CHAPTER THREE
ʙʀɪᴅᴇ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ

The sound of Wagner's traditional march flooded through the halls as Rosalie sat at the piano, her fingers gracing the keys with several embellishments. At the bottom of the stairs, Bella's face was as white as paper, her lips pulled between her teeth, lipstick miraculously unsmudged. Between her manicured hands, was a bouquet of snow coloured flowers, neatly tied by a satin bow.

"Easy, Bells," Charlie said as her grip tightened around his arm. His eyes slid nervously our way. "She looks a little sick. Do you think she's going to make it?"

"She'd better," Alice said as she stood forward on the tips of her toes, taking herself to eye level before she held her wrists to speak. "Focus, Bella. Edward is waiting for you down there."

Fighting the urge to wipe her palms against her dress, Bella clutched the flower bouquet close to her chest and forced a nod.

"Yes. Edward. Okay," she whispered.

The piano music seemed to grow louder and I took Alice's arm lightly. "It's our turn."

She nodded, turning to Bella for the last time before she'd walk down the aisle. "Count to five and follow us."

Alice led, her dress wrapped around her feet in a swathing ripple of silver silk, like sparkling spiderwebs in damp treetops. Her hands were wrapped around a smaller bouquet of baby's breath and eucalyptus, the same that tickled the tops of my knuckles. She walked purposefully and yet effortlessly, her movements so perfect that she almost seemed to be floating. I could hear the hitch in Bella's breath from behind; the raising of her heartbeat.

Up ahead, we spread out, standing beside the altar, beneath the canopy of white blossoms, opposite to Carlisle who stood closest to Edward. His golden eyes were already trained on the carpet where she would emerge, his hands enlaced together neatly against his suit. As a thrill in the music erupted, his chin lifted, face breaking into an expression of overwhelming desperation. I could name that look- I called it pure love.

A single second later, Bella stepped out onto the aisle, dark eyes momentarily taking in the masses of floral decoration as she clung to her father, struggling to keep in time with the steps of the rhythm. Then she found Edward waiting for her at the end of her pathway. The subtle movements of her flawless face stilled and it was clear from a single gesture- the slow blinking of her lashes and gentle smile- that all worries had melted away, burning into excitement. Everyone else had disappeared, blurring into the colours of the walls, of the flowers, of the ornaments.

As she took her last step toward her new life, Charlie took Bella's hand and slowly placed it into Edward's. He stepped away and the ceremony began, as old and traditional as Edward himself. The vows were classic- so much so that I faintly had memories of my mother saying the same words, for that had been the last wedding I'd attended. Rings were exchanged and Mr Webber announced them husband and wife.

So quick, the actual ceremony seemed to have been. To both the bride and the groom, the words I do could not have come quicker. Though Alice and I suspected it was for entirely different reasons.

The day melted into the night as smoothly as the after-party began. Many rounded tables surrounded a temporary dance floor, bathed in the warm, yellow star lights that hung from the branches of naked trees. Bella and Edward sat with their parents in the middle of the space, with the rest of the Cullen's and myself spread around a table just to their left. A tall, ivory cake stood to the far right, decorated in delicate swirls of patterned lace, ready to be cut. But the speeches came first.

"Is this on?" Emmett tapped once on the microphone. "Hello."

The guests let out a synchronous chuckle and Jasper and I whistled, making a grin spread across his face.

"I'd like to propose a toast," he said while holding up his glass. "To my new sister. Bella, I hope you've gotten enough sleep these past eighteen years because you won't be getting anymore for a while."

The speeches, as Alice and many others had predicted, were a total disaster. It was to be expected, given the whole nature of the wedding and the vast variety in the guestlist. The Denali coven was strange, their words twisted but playful; their natural attractiveness causing many to gravitate their way, only to be disappointed. Jessica and the rest seemed rather dazed, whether in true disbelief or plain shock, it did not matter.

"Well, Bella was just like everyone else, totally mesmerised by Edward. Or the hair, as I call him," Jessica said after a moment of standing awkwardly on the stage, her finger wrapping around a strand of curled hair. "And then suddenly Edward is all about Bella- even though she's not the captain of the volleyball team."

There was an uncomfortable murmur and she waved her hand, brushing it off. "I'm just kidding, I'm just kidding."

"Or the president of the student council," she added as she eventually shuffled down the steps.

Charlie took her place. He was stiff, his shoulders squared and hands held together against his front. Dark eyes tried to say he was unbothered, by the roughness to his jaw spoke otherwise.

"Edward will be a good husband. I know this because I'm a cop. I know things, like... how to hunt somebody to the ends of the Earth," he said abruptly, clearing his throat. "I know how to use a gun."

After Charlie came Alice and her unusual words. "Now that you're my sister, you'll have to get over your version of fashion," she said, waving her hands around. "Skirts, heels, handbags."

Then it was my turn. It shouldn't have felt so difficult to follow Charlie's threats, Alice's minor insults, and Emmett's jokes, but it was. As I stepped onto the stage, glass still in my hand, pulling the silver dress from around my feet, I paused. Bella nodded slightly in encouragement and I mimicked clearing my throat.

"So unlike Alice, I don't have a threat to declare, I have thanks to give. Bella, you brought me into your life and it's been a whirlwind ever since," I said, wanting to keep it short and sweet as the rest had. "Here's to making memories together until the end of our time. Congratulations, to Edward and Bella."

After a show of drunken songs from Renee, it was at last Edward's turn to take the centre of attention.

"It is an extraordinary thing to meet someone who you can bear your soul to, who will accept you for what you are. I've been waiting for what seems like a very long time to get beyond what I am, and with Bella, I feel like I can finally begin," Edward said, his dazzling, amber eyes never lifting from Bella. Alice's hand slipped into mine, her head resting against my shoulder. "So I'd like to propose a toast. To my beautiful bride: no measure of time with you will be long enough, but let's start with forever."

☾

"Bella!" I called for her and she turned on her heel, dragging the layers of dress with her as she sighed in relief. "I should have known it would be so hard to see the bride. You look stunning."

"She was never going to look anything but beautiful," Alice said before she could even get a word in.

Bella smiled- awkwardly yet thankfully- and let out a breath as she looked around at the rest of the party that continued to bustle around her. The twinkling lights were more obvious now, like stars against the darkening sky and the music drifted along with the warm air at the perfect volume.

"You two look great. The whole wedding is great. Thank you," she said, the words tumbling from her lips in waves.

"Enough of that," Alice said, taking one arm and looping it in her own. "How do you feel?"

Bella took a moment to think and shrugged her shoulders. "Overwhelmed. Relieved," she said, shaking her head. "It feels like I've always wanted this without ever knowing."

I liked the way she had described it as if it was destined to feel right. I would have said the same about Alice.

"I'm so happy for you both," I said, placing a kiss on her cheek as I managed to pull Alice away. "Go find Edward. We'll see you before you leave."

Bella flashed a smile before she wandered off, her head tilted in search of her husband.

"Elide! Give me a dance?"

Seth Clearwater held out his hand as he slid in front of us, a grin on his face. Alice nudged me forward and I took his hand, letting him guide me to the middle of the floor where Mike had already tagged Jessica.

"Just remember she has a girlfriend, Seth," Alice shouted.

He turned, walking backwards as he gave her two thumbs up. "Oh, I know. I'm your biggest fan," he said, earning a laugh. "She's too old for me anyway."

As the next song started- a scratchy, modern song- Seth stepped back from me and spun himself around. His arms lifted, throwing out at odd angles, waving up and down randomly. As he reached out to spin me, I laughed and shook my head.

"Seth I don't think this is how this dance is supposed to go."

"Oh come on. I knew you'd be the only person who'd let me dance like this."

He continued his dancing, doing whatever move his mind could come up with. Then a slower song began and he paused for a moment before taking my arms and planting his hands on my shoulders.

"Thank you for being here. It means a lot to Bella," I said.

Seth frowned. "I wanted to come. I just wish Jake was here to see it."

"You never know. He might surprise you."

Seth stood completely still as if paralysed. "I think he already has."

He stepped backwards, arms falling to his side as his eyes narrowed in amongst the trees. I started after him, but he stopped, shaking his head.

"No, wait here. He'd just get angrier."

The scent of anger hung in the air, heavy, dangerous, too obvious to ignore. Edward and Bella were nowhere in sight. When I found her, Alice was stuck in concentration. She broke out of it when she saw me and hurried over, holding a hand in each hand.

"Jacob is here."

"I saw," she said, nodding slowly. "Everything will be alright. Yes. He'll leave in a few minutes and then they'll come back for their last dances." Her lips pursed. "The car comes for them in half an hour."

I sighed, spreading a hand along her shoulder, slipping behind her neck. "You're too good, Alice," I said softly. "Maybe we should take our last dance, while we still can."

"Sounds perfect."

Arms wrapped around my neck and I looked down, finding Alice's golden eyes staring back at me. She blinked slowly, tongue sliding across her pink lips. I was enthralled, so much so that it took a minute for me to register that she was giggling.

"You really can't dance," she said.

I rolled my eyes playfully. "Maybe you should teach me."

"Maybe I should."

Despite her joking complaints, I spun her around, stopping only as her lips found mine, kissing me softly like it was the first time. After a moment, she pulled away again, her face lingering by mine, smiling.

"What a perfect way to end a wedding."

☾

Okay but I lowkey hate the beginning of Breaking Dawn and it is a nightmare to write so bear with me with the bad writing lols x