The Adventures of Emmett and Rosalie – Sibling Rivalry
T just to be safe
I owned a chocolate ice cream, but I ate it lol. Stephenie Meyer owns it all, lucky duck.
--
I sat on the back porch with a book in silence while I watched Emmett and Edward empty the garage of all our pretend-camping equipment. It was six in the morning and they would be leaving in a short while until sometime Sunday night. They looked so excited and happy. Why wasn't I included? What were they keeping from me? I know I'm a girl and I can't always tag along, but this just seemed unfair in every possible way. Edward was stealing my boyfriend. No, friend. Just friend. Brother. Adopted brother who is a close friend.
Carlisle walked out onto the porch with his workbag and looked down at me with my miserable expression consuming my face. "Morning, Rosalie. Will you be all right while I'm at work? Esme's gone hunting early and I'm not sure how long she'll be. The boys will be leaving shortly, as well."
I shrugged and stared down at my book, returning to the silent treatment I had been giving him before the policeman showed up and hassled me for answers. He had said he would keep the officer from coming up to see Emmett, but he didn't even try. Then he decided to let the boys go off and have their fun all weekend, while I got to stay home and be grounded. After a few minutes of hovering over me like a buzzard, he walked to the garage to leave for work in the truck I was no longer allowed to drive. Once he was gone, I'd had enough. Enough of all the men in my life being secretive and utterly unreliable.
I stalked over to Edward and poked him in the chest. "Having fun? What do you think you're playing at, Edward? Why wasn't I told about this camping trip? Why do you exclude me from every plan you make?"
"Why do you insist on asking so many questions? You were not invited, plain and simple. I asked Emmett to join me because he is allowed to leave home with a chaperone. You are not allowed to leave at all unless it is to hunt between here and the creek. I don't have to run every plan I make past you before I ask Esme or Carlisle." He turned and finished filling his backpack.
"Why are you going there? Are you really going to that park for the mountain lions?" I was fairly certain he was. He was not the type to lie, but why would Carlisle try to stop him from going the last time he asked? I wanted an answer. Emmett was standing inside the garage watching us with a concerned expression.
"You really want to know?" he growled at me.
"Yes! I do want to know, Edward!" I put my hands on my hips and stared up at his face in defiance. He didn't scare me.
"I need to get the hell away from you!" I couldn't speak. "That's why I have to leave. Carlisle tried to stop me because he said I should face my problems, and not run from them. My problem is you! You're driving me mad with your thoughts, Rosalie! All you ever think about is him, and dresses, and silly, stupid girl things that make no sense! It's idiotic and it's been getting worse this past week! All you care about is vanity and pride. And you're spoiled rotten! You're so loud I can't tune your petty mind out half the time!"
If I could, I might have cried at that moment. His words hurt me deeply. I was a problem. I was silly, idiotic, vain, and stupid. I was being myself.
"Edward. Come on? That was harsh." Emmett was standing beside us now and looked torn. I stared at Edward for another moment and shook Emmett's hand away when he tried to take it and make me shake hands with Edward. "Say you're sorry."
Neither Edward or I made any apologies. I glared at him and snarled. "I may be a stupid girl who thinks of silly things like dresses and makeup, but at least I can think for myself. I'm not Esme's puppet the way you are for Carlisle. If he asked you to stand on one leg and bark you would do it without a moment's hesitation." I turned to Emmett and smiled sweetly. "Have a nice trip. I'll be thinking of you." I kissed him deeply, forcing myself to think loudly of every girlish, asinine thing I could. Dolls in frilly dresses, weddings and white gowns, make up, lingerie, flowers and candles, fluffy dogs in sweaters, and with each of these thoughts I made sure Emmett was included somehow, so Edward would know how alone he truly was.
"Rosalie Hale! Get in the house this instant!" Caught again. Esme had seen me practically mauling Emmett as she returned from her hunt and was livid. "Edward, what are you thinking? You're supposed to be watching her around him!" I ran into the kitchen to wait for her.
"Sorry Esme. We were just leaving. We will see you Sunday night." Edward yelled after her before gathering his bags and leaving with Emmett.
"We're leaving? Now? Is this the best time to go, Edward?" Emmett was baffled. He wanted to stay home and make sure I was alright after the argument, but the chances of him being allowed anywhere near me were slim at the moment.
"Yes, it is. If you don't want to come, don't come. My invitation still stands, unless you want to spend the rest of the weekend with Esme. Rosalie might not be allowed out of her room for a while." Their voices trailed off into the distance, and I knew I was left behind and in a great deal of trouble.
--
"I should call Carlisle about this, but he has a lot of work to do today. I can't keep asking him to come home and deal with the three of you. I'm at a loss, Rosalie. Please, explain yourself?"
I sat at the kitchen table with a smug expression plastered across my face. I had kissed Emmett, and it was good. More passionate and emotional and powerful than the normal, gentle, sneaky kisses we shared when nobody was looking. And Edward saw everything. Every single thought that went through my brain while it happened. I don't know what Emmett was thinking, but judging by the way he kissed me back, I hoped Edward saw that too. "Edward and I had an argument. I was angry with him."
"So you grabbed Emmett and decided to…kiss him…right there in the back yard? How does that make any kind of sense?" Esme fell into the chair across from me. She enjoyed being a mother, but she was not good with 'talks' about intimate issues. She could hardly bring herself to say the word 'kiss' out loud.
"I wanted to say good bye to Emmett, personally. After Edward said the things he did, I wanted to make good and sure that his weekend would be full of Emmett's thoughts. Thoughts of me and what I did."
"What on earth could Edward have said to you to make you behave so irrationally? A simple goodbye to Emmett with a kiss on the cheek would have done the trick, I think." She was struggling to understand, but it wasn't coming to her.
"He called me a lot of names; stupid, petty, idiotic, vain, to name a few. He said the reason I wasn't invited on the camping trip was because he was sick of hearing my thoughts. My thoughts annoyed him because they were girlish, and stupid. He was trying to get away from me for as long as possible. He has been for weeks." I had started off in a rage, but trailed off toward the end with my eyes to the floor in a whisper. The anger was gone, but the hurt was back. "He thinks I'm stupid, Esme. I'm not stupid."
"What about Emmett?" I looked up at her confused. "Does Emmett think you're stupid?"
"No. He thinks I'm pretty terrific, actually." The corners of my mouth tried to curl up into a smile, but I forced them back down. "Are you going to tell Carlisle on me? Should I go to my room and stay there till he gets home to deal with me?" That was how my human parents dealt with my temper. 'Go to your room and wait until dad gets home from work.'
Esme was silent for a moment. I looked up at her, then back down at my hands. "You really care for him, don't you? I can see it when you look at each other. It's like no one else is around, even when you're both being watched by one of us. You're more careful about it when Carlisle is home, but I see it when you're having your lessons."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Esme." I knew. I knew exactly what she was talking about. I could feel it when he looked at me his gaze was so intense.
"I'm not blind, Rose. I saw that kiss. I can see it in your eyes right now. You're sad about Edward and his rude words, but just past that is the knowledge, that feeling that you had when you kissed him. You don't want to let that feeling go."
I shook my head no and let the smile I was holding back break through. "No, never."
"I won't tell him." She whispered, as if he was close enough to hear. I was so relieved, I wanted to jump up and hug her. "Now, that doesn't mean you can run off willy-nilly and do whatever you like with Emmett. It just means I see things differently than your father. I'll give you more space with Emmett during the day as long as you stay inline once he comes home from work."
"Thank you! Thank you so much, Esme!" I couldn't contain my emotions. I pulled her up and hugged her with all the love I had. In a world of men who pushed me down and kept things from me, it felt so nice to have a woman on my side.
--
Later that night, Carlisle came home from work, and I resumed my silent treatment toward him. I didn't want to let on about what I had done, or that Esme forgave me and even gave me back some of my freedom. I noticed the sound of the truck didn't sound normal when it pulled into the garage, but I ignored it. I'd go out there tomorrow and have a look at the engine when I got bored.
"How was your day, Rosalie? Did anything interesting happen?" I was on the porch with a book reading under the lantern once again, just as I had been when he left that morning.
"Fine. No, nothing." Why do I do that? Be quiet, silly girl. I was in too good of a mood. I couldn't hide it as well as I had when I was truly miserable.
"Is Esme home or out hunting?"
"Out." That's better. One word is better than babbling.
"I see. I'll be right back." He went inside to drop his coat and bag in the closet before returning. "It's quiet without the boys here, isn't it?"
"Yep."
"I was hoping maybe you could have a look at the truck for me? It's been making an odd noise lately. I think it might be the pistons. It's been needing an oil change for some time now."
"The pistons were fine the last time I checked. I changed the oil last week." Stop talking. Now. It was no use. I couldn't keep this up forever.
"So you're talking like an adult now? No more being childish?" He looked down at me with a smile and lifted my face up to look back at him. "I miss you talking to me, Rosalie."
"Sorry dad. It's just been a hard week." I only called him 'dad' when I felt it was necessary and that was rare. Only during those moments when I really felt like his daughter, did I prefer that to his name.
"Yes, it has. Let's have a look at the truck, shall we?" We stood and went into the garage through the narrow side door. It was dark outside by now and the lights were off, so it took me a moment to locate the switch through the pitch black. When I pulled the chain, I was nearly knocked off my feet by absolute shock. In place of the rickety, old green pick-up truck was a shiny, red Ford Phaeton convertible. "Surprise!"
"What- where's the truck? Where did you get a Phaeton?" I had read in a magazine that this car was in such high demand that the factory could not keep up with production. I was breathless. It was the most beautiful car I had ever seen. "There is a waiting list for this car, Carlisle. Over a year!"
"Two years if you want this color, your favorite." My favorite? He couldn't be serious. I was on punishment indefinitely. Why would he go through the trouble…honestly? It's not like I would be allowed to drive it. Would I? Nobody has ever given me a gift like this. I mean, people, men, had offered me extravagant things when I was human, but they wanted…things…in return, so I obviously never accepted their offers. I knew Carlisle was not thinking the way they were, he would never do that. I was his daughter. What was the meaning of all this? Something wasn't right. Where was the catch? "The truck is at the dealership. I will pick it up tomorrow. Could you give me a lift, if that's alright?"
"Why would you need my permission, Carlisle? It's your car." I knew that was partially untrue somewhere inside me. I wanted to hear him say it. To admit who the car was really meant for, so I could let go of the breath I was holding and stop hoping. It wasn't mine. Just say it. Nothing this good ever happens to me. Except…well…he doesn't count. The anticipation was killing me.
"Because I don't own a Phaeton, and it would be impolite for me to demand a ride from its owner, you." I looked at him and let out a hysterical laugh. He put the keys in my hand and opened the door for me. "Your chariot awaits, madam."
"What? No Carlisle, this is a Phaeton. I can't drive this. No. You're kidding. You have to be. I'm ungrounded? I can drive it whenever I like?" I slid into the seat, but left the door open. It was too unreal, like the car was going to dislike me and spit me out.
"I was hoping it would give you some encouragement. Perhaps, some confidence?" I looked at him puzzled and shook my head. "You could go shopping with Esme whenever you like. You could go shopping alone, if you wanted. To town, to other towns. I thought it would help you become better adjusted to people. They might ask you about the car and you could tell them about it. Socialize. Integrate."
Nowhere in that explanation was the one, solitary word I wanted to hear him say. One name. I bit my lip and gripped the hard, white steering wheel. "What about the boys? Do I have to drive them places if they want? It's my car, I should have a say in that matter."
"Perhaps, you might give school a try? Esme can teach Emmett at home and you could help Edward by driving him, so he no longer has to walk a mile both ways." Edward could have to walk a hundred miles both ways and I still wouldn't want him in my car.
"What about Emmett? I still can't take him anywhere. Not in the pouring rain. Not in the dead of night. Not to a state park full of mountain lions absolutely devoid of human life. But Edward can."
"Rosalie-"
"Tell me why, Carlisle? I can have a red Phaeton with no problem, but I can't have Emmett in any way, shape, or form. Edward can. He can go anywhere and do anything he pleases while he's technically younger than I am. Why don't you give the car to him?" I climbed out and shut the door gently. I wasn't going to hurt the car. She was innocent in this. "I don't want it. It isn't fair to anyone but Edward. Emmett can't use it, ever and I have to drive Edward around inside it everyday of the week, twice a day, like a chauffer. You don't know what happened here today once you left. I can't give Edward that kind of satisfaction. Take the keys. I don't want the car." It broke my heart to hear myself saying these words out loud, but it had to be done. If I took the car, Edward would win. I would be the selfish, spoiled, stupid girl he accused me of being. I wanted to be with Emmett and if that meant sending the car of my dreams back to the dealership, then so be it. I ran into the house and locked myself in my room to be alone.
The end.
This is Rose's car, a red 1935 Ford Phaeton (SO HOT!)
www.dyna.co.za/cars/Ford34PhaetonRedsf1.jpg
I hope you all liked it! Please keep reviewing! Updates might be less frequent until Tuesday unfortunately. I'm gonna be 26 on Monday (EEK! lol) and my birthday parties start tomorrow and go till Monday night. Yeah parties with an S. When I do get the chance to go out, I party like a rock star lol. I promise to have more up very soon!