perennial - rosalie hale of twilight

Chapter 5

"I heard her name today a few times around school," Edythe said, eyeing me. "But I did not think it was a big deal. People have the same last names all the time, but then, Edward heard it, too. He told me Lillian is your middle name. So that's when it got complicated. We also heard your name in her head at lunch. And we saw pictures of you in an old photo album. There was even a framed photo. She kept calling you Aunt Rosalie in her head or at least saying you look a lot like her great aunt Rosalie. She was very confused."

   "It's you, Rose," Edward said. "This girl must be a descendant from your family. She was named after you. And they have pictures of you when you were human." He pursed his lips.

   "Has she said anything about this to anyone at school?" Jasper asked.

   "Not that we know of," Edward said, turning to him. "Edythe and I checked and listened as much as we could. She's been asking a few subtle questions about Rose and the rest of us. She's been told the same cover story that everyone in town knows."

   "She was surprised to hear about you, Jasper," Edythe said. "But she didn't say it loud; she tried to remember if they had pictures of you or if you were ever mentioned by her grandfather. But of course, she couldn't find anything, as you aren't really related."

   "Right. Has she told any of her family members?" Jasper asked.

   "No," Edward answered.

   "Or she just wasn't thinking about it when you two were listening, so we can't be sure," Alice suggested, speaking for the first time.

   "Possibly," Jasper mumbled.

   "So, what do we do?" Emmett asked.

   "We can take her down," I muttered. I noticed I haven't spoken nor moved.

   Everyone stared at me in disbelief, except Jasper who looked as if he was expecting it. Suddenly, Esme was at my side. She had probably heard the conversation from her study.

   "Rose," Esme spoke softly, touching my arm.

   "I—I won't bite her. I can take care of it without a single drop of blood, not even a scratch."

   "We know you can," Edward hissed. "But is it really the best idea?"

   "Oh, please, don't act like you're a saint, Edward." I whined. "I have a cleaner record—"

   "I know you do," he said matter-of-factly. "I'm not trying to compare records. I'm just saying she's your relative, Rose, and she has not caused us harm."

   "Not yet. What about our secret? She's human, Edward. She can't know about us. Obviously, this girl knows me. I look exactly like her great aunt because I am her great aunt. I've been carrying the same name since I was born!" I cried. "Soon enough she'll be figuring things out or she'll be asking too many questions. Of course, her great aunt Rosalie could still be alive, but she should be ninety—old and wrinkly by now—and look at me!" I exclaimed. "She's probably trying to solve this mystery right now. We can't risk this. Who knows what she'll find out about me? About our family? What will she say to other people? Even if we move to a new place, we can't be certain our secret would be safe with her of her family."

   "Technically, they're your family," Edythe murmured.

   "The treaty applies to her, Rosalie," Edward reminded me.

   "Would the wolves even know it was us?" I said.

   "I'm with Rosalie on this one," Jasper shrugged.

   "It would be a piece of cake," Emmett mumbled.

   Alice pursed her lips.

   "We can move out of Forks," Esme suggested calmly. "We can always come back in a few decades."