Gifted

Chapter 8: Contact

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. Please read and review, if you've gotta moment. Enjoy!

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Rosalie couldn't understand how things could become so mucked up in just a couple of hours. She was a vampire for god's sake. Unless it had something to do with your mate, vampires rarely felt so...confused by the mundane events that sent humans into frenzies. Rosalie couldn't name all of her emotions-another first-but there was one she did recognize...righteous anger. Who the fuck was this girl who dared do this to her and Edward? None of them have seen her face, yet she's already introduced chaos into their family. Rosalie growled to herself. She hadn't felt such anger in a long time, and one glance from Esme had both worried about Rosalie's control at that very moment.

"Maybe you should stay in the car," Esme said, staring pointedly at her.

She sighed but it came out more like a hiss. She sighed again, this time deliberately slow. "No," she said firmly. "I need the distraction. I'll be fine."

"Rose..." Esme looked uncertain.

This time Rosalie softened her facial features, trying her best to calm herself down. "I'm Ok. Really."

Esme nodded. "If you feel like you can't handle it, RUN back to the car."

Rosalie nodded back, aware that if she ran anywhere within sight of a human, they'd have a lot more things to discuss at home than one stupid girl.

They walked into the store. Esme had done this thousands of times, and knew the routine well. She picked up a cart and started the counter-clockwise dance around the foul-smelling place.

"Ugh," Rosalie crinkled her nose as she whispered for only Esme to hear. "How do you stand it?"

Esme chuckled, though she too had a crinkle all over her usually flawless face that suggested disgust. "You get used to it after a few thousand times."

"Ugh," Rosalie said again. "I'm going to go to the deli. I can stomach that a little better than this," she pointed to the rows of vegetables.

Esme frowned. "Are you sure?"

"Please!" Rosalie whispered, almost indignantly. "These humans smell nearly as foul as their produce."

Esme allowed herself a small grin. "All right, but please sweetheart be careful."

Rosalie smiled a real smile for the first time that evening. "I will. You too," she added unnecessarily. Esme wasn't as good as Carlisle when it came to resisting the temptations, but because she was so determined and tried so damn hard, she was much less likely than any of them to make a mistake. She put herself through the torture of places like this on a daily basis because her heart couldn't stand the thought of hurting others, even humans.

As she walked to the back of the store, Rosalie found herself thanking whatever vampires were supposed to pray to for belonging to such a wonderful coven, no, family. She wouldn't wish it on anyone, but given no other choice she knew that Esme and Carlisle were the best possible "parents" anyone could ask for.

Her spirits slightly raised, she wandered at a frustrating human speed towards the deli...when everything suddenly came crashing down.

She had rounded the corner when she caught the scent, and so when she stopped dead in her tracks she had a perfect view, at last, of their mystery girl.

She was of average height, shorter than Rosalie but much taller than Alice. Of course, almost everyone was taller than Alice. She was skinny, almost too skinny but not quite. Her arms and legs she could see, even through her plain, worn jeans and long-sleeved shirt, had a healthy definition and tone (for a human) to them. Her shoes looked like something to wear in the outdoors, and they were obviously well-worn. Rosalie held her breath the second she sensed her, but she decided to chance a whiff-wow! If Edward were here he'd kill half the people in the store in his blood lust. It was...heavenly, but she sighed in relief when she found herself able to regain control. I'm stronger than Edward, she smirked. She was just about to congratulate herself when the girl turned to look in another direction and Rosalie saw her face. Shit, she thought.