First of all, I deeply apologize for the long wait. School's been hectic as hell recently, I've had prom things to take care of and stumbled upon a minor writer's block I couldn't get over. I really, really didn't want to keep you all waiting for so long, but alas, that's just what happened.
Moving on.
JessicaDwyer, WanderingChild96, LittleMissDee, Kentcharm, LadyAmazon, JainaZekk621, The Non-Existing Person, SeventhSister, linalove, YumKiwiDelicious, Raine44354, Cybernetic Mango, Jen, TooMuchAtOnce, Miyux, Batman-Luver, Kimmae, IAmYourPhobia/Samantha,Marfuu, AliceAddams13, RhiScissorhands and sassybutt32
Thank you all so much! I will never, ever get over the fact that this story is getting so much positive feedback!
Chapter Twenty Five: Heartbeats
The corners of light pink lips were pulled downwards and hands with nicely polished nails rested on her hips. Rose frowned at her reflection in the mirror after eyeing herself for the sixth time or so. Oh, she looked fine. With the dress that fitted every inch of the area it covered perfectly and in a color that suited her best, she really looked good. Her hair, washed, dried and combed already, was in a messy bun, waiting for her to decide what to do with it. The semi-comfortable two inch heels on her feet made her stand taller and straight. A cloud of delicate perfume hung over her head as she applied the last bit of lip gloss and turned away from the mirror to look for something, the final touch. She found it and faced the mirror again. After a second, the glittering silver rose hung a little below her collar bone.
The only thing left was to take care of the hair.
At first, she wanted to keep it up. Then, her mother suggested curling it, but Rose declined. After looking at herself with a thoughtful expression, she reached up and undid the clasp. Her hair spilled over her shoulders. She ran a comb over it a few times and nodded. She liked having it up and out of her face, but tonight, she could deal with it being loose.
…Not because Edward had said he liked it that way better. Well, maybe a little because of that. But not too much.
Rose spared herself one last glance before taking her warm coat and a scarf from the closet and opened the door to her room, just as the doorbell rang from below.
"I'll get it!" Trevor called out from somewhere near the kitchen. He too was going to the party, but it had taken more or less half an hour to get ready. Since he had a driver's license and the parents' approval and car, he was to take Rose and her friend to Adam's house.
Rose was halfway down when she heard the door being open.
"Hi," Nina's slightly out-of-breath voice rang from the entrance. "Is Rose ready?"
Rose stopped midway when she heard, or rather didn't hear her brother's reply. Not because he spoke so quietly. He didn't speak at all.
'Oh, no.'
She was downstairs in the next second and saw Trevor's back, his hand still on the doorknob, blocking Nina from her view.
"Trev," Rose said exasperatedly. "Move your ass aside and let her in,"
He turned to throw his sister a glare and finally moved, gesturing the blonde to come in. She smiled and entered. Rose grinned. Her friend looked great; beneath the unzipped grey coat she had on, she wore a tight-fitting, off the shoulder white shirt and a flowing ankle-length red skirt with a slit on the side. She had a little red flower behind her ear, the color almost matching the hue of her cheeks. The shade deepened and her eyes narrowed as Rose whistled playfully.
"You look like Christmas spirit," she commented with a smirk.
"I'm surprised you don't look like a rose this time," Nina did a mock sniff. "And you don't smell like one, too! How surprising."
Rose's smirk turned into a scowl as Trevor laughed. "Funny. The floral theme belongs to you tonight, it seems," she eyed the red flower in Nina's hair.
The blonde crossed her arms. "Oh, don't be bitchy because you're out of your element. If you want, I can give it to you."
Rose couldn't hold it inside anymore. She burst into laughter, joining Trev's chuckles and making Nina smile before she too started to laugh. They calmed down after a moment and Nina's eyes focused on Rose's older brother. The color on her cheeks deepened.
"Trev, this is Nina, my chemistry partner and friend," Rose introduced "Nina, this is my older brother, Trevor."
"Nice to meet you," the blonde uttered, outstretching her hand. In the same time, Trevor reached out and said, "A pleasure,". He grasped her hand and for a second held it still before shaking it slightly.
Rose was sure that, if only she hadn't been in the hall with them, her brother would have kissed Nina's hand in a very charming manner.
"Well, shall we?" the young man opened the door and gestured for them to exit. His eyes on Nina's, he smiled attractively. "Ladies first,"
The girl grinned and blushed slightly before exiting the house. With a similar but smaller grin on her face, Rose followed, but had to stop suddenly as her brother ignored her and walked out first, nearly making her walk into him. She rolled her eyes as Trevor played the gentleman she knew he was certainly not. He opened the car door for Nina first before sliding onto the driver's seat. He started the engine and turned to Rose.
"You coming along or what?"
Forcing the smile away, she made her way to the car and got in, trying not to look at her friend or brother. Instead, she focused on the small droplets that began falling from the sky.
It was raining fiercely by the time the car stopped in front of Adam's brightly decorated house. It was surrounded by different cars, indicating that most of the guests were already there. The curtains inside were drawn, but the blaring music could be heard even from the car. Rose took an umbrella from underneath the back seat and handed it to Trevor before getting out and immediately tugging her hood over her head. She walked briskly towards the front door, wincing with every step. She wished she'd simply put on different, more comfortable shoes. Too late for that.
With Trev and Nina right behind her, Rose raised her fist to bang on the perfectly white, covered with Christmas-themed decorations door - nobody would have heard her otherwise, the music was on the deafening level, and they weren't even inside - when they opened and her fist landed on a chest instead.
Jason blinked before his face broke off with a smile. "Hey," he greeted, nodding at Trevor and, hesitantly, at Nina. "Come on in,"
Rose walked in and slid off the coat, hanging it on one of the very few empty hangers in the hall. Her brother and Nina did the same and vanished right after among the crowd of dancing people. They didn't even look back at her. Frowning at their behavior and the really loud music, Rose turned to try and follow them, when Jason grabbed her forearm before she could walk away.
"You look…" he began. "Well, I can't remember seeing you in a dress before."
"You did, once." She had to smile at the memory. "I agreed on wearing one just because it was easier to carry all your cars from the sandpit to our race track, in the skirt."
He laughed, remembering. "Oh yeah. It was covered in dirt and sand afterwards. Your mother was furious."
"Hmm," she hummed in return, looking around. Oh yes, there was the food table, and a counter with drinks. She'd like to be there. "Hey, I'm going to -"
"Okay, let's go," Jason grabbed her wrist to not get separated in the dancing crowd and made his way towards the spot she'd been eyeing. Rose let him drag her along, briefly wondering, how? 'He used to be my best friend,' she mused, finding it hard to concentrate as they approached the source of the blaring music. 'He still can read me well…'
After a few drinks and a surprisingly pleasant talk with Jason, Rose found herself relaxing more and more. She spotted a group of girls from her class, a group she liked and talked with on more than one occasion, and decided to join them as a particularly fast song began to play. Time passed much faster than she had first thought and - after finding herself oppositely to Jason after a good deal of songs - blinked upon discovering that she had actually enjoyed herself so far. She had danced with almost all of Jason's friends before she spotted Nina. The blonde was with some guy Rose couldn't recognize, but she did know the other guy, who had butted in between them and gracefully swept the startled-looking Nina away. Trevor twirled the girl once before disappearing from Rose's sight.
She reached the table with drinks with a smile. 'My brother and my friend,' she mused, sipping on the Coke. 'How very cliché.'
All of a sudden, someone materialized at her side. She turned to look at the person and discovered a guy she hadn't known personally, but who was somewhat of a legend among the students in high school. She was pretty sure his name started with a K…
"Hi," the boy smiled. "I'm Cal."
Oh yeah, Cal. "Hello." she figured that, if he had approached her so directly, he must've known her name already. After all, a trophy-hunter like him always does a small reconnaissance.
"You're Rose, yeah? Trev's sister?"
Rose smiled pleasantly. Being right was fun. "Yes, I am. And you're the infamous girl-hunter." Being surrounded by so many people gave her courage, it seemed.
He laughed. "I see my reputation precedes me," he took a glass of Coke and mixed it with some alcohol. "No worries, though. Out of respect for Trev, I won't go for his little sister."
How very polite of him. Too bad Rose knew very well that Cal and Trevor were rivals on more than one field. She smirked wryly at the thought of her older brother gaining a mortal enemy in such a short time after they had moved in.
"That's reassuring," she replied after a moment and finished her drink. If that Cal thought she would leave her half-full glass for him to spike it, then he was an even bigger idiot than she had thought. Without another word, she returned to the dance floor.
Minutes turned to hours and Rose grew exhausted. She briefly considered going upstairs to find a place to rest, but quickly turned the option down as a slightly drunk pair passed her on the stairs, heading straight towards Andy's parents' bedroom. She would've sat down on the stairs, but didn't want anybody to tumble over her, so that left option three: the bathroom.
The volume of the music gave her a headache which was growing steadily. Rose knocked on the bathroom door and opened it after receiving no answer. She stepped out immediately upon seeing a person kneeling before the toilet. On her way back to the living room, she bumped into a person. Looking up to apologize or at least see who it was, she froze. The person was wearing black from head to toe and had spiky jet black hair.
'Edward…?'
Rose blinked. The guy she walked into grumbled for her to watch where she was going and, after giving her a strange glance, walked away. She remained in the hallway, staring at him. For a second there, when she looked up…
"Having fun?"
Rose flinched before turning to look at the person who spoke. Cal. Great. "The time of my life," she uttered and tried to walk past him. She felt him follow at first, but then he was gone as Trevor appeared, carrying two drinks.
"Are you wasted?" Trev asked bluntly, taking in her odd expression and reddened cheeks.
"Thoroughly." Was her sarcastic reply.
"Judging from your good mood, the rumors are true, then."
"What rumors?" God, did these people never shut up?
"That you're Cal's new target."
Apparently not. Talking about other people's business was the number one hobby in this particular town and Rose was sure she would never get used to it.
Trevor eyed his sister seriously. "Listen, I'd rather not have you near him, so stay out of trouble, okay?"
Rose huffed. "Believe me, I'd rather be-" a pause, a light bulb turning on in her head. "Somewhere else…"
"Good. If he keeps bugging you, just find me."
The girl smiled at her brother and received a playful smirk in return before he dove into the crowd again, presumably looking for a certain blonde-haired, white-and-red-wearing friend of Rose's. Her smile widened.
Both because of the fact that her brother had cared for her that much… and because of the genius plan that had formed in her head.
"Leaving so soon?"
Slurred speech in a male voice is not a good sign. In fact, it is a very, very bad sign. Rose froze for a short while before putting her coat on. She would try and ignore the owner of the voice, and then maybe…
"Not having much fun, are you?"
'Ignore that one, too.' She told herself mentally, still not looking up from her coat zipper.
"I guess all Wheelers are arrogant pricks," Cal stopped right in front of her, making it even harder to ignore his presence. "I thought you'd be more… open."
"I thought you'd be a moron," she snapped finally. "And I wasn't mistaken."
'Oh, fuck. I really shouldn't have had listened to stupid Jason and try stupid alcohol, and now lose my stupid temper…' The damage was done, however. Cal's face didn't change and the smile was still on as he reached out and grasped her wrist. He pulled her closer.
"I'm already fed up with your brother, and I'm dangerously close to being fed up with you, too." His breath smelled faintly of whisky as his eyes bore into her wide ones. "So I suggest being nicer than your asshole of a brother, or else you'll-"
"Is there a problem?" Jason appeared at her side seemingly out of nowhere, his eyes fixed on Cal.
"Not at all, Carter," Cal released Rose's wrist, his smile not wavering. "I was just asking Rose why was she cutting the fun short."
Surprised, Jason faced his friend, but then brought his attention back to the intoxicated older boy. "What, does she need to have excuses for you? If she feels like going, then she goes."
The smile slid off Cal's face as he glared at Jason. "Oh, so you're all of a sudden not interested?"
"Fuck you."
"Guys, stop." Rose's head felt like it would explode any minute, and their pointless quarrels weren't helping.
"Right, you're not worth shit, Carter," Cal slurred out, the arrogant smirk back in place. "Leavin' you two alone."
Rose released a sigh as he finally was gone and finished dressing. Suddenly aware of the silence from Jason's end, she turned her head to look at him through her shoulder. He was watching her.
"So, you're really leaving?" he asked.
"I don't feel too good." 'I'd rather be in that lovely, quiet, isolated, dark - and did I mention quiet? - place up the hill.' "Thanks." She added as an afterthought.
Jason smiled. "People said he was getting too close to you, I had to have my eyes open just in case."
"I feel like I'm 8 again."
A small, but genuine laugh drowned in the music, but she could still hear it. "Hey, I promised to be around and keep you safe, didn't I?" his expression sobered as he looked down, not meeting her eyes. "I'm sorry."
She didn't have to ask. Instead, Rose faced him and, although she was growing hot beneath the winter cloak, she hugged him. Her smile widened as she felt him hugging back and soon broke the embrace.
"Well, I better go." She said.
Jason nodded. "Yeah. See you soon?"
"Definitely."
The rain was pouring hard, but Rose kept running at full speed, the hood secured above her head yet the raindrops hitting her face like ice needles. She shook her head from time to time to get rid of the water that blurred her vision and ran, ran, ran as fast as she could. She truly had had fun at the party, honestly. She had a chance to dance and talk, eat and drink, but still…
'I'd rather be in that lovely, quiet, isolated, dark place up the hill.'
She crossed the last street and soon found herself on the narrow lane that led to the mansion. Due to the rain pebbles that covered the way were slippery and she had to almost crawl at first, but regained speed in no time. Her heard beating rapidly, she finally arrived in front of the iron gate that screeched every time she'd opened it. She had always thought it sounded rather creepy, but now it was far more pleasurable to her ears than the booming sounds that filled Adam's house at the moment.
Her heart was beating so loudly that she could hear it clearly. From the run, no doubt. The beating of her heart matched every step she took and, for some reason, the closer she was to her destination, the heavier it seemed.
As she faced the iron bars of the entrance gate, it ached.
She pushed the gate with force and ran through it, finally coming to a stop before the front door.
'I'd rather be in that quiet, isolated, dark place up the hill.'
'With Edward.'
The door, as old as the gate, also made a strange noise as Rose pushed them open.
-
Out of all kinds of weather he had encountered throughout the years, rain was something Edward disliked the most. It made him huddle in one corner, as far away from the hole in the roof as possible. It was liquid, so nothing could be made out of it. It was cold, therefore unpleasant. The raindrops looked like tears.
He pressed his knees closer to his chest and cast a long glance towards the fireplace. His collection of hand photos seemed dull and faded into the grey background in comparison to the gleaming silver frame and the colorful picture in it. On it's own accord, the corners of his lips tugged upwards and he did that funny thing Rose called 'smiling'. The memory of her doing that made his own unconscious smile widen.
It was raining so heavily that he didn't hear the door closing downstairs. He also missed the sound of slippery footsteps on the stone stairs. Only when Rose stepped out of the shadows surrounding the entrance did he look in her direction.
The heavy, wet coat fell to the floor and pooled at her feet. Her hair clung to her face and neck and the slight amount of eyeliner that she had used was now smudged around the corner of her eyes. Her heels were covered in mud, as was the hem of her dress and she was shaking uncontrollably. Two raindrops rolled down her cheeks, like tears.
Edward was speechless. He stared at the girl, took in the shape she was in, and slowly forced himself up. Meanwhile, she took a shaky step forward, towards him.
"R-Rose?" Edward called out, rooted to the corner.
Instead of replying, Rose walked up to him and, her body shaking from the cold, stopped a few inches away from him. As if she'd wanted to do something, but suddenly lost the courage.
However, Edward was able to learn from his past mistakes. He'd seen that particular look Rose had on at that moment more than on one occasion and was almost sure what was supposed to be done. The soft, barely audible whisper of "Hug me" came from within his head and, for the first time, the voice did not belong to the girl he once knew and lost. The voice in his head sounded like Rose's.
Pushing all questions and thoughts aside, he shortened the space between them and gently, almost shyly, pulled her closer, his arms circling around her body, blades positioned away and pointing upwards.
With her forehead pressed against his shoulder, Rose lifted her arms and returned the hug immediately. The leather felt chilly beneath her fingers, but none of that bothered her. Her eyes closed and she shifted slightly in the embrace, putting her head against his chest. Her rapid heartbeat drummed in her ears.
Rose's eyes snapped open.
She was not mistaken. She could hear two sets of heartbeats. Involuntarily, she pressed herself closer, overwhelmed by the discovery.
In a nearly perfect harmony, two hearts echoed in her ears.
Rose could feel her legs going weak, so she clung to Edward to stay on her feet. In turn, he held her more firmly. She didn't know why exactly that new piece of information shocked her so much. She knew Edward was not a regular human being, but the thought of him actually having a heart… Everything swirled in her head. It was a strange sensation, like she was drowning in the flood of everything. Very gently, she lifted her head to look at him.
Coal black eyes met light hazel ones as they stared at each other.
Two heartbeats later, Rose leaned in and kissed him.
After another two drums against her ribcage, she felt him kissing back, shyly and carefully. The drumming increased in speed.
Neither of them noticed that the raindrops were replaced by pure white snowflakes.
A: The Epilogue will be up way sooner than this chapter, I promise!