AN: I know I wasn't able to upload on time. Life happens, so I can't really do anything about it. But I'll always upload as soon as I can tho.
Thank you to those who subscribed for a bit on Patreon. I appreciate the help you sent. It'll justify and keep me going for a bit longer. yay! haaah.. really.. thanks.
After I upload this, I'll be uploading the new chapter on Patreon and Kofi. Advance caps available there. If you wanna read ahead, or just send help to this useless author, just send it that way, links at the end of the chapter. But no pressure, I'm still uploading chapters here for free.
~~
Robin's POV
Nope. Nope. Absolutely not.
"We're leaving. Tonight."
Rosalie didn't even glance up from the glossy car magazine she was flipping through. Her perfectly manicured nails glided over the page, landing on some overpriced vintage car.
"No."
I blinked. "Excuse me?"
She sighed, like I was some annoying child asking why the sky was blue. "I said no, Robin."
"But—"
"I'm not leaving Arizona until my car gets here."
"You're holding us hostage for a car?"
"It's not just a car," Rosalie snapped, finally looking up. "It's a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible. Limited edition. Mint condition. I've been waiting years for this, and it'll be ready in a week."
"A week? A week?! Rosalie, we don't have a week! You don't understand how dangerous it is for us to be here right now."
"Oh, please enlighten me," she drawled, leaning back in her chair.
I inhaled slowly. "Okay. First of all, the Volturi could call any second. What if they need us to, I don't know, assassinate someone? You know how cranky Aro gets when people take too long."
Rosalie didn't blink. "They haven't summoned us for years now, oh, correction, they did, but you don't actually care for them. Try again."
"Carlisle could need help with a newborn outbreak! They pop up randomly, like acne!"
"He's in Forks, Robin. Hardly a hotspot for newborn armies."
"Okay, fine! But Arizona's a prime location for vampire armies. No one suspects the desert! It's so empty—perfect for hiding bodies!"
She gave me the most unimpressed stare I've ever seen. "That's the dumbest thing I've heard this week."
"Oh, come on! What if there's a coven hiding in the Grand Canyon? Or—wait—a sandworm vampire hybrid?!"
Rosalie pinched the bridge of her nose. "You're grasping at sandworm straws."
I narrowed my eyes. Time for the nuclear option.
I slowly approached her, letting my voice drop into a sultry purr. "Rosalie…" I dragged her name out, practically singing it. I slid onto her lap, hands delicately resting on her shoulders. "Imagine all the... fun we could have somewhere else. Somewhere... private."
Her golden eyes darkened for half a second before she smirked.
"I agree."
Oh, thank God.
"Let's leave."
"Yes!"
"Right after my car arrives."
My brain short-circuited.
"You're joking."
"Nope."
And then, faster than I could blink, she flipped me onto the couch and pinned me down, smirking like a cat that caught a mouse.
"Rosalie!" I yelped.
Her lips brushed my ear. "Nice try, top queen."
I gasped. "That's not self-proclaimed! I have references!"
As soon as those words all together left my lips, I realized I made a colossal mistake...
[AN: ya think? Translating in Rosalie's perspectiive: I screwed so many woman besides you that can prove I'm a TOP Queen.. So yeah, dumb shit. I leave you alone for a while. And you turn this dumb huh],
She leaned back, victorious, yet, the expression on her face was beautiful... But for some reason to which I know everyone knows why by now, sent chills all over my body "We're staying."
'ROB, if you were to show off your omnipotent power, I request that you do it now!' I prayed.
[AN: NO... You're on your own, you never learn... Tsk tsk tsk...]
I stared at the ceiling, dead inside.
~~
For the next few days, I resigned myself to the cruel, unyielding sands of Arizona.
Rosalie and I took nightly strolls—because going out during the day was a big no. Not for vampire reasons, but because the sun in Arizona personally hates me.
Of course, people noticed.
The car dealer Rosalie charmed into getting that ridiculous Bel Air looked at us funny when she only met him after sunset. The neighbors whispered. The cashier at the gas station stared too long.
Apparently, the locals were putting together their own little theories about us.
"Mafia wives."
"Drug dealers."
"Runaway heiresses."
And my personal favorite:
"High-class hookers."
I overheard that one during a walk when two women, mid-twenties and trying way too hard to look effortlessly casual, whispered about us.
"Oh my God, they have to be escorts. No one looks that good without being paid for it."
I almost choked laughing.
Rosalie, on the other hand, looked scandalized.
"How vicious," she muttered. "Women turning on other women like that. When do you think that toxic feminism phase you predicted will start?"
I wiped a tear from my eye. "Darling, let them be. Can you honestly say you wouldn't be seething with envy if you saw us from their perspective?"
I gestured to myself and then snaked my arms around Rosalie's waist, turning her slightly so we both faced the gossiping duo.
Their conversation died instantly.
I smirked. Rosalie caught on and leaned into me, tilting her head just enough to smirk right back.
The poor girls flushed crimson.
"See?" I whispered. "It's a public service. We give them something to aspire to."
Rosalie actually chuckled. "Cruel."
"Beautifully cruel."
And then, of course, the universe decided I was having too much fun.
I caught a familiar scent on the breeze—floral shampoo and something faintly like old paper.
And there's another one...
Oh, no.
I stiffened, instinctively scanning the area.
And there she was.
Renee Swan.
The mother of my worst nightmare.
Currently being screamed at by some random blonde, who was calling her a homewrecker loud enough for the entire block to hear.
Some guy was standing behind the blonde, arms crossed, looking like the human embodiment of a midlife crisis. He looked proud.
Oh, for fuck's sake.
The blonde woman slapped Renee so hard I heard it from across the street.
I groaned, dragging a hand down my face.
"Fuck! Why can't I just ignore them?!"
Rosalie raised a brow.
"Distract them. Use your gift."
Her smirk was all teeth. "Gladly."
Within seconds, Rosalie turned on the full force of her gift of charm. The entire street's attention snapped to her like she was a lighthouse in a storm.
All eyes were on her.
Except for mine.
Because I was gone in a flash.
Almost like I materialized beside Renee, catching the man's hand mid-swing.
"Uh-uh," I said, voice like ice. "We're not doing that."
Renee's eyes went huge.
"You—"
"Don't talk."
The man yanked his arm, trying to free himself. I didn't budge.
"You don't want to do this, sweetheart."
"Oh, honey," I purred, squeezing just enough to make him flinch, "I could snap you in half and still have energy for a jog."
He paled.
Behind me, Rosalie's Charm held the crowd in a trance, but something felt off.
Like I was still being watched.
Slowly, I turned my head.
And there, half-hidden behind a parked car, was a tiny brunette.
Wide brown eyes stared at me in shock.
Bella Swan.
And she just saw everything.
FFFFFFffffuck!
~~
AN: One more done. Here's to me in front of the screen again, after the creator curse hits me again [insert image gif of typing fast/exhausted/fired up].
Again, thanks for the power stones, and for leaving comments that aren't mean. Your acknowledgment of my existence and work keeps me going. <3<3<3
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