March 16th, 2009. Monday.

Saturday morning, Lisa woke Alice and I up at 8:00. Alice got to go back to sleep. Me? I had to go down to the gym for a workout before the all important photo shoot. Lisa fussed over me in the halls, in the elevator, and as she checked me into the gym.

"You've really gained some weight, Rose. I hope you'll fit into the dresses..." she paused mid step to look me over. I was wearing a pair of Nike shorts and a tank top. Good work out clothes, but I sincerely hoped that due to the early hour, I would be the only person there. I wished I'd thought to bring a jacket.

Lisa seems to forget that I'm still just a teenage girl sometimes.

I peeked through the glass doors as Lisa chatted to the tired looking hotel employee as she slid my room card to open the doors for me. It seemed like the gym was empty for the most part, thankfully. It was a Saturday morning, after all. Most people would be sleeping in, or watching Saturday morning cartoons in their rooms or something.

"Here's your key, Rose." Lisa said, handing the card back to me. "I'm going to go get a few more minutes of sleep. Don't work yourself too hard...but I don't expect you back up until at least 9:00. Okay?" I nodded, too angry to speak. Yeah, go up and get some more sleep while I work my butt off down here so you can keep your job. Lisa looked me over once more, then patted my arm.

"Just a protein shake this morning, I think. I'll get the kind you like. See you later."

Gee. Thanks.

So, I went into the gym and looked around, trying to figure out where to start. I decided I'd go over to the mats in the corner first, and do some stretching, laying my phone and room key beside me.

Five minutes later, I figured out that I wasn't alone in the gym. There were two other people here, a woman who was probably in her upper twenties who was running on a treadmill, listening to her Ipod, and a guy who was probably eighteen or nineteen who was lifting weights.

Damn. He's looking at me. Come on buddy, just go away...you're done working out, good-bye.

I don't think he's buying it.

I got up off the mat, scooping up my phone and key, and went over to one of the stationary bikes. These were my favorites. I could close my eyes while riding them and pretend that I was one my pink, glittery bike from when I was five, riding in the street by my house with Jasper watching over me, the wind in my hair and sun on my face.

"Hey." I opened my eyes. If I had been riding a real bike, I would've just jumped the curb or crashed into a car or a mailbox or something. I was really getting into the whole pink glittery bike thing...I looked up and there was the guy who had been lifting weights a few minutes ago. He'd moved over to the bike next to mine, starting it up. Great. I nodded at him, bumping up the level on my bike, trying to send the message that I wasn't in the mood for talking.

"I'm Brett." he said with a smile. So, he was the persistent, can't take a hint type. Okay then.

"Rosalie." I said softly. At least he didn't offer his hand to shake. We rode in silence for a few minutes and I was starting to hope against hope that he wasn't going to try to be friendly anymore.

"So, where are you from?" he asked. Guess I spoke to early. Oops.

"A little town in Washington." I said, glancing over at him. He nodded.

"I'm from Arizona myself. My dad has some company conference going on here and I figured I'd come along for the ride. What are you doing here?"

"Um." I said, trying to think up a lie, fast. "I'm here with my sister. She's thinking about going to college here and she asked me to come with her to check out the campus." I said. There. Plausible enough. Brett nodded again.

"Wow, what are you pushing?" He asked after being quiet for a minute. There are some people who just can't stand to be quiet for more than thirty seconds at a time. They are among the most annoying people in the world.

I shrugged and looked down at my speed, then leaned to my left as Brett leaned over and looked. Personal space, buddy. Learn the meaning.

I slowed down, then switched the bike off, not really ready to quit, but eager to get away from this guy.

I smiled at him as I grabbed my stuff again, waved, then walked over to the treadmills, checking my phone as I went. I'd only been here for fifteen minutes. Crap.

And, to make it better, Brett followed me. I sighed as I started up the machine, then got an idea. I set the speed to a nice walk, while Brett was being painfully obvious with his attempts to impress me, already running full out. I picked up my phone.

Sorry to wake you. I'm down in the gym and this guy won't leave me alone. Come save me, please?

I sent it to Emmett and waited, still walking at a steady pace while Brett was sweating profusely and panting beside me. I rolled my eyes. I wasn't going to be the one to revive him when he passed out.

My screen lit up. Emmett. No problem. I'm on my way, just hang in there. See you in a few Rosie.

I smiled and started speeding up a little bit. He'd be here soon. No need to worry.

A few minutes later, the gym doors opened again and in walked Emmett. Brett, who had slowed down to walk by now, still wheezing, looked up.

"Look at the size of that guy. What do you want to bet he's on steroids?" Brett said to me out of the corner of his mouth. I just smiled and slowed down some. Emmett scanned the room for a minute before he spotted me. He grinned and started walking towards us.

"Hey, Rosie. Brought you some water, Sweetie." he said when he got near me. I stopped the treadmill and got off, taking the water bottle Emmett handed me, and to my surprise, Emmett bent and kissed my cheek. I think I blushed, and quickly busied myself with the water bottle. He was laying it on pretty thick..I mean, "Sweetie?" Really?

"Em, I can't get it open." I said after a minute. I pouted a little and handed it back to Emmett, chancing a glance back at Brett. He was still walking, glaring openly at Emmett.

"Oh, sorry Rosie. Lemme get that for you." Emmett said before easily twisting off the top and handing it back to me and winking playfully at me. I took a swallow. "Come and sit down for a few minutes. Watch me lift some weights." he said, flexing his biceps at me, then taking my hand and leading me towards the weights section. I sat down on a bench, sipping on the water, while Emmett started on one of the weight machines.

He was playing up our relationship, acting like he was my boyfriend instead of just my best friend. I didn't mind in the least. I wanted to be his girlfriend, remember? Even if I'd decided that it would never happen between us. He deserved better, remember? But, it was good to get a little taste of it, anyways, even just for a few minutes.

I looked around a few minutes later and spotted Brett storming out the glass doors and down the hall to the elevators.

"Thanks, Em." I said, screwing the lid back onto my water bottle. "Some people just can't take a hint."

Insert eye roll here. "Sorry about waking you up so early."

Emmett shrugged, wiping the sweat off his forehead and taking a rest from the machine he was on. "Can you toss me the water bottle?" I did and he took a few swallows. "I should've thought to bring another one..." he mused. "It's okay. I was already awake anyways. But what are you doing down here so early?"

I sighed. "I'm a model, Em. I have to stay fit and trim!" I said, putting on a fake excited face.

Emmett stared at me for a minute. "You have got to be kidding me."

"I'm not. I'm a model, Emmett. I have to be able to fit into all the stupid clothes I have to dress up in." I said, getting up and walking over to the bikes again, crossing my arms over my chest. Emmett followed me.

"That's so stupid. You're what, a hundred and ten pounds? You're perfect already." he said angrily as I started the bike again.

I smiled a little. He'd called me perfect. "Tell that to Lisa. And Leo Stanton." I said, staring straight ahead, my smile already fading a little.

"I will."

Now it was back. Emmett made me just want to...want to...

I stopped the bike and turned to look at Emmett. "If we got out of here and went to get doughnuts...would you tell on me?" I asked slowly, grinning.

Emmett grinned and grabbed my hand, pulling me up. "Why the hell are we still here talking about it?"

Twenty minutes later I was wearing Emmett's over shirt, unbuttoned, over my shorts and tank top as we walked into a Shipleys. I rolled up the sleeves but it was so long that I could've worn it as a dress, and it smelled just like him.

"What do you want?" Emmett asked, his eyes on the doughnuts.

"Chocolate sprinkle and chocolate milk." I answered right away. They were my favorites, but I hadn't been allowed to have them in years. Emmett nodded.

"Why don't you go sit down on that bench we saw a couple shops back? The one under the big tree." he suggested, and I did. I got a few weird looks and I'd forgotten my hat, but nobody seemed to recognize me. I guess people didn't expect to find Rosalie Hale in the middle of San Francisco sitting alone on a bench curled up in a mans shirt.

"Here we go." Emmett said, walking up and sitting down next to me. He handed me my bag, them dug into his. I pulled out a chocolate frosted doughnut (with sprinkles, as specified) and just stared at it for a minute before taking a bite so big that Lisa would've yelled at me for five minutes about.

I moaned. It was so, so good! Sugary and sweet and doughy. I took another giant bite and blushed, realizing that Emmett was watching me with an amused smile.

"I'm glad I got you two." he said before biting his own.

"Yforu dip?" I asked, hurriedly peeking into the paper bag. Emmett choked on his bite, then roared with laughter. I glared at him.

"Don't laugh at me. I haven't had doughnuts since I was ten."

Well, that shut him up.

"No way."

"Yes way." I asked, taking a swallow of my chocolate milk. "This is good too..." I mused, and drank some more.

~Rosalie Lillian Hale~

It was eleven. I was dressed in a pair of jeans and a tee shirt. I didn't bother with a hat or sunglasses or anything. It was sure to have been leaked that I got this job by now. What use would it be, hiding from the paparazzi that already knew who I was?

Alice was staying at the hotel. She wasn't exactly allowed on set...and Emmett was only allowed because he was going as my "bodyguard." It wasn't stretching the truth too much.

Emmett held the door of the car open for me and I climbed out.

Flashes. Nothing but flashes. Yells. People. Yelling for me. Spotlight.

A hand came down between my shoulder blades, gently nudging me forwards towards the doors. I jumped.

"Are you alright?" Emmett. Just Emmett. I looked up at him and nodded.

There were police here. Barriers, holding the people back. I was grateful. I didn't want another mob around me, like what had happened when shopping in Seattle.

A policeman stepped forwards out of the throng, about to take my arm to help Emmett in the escort in, but Emmett quickly shielded me.

"That's not a good idea. I've got her." He said in a low voice to the man. I blushed and looked down as the policeman stepped back, nodding as if he'd just remembered orders.

Great. What a wonderful way to start the day.

Here we go, chapter nine at last! Thanks got the support, guys. It means a lot to me. There's not blog post to go with this one, sorry folks!

And, I'd like to announce that Baby Steps is in the running for "Best Emmett," "Best Rosalie," and "Best Emmett x Rosalie" in the 2009 Twilight Awards. you can vote here: http://forum(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/forum/CuriosityKilled_The_Cat/69076/1/0/

And also, another fic of mine, A Bow In Her Hair is in the running for "Best Story" "Best All Human" and "Best Alice x Jasper" it would mean a lot to me if you helped me out!! Tell your friends. Thanks y'all!

~Dani

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