Let's Be Friendly
AN: Omg another update! Thanks for sticking with this story guys, LMK if you're still digging it!
Bella had been extremely nervous for Rosalie's visit, but thankfully the morning had consisted of easy chatter and the completion of actual homework. Noon came quickly and before Bella knew it she was signing her release papers and trying to dress herself in her room's bathroom. She was currently fighting a losing battle with the jeans she'd worn to school yesterday as she hadn't bothered calling Charlie for a new set of clothes, leaving her to maneuver around the restrictive material all with a broken arm. With a pride shattering thought, Bella quickly came to the realization that it was possible that she would need Rosalie's help. What made matters worse is that Bella could very clearly hear a small chuckle from behind the door every time she bumped her elbow and knocked her knee, and she could already picture Rosalie's smug smile on the other side of the door.
Of course, Rosalie had graciously offered to help Bella get dressed, they were friends after all; Rosalie being particularly insistent on the friend part. Bella, to her own credit, had quickly shut that down because she was fairly certain she could not live through the embarrassment of THE Rosalie Hale seeing her so vulnerable, but also Bella wasn't fucking stupid and Rosalie Hale was a living goddess. So no, Bella was currently choosing to wage war against denim than have Rosalie that close to her in such an intimate state of undress, no matter how much of a friendly spin Rosalie put on it. Sure they were friends, very new friends at that, but Bella had always been aware of her attraction toward Rosalie, so best not to cross any lines.
Suddenly, to her horror, the door to the bathroom was opening and without hesitation Bella threw her body against it so it snapped shut loudly. Her heart beat so loudly in her ears that she couldn't hear anything else for a few seconds...then she could hear it as clear as day; Rosalie full on belly laughing at Bella's expense.
Bella blushed furiously. "Are you fucking serious?!"
"Oh Bella! You are truly too cute!" Rosalie continued to laugh, though it sounded far more controlled now. "Do you really think I was just going to barge in?" , more laughter, then, "I was just going to ask if perhaps you wanted the spare pair of gym clothes I keep in my car. They're clean. I got them while you were off in Narnia there."
Now Bella truly felt foolish, of course Rosalie wasn't going to just barge in on her, what was she thinking? "Shit..." Bella cursed her life in a whisper. "Ah yeah, Rose, that sounds great. Thanks." Bella hurriedly and awkwardly accepted the clothes through a crack in the door.
"It's no trouble, Bella."
The clothes were a soft pair of white joggers that fit Bella well, even if they were a tad long, and an equally white cashmere button up with oversized sleeves. Bella didn't dare put it on because she wasn't dense, this was not something someone wore to the gym, it felt expensive, far more expensive than a pair of joggers. She opened the door and walked out to confront her friend.
"You do not wear cashmere to the gym!" She accused after finally meeting Rosalie's eyes as the door swung fully open.
Rosalie stood there leaning against the edge of the hospital bed as though she had been waiting for Bella to come out that way all along. She smirked at Bella, and damn it if it wasn't equally as infuriating as it was hot.
"You might be surprised by what I wear to the gym, Bella." There was a pregnant pause where Bella didn't know what to do as she was struggling to figure out if she had actually heard a flirty undertone to Rosalie's words or if it was just her imagination. "However, you are right that I haven't worn that sweater to the gym, but it was in my car and the sleeves are big enough that they'll easily go over your cast." Rosalie continued, seemingly oblivious to Bella's internal self interrogation.
Bella looked down to her hands as she held the sweater. "Are you sure? What if it gets stretched out?" Bella looked up then, shyly. "It's a nice sweater."
Rosalie smiled as though Bella had just handed her keys to a golden kingdom. "I'm glad you think so. It happens to be a favorite of mine, now put it on. I don't care if it gets stretched." Bella obediently obliged even as she rolled her eyes. Rosalie was right, the sleeves were just big enough to go around the cast of her left arm, and God was it soft.
"I was right."
Bella's eyes sprung back up to find Rosalie analyzing her body with a critical, but approving eye. "What are you supposed to be right about now?" Bella couldn't help but challenge.
Rosalie answered her with a clearly satisfied smirk. "Many things, Bella, many things."
Golden eyes were flat out daring Bella, but for what? A challenge? A smart remark? Agreeance? Bella narrowed her eyes, not wanting to back down but also not knowing how else to react. Rosalie seemed to be further enthralled by her reaction however as the blonde took a step and closed the distance between them, her hands buttoning the sweater closed. Bella's heart skipped a beat as a tension built in the air.
When she finished Rosalie moved away with a wink and started gathering the rest of their things. Bella was grateful for the break in eye contact as she was finally able to fill her lungs with much needed oxygen. Her heart was truly out of control as it hammered against her ribs and she was sure that she was blushing as red as a tomato, but damn it if Bella didn't feel high. Having Rosalie that close to her, with that intense look in her eyes had sent a rush through Bella like she'd never felt before. Her hands shook with adrenaline as she tried to reign her body back in. Bella couldn't be friends with Rosalie if her mind exploded everytime Rosalie got within breathing distance.
Bella closed her eyes and took a deep breath, thankful when Rosalie's back was still turned toward her. "All packed up?" Bella asked as her voice found her again, and she took a few steps around the bed so that she was in front of Rosalie.
Rosalie smiled charmingly back, making Bella's heart do that little flip thing again. "All packed." Rosalie confirmed as she held both their book bags. Bella reached for hers only to have Rosalie literally slap her hand away and move from her reach.
"I am perfectly capable of carrying my backpack, Rosalie!" Bella complained as she marched after the blonde who led them from the room and into the hall.
Rosalie's smirk never wavered as she looked back at Bella, her shining blonde hair falling over her shoulder. "Of course, you're beautifully capable." Rosalie countered making Bella stutter and trip after her.
"R-Rose!"
"B-Bella!" Rosalie mocked with a laugh. She had stopped to wait for the elevator and so Bella finally stood next to her. "I want to carry it for you, are you really going to deny a Goddess, Bella?"
Bella finally stopped fighting the smile that threatened to encompass her face, and blushed as she looked at her friend. Then she rolled her eyes with a dramatic sigh and very dryly said, "What a world it is when a mere mortal shall have a goddess worship them instead."
Rosalie bumped her shoulder as the elevator door dinged open and they started to step through. "What a world indeed."
The world had shifted and Bella found herself caught up in a different type of gravitational pull as she breathed in the new atmosphere around her. The small lavender room in Charlie's house was electrically charged as it provided the two giggling young women with a protective place to let down their guards and truly start to know one another. Bella rested her back against her headboard, her legs crossed in front of her as Rosalie laid on her side across the foot of the bed as though she'd done it a thousand times before. Bella was not used to having people in her private space and she had been hesitant when Rosalie had asked if she wanted to hangout more after they'd grabbed a bit to eat, but now that Rosalie was here it was like she was always supposed to be here.
It didn't even matter that Rosalie was currently trashing one of Bella's favorite musicals turned movies. Bella was just honestly happy, and it'd been awhile since she could say that.
"The whole premise of the movie was that Sophie wanted to find out who her father was and that part of the story is never resolved."
Bella ignored Rosalie's laugh and her smirking eyes as she gave the blonde an outraged look. "That was not the point of the movie! Oh my God Rosalie, the whole point of the movie was about self discovery and taking a chance on not only yourself but love! Sophie was searching to find herself, not a dad. Harry was able to admit he was gay. Bill finally took a chance in a committed relationship and to top it off Donna and Sam were able to finally take a chance on each other! Not to mention it's set to the best soundtrack ever!"
Rosalie was nodding seriously as Bella made her argument and as Bella finished she watched as Rosalie made a show of thinking over what Bella had said. "ABBA is an awful band though."
Bella shot forward, eyes wide and mouth agape with surprise. "You're shitting me." They stared at each other in silence but Rosalie was the first to break her mouth twisted up into a devious smirk cluing Bella in that yes, Rosalie was indeed shitting her. "You jerk!" Bella grabbed a pillow from next to her and chucked it at Rosalie.
The blonde easily caught it and put it behind her head, making a show of turning on her back and getting even more comfortable in Bella's bed. "If you change your mind, I'm the first in line." Bella watched in awe as Rosalie started lightly singing the lyrics. "Honey, I'm still free. Take a chance on me. If you need me, let me know, I'm gonna be around. If you've got no place to go, if you're feeling down."
Bella sighed, her heart too full in her chest that she felt heavy under its weight. Was there anything Rosalie couldn't do? Bella was having a hard time reigning in her crush, so instead of facing Rosalie, Bella laid herself down on the bed so that her head rested next to Rosalie's and her feet were at the headboard. "I didn't know you could sing." Bella whispered. "That's possibly my favorite scene in the movie."
"Mine too...Bill and I have a few things in common when it comes to our fear of love." Bella didn't look but she would swear that she could hear the sad smile in Rosalie's words as she spoke.
Bella hummed. She could understand that, but while her parents had taught her many things about love, fear wasn't one of them. The moment hadn't turned heavy with Rosalie's confession instead it seemed to further lessen the gravity holding Bella steady and so she found herself giving her own little admittance about her views on the subject.
"I-'' Bella started, stopped and then started again. "I think love is rare, not everyone gets to find it, not everyone gets to feel it but I also think that it can find you and save you when you need it most. My parents, well they're not so good at the parent part, and I spent most of my life feeling unwanted, but I had one person who loved me, and remembering how my grandpa loved me reminds me that it's not me who is unlovable, it's them that are incapable of loving. Remembering that and remembering him saves me all the time."
Bella took a deep breath as her secret was given voice and lingered around the room. Then there was a small shuffling sound next to her, Bella peaks and sees that Rosalie has brought her hand up to lay next to Bella's head, her hand open and fingers awaiting Bella's. The simple gesture of connection is enough to break and reset a long earned hurt deep inside of Bella and though her fingers shake, Bella holds Rosalie's hand like the lifeline it is. Neither speak for a moment as they both stare at the ceiling, comfortable enough to be able to sit with their own thoughts as they lay there holding hands.
The sudden slam of the front door had them both springing up straight as Bella looked on in terror towards her closed door. "Fuck! Charlie's home." Bella dropped Rosalie's hand and stood, pacing in front of her bedroom door until she spun to face a concerned Rosalie.
"I don't understand, Bella."
Bella could see the concern and the suspicion in Rosalie's eyes, and she wanted to reassure her friend but she didn't have time. "I know you don't and I'll explain I promise, just please Rosalie, please stay here until I come back, please? I'll explain everything once I deal with Charlie. Please."
It unnerved Bella to be begging but she'd do anything to keep Rosalie from seeing what was currently going on downstairs. Finally Rosalie crossed her arms and sighed. "I don't make any promises if I hear shouting."
Deciding that it was the best she was gonna get out of the blonde, Bella reached forward and touched Rosalie's elbow softly and tried to give her friend the best 'it's okay' look she could muster. "There won't be any shouting. I'll be right back."
Bella hurriedly shuffled out her door and closed it quickly behind her as the sound of shattering glass could be heard from the kitchen. Bella groaned and ran down the hall to the stairs, taking them down two at a time. When she finally skidded around the corner she could see Charlie standing in the middle of the kitchen. The lights were still off downstairs and the sun had started to set so Bella flipped the switch and watched tiredly as Charlie blinked in confusion as he looked at her.
"Thoughts yous were in the hospital." He slurred, his boots crunching over the broken glass carelessly as he reached for another glass from the open cabinet.
"I was released this morning." Bella answered as she leant against the doorway.
Charlie filled his glass with water from the sink and gulped down half of it before he spoke. "Good thing that Jackson boy didn't get hurt too, Forks ain't got a shot against the Paladins if he's not quarterbacking. No uses in both of yous getting hurt."
Bella scoffed under her breath, the dude's name was Jason, Charlie probably had money on the game and he couldn't even get the star player's name right. "Why don't you head on up, I'll clean this up." Charlie nodded and walked past her, his cup gripped drunkenly to his chest. She stood there listening as he made his way up to his room and when he slammed his door shut Bella sighed and got to work. She wasn't wearing shoes, but if she was careful it should be an easy clean up. Bella reached for the broom only to gasp in shock as an alabaster hand shot forward and snatched it from her grasp.
Bella whirled around to find Rosalie already sweeping up the mess on the floor. "I told you to wait in my room!" Bella pointed an accusing finger toward Rosalie.
Rosalie looked up at Bella as she crouched down to sweep the glass into the dust pan. "I told you no promises."
Bella scoffed. "Only if there was shouting, clearly there was no shouting."
Rosalie shrugged as she deposited the shattered glass into the garbage can then quickly tucked the broom and dustpan back into their spots. "Does that happen often?"
Bella took an involuntary step back at Rosalie's question, instinctively she wanted to brush it off, downplay it but as Rosalie just watched her with concerned eyes Bella found her guard once again dropping for Rosalie.
"Charlie's a functioning drunk and has a gambling habit, sometimes he comes home and drops a glass or bumps into the furniture, but he leaves me alone. If anything he's just a really bad roommate." Bella tries to change the mood by giving a little smile with her bad joke, that only seemed to pain Rosalie though.
The blonde pinches the bridge of her nose and steps forward until there is virtually no space between Bella and herself. "I don't do well with trusting the behaviors of a drunk man, so promise me that if anything changes, if one day Charlie starts acting like more than a bad roommate, you will call me. Promise me that, Bella Swan."
Bella breathed out a shuddering breath as she watched a dark shadow cross behind Rosalie's now dark gold eyes. There was something in those eyes that spoke of a known danger, some kind of scar from Rosalie's past. Bella nodded, taking a deep breath as Rosalie pulled her in for a crushing hug.
"I promise, Rose. I promise."