The aftermath of the party! Part 1 of 2!
Rosalie was the last to wake that morning, which was rare for her. She had a throbbing headache, she was drained, and she was not in the mood for what was happening. The girls had demanded a brunch session to debrief on the insane party last night. She knew she'd have to make an appearance, though, to prove how little the night affected her. Plus Alice had already agreed.
Emmett was staying at Jasper's for the day, mostly to avoid his parents. He'd told his dad he'd be at the Cullen's and apparently no-one had picked up when his parents called the house last night. Emmett didn't seem too worried, though, just annoyed. His parents never made a big deal about where he went if he didn't explicitly tell them, but if he wasn't at a place he told them he'd be, they flipped. Edward seemed more intent on hanging around Jake like a shadow, or a dog. Jake was taking it with good patience, even if it was obvious to everyone else that he wanted to be alone.
Jasper had to call in sick from work; one of his knuckles looked purple and swollen. He was already gearing up to talk to Carlisle about it and refusing to let Edward poke at it, reminding him that his dad was the doctor.
"Are you sure you have to tell him?" Alice asked him with a little bit of a whine. "If he knows you've been hurt, he'll get fussy." She added.
Jasper gave her a regretful look. "I know, but an appointment would be too expensive, and I just need him to check nothing's broken." He said softly. Alice nodded, and flopped onto the couch with a sigh.
"I'm staying at yours tonight, Rosalie!" She declared.
Edward sneered at her. "No," he said sternly, "I wanna go home tonight, and if I'm getting lectured, you're getting letured too." He informs her smarmily. No one, though, had any doubt that Carlisle would ask Jasper about his injuries, and Jasper would tell him the truth. He had a weird complex when it came to Carlisle, and unless under Alice's direct orders, Jasper never lied to the man.
Edward was going through Jasper's cupboard and making notes about what he needed to stock up on. Edward usually never came here socially; just to drop off groceries and pick up Alice. Jasper and he were probably the only two of their group that only hung out through obligation. Yet Edward still took it upon himself to keep the boy in milk and eggs.
Jacob was taking a phone call outside, something that had woken them all up, those who had been crashed in the living room. Rosalie felt like shit as soon as she opened her eyes, and was surprised to find herself tightly spooned by Emmett. But she couldn't find it within herself to be angry about it. Now Emmett was eating a mixing-bowl of cereal at the tiny table Jasper had stuffed between the living room and his one-wall kitchen.
She deliberately squeezed by Emmett to get into the kitchen past Edward, and Emmett's arm caught her around the waist and pulled her back. She trotted over willingly. "Hey," he said softly, brow furrowed in a way Rosalie would never admit she found cute, "you feel better today?" He asks her. She nods, and leans over to kiss his cheek slowly a few times, making sure to get closer and closer to his mouth, before breaking away completely and making a beeline for the coffee. He just chuckles at her teasing, and she doesn't let him see her own smile.
Edward scoffs at them both, but perks up when Jake comes back into the apartment.
"Hey, did Stella get your jacket?" Edward asked him casually, already reaching up to tuck some of the boy's long hair behind his ear.
Jake's expression is much meaner, though. "Her name's Bella," he said heavily, "and she's coming by mine. I need to get yelled at by my dad and my sister." He says, glancing around until Rosalie points out where he'd left his keys. "I'm going home, you'll have to get someone else to drive you." Jake tells him shortly, and doesn't bid anyone goodbye as he leaves.
Edward stares at his sudden departure, mouth almost hanging open. Even Emmett winces. "Man, you can't keep getting your boyfriend's best friend's name wrong." Emmett told him.
Edward turned a dark glare on him. "What would you know?" He hissed.
Emmett shrugs, going back to his food, looking relatively unbothered. With so many siblings, he was more than used to ignoring a bad mood.
Rosalie, though, scowls. "He knows Alice, Sammy, Jenny and Katie, which are more of my friends than you can name." She snaps. "You want to act like looking at all his post-work-out pics are all that's required of a good boyfriend." She tells Edward before he could interrupt her.
"Jasper put in ten times the effort you have, before he asked Alice out. What are you doing for Jake?" Rosalie asked him sharply. She was done with Edward's simpering, selfish moods. Because getting into that big huff over Jake's dad calling him names, and Jake starting that fight to defend him; it was all selfish.
The truth settles over everyone uncomfortably. Because no-one defends him; even though they usually worked as a group to keep Rosalie from unleashing her bitch out, (as though the three of them could stop her).
Edward was embarrassed and angry at Rosalie and her blunt, awful words. But he stood there, scowling, unable to come up with one way he'd tried with Jake's friends. He barely spoke to Paul, even though he was the reason Edward had an iced coffee every school morning. He didn't talk to Bella unless he explicitly needed something from her, even though they sat right next to each other in Biology. Hell, he never asked Jake about his sister's pregnancy, despite the fact that Jake told him often how happy he was to be an uncle soon.
"… You're driving me home before you go to that stupid brunch. Jasper needs to get dropped off too." Edward growled, and stormed off to use Jasper's shower. Rosalie just shrugs.
Alice sighs heavily. "Things are getting tense in the 'burbs today!" She declared.
"We'll go to yours first, so Jasper can get his hand checked and Edward can write another grievance against me in his burn book." Rosalie tells Alice decisively, "you can change for the brunch and then come to mine and pick out my outfit for me." She added. Alice hops back up with a happy squeal at the idea of playing dress-up, and hurries off to change. Jasper follows her, to either distract her or get ready himself.
Emmett was still sitting at the table. "Your friends are my friends." Emmett told her, frowning a little.
Rosalie had hoped he'd forget the initial comment after her following tirade, but he hadn't. "Well, I suppose they are," Rosalie replied coyly, coming to lean against the back of one of the three empty chairs, in a way she knew made her large shirt fall open. His eyes flick down, and she smirks.
But his eyes come back to staring straight into hers. "Right, because we're just friends, nothing else." He said, picking up his bowl of cereal and standing up. "I'd certainly know if it were otherwise, right?" He asked casually, walking past her to the sink.
Rosalie didn't acknowledge the sinking in her stomach, or the way her palms were sweating. She didn't like what he was saying. "Right …." She muttered, trying to keep the uncertainty out of her voice.
Emmett washed his bowl out. "I don't date girls who are too tough to just tell me we're dating." He says, his voice much more intense now. Rosalie looks away, over to the front door, which was what she wanted to walk through. She didn't like this conversation at all.
"That's all it would take, too," Emmett says, and his tone is just beginning to sound cheeky. "I've never been accused of being a complicated guy." He adds lightly.
Rosalie glares at him, his joking causing her feeling of nervousness turn to fury in her belly. "No, you're very simple." She told him heatedly, "I should get ready to go." She adds, before taking the chance to shove past Edward into the bathroom as he walked out.
00
Rosalie herded Alice, Jasper and Edward into her silver beast, and firmly ignored Emmett as they drove off.
"He's gonna eat all my food." Jasper says, though he doesn't sound particularly annoyed about it. He might even like the idea of coming home to company after Carlisle gave them all a lecture about the dangers of parties in the upper-lower-middle-class suburbs.
Edward, though, was still angry at Rosalie for pointing out that he was a bad boyfriend, and was slumped tightly against the window in the backseat.
"Babe, couldn't you at least wait for me to leave before telling dad how you hurt your hand?" Alice asked, pouting.
Jasper nods easily. "Sure," he agrees, "if he doesn't ask." He adds.
Alice sighs and slumps back in her seat. "We're dead." She informs them.
Rosalie glances at them all and their glum mood. She loved Carlisle too, of course, but she had her own, shitty dad, and didn't really need his good opinion half so much. Plus, no-one, none of them, knew that Rosalie had to go to Carlisle once in private, a couple weeks before she broke up with Royce.
Rosalie sighs heavily. "Tell him just who was there." She announces. The fervid gaze Jasper turns on her in so strong it's almost furious, and Edward stares at her with a sharp frown.
Alice gasps, her hands covering her mouth, before she pulls them away to speak. "What? But …"
Rosalie waves her away. "Carlisle knows." She says, irritable that they had to dwell on the subject. "He always has – tell him Jasper reacted because He crashed the party and your dad will understand." She told them, her voice and hands mercifully steady despite how her insides trembled. "He won't approve; but he probably won't ground you." She added, and Edward shook his head sharply; as though he wanted to deny that their main concern was their dad's punishment.
No one says anything to her for the rest of the car-ride home. Edward seems as though he was staring out the window to avoid having to be concerned about her. Alice looked at her with wide, wet eyes, but after Rosalie didn't say anything else, she ducked her head and kept quiet. Jasper, though, had leaned back in his seat, and every time Rosalie glanced in the rear-view mirror, she met his steady gaze.
The silver beast pulls up to the Cullen house in the same silence, and Rosalie slams the car door much too hard. Almost comically, the four of them troop into the house like men condemned.
Carlisle is sitting in his inside slippers, in the breakfast nook, reading a novel Edward had had his nose in last week. He looks up at their arrival, and beams. "Morning, dears!" He says, and stands up to greet them all. He takes in their sullen faces with dismay. "Oh, not a good party?" He asks kindly.
Edward shakes his head. "No, for several reasons." He replies, grabbing Jasper's wrist and yanking it up; showing his hand for inspection. Jasper looks annoyed, but seems reluctantly tolerant of his actions.
Carlisle's eyes go wide, and he immediately looks concerned. "Oh! Jasper," he tutted, taking the boy's hand from Edward's grip and inspecting it, "what happened!?" He demanded, and his voice was almost angry, though mostly worried.
Jasper glances at Rosalie, who tosses her head. She had wanted one of them to say it for her; but it seemed this was something she'd have to do herself, like most things. "… Royce showed up, that's what happened." She says. She forces herself not to think back on the last time she'd said his name aloud; in her bed with Emmett.
Carlisle's expression shifts dramatically through several emotions; worry, upset, anger and finally settles on something stern but not harsh. "… I see, are you alright?" He asks and she gives one short nod, before walking over to the living room without another word. They accept her departure, and Carlisle's attention returns to Jasper's hands. "Well, I'll have a look now, come here." He tells the boy, ushering him next to the sink. Jasper goes willingly, and Alice follows after them. Edward doesn't move though, crossing his arms. He was ready to accept any punishment, while claiming it cruel and unruly.
"I don't need to tell you all I don't approve of violence." Is all Carlisle says lightly to his son. Seemingly miffed that his high defence was for naught, Edward takes the seat and the novel that his father had discarded. "Where's Emmett?" He asks the room mildly.
"At mine." Jasper supplies readily. "His parents called here and he didn't answer." He added. Carlisle makes a hum of understanding, and sighs a little.
Alice's face scrunched up in a sudden thought. "Where were you last night, dad?" She asks him. "I thought it was your night off?" She prompts. That gets the attention of Edward as well, as he tosses the book back down.
Carlisle looked a little like a deer in headlights, but only for a moment. "Well, I got called in," he explained hurriedly, eyes dropping back onto Jasper's hand, "you know how it is …."
Jasper nods, satisfied, but he seems to be the only one who thinks the man is telling the truth. Edward locks eyes with Alice, but neither of them say anything and Carlisle doesn't notice, his attention still on Jasper's injuries.
Alice glances at the doorway when the sound of the television comes from the living room, and she steps away from Jasper. "Dad, Rosalie and I have a brunch with the girls!" She calls, "I'm gonna go change!" She adds, walking to where Rosalie sits, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, watching the screen blankly.
But with Alice's tap on her shoulder, she stands, and Alice leads them both upstairs. Edward puts on a noisy rendition of the same piece he played at his recital, so long ago, and Alice hops into the shower.
Rosalie sits on the bed and ignores the stupid urge she felt to call Emmett. She doesn't linger on why he spoke to her that way at all, she doesn't want to think about it. Instead, she forced herself to focus on finishing the short story she had started in Hard Candy, that she'd left in a duffle in Alice's room.
By the time Alice comes out of the shower, Rosalie is feeling a little more in control.
"You okay, babe?" Alice asks her as she makes a beeline for her ridiculously large walk-in closet.
Rosalie nods absently, though Alice couldn't see as she'd already walked in.
Alice came sailing out decked in the Haute Hippie off-the-shoulder floral silk dress she'd gotten at the Richard's Square Slam Sale, holding a sandy cashmere cardigan. She picked out a neutral YSL clutch Edward had bought for Emmett to give her for her birthday last year and her little Cole Haan low-wedge sandals in the same color.
Alice came up to her and held up a light pink or gold lipstick, and Rosalie chose the pink for her. She thanked her nicely, and stuffed it into her bag.
"You picked such a tiny bag. I'll have to choose a normal size and carry half your stuff." Rosalie bemoaned; but that was a lie. Rosalie didn't carry anyone else's things. Alice just laughs lightly, and shrugs a little; she knew the truth it just didn't bother her.
"I need to check on my honey!" Alice called and walked out of the room. Rosalie followed her, and found Alice tucked under Jasper's good arm, as the other one was being wrapped.
"Maybe I should stay with you instead of brunch." Alice coos. But no one seems at all happy with the suggestion, least of all Jasper. His male pride wouldn't allow for his girl to see him in any type of pain if she could avoid it.
He nodded to the other overly-defensive person in the room, Rosalie, who looks livid at the idea of being ditched. "Go with Rose, I'm fine." He tells her lightly. "Me and Emmett will just hang out, play xbox or something." He adds, and that name makes Rosalie flinch; something she knows Jasper had seen.
"Emmett and I, dear," Carlisle muttered, focused mostly on dressing the wound.
"No, sorry, you're not invited." Jasper replied, smiling when Carlisle glanced up at his face with dull amusement.
Suddenly, the piano keys were smashed randomly, and Edward came marching in. "That's the song I created for Jacob! I composed it with only him in mind!" Edward declares, his gazed locked on Rosalie.
If he expected her to be moved, he expected her to be in a very different state of mind. "Sure, okay, what's his sister thinking for baby names?" Rosalie asked him. Some pretty piano piece didn't mean Edward actually tried to be a constant, real presence in Jake's life, instead of keeping the boy holed up with his friends, in his home, on his terms. Because Edward was selfish.
Edward growled at her to get out, and stomped up the stairs.
"Edward! Don't be so emotional!" Carlisle chided him, and tutted at the resounding slamming of his door. "That boy …" He sighed. "Doesn't one of you want to stay with me to keep me better company?" He asked, but he laughs straight away.
Alice kisses him and Jasper good-bye, and Rosalie does the same. The kiss surprises Carlisle a bit, as Rosalie rarely initiates touches. She doesn't stop to see the pity or concern in his expression, as she leaves the house before Alice even ducks out of Jasper's arm.
00
Rosalie drove them to her apartment, and sighs when she pulls in next to her father's car.
"Of all days …." She muttered, and Alice gives her a sympathetic pet on the arm, before hopping out of the car. Alice continually glances at Rosalie as they take the two elevators to the penthouse. Rosalie feels her gut clench tighter the closer they get to her door. This was the most high-quality, luxury apartment tower in the city, with a full gym, heated infinity pool, 24/7 room service and every other amenity. But now, Rosalie detests where she lives.
Her father is sitting at the glass dining room table, his laptop and several papers in front of him. He looks up at the door and smiles at them. Rosalie can't help but makes comparisons; Carlisle was always pleased to see them, but there was nothing warm in her father's expression that she could see. Dr Cullen had sat in pajamas, with a cup of tea; but her father was already in his suit and tie business mode. Carlisle was slim and handsome. Her father was rotund and always unbecomingly flushed.
"Ah, Rosie, darling. How are you?" He asks lightly; as though he was speaking to a friend, instead of his own daughter.
"I'm well, daddy." Rosalie replied, in the same, distant tone. "You remember my friend, Alice." She adds, for her father's benefit. It was very unlikely that he did.
He inclines his head. "Of course, it's good to see you again." He tells Alice, already turning away, back to his papers.
Alice, for her part, looks only slightly nervous in his presence. "You too!" She replies cheerily.
Her father gestures to a rectangular white box on the table, set away from his work. "I have a present for you, Rosie." He says.
Smiling prettily, Rosalie walks up to the box. It was Belle Fare. She delicately pries the lid off the box, and makes sure to gasp in pleasant surprise. It was the grey layered mink fur coat.
"Daddy!" She squeals, going and hugging him around the shoulders loosely. "I love it, thank you." She said, fluttering her lashes just so and smiling with her teeth.
"Of course, my love." He answers, petting her cheek just a little. He waves over to the stairs, his smile still fixed. "I won't keep you, I'm sure you have plans." He tells them.
Rosalie ushers Alice upstairs so as not to disturb her father; or more accurately face the full brunt of his almost immediate dismissal.
She doesn't care; this was the first time she'd seen him in two weeks, but it didn't matter. It also didn't matter that just last month her mother had purchased the Alice + Olivia leopard faux-fur long coat. It didn't matter that her father's solution to becoming bored with having a daughter was to buy her pretty things and never come home.
Alice doesn't say anything; climbing onto the cushion of Rosalie's bay window and looking down at the people below.
"What should I even wear, Alice?" Rosalie asks, almost snapping at her. Rosalie let Alice coordinate her outfits because it was easier, so she certainly didn't approve of her inattention now.
Alice doesn't seem to mind the gruff tone, but doesn't look up. "A pair of your white jeans that make your ass look great, and that halter-neck tank from Rebecca Taylor." Alice recites dutifully. Rosalie makes a show of flinging half her clothes aside to find the selected items, but she has no audience. Alice is still looking out the window.
Rosalie went and showered, all the while feeling slightly regretful for her attitude. Alice wouldn't be bothered, she never was, but she didn't deserve Rosalie's misplaced ire. She got out of the shower, and let down the mermaid braid Alice put in her hair last afternoon, and it curled nicely around her shoulders.
Rosalie took her time with her make-up; even if it was her normal, neutral look she could do in five minutes. But, she finally stepped out, and Alice was lying on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. Rosalie's taupe Isabelle Marant booties, and beige Givenchy tote were laid out next to her.
"Thanks," Rosalie said, throwing her basic things into the bag. "Did you want me to carry any of your stuff?" She asks, slightly awkward.
Alice looks at her then, a corner of her mouth pulling up. "No, unlike you I don't pack like a girl scout." She said, and Rosalie smirked back.
"Girl scouts don't carry half as much Cloé as I do." She replied.
Alice shrugs, standing up and allowing Rosalie to spritz her with the same perfume she was wearing. "Well, except for that, your outfit is all from your dad." Alice tells her.
Rosalie freezes, and glances down at herself, as though she wasn't aware she had a body. But she was always aware, and, she realized Alice was right. Everything had been a gift from her father.
Annoyed, she picks up her YSL moto jacket, which her father hadn't bought her, and leaves Alice giggling in her wake.
But when they walk back downstairs, her father is gone. The white box signals that he had ever been there. She's certainly not disappointed that he wasn't here to see her wearing all his presents, and for a moment she's disgusted she even allowed Alice to do this.
Alice, for her part, looks a little distressed. "I thought he was still here …" She said simply.
Rosalie shakes out her hair and double-checks her lip gloss in the hallway mirror. Still perfect. "Who cares?" She retorts, and opens the front door. "Let's go." She added impatiently.
00
At brunch, the girls take their time with a few group selfies, before sitting and chatting about the night before. Alice evaluated and accessed outfits; a solid ink-spot Tanya Taylor cut-out dress on Jenny, with the blank patent leather buckled Burberry sandals, with Katie's embroidered linen cropped Johnny Was jumpsuit and Michael Kors brown suede flats, and Sammy's Jason Wu red floral sleeveless dress was paired nicely with the Eileen Fisher black velvet sneakers.
Jenny was looking at Rosalie as though she had discovered a way to increase your cup size overnight. "I can't believe you had two boys fight over you!" She gushed, her eyes shiny and wide.
Katie seemed more intent, putting her hand over Rosalie's. Alice didn't wince, entirely, at the gesture, the same way Rosalie doesn't entirely bristle. "When Royce showed up, you got so weird, babe." The red-haired girl said seriously.
Rosalie flicked her hair over her shoulder and gave a full-body shudder, knocking Katie away by wiping her hands like she'd touched something icky. "Well, you would get weird too!" She argued, almost angry, "I was freaking, baes!" She added, which was the truth.
She knew she had to knock them off her scent, though. So she reached out, grabbing Katie and Sammy's hands and leaning in closely. "Swear, it was you girls that were the only thing keeping me together." She said quietly, so they couldn't doubt her sincerity. Even though they really should; she was lying through her teeth. But Rosalie doesn't get pushed into saying anything she doesn't want to.
But they melt at her words, looking at her like she'd just declared that the girls at this table were her family. They coo and promise to always look out for her, and Alice murmurs some agreement too, but her gaze isn't in it. They sum up the party thusly; atrocious guest list, barely got started, massive waste of time.
Rosalie enjoys the brunch solely because it puts her firmly back in control. Jennifer knew what popularity was. The girl slipped into line easily because being with Rosalie did what her parent's broken marriage didn't; it made her feel good, it made her feel on top and powerful. Samantha only needed a limitless credit card to show her true colors; years of being on the outside, of looking at girls like Rosalie but never having the right look to be acknowledged by them. She came straight up from the mass of common folk and being in the elite group; who only hung with the cutest boys, who only appeared at the best parties, gave her everything she ever dreamt. Katie was an easy enough pick; she was like a high-strung bow string, no doubt scared of stepping out of place and losing her spot. She'd been middling semi-noticeable for most of middle school, and being graced into Rosalie's ranks finally broke her through the mold.
Rosalie liked having these girls backing her up; pretty, loyal and dressed to match. She was meant for this role; to have these girls flanking her as she waltzed through life.
She kissed them all loudly good-bye, and the girls converged around her. Katie hugged her and leaned into her like she thought Rosalie was going to disappear. Sammy had a reverent hold on her hand and Jennifer wouldn't break eye contact for anything. These girls could genuinely like her, if she gave them the chance. But that was a weakness and it wasn't a necessity. She bids them goodbye and Alice trots next to her to the car.
Rosalie sighs when she climbs behind the wheel. "That went well." She decides with a firm nod.
"We going to mine?" Alice asks her, though she must know the answer was yes. Rosalie wouldn't be going home until she was absolutely sure her father wasn't there.
00
Alice goes to Jasper as soon as they pull up; he was still there. It made Rosalie nervous … it might mean – Emmett was sitting on the couch, playing a video game.
"Clean bill of health?" Alice asks her boyfriend, who kisses her and nods firmly. "Good!" She tells him. She immediately rounds on Emmett. "Em, what are you doing here?" She asks brightly.
He shrugs, grinning at her, as though dimpling at her would proclaim his innocence. "What? Can't hang out with my friends?" He asked, spreading his hands wide. The word 'friends' makes Rosalie's stomach clench. Then Emmett gets shot in his game and scowls at the television screen, focusing on it again.
"I went and picked him up." Jasper confirmed, smiling at Alice as though just her face made him happy. "I wanted to wait here for you." He added. Alice kissed him sweetly, and scurried up to dump her handbag on her bed and get Edward out of his room.
Jasper's eyes land on Rosalie. He looks curious now; no doubt Emmett had regaled him about their confrontation in his kitchen. That boy couldn't keep a secret to save his life.
"How did wooing your loyal followers go, Rose?" Jasper asks her, his tone light, but his gaze serious.
Rosalie shrugs, taking the armchair on the other side of the room. "Those girls woo me, Jasper. I'm just accepting my dues." She told him.
Alice bounced back down, frowning. "Where's Edward?" She asked them.
"He went with your dad somewhere …." Emmett muttered.
Jasper stands and walks to her. "We're house-sitting." He says, his low tone bringing out his accent more than usual. "Maybe we should keep Pernickety company." He adds softly. Alice giggles a little.
Rosalie rolls her eyes, but she's sincerely hoping Alice won't take her boyfriend upstairs right now. Not particularly because she didn't want her best friend to get some, of course, but because she didn't want to be left with Emmett alone. Plus she didn't really want to be in her house if Alice was having sex, but she also couldn't stand going home.
Alice glances at Rosalie, her eyes calculating. Rosalie shook her head minutely. "You and Emmett can house-sit, right?" She asks.
Emmett grunts out a 'sure', before he is pulled into some type of high-stakes situation in the game and ignores them. Rosalie scowls, but Jasper meets her gaze steadily.
"Always on the defense, Rosie. Even if no one is taking up the offence." He says calmly. She flips him off and ignores them both as they go upstairs. The house is airy, but well-built; the sound doesn't carry as Alice closes the door to her bedroom.
Emmett flops back on the couch, the noisy game cutting off suddenly. Rosalie glances at the black screen, and finally glances at Emmett. He meets her gaze, as though he was waiting for her to look at him.
He shrugs with one shoulder. "I was killing time waiting for you." He explains, standing up slowly and not moving at all.
Rosalie stands too in case of he was thinking of towering over her, and puts on a feigned expression. "I don't care," she tells him.
Emmett looked sad, hurt, even. His shoulders slumped and Rosalie thought right now, she was larger than he was. "Rosie, don't do this. What am I doing wrong here?" He asks. "What makes it seem so impossible for us to be together?" Rosalie shifts a little on her feet, unable to keep looking into his broad, earnest face.
She wasn't going to tell him she was afraid. She'd told him too much when she'd drunkenly let him stay in her house, in her bed and then her bathtub. "Did you have Carlisle look at your hand?" She asks him instead, trying to keep her voice steady.
Emmett lets her change the subject. "Nah, I only got a few hits in; barely anything." He replied, glancing down at his bruises. "My brothers taught me to box, you know that. I'm not Jazz-man, I couldn't pummel him to a pulp, that would be too gross." He adds, smiling just a little. He'd smiled like that when he woke her after that night in her tub, quietly telling her he had to go home, kissing her forehead and seeing himself out. It was like a secret; her mother hadn't found out, her brother none the wiser, her father, as always, not even there.
Too gross. Rosalie looks at Emmett, this big, happy man, who didn't want to beat a man, because he had nothing to prove. A man who just wanted her. She steps up over to him, and he waits.
"You don't fight very often, do you?" She asks him, but she already knew the answer. Jasper's outburst last night hadn't shocked Rosalie; the boy was used to fighting for everything he had, even if own independence. But Emmett, the way he strolled through the halls, and gave and received touches and affection. He was gentle and raised fondly and he didn't care if he showed it.
"I can handle myself." Emmett tells her, his eyes intense. "But I don't have to."
Rosalie strokes her fingers over his curly hair, and he watches her do it. She was fighting him because she feared getting hurt again. Emmett wouldn't fight forever, though, she was going to lose him if she kept making him struggle. He had to prove himself against the worst of her memories and her past with someone else, and it wasn't fair. This wasn't even a fight she'd win if he lost.
She leans up and kisses him, chastely. He accepts it easily, and smiles hopefully just a little. But kissing they'd done, dates they'd done. He just wanted her to say it, in the wake of her own pride that was a hearty feat. But she could do it, and she could be happy to do it. Even if the entire thing was childish; in a world that already treated Rosalie like a woman, maybe that was a good thing. "Alright, you're all mine. We're dating and I won't stand to see you with anyone else." She told him firmly.
Emmett smiles, showing all his teeth, and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her forward.
"Did that feel good or what?" He asked her, laughing a little. Rosalie smiled, but it wasn't a very big one; it was still a little embarrassing. She was really pleased, though, she did feel good saying it aloud. Emmett's still laughing though, nuzzling into the top of her head. She realizes he sounds relieved. She wonders if, for a moment, he was worried she wouldn't say anything at all.
She nods against his neck and lets him laugh. She lets herself feel happy, not at the expense of anyone else, not because she was superior to anyone else. But because she made Emmett laugh.
00
Edward, had, in fact, gone with his father somewhere.
After Jasper had his hand taken care of, he drove his Thunderbird, thoughtfully left at the Cullen house last night, to his apartment to bring Emmett to see Carlisle for his own bruised knuckles.
Edward was pouting over his role in Jake's life, and generally moping around the house, when he spotted something. It was on the table next to the front door, partially tucked under the pig Edward made as a 'welcome home' present for Alice when she first moved in. It was a long Shepard's hook earring graced with some blue stone.
He frowned at it; he kind of knew Alice's taste in jewelry and Rosalie's, and no other females were in their house. This was more mature than what Alice usually went for, and too cheap to be anything Rosalie would touch.
Edward picked it up, and walked into the kitchen, where his father was rinsing out his stone-cold coffee in the sink.
"Dad?" Edward asks, holding up the earring. "Do you know who's earring this is?" He squints at the jewelry he holds up for his father's inspection.
Carlisle drops his mug into the sink with a thankfully-intact thump. "Wh-what? Why on earth would you presume – no, to be perfectly candid, absolutely not." He splutters, hurrying over to his son and dripping water from his soaking hands unnoticed. He plucks the earring from his son's fingers. "Now, I'll take it and put it in lost and found." He says decisively.
Edward half-chuckled with shocked amusement. "Wait – where?" He asks, incredulous, as Carlisle toes out of his inside slippers and into a worn-out pair of loafers. "Dad, you're acting weird." Edward tells him.
"I most certainly am not!" Carlisle tells him sharply, slipping the earring into his pocket as he takes his wallet and keys. "I'm going, on a small errand." He said, his attempt at casual making his voice sound strained and high. "Make sure Emmett ices his hand." He adds.
Edward shakes his head, looking very interested now. "No, I'd much rather come with you." He tells his father, and doesn't take no for an answer. He marches to his father's car and waits right at the passenger door.
Edward looks bemused as Carlisle dallies. "What are you hiding?" Edward asks him shrewdly. "You didn't work last night." He says casually.
"Yes, I did!" Carlisle indignantly refuted his son's claims. "You need to go inside and wait for the boys." He tells him sternly.
"No," Edward disagrees lightly, "I called the hospital after the fight!" He says, his tone an 'ah-ha' in catching the lie. "They said you weren't in." He says smugly.
Carlisle grimaces, and sighs lightly. He really meant to keep the dalliance completely under wraps. But he didn't like the idea of hiding things from his children. "… Edward, I can't, that is …." He clears his throat to stop his own babbling and takes a breath before he continues, "I had a lady-friend over." He admits steadily.
Edward laughs. "Father! Scandalous!" He crows, clapping his hands.
Carlisle blushes at his son's obvious amusement. "Edward, please." He tuts, "I should just return it and, fine, you can come with me." He relents. He was nervous about more children returning while he tried to convince Edward not to come. "I expect your secrecy on this matter." He adds seriously.
"Oh sure," Edward agrees easily, and Carlisle starts his car with a heavy heart. It was a big risk taking his son with him; Esme may have enjoyed last night, but they hadn't spoken about telling his children, and when she was their teacher, that was a very important topic to bring up. This was her job, and his children's education, and his daughter's favorite class.
So when Carlisle pulls up to Esme's house, and Edward isn't frowning yet, he's still a mass of nerves.
"Wait here." Carlisle tells him, and Edward nods once, a smile still playing on his face.
Carlisle ducks out of the car and goes to knock on the door. Just as it begins to open, he hisses at her to wait.
"What's wrong?" Esme whispers back, her tone surprised as she peeks at him through the crack in the door.
He smiles fondly at her for a moment at how cute she looked. And then glanced back at the car with a grimace. "My son came along." He explains apologetically. "You left your earring." He holds out the little piece of jewelry.
Esme's eyes brighten as she looks at his outstretched palm. "Oh! I was wondering –" she makes a strange chocking noise as the rest of his sentence registers with her. "Edward's here!?" She exclaims.
"He may not remember this is your house; it was late that night and he doesn't really pay attention to details." Carlisle was quick to assure her. It didn't seem to do any good.
"Carlisle!" Esme hisses back, and he feels terrible for making her so distressed. Her hand slips out of the door, and he drops her earring onto her palm. "I'll call you tonight." Esme says and closes the door firmly.
Carlisle walks back to the car and climbs inside. Edward is now frowning firmly.
"You told her to hide her face, didn't you?" Edward asks him, his tone put-upon. Carlisle almost smiles with relief; Edward was upset he didn't get to find out the identity of Carlisle's lady caller. "You trust me so little." Edward adds, his expression down-cast.
His father begins to feel guilty at his son's reaction. "It's not about trust, dear, it's about her right to privacy." He tells the boy firmly. "And mine." He adds, trying not to smile. "After all, you get to keep Jacob Black and Jasper's identity from me all the time, don't you?" He asks. Edward's ear flush, and his mouth purses slightly strangely with embarrassment. "Or do we just have a raccoon problem?" He guesses aloud. "Constantly scurrying around your rooms, and the patio door ..." He continues casually.
Edward mutters about the raccoons, and keeps his head down for the rest of the drive home.
When Carlisle pulls up, he lets Edward scurry into the house first. Jasper and Rosalie's cars are in their usual spots, and Carlisle walks into the house just as Jasper was walking down the stairs.
There's a thump from Alice's room, and it causes Jasper to flinch tellingly.
"Raccoons," Carlisle says knowingly, glancing into the living room where Emmett and Rosalie sat on the couch together. They seemed to be talking quite intimately, and happily, and Carlisle honestly hopes they don't at some point Christian his couch.
He clears his throat, and they both pull away to look at him. Rosalie looks a little gruff, but Emmett is grinning madly.
"I'll look at your hand now, Emmett," he says, and mentions for the boy to follow him to the kitchen. Emmett comes to him, with Jasper and Rosalie in tow.
His hand isn't as nearly damaged as Jasper's, and Carlisle is glad for it. He loathes the idea of either of the boys fighting Rosalie's demons; the girl would ultimately have to face them on her own terms, in her own time.
"Looks good," he says softly, and Edward comes downstairs with Alice, who had changed clothes.
"Emmett, when are you going home and getting yelled at by your parents?" Edward asks him, though his tone is amused. Carlisle grimaces; he knows Emmett's parents wouldn't place the blame on him, but he also knew they must have been worried for their slightly careless son.
Emmett scowls and slouches away from Carlisle, propping himself onto the stool next to where Rosalie sits.
"I'll drive you." Rosalie tells him, and he even perks up at the offer with a nod.
Alice glanced between them slyly, and gives Jasper a grin that's not very subtle. He reaches out and uses his good hand to pinch her chin and tug a little, which she slaps away with her nose wrinkled. Carlisle watches them all interact, even Edward leaning against the counter next to Jasper, and smiles fondly.
"It was nice of Jake's friend to pick up his things this morning." Carlisle tells Edward. At the mention of his boyfriend's name, Edward scowls suddenly, and glares at Rosalie. She meets his gaze coolly. Alice rests her forehead against Jasper's chest, who in turn drops his head to stare at her hair.
Emmett clapped his hands together, standing up quickly. "We should get going, then!" he says, taking Rosalie's arm and tugging her away from the staring contest. "See ya, stupids!" He yells.
Carlisle waves them off, and his concern shifts to Edward. "What happened?" He asks quietly.
Edward shook his head, and pinched his own earlobe threateningly. Carlisle backs off, a little offended and amused that his son was going to blackmail him to drop it, though he does.
Jasper stays for dinner, easily able to ignore Edward's sour mood. Carlisle orders pizza for them all, once again wishing he was good enough to cook. He wants to keep the peace though; he pokes at Edward's foul temper, but the boy doesn't settle and unwind as he can do sometimes when he was worked up, and it makes for a mostly quiet meal. Carlisle even politely ignores the long kiss Alice keeps the boy for at his car. She comes inside eventually, and surreptitiously reapplies her lip gloss.
"Did you help upset your brother?" Carlisle asks. Rosalie and Edward fought quite often; often enough that usually, it took a few hours apart for the tension to dissipate. Edward usually forgave any hurts with some alone time.
Alice shrugs a little. "I guess we all did because we didn't defend him." She says with a sigh. "Rosalie said he was a bad boyfriend because he never tries to make friends with Jake's friends and talk about Jake's family." She explains.
Carlisle tuts a little, but he doesn't pry; he trusts his children, all five of them, to help each other when it came to the more vulnerable sides of their social lives; he was there if they wanted to come to him for adult support, and on rare occasions they did. Rosalie, after her awful ordeal, Jasper would mention upcoming parent-teacher nights as though Carlisle didn't already know. Even Emmett would complain of some grievance with his siblings at home to him, rather than burden his parents with their squabbles.
So, it's a surprise when Alice gives him a nudge. "He'd probably feeling bad because he's worried it's true." She adds, before kissing him good-night.
Carlisle heads up the stairs after he hears Alice's door close, and knocks on Edward's.
"Dear? Can I come in?" He asks. There's a muffled assent, and he opens the door. Edward's lying on his couch, watching something on his television. "Alice told me what happened."
Edward rolls his eyes, but doesn't move as Carlisle sits on his feet a little on the couch. "Well, it doesn't matter …" Edward mutters, "Rosalie lies all the time, it's not like Jake said anything to me."
"Well, maybe he's hoping he didn't have to." Carlisle suggested gently. "It's important to care about things he cares about. Jacob's very community-minded, and he seems very close with his father." Carlisle adds. He knows his son likes being left in peace, he makes a show of being bothered by people's interruptions. But Billy Black had told Carlisle enough about Jacob to make him a little worried; Edward's unaffected, but ultimately deep-down caring attitude might not cut it here. "Edward, your friends may have spoilt you a little, you need to remember not everyone's a mind-reader. Some people need you to be the one asking questions."
It seemed Carlisle had miscalculated, though, as Edward didn't seem in the mood for advice. "I don't need a sermon." Edward snaps, "His friend saw you kissing Ms Platt." He says all of this in the same tone that it takes a moment for Carlisle to register his words.
Haha! Continued in the next chap!