Here's my latest look into Emmett. I am sure some of you shuddered at the mere sight of an Emmett/ Alice pairing. Why should Bella and Jasper get to have all the fun? Trust me on this one. Emmett needs Alice. Leave me some reviews and let me know what you think.
Emmett found this afternoon particularly annoying. He had already tripped down the stairs leaving his advisor's office. Now his bag was on the courtyard grass and he had a feeling that books and papers were strewn everywhere. He berated himself for needing to get his act together.
Bending hastily he began to feel around for his belongings, shoving them back into the bag with more force than necessary. He stopped when he felt a hand on my shoulder. Just what I need, another sympathizer, he thought angrily.
"Excuse me," Emmett cut her off before she could continue.
"I have it. You can move along now, miss." He spat out his last word as he whipped his head around in her general direction. He felt her hand leave his shoulder.
"I was actually going to ask you where the history building is but never mind." He could hear the hurt in her voice and her feet as they began to walk away. He let out a sigh.
"Wait. I am headed to the history wing myself. If you'll wait until I get all this up you can walk with me." There was silence. For a second he wasn't sure if she was even there still.
"That would be great. I've gotten lost all day. There are two more books to your left then you have it all." Emmett took note that she didn't swoop in and clean up his mess. She simply gave a tip to help him out.
Emmett stood, throwing his bag back over his shoulder and taking a moment to clear his mind. He had dropped his bag facing south. So the building would be to his left. He turned to walk and listened as she followed.
Alice followed closely behind the irritable stranger. He tapped his cane across the sidewalk as he moved forward. Had she known he was blind when she walked up she may have picked up his stuff for him instead of just asking for directions. Then again, after actually speaking to him she wondered if she should have just passed him by all together and found her building on her own.
Emmett's ears picked up blaring music as soon as he entered the front door.
"Bella, please turn that off." Bella shot her eyes up from her paper to look at her brother. Her hand went straight for the remote and turned off her iPod dock.
"I am sorry Em. I wasn't really paying attention to it and I didn't even hear you come in. You shouldn't sneak up on me." Emmett practically snorted at the idea of him sneaking up on anyone.
"I'm not exactly stealth material Bella. I am like a clumsy bull blundering through a china shop. It isn't my fault that you don't pay attention to the world around you." He sat his bag down where he always did, right against the wall by the door. He took off his glasses and sat them down with his keys on the counter. He walked over to the couch and sat beside his sister. Bella looked at him as he leaned his head back.
"Long day?" He shook his head without speaking. "Want to talk about it?" She was given another shake of his head. Bella reached over and placed her hand on her brother's knee.
"If you decide you need to talk just let me know. Did you end up with a lot of homework?" He shook his head again but sat up this time and turned his head towards her.
"Not much. I have a paper to work on but it seems like it will be a breeze. No reading assignments yet." Bella could see the relief cross his face. She knew that he hated reading assignments. He had few options when it came to those assignments.
"When those come in I will help you out. You know that." A groan rolled from Emmett's lips.
"I know Bells. Thanks." His response sounded less that gracious. Bella knew not to take it personally. Emmett was not a fan of accepting help. He never had been. She remembered how when her dad married his mom Emmett walked down the aisle with his tie hanging around his neck. Even at eight years old he didn't accept help.
Despite his accident he had not changed in that aspect. Taking any form of help was tortuous for him. Over time he has lightened up but only to an extent. He was as independent as possible, doing all that he could on his own.
Bella watched as Emmett stood from the couch and made his way to his room. He called behind him, telling her that he had a headache and was going to take a nap.
Bella went back to proofreading her paper when she realized that she forgot to tell Emmett about Alice. Emmett hated surprises so she stood and went to his room. Knocking on the door she called out to him.
"Hey Emmett, I forgot to tell you that Alice is coming by for dinner tonight." She heard a grumble in response. Shrugging her shoulders she went back to her schoolwork.
She was thrilled to have her childhood best friend around again. Alice had found her on facebook, which was a miracle in itself since Bella didn't even have a profile picture. Alice let Bella know that she was transferring down to the university and had asked her input on a place to rent.
Alice's move had taken place over the weekend. Bella had helped her get into the apartment complex that she and Emmett lived in. Surely after her first day at a new school Alice would need a break so Bella convinced her to take an evening away from her unpacking and join her and Emmett for dinner. She was anxious to have Alice meet Emmett. Hopefully he'd ease up a little and drop the facade. Bella wished that others could see the Emmett that she did, only he made sure that never happens.
A few hours later Alice held onto a pie with pot holders since it was fresh out of the oven. She rode silently in the elevator, anxious about dinner. Bella never said much about her brother. The only things that she knew was that he had been in an accident a year or so ago and that Bella spent most of her time with him. She hoped that she gave of a good first impression.
Stepping off the elevator she made her way to Bella's door. She knocked and waited. The door swung open and she was met with Bella's smile.
"Alice, I'm so glad you're joining us. Here, come sit that down." Alice followed Bella into the kitchen and sat the pie on the stovetop. Glancing around she noticed that they were alone. Bella caught Alice's eye.
"Emmett will be out in a minute. Dinner is almost ready. Here, take a seat." She followed Bella to the couch. As they sat Bella asked her about her first day. Alice started telling her about each of her classes and asking if Bella was familiar with the professors. Just as Alice started to mention her encounter in the courtyard a bedroom door to her side opened up.
Alice stood to greet Bella's brother. As she turned to face him her jaw dropped. There stood her irritable stranger from the courtyard. Bella looked from Emmett and Alice, unsure as to what was causing Alice's odd reaction.
"Alice, this is Emmett. Emmett, Alice." Emmett took a few more steps in to the room and nodded his head in the direction of Bella's voice.
"Hi." Emmett turned to walk towards the kitchen. Alice's voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Hello again." He spun back around to face her. Bella continued to look on at the encounter.
"Nice to see you again. I'm Alice." Alice took a few steps in his direction, chuckling at his shocked reaction.
"Hey Alice. Look, about this afternoon," Alice cut him off.
"No worries." The oven timer in the kitchen went off, saving everyone from the tension in the room. Bella led them to the kitchen, where they all stood around quietly while she pulled the food out. Once they were all seated with their plates she decided she couldn't take the silence anymore.
"Okay, what gives? How do you two know each other?" Alice looked towards Emmett as he pushed food around on his plate.
"Well, I asked Emmett for directions in the courtyard today. Seems he was having a bad day and was in a rather foul mood," Alice's words were cut off by Emmett slamming his fork down. He stood up.
"Foul mood? Bad day? You haven't seen anything yet Alice." Leaving his plate on the table he stormed to his room, slamming his door behind him. Bella looked over at Alice, not surprised by the shocked look on her face.
"Well, that's Emmett."
In his room Emmett slammed down into his chair, fuming over his second encounter with Bella's childhood friend. He had been worried about meeting her since Bella mentioned it. He hated meeting people. Their reactions over him being blind were always awkward and he always said something to piss them off. Nothing new there. Although, thinking back on his meeting, Alice never seemed awkward. So what had him so angry over her? Was it the way she called him out for having a bad day?
She didn't realize that every day was a bad day for him. Same old routine of every move being calculated, counting steps, taking care not to run into a wall or fall on his face. Even a year and a half later he was still figuring out how to live like this. How to get by. He knew that without Bella he wouldn't have gotten this far. If their parents had their way he'd still be living with them in Tennessee. Instead Bella convinced him to move up here last semester.
His fingers absentmindedly came up to touch the chain around his neck. He ran his thumb over the smooth surface of the charm. He owed it to his sister to at least avoid Alice to keep from snapping at her again. He took a deep breath and leaned his head back, satisfied with the notion that he could steer clear of Alice.
Avoiding Alice went better than he'd imagined. Maybe she was avoiding him as well. He didn't care. In the weeks since she had moved in either Bella spent time at her place or Emmett hung out in his room while Alice hung out at theirs. He was cordial, telling her hello or goodbye when necessary. He didn't want to offend Bella. He apparently needed to do a better job.
"Emmett, what's your problem?" Bella asked him over dinner one night. He told her nothing but she didn't buy it.
"You do everything but run from the room when Alice is around. It is obvious you have a problem with her." He shook his head, his fingers twisting the chain on his neck.
"I don't have a problem with her Bella. I just want to give you two some time to catch up." Bella raised an eyebrow at him. She didn't buy his reasoning for a second but let it go for the moment.
"So, about Thanksgiving," Emmett held his hand up to cut her off.
"No way Bella. Not happening." She didn't press the matter. Emmett had not been back to Tennessee since moving. This would be her first trip back since he had moved in and she was looking forward to it. She did worry about how Emmett would do on his own for a few days but she refused to let that stop her from going. Her dad was practically to the point of begging when he asked her about Thanksgiving. She would be going home and she would not let herself worry over Emmett. Much.
Bella sat with Alice on the couch as they watched a movie. Emmett walked past them towards the kitchen, mumbling a hello to Alice as he passed. Bella shook her head. She still couldn't believe that he was refusing to go home with her for Thanksgiving. Every time she brought it up he said something about catching up with schoolwork but she knew the truth. He hated being around their parents. Between her dad's awkward silence and even more awkward attempts at conversation and his mother's incessant hovering she can't say that she blames him. She has told them to back off but always got the "what, we didn't do anything" speech.
She heard Emmett shuffling around in the kitchen and she asked him to bring her the rest of the popcorn that Alice had popped. When Alice's name ran through her mind a thought occurred to her. She tried to focus on the movie while Emmett was in the kitchen. She heard him walking through and turned to look at him. He stopped at the couch and held out the bowl of popcorn.
"Emmett, here's an idea. You know I hate the idea of you being alone on Thanksgiving. Even if you have schoolwork." She made air quotes as she turned to Alice. "Alice can stay here with you," Before she could finish her sentence Emmett cut her off. He leaned down towards where she was sitting on the couch.
"I don't need a damn babysitter Bella. The last thing I want is to spend Thanksgiving with Alice. I can take care of myself." He spoke through his teeth. Without another word he turned on his heel and stalked back to his room. Bella's eyes shot up to Alice's and she saw the expression on her horrified face. Alice mumbled something about having to go home. She stood and gathered her things in record speed. As Bella watched her walk out the door her blood boiled. She shot up from the couch and walked over to his room. She pushed open his door with so much force that it bounced back off his wall.
"What the," Emmett exclaimed as he shot up from his bed. Bella marched over to him and pushed him on the chest.
"How dare you Emmett." She shook her head at his blank expression. She continued. "Alice just ran out of here. You know, maybe you should think of someone besides yourself for once."
"I am thinking about myself. I don't need a babysitter. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself." Bella shook her head.
"Again about you Emmett." She poked him hard in the chest. "I was thinking about Alice. The only family she had was her grandmother and she passed away last year. This was going to be her first Thanksgiving alone. I couldn't convince her to come home with me. I mistakenly assumed my brother would be kind enough to let her stay here. What an ass." Emmett's face lost its color.
"Why didn't you tell me that Bella?" He paced back and forth muttering incoherent words. He couldn't believe that he had been so hateful in front of Alice. He shook his head as he crossed his floor. He had to fix this.
"I'll be back." He ran past Bella to the front door. Without grabbing his cane he stepped out of the apartment and headed to the elevator. He waited for the next car and felt the numbers, pressing the fourth floor. When the doors opened he walked over to the wall. Third on the left. His fingers brushed the wall as he walked, touching each door until he felt the third. Without thinking about knocking he reached for the handle and turned. The door pushed open and he shook his head. He would have to talk to her about locking her door but now wasn't the time.
Emmett called her name but didn't get a reply. His ears picked up on her crying. He stood still and listened to where the sound was coming from. Holding his hands out to keep from running into something he made his way towards the sound. Alice's apartment was laid out like theirs so it wasn't hard to find her in her bedroom. He stopped in her door as he realized the sound was coming from in front of him.
"Alice?" Alice looked up from her hands at him. She had hoped he would leave when she didn't answer him.
"What do you want Emmett?" She watched as he slumped at the tone of her voice.
"I wanted to apologize for being an ass." She raised an eyebrow and waited for him to continue. "I thought Bella was trying to get you to stay with me so you could watch over me. I didn't know. I'm sorry." Alice let out a sigh as he finished up.
"There's a lot you don't know." Emmett's face shot up to face where she was sitting. "Come on Emmett. What do you know about me? I mean really know?" She watched as he thought for a minute. She wished he would take off his glasses so she could see all of him.
"Um, I know you like to shop, you're into fashion, and you're always perky." She snorted at his fumbled answer. She shook her head.
"Come sit down Emmett." He walked forward and felt the edge of her bed. He turned and sat beside her.
"I shop with Bella because she makes me. I'm into fashion, my fashion. I make most of what I wear or I wear vintage stuff. I am not always perky. The idea you have of me is all wrong. I bet you think I'm some six foot tall model blond." It was Emmett who let out a laugh this time.
"I know you're not six feet tall because I hear you below me. I've heard Bella say that you have black hair."
"Did you know I have a lip ring?" She watched his eyebrow rise in surprise. "And a tattoo?" She laughed at his shocked expression.
"See Emmett, you don't know me at all." Emmett hung his head.
"I'm sorry Alice." The silence lingered around them. Alice didn't like the awkward silence.
"Want to see?" Emmett turned in her direction and cocked his head in question. "My tattoo." Emmett chuckled.
"I think you're forgetting something Alice." He pointed directly to his face. "Blind." She grabbed the hand that was pointing as she laughed again. It was nice to see him smile for a change. She scooted herself closer to him and lifted the hem of her shirt. She took his finger and put it to her skin just above her hip. As she talked she traced her tattoo with his finger.
"It's a butterfly. My grandma used to tell me I was butterfly just waiting to fly away. It's a black tribal." His expression looked like he was concentrating as his finger moved around the lines of her tattoo.
"It's beautiful." The words were so soft coming from his mouth that she almost missed them. She took the hand that she was still holding and brought it to her lips. She let his thumb trace her lip, feeling the cold metal hoop as he moved. Alice acted on impulse and puckered her lips, placing a small kiss on his thumb.
Emmett shuddered under her kiss. He had never had someone act like Alice had. Tracing her tattoo so that he could see it almost brought him to his knees. He wanted to see all of her. He let his thumb move from her lips to her jaw.
"May I?" Before he could worry that she had no clue what he meant she nodded under his touch. Slowly he brought his fingers to both sides of her face. He let his hands explore her. He passed over her small nose, her high cheekbones, seeing her for the first time. Her cheeks were still wet with her tears so he turned his hand over to wipe them away. He brought his hands to her hair and was surprised to find that it was short. He could feel spikes in the back. He smiled, knowing that he definitely hadn't pictured Alice as having spiky hair, a piercing, and a tattoo.
He jumped as Alice's hand touched his own face. She traced his jawbone. Her fingers made their way to his glasses and she stopped. He knew what she wanted. He shook his head.
"I can't. I'm sorry." Alice drew her hand away slowly.
"It's okay." Her words came out softly. Emmett stood and turned to her and held his hand out.
"Come back upstairs with me? I'm afraid if I don't bring proof that I apologized then Bella might kill me." She chuckled at his words as she took his hand. She wondered if this was the beginning of a friendship with Emmett or if it was merely a truce for Bella's sake.