CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
the aftermath

Everything changed after the kiss.

Rosalie felt human again. She felt perfect. Young. Free. This is what her life would have been like if she'd never been turned- living every moment like it was her last, kissing pretty girls like there was no prejudice and loving like there was no need for restraint. It was just for the summer, she had to remind herself, but it was a summer she'd remember for the rest of her eternal life.

"Rosalie!" The call came from outside of the house. The excited look on her sister's left Rosalie worried before she sprinted down the stairs and stepped out onto the wide veranda to find Violet sitting in her truck with the window down. For once, she was early. Rose was surprised she'd been able to find the house. "Miss Rosalie Hale, your carriage awaits."

Alice stepped out behind her and Violet seemed to shrink back into her seat. She sniffed the air, sensing the warmth of her blood, exaggerated by her blush. Rosalie left her sister by the door, hopping down the steps to lean into the Jeep through the window.

"I'm sorry, I didn't think your family would be here."

"This is their house, where else would they be," Rose said, arms folded against the door ledge, face leaning dangerously close to hers.

"Shut up."

"Come meet them."

She could practically feel Alice's excitement. From up in his room with Bella, there was no doubt that Edward would wince against the loudness of her thoughts.

"Meet them?"

"You don't have a choice," she said, opening the door and almost dragging Violet from the truck. "Alice has already decided it's happening."

She could hear the rising patter of her heart. She's nervous, Rosalie realised. Briefly, she wondered if Bella had been the same when she had met the family. But that had been different. Bella had known it all, had met them with the idea of continuance. This was different.

As Violet stepped up to stand in front of Alice by the door, Rosalie tried to control herself first. Her thoughts and her expressions. They all knew already, of course. She had done a poor job at hiding her feelings for Violet Green.

"Hi, I'm Alice," her sister chimed. Rosalie could see the slight inhale of her nose as Violet stretched out her hand to shake. Alice ignored her and wrapped her in a hug. "You smell good."

Violet flushed, gave a glance to Rose that had her smiling, and said, "thank you. It's nice to finally meet you, Alice."

"Finally, I know," Alice said as she took her by the arm and steered her into the house. "I was beginning to think we'd have to wait the whole summer before we could meet you, but then Rose says you're going to college, so that would never work either."

Rosalie could hear the pointedness in her sister's voice. She was unimpressed and Rose knew exactly what at. The lack of time she would get with Violet annoyed Alice almost as much as it did Rosalie. But this was the way.

The Cullens' home was beautiful, with walls made of glass wrapping around to create a panoramic view of the forest beyond. It almost looked like a painting, hiding behind a transparent cover, blooming with vibrant greens. Rosalie had said her home was big, but she'd never thought it would be like this.

Her family was waiting in the kitchen, gathered together sweetly around a spotless island, a single plate of food resting in the middle. She could smell the cake before she even reached the end of the corridor. Violet could recognise most of the Cullens. Alice stood by the door now, smiling at her gently, beckoning her in.

"Violet! We made lemon cake. Rose says it's your favourite," Emmett said, flashing his usual wide and white grin.

In that moment, Violet thought of Celia, of what she would make of the events. But then her eyes flashed towards Rosalie, who stood sheepishly in the corner, watching the scene unfold.

"I hope it's to your liking," the woman by the counter said. Her face was kind, smiling, young.

"It looks wonderful, thank you."

Violet took the plate that was handed to her as Rose came to stand close to her side. Emmett grabbed a piece of the cake.

"Let me introduce you to everyone," Rose said, her hand slipping to sit in Violet's back pocket.

"That might be helpful."

"Those are my parents, Esme and Carlisle," she said, pointing to the oldest looking people, who stood by the kitchen counter.

Carlisle smiled and stepped forward to shake her hand. His face was fair, his hair a pale blonde, much like Rosalie's. He was a doctor, she knew. A favourite of the local hospital. Esme was just as smiley, taking her in for a warm hug. Her perfume was decorative and overpowering, but Violet found it comforting.

"It's lovely to meet you, Violet," Esme said, then Carlisle added, "we want you to know you're welcome here any time."

"Thank you," Violet said.

Before she could say anything else, her attention was taken by the figures on the stairs.

"That's Emmett and Jasper," Rosalie said, pointing to the two boys by the windows. Violet knew of them all well enough. They'd shared a school ever since the Cullens had come to Forks. "And you know Bella and Edward."

Bella finally stopped at the bottom of the stairs, smiling, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. It had been weeks since she'd last seen her. Edward stood at her back, a hand on her side.

"Hi Violet."

Rosalie shifted at her back and Violet glanced up to see her looking at her brother.

"We need to get going. It'll be dark by the time we hit the road at this rate," she said.

"Just say you're desperate to leave us, Rosie, my feeling can take it," Emmett said. He slung an arm around her shoulders and leaned against her. Somehow, Rose was able to keep him upright.

"Get off me Emmett," Rose said, rolling her eyes. "Is it a crime that I'm excited to leave? I want to be ready to stop by dark."

"You'll remember to call us when you get to your destination, won't you?"

"Of course I will."

"My dad won't let me forget either."

"Good man," Carlisle said, holding out a hand to shake. Violet took it quickly, smiling. Something in the gesture felt like validation.

"Have a good time girls," Esme said. "It'll be a trip you won't forget."

Violet settled easily into the front seat of the Jeep. The truck already felt comfortable, as if she'd been born driving it. As she took to the road, Rosalie in the passenger seat and with the bags strewn in the back, the green of the trees soon turned into a darkening blue sky and an endless sea. The coastal drive would soon end but Violet drank the sight of La Push in for as long as she could.

Rosalie flicked on the radio, switching to the CD that was stuck in the insert. The voice of Stevie Nicks flooded the truck, drifting from the windows, mingling with the salt of the air. Rose's face was hard to read, pulled over in a mask. Her head was pulled flat against the rest, avoiding the glare of the sun completely. But when their eyes met, Rosalie couldn't help the smile that stretched across her face.

"Why so serious?" Violet said, eyes flicking from the road to watch Rose shuffle in her seat. "You're thinking so loud I can almost hear you."

"Sorry," she said. Her face was hidden by the blonde of her hair, falling down like golden silk. Violet had to force her eyes to focus back on the road. "You met my family and now we're on our way to Alaska."

Violet could feel the weight of the other girl's stare.

Things had been different since the kiss. More intense, more intimate. It was all she could think of at times. It made her feel light. Meeting her family had only been another step. A step that seemed to big for all they'd promised. Rosalie seemed to think the same.

"All I can think about is kissing you."

"Can you wait until the border stop?"

"That long?" Rosalie said, a groan in her voice that left Violet laughing out. "Hm, you'll torture me by making me wait. But I'd wait forever for you."

There was a danger and the danger was to fall in love. 

Stevie's voice was calm and serene, bathing her as sweetly as the sun against her face. Violet fought the blush and lost but embraced it. Rosalie have her a heat she hasn't known before, a feeling that she craved endlessly. It was a struggle to keep her foot pressed against the accelerator rather than the break, to keep them ploughing forward rather than swerving to a ditch so she could do exactly what Rosalie was describing.

But they continued forward, starting their summer.

Not sure how I like this one but this is the start of the fluff! I'm actually so bad at writing anything that isn't slow burn and angst so this is my best try haha! Hope you enjoy x