xiv. here comes the bride

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

CHAPTER FOURTEEN:
HERE COMES THE BRIDE

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

THE WEDDING WAS A mere two hours away. Night had blended into day, and soon, everything was erupting into chaos. Alice was in a right state of panic, rushing around the house to make sure everyone was doing what they were meant to be doing. Whether that be helping the groom stay calm or assisting the bride with her hair and makeup, or making sure everything was set up for the ceremony and reception, despite having run through it several times the night before. Verona had been placed on bridal duties - hair and nails, to be more specific - and she was on her way to where the bride was residing when she bumped into her frantic best friend, whose golden eyes were wide and out of focus.

"Alice," Verona frowned, gripping onto her shoulders and snapping her out of her trance. "What's wrong?"

Alice didn't say anything for a moment, instants from the future flashing in the depths of her mind. Verona was the centre of those flashes, a smile curving her lips as she accepted the embrace of a brown-haired boy, whose crimson eyes glimmered with adoration as he held her close. Verona in the future looked content, like she had everything she could ever want and more. Verona in the present looked sad, like someone had reached into her chest, ripped out her heart, and torn it to pieces right in front of her. Alice's stomach twisted, and before she could second-guess her decision, she stepped forward and enveloped her sister in a hug.

"Alice, seriously," Verona muttered, grabbing the sides of her sister's face and forcing their eyes to meet. "What's going on?"

"Nothing." Alice didn't know how Verona would react if she knew the truth. She didn't want to risk changing a future that made her best friend so happy. So she stayed silent, vowing to tell her what she'd seen once the wedding was over. "Bella needs help getting ready. I was just coming to find you." 

Verona didn't believe her for a second. She'd always been able to tell when Alice was lying. But she wouldn't push, not on such an important day for them. So she followed her down the corridor, a mortal's heartbeat greeting her as she entered through the final door on the right.

"I found her," Alice beamed, ushering Verona inside and pushing the door shut behind them.

Bella looked up from where she sat by a mirror, a light grey robe wrapped around her skinny frame, her hair tangling around her face in knotted curls. Dark purple circles rimmed her eyes, and paired with her pale and clammy sick, she looked sick. Verona winced, making her way over to the girl, running a hand through her limp hair as she stepped up behind her.

"My god," she sighed, before moving to sit at her side. "Did you even sleep last night?"

"Bad dream," Bella muttered.

Alice tutted in disapproval as she stepped behind her, beginning to work her magic. Verona began to paint her nails after deciding on a royal blue colour. But first, she held the bottle up for her sister to approve. Alice beamed at her choice, before continuing to cover the bride's face in foundation. 

There was a knock on the door. Rosalie entered the room a moment later, a lavender dress flaring around her curvy frame. Verona raised her eyebrows at her sister, not expecting her to have shown up.

"Do you need some help?" she asked them, ignoring their shocked stares. "I could do her hair."

"Really?" Bella blinked, unsure what else to say.

"Please," Rosalie shot her a smile as she met her eyes in the mirror. "I'm not offended by your choice of groom."

"Just my blatant lack of respect for mortality."

"Essentially," Rosalie smirked. Verona shot her an amused look, which she returned as she began to run her hands through the bride's hair, trying to decide what type of style to settle on.

"Weddings," Alice sighed, embracing the Rosalie in a hug. "They bring everyone together."

Rosalie rolled her eyes, before getting to work without so much as another word. Verona's amused expression didn't fade as she continued her own job. Once she was finished, she rose to her feet, the nightgown and robe she didn't have a use for but wore anyway hanging loose around her thin frame.

"I better go and get ready."

Bella smiled at her as the others hummed their goodbyes, too lost in their work to pay much attention to their surroundings. Verona returned the human girl's smile, giving her hand one final squeeze before she exited the room, just in time to run into the bride's parents. The divorced couple were standing in the hallway, staring up at their collection of graduation caps in wonder.

"Hello, Charlie." The man in question tore his gaze away from their strange collection, locking eyes with one of his daughter's new sisters. Verona wore a polite smile of greeting, to which he gave her a gruff nod back. She then turned her attention towards the woman beside him. Bella's exact features, only aged, stared back at her. "You must be the mother of the bride."

"I'm Renee." Renee sent her a hesitant smile, letting out a gasp of surprise at the cold temperature of Verona's skin as they shook hands. Verona didn't allow the touch to linger, instead wrapping her arms around her torso as she returned her smile. "And you are?"

"Verona. Edward's sister."

"That's right," Renee nodded. "Bella's told me a lot about you."

Verona was touched that she'd done such a thing. Their relationship hadn't been the best for a while, but to hear that she'd told her mother about her, well, that really warmed her heart. "All good things, I hope."

"Of course," Renee chuckled. "She's very fond of you."

"I'm fond of her too," Verona hummed. "Well, I should be getting ready. It was lovely meeting you, Renee."

With one last smile, she disappeared down the corridor. They watched her enter one of the bedrooms by the stairs, the door clicking shut behind her, before they made their way into the room she'd just exited, their interaction forgotten the moment they laid eyes on their daughter.

Verona wasted no time getting ready, slipping on the dark purple dress that her sisters had picked out for her. Crossing over to her mirror, she blinked in surprise as she took in the girl staring back at her. Verona's hair was placed in a neat bun on the back of her head, stray curls framing her face nicely. And the dress, it only completed the look that her sisters had been going for when they brought it. It was simple, the hem stopping just above her knees in dark purple waves of satin, which flared around her legs but tucked in tight around her torso. And it was easy to move around in, unlike the pair of black strappy heels that clung to her feet. 

Despite the vampire coordination she'd been given with the change, she never quite mastered wearing heels. She could still feel that phantom aches of pain from wearing them in her human life, the flares of happiness when she and her mother would spend time dressing up for parties, just the two of them without a care in the world. Another moment from her human life that she so dearly missed, but knew she could never have again.

Nonetheless, she still wore the heels. Alice would be furious if she didn't, and none of them needed that to happen so close to the wedding. With a sigh, she exited her room, allowing the door to click shut behind her. Bella's scent was already lingering downstairs, meaning that the wedding was about to begin. Taking the steps two at a time, Verona found her waiting with her father in the foyer, everyone else moving to take their places outside. Bella looked up as she appeared, sending her a nervous smile as their eyes met. Verona moved to give her a hug, the human girl's arms shaking as they circled her waist. 

"You look stunning," Verona whispered in her ear.

"Thank you," Bella sighed.

"Hey." Verona grabbed onto her hands, shooting her another smile as she turned towards her with inquisitive eyes. "You've got this, Bella."

"You think so?"

"I know so," she grinned. "Now, I better head out there. Alice is going to have a fit if things don't go to plan."

Bella let out a nervous laugh, her grip tightening around Verona's fingers before she let her go. Alice's eyes narrowed as Verona raced down the aisle, one of the only people who hadn't taken their seats yet. Verona gave her an innocent grin as she took the seat beside her, to which Alice rolled her eyes and turned to face the front again, a faint glimmer of amusement in her eyes.

The wedding march started then, causing everyone to fall silent. Verona rose to her feet along with everyone else in attendance, watching as the bride was swept down the aisle by her father, the hem of her white dress dragging along the ground as she moved. Alice gasped at the sight, her eyes going wide. Verona chuckled as she attempted to reign in her horror, clenching her eyes shut as she breathed in unneeded breaths. 

Bella wasn't paying much attention, though, for she was too lost in her fiance's eyes as he waited for her at the other end of the aisle, his suit-cladded arms folded behind his back as he took in the sight of her, everything else fading around him. His mate, his clumsy and gorgeous mate; they were about to be married, they were about to be husband and wife. 

There was no ounce of doubt remaining then.

Verona smiled as they stood beside each other, and everyone was allowed to take their seats again. Charlie pressed a kiss to his daughter's cheek, reluctant to let her go. But in the end, he had no choice as she stepped away from him, closer to her love, and the ceremony began.

The next moments passed in a blur. Verona rose to her feet along with the crowd, beaming as the newly-weds sealed their marriage with a kiss, prompting everyone to burst into applause. Her eyes met Edward's as he and Bella turned to face them, grinning as the cheers grew louder. Edward smiled back at her with pure happiness shining in his eyes, and Verona couldn't have been prouder of him. They'd come so far, both of them had, and they deserved to live an eternity of happiness together.

But their story wasn't finished yet. There was so much more waiting for them just around the corner. One last obstacle before they could have their forever.

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net