Previously on Life As A Black:
"Help me convince them to let me see Jesse."
Chapter Twenty-Six
EJ's POV
I only agreed to my sister's demands because, well, let's face it, Rosie was a wreck lately.
She had always been a little insecure, but since imprinting on Jesse, she's been extremely vulnerable. She thinks she's a failure as an imprinter because she's physically nine and he looks like he's nineteen. I don't see why that makes her a failure, but when she accidentally shows me her thoughts, that's the main point she has.
I wish she could see the person that everyone else sees. That would make her quit feeling like a failure. I people watch since I can't do anything else for fear of accidentally hurting someone like I almost did to Charlie, and I've noticed a lot.
She was so smart, but she thought that since she wasn't growing then it meant that no one saw her intellectual growth as well. She read Bella's entire library in a year! I mean, that's huge! I had only gotten through about a third of the collection so far and I had twice the time that Rosie had.
Bella tries to connect with Rosie, but the truth is, Rosie has so much more knowledge than Bella has despite the fact that our grandmother has done so much more. But Rosie doesn't see that, she only thinks that Bella doesn't like her. I tried to explain this to Bella when she lived with us, but she just looked at me, completely shocked.
Rosie has so much going for her, but she just doesn't see it. I wish I were lucky enough to be part wolf, vampire, and human. She can blend in with any of the groups of our family naturally since she doesn't really pose a threat to any of them.
Not to mention the fact that Rosie is really pretty. She might think she's just a kid, and that she's not gorgeous like the rest of the females in our family, but even Aunt Rosalie is a little jealous of Jazzlyn's beauty (though she would never admit it because of her own pride).
She has captured people's attention since her birth by her unique genetic make-up, but also because she was beautiful like no one else. She's the perfect blend of our parents. She has pale russet that looks like body glitter on all the time instead of sparking like a full vampire and Nessie's brown eyes and Jacob's long straight brown hair.
I fear for Jesse's sanity when she's fully grown because she will certainly be a knock-out. If only Rosie could wait until then instead of being insecure about her looks now.
Everyone adores her, but she thinks that Nessie loves me more just because we have bonded over hunting or that Jacob (and everyone else, for that matter) loves Carlie more just because she's human and will phase when she's older. It's crazy to think that she doesn't know our parents love us all equally.
Sure, Nessie has bonded with me, but I Rosie has been invited to all but the really far away hunting trips. And she's only not invited to those because Jacob throws such a fit about not wanting his little girl to get hurt or worn out on such a long journey. Then he'll make a pretend campfire in the house and tent out of sheets for Carlie and Rosie for the three or four days we're away, so it's not like he's excluding her either.
The only difference between Jacob's love for Carlie and Rosie is that Carlie returns it easily. Rosie feels like she doesn't deserve the love because she's a "freak" so she doesn't accept the attention correctly.
I wish she weren't as insecure because then she'd see that our parents, and everyone else, really did love her as much as they said they did. But, until she accepts that, I'll have to do my best to try and convince her of that, and show her that I'm there for her.
Which is why I'm helping Rosie see Jesse. Because, for her sake, she needs to feel loved and, as much as I dislike Jesse, I know that he can do that for her. She accepts his love and adoration because he's her imprint and she feels she deserves it.
"Mom," I started off, looking at our forever young mother with a small smile. It was forced though, so it probably looked more like a grimace.
"Yes, EJ?" She asked, noticing my unease. Jacob was putting Carlie to bed since his scent always calmed the females in this family. Nessie used to think it was just her, but Rosie and Carlie both are soothed by his presence.
"I think you should let Rosie go see Aunt Becca." I stated, hoping she could see how serious I was.
"I already said she could go." Nessie said, raising an eyebrow in confusion. "What is this about, honey?"
"I just, well, I don't think you should be so hard on her about Jesse." I said.
"Aren't you the one who always says he's 'bad news?'" Nessie asked in disbelief. "Why the change of heart?"
"I just think that it might do her some good is all." I said, shrugging my shoulders and pretending that I didn't really care. "She really likes hanging out with him and maybe it might make her less moody for a little while...I don't know, it's worth a shot."
"Edward Jacob Cullen-Black, what aren't you telling me?" Nessie asked warily.
"Nothing, Momma." I said, glad that she could only project thoughts and not read them. "I just know how much Jazz misses Jesse. He was her first friend that isn't related to us, after all."
"Not by blood." Nessie added, "But Jesse is as much family as Cousin Amanda is."
I smiled. If only she knew that Jesse Uley would be her son-in-law some day. But I didn't say anything about it though because a promise is a promise. Because as much as I disliked Jesse, I knew that Rosie loved her imprint and wanted to keep him a secret from Jacob. Dad would surely kill him if he found out.
"I know that." I said instead. "That's why I want Rosie to be able to see him."
Nessie sighed. "I'll have to talk to your father again." She said finally, but I knew that my reasoning had worked.
Hopefully when Jazz returned, she wouldn't be so moody. I could only hope that the imprint magic worked it's, well, magic.
AN: Don't hate Rosie. I know the last two chapters were intense, but she's what I call a "work in progress" character. I hope her brother's insight helped a little bit and please review :)