Snow On The Beach

Chapter Fifteen

Roslyn's apartment was empty when she crawled in through her bedroom window. She had taken her time driving home, not wanting to think too hard about anything at all. That hadn't stopped her traitorous mind from trying, though. Even her favorite mixtape blasting through the speakers loud enough to make her ears bleed hadn't been enough to silence her thoughts.

She was a wreck.

Everyone could see it, too. Raya hadn't even been speaking to her, but she had been the one to call Dean. Raya, who was dealing with losing Koda, too, had pulled herself together to help her friend and Roslyn hadn't been able to do anything. Even dragging herself out of the state and halfway across the country hadn't been enough to distract her from her grief. 

Roslyn went through the motions as she walked through her apartment. Start the coffee machine. Turn on the lamps scattered throughout the living room. Put in a Bowie cassette. She didn't realize she was crying until her tears fell, staining one of her favorite photos as she picked it up from the ground.

It was her and Koda at the beach a year ago. Raya had taken it and the entire thing was blurry thanks to her laughing the entire time. Koda had Roslyn thrown over his shoulder and was rushing towards the ocean. They had spend a dreary weekend in the Redwoods and Koda had convinced Roslyn to go to the beach. She'd gotten an itching sunburn in return, but the photo had been worth it.

Koda had been worth it. 

Roslyn took a deep breath, the beeping of the coffee machine startling her out of her stupor. The familiar scent of coffee enveloped Roslyn and, for the first time since Phoenix, she felt her mind go still. Quiet. 

"Alright, Roslyn," she tapped her fingers against her thigh. "You're a big girl. You can do this."

She had showered, changed, and was outside the Cullen's house within the hour, only Jasper and Alice waiting for her this time. Alice her her arms around Roslyn before the mustang's door had even slammed shut and Roslyn gratefully returned the embrace.

"Thank god, you're not dead," Alice whispered in Roslyn's ear.

Roslyn held her at arm's length, giving her a smirk that barely concealed the sorrow in her violet eyes. "Not yet, but I gave it my best shot."

Jasper's drawl met her ears next. "No, you didn't. But who's to say you still won't try?"

Roslyn chewed on her lip, debating how best to respond. Finally, all she could think of was, "Was it really that bad?"

Jasper and Alice shared a look that Roslyn couldn't read, but she knew it wasn't anything good. After a moment's deliberation, Jasper answered.

"Yeah, rebel, it was."

Roslyn nodded, looking anywhere but at her friends. "Raya called Dean. I kind of went off the rails out there."

"Well, I may not know how to kill them, but you showed me enough about finding demons to know that there's going to be a couple passing through the coast tonight." Alice supplied, her soft voice sounding hopeful. "Jasper and I could go on a hunt with you. If you want."

Roslyn smiled at her friends,throwing her arms over their shoulders. "I don't need you two getting a taste for demon blood, but thanks for the offer."

Jasper nudged her with his elbow. "We'll be waiting here when you're done, then."

"What would I do without you two?" Roslyn asked as they entered the house, immediately going to the living room and falling onto the couch.

"You'd probably die, but that's not something I want to dwell on."

a/n

well, it's short, but i'm back, baby! you can't get rid of me that easily. don't worry, there will be more to come, but i wanted to get this one out despite it's disappointing length. nanowrimo was insane and an absolute failure. i was back and forth between school and home too much to actually focus on anything and seasonal depression hit me like a truck, but we're good now. i've only got one final left and then it's just work and the holidays, the latter of which disappoints me more than the former. 

anyway, here's to a more fulfilling december with plenty of creative outlets.

xxx le perry