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Disclaimer...

SMeyers owns all the characters, but Edward totally owns me.

Chapter four

Victory dance

Rosalie's POV

I was sat in Mr Green's office with Jasper waiting for Bella to come out of the other room. The police had questioned her relentlessly, it was awful that neither Jasper or myself had been allowed to go in with her, hadn't she been through enough already? The only solace was that the head teacher had insisted on accompanying her and as he was not a witness, they had allowed it.

"I'm going to say something to Cullen." Jasper whispered to me. I nodded and got up when he did, we walked over to Edward. He was without doubt the hottest guy in the school, he was tall and lean and very muscular, but really not man enough for me, from the way he couldn't keep his eyes off Bells, I was guessing that he was already spoken for. Besides I wanted someone with a lot more muscle someone more macho-man and that person was his older brother. He much more my type, not that I had really ever spoken to him much, though I had caught him looking at me during practice and in class sometimes. But I couldn't think about Emmett now or I'd get all hot and flustered.

As we walked up to where Edward was sitting with Alice, I watched as Alice's eyes lit up and she went all tense at the sight of Jazz, I had to fight back my smile.

"I would just like to say thank you to you both, for your help today, my sister is a little shy, so she might not say it, but I know that she is very grateful to you both." Jasper said.

I could see Alice hanging on his every word, I guess that was kind of sweet, but I don't suppose that Jazz even noticed.

"Yes thank you so very much." I said to them both, meaning it I put as much gratitude into the words as I could.

"We are all very grateful to you Edward," Jazz said, "you too Alice ." He added turning to wink at her. Wow, so he was not quite as unaware as I had thought, well I knew that he could be charming when he wanted to be.

"No problem, Is... is she okay?" Edward asked, I could tell it wasn't just a polite question, he genuinely wanted to know, the concern in his voice was obvious.

"Yeah, she pretty badly bruised and very shaken, but underneath that shy exterior she is quite a tough little cookie, she'll be fine in no time, just as long as that scum is locked up for good this time." Jazz told him.

"This time?" Alice asked shocked, "Has he attacked her before?" Alice knew nothing about it, as Bella had asked me not to tell anyone, so I had kept if from her.

"Not exactly." I said.

"He has stalked her, so we had a restraining order put on him, but he has never been this close to her before, I shudder to think what could have happened if you hadn't have acted so quickly." Jasper said and I could see that he was shaking at the mere idea of it.

"Me too." Edward said, he seemed to be just as shaken as Jasper was.

I couldn't help but notice everyone's sudden change as Bella came back into the room, I could sense the tension coming from Jasper, he was always so protective of both Bella and I. I had watched him since Mom and Dad and died, he'd taken all the responsibility on himself and he felt like he had failed every time something happened to either of us. I knew he would feel responsible for this attack on Bells, even though there was no way that he could have foreseen this. He felt that way about losing the house, he felt like he should have dropped out of school and got a proper job. I knew that, that was what he was planning to do, even though he would never tell me that. The only reason he had not already done so, was so no one would know about the fact that we were to be evicted by the bank. His pride was probably the strongest part of his personality, after his protective side of course. He rarely did anything for himself, he always put Bella and I first, not that I didn't take advantage of that. He had not even been on a date since Mom and Dad had gone, he wanted his main focus to be us. I could understand his logic, though I didn't like it much. He shouldn't give up living his own life, we were not even nineteen yet and he was acting like an old man. He was an extremely attractive catch and lots of girls in school had been eager to snag him, none as much as little Alice, although she was only a junior she was probably my best friend. She was one of the few people in my life who actually got me, she was very much like Bells, but she was athletic and a total squad girl. She also shared my love for fashion and was an absolute must on any shopping trip, I knew her well. Well enough to know that no matter how hard she tried to hide it, she would crumble at the sight of Jazz. Even if she was focused on her training, she would miss her step and fall on her face if she saw Jasper on the field training. I had just watched her quivering when Jazz had winked at her, he knew exactly how to be charming, he was a pretty old school gentleman, he must have known how she felt.

I watched him now as he took in Bella's face, it made me sick to my stomach, so Jazz's face was easy to read. The red mark on her face and the way she walked slightly favouring her side where she had been kicked, he would feel just as wretched as I did. She was so sweet, totally innocent, she only passed her 17th birthday a few months back, no one deserved this treatment, but she deserved it less than anyone. She had the very same caring streak just as strong as Jazz.

But there was another face that my mind now registered and he never took his eyes off Bella, I wonder? As Bells knew that Cullen was her online friend, did he know who she was? She'd told me some about their online relationship, it didn't sound like my impression of him, but aside from the face and the muscular body, I'd never really paid him much attention. All the girls just adored him and I was never one to follow the crowd, I'd rather lead them. But I thought Cullen must know who Bell's was going by the way he was looking at her right now. In the five months I'd been at this school, I'd watched the football team, been at every game and gathering with them and my squad. He'd never so much as looked at the girls, oh yes to be polite, he'd chat and make conversation, but he had never really looked at anyone. But he was really looking now, like he was looking right into the soul of my baby sister, he was hardly even blinking. When she turned, even just a little bit, he seemed to turn at the same rate, like he was radiating towards her, pulled by some invisible magnet or satellite. It was weird.

Bells asked Jasper if it would be alright for her to say thank you to Edward, he told her that he had already done that. But she felt she should be brave for once and thank him herself, but maybe she'd be more confident if there was no one else listening. I was pretty sure there was more to it than that. I knew she really liked Edward, online and off, even if she would never admit it outright. She was just so easy to read, her feelings were always written all over her face. I know I teased her about it but really, it was very useful, I could always tell when she was fibbing as could Jazz, but right now all I could see was gratitude. Bella was beyond shy with boys and barely spoke to any, when she did, they would just fall in love with her easily, she was pretty, but the male of the species were just drawn to her. I was used to that, but that was more because of my face and my body, I too rarely spoke to the boys, but that was more out of contempt than shyness. The only guy in the school I really wanted to speak to, I rarely ever saw, he was in two of my classes and he was on the football team. Though I never seemed to get him alone, he hung out with Jasper and his brother was getting pally with my sister, plus I was best buds with his sister. So many links but I couldn't ever get him alone to talk to, maybe he was avoiding me? But that couldn't be right. I'd seen the way he looks at me sometimes when he thought I wasn't looking, but hey I am gorgeous, who didn't love me, well apart from Edward, but he'd never noticed anyone except Bells. I needed to focus, thinking about Emmett would just have me all excited and I need to be in a nurturing mood, not lusting after Emmett Cullen again.

Alice, Jazz and I waited outside for Bella to finish talking to Edward, she wasn't long, I saw as she came out of the door her face was all shocked and upset. Her talk had left her more flustered than normal, but her face was starting to change colour where the thug had hit her. I put my arm around her shoulders and led her to the car. I'd told Alice I'd talk to her later, I had asked her to find everyone and let them know that tonight's cheer practice was cancelled, I wasn't about to leave Bells alone tonight. Though I wasn't sure if Alice heard a word I said, she was all quivery and weak kneed standing so close to Jasper.

I got into the back seat with Bella, when this all caught up with her she was going to need the support. After a few minutes I heard her let out a long sigh and I looked at her wondering why, but she just shook her head at me.

"What?" I asked, she didn't answer she just shook her head again, I had a good idea what the sigh was for. "He really likes you, you know." I told her, though I would say that was an under statement by the way he couldn't take his eyes off her.

"Who?" She asked. Ha! Don't make me laugh, if she had anyone but Cullen on her mind it would be some kind of miracle.

"Cullen." I confirmed for her.

"Don't be ridiculous." She said, I have never met anyone with a lower self esteem than my sister, she was totally her own worst enemy, stalkers not with standing. I had no doubt at all that she would be thinking that she was not good enough, which everyone knew she was except herself.

"Bells, he couldn't take his eyes off you." I had to grin at that, "I've never seen him look at anyone." I thought out loud, "He looked like he was undressing you with his eyes." I told her not quite able to hold back my giggle at the hopeful expression on her face.

"Stop it Rose." She said, but I could see the wishful thinking going on in her eyes.

"World champion martial artist or not, if he was, I will kick his ass." Jasper said, as protective as ever.

"So what did you say to him?" I asked her, I was dead curious now, but I did my best to hide my enthusiasm.

"I said thank you to him for helping and I said I owed him." She said, smooth move lil Sis.

"You said what?" Jasper screeched at her.

"What's wrong with that?" I asked him, somewhat alarmed at his angry attitude.

"You never tell a guy you owe him, not ever, he'll be expecting payment of a kind I don't want you to experience until you are at least twenty five and married, that goes for both of you." He said.

"Is that all guys, or just you?" I asked scathingly, he was damn lucky I'd lasted this long and that was only because I wasn't ready... I was guessing that I would be ready around the time that Emmett asked me out, oh I'd definitely be up for that.

"All guys." Jasper all but growled at me.

"Emmett's not like that I bet." I said. Not that I'd ever been close enough to him for long enough to find out if that was true or not.

"Yes he is, the only reason he hasn't tried it on yet, is because I warned him not to, just like I will warn his brother after practice tonight." He said.

"You did what?" I almost shrieked, I was horrified, did that mean he might have asked me out if Jazz had not said anything? Bella was speaking but I was far to shocked to hear a word of what she said, though I did catch the last part.

"... Besides if you do that he might change his mind about taking me out tonight." She said, and I stared down at her, she had a date..? with Cullen? Man she moved faster than I gave her credit for.

"I will still warn him to keep his pants on when he is with you." Jasper said making Bella giggle. "Wait... you have a date? Tonight?" Jasper almost shrieked again. "You and Cullen?" He asked her. "Where is he taking you? I want to know, how long you intend to be out and where you will be at all times? Or you are not going." He was close to yelling at her.

"Stop being such an ass Jazz, this is our baby sisters first date, she's getting all grown up, so leave her alone." I said to him, this was a great way to stop her fretting about being attacked today and besides I couldn't let him dictate who, where and when, when it came to dating, not now I knew that there might be the slightest chance that Emmett liked me. "We could double." I said, "get him to bring his brother." I encouraged.

"You are not going out with Emmett Cullen." Jasper yelled at me.

"Why the hell not?" I yelled right back.

"He's crude, he can't take anything serious, he's a thug and I've no doubt he's a player." He said.

"So he has a sense of humour, I could do with a bit of that, he's only a thug on the field, so he's crude, so what and what do you mean by player?" I argued.

"He likes girls, you know, love em and leave them, I have never seen him with the same girl twice. He said.

"So he does date then?" I asked.

"You are not..." He started to stay.

"Let me ask you then, how many dates have I been on since we moved here?" I asked him.

"None as far as I know." He said.

"Exactly, so you can hardly stop me having a date for a movie or something, surely you can allow me that." I said.

"Don't think he'd be interested."

"Why not?" I asked somewhat alarmed.

"Edward said he has the hots for someone but he wont say who." He said, but he didn't look at me, so I couldn't be sure if he was lying or not.

"Then you have nothing to worry about, do you?" I assured him.

"Humph." was the only answer I got.

~F~

Once home, I was in and out of Bells room checking on her, she was nervous about her date. I would have thought that it was too much after the day she had had, but maybe it was the distraction she needed. Something so out of the norm that it would take all of her focus. I watched as her face gradually began to change colour as the bruise became more prominent. I tried and failed to get her to put on a little make up, being as subtle as I could to not draw attention to her ever darkening cheek. I knew it must be really painful for her, even a small hit on the cheek bone was painful and she had taken one hell of a hit. I knew her well enough that as soon as she saw how bad her face was she would probably bolt for the bathroom and lock herself in for the night. But then she was so much braver today than I had ever known. It was an amazing strength to her character, always so shy but she had the fight to stand up for what she believed in, I'd never told her but I had always admired her for that.

After Bella had left on her date I called Alice to arrange an early practice before school tomorrow, while I was chatting to her, she told me that Edward had just arrived home with Bella, so much for dinner and a movie I thought, Alice said she'd call me back later.

I put mine and Jaspers uniforms through the wash and made Jazz and I some dinner, we didn't speak much, I knew he was worrying about Bella, but he did relax just a little when I told him that she was at the Cullen's and being supervised by adults. Once I had eaten I went and did some homework, I was excused from doing a lot because of being on the squad but I kept up with it where I could. I needed an education, my cheer leading was not something to build a career out of.

It wasn't much later when Alice phoned and she told me what had being going on there. I was kind of shocked when she said her father had taken Bella to the hospital for x-rays. I had forgotten that her father was a doctor, well that was real nice of him, she would have refused again I'd no doubt. She must have had to explain about having no medical insurance, yet another thing for Jazz to beat himself up over. I was also shocked to hear that Edward had actually asked Bella to be his girlfriend and was all protective of her, that was kinda sweet. Maybe Bells was right, maybe he was a really nice guy, I suppose it made sense, I knew that Alice was a really nice honest person, so I was kinda guessing that her brothers were too, she'd said that they were an upfront no secrets kind of family.

But then Alice told me something that shocked me to my core, I sat on my bed with my mouth hanging open. Her family had found out about our house, Edward had told them and he had asked if we could all move in with them... live with Alice, practically a sister, I'd like that. Living with Emmett, well okay that was something I wouldn't mind doing either. Bells with Edward, I couldn't see Jazz allowing that living arrangement anymore than he would agree to me living with Emmett. I couldn't believe her entire family had voted in favour of the three of us moving in as part of their family, they really were that nice. What do you say to someone after that? I told Alice I would call her back later.

Now I had to decide whether to tell Jazz or not, maybe I should, his pride would definitely get in the way if Dr Cullen were to ask. So maybe he could persuade him? Then maybe it would be better hearing it from me? I would push the side that we'd all be able to stay in school... major plus as far as I was concerned. I walked back down the stairs slowly, not sure how many times I changed my mind on the way, probably once with each step I took. I would handle this as if I were talking to the squad, pep talk, 'we can do this,' or 'I can do this more like' I thought.

Jasper didn't even look up when I walked into the living room, he was pondering over some homework by the look of it.

"Rose?" He said as I sat down.

"Yes?" I answered, happy to postpone my talk.

"Has... um..."

"Spit it out Jazz." His hesitation made me nervous, it was usually followed by bad news.

"Was that Alice you were talking to?" He asked.

"Yes... why?" I asked surprised by the topic.

"I don't suppose she mentioned me at all?" He asked, I couldn't hide my knowing grin, fortunately he was not looking up from his books, trying to be nonchalant, well he was failing at that.

"Why do you ask?" I asked majorly curious.

"I just wondered if she'd spoken of me at all?"

"Oh my god... you like her... don't you?" I gushed.

"Well... she's a lovely girl." He said with a grin.

"Yes she is." I agreed.

"So..? Did she?" He asked again.

"Not this time... no." I admitted.

"This time?" He asked fighting back his grin.

"You men are all alike." I said "What does it matter? We may be moving away soon."

"Well I was hoping that we could get somewhere cheap in town, but you still haven't answered my question."

"Can I tell you why she rang, before I do answer you?"

"If its important." He said.

"Oh it is entirely pivotal." I said.

"Then please go ahead."

"Edward saw the notice on the door and he told his parents... let me finish." I said when I saw he was about to interrupt. "They had a family vote about the three of us going to live with them." I said, watching every expression as it crossed his face. "They 'all' voted in favour and I am guessing that Alice is probably dancing around her room at the thought of having you living in the same house." I watched the smirk appear on his face.

"She likes me then?"

"I'd say that was an understatement, she has never come outright and admitted it, but the way she is around you, leaves no doubt that she is crazy about you Jazz... Oh my god! I think that's the brightest smile I've seen on your face in ages Jazz." I added.

"So... you'd be alright with that idea, living with the Cullen's?" He asked me.

I shrugged, "Probably the best thing that could happen to us." I admitted, he nodded in agreement. "Dr Cullen has taken Bells to the hospital for an x-ray. Oh yes and just so that you know... Edward has officially asked Bells to be his girlfriend." I said.

"Well that's real nice of him and I can't say I didn't see that coming, Edward is pretty crazy about her." He said.

"So you think you'd be okay with this move?" I asked.

"Well I think you might be right, its not like we have a whole lot of options and this way we will be able to stay in school." He nodded to himself, whilst I did a victory dance in my head.

"That's very true." I said "Dr Cullen is coming here to talk to us, when he brings Bells home." I told him.

"So is it decided then? What I mean is... we both agree this is for the best and that we will go along with it? Provided Bells agrees of course." He asked.

"Um..." I said pretending to think about it. "Yes, I think so... yes." I said.

"Then we will tell him yes, when he asks."