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Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or Dance Upon the Air. Not making any money.


Chapter 2

They arrived at Alice's house in no time. The house sat just on the skirt of the town. Rosalie liked the distance. She figured it was just far enough to be secluded from the activities of the town, but had easy enough access to walk anywhere when needed.

The house itself was charming. It had a two car garage at the end of a driveway and a deck sat on the side of the house with a gas grill. The bottom half of the home was solid brick with sidings on the second story. There were an array of flowers in many different shades in a little garden bed at the front. And there were evergreen bushes surrounding the house.

Rosalie just stood there in awe. "You have a beautiful home, Alice."

Alice got out of the car. "Thanks. The deck is relatively new, just built four years ago."

They walked towards the house and to the side entrance. Alice unlocked the door and let Rosalie walk in first.

She walked in to the open layout of the first floor. Overstuffed sofas filled the living area, with a brick fireplace showcased on the far wall. The warm chocolate walls were adorned with paintings. Above there was two low hanging ceiling fans. Rosalie walked further in and noticed a baby grand piano in the far corners near the formal dining room. Hardwood floors lay throughout with printed area rugs on top.

She headed towards the dining room, leaving Alice to shuffle through the mail.

The dining room was large. There was a dark mahogany table in the center of the room with six high back chairs surrounding. On one wall, a matching china cabinet stood. She gazed at the crystal punch bowl with the silver ladle, silverware that was possibly family heirlooms, glass goblets and matching dinner plates.

Sunlight was shining through the two big bay windows, brightening the deep red walls and reflecting off the crystal chandelier hanging above the table.

Rosalie ran her fingers over the tabletop, admiring the silver candlesticks and the place settings. Remembering all the dinner parties her mother hosted for her country club friends and the family dinners at Thanksgiving and Christmas with her aunts, uncles and cousin. She always enjoyed her family get togethers, spending time with extended family she rarely saw. The last time she saw any of them was at her cousin, Nathan's, graduation from Michigan State. Rosalie was close to him, both in age and friendship. Nathan and Vera were the only two people in the world she missed the most.

"If only they could know about my whereabouts." She barely whispered.

She didn't notice when Alice entered a few seconds later. "There you are. I wondered where you wandered off to."

Rosalie broke from her trance but continued to look at the beautiful centerpiece, glad for the interruption-- and thoughts of her past.

"I was just admiring everything."

Alice smiled and twirled her short dark hair. "Yeah, everything you see throughout the house is my mom's doing. This is kind of her thing. She's an interior designer. And she gets a lot of discounts and free stuff."

She gestured to the chandelier. "In all the homes she works in, she always adds some sort of glass or crystal fixture in her designs. The manufacturing company she goes through gave her that a few years back as a thank you for all the business she gives them."

"It's really beautiful. And your mom has great taste." Rosalie added.

"Come on. I'll show you my room before my parents get home." Rosalie nodded her head and followed Alice to the staircase.

Alice led the way upstairs and down a hallway, passing four doors on the way until they reached the last door on the right. They walked into a nice sized sage green room with a full length mirror. There was a white dresser and a matching vanity with a small stool in the room. A computer desk that held textbooks, papers, and a laptop was next to the closet doors.

"Nice color," Rosalie commented, noticing the matching spring green bedspread.

Alice put her bag on the bed. "Green is my favorite color…and not just because it's my eye color." She added. Rosalie followed suit and put her purse down and took off her jacket. Alice told her to just throw it on the bed as well.

She walked over to her closet to retrieve a sweatshirt and opened the sliding doors. Rosalie was in awe about the size of the closet and made her way over. It was about seven feet deep and filled to the brim with dresses, jeans, shirts, and Rosalie's favorite…shoes. The back wall was nothing but shoes. Evening shoes, casual sandals, strappy wedges, special occasion heels. Rosalie thought she died and went to heaven.

She went over and picked up a pair of peep-toe platforms. "You have a vast collection of shoes, Alice." Alice thanked her while putting on a navy blue sweatshirt. Rosalie wished she could buy a nice pair of strappy heels or even a pair of stilettos just to wear around town. But just like everything else, this luxury was given up and all she could get was the basic necessities in life. Sneakers, flip-flops, slip-ons.

Rosalie saw the many different dresses and started to browse through them, but stopped realizing that it was rude to go through someone's personal belongings. Especially someone she just met, who didn't know her.

Alice only smiled, noticing her hesitation and encouraged her to continue. "You can look through them, I don't mind. As a matter of fact, I would love your opinion since I made these."

Rosalie turned to Alice and gaped at her. "You made these dresses? Like thread and needle made them? From scratch?" One dress she looked at was a strapless knee-length yellow sundress. It flared a bit at the waist, with a sown in fabric belt.

"Yep." Alice popped the 'p' as she said it. "It's kind of my thing. I love making my own clothes. I've been sewing and designing ever since I was thirteen. I started off small, making dresses for my Cabbage Patch dolls and Barbies, then moved up to normal sized clothing. I hope to either have my own line or open up my own boutique shop."

"Really?" Rosalie asked.

"Yeah, my friend, Bella, has been my guinea pig since forever. I use my mom too because she's only like two inches taller than me. The room across the hall is my sewing room. I have a mannequin dummy and everything."

"They're beautiful and so well done." Rosalie was feeling the material of a lavender dress. "Too bad, I'm much taller than you. I would totally borrow this… or your shoes." She joked.

"Maybe I could make something for you." Alice suggested. Both girls walked out of the closet and sat on the bed.

"Oh, I couldn't inconvenience you. Besides I don't plan on staying in town that long."

"No, trouble at all. It only takes me on average less than two weeks to make something. Besides I have to create a portfolio of all my work. And with your height and physique, you would be a great model to work with in my classes."

"Classes? You go to college?" Rosalie did a once over on Alice. She looks like she's still in high school. Alice was a little bit shorter than the average height, maybe five foot three. But it wasn't her height that had Rosalie thinking she was young. Alice just had a youngish features and a bubbly personality to go with it. Perhaps it was her huge green eyes or her short spiky hair or her oval face. Whatever it was, Rosalie mistook Alice for a sophomore in high school.

Alice chuckled. "I attend The Art Institute in Port Angeles, about half an hour from here, and I graduate in the spring."

"Oh."

"No worries. I get that all the time. I know I look fifteen. But I don't mind, as long as they keep asking for my ID at the movies." Rosalie and Alice burst into laughter at that. She didn't know what it was about Alice, but she liked her. She had a good feeling about her, something Rosalie didn't have about many people she's met over the past few months. She felt as if she could tell Alice all her secrets, all her nightmares. Somehow, Rosalie had the notion that Alice could make the nightmares go away.

Rosalie put that thought away when she heard a door open and close in the distance. "That would be my mom." Alice said. "Come down and I'll introduce you."

The two girls went downstairs to the kitchen where a woman with caramel colored hair was putting away groceries from reusable shopping bags.

"Hey mom! How was work today?" Alice sat at the granite top island counter.

Esme didn't look up from her task. "It was good. Met a new client who wants to turn his basement into an entertainment room or he so put it 'a man cave'." She put the some fruit in the refrigerator and turned to the girls. "Alice! You didn't tell me you were bringing a friend over."

"Well, I didn't plan on meeting anyone today. Mom, this is Rosalie Hale...Rosalie this is my mom, Esme Cullen." Alice gestured between the two.

Rosalie extended her hand to the pretty woman across the countertop. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Cullen." She smiled and Esme shook her hand in greeting.

"Likewise, Rosalie. That's such a pretty name. Are you and Alice in the same class?" She asked.

Rosalie shook her head. "No. We just sort of met on Main Street today." She finally sat down on the barstool next to Alice.

"She was looking at one of the dresses at Margie's Place. Rosalie is staying in the area for a bit, then heading up to Canada so I invited her over for dinner. Can she stay?"

Esme smiled at her daughter. She didn't expect anything less from her youngest. "Sure sweetie. It's not a problem. Do you like chicken parmesan, Rosalie?" She asked her guest.

Rosalie gasped at the choice of food. She nodded in agreement, excited about the home cooked meal.

"Great." Esme took a mixing bowl out of the cabinet and preheated the oven. "So, Rosalie…what part of Canada are you planning to go?" She whisked together the measured out the milk and eggs.

"Vancouver." Rosalie said.

"What's in Vancouver? Family? School?" Esme asked.

Rosalie bit her lips. "No-no. My family is— I don't have family in Canada, they're all on the east coast. And I'm not going there for school either." She nervously ran her hand through her ponytail. "Vancouver seems like a nice city. I'm going to get an apartment, a job, and a citizenship too."

Esme considered what Rosalie told her. This girl is young. She thought. Barely older than Alice. Why would she move so far away from home, without a plan no less? Esme continued to prepare the chicken. Alice was eating some grapes that she took out of the refrigerator. "How long are you staying in town for?" She popped a grape in her mouth.

Rosalie thought about that for a moment. She didn't know the answer herself. She needed to work out the details. She had to save up money for rent and in order to do that; she would have to find employment. She took a deep sigh and shrugged her shoulders. "I really don't know. Awhile maybe."

The mother and daughter looked at each other, paused in what they were doing. Both had the same thoughts running through their heads about Rosalie. She didn't have a place to stay and both didn't want her wasting her money on a hotel room. Esme gave a secret smile causing Alice to beam in return, knowing what her mother wanted her to do and she had full permission to do it.

Alice would offer her a room just until she got back on her feet. Alice liked Rosalie since the moment she saw her gazing at that dress in the window. She seemed like a girl who knew what she wanted, but didn't know how to get it. Determined. But Alice thought she was also very alone. She kept avoiding answering why she was half way across the country from her home. Why she was so far from her family. Maybe she's an orphan. She considered. No family left in the world. Alice finally understood. She was just embarrassed to say that she was all alone. What she needed now was a friend.

They stayed in the kitchen while Esme cooked dinner and chatted about nothing in particular, just shooting the breeze. Rosalie couldn't contribute much to the conversation. She haven't watched much television or read many novels since her new life. She spent bought her car; she spent most of her time fixing it up. When she didn't work on the car, she was working at the various jobs she did. Over the months she really gained work experience. Never done it before, it was a big adjustment to working class life. Waitressing, she had her fair share of spilled drinks and overcooked dishes. She dealt with very incorrigible people when she worked at a hotel as a desk receptionist.

In fact, the only time she felt peace was when she was under the hood of her car.

Her baby.

Rosalie spent all she had to get that car and even more to have it running. It was the best money she's ever spent. Working under the hood, she temporarily forgot all her troubles. She felt like a different person.

The aroma of the chicken was getting Rosalie's mouth watering. Also made her realize she didn't eat since the night before. Driving all morning and spending the afternoon with Alice, she forgot to get food.

Esme took the dish out the oven and Alice got some plates and silverware out. She set up at the island and the front door opened and closed. The setting was set up. Rosalie just watched as the two put everything together.

"Mmm…something smells good." A man with dark blonde hair walked in and crossed over to kiss Esme on the cheek. "I'm starving."

"And you came just in time too." She waved towards Rosalie. "This is Alice's friend, Rosalie Hale. Rosalie, this is my husband Carlisle."

Carlisle smiled. "Hello, Rosalie. Pleasure to meet you."

Rosalie returned the greeting, smiling awkwardly.

They all sat and ate dinner, again making light conversation. Carlisle asked Rosalie how she knew Alice and the such. She answered all she could without revealing too much. Just answering the basics about herself.

She thought the food was delicious. She was so used to eating fast food, tv dinners, or skipping meals altogether. Rosalie lost some weight because of her new diet. The new weight just making her curvier than she already was.

She ate the rest of her meal in silence, just listening to people around her engage in conversation. They were so unlike her family. At meals her parents rarely talked when they found time to eat together at all. With her mother always at some social gathering and her father staying late at the office.

Looking at Carlisle and Esme, she was reminded more of Vera and her husband, Cameron. They were very lovey dovey, always smiling and looking at each other like they had a secret no one else knew. Carlisle looked at Esme just like Cameron looked at Vera. Like their wives were the most important people in the world to them, that no one else mattered. Royce never looked at me that way. Rosalie finished the last of her meal and thanked Esme.

"Thank you, Mrs. Cullen. The food was exquisite." She began to get up. "But I really should head out now, before I overstay my welcome."

Alice hopped off the stool as well walking over to the sink with Rosalie. "Hey, I was wondering. Since you have no place to go while you're here. I thought it would be nice that you stay here for a while. Just until you get together whatever you need to."

Rosalie was about to refuse, but Alice cut her off. "Don't tell me that you would be an inconvenience to us, because you won't be. We have a spare bedroom you could stay in and you could use my bathroom."

Rosalie looked from Alice, then to Esme who was whispering something to her husband.

"I don't know, Alice."

"Come on. You have nowhere to go and I won't let you spend any money on a rinky dink motel. Please!" Alice grabbed Rosalie elbows. "Please…If you stay with us, I can make you an outfit." She beamed.

Rosalie grinned at that. One can't turn down free clothes. And she really didn't want to spend what little she had. Besides, Rosalie figured that this girl wouldn't take 'no' for an answer. So she sighed deeply and nodded her head. "Yeah, whatever. You convinced me. I'll stay. But only for a little while." She emphasized.

Alice squealed and jumped turning to her parents. "She's staying…it is alright with you guys right?"

Chuckling Carlisle got up. "It's no problem…but next time I'd like at least twenty-four hours notice before you bring a new houseguest."

"And don't worry about a thing, Rosalie. If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask." Esme reassured her.

These people are too good to be true. Rosalie couldn't believe it. These people were the nicest that she has ever come across. They didn't know her at all and they were opening up their home for her. She could be a crazed serial killer. Or they could be the crazy ones. She thought. But her gut instinct didn't suggest that though. Like she thought earlier, there was something about Alice that drew her in.

"I guess you can show me my temporary room then." She said to Alice.

"Alright, let's get your things out you car." They both went outside. The sun was still in the sky in the evening hours. They reached the BMW and Rosalie opened the trunk to reveal two suitcases, a couple of pillows, and a blanket. Alice helped with the belongings and showed Rosalie the way to the spare room.

"So, your room is next to my parent's bathroom. It opens only through their bedroom so like I said before, I share my bathroom with you. Which is right across from you." She opened the bedroom door to a cozy beige colored room. There was only a full-sized made up bed and a dresser with a small TV with DVD combo. Alice put her load on the bed and went to her room to retrieve the jacket and purse Rosalie left. Once she returned, they went to check out the bathroom.

"So like my mom said, if you need anything at all just let someone know, ok."

"Thanks again…you really don't have to do this." Rosalie still overwhelmed by the kindness, walked back to the bedroom.

Alice followed and stood in the doorway. "Look. I can tell you are getting away from something." She shrugged. "I'm just doing what any other considerate person would do." Alice told her that she would be in the room next door- her sewing room- working on designs and left.

Rosalie unpacked what she had. In no time, she had all her clothes in their proper places and toiletries in the bathroom. She sat on the bed and took out the final contents of her suitcase.

Wrapped in an old pillowcase were three items. One of them was a tiny box that held her engagement ring. Another was a photograph of Vera, Cameron, and a two year old Henry that was taken the summer before her escape. And lastly another photograph, this time of Rosalie and her cousin Nathan in his cap and gown.

After looking over the photos, she placed all the items in the dresser drawer.

Rosalie made use of her time by taking a shower. Reflecting on her day. Not knowing that coming to the little town of Forks she would be welcomed literally with open arms.

She finished and got dressed for the evening and combed out her wet mangled hair.

There was a knock on the door and someone asking to come in. Alice. Rosalie called her to come in, the door opened. "I'm going to watch a movie and wondered if you'd like to join me." She asked.

Not quite tired yet, she agreed. They went downstairs into the basement. There was a large comfy sofa in front of a flat screen television with an entertainment system.

The time was passed watching a lighthearted comedy. By the time the movie ended Rosalie was starting to nod off. Her and Alice headed to bed and said their goodnights.

Snuggling in the plush mattress and heavy comforter, Rosalie fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

She awoke the next morning refreshed and well rested, not remembering the nightmares that plagued her sleep the night before.


So our dear Rosalie met Esme and Carlisle...buuut there is still someone missing. Can you guess who? Wonder where he is? Don't worry we will meet our favorite Cullen son soon enough.

And that Alice, such a good Samaritan, taking in a homeless Rosalie.

Tell me what you guys think. Reviews are like awesome mint chocolate chip ice cream :)

And check out my pics for the story…link on my profile.