Chapter 1: Too Many Years

Rosalie's POV

I'm in the bathroom, leaning against the bathroom sink. Royce had just beat me. Again. I splash cold water on my face and look in the mirror. How did I, Rosalie Lillian Hale-King, former prom queen become the wife of the abusive Royce King. I sigh and shut my eyes. I sit there for a few moments. Thinking about everything. Everything that he had done to me. He cut me off from my friends and family. He beat me. One minute he would be full of rage and the next he would say I'm sorry. I can't believe this was the Royce King who was the person everyone wanted to be with in high school.

I opened my eyes and peeled off my shirt. I looked at the new bruises that now covered my ribs. I winced in pain as I ran my fingers over the discolored skin. I put my shirt back on and went to the door. I stood there for a second and then walked out. I went to our bedroom and Royce was waiting for me. He walked over to me.

"I'm sorry, Rose," he said and kissed my temple.

"I know," I lied.

"I wouldn't do this if you didn't make me so mad." I nodded. He walked out of the room. I pulled on a t-shirt and some shorts. I laid down in our bed and sighed. I felt the bed shift and an arm wrap around me. I closed my eyes and tried to get some sleep.

The next day, I awoke before Royce and began to make breakfast. Royce walked down the stairs and sat at the table. I placed the plate in front of him. He grabbed my hand as I began to walk away. I looked back.

"We need more money," he said. If you didn't spend it all at the strip clubs we would have some. That was what Royce called his 'guilty pleasure'. He always went to the strip club.

"Alright," I responded. I didn't know what he wanted me to do. He kept me looked up in this damn house.

"I want you to go find a job today." Oh my god. Was he actually letting me out of the house.

"today?"

"Yes." I smiled. He pulled me to him and kissed me. When we kissed there wasn't that spark that used to be. There was nothing. He pulled away and brushed a strand of my hair behind my ear. He kissed my forehead and walked out of the house. I sighed and placed my hands on the table. I quickly put on some jeans and a t-shirt. I walked around town and looked around. I stopped at a café. I noticed the help wanted sign. I walked in. There were two girls and a guy. One of the girls was short, probably not even over 5', with spiked black hair and dark brown eyes. The other girl had long caramel hair with brown eyes. The man had honey blond hair and blue eyes.

"Hello," caramel hair said.

"Hi, I saw your help wanted sign."

"Great. I'm Esme Cullen. This is Jasper Whitlock and his fiancée Alice Brandon." They nodded as she said their names.

"I'm Rosalie."

"Pleasure to meet you. We've been trying to get some help here for awhile."

"Ok."

"Have you ever worked in a café?"

"Umm, no."

"Don't worry, Alice will show you." Alice smiled and waved at me.

"I should go," Jasper said, "See you later." He kissed Alice and walked out. I wish I had someone who would do that to me.

"Okay, come on," Alice said. She grabbed my hand and led me to the back. It was actually pretty easy. Alice gave me a lesson on everything and by the end of the day I knew the ins and outs of a cappuccino maker. Alice and Esme were really nice. Apparently Esme husband was the lead surgeon at the hospital. Jasper worked at a rehabilitation center for wounded veterans. Turns out he was in the army and went to Afghanistan. Esme owned the café and Alice had been there since day 1.

At the end of the day I started to walk home. Jasper and Alice pulled up next to me.

"Rose, do you need a ride?" Alice asked.

"I can walk," I replied.

"Are you sure?" Jasper asked.

"Why not?" They smiled and I got into the car. They pulled up to my house and I got out.

"See ya tomorrow," Alice said. I nodded and they drove away. I walked up to the house and walked in. Royce was waiting there.

"Who was that?" he growled.

"Who?" I asked.

"In the car."

"Just some co-workers."

"And where have you been?"

"At work."

"So why wasn't dinner here."

"Like I said I was at work." He slapped me across my face.

"What did I say about talking to me like that?"

"I'm sorry, Royce." I quivered in fear.

"You better be. First you don't have dinner ready for me. Then I see you in a car with another man. Now look at how you're talking to me."

"I swear there is nothing going on."

"You slut." He slapped me again and I fell to the ground.

"I swear the other woman in the car is his fiancée."

"You still defied me." He kicked my ribs.

"I know, I'm sorry."

"I told you not to talk to any other men and what do you do. You drive with one of them."

"Please, I'm so sorry." He gave me one last kick and walked out of the house. I shook with fear as I heard him slam the door. I crawled to the window and saw his car drive off. I went to the bathroom and looked at the mirror. I had a purple bruise under my right eye. I splashed water on my face and shut my eyes.

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