It was a quite day in the forest. It was calm and rather sunny. Besides my dire thrist, I was in an incredibly good mood. Edward and Carlisle had convinced me to come hunting with them. Normally, I just went out with Esme, but I wanted to challenge myself for a change. I wanted to show them I could keep up with them.
Edward never showed any interest in me; we always saw each other of siblings I assume. He was very handsome, though, I have to admit. Although, I still wondered what I lacked that kept him from liking me that way.
I hadn't heard him coming, but Edward leaped to my side. "I'll race you!" he said playfully as he crouched down, ready to take off running.
Edward was extremely fast and I was sure I couldn't beat him. I raised one eyebrow and crossed my arms over my chest. "I don't think so, Edward. We both know you'll win."
Edward stood up straight again and frowned. "I'll slow up, I promise."
I rolled my eyes and grinned widely. "Fine. I'll race you, but don't you dare ease up on me."
The playful grin returned to Edward's face and he asked, "You ready?"
I nodded back, stilling smiling and said, "Go!"
We turned simultaneously and weaved through the forest trees. I heard him chuckle has he threw his head back in excitement. I laughed aloud to, showing how much fun I was truly having.
"How far are we going?" I shouted through the trees.
"Just to the meadow over there!" Edward yelled back, still happy as ever.
Edward had found a beautiful, circular meadow near the middle of the forest that he considered his own. It was one of the few places we vampires could appear in bright sunlight without any humans being dazzled by our beauty. It was like our own little hide out.
The air rushed thorugh my blonde hair as I reached the meadow. As I expected, Edward was already there, leaning on a tree. He faced the other direction, gazing out across the tall grass that swayed slightly in the calm wind.
"Hey, Rose?" Edward said, not removing his gaze from the meadow.
"Yes?" I replied, also staring into the horizon.
"Can I ask you something? As a brother?" Edward said, now staring deeply into my eyes.
I noticed the red rim in his pupils had turned to a beautiful golden color. "What is it, Edward?" I asked, quite curious now.
He sighed. "Do you think I'll ever find love?" he asked.
I looked away from his powerful gaze, then down at my feet. Edward had been alone for so long, I didn't know what to say. I thought about it for a minute, thinking about my own scenario. I, too, had nobody. I looked up at him again and answered, "Yes, Edward. You will." I said it as confidently as I could.
He looked away from me now, and sighed deeply. I was sure he didn't believe me.
"Do you think I will?" I asked curious. I wasn't very sure I would find anyone I loved as much as I loved Royce King. He was my prince, and I was his princess. As far as I knew, he was my only true love.
Edward garbbed my hands in his and said with upmost confidence, "Of course you will, Rosalie. You are beautiful and confident. Everything about you draws people in."
I smiled thankfully up at him. His words echoed in my mind. Everything about you draws people in. What was it about me that turned him off then? Was I not beautiful enough for him? Then, I frowned to myself.
"Rosalie, listen. I love you like a sister. I thought you didn't like me like that way either," Edward said. At first I was startled that he knew exactly what I was going to say before I said it, but then I remembered. Edward could read my mind. It was annoying sometimes to know that you couldn't keep your thoughts to yourself around him.
I sighed. "I don't, Edward. I do think of you as my brother, but I'm still used to everyone adoring me. I realize it seems shallow, but it's sort of my natural impulse," I replied truthfully.
He smiled and remembered when I was the gossip all around town. Everyone was talking of my wedding that never came. He chuckled to himself.
I smiled back. It was hard to not smile back to Edward. When he meant it, he was rather charming.
"Do you smell that?" I asked suddenly, turning my back to him to pick up where the scent was coming from. Immediately, my senses told me the strong aroma was the smell of human blood. I hadn't yet caught anything, and my thirst became more intense. I closed my eyes trying to resist the urge to attack the bleeding human. Then, I heard a cry of pain.
It came from deep within the forest. It sounded like a young man's voice. "Where's Carlisle?" I asked suddenly.
"He went back home. He had to run to the hospital for something," Edward murmured to me.
I couldn't think of any vampires we knew who hunted in this area. "We have to help him," I said as I heard another cry. This time the man shouted "help."
Edward shook his head. "Rosalie, it's a human. And he's bleeding. I won't be able to control myself," Edward said apologetically. "You go. I trust you." He nodded and released me hands. I took off toward the scent, unsure if I could control myself when faced with spilt blood.
The smell was very near, and I heard the menacing growls of a grizzly bear. Shortly after, I heard another cry. I ran faster until I was just feet away from the enormous bear. With ease, I threw it out of the way. The bear soared into a four-foot wide oak tree. It whimpered in pain as it fell to the foot of the trees. I left it there, figuring it would be little of a threat to me. Plus, I could snack on it later.
A few feet away, the man who had been screaming lay in the brush of the forest. The leaves around him turned red from his blood, and his face and body contained deep cuts. I assumed they would have been caused by the bear.
The scent was overwhelming. A very big part of me wanted to drink his blood, but then I saw he adorable face. I knelt beside him and leaned close to check his breathing. It was labored, and his face was wincing in pain. I felt a sudden pang of sympathy.
"Help," he managed to whisper.
I was still battling the fight against my thirst. It was much stronger now since I sat so close.
I looked at his face, noticing that he had the same, perfect dimples and curly, dark hair as my once good friend, Vera's baby boy.
I was always jealous of her relationship she shared with her husband, and therefore I always saw her baby as the perfect way to round off the perfect family life - the life I thought I would never have. When I became the monster that I am, the jealousy only got worse.
Although I knew nothing about this man, I seemed strangely obligated to save him. As though it was in my power, and my power only, to keep him from death.
I scooped the large man into my arms swiftly and began running back home. I figured he had only minutes to live and I had to move fast. As I reached the house, I loped in through the back door.
"Carlisle!" I shouted through the house.
Carlisle was by my side in seconds with worry in his eyes. Then he noticed the dying man laying limp in my arms. "What happened?" Carlisle asked in his usual calm voice.
"I found him in the forest. He was attacked. I didn't know what to do so I brought him here. I-" I sounded despirate by now.
Carlisle cut me off. "Rosalie, calm down. Everything will be o-," he started, but I cut him off.
"No, Carlisle. It's not. You need to help him now! He's dying!" I cried out.
"Rosalie, you don't even know who he is," Carlisle pointed out.
I looked down at his blood smeared face. "It might sound crazy, but I love him. Please, do something." I was begging now.
Carlisle's eyes were sympathetic. "Give him to me. I'll see what I can do." He calmly took the man from my arms. He laid him gently on our unused dining room table and left the room to get his medical bag. I looked down at his face and was sure that I loved him. I had never believed in love at first sight before. It always seemed crazy to me, but now it felt real. I determined to keep him alive. No matter what it took.
No matter what it took. If we couldn't save him, I would have to beg Carlisle to change him to a vampire for me. I loved him.
Carlisle was back, and he went right to work. He hands moved very quickly as he bandanged the many wounds that surrounded his body. As he worked, I thought back to my conversation with Edward earlier. He was right. I did find love. I only hoped this poor man would somehow love me back.
"Rosalie?" Carlisle said gently.
"Yes?" I said, looking up from the wounded body.
"He lost too much blood. He's dying. I don't think I can save him," he said quietly. I froze in place. I glanced back down at the man. I couldn't let him die. I just couldn't. Then, I looked back to Carlisle.
I sighed. I didn't want to resort to this, but I had to. "Will you . . . change him?" I asked him timidly.
He froze. He glared back at me. "Rosalie, I can't do that. I was determined to stop this after you. Edward's theory has made me think. If it's true, I couldn't do that to another innocent life."
"Please, Carlisle! Please! For me! I love him!" I cried. I felt extremely selfish to ask something so big from Carlisle just for me. But I loved him.
Carlisle shook his head. "I don't know, Roaslie."
"Carlisle," my voice was calmer now, "I finally found love again. It's been so long since I felt love. I'm begging you. He has but seconds to live."
He sighed in defeat. "For you."
All the sadness within me seemed to be drained right through my feet. I launched myself toward Carlisle, locking him in a hug. I released him and said, "Thank you. I will be forever grateful."
Carlisle just nodded and turned back to the table. He tilted his head to the side, exposing his neck. Carlisle took a deep breath and closed his eyes. His expression was controlled. He opened his eyes and dug his white teeth deep into his neck. The man's eyes sprang open and he cried out the familiar scream I heard earlier in the forest.
For a moment, I regretted my decision to turn him into a vampire. I remembered the awful pain I went through and couldn't imagine living through it again. I winced when I saw him grimace and twitch in pain.
Carlisle stopped quickly and stepped back several steps. Once he gained control over himself again, he pulled up a chair next to the new addition to our family. Carlisle told the man what he was becoming many times over his shouting. He explained that I saved him, and that the pain would soon go away.
Much later, Carlisle said, "Listen, Rosalie. I have to find Edward and Esme. They'll need to know what's happening as well. I shouldn't be too long, but I need you to stay with him. Don't leave his side. Comfort him and remind him what he is. I'll be back."
I nodded immediatly. Even if he hadn't told me, there was no way I was leaving my love. "Thank you, Carlisle. I owe you."
"You don't owe me anything. I believe you. I really think you do love him," Carlisle replied.
I smiled. "I'll be right here when you get back," I promised.
Carlisle nodded once and was out the door at once. I heard him talking on the phone to what sounded like Esme. I heard his car purr from the garage.
I sat down beside him, grabbing one of his big hands between both of mine. "Everything will be okay. I promise. The pain will be gone soon," I promised him. It hurt to see him in pain like this.
"Please! Please! I'm begging you! Stop the pain! It burns!" he pleaded.
"You'll be okay," I said in a soothing voice.
After what seemed like hours, he stopped shouting and started moaning and whining instead. Like me, he realized it was no use screaming. I took this time to try to talk to him.
"Can you remember your name?" I asked gently.
He was gasping for breath as he choaked out, "Emmett."
I grinned at his response. It was perfect. I loved it.
"Do you remember me in the forest?" I asked soothingly.
This time he didn't respond, and I didn't pressure him for the answer. I'd ask him later when the pain subsided. He would be able to think much clearer then.
"Emmett," I whispered to myself. What a perfect name.
