Their eyes locked—hers searching, his guarded—and in that suspended second, something broke between them.
She leaned in first. Bold, reckless.
He didn't move.
Their lips met.
It wasn't gentle. It wasn't perfect. It was a collision—of grief, longing, and something dangerously close to hope. Her hands slid up his arms, and he kissed her back like he was drowning and she was the only thing keeping him above water.
When they finally broke apart, breathless and wide-eyed, she gave the smallest laugh—nervous and stunned.
"Well…" she said, voice breathless. "That answers that."
Aiden's lips parted, unsure what to say. "Rosalie…"
She held up a hand. "Let me finish."
He nodded.
"I want to go to prom with you."
He blinked. "What?"
"It's stupid. It's high school. But I want it. I want one night where we aren't haunted. Where we get to be just… us."
Aiden was quiet. Then:
"Yeah," he said. "Okay. Prom."
She smiled—just a little. But it reached her eyes.
And for the first time in a long time, Aiden smiled too.
[Day Later…]
Aiden stood in the Cullen living room, hands in his pockets, pretending not to feel completely out of place.
The house was spotless—minimalist, but not cold. Warm golden light reflected off polished surfaces. A record player hummed low from a corner, something old and string-heavy. Classical. Moody. It filled the silence but didn't chase away the stillness.
It was almost too perfect.
And he wasn't used to being perfect.
He glanced around.
Emmett stood by the stairwell, tying his bowtie with the confidence of someone who'd done this a hundred times. Jasper lounged near the back windows, eyes half-lidded, fingers tapping a steady rhythm against his knee like he was counting heartbeats. Alice sat perched on the arm of a velvet chair, practically vibrating with excitement in her midnight-blue dress.
Carlisle and Esme were notably absent—they'd chosen to sit this one out, letting the younger Cullens have their night. Edward, too, was gone—he'd left hours ago to pick up Bella personally, the way only someone obsessed would.
Which left Aiden.
He tugged at his jacket sleeve.
The suit Alice picked out for him fit too well, like it knew more about his body than he wanted to admit. There was no mirror to judge himself against—but judging by Alice's approving look when he walked in, he didn't look terrible.
Still, he wasn't used to this kind of silence. This kind of family. This kind of waiting.
Then footsteps echoed above.
A moment later—like a slow, choreographed reveal—the Cullen women appeared at the top of the stairs.
Rosalie descended first.
She was breathtaking in a gold dress that clung and shimmered like molten light. The fabric kissed her curves like it was made for her—and maybe it had been. Her hair was swept to one side in soft, perfect waves, lips painted wine-dark. She didn't smile, but her eyes found Aiden's and held there.
No one else existed in that moment.
Alice followed behind her, floating in satin and stars, her dress a deep navy that shimmered like a night sky full of secrets. She gave a dramatic twirl at the bottom of the stairs, grinning at Jasper, who rose without a word to offer his arm.
Even Elise—quiet, distant Elise—came down last, wearing a sleek black gown with silver filigree that clung to her shoulders and arms like frost. She moved with grace, eyes always scanning.
Rosalie walked past the others and stopped in front of Aiden.
Her expression was unreadable, but her voice was soft.
"You clean up well."
He raised an eyebrow. "You don't look too bad yourself."
That earned the faintest smirk.
Their eyes held for a beat too long. It wasn't awkward. It was charged. Everything unsaid stretched between them like a wire ready to snap.
"You okay?" she asked, quieter now.
"I'm standing in the house of vampires in a designer suit, pretending I know what I'm doing," Aiden said. "So… yeah. About as okay as I ever am."
"Then you're exactly where you're supposed to be."
Thunder cracked faintly in the distance.
Outside, the world stirred.
Inside, they waited for Edward and Bella to return—for the night to truly begin.
But in that room, Aiden didn't feel like prey.
Not anymore.