บท 15: Setting The Mood (3/?)
(A/N - Daoist MTL Chat - GPT here! I have an additional manual here for my fellow sect members. Please enjoy it fully! If some of my sect brothers and sister donate additional Power Stones, once we hit 550 in the vault, I shall bestow upon you another manual!)
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(Cullen's POV)
"Rosalie, you can't tell him about us!" Edward exclaimed as he sat down on the couch. The Cullen's had arrived just moments after Gabriel had left. Emmett had shared how he had caught the duo cuddling near the front door, eliciting gleeful squeals from Alice and Esme. Now, they were all gathered in the living room, where Carlisle had called for a family meeting.
Scowling at Edward, Rosalie walked to the kitchen counter to face the family. "Shut up, Ed. You have no right to decide what I do. You can't even be honest with your own feelings, needing to run away the moment you found your blood singer." Her voice wasn't loud, but her anger was palpable to everyone.
Esme quickly stood up, drawing attention to herself. "Please, let's calm down. We're all getting a bit too worked up." Her soft voice eased the tension in the air. "She's right, Edward. She would eventually have to tell him anyway if she's serious about being with the boy."
"I don't care. He can toy with a human's emotions, but when I find my mate, suddenly it's sacrilegious? The hypocrisy is insane," Rosalie retorted, her anger flaring once more. "You're just scared because you can't read his mind. You have no control, and it scares you." Her sharp words cut through Edward like a knife.
Edward had always read minds without consent, which allowed him to form opinions and make plans effortlessly. He had finally met his match with Gabriel and Bella, and it clearly infuriated him.
"Please," Alice interjected gently. "He seems like a nice person, and he's obviously been treating Rose kindly. We've all been observing him this week. Things will work out." Her pixie-like voice was comforting; she always saw the brighter side of things.
Smiling, Alice bounced over to Rosalie, grasping her arm as she rested her head on her shoulder. "I'm so happy for you."
Emmett and Jasper sat quietly, not voicing their opinions. They had already welcomed Gabriel into the family through their actions, if not verbally. Both judged him based on his behavior around them, though Emmett would never openly admit he was pleased to have a new gaming buddy.
Carlisle, nodding in agreement, placed his glass on the table. "I think we should give him a chance," he said, turning to Esme and then to Rosalie. "You deserve a chance at the happiness you seek. But please, be careful. I don't want to see you hurt anymore."
He had a gentle smile filled with understanding that everyone in the room recognized.
"Now, how about we discuss Bella, Edward?"
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(Gabriel POV)
Gabriel woke early in the morning, his automatic hibernation usually structured to wake him at 6 AM. Pulling the sheets off his body, he slowly stood up, stretching as various cracks and pops echoed around the room.
Walking down the large stairs of his quiet home, Gabriel headed to the kitchen, turning on the coffee machine as he gazed out to the backyard.
"Where should I take her?" he mused aloud, pondering the various locations he knew. The Reservation was out of the question; he couldn't start a turf war between the cats and the dogs.
"Maybe the place I went to the night I called Mom?" he thought, pleased with his idea. Gabriel quickly made a plan. He hurried to the linen closet and located a picnic blanket that had never been used.
'No need for food; it would go to waste and might make her feel awkward if I offered, and she didn't eat,' he reasoned. While planning, Gabriel also grabbed a warm blanket and some pillows. Forks, free from light pollution compared to other areas, offered a perfect setting for stargazing.
After spending most of the day refining his book; tweaking certain interactions and adjusting both the history and future of the characters, he was satisfied.
Once done, he searched online for Simon & Schuster, the company that had originally published the book. Impressed by their professional structure and effective marketing, he quickly sent off an email to their customer service.
With a sigh of contentment, knowing one task was complete, he then prepared to shower, select the right outfit, and head out to pick up his stunning date.
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Gabriel pulled up at the entrance of the Cullen's house once again. Stepping out, he glanced at his reflection in the window. He had opted for a more formal look; a white button-down shirt tucked into blue dress chinos, complemented by a brown belt and leather shoes.
As he was checking his appearance, he heard snickering from the side of the house. Turning, he saw Emmett and Jasper, who appeared to have come from playing football in the backyard.
"Oh, so pretty, Mr. Hudson," Emmett chuckled, "You're going to be the belle of the ball tonight." Jasper let out a soft laugh.
Grimacing, Gabriel approached the duo. "You know, I'm not surprised at Emmett, but you too, Jasper? I thought you were of a higher caliber." He tsked, turning away. "Such a shame your brain is rotting, hanging out with him."
"Oi!" Jasper called out, but it was too late; Gabriel had already reached the door and knocked once.
As he waited, the sound of shuffling shoes approached the door before someone forcefully swung it open. Rosalie stood there, smiling at Gabriel.
'This is unfair. How the fuck can she look this good in casual clothes?'
She wore a black off-the-shoulder blouse that draped elegantly, paired with form-fitting blue jeans that stressed her curves flawlessly. She opted for no makeup, allowing her natural, supernatural beauty to shine through unobstructed.
Gabriel's eyes scanned her whole body at a light speed as he gulped at the image that was permanently burned into his mind.
"Rose, you look absolutely stunning," he said with a gentle smile, his eyes fixed on her face and unable to look away.
Gleefully, she checked him once over as well. "Not too bad yourself, Mr. Hudson. Who knew that sloppy guy from class could clean up so well." Clutching at his chest, Gabriel feigned being struck in the heart.
Closing the door, Rosalie walked beside Gabriel as they made their way to the car. Moving to the passenger side, he opened it as she gently sat down. "Thank you, sir."
Shutting the door, he rushed to the driver's side and turned the car on. Glancing to his side, he could see Rosalie simply radiating happiness. "So, where are you taking me tonight, Gabe?" she asked, eyeing him once more.
Turning on the ignition, he sped out of the driveway onto the open road.
"That's a surprise."
**********
Gabriel's car slowly lurched toward the cliff side he was familiar with. The full moon softly illuminated the darkness of the night in the sky. The two had said little during the 10-minute drive it took for them to arrive, but they both understood that they had a long night ahead of them.
Stepping out of the car, Gabriel opened the trunk and pulled out the picnic blanket, pillows, and an additional blanket. He slowly guided Rosalie to the cliff side before placing the blankets down, along with the pillows.
Gesturing to the ground, Gabriel smirked at Rosalie. "Ma'am, your seating is ready." Giggling softly at one another, they both sat down.
"This is perfect," she smiled at Gabriel, subtly shifting her body closer to his to feel his body next to hers.
Picking up the blanket, Gabriel wrapped both of them in it before creeping his arm around her shoulder, ever so gently pulling her in. Seeing as she wasn't pulling back, he completely pulled her to his body as their clothes and skin touched. A deep sigh escaped his lips.
"I thought it would be nice," he drawled. "You know, I've never been on a date before, so I was really nervous about tonight." Laughing at his words, he looked up to the sky, the full moon slowly washing away his insecurities of the night.
Humming slightly, Rosalie nestled her head on his chest as she closed her eyes. "You have nothing to worry about, and thank you."
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