Hopeless Devotion ~ A Jasper Hale Story

Chapter Two ~ Alice's Vision

"Eat rainbow shell, sucker!" Emmett bellowed from the couch.

My kart spun off the track and exploded into digital flames. "That's the fifth time in a row! Are you cheating?"

Emmett grinned, leaning back like a smug mountain of chaos. "I'm just naturally gifted."

I narrowed my eyes. "Rematch. And this time, no mercy."

"You said that last time." He tossed me a controller.

We dove into another round, trash talk escalating until Rosalie entered, arms crossed but amused. "Are you two trying to break the TV?"

Emmett didn't even look up. "Only her spirit."

"Don't listen to him," I said. "He's afraid of what happens when I figure out the drift controls."

Rosalie arched a perfectly sculpted brow. "While you two test your hand-eye coordination, Tiffany, I was thinking... spa day?"

I blinked. "Seriously?"

She gave me that half-smile she saved for when she actually liked someone. "You've had a long week. Everyone is at School or Work. It's girl time."

I gave Emmett a dramatic bow. "I forfeit. Your ego's safe... for now."

He fist-pumped as I followed Rosalie upstairs to the sprawling bathroom that looked like it belonged in a Vogue spread — marble, gold fixtures, rows of fancy little bottles.

Within fifteen minutes, I had my feet soaking in lavender something, a face mask tight across my skin, and rose gold polish going on my toes.

"This feels illegal," I said, exhaling.

Rosalie smirked. "Luxury's not a crime."

"Charlie would disagree."

That got an actual laugh out of her — rare, warm, and kind of beautiful.

"I was surprised when you said yes," I admitted, peeking at her through cucumber slices.

"To the spa thing?"

"Yeah. I didn't think I was... Rosalie-approved."

Her hands stilled, just for a second. "You're not what I expected," she said finally. "But that's not a bad thing."

I swallowed. "Is this the part where you warn me off the family?"

She shook her head, dipping the brush into polish again. "No. I think you've already made your choice."

Silence stretched a bit, gentle and lavender-scented.

Then she said, quietly, "Do you want to know why I was against Bella... becoming one of us?"

I blinked. The sudden shift caught me off guard. "Yeah. If you want to tell me."

She nodded once. "I don't hate her. I envy her. Because she gets to choose."

I slowly sat up, mask half cracking. Rosalie's eyes stayed on her work, but her voice deepened — quieter, almost distant.

"I didn't choose this," she said. "Carlisle found me... dying. I didn't ask to be saved. I was engaged. I had dreams that didn't involve immortality. And the man I thought I loved — he and his friends..."

She didn't have to finish. The way her mouth tightened said it all.

My stomach turned. "Rosalie..."

"I got revenge," she said flatly. "I killed them all. And I didn't even use my teeth."