Ch 6: Selective Disclosure

Bella.

Waking the next morning I stretched and yawned. Alice must not have slept well again as she was curled up on the small couch by the window. Slipping from the bed I tiptoed stealthily across the room to the bathroom.

Face washed and teeth brushed, I headed downstairs to start some breakfast. It was the least I could do since Alice had taken care of me yesterday. I rubbed the back of my head which was tender from Jacob grabbing me.

Leah hardly ever came to my house but since yesterday I decided it would be best if she and I got together off the Res. I couldn't bear the thought of going up there again. It was stupid of me to assume that Jacob had grown up and was no longer the crazy boy with stalker tendencies. I couldn't tell my dad either. He didn't know I went up there.

Alice came down as I finished pulling the last of the waffles from the griddle. We ate in silence. I could tell Alice didn't sleep well. After breakfast we went back upstairs.
I tired to phone Rose. Nothing. I didn't tell Alice I tried. After she showered she was good as new. How she washed off the circles of restlessness that shadowed her eyes over breakfast is beyond me. Must be pixie magic, I grinned inwardly.

We spent the day in Alice's room. Well, she spent most of her time in the closet and I sat on the bed and dodged the clothing that was being flung in every which direction. Alice, of course, was searching for the perfect outfit to wear on her date tonight with Jasper. I had my laptop on and was reading through all the junk mail that plagued my email and Alice pranced about the room occasionally asking for my opinion.

At some point I gave up on the junk mail and turned to reading the book I had brought with me, Wuthering Heights. By four in the afternoon Alice had showered again and was working on her hair. I don't know why she was so meticulous with each black, curly lock. Alice looked great naturally but she was really into making every detail of her features precise. Emphasizing this and downplaying that. 'Like Alice had anything to hide,' I rolled my eyes and giggled.

By 5:45 Alice was ready. We had moved to the den downstairs and were watching tv waiting for Jasper to arrive. He arrived promptly at six. With a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek Alice promised to call if she was going to be later than ten and away she went. I found the spot Alice had slept in quite comfortable so I grabbed my book and headed over to the loveseat by the window.

I must dozed off, though I don't remember doing it. I woke to the sound of my cell phone ringing across the room in my bag. Scrabbling, I jumped off the couch before I got my bearing. Tripping on the carpet I landed on all fours. OUCH! That hurt!, I rubbed my knees as I stood back up.

My phone had stopped ringing and I had a message but I knew it was Alice so I skipped the message and dialed her back.

"Bella!" she rushed answering on the first ring. "I only have a minute. I'm in the bathroom at and I have to get back out there but you will never guess who is here!" She paused but not long enough for me to answer, "Rose!" she half whispered. I could hear voices in the background and I assumed the bathroom was no longer occupied by just her.

"I haven't spoken to her. She is with Emmett and I don't think she has seen me. They just arrived. She obviously feels well enough to be out and about with him but is too busy to call us. I'm so mad I could just blow up! Jasper is wonderful and I am NOT going to let her ruin my evening," she continued. "I am so mad at her right now! I have to go. Is everything okay there?"

After letting her know everything was fine I hung up the phone and she set off to rejoin her date.

Rose had some nerve. What the hell had gotten into her? How could she be perfectly fine sitting in a restaurant with her current boy toy after the scene just two days ago? How could she do me and Alice that way? What a bitch. Alice and Rose and everybody knew Rose had her 'bitch' moments but this was too much. I grabbed my purse and headed for the truck. The bitch had better still be there when I get there, I thought. I had questions and only she could answer them.

It was almost an hour drive to Port Angeles and my truck did pretty good on the road once it was up to speed. I usually didn't take it this far from home. I should have borrowed Alice's car. I located the restaurant Jasper had taken Alice to, the Twilight Grill and Bar, and parked my truck about a block away. I would have parked closer but this beast was big and I really suck at parallel parking and I certainly wasn't going to use the valet parking available at the front doors.

As I locked my truck and turned to walk toward the Twilight Grill, I saw Rose and Emmett exiting the restaurant. I was too far away to catch their faces and I couldn't get her attention without making a complete spectacle of myself. They were already getting into the big, black SUV that was waiting for them. I turned back to my truck and started it up. Looking down the block they were just leaving the valet parking. I pulled the truck out of its spot and headed in the direction they were going.

I was growing angrier by the second. This was no way to treat your friends, especially Alice. I think I was more mad on Alice's behalf than I was my own.

The SUV had pulled up in front of a small apartment building. It was only four floors and had a modest brick exterior. There were a few juniper shrubs for hedges that were neatly manicured and the trim on the metal railing going up the steps looked freshly painted. There was a sign that read 'Vista Apartments' next to the brass numbers sunk in brickwork next to the entrance.

I was getting frustrated looking for a place to park. I didn't want to park in front of the building with this big monster of a truck, I really didn't see any spots I could squeeze into there anyway. I pulled in an alley half a block down. This would have to do.
When I got to the front of the building, I was set back when I saw it was a secure entrance and I would need someone to 'buzz' me in. Then, I noticed the door was slightly ajar. Maybe this was my lucky night. Yeah right, Bella, I laughed at the thought, Luck and I don't belong in the same sentence.

I slipped into the foyer and right away I noticed a row of mail boxes hanging on the wall to the left. There were only eight of them so if they were marked correctly it wouldn't be too hard to figure out where I needed go. If this building had been any bigger or if someone had shut the door properly, I would have been screwed.
Quickly scanning the names I found two possibilities. The writing on the name tags was partially faded. I located an E. McCarty on the third floor. There was another name Wessel but I couldn't make out if it was a B or E for the first name, on the first floor.

Figuring the first floor was a good place to start, I quickly located the two apartment doors. There were only two apartments on each floor so this was easy.

I rang the doorbell of apartment 1-B and waited. A moment later a woman opened the door. She had big brown eyes and really long, brown hair that seemed as if it were laced with gold. I hate my flat dull hair. I would definitely like it more if I had her color. Her friendly face smiled at me, "Can I help you?"

I was obviously at the wrong door and I quickly apologized for bothering her. She seemed preoccupied with the bouncing baby girl at her feet. How sweet, I thought, as I watched the young girl cling to her mother's leg. She had the same gorgeous color of hair as her mother maybe a touch lighter, but definitely the same golden radiance. She didn't seem upset in the least but I really hadn't meant to disturb her.

I started the climb up the stairs to the third floor. The closer I got the more anxious I became. I was here to confront Rose but I wasn't the sort to go knocking on doors. I don't know what motivated me to come here in the first place. I started second guessing myself. Reaching the third floor I decided if I was going to turn back this was the last chance I had. Once I rang the doorbell, there would be no going back.

Standing in front of 3-A, I raised my hand and pushed the button. For a moment, I thought no one was going to answer. Then, on the other side of the door I heard voices. They were hushed and I couldn't hear what was being said but there was definitely someone here.

I heard the lock release on the inside and the door swung open. Emmett stood before me looking confused.

"I'm here to see Rose," I looked him straight in the eyes.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea," he said looking straight back at me as if he were sizing me up.

If he thought that he was going to deter me from this mission, he was dead wrong. "I'm not leaving until I speak to her," I crossed my arms.

Emmett shifted his weight from one foot to the other. If he didn't want me to see Rose physically there was no way I could run him over. He was so tall his head almost touched the top of the door frame. He was so broad I couldn't see a thing in the room behind him.

"Let her in," I heard Rose's unusually small voice coming from somewhere behind him. I looked up at him triumphantly. He may not want me in there but I was coming in whether he liked it or not.

I slipped past Emmett as he turned his body slightly to the side granting me passage. Rose sat on a black leather couch. She looked slightly tired. She didn't seem upset to see me here either but I proceeded cautiously. Rose was a spit fire and her mood could turn on a dime.

I stood in front of her with incredulous eyes. All the effort I went through to get here and I didn't know where to start. I had a ton of questions but all I could do was stare at her. I suddenly wished I had waited until Alice could have joined me. She was going to go nuts on me when she finds out about this.

Rose's downcast eyes finally moved to meet my glare. "Emmett?" she never broke eye contact with me, "Can we get a few minutes alone?"

"Rosie, I'm not sure that's a good idea tight now," I heard him objected behind me.
Whipping around, I took two solids steps towards him. "Look, I don't know what you are trying to pull keeping Rose captive here. I don't know why you don't want me to see her. I don't care if you stay or if you leave but I'm not going anywhere until I get some answers." I was immensely proud of being able to get those words out without stumbling or biting my lips. I was not going to let this big oaf jack me around.

"It will be alright, Em," Rose spoke assuredly from the couch. He glanced at her and then back to me, still standing in front of him with my hands on my hips.

"I'll be at Eddie's," he looked at her and then back to me again adding, "If you need me I won't be far." And with that he left closing the door behind him.

Still at a loss for words I sat on the matching smaller couch adjacent to the one Rose was occupying. The room was somewhat formal but comfortable. I had a hard time believing this was Emmett's place, no single man decorated like this and it wasn't Rose's style either. The walls were covered in a pale sage color. The carpet was cream. A large, black area rug with green accents covered most of the floor. Simple end tables matched the rectangular coffee table, the glass tops polished and gleaming. There was even a vase filled with fresh flowers sitting atop a small table near the door.

I sat in silence and took it all in. "So, do you want to start?" I looked at Rose.
Rose shifted in her seat uncomfortably and answered my question with one of her own, "Start with what Bella?"

She honestly sounded as if she had no clue what I meant. I angrily snatched up the small green cylinder throw pillow that had rolled over to rest on my thigh when I sat down. "This is bull shit Rose," I didn't raise my voice. "You disappeared. You won't return our calls. We had no idea what happened to you until Alice saw you tonight out on a date with the same guy who sent you into a fit so bad you had to be rescued from the school. Rescued by us," I emphasized the word 'us'. "Don't sit there and pretend you don't know what I'm talking about. You're being a bitch and I want to know why. I'm not leaving until you tell me the truth."

Rose's face showed no emotion. She was working very hard at hiding something from me and I could tell she was carefully choosing her words which was very un-Rose-like. As I gave her a few minutes to organize her thoughts I noticed her face softening. Then I saw her eyes moisten and she looked at me with the most pitiful expression. I almost felt sorry for her.

"I'm sorry I haven't returned your calls," she mumbled. I raised my eyebrows waiting for her to continue. "I am a shitty friend. I should have sent a message."

This was getting us no where. She was only stating what I already knew. I rolled my eyes at her. "C'mon Rose." If this was the best she could do then I was ready to leave. Friend ship is a two way street and if she wasn't even willing to get in the damn 'car' we sure as hell weren't going to 'meet in the middle of the road'.

Drawing a deep breath she went on, "I was here at Em's and I saw-" she cut herself off. After a pause she went on, correcting herself, "I found something that didn't belong to Emmett but I thought it did."

This was making no sense. Rose didn't seem to be continuing and I was getting impatient. "Seriously, that's all you've got? That's the best you can come up with?" my voice elevated. I stood up. Id had enough of this bullshit. Rose was fine and she obviously didn't care whether we knew she was okay or not.

I took Rose's silence as her answer.

"Forget it," I muttered. "I never should have come here. The next time you need a friend you might want to think about calling someone other than me or Alice." I stormed to the door and flung it open. Before I could step in the hall, I was greeted by a tall woman who seemed to appear from out of no where.

"Hello, I'm Esme," she said smiling at me as if she had known me my whole life. I looked at her confused and glanced back over my shoulder at Rose who sat still as could be staring at the two of us. "Maybe we should move inside," the woman who introduced herself as Esme suggested.

Could this get any weirder? I wondered. Stepping backwards into the apartment Esme followed. I heard the door shut click shut and at this point I was completely lost. I stared at the floor.

"Bella, is it? " Esme looked at me still smiling. She was a pretty woman possibly in her late 30's or early 40's. She wore black slacks and heels with a dark blue silk wrap style shirt. Her hair was a deep chestnut and every wave lay perfectly in place. "I think maybe I can help if you don't mind the intrusion."

I shrugged my shoulders and sat back on the couch, this time in the spot nearest the door.

"Bella, Rose should have called you but she has been dealing with some issues that proved to be quite a lot for her to handle. She has been here with us and we have been helping her deal with things." Esme looked in my direction and I nodded for her to continue. I really wished Alice were here right now.

"Rose discovered some personal items that she believed belonged to Emmett. That was not the case. Rose, of course, was very upset and she left before Emmett could set things right. You saw her the next morning and she was holding together fine with what misinformation she had."

I looked at Esme confused. "Wha-."

"Let me finish, dear," Esme cut me off gently. "Emmett made a very poor choice when he decided he was going to approach Rose at school about it. She wouldn't talk to him and he thought he was losing her." Esme flashed her kind eyes in Rose's direction. "Commitment can be hard and I think this is something Rose struggles with."

Esme seemed to know Rose and that puzzled me. Rose didn't get close to many people. As far as I knew it was just me and Alice. How Esme knew about Rose's personal issues was another mystery. I looked at Rose who was staring at her hands neatly folded in her lap. She must have felt me looking because she lifted her head and half smiled at me.

"Rose?" I still had so many questions. Rose nodded her head in agreement with what Esme had said.

"I- ..Emmett and I have been getting serious. He has actually asked me to move in with him after graduation," Rose made her first attempt to join the conversation. "When I found out-" she cut herself off again. "When I had mistaken someone's property for Emmett's I assumed the worst. Its so personal Bella, I cant share it and I know you must think me an awful friend but I don't know what I would do without you and Alice. I'm so sorry, Bella. I freaked out and I didn't know what to do. I did everything wrong. If I hadn't freaked out in the first place none of this would have happened. I really fucked up Bella and I don't know how to make it right."

From across the room I could make out tears forming in Rose's eyes. I seriously could not watch her cry again. Watching her cry the first time was agonizing enough and now she was apologizing too! Make that two things Rose doesn't do that I have witnessed her doing in the last week.

I crossed the room and Rose stood up to meet me. We wrapped our arms around each other in an embrace shared by two best friends who had almost lost each other. Rose had started to cry and I was glad I couldn't see her face. She was taller than me by several inches but we managed. We stood there for a few minutes, me stroking Roses hair and Rose sniffling on my shoulder.

I heard Esme clear her throat softly behind us. Rose and I reluctantly let go of each other and exchanged smiles. Everything was going to be alright. I still had questions but I was pretty sure that would all come in time.

Something crashed upstairs and Rose and I both startled. Esme smiled at both of us, "I should be going. It was nice meeting you, Bella," and she was gone. I was still smiling at Rose and I didn't see her leave, all I heard was the click of the door. I felt bad I didn't get to tell her thank you or say good bye in return but she gave me no opportunity to do so.

There was another crash upstairs, this time I heard the distinct sound of glass breaking. I looked at Rose and she bit her lip. "So, do you forgive me?" she asked. "I know I put you and Alice through a lot of needless worry. I should have called and by not calling I was a lousy friend. There is a lot I want to share with you but… but I can't. They aren't my secrets to share." She looked honestly upset as the words flew from her mouth.

Secrets? Unknowingly she piqued my interest. "You will have to speak to Alice, I can't speak for her," I paused when another thump came from upstairs. I looked at Rose questioningly motioning with my eyes toward the ceiling, I hoped whoever was up there didn't make racket like that through the night, that would have driven me crazy.

"Who is Esme?" I ask once we had both settled next to each other on the couch.

Rose again looked thoughtful as if being selective with her wording. "She is Emmett's friend's mom. She helped Emmett straighten things out with me. Edward wasn't much help I guess and just kept telling Em things that kept making things worse, so she intervened." She looked at me, a flash of unsettling fear flashed in her eyes.
"Edward?" I had no idea who she was talking about.

Rose's face paled a bit but before she could say anything another loud crash came from upstairs, this time with a lot of muffled yelling. It sounded like Emmett.

"Rose, what in the hell is going on upstairs?" She shrugged and looked at me. It had quieted down again so I let it be.

"You have to call Alice, you know, she is out with Jasper tonight. She has been really worried about you."

"How about I come by tomorrow then," Rose looked at me as if she were seeking permission.

"It's not like she is going to mind," I offered her in response. Rose nodded.

The silence in the room was getting awkward but I was sure that this would change in time. Rose was still acting strange and I certainly hadn't had all my questions answered but it was getting late. I had the long drive back to Forks yet and my truck wasn't so reliable I was sure I wouldn't get stranded. I'd prefer it wasn't in the dead of night.

After an awkward goodbye and promises to see each other the following day, I headed home.

Edward.

She was here, downstairs. I could smell her. I could hear her heart beating. 'Closer.'
Emmett didn't know. No one knew.

Emmett stood helpless in the middle of the room as I smashed the oversized mirror that covered the living room wall. He shook his head when I grabbed a lamp and embedded it in the wall opposite me. He didn't try to intervene until I attacked the coffee table shredding it with my razor sharp nails.

'Closer.'

I couldn't make it stop, the demon inside me willing me to go to her. When he began to yell it just made things worse. Here, in my home, was a mere human who cared for me way more than he should. Weak and mortal, why he bothered with me at all made no sense. Humans were like that. Often they made no sense at all. When he first saw me for what I was he wasn't afraid. That's not the typical reaction from a human when they have witnessed the raw power of a vampire in action. He was the closest thing I had to a best friend.

'Closer,' the beast raged.

I could hear them talking downstairs. I could hear Rose doing her best to think about what she was saying before she said it. One mortal mistake at this point would mean certain death for them all. I cursed myself, I had put not only my friend Emmett in danger, but have managed to drag into the situation his girlfriend and Bella as well.

Bella. I had no idea the night I saved Emmett's life that it would lead her straight to me. I, Edward Cullen, the blood sucker. It's not nearly as romantic as the stupid humans made it out to be.

I had saved her once. What kind of fate did this poor girl have when destiny seemed to lead her straight to the most deadly predator to walk the earth? A monster who was locked in an epic battle for control over the demon that controlled him. I was torn between protecting her and robbing her of the red honey that flowed effortlessly in her veins.

Strawberries were thick in the room even though she had never been here. If I could not control myself I would be the death of them all. I tried not to think about how things would have been had Esme not shown up when she did. If anything went wrong, it would be my fault.

'Closer.'

I knew Esme could handle what was happening down stairs. I had to get out of here. I went right through the thin pane of glass that served as the only barrier between me and the night. I moved so quickly I think I scared Emmett but not as much as I used to. He was about as used to me as he was going to get, I supposed.

Landing on the street I quickly checked my surroundings to make sure my fast appearance had gone unnoticed by any unsuspecting passers by. Walking away from the apartment, I noticed the familiar red truck parked in the alley.

Her smell grew stronger the closer I came to the heap of scrap metal this girl used for transportation. She really needed a new car, I smirked. She had locked the driver's door but the passenger side was open. Not very smart either, I noted sourly. Human are so forgetful and careless.

I glanced around the cab not seeing anything of interest. There was an old coffee cup from The Coffee Shop, the only place to grab a fancy coffee and bagel in that speck of a town. Neither of which interested me. Human food was tasted like dirt. I had watched Bella stop there quite a few times though.

I grabbed a t-shirt that had been stuffed behind the seat, apparently forgotten about. It reeked of strawberries and I buried my face in it, inhaling deeply. An involuntary growl erupted from my chest. I could smell the marijuana on her clothing but it didn't bother me. Nothing could ruin the scent of Bella for me, even the time she had smoked herself into oblivion, falling asleep in the meadow behind her house. When I smelled her then, there was nothing to deny the fact that she was the sweetest thing that had ever smelled. Nothing in all my decades had even come close.

'Closer.'

I could hear her heart beat and feet as they hit the ground which was a good thing considering I still couldn't read her thoughts. She was on her way back. Not wanting to be caught standing there I closed the door to the sorry excuse of an automobile.

Clutching the strawberry saturated shirt in my hand, I leapt to the roof and waited.
It wasn't long before she came around the corner and coaxed the archaic truck to life. It was all I could do not to follow her as the taillights disappeared around the corner. I needed to go back and see Esme and Emmett and deal with the damage I had done.

After that I would head to Forks. Only to make sure she arrived safely, I told myself. I knew it was useless to deny it, my motives weren't entirely unselfish.

'Closer.'

_____


AN:

Sooooo, I brought Rose back. I never said she would be the same. I didn't say she wouldn't either.

I keep telling myself to take a break, that I cant keep pumping out a chapter a day. So far, Edward is showing far more discipline than I have. Will update most likely again tomorrow or day after if I can force myself to slow down ~

As always I enjoy the feedback.

Lots of Love to my Readers

Stephenie Meyer owns everything Twilight.