Chapter 2: Married

Las Vegas was lit up with so many lights it was hard to focus on just one. Even through the tinted windows of the Volvo, I could see that Edward was glowing under the lights. Earlier he had called Charlie and said we where spending the night in a hotel in Oregon. Too much argument, Charlie only had one choice and that was to say yes. Edward also called to schedule a wedding time for later that night.

We got in Vegas around 11:00 pm and we pulled into a small chapel’s parking lot. Edward turned to me.

“Are you sure you went to do this, a month and two days before our actual wedding?”

“Yes, I want to do this.” I smiled at him for the first time all day. It was a true smile and he saw that. In seconds flat, he opened the door for me and I stepped out.

Looking around, this chapel was right smack dab in the middle of the Vegas strip. People crowded the sidewalks, shoving past each other. I looked up at Edward to make sure that he was ok. He only smiled and nodded his head. I laced my fingers with his and we walked into the small chapel.

Luckily it was somewhat dark and Edward could take off his hood. The man, who I had guessed was doing our vows, was standing in front of the pulpit.

“Are you my 11:00? Edward Cullen and Bella Swan?” His voice was gruff as he looked at us.

Edward answered. “Yes we are sir.”

“You are both over the age of 18 correct?” I couldn’t help but laugh. Next to me, Edward smiled widely.

“Yes, we both are.” I suppressed another bubble of laughter when the man eyed me.

“Fine, lets begin.” At that, Edward pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to me. It was in his perfect script.

I, Bella, take you, Edward, to be my partner, loving what I know of you, and trusting what I do not yet know. I eagerly anticipate the chance to grow together, getting to know the man you will become, and falling in love a little more every day. I promise to love and cherish you through whatever life may bring us.

Entreat me not to leave you, or to return from following after you, for where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. And where you die, I will die and there I will be buried. May the Lord do with me and more if anything but death parts you from me.

That was all the paper said. I realized after I read it the second time, it was our vows. I smiled at him and he smiled in return. Everything was a blur after that except when Edward said his ‘I do’. I read off the paper and looked him in the eye when I was done to let him know I truly meant it.

The man asked for the rings and Edward pulled out the hand-me-down ring he had gotten from his mother. He looked at me curiously and I only smiled wide, and then pulled his ring out of my pant pocket. I moved the ordinary gold ring so he could read the words engraved inside. Immortal Love.

A smile crossed his lips as I put the ring on his finger and he slipped his ring on mine. I held in the laugh that was caught in my throat that was related to the face that the man who was marring us was wearing. His voice then filtered through my ear.

“You may kiss your bride.”

Edward gave me no warning or time to get ready when his cool lips touched mine. The kiss was nothing like I had ever felt before. So many emotions mixed in with it. Relief, passion, love, worry, and many more that I couldn’t even begin to explain. I kissed him fervently back but after a while, I had to push away. Unlike him, I had to breathe.

Gulping for air, the man passed Edward the marriage license and almost shooed us out. We were outside in the cool night air. I was oblivious to the people walking as we just stood; the realization of what we had just done flooded me. Edward had just married me. I was now a married women and I had no idea what I was suppose to do.

“He forgot to sign it.” Edward was looking at the piece of paper in front of him. He kissed me on the forehead. “I’ll be right back. Wait here.” With that, he was gone, leaving me alone in the crowd of people.

A few seconds later, a cold hand rested on my shoulder and then secured a tight hold on it. That moment I knew it was not Edward. I looked up only to see one of my worst fears. A non-vegetarian vampire.