Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns everything in the Twiverse. I'm just playing around :)
Last one, y'all. *sniffles* Guess I waited till the end of the day because I didn't want to say goodbye to my Rosie. Anyway, THANK YOU for taking this journey with me. It means everything :)
The Twilight Twenty-Five
thetwilight25 dot com
Prompt: #11, "Forbidden"
Main Character: Rosalie Hale
Rating: T
Word Count: 1,301
"I can't wait for you to meet everyone!" Emmett drags her toward the front door, enthusiasm obscuring his concern for her sky-high heels. "It's been so hard keeping Mom from storming campus to find you."
She laughs, well-acquainted with tales of Mrs. McCarty's nosey nature. "I would have liked to see that!"
"From what Jasper said, you wouldn't." He shakes his head. "Poor Alice still trembles at the sight of crinkle-cut fries."
Emmett gives a cursory knock to the front door then pushes it open. "Hello?" His booming voice echoes through the elegant front hall. "We're here!"
"They're here!" comes a shriek from the back of the house. "Carlisle, come!"
In a flurry of flour and femininity, Esme McCarty wipes her white-dusted hands on an otherwise pristine apron and bear-hugs her son. Though comparatively slim, she nonetheless manages to make him wince as she squeezes. "My brawny baby! I've missed you so much." She peeks over his shoulder at the gorgeous blonde smiling behind him. "And is this..."
"My one and only." Emmett releases his mother and slips his arm around his lady. "Mother, this is Rose Hale."
"And a Rose by any other name..." Esme trails off and takes her hands. "It is a pleasure to meet you, my dear. May I give you a hug?"
It is too late to reply. "Of course, Mrs. McCarty. I would..."
"Oh no." Esme backs away, swatting the girl's hand with a dish towel. "No, no, no! None of that Mrs. McCarty stuff. Do I look like the sort to eat candy out of the cushions and tell bawdy stories during a baptism?"
Rose blinks. "Um, no."
"That's right."
She turns to bellow to Carlisle once more, and Emmett leans in to Rose. "My dad's crazy aunt. Long story."
"Darling?" Esme calls out. "Are you indisposed?"
"No." He emerges from the other room. "But I might be a trifle deaf now."
She receives his cheek kiss with a playful scowl. "Emmett's here!"
"So I've heard." He shakes his son's hand then pulls him into an affectionate man hug. "Hello, son."
"Dad." Emmett's smile is a mile wide. "I'd like you to meet my Rosie."
She blushes at Carlisle's arched brow. "Just Rose," she says. "Emmie is the only one..." Her cheeks are red now, and she looks away.
Carlisle lays a paternal hand on her shoulder. "Don't be embarrassed. At least your pet names are fit for public consumption." He heads toward the kitchen, swatting his wife on the rear as he passes. "Some of us cannot say the same."
Esme squeaks with delight, composing herself as she looks toward the couple. "Well, now. I need to finish dinner. Why don't you head upstairs and get settled? Emmett, show Rose the guest room and don't forget we have cameras."
"Mom!" Rose blushes to her roots, and Emmett leads her upstairs. "She's kidding, I think."
"I'm beginning to thank God she never showed up on campus," she says.
They pass his bedroom, and she pokes her head in. "Uma Thurman, Kate Hudson, and Charlize Theron."
He grins. "I have a type. Shoot me."
"Janet Jackson?"
He whistles low. "That's Miss Jackson if you're nasty."
They walk hand-in-hand down the hall, noting the distance between his room and hers. "Mom may be crazy, but she's not subtle," he says. "But it's comfortable and has a private bathroom, so that should make up for it."
"It's perfect." She stands on tiptoe to kiss him, choosing his nose. "The cameras, remember?"
He wraps his arms around her. "I wouldn't care if they put us on the evening news. I'm in love with you and don't care who knows it."
She kisses him, on the mouth this time, pulling away before things get too heated. "Shall I go help Esme?"
"Don't even think about it. Everyone is banned from the kitchen until sometime during tomorrow's parade." The doorbell chimes, and Emmett claps his hands. "Ha! Jazz is here, and he's going to need help with Alice's many bags. I'll be back with ours in a minute."
"Take your time." She glances around the room. "I'm perfectly content here."
Emmett kisses her quickly then runs down the hall, leaving Rosalie alone. She surveys the guest room, its gender-neutral color palette and magazine-ready décor, and figures it's as nice a place as any to spend Thanksgiving break. The dorms were too depressing, and as Lillian Hale made it quite clear that she'd be too busy with her man-of-the-moment to entertain her daughter, coming home with Emmett just made sense.
Rose walks to the window and peers out. The modest grounds behind the McCarty are as perfect as what lies within it, and Rose could see herself being a part of this family. Emmett is everything girls dream of, and everyone says they make the perfect couple.
And everyone can't be wrong, right?
It's not as if she doesn't care for him. How could anyone not care for someone as selfless, handsome, and affable as Emmett McCarty? His smile could melt the hardest of hearts, and she fancies herself lucky that he fancies himself in love with her.
But in her heart of hearts, Rose fears there's something missing, a level of commitment and confidence she just doesn't feel. And the knowledge makes her sad. She would rather choke on her doubts than hurt Emmett, and unless she finds a definite source for her apprehension, those questions will die in her heart unanswered.
"Rose?" Emmett calls. "Come here!"
Pasting a smile on her face, Rose heads downstairs, expecting to see the handsome couple from the photos on Emmett's desk. But when she reaches the top of the stairs, her mind goes blank as she takes in the sight before her.
Standing beside Emmett is someone Rose doesn't recognize. Long and lean with a shock of wildly colored hair, he is the most beautiful man Rose has ever seen.
And his green eyes are fixed on Rose as a compass fixes on true north.
She descends the stairs, trying to look away, but can't. Beyond his sexy exterior, something in his soul cries out to her, something decadent and deep, beckoning her forward.
And Rose is helpless to deny the call.
"Rose?" Emmett beams as she reaches the bottom of the stairs. "This is my neighbor and childhood best friend, Edward Cullen. We thought he'd be spending the holidays away, but that didn't work out. Lucky us, right?"
"Yes." Edward continues staring at Rose. "Lucky us."
"And this is my girlfriend, Rose Hale." Emmett winks at her, stealing her attention from Edward. "She goes to school with me."
"Are you on a football scholarship too?" Edward asks.
She laughs, hoping it disguises her nerves. "If only I hadn't torn my ACL in high school."
"Babe, don't joke about that." Emmett winces. "You're gonna give me nightmares."
"And you don't want that," Edward says. "He screams like a baby in his sleep."
"Does he?" Rose smiles. "Can't say I've had the privilege of hearing."
"Don't be giving away all my secrets, Cullen." Emmett elbows him in the ribs. "Or I'll drop a few dimes on you."
"I have nothing to hide." Edward's smile warms Rose to her core. "And I'm sure Miss Hale can handle whatever happens."
"She can handle you, that's for sure!" Emmett puts Edward in a headlock, dragging him upstairs. "Now who's gonna scream like a baby? Be back, Rosie!"
"Okay."
With no one else in the hall, Rose collapses on the bench and takes a deep breath, counting backwards from ten. But she could count backward from infinity, and the truth would remain: everything she knows about life and love is about to change, all at the hands of her boyfriend's best friend.
And as the seed of temptation takes root in her heart, Rose finally understands why Eve had to taste the fruit. She smiles as its sweet juices run down her chin, eager for the Fall.
And of course we end with Roseward. Wouldn't have it any other way ;)
Thanks for the love and support! I'll see you soon with an update in another story.
Love and light to you all! XO