Charlotte || Jacob Black & Paul Lahote

Thirty-One: Unhappy Wedding Guests

I watched as Mom, Alice and Edward made their way down the aisle, each taking positions at the front. Mom was obviously crying, sniffling the whole way down and as she does, tripping. 

Bella truly did look very pretty as she walked down the aisle, her hand clutching my dad's arm. She wore a simple, white (obviously) long sleeve dress, and her hair was pulled back in a bun. Her makeup was simple, but it was pretty. Dad escorted her to the front, weeping as he did. He handed her over to Edward and settled, sitting down with the rest of us. 

It was sweet, the two of them exchanged their vows, sealing them with a kiss which was a little too steamy for public eyes. I mean, she started pulling his jacket into her. Save it for the honeymoon. 

Around of applause brought them out of their trance, with Jake letting out a very loud wolf whistle. I nudged him, but he just smiled at me, pulling me into his side. 

And so the party started.

It was a good job they made so much food. And that half the guests were vampires and couldn't eat. Jake and Seth ate enough food to feed the entire pack. Neither of them even grabbed me a plate, just handed me forkfuls and finger food. Seth was an absolute gentlemen though, unlike Jake who was basically force feeding me.

As Paul ordered, Seth did catch a few photos of me. He made me do all sorts of poses, each one getting sillier than the last. He also snapped some of me as I danced with Jake and my dad. 

We kept to ourselves most of the night, although I did breakaway to see my friends and say hello to extended family. I avoided mom though, but she also seemed to be avoiding me, too busy fussing over Bella. That's allowed. It's Bella's day.

"You okay Charl?" Bella's soft voice called as she wandered over to the table where me, Jake and Seth sat. Dad had been with us not too long ago, before he wandered off to find more alcohol. She was swinging off Edward's arm, her face blushed and blissful.

"Yeah, you happy?" I asked. She nodded, grinning as she did so. But the grin didn't meet her eyes. She did admit to noy wanting to get married, so her faltering wasn't surprising me too much.

"Irina asked if you guys would leave," Edward interrupted, his tone quiet but conflicted.

"Irina?" I asked. Edward glanced over to his vampire 'cousins'. I followed his gaze, to find one dressed in silver, her eyes boring into Jake's head.

"You guys killed Laurent, I believe the two were sharing intimate relations," Edward spoke, his voice wavering as he read the blonde's mind.

"Are you expecting us to leave?" I asked. I don't think Jake or Seth would be too upset if we did leave, but I'm being stubborn.

"You don't have to, but it'd ease tensions if Jacob and Seth wou-"

"Absolutely not. We're not leaving an imprint in a nest of leeches," Jake hissed, a protective hand wrapped around my wrist.

"Then yes, I'm asking all three of you to leave," Edward spoke, his tone false.

"Edward, that's my sister. It's my wedding," Bella argued, but her tone stayed soft.

"But Irina's upset," Edward spoke, pressing his forehead against Bella's.

"It's too bad. Just explain, they'll understand. And he did also try to kill me," Bella offered. Edward sighed, but give in, returning back to the family. They still wouldn't stop staring. She fled the scene after a moment.

"Excuse me, is this on?" The big one stood at the microphone. Good save. Time for toasts. 

"I'd like to propose a toast to my new sister. Bella, I like to hope you've had enough sleep these past eighteen years, cos you won't be getting anymore for a while."

The crowd laughed awkwardly, assuming that he was referring to something dirty. I recoiled with discomfort, knowing the truth behind his words. She won't need sleep when she's a vampire. Dad sipped his champagne disapprovingly. 

I was surprised to see Jess stand up. She was quite obviously drunk.

"Well Bella was just like everybody else, totally mesmerised by Edward. Um, and then, suddenly, Edward is all about Bella. Even though she's not captain of the volleyball team. I'm just kidding. Just kidding."

It reeked of jealousy in here, and I had to pinch Jacob to stop him from laughing. I didn't even try to discourage Seth's snorts of laughter. 

"Edward will be a good husband. I know this, cos I'm a cop, and I have a gun," Dad's was short but sweet. It was met with the most laughs, booming ones from the vampires. They were mocking him, for not understanding that bullets would do nothing to Edward. And when Edward does kill Bella, biting her and turning her to stone, Dad will be powerless. And they were laughing. I can't wait to not have to interact with the vile beasts anymore.

"Now that you're my sister, you'll have to get over your aversion to fashion. Skirts, heels, handbags," Alice rattled on, talking about fashion and sisterhood. It was ditsy and sweet.

Mom then took the stage, singing. It was. Conflicting. Whilst sweet, it was also incredibly embarrassing. 

"I'd like to thank Renee and Charlie for bringing such a wonderful person to the world. And into our lives, we will cherish and protect her forever," Esme wasn't lying about forever.

"It isn't an ordinary thing to meet someone you can bare your soul to, who will accept you as you are. I've been waiting for what seems like a very long time to live my life, and with Bella, I feel like I can finally begin," it may have been subtle and almost comedic to the humans in the room. But the way he eluded to his vampirism disgusted me. I clung onto Jake, my head spinning at the thought of Bella actually being turned into one of them. We may have fallen out a lot in the past year, but she was my sister and I didn't want her turning into one of those demons. 

The speeches ended after Edward's. And the dancing resumed. I remained paralysed in my seat, stomach churning and mind reeling. Jake tried to shale me from my stupor, just settling with his hand on my back and mumbling words of comfort. It didn't work. 

I only came back to life when it was time for Bella to leave.

We all gathered on the front steps of the Cullen house and applauded as the couple emerged, wearing chic but casual outfits. I positioned myself next to dad in front of the car, watching as mom pulled the girl into a hug. As she let go, I stepped forwards, pulling the taller girl into me.

"Please. Just think about it. You don't have to be one of them."

She pulled away from me, stepping into the car without looking at me even once.

I allowed Jake to escort me back to the car, taking us all home. My tears rolled down my cheeks silently, and I made my way to bed without a goodbye to Seth or a goodnight to my dad.

I didn't sleep much that night, even when Jake did show up not long later for his usual cuddle.