Chapter 10

Out of the frying pan into the fire.

That's how I feel about the drama swirling around my life. It appears that Edward's generous help was a parting gift. The temptation of that Isabella girl's blood was becoming too much for him and he went to our cousins the Denali's in Alaska.

It's been a few days since his departure and we all felt his absence. Jasper and Emmett didn't have their sparring partner, sure Carlisle could substitute Edward but given his pacifist nature he didn't challenge their skill as much as they would've liked. Carlisle even he though he was sympathetic about the reasons for Edward's departure he took hard too, as they had known each other the longest and he in many ways Edward was a man after his heart and bonded in their aspirations to live ideally and honorably. He felt overwhelmingly responsible for Edward's safety and well being as he does the rest of our coven. Alice handled the situation surprisingly well.

It surprised me how hard Edward's absence hit me. Sure we got on each other's nerves, argued, bickered and have at times wished I could sucker punch him but there were times when we've challenged each other to be our best, shared the best interests of our coven, been protective of our family and each other. Seeing that grand piano silently sitting there was a stark reminder of Edward's absence. It's been months since I've played but the piano's deafening silence was starting get depressing I felt compelled to fill the void left by Edward. My playing might not match Edward (admittedly I could be better with a bit more effort) I was no slouch. Apart from my love of cars and tinkering with them playing piano was thing me and Edward shared, with his tutoring my playing improved and enabled us to bond.

My fingers gliding on keys as I tried replicating a composition he made for me my 1st anniversary with the Cullens. Closing my eyes I tried giving my feelings free reign through the music. Technically the execution excellent but it lacked heart. Frustration slipping through I stopped playing.

"Oh don't stop, please." Esme said.

This made me nearly jump out of my skin.

"Esme, I didn't notice you there." I said

"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you, it's nice to know that this piano won't gather dust." Esme said.

Smiling at her I said: "It would be a shame to waste such a fine instrument and I'd brush up, seeing as I don't want to get rusty."

Again I played this time more calmly and patiently, trying my best for myself and Esme's benefit.

I just hope me playing the piano was soothing Esme instead dredging up painful reminders of her deceased infant son as Edward became her surrogate son for what she hoped her son would've ideally grown up to be. She'd taken the role of mother after marrying Carlisle and tried with all her might to look after her "children". Whilst Carlisle's kindness is of the gentle, sympathetic and sincerely peace loving and noble sort, where as Esme's kindness is warm, compassionate, radiated happiness and affection. Given Esme and Carlisle's shared altruism derived happiness from helping others on one form or another it must be hard seeing someone they've cared and known so long, languish and being unable to do anything. I just hope she'd be well and good.

As I played for Esme with thinking all those thoughts I wondered what it would be like when I part ways with the Cullens. Would they remember me after my mortal life span reached my end? Would they in their infinite lives remember (even by my standards) the brief time I lived with them?

Looking at Esme's gentle smile and warm eyes I believed maybe I'll get immortality not by becoming a vampire but maybe I'd be like witnessing a supernova, a spectacular event that one chances upon. Although terribly quick the effects linger on ripple throughout a galaxy long after a star's death.

I know that the love for those dearly departed lives on forever, looking at Esme I felt confident my memories living with them would be like the Cullens –immortal.


I had her right where I wanted. There I was in front Vera's car with the hood up, Vera reluctantly accepting my help to "fix" her car. So how did we find ourselves here?

A few days earlier…

I was annoyed after Vera again pig headedly wouldn't give a chance to talk to her. I wish there was a way I could get her to stop and listen. I kept thinking what skills I could use. Thinking how I wished repairing my friendship was as easy as fixing cars.

Mphh… fixing cars.

I had an idea, 1 that had me wondering if it was a step too far, if only I could be sure there wouldn't be collateral damage I kept thinking of every possible outcome. Like water down your back on a Winter's morning an epiphany struck me, I could know that with the help of my sister Alice.

After school at home I made my decision, I was going through with my plan. Time to talk to Alice. There was she planning our outfits, interrupting her I told her my plan. Alice after going through most scenarios— ZOOM!!

At vampire speed flashing out of the room and returning at the doorway tossing my jacket to me saying "Lets go."

Catching it I asked: "Now?"

Rolling her eyes she chimed: Yeah! Now would be a good time. C'mon."

Heading to the door Alice tugged me the hand to the window, wondering what's she doing there.

"Lets get the car ready. What are doing here anyway wasting time since you insist doing my plan now." I said

"Oh the car wont be needed the car it's a bit too conspicuous." Alice answered.

"It's really far I can't walk all the way there in a blur incase you haven't noticed it'll take ages to get through the forest." I said.

"Just hop on my back and we'll be there in no time." Alice stated.

I looked at her stupefied, as logic and reason wrestled in my head, rationally I knew Alice is supernaturally fast and strong than anything humanly possible and could do so but thinking of my apparently 16–18-ish petite sister offer to jockey me across Forks seemed ridiculous and so wrong. Eager to get started hoisted me on her back. Leaping off my balcony I screamed threats at Alice she better not drop me, landing on the ground she blitz of into the night, wind whipping past.

Reaching the edge of the forest where it gave to human settlements we stayed in the shadows until we neared our destination, we surveilled our target. Watching the house the lights were on we waited for them to get to sleep. 73 minutes later I was growing impatient in the cold as time sluggishly dragged on. The lights in the living room finally turned off we snuck to the garage. Target in sight I got to work with Alice holding a torch, the car's battery removed and uncapped the acidic chemicals. I carefully poured the acid on the battery terminals this went against my car loving sensibilities. It suddenly all went dark.

CcrrreeakkK! the house's back door open, I heard the rustling of garbage bags, crouching down to hide as best as I can fumbling in the dark.

Thehe rustling got nearer, I kept chanting in my head- please don't come this direction. Please don't come this direction.

As if by providence a sudden loud clank, caused Vera to squeak in surprise. It must have spooked her cause I heard a quicker rustling of garbage bags get further and the house's back door slam.

Whispering low I called out to Alice, appearing like an apparition, torch like staring into the a predator's face flashed on to pale face and those burning golden eyes of hers. Her hand shot out to muffled my scream.

After I calmed down I returned to the car to things back with my task done me and Alice high tailed it back home.

The days after me and Alice's little adventure in Vera's garage I kept anxious close watch over the insidious results of my gremlin tinkering, the car would take longer and longer to start, the lights were dimmer. Despite Alice's assurance I couldn't help worrying.

Keeping my distance I saw Vera's car stuttered and stalled. I stopped ahead of her car.

I said to her: "Need any help?"

"No! Just fine." Vera curtly replied. "Stupid heap of junk. C'mon!" Vera grumbled.

"You'd get going sooner if you'd let me know help you. I could save you the cost of a tow truck." I retorted

While she sat there internally debating I got working on her car.

"HEY!!! I didn't say go ahead!!!" She said.

"May as well start as, it's getting late and the hood's already popped open." I smothered her protest.

Her brows furrowed she said: "Oh, fine! Help self to everything it's not like I'm here."

Getting to work knowing the exact problem I caused, I went through the motions checking for problems, now was chance to make her listen.

"We got to talk. I know why you're mad at me and… Jack." I said.

"Oh and what might that be?" She sardonically asked.

"The rumors about me and Jack."

"What about them? Here to tell me in person? Don't worry I know about you, so unless it's about my car zip it!" She snidely said.

"LISTEN Vera!!! I'm trying to help you and you're being a bitch and I've been patient enough with you already!"

"So should I be grateful?!!"

"Vera LLI-I-SSS-T-EN...!! Me and Jack aren't dating, we just happened to be friends because of you! I'm not interested in him.

"Is that so?" She sarcastically asked. "He seems to be interested in you. Remember a couple of weeks ago after that math test the 3 of us studied for and he practically jumped to study– with you?!! Like him volunteering to study more?!! Bet the 2 of you would be doing biology practically."

What little patience I had ran out. I growled at her: "YOU know what VERA?!! Maybe the rumors are true with the way you've been treating me and Jack maybe we are better off without you! We've been trying to reach out to you but you won't even hear us out, with all the shit we're getting we might as well make those rumors a reality. Would you like that Vera?!!"

Readying myself for Vera's verbal counterstrike I saw her red eyed tear streaked face, with her quivering lips trying to contain her sob not what I expected or wanted. Those weren't tears of anger, she genuinely hurt. My anger dissipated as I remembered why this setup happened I wanted to comfort her.

As gentle as I could I said: "Look I didn't mean to hurt you. So can we talk rationally like mature people?"

Through her tear filled eyes she nodded in agreement. I sat in the passenger side.

"Rose I'm sorry for my crazy behavior. It's no excuse it's just that–" Vera sniffled.

"You got mad."

Vera said. Breathing in she added. "Yeah I felt betrayed, angry but it's was more than that. When I heard they said both of you -were better off without me- I reminded me of when I heard that."

Now my curiosity was piqued but seeing how it upset her but I respected her privacy. She's always done the same.

She went on: "I heard that when I was a kid my parents divorced, you see they were having problems. It was during this time I think my father's affair began. It went on for awhile and mom got suspicious and she heard rumors. Their marriage worsened and the rumors were confirmed, they eventually had a bitter divorce. As hard as she tried to hide it, I could see it took a toll on mom, meanwhile dad and his mistress Cameron no longer hid their relationship and went official. I guess mom expected them to get hell for their affair but they didn't, the opposite actually kinda like what happened to Jennifer Aniston, when Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie became Brangelina, people gushed over them. Cameron or Cammy for short was compared to mom, people whispered my dad upgraded how better off he was with Cammy, who was younger, prettier than mom. How happier and madly in love Cammy and dad were.

The kicker was when some of mom's friends and acquaintances started accepting Cammy into their circles and began saying how if she hadn't gotten too comfy and let herself go maybe dad wouldn't have strayed easily. It was got too much for her when Cammy and dad were having a baby boy.

Me and dad's relationship became awkward and strained, I hated how he abandoned us and hurt and betrayed mom, I hated Cammy for stealing him and avoided them often. Dad accused mom of turning me against him and mom said he turned their friends against her.

At a school athletic event with mom, dad and Cammy attending, it came to boiling point when it slipped in the grapevine that I called Cammy a home wrecking skank, dad blamed mom quietly fighting."

"Not that it was unnoticed by others attending not loud enough for people to hear, I bee lined to them. They didn't notice me, hearing them bicker I went berserk loudly spewing F-bombs! Vera giggled at that memory.

She continued: "I F-bombed everyone even the spectators to our spat. Afterwards when we calmed down we left awkwardly after that incident my parents tried to be civil later that year mom moved to Forks and I wanted to go with her."

"Being new in town and school it was hard at 1st, Luke reached out to me and him and Jack–" Vera eyes brightened up a bit"–we became close friends thus Luke likes calling us the 3 amigos."

"I went to back for the spring holidays I met my new born baby brother Henry–" Vera perked up saying his name "–and in that moment I thought how unfair to him to continue this feud he never choose this so I decided to mend bridges with them. I guess I began forgiving Dad after that and our relationship has been improving. I mostly moved on but those rumors reopened old wounds and sort of freaked out."

"I worried what happened to mom would happen to me, considering my resemblance to mom. I mean look at you you're knockout any who wouldn't want you? Now I've ruined things!" she despairingly said.

"Your jealous lover act didn't irrepairably ruin things, so don't stress." I stated.

"OH! ME Jealous. Like THAT! No way we're just friends!" and blah, blah Vera babbled in embarrassment.

Looking into her eyes: "Be honest, with the way you've been acting."

Groaning she capitulated: "Yeah I've had feelings for Jack for while now."

Seeing the emotional roller coaster she's just been through on a whim that surprised both of us I gave her a comforting hug. After what seemed like an eternity we broke the hug and a string apologies we buried the hatchet.

I asked: So what are going to do?"

I don't know. It's a mess Rose." Vera said.

Looking at her I said: "I'll help you with your Jack situation."

"How?" she asked with cautious hope.

Smiling confidently I said: "If you're e willing to do whatever it takes then I'll help you every step of the way. So are you in?"

"AaahhH, ye-yesss. I'm sorry for the way I've been acting." She awkwardly stated.

"I'll forgive you but next you hear rumors Ppa-llee-ease get your facts straight." I said

"I'm really sorry." Vera said contritely

"I'm just glad our friendship didn't end because of some rumors. Got to get back to work." I said.

With that said, I "repaired" her car's battery and made plans to fully fix it at her home as we departed.

Later at home I was in for another reconciliation of sorts.


Author's note

Sorry it so long to up "The Cullen's forbidden Rose." things have been hectic, this chapter and the next couple I'm dumping got longer than usually intended.

Now we see Rosalie's mechanical skills put to use, hopefully I'll reveal why she's so good with cars.

Oh, PLEASE!! DON'T DO THAT BATTERY SABOTAGE THING!!!!

A) It's dangerous.

B) The science is very sketchy at best. Good for my plot's convenience BUT not exactly hard science.