Chapter 45 - - I Don't See Me in Your Eyes Anymore

Edward's POV

These last few weeks have been taxing to say the least. Time seems to have stopped. The shock and devastation that Amber left in her wake has put the family into such an upheaval.

Things for the family have not been okay since we left Alaska.

It took weeks for us to coax Rosalie out of her dismayed state.

What little hope that we all had that this was all just a huge misunderstanding between Amber and Rosalie was shattered with Carslie's return from the Schoolhouse.

We had all thought that it was another natural disaster that had pulled Amber away and hearing about the massive earthquake in Sweden we thought without question that that certainly was where Amber was.

Carslie was informed that no Amber wasn't sent away on an emergency or on a deployment somewhere, she was on leave. So instead of being away working she was on vacation leave. It angered all of us to hear about Amber out having fun on personal leave while Rosalie was crumbling right in front of our eyes.

My brothers and I decided to take action and try and distract our sister. Which leads us to walking out of the auto parts store a couple thousand dollars lighter. We settled on a new project for Rose to lose herself in. The new project should be arriving tomorrow morning.

Unfortunately I didn't notice Amber and Mike until it was too late.

I could hear the thoughts of my brothers and Rosalie as we all witnessed the truth with our own eyes.

For Amber was indeed out having fun while Rose was devastated and her heart was shattering.

Amber's POV

There hasn't been more than a handful of times that I could say that I was ever truly shocked, but this had to be at the top of the list.

Finally seeing seeing Rose after being separated for so long had my body starting to move without me realizing.

My body, heart, and soul were desperate to seek out the type of peace and solace that was so hard for me to find. I had managed to find sanctuary inside the arms of the keeper of my heart and that is where my worn down body and soul desperately wanted to be.

When I looked into Rosalie's eyes, it wasn't what I saw, but what I didn't see that had my heart stopping.

Where I usually saw love and tenderness I could only now see coldness and unadulterated contempt.

What chilled me to me core was the lack of anything when she started at me.

I could usually see life and passion that filled me with visions of our life together. I could see our future through the reflection in her eyes, but now? My soul was breaking, because I couldn't see what I use to when I looked into Rosalie's eyes. And worst of all I couldn't see me in her eyes anymore.

Jasper's POV

Feeling everyone's shock and emotional turmoil had me in an agitated state.

Feeling Rosalie's pure and unadulterated fear at Amber's approach had me acting on instinct. I stepped forward and slammed my hand into Amber's shoulder halting her in place.

At Amber's questioning look I stated in a cold even voice, "That's far enough."

Amber's emotions almost had me believe that she was actually worried about Rosalie. We already knew the truth though and we saw it with our own eyes. Amber was laughing and having a lively ole time.

Mike's POV

I'm almost positive that Amber will have a bruised shoulder after being practically stiff armed by Jasper.

Looking at Edward and Emmett's faces I could see the same type of protective anger. Emmett's hostile look is something I never thought I would be on the receiving end of.

I had never heard Emmett sound so menacing as when his deep voice aggressively said, "I thought Rosalie made things clear to you. She doesn't want to see you. Can't you respect her wishes? Or do i have clarify things for you?" As he cracked his knuckles.

I don't think I had ever felt so terrified in my life, and I've been in combat.

I glanced at Amber and to everyone else it would look like she had a stone cold emotionless mask on, but I knew the truth. Amber had always been able to remain stoic and to hold her emotions in check and keep that blank face for the outside world. I'm pretty sure that it came from having to overcome such loss and tragedy in her life.

I felt Amber's pain, because it felt like I had lost an extended family too, again, within weeks of each other.

Amber barely was able to get the words "No, I understand. I'm sorry." out without her voice cracking.

As the Cullen's ushered Rosalie away it didn't miss our notice how the Cullen boys all seemed to be shaking their heads in disappointment as they passed us.

We watched them until they left our eyesight when they turned the corner. It took a full 3 minuets after that for me to find my words. As I look into my sister's eyes I could see them start to water as she held the tears at bay.

I put my arm around Amber's shoulders as I asked,

"So, is it a drinking night tonight? Try and forget for a few hours?"

Amber is slow to respond as she continues to stare long after where the Cullen's disappeared to around the corner.

Finally she says, "No, tomorrow morning I have to cover for Gonzalez out in the field. I owe him for when he helped me fix that issue I had with my computer a few months back."

We shared a look that was beyond words. We both knew that this will be a hard one to get over, but we will get over it. We will survive it by doing what we always do. By relying on each other.

As we made our way back to my truck we leaned on each other, just like we always do.

Amber's POV

It had been a long four days. Being fully immersed with work helped with everything. I not only was still dealing with the death of my grandparents but this new loss. Rosalie….. what more could I say?

I think what hurts the most was being so close. Finally being so close to finding what I thought was my other half, the rest of my life. Hell it still feels like my soul is reaching out to her, pulling me towards what I thought would be my forever.

To make matters worse I lost friends…my family. All in one fellow swoop.

…No. It's not going down like this. I've never just given up and rolled over and played dead and I sure as hell will not be starting now!

It's with that determination that I make my way to the SERE Clinic to try and get answers.