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Overwhelmed

Rosalie only comes back to Forks — a place that only holds bad memories — once a year. This year she finds herself with an unlikely companion, facing a truth she thought she had buried years ago.

•••

Rosalie blinked at Emmett owlishly for a moment.

"What?" she finally asked.

"I said, wanna go out tonight?" he repeated. He didn't seem fazed by her surprise.

"You mean," she said slowly, "on a date?"

He nodded. "Don't worry, though," he assured, "we can totally have sex afterwards, 'cause that's awesome." Rosalie stared at him.

"You're serious, aren't you?"

"As a heart attack," he said.

Rosalie narrowed her eyes. "Did Bella tell you to take me on a date?"

"What? Like I couldn't come up with that on my own?" He scoffed. "It's like you only like me because I'm a sex god." Rosalie continued to stare. "If you must know," he finally said, "Edward asked if we had actually gone out, and then said if I actually liked you, I should take you out, like, to some place nice and stuff. So, what do you say? Pick you up at seven?"

This was her last night in Forks. "Sure," she agreed. What the hell, right? "Seven."

Rosalie wasn't sure what surprised her most about that night. It was a complete toss up between Emmett arriving on time, Emmett wearing a tie, Emmett actually knowing what was happening in the political world, and Emmett suggesting they walk along the beach after dinner.

Rosalie took her shoes off and walked barefoot in the sand. She hadn't been out on a beach since college, and it was a little strange.

"You okay over there?" Emmett asked. "You've gone quiet."

"Can you not stand silence for five minutes?" she replied.

"I can," he argued. "But why would I want to?"

She shrugged. "I was just, I don't know, thinking." He nodded sagely. She smiled. "Let's sit," she suggested suddenly. She didn't want to walk any further and have to hike back to Emmett's car in the dark.

"So how am I doing?" he asked as he plopped down on the sand beside her. "Oh, wait, hold on — stand up." Frowning, she stood, brushing sand off her skirt. He took off his jacket and spread it out. "Okay. Now sit." He grinned up at her.

"That's very gentlemanly of you," Rosalie said, biting back a full-fledged smirk as she sat down.

"I try," Emmett replied gallantly.

"Well, you're very impressive," Rosalie assured, only teasing a little.

"Yeah. This is actually the first legitimate date I've been on in years."

Rosalie glanced at him. "Seriously?"

He bobbed his head. "What can I say? The ladies just want to jump me."

She shook her head at him before she leaned her head on his shoulder, and the water splashed forward and sunk her ankles into the sand. The conversation that followed was soft and easy. She explained the situation with the Cullens, about Mr. Cullen calling just to talk and how she had agreed to stop by the hospital before her flight tomorrow, and then the conversation lulled naturally. Her eyes closed and she was sure this was the most comfortable she'd ever been in her life.

•••

A/N: Thanks for reading!