Disclaimer: I do not own anything Twilight related.

A/N: Right then, I'll keep this short, I tried to get this chapter out quick to make up for the month long wait for the previous chapter so...Enjoy!

Chapter 5 – Harder To Breathe

Rosalie POV

It had been two days since Alice told me what she overheard Emmett say about his 'mystery girl'. I didn't quite know how to deal with that information, did I love him? I knew I enjoyed spending time with him, largely because he managed to help take my mind off my dad. But he also made me feel exposed, he got past all of my defences and all of the crap I fed to everyone else. I felt like he knew me better than Alice and I wasn't in control of that, it freaked me out how much I trusted him because besides Alice and my mother, I don't trust anyone.

I was at the beach, a secluded part of the beach that was at the mouth of some sort of small cave. If I wasn't at Alice's or at home I was here, even windy and cold as it was there was something about this beach. It was a timeless, there was the sea crashing onto the shore and the rocks, the birds flying overhead and nothing else. It was my mini haven, this quiet, tranquil place.

"Thought I might find you here" recognising the voice, I turned my head round to see Emmett walking towards me. To get to the little cavern, there was a shallow pool you had to wade through, it was only ankle deep so Emmett had rolled up his jeans and was holding his converse in one hand. He smiled brightly at me, from where I was perched on a large rock near the shallow pool, occasionally dipping a toe into the cool water to see the ripples go out.

"Am I that predictable?"

"No, far from it, I went to your house first before coming here. You're not an easy girl to find, most people go to libraries or malls. You come to a beach in this weather"

"I like it here, it's quiet and peaceful with no one else here" I replied, smiling back at him as he sat down next to and took my hand in his laying a soft kiss on the back of my hand.

"Should I leave then?" he made as if to stand letting go of my hand, before I grabbed his arm by the elbow pulling him back down. "I'll take that as a no, then"

"I guess I like having you around" shrugging like it was no big deal; he did a mock shocked expression as he looked at me.

"Did I hear that right? You like me? Damn, that's big for you Rose" rolling my eyes and nudging him in the ribs, I then crossed my arms giving him a look.

"Don't let it get to your head, I only said I like your company"

"Yeah, but for you that like admitting you love me"

"What?" where the hell had that come from? Seeing my staggered expression, he grinned widely as if he knew something that was obvious for all to see, but me.

"Just saying, it's kinda big for you. Seeing as you let so few people in"

"That n-" holding up a hand and cutting me off, he continued like he didn't stop speaking.

"Before you continue, name at least three friends that aren't Alice" opening my mouth and then closing it, I looked like a way doing an impersonation of a fish.

"Bella, Angela and..."

"See my point?" I didn't say anything I simply scowled at him and shifted away from him a bit. "For what it's worth, I like having you around too" a stupidly cheesy grin spread across my face at those words, he kissed the side of my neck sending tingles down my spine, as I felt his warm breath fan over my exposed skin.

Feeling me shiver he continued the trail of kissing going up my neck, till eventually I turned around and captured his lips, pressing my body against his.

"Someone's impatient" he said chuckling, as our lips parted for a moment to catch our breath.

"Oh, just shut up and kiss me"

"That I can do" he slipped off the sweater I was wearing, leaving me in my camisole and jeans. He kept me warm though even as the wind picked up, tossing my hair about wildly and caressing his curls. Picking me up by my waist, I wrapped my legs round his waist keeping my lips on his as he lowered me onto the sand, so I was on my back and he was hovering above me.

Soon he was kissing me again, his lips were soft and parting my lips our tongues caressed and explored, my back arching into his as one of his hands went to my bottom and the other went my neck, his thumb rubbing small circles in the spot below my ear.

I could feel how aroused he was, if it wasn't the almost growls coming from his chest it was the erection of his that I could feel. Lost in the blissful moment, I thrust my pelvis up rubbing against him and loving the deeper growl that he let out.

"Fuck!" with that he moved away, leaning back onto his knees as he shook his head and muttered to himself. Swallowing hard, I looked for my sweater and pulled it back on as a gust of wind blew by, raising goose bumps over my exposed arms. I suddenly felt quite ashamed, I had essentially thrown myself at him simply because he said he likes me, what was I doing?

Standing up I grabbed my shoes and promptly walked away, I heard him calling out my name but I kept walking on. He soon caught up to me, he was a quarterback though, so no surprise there stepping in front of me I just took a step to the left but he blocked my path again, putting his hands on my shoulders.

"Hey, I'm sorry about that. I-"

"You don't need to explain it Emmett, I get it. It's not you it's me, I'm the problem" not moving as he looked at me, he raised his eyebrows looking at me like he didn't understand what I was saying.

"That sounds like you want to break up with me"

"What are we?" I could see that I had momentarily caught him off guard with my question, but he recovered quickly.

"I don't know what we are, but I know that I want you to be my girlfriend"

"Rose!" called out Alice excitedly the moment I walked in to the flat, she was shaking like a ball of wild energy as she bounded over to me, grinning like the Cheshire cat.

"Can I get through the door before you attack me hun?" she crossed her arms with a little huff, waiting not too patiently as I kicked off my heels and took of my coat. We walked into the living room, getting comfy on the couch as I nodded my head for her to start talking.

"Jasper proposed!" she squealed out with no preamble.

"Well then, what are we waiting for show me the ring!" slapping on an enthusiastic smile, I 'ooh'ed and 'ah'ed at the ring while she regaled me with a blow by blow account of exactly how he had proposed to her. Smiling and nodding we got out a bottle of wine, until Alice came to end of her tale that sounded somewhat embellished.

"I swear most of the girls at work were green with envy when he popped the question"

"You've been together since high school, you and Jasper are the perfect couple. I'm so happy for you Alice" hugging me tightly she was deliriously happy, her smile so bright and found myself smiling genuinely for her.

"Right, so I know it's pretty obvious what you'll say but will you be my maid of honour?"

"Of I course I will!" she squealed again and hugged me again, tighter than you would think a tiny girl like her would be able to. I knew how excited she was, in her head she had been preparing for her dream wedding for years I was definitely going to have to deal with a major Bridezilla. Not that I minded, with all of the time we spent together when we were younger, Alice was like my sister and I would do anything for her and I knew she would do the same for me.

You can choose your friends not your family.

Whilst everything seemed to be going great for Alice, it seemed that my old attraction for Emmett was not staying buried. The next evening I was going to meet Emmett for a drink, because I knew I could not trust myself I decided to make it a group outing. Now me, Emmett, Alice and Jasper along with a few other friends of the newly engaged couple were going to go out to a club to celebrate Alice and Jasper's engagement.

Even though I told myself not to try anything with Emmett I still spent nearly two hours getting ready. I eventually settled on an outfit, I wore a black body con dress with a low back and lace panels on the sides and chest, and lace 3/4 length sleeves. My hair loosely curled, I wore only a touch of mascara and black eyeliner with a nude lipstick. I piled on a few black and silver bracelets, dangly silver earrings and a feather necklace along with a pair of black pumps with a chucky heel so I wouldn't be limping by the end of the night.

With a spritz of perfume I grabbed my clutch and went to see if Alice was ready. Her room was not nearly as dull as mine, she had loads of little trinkets everywhere. On the stop of her bookshelf she had a pair of bronze elephant from when she went to Amritsar. Her curtains were actually multi-coloured saris hung up over the window that cast a rainbow of colours over her bed. Her antique looking dressing table had a large jewellery box, overflowing with necklaces and bracelets in an array of colours and styles.

There were bright bursts of colour everywhere you looked, it was so Alice. She looked up seeing my reflection in her dressing table mirror, smiling as she stood up and went to her wardrobe to take out a pair of silver heels. She was dressed in black leather pants and a white tank top with a sequined silver vest on top. Her lips were fire engine red and her hair had been styled into her favoured spiky style.

"Right then let's get moving" she chirped happily, grabbing her hand bag and keys before we left to go downstairs and catch a cab to the club that Emmett had suggested.

Getting there we soon spotted Emmett and Jasper outside, they weren't in the line but near the entrance standing just to the side of the bouncer. They were chatting to a tall black haired man, I knew to be Jacob Black and a girl with the same russet skin tone and long poker straight dark brown hair who was Leah Clearwater.

Jacob was a friend of Jasper's, they had shared a dorm in college and remained friends when they moved to New York and they had lived together for a while. Leah worked with Alice for the PR agency, a lot of their colleagues were men so they banded together and became friends in and outside of work.

The was also another man, this man was pale with reddish brown hair that looked like he rolled out of bed he was Emmett and Alice's cousin, their mother's sister Elizabeth was his mother. He was standing next to an equally pale, plain looking woman with curly brown hair and big eyes, she was Edward's wife. I had known Edward and Bella for a while as we all went to school together back in Forks.

"Hi sis" called out Emmett when he spotted Alice, going over to her he picked her up with ease hugging her tightly with a brotherly smile.

"Hey you big oaf, put me down!" she laughed but he released her and then she slapped his shoulder.

"What the hell, Al?" with her hands on her hips she tried to look angry but she never could be mad at him for long.

"That is for not telling me you were going to be in New York and for only coming to see me once this whole week!" the other all giggled At the sight of this bear of a man being scolded by a woman who was half his size. He looked contrite and Alice scrunched her face up mock angrily, for she wasn't really that upset she was just teasing him.

"Sorry?"

"Its okay!" she chimed out, smiling at him brightly and patting his arm, well the part of his arm she could reach. "What are we waiting for? Let's do some shots!" she yelled out, taking Jasper's arm as he kissed her cheek and smiled affectionately at her as we all went inside. The bouncer nodded at Emmett as we got in right away, skipping the long queue, with groans and sighs from those waiting outside.

Taking out coats to the cloakroom I saw how Emmett looked at me as I slid off my coat, he had always like my legs and that was where his attention was drawn to. He was standing next to me and I couldn't help but smirk at him, clearing my throat his eyes flickered to my face not in the least ashamed to be caught basically ogling me. Instead of saying anything, I simply raised an eyebrow and he just smirked.

Unfortunately this did not go unnoticed by Alice, walking over and purposely standing between me and Emmett she looked to her older brother.

"Well, big brother I think you should get the first round in" she smiled sweetly at him the whole time, but only me and Emmett caught the tone which left no room for a disagreement.

"Sure thing, what's everyone having?" various orders were thrown at him and for a moment he looked a little stumped. The look of confusion on his face was so sweet I let out a giggle, getting a severe look from Alice.

She narrowed her eyes as she glanced at Emmett and then me, then with a shake of her head, she grabbed my elbow steering me to a door that led to a little smoking area outside. There were a few people outside, but they were preoccupied with their own conversations so they wouldn't be bothered by us.

"What is with you, Rose?" she hissed out, the moment we were outside, releasing my arm and crossing her arms over her chest, looking a little like a petulant child.

"What do you mean?"

"I saw you look at Emmett" sighing and shaking my head, I looked round then back to Alice.

"I looked at him, since when is there something wrong with that?" I could help but be a little offensive, she was almost attacking me for looking at Emmett what was the big deal.

"It's the way you looked at him, I may not have seen that look in a couple of years but I know what that look means" her face softened her voice getting quieter, tilting her head and glancing at me she looked concerned.

"He wants a divorce so obviously he has made his choice"

"He's been here nearly a week and yet your no closer to getting a divorce" biting my lip, she waited for me to speak.

"We are also no closer to getting back together. History will not repeat itself Alice, so don't worry about us"

"But I do. Rose you have been my best friend for over fifteen years and I have seen you fall for my brother, marry him twice and I love him too, but it doesn't seem to work out and you are the one that gets hurt" I hugged her tightly, surprising her because for a moment she was frozen, till she embraced me as well.

"Thank you, for being a good friend Alice, honestly your more like a sister" I said when I pulled back.

"Rose, since when did you go all soft?" smiling to show she was messing about, she linked arms with me and we walked back inside. "Try not to go too mushy on me, I quite like the Rosalie Hale with some attitude. She knows how to have fun"

"We can't have that now, come on then let's dance"

"Drinks first!" going to the bar and finding our group, Emmett handed us a shot of tequila and a wedge of lemon, his hand brushing against mine so lightly that if it wasn't for the secretive smile I wouldn't have known it wasn't accidental.

"Let's start as we mean to go on" he announced loudly with a wide grin as everyone simultaneously knocked back their drinks at his words. We did start as we meant to go on, more shots were taken before we all headed to the dance floor, the music thumping loudly as many other patrons gathered to dance.

At first Alice and I danced together, raising our hands to the beat and shaking our heads. With a shake of hips, we got a fair few looks our way and we were even approached by a few guys but brushing them off we continued to dance until Jasper slinked over. Wrapping his arms round Alice waist from behind, she smiled as she knew who it was so leaning back into him she put her hands on top of his and tilted her head back so he could kiss her cheek.

"Hey Rose, do you mind if I steal my fiancé for a while" grinning at the pair of them I shook my head, not really wanting to have to shout over the music to talk to them. They faded into the crowd, lustful gazes exchanged between them as they held hands and stood very close.

Still dancing I looked around at the others dancing around me, the majority of the clubbers were people in their early twenties. What was I doing here, I was nearly thirty and I was out clubbing?

Stopping I decided that I was in need of a drink, one without any alcohol in it, my younger self may have been able to handle a late night out like this but now I felt as if I was trying to act too young. Getting a glass of cola, I leaned against the bar sipping my drink as I looked round and tried to spot the rest of our little gang.

I saw Edward and Bella dancing near the edge of dance area, by the steps leading to the main part of the dance floor. Bella was dancing in a way that was quite seductive, not at all what I would have expected from the shy girl who used to always keep her down at school.

Jacob was nearby and he was have a drink talking to, well attempting to talk to a girl, when she turned her head to side I saw that it was Leah. Jacob was leaning in close to her, smiling and laughing occasionally at what she said. Nervously finishing his drink it looked like he finally plucked up the courage to ask her to dance, because she took his hand and let him lead her towards the music.

"I thought you were with my little sis?" came Emmett's voice out of nowhere, his voice was right by my ear as he was standing behind me. I must have really not being paying attention if he got that close without me noticing.

"Well now her and Jasper are currently...preoccupied" I said with certain relish as I turned round to see the disgusted look on his face, as the thought of his little sister and Jasper filled him with terror, in particular what they were probably doing right now.

"Right, kinda wish I didn't ask now" shrugging I took another small sip of my drink, before he reached over and snagged it from me taking a deep gulp, raising an eyebrow when he realised that was just a soft drink.

"What? Some people have actual work in the morning"

"You had your fair share of hangovers at work" he replied, waiting as the bartender put on a bit of a show with the cocktail shaker and some bottles.

"Yeah, but some of us like to be responsible"

"So, in short you're boring?" he was goading me, we were already slipping back into our old roles and would be so easy just to allow that to happen but I did say that I would not allow myself to make the same mistakes. How had a drink turned into a full blown night on the town at some club for young twenty something's, whose biggest concern being how best to spend their parents money, drugs or alcohol.

"I am not boring" he shook his head letting out a snort of disbelief as the bartender dropped one of the bottles he had been juggling, earning laughs from those watching apart from another man who appeared to be his boss. Chastising the bartender, he cleaned up the mess as the other man took over, getting though the orders with ease, looking down at his subordinate and shaking his head in disappointment.

"How about a little drinking game then?" he smirked in a taunting way that said he thought I wouldn't take him up on his offer. He was right.

"I don't think so" adjusting the strap of my handbag, I contemplated just walking away but when I was around him my judgement tended to become cloudy. The bartender came over and Emmett ordered eight shots of straight vodka.

"C'mon, live a little" his eye held a challenging gaze as he gave me a cocky grin. Pouring the drinks and getting the money off Emmett, the shots were lined up on the bar, four each. "How about we see who can drink four shots the quickest?"

"And why would I do that, when I get nothing in return?"

"I can think of ways to...solve that issue" that smile was killing me, so throwing any sense out of the window I sat back down at the bar as did he. We stared each other down, the gaze we gave each other was intense as we picked up the first shot clicking the small glasses together before swiftly knocking it back.

Scrunching up my face as the strong liquid slid down my throat, we slammed the glasses down and proceeded. I was on my third as he finished his second and with a smile at him I drank my final shot slamming it down on the bar.

"Satisfied now?" he was about to say something, when a good looking guy who was probably a couple of years younger than me walked up to me. He had thick dark brown hair, brown eyes and he was well muscled judging by the tight black V-neck shirt he wore, along with well fitted jeans.

"Hi I'm Felix, can I get you a drink?" Emmett's smile faded and he rolled his eyes at the bluntness of this guy.

"You know what, I think I've had enough to drink" the flirty smile dropped from Felix's face and a self-satisfied smirk, I had been about to get rid of the guy but seeing the look on Emmett's face I could resist mind fucking Emmett. So smiling at the guy, I crossed my leg and putting a hand on my knee which had the desired effect of making both men stare at my legs.

"But I'd love a dance" smiling mischievously at Emmett as he held out his hand, I hooped off the stool and took it, turning and flicked my hair over my shoulder. As I store away from Emmett without giving him a look back, I swayed my hips just a little more for his benefit, knowing full well that he would watch me walk away.

Knowing that it would be overkill if I started grinding on Felix in front of Emmett, I tried to be a touch more classy, leading him just out of sight of Emmett and sinking into the crowd. Closing my eyes I almost forgot about the guy and just swayed to the music, I felt his hands running down my waist and to my hips I also felt something else against my back, but I choose to ignore it.

Despite what Emmett thought about me being 'boring', I had no trouble getting attention from men. This guy was all but grinding against me and the more I was indifferent the more he wanted me, some people were just so predictable.

Opening my eyes and looking forward, I saw Emmett a few feet away from where I was. No longer at the bar he looked at me with a look I had seen quite a few times, if I was right it was a look of jealousy. Holding his gaze for a moment, I smiled before turning my back to him and placing my hands on Felix's shoulders.

Fobbing off Felix with a half-baked excuse after the song ended, I left him and went to the ladies. As I came out I saw a very passionate Jacob and Leah making out, she was pressed against the wall and they kissed like there was no tomorrow. With a sigh, I walked past them and headed to the cloakroom to get my coat and call it a night.

I quite literally bumped into someone on my way, it was largely my fault as I had been checking my phone, but I wasn't really having a lot of fun so lifting my head I was about to have a go and whoever I had bumped into when I realised it was Emmett. How is it that on a group outing I still managed to end up alone with Emmett?

"Oh, it's you" he said with some distain. "What happened to that bloke you were rubbing against? Did he have an early start at school?"

"Why are you so concerned?"

"I'm not" liar, liar pants on fire.

"Then it doesn't matter" with a sigh, I walked past him and waited for my coat as I handed the assistant the ticket.

"You're leaving? It' barely half twelve"

"All this it's just not me, it was something I got out my system a while ago. What's the point of it anyway, getting drunk and throwing up or getting hung over? You don't really need it all to have fun" I know who I was really thinking off when I said those words, drinking caused a lot of problems and solved none of them. He gave me a look as if he knew, so getting his jacket ad tugging it on he motioned for me to lead the way out. "Don't you want to stay?"

"I can do this anytime, its fine" we walked out in silence, though it wasn't as awkward as I thought it might be. Getting outside it was cold and pulling my coat round me tightly, he gave me a glance before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a pair of gloves.

"Here you go" he said without looking at me, whilst handing the gloves to me.

"Thanks" pulling on the soft leather gloves there were a little too big but they kept my hands warm. He stuffed his hands into his pocket and looked ahead as we walked past the line of people still waiting to get in to the club and looked round for a taxi, there weren't any to be seen so we kept walking in silence.

"Why is it when you are stuck in traffic there seems to be a sea of taxi's, but when you need one they are nowhere to be found?" complained Emmett under his breath, not really aiming his comment at me.

"New York for you I guess" we fell back into silence, until he looked at me. At first he didn't say anything he just looked at me, his face showed that look that he made when he was trying mask his feelings from showing. To anyone it would look like indifference but I knew better, his body sort of tensed up, which was the clue that he was not feeling indifferent at all.

"Rosalie?" that was the first time he had called me by full in a while.

"Yes?"

"Two years ago, why did you leave?"

"A number of reasons" I said trying to end the conversation, before it could go any further.

"Like what?"

"Why the sudden desire to know this now?"

"Just...so I know if I went wrong somewhere" stopping he took a couple of steps forward before he realised, then he came to a stop and remained where he was.

"You didn't"

"Then why?" I didn't why he had the certain desire to asses our failed marriage now of all times, but it wasn't a topic I wanted to revisit so I started walked again, stepped round him until he grabbed my hand, letting go the instant I came to a halt.

"Can we just drop it Emmett?" turning my head to look at him, we looked at each other for a moment, before he did something that I was not expecting. He kissed me, this kiss was searing hot warming my cold lips as his lips moved again mine.

My head told me to back away, to slap him, push him away just get him off of me. But my traitorous body, didn't listen his hang on my neck my eyes fluttered closed and I kissed him back just as fiercely. There were some things you couldn't forget and as his fingers brushed against my skin and his teeth nibbled my bottom lip, it all felt so familiar and I didn't want him to stop.

I was fairly tall even without my heels, but so was he and as his arms went to my waist he almost picked me off the ground and I was able to press my lips to his harder.

"Rose, I missed this" he murmured against my lips as we broke away to get some air, then my brain snapped back on at the sound of his voice, my eyes flying open as I pulled away from him. Spinning round I left him, almost running down the street. "Rose! Rose!" he called out, however I ignored his shouts getting to the end of the street and spotting a cab.

Hailing it as I saw Emmett running towards me out of the corner of my eye, I slid in the cab and shut the door. But Emmett was fast than me, partly because I was wearing heels, but he slapped a hand against the window. "Rose!"

Giving the taxi driver my address, he drove off and I could see Emmett standing on the corner of the street in the rear view mirror. Closing my eyes and leaning my forehead against the window, I tried to focus on getting home but all I could see was Emmett kissing me. I could still feel the heat of his kiss on my lips.

A/N: so...? Any thoughts on what Rose and Emmett should do next? The next chapter will be in Emmett's POV unless you guys would prefer a one off chapter from someone else's POV, like Alice.

Please, let me know what you think and thank you for reading.