A Bad Deal?
A Hell of a Thanksgiving Break Part One
A/N: Didn't mean to go on such a long pause but the ending arc for this story is coming up, and I had to take a break to come up with an appropriate ending for this fic. That said, it shouldn't be too long, 4-5 chapters depending on how I end up writing it.
It was ridiculous how simple everything was once they actually started dating. It was a bit rough at the beginning due to Rosalie's complete lack of knowledge on how to actually date but nothing that they couldn't fix with several outings and in depth discussions.
"You've never been on a date before?" Bella had asked incredulously. Rosalie was pretty and there was no shortage of men who wanted her.
"I have, but it's like...a cover. When we go back home we just fuck. So dating people has been mainly about fucking and not dealing with emotional bullshit, or trust and reliability and shit like that," Rosalie had confessed. "But I want to do right by you. I want to actually have a healthy relationship with you."
Bella was flattered by that. But she too was inexperienced. "I also haven't been on dates, or anything like that."
Rosalie smiled at that. "Then it looks like we're going to have to learn this together, one step at a time."
"I like that," Bella smiled as well. Now that all the angst was out of the way, along with all past grievances, they could move forward to a more promising future.
They'd started off with typical date stuff. Going to movies, eating out, making out furiously. Just like any normal couple. It was almost surreal that this was happening. It had only been a short time ago that they had been enemies, then tentative friends, and now they were dating.
The only drawback was that they had to hide their new relationship or else they would risk public ridicule. Neither of them was ready to come out, and it would be a while before they were, especially given where they lived and who their friend group was.
"Any ideas for our date tonight?" Rosalie asked from her giant kitchen as she closed the fridge with her hip, carrying two bowls in her hand. They contained salsa and chips. Rosalie settled down by Bella who was on the couch, looking up some fun stuff to do outside of Forks. That was another thing that was an issue-having to find places out of town for fun because it was less of a risk of running into someone they knew.
Bella didn't mind the distance because each mile could be spent with Rosalie.
"I found some places that specialize in mini golf, and race carts; stuff like that. You interested?"
"Sure," Rosalie said, crunching down on a chip, arm slung possessively around Bella's shoulder. "I'm down to pay for anything you want."
Bella let out a heavy sigh at this. Rosalie was willing to pay for anything Bella wanted which was great and all but the brunette didn't feel comfortable with it because she didn't want Rosalie to pay for everything. Bella wanted to contribute in her own manner but Rosalie never would let her. She'd push Bella's cash away and say, "I have more money than I know what to do with, so let me treat you. Besides, I was kinda a dick to you, and this is part of my way of amending things to you."
Bella would never get used to this fact, but she supposed she should let Rosalie pay, let her make amends in her way. So, she didn't say anything this time to Rosalie's comment, just swallowed down her guilt at feeling like she was using Rosalie.
"We should also make plans for the break. Neither of us will have much to do past the traditional turkey dinner."
"About that," Bella looked up from her phone, squirming slightly. She was worried about how Rosalie would take this. "Thanksgiving break is coming up shortly and my mom wants me to go visit her."
The chip froze midair as Rosalie whirled on Bella. "Really?"
"Yea," Bella said softly. "Charlie already agreed to it. Sorry," she murmured guilty.
"No, don't apologize," Rosalie looked slightly panicked at having Bella feel down. "You didn't do anything wrong. I was just hoping to spend it with you."
"And I with you. But I couldn't talk my way out of it. She said she hasn't seen me in a while," Bella sighed out, feeling her stomach twist up in knots. Visiting her mother would make her nervous. It always did. Because that was were her old bullies lived. And even with months of her last encounter with them cushioning the hurt, she was fearful. And worried.
Rosalie looked away contemplatively. She chewed on her chip slowly. "What if...I came with you?"
"What?" Bella gasped out, her heart pounding in hope and relief. She hadn't considered that before.
"I don't exactly have a family to stay back for," she shrugged casually and Bella could see the pain lacing her face at that even though her voice was even. "And I would still spend time with you this way."
"I'm definitely okay with this," Bella nodded her head.
"And your mother?"
"I don't think she'll mind having another guest over. She always did fancy herself a great host."
Rosalie smiled at Bella. "Than it's a plan. Don't worry about the tickets and booking, I'll take care of everything."
There was still a week before Bella was supposed to go to her mother's and they busied themselves by going on more dates in case the trip for Thanksgiving didn't work out. Right now they were playing video games on Rosalie's XBox One. Bella had been surprised to see the blonde owned one of those. "I didn't take you for a gamer."
"There's a lot you don't know about me," she answered. "I love playing video games. It helps me calm down."
"Really?" Bella said in disbelief as she watched Rosalie's on screen character pummel the shit out of some poor villain.
"If I beat up people here, I won't have to beat them up in school. I actually got this system not shortly after meeting you."
"Oh." Bella felt her face flush. Had she aggravated Rosalie that much?
"I didn't want to be so violent around you," Rosalie admitted quietly afterwards. "I wanted to calm myself down."
Bella mulled over the significance of those words. "Did it work?"
"Somewhat. I was still really hurt because you didn't know who I was at the time, but it took the edge off." Rosalie tapped the A button really hard and finally cracked the skull of her opponent, signalling her victory.
Bella felt bad that she had unknowingly been hurting Rosalie through her obliviousness, but she felt she shouldn't be too deep in her feelings about it, because Rosalie had been a giant dick to her too. So, they were even, in her book.
"When we go to Phoenix, what do you want to do?"
The question caught Bella off guard. She paused in playing and her character was squashed by a flying rock. "I don't know, um, I thought we were just staying at my mom's house for the week."
"But won't you get bored?" Rosalie's character revived Bella's and the brunette threw herself into the game, trying to come off as casual.
"I think I'll be fine. Besides, it's really hot down there. During the day people don't really do anything."
"We don't have to be outdoors, though i would like to see the weather there. I'm tired of rain and clouds."
Bella could feel a bead of sweat roll down her neck. Why couldn't Rosalie give up this topic? Bella had reasons for not wanting to go out in her old hometown. "Aren't you a model? Haven't you seen nicer places than a desert?"
"Not really. I don't travel much for modeling work. So this would be nice, seeing another part of the US."
Bella knew if she continued to push the issue, it would start to seem suspicious. So she swallowed and prayed that nothing like she feared would happen would occur on her trip. Maybe Victoria would be gone by now. Maybe she wouldn't even remember Bella. She had to stop being so afraid.
As if reading Bella's thoughts, Rosalie spoke up. "Is this about Victoria?"
"No," Bella stubbornly said.
Rosalie paused the game and snatched the controller out of Bella's hand. "It is, isn't it?"
Bella averted her eyes, trying to ignore Rosalie's piercing stare. "Bella," she sighed out, cupping her girlfriend's chin. "Why do you think I volunteered to come with you. I know about your past there; you told me about it. I figured you might be worried about going, so I want to be there to protect you. Will you let me do that?"
"I don't need you to protect me," Bella said gruffly, though she was highly flattered.
"But I want to."
"...okay," Bella said at last. "You can protect me."
"Thank you," Rosalie smiled before leaning in to peck Bella on the lips. "Now, will you actually tell me where and what you want to do in Phoenix?"
You, Bella thought as the kiss sunk into her brain and turned it to mush. She wouldn't dare say that outloud, but she hoped that one day they could take that leap ahead. Neither of them were virgins but they were playing this relationship by ear, both too afraid to make a misstep in cause it destroyed everything.
"Well, there is this one place..." Bella started and Rosalie listened.
As Bella stepped out of the airport, she breathed in that dry dusty Arizona air and thought, yup, I'm finally in Arizona.
"Ooo, sun," Rosalie said, throwing on her shades. She was dressed in a crop top and shorts so short that her ass could almost fall out. "I can finally get that tan for the photo shoot next week."
"I'm staying out of the sun. I only burn."
"Aww, I was hoping to see more of your skin," Rosalie pouted, tugging on the waistband of Bella's pants and revealing a line of pale skin.
"Stop that, my mom is right there," Bella slapped away Rosalie's hand causing the blonde to pout more but she kept her hands to herself this time.
"Bella! So good to see you!" Bella's mother called out, waving her hand. She wearing a huge hat over her head and a tight dress, waddling in her heels over to them. "And is that your friend Rosalie?" She made it up to Bella who felt her chest tighten at the sight of her mother. It had been so long since she'd last been here. She'd missed her mom, but at the same time she couldn't help but blame her for the way things ended up here. She hadn't protected Bella. Had let her get hurt.
She swallowed thickly as her mother pulled her into a hug before doing the same to Rosalie. "I'm Renesmee. A pleasure to meet you."
"Rosalie Hale. The pleasure is mine," Rosalie shot back, all teeth.
"My, what a beautiful girl!" Renesmee squealed out once more. "Where did you find her, Bella?"
"I didn't find her anywhere. She's not a lost pet, mom," Bella sighed out because how could she have forgotten that about her mother too- her obsession with girls who acted like girls. Bella had never been girly enough for her, so she knew Rosalie was going to be her mother's pet project over the break; forced to be subjugated to nail painting and inane gossip. Already Bella could see Rosalie's eyebrow twitching as she tried to keep her notorious temper in. "Let's just get out of the sun."
"Of course, I forgot you ladies must not be used to the sun, given you live in Forks." She grabbed one of Bella's bags and slung it over her shoulder. "Rosalie, tell me about yourself. Where do you live? What do you take in school? Do you work?"
"Erm," it was actually adorable to see Rosalie flustered in the face of all these questions.
Bella decided to come to the rescue. "How's Phil?"
"Oh, Phil? He's great, actually. He and I-" she launched into a diatribe, easily distracted, and Rosalie let out a relieved sigh.
"Thanks," she whispered.
Bella smiled. "She does that a lot. Hope you can get used to it, and quick."
"Well, we won't be in the house a lot. We'll be out and about, having fun."
"I hope so. I sure hope so." Bella reached out a hand and let Rosalie grasp it. Even through all of the blonde's reassurances, Bella felt worried that something bad would happen.
