26A/N: OMG! I am so so so so so sorry! I feel absolutely positively horrible! Please forgive me! I was revising for exams at school and I was Beta 'ing a fic for my friend.
Anyways, thank you to everyone who reviewed/alerted/favourites! It means so much to me!
Another chapter of this will be up later or tomorrow.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own twilight! I do own anything I make up though!
Enjoy...
Everyone turned around to face me.
I inhaled sharply and gritted my teeth. "What?"
Alice glanced from Edward, to me, then back to him again.
Don't worry, Edward. I won't kill you...
His shoulders slumped a bit in relief.
...yet.
"So, you're still coming?" Esme asked.
"Yes. Why wouldn't I be?" I asked.
"Because of Bella..." Emmett trailed off.
I sighed and chuckled darkly.
"It's nice to know that you all support me. I'm really feeling the love!" I said sarcastically.
Esme walked over to me and enveloped me in her arms. She pulled away and smiled at me.
"We know you wouldn't hurt Bella, Rose," she said.
"Well, let's get going!" Carlisle announced.
We all walked outside and jumped over the lake except for Edward. He went to get Bella in Emmett's Jeep.
When we arrived at the clearing, I spied a cluster of rocks near to the surrounding forest and sat down on them. Esme and Emmett sat beside me.
"Rose..." Emmett began.
"Don't worry, Emmett. I'll try."
"No." He said sternly.
I gaped at him. It was rare that he ever raised his voice.
His face twisted and he gripped my hands.
"You'll do more than try. Bella means everything to Edward."
I grimaced.
"Rosalie. Please?" Esme pleaded.
"Fine." I was irritated, so when I answered it was a retort. Esme wrapped her arms around me.
I heard a high-pitched squeal and a series of loud giggles. Then I heard a sound like a cat eating a pencil sharpener.
Bella and Edward strolled into the meadow; hands entwined, and made their way over to us.
Bella had a look of pure bliss on her face and Edward was smiling lovingly at her. She blushed and a delicious red colour spread across her cheeks. Edward laughed.
It hurt to see him like that. Yes, it was good he had finally found a soul mate and deep down – very deep down – I was happy for him. It was just, I couldn't make him happy. I was angry that a mere human could do that and not me.
I stalked off across the field, hoping Emmett would follow me. He didn't.
"Was that you we heard, Edward?" Esme asked him.
"It sounded like a bear choking," Emmett clarified.
I looked at the clearing. Alice and Jasper were throwing a ball back and forth between themselves. Carlisle was setting out bases.
Edward snorted.
"Alright, everyone! Batter up!" Carlisle shouted from across the pitch.
I grabbed the bat and Alice took her position at the pitcher's mound.
Carlisle and Jasper stood behind me and Esme and Bella sat umpiring on a log at the west end of the pitch.
Alice nodded to me and sent the ball flying towards me. I struck the ball with the bat exactly the same time as a bolt of lightning boomed in the distance.
I flung the bat down and sprinted around the first and second bases. Edward was nowhere to be seen, but Alice was standing there with a little smirk on her face.
I raced to third base and was heading to fourth when I heard Edward enter the clearing.
I dived forward and found Bella standing over me with the ball clasped in her hands.
"You're out," she whispered.
I heard Emmett whoop from the other side of the pitch.
I hissed quietly and scowled at Bella. Her eyes widened in surprise. She looked terrified.
I stood and ran over to Jasper. Carlisle took his turn at batting and Jasper and I started to juggle the bats.
Jasper took his place and hit the ball with a deafening CRACK! He ran around the bases and almost got a home-run, but he stopped halfway and ran to Alice.
"STOP!" she yelled, her voice carrying extremely far for such a small person.
We all ran over and stood around her in a circle.
Alice's eyes were black and haunted looking.
Edward ran to Bella and ordered her to get her hair down.
"What's happening?" I asked.
Alice came out of her vision.
"There are three of them. Vampires. Two males and a female. They aren't thirsty...I can't see the outcome. Why can't I see?" she explained, frustration dominating her expression.
"It's alright Alice," I comforted her. "It's not your job to be able to see everything."
"Rosalie is right," Edward agreed.
Suddenly, the smell of human blood hit me. At least they weren't thirsty.
Edward tried to lead Bella away from the clearing.
"Edward, stop! Don't leave. She'll be fine as long as the wind stays calm. If you take her away, they'll just trace her scent," I warned.
His face twisted and he brought Bella back over to our huddle.
"Alright everyone. Don't attack unless necessary," Carlisle said.
The sound of footfalls made us turn around.
There were three, just like Alice said. The female had wild red hair and was dressed in very little. Her clothes were in tatters and she had her face buried in the crook of the blond man's neck.
He had standard ivory skin and penetrating crimson eyes and was dressed in a denim outfit. The other male had a chalky olive pallor and the same red gaze. He stood slightly in front of the other two.
I wondered why they would give us such a clear indication of who was the leader. It put them to a disadvantage because then we could kill him easier.
"Hello, I am Laurent," the olive skinned man greeted us. "And this is Victoria and James. We were leaving, but we heard you playing and decided to investigate. Could you use three more players?"
"Hello. I am Carlisle and this is my family. I'm afraid your hunting activities have caused a bit of a mess for us," he said.
"We are sorry. We didn't realize the territory had been claimed."
Yeah, right.
"A few of us were just leaving. You could take their places." Carlisle nodded.
Edward gripped Bella's arm.
Multiple things happened at once. The wind picked up and blew Bella's scent around us, James sniffed the air and then he crouched down into an offensive position.
Edward hissed and jumped in front of Bella.
"I think it would be best if you left," Carlisle said.
James stood up and put his arm around Victoria.
Edward ran to the Jeep and shoved Bella inside. I heard the tyres squeal in protest before racing down the embankment and out of sight.
Laurent's coven left quickly. The rest of us raced home.
When we arrived, Laurent was there. Emmett prepared to attack but Laurent told us about James.
"I think I'll head to that clan in Denali. I'm so sorry, Cullens," he said.
Edward came bursting in the door and growled when he saw Laurent. Edward crouched protectively in front of a terrified looking Bella.
Carlisle put his hand up to silence him. Edward nodded and Laurent hurried away.
We all followed Carlisle into the garage. I sat on the countertop and watched everyone.
"Rosalie, Esme, I need you to put on Bella's clothes. Hopefully we can confuse the tracker-"Edward started.
"Why? What is she to me? All she is a little science experiment that you'll get bored with and leave!" I cut him off.
Lots of different emotions were whirling around my head.
"Bella is a human being with feelings! You'll leave her and then what? She loves you Edward. Properly loves you!"
Everyone gaped at me.
"What? Is it wrong that I am relating this situation to my past? I am sick of men using women!"
Emmett's burly arms snaked around my waist. He held me close and I buried my face in his chest. If I were able to cry, I would be bawling.
"Rosalie..." Jasper said, holding out Bella's coat.
I took it and slipped it on.
Bella coughed. I had forgotten she was in the room. How embarrassing!
"Alright, everyone. Edward, Emmett and I are the hunting party. Jasper and Alice can drive Bella south. Rosalie and Esme can lead the tracker away and keep an eye on the woman." Carlisle announced.
I flew to Emmett's side and kissed him hungrily.
I pulled away and murmured, "Emmett Dale McCarty Cullen, you will always and forever be in my mind, heart and soul. I love you always."
"I love you too, Rosalie. Stay safe."
"I will."