It did not take too much effort to find out who Bella's friend was.

Emma, a girl in Rosalie's biology class, was a girl that had the very latest gossip on everything Forks related. Apparently, Jacob Black lived and went to school in the Quileute Reservation. The people there were a really tight community and basically just interacted with each other. He was friends with Bella because her father, the Chief of Police, was Jacob's father's best friend for quite some time.

Single from what Emma knew.

That was about what Emma knew. And the girl was known to get every single piece of information from who your family was to your type of blood. That girl and her best friend Violet knew everything; so, it really surprised Rose that she just had basic information on Jacob. Very secretive, those Quileutes Emma had said.

So probably Rose was never going to see him again. That was good, right? He clearly didn't like her.

Emma promised to get more information for her. Rose just dismissed her. Maybe Emma thought she liked Jacob or something. Which was clearly not the case, she was just curious.

xxx

Weeks and weeks passed but nothing changed much. She was still with Emmett they still went to her house to have sex. Her mom was still absent for most of the time.

For the first time, Rose considered getting a hobby or something. Maybe go to the gym with the girls or go to the library. She usually just watched whatever was on TV after Emmett left her house. Just local channels, even the news when there was nothing else to watch.

She decided to go to the local library to use the computers. To check her email and to play online chess with strangers. That filled her time. The lady that worked in the library already knew her and maybe even liked her.

Rose was just bored of playing chess and surfing online looking for nothing, okay? That was why she ended up on the Quileute reservation website. It had a lot of photos and an interesting story of the tribe.

She spent hours and hours reading about their history. Rosalie had heard about the reservation right when she moved to Forks but she'd never visited it. She had not left Forks since she got there, not even to go to La Push.

She doubted the girls or Emmett would like to go to the beach with this weather and Rose had no car of her own.

xxx

Somehow, she had convinced her nice neighbor to lend her his car. It was old junk, but it worked, and she got to La Push with no incident thanks to the map in the glove box. It was Monday so there were not a lot of people, just a couple walking but they looked miles and miles away.

It was a cold day. She shivered. Why did she even go here? It had been a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Rose really wanted to see the reservation but what was she going to say? Hey, I'm looking for Jacob? Are we friends? No, not really.

She felt pathetic.

The beach was pretty though, so she sat over an old tree trunk and stared at the beach in front of her. The air was different here. Cleaner… or purer.

It was getting darker and colder by the second. Time to leave.

A group of guys were setting up a fire. Ugh, interesting. They looked like the guys on the Quileute website. Perhaps they lived there.

She didn't want to interrupt or something, so she just smiled at them and tried to leave.

"Are you new here?" One of the guys asked her.

She turned around only to find out that all of the guys were just watching her. "Umm, Yeah. I mean I'm new in Forks."

"Right" He nodded "I haven't seen you around." He was one of the younger ones, perhaps fourteen or fifteen. "I'm Seth" He extended his tan hand for her to shake. He was cute. Like the younger brother type of cute.

"I'm Rosalie." She shook his hand.

"Would you like to stay for a bit?" He signaled one of the tree trunks and smiled, "Please stay."

She really needed to go but it was hard to tell him no. He was just like a little puppy. "Umm sure."

"Good." His smile got even bigger "This is Sam, Paul and Quill"

They said hi to her and proceeded to continue to build the fire. They stared at her quite rudely. Did she have something on her face?

"Ignored them." Seth whispered, "They've never seen a girl as beautiful as you."

When she turned to look at him, he was not laughing mockingly. Rose laughed awkwardly "Please."

"You're very pretty." Seth's puppy eyes got even bigger if that was possible. "We don't have a lot of women on the reservation. I've never seen a girl as pretty as you, not even on TV."

God, he was sweet. She shrugged.

"You're uncomfortable. I'm sorry." Seth apologized, brows furrowed.

She was not uncomfortable per se, she just wasn't used to getting compliments, that was all. Rose liked this kid.

"So, you go to Forks high school?"

She nodded.

"You must know Bella!" He smiled watching the fire "She is friends with Jacob, he also lives in the reservation. She's really cool."

"I do know her."

"Cool. Are you friends?"

She giggled "Not really. I mean I do know her, she's in my year and all."

Seth was a good kid she also liked the guys. They shared some history and traditions of the tribe because she asked of course. It sounded really nice to have a big family to back you up. They could trace their ancestry back from generation to generation. Their Tribe was rich in traditions and culture. And of course, they had deep roots in this place. Something Rose always wanted to have. A place to call home forever, not just for a couple of months.

It started raining slightly. The clap of thunder was a good promise of what was to come. The fire died.

"It's really nice out here. I've never been in a place for more than a year, so it sounds really nice."

"Really?" Sam asked, brows furrowed.

"Yeah," She shrugged. "My mom likes to try luck in different towns. I really like Forks. I hope we can stay here longer."

The rain started to become unbearable. Time to go home.

"Shit." One of the guys said "I don't think it is safe for you to drive in this rain. There's also barely any light."

Indeed. It was getting darker and darker.

"Yes!" Seth smiled, "Why don't you stay at the reservation for a while?"

They were taking refuge in one of the trees, but the wind and the rain were making it impossible to even see straight.

"Sure." She had no other options.

"Come one, follow me!" Sam said between thunder.

They ran through the woods for a few minutes before she could see a couple of houses.

She followed Seth to where she supposed was his house. The roof of the house was striking red. He had two dogs that followed them to the main entrance. The door had a mosquito net that had seen better days.

They waited on the house porch where Seth showed her a wooden rocking chair.

"Please wait here." Seth opened the door "I'm going to ask my sister if she can lend you some clothes."

"Sure."

Seth's sister, Leah, did lend her some of her clothes, Rose's clothes were ruined.

Rose would not say that Leah was shy, but she definitely was a woman of a few words. Her eyes were missing the curiosity and innocence that Seth's had. Leah left them alone.

"You want to eat dinner?" Seth asked, now with his blue pajamas on "I can make you something really quick."

Rose shook her head "I don't want to bother you, Seth."

"Come on," His smile was big and playful "I will make you some quesadillas. That's all I know how to do anyway."

They eat dinner at a small kitchen table. Seth is a talking machine and dominated the conversation for the most part. He was really easy to be around.

"Want to play some cards while we wait for the storm to pass?" He asked with a smile "Please say yes. Leah never wants to play with me."

The storm was still in full motion, so she agreed with the promise of kicking his ass.

After almost two hours, they were in their fifth round of cards. The little minx was actually really good, and he had the lead when the door opened.

"Hey, kid. Lend me that flashlight. Power is out again in my house."

It was him. Jacob.

"Where are you, Seth?"

Dear, God.

"We're on the sofa."

Jacob turned around the corner to look at Seth and Rose hanging on the couch. Set of cards on the coffee table.

"Hi, Jacob" Seth went to rummage through some boxes behind the couch. Rose was frozen. She could not even find the courage to look up at him. She was afraid of what he would find. "Here." Seth handed Jacob a big black flashlight.

"This is Rose by the way" His smile was big. And Jesus he really was just a puppy "She's really cool. We met her on La Push earlier today. The rain hit so I invited her over."

She risked a look in Jacob's direction only to find out he was already looking at her. She chickened out and returned her eyes to the floor.

"She goes to school with Bella! Isn't that cool? Do you want to join us?" Seth really talked a hundred words per second.

"Nah, kid. I'll see you tomorrow." He dismissed Seth but never acknowledged Rosalie. Ouch.

After they heard the door close Seth apologized "I'm sorry. He usually is not like this, I swear. He's actually like a brother to me. He teaches me how to fix cars and stuff on the weekends. Good guy."

Rose tried to smile and looked out the window, the rain was almost gone. "You know, it's getting late, and look, it's barely raining anymore."

Seth shrugged, "I'll help you get to your car then."

"Thanks, Seth. You're really sweet." He really was.

"At least give me your number. To hang out again."

Seth was nice enough to get her to the car and see her off. The road was dark but at least the storm was over.

What a nice kid. He might even have had a puppy crush on her. What a weird thought, someone having a crush on her. He was very sweet.

The house was empty as always, her mom would be on her way to Port Angeles to work right now. Julia usually stayed with a colleague during the week to avoid the hour's drive. Rose barely saw her mom anymore. And life got lonely.

Rose tried to not think of Jacob and his illogical rejection, but Seth called really often –Like almost every day–and he kind of reminded her of Jacob. He was actually the only one who went out of his way to talk to her or to be in her company. That was pleasant. She enjoyed his conversation and company.

Rose had gone to the reservation a couple of times to hang with Seth and sometimes some of the guys would tag along. Not Jacob though. She never saw him again at the reservation. A blessing and a curse really. Seth talked about him a lot, like a lot. And Rose started to like the person Seth was describing in his stories. The Jacob that took care of his father after complications left him in a wheelchair, the Jacob who taught Seth everything he knew about mechanics and cars… He sounded like a good guy.

Rosalie was going to hang with Seth after school that day. He was going to show her how to play Monopoly –Seth had gone on and on about how it was possible that she had never played in her life– and maybe cook some pizza. Rose had discovered that she liked to cook. They did that a lot in Seth's home. Rose usually ordered Chinese for dinner and ate leftovers for a few days.

Emmett was coming over, so she needed to wait till he was done.

Classes were finally over for the day and Emmett was really tense. Something was bothering him for sure. He was holding on tightly to her bicep. It was starting to hurt.

"Emmett." She tried, but he was lost thinking about God knew what. They were walking through the parking lot and he was not even paying attention to the other cars. "Hey!"

"What now?" He grunted, still not looking at her.

People were watching now "You're hurting me, Emmett." Her voice shook. His face was hard to read on a normal day, but now she could not even think about what was bothering him so much. Did she do something?

He opened the passenger door for the Jeep and threw her in. Ouch.

What the fuck was his problem?

She turned to look at the window. He did not even deserve her attention. What a jerk.

Jessica and the girls were gossiping at the entrance of the school, probably talking about her.

Bella was talking with Edward, the guy she was with on and off, and with them there was Jacob. By the looks of it, they were arguing.

What was he even doing here?

Like a magnet, his eyes found hers. Even with the moving jeep, the window, and all of the distance, she could feel the intensity in his eyes; like her eyes were an open book to the depths of her soul. He definitely did not like what he found there.

She swallowed and dared her heart to stop beating like crazy.

He broke eye contact first by answering whatever Bella was saying. He really looked frustrated.

xxx

Emmett was especially harsh that day. Leaving bruises not only on her hips but on her neck. He never touched her, her neck, or much of her actually. Emmett usually took what he wanted and left. He never touched her or hurt her.

He slammed the door and left.

It took her a whole minute to leave the couch. Her legs hurt. Her hips hurt. Her heart hurt. Tears filled her eyes and she wondered how she let this happen. What he was doing was rape. She never initiated sex or like sex for that matter. Rose had never said no to Emmett, however, her body did it for her.

She would need to find the guts to break up with him. End a relationship she never wanted in the first place. Rose never asked for any of it.

It was not her fault that this was happening to her, but it was her responsibility to put a stop to it.

She was going to break up with him tomorrow.

Rose groaned as she reached for the mop. Bad idea to clean right now. She would do it tomorrow.

Ugh, she needed to call Seth for a raincheck. The only thing she wanted to do right now was sleep forever.