Rosalie lounged lazily on the slightly uncomfortable hospital arm chair. She was bored and desperately wanted to go home, but her ride was still too busy getting chatty with Esme. She wouldn't have minded so much and would have probably joined the conversation if only their topic wasn't so…off-putting.
Even nearly a decade after high school, Rosalie still didn't like talking about Bella Swan.
"She seems really sweet," Irina beamed. "A little on the quiet side, but she's nice. I mean, any other person would've probably just told Rosie and me off for making so much noise."
"Yes, Bella has always been such a sweetheart." Esme smiled.
"And she's an awesome baker, too. Her cake is just to die for. I'm going to gain, like, a hundred pounds if she keeps it up. It'd be so worth it, though."
Esme chuckled. "Oh, I'm well aware. Sometimes I would invite her over at our house even when Edward wasn't home just so I could bake with her. The girl's a wizard with an oven."
Rose rolled her eyes and picked at her nails. She didn't understand what the appeal that girl had that got everyone wrapped around her finger. It was annoying in high school, and it somehow became a hundred times more annoying now.
"Rin," she interrupted when she couldn't take it anymore. "I think we've hogged enough of Esme's time. Besides, we have to meet with Jacob in a few."
"You haven't monopolized my time, dear," Esme said kindly at the same time Irina exclaimed "Oh, yeah! Gosh, I totally forgot."
"Yeah," Rose gave a slight smile as she stood. "So, we should probably be on our way."
"Alright," Irina replied, standing up as well. "I'll come by again soon, Esme. It was nice talking to you!"
"You, too," Esme accepted her hug. "Are you coming back here after lunch, Rose?"
"Um, actually, Esme, I'm going to head back to the office with Jacob. There's just still so much stuff that needs to get done."
"Oh. Well, okay. Tell Jacob I said hello, won't you?"
"Sure thing. Come on, Rin, let's go."
"Just a sec," Irina tentatively stepped closer to Edward's bed. She smiled slightly and gave a wave. "Bye, Edward."
Rosalie wanted to roll her eyes, but restrained herself. Ever since Irina had read somewhere that comatose patients were still capable of hearing, she made a conscious effort to greet Edward whenever she entered or left the room.
Rose just thought that that was complete hokum. Still, she humoured her friend, and waited until she was through saying her goodbyes.
The two met Jacob in a busy restaurant near the hospital. After initial greetings passed – Rosalie and Jacob's hug lasting longer than appropriate – they all settled down for lunch.
"So, how was your morning, ladies?" Jacob asked.
"Jake, you saw in the office this morning," Rose chuckled. "We do work at the same place."
"That's right," Jacob sent a dazzling smile her way. "Sorry, I forgot. I haven't really seen or talked to you all morning. I missed you."
"Really? I figured you'd be tired of me by now. What with working together every day, always going to Edward's together…" Spending time in your bed together, the sofa, the shower…
"Nah," Jacob shook his head, a knowing smile on his face. "Speaking of Ed, how's he doing? You passed by the hospital before coming over here, right?"
"He's doing fine," Irina answered, oblivious to the flirting. She absently twirled a lock of hair on one finger. "I mean, y'know, as fine as someone in a coma can get."
"Of course," Jacob nodded. "And how are things going with you, Rin? Rosalie mentioned you got a new modelling gig."
"Yeah, but it's really nothing," Irina shrugged. "Just for a local fashion designer."
"Rinny, I'd hardly count that as 'nothing,'" Rosalie piped in. "Lauren LeFroge is really starting to pick up some steam. I checked out her blog last night, and she has quite the following already. Plus, she's starting to get attention from the media. I'm telling you, if you become her main girl, it'll do wonders for your career."
"I guess you're right," the other girl conceded.
"Congrats, Rin," Jacob smiled. "Let's order some champagne to celebrate."
"You should really be watching your figure, though," Rose tutted. "All your talk about cake is going to ruin your chance to hit the big time."
"Hey, I'm still doing okay," Irina looked over herself. She crossed her arms over her stomach defensively. "And besides, how can I not talk about cake? The one over at Heaven really is from heaven! I'll go to the gym twice a day if I have to, but I am so not passing up that black forest."
"Heaven…as in, Bella Swan's Heaven?" Jacob asked.
"The very one."
"Huh. Well, I haven't tasted any cake of hers yet, but the way you're talking about it makes me want to try a slice. What do you think, Rose? Should we pass by later?"
"Ooh! I'll come with you guys!" Irina volunteered eagerly.
Rosalie wanted to hit herself on the face. Why, why did she have to bring up that stupid cake? All it ever led to was more talk on Bella Swan, and quite frankly, she'd had enough discussions on the girl to last a lifetime.
"We'll see," she answered Jacob. Quickly, she decided to switch topics. "And Rin, I can totally see what you're doing."
"Huh?"
"I'm sure you really…love the pastries Heaven has, but I know you're after the eye candy, too."
When Irina just continued to look at her with confusion, Rosalie's eyebrow lifted.
"Does a certain blond-haired waiter named Jasper sound familiar?"
"Oh," Irina blushed.
"Wait, Jasper Whitlock?" Jacob cut in just as the waitress arrived with their food. After she left, he continued. "What does he have to do with anything?"
"Rinny's got a little crush."
"He's hot, okay?" Irina giggled despite her slight embarrassment. "C'mon, Rose, even you can admit he's pretty attractive."
Rosalie nodded. "He is. He was cute in high school, too."
Jacob's eyes narrowed. "Well, I don't trust him," he grunted, picking at his steak. "Something about him is just…not right."
"Oh, Jake. There's no need to be jealous. You're cute, too," Irina laughed and pinched Jacob's cheek playfully.
"It's not jealousy," Jacob insisted, though it partly was. Especially when Rosalie mentioned that she found him attractive as well. "I just…there's something off with him. He's making warning bells go off in my head."
He tried to convey to Rosalie that the 'warning bells' he was referring to had something to do with their take-over plan, but she didn't seem to get it. Now he was regretting not telling her about the hallway altercation during the anniversary ball.
"Jasper seemed pretty nice to me," Irina shrugged. "Anyway, I'm not looking for a relationship right now. He's just nice to look at."
The rest of the meal passed without any more mention of Bella and Jasper, which Rosalie and Jacob were both thankful for. A few deserts and some wine later, the group went their separate ways.
"I was serious about not trusting Whitlock," Jacob said after Irina left. He and Rosalie were about to leave for the firm in his car.
"Why? What's wrong with him?" Rose asked. She was usually the one who was so wary of people, and Jasper didn't raise any red flags for her.
"I," Jacob took a deep breath before continuing. "I didn't tell you this before because I figured I'd handle it by myself, but I think you need to know."
"Just spit it out, Jake."
"There was a…an incident with me and Whitlock back at the ball."
"Incident? What happened?"
"He knows something's up, Rose," Jacob turned to face her. "It seemed suspicious to me that he was just hanging around the place where we both were, so I told him to mind his own business. Next thing I knew, he was saying things like 'at least I'm not taking over someone else's business.' He knows about the plan, or at least part of it."
"What?" Rosalie scoffed. "That's impossible. How the hell would he know? The discussion we had in that balcony was too vague, and unless he's got us bugged, there would be no way for him to know anything."
"Then how would you explain the whole 'taking over someone's business' thing? He couldn't have just said that at random."
"Who's to say he hasn't? He was probably just looking for a button to push, and since you probably gave a reaction, he found the right one. I'd do the same if someone just tells me to fuck off and mind my own business for no reason."
"Are you defending him?" Jacob asked, anger and incredulity coloring his tone. "He can potentially ruin everything, and you're defending him? Are you even serious about our plan?"
"How dare you," Rosalie growled. "In case you forgot, Jacob, I'm the one who came up with it, and I'm the one who has a bigger motive here. I will do anything to make sure everything goes accordingly."
Jacob wasn't perturbed by her growing anger. "If that's the case, then why aren't you concerned? Whitlock can be a threat!"
"Because there's nothing to be concerned over! You're just being paranoid."
Jacob opened his mouth to answer back, but was cut off when Rosalie suddenly launched herself on his lap. Her lips collided with his at the same time his hands began to wander.
Needless to say, they made it back to the firm an hour after the lunch break ended.
…
Edward always thought he was a person who could always find a way to crack a problem, but as he lay on Jasper's bed, he was beginning to question that.
He was utterly out of ideas. No matter how hard he wracked his brain, he couldn't think of anyone who could help him fill the recesses of his cuff. Well, except for Bella, but he still wasn't sure about that.
Despite her confession of still caring, Edward struggled with the idea of her giving him his first tear. It just seemed…wrong to make someone as sweet as Bella cry. There was the issue of how to make her cry, too.
Then, as if all of that wasn't enough, the weather was absolutely freezing as well.
"Dammit," Edward cursed as he rolled off the bed. It was Saturday – his day off from Heaven – so he decided to just stick around Jasper's apartment. The place wasn't outfitted with a heating system, unfortunately, so Edward was left shivering in his not-so-warm clothes.
After a few seconds of standing on the cold wood floor, Edward decided to just wear one of Jasper's winter coats. It may be ridiculous, but it was better than turning into a human Popsicle, he thought.
He thoroughly dug through the wardrobe and chest of drawers, but the only coat he came across with was an old trench which has seen better days.
"Jeez, Jasper, how the hell do you survive," he asked, running a hand through the worn fabric. "I guess we can add heater and winter coats to the list of things I'm getting you after all this is over. For now, though, we'll have to think of something else to keep warm. If only I had my own coats here…"
A light bulb went off in Edward's head as he hatched an idea. Maybe he could sneak over his own place and take his coats and warmer clothes with him. After all, taking your own things didn't count as stealing, right?
Satisfied with his plan, Edward got dressed and made his way to his condo. It felt like a lifetime had passed since he last saw the building, so he was excited to go back home even just for a little while.
Once he arrived, he tried to think of how he was going to get in. He knew that a random guy just walking in wouldn't be allowed past the front desk without being questioned.
Luck seemed to be by his side, though, since an opportunity to get in presented itself through a large group was about to enter the building. Acting as naturally as he could, Edward went with the small crowd until they got off at the fifth floor. He continued to ride the elevator until his own floor – the tenth – was reached.
It's a good thing this place uses digital locks, Edward thought as he entered his code. I'd be screwed if an actual key is needed.
When his code was confirmed and the light on the lock turned green, he was finally permitted to enter his condo.
Home sweet home.
Edward was sorely tempted to dance around the familiar surroundings for hours just out of the pure joy of being there, but he decided to just get what he needed and leave. He didn't want to risk anyone walking in and seeing him, though that was highly unlikely.
After packing enough winter clothes to last a few months into a large duffel bag, Edward decided to get a couple of snacks as well. Jasper's pantry wasn't really well-stocked, and he missed Froot Loops so badly. Deciding that taking some cereal boxes wasn't going to hurt anybody, he headed to the kitchen only to step on a small, plastic object by his desk.
At first, he thought it might be a Lego minifig or something, but after lifting his foot, Edward found a familiar white flash drive with a broken key ring. He tried to place where he'd seen it before, and he remembered that it was the USB Jacob always used in college.
Could it also be where his and Rosalie's evil plans were stored?
10 days of nonstop exams + existential crisis + mild depression = short, late update. So sorry about that.