Chapter 14 – King of Anything

"Someone spiked the punch."

I jump at the voice in my ear, startled. When I turn, Edward's right behind me wearing a grin and holding two plastic cups.

"You know who did it, right?" I yell over the loud, thumping music as I dart a glance at the entrance of the gym. I've been staring at it on and off since we got here almost an hour ago, watching everyone but who I want to see walk through the doorway draped with crepe streamers.

"The same person who does it at every dance?" Edward replies. He moves to toss the cups into the trash can next to us, but I stop him and take one. He raises an eyebrow, but doesn't say anything, and keeps his, too.

My gaze goes to Tyler, who's out on the dance floor with Lauren. His suit jacket is already off, his shirtsleeves rolled up. He pulls her close and she tips her head back and laughs, shimmying her hips. Even in the darkness, I can vaguely make out the outline of his trusty flask in his back pocket.

I shake my head when Tyler dips Lauren, nearly causing a wardrobe malfunction. "I don't know how he gets away with it."

"Sure you do."

I look down at my cup and sniff it. Damn,Tyler wasn't messing around. "I might need a drink to handle dancing with Roy in a few minutes."

Edward laughs wryly. "Yeah, well, if dinner was any indication, drink up."

I snort, shaking my head. Roy and Vera showed up at the restaurant soon after we sat down. Tyler and Mike must have mentioned that we'd be there, maybe even invited him and Vera, but after they hadn't shown up for pictures, I'd assumed we would be able to avoid the awkwardness until the dance.

Apparently not. Jess, Lauren and I all stared silently as they made their way over to our table. Edward patted my knee under the table while Mike and Tyler greeted Roy and Vera. We all squished over and the waitress grabbed two more chairs from a nearby table. Since I was on the end, I wound up with Roy right next to me. I'd tried to ignore the awkwardness and be friendly, tried to engage both Vera and Roy in conversation but Roy turned his whole body toward the rest of us, effectively cutting Vera out entirely.

I raise an eyebrow at Edward now, looking at my cup again before raising it to his. "In that case, shall we?"

"Okay, fine. But just this one. I'm not handing you over to Emmett all sloppy."

I snap my fingers with an exaggerated aw shucks expression. "And here I was thinking that I could pickpocket the flask without anyone noticing."

Edward narrows his eyes. "I'll be watching you, Hale," he warns, bumping his plastic cup against mine. "Bottoms up."

We both take large gulps, making faces.

"That's got a kick," he says with a cough.

I look sideways at him and catch him peeking at his phone before pocketing it. He shrugs with a grin and takes a nonchalant swig of the punch. "How's Bella?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"Missing me, of course." Edward smiles, but the wistfulness of it gives him away. It's obvious the feeling is mutual. He nods his chin toward Tyler and Lauren, who've now been joined by Jess and Mike, back from getting their pictures taken. "Should we get out there?"

I nod, letting my eyes drift back to the door one last time before Edward steers me back toward everyone. We're pushing our luck standing on the sidelines, anyway. It's been ten minutes since we begged off, claiming extreme thirst after dancing to what felt like an endless stream of top 40 songs. I knew even before Edward slipped out into the hallway with his phone in his hand that he just needed an excuse to check in with Bella. Not that I was complaining at being temporarily ditched. It gave me free rein to watch for Emmett without Edward throwing me knowing smirks. Apparently I wasn't being subtle, although Jess and Lauren were too busy singing along to Britney Spears at the top of their lungs to notice that I was preoccupied.

I haven't heard from Emmett since dinner, when he texted me to say he was at Jasper's house, chilling with him and Alice before the dance. He didn't say when he'd be here, but the dance has been going on for close to two hours, so I know it's just a matter of time.

I just want to see him, want to know he's here.

With one last glance at the entrance, Edward and I make our way out onto the dance floor. We're out there for less than the length of one song when two things happen.

The first is the DJ gets on the microphone and calls the Queen and King to the booth.

And the other? Emmett walks in.

It's completely cheesy, but time slows when he walks into the gym. I'm talking West Side Story, when everything else fades away and there's just he and I. I see people moving around in my periphery but I'm frozen, standing motionless, eyes only for him.

He hasn't found me yet, and I watch him scanning the room. In the background, the DJ says something about the Queen, and I hear my name, feel my friends closing in.

Emmett's suit is a dark, dark blue, and god, he looks so good. I can't wait to see him up close, because I know I'll find that color in the flecks in his eyes. I need to be in front of him, next to him, touching him.

He finally finds me, and I see the corners of his mouth tug up, pulling into a wide grin. I know my expression echoes his as he mouths, "hi."

My fingers find my lips and I tap them. I take a step forward, toward him. The pull is undeniable.

Hands grip my shoulders and Jess stops me, spinning my body around. Lauren is right next to her, her hands on her hips.

"Rosalie! Come on." Jess snakes her arm around my shoulders. Lauren gets on my other side, wrapping an arm around my waist, and they start propelling me toward the DJ booth. "They've called you like a zillion times! Are you ready for this?"

I look back over my shoulder and see Emmett still watching me, although the smile's dimmer now. Jasper and Alice are standing next to him and Alice nudges Emmett with her elbow, wearing a sympathetic expression.

It's enough to make me stop.

"Posie?" Lauren questions in my ear. Their eyes dart to where Roy is standing near the DJ, his crown on and his hands stuffed into his pants' pockets. She and Jess can obviously tell something is wrong, but by the way they're looking between the two of us like they're at a tennis match, I know they think it's about Roy and this dance. It's not about him, though. Now that I think about it, it never was.

Now isn't the time to get into that with Jess and Lauren, though. I remind myself for what might be the millionth time tonight that I just need to get through this. It's the last time I'll be playing this role, and as painful as it's become, having a deadline eases it a little bit.

Edward makes his way over to me and gives me a rueful grin. Lauren squeezes my side. "Knock 'em dead, Killer. I'll be over there with Jas, Al and Em when you're done." He tilts his head toward where they're standing, as if I don't know. After a split second of confusion I realize he's helping me out, giving me a reason to be near Emmett when this is over.

Like I need one.

I smile gratefully at Edward, and then we're in motion and I'm being pushed to the front, finding my place near the DJ and Roy. The DJ is talking, saying words that make no sense. I'm so anxious to just get this over and done with. It's the last of my duties in the life that's been holding me back from moving forward, from being myself.

Once the DJ's done announcing us to the crowd, Roy offers his arm with a thin smile. There's nothing I can do but take it. I let him lead me to the dance floor and he wraps his arms around my waist. My arms go around his neck out of habit and he pulls me close. Even though I've been this close to him plenty of times before, it feels more wrong now than it ever did. I'm sure it looks practiced, though, like we've been doing this for years.

The first few dances we went to after we started dating were different than the last ones. Royce actually danced with me, pulled me close like he's doing now. I have a feeling it had more to do with feeling my body against his, because once we started having sex, the dancing eventually stopped. He didn't need to feel me like that, because he had me in a way that was bigger than swaying to some stupid four-minute song in Forks High School's gym.

Maybe that's why he doesn't seem at all put out to be dancing with me now. Even if he doesn't want to admit it, he knows this is the only time we have. Four minutes to feel me, and he has to do it in front of hundreds of people.

I'm only worried about one. My eyes scan the crowd over Roy's shoulder, looking for Emmett, but all I can see is a blur of faces and then Jess, Lauren, Mike and Tyler holding court at the front of the circle of people who are surrounding Roy and me. Mike and Tyler are laughing, jostling each other and generally acting like jackasses. Jess and Lauren have their arms linked, the skirts of their dresses moving back and forth as they sway to the music. Lauren's leaning her head against Jess's, looking a little wistful. I know she doesn't begrudge me for winning, but I also know she'd be out here in a heartbeat if she could.

"Listen, Rosalie..." Roy's voice is low in my ear, his mouth too close. I dip my head away infinitesimally.

"Don't, Roy," I say, keeping my expression neutral.

I can tell he's pissed. I feel the tension in his shoulders, like he's holding his breath or words in his chest. Like he's waiting for the right time to let them go.

I remember I always used to wish he'd yell when he got mad, instead of going cold and steely, quiet. He thought the lack of volume in his voice made him so different from his dad, but the tone was the same. I was around enough times when Royce Sr. went off on him for whatever reason (sometimes no reason at all). The angry flash in their eyes was the same, the redness that crept up their neck. I think if Roy knew how much he looked like his dad in those moments, he'd find a way to change that, too, just like he changed his name.

"I miss you," he continues. The statement loses its meaning in the hardness of his tone.

While my expression remains neutral, my heart is beating hard against my chest. I hope to god he can't feel it, that it doesn't give him the wrong impression. "Don't," I repeat, more forcefully.

His fingers tighten against my back. "Why?"

"We broke up, Roy."

"No, you pulled some bullshit on me. This wasn't a we thing."

I don't even try to hide my scowl now. I catch Jess's eye briefly, and she raises an eyebrow, so I look away, toward a nameless group of people, try to smooth out my expression. "I wasn't happy with you. How is that bullshit?"

"We were together for three years, Rosalie, and then all of a sudden you text me to come over and break up with me in your driveway. That's bullshit. It's bullshit that you think there's someone out there that makes more sense for you than me."

"Royce -" It just slips out and underneath my hands, I feel him tense even more.

"Don't." His voice is hard, flinty, his tone snide.

I try again. "We don't make sense in the ways that matter to me, and I couldn't ignore that anymore. I'm sorry that you're hurt, okay? But I don't think you want me back. You want Posie, because that's who you make sense with."

"You are Posie. You're wearing a crown on your head, aren't you? And so am I, so what does that say?"

"God, you're not making a good argument for yourself," I say, pulling back so I can look up at him. The lights overhead reflect on his face, throwing his eyes into shadow and then illuminating them. "Roy, being Homecoming Queen isn't the only thing that defines me. It's not who I am. Being King isn't who you are."

He rolls his eyes. "I know that. But Jesus, Rosalie, this is where you belong."

"No," I reply, shaking my head. His jaw sets stubbornly, and he tries to pull me close again, but I resist. "I'm not that girl anymore, and I was never just that girl. You just never took the time to figure that out. You want her, not me."

"That's not true," he says with conviction, and I really do think he believes it. I think he believes he wants the girl that I am, rather than the girl he needs me to be. And that's why he's hurting - not because he misses me, but because he misses what we were.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you," I reply. I hear the song coming to an end, its final chorus. "We're done, though. I'm not going to come back to you. I'm not going to see you with Vera and decide that I want it to be me, so if that's what you're doing, don't. She doesn't deserve that."

He doesn't say anything at that, just looks away and loosens his hold on me. It's slight, but I feel it, can breathe a little easier. I think he gets it now, finally, and I don't know if it's time and distance that's helped him understand what I told him in my driveway a month ago - because it's the same thing I'm saying now - or something else. Whatever it is, I breathe a silent sigh of relief.

The song drifts to an end, and I start to completely pull away, but his palm presses lightly against my back, keeping me there for a few extra seconds. I look up at him, this boy I spent three years with, and see the hurt in his eyes. Even if he understands now, it doesn't change the way he feels.

But I can't help that. I've spent most of my life making myself something I wasn't because I wanted to be right for other people, and I ended up hurting myself instead. This is another lesson I'm learning, that sometimes other people get hurt, are disappointed in the process of you being true to yourself. And I won't let that stop me anymore, the fear of disappointing anyone else. I've been disappointing myself for too long.

People clap and whoop and the spotlight that was on Roy and me fades. Our moment is over.

He lets me go.

I step back and take a deep breath, looking over my shoulder as the DJ announces the rest of the court will dance in a few minutes. Jess and Lauren come toward me, hands in the air, hips and shoulders shimmying. Mike and Tyler are right behind them, closing in on me.

"Let's dance!" Lauren yells in my ear as a rap song starts blaring through the speakers.

I start moving my feet halfheartedly, but my eyes are still scanning the crowd, looking for Emmett. I can't find him, despite the fact that he's taller than pretty much everyone. But then Mike moves his big head, and I see Emmett standing about twenty feet away with Edward, Alice and Jasper. They're standing in a loose circle, laughing. I watch him for a second, the way his lips curl up when he says something that makes Alice punch him in the arm, how broad his shoulders look in his suit jacket.

I want to see all of that up close, right now.

I turn back to Jess and Lauren and hook my thumb over my shoulder. "I'm going to go get Edward. I'll be right back."

They look toward him distractedly and nod. Or at least I think they do. It's possible they're just bobbing their heads in time with the music. Regardless, I'm already moving, pushing past flailing arms and swaying bodies to get to Emmett.

Alice sees me first and her face brightens with a wide smile. She looks gorgeous, this tiny thing in a black tulle dress that looks vintage, and bright pink lips, a flower pinning up one side of her hair. It's so quintessentially Alice, so unique from all of the other girls wearing different versions of the same short satin dress, but she doesn't look out of place.

She nudges Emmett, but he keeps his attention on Edward, nodding and laughing. I watch, still trying to get to them, as her mouth purses. She pushes him this time, and he doesn't move, of course, but it gets his attention. He looks down at her and then his head swings around when she points toward me. Only one corner of his mouth pulls up, but I get both dimples.

I'm pretty sure I step on some poor girl's foot in the last few steps to get to Emmett and everyone else. I murmur an apology she can't hear over the music, and when I turn back around, Emmett's got his fist over his mouth, hiding his laughter. I roll my eyes and step into the space he and Edward make for me.

He leans in, his mouth right next to my ear. "You know, usually Swan's the one who makes it a habit to bump into people. That excited to see me, huh?"

"Your modesty never fails to blow me away," I reply, poking his side with my elbow. I turn to the rest of the group with a bright smile. "Hi."

"Should we kneel or something?" Jasper asks, reaching over to tap my crown. "I don't know the protocol for greeting the Queen."

"'Hi' works," I say dryly.

Jasper turns to Emmett with a wicked smile. "McCarty, you should definitely get on your knees."

"Oh, I'd love to see that," Edward quips.

"I'm sure you would," Emmett replies, completely straight-faced. Jasper lets out a hoot as Edward reaches around me to punch Emmett's shoulder.

Alice blinks at them, frowning, and then turns to me with an affectionate sigh. "Idiots." Her face brightens and she reaches out to grab my free hand. "You look gorgeous, Ro. That dress? Unreal."

My eyes automatically slide over to Emmett and he mouths, "It's true."

Emmett's hand snakes around my arm closest to him, his fingers tracing down my forearm and my wrist until our palms are flush. We stay like that for a second, frozen, before my fingers find the spaces between his and tighten, holding him there. He smiles and I do, too, feeling for a moment like we're alone, even with all of these people surrounding us. I can't help darting a look over my shoulder at Jess and Lauren, but I can only see the tops of their heads through the crowd of people.

I can feel Emmett's eyes on me, even after I turn back to Alice. "You look incredible, too. All of you do. I'm really glad you guys are here."

"What, and miss this stunning social event?" Alice waves her arm in the air dramatically. "Never."

"We're ditching this shit ASAP," Jasper announces matter-of-factly, adjusting the knot of his black skinny tie. "How many songs does Katy Perry have, anyway?"

"It feels like five hundred." Edward shakes his head, looking over his shoulder toward the DJ booth, where the rest of the court is congregating. "Shit, and now I have to go dance."

Emmett holds up crossed fingers. "If there's a god, it'll be to Bryan Adams."

"Please save me," Alice begs, her eyes wide. "I don't have Bella as a buffer here."

I sigh. "Trust me, I'm trying to save myself, too." I turn to Emmett reluctantly, pulling my hand from his. He looks as disappointed as I feel. "I have to go back. Are you going to stick around?"

He nods. "Coach wants to give some sort of "fuck yeah" speech that the team has to rally for after the rest of the court dances."

I lean in as close as I can, breathing in his cologne, my palm against his chest. "Will you stick around? Until I'm done with this, I mean?" I pull back and look up at him and he nods again, his smile and dimples and eyes soft. "I'll hurry."

"You don't have to."

"I want to," I state. Being here with him now has been the best three minutes of my night. I can't wait to get out of here and be alone with him. By the way his smile grows, I can tell he feels the same way.

"C'mon, Ro," Edward calls, beckoning to me from a few feet away. I back away from Emmett reluctantly and follow Edward back through the thick crowd until we reach Jess and Mike at the table we claimed earlier. Lauren and Tyler are already at the DJ booth and Edward nods his chin at me and then strolls over to them, his hand stuffed in his pockets.

"What's with the smile?" Jess asks, tilting her head thoughtfully.

I try to pull my face into a normal expression. I can feel how flushed my cheeks are, though. "What smile?"

"That smile. I haven't seen that smile since…" She trails off. "Okay, well, ever. Got a secret, Posie?" she teases, poking me in the side.

"No," I reply, my eyes sliding to where Emmett's standing. Not for long.

Jess flops into a seat next to Mike, resting her head on his shoulder. She pats the chair next to her, but I shake my head. I'm too amped up to sit. I'm already thinking of excuses to leave, not limited to making Edward pretend he's come down with salmonella poisoning.

Somewhere in the middle of the song, Jess and Mike stop trying to make halfhearted conversation with me and start making out. My eyes find Emmett again – he's closer now, and alone – and I roll my eyes. He grins, and the look he's giving me makes me want to go to him. It makes me want to take his hand and pull him out of the gym and take him back to my house, my room.

After the court dances, Coach Clapp gets up on stage and talks about the game last night. True to Emmett's word, he does pretty much say everything short of "fuck yeah" but the sentiment is definitely there. The football team huddles around the stage below him, making noise and slapping each other on the back. Jess and Lauren catcall from beside me, so I do, too, because I can. I hope Emmett hears me.

Edward sidles up next to me as the music starts back up again. "So hey, how much longer do I have to be your beard? Bella's staying awake so we can Skype when I get home."

I turn to him, raising a teasing eyebrow. "Skype, huh?"

"I just want to see her," he replies simply.

My heart tugs at the honesty in his voice, the little upturn of his mouth, and I shake my head. "Man, she has you wrapped around her finger."

"Hey, I own being owned." My eyes drift back to Emmett and I hear Edward sigh. "Shit, you've put in your time here, Ro. Why don't you guys get out of here, too?"

I look back at the dance floor, where Lauren and Tyler are. They're wrapped up in each other, completely ignoring the fact that the song they're slow-dancing to is a fast one. Tyler's pretty much supporting all of Lauren's weight and her eyes are closed, her cheek pressed against his shoulder. Jess and Mike are sitting at the table again, wrapped up in each other, too. Or at least their mouths are.

I don't even need an excuse. They won't miss me if I go now. Maybe in past years it would've been more noticeable, when it was more about us girls hanging out and dancing. But now, Jess and Lauren have Mike and Tyler. And as far as they know, right now I have Edward, who's practically dancing in place he's so anxious to get out of here.

"Okay, yeah. Let me just tell Jess I'm leaving," I say, finally. Of the two of them, Jess will be the easier one to deal with. Besides, I'm not trying to interrupt the moment Lauren and Tyler are having on the dance floor. God knows when – or if – one of the chaperones will be breaking that situation up.

"Sweet, I'll go spread the good word to everyone else," Edward replies, already striding off, an extra pep in his step.

I shake my head and take a few steps toward Jess and Mike, placing my hand on Jess's shoulder. She unsticks her lips from Mike's and looks up at me, disoriented. "Edward wants to leave, so I'm going to head out with him," I tell her, leaning in so she can hear me over the music.

"What?" she exclaims, grabbing Mike's wrist and checking his watch. "We still have…" She squints and then shrugs, looking up at me. "Some time left before the dance is over."

"I don't want to hang out here by myself, Stan." Not when I can be somewhere else with Emmett.

"You're not alone. You've got me and Lauren."

I give her and Mike a look and then point over my shoulder at Lauren and Tyler. "Fifth wheel much?"

"Aww, let her go, Jess," Mike says, nuzzling her neck.

"Oh, fine," Jess replies with a sigh. Her irritation is diluted by the giggle she lets out when Mike places a sloppy kiss on her cheek and wraps his arm around her neck, bringing her close again. "I'll text you later and let you know the plan, okay?"

"Mmm," I hum noncommittally. I don't want to tell her that my plan for the rest of the night is much different from her plan. Mine doesn't include Mike's backyard and alcohol in Solo cups. It includes Emmett and me, hopefully alone. "See you later. Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

Mike grins, pulling Jess onto his lap. "It's a couple years too late for that, Pose."

I laugh and turn around, looking for Edward and the rest of the gang. They're nowhere to be found. I wouldn't be surprised if Jasper and Alice escaped as soon as the words "let's go" were out of Edward's mouth. Hell, I'm not entirely sure Edward hasn't escaped, too. Not that it matters. I know someone who wouldn't mind giving me a ride home.

As I make my way closer to the side doors of the gym, I see one open a crack. And then Emmett's there. He grins and jerks his head, summoning me into the hallway. A quick glance over my shoulder confirms that no one is paying attention. Except for him, of course. I always have his complete attention.

The latch on the door clicks behind me and it's just him and me in the empty hallway. The music is still pumping from the gym, but it's muffled.

"Going somewhere?" he teases.

"Told you I wanted to hurry," I reply.

He smiles and his whole face is involved: eyes, cheeks, mouth and, of course, dimples too. "Yeah, well, you got ditched. Edward took off like his ass was on fire."

I laugh, nodding. "He's got the right idea. It's time to go."

I start walking toward the doors to the parking lot, praying to god he knows that he's coming with me, or more technically speaking, that I'm going with him. Wherever it is, we'll be there together. A quick glance over my shoulder shows that he's just a step behind.

I feel his hand on the small of my back, guiding me toward the front door. I shiver at the contact, wanting to turn, wanting more. Always wanting with him.

When I reach the door, he's quick to skirt around me and hold it open. "Ladies first. Gram taught me that. Plus, I'm in the presence of high school royalty."

"Just don't get on your knees," I order.

His mouth twitches, like he's holding back a comment, and I raise a challenging eyebrow. "Do you have something to say, McCarty?"

"Nothing I can say out loud, your Highness," he replies with an innocent smile.

There's a slight mist as we step into the night and I remember, for the first time in a while, the obligation sitting on top of my head. Reaching up, I pull the pins and combs out and remove the jeweled crown. I look at it in my hands, the rhinestones no longer sparkling now that there are no lights for it to catch, and then back up at him. "I'm just Rosalie when I'm with you."

"Just Rosalie, huh? Is that a good thing?" he asks, as he shrugs off his suit jacket and places it over my bare shoulders. It's warm from him, smells like him, and I burrow into it, let it wrap around me. I love that his actions aren't calculated. They're what makes him Emmett, all-encompassing, good through and through.

They're what make me love him.

My eyes widen at the words that come so easily in my mind. It took me months to get to the point where I could say it to Roy and even when I did, it felt forced, unnatural. Just thinking it with Emmett feels right. And suddenly, I can't wait to tell him. I don't know why it surprised me; I want to tell him everything.

"Oh, that's a very good thing." I take his hand and weave my fingers through his, lightly yanking him to a stop. "Hey."

He turns to face me and steps closer, putting one hand on my hip and bringing the other to my face. "Hey," he says softly, tracing the curve of my cheek with his thumb. I lean into his touch and wrap my hand around his forearm, pull him even closer. Except for the muffled noise of the music playing inside, it's quiet out here.

"You haven't even asked where we're going."

He smiles, a slow one that carves his dimples deep. "I don't really care where we go. I'm just glad I finally get you to myself." His eyes travel over my face and he pushes my hair back behind my ear. "You look so beautiful, Rose. Jas was giving me so much shit because I couldn't keep my eyes off you the whole time we were in there."

"Likewise," I murmur.

"It's the suit, isn't it?" he guesses with a knowing nod. "I look hot. You didn't say it before, but I could tell."

I shrug, working hard to stop my smile. "You look pretty good."

Such a lie. I don't think there's anyone in the history of suits who's looked as good as he does tonight. His broad shoulders and those long legs were made for it.

His lip juts out playfully, and I tap it with my finger. "I tell you that you look beautiful, and I just get pretty good?"

"You want me to tell you that you look beautiful? Is that what you're saying?" I shoot back. His grin goes wide and there's no way to prevent the laugh that bubbles up my throat. He looks sexy and adorable at the same time, a man wearing a boy's smile.

"Oh, you don't have to say anything," he replies, dipping his head a little. His eyes narrow playfully. "I know you want this, Hale."

When I raise my eyebrow, he raises his back in challenge. I can't resist him, not that I want to, and he knows it. I look around us, almost out of habit, but the parking lot is empty. At this point, I don't think I'd care if we had an audience, though.

When I turn back to him, his eyes are a little narrow, curious, and I wrap my hand around his neck, pulling him down to me. His lips meet mine - smiling, of course - and I sigh because I finally get to feel him and taste him. His hand goes to my hip; I can feel his fingers digging in through the fabric of my dress, but the hand on my face is still gentle. The night finally feels perfectly right, like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be, even though it's cold and I'm sure the mist is ruining my hair and my toes are going a little numb.

"My parents are at the DAR gala right now. They might get a hotel room tonight," I whisper when we pull away, the words coming out choppy. "We can go to my house..."

His lips graze mine, and then, "Is that where you want to go?"

I nod again, not quite meeting his eyes, staring at his mouth instead. Suddenly I'm nervous, because even though I'm not saying it, I know what could happen. I know what I want to happen.

Emmett's fingers push gently against my chin until I'm forced to look at him. His eyebrows go up again, this time in question. "You sure?"

I don't know if it's the look in his eyes, concerned, but also anticipating, or the way his lips are pulled up in this really soft way that makes me ache, but I am sure. And I know he is, too.

"Yeah," I say. "Is that okay?"

He smiles. "Yeah. I need to stop at home and make sure Gram's all tucked in first, though."

"Okay."

"Okay," he repeats, all dimples. His lips find mine and we kiss, long and slow and sweet, and I don't care if anyone sees. He pulls away and tucks me into his side and we walk to his Jeep, my hip bumping against his leg and my crown dangling haphazardly from my index finger. Emmett helps me scramble into the passenger seat (which is much harder to do in heels), and then reaches over me to grab the hat sitting on his dash. After he places it backwards on his head, he looks at me thoughtfully, his hand gripping the door. "Your dad doesn't have a gun, right?"

I'm still laughing when he slides into the driver's side. The thought of my dad with a gun...well, it's just ridiculous. "No, Daddy doesn't have a gun." I see him visibly relax, his shoulders loosening as he sinks into his seat, starting the Jeep. I shake my head as I add in, "He wouldn't dirty his hands like that. He'd just hire someone."

His hands grip the steering wheel tightly as he pulls out of the parking lot. "Oh, okay. Awesome. Well, that's good to know."

Oh, this is fun. I decide to push it a little more because I can. "Hey, sure. No problem. And if they do randomly come home, I can always hide you in my closet. It's a walk-in so you won't even have to duck down. I could keep you in there until it's safe to come out. Bring you food, that sort of thing."

He shoots me a look out of the corner of his eye and grins at my teasing. "That's reassuring, Hale."

"I'd take very good care of you," My tone takes on a different quality: less teasing, more wanting and it reminds us both of what we're doing here.

His Adam's apple bobs as he swallows. There's an extended pause before he says, "I have no doubt about that."

We're both quiet for a while, lost in thought. My finger traces the piping on the door and I remember seeing Emmett riding with his friends down the street to Edward's house during summers past, his Jeep sans doors and top. I sat on the steps of my house, painting my toenails and wondering what they were talking about; wondering what it was like to hang out with them. Wondering if I'd ever have the nerve to talk to the boy I'd been drawn to from afar for so long.

And now I know.

"Hey, the top and doors come off of this, right?"

"That's extremely random." His eyebrows draw together and the tip of his tongue grabs on to his top lip as he concentrates on driving for a moment, turning onto his street. "And yeah, they do. Why?"

"One day, in the spring or summer, can we do that?"

He smiles broadly and squeezes my hand quickly before parking in front of his house. "We can do anything you want."

I grin. I love to hear him say that; I believe it more from him than anyone else.

He leans over the center console and kisses me slow and deep, just once. I rest my hand on his chest and feel a rumble before he pulls away. He shakes his head and holds up his hand, indicating we need to wait a minute. Before he gets too far, I grab the cap off his head and place it on mine. I must look ridiculous, sitting there with his suit jacket and baseball cap on my head, but the way he looks at me makes me think, maybe not. After he climbs out of the Jeep, he leans against the roof and squints in at me. "Sit tight, babe. I'll be right back."

He jogs to the front door and lets himself in. While I'm sitting there, I check my phone. There are texts from both Jess and Lauren saying that they're headed to Mike's soon. I message back, calling it a night. And then I tap out another text, telling them both I want to get together tomorrow. Tomorrow I'm going to tell them about Emmett. I don't want to wait anymore. I shouldn't have to.

My text to Jess and Lauren is just going through when one from Edward pops up.

Safe?

I glance up and see that Emmett's shutting the door and locking it behind him. I answer quickly, switch it to vibrate, and then slip the phone back into my purse.

And sound.

Whatcha thinking right now? Hmmmm? We'd love hear!

Thanks to Jan, Val and JD who have been with us and this story for a long time and very supportive throughout. Everyone should be as lucky as we are!

One of our readers, twilightery (two-zero-zero), took the time to make a RPT thread on twilighted dot net. We're sharing extra teasers (in addition to the ones we send along with review replies), pictures, and other tomfoolery there so please swing by and say hello! We'll put the link in our profile because we know ffnet does NOT like links in chapters.

Also, a heads up... we're planning to update once a week from here until the end of the story (18 chapters, plus an epi), to round out the summer. We'll mostly be posting on Sunday night/Monday morning.

See you soon!