Yes, I understand, it's been in years since I've posted. No need for the constant reminder. haha. Anyways. Still with me? Here's the next chapter.


Chapter 28 - Operation Rose

EPOV

"You want me to what?" Emmett looked as if we just asked him to jump off of cliff. Needless to say he wasn't exactly agreeing with us and the proposition Alice had come up with. "You realize how crazy that sounds right?"

Alice and I turned to each other and nodded, before turning back to Emmett, who was now sitting in my desk chair. "Yes." We both said at the same time.

"I won't do it," He said, getting up from the chair and heading towards the door. "You guys are nuts." I heard him mutter.

But before he reached the door, Alice spoke up, rather quickly, "Rosalie likes you!" Those words certainly made Emmett stop dead in his tracks. Not a few seconds later did he turn around, and looked quizzically at Alice before responding. "Go on," He gestured.

I sighed. I didn't realize I was holding in my breath. I felt like this whole situation with Bella was held by a single thread and that thread, Emmett now held. I was probably exaggerating, but that's how it felt at the moment. Nothing was working so far and I was hoping anything would work at this point. I didn't like that there was Bella out there with this Tony character. I didn't even want to imagine where he'd be taking her on their date. As per Alice's clever plan, well that was a whole other story. She thought of the whole scheme while we were on our way home from the mall. Operation Rose, she had named it. She was clever like that.

"Well," Alice started. "It's obvious Emmett." She walked across to my bed and took a seat, suddenly exhausted. "Both you and Edward are complete idiots."

"Excuse me?" Emmett wasn't expecting that answer, not even me. "What-"

Alice held her hand up, stopping him from speaking. "Look, we all think it's cute that you follow Rosalie around like an adorable, obedient little puppy, but that's not getting you anymore closer to her than you possibly can. She obviously likes you." At this, I saw Emmett smile. "But the reason you're an even bigger idiot than this one over here sometimes," She gestured towards me. "Is because Rosalie will never take notice to how much you like her. She likes a guy who is assertive with their declarations. This I know."

I was going to defend myself, until Alice turned towards me. "You're currently an idiot too because…well you know why."

"Yes, we know." Emmett said, looking at me with sad eyes. He sighed before turning to Alice. "So, can you explain this plan to me again?"

BPOV

Rosalie and I got into the car and silence crept on us like a plague. I think we both didn't want to talk. This was normal coming from me, but from her, it was off-putting. "Rose, are you okay?"

"Hm?" She turned to look at me briefly, before refocusing on the road ahead. "Yes, of course." She said, smiling. That smile didn't reach her eyes. I tried to desperately get to talk so I asked her about one thing that would certainly get her talking even though it was something I admittedly dreaded. "So where is Tony taking me? I really want to know."

She smiled. "I can't tell you! It's a surprise. You'll like it." I wasn't so sure.

I continued to try and get her to talk. "One hint. Anything." She sighed.

"Bella," She forced a smile. "You're not getting anything from me. So stop asking." I didn't like this. Not one bit.

Before I knew it, we pulled up to an area I did not recognize. We seemed to be outside a gated area. The actual walls were too high for me to look inside. There was, although an arched entry way, I noticed, which happened to lead somewhere. Once Rosalie parked right in front of the curve, she spoke for what felt like an eternity. "Here we are." She examined the area and then finally looked at me.

"Where is here exactly?" I asked.

"Why don't you ask Tony yourself?" She nodded and waved to someone outside my window. It was Tony, standing outside with a bouquet of red roses. Wow. It took me a while to stop staring and took me even longer to get a hold of myself and actually make an attempt to move and get out of the car. I turned to Rosalie, who was now turning on her car. I was suddenly aware of how nervous this made me. "Tony is supposed to bring you back home tonight."

"I thought he didn't have a car." I said all too quickly. I hope Rosalie wouldn't notice how my nerves were going crazy.

"He's got a ride. Don't worry about it, Bella." She giggled. "Go have a good time."

I nodded in agreement. I will, I thought. For some reason I couldn't bring myself to say this out loud. I grabbed my coat, recently bought of course, and got out of the car, carefully slipping it on while holding the really short dress down. I felt exposed, but Rosalie reassured me it looked awesome on me, after my hair and makeup had been done earlier.

I finally looked at Tony. He was wearing a black suit and tie. I was a bit mesmerized. I realized I never really took a good look at him. I noticed features of him that I never noticed before. I allowed myself to look at his half-smile, which I thought was adorable. In fact, his features were handsome, but subtle. He was someone you would notice for his gorgeousness. He was someone who could have any girl at his fingertips, but he was here with me. It started to fall into place for me, and for once I was not comparing him to anyone, not even Edward. Not tonight, I thought. I gave him a genuine smile. I was happy to be here.

His chocolate brown eyes greeted me. "Bella," he paused. "You look amazing." I, of course blushed and looked away, embarrassed. He came towards me with the bouquet in his hand. "Beautiful." he added, using his free hand to lift my chin up to see eye to eye. "I mean it."

"I know you do." I shyly replied. I knew his words were truthful. He had let me go, but I kept my eyes on him.

"You ready to go?" He asked, stepping beside me and holding out his arm for me to take.

"Of course." I grabbed on to his firm arm and we began to walk towards the entry way of wherever we were. I noticed we were walking towards the gate. It was extraordinarily tall. He held on tightly to my arm and we stopped right in front of the gate. He looked at me and smiled.

The gates suddenly opened. Automatic gates, I thought. He guided me inside and stopped once we were a few feet inside the massive area. In front of me and all around, was a luscious garden with trees all around us. That was not the surprising part, considering this was Forks. There were trees practically everywhere. But the one feature that mesmerized and stood out to me most of all was the extreme abundance of beautiful flowers. They were everywhere and not just one type, but any types you could ever dream of.

I let go of his arm and took a step forward. I observed my surroundings and examined all of the beautiful flowers, naming all the flowers I recognized in my head. Roses. Tulips. Marigolds. Freesias. Sunflowers. Zinnias. All different colors and all around me, I noticed the beautiful smells. "So beautiful." I murmured.

"Very much indeed." I turned around to face him and noticed he was staring right at me. I blushed, yet again. Dang it. He smiled, noticing this.

He stepped towards me grabbed my hand and we continued to walk. The stone pathway, lit by small sparkling lights, led us through what seemed like a maze that took you further and further into the property. After seeing so much, I still did not know where we were or what this night consisted of.

It wasn't until we walked through an opening that I realized what this place was. Welcome to Lush Gardens, it read above a beautifully adorned sign. We were at a restaurant. A very unique restaurant. It looked more like a house to me, except it was mainly all glass. You could see through the entire place. People seated at their respective tables and even the kitchen. Everything was dim and comforting. I noticed lit candles everywhere. There wasn't just light indoors, but outdoors as well. Twinkling lights all around and above us. It was like a fairytale. I was extremely thankful that there was no rain tonight.

Tony turned around to face me. "I wanted to bring you here because I thought you would really like it."

"Good choice." I smiled.

"Shall we?" We walked towards the beautiful glass building. The host took us to a reserved table which was near the back side, by the window overlooking most of the garden. We were, thankfully, next to one of the many fireplaces in this restaurant.

"Do you like it?"

'Liking it' would have been an understatement. "I love this place. It's beautiful."

"I'm glad you do. I spent a lot of time thinking about a special place to bring you."

"Well I appreciate it, really." I took a good look around us and everyone seemed happy to me. I was taking a chance here and I wondered whether I would look happy to others if they were to look around.

EPOV

It was a simple plan, really. Not only would this help me in getting to Bella, but it would also help Emmett with that push he needed towards Rosalie. Emmett was to simply talk to Rosalie and confess his feelings for her and pretty much hope for the best. He was set to show up at the Swan house, but he was nowhere in sight.

We, of course, knew this because Alice insisted that we watch this exchange. Emmett knew nothing about us hiding in my Volvo discreetly around Bella's neighborhood, with the perfect view of

"Where is he?" Alice asked desperately in the passenger seat. "He was supposed to be here 10 minutes ago." She looked at her watch and showed to me as to confirm she was right. "See?"

"Alice, calm down. This isn't easy for him." She sighed. I was right.

"I'm sorry, I know." She then focused on me. "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine." She raised her eyebrows. "What?" I asked. As much as we were all so involved with this whole Bella situation, I was not ready to have this discussion with my sister. It was all so strange to me, even now that we were hiding in my car. What I was feeling and this whole situation, I couldn't even begin to explain because I was still utterly confused about the whole thing. The only thing I was completely certain about was the fact that I hurt Bella, and I needed to make it right.

"Edward," She began. "You don't have to lie to me. Bella is on a date with-"

"Emmett."

"Bella and Emmett are not on a date." She rolled her eyes.

"No," I whispered. "Emmett is here." Sure enough, I recognized the hummer pulling up into their driveway. But no Emmett came out.

"What is he doing?" I wondered. Just then we heard Alice's phone light up.

"Oh shiii-" Alice whispered, almost dropping her phone. "It's Emmett." She stared at her phone for a couple seconds before answering it, in her cheerful tone as usual. "Hey Em, how'd it go!?" She asked all too excitedly.

I couldn't tell what Emmett was saying on the other end, but I could tell he was nervous just by the way she was reassuring him over the phone. "You got this, Em." I heard her say.

It wasn't until Alice made a face, that I noticed the change of conversation. "And yes," she said sighing. "We'll wait right where we are hiding." She looks over at me and rolls her eyes. At this I had to laugh. I guess our hiding spot wasn't as clever.

Sooner than later I see Emmett getting out of his car. Here's goes nothing.

EMPOV

I knocked on the door. I almost felt like running, as if I was playing ding-dong-ditch, but I can't be a coward. Not now.

Jasper was the one to answer the door. "Oh hey, Emmett. What's up?" He smiled, knowingly. Of course Alice would have told him by now.

"Rosalie. Is she here?"

"Yes she is. Let me go get her for you." Before turning away to find Rose, he looks at me quizzically and points outside. "Alice is out there somewhere isn't she?"

"Yeah, they're hiding in Edward's Volvo right in front of that one house, over there." I pointed where he can find the Volvo. We both laugh when we see Alice wave her tiny hand outside the passenger window.

"Right." He says.

Just then, Rosalie appears. "Jasper, who's-" She stops talking when she sees me. "Emmett." She half waves. "Alice isn't here."

"I actually came to see you. Well, talk to you." I smiled, reassuring her.

"Me? What about?" I noticed she was acting defensive.

"I think I'll leave you two to talk."

Instead of inviting me in after Jasper walked inside, she closed the door behind her and walked outside. Great, I thought. Now Alice and Edward get to witness my humiliation first hand. They should have brought popcorn.

"What do you and I need to talk about?" She asks, arms crossed, waiting for my response.

"Well," I started. "It's more like I talk, you listen." I think this took her by surprise. Rosalie was never the type to just sit there and listen. "Emmett, if this about Bella and Edward, I suggest you—"

"This isn't about them." I felt the need to cut her off before any of that came up because then I would never get to say any of this to her. That issue was secondary at the moment.

I started talking before she had the chance. "Rosalie, I think everyone already knows that I've been sort of following you around like a puppy." Her eyes widened at the realization of where this conversation was heading. I didn't know whether that was a good or bad thing, but I couldn't stop now. "Look, you seem like such a great person. Ever since I met you, I've known that for a fact. You are simply amazing. I know you don't like it when guys are straight forward with you or anything like that so that's why I'm here right now…to tell you that…" I paused. "I like you." I looked at her and she was looking straight at me. "I always have actually. I was just too afraid to be rejected that I kept it to myself this whole time in hopes that maybe you'd turn around and notice me."

"Emmett, girls were all over you in high school. And you're telling me this is hard for you?" her hands gesturing between us.

"Yes." Was all I could muster out at the moment.

"How do I know you're not trying to manipulate me or something? This is about Bella and Edward isn't it?" She pointed at me accusingly; her small finger poking my chest.

"No! Of course not! How could you even think that?"

"Well Alice knew about this bet and I'm assuming you did too. For all I know, you probably helped him." She accused.

"That is just stupid." She was actually getting angry with me. I couldn't believe it. She wasn't going to listen to me.

"It only makes sense." She continued, almost as if trying to convince herself. "You were there at the party. You were with Edward and that Mike kid. It makes total sense."

"That makes no sense!" I tried to snap her out of this trance she was in.

"Emmett, you chose Edward for Bella that night. Don't you remember!?"

"I remember, but that is not what happened." I told her sternly. "Let me explain."

It's like she wasn't even listening to me at all. "Then why didn't you stop it?" She finally asked.

"I tried!" I don't' know what it was. I guess it was just me trying to get her to stop accusing me, but as soon as I yelled at her, I regretted it.

"Look Rosalie," I looked down. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I came here only to tell you how I felt about you. Which is completely true" I added. "And not about those two fools who like each other too much not to look past this." I finally looked at her. She looked sad, and her eyes look like she was about to cry.

"You should go." She said, coldly.

"I'm sorry for coming here. I can see I can't change your mind about me." I got into my hummer as fast as I could, turned on the ignition and started driving away.


Poor Emmett! And what do you guys think of Bella and Tony's date so far? Thoughts and reviews are oh so helpful. Thanks for reading!