"Okay. One, two, three," Emmett counts down as we pose around him for a picture. When he suggested that we take a selfie for Facebook, Rosalie jumped up to make sure she got close to him. She stands behind him, slightly to the side, and has her hands on his shoulder. She smiles and tried to hold her balance on her tip-toes so her face isn't blocked by Emmett's big frame. I'm next to her, sticking my head in just enough for a good picture, and Edward is on Emmett's other side.
Carlisle and Esme are gone to their lawyer appointment right now, leaving the four of us home alone. Emmett is happier than usual with Esme and Carlisle out of the house, and he and Rosalie have been flirting all day.
"You look great," Emmett says to Rosalie with a wink as he shows her the picture. She smiles back.
It's disgusting.
We all settle back down onto the sectional and if Emmett and Rosalie want to get any closer, they're going to have to share clothing. Every time one of them got up to grab a drink or go to the bathroom, they sat closer together when they returned. They weren't very sneaky about it though. I knew exactly what they were doing and I'm sure Edward noticed it too.
I want to watch the movie Edward put on, but I keep glancing over at my sister. She doesn't even notice that I'm watching her. She just keeps making lovey dovey eyes at Emmett. He gives her this sly smile and points up to the TV where two cars are racing.
"You know, racing is pretty cool, but you know what's better? Mudding." He tells her. "My Wrangler can get through any mud hole."
Rosalie's eyes light up.
"Really? I love mudding!"
I roll my eyes. She's never been mudding before.
"Oh yeah? Let's go. There's some trails in the back of the property. We can take the Wrangler out."
"No you can't!" Edward pipes up. "You're grounded! Dad has your keys."
"You think I don't know where he put them?" Emmett laughs out loud and stand from the couch. He heads to Carlisle and Esme's bedroom. Rosalie follows like an eager puppy.
"Mom and Dad are going to kill you if you take the Jeep!" Edward yells to them. We can't hear their response, but both Emmett and Rosalie bust out laughing.
They bound out of the bedroom, Emmett leading the way with his keys in hand. I jump up and rush towards them. Edward follows behind me.
"Dad's not going to find out, right?" Emmett asks us. I glare at Rosalie. Edward rolls his eyes.
"He's going to find out on his own when he sees the Jeep has been moved." Edward shoots back. Emmett simply shakes his head no before holding the door open for Rosalie.
I grab her arm and give it a slight tug. We've done this before, and she knows that means I want to talk to her in private. She just shakes my hand off, though.
"Leave me alone, Jasper. I'm going with Emmett." She demands. Without even bothering to look back at me, she turns on her heels and walks out the door.
I'm left next to Edward with my jaw on the floor. I can't believe her!
"Dad's going to kill both of them." Edward tells me. I scowl at the door as it slams shut. We hear the engine roar to life. "Hey, it's their funeral. C'mon, I want to see the rest of the movie."
I follow Edward back to the living room with my fists and jaw clenched. If Rosalie wants to run off and leave without even thinking about me, then fine. I'm not waiting up for her.
"Hear that?" Edward asks me with wide eyes. He mutes the television and I can hear a motor coming closer. "Is that the Jeep or the Mercedes?"
I shrug. I don't really know the sound difference.
"Dad's gonna kill them both."
I shrug again. I tried to stop her.
Edward turns the volume back up and we wait for Esme and Carlisle to come inside. I sink down into couch and Edward does the same. As soon as they step into the house and the door slams shut, it's obvious that they're angry.
"Where's the Jeep?" Carlisle bellows.
"But I wasn't grounded!" Rosalie argues with Carlisle in the living room. Emmett already charged upstairs to his bedroom.
"You knew Emmett was grounded, and it was wrong of you to go with him knowing that. You should have stayed home." Carlisle lectures her, wagging a finger at her. "Go to your room!"
"I didn't do anything wrong!" She continues to protest.
"Do you want to make it three weeks? Because you're pushing for three weeks." Carlisle threatens. Rosalie doesn't say anything. She just crosses her arms over her chest and pouts. "Go to your room! Now!"
Rosalie glares at him before turning on her heels and stomping up the stairs. I watch from the couch and keep a smirk from showing.
"This isn't fair!" Rosalie yells one more time before slamming her bedroom door.
"Three weeks, Rosalie!" Carlisle yells back at her.
Sounds good to me. Three weeks grounded meant three weeks without having to deal with Alice.
Carlisle lets out a heavy sigh before coming over to the couch and flopping down. He leans his head back against the couch and closes his eyes. He still hasn't recovered from his long shift.
"What did the lawyer say, Dad?" Edward asks.
"She suggested that, because of Emmett's age, we let Emmett choose who to live with. Since Garth hasn't had any CPS calls on him in years, then the judge will just ask for Emmett's preference." Carlisle explains with a slow and heavy tone, like it's painful to say. "So it's up to Emmett."
"Hey, wake up kiddo." Carlisle's voice pulls me out of my panicked sleep. I shoot up in bed, huffing and puffing as I try to catch my breath. Carlisle's sitting on the edge of my bed, staring at me. "Are you okay?"
Even if I wanted to talk, I wouldn't be able to. As I gasp for air, I nod yes. Carlisle doesn't move, though. Instead, he pats my hand.
"Do you want to go for a ride with me? I think some fresh air would do us both some good. I can't sleep either."
It takes me a moment to process his request. Why would he want to go for a ride with me? My first instinct is to tell him no, but then I remember his mention of adoption. I nod yes again, even thought my trouble isn't falling asleep. It's just sleeping peacefully that I can't do.
He smiles at me and stands from my bed. He already has a pair of jeans on. I wonder what he's planning on doing.
I crawl out of bed and shuffle my way to my closet. Once Carlisle steps out of my room, I change into the softest pair of jeans I have, grab my phone, I lazily follow Carlisle's path out. He's already pulling on his tennis shoes by the door.
Once we're in the car and heading down the road, I get comfortable in the front seat and lean my head against the window. This November air is perfect. It's my favorite month because the air is chilly enough to be comfortable in sweats, but still bearable. The feeling of cool air in my lungs is oddly soothing. I roll the window down just enough to feel the air.
We drive for over ten miles before Carlisle says anything.
"I hate that Rose went with Emmett. I hate that she got in trouble. She's a good kid, both of you are, and she should have known better." He sighs. "But I guess that's all a part of being a teenager. Is three weeks excessive?"
I start to shrug, but then remember that the longer she's grounded, the longer I get to go without dealing with Alice at home. I shake my head no.
"Esme was thinking it was excessive. But she got an extra week added on for talking back. I didn't realize she had such a mouth on her. Up until now I don't think I've ever heard a cross word from her."
I snort. It's obvious that he hasn't seen her pissed before. She can turn into a real bitch if you make her mad enough.
"Have you talked to her about I told you?" He asks. "The adoption, I mean."
I shake my head no.
"Are you happy here?"
I don't respond. I just look down at my shoes. Carlisle sighs again.
"If you're not, just say so." He tells me. "You won't hurt anyone's feelings. Just be honest."
I roll the window down a little more to get a bigger wave of air in the car. Carlisle keeps driving. He lets out one more sigh, but that's it. We drive about another ten miles before I get a strange wave of courage.
"I don't like Alice. I like it here, but I don't like Alice."
Carlisle doesn't respond right away. He smiles first.
"So you don't like Alice? Why is that?"
I shrug.
"I think she likes you, though. I overheard he talking to Rosalie about you the other day. She thinks you're cute."
"No," I groan.
"Yes," Carlisle laughs. "She does. Most boys would be happy to know a girl like Alice likes them."
I scowl and look back out the window.
"That's fine, though, if you don't like her back. But what don't you like about her?"
I shrug.
"Just keep an open mind. Who knows, she might want you to take her to the winter dance."
I scoff. I'm not going to the winter dance.
"Is there anything else you want to tell me?" Carlisle asks. "Anything at all? Anything bothering you?"
I feel just like I did with my Dad. There's so much I could tell him, but do I want him to know all that?
