Here's my new story! I welcome anyone who has crossed over from Torn, and any new readers who have decided to take this ride with me. I assure you, this story is much lighter and easy going than my last. It's an Emmett and Rose tale, with a little Edward and Bella thrown in. Written solely for the fun of it. All human/ out of character. Name of the town is not mentioned, so it can take place where ever the reader chooses. I don't own any of the characters, they belong to Stephenie Meyer. Hope you like it!

xo

A

1.

Rose stared out the bay window as the moving trucks drove past her house and pulled into the driveway next door. She was on vacation, and the day had proven to be quite boring so far. She was reduced to gawking out the window. Her roommates Mike and Lauren were back in their home towns, visiting family, so she was left alone. Another three trucks passed by, which now put the total up to six.

They must have a lot of stuff for six moving trucks, she thought. But why would anyone want to move here? As far as Rose was concerned, her town was the most boring place to live on the planet. There was never anything to do unless you left town and drove into the city, hence the reason she was sitting at home. Her car was in the shop, which left her stranded on the first day of her vacation. Her black lab pawed at her leg and whined pathetically.

"No Jake, not now," she ruffled his ears and turned back to the window. Jake snorted and walked into the kitchen. He trotted back in a few seconds later with his leash in his mouth. He dropped it on the ground and barked at Rose.

"I said no, Jacob," Rose rested her elbows on the windowsill and her chin in her hands. Jacob jumped up on the couch next to her and shoved his snout under her arm. He gazed up at her with his big brown eyes.

"All right. You win. I'll take you for a walk," she sighed, standing up. She picked up his leash off the floor and hooked it onto his collar. "Gives me an excuse to be nosy with the new neighbors."

She grabbed her keys and sunglasses off the end table and walked out the front door. She barely had time to lock it before Jake was yanking her toward the street. He turned to go their usual route, but Rose pulled him in the other direction.

"This way, Jake. I want to see what's going on," She said to the dog as she headed toward the neighbor's house. They walked slowly past the trucks, and Rose stared at one of the movers. He was young, or at least looked it, and very muscular. He wasn't half bad looking either. She raised her sunglasses off her face and rested them on top of her head to get a better look at him. Jacob stopped and sniffed the air. He growled low in his throat.

"No Jacob. Leave him alone," Rose scolded. She continued to stare as she walked by. The dog pulled at his leash, still growling at the mover. The mover stopped to look at the dog, then continued toward the open door to the house. The worn leather leash finally gave way and snapped in Rose's hand. Jake, realizing his sudden freedom, made a beeline for the mover, barking and growling the whole way. The mover jumped at the sight of the oncoming animal and started backing up slowly.

"Oh Jesus," Rose muttered. "JACOB! NO!" She shouted and took off after him. The mover stopped at hearing the dog's name and looked at Rose quizzically.

"Look out!" she warned. The mover turned back just in time to see Jake take a flying leap and land on top of him, knocking him to the ground. The dog stood on the mover's chest and sniffed his face, still growling at him. Rose finally caught up and grabbed Jake's collar. She pulled him off the mover.

"I'm so sorry about that!" She apologized and ordered Jake to sit. He obediently complied and gazed up at his owner, happily swishing his tail on the ground. "He's very wary of people he doesn't know."

"It's okay," the mover responded. Rose offered him a hand and helped him to his feet. "Thanks." He smiled as he dusted off his clothes. She couldn't help but notice his positively adorable dimples and the way his warm brown eyes lit up his round face. Dark brown curls peeked out from underneath the red bandana he wore on his head. His arms were enormously muscular and equally match the defined upper body that Rose could see through his plain white t-shirt. She had to bite her lip to keep from giggling at the tacky gold chain he wore around his neck. He noticed her staring, then quirked an eyebrow and smirked confidently.

"So, are you helping the new people move in?" She asked. She cocked her head and narrowed her eyes in thought. He seemed oddly familiar to her. Almost too familiar. She had seen him before, but couldn't quite remember where.

"You could say that," he answered, playing with the chain and staring at his hands. "Do you live around here?"

"Unfortunately I do," Rose shrugged. She jerked her thumb in the direction of her house. "I live next door. Where do you call home? I certainly hope it's not here. This place is so freakin' boring it's not funny."

"Actually," he chuckled, "I live here." He nodded toward the new house. Rose felt her face flush in embarrassment and licked her lips slightly.

"I…um…sorry…" She mumbled remorsefully. "I… uh… thought you were one of the movers."

"That was my intention. I was trying to blend in," he pretended to buff his nails on his massive chest and folded his arms, a cocky grin spreading over his face.

" I don't think your cover would have lasted very long," she smiled and gave Jake a hefty scratch behind the ears. Jake woofed contentedly and leaned into her leg.

"What do you mean?" he frowned. "Why not?"

"Well," she motioned for Jake to stay and sauntered over. She reached her arm up and patted the glimmering chain resting just below his collar bone. "You'll never blend in with something like this hanging around your neck."

"What's wrong with it?" he lightly ran his fingers over the shimmering links and furrowed his brow at her.

"Oh there's nothing wrong," Rose giggled, despite the fact that it was quite possibly the gaudiest piece of jewelry she'd ever seen. "It's just that you're going to stick out when people are blinded by the glare." She mock-shielded her eyes.

Realizing she was right, he tucked the offending chain inside his shirt.

"Better?" he inquired and patted his chest.

"Much!" She grinned. God, but he was sexy. But there was something about him that Rose couldn't quite put her finger on. Something almost too sexy.

"Good!" He interrupted her thought "Now, I didn't quite catch your name…" he trailed off suggestively.

"That's because I didn't tell you," She answered matter-of-factly. He laughed a little at her quick wit. She was cute…hell cute didn't even begin to cover it. She was drop dead gorgeous. He had a feeling that things were going to go quite well with her.

"My name's Emmett," he said, offering a bear-sized hand.

"Rosalie," she responded, slipping her hand into his and shaking it slowly. "But you can call me Rose."

"Okay, Rose," he felt his heart flutter as she smiled up at him. He stared into her sparkling blue eyes and marveled at how they sat perfectly in her heart-shaped face. Her flowing blond hair fell just below her shoulders and complemented her creamy skin tone. She was tall and slim, with a killer body and long, shapely legs.

"McCarty!" A voice shouting from behind him brought him out of his trance and he dropped Rose's hand. He shook his head as his friend walked up. "Stop flirting and let's get moving!"

"I wasn't…she…I was just…Shut up, Edward!" Emmett growled.

"Come on, Em, " Edward laughed and raked a hand through a head of messy bronze hair. "We've too much left to do for you to goof off right now." He gave Rose the once-over and smiled. "I'm Edward, by the way."

"Rose," she shook his hand. She glanced around at the moving trucks and the piles of boxes. "Do you guys want some help?"

"I think we've got it…hey!" Edward stumbled when Emmett rammed an elbow into his lanky friend.

"We'd love the company!" Emmett grinned.

"Alright," she eyed the two of them suspiciously. "Let me just run this mutt home and I'll be right back." She grabbed Jake's collar and jogged out of the yard. Emmett raised an eyebrow as he watched her depart.

"Stop," Edward shoved his shoulder.

"What?" Emmett snapped.

"You've got that look." Edward folded his arms across his chest.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Emmett scoffed. "And besides, it's not my fault we moved in next door to a hottie."

"I never said it was," Edward chuckled. "And yeah, she is smoking hot," They shared a laugh, and Edward became serious again. "But don't forget what happened with Lauren."

Emmett cringed at the memory. Lauren was his most recent ex-girlfriend. He had fallen for her the very first time they met. It was at a night club, so he hadn't really gotten a chance to know her. He fell head over heels based on her looks alone. After a few tumbles in the bedroom they began dating. Edward warned him time and again that she was only using him for his money, but Emmett refused to see it. She cheated, often, and Emmett always took her back. She would bat her eyelashes and convince him that she'd changed and he believed her every time. She eventually grew tired of him and broke it off, telling him she was too good for him and he was just an arrogant nobody. He grimaced as the old pain crept back into his chest.

"It's not the same," he insisted. "Lauren was…was…"

"A bitch? A festering whore?" Edward inserted words he felt appropriate.

"Don't go there," Emmett glowered at his friend.

"Emmett come on! You can't stand there and honestly tell me you still have feelings for that two-timing little gold digger!"

"I said don't!" Emmett hissed.

"Oh for chrissakes!" Edward threw his hands in the air. "Tell me you don't still have feelings for her."

"I don't know," he shrugged and stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"She used you, cheated on you, and broke your heart," Edward reminded him.

"I'm aware of that, thank you." Emmett muttered

"Well?" Edward folded his arms across his chest, awaiting a response from his friend.

"I said I don't know Edward!" Emmett snarled. "Just leave it alone!"

"You're hopeless," Edward sighed, shaking his head. Emmett balled up a fist to knock his friend in the arm, but immediately dropped it when Rose jogged up to them. She had changed into a tight black tank top and cut-off shorts and had piled her blond hair on top of her head. Emmett grinned and Edward rolled his eyes.

"What?" Rose asked, looking down at herself. "Is it too much?"

"Nope, not too much at all," Emmett blatantly ogled her and chuckled. Edward pursed his lips and rolled his eyes again.

"Well then let's get moving, shall we?" she clapped her hands and rubbed them together. "Where do we start?"

Emmett walked over to the nearest pile of luggage and handed Rose a box. She smiled sweetly and turned to lug it into the house. From there, the three of them were able to have every truck unpacked and all the boxes in the correct rooms by eight o'clock that evening. What should have taken almost seven hours only took them five. Rose ordered some Chinese food and they all camped out on the floor of Emmett and Edward's empty living room to enjoy their feast. Rose stabbed her chopsticks into her lo mien and stuffed the noodles into her mouth. She studied the men closely as they ate. She just couldn't pinpoint where she had seen them, because now even Edward was looking familiar.

"All right," she sighed after a while, putting down the empty carton. "I have to ask you something."

"Shoot," Edward gestured for her to continue.

"Ask away," Emmett mumbled through a chicken wing.

"Okay," Rose cleared her throat. "I have to know. Where have I seen you before? I know I recognize you, but I can't figure out why or how."

Emmett laughed nervously and Edward rubbed the back of his neck.

"You want to tell her?" Emmett looked to Edward.

"Nah," Edward swatted the air with his hand, then took a big bite out of an egg roll. " 'Oo do it. 'Oo met 'er firfh." He said as he chewed.

"What?" Rose laughed.

"I think he told me to do it, because I met you first," Emmett interpreted for his friend.

"I see…" she shook her head. "So? Tell me."

"Fine," Emmett sighed, then looked up at Rose. "Have you heard of The McCarty-Cullen Band?"

"Not really sure," Rose crinkled her nose.

"Here," Edward flicked a switch on the portable stereo they had been listening to and cued up a CD already in there. "Listen to this."

Rose stopped and listened to a couple of bars on the first track. Her eyes widened and she looked over at Emmett.

"You!" She shouted and pointed at him.

"Wh-what? What did I do?" he jumped.

"Now I know where I've seen you before!" A grin spread across her face. "You're on my kid sister's wall!" Rose burst into laughter and fell over backwards.

Emmett looked over at Edward, who just shrugged and stuffed the rest of the egg roll in his mouth. Rose sat up slowly, still giggling.

"I knew I'd seen you somewhere before," she took a deep breath to suppress the rest of the giggles. "But aren't there three of you?"

"Yeah," Edward wiped his mouth with a napkin. "There's me, Em, and our buddy Jasper."

"So where's he?" Rose took a swig of her water.

"He's got a place down south," Emmett answered. "We're just taking a break between tours."

"So why didn't you just go with him?" she asked.

"Jazz just got married," Edward responded with a grimace. "We wanted to give him time alone with his new wife."

"Yikes," Rose wrinkled her nose again. "What's with the sour face?"

"He married Ed's sister," Emmett chuckled. "And needless to say, Jazz's place is the last place we wanted to be."

"And you guys are…" she cocked her head.

"As single as it gets," Edward stated with a quick glance at Emmett, who was too busy gawking at Rose to notice.

"Well, that's a relief," she smiled. "Poor Angie would be devastated."

"Who's Angie?" Emmett inquired.

"She's my twelve year old sister," Rose smirked, "And all she talks about is how she's going to marry Emmett McCarty someday. I just can't believe I didn't recognize you sooner." She grinned and looked over at him. "Wait till she finds out I live next to him!" She barely got out the last word before bursting into another fit of giggles.

"If she's twelve, how old are you?" Emmett wanted to know.

"Twenty-one," she answered, gasping for breath. "Seriously, dude, you are all over her wall. Literally, it's like she has Emmett McCarty wall paper."

"You aren't going to tell her are you?" Emmett asked, elbowing Edward who had started to snicker.

"Why not?" Rose folded her legs underneath her.

"Well," he sighed, "We kind of moved to this corner of the woods so no one would bother us."

"And you don't think people are going to find out anyway?" She eyed him suspiciously, taking note of the sharp tone in his voice.

"She's got a point, Em," Edward nudged Emmett. "They're bound to find us eventually."

"Yeah, but once one knows, then they all know," Emmett pointed out. "And then we have fourteen thousand teenagers gathered on our front lawn picking the grass."

"Okay, okay. I see what you're getting at," Rose muttered, nodding her head. "I won't say anything."

An awkward silence followed, none of them really sure what to say next. Rose could almost see where he was coming from, being apprehensive about all the media and fan attention. Her kid sister was obsessed, and it was hard to imagine having thousands of those types following your every move.

"So," Edward broke the ice. "Do you live by yourself or what?"

"Nah," Rose responded, pulling out her hair tie . Her soft blond locks flowed freely about her shoulders. "I have two roommates, but they're away. So little ole me is stuck at home all by myself." She pretended to pout and stuck out her lower lip. Emmett was mesmerized and just stared at her.

"Aw… poor baby," Edward mock-sympathized.

"Shut up," Rose tore off a piece of the roll she was eating and threw it at him. He swatted at it and it fell on the carpet beside him. He picked it up and threw it back at her. She ducked and it sailed over her head. They both giggled.

"I just met you," she smirked. "And already you're a dork."

"Am not!" he whined, then grinned at her. Emmett shoved his shoulder lightly.

Rose stood and stretched, her little tank top inching up and exposing her flat stomach. Emmett's jaw almost hit the floor. She looked down at her watch and whistled.

"Damn! Midnight!" she yawned. "I should get home."

Emmett jumped to his feet, almost falling over himself in the process. He put out his arms to steady himself.

"You'll be back tomorrow right?" he asked anxiously, regaining his balance. Rose chuckled and folded her arms.

"And what if I said no?" she retorted with a raised eyebrow.

"Then he's going to whine like a little baby all day," Edward pulled himself to his feet. "So if you don't mind, I'd rather not have to listen to him."

"Fine, I'll come back tomorrow. I've got nothing better to do anyway." Rose laughed as Emmett's cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "I'll see you guys later."

"Are you going to be okay walking home alone? I mean, I can go with you if you want," Emmett followed her to the door.

"I'm a big girl, I think I can handle it," she said as she stepped out into the warm July evening. She took a deep breath and smiled. "But thanks anyway. Good night, Emmett!" She strode confidently across the lawn toward her own home. Emmett gazed after her and leaned his head on the door frame.

"Stop, Em." Edward warned him. "I know what you're thinking and just stop it right now."

Emmett grumbled and turned to face Edward.

" Not all girls are like Lauren," he snapped as he locked the door.

"It doesn't matter. You acted the same way when you met the gold-digging little-"

"Edward!" Emmett growled.

"Whore," Edward finished. "I don't want to see you get hurt again. You don't know this girl yet. Get to know her first before you get too involved."

"It's not like I'm going to jump into bed with her tomorrow," Emmett snarled.

"You did with Lauren," Edward fired back. Emmett glared at him, but didn't say anything because he knew Edward was right. "Just watch yourself. And for God's sake, Emmett, be careful."

"I'll be fine." Emmett coldly reassured him. He walked up the stairs to his new room. Edward heard the door slam.

" I hope so," Edward sighed and proceeded up the stairs after him.