Chapter Nineteen

January 2002

Alice hummed along, gyrating to the music as she danced through her house with her laundry basket. She had just finished a load and was now preparing to pack. She had a few last minute issues with the choreography to the boys' latest song and she was itching to get it right. She'd had this same song on repeat since she got home from the studio an hour ago.

I may run and hide
When you're screamin' my name, alright
But let me tell you now
There are prices to fame, alright
All of our time spent in flashes of light

She bopped her head as she folded a pair of her pajama pants. She really did love this song.

All you people can't you see, can't you see
How your love's affecting our reality
Every time we're down
You can make it right
And that makes you larger than life

She smirked as Jake's part came on. She couldn't wait to see him dressed in his costume. He was going to flip.

Looking at the crowd
And I see your body sway, c'mon
Wishin' I could thank you in a different way, c'mon

She almost melted as Jasper's part came on again. She loved the gravel and grit in his voice. It stirred a lot of different emotions in her; least of all was the pooling of desire in the pit of her stomach.

'Cause all of your time spent keeps us alive

The chorus started again and she started moving her body just slightly, tossing the baby tee to the bed as she saw their movements in her mind's eye.

All you people can't you see, can't you see
How your love's affecting our reality
Every time we're down
You can make it right
And that makes you larger than life

Larger than life…

All of your time spent keeps us alive…

The last word rang out and lasted one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten beats. She paused, just for a moment, thinking. A slow smile spread over her face as she began to move during the instrumental bridge, elongated just for the video and this very bit she was choreographing for it.

She smirked to herself as the singing started back up again;

All you people can't you see, can't you see
How your love's affecting our reality
Every time we're down
You can make it right
And that makes you larger than life

She giggled as she continued dancing around the room, acting more like a teenage fan than an award winning choreographer as she let the music take her over.

Yeah, every time we're down
Yeah, you can make it right
Yeah, and that's what makes you larger than life

She had the song long since memorized and sang along with it as she got her groove on.

All you people can't you see, can't you see
How your love's affecting our reality
Every time we're down
You can make it right
And that makes you larger than life

"Do you have to play that shit in here?!" James' voice sounded loudly as the song finished.

"James!" Alice said with a start, flipping around and dropping the hairbrush she had acquired as a microphone.

He smirked. "Sorry, you told me to come on in when I got here…"

She still had her hand clutched to her heart as he flopped on the bed where her half-folded load of laundry sat. She shot him a look. "Just because you're laying on my bed…"

He held up a hand. He knew she wasn't intending to give up her v-card. Why, he wasn't sure, but he was okay with it. Alice was a terrific person, even if she did spend too much time with that other band.

"So," he said, nonchalantly as the song started over again. "You flying out tomorrow, right?"

She nodded as she continued to fold things into the suitcase sitting on the cedar chest at the foot of her bed. "I've got to get the backup dancers learning their new stuff, some of which I haven't even completed yet." She smiled at him. "Do you want to come with me?"

He snorted. "No thanks." He paused, and said, "Why aren't you this excited to see me, Ali?"

"Hmm?" she said distractedly as she tried to figure out which pair of shoes to take to match the one dress. Not being able to decide, she threw both pair into the bag.

"Alice," he said, a bit louder. "Look at me."

Her eyes popped toward his face and she was surprised to find sadness there. "James?"

He sighed. "Ali, sweetheart, who is it?"

She blinked. "Who is who?"

He stood and came over to her, caressing her face softly before his hand traveled down to rest on her chest, just over her heart. "Who is it that has this? Which one of them?"

Her eyes widened. "James…it's not like that…"

He shrugged. "You can't fool me, Alice. I know that there is someone that has a hold of your heart. And I know it's one of them."

"Jamey..." she started softly.

He shook his head. "Don't. It's okay. I'd rather it be like this than with the shit fucking Newton pulled on Bella. That shit was wrong, but I was vetoed. I didn't mind the song going out, but not the way he did it."

She nodded. James had a good heart. Most of them did. But Mike…he was a little piss ant, in her opinion. "Can I still be your friend?"

He chuckled. "Alice, you'll always be my friend. I promise."

She bit her lip, wondering if she should say anything, but deciding to throw caution to the wind, said, "You know, I have Victoria Langston's number."

His eyebrow rose. "And why would I want to know that?"

She grinned. "Because she's been sniffing around you for forever, it seems?"

He laughed. "Alice, you are too good for me anyway." He looked at her, noticing the sadness in her eyes. "He doesn't know you exist, does he?"

She shook her head and swallowed hard.

He kissed her forehead. "As long as it's not that Masen dickhead, I promise to be supportive."

She laughed out loud. "No, Edward is definitely not my type."

"Good. I mean, I'd hate to see you catch something from his diseased junk."

She popped him on the arm. "Edward's cleaned up his act, James. Besides, he's not that big of a douche once you get to know him."

James snorted. "That, I have trouble believing. I'll have to just take your word for it."

She nodded. "You do that."

He glanced at his watch. "Do you want to go out?"

She shook her head. "I don't think that's a very good idea tonight."

"Rain check, then, for the next time I'm in town, okay?"

She smiled. "Deal."

She watched him walk back out and she fell down onto her bed. She didn't know what she was doing. She had just broken up with the greatest guy on the planet for a man that had no idea she felt anything for him, and further more, was more fucked up than she was, and that said something.

She blew out a breath as the tears started, and yet again, she felt the loneliness clench around her as she began to sob.

Three days later, all five of the boys from Breakdown glared at Alice. "What?" she asked innocently. "I think it's cool." She had cried herself to sleep the night before, yet again. It seemed as though what had happened with James had brought a lot of things to the surface, things that frightened her. Alas, when morning dawned, she had gotten up, washed her face, got her shit together, and once more became the perky person everyone knew and loved. No one knew of her inner-most demons, and that was how she had intended it to remain.

"What the fuck, Alice?" Emmett asked as he watched the backup dancers doing their moves. "What are we? Fucking birds?"

"I am not wearing that leather, Alice. I look like a fucking FRUIT!" Jacob complained.

She glared at them. "I am an award-winning choreographer!" she started.

"Here we go," Edward muttered under his breath, but he was smiling. Bella was flying in and meeting him later tonight. He still hadn't quite forgiven Carlisle and Esme for their elopement, but he couldn't deny how happy they were. It made him wish he and Bella were closer to that particular milestone, but at this point, she hadn't even told anyone outside of their small group that they were dating. It irked him.

"You will do what I say, when I say! Are we clear?" Alice continued.

"We look queer," Jasper muttered under his breath. To their surprise, she walked over and popped him on the head.

"Never let me hear you say that word again," she growled.

Emmett held up a hand. "Ali, uh…we're southern. We didn't mean it as a slur or nothing. Our mama's and grandmama's been saying it forever. And it's queer, pronounced kware, not queer. Like, strange, odd, it's a southern thing." He shrugged.

"I don't care if the fucking Pope used it, you will not use it around me!"

"Think we should remind her that the Pope wouldn't like to hear his name associated with the word 'fuck'?" Jake asked softly to the two men standing next to him.

Edward grinned as Carlisle asked in a whisper, "What bug crawled up her arse?"

Edward shrugged, but he had a feeling it had to do with Alice's libido. He was about to mention the fact that she needed to get laid when she glared at him. "Do you have something to add, Masen?"

He swallowed hard as fear shot up his spine. She was a scary little fairy when she was all in a work. "No, ma'am," he said softly.

She nodded. "Now, get your asses moving!"

And so, they did, working diligently on the carefully choreographed steps for the musical interlude between visions of the video.

Emmett landed first onto the floor, exhausted. Jasper quickly piled onto him, followed by the other three as they made a "Breakdown" puddle on the floor. Alice smirked as she walked over. "You know, boys, I'll bet there is some very excited young men that would love to see the five of you like this. Sans clothing, of course."

They looked at one another for only a second before they all jumped to their feet. Alice laughed. "Gotcha."

Jasper, being short tempered, but also eager to tease her, growled and lunged at her. She did a pirouette and danced out of his reach before she took off running, giggling. He ran after her and the other four men laughed.

"How long before he realizes she has a thing for him?" Edward wondered aloud.

"Alice? For Jasper?" Emmett asked dumbly. He had once thought something might be up with them, but nothing had ever come to fruition in regards to that. At least, he hadn't thought it had.

Edward just looked at him. "Where the hell you been, man?"

"I…" he trailed off as Rosalie and Royce walked in the door.

"Never mind," Edward said with a snort. He knew his friend was taken with the stunning woman.

"Are you boys ready?" Alice said, coming back looking slightly windswept. Jasper came back in a few minutes later, smelling of cigarette smoke. "Those will kill you," she said with a glare at him. He flipped her off, which she smirked at. "Name your time and place, Jazzy." His mouth fell open, causing the other guys to laugh at him. She smirked again and turned back to them. "Here is the story boards for the vid, read over yours so you can get things figured out."

They each took their story boards and read over them. It was fairly straight up. They would be using green-screens for most of the video, but when they were finished, it would be stunning.

Edward smiled as he walked over to Rosalie. "It looks like you and I will be working together, Miss Hale."

She smiled warmly at him. "Yes it does, Mr. Masen. Do you think you can 'play ball' with me?"

He laughed. "Oh, I believe I could wipe the floor with you, my dear."

She smirked. "Game on, Edward."

He chuckled and turned, failing to see Emmett's eyes harden as he watched the two. He'd wanted to be with Rosalie on this video.

"Emmett!" Alice said, bounding up to him.

"Hey, pixie-pie," he said softly. "What's up?"

"I'm with you! I'm going to try to shoot down your spaceship!"

He snorted. "Like you could even get close to my ship, Ali-cat!"

"We'll see about that, Em!" she said with a grin.

He rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help the burning in his chest at the fact that he had once more not gotten to be close to Rosalie…

PAGE BREAK

"Dude! That was excellent!" Jacob said as he fought with his robot costume, attempting to get out of it himself. "Shit." He turned to Jasper. "Man, I'm only gonna ask this once…but…dude, could you help me outta this?"

Jasper just looked at him, his eyes wide and his mouth falling open. "Excuse me, did you just ask me to help you out of your clothes?"

"NO, you sick fuck!" Jacob said with a laugh. "I am not a lovely bunch of coconuts."

Carlisle looked up with his eyebrow raised. He'd never heard that term, but he could only assume Jacob was reiterating the fact that he was not gay.

Jasper pursed his lips and rolled his eyes. "You are such a little cocksucker, Jacob."

Jacob puckered his lips. "For you, Jazzy, I'd make an exception."

"Ah! God!" Jasper ran toward the door, causing Carlisle and Jacob to burst into laughter.

"Carlisle…?" Jacob asked in a poor, pitiful voice.

Carlisle sighed with a slight smile on his face. "You know, I believe you just contradicted yourself there, Jacob. First you said you weren't a lovely bunch of coconuts, which I assume means you aren't gay, and then you offer to suck Jasper's cock. Do I want to know if your sexuality is in question?"

Jacob looked at him and burst out in laughter. "I'm messing with him. But I do need help with my costume."

Carlisle chuckled. "Luckily for me, I happen to know you have a steady girlfriend. I'm the only one that knows it, for certain, anyway, but still…so, yeah, I'll help you."

Jacob blew out a breath. He was burning up inside the costume and had sweated buckets. The makeup team had had one hell of a time keeping him from quote; 'glistening'. "Thanks, man, I'll…"

"Don't you even try to make up for this, Jacob. We'll pretend it never happened, alright?"

Jacob grinned. "Deal."

They finished getting changed back into their street clothes and walked back out onto the now vacant set. They found Emmett sitting alone in the darkened space. "Hey, Em. You wanna come out with us?" Jake asked him. "We're gonna grab something to eat."

Emmett looked up and shook his head. "Where's everyone else?"

Carlisle and Jacob exchanged a look. Something was bothering their 'brother bear'. "What's up, Em?"

"Nothin', man. I just don't wanna go out. Now, where is everyone else?"

Jacob grinned. "Edward ran out of here like his ass was on fire. Bella called him on his cell phone. She was waiting at the hotel for him. I don't expect to see him for the next forty eight hours, and Jasper…"

"I saw him leave with Alice," Emmett said.

"Alice?" Jake and Carlisle asked at the same time.

Emmett nodded. "I think they said something about going and getting dinner? It looked like they wanted to be alone."

Well, that's an interesting development, Carlisle thought. "Well, come join us, then, Emmett. We're rather boring by comparison, but you're more than welcome."

He shook his head. "I think I'll head out of here in a few minutes. Go ahead and enjoy your evening, guys."

They looked at one another again before they both nodded. "See ya later, man," they told him.

He waved them off and sighed. He stood and stepped out into the cool night air. He was…depressed was too strong a word, blah, he supposed would work. That's what his grandma had always said when he felt like this. He was tired. Tired of the drinking, the whoring around, even though he wasn't a manwhore like Edward had been, he'd had his fair share of girls. He wished sometimes he could go back to high-school and decide not to be this superstar. Sometimes he just wanted normal.

It didn't help matters that he had to watch the girl he was pretty sure he'd fallen in love with being led around with another man, nor could he stand watching her work with Edward in a barely there, skin-tight, left nothing to the imagination, shirt that didn't cover jack shit, some of the tightest pants known to man, lookin' so fuckin' good it oughtta be a crime as she'd worked her scene. She was so beautiful, so very perfect. She was tall, lithe, strong. And he wanted her.

But alas, she was another man's, and that was something he didn't condone. He didn't cheat. He often said quote; 'that shit won't right' because, in his eyes, he believed it. He didn't abide by a lot of those Ten Commandments his mother had instilled in him, but the cheating wasn't one he liked to mess around with. Although, technically, the commandment stated not to covet. And he definitely did that. Well, at least he hadn't murdered anyone. Yet.

He sighed and his head fell against the stone wall of the building. "Ouch," he muttered as the door swung open.

"Royce! I'm sorry!" Rosalie wailed. "Please, I'm sorry. It was nothing of the sort!"

"So now you're calling me a liar?" he snarled. "You pathetic excuse for a woman. You're nothing more than a whore."

"Noooo! No, I'm not, Royce! I swear to you! You're the only man for me! I'm under your control!"

Emmett winced as she said those words. He grew sick to his stomach as the next words were uttered.

"And what about my friends? Did you enjoy fucking them too?"

She was sobbing now as she said, "No, I didn't. I only did that because you wanted me to."

Emmett gasped just as Royce slapped her across the cheek. "You bitch! You should enjoy the gift I give you! How many other women get to have their choice of her fiancé's friend's cocks at their disposal?"

"They used me, Royce! And you watched!"

He slapped her again. "Damned right I did. Got me hard as a fucking diamond, too, Rosalie. Even now, just thinking about it…" He grasped her around the throat and shoved her into the wall opposite and down from where Emmett stood, shocked into silence, unable to believe what he was seeing.

"Royce! Please! Just let me go…I'll suck you off, baby…"

He grasped her by the hair and turned her around, pushing her face into the wall. "No, you fucking cunt. I'll have a piece of your ass. Now."

He lifted her skirt and pulled her to him. "You feel so fucking good, Rosalie."

She was sobbing now, and to Emmett's horror, Royce began hitting her, punching her in the ribs, the back, the kidneys, over and over again with one huge hand as he pulled her hair roughly with the other.

"This ass is mine," he said as he shoved her roughly against the brick, face first. He slid his pants to the ground and that was when Emmett's senses came back to him and he launched himself across the alleyway and ripped Royce from Rosalie, who sank to the ground, sobbing.

"What the fuck, man?" Royce said, before he saw who had him. "Oh, Emmett, right? It's just you…"

Emmett's eyes had darkened to a navy color, and had Royce known Emmett, he would have realized that mean Emmett was pissed off and his rage was just about to be unleashed. His jaw clenched as he balled his fists, moving to Royce.

Royce seemed to sense that he was in trouble now as Emmett pulled him up by the scruff of the neck. "Do you do this to her often?" Emmett asked softly, deadly.

"Wh-what?" Royce asked.

"Beat her and rape her," Emmett said flatly.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about. Rosalie likes it rough, don't you, baby?"

"No! You will NOT talk to her," Emmett told him, the rage evident in his voice. "You will talk to me. I'm the one asking the questions."

Royce swallowed hard.

"So, Royce, was what you said true? Did you let her friends have their way with her?"

"Fucking bitch asked for it!" Royce shouted.

Emmett's jaw ticked even has his hand fisted once more. "Is that a fact?"

"Yeah. She wanted a gang-bang, that's what she got."

Emmett nodded. "I see. And, so, would you think it would be fair if I did that to you? If I decided I wanted to gang-bang you? If I decided I wanted to fuck you, just because I could?"

The fear almost oozed from Royce as he realized this would not end well for him.

Emmett let out a low growl. "You fucking disgust me," he said under his breath. "Lucky thing I enjoy beating up on disgusting things…" that was the last words he uttered as he began beating upon Royce.

When he felt certain Royce had been sufficiently schooled, he said, "If you even think of coming near Rosalie again OR pressing charges against me, I swear to God, I'll fucking kill you. And that's a promise. We southerners take this shit very seriously. I know of some good ole boys that'll help me fuck you up permanently. You understand?"

Royce nodded mutely as he held his now very swollen face in his hands. Emmett didn't hesitate as he slowly picked up Rosalie's limp form. She moaned slightly and Emmett licked his lips. "I'm gonna get you some help, Rosie? Okay?"

She didn't respond as he rushed out into the busy street. He dashed over to where his rental car was parked and eased her into the passenger seat. He broke the speed limit, went through four red lights, and hauled ass into the parking lot of the Emergency room he happened to notice on his way to the studio. "Help!" he shouted as he dashed into the door with her. "Somebody, help me!"

Doctors and nurses swarmed over him as he told how he had been leaving the studio and had seen her being molested. They wrenched her from his grasp and hauled her off behind the locked doors. He was handed some paperwork he knew he couldn't fill out and decided he needed to call Alice or Bella, both whom were friends with her. He tried both their cell numbers and couldn't reach either of them and not knowing what else to do, hunkered down on a too-small chair to wait.

A doctor emerged an eternity, (which, in reality, was an hour) and said, "Emmett, right?"

Emmett nodded.

"Follow me."

Emmett was led through a maze of hallways until they came to an actual room. He looked at the doctor, who nodded. "She's asked for you. She said you were her angel."

Emmett blushed a shade of red that would make Bella proud and stepped into the dimly lit room. It took his eyes a moment to adjust to the light before he rushed to the bed. "Rosalie?" She was almost unrecognizable with the bruises now marring her skin.

"Emmett. Thank you…I…" she shook her head as she began to sob. "What have I become?"

He grasped her hands carefully. "You're you, Rosalie. You've done nothing wrong."

"I didn't stop him…all the pain, the hurt, everything he did to me, I didn't stop it…"

"You couldn't have," he said softly. "It took an outsider, I guess. I'm just glad I stayed behind." He would not admit his feelings for her, not now, not when she was so hurt.

So, he was more than a little shocked when she said, "Emmett…I know how you feel about me."

His mouth fell open. "You do?"

She nodded sadly. "I wanted to leave, I tried to leave. Royce threatened to kill me if I left him…and after what he and his friends did to me…"

"Why didn't you go for help, Rosalie?"

"Who would help me? Do you not know who Royce's family is, Emmett?"

Emmett did. It was well known that the King's were something akin to the Kennedy's or the Hilton's. Everyone had heard their name and it sickened him to think that she had to stay in that.

"No more, Rosie. You'll stay with me or with one of my friends until this mess gets straightened out. I refuse to let them touch you again."

She began to sob more and he felt helpless until she said softly, "Em? Could you…I'm scared."

He didn't even hesitate as he slipped onto the bed as gently as his big body could and held her. Eventually, her sobs quieted and he felt her body relax as sleep overtook her. "I'll protect you with my life, Rosalie. I swear to you, I will love more than that. I won't say the words then take them back. Baby, you deserve much better than him." He kissed her forehead and began humming the song that was slowly working its way through his brain.