Author's Note:
Sorry for the long wait, it has been so mad recently with university a new job and as always intense family drama I have barely any free time anymore.
Well, here we are I think we are coming towards the end soon, but before that DRAMA!
So enjoy (or not) and let me know what you think!
Chapter XXI – Coming Down
Rosalie POV
Giving my reflection a final glance, I added a touch more lipstick and went into the living room as the buzzer for the front door went off. Smoothing out the front of my black dress, I let Royce in who greeted me with a look of appreciation and a kiss, keeping one hand behind his back.
"You look stunning" I smiled and got my shawl, throwing it over my shoulder.
"Thank you, you look quite good too" leaning forwards, I gave him a deeper kiss which he returned, before pulling away first.
"I have something for you" I raised an eyebrow and he brought out a bouquet of mixed tulips with the arm he had hidden behind his back.
"They are beautiful! How did you know I love tulips?" the smile he had on his face faltered for a moment.
"Lucky guess" he answered in a way that was almost dismissive, shrugging casually after I accepted the flowers, with a smile. "Are you ready to go?"
"Yes, let me just put these in some water" he nodded and I went to the kitchen, getting out the lone vase I owned, left over from when Alice moved out and filling it quickly. Returning I placed on the dining table so it would get light from the window, then I turned back to Royce and grabbed my purse and keys.
A sleek dark limousine was waiting for us and Royce held the door open for me, once he was in the car beside me and the door was shut, the limo pulled away from the apartment building smoothly.
I tried not to give away my reluctance to go to the opera house, I was not one of those people who enjoyed the opera. The singing in another language, the over acting and leaning over the balcony just to watch through a set of binoculars did not particularly appeal to me.
However, Royce clearly went through a lot of trouble to get the tickets and he is trying so hard, how could I throw that back in his face?
"Have you ever been to the opera before?" yes, with Emmett. One time a colleague had gotten tickets and he had convinced me to go with him. We got so bored, we snuck out barely half an hour in and ended up in a diner sharing a plate of fries. We looked a sight, Emmett in a tux and me in my over the top purple dress and stilettos.
"No, I've never been" he nodded and took my hand.
"This one is called, 'The Magic Flute' and it is by Mozart" he proceeded to tell me the premise, which included enchanted instruments and some sort of voyage to save a woman unknown to the protagonist till that point in the opera.
Feigning interest I smiled and nodded appropriately, until we arrived and got out of the car. We got to the Opera House quickly and he led me inside, I kept a smile fixed on my face as he showed our tickets to the woman behind the counter. Then he led me inside and to a private box, with a much better view than the last time I was at an Opera.
"Wow, these seats are really good" I said as I saw our unobstructed view of the stage"
"It's not worth going if you can't see the stage" he smiled and motioned for me to sit down as the murmur of the audience lowered as the lights dimmed.
"I guess not" I replied as we both sat down and soon after the performance started.
Throughout the performance I occasionally felt Royce's gaze on me and so I tried to look engrossed in the opera, rather than immensely bored.
Once it was finally over, he took my hand and we left the Opera House, to go back to my flat. When we were back in the limo he turned to face me properly, an eager smile on his face.
"Did you like it?"
"Yes" nodding I tried to think of a convincing lie. "The lead had such a beautiful voice" he nodded and was soon off, praising the cast and the orchestra but with a glance at me, he stopped himself.
"You...you didn't really enjoy it did you?" about to protest he shook his head. "Rosalie, please be truthful"
"I didn't...I'm sorry" he looked down and I felt there was more to it than me not being as cultured as him.
"It's okay" he crossed his arms and glanced up at me as the car turned a corner. "I saw Emmett today, before he left" when he said his name I winced and he noticed it.
"You did?" nodding he glanced ahead, as the driver stopped the car outside my apartment building.
"Can we go upstairs and talk?" I nodded and we got out of the car, going up to my apartment in a heavy silence. When we got inside and I shut the door, he sighed deeply and taking a few steps forwards, put his hands behind his back and slowly turned around to face me.
"Royce...did he say anything?" I couldn't bring myself to say his name out loud, Royce nodded and glanced down as he slid his hands onto his jacket pockets.
"Yes...he said he loves you...but he already told you that didn't he?"
"He did" he pressed his lips together and lifted his head and I took a step closer putting my bag down and crossing my arms.
"You said you were with him, but it didn't work out" he spoke carefully and in a low voice that gave absolutely nothing away. "He said he loves you, so...do you love him?"
"E-Emmett and I are over" I was aware of how my voice shook slightly.
"That is not what I asked" he breathed out and ran a hand through his hair. "Do. You. Love. Him?"
There were two answers to that question, one was the answer he wanted to hear. The one that would keep him here and content for now, while the other answer would only confuse him or make him angry. Maybe he would even leave.
"No. I do not love Emmett"
"Do you love me?" I swallowed hard around the sudden lump in my throat, stepping forwards again and stopping when I was right in front of him, I looked at him until he looked back at me.
"I need to explain something to you, explain why I am the way I am"
"Okay?" frowning he gave me a brief nod.
"How about we take a seat?"
"Sure" we sat on the sofa, on either end as I tried to think of how to start, where to start. We had never talked about my life in Forks before he met me in New York when I was married to Emmett, his questions had been met with more questions or changes in subject. He knew I had gotten emancipation from my father and that my mother was dead, but that was all.
"I don't know if you realised that I don't drink too often...that has a lot to do with Roger, my...father and how it was just us after my mother passed away"
"Rose, you don't have to..."
"I do, you don't understand just yet but I do have to tell you" he fell silent and waited for me to continue. "My father drank a lot and frequently, when he got drunk he would often get violent...which had been directed at my mother, until she...killed herself"
"Rose, I'm so sorry" he shifted closer and placed a hand on mine.
"It's been years, but...when my mother was gone there was no one else to bear the brunt of my father's anger" his eyebrows knitted together, understanding immediately what happened and not liking it for a moment.
"That is why you have those scars...isn't it?"
"It is...one of the worst things was after he had gotten angry...he would go through a sad sober stage, quietly coming over and trying to apologize to me" I felt the prickle of tears and blinked a few times. "Every time he would say the same thing...that he wouldn't drink again or lose his temper, 'Rosie, I love you'. You see, he would say it every time, but I don't think he ever meant it or really knew what it meant to love someone. It was his justification, for everything he did to us" I looked at Royce, hoping he understood, the hand on my mine tightened as he moved closer.
"So you left?"
"I had to, the only time in my life when I was truly scared and vulnerable was then. Emmett helped me, he was the first person I let in, who I told everything to"
"He was your friend" he stated simply and I nodded.
"Yes, he was there for me in a way that no one else was. I got out of that house because of him and he was my first love...I think there will always be a part of me that loves him, because of what he did for me. I did love him, I married him twice but we are officially divorced now. We went through a lot together, but it is over" taking in a shaky breath, I continued. "My father died in jail of an overdose, whilst doing time for manslaughter but not before doing a real number on me"
I stopped talking and for a long moment the entire flat was silent as he thought it all over.
"After all of that do you still want to be with me because, I would completely understand if you wanted to walk out the door right now" he shook his head.
"I'm not leaving you"
"Sure?" he nodded. "...I'm not saying that I don't have feelings for you, I like you a lot but this isn't easy for me. I don't want to make excuses, I really want to try and make this work"
"I think I understand"
"Do you? I really want you too, the only serious relationship I've been in ended badly and I do not want the same thing to happen to us. I need you to be a bit patient with me, because I don't know when I'll be able say what you want to hear"
"I do understand...its' okay. I am not leaving Rose" with a sigh he put an arm round my shoulders and pulled me in for a tight hug. I let out a breath and closed my eyes, sinking into the warmth of his touch.
~X~X~X~
"Rose!" my pixie of a best friend barrelled at me when I opened my front door. Royce was in the bathroom, having a shower as I let Alice in, even though she still had her key.
"You still have your key, Al" she smirked at me, her teeth looking whiter against her new tan.
"I wouldn't want to disturb anything" she replied waggling her eyebrows suggestively and looking towards the bathroom, hearing the shower running.
"Alice!" I admonished, but I smiled myself.
"Oh please, stop acting so matronly. He is hot"
"You are married Alice" she rolled her eyes and sat down, making herself comfy on the couch we had picked out when we moved in. "Speaking of marriage, how was the honeymoon?"
"It was amazing, you will get all the details if you come round mine tonight. Takeout and you double choc brownies, sound good to me" I smiled and nodded at her.
"Of course, Alice"
"Great, I can give you your gift and get the gossip on what happened while I was away" fun.
"Okay" her phone buzzed and she got it out, glancing at the screen and then rejecting the call.
"Work's going crazy. Since I switched my phone back on, it's been ringing every few minutes"
"Aren't you going to answer it?" she smirked and shook her head, dropping back into her handbag after turning it on silent.
"I don't officially start work until Tuesday, so they'll have to deal with it. Maybe my boss will realise how much I do around there"
"Maybe they'll give you a raise" she sighed dreamily.
"I hope so, I have my eye on a new Prada handbag" we laughed and Royce came out of the bathroom, a towel covering his lower half and his light hair a few shades darker as it was damp. He looked at us and smiled, running a hand tough his hair to swipe it out of his face.
"Hi Alice"
"Hi Royce" he came over and kissed my cheek, before going into the bedroom. "If I wasn't happily married and in your position, I would jump him right now" I laughed and shook my head.
"Down girl, you're practically drooling on my new cushions" she smiled at me before hugging me and then standing up.
"I'll see you tonight"
"I'll bring baked goods"
"Good. Vous voir bientôt, mon ami"
"Yeah, see you"
Emmett POV
Looking out of the plane window, I saw the New York skyline from the air, the lights winking as the plane climbed higher.
As I did frequently, I thought of Rosalie.
I thought of the kiss we had shared, that moment of bliss before she asked me to leave.
I thought of the way she had looked at me when I left. She had almost looked like she didn't really want me to leave.
Too late now...maybe it was for the best.
When I landed, I went to my empty, quiet apartment and fell asleep on my couch after a few beers. I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing, piercing in the deafening stillness of my flat and shocking me into consciousness.
Sitting up and reaching for it, I considered ignoring it but I was awake now, so I hit the button and placed the phone to my ear with a sigh.
"Hello?"
"Do you want to tell me why you turned down a promotion?" came the voice of Mike.
"What?" was my lame, half asleep reply.
"An office of your own, fewer hours, a better pay check and it is out of Seattle...and you said no?" he seemed dumbfounded and rubbing the sleep out of eyes, I went in search for coffee or something to wake me up properly.
"Yeah, I turned I down"
"Why the fuck did you do that?"
"I wanted to stay in Seattle" he snorted derisively, in his opinion Seattle was an armpit of a place and he had always wanted to go somewhere else, anywhere else really.
"I would have taken the job without a second thought" little did he know, I had recommended him when I turned it down.
"Maybe you'll get the opportunity soon" I hinted.
"If I was lucky" he grumbled, missing my not so subtle nudge as I flicked on the coffee maker and got out a mug. "So, when are you coming back to work?"
"Tomorrow"
"Didn't you just get off a plane a few hours ago?"
"Thank you for thinking about after calling me Mike"
"Why don't you take a couple of days off? Do you even sleep?"
"I was sleeping when you called" I said tersely, pouring the coffee and taking a grateful sip.
"Sorry man, well enjoy you day off and I'll see you tomorrow"
"Bye Mike"
So with a rare day to myself, by myself, I pottered around my soundless apartment. Putting on the radio, I cleaned up and unpacked the few remaining boxes and my suitcase in virtually no time.
With nothing else to do, I let out a heavy sigh poured another cup of coffee before getting out some paper work and settling in to go through it all.
Half way through and I got another call, this time from my new brother in law, putting down my pen and stretching as I answered it, I sat up.
"Hi Jasper"
"Hey Emmett"
"How was the honeymoon? Spare me the intimate details, please" he laughed briefly and I leaned back in my chair.
"It was good, a long flight there and back, but Alice loved Paris"
"Let me guess, my little sister brought an extra suitcase full of shopping back?" I rolled my eyes as he made a sound of agreement.
"We had to pay for going over the luggage limit"
"Well, I'm glad you got home safely" there was a short pause on Jasper's end of the line.
"Are you okay Emmett?"
"Of course, I'm fine"
"Emmett" he said in that annoyingly knowing way. "What is it?"
Where to start?
"I'm just tired, I guess. I'm starting work tomorrow"
"You only took a week off, since when did you become such a workaholic?"
"Work's going well for me at the moment, so it just makes sense" Jasper made a sound of agreement and I knew he saw through me, but he was far too polite to say anything to me.
"Okay then, we'll come and see you next month, okay?"
"Sounds good, see you"
Alice POV
Letting in Rosalie, I got us two large mugs of hot chocolate with a little cream whiskey as she pulled out her beautifully mouth-watering brownies.
Popping on one of our favourite Molly Ringwald films, we ate the treats and sipped our drinks as I told her about Paris. I chattered on about the Louvre, Eiffel Tower and of course the shopping.
"There was this shop...well it was more a boutique on the rue de...cherche midi I think, oh what was it called...something beginning with an I, oh it had the most beautiful shoes!" she smiled wryly at me.
"You probably killed your credit card, right?"
"Maybe?" she laughed and rolled her eyes at me.
"So, it was good?" I nodded and put down my now empty mug, taking another brownie and devouring it in almost one bite, earning a horrified glance from my friend as she took a more lady like bite from her own.
"You would have loved it, Jasper found the best restaurants"
"When you ventured out of the bedroom or shops?"
"Yes" I admitted with a smile, my thoughts wandering to my husband naked save for the hotel sheets, before returning back to the present. "So, what happened whilst I was gone?" her smile faltered, but in a well-practiced way she snapped it back on. She may be able to everyone else, but when it came to me I saw right through that fake smile.
"The restaurant is doing well, Rob can actually make a decent cocktail now. He also renewed the Levi contract, which you obviously already know, I think most of our customers come mainly to see him in action"
"I see and hear you talking, but all I hear is crap. What happened, Rose?" the smile faded and she looked down at her hands for a long moment before answering truthfully.
"Roger died" my mouth fell open in shock and I leaned forwards to give her a big hug.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here" she patted me on the shoulder and we pulled away, her eyes had glazed over and she blinked the unshed tears away.
"It is fine, Robert was there...and Emmett"
"How are you dealing with it?" she wrung her hands and glanced away again.
"I hadn't seen him in weeks...months actually"
"He was your father"
"So what?" she snapped, then catching herself she pressed her lips together and got up, turning away from me.
"So...it's natural to mourn his death"
"I am not mourning him"
"Rose..."
"Can we not talk about this right now?" she interrupted and she turned back to face me, with a sigh I nodded. I knew that if I pushed it any further she was only retreat and close herself off, she would get defensive and I didn't want to argue with my friend when she was so clearly hurting.
"Okay...how is Royce?"
"He told me he loves me" she said in a low voice, slowly walking back and then sitting down again.
"He did?" she nodded and proceeded to tell me what happened, though I got the impression she was glossing over a few details, I let her talk and we tried to have a nice night in.
Rosalie POV
Back at work, I was in the office taking my break, sipping a frothy coffee and flicking though my emails. Downstairs was being set up for lunch, Max was on the bar as Robert was at the gym preparing for an upcoming fight that weekend.
Checking the time I realised that the appointment for a possible party at the restaurant, clearing my desk of paper work, I took my mug downstairs, grabbing a pen and notepad on the way, as a short auburn haired walked through the front door, an assistant bringing up the rear.
"Hello I'm Rosalie Hale are you Jennifer Gillies?" she nodded and putting down the mug on the top of the bar, I stepped forward and held out my hand. Moving closer she extended her own hand and shook mine, with a small polite smile and a nod, before withdrawing her hand.
I motioned for her to walk ahead and take a look at the dining area and bar, she observed everything with a keen eye. Her perfectly manicured hands held a shiny white phone, which she used to take pictures every so often.
Jennifer Gillies was the editor in chief of a popular fashion and lifestyle magazine, previous the magazine was near bankrupt until they hired her to turn it around. In her fifth year the magazine was earning more than ever before and so in honour, there was to be a party for her and the magazine as she laughed the men's version next month.
"The balcony" she said and I looked up as she did. "Could space be made for a DJ?" I nodded and made a note of it.
"We can certainly accommodate a DJ booth, anything else?"
"Capacity?"
"A Hundred and twenty...or a hundred if you want space for a stage or dance floor area" she nodded as she snapped a picture of the balcony, then glanced at her assistant as the girl made a note in her phone.
"Mmmm hmm, so how much would it cost for drinks and food for a hundred people?" giving her a rough quote taking into consideration she may want a personalised menu, she nodded as her assistant scribbled down the figures. "That sounds, reasonable. Alexandra here will deal with the rest of the arrangements, so any queries go through her but final approval goes to me"
"I understand, would you like a special menu or are there any dietary requirements for the guests attending?" reeling of gluten, meat and dairy as forbidden foods; I puzzled as to how we would have anything edible for the guests.
Starting to walk back towards the door as we came to the end of the meeting, she snapped her fingers at her assistant who extracted a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. Long red nails, plucking out a single cigarette and placing it between glossy pink lips, she lit up and took a deep drag.
The smell of smoke and alcohol permeated the air, the foul stench almost making me gag as I walked inside.
"Where the hell have you been?" growled Roger, staggering towards me with a beer in one hand and a half burnt down cigarette, in the other hand.
"At Alice's house" he sneered after taking a deep swig of beer and then he crushed the empty can in one hand, tossing it to the ground. Turning to face me, he lurched forward to make a grab for my wrist and yank me forward.
"Listen, I don't want to go round the stuck-up bitch's house any more" getting closer the smell of smoke and alcohol was even more overpowering.
"Dad, you're hurting me" snarling, he walked down the hall, dragging me along with him in his unrelenting grip. Opening my bedroom door, he pushed me inside the sudden release of his hand on my wrist, sending me falling forwards and hitting my knee on the floor and grazing my palms as I reached out to steady myself.
"I don't want to hear any more about the Cullen's"
"She's my friend!" stepping forward as I got to my feet, he raised a hand which made me instinctively flinch.
"Her and her family are snobs who pity you, wise up girl!" he took a drag of off the almost forgotten cigarette in his other hand, ash falling onto his shirt.
"I get good grades, I don't get in trouble and you treat me like shit!" I saw the rage in his eyes, regretting my outburst too late as his hand collided with my right cheek.
"I am your father, never talk to me like that again" he said in a low, menacing voice. "Do you understand me, Rosalie?" balling my hands into fists by my sides, I pressed my lips together and looked down. "Do. You. Understand?" he emphasized his seriousness by grounding the end of his cigarette into the side of my arm.
Screaming out in pain as the searing heat burned my arm, I tried to jerk back but he grabbed my arm once more, letting go only when tears sprang to my eyes.
"Answer me when I talk to you" he took a puff off the cigarette, now barely more than a stub. "Do you understand?"
"Yes"
"Rosalie?" came a female voice, snapping me out of the vivid memory that set the almost faded scar on my arm, feeling fresh. Looking at her she had the cigarette in her hand, smoke wafting up from the end as she exhaled a puff of smoke, intense and filthy smelling.
"Get out" I said in a low voice and she looked shocked.
"What?"
"Get out!" I went to the door and yanked it open. "I do not appreciate you smoking in my restaurant, Ms Gillies" looking affronted she walked to the door with her assistant following her, she paused at the door and turned her head to glance at me.
"If this is an indication of the service my guests and I may expect, than I am not sure if this venue is quite suitable" another plume of smoke wafted my way.
"Just go outside with that, please" nostrils flaring she flounced off, assistant almost running after her then I shut the door, all of the staff having stopped to stare openly at me.
"What are you looking at? You're not paid to stand around all day!" I snapped and they resumed what they were doing as I hurried to the ladies.
My hands on either side of one of the sinks, I closed my eyes and breathed out a shakily trying to dispel the image of Roger Hale out of my mind. After a few moments, I opened my eyes and Robert walked in.
"Rose?" worry coloured his voice and I turned my head to look at him.
"Rob, I thought you were at the gym?" he ran a hand through his hair and sighed, as I looked back at my reflection in the mirror.
"I was, but I thought I might pop in and see if you wanted to have lunch with me. Was that the magazine editor, I saw leaving looking pretty pissed off?"
"She was smoking inside" I replied trying to downplay my reaction, but seeing the look on his face in the mirror he wasn't buying it.
"You sure you didn't over react? Are you okay, Rose?"
Damn it. Why did he even care? I wasn't a particularly good friend and I hadn't even been able to be a good business partner recently. It was unlikely Jennifer Gillies would ever consider coming back here now, ever mind having her launch party here.
As self-involved as I was I knew he was going out on a limb for me, working with me when I was such a mess. He barely dated, if he wasn't working at the restaurant he was working on the ad campaigns and training for upcoming fights. I doubt he had much of a personal life or any free time to himself.
"I'm..." fine, that's a blatant lie. "I'm not feeling so good, but I'll be alright" he nodded easily accepting this half-truth, but staying where he was crossing his arms over his chest.
Not for the first time I noticed he was quite good looking, with his casually ruffled dark blond hair and calm blue eyes, he always looked friendly especially when he gave a lazy smile. He could easily be intimidating though, with a muscle bound body that he maintained by hours a week in the gym it was clear how he had made a name for himself.
"Do you want to talk?" he seemed to think better of that and shook his head as I turned to face him. "You never want to talk about yourself, but I am your friend" I don't know if it was my imagination, however the way he said 'friend' sounded more like a negative.
"I know that"
"But you are still going to keep it all bottled up, right?" he took me aback with that statement, he was right of course but it was a little strange how he already knew me well enough to say that.
I knew Alice for years and she almost knew everything about me, yet Robert who had known me for a few months acted as if we had known each other for much longer.
"I..."
"Its' okay, Rose. If you ever get tired of keeping it all to yourself, you know where I am"
"Making terrible cocktails at our bar?" I responded aiming for humour and trying to change the subject, he smiled drily.
"I am getting better" he said going along with it, I scrunched up my nose and forced a smile.
"If you say so"
"Now you joke, come on. I'll show you a decent cocktail" he half turned away and I followed him out.
"Let me just sort out some paperwork and I'll take you up on that offer" he gave me a brief nod went back to the bar as I went to the office.
It was stupid of me, acting like that and in front of everyone. Why was that? Because for a moment I was reminded of Roger, so what? Over the years since I left my home town, I had often been reminded and I had never been affected so strongly before.
So...why now? Why now that he was well and truly gone? Gripped by panic for a moment, I grabbed the edge of the desk and lowered my head, breathing in and out slowly as I closed my eyes.
He was gone.
~X~X~X~
I had gotten through the rest of the day calmly, calling Jennifer later to apologize for my outburst.
"I do regret my outburst...that...is not how I usually conduct my business"
"Hmm, that is all good but I do not feel that your venue would be suitable for our launch party" restraining myself from making a remark about her condescending tone, I sighed and put a hand to my forehead.
"I apologize for my behaviour and I am willing to lower the cost of the event by 10% if you would reconsider us" was the statement I chose, drumming my fingers on the desk top as the editor 'um'ed' and 'ah'ed' for a while.
Knowing where this was going, I was prepared for when she said she wasn't entirely sure. Going up to 15% she agreed after more time wasting, saying she would like the invoice and a potential menu email to her assistant as soon as possible.
Putting down the phone, I turned the computer on and started work on the invoice and a rough version of the menu that I would go over with my head chef.
At the end of the day, I headed downstairs where most of the staff had gone home, a couple of servers moving the chairs off the floor so they could be moped.
"Hey" came Robert's voice as he put a box of glasses away, while the bartender wiped down the bar. "Ready to go?" I nodded and pulled on my coat as he walked round and grabbed his own.
"Yeah" we walked outside, out of the warmth of our restaurant and into the cold night.
Starting to walk towards the subway, he looked at me and I realized he was visually assessing me before he spoke.
"I hear it's your birthday on Friday"
"Alice?" he nodded and I sighed, stuffing my hands into my pockets as we went down the stairs to the subway alongside him.
"You're hard to shop for" looking at him, I shook my head.
"You don't have to get me anything, I'm not even going to do anything this year" he looked confused.
"But it's the big three-O, you have to do something" pressing my lips together, the way he spoke reminded me of something.
"You have to do something"
"No" shaking my head, I threw a pebble into the sea and watched it skip across the surface and then fall in.
"It's your sixteenth" a car approached, a familiar jeep stopping near Alice's new Porsche. When the engine died a burly, curly haired eighteen year old boy, hopped out and spotted us. With a wide grin he waved and with a smile of her own, Alice waved at her older brother as he waked towards us.
As he approached us he looked to me and continued to grin, I smiled back trying to ignore the feeling of butterflies in my belly at the sight of him.
"Hi Alice" she smiled and looked at his jeep.
"Hey, think you could have gotten a more ridiculous car?" he raised an eyebrow in an almost amused way.
"It's a jeep Al. Anyway, what about yours? A sports car in Forks?" she stuck her tongue out in response and he rolled his eyes and then chuckled, before turning to look at me. "Hi Rose"
"Hi Emmett" I tried to say nonchalantly.
"So what's up?" he aimed the question at both of us but the pixie answered for us.
"Rose's birthday is coming up this weekend, her sixteenth" he looked surprised and I shot a glare at my friend.
"Is she trying to get you to go for an Alice Cullen extravaganza?"
"Something like that"
"Stick by your guns, it is your day" he winked at me and I felt a flutter as Alice glared at him, he caught the glance and chuckled once more. "You should do something though"
"It's just a big fuss"
"We could keep it small" pitched in Alice, I almost laughed at her doing anything like that, picking up another pebble and flicking it towards the sea.
"I don't know"
"You won't turn sixteen again" she said and something about the way she said it made me laugh.
"God, I hope not"
"How about a bonfire, here on the beach?" Alice and I looked to Emmett. "It is casual and you just invite who you want there. All you need to worry about is food and music"
"That doesn't sound too bad"
"Is that a yes?" asked Alice, sighing I looked at Emmett who gave me a friendly smile that I couldn't help but return.
"I guess so"
"Rose?" blinking and mentally shaking myself, I was back to the present, stood on the platform waiting for the train, as Robert stood by my side. "Rose? Are you still with me?" nodding slowly, I gave him an apologetic smile.
"Sorry Rob, just my mind wandered" was the pathetic excuse I came up with he frowned for a moment, but swallowed the lie.
"I was asking if you're sure about not doing anything for your birthday" nodding again, I brushed my hair off of my shoulder and glanced at him.
"I don't think it's really right, considering...what happened recently" he looked confused for a moment, then the penny dropped and he nodded, giving me a sympathetic look.
"Sure, sorry for bringing it up"
"It's fine" I answered dismissively, a few seconds later my train arrived and I hopped on, waving at my friend before the doors shut.
~X~X~X~
"Hello"
"Hi Royce" I smiled at him and gave him a kiss, before letting him into the apartment.
"You look beautiful" I wore a red rose printed dress that flared out at the hips, with a thin black belt and strappy black heels.
"Thank you" I got my purse and was grabbed by the waist and spun round for a deep kiss. I smiled against his lips and settled in his arms, kissing him once more and holding him close with my free hand on the back of his neck.
"Mmm, I missed that"
"Me too, as much as I would like to continue this" I trailed my hand to his shoulder and smiled again. "Don't we have reservations?"
"We do" he agreed, we reluctantly untangled ourselves and left to go to the restaurant. It was technically my birthday dinner, but I hadn't told him that.
I hadn't seen him in over a week and I had been way too stressed, all I wanted was a simple, uncomplicated dinner with just my boyfriend.
We got into his car and headed not towards the Italian restaurant downtown, but up a street with new buildings that practically screamed money. Coming to a stop outside one of the buildings, we got out and I gave Royce a questioning look.
"Where are we?" he smiled and took my hand, leading me inside after a nod at the doorman, who opened the door for us.
"You'll see soon enough" was his annoyingly cryptic answer as we walked into a lift, I frowned as he pressed the button for the top floor. When we got out I was led up to the roof of the building, where I was shocked to see nothing.
Until a set of lights, well fairy lights strung up everywhere, were flicked on, illuminating the rooftop and the babble of people who cheered and pulled party poppers.
"Happy birthday Rosalie!"
Royce's hand slipped out of mine with a smile, as my friends and co-workers surged forward to congratulate me, while somewhere music started up. After the initial shock wore off, I slapped on a smile, thanking everyone who came up to me with well wishes and sometimes a card and a gift.
Alice materialized by my side and put the cards and gifts to one side, putting a drink in my hand after giving me a hug and a gift of her own.
"So whose idea was this?" I was accusingly, the fake smile slipping from my lips.
"Royce's, he thought it would be nice" she put a hand on my arm and gave me a sympathetic look. I was getting very fed up of all the sympathetic looks people kept giving me.
"You know I didn't want all of this..." I waved a hand at the decoration, lights and music "...fuss" she looked worried and I realised that I sounded irritated bordering onto angry.
"He told me at he last minute, sorry Rose" gritting my teeth, I turned round and spotted Royce and Robert chatting, he looked up as if realising I was looking at him. He smiled and gave me a small wave and I forced the smile back on my face, waving back at him with a heavy sigh.
"I'm sorry, Alice" she shook her head and I took a deep gulp of my drink, the 'fuss' couldn't be avoided.
So even though I wanted to be alone with my boyfriend, I kept on my smile as I was bombarded by the party guests. I got roped into taking shots, dragged through various anecdotes involving myself and pulled me onto the makeshift dance floor by my 'friends'.
After one too many shots, I was tugged back onto the dance floor by my boyfriend and at this point, coordination of my limbs was sloppy at best.
"Having fun, love?" not trusting myself to speak in my current state, I nodded and put my arms round his neck. "I overhead Alice talking about it a few days ago and thought you deserved more than a boring dinner with me"
"I would have loved that" I said in a moment of sobriety, we swayed to the music and he let out a short laugh like he thought I was joking, pulling me close to kiss my cheek.
"We can have dinner anytime babe"
"I didn't need all of this" I replied dismissively and realized my mistake too late, when his face fell and we stopped dancing rather abruptly.
"You don't like it?" shit.
"It was a lovely gesture" I said trying to back track, but then the cake was pulled out of somewhere, the candles flickering as Robert brought it with an apologetic look at me.
"Happy birthday to you..." chorused the party guests, Royce letting go of me so I could cut the cake and take a bite.
It was all too much, too many people and the cheery music was overwhelming. I didn't want this.
I needed space.
Under the pretence of getting a drink, I got away from the cake and crowd, finding a quiet corner after grabbing a can of soda.
"Are you okay?" I shook my head at Robert and he leaned against the wall, slowly sipping a beer.
"It's too much"
"He did it because he cares about you" I raised a brow questioningly at him.
"No remarks on his ex?"
"I may have been wrong about Royce, he does love you" I spotted him walking towards us.
"I know"
"Hi Rob" greeted Royce, both men looked at each other and nodded in acknowledgement. My friend gave me a smile, before walking away with a knowing glance to me and then Royce.
"Royce" I started, not quite knowing how to continue without sounding like an ungrateful bitch.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his expression was unreadable.
"Yes" he breathed out slowly and momentarily glanced at the ground after I replied.
"This isn't what you wanted is it?" pressing my lips together, he watched me and sighed. "I'll take that as a yes, then"
"All I wanted was a casual evening with you, I didn't need..." I motioned to the party going on without us. "All of this"
"Okay" he said simply and leaned forwards, kissing my cheek. "Happy birthday" I stopped him moving away, by putting a hand on his cheek and pressing his lips to mine, just wanting him not to be upset because of me.
"Thank you" looking to the crowd of people dancing or drinking, I turned my attention back to Royce. "Any chance of getting out of here?"
"How about I steal us some cake and we head back to yours?"
"Sounds great" he gave me another brief kiss, before pulling away.
"Grab a cab and I'll be down in a few minutes"
"Sure"
~X~X~X~
Soon we were back at my apartment and either due to the copious amount of alcohol in my system or the relief of being able to hear myself think, I attacked Royce the moment we got inside. Soon enough a trail of clothes were left in our wake, as we somehow made it to the bedroom attached to each other's lips.
Landing on the bed, I straddled him and pulled off the last piece of clothing in our way. Remaining on top of him, his hands roamed my body as I lowered my head for a lingering kiss. Keeping my lips on him and closing my eyes, I ran my hands across his shoulders to his hair as he flipped us over.
Letting out a laugh, he smiled at me and kissed down my neck as he thrust his hips up causing us to moan simultaneously.
I gripped his shoulders, nearly screaming his name as we got closer to the edge.
"Oh...Rose" his thrusts got faster and more erratic. "Oh, god...I love you" he said as he climaxed.
He kept me close with an arm around my waist, kissing the top of my head and smiling as he pulled the covers over us.
"Why?" he looked at me, lifting a hand to run his thumb across my cheek tenderly.
"Why what?"
"Why do you love me?" he smiled gently at me.
"Because...your straightforward, occasionally funny, amazing. There are a lot more reasons, but we'd be here too long talking about it" I sat up and grabbed my dressing robe, pulling it on and tying it as I stood up.
"You too nice to me; thinking about me and yet I am utterly self-involved. You planned tonight and all I did was bitch about it" he sat up then reached out to me.
"Hey...what is this all about Rose?"
"I don't deserve you. Even when I'm a bitch, you...you say you love me. What am I supposed to say back?" he looked truly flummoxed and as I perched on the edge of the bed he took my hand.
"I love you. You don't have to say it back, not right away, but I want you to know that"
"I have given you no reason to love me or be kind to me" I got up, shaking off his hand on mine, starting to pace.
"Where is this coming from?"
"I just...I don't get it!" I stopped my pacing, half turning away from Royce.
"Is this about the party?...It was too soon after the funeral wasn't it?" he had hit the nail on the head and he surprised me once again that night. "I'm sorry" he sounded genuine and some reason that irritated me.
I walked out of the bedroom and went to the kitchen, a bit wobbly from the alcohol, so I got myself a glass of water to sober up some more. As I sipped the water, Royce came into the kitchen as well now wearing underwear and giving me a look of bewilderment.
"Rose, have I done something wrong?" he seemed so concerned and confused, he was too perfect.
"You are so fucking perfect! You come from a good family and you have more money than you know what to do with, you don't even need to work" he frowned and I put the glass down, leaning back against the countertop.
"What wrong Rose? Tell me"
"I am not perfect like you!" I almost shouted at him, my hands clenching into fists. "I was on my own and I had to work for everything I have. I am not kind or loving or have any redeeming qualities, so I don't understand why. Why it is you stick around or why you say you 'love' me!" still frowning, his expression changed a bit, his forehead scrunching in concern rather than confusion.
"Rose, I..." he stepped forwards and tried to out his arms around me, but I pushed him away.
"Just...don't" he looked at me incredulously. "Don't, okay?"
"I don't know what you want me to say" he said quietly and I sook my head, lifting the glass and emptying it in one gulp, putting it back down but still holding onto as Royce stepped back.
"I think you should go" his eyes widened.
"Is that what you want?"
"Just go!" he stayed still and the hand I had around the glass tightened.
"Rose...talk to me, tell me what's going on"
Maybe it was what he said, or how in the half-light coming in through the windows, he looked like Roger. The muted light hit one side of his face, his pale blond hair looked darker and his eyes were almost black.
For a moment he looked exactly like the man I had run away from when I was eighteen.
"Get out!" I screamed raising my arm, the one holding the glass and releasing it, so it sailed through the air towards him.
The glass broke and the arm he lifted in defence was now dripping in blood.
He lowered his arm and looked at me in wide eyed shock, a massive gash on his arm gushing blood as he stared at me.
Author's Note:
(hides in corner)
Please don't hate me for the cliff hanger, it will all get resolved soon I promise.
Thank you all for reading :)