Rose (Book IV) | Rosalie Hale

8 | Besties for the Rest In Peacies

8 | Besties for the Rest In Peacies

♡━━━♡━━━♡

Willow leaned back into Rosalie's arms with hers wrapped around Monday's shoulders. She waited patiently, all cleaned up from her crying fit, as Bella and Edward made their way from the dance floor and toward their car.

She wondered how Bella felt. If this was what she wanted. If this is truly everything that mattered in her life. Willow couldn't judge her. She'd give up her life to be with Rosalie in that way, but Willow knew it didn't matter what she wanted anymore. The ball was in Rosalie's court, and now she had to wait and see if her mate really meant she'd let her die before turning her into a vampire.

This beautiful being behind her was everything she needed. Everything she wanted in a stunning woman, wise with age and skilled with practice, Willow couldn't imagine her life without those golden honey eyes and perfectly snow fallen hair.

Willow would choose a fate worse than death if it meant she could take her last breath from Rosalie's lips—turned or not. She wanted to die looking into her eyes and feeling the love Rosalie gave her.

She wondered if Maverick felt that way, or if everything she felt for him was nursed by the natural lycan order. Sloane was sweet. A nice mate to Rebecca and a kind older sister figure when she needed someone other than her vampire-obsessed sister.

As the couple came down the driveway, Willow watched Bella stop and hug their mother first. She took careful breaths, closing her eyes and reopening them again to see her sister talking to her father, time passing by quickly.

Before she knew it, Bella was making her way toward her with a small, teary smile.

"G-Go say bye to Aunt Bella." Willow whispered in her son's ear, pushing the sleepy boy forward and watching him rush to hug his aunt.

Bella squeezed him tighter than she had in a long time. Not since they returned from Arizona. She whispered a few words in his ear and gave him a big smile, thanking him for being such the perfect flower boy.

Then it was her turn. Willow gulped as Rosalie unraveled her arms and picked up Monday before he could fall asleep into Alice's side. She stood there and let Bella close the distance, repeating to herself she'd be fine as an only child if things went south.

The red rims around the swan sisters' eyes were noticeable even in the amble lighting. They stared at each other in silence, awkwardly giving the other a watery smile.

"I'll love you forever, Will." Bella finally spoke, her voice wavered.

"God—" Willow groaned as Bella dove forward and hugged her tight, locking her arms at her sides. "I've always hated you."

"Shut up." Bella cried, leaning her head into her little sister's as Willow finally hugged her around the waist. "I love you. Alright? Don't you be dumb and forget that."

"Okay." Willow's voice cracked. She closed her eyes and whimpered when Bella's chest sputtered out a small weep of remorse. She felt like she was the one dying, not Bella.

"Don't forget to turn the stove on low when you make mac n cheese." Bella blubbered, pulling back and holding her sister's shoulders. "I left my hairbrush in the upper cabinet for you—the one you always steal. And stop washing your pillows every month. You're ruining the pillow. Put a towel down before sleeping in your acne paste."

"You're an embarrassment!" Willow hissed, groaning as Bella kissed her cheek.

She pouted when the girl let go and stepped back. Her heart tightened, lip quivering.

"Hey, Bells?"

"Hm?" Bella's soft eyes waited for her sister to speak.

"Don't forget me." Willow whispered.

The last image Willow wanted of her sister was this—pink cheeks, red rimmed eyes, messy hair filled with rice, and eyes filled with pure unimaginable joy. At least if she'd lose her sister to a man with an icy wiener, she'd get to enjoy a moment where Bella looked so perfectly human first.

"Forget you?" Bella chuckled, reaching out and shoving Willow lightly. "I couldn't ever forget my best friend, Lily. I'll see you."

Willow rolled her eyes. She hadn't heard Bella call her Lily in years. 

And with that, Bella turned and joined Edward at the car. She shared a kiss with her husband and climbed into the vehicle, not daring to look back at her family until she was already inside.

"See you." Willow whispered, that painfully numb feeling returning.

She felt a wave of calmness wash over her. Her eyes searched around until she found Jasper's caring smile beside her, his arm falling onto her shoulders. Willow leaned into his chest and fought the tears swimming at her lashes when she noticed her mother and father sharing a short hug as their daughter drove away into bliss with her new husband.

They had no idea Bella would die in a few days. Two weeks and her big sister would be a name on a tombstone, possibly eating a bear or being eaten by Edward. She wouldn't know until Rosalie broke the news to her. If she'd ever tell her the truth about her sister's passing.

Willow felt her tears fall, but the emotional of it all blurred between Jasper's ability to make it bearable. She felt another large wave of relief, then a third, leaving her numb to it all as she stared at the red headlights disappearing in the distance.

A loud, sorrow-filled howl made Willow's ears twitch, and for once, she didn't think of Jacob as a whiny teenage brat. No, she understood he was just as heartbroken as her, watching Bella walk away into a world they might not have the strength to follow.

♡━━━♡━━━♡