Tripping The Prom Queen
Chaper 19: Better Than Revenge, Part 2
Author's Note: Hi! Yes, it's really me! Sorry for the delay… the real world got a hold on me and just wouldn't let go…
Chapter 19: Better Than Revenge, Part 2
"We're going to talk! Now!" Rosalie menaced.
Bella's calm eyes squarely met her adversary's blazing ones.
"Yes" she replied. "We do need to talk."
"You are going to stop spreading these stupid lies about me!"
"Finally!" Bella smiled.
Rosalie raised one perfectly shaped, questioning eyebrow.
"You are actually fighting your own battles! Instead of having your stooges do it for you!"
"This, coming from the little girl who went crying to Daddy!" Rosalie sneered.
"I reported a crime. Crimes, actually!"
"Crimes I did not commit!"
"Sure you didn't!" Bella replied. "That website. You were the only one who had any of those pictures!"
"Hello? Photoshop? Ever hear of it?" Rosalie retorted. "You know I didn't do any of this!"
"No. I don't know that." Bella taunted. "And neither do the police."
"Stop talking smack about me!"
"How hypocritical of you! When you've been spreading all kinds of crap about me!"
"I didn't say a damn thing about you!"
"You didn't have to." Bella replied flatly. "You just stopped talking to me. At all!"
"Please. I don't have to justify myself to you!" Rosalie hissed. "You know what you did! Or should I say, who!"
"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about."
"Don't play innocent with me. You really want me to go there? Now?"
"Go ahead." Bella steeled herself. "Then everyone will know what a filthy little liar you are!"
"I ought to just kick your ass…"
Rosalie stepped up to Bella.
Static crackled overhead. The intercom snapped on.
"Rosalie Hale… Report to the principal's office. Immediately"
"You need to go." Bella smirked knowingly.
"We'll finish this later…"
"I don't think so…"
"We're not done…" Rose warned, before turning and walking away.
"Nice" Jessica giggled.
"You sure took care of her!" Lauren smirked sarcastically at Rosalie's retreating form.
Their laughter followed her down the hall.
Idiots! I'll deal with them later!
Victoria, too!
Or not…
Her long stride took her to Prinicipal Garrett's office in mere moments. Mrs. Cope greeted her, her face deliberately blank.
"Miss Hale… Please go right in."
Mrs. Cope opened the door, then quickly retreated, closing it behind her.
Prinicipal Garrett sat behind his impeccably ordered wooden desk. Wordlessly, he gestured to the chair in front of it.
Rosalie calmly sat down.
No problem. He likes me. I'll have him eating out of the palm of my hand. Like always…
"Rosalie" Principal Garrett began. "I received some very disturbing news this morning…"
Go on already!
"Chief Swan called to tell me personally that you were arrested and charged with harassment, vandalism and distributing child pornography."
"Those charges are all completely bogus!" Rosalie protested.
"Perhaps…" Principal Garrett's voice trailed off.
"You don't believe me!"
Either…
"That's not for me to decide." the older man said flatly.
Bullshit! You already have!
"My concern now is to insure the safety of all the students here at Forks High."
"I'm hardly a danger to anyone!" Rosalie snapped.
"Perhaps not. You do have an excellent school record."
"I have the highest GPA in the class!"
"Not quite…" Principal Garrett corrected.
"Then who does?"
"Edward Cullen"
"Of course he does." Rosalie murmured.
"It is only because of your record that I am not suspending you."
"What? Suspending me for what? I didn't do anything!"
"You are not suspended." Principal Garrett repeated. "However, in light of the circumstances, you are being put on probation."
"Probation…" Rosalie sputtered.
"Yes… As you know, students on probation are banned from all extracurricular activities."
No… He can't mean that!
"But… The Homecoming game is Saturday… I'm head cheerleader…"
"Not right now." Principal Garrett said sternly. "Victoria Smith has graciously agreed to act as interim captain."
I'll bet she has!
"No!"
No! Let her do it! Screw everything up! Then, they'll be sorry…
Principal Garrett had something else to say.
"Of course, you are now disqualified from the Homecoming Queen contest."
"You can't! You can't do this!" Rosalie exploded.
"I have no other choice." Principal Garrett said gravelly. "It's school policy. You know that."
Rosalie froze.
I will not cry! I will not cry! Will not break down in front of this fat, bald, ugly middle aged man.
Even though… He just destroyed everything I care about!
I wish he had suspended me! It would have been better than being here!
"I'm sorry." Principal Garrett said, seemingly sincerely. "For now, I recommend you stay out of any more trouble."
"More trouble?"
"Were you not threatening Bella Swan in the hallway just now?"
"We were just talking!"
"That's not what I heard."
"Well, maybe you shouldn't believe everything you hear!"
"Watch it, Rosalie! Don't make me change my mind about not suspending you!"
She was silent.
"You may go now"
Instantly, Rosalie was on her feet and left the principal's office. Her feet kept moving. She stepped outside, the frozen air stinging her face.
She kept walking.
Bella moved through her morning in a self-conscious daze of disbelief.
Everyone's staring at me! Everywhere I go!
Kids who had never before acknowledged her now smiled and said hello.
"Now you're the most popular girl in school!" Alice cooed.
"No…" Bella protested. "I never wanted that!"
"Why not?"
Because… I saw what it did to Rosalie.
"The bitch is on probation!" the smaller girl added, divining Bella's thoughts. "You're sure to win the contest now!"
"What?"
"Rosalie is on probation. She is off the cheerleading squad. She can't run for Homecoming Queen."
"That must be killing her…" Bella replied softly, thoughtfully.
So much!
"And how!" Alice grinned. "No one's seen her since this morning!"
"No…"
"Cutting classes… Not good."
"No…" Bella echoed.
Not good… None of this is good…
"One wrong move… and she's out!" Alice added. "You totally did the right thing!"
Did I? Then why does everything feel so wrong…
"Bella?"
"Ali… I think…"
Rosalie huddled miserably on the ground, curled up against a tall maple tree.
She could barely remember how she got there.
I just… left school and kept going… Maybe, I'll never go back!
There's nothing left there for me anyway!
No…
A tear crystalized in one eye. It slipped out, past her long lashes and slid down her smooth cheek.
Then another followed.
And another.
I never cry… Never!
Now I can't stop…
She couldn't. It was as if all the tears she never shed were stored up somewhere, waiting to implode and take all of her with them.
It's not like there's anyone here to see them, anyway.
But she was wrong…
Emmett tore effortlessly through the thick foliage, out for another run. Hearing of the very public fight between Bella and Rosalie had left him feeling uncharacteristically uneasy all day.
He felt even worse after hearing that Rosalie disappeared after being placed on probation.
It makes no sense!
I don't understand women. Maybe that's why… I never fell in love!
Maybe I never will…
Edward is one lucky guy!
Bella… really nailed Rose! Who would believe it! But if Rosie really did…
No! You don't really believe that!
No. I don't. At all!
Rosie just isn't like that! Spoiled, yes! Stubborn and self-centered!
But not vicious! Or destructive! Certainly not violent!
What's that noise?
Someone's crying…
He changed course, heading towards the faint ruffling sound.
Rosie…
"Rosalie…"
She was still curled in her protective ball, oblivious to his approach.
I've never seen her like this.
"Rosalie" Emmett whispered, placing a strong hand on her upper arm.
"Go away!"
"No" Emmett said gently, but firmly.
"Why not! Everyone else has!"
"You know I'm not like everyone else" he chuckled.
"Yes"
Yes… I do know that!
"I'm not leaving you like this. Talk to me."
"I'm sure you already know everything!" Rosalie exploded.
"No. I don't know what you're thinking right now."
"My life's a total fucking mess! Everyone hates me! My parents' aren't; speaking to me! Everyone thinks I did all that shit to Bella!"
"Not everyone"
Rosalie lifted her head and looked into his eyes.
"Well, you're the only one!"
"No. Just the first."
"Yeah, well…"
"Tell me"
"Why do you believe me?"
"Why wouldn't I believe you."
Because Edward's your cousin. And you're into Bella. Or you were.
"You like Bella."
"Yeah. What's not to like!" Em grinned and Rosalie frowned.
"But she's Edward's girl."
"That must have pissed you off!" Rosalie replied, smiling slightly.
"Why?"
"You hate to lose."
"True!" Emmett agreed. "But it's not like that… He's crazy about her. Probably always was. And she wants him. Probably always did."
"Yes" Rosalie agreed, as memories flooded her.
She never said anything… She wouldn't… But… It's true!
"Then why did she date you?"
"Ouch!" Emmett groaned.
"I didn't mean it like that!"
"I know…" Em replied. "Maybe because I asked."
"Maybe to make Edward jealous!" Rosalie spat.
"No… That's not her."
No. It's me. Rosalie thought. Except it doesn't work…
"She ended it before she got together with him. She knew it wasn't right. She said she didn't want to use me."
"I believe her." Emmett continued. "Just as I believe you now."
"Except we can't both be right!" Rosalie scoffed
"About everything? No."
So… Maybe we were both wrong about some things…"
"Maybe we were both wrong." she whispered. "But a lot of good that does me! Everyone thinks I'm guilty."
"So…What are you going to do about it?"
"There's nothing I can do!"
"That doesn't sound like the girl I know."
"Well, maybe I'm not that girl!"
"That girl would fight back… And…"
"Find out the truth." Rosalie finished. "I don't know how I can do that…"
Not alone
"You can try." Emmett whispered.
I can… But I'll need help.
"Would you…"
"Yes"
