Chapter 9 - Love and Loathing, It's All I've Got
Amber's POV
I have one thought running through my head. I'm going to be late!
I'm supposed to be meeting Emmett, Jasper, and Edward at Topgolf.
I should be able to make it give or take ten minutes.
That is until I turn my truck key and all I hear is a clicking noise.
"No, come on!" I yell as I try a third and fourth time as I hit the steering wheel with my hand.
"Damn it" I defeatedly say as I hit the steering wheel with my forehead.
I already know that fixing what I know has to be the starter on my truck will take up my whole night, so my plans are shot.
I'll have to stay up and fix it, because I need my truck for work tomorrow.
I grab my phone to call Emmett to let the guys know that I won't be able to make it.
Emmett's POV
"Do you want us to come over and help you" I ask Amber after she explains the situation.
"No, I don't want to ruin y'alls plans, so I'll have to catch ya next time." Amber replies dejectedly.
"You're going to need some help if you hope to finish it." I wisely reply.
"If you're offering then, thanks. I could use a hand. I hope that I can get it fixed soon enough so that I will be able to get at least a few hours of sleep before work tomorrow." Amber says.
After saying goodbye and hanging up I look up at Rosalie who has a mix between a self satisfying grin and a grimace look on her face. No one needs Edward's power to know that she tampered with Amber's truck and while she does feel bad about the headache that she caused her mate she won't deny that she is beyond happy with the fact that she will now have some one on one time with her love.
She darts out of the house and jumps into her car as we all can't help but smile and shake our heads at Rosalie's antics.
Carlisle fondly says "Well, that is a creative way to arrange a 'date night'"
Alice ever the energetic ball of energy says "Oh, it isn't a date, but hopefully this will finally lead to one."
Amber's POV
I am currently bent over with my head under the hood of my truck. I have the music cranked as I try and get this done as soon as possible.
I can feel eyes watching me, so I look over my shoulder and I swear my heart skips a beat like it usually does whenever I spontaneously see Rosalie Hale. She truly is a wonderful site to be hold.
I smile through my confusion as to why she is standing there.
She holds up a box and says. "Emmett said that you were having mechanical difficulties with your starter. Although I love Em, he isn't very handy with engines. So I told him that I would lend my expertise. I also happened to have an extra starter in my garage, just in case yours needs to be replaced."
Amber takes a few seconds to come out of her shock as she makes her way to Rosalie and takes the box out of her hands.
"Thanks Rose, you're a lifesaver. The guys told me what an amazing mechanic you are. While I know I can hold my own, I am no mechanic." I say as I guide us back into the garage.
We find a comfortable rhythm almost immediately. I can't help but love how well we work together.
Rosalie's POV
Conversation has flowed so easily between us and I also love the way Amber's body seems to have a mind of it's own as she sways around to the music that she has on.
"What band is this?" I question after an hour or so into our work.
"This is 'Tails – by: With Confidence'. They're great, right?" Amber tells me with a smile.
"I really like them." I reply with just as much enthusiasm, but what I really mean is that I really like the way they made Amber sway around.
"They're actually going to be playing here in about a week. Do you want to go?" Amber asks
I internally freak out; I'll finally have a date with my mate!
"I mean it's the least that I can do, since you won't let me pay you for the parts or helping me out." Amber says.
I'm stunned for a few moments as I realize that I might have jumped to conclusions. Not realizing that I'm having a mini freak out going on in my head Amber continues to say, "I was going to ask the guys tonight if everyone wanted to go. I know that Edward will definitely want to go. He's been hooked since I gave him some of their music to listen to. I can go ahead and buy everyone's tickets and we can all go. It'll be my way of saying thank you."
And just like that my heart sinks. Not that I am not happy that I will get to spend time with my mate, but because I was really hoping that this would finally be us taking the next step.
"That does sound like a great idea. I'll make sure to mention it to everyone tomorrow when I see them." I reply with a smile.
"Oh man, it has gotten pretty late. Do you want to spend the night? I would hate for you to fall asleep at the wheel." Amber worriedly asks me.
As a vampire I never sleep and that makes it perfectly safe for me to drive back home, but Amber doesn't know that. So I do what anyone in my situation would do when they're desperate to spend as much time in their mate's presence as possible. I fake a yawn and somewhat tiredly say "I think that would be a good idea. If you're sure, I don't want to put you out." I respond.
Non sense, I insist. We have about an hour left. Why don't you go order us some food, whatever you'd like on me, and by the time it's delivered we should be done. That way we can eat then head to bed. Sound good?" Amber asks.
I love a take charge woman I think as I smile and nod my head and get my cell phone out to order some food.
We ended up ordering some pizza and got the truck finished in record time.
It was almost midnight when we were ready for bed. Amber took me to her room and showed me her closet. "You can borrow anything that you'd like, for tonight or tomorrow. I have to leave for work around 5am so I'll be gone before you wake up. You can stay for as long as you'd like, just make sure that you lock up when you leave. You'll be taking the bed, I'll take the couch. I had a bed in my office, but the last time I had the team over our game of tag got a little too rough and we ended up breaking it along with the window." Amber says with a laugh.
"I don't want to kick you out of your bed." I state. I feel bad that she's giving up her bed to me especially since I don't sleep.
"Trust me it's fine. Goodnight Rose, sleep well. Thanks again for the help. I truly appreciate it." She softly says as she gives me a hug and she kisses my cheek.
I'm too stunned to think little on protest, as I watch her walk out of the bedroom and shutting the door behind her.
I lay down and I am immediately surrounded by my mate's wonderful scent. I could have laid there forever just drowning in her sweet intoxicating scent.
After a few hours of some of the best daydreams that I've ever had I come up with the perfect plan on how to try and move things along with my mate.
Amber's POV
I'm awoken from my sleep by the heavenly smell of food. I look at my watch and I realize that my alarm will be going off any minute.
After I silence my phone's alarm, I follow the smell to the kitchen. That's where I see the most erotic sight that I have ever seen. There with nothing on by my old hockey jersey is the stunning vision that is Rosalie cooking breakfast as her hips sway seductively to the soft music playing on my ipod dock. I can't even begin to describe the feeling of seeing her in my old jersey with my last name printed so boldly on the back.
As I'm lost in my hormonal thoughts I see her stand on her tip toes trying to reach my seasonings on the top shelf.
I'm overwhelmed with the need to cross the kitchen and pull her into my arms. I can see myself coming up behind her and pulling her back into my chest as I kiss her neck with my arms securely around her waist while my lips make a trail towards her lips. Those kisses would end with her on top of that counter as my lips find purchase with any and all available skin. I'm knocked out of my lustful daydreams when I feel delicate fingers trailing over my jaw. I'm assuming that Rosalie is trying to close my mouth. I have to shake my head to get the images out of my head.
"I made you breakfast, so hurry up and get ready so that we can eat." Rosalie tells me.
The only thing that I can manage to do is nod my head as I make my way to my bedroom to get ready for work.
As Rosalie and I eat our breakfast I can't help but think that I could definitely get use to this type of domesticity.
I check my watch and I realize that I have to leave no matter how much I want to stay in this bubble that Rosalie and I have created.
Rosalie notices that it's time for me to leave and after giving me a bag full of food that she made me for lunch she kisses my cheek and tells me to have a great day at work and to call her later.
All I can do I is smile the cheesiest grin and walk to my truck with a spring in my step.
I could definitely get use to that, but I know how dangerous those thoughts can be.
-Line Break-
Alice's POV
Rosalie, Bella, and I are currently in my room as we are all getting ready for the With Confidence Concert.
We can hear Emmett's Jeep pull up to the house as the guys and Amber make their way inside the house.
We head downstairs about 15 minutes later to find our mates in the kitchen. They were drinking and laughing hysterically at Emmett's impression of a spice girl's back up dancer.
I instinctually make my way to Jasper, because mates always gravitate towards one another. Whither they just want to be in the same room or to be physically touching, which is the most common occurrence in most cases.
I can't help but smile when I see Rosalie make her way to Amber, who is sitting on the counter. Rose casually leans on the counter next to her mate as she puts her arm around one of Amber's dangling legs. Thanks to our advanced hearing, we can all hear Amber's heartbeat faster at Rosalie's nearness.
After another half an hour of laughter and several rounds of drinks we all make our way to the family's SUV. Bella volunteered to be the designated driver tonight, because even though vampires have an amazingly high tolerance we can get a decent buzz off of alcohol.
Of course we orchestrated the seating arrangement so that Amber and Rosalie would be alone on the back bench seat, while Emmett, Jasper, I took up the middle bench seat while Edward and Bella were up front. The vehicle was a buzz with excitement for the fun we all knew that the night would hold.
Bella's POV
Tonight has been one of the best nights that we have all had in a long time.
I don't think I've ever seen Edward this carefree. He even joined in on some of the moshing going on during Seaway's set. The girls and I have thoroughly loved watching our mates jump around and do funny dance moves while singing, but it was more like belting out the lyrics. I don't think any of us will forget how much fun they had during the song "Airhead".
I can't wait to see what happens during With Confidence's set.
Amber's POV
This has been such a great show so far. Emmett and I have had so much fun singing and doing some of the most ridiculous dance moves we could come up with. We were even able to get Jasper and Edward to join in.
When With Confidence was playing "Tails" Emmett and I began spinning around like we were dogs chasing our tails. We were getting a few concerned stares from some of the people around us, but we could care less what they thought, because we were having so much fun.
I got a little dizzy and I wound up stumbling into Rosalie who thankfully caught me. Time seemed to stop as we gazed into each other's eyes. It seemed like I spent a lifetime in her eyes. When I snapped out of my trance like state that Rosalie always seems to put me into I realized that the rest of our group had broken up into couples as the band started playing "Spinning". I offered my hand to Rosalie and I was on cloud 9 when she stepped into my arms as she grabbed my hand as we began to dance. I couldn't help but return her smile when the chorus began and I spun her around over and over. I didn't think this night could get any better.
After the song ended the girls offered to get everyone more drinks, which I could really use after all the jumping around we've been doing.
Rosalie's POV
I can't stop swooning over my mate. She is just so amazing. Only Amber would be able to manage and get Edward and Jasper to mellow out enough to dance around and cut loose.
I couldn't help but glance over at my love. As I watched my mate, I saw a girl stumble into Amber and ever the chivalrous one, she made sure that the girl was alright and helped her get her self straightened out.
It took a few minutes for us to get to the front of the line and get our drinks. We were about to head back to our mates when Alice froze with a vision. At our panicked faces she quickly explained that we needed to get back to our mates. We quickly made our way back to where Amber and the rest of my brothers were.
I couldn't help but look Amber over for any obvious injuries or scan the area for any dangers to my mate. Thankfully Amber was too occupied with her drink to notice.
When I came up empty with any threats I looked to Alice for an explanation. Using her vampire speed talking she filled us in on what she saw.
Apparently the girl that I saw bump into Amber earlier has set her sights on my mate. She was going to approach Amber while we were gone and ask her to dance, which would lead to them kissing.
I was equal parts heartbroken and seething. Especially when Alice continued to say that the mystery girl and Amber would have left the concert together. If they would become a couple after their night together was still unclear.
I was beyond emotionally distraught.
Amber's POV
I couldn't help but down my whole drink in one go.
After I toss my cup into the trash I look up to Rosalie and I can't help the huge smile as I held out my hand to her as I asked her for another dance.
What shocked me was the look of what I could only describe as pure distain.
I was so bewildered that I left my hand up in front of me, even after she stormed away from me.
I felt almost empty when she walked away from me. I was so sickened and overwhelmed with what I was feeling in that moment that I didn't even realize that the band had finished and the show was over.
As we made our way out to the vehicle I noticed that Rosalie was already at the SUV. I instinctually reached for the door to open it for her when Bella unlocked the doors, but Rosalie yanked the door out of my hand and almost plowed me over and got into the vehicle. I was in such a stupor that I failed to realize that everyone had already gotten into their seats. That left me with either sitting close to Rosalie, which I didn't think was a good idea while she still had a fire in her eyes, that seemed to be directed towards me. I opted to sit in the passenger seat upfront that way I was as far as I could get from Rosalie.
I spent the whole ride back to my place, where they dropped me off, wondering what I had done to upset Rosalie so much.
I wracked my brain trying to come up with a reason for such a cold shoulder, but I kept coming up empty.
Before I knew it we were pulling up into my driveway.
I turned around in my seat to say goodnight to everyone, and subconsciously hoping that Rosalie wouldn't still be upset. I was crushed to still see a glower aimed at me. I was disheartened to still see a glare when we locked eyes.
With a defeated sigh I bid everyone a goodnight and wished everyone a safe trip home.
Edward's POV
Three days, it took Rosalie three days to calm down enough for anyone to even approach her.
It took another two days for her to realize that she had reacted too harshly towards her mate.
No one could blame Rose, because when it came to a mate emotions and rationality went completely out of the window.
The whole family sat down to talk through all of Rosalie's emotions.
Rosalie's POV
After nearly a week of going over and over what had happened I was finally able to see things more clearly.
It wasn't Amber's fault that people were attracted to her. She just had this way about her that drew everyone in. As a vampire I was use to humans being drawn to us, but I had never seen it so prevalent in a human.
I also couldn't blame Amber for what she might have done, when we aren't even close to dating yet. I sigh as I realize how far off away that first date really is. I feel even worse when I realize that not only have I hurt my mate, but I may have set our relationship back to where it was when we first met.
I took Esme's advice and decided to bite the bullet and go apologize and try and repair my relationship with my mate.
I decided to bake Amber a variety of lemon cookies. After all there's no better way to soften up my mate than through her stomach.
As I make my way through the Sere School I'm a little confused, because I can't smell Amber.
After searching for my mate for over 20 minutes I find Mike in what the Sere Specialist call the cage. It's a huge room with big cubicle like sections fenced in with steel cage like fencing.
When we were getting our tour on the first day visiting the school, they explained to us that each cage belonged to a Sere Specialist to house all of their equipment and a work place to build or fix any of their equipment that they needed to mend. Most of them even had a cot or couch so that they had a place lounge around and wait or to sleep, in case the sleeping room was full for whatever reason.
"Hello Mike, I hope that you are doing well." I greet my mate's best friend.
Mike looks up from his work bench and gives me a smile and says "Oh, hi Rosalie. I've been great, how about you?" as he goes back to his project.
"I'm good, but I was looking for Amber. I made her some cookies. Have you seen her?" I asked.
"Amber's gone." Mike replied.
I'm frozen as I can only repeat what Mike had said in my head. How can she be gone? Did I drive my mate away with my cold attitude? I can't loose my mate before we've even been given a chance to start. I must have taken too long to respond, either that or the haunted look on my face made Mike elaborate.
"Amber got deployed. She was called in yesterday." He explained.
"Yesterday?" I whispered. I had missed my mate by mere hours. And now she could be gone for who knows how long. Oh my gosh she could be in danger at this very minute.
Mike didn't seem to pick up on my inner freak out and he continued to explain. "Yeah, there is a category 4 Hurricane that's going to be hitting Ireland, so a Rescue Unit was sent in before it hits to help with the local authorities search and rescue procedures. It's pretty common for us to be called for any type of natural disaster. Last year Amber and I were gone almost 10 months out of the whole year. It was so crazy, because we would be home for a day or two and then be called right back out for another deployment." Mike explained.
"Do you know when she will be back?" I couldn't help but ask.
"No I don't I'm sorry. I would call and ask Amber if she knew roughly when she will be back, but there is no way to actually get a signal through, because of the storm. Plus there isn't a way of knowing how long they will be needed." Mike clarified.
I gave Mike the cookies since I couldn't give them to my mate, giving them to my mate's best friend was the next best thing. As we said goodbye Mike told me that he would let me know when he gets any more information. I thanked him and headed to my father's office. I knew that I needed the comfort of my father, because I was so close to falling apart. I not only hurt my mate, but now she's gone and I don't know when she'll be back. To make matters worse, Amber is in harms way and she thinks I hate her and I have no way to make ammends.
When I reach Carlisle's office I thankfully don't have to explain anything due to his vampire hearing. He immediately pulls me into his arms as I do the closest thing to sobbing as a vampire could get.
Carlisle's POV
I didn't know what to do for my daughter, so I did the only thing I could and held her closer.
I wished that I would have known that Amber had left, but since I'm only apart of the Clinic I'm not privy to everything that goes on amongst the Sere Specialists.
I want to cry right along with my daughter at the rollercoaster of emotions that I'm feeling.
As I hold Rosalie's shaking form I can only hope that Amber will be safe and back home soon.
