The Untouchable Element
Chapter 4: Alternative Theories
Rated: M(For Language and Sexuality)
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight nor am I affiliated with Stephanie Meyer. The ideas behind this story, however, belong to me.
A/N: I know you have plenty of questions regarding Rosalie and I can't say much since this chapter explains her behavior. We all want her and Bella to get together already but just to let you know, one falls for the other first before mutual feelings can be felt. ;) Thank you again for enjoying this story as much as I've enjoyed writing it. Oh and I think I'm more comfortable writing in Rosalie's perspective.
Rosalie Hale's Point of View:
Reckless. Brazen. Dimwitted. What string of words could accurately describe the actions I took today without drowning my ego in a sea of regret? I honestly couldn't tell you. The enormity of the situation only made my forehead crease with worry and confusion. I was a walking contradiction, my head swollen with foolish pride and arrogance but my dead heart withering away due to immense sadness. There was no doubt in my mind that all thoughts concerning Bella's safety expressed no regard for my family's well-kept secret.
Never before had I felt such powerful inner conflict, and it physically pained me to wonder why my emotions were so out of touch and out of voluntary reach. The abstract ideal of finally falling in love intertwining with the moral obligation to keep away from human beings had reached its climax where I must decide now if this battle shall ever cease. I was troubled to the point where I had been so consumed with the questionable obsession with Bella, my family thought it'd be best to help me figure myself out for several days.
I had emotionally shut the door on love after the failed relationship between Emmett and I, but ever since the first unpleasant encounter I had with Bella, something unfamiliar had treaded on territory I didn't want to explore again. Her blood had been dangerously close to me, but I surprisingly arrested all urges to attack her and instead thrived in the area where her sinfully delicious scent dominated. The moment we shared in the hallway earlier this morning only indicated how much I truly wanted her.
But nothing could beat the awkward silence that followed us all the way to the girl's locker room. The sight of her modesty lulled me into a trance, which shot thrills up my spine. To her it must have been silent but to me, nothing except the sound of her nervously beating heart filled my ears. Every time she glanced at me, even if it was for a second, her heart skipped a beat and it raced afterwards. Did she feel the attraction that I had been so vehemently denying for awhile until today? Was she gay…like me?
That I would have to find out later, but right now, I cannot for the life of me forget the image of a nude, wet Bella Swan. She was absolutely exquisite although she was too inexperienced to move those sexy hips in a way only I could imagine. Her soft, perky breasts and the untouched areola showing off her beautifully pink nipples…The girl also had a firm, round ass and I knew it was firm because I had "accidentally" run into her. The smell of her arousal paralyzing me at…wait, she had been aroused in the showers! Perhaps it was because of me since none of the other girls had the nerve to undress in front of each other… Ugh! This was driving me insane! What exactly turned her on?
Just before I took advantage of the chance I had to analyze Bella's arousal, I heard two doors automatically slide open to allow entry into the hospital for three tall, lean men I instantly recognized. The small, less muscular of my brothers, Edward, had explicit rage written all over his facial expression. Jasper, the leaner one, also appeared to be upset with me but it was clear that he was attempting to manipulate Edward's uncontrollable emotions in order to prevent a fight scene. Emmett's expression was that of concern and slight disappointment but I knew he wouldn't do anything to hurt me. I was almost offended that they could barge into our father's hospital like this but then again, I had just exposed our vampire nature to a single human being.
In natural defense, I stood up tall from the seat I situated myself in and felt my fists clenching tightly as Edward approached me. Just a couple of days ago, the both of us were relieving tension by sharing laughs together after the final conversation me and my family had about my newfound sexuality. It was amazing how Edward, Alice, and even Emmett volunteered to help me win Bella's affection. Jasper could not bring himself to get involved because we all knew he couldn't trust himself to get comfortable around humans for very long. Now I fucked all of that up by exposing my inhumane strength to my crush who was nearly killed. Were they expecting me to just stand there and do nothing? What if her blood had spilled all over the place and my siblings could not resist the call of her unique, sweet smelling liquid?
That's the perfect excuse to use aside from my unrequited adoration towards Isabella. I close my eyes for a brief moment and remember the entire week I'd spent battling these feelings I'd never felt before.
How my family could be so incredibly loving and accepting I do not know, but I was eternally grateful for having them in my life.
"Rosalie, would you please calm down and explain why you're in such a rush to leave? You can tell me anything, honey." My kind and compassionate immortal mother Esme said, her eyes reflecting a world of inner pain. My body tensed up as I refused to believe that my impulsive decision to leave would cause so much harm. I couldn't bear to look at her in such a state when I was so emotionally drained myself, Alice's stunning disclosure swallowing me whole.
What was holding me back when I had absolutely nothing to hold back from anyone? I knew in the back of my mind there was a stance of defiance but I couldn't understand it. The feeling sinking to the pit of my stomach could be described as fear but there was nothing in the world I, Rosalie Hale Cullen, was afraid of. Without warning, thoughts of Bella began swirling in my mind and I nearly lost my composure right then and there but I reached out for Alice's tiny hand and grasped it for comfort.
My dear sister glanced over at me and offered a sympathetic smile, her fingers locking with mine as we both turned to stare our worried mother in the face. Before I could begin speaking, our father Carlisle walked into the living room and hurried over to my mother's side and wrapped his arms around her waist. I wasn't ready for an emergency family meeting since this only concerned myself but of course, my protective parents didn't want me to leave without saying goodbye first. The funny thing about me wanting to leave in the first place is that I had no where to go anyway. What was the point? All I knew was that there was something in Bella that I wanted and it wasn't her blood; it baffled me not knowing why I was so petrified of something so puny and worthless.
Jasper was pacing the wooden floor, trying to emulate Edward's calm manner but failed miserably. Esme and Carlisle were saddened by the idea of me departing our tight knit family so they didn't say anything. Edward sighed in annoyance, impatiently waiting for me to break the ice but I didn't have the courage to do so. "Rosalie! I think it would be very unwise of you to begin a romantic fling with this human female. Bella, is that her name?" Jasper shouted worriedly, shocking everybody in the room with his outburst.
My body felt the intoxicating poison that was wrath rising up within me and I was trying to disguise it with apathy but couldn't. Every time somebody mentioned Bella's name in such a disrespectful way, I felt like it was a personal attack on me.
"You know how I behave when I'm around humans, and the possibility of you bringing her to our home would only drive me to kill her. Even though I never doubt Alice's visions, this is something that I will openly oppose since this has everything to do with keeping our family's secret sacred." Jasper continued, now stopping in his tracks as he faced me. "Why can't you accept this Jasper? We've been together for so many years, Esme has Carlisle, and Edward is engaged to Tanya! Rosalie and Emmett could not work out because of what she is and I'll always love her for it. You could too because it hurts all of us to see her so alone!" Alice argued back, ignoring the fact she had just infuriated me more. Esme stepped forward, putting her arms forward in order to prevent me from attacking both of my ignorant siblings.
"What are you two talking about? Which Bella are you referring to and what does she have to do with our family?" Carlisle asked, also stepping in front of my brother. Edward was the only one who hung back as he just sat on the couch motionlessly, mocking me with his integrity. I practically screamed at all of them. "You don't know me as well as you think you do, Alice! What makes you think I WANT this? I'm so fucking confused because here you are deciding what you think I want for myself when I don't even know who this Isabella Swan is! She's only a human being, why the hell would I want to form a temporary relationship with her!?"
Esme was startled, her questioning look burning into my memory. Carlisle stiffened, but also tilted his head as if he began assessing the situation. "Rosalie, I see you and Bella together all the time in my visions. I know the future can be uncertain at times but you were destined for her! I can feel it, and you can't tell me otherwise because I know you felt it too when you laid your eyes on her. She's anything but just a human being, she's more than that to you." The small pixie retorted, her arms folding across her chest and her angry gaze causing my knees to quiver.
My moment of weakness finally enfolding me, I choked back dry, tearless sobs and fell to the floor helplessly. All the confidence I had in me was shook up and it was all because of Alice's predictions and how right she was. I did feel attraction towards the female, and it wasn't like anything I'd felt when I was with Emmett. It was as if the moment I had laid my eyes on her, I fell over the heels in love with her. The only reason I'd been fighting it so much was because it was strange and unusual to feel this way about anybody without knowing anything about them.
Esme let out a squeal of excitement and clasped her hands over her mouth while Carlisle readjusted his position and walked towards me carefully. "Rosalie has fallen in love with a human…and her name is Bella? Oh, how wonderful! " My mother exclaimed, not knowing how much it chagrined me. She wasn't aware how I've been stalking Bella at night and watching her sleep. I was doing it for research purposes but if she found out, well…it'd be creepy. Ever since that encounter in Gym, I'd been wanting to know much more about her without admitting my sexual attraction towards the girl. Ugh… "Poor Rosalie. You all have no idea how much she has been suffering but it's her fault, really. She's the one who chose to stay away from Bella at school." Edward contributed to the conversation finally, but it just embarrassed me even more.
I spared him a fleetingly forgiving look and slowly picked myself off the floor, hopelessly leaning against my father who knelt down to assist me. I was begging my trapped soul to leave this condemned body for a second before I realized how much it would break me if I were to never see my sleeping angel's face again.
After school, I'd track her scent from her usual parking space and I'd follow her home because I was just so damn curious. When night fell and sleep dawned on her, I envied her because she had the ability to rest her tired body. The dreams I would never know about but I could guess and enjoy the sight of her untouchable body reacting to the images she might have been seeing. Once, I managed to slip in through the window where Alice had suggested I watch her. I didn't want to ask how she knew it was the perfect spot but then again, jealously would have coursed itself through my body if I did ask.
Anyway, she smelled heavenly and it was amazing how she could not detect the peeping tom- or peeping Rose, as Edward teased- watching her. I found it difficult to stay away from her at school, but I needed the time alone to myself to think and to discuss my current predicament with my siblings. My parents had no idea we were ditching school, but the rare sunny days gave Edward an excuse to visit his longtime girlfriend Tanya in Alaska and it also gave me the chance to discuss my sexuality with Emmett. It pleasantly astounded me that he took it well, but then again he was always an understanding man, despite his goofy, immature nature.
Jasper wanted to defend himself but was interrupted when Emmett walked in unannounced. "Hey, the door was open so I thought I'd drop by and see what was up…Rose? What's wrong?" He asked, his smile fading as he quickly made his way over to me. "Please understand that I'm not homophobic in any way, it's just that I haven't adjusted to the Cullen diet yet and Bella smells so excruciatingly delicious." My nervous brother admitted, unknowingly offending me. That statement forced a suppressed growl to rip itself out of my throat as my eyes darkened hatefully. I lunged at Jasper before Emmett caught me and held me tightly against him. "Let me go, Emmett! Bella is not food, do you hear me? I would never let any of you-" I began yelling, struggling to escape from my best friend's grip.
I could feel Emmett's infamous grin tugging at his lips and briefly showed his amusement. "I can see you were all discussing Rosalie's girlfriend. Come up with any plans to approach your beloved Isabella, Rosie O' Donnell?" He joked, eliciting laughter from Alice and Edward. If I could blush, my cheeks would be burning with a fiery passion. Esme walked over to me and cupped my chin gently before speaking again. "All of you knew about Rosalie's struggle with her sexuality and none of you told me about this? Honey, remember how we wanted you to join our family to help ease the transition from human to vampire for you? I've loved you like a daughter since then and I still love you no matter what. As much as it pained me to see you so alone without a mate, it didn't hurt quite as much as this." Shame attacked all of us at once, and we all hung our heads low. Esme was our loving, compassionate mother and we kept this from her, especially me.
Emmett released his grip and I threw myself onto her, hugging her as tightly as I could while pulling Emmett into the hug. Edward, Jasper, Alice and Carlisle followed suit and if I could hyperventilate, I would have by now. "Rosalie, I want you to pursue whatever makes you happy. If Bella is somebody you want, or someone you can see yourself with, take a chance. If she's got you worked up like this, I want to meet her." Esme whispered into my ears with a smile, soothing me with her loving motherly kisses against my cheeks. "If I knew how to act around her, If I knew what to say, I would bring her over to you in an instant. I…I'm just so hopelessly attracted to Bella." I cry out loud, burying my head into her shoulder. It was at this moment where I accepted the fact that I was a lesbian, and how I couldn't be anymore thankful towards Bella for helping me realize what I am.
I opened my eyes only to find a pair of black ones glaring at me. It was Edward's monstrous face reminding me of where I was at and why I was here at Forks Hospital.
"You idiot! Do you realize what you've done?!" He screeched loudly, shoving me with restrained force. My body refused to move from its place but if I didn't allow his violent act to budge me, this floor would be pretty heavily damaged. "Edward, don't do anything rash now, not in public!" Jasper warned, reaching out for his brother and restraining him in his place. He predictably scoffed, "If Rosalie can expose our secret, then so can I! Now I demand that you release me before you regret doing the opposite!" Jasper shook his head and only held onto him tightly, Emmett also keeping Edward at a distance. "Dude, what would you do if Tanya was in danger and she was as helpless as Bella? Could you just sit back and watch her die?"
Edward instantly became more relaxed but he was still very upset. All of us knew how important a vampire's mate is to one, and if anything happened to the other, the surviving partner could not exist. "I suppose I couldn't, but I love Tanya. I've been with her for more than five years. Rosalie hasn't even showed interest in becoming friends with Isabella just yet." He replied sadly, trying to shake off the images of Tanya being crushed to death by a vehicle. "Edward, if I had done nothing, I would be wondering for the rest of my life what could have been. Her death would have devastated me." I honestly say, begging him for forgiveness. He didn't respond but the look he gave me told me that we would be discussing this as a family later.
"Rosalie Hale, would you care to explain why the chief of police is here wondering how his only daughter had a near death experience?" A familiarly angry voice asked. I turned my head to find my father, Dr. Carlisle Cullen, rushing towards us as his mouth moved at an inhuman pace. Funny, I didn't even realize that Bella had already been brought in. I'm just hoping the injury I inflicted didn't damage her brain too much. Oh shit.
She must think I'm completely insane after I knocked her out. Wait until she finds out how I've been watching her sleep at night since vampires cannot sleep. Yeah, she'll think the sun shines right out of my ass when I tell her that. Well, it certainly doesn't shine right out of there but my buttocks definitely sparkles in the sunlight… Wow. I'm not a freak.
Edward was fighting back laughter as his smirk quickly transformed back into a frown. He wasn't a mind-invading ass clown. Going back to my father, I quickly glanced at the boys before I began explaining the entire situation to him. The one thing I truly admire about Carlisle was that he learned how to become patient, a quality I knew I could never attain. He stood still for about what seemed like forever with his hands stuffed into his pockets while he listened. After the words emitted themselves off the tip of my tongue, Carlisle placed a hand on my shoulder, and unexpectedly said: "Rosalie, I think you did the right thing. I would never have thought you could do something so selfless." He couldn't be more wrong though. I saved Bella for very selfish purposes, and she couldn't be at fault for this but one of the reasons why I saved her was because Alice was right; she was destined for me.
It took me awhile to come to this conclusion, but this one felt right for me. I knew that it took people and vampires many years before they could find their soul mate. With Bella, it was different. How often was it that a human being's blood could literally sing to you specifically without the temptations of wanting to drink it? Rarely, as Esme and Carlisle declared. Her blood was fused with potent energy that could only attract me in a way where I didn't want to harm her. The powerful venom in my teeth never formed whenever I was around her and that was something I wasn't accustomed to. It scared me so much, I tried to blow off Bella by antagonizing her yet it didn't work. Which tells you that fate has something special in store for you and for me, that was Bella Swan.
Carlisle motioned for the boys to stay behind while he led me down the hall and into an elevator. I assumed he was taking me to Bella, and I could only hope that she would forgive me for what I'd done. I wanted nothing more than to comfort her with all the power I had invested in me. The question I should be asking is if she would want to talk to me again.
"I'm glad you found your purpose in life Rosalie but are you willing to accept the responsibilities that come with caring for another life besides your own?" He asked without a second thought. I had never thought of it before since falling in love with delicate human beings seems to be out of my expertise. Everybody in the family saw that I only cared about myself in certain aspects of my life and it must have been entirely new for them to see me so vulnerable. It wasn't exactly a walk in the park for me either, especially when I just barely came to terms with my sexuality. I felt oddly optimistic, however, because it felt good to have erased all those daunting lonely memories. Would Bella eventually see a potential lover in me? I could only hope since I was the vampire who could literally feel our souls connecting.
I momentary looked over at my father and smiled sheepishly. "I don't know how I can dad. All I know is that she was meant for me and I want to make it happen." With that, he placed an arm around my shoulders and hugged me shortly when the elevator doors opened. Together, we briskly walked along a lonely, silent corridor before we reached our destination. Through the bullet proof window, I could see a short but well built older man in a police uniform standing over the foot of a bed. Charlie Swan, obviously lousy at expressing emotions, stopped talking to his daughter and looked over at me and Carlisle. He ambled over towards the door and allowed us to enter.
"Carlisle! Rosalie, is it? Thank you so much for pushing my daughter out of the way. She told me she wasn't paying attention while you two were talking by her truck when you saved her from being crushed. Thank you, I really don't know how else to thank you." He mumbled, patting my father on the back and shaking my hand nervously. Surprised, I glanced over to my left and found a less than energetic Bella laying comfortably on the bed. She lied…for me? But why, after what I'd done to her? She appeared to be thinking the same thing as she threw a seductive(unintentionally, of course) wink at me and mouthed silently, "We'll talk about this later."
"Well, officer Swan, I just couldn't bear the thought of…uh, anything happening to her so I did what I know what anyone else would have done." I lied, knowing very well no one else would have risked everything for Bella. Carlisle spoke this time, "I'm just happy to hear that no one got seriously hurt. Now Isabella, I have to run some tests since I did hear you hit your head during the accident. I'll go for a run right now and get my equipment set up so I'll see you in a bit." He told her, giving me a knowing look. Carlisle pulled me towards the door and whispered low enough only vampires could hear. "I suspect she knows something, but it's your decision in how she finds out about our nature. We trust you." Before I knew it, the doctor had left me alone with the girl that had caused so much commotion and her awkward father.
"I'd better head back to the station, Bells. You be sure to call your mother, okay? She's worried about you." He tells her, glancing over at me before turning his attention towards Bella again as he squeezed her hand. The action sent warm blood to her cheeks, which once again paralyzed me. "Yeah, I'll call her. Don't worry about me, Ch-dad, I'm in good hands." Swiftly straightening himself out, he nodded in my direction and headed out of the hospital.
We stared at each other silently for quite some time before she managed to cough humorously. "So, how about them Red Sox?" She asked, offering me a gentle smile that made me feel almost faint. I only beamed at her in return, knowing it was funny but the moment was actually too awkward to enjoy pleasant laughter.
"You're a funny kid hon, but that's not why I'm here. How are you feeling Bella?" I reply, looking for a chair to sit on before Bella pulled one to the side. I sat down quietly waiting for her to speak, my hand reaching for a stray strand of hair on her face and pulled it over behind her ear. She looked so beautiful, even when she was distraught. "I want to know why I'm lying for you, Rosalie. What was that back there?" She asked, not trying to bullshit me either.
Even though breathing wasn't required, I took in a long breath and sighed with discouragement. I knew I couldn't just be straight forward and tell her that I was a vampire, one of the devil's demonic creatures. There's so much that I wanted to tell her, but if the words came right out of my mouth, then I would betray my family. She was a clever girl, couldn't she figure it out on her own? Wait, that was perfect! All I had to do was give her the freedom to guess what I am. "Listen to me carefully, Bella. I can't just tell you what provoked me to save you out there or how I did it. It's…complicated." I said to her, recoiling my arm after she placed a hand above my own. She looked offended but didn't comment on it. She was determined to find out the truth.
"So are you telling me you're just going to leave me to wonder for a very long time how you, a girl, managed to stop a van from crushing me to death?" Bella asked sadly, her deep, mysterious brown eyes invading my soul. This was torture, I wish I could simply tell her what I was but there were family ties involved as well.
I needed to let her know how much I wanted to be her friend, and so much more, but we have to overcome this obstacle first before anything else. "Okay, here's the thing. This is an important secret that belongs to my entire family. I'll tell you right now that I can't bring myself to reveal our secret to you but I do want you to trust me when I say that I want you to know everything." I was carefully listening to her heart hammering against her chest loudly, but her facial expression didn't want to give away her nervousness.
She scrutinized me for a minute, the narrowing of her eyes letting me know that she might have been thinking I was fucking nuts but she suddenly relaxed. "So this little secret does have everything to do with you and your family all sharing alien but unique genetic traits?" Her question caused me to freeze up, I wasn't expecting her to be so damn upfront about it right now. Slowly nodding, she sat up straighter against the hospital bed and grasped my forearm. I can't believe she wanted to be so tender with something like me.
"Bella, I want to be friends with you. I'm sorry I've been acting so unusual around you, and I sincerely apologize for slamming your head against the truck. I only did it because there was no way you could avoid an injury during an accident like that." I began, nearly stammering the entire time. Carlisle would come into the room any minute now and I had to give her some homework. "I want you to perform some personal, serious research about my kind and I'm sorry, but I cannot give you any hints. It's all in your hands now to come up with some alternative theories." I continued, holding back the purrs desperately wanting to escape me
Bella sighed. I'm surprised she was taking this all in so well, but I'm glad she wasn't retreating from me either. "Okay. Is there anything else you want me to know?" She asked with slight impatience swirling with her calm tone. Unfortunately, I had to add this in but it was for the sake of my family: "You must not come into contact with me at all until you're absolutely ready to tell me what you've come up. Be serious about this too, okay? I cannot be anything to you unless you figured me out." After I told her that, I saw a tear falling down from her eye and I volunteered to wipe it away with my sleeve but she swatted my arm away.
"Since we can't be friends for now, then I have something to ask of you as well. Don't lie to me anymore if this secret is that important to you and your family. Plus, stop behaving so erratically around me like I'm some sort of pariah. You got that?" Before I could reply, I heard Carlisle walking in through the door.
"Are you ready for the testing to begin, Bella? Rosalie, I'm going to have to ask you to leave." He said sympathetically at the end. I turned back to Bella and she looked indifferent as she tried cleaning her face off with the sleeves of her jacket. As I got up to leave, she whispered, "Let's knock one theory out of the ball park then." Even though Carlisle was patiently waiting at the doorway, I nodded my head and listened to her speak. "You're not on…super steroids, are you?"
I actually giggled at that and she smiled a bit too at my reaction. "Silly Bella, I told you to be serious. Now I have to go but um…please take care. And if it matters, no, I don't need steroids." I replied, enjoying her laughter fill the room. "Okay, I'll talk to you sometime soon then." She said, waving goodbye.
With that, I turned my back on Bella as this would be the final conversation we would have until she came up some serious theories. Now I was heading back home knowing that I would be having a dreadful conversation with a family of certain vampires. I just hope that they don't suggest anything stupid or else I would be more than willing to fight them.