Disclaimer: I'm the f-cking king of the world, get on your knees. I'm the f-cking king of the world, give me Twilight please (8)(6)
Face it guys. I think I was over-estimating myself when I thought I'd have it done by tomorrow. So we're screwed. Maybe I'll fit in this chapter at the most...but no end-of-story. Sorry guys! I hope you all enjoy Breaking Dawn – I'll be getting it after you guys, I guess!
"It would look bellisimo, Miss Alice!" cried the zealous shop assistant, fluttering around Alice in the dressing room.
"Can I get it, Esme?" Alice begged, hopping out of the dressing room.
"No need to ask me, dear," Esme was a little preoccupied with a pair of Prada heels. "You've got your card."
Alice squealed and went hurrying off to the dressing room again.
Rosalie and I were sitting in incredibly comfy leather armchairs while Esme browsed through the shoe department.
"Bella," Rose began, leaning forward in her chair. "I want to have a chat with you."
"Chat away," I smiled.
I had never really had a proper conversation with my eternally beautiful sister, and this sudden spout of comradeship had taken me by surprise – though it was a nice surprise, of course.
"Look, Bella...I know I haven't really made much of an effort to reinstate a relationship between us since you've been with us..."
"I don't mind, Rosalie." I smiled.
"Well...I thought you probably had a load of questions to ask me about things, so go ahead!"
I smiled. "Um, okay. Do you mind telling me a little about yourself?"
"My life or my afterlife?" Her tone seemed a little darker now.
"Either," I encouraged.
"In my life, I was Rosalie Hale, soon to be married to Royce King – the closest thing to royalty there was. I came home from my friend Vera's house one night and Royce and his friends were on the street. They..." she struggled for words, but her thoughts conveyed what she couldn't outright say. "They abused me and left me for dead. Carlisle saved me."
Her tone was darker than the blackest night, but I could hear and feel her pain in it. The images flashing through her mind as she spoke casually of the incident showed me that she did not see it in that way whatsoever. And she had good reason.
"I'm so sorry, Rose," I whispered, leaning over and wrapping my arm around her.
"It's fine. I'm over it now."
I raised one perfectly sculpted eyebrow.
It still hurts, but I'm dealing with it. It won't completely go away, but Emmett keeps me whole.
I nodded, smiling at her. "Thank you for telling me."
"I suppose you want to hear about my afterlife, now?"
"I wouldn't mind," I smiled.
"I'm incredibly in love with Emmett, and mostly, I'm pretty happy. I was a bitch to you throughout your human life – more so to the end. And I want to make things better now. I want to be your sister.
"I disliked you for being human – you were willingly giving up what I wanted; your life meant nothing to you, if you could spend eternity with Edward. Carlisle made the choice for me. I would never have given up my life willingly.
"All I wanted was to have my life back. Because now, even though I've got Emmett - and he's all I need - I still wish we could have grown old together, had children, watched them have our grandchildren..."
She trailed off, and her smile was wistful. In her mind, images sailed through of herself and Emmett surrounded by boys with curly blond hair, and girls with dark and light locks...
"I'm sorry, Rose." My eyebrows pulled together. How could this have happened to such a lovely person?
"Don't fret. I've lost, yes. But so have you. And you continue to lose. It's not in the same form, but it's still not fair. Nothing in afterlife is."
"I just think, if I knew more..." I trailed off. Would she tell me? I hoped...
"Bella, I won't tell you."
Dammit. I hissed mentally.
"Bella, if you think there are things that you haven't been told that are good, then you're sorely mistaken. Your life was riddled with mystery and danger, thanks to us being what we are.
"It worried Edward enough at the time that you'd leave him – and it could have happened one too many times - knowing what you've left behind isn't a good thing. This way, you won't be riddled by your past, like myself. I'm all for keeping you in the dark."
"Thanks, Rose," I muttered sarcastically.
"I'm sorry Bella. But I figure, we can make you new memories, right?"
"Yeah..." I was completely indifferent.
"Bella, look, let me put this into perspective for you. We're in the heart of the world's fashion capital, the sun is beating down on us and for once, we're not sparkling. We've got the world at our feet – I mean, you have no idea how many model scouts are going to approach us today!"
I laughed.
"And I know right now that you haven't really got a best friend – and I understand Alice is upset, even though you don't – and I thought maybe..."
"Maybe what?"
"Maybe I could be your best friend?"
"I'd love that, Rosalie!" I smiled, hopping up completely this time, and hugging her.
"I'm glad, Bella." She smiled. "You and I have got so much to catch up on!"
"Really?" I laughed.
"Yes, and so much to plan!"
"Really?" I repeated. I could not think of a thing.
"We all have to go swimming together, and we still have to take your wedding pictures!"
"Oh my God!" I screeched. "Yes! I forgot!"
"That's what I'm here for," she laughed.
Esme and Alice finally made their entrance with another handful of shopping bags.
"I love Milan!" Alice squealed, hopping up and down with her bags.
"So much better than the UK," Esme agreed.
"I've never been to the UK," I laughed. "What's it like?"
"More to add to the list!" Rosalie squealed. "Wedding pictures, swimming, take Bella to Britain..."
Right, guys. I am one of those people who despise Author's Notes in the middle of a chapter, but I thought you should know that I've just put fake nails on, in anticipation of Barcelona tomorrow. So my typing is going to be, to put it bluntly, shit. Sorry bout that.
"All on the list!" Alice cried.
"Let's go back to Volterra," Esme smiled. "We should get back late enough that it'll be dark, but soon enough that we'll be able to get the men and head out to the seaside!"
And now I've run outta time. Sorry about that. I'm going on holiday in quite literally, a few hours. I don't really want to go, but I have to. So I'm sorry this is short but I felt you guys deserved something.
Enjoy Breaking Dawn & I'll be back soon!
Nia xx