Toxic Rose
Chapter 29: The Start of the End
It had been three days since Rosalie had come over and told Bella the truth. Three long days for the brunette to agonize over her choice. And three even longer days for the blonde to fret over Bella's inevitable choice. What would Bella choose to do? Rosalie knew that any reasonable person would have wiped their hands clean of this relationship, and gone on to pursue a healthier one. But Rosalie didn't want that. She needed Bella. And if she lost her...well, she couldn't act like a little child about it. She would have to live with Bella's decision. She couldn't flip shit like she had when Alice broke up with her.
Of course, it was easier said than done, and Rosalie knew her emotions could get the better of her at the worst of times. But she promised herself that she owed Bella to not harass her after the break up. Alice was a different story. The pixie had just been using Rosalie for her own gains, to fuel her own ego. Bella had been nothing but sweet and understanding. Had been almost too sweet.
And thus Rosalie didn't deserve her. So it would make sense if Bella broke up with her. Totally would. But the upcoming break up made Rosalie's heart throb and her bottom lip quiver. She sighed, shoving her face into her hands. She was currently perched on the window seat of her room, still in her pjs like she had been three days ago. She refused to leave her room, too scared to leave her phone alone, worried that she would miss the upcoming call from Bella. The brunette had promised to call at the end of the day today, and Rosalie was waiting reverently for her call. She hadn't even bothered to go eat, finding herself to be lacking an appetite when her nerves ate up her stomach.
Why could things never be easy for her? Why couldn't see ever have a happy ending? She thought the nightmare would have ended when she came out of that hell hole arena for children. But she had only come out with more issue not less. So many mental discrepancies and all because she had the unfortunate luck of getting found by him.
What if she had traded places with Jasper? What if she had had the abusive mother? And the scarring? She didn't think she would mind. It was better than what she had to go through. But maybe it was better that they hadn't switched. Despite Jasper being a dick to her right now, and fearing her still, she knew he wouldn't have made it. He was the weaker sibling, the more timid one, and the arena would have eaten him alive.
As she contemplated her shitty life for the umpteenth time, she heard her phone finally go off. Her head shot up and she grabbed her phone off of the dresser drawer next to her, hands shaking when she saw Bella's name on the caller id. Tentatively, she unlocked it.
"Hello?" she croaked out, her throat dry from days of misuse.
Bella's strong voice came from the other end.
"Rosalie, I've made my choice."
The conversation went on for a full hour and by the time it had ended, Rosalie's cheeks hurt form smiling so much. Getting off the phone, she tossed it aside and did a cartwheel across the room, then another.
Bella had decided she didn't want to break up with Rosalie, because it wasn't fair to give up on a relationship with someone just because there were too many issues in it, most of which weren't Rosalie's fault. But Bella had stated that if Rosalie dared to even harm her, or to control her like she had in the past, then it would be over.
Rosalie had frantically acquiesced to that. She had gotten over her earlier confusion at the situation. She no longer saw Marie and Bella as the same person. They were different individuals. And even now if Rosalie looked a bit closer, she saw that looks wise, they shared a few similar features, but yet again they were separate people. So Rosalie wasn't planning on being mean to Bella anymore.
Rosalie bounced out of her room, ready to rub it into Esme's and Alice's stupid faces. She found them downstairs, enjoying a late afternoon dessert in the kitchen.
They both stopped talking when they saw her, clearly not happy about this intrusion.
"Guess what," Rosalie said before they could shoo her out.
Esme and Alice exchanged a look before Alice shrugged, wordlessly conveying that they should humor the blonde.
"What Rosalie dearest, has finally brought you out of your room?" Esme asked falsely, licking the ice cream off of her spoon.
"The fact that Bella finally called. And she told me that she was going to stay together with me, because she loves me and knows that all of this is not fault, for she understands my situation more now," Rosalie said haughtily, hands on her hips.
Esme tsked. "Then I fear that girl is more mentally unstable than you are. Glad to see you finally found someone to match your maladies."
Rosalie felt red hot anger cut in through her happy bliss. This stupid fucking pig! "Don't you dare badmouth Bella like that! She doesn't deserve that! You just can't stand to see me happy for one second, can you?" The blonde glared accusingly at Alice and Esme, both who wore indifferent expressions. "The both of you are like that. You're the ones with mental issue, you salty fucking bitches."
Then she turned on her heel and stormed up to her room, knowing she had to calm down or else she'd only get worse. And she didn't want to be angry. She wanted to be happy.
Happy.
Happy with Bella.
After Bella got off the phone she felt so much better. It was like a heavy weight on her chest had lifted and she could go about her day more cheerily. She had decided upon staying with Rosalie because she knew the blonde had issues but only because others had made it so. And Esme and Alice...Bella didn't know what their problem was. Why did they keep torturing poor Rosalie like that?
Why?
You would think they would be more supportive, but to go so far as to lie to your daughter's girlfriend about her past was sickening. The only person Rosalie could trust was Carlisle, the good doctor coming to her defense faithfully each and every time. Bella didn't know about the other male members of the family. Emmett seemed fine, but he was too big of a goofball to give help seriously. Edward was...Edward. Uptight and too self absorbed to be of any real help. And Jasper...ugh, she didn't want to think about him. Their biggest interaction had been at the Halloween party and he had come off as a slightly racist weirdo. So no, Rosalie didn't have much support at her house.
Bella was glad Charlie was more supportive, and caring. Although sometimes that could be inconvenient. Like today.
As soon as she had come downstairs from the phone call, her father intercepted her. Ever since he had come back from talking with Jake at the hospital, he seemed more suspicious of Bella. The brunette knew that without a doubt Jake had told her father the actual truth, yet it was another matter to see if Charlie believed him. The lack of an outright interrogation lead her to believe that Charlie was vastly in doubt over the authenticity of the words. Still, something was tickling at his brain, causing him to snoop into Bella's affairs more.
He would come up to her room, as if checking she was alone. Several times she had caught him in her room when she vacated it, fiddling with the window that Rosalie typically used to enter. He inquired about her day, and what plans she had, and if she was going with anyone. And he was nosy about her phone calls.
"Who were you talking to?" he asked, sipping on his beer and lowering the volume on his football game so he could hear Bella's responses more clearly.
"Angela," Bella lied smoothly. "She wanted to know what homework we had. And also wanted to tell me the latest gossip." It was scary how good at lying she was getting.
Charlie hmm-ed, but didn't say anything for now. Bella knew he was brewing up another question and just went to the kitchen to prepare some food while she waited for his next attack.
"You know...I've been meaning to tell you something," Charlie started slowly.
"And what's that?" Bella asked causally, knowing it was going to be about the Jake thing.
"When I went to go visit Jake, he told me some things. Some crazy things. He told me that you...and Rosalie were together." Charlie had to swallow down a lump of disgust in his voice so he could speak.
Bella made a shocked face and turned to her father, voice aghast. "Why I would never-! Eww, why would he say that! Don't tell me you believe him!?"
"I just had to ask. I knew it wasn't true, but it just wouldn't give me any peace until I asked you. I told Jake it had all been some weird circumstances that lent the two of you girls being around each other so often. He was telling me silly things like how she'd show up to your window, and stuff," Charlie chuckled in relief and Bella let out her own chuckle.
"Gross dad. I do not like her that way, at all. I'm not even gay," Bella said and went back to focusing on her making her dinner, Charlie thankfully quiet until it was time to eat.
"You should visit Jacob."
Bella cringed at this. "I don't know dad..."
"Bella, I understand that he's not in the best of places right now, but he needs a friend now more than ever. Paul and Embry don't want to deal with him. Leah is still hospitalized, so you're the only one he's got."
"I don't think he likes me anymore," Bella stabbed down on her chicken, unable to meet her father's eyes. She couldn't think of facing Jake. Not when he was like this. Not when it was Bella's fault he was this way.
"Of course he does. He was just confused for a little bit. And he might not be all the way back to normal, but that is why he needs you. You've been friends with him for years. You two go back. It's not right to do your best friend in like that."
Damn it, why does Charlie have to guilt trip me? "I suppose I could go see him, for a bit."
"That's my girl," Charlie brightened up, reaching out and patting Bella on the hand. "I know he'll be happy to see you. And maybe the two of you can settle your differences that way. Maybe you can make him get better."
Bella highly doubted that would work. Jacob was too far gone for reason. All she would succeed in doing was make him more aggravated. Maybe she could speak to Carlisle, and get him to give her an excuse so she wouldn't have to visit Jake. That actually wasn't a bad idea. Bella would call him today after dinner.
"I'll go check in on Leah too," she offered Charlie. "I haven't seen her for a while and I owe it to her to say hi."
"That's my girl," Charlie beamed.
Bella cleaned up the dishes fairly quickly after the meal and went upstairs to call the doctor, fingers crossed that he would answer on the first ring. He didn't, and the brunette had to call him back three times before he finally picked up.
"Bella! How lovely to see you calling. You'll have to forgive me for not answering at first. Busy day."
"I'm sorry to bother you then. But I was wondering about something-"
"Before you continue, I just wanted to ask about you and my little girl, Rosalie. Did she tell you what she was supposed to?"
"Yes, she did," Bella nodded grimly, the thought of her story alone making the brunette feel sick.
"I'm sorry you had to hear the grisly tale. But I'm sure it is better this way. Now you have a deeper understanding of her. She's never told this story to anyone but her therapists and you."
She hadn't? Bella felt flattered now. "It was hard to hear the story at first but I'm glad I got to hear it. I appreciate how far she's come now mentally and physically."
"That she has. Why, when we first got her, she was a small little thing. So skinny and malnourished." He sighed and Bella could imagine him shaking his head as he did so. "That is why I am so happy she's this strong, beautiful woman today. And that most importantly she has someone like you to support her."
"I'll be glad to support her. But why...how come..." Bella frowned, trying to find a good way to phrase these words without offending Carlisle. When she couldn't find a way she just said it as it was. "How come Esme is such a bitch to her?"
Bella had expected Carlisle to get angry at her, to hang up the phone, but she hadn't expected him to laugh. "She can come off like that sometimes," he conceded. "But she is very stubborn in her views and she thought she was doing the best she could in keeping you away from Rosalie."
"But she lied to me!" Bella couldn't help her voice from getting a bit shrill at the end.
"All which she thought she was doing with the best intentions." There was a creak as Carlisle sat down on something, probably his office chair. "You see, Esme is fiercely protective of her girls."
"She is?" Bella knew her voice was laced with sarcasm but she didn't care to hide it. "It doesn't seem that way to me."
Carlisle sighed at this. "I know. I know it probably doesn't. But Esme shows her love differently."
'Love' Bella scoffed under her breath and rolled her eyes.
"Esme is more openly warm to Alice because the two of them are so similar in person. Alice is a very jealous and possessive person, highly protective of the things she loves. And so is Esme. That is why Esme and Alice both tried to break up your relationship with Rosalie."
Bella's brows furrowed in confusion. "What now?" This was making no sense.
"Let me backtrack a bit. You and Alice were both friends."
"Yes."
"And then you stopped being friends, correct?"
"Yes."
"And why was that?"
"Because I started dating Rosalie. But that was because she was angry at me because I hadn't listened to her warnings about staying away from Rosalie. And also because Rosalie had been mean to me before."
"But there was more to it. Did you know that Alice and Rosalie used to date?"
There was stunned silence from Bella's end as the girl swallowed slowly and tried to process this. "I sort of figured...I mean I kind of guessed you know, cuz of the way they...acted around each other," she mumbled out at last.
Carlisle gave another sigh, this one heavier. "I know Rosalie wasn't going to tell you this because she considers that whole relationship a mistake and is trying desperately to keep it buried. But you see, Alice still sees Rosalie as belonging to her. That was why she got really possessive over Rosalie. And why she stopped being your friend after you began to date. It wasn't because she was worried Rosalie would hurt you. She knew the blonde wouldn't, because she'd never hurt Alice while they dated. But it was because she knew Rosalie had feelings for you, and was trying to keep you two away. Still, it didn't work as Rosalie was able to find a way around it, knowing full well what Alice was doing."
"Oh my god," Bella gasped out. Alice is such a manipulative little bitch! "I can't believe she went through all that trouble to keep us separate. To do this to us."
Carlisle hummed in agreement. "I know Alice can be like this, it's all part of her package. I really do not blame her for her actions. She rarely is aware of her motives, just following her desires without a thought or care. She has gotten a bit better, however, therapy helping her control herself more."
"And so then what about Esme? She's not an abused child. Why would she be cruel to Rosalie?"
"Like I stated before, Esme is very much like Alice. And it is because she loves Rosalie that she doesn't want to give her to anyone. So when she found out the two of you were dating, she wanted to break you up in anyway she could. She loves Rosalie. Rosalie is her little princess, and she doesn't want anyone else to have her. Even if it seems she despises Rosalie it is because she wants to monopolize her time this way. Because if one hates someone else, then they'll spend all their time and energy focusing on hating them, on thinking of ways to make comebacks and pick arguments, and so forth."
What a sick twisted family. Esme wants Rosalie to actively hate her as a form of love? And Alice still has a thing for Rosalie? What the fuck is wrong with every girl in that fucking household? Bella didn't say this out-loud but Carlisle must have sensed it was what she was thinking.
"I apologize for any troubles they may have given you. I have talked sternly to my child and my wife, but in the end I cannot control them or their actions. The only thing I can do is offer my support to your relationship."
"Thank you," Bella said rather shakily. "You've certainly helped clear things up."
"I hope that helps. And once more I apologize for my wife's and child's hasty actions and words. Now, you said you had something to ask me?"
"Oh, right," Bella had momentarily forgotten because of all Carlisle had said, why she had called him in the first place. "I just wanted to ask about Jake-"
There was a huge ruckus on the other end of the phone. "Doctor, we've had a break out," a woman's voice exclaimed.
There was rustle as the phone was moved and then the sound of muffled talking.
Great, just as I was going to ask him, something pops up. Bella waited patiently for the doctor to finish.
"I'm sorry for the interruption, but it seems I must go. We've had a patient run away."
"No problem. I'll just call back later then."
"No." Carlisle's voice was grave. "I think it is best if you come speak to me in my office once I have some free time."
"O-okay," Bella was taken aback by his stern tone.
"Bella, Jacob broke out."
A cold sweat broke out on her skin. Her heart plummeted into her stomach.
"What?"
"You'll need to take safety precautions. He could be on his way to your house. Alert your father."
And that's when the doorbell rang.
A/N: A bit of a cliffhanger but next chapter's going to be pretty long to make up for it.
Also, wishing everyone a happy and safe new year :)