Hey, Rose. I miss fixing cars with you.
Rosalie sighs as she rereads the text for the nth time. Here they are in Paris, escaping the ever so tense Forks. Ever since the Denalis revealed their knowledge about vampires' mating, it shook Rosalie to the core and made her rethink everything she thought she knew about the mating bond.
So she took the chance. Once she knew Bella was starting to accept Irina and had cleared all doubts planted by that manipulative a-hole, she took off with Emmett.
She has never felt so guilty.
Paris is one of her favourite cities, minus the stench of human's urine, and it's supposed to be a romantic getaway. Of course for that purposes only, they couldn't do it at a hotel seeing their habit of breaking the bed, would only raise suspicions. Emmett wanted to try it out just to provoke the humans and hear the hotel staff gossiping and guessing which one of them did it. He had wanted to make the bet because this is Paris and Rosalie looks like Rosalie that the humans would think Rosalie's the one with the kinky side. She is. But Rosalie seemed too distraught to even participate or entertain him.
So, in one of those isolated spaces, they did it as many times as they could. Emmett was even excited at Rosalie's proposal at experimenting. But of course, she was up for anything except being the submissive one. Emmett had his fair share of being thrown through the walls for merely suggesting it.
Rosalie was insatiable and he was more than willing. Although, he does know that something is off with his wife. Eventhough her spirit and enthusiasm was there, her eyes just weren't. It was like she was in a different place as she often spaced out. There was a glimmer he had seen recently ever since the weird but endearing human made peace with his wife. He knew he'd have to work harder to get his wife to talk about it but all attempts went down the drain as she blatantly ignored his words and dragged him to the fashion shows he has zero interests in. He thought having Bella there would have been fun for him and for his wife. He knew he'd end up sitting side by side with his human sister and trash talk about all the ugly and absurd pieces of clothing they call fashion. He also knew Rosalie would splurge on the human eventhough the human would resist. But he had seen Bella donning a Moncler just a few weeks ago.
Rosalie is still confused with everything that is Bella. They truly bonded over their almost similar trauma with bed men but anyone can see it had grown so much stronger than their share of horrible experiences with men.
The only person she's ever been affectionate with is Alice and that's because of Alice's natural loving ways. No one can resist her. It had taken her time for her to be comfortable around Emmett too and that's because he's her mate. So why and how then did she become affectionate with Bella?
Perhaps like Emmett, Bella could see through her icy mask. She likes the way Bella's eyes twinkle when the human blushes as she stares at the vampire in her greasy overall, speaking jargons the human couldn't begin to comprehend.
So how did it come so naturally for them? The hand-holding, the cuddling, the spooning and lingering kisses. She doesn't know the reason but she feels joyous that Bella trusts her the most. When the human sought her first before calling everyone for the confrontation, she grinned at being the person receiving the text, annoying Alice endlessly.
Irina, her cousin; treats her human so gently and so kindly. She envied her gentleness and warmth that seem to draw Bella in. Deep down, she wants that too. She wants to be not harsh or sarcastic or cold towards her human.
Kate's questions never left her mind. Her very own answer had puzzled. Her soul knew something even before her mind did.
Alice's vision from 17 years ago was starting to make sense now.
"I see your future changing, Rose. It's both terrifying and amazing!"
She gives in to her desire and pulls out her phone.
I'll be back soon.
There's no more delaying. She could feel Bella would need her soon. Even Emmett misses home. And now being apart from the girl, there's an uneasiness feeling inside and her days feel empty. Like Emmett had told her, it would have been more enjoyable with Bella here.
Bella's in her one piece swimming suit Alice bought her and the strong ocean breeze makes her teeth jitter against each other. She couldn't say no when Kate had told her about their weekend activity.
"Bella, what is this I hear about you and cliff jumping?"
She winced at the explanation she would have to give. She had to admit it was stupid, selfish and blamed it on stupidly in love with Edward. She thought there's gonna be another round of lecture coming from the vampires. She had heard enough scolding from Esme.
"Erm, it was a one time thing and I wasn't thinking clearly."
Kate went around the table and put her arm around Bella's shoulders, "Now that we can agree on. Seriously, if you're an adrenaline junkie you shouldn't be learning this from the mutts. I'm the expert and I'll teach you."
That truly wasn't the reaction she had expected. Looking at Irina, she only shrugged and said she'd go along with whatever Bella chose.
"Oh please. I know for a fact that my sister's dying to see her precious mate in a swimming suit," Kate joked and fled the scene.
Kate was right, Irina did appreciate the view. The suit hugging her mate's body tightly makes her eyes turn black and Irina pulls Bella near her. The Denalis of course chose a much more conspicuous two piece which conceal nothing. Bella's relieved they chose this hidden spot cause she isn't in the mood to see boys and men leer at the Denalis. Irina meanwhile chose a somewhat matching suit to Bella. She definitely knows the pixie planned this, not that she minds one bit. She doesn't think her heart could handle seeing Irina's skin. It's not something she is ready for just yet and Irina seems to understand it.
"Rule number one; don't take off your shoes," Tanya begun. But Bella looks confused when all three sisters do the opposite. Fortunately Irina explained that they can do it because they're vampires and won't get hurt.
Bella smirks to see them so well versed on the subject and immediately it dawned on her, "Did a lot of skinning dipping with the humans, Kate?"
"You bet your ass I did! But don't be fooled. Tanya's the expert here seeing her seniority reigning the succubus title," she winked.
Tanya just raises her eyebrows and owns the title like the Queen she is.
"Contrary to what boys like, don't go in head first," Kate wiggled her eyebrows and continued, "And keep your hands and legs to your body. Don't flail around."
Irina holds Bella from behind as the two sisters gracefully somersaulted down the cliff, "Remember to breath through your nose. I'll be right behind you, love."
The water splashes and they approach the cliff to watch the Denalis dance around and swim to their heart's content. Both Kate and Tanya yelled loud enough for Bella to hear, them asking her to join them down there. Instead of feeling wary and pressured like she did last time, she feels excited, a little bit nervous but also relaxed. But that could be from how Irina is holding her.
She agreed to this. Bella craves the adrenaline rush she had with the wolves. She squeezes Irina's hand and takes a few steps behind, "See you down there."
Bella runs as fast she can while trying to remember all the Denalis taught her.
Legs first.
Jump like a log.
And to breathe through her nose.
The first and second rules are the hardest to do. Her legs feel like flailing around as if her body's trying to stop itself from falling. She feels herself trembling trying to keep her hands and legs straight but as fast as two seconds, her feet dive in through the water easily and she feels no pain than when she jumped the last time. Breathing through her nose, it makes breathing a lot easier as she swims to the surface but not before witnessing a pool of white splashes underneath and blonde hair. Irina swims close to her and Bella uses her hands to keep herself down. Once Irina's nearby, she grabs onto Bella by the waist and winks at her mate.
It was planned. Bella wanted to prank Kate, revenge for her shocking the human few days ago. It feels forever and she could still see two pair of legs swimming up there. Bella thought she couldn't keep it in anymore and signals to Irina that she's almost out of breath. Irina leans in and puts her lips onto her mate's and supplies her with a bit more oxygen. What started out as an innocent act pivoted to a full blown makeout.
Let's just say the couple didn't get to fool Kate and Tanya as they climb to the surface, lips still locked on each other.
Kate rolls her eyes and comes in to steal Bella away from her sister. She runs to the cliff again with Bella in her arms and she challenges the human to do another jump. Sneakily, she tries to once again flow her electricity through Bella in an attempt to try and jolt her when the human has her back turned. Unprepared for her sneaky two sisters, Kate lets out a yelp as she's being picked up and thrown into the water by her sisters.
"You devil!" She cursed.
They all cackle in laughter. "That's what you get for trying to electrocute my mate!"
Tanya continues to laugh and Irina winks at her mate. Bella then proceeds to fake a cramp and have Tanya look at her leg. And when Tanya knelt down, Irina uses the opportunity to tackle and shove her eldest sister off the cliff. Tanya flips them off as she falls down not-so-gracefully, with an amused smile on her face.
Feeling satisfied by their teamwork, Bella holds out her hand to her mate, "Wanna jump together?"
Irina smiles, takes ahold of her mate's hand and follows her into the ocean. She'd jump off any cliff with her Isabella. Her dead heart soars as they take their first leap together.
Rosalie is annoyed to find that the Denali sisters had taken Bella away on a weekend trip to who knows where. Alice knows but refuses to divulge their location.
"You won't like what they're doing," the pixie reasoned. "And relax, Bella's having fun!"
She is not having the best day today and she just needs her human. The big talk with Emmett had gone as awry as she anticipated it to be, especially since it was one she didn't plan on having so soon.
"Let's get a divorce, Rose."
Em threw her a tired smile. Her eyes hardened and she turned into a statue. Out of all the things he would say, she never foresee divorce would come out of his mouth. She knew he loves her deeply. It made things a whole lot more complicated.
"What!?"
He patted at the log next to him, urging his soon to be ex-wife to take a breather. Something in the way his body hunched made Rosalie obey. She knew whatever Em's about to tell her is of grave importance.
"I know, Rose. I know about you and her. I've seen the way you two interact with each other. And although it hurts, I realise what you and I have is nothing compared to your bond with her."
She said nothing. She thought she had been so careful. How did he know? Who else knew? Was it even right to do this? He reached out and held her hand softly, squeezing a little.
"I want to know why aren't you going after her?"
Again, that's the third time today Emmett had turned the table and shook Rosalie to the core. Emmett, the funny Emmett, the lovable vampire, was punching through her icy walls. She stuttered incoherently, her ability to speak was suddenly robbed of her.
"You knew?" she whispered and the venom pooled in her eyes, unable to ever shed.
"I've always known, Rose. We aren't like Alice and Jasper or like Bella and Irina. Our bond is strong because we built it from the ground. And that took us decades. But you and Bella, it seemed so natural."
Rosalie crumbled under the weight of it all knowing Emmett had felt it too. Their bond slowly dissipating to a neutral. It was slow but they felt the difference. Sorry after sorry came out of her mouth and it was as genuine as she could be. She didn't want to hurt Emmett.
Understanding Emmett. Respectful Emmett. Playful Emmett.
The Denali's admission at Bella's house had put them both on edge though Emmett was surprisingly better at hiding it. Rosalie didn't see him flinch on that day. But of course she was rather distraught between wanting to kill Edward and wanting to protect Bella. She focused more on the former since her cousin was doing a fine job at the latter.
And so, in the middle of the forest ground, they both held each other close, feeling heartbroken from the inside.
Rosalie had asked for more time as she figured it all out. Emmett smiled and nodded knowing that the two are unofficially separated. He didn't want to come in between someone's happiness. He wasn't Edward. He cared a lot about making both of them happy. So one day he could too.
"I wasn't trying to kill myself," Bella whispered as Irina draped hot towel around her shivering mate.
The Denalis, Bella included, because now whether she says it or not, she is a part of them, swam around playfully seeing the nice sun was out and as expected, there's no other humans around.
Bella was thinking how much she enjoyed herself this afternoon with all of them and how foolish she had been to have acted the way she did when Edward left her. Kate and Tanya, although worried, never pressed Bella to talk about those incidents but it had been on the human's mind for a while.
"Desperate times called for desperate measures. It was the only way I could see him. They were illusions, I know, but it was something," she explained.
Irina reflects on her own experience with Laurent. It was different but it was still ugly. All the anger she felt was destroying her from the inside, even Tanya couldn't do much to stop it. When Edward had come to them and asked for their help, she immediately volunteered as a distraction, despite how she loathed him. But she knew there would be small opportunities to undermine and unleash her anger on him during the training and she was sure she could blame it on how rigorous vampire trainings can get. And she did. Edward whined here and there until Kate joined them and told him to suck it or else risk being shocked by her power.
What she didn't realise was that her sister would actually order her to escort Edward back and oversee his control training. And she's forever grateful to Tanya and the universe for that fateful day. How her life had changed for the better since that day.
Irina realises there isn't a word she could say to soothe her mate's painful memory so she does the second best thing she knows; she pulls the human into her arms and inhales her scent. She is glad Bella didn't end up taking her own life, she knew how tempting it would have been. She had felt the same when she heard of Laurent's death. But somehow if the same tragedy were to happen to Bella, she would immediately get herself killed. Rampage wouldn't even be worth it. Life without Bella wouldn't be worth it.
Bella relaxes in her arms and even more so at Irina's assurance, "I believe you, Isabella." She allows herself to enjoy the comfort and leans on Irina's strong chest.
"Sometimes you feel warm to me instead of cold," Bella said after a moment of comfortable silence. Irina's fingers threads her hair in affection. She refuses to hold back on expressing her love when Bella's so willing and accepting of her love language. She releases the human and begins to pack their stuff but links one hand around Bella's.
"You always feel warm to me, I love it," she said back and kissed Bella's nose. It is an affection which makes Bella blush and melt her heart.
"Would you like to go on a date with me?"
It caught her by surprise so she accidentally dropped the items on the ground. It has always been Irina to initiate anything and this was Bella's first. Irina had wanted to, she definitely was dying inside to ask her mate that.
A date? Of course she wants to!
"I mean seeing as we've kissed a few times, not that I'm complaining, but I feel it's proper to go on a date?" Bella rambled seeing Irina silence.
"Yes, yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes, absolutely fucking yes!" she replied enthusiastically, not bothering to feel shameless about it. This spurred Kate's teasing, "Sorry Bella! I'll be sure to teach our young sister to be a little more smooth sometimes."
Irina ignores her while Bella laughs and blushes. The question has been on her mind since not too long ago. She does want to get to know Irina and what other way than going on a date? She did say she needs time but Bella's honest with herself seeing how they're approaching second base any day now. Well, she wants them too. After all, she is a normal teenager with such hormones. She hopes Irina won't be against second and third base like Edward did. One of these days her fingers alone won't be enough.
