Two more hugs from Emmett and one semi-awkward hug from Charlie later I learned my first lesson: never let Charlie in the kitchen. I mean, I had to at least give him props, he did try to cook, but just… no. After my stomach tried rejecting the substance he called fish, my dear father conceded that he was no culinary genius and we ordered a pizza.

Now that we had proper sustenance in our stomachs, I dragged Emmett into my room and made him help me unpack. The room was once a guest room, so the walls were a neutral beige color and the bedspread was nondescript. Charlie had tried to do something nice (again) and had bought a few posters of child television stars. Apparently he thought girls of all ages would like the latest annoying little Disney twit.

"Yeah… uh. We didn't really know what your favorite color was or anything so I told dad not to go painting it pink" Emmett mumbled. He was laying face down on my bed and looked like he was about to fall asleep. I grabbed a pillow and swatted him on the head with it, making him fall off the bed in surprise. "What the fuck was that for?"

"If I recall correctly, and I do, you came up here to help me unpack and to keep me company on my first official night in Forks. Remember?"

"Geez, sorry for wanting to get some shut eye."

"Why, dear brother? Got some lusty lover keeping you up at night?" I wiggled my eyebrows while I teased him. I wasn't an idiot: my brother was a pretty good-looking guy. But, strangely enough, when I said this, he blushed and sank his head back into a pillow. "What did I say?"

"Just forget it, okay?" he muttered. I sat there in silence, watching him breathe slowly as though he were trying to dispel some horrible thought. And then, like a flash of genius, I realized. So I stood up, sat at the edge of my bed, and gently shoved his shoulder.

"What's her name, Em?"

He sighed dejectedly. "Rosalie Hale. Rosalie 'legs for days' Hale. Rosalie 'doesn't look at a single guy' Hale." Oh dear.

"Well, brother, if she doesn't realize how amazing you are, she isn't worth it. Okay?" I rubbed his back. "You're the most amazing guy in the world, and she doesn't know what she's missing. She's probably some stupid blonde." He looked up at me curiously.

"How did you know she was blonde?"

I shrugged. "I know my older brother." He stuck his tongue out. In turn, I jumped on him and hugged him tight. "I'm really happy I get to live with you again, Emmett. It sucked not having you around all the time."

"Same here, belly. Look, I'm tired. How about we unpack your stuff tomorrow after we get some shut eye?" I kissed his cheek and he got up to leave. "Night Belly."

"it's Bella, god damnit." His chuckle faded as he walked down the hall.

I was in Forks for one entire week without seeing the sun once. So much for the summer weather: the big ball of gas was hidden behind the cloudy skies. Emmett tried taking me hiking, across the street in the woods by our house, but after about ten steps (and three stumble-and-falls), he had to pick me up and carry me home. In turn, I tried to teach both him and Charlie the basics of cooking, but after Emmett destroyed a metal pan when he left the egg in there for too long, I decided that I would be the sole chef in this family.

"So Bella, you ready for your first day of school?" Charlie asked me. He had stayed later then usual, wanting to be there to wish me luck on my first day at Forks High. I just nodded and tried not to heave. Emmett saw my grimace and laughed.

"What's up, Belly? Nervous? You're the sister of Emmett Swan, girly, so no way are you gonna have a hard time." He slapped me on the back, gently of course. I smiled.

"Thanks, Em," My smile disappeared." But if I hear you call me that name even once when we step on school property, I will kill you in your sleep." Charlie nearly snorted his coffee through his nose.

"Well, kids, have a good first day." Charlie stood up and kissed me on the forehead. He shot a meaningful look at Emmett and grabbed his belt and gun.

"What was that about?" I asked him as I took our plates and tossed them in the sink to soak. He chuckled softly and shrugged his shoulders.

"Oh, he just wants me to keep my eye on you, make sure you don't get into any trouble today. Now c'mon, let's go, huh? We don't want to be late." He grabbed his bag and I ran upstairs to get mine, meeting him in his grotesquely huge Jeep. He had to help me into it, and into the seatbelt, laughing the entire time.

He told me about the teachers he had harassed and loved while he drove (like a maniac) to the school. We had a mere five minutes until classes started and we still had to get my schedule and map of the buildings.

While walking me to the small building labeled as the office, Emmett sucked in his breath and his face reddened. I looked in the direction he was facing, and my heart skipped a beat.

They were beautiful, for certain, and lounging against a silver volvo. I immediately picked the one Emmett called Rosalie: she really did have legs for days. There was another blonde, this one a male, and taller then even Rosalie. He had his arms wrapped loosely around an incredibly short girl, with spiky black hair. Still sitting in his car was a bronze haired boy.

The short girl locked eyes with me, and I sputtered when I saw the color of her eyes. A bright, rich gold looked back at my brown. Emmett looked down at me, his face an odd color and wisdom in his eyes. "Yeah, Bella. I know."

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