice giving her the “what-the-hell?!” look. She gave me the “you-know-I-can’t-see-them” look in return.

I looked at Edward and he was fuming. He didn’t let go of my hand yet but his hold was a lot tighter than before. This time his golden eyes were hard and full of anger and his nostrils were flaring as he turned slowly to face the three…Quilete werewolves.