t the shocked tone of my voice, and then she sighed.

Did Edward ever tell you what led to this? she asked, gesturing to her glorious immortal body.

I nodded slowly, suddenly somber. He said it was close to what happened to me that time in Port
Angeles, only no one was there to saveyou . I shuddered at the memory.

Is that really all he told you? she asked.

Yes, I said, my voice blank with confusion. Was there more?

She looked up at me and smiled; it was a harsh, bitter  but still stunning  expression.

Yes, she said. There was more.

I waited while she stared out the window. She seemed to be trying to calm herself.

Would you like to hear my story, Bella? It doesnt have a happy ending  but which of ours does? If
we had happy endings, wed all be under gravestones now.

I nodded, though I was frightened by the edge in her voice.

I lived in a different world than you do, Bella. My human world was a much simpler place. It was
nineteen thirty-three. I was eighteen, and I was beautiful. My life was perfect.

She stared out the window at the silver clouds, her expression far away.

 My parents were thoroughly middle class. My father had a stable job in a bank, something I realize
now that he was smug about  he saw his prosperity as a reward for talent and hard work, rather than
acknowledging the luck involved. I took it all for granted then; in my home, it was as if the Great
Depression was only a troublesome rumor. Of course I saw the poor people, the ones who werent as
lucky. My father left me with the impression that theyd brought their troubles on themselves.

 It was my mothers job to keep our house  and myself and my two younger brothers  in spotless
order. It was clear that I was both her first priority and her favorite. I didnt fully understand at the time,
but I was always vaguely aware that my parents werent satisfied with what they had, even if it was so
much more than most. They wanted more. They had social aspirations  social climbers, I suppose you
could call them. My beauty was like a gift to them. They saw so much more potential in it than I did.

 They werent satisfied, butI was. I was thrilled to be me, to be Rosalie Hale. Pleased that mens eyes
watched me everywhere I went, from the year I turned twelve. Delighted that my girlfriends sighed with
envy when they touched my hair. Happy that my mother was proud of me and that my father liked to buy
me pretty dresses.

 I knew what I wanted out of life, and there didnt seem to be any way that I wouldnt get exactly what I
wanted. I wanted to be loved, to be adored. I wanted to have a huge, flowery wedding, where everyone
in town would watch me walk down the aisle on my fathers arm and think I was the most beautiful thing
theyd ever seen. Admiration was like air to me, Bella. I was silly and shallow, but I was content. She
smiled, amused at her own evaluation.

 My parents influence had been such that I also wanted the material things of life. I wanted a big house
with elegant furnishings that someone else would clean and a modern kitchen that someone else would
cook in. As I said, shallow. Young and very shallow. And I didnt see any reason why I wouldnt get
these things.

 There were a few things I wanted that were more meaningful. One thing in particular. My very closest
friend was a girl named Vera. She married young, just seventeen. She married a man my parents would
never have considered for me  a carpenter. A year later she had a son, a beautiful little boy with
dimples and curly black hair. It was the first time Id ever felt truly jealous of anyone else in my entire
life.

 She looked at me with unfathomable eyes. It was a different time. I was the same age as you, but I was
ready for it all. I yearned for my own little baby. I wanted my own house and a husband who would kiss
me when he got home from work  just like Vera. Only I had a very different kind of house in mind. . .
.

 It was hard for me to imagine the world that Rosalie had known. Her story sounded more like a fairy
tale than history to me. With a slight shock, I realized that this was very close to the world that Edward
would have experienced when he was human, the world he had grown up in. I wondered  while
Rosalie sat silent for a moment  if my world seemed as baffling to him as Rosalies did to me?

Rosalie sighed, and when she spoke again her voice was different, the wistfulness gone.

 In Rochester, there was one royal family  the Kings, ironically enough. Royce King owned the bank
my father worked at, and nearly every other really profitable business in town. Thats how his son, Royce
King the Second  her mouth twisted around the name, it came out through her teeth  saw me the
first time. He was going to take over at the bank, and so he began overseeing the different positions. Two
days later, my mother conveniently forgot to send my fathers lunch to work with him. I remember being
confused when she insisted that I wear my white organza and roll my hair up just to run over to the
bank. Rosalie laughed without humor.

 I didnt notice Royce watching me particularly. Everyone watched me. But that night the first of the
roses came. Every night of our courtship, he sent a bouquet of roses to me. My room was always
overflowing with them. It got to the point that I would smell like roses when I left the house.

 Royce was handsome, too. He had lighter hair than I did, and pale blue eyes. He said my eyes were
like violets, and then those started showing up alongside the roses.

 My parents approved  thats putting it mildly. This was everything theyd dreamed of. And Royce
seemed to be everythingId dreamed of. The fairy tale prince, come to make me a princess. Everything I
wanted, yet it was still no more than I expected. We were engaged before Id known him for two
months.

 We didnt spend a great deal of time alone with each other. Royce told me he had many responsibilities
at work, and, when we were together, he liked people to look at us, to see me on his arm. I liked that,
too. There were lots of parties, dancing, and pretty dresses. When you were a King, every door was
open for you, every red carpet rolled out to greet you.
 It wasnt a long engagement. Plans went ahead for the most lavish wedding. It was going to be
everything Id ever wanted. I was completely happy. When I called at Veras, I no longer felt jealous. I
pictured my fair-haired children playing on the huge lawns of the Kings estate, and I pitied her.

 Rosalie broke off suddenly, clenching her teeth together. It pulled me out of her story, and I realized that
the horror was not far off. There would be no happy ending, as shed promised. I wondered if this was
why she had so much more bitterness in her than the rest of them  because shed been within reach of
everything shed wanted when her human life was cut short.

 I was at Veras that night, Rosalie whispered. Her face was smooth as marble, and as hard. Her little
Henry really was adorable, all smiles and dimples  he was just sitting up on his own. Vera walked me
to the door as I was leaving, her baby in her arms and her husband at her side, his arm around her waist.
He kissed her on the cheek when he thought I wasnt looking. That bothered me. When Royce kissed
me, it wasnt quite the same  not so sweet somehow. . . . I shoved that thought aside. Royce was my
prince. Someday, I would be queen.

It was hard to tell in the moonlight, but it looked like her bone white face got paler.

 It was dark in the streets, the lamps already on. I hadnt realized how late it was. She continued to
whisper almost inaudibly. It was cold, too. Very cold for late April. The wedding was only a week
away, and I was worrying about the weather as I hurried home  I can remember that clearly. I
remember every detail about that night. I clung to it so hard . . . in the beginning. I thought of nothing else.
And so I remember this, when so many pleasant memories have faded away completely. . . .

She sighed, and began whispering again. Yes, I was worrying about the weather. . . . I didnt want to
have to move the wedding indoors. . . .

 I was a few streets from my house when I heard them. A cluster of men under a broken streetlamp,
laughing too loud. Drunk. I wished Id called my father to escort me home, but the way was so short, it
seemed silly. And then he called my name.

Rose! he yelled, and the others laughed stupidly.

 I hadnt realized the drunks were so well dressed. It was Royce and some of his friends, sons of other
rich men.

 Heres my Rose! Royce shouted, laughing with them, sounding just as stupid. Youre late. Were
cold, youve kept us waiting so long.

 Id never seen him drink before. A toast, now and then, at a party. Hed told me he didnt like
champagne. I hadnt realized that he preferred something much stronger.

He had a new friend  the friend of a friend, come up from Atlanta.

 What did I tell you, John, Royce crowed, grabbing my arm and pulling me closer. Isnt she lovelier
than all your Georgia peaches?

 The man named John was dark-haired and suntanned. He looked me over like I was a horse he was
buying.

Its hard to tell, he drawled slowly. Shes all covered up.
They laughed, Royce like the rest.

Suddenly, Royce ripped my jacket from my shoulders  it was a gift from him  popping the brass
buttons off. They scattered all over the street.

Show him what you look like, Rose! He laughed again and then he tore my hat out of my hair. The
pins wrenched my hair from the roots, and I cried out in pain. They seemed to enjoy that  the sound of
my pain. . . .

Rosalie looked at me suddenly, as if shed forgotten I was there. I was sure my face was as white as
hers. Unless it was green.

 I wont make you listen to the rest, she said quietly. They left me in the street, still laughing as they
stumbled away. They thought I was dead. They were teasing Royce that he would have to find a new
bride. He laughed and said hed have to learn some patience first.

 I waited in the road to die. It was cold, though there was so much pain that I was surprised it bothered
me. It started to snow, and I wondered why I wasnt dying. I was impatient for death to come, to end
the pain. It was taking so long. . . .

 Carlisle found me then. Hed smelled the blood, and come to investigate. I remember being vaguely
irritated as he worked over me, trying to save my life. Id never liked Dr. Cullen or his wife and her
brother  as Edward pretended to be then. It had upset me that they were all more beautiful than I was,
especially that the men were. But they didnt mingle in society, so Id only seen them once or twice.

 I thought Id died when he pulled me from the ground and ran with me  because of the speed  it
felt like I was flying. I remembered being horrified that the pain didnt stop. . . .

 Then I was in a bright room, and it was warm. I was slipping away, and I was grateful as the pain
began to dull. But suddenly something sharp was cutting me, my throat, my wrists, my ankles. I screamed
in shock, thinking hed brought me there to hurt me more. Then fire started burning through me, and I
didnt care about anything else. I begged him to kill me. When Esme and Edward returned home, I
begged them to kill me, too. Carlisle sat with me. He held my hand and said that he was so sorry,
promising that it would end. He told me everything, and sometimes I listened. He told me what he was,
what I was becoming. I didnt believe him. He apologized each time I screamed.

Edward wasnt happy. I remember hearing them discuss me. I stopped screaming sometimes. It did no
good to scream.

 What were you thinking, Carlisle? Edward said. Rosalie Hale? Rosalie imitated Edwards irritated
tone to perfection. I didnt like the way he said my name, like there was something wrong with me.

I couldnt just let her die, Carlisle said quietly. It was too much  too horrible, too much waste.

 I know, Edward said, and I thought he sounded dismissive. It angered me. I didnt know then that he
really could see exactly what Carlisle had seen.

It was too much waste. I couldnt leave her, Carlisle repeated in a whisper.

Of course you couldnt, Esme agreed.
 People die all the time, Edward reminded him in a hard voice. Dont you think shes just a little
recognizable, though? The Kings will have to put up a huge search  not that anyone suspects the fiend,
he growled.

It pleased me that they seemed to know that Royce was guilty.

 I didnt realize that it was almost over  that I was getting stronger and that was why I was able to
concentrate on what they were saying. The pain was beginning to fade from my fingertips.

 What are we going to do with her? Edward said disgustedly  or thats how it sounded to me, at
least.

Carlisle sighed. Thats up to her, of course. She may want to go her own way.

 Id believed enough of what hed told me that his words terrified me. I knew that my life was ended,
and there was no going back for me. I couldnt stand the thought of being alone. . . .

The pain finally ended and they explained to me again what I was. This time I believed. I felt the thirst,
my hard skin; I saw my brilliant red eyes.

 Shallow as I was, I felt better when I saw my reflection in the mirror the first time. Despite the eyes, I
was the most beautiful thing Id ever seen. She laughed at herself for a moment. It took some time
before I began to blame the beauty for what had happened to me  for me to see the curse of it. To
wish that I had been . . . well, not ugly, but normal. Like Vera. So I could have been allowed to marry
someone who lovedme, and have pretty babies. Thats what Id really wanted, all along. It still doesnt
seem like too much to have asked for.

 She was thoughtful for a moment, and I wondered if shed forgotten my presence again. But then she
smiled at me, her expression suddenly triumphant.

 You know, my record is almost as clean as Carlisles, she told me. Better than Esme. A thousand
times better than Edward. Ive never tasted human blood, she announced proudly.

She understood my puzzled expression as I wondered why her record was onlyalmost as clean.

I did murder five humans, she told me in a complacent tone. If you can really call themhuman . But I
was very careful not to spill their blood  I knew I wouldnt be able to resist that, and I didnt want any
part of themin me, you see.

I saved Royce for last. I hoped that he would hear of his friends deaths and understand, know what
was coming for him. I hoped the fear would make the end worse for him. I think it worked. He was
hiding inside a windowless room behind a door as thick as a bank vaults, guarded outside by armed
men, when I caught up with him. Oops  seven murders, she corrected herself. I forgot about his
guards. They only took a second.

 I was overly theatrical. It was kind of childish, really. I wore a wedding dress Id stolen for the
occasion. He screamed when he saw me. He screamed a lot that night. Saving him for last was a good
idea  it made it easier for me to control myself, to make it slower 

She broke off suddenly, and she glanced down at me. Im sorry, she said in a chagrined voice. Im
frightening you, arent I?

Im fine, I lied.

I got carried away.

Dont worry about it.

Im surprised Edward didnt tell you more about it.

He doesnt like to tell other peoples stories  he feels like hes betraying confidences, because he
hears so much more than just the parts they mean for him to hear.

She smiled and shook her head. I probably ought to give him more credit. Hes really quite decent, isnt
he?

Ithink so.

 I can tell. Then she sighed. I havent been fair to you, either, Bella. Did he tell you why? Or was that
too confidential?

He said it was because I was human. He said it was harder for you to have someone on the outside
who knew.

 Rosalies musical laughter interrupted me. Now I really feel guilty. Hes been much, much kinder to me
than I deserve. She seemed warmer as she laughed, like shed let down some guard that had never been
absent in my presence before. What a liar that boy is. She laughed again.

He was lying? I asked, suddenly wary.

Well, thats probably putting it too strongly. He just didnt tell you the whole story. What he told you
was true, even truer now than it was before. However, at the time . . . She broke off, chuckling
nervously. Its embarrassing. You see, at first, I was mostly jealous because he wantedyou and not me.

 Her words sent a thrill of fear through me. Sitting there in the silver light, she was more beautiful than
anything else I could imagine. I could not compete with Rosalie.

But you love Emmett . . . , I mumbled.

 She shook her head back and forth, amused. I dont want Edward that way, Bella. I never did  I
love him as a brother, but hes irritated me from the first moment I heard him speak. You have to
understand, though . . . I was so used to people wantingme . And Edward wasnt the least bit interested.
It frustrated me, even offended me in the beginning. But he never wanted anyone, so it didnt bother me
long. Even when we first met Tanyas clan in Denali  all those females!  Edward never showed the
slightest preference. And then he met you. She looked at me with confused eyes. I was only half paying
attention. I was thinking about Edward and Tanya andall those females, and my lips pressed together in
a hard line.

Not that you arent pretty, Bella, she said, misreading my expression. But it just meant that he found
you more attractive than me. Im vain enough that I minded.
But you said at first. That doesnt still . . . bother you, does it? I mean, we both know youre the most
beautiful person on the planet.

 I laughed at having to say the words  it was so obvious. How odd that Rosalie should need such
reassurances.

Rosalie laughed, too. Thanks, Bella. And no, it doesnt really bother me anymore. Edward has always
been a little strange. She laughed again.

But you still dont like me, I whispered.

Her smile faded. Im sorry about that.

We sat in silence for a moment, and she didnt seem inclined to go on.

Would you tell me why? Did I do something . . . ? Was she angry that Id put her family  her
Emmett  in danger? Time and time again. James, and now Victoria . . .

No, you havent done anything, she murmured. Not yet.

I stared at her, perplexed.

Dont you see, Bella? Her voice was suddenly more passionate than before, even while shed told her
unhappy story. You already haveeverything . You have a whole life ahead of you  everything I want.
And youre going to justthrow it away . Cant you see that Id trade everything I have to be you? You
have the choice that I didnt have, and youre choosingwrong !

I flinched back from her fierce expression. I realized my mouth had fallen open and I snapped it shut.

 She stared at me for a long moment and, slowly, the fervor in her eyes dimmed. Abruptly, she was
abashed.

And I was so sure that I could do this calmly. She shook her head, seeming a little dazed by the flood
of emotion. Its just that its harder now than it was then, when it was no more than vanity.

 She stared at the moon in silence. It was a few moments before I was brave enough to break into her
reverie.

Would you like me better if I chose to stay human?

She turned back to me, her lips twitching into a hint of a smile. Maybe.

You did get some of your happy ending, though, I reminded her. You got Emmett.

I got half. She grinned. You know that I saved Emmett from a bear that was mauling him, and carried
him home to Carlisle. But can you guess why I stopped the bear from eating him?

I shook my head.

 With the dark curls . . . the dimples that showed even while he was grimacing in pain . . . the strange
innocence that seemed so out of place on a grown mans face . . . he reminded me of Veras little Henry.
I didnt want him to die  so much that, even though I hated this life, I was selfish enough to ask Carlisle
to change him for me.

 I got luckier than I deserved. Emmett is everything I would have asked for if Id known myself well
enough to know what to ask for. Hes exactly the kind of person someone like me needs. And, oddly
enough, he needs me, too. That part worked out better than I could have hoped. But there will never be
more than the two of us. And Ill never sit on a porch somewhere, with him gray-haired by my side,
surrounded by our grandchildren.

 Her smile was kind now. That sounds quite bizarre to you, doesnt it? In some ways, you are much
more mature than I was at eighteen. But in other ways . . . there are many things youve probably never
thought about seriously. Youre too young to know what youll want in ten years, fifteen years  and
too young to give it all up without thinking it through. You dont want to be rash about permanent things,
Bella. She patted my head, but the gesture didnt feel condescending.

I sighed.

 Just think about it a little. Once its done, it cant be undone. Esmes made do with us as substitutes . . .
and Alice doesnt remember anything human so she cant miss it. . . . You will remember, though. Its a
lot to give up.

 But more to get in return,I didnt say aloud. Thanks, Rosalie. Its nice to understand . . . to know you
better.

I apologize for being such a monster. She grinned. Ill try to behave myself from now on.

I grinned back at her.

We werent friends yet, but I was pretty sure she wouldnt always hate me so much.

 Ill let you sleep now. Rosalies eyes flickered to the bed, and her lips twitched. I know youre
frustrated that hes keeping you locked up like this, but dont give him too bad a time when he gets back.
He loves you more than you know. It terrifies him to be away from you. She got up silently and ghosted
to the door. Goodnight, Bella, she whispered as she shut it behind herself.

Goodnight, Rosalie, I murmured a second too late.

It took me a long time to fall asleep after that.

When I did sleep, I had a nightmare. I was crawling across the dark, cold stones of an unfamiliar street,
under lightly falling snow, leaving a trail of blood smeared behind me. A shadowy angel in a long white
dress watched my progress with resentful eyes.

 The next morning, Alice drove me to school while I stared grumpily out the windshield. I was feeling
sleep-deprived, and it made the irritation of my imprisonment that much stronger.

Tonight well go out to Olympia or something, she promised. That would be fun, right?

Why dont you just lock me in the basement, I suggested, and forget the sugar coating?

Alice frowned. Hes going to take the Porsche back. Im not doing a very good job. Youre supposed
to be having fun.

Its not your fault, I muttered. I couldnt believe I actually felt guilty. Ill see you at lunch.

 I trudged off to English. Without Edward, the day was guaranteed to be unbearable. I sulked through my
first class, well aware that my attitude wasnt helping anything.

When the bell rang, I got up without much enthusiasm. Mike was there at the door, holding it open for
me.

Edward hiking this weekend? he asked sociably as we walked out into the light rain.

Yeah.

You want to do something tonight?

How could he still sound hopeful?

Cant. Ive got a slumber party, I grumbled. He gave me a strange look as he processed my mood.

Who are you 

 Mikes question was cut short as a loud, growling roar erupted from behind us in the parking lot.
Everyone on the sidewalk turned to look, staring in disbelief as the noisy black motorcycle screeched to
a stop on the edge of the concrete, the engine still snarling.

Jacob waved to me urgently.

Run, Bella! he yelled over the engines roar.

I was frozen for a second before I understood.

I looked at Mike quickly. I knew I only had seconds.

How far would Alice go to restrain me in public?

I got really sick and went home, okay? I said to Mike, my voice filled with sudden excitement.

Fine, he muttered.

I pecked Mike swiftly on the cheek. Thanks, Mike. I owe you one! I called as I sprinted away.

Jacob revved his engine, grinning. I jumped on the back of his seat, wrapping my arms tightly around his
waist.

I caught sight of Alice, frozen at the edge of the cafeteria, her eyes sparking with fury, her lip curled back
over her teeth.

I shot her one pleading glance.

Then we were racing across the blacktop so fast that my stomach got lost somewhere behind me.
Hold on, Jacob shouted.

 I hid my face in his back as he sped down the highway. I knew he would slow down when we hit the
Quileute border. I just had to hold on till then. I prayed silently and fervently that Alice wouldnt follow,
and that Charlie wouldnt happen to see me. . . .

It was obvious when we had reached the safe zone. The bike slowed, and Jacob straigh