A/N Believe me, I don't own any of the Twilight character. I really wish I did
I just want to thank those that continually review this story. Your feedback means a lot!
Chapter 9
KPOV
Rosalie and Emmett took a long honeymoon traveling around Europe. Every few days I would get postcard from a new city: Versailles, Barcelona, Cannes, Amsterdam, Rome, and Hanover to name a few.
Also, random Cullens appeared around me sporadically. I hadn't really expected to see much of them. I was friends with Rosalie and had assumed they all tolerated me for her sake.
Jasper showed up at my Laundromat. He said he wanted to help me fluff and fold. It led to some awkward moments when we got to my intimate apparel. Jasper was able to keep his cool though the bras, although I did get a sudden feeling of intense embarrassment that I was sure originated with Jasper. Once we hit the thongs though, Jasper made a quick excuse about needing to prune some shrubs for Esme and ran out of the Laundromat.
When Alice dropped by my dorm for an impromptu shopping excursion, I knew something was up. While Alice had warmed up to me slightly, saying we were friends would be a wild stretch of the imagination.
"Okay, Alice, what's going on? Are you guys babysitting me or something?"
"I have no idea what you mean." Alice responded casually looking into my closet, taking inventory of what we could get on our trip.
"First Jasper while I'm doing my laundry, now you. You have to admit it's a bit suspicious."
"I guess. It's really just because we want to get to know you better. I'll admit that I haven't been as….open to you as a friend. But its become clear that you are a good friend and, for better or worse, here to stay." While it didn't sound like a compliment, I knew she meant it as one. I had earned the family seal of approval.
Lastly, Edward had claimed to develop a certain affinity for the smell of coffee and baked goods since he continually hung out at my work.
"You know you never order anything."
"And you know I don't actually eat anything. Unless you've added mountain lion to the menu since yesterday." He smiled crookedly. It was his one imperfection and it made him all the more perfect.
I brushed that thought aside quickly but I thought I saw him smile even more broadly before I could.
"But you still leave a tip."
"I still think you provide excellent service."
Rosalie came over almost immediately when she got back. She came loaded with packages.
"I picked you up some gifts while I was in Paris. Not much just some of the fall lines from YSL, Chanel, and Stella McCartney. But on to more important matters. Spill. What's been going on? Carlisle tells me that you've been seeing a lot of us, especially Edward."
"I guess. They have been popping up a lot." I was stunned looking at the mountain of clothes now in my possession.
"Alice was evasive when I asked her what was going on." Then Rosalie took my hands into hers. "I have a theory, though."
"And that is." She was freaking me out now.
"Well, I asked Alice if this had anything to do with Edward and she said 'I haven't seen anything.'"
I guess Rosalie could tell that I had no idea what that meant.
"Oh, for Pete's sake. I would have thought you'd have picked that up by now. I swear you are smart at somethings and others you are clueless. Alice can see the future but only once a decision has been made. Its generally very reliable but the future can change. Anyway, she really didn't answer my question, which leads me to believe this is about Edward."
"What about him?"
"I think, well, he may be interested in you."
I was stunned. "That's just cruel Rosalie."
"No. I'm serious. You didn't see him before. He would never leave the house, except to go sulk in the forest when he thought we didn't notice. Now he is out meeting you. All Alice confirmed is no decision has been made between the two of you but that makes sense if you aren't even contemplating it."
"Of course I'm not. Not only is Edward gorgeous, he is still in love with Bella." I knew secretly I was trying to convince myself Rosalie was wrong. No sense in getting my hopes up for nothing.
"One, you realize that most people would list him being a vampire as their number one reason for not wanting a relationship. Two, you are beautiful. I really wouldn't hang around with someone who wasn't. Three, six months ago I would have said you were right about Bella but like I said you haven't seen the change in him. He even stopped playing her lullaby. Although, I did hear him playing a new composition when I got back. I wonder…." I could tell the last part of speech was not directed at me. It didn't matter as I had no idea what lullabies had to do with Edward and Bella.
"Rosalie, I don't know."
"Trust me, he's my brother. I know him better than he thinks I do. Just tell me, if he were interested, if he were falling in love with you, do you feel the same, could you?"
I contemplated what all that meant. A relationship with a vampire. A relationship with a handsome vampire. What could come of it? What future can one have with an immortal?
It didn't matter.
I remembered how I felt when his cool breath tickled my ear at the wedding and how he smelled when he was close. To be able to be close to that for a fraction of a second, to belong to it was worth any hurt that may come later.
"Yes." It was all I could say. It was all that needed to be said.
"Good. Now let me give you a word of advice. Do you know any foreign languages?"
"Yes, French and Gaelic. Why?"
"Let's just say that whenever you don't want Edward to hear what you're thinking, start translating Wordsworth into Gaelic."
