Author's Note: This is the first part of a three-shot. It's going to deal with the events leading up to, of, and after East-West Fest. This bit takes place after the famous "I just want you" and ends just before Toby, Emmett, and Wilke leave for the concert. It's loosely based off a request I got from Emily (an anonymous reviewer) in which I was asked to do a Bemmett relationship story with some Daphne interloping. I hope this satisfies you! More to come. I know this isn't quite a Bemmett romance yet, but it's sweet.

Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, alerted, or favorited my other stories. You guys are amazing, and I'm honored to be in such a loyal community!

Disclaimer: I don't own Switched at Birth or Aaron Gillespie's one-man band The Almost. (Though I do own the album Southern Weather, and everyone else should, too!)

"I just want you," Emmett said, voice slightly rough from disuse.

Those were the best four words Bay had ever heard, and not just because he'd used his voice. Emmett could have let her go and gone for Daphne, but instead he'd chosen her.

Tears coursed down her face as she leaned up to hug him, blurring her vision. She didn't care if the entire student body of Buckner was watching them at that moment; all that mattered was the guy whose arms were secure around her.

Emmett realized how hard Bay was working, and he knew it was just for him. He had been unfair back at the carwash, getting angry just because she had forgotten the sign for bet. Who used that sign on a daily basis, anyway? He used it sparingly himself.

The whole Daphne thing had messed with his head. It was totally unfair for her to unload her newly discovered crush just as she found out he was dating Bay. There was no excuse for it, other than her increasing feeling that everything in her life was going to disappear. To take it out on Emmett, who had loved her for, well, ever, was borderline obscene.

Bay was his sure thing. Daphne was grasping at straws.

"Do you need to go to class?" Emmett asked, backing away to let Bay see his hands move.

"I think eighth period can go on without me today," she replied, smiling and sniffing delicately.

Emmett reached up and wiped the tears off her cheeks, glad they were tears of joy this time. He'd had enough of making her upset, and his new aim was to prevent that from happening ever again. She deserved better than a guy who made her bawl all the time.

Bay vaguely heard the bell ring, but everything was toned down to a soft background flutter. She could still hear Emmett's voice reverberating inside her head, giving her the shivers over and over again. It was better than she'd thought it would be, more spectacular than any other voice she'd ever heard. Better than Aaron Gillespie's vocals on Say This Sooner. Better than the sound of Toby leaving the house.

The best part was that she hadn't been expecting it.

"We should probably get out of here before a teacher finds us," she said finally, looking around. Everyone had moved into the buildings, which meant Buckner Patrol would be heading outside soon to look for stragglers to write up.

Emmett held out his hand, which Bay took, and headed toward the parking lot. The logistics hadn't really been worked out, seeing how he'd brought his motorcycle and Bay still had her car to worry about, but he wasn't panicked. They'd gone through worse, obviously.

Bay tugged him to her car, figuring that none of the teachers would make the hike up to the student lot just to check for skippers, and hopped over the door. That was just one of the many perks of The Thing: it was unnecessary to open doors.

They settled into the backseat, facing each other. Bay crossed her legs on the leather, putting her backpack in her lap.

"That was probably the best speech ever." She grinned at him, her cheeks aching from the force of her smile. "You didn't have to speak for me. I know you don't feel comfortable."

"I wanted to show you that I wasn't just messing with you," he said, repeating some of her earlier fears. She'd told him once that she thought he was just messing with her, trying to get to Daphne. Now there was no question.

They sat for a while without talking, just watching each other and thinking separate thoughts. Emmett was the first to break the figurative silence, tapping Bay's knee to get her attention.

"I think I'm going to go to that festival with Toby."

"Wait, what? Toby?" she asked, scrunching up her nose in confusion.

Emmett blew up his cheeks, trying to decide if he should just fingerspell or try to teach her the sign for festival. Given the day they'd both had, he decided to go easy on her and fingerspell.

"F. E. S. T. I. V.—oh, festival! You mean East-West Fest with Wilke and Toby." Bay smiled, but then her face fell into a frown. "Are you sure you want to do that? Daphne and I can't go, and it'll be thousands of hearing people."

"I sort of owe Toby. Besides, I'll teach him some basic sign. He's cool when he isn't being…"

"Stupid?" Bay guessed, laughing. "He's always stupid. Why do you owe him?"

"He made me realize something. Anyway, it's not a big deal. I want to help him out."

"Sounds good. I'm sure you'll be awesome; I wish I could go." Bay reached over and grabbed his hand, twining their fingers together. "I was sort of distracted the last time I heard you drum. You guys will have to give all of us a private performance."

"Definitely," Emmett signed, grinning.

"Holy crap, man! Seriously?" Toby exclaimed, slapping a double high-five with Wilke.

Emmett nodded, looking at Bay to see her reaction. She was smiling and looking at her brother, oblivious to what he'd done for her. Toby was pretty much the entire reason they were back together on such solid ground. He'd made Emmett see how much Bay mean to him and how much he meant to her. Toby had made everything fall into place.

"This is gonna be so cool," Wilke said, using the sign Toby had taught him. Toby had been spending some quality time with a few ASL sites, having snuck the list out of Bay's room. They were all benefiting, especially Emmett.

"What's going on?" Daphne asked, coming into the living room where the group was gathered.

"Emmett agreed to play East-West Fest with us!" Toby signed as best he could, but all he got out was Emmett, play, and with us.

Daphne got the gist, and she also saw how close Emmett was standing next to Bay. Her heart clenched into a fist, but all she could feel was jealousy. Had he agreed to go because Bay asked him?

"I thought you didn't want to go," she signed, trying to keep the others out of the conversation.

Bay scowled, knowing what Daphne was saying, but let Emmett speak for himself. He'd chosen her, after all, and she didn't want to give him a reason to be angry with her again.

"I changed my mind. We're leaving in a week." Emmett shrugged, hooking his thumbs in the pockets of his jeans.

"You guys can take my car," Bay volunteered, pretending she didn't see the frustrated, longing looks Daphne was sending Emmett. "You'll need to haul your equipment."

"Okay, so we're glad you bought The Thing. Don't rub it in," Toby said, coming over to give his little sister a noogie. "Thanks."

Later that night, Bay sat down to begin designing a logo for Toby's band, Guitar Face. She wanted to make Emmett a front for his bass drum and a few dozen stickers for Toby and Wilke couldn't hurt. They could pass them out and put them on their guitars, amps, and other instruments. Guitar Face would be fashionable, if not appreciated.

She'd gotten about halfway through the beginning stage when there was a knock on her garage door.

Daphne stood in the doorway, outlined by the sunlight streaming into the room. Her expression was dark, which made Bay a little wary.

"Hi," Bay said, waving a little. "What's up?"

"What did you say to Emmett to make him go?" Daphne asked, crossing her arms and resting her hip against a table.

"Nothing." Bay's eyes widened. "He decided on his own."

"He's acting different. He doesn't talk to me as much as he used to."

"I'm sorry, but that's not my fault. I've never told him not to hang out with you. I get that you're friends, and I'm not going to stand in the way of that." Bay put down her pencil and started tapping her fingernails against the desktop.

"I don't believe you."

"That sucks."

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