DISCLAIMER : I do not own any of these characters, from Twilight or Cruel Intentions, or the part of the plotline that comes from Cruel Intentions.

AN: Just for future reference, a * means that the sentence should be taken sarcastically. But I usually only put them when it's in someone's POV, because if the sarcasm is in the dialogue it's easy to figure out. And since, in this story, Bella helped Annette, she used to go to Manchester.

If Hearts Could Explode

Arianna Lillian

Chapter 3

Rosalie woke up in sweat. She sighed, admitting to herself that it was not the first time she'd dreamt of Emmett McCarty. Normally she would simply write it off as a repercussion of letting Emmett get to her and Alice the other night, but this wasn't one of those dreams.

They weren't really doing anything, just walking together, smiling and holding hands. Then he was pulling her away from a speeding taxi, and then he was on the ground, and she was crying; and then a flash of Bella Swan's plain, and ugly face. Rosalie Hale was not one to cry, unless she forced it for a certain situation, and she certainly wouldn't cry over a guy, or some worthless piece of white trash.

She shook it off and almost went and woke Kathryn up. But for once, Rosalie felt compassion and didn't want to stir up feelings about Sebastian, especially since Emmett's "death" was essentially Sebastian's.

Rosalie did her normal morning routine and heard the familiar beep outside her window. Her phone vibrated and the expected text simply read, Five minutes. Rosalie finished getting ready and literally waited by the door until six minutes passed. She grinned and put her keys in her purse, walking out the door; Emmett was leaning on her car, a bright red BMW. "Your ego is scratching my paint." She loved that car like Kathryn loved Sebastian's Jaguar, probably more.

Emmett ignored her. "You're late."

"You're still here," she retorted and grabbed the keys from her purse.

"Fuck you." He rolled his eyes. "What are the keys for," he asked, looking a like a hurt puppy.

Rosalie was feeling particularly sarcastic that morning. "Well, Emmy, these are car keys. They help you turn the car on," she said as if he were four years old.

He gave her a glare.

Rosalie sighed, "I'm driving to school." She walked around the front of the car, toward the driver's side door.

Emmett was faster, going around the back and blocking the door handle before she could open the door. "No you're not. I'm driving you."

Rosalie spoke through clenched teeth, "Don't tell me what to do."

Emmett smiled when he got a reaction from her. "You're so sexy when you're angry."

Rose's eyes narrowed; Emmett knew that that meant she was putting things together. "So why do you want to drive me so badly?" She pressed herself up against him.

Emmett suppressed a groan. "We have fun when I drive you," he said suggestively.

Rosalie pushed him away, "Not after last night's little prank, Emmett. I don't appreciate being toyed with. If it were anyone else, I would ruin them. If it weren't for Kathryn, our bet would be off and – "

Emmett closed the gap between them and kissed her. Against her wishes, Rosalie let it continue, but soon pushed him away again. "I have an appointment to see the stupid twit I'm about to ruin." She smiled at him and he raised an eyebrow. "Maybe if you're a good boy, you can drive tomorrow." Rosalie quickly got into her car and peeled out.

Kathryn's POV:

I looked out the window, I couldn't help it. Rosalie and Emmett were arguing. And then they were kissing. One silent tear slid down my stone-like expression. They reminded me so much of the old days, the days when Sebastian and I were on top of the world. Sebastian. I eyed the scotch on my dresser, debating on drinking it. It had always been Sebastian's favorite, though I was not one to drink in the morning. Still, after rotting in rehab for a while, I've given up drugs. Sebastian hated my addiction, anyway.

I would have given up everything for him. But because of that twat, Annette, I have nothing, and Sebastian is dead. He's fucking dead, gone forever. Not to mention the fact that she exposed me for all that I am. I was expelled. I have no chance of getting into college. The last thing I told the love of my life was that he was nothing but a toy. Now I have no chance at love and all I can hope for is to end up as a trophy wife. You win, Sebastian, you won the war. I cried a few more silent tears into my pillow. I got up and looked at the picture of us. It was us dancing at our parents' wedding.

We weren't grinning or anything, we were just sort of smirking at each other. That was the first night he really pursued me, and the first night when we realized we were two of a kind.

Come to think of it, we had really been through a lot together. There was a time before Annette when Sebastian sincerely gave up his manipulative ways and tried to be what our parentals considered a "normal" teenager. I remember how I felt when I lost him that first time. Not only was I furious, I was upset. One elaborate scheme from me, and he came back to me. Getting him back was one of the greatest feelings I can remember. But now I've discovered one of the worst feelings: knowing that I will never see him again, knowing that I fucked up my chance at love.

I even tried to journal once, because I thought it was poetic: not the journal itself, but the fact that Sebastian's journal – and a few dumb twats – were what ruined me. That was a dumb idea. I would start writing and then I would think of Sebastian. The journal ended up being a book of me writing memories I had of Sebastian. *That really helped with my "no crying policy."

Bella's POV:

*Oh, great, another Manchester, because I loved that school. Maybe this'll be better. Maybe there won't be another Kathryn. Oh hey, there's that girl I met this summer. What was her name? Violet? She's way too pretty to be named Violet. It was like a flowery name though, right? Oh and she had one of those rich names. Wow, that's a nice car. Wait, her license plate says… what is that? *What a good day to run out of contacts. Rose? Oh! Rosalie! Rosalie Hale? Yeah, Hale, that's it. Oh shit, she's loaded then. But, Hale, that's a good thing right? I mean Hale's not Valmont, and it sure as hell isn't Merteuil.

Rosalie's POV:

Oh that bitch is in for it. Look at her fucking eying up me and my car. Bitch.

Kathryn and I are closer than any sisters could be. Sebastian and I were really the only ones she ever let in and Annette, Cecile, and Bella completely exploited that. No one messes with my family, least of all, Kathryn. She's my one relative that understands me completely and I'm the only one who truly knows how fragile she is. Even Sebastian was oblivious to the whole truth; he never knew how she really felt about him, and how he affected her.

No one deserves such public humiliation, not even Kathryn; and trust me, I know how horrible she is sometimes. If it were up to me, Cecile and Annette would still be paying for it, but Kathryn is still getting back to her usual self; I'm sure their time will come. But for now I had Bella to play with.

"Oh Bella! Bella Swan? Is that you," I said with a grin on my face. I strode over to her gracefully, making sure to show her up, though I didn't have to work very hard to do that.

"Oh yeah, Rosy, I remember you from this summer."

I gritted my teeth, "It's actually Rosalie, and Rose is also acceptable. Nothing else," I added harshly, but I soon fell back into my façade. "Are you excited to be at Oakwood?"

Bella sort of nodded. "Yeah," she said flatly.

It wasn't hard to read into that face. "Do you miss your old school already? Why did you transfer anyway?" I wanted to see how easily she'd break.

Bella looked away for a second, and then met my eyes again. "Well I miss my friends. I miss my boyfriend. But I had to get away from the one girl. She had it out for me and some of my friends."

I pretended that I cared, and that I didn't know the story already. "Oh my God. That's horrible. Who was it?"

Bella hesitated; I wanted to slap her. "Well maybe I shouldn't be gossiping."

"I just – I mean maybe I know of her or something."

Bella hesitated again; she was asking for it. "Kathryn Merteuil."

I kept my smirk buried inside. "Oh, her. I've heard of her. I heard she's awful. I heard she got kicked out of her old school," I sort of whispered. "Oh wait! You went there! What happened? I heard she was a monster," I faked.

Then Bella's face sort of lit up with anger, but with a hint of excitement, and she did exactly what I knew she would do, exactly what 99% of the world's female population would do in such a situation: she indulged.

Bella let go. "Oh she's awful. She's a slut and the royal bitch of Manchester Prep. Or, at least, she was…"

I hid my smirk; Bella had opened the door, just as I knew she would. The only problem now would be refraining from throwing my fist in Bella's face. "She was? What happened?"

Bella then told Kathryn's story, *oh so objectively. "She had this perfect act going on: President of the student body as a Sophomore, French Club, National Honor society, the perfect socialite, etcetera, but really she was a manipulative bitch and the biggest slut. On top of that, she was a coke addict and drank almost everyday."

Ha, sounds like Kathryn.

Bella droned on… "Annette and Sebastian fell in love, and I guess Kathryn couldn't deal with that."

Wrong.

"… And Sebastian pushed Annette out of the way, and he took the hit. It killed him."

Poor Kathryn.

"Sebastian kept this journal and it had everything in it, even everything about Kathryn."

Unfortunately, true.

"Me, and Annette, and this other girl, Cecile, made copies of it and gave them out during his funeral. Kathryn stormed out and knew she was done for. The look on her face was priceless."

I could have decked her.

Bella spoke, pulling her phone out of her pocket, but she dropped it. "She's the reason he's dead," that pushed me over the edge. I literally pulled my leg back to kick her face in, but I felt a strong hand grasp my thigh. More than that, I recognized his touch: Emmett. "Be nice," he whispered roughly into my ear, letting his hand trail up my side until it found a resting place on my waist.

Bella felt that that was a good time to stand up. "Oh, hi," she said quietly, seeing Emmett.

I laughed when he didn't really reply, but only gave her a small grunt of recognition. He only pulled me in tighter, and I told myself I didn't enjoy it.

"I'm Bella. Bella Swan."

Emmett paused his kisses on my neck; I nearly let out an audible groan. "Emmett McCarty." He went back to his former position.

Bella eyed us, "Oh, are you guys dating?"

I shrugged, "For now." Let's see what he does with that.

"We're on and off a lot," Emmett said standing up straight, still holding me. "But I couldn't stand not being around her and I knew I had to have her back"

I ignored how badly I didn't want that to be acting. It wasn't a total lie. I mean we really had dated on and off a lot… kind of. But still, that bastard was cocky enough to think he could win Bella over while dating me.

"That's so cute," Bella gushed. "I have to go now, though. I have to go pick up my schedule and meet with the dean. See you two later," she said and walked off.

I turned to him, noticing he didn't let go of me. "Give me one reason I should "date" you while our bet it on," I said bluntly.

Emmett smiled, and I almost melted, but I didn't show it; I refused. "You're revenge is much sweeter." His hands roamed to the small of my back.

"How so," I asked raising an eyebrow.

"When I get her into bed, not only will she be betraying herself and her beloved Edward, she'll also be betraying her best friend, Rosalie, who was nothing but nice to her and was her first friend at Oakwood."

I grinned. "You're nearly as bad as I am." I grabbed the back of his head and kissed him.

A few students walked by and Emmett answered their questions before they were asked. He pulled back and said, "I love you too. I'm so glad we're back together. I can't live without you." I repetitively told myself he was faking it.

Hearing those words made me realize that acting like we were dating would make my revenge on Bella much sweeter, but it could end up being really painful for me.