Love Isn't Always Simple

Alice and Jasper and I drove out of Forks. I called my mother twice to let her know I'd left, but I was safe. Charlie also left me two messages asking for an explanation, but I just texted him back saying that I had to go and I'd be okay and home soon enough. I kept thinking of Emmett, how worried I was about him and how much I missed him. I prayed that somehow this would all just be a distant nightmare soon.

We eventually arrived at a hotel in Phoenix and waited anxiously for any sign that James was dead. A phone call, a vision, anything. While at the hotel, Alice told me something she'd seen before I came to Forks and needlessly to say, I was shocked. The hours seemed to pass like years before I heard Alice gasp.

"What is it? What do you see?" Jasper asked.

"The tracker, he's just changed course," said Alice.

"Where will it take him, Alice?" Jasper asked.

"Mirrors," she said. "A room full of mirrors."

Jasper handed her a piece of paper and some black chalk, which she used to draw the room she'd envisioned.

"Emmett said the visions weren't always certain," I said, confused.

"Alice sees the course people are on while they're on it," Jasper explained. "If they change their minds; then the vision changes."

"Okay, so the course that the tracker's on now is a ballet studio?"

"You've been here before?" asked Alice.

"I used to take lessons ages ago. There was a room with an arch and mirrors just like that."

"Was your dance school here in Phoenix?" asked Jasper.

"Yes," I said, just as my phone rang. I answered. "Emmett, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. But we lost the tracker," he said. "Victoria's still in the area. Bella and Esme are going back to Forks to protect your father. I'm coming to get you. Then you and I are going to go somewhere alone. And the others will keep hunting. I told you, I'll do whatever it takes to make you safe again."

"I know," I said. "Just watch yourself. I love you."

"I love you too."

And then I hung up my phone as Alice and Jasper went downstairs to check us out and leave. I hurriedly packed my things, but then my phone rang again. It was my mother. She'd finally gotten my messages. I answered it.

"Hey, Mom, I'm glad you got my message. What're you doing home?"

"Rosalie, Rosalie, Rosalie, where are you?"

"Mom, what's going on? I'm fine," I said, confused. The next person who spoke sent a chill down my spine.

"Forks High School doesn't protect its students' privacy very well. It was just too easy for Victoria to find your previous address. It's a nice house you have here. I was prepared to wait for you, but then your mom came home after she received a very worried call from your dad, and it all worked out quite well."

"Wait, wait…" said Reneé.

"Don't you dare touch her!" I snarled. "What do you want, James?"

"You can still save her, but you're going to have to get away from your friends. Can you handle that?"

"Fine. Where should I meet you?"

"How about your old ballet studio? Oh, and, Rosalie, come alone. I'll know if you bring anyone along. Poor Mommy and Emmett Cullen would pay the price for that mistake. I'll kill him too if you don't do as I say."

"Okay, you win," I said. "Give me an hour. I'll meet you there."

"Good girl. See you soon."

I exhaled sharply. I didn't want to do this and Emmett would probably hate me forever, but I was not about to lose him or my mother. I dropped what I was doing, grabbed some paper and a pen, wrote a note to Emmett explaining what had happened about my feelings for him, and then managed to slip past Alice and Jasper while they were at the main desk.

I took a taxi and was silent as I realized I was going to be killed so my loved ones would live. I'd never given much thought to how I would die. But dying in the place of someone I love seems like a good way to go. I can't bring myself to regret the decisions that brought me face-to-face with death. They also brought me to Emmett.

I swallowed painfully as I entered the studio. It was so weird and almost creepy to see it so dark and empty. Then I heard my mother's voice. "Rosalie, Rosalie, Rosalie, where are you?"

"Mom?" I said, as I ran towards the source of the noise.

"There you are. What're you doing in here?" Then I heard another voice, one that shouldn't have been here. It was my voice from when she was little. "Everyone makes fun of me. I suck."

I opened a closet and saw an old video being played. My heart skipped a beat as I realized the truth—this was trap. My mother wasn't and had never been here. I heard a cold laugh and spun around to see James behind me, his reflection in every mirror. "That's my favorite part," he said. "You were a sweet child, weren't you?"

"You lied to me."

"Yes. Sorry." He grabbed my shoulder and had me pinned against the wall. "You know, you really made it too easy. So, to make things more entertaining, I'm going to make a little film of our time together." He held up a video camera. "I borrow this from your house. I hope you don't mind. And action. Oh, your face will break Emmett's little heart."

"You monster. Emmett has nothing to do with this!" I shouted.

"But he does. His rage will make for more interesting sport than his feeble attempt to protect you. And let's continue."

I grabbed my pepper spray and squeezed it into his eyes before I ran for it. Unfortunately, it didn't seem to work as he quickly caught up with me and tossed me against a pillar. I bit back a cry of pain as I felt the blood on the back of my head. James seemed to enjoy it as he continued filming me and said, "Beautiful. Very visually dynamic. I chose my stage well." He grabbed my hand that had some of my blood on it. "It's too bad he didn't have the strength to turn you. Instead, he kept you this fragile little human. It's cruel, really." I glared at him, but then my glare turned a look of pain as he broke my leg. It took all I had not to cry out and yell. "Tell Emmett how much it hurts! Tell him to avenge you! Tell him!"

"Never," I snarled.

Suddenly, James was thrown into air by someone I loved—Emmett. He'd gotten my note and knew what I'd done. SHehe tossed James aside and looked at me. I froze, knowing how badly he ached for my blood. I wasn't afraid of him, but I knew what this was doing to him. My heart was still pounding from James's attack. I watched as James leapt and grabbed Emmett by the throat. "You're alone, 'cause you're faster than the others. But not stronger."

"I'm strong enough to kill you!" he snarled. He tossed James into a mirror and ran over to me. He looked at me with worry before he wrapped her arms around my injured body.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered. "I thought he had her. He lied to me."

"Don't apologize. I understand. I'm going to get you out of here," he said. He picked me up and we were almost out before James jumped us again and I ended up halfway across the room. I cut myself on some of the broken glass and then James was at my side. He pulled away my sleeve and bit into my wrist before Emmett leapt at him and they fought with an intensity I'd never before seen. I wanted to tell her to stop, to not take revenge and become what she despised, but I couldn't. The pain in my shoulder was almost unbearable. For Emmett's sake, I fought against crying out. Then the cavalry arrived as the rest of the Cullens came to the studio. Alice was at my side.

"Rosalie, it's okay," she said, as I squirmed in agony. "You're going to be fine."

I nodded as I refused to let out any verbal signs that I was in pain. Alice then left me to help the others as Emmett and Carlisle were at my side. I barely listened as Carlisle rattled off what was wrong with me. I began to focus more when Emmett's topaz eyes met my brown ones. "Rose! Rosalie, look at me. Focus on me, Rose. Listen to me. I'm right here. Just hang on to me. It's going to be okay. Tell me what's wrong."

"My hand," I gasped out, as I grabbed her hand. "It's on fire."

"It's the venom," said Carlisle. "But there's not enough of the venom in her system to change her. It's going to kill her."

"I won't let that happen! What do I have to do?" he asked, as my grip on her hand tightened. "Carlisle, what do I do? I can't lose her."

"Suck the venom out."

"You know I won't be able to stop."

"Emmett, I trust you," I gasped out. "You'll find the will to stop. I love you."

He looked heartbroken before he touched my cheek. "I'm going to make the pain go away, Rose. I love you."

I shut my eyes as he bit into my wrist and then the pain and the fire inside of me started to fade. My vision blurred and moments later, I was in blissful dark unconsciousness. I woke up to my mother's face. I realized I was in a hospital. I wasn't in any pain and I was feeling better than I had before. "Mom?" I said, "Where is he? Where's Emmett?"

"He's asleep," she whispered. "He never leaves." I looked and saw Emmett pretending to sleep in a car on the other side of the room. "And your dad, he's down at the cafeteria. He's a little worried. When you fell, you broke your leg and you lost a lot of blood. You took a tumble down two flights of stairs and went through a window."

I chuckled. "That sounds like me."

"Oh, honey, I'm so sorry," she said. "But you're going to be fine. You're going to love Jacksonville. It's sunny every day and we found the cutest little house and—"

"Mom, I want to stay in Forks," I interrupted. "I-I can't leave Emmett. I love him."

She looked disappointed, but not entirely surprised. "Okay," she said. "If that's what you want, sweetie, then you can stay."

I nodded. "Could you go get Dad for me? I need to tell him I'm all right."

"Yes. I'll be right back."

The minute she left, Emmett "woke up."

"Is he gone?" I asked, referring to James.

"Yes, he's gone," said Emmett, as she sat beside me. "But Victoria's run off. We don't know where she is."

"That's okay," I said. "I'm alive because of you."

"No, you're in here because of me. The worst part of it was that I thought I wasn't going to be able to stop."

"But you did stop."

He sighed and looked at me. "Rose, you've got to go to Jacksonville so that I can't hurt you anymore."

"No!" I said, loudly. "I'm not leaving you! I need you. Remember what you told me before I went to Phoenix when I blamed myself for James? You said it was James's fault, not mine. Well, it's not your fault I'm here. Don't you dare blame yourself, don't you dare. I'm not leaving you and you're not leaving me. Promise me you'll stay, please."

He looked at me as if my reaction was causing her pain and then he nodded. "As long as it is what's best for you, I'll stay. I'm here."

"Good," I sighed. Then I saw the look in his eyes. "Emmett, what is it?"

He rummaged through her pockets before holding up I'd written her before leaving the hotel. Some of the ink was a little runny from tears, but I could still make out what I'd written.

Emmett,

By the time you get this, I will have gone to meet James. I wouldn't have done it, but he called me. He's got my mother and he's going to kill her and you if I don't do as he says, so I have to go. Don't come after me or he'll know. Don't blame Alice and Jasper for what I've done; it was lucky I was able to slip by them at all. If I don't come back, please just know that you are the best thing that's ever happened to me. I've always loved you and I'll never stop loving you with every fibre of my being. Forgive me.

Rose.

"James has killed everyone he's ever come into contact with. When I found out what you'd done, I thought you were going to die and if I didn't stop him, I was going to have to watch you die," his said, her voice cracking. "You can't scare me like that again, ever. Do you understand? I'll kill you if you do."

"Come here," I whispered. He pulled up a seat and I rested my head on his uninjured shoulder as he wrapped an arm around my slender frame and stroked my mahogany. "I'm sorry," I whispered. "I'm so sorry. I promise you I won't do that ever again."

He stayed beside me for the rest of my hospital stay and then we went back to Forks. I explained what I could to Charlie, but he was still slightly upset with me. I couldn't blame him. By some miracle, my broken leg healed within a couple of weeks. And it was then that Emmett asked me to go to prom with him and I heartily agreed.