Rosalie and Emmett sat, facing each other, on a blanket at Highpoint Ridge. In front of them sat unopened college acceptance and/or rejection letters. Sadly, neither of them applied to the same schools.
"Are you ready?" Emmett asked, picking up his letter from Xavier University, "Let's open our letters at the same time."
Rosalie nodded her head as she picked up her letter from Georgetown. In unison, they counted to three before opening their letters.
"I got in." she whispered, scanning through her acceptance letter.
"Me too." He agreed, setting the letter down, "Next."
Emmett grabbed his letter to the University of Arizona, as Rose grabbed hers to American University.
"I was accepted." Emmett informed, nodding his head, proudly.
"I wasn't." she replied, crumpling up the paper.
"Sucks for them." He whispered, patting her knee, soothingly.
She tossed the rejection letter to the side, before grabbing the envelope for the University of Maryland: Eastern Shore. Emmett pulled his eyes off of her before snatching his University of Chicago off the ground.
"Nope." He whispered, balling the paper up.
"Their lost." She declared, giving him a wide smile.
Rosalie also got into Princeton University and the University of Miami. However, she didn't get into Stanford University. Emmett got into Michigan State University, but not Long Island and Duke University.
"I don't want to leave you." Rose admitted, scooting towards him, "I just got you back."
"I know," Emmett agreed, wrapping his arm around her waist, "but every break we'll see each other."
"Emmett I have never had a long distance relationship!" she exclaimed, turning her head to face the opposite direction, "I don't know if I can make that promise!"
Emmett used his hand to grab Rose's chin and turn her to face him.
"You're making that promise." He avowed, before pressing his lips against hers, "I refuse to let you leave without making that promise. You're my girl, and I'm not taking the chance of you being someone else's."
Rosalie wiped the corners of her eyes. She loved him so much, and she knew he felt the same. He ran his fingers halfway down her head. His hand stopped on the back of her head as he pushed her closer to him.
"Emmett is all of this pointless?" she asked, avoiding the kiss, "I mean your dad will never accept this and my dad would raise hell and never lower it again if he found out. Besides, Paolo know and he's my dad's trusted man. I know I talked him into not telling him, but my dad isn't against putting a bullet through a friend's head if he feels betrayed…And I'm involved Emmett, my dad would torture Paolo and I love him too much to let that happen!"
"I'm pretty sure Paolo can take care of himself." Emmett replied, dropping his hand, "Paolo's a big boy."
"Paolo can protect himself," Rose agreed, running her hand down her face, "but not against my dad! He's Lauren's father and I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if something happened to him!"
Emmett pulls Rosalie into his arms. She avoids eye contact with him and stares into the distance.
"If this comes out, somebody I love is going to get hurt." She whispered, blinking back her tears, "They could come after Paolo, but if Paolo fights back then it'll be my dad. I should have never convinced Paolo to keep this secret."
This was torturing Rose. She knew as long as she and Emmett were dating, Paolo would remain in danger. Yes, he's a big man and he's packing with weapons, but her dad was even bigger, had more weapons, and henchmen ready to die for him.
"Rose!" Emmett exclaimed, forcing her to face him, "You don't get it. I'm not losing you again. I refuse. If your dad finds out, he'll take you away from me and I refuse to let that happen!"
Emmett watched Rosalie struggle to hold the tears inside. She managed to be successful until one tear slipped out.
"Stop crying." He begged, wiping the one tear off of her cheek, "I don't like to see you cry."
"I can't help it!" she exclaimed, pushing his hand away from her face, "And don't just push my feelings to the side."
"I'm not trying to…" he whispered, watching her scoot away, "I just don't want to see you cry."
"Well too bad." She spat, bringing her knees up to her chest, "You're going to really see me cry if something happens to someone that I love."
"Rose, I don't want to lose you." He asserted, watching her stand up, "What happened? You were the one who said you would never let that happen!"
"That was before I found out you were the son of my dad's biggest enemy!" she shouted, walking over to the edge of the cliff.
"We fought for this relationship." He whispered, running his hand down his face, "You can't just throw it away so your father won't be upset! I am too Rose!" he paused to take in her reaction, "Look babe, I love you. You know that. I did not put my heart and my loyalties on the line to have you just walk away!"
She nodded her head as she continued to look out. She looked out into nature. It was beautiful. It was the most peaceful thing she's ever seen in her life.
"Babe just-" he started, following behind her.
"Don't patronize me Emmett. Stop talking to me like I'm a child!" she hollered, interrupting his sentence.
Emmett shut his mouth and nodded his head. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close. She did struggle in his grip, but she eventually gave up when she realized he wasn't releasing her. He turned her around in his arms, forcing her to face him.
"Look at me." He asserted, watching her gaze flicker from his eyes to over his shoulder, "Look at me Rose."
She looked up and he held her gaze. Her eyes were filled with water, and her bottom lip trembled. Emmett lowered his head and pecked her lips.
"Don't kiss me." She muttered, turning away from him.
Emmett rolled his eyes and turned her back to face him. He brought his lips back to hers and passionately kissed her. He raised his hands to hold her face. Rosalie didn't kiss back, but Emmett didn't mind. He continued to kiss her as her eyes began to leak tears. He could feel his cheeks getting wet from her tears. Soon enough Rosalie began to calm down and welcome the kiss. She raised her hands and gripped the bottom of his shirt. He smiled into the kiss as he dropped his hands down her face, her shoulders, and her waist.
When the couple pulled away, they were both smiling. Emmett was more than Rosalie. She released his shirt as he released her waist.
"You're supposed to be going to prom later." She reminded, walking back over to the blanket, "You should get a move on it."
"I don't think I'm going." He sighed, watching her fold up the blanket, "I went to prom with you last week."
"It's not the same." She replied, placing the blanket inside of the basket, "You were at mine for about five minutes, and you didn't even dance."
"Maybe I don't want to go without you." He responded, shrugging his shoulders.
"Aw, how sweet." She gleamed, handing him the basket, "Your parents won't want to hear that answer. How are you going to explain that to them?"
"Maybe I'll let them think I'm going, but I'll just come see you."
Rosalie looked up and smiled. She's never had a boyfriend like Emmett. She's never had someone who would risk everything just to come see her.
As she approached her car, she felt hands grip her waist and suddenly turn her around. Her back thrust up against the side of her car as his lips immediately attacked hers. She smiled as he bit down onto her bottom lip and lifted her body up off of the ground. Rosalie took this as her opportunity to wrap her legs around his waist.
Their tongues danced around as his fingers trailed up her arms. She shivered under his touch. Emmett gripped the sleeve of her shirt and started pulling it down. As the breeze hit her shoulder, it alerted her on what Emmett planned on doing.
"You have somewhere to be," she mumbled into the kiss, "and so do I."
"No I don't," he asserted, sitting her down on the trunk of her car, "and neither do you."
"It's Lauren's birthday." She reminded, as he stood between her legs, "I have to see her off to prom."
"You can be late." He whispered, sliding his hands up her jeans.
"Yeah I can, but you can't." Rose said, pulling away from the kiss, "What would happen if you didn't show up on time?"
Emmett rolled his eyes and sighed. He scooted onto the trunk of the car, next to her.
"Aren't you going to answer?"
"My parents would send someone to look for me." He replied, resting his hand on her knee.
"What would happen if they found you with me?" she continued to ask, noticing him adjust himself to face her.
"Alright." He sighed, bringing his hand up to rest on the back of her head, "I see your point."
Rosalie smiled and pecked his lips before sliding off of the trunk of the car.
"You know," she started, opening her car door, "I can't drive if you're sitting on the trunk of my car."
"I know that." He replied, shrugging his shoulders.
"Where were you?" Consuela asked, pestering her younger brother as soon as he walked through the door.
"Out." He answered, locking the door behind him.
Consuela crossed her arms and leaned against the banister. Something was up with him. Emmett began making his way up the stairs as she slowly followed.
"The last time you were gone this much was when you were dating Rosalie." She remarked, watching Emmett come to a halt at the top of the staircase, "You're happy. Who is she?"
"I have to get ready." He affirmed, resuming his quest towards his bedroom.
"I'm not stupid Em!" Consuela sung out, continually following behind him, "And I'm not Eva! You can trust me!"
Emmett looked back at his sister. He really did consider telling her. Other than Tyler, it would be nice to have someone else on his side. Consuela could tell he was considering it.
"Emmett, where are you?" Veronica shouted from Emmett's bedroom.
"Not with this." He whispered, shaking his head.
Emmett put the suit on as quickly as possible. He couldn't wait to get this over with. He didn't want to go. The only reason he even considered going was for his mother.
"You are so handsome!" Veronica exclaimed, clapping her hands, excitedly, "I remember when Consuela and Eva went to prom!"
Emmett couldn't help but smile. Even though he didn't want to do this, it was all worth it. The smile he put on his mother's face all of a sudden gave him the energy to continue to go through with it. He pecked his mother's cheek before turning to look at himself in the mirror.
"My mother would have been so proud of you…" Luis whispered, making his presence known.
The smile on Emmett's face immediately dropped. He suddenly felt guilty. He felt like he was doing something wrong.
"She would have loved to see this." Luis continued, making his way towards his son.
Veronica noticed her son's face. She could tell Carla was still a touchy subject for him, especially after the whole incident with Rosalie.
"You should have asked a girl to the prom. I'm pretty sure there were many girls dying to go to prom with a Montez." Veronica sighed, changing the conversation, "I really love when couples color coordinate."
Emmett shrugged in response. It was no need to comment to his mother's statement. He didn't have a date, plain and simple.
"Where is your weapon?" Luis asked, as Emmett opened his suit jacket to flash it, "If anyone of Italian descent shows up to the party, call me, grandpa, or Ignacio. Got it?"
Luis never surprised him. He would take a perfect happy moment and change it. Now that he and Rose were back together, it pained him to hear the insults his father would dish out. They assumed it made Emmett feel better, but really it just hurt him even more.
"Dad there is many Italians who go to my school." Emmett replied, turning to his mother for help.
"I don't care. Got it?"
"Luis be reasonable." Veronica spoke up, standing between her husband and son.
"Got it Emmett?"
Emmett nodded. Luis smiled. Luis pecked his wife before heading out of his son's room.
"Emmett, Tyler is here!" Eva hollered from downstairs.
Rosalie hopped out of her car and noticed her parents' car already parked. Great. They beat her here.
"Where were you?!" Ella exclaimed, watching her daughter close the front door behind her.
"Good, you're here!" Nicole interrupted, before Rose got the chance to answer, "She doesn't want to come out!"
Rose looked around. Nicole. Paolo. Her mother. Her father. Jasper. Where was Tyler?
"Where's Tyler?" she asked, noticing her father hold up a finger to silence Paolo before he spoke.
"He has no business here." Tony answered, approaching his daughter.
"Can you try to get her to come out?" Paolo questioned, watching his ex-wife pace back and forth.
Rosalie headed upstairs slowly. It didn't make sense to her. Why would Lauren not come out? It's her birthday! Lauren is all for celebrating her birthday. It was supposed to be a 'holiday celebrated by all.' Rose rolled her eyes at the memory of that day. Lauren was definitely something else.
"Happy Birthday to you!" Rose sung out, opening her best friend's door.
"I'm not in the mood."
"Happy Birthday to you!" she continued to sing, walking into Lauren's room.
"Rose no."
"Happy Birthday my bestie!"
"Stop!"
"Happy Birthday to you!"
"Rose…" Lauren trailed off, pulling the rollers out of her hair.
"What's wrong?" she wondered, turning Lauren around to face her, "You look gorgeous!"
"This was supposed to be my day!" she bellowed, flopping down onto the corner of her bed.
"It still is!"
Rosalie took a seat next to her. She rubbed circles into Lauren's back as she silently gazed forward. It was Lauren's 19th birthday. This was definitely a time to celebrate!
"I didn't get what I wanted for my birthday." She whispered, scooting away from Rose, "My dad's upset with me. And to top that off, I'm going to prom alone."
"My parents are downstairs." Rose informed, smiling brightly.
"That reminds me!" Lauren proclaimed, hopping to her two feet, "Your dad brought me this beautiful dress and an expensive limo! I have no one to ride in it with!"
Rosalie followed Lauren to the large window built beside her bed. She stared out of it, into the night sky. This wasn't what Lauren had envisioned for her birthday.
"Tyler's going to be there right?"
"That's beside the point Rosalie!" Lauren drawled, running her fingers through the curls in her hair.
"Please explain the point to me then." She sighed, getting irritated.
She was trying to help, but Lauren wasn't making any sense.
"The point is I'm going to look pathetic showing up ALONE!" she screamed, kicking her high-heels off of her feet.
Rose ran up to her best friend and grabbed her shoulders. She wasn't going to allow her to lose control.
"Let's make a deal," Rose started, earning Lauren's attention, "you go to prom. When you come back, I'll have your room set up to reenact your 13th birthday."
The water in Lauren's eyes went away as she released a small laugh. Her 13th birthday was fun, for a 13 year old. Lauren blinked away the tears, as she watched Rose pick up her clutch and hold it out to her.
"Fine." She sighed, snatching the clutch from her hand, "We're taking crazy pictures?"
"You know it!" Rose said, watching Lauren slide her heels back on, "And we're doing makeovers!"
"Yay!" Lauren excitedly screamed, bouncing up and down, "You better have caramel corn! We're having our romantic-comedy movie night too! We're playing Twister and we're telling scary stories!"
"Alright." Rose agreed, rolling her eyes.
"And I'll create my facial mask formula!" Lauren chirped, twirling around in the mirror.
"Oh no!" Rose proclaimed, shaking her head, "I remember that stuff! It took five days to get all of that stuff off of my face! I have graduation next Friday!"
"Okay, fine, but everything else, we're definitely doing!"
The nod of Rose's head was agreement enough. Lauren rushed out of her room with Rose in tow. Nicole and Paolo perked up as they watched their daughter walk down the stairs.
"My baby!" Nicole exclaimed, covering her mouth, "I need a picture."
"You look beautiful." Ella added, pulling her camera out.
Lauren grinned widely as Rose pulled out her car keys. Lauren knew where she was about to go. She was going to pick up all of the stuff for their slumber party.
Review please!
Sundays will be my new updating days. :-)
-Rachel.