When I saw her, I couldn't hold it in and I started to sob. And I mean, ugly cry, no holding back, tears and snot running down my face.
In a blink of an eye Rosalie was by my side "Come on, get in the car. I'll take you home." She was soft and kind towards me, when her tone was a bit of rough, as she pushed me in the car.
She drove off the drive-way quick.
I was left to watch her, as she was driving me away, taking care of me. I was thankful for it but I hated it equally as much since it reminded me how Edward used to take care of me. I hated it so much, and it made me so angry, I felt I started crying harder. I hated that I was so emotional about this, but I was going to die. And I was going to die by the hands of people who didn't want me or care about me. But I wasn't just going to die. I was going to die and I was going to be reborn to the same people who don't want me. I had to be cursed.
"I'm sorry for this, I just… I'm a burden and I don't want to be one. And I know they don't want me – I don't want them as well, but I-" I sobbed to Rosalie trying to explain my outburst.
"Don't be sorry." She sighed "I get it." She looked at me and smiled towards me, her eyes sad.
By the time we got to my house, I had calmed down enough to not cry anymore. My nose was hella runny though, which probably made me look extra beautiful, and I hated that she got to see this side of me. I would be lying if I didn't say that I felt comfortable enough in her presence to do this.
We were sitting in the now silent truck and I didn't know what it was about the silence of a car with two people in it, in a gloomy day, but it was magical. Intimate.
"So, umm" she started nervously, something I hadn't seen Rosalie do ever "I was born in the great depression time, 1915, Rochester New York, as Rosalie Lillian Hale. Growing up I didn't know much else than that I was beautiful and that was it. I enjoyed it." She rolled her eyes "When I was eighteen, since the times were tough, it was a miracle my father had found such an eligible bachelor as Royce King for me. They were working at the bank and he noticed me and so we started a relationship. A loveless one, just based on looks and status – which I was more that okay with at that time." She smiled the same sad smile she did a few minutes ago towards me, just looking at her lap this time.
"I was visiting my friend Vera. And on the last night of my life, I saw things more clearly. She was married and I envied her for it, even though, I was engaged to be married. And I envied her for the true love she had with her husband and I envied her for her baby she had had. I wanted those things, but all I had was image with Royce. I left her house that night, feeling like I was seeing things clearer, but trying to ignore it. I stumbled upon Royce and his friends. Drunk. I hadn't seen him drink before, much less shit-faced. That much tells you how much we knew about each other." She looked at me, as if she was assessing if what I was about to hear was meant for my ears.
I was living in her memories, in her story as she was telling me it. I could almost picture Rosalie, with rosy cheeks, and flush skin…
"So, when he and his friends noticed me, and my beauty, that everyone loved me for, the thing I though was enough in life, they… God, it never gets easier and I don't think it ever will…" I felt like if she could have tears in her eyes she would be crying slowly. I definitely had tears of my own, my gut feeling telling me to where this story was heading.
"They raped me. They beat me. And they left me to die." She sighed "I was in so much pain all I remember was begging to die. I begged to anyone who would listen. And then the pain got so much worse and unbearable, I thought that Hell was real and I had suddenly landed in the middle of it." She laughed a humorless laugh "But no, Carlisle had changed me. I did die – just not im the literal sense. He thought that I would be a good mate for Edward, but you see how that turned out."
"Rosalie…" was all I could mumble.
"I killed them you know." She said proudly "I slaughtered them one by one, leaving Royce for last, so he would know I was coming for him. I never drank their blood though – I never wanted any one of them inside of me. Never have drank human blood, in fact." She said proudly.
"So, you see… I'm not new to not being wanted. And I'm not new to not wanting this life and having it."
I didn't know what to say so I moved in the car to hug her. She didn't hug me back for a second but then she did.
"It got better when I met Emmett." She mumbled against me "I found life again, and after it had gotten worse, it slowly got better."
I had so much to think about. How does one even process something like that? I could never and truthfully, I never wanted to imagine being gang raped and beaten to death to be changed to someone not loving you. Jesus Christ.
"Fuck. Im glad you killed those scum. And I'm glad you didn't drink them. And holy fuck I am so proud that you haven't drank anyone for that matter." I said in her hair truthfully.
She pulled away, smiling ear to ear, her eyes a little bit less sad "This is the first time I've heard Bella Swan swear."
I laughed with her, lightening the mood "Well, fuck fuck fuck."
That made her laugh and we ended up just sitting there laughing.
That is until I almost shat my pants, when there was a knock on my window.
I looked and there was Charlie, looking almost angry, trying to control the outburst. I opened the door and he saw Rosalie, making his face expression change almost comically from almost angry to surprised. I bet he thought I was with Edward, but I was truly serious about not being with him romantically. Ever again.
I didn't know how to express that to my father so he wouldn't worry.
"Hey dad. This is Rosalie H-Cullen." I introduced.
"Umm, yes, hello Rosalie."
"Good day Chief Swan. Sorry but I had asked Bella to take me home, but she told me she was grounded? She didn't want to leave me hanging so I'm just waiting for my father to come pick me up."
Charlie blushed and stumbled his words while answering "Oh... She um, Bella you could have taken her home, it would have been fine." I loved him but I know I would have gotten in some trouble if I had. He, just as every parent, hated to look bad "Come on in girls. No reason to sit in a cold car."
"Yeah, I'm freezing." Rosalie smiled at him and Charlie just nodded his head towards the house, going inside himself.
I laughed again looking at her, she just had a hint of evil in her eyes and that made me laugh even more. I welcomed the laughter and the serotonin that was laced with it.
"You're freezing huh?" I asked her and she just shrugged. She was freezing alright, not that she could feel it though.
We moved out of the truck and went inside. I was happy she went in, seeing as she could just leave and tell me to tell Charlie that Carlisle had just driven up. Rosalie was calm walking inside, with her head held up. And me, walking in with her, with my puffy eyes and runny nose.
I was glad Charlie hadn't asked me about it but I think he was too taken back with me breaking his rule and me being with Edward. That's why he took a double take at me, when we walked in. He didn't say anything though, just saying something to Rosalie about how she should feel like home.
Rosalie and I went to my room since Charlie was in the living room. And since it wasn't Edward I didn't have to sit in the kitchen or the living room while Charlie could keep an eye on us. Rosalie had a free pass since she was a girl.
"So… The Victoria thing." I reminded her "What… How? I mean, when will she-"
"She was running around Forks; I don't know why but she never entered the town. We know that she might be after you, after all of us as well, seeing as we did kill James for you. It doesn't matter to her that he picked the fight or that he was going to kill you – we hurt her by killing him. James was her mate."
"I know…" I spoke.
It was my time to shock her. I saw her face twist a bit and I continued "Umm… Laurent came after me, when you left… And Jacob, the wolves, they killed him to protect me. Victoria never showed up until now, but I knew she would show up eventually." I looked down.
Rosalie sat down with me "Bella… Why didn't you say anything?"
I couldn't help but to get angry "You. Left?" I said slowly "How was I supposed to access the vampires that didn't want me? Really, Edward should have gone sooner to the Volturi, ask them to kill him or change me faster – speed up the process..." I rolled my eyes.
Oh… I couldn't believe I had said this to her!
I bit my lip and I collected myself so I could apologize.
"I'm so sorry Rosalie I -" I started to apologize to her but she cut me off.
"No… Don't." She looked at me with her sad eyes "You're right. I'm so sorry Bella, I'll never stop being sorry that you had to lose your humanity for us. By my mistake. I'm grateful that I've met you though. You're a good person…"
She hugged me this time and I was the one who had to remember to hug her back. She was just as hard as any vampire I had touched, but there was a softness to her. Her golden hair smelled like drumstick tree and honey, and I was almost intoxicated by it.
When she pulled away, we looked at each other and it made me smile. She, out of all the people knew what I was going though. That's why she had told me her story. Perhaps that's why I felt drawn to her.
As we were looking at each other, she made me smile wider and I noticed she smiled as well, which made me look at her lips, and I saw her lick them, even though she didn't need to.
Before I could even calculate what was happening, Charlie was at the door "Rosalie, your dad is here."
"Thank you!" She called after Charlie.
I was a bit confused but then both of us nodded and said "Alice."
Before she left, Rosalie and I exchanged our numbers, so we could share information. I hoped we would talk more than just the information about Victoria and her whereabouts.
