Emmett was there when it happened. And he was still there too when he heard Bella leave in a hurry, away from Rose. He definitely was there the moment Rose unfroze and made one hell of a run from there.
With no hesitation, he abandoned the brand new console and picked up right behind Rose.
"Shif!" He cursed as Rose stepped up, almost leaving him behind on purpose. There were some things that they never spoke of during their entire marriage and this was one of them.
Whenever their cousins were over here, Rose would always prefer to hunt with them over him. He often brushed it as her wanting some women time but he always suspected it was more. Everytime they parted ways with their cousins, Rose seemed more agile and sharp. Her movements became more controlled, calculated even and she became a far more effective and elegant hunter. He tried to bring it up but he was often met with silence.
But he did have an advantage. In some ways, he knew her better than anyone. After almost two decades together, he figured out her likes and dislikes, and he had to learn it the hard way. One wrong move or one wrong word, he'd get the dog house and back to square one. So he knew she would try to get away as far as possible from Forks. Somewhere it felt safe an far enough from the very trouble she was trying to get away from; Bella.
He wasn't entirely sure what happened but he knew it was something that could possibly damage what Rose and Bella had, what could have been.
So once Rose realised she would never be able to shake him off, she gave up to try and throw him off her tracks. She allowed him to trail behind. She figured it was safer that way; someone would be there to stop her from doing something stupid.
One week passed and they are still living like a nomad. Rose prefers to avoid humans at all cost because anyone with a beating heart reminds her of Bella Swan. She does not need that reminder. It kills her. She hurt the one person she cares about the most.
Bella's an honest girl so she knows the kind of damage she inflicted upon her.
First and foremost, she betrayed Bella's trust. After Port Angeles, they developed this rapport which then led to trust and this Rose became her safety net. That kiss shattered the crystal bubble which had kept Bella safe, which had kept Bella near her. She was always a shoulder to lean on for Bella but now, she knows Bella would think twice before reaching out to her.
Two; she made Bella a cheater. It discredits Bella's integrity and this puts a heavy toll on Bella's earnest heart. Guilt is such a corrosive bitch and the cheating act speeds up the effects. She made Bella taint her good nature. No doubt she would put a strain on Bella and Irina's fragile bond. Their relationship started out rocky and this erases all the milestones the new mates have achieved together.
Three; she ruined Bella's happiness. She has to admit, a small and evil part of her wanted this. The green monster is ruthless and selfish and it craved to set fire on Bella and Irina.
These are the reasons why she banishes herself deep in the woods, away from Bella Swan and Irina Denali. She has resigned hersef to this nomadic life, vowing to stop herself from hurting those around her.
That is until a certain blonde finds her.
"What are you doing here?" Rosalie asked, ready to once again flee. She looks to Emmett, trying to see any hint of clue if he had tipped them off. He looks surprised as she is.
"To bring you back," she stated the obvious.
Rosalie turns away, "No. And save your breath. I can't go back, especially after what happened, as I'm sure you know by now."
"Not even for Isabella?" she inquired, knowing Rosalie won't be able to resist.
She tries so hard, her face almost gives her away. Her chest becomes pressured at all the most gruesome thoughts of Bella. But she knows it could be a trap.
"Her body's growing weaker. She's developed the fever again."
It makes Rosalie mad, "Then what the hell are you doing here! She needs you!"
Irina shakes her head, "She needs us both and you know it."
"Bellsy's sick again? Rose! We have to go back!" Emmett yelled at her, pleading to her senses. "God damn it. If you refuse, I don't care, I will manhandle you and drag you back to Forks!"
Finally, he cracked. Rosalie's too damn stubborn and he doesn't know how to handle it anymore especially not when Bella's life is on the line. She's much too fragile, he thought. The least he could do is bring Rosalie back.
"Emmett, allow us a moment, please," Irina politely asked. He is hesitant, fearing Rosalie would use the opportunity to flee once again. "You should head back first. Bella misses her big brother too, yknow."
He smiles and obliges. It's been few days and he's tried. He thinks Irina's got a much better chance at this. So he takes off to Forks. Once he's out of earshot, Rosalie calls her on her bs.
"Emmett may be gullible but I know Bella. And I know you when Bella's in danger. You look nothing like it."
Irina laughs and relaxes her posture. With Emmett gone, she now has the privacy they both needed. This has been long overdue.
"She told me you'd say that," Irina smiled and handed Rosalie an envelope.
She looks at it warily, "This isn't a bribe, right? You maybe make more money than us but I don't need money."
"She told me you'd say something like that too. Damn it! Now that's the second bet I lost to her."
Rosalie's still cautious.
"Just open it. And when you finish reading it and you want me to leave, I will," Irina assured.
Rosalie takes a deep breath and opens it to find a long letter.
Dear Rosalie Hale,
Charlie has finally come to his senses and will not allow me to skip school. Due to this unfortunate circumstance, this letter represents me instead.
Yes, you're right. I'm not sick. And no, I don't have enough money to bribe you and I'm most certainly not going to allow Irina to use her money as well.
Irina did briefly tell me why the kiss happened and I'm not ready for that conversation just yet. And I know you aren't too. So, I propose a truce between the four of us. Let's hold this conversation and cross the bridge when we get there. I hold no grudge over you for what happened. Irina and I are good even.
For now, I miss my best friend. I just wish she would be back, on her own terms, of course. I am still unsure how to do this without being awkward around you. But then again, you've always told me I'm the most awkward human you have ever met. So that's that.
Well Grandma, I'm not sure how you people do it back then but I'm running out of words. I love you and I care about you and I most certainly do not hate you. I could never. Know that the spot in our mini library is still reserved for you and only you.
P.S: You still hold the spot in my heart as my best friend.
P.S.S: Don't tell Alice I told you that. Infact, get rid of this evidence. I'd hate it if she blackmails me using this letter to force me to go on another trip to the mall with her without you.
Yours truly,
Your clumsy best friend
She couldn't help the grin forming remembering the time Bella literally cried after Alice forced her to go shopping for seven hours straight. The sight of Rosalie at the mall was pure heaven to Bella. She dropped all bags and ran to Rosalie and hugged her tight, not caring the watchful eyes. Since then, she made Rosalie promise that Alice will never get the opportunity again to torture her.
All the heaviness in her chest is automatically lifted. She feels okay again. In that one letter, Bella managed to address all of her concerns. She has more than one reason now to head back.
She gives Irina a meaningful look and they begin their journey back.
"How did you find us? Was it Emmett?"
Irina smirks, feeling boastful that for once she seems to be the superior one in their knowledge of Bella. As suspected, Bella knew where Rosalie would go. Infact she knew it from day one. It had taken her a long time due to the attempts to persuade Charlie and the difficult time she faced to try and write the letted. Kate almost shocked her for being fickled minded as they threw away her 12th letter last night.
"Somewhere beautiful, peaceful and quiet. Someplace warm and far away from humans. A place like Rochester but without Royce. Go North, I think," Irina reiterated Bella's exact words.
Rosalie feels giddy discovering Bella knows her so well. If there was ever any doubt, it now has lessened.
"My Isabella is amazing, isn't she?"
Rosalie glares at the possessive noun used but relaxes as she remembers it is Irina who have made the mate claim on the human.
"I'm sorry. I need time to adjust."
"It's alright. I cannot be mad at the person who took care of and loved my Isabella when I was not able to. However, I must warn you. During your period of adjustment, you shall not kiss my mate on the lips. At least not until you're ready to accept it and make your claim on her."
They stop midway running.
"That's fair. But I will not hold back on my affections," Rosalie held out her hand to Irina.
Irina grins and shakes it, "Sure. Take all the time you need though. You may still get to hold and embrace her but I'll be the first and the only one to touch her intimately. At places even Edward had never touched before."
As Irina speeds off forward, Rosalie now remembers why she finds her cousin irritating. She knew all the right buttons to push. Rosalie's eyes turn black in possessiveness she never knew was there before. It's the thought of missing out on taking Bella's virginity that spurs her to chase her cousin and attack her.
It wasn't pretty. Rosalie's anger doubled the blows she manages to land on Irina but it also made her reckless. Irina dodged most of her attacks but one or two punches collided with her face and shoulder.
It was intense but Rosalie looked worse than Irina at the end of it. Irina took no offense at Rosalie's attack because she had wanted her cousin to lash out. She thought Rosalie had too much bottled inside.
Of course Irina was much more superior in her skills and she was much more level headed. Naturally, she pinned Rosalie down and got her to calm down.
"Bella and I are headed that way. She had expressed in wanting to lose her virginity before she is turned. And I intend to give it to her if she asks me. So you better catch up to us fast if you'd like to be a part of it. Now get yourself together before she sees you."
Rosalie needs more time to cool down and she allows Irina to go on first so Bella can catch up to her mate first. It's been way too long and when she finally sees Bella, she wants to hog the human all to herself, with no interruptions.
When she arrives, she is surprised to see her family sans Edward all waiting for her at the front porch. Alice is the first to jump on her before Esme joins in to hold both her daughters close. She lets a laughter she didn't know was inside of her.
It was Bella that had done this. And she could feel the emotions getting stronger now that she realised she's been forgiven and that Bella doesn't hate her.
"Welcome back, Rosalie. We missed you," Carlisle kissed the top of her head.
They all go inside and Rosalie gives Emmett a tight hug. "So, you figured it out yet?" She asked him.
"Can't believe they lied. I was really worried," Emmett frowned. But he couldn't be disappointed. After all, Bella is safe and healthy. "But she's gotten sly, hasn't she? Where do you think she got it from?" he gave her a knowing look.
Rosalie has her hands on her waist, "You already forgave her for lying, haven't you?"
He smiles proudly, "How can't I when she promised me 12 hours uninterrupted game time?"
Rosalie shakes her head, wondering just how the human managed to get them all wrapped around her fingers. Emmett is beyond relief to see her happy again. She looked lifeless the last week without Bella. He knew whatever happened between Rosalie and Irina, Bella was the one who helped them both to heal. Rosalie lets her guards down and lets Emmett in on what transpired.
After hunting and a warm bath, Rosalie is surprised to see Bella making herself comfortable in her bed. The sight warms her dead heart more than the stupid warm bath ever did. Bella is too engrossed in her book to notice Rosalie staring down at her from the door. Minutes pass by when Bella notices the vampire and puts down her book and props up on her elbow.
Bella's here late at night which means they're having a sleepover. And with no Irina in sight or her range of smell.
"Hi. Hope you don't mind. Emmett basically tucked me in."
She was afraid things would change for the worst. But somehow seeing Bella so relaxed in her bed makes her rethink. Maybe some things won't change after all.
"Emmett's too nosy."
Bella takes in the surrounding again. "Did Emmett burn all of his stuff?" She pointed out to the lack of Emmett's personal items in the room. Emmett had cleared out the day they got back from Paris.
But so much has happened and she hasn't had the chance to tell Bella. But the human's not ready yet so she wonders if she should tell her the truth.
"Emmett moved to another room."
Bella looks like she wanted to inquire but she isn't the pushy type. She knows if Rosalie wants to tell her, she will. So she gets the hint.
"Do we need to talk about my letter?" Bella asked as Rosalie settled down in the bed next to her.
"I believe you said what you wanted to say. And I heard you. What are you reading on?"
Bella humours the vampire with 20/20 eyesight and flashes the book cover, "For extra credit. Yknow, for college."
It's the first time Bella approaches the subject and Rosalie's all ears, especially since the atmosphere isn't as awkward as they thought it would be.
"You've thought about college?"
"Hmm... Yeah. It gives me a bit of normalcy around here," she teased.
"That Newton boy would be the perfect one to offer you anything normal. Normal hormones for a teenage boy. Normal size of an ape brain. And normal kind of dick," Rosalie joked back.
Bella smacks her shoulder with the book and Rosalie just laughs as she takes away Bella's book, slides in the bookmark she got the human at the page Bella last read and puts the book away. She then proceeds to switch off the light, pull Bella down into the covers and makes her face the other way so she could cuddle her. All whilst Bella looks at her unamused.
"Did you not hear the part about me needing the extra credit?" Bella grumbled in the dark but complied with Rosalie's wish anyways.
"I'll help you tomorrow. Now, sleep."
Bella sighs and relaxes herself. Ten minutes pass but she still is unable to sleep.
"What's wrong?" Rosalie asked. She is worried Bella might be regretting coming here tonight, that maybe Bella wished she was with Irina instead.
Bella turns around in her arms.
"I've got something to tell you. Sleeping away from Irina may leave me unprotected from the nightmares. So, if you me struggling to wake up, please do wake me."
Rosalie realised she is being selfish. She wanted Bella all to herself tonight but not at the expense of Bella's peace.
"We can call Irina here if you want. I'll call her now."
She reaches for her phone but Bella stops her. "There's no need. I discussed it over with the Denali. We're testing this theory and we agreed to try and see how well I sleep with you tonight. Irina thinks your presence might have the same effect as she does. Are you okay with that?"
Now, she doesn't understand much but she feels honoured that Irina is trusting her with her mate. If it were up to her, she wouldn't be so generous. She actually prefers to share the big bed with Irina too if it meant Bella would have a peaceful slumber but Bella looks so determined she didn't have the heart to say no.
"What else do you need?"
Bella smiles and resumes to her earlier position. She raises her hand, "Hand, please."
Rosalie rolls her eyes and gives the human what she requested. She is surprised to find Bella letting her hold her so intimately when she realised Bella intertwined their fingers and rested them on top of her chest. Yes, they have spooned and cuddle before but not like this.
"Tanya thinks the skin contact might help."
Rosalie doesn't say anything as Bella's heartbeat turn slow and steady. She inhales everything that is Bella and closes her eyes. Whatever's waiting for Bella in her dream, Rosalie is determined to do whatever it takes to help her.
"Goodnight, Bella."
A/N: What do you think? Could Rosalie too prevent James from appearing in Bella's dreams?
