For the Love of Emmett

Chapter 7—Confusion

Bella spent a fitful night after her date with Edward. Whenever she was just about to fall asleep, she would suddenly be struck by the image of green eyes.

Emmett's eyes were brown.

Why was she dreaming about Edward's eyes? The memory of him tucking the strand of her hair behind her ear and looking into her eyes was blazed into her brain. She couldn't think of any reason why he had made such an impact on her. Dozens of guys had performed the exact same motion without creating a tenth of the response as Edward's unpracticed one did.

Maybe it had something to do with the burning intensity that was in his eyes. Never had she felt as desired as Edward made her feel. Get over yourself! He'd probably feel that way about any girl who took notice of him. She inwardly flinched at the harsh judgment her mind made of him. Oh get over it. Keep your eye on the prize, girl. This is about Emmett. Don't forget that. Taking a deep breath, she forced aside all thoughts of the 'other' Cullen and tried to relax.

Twenty minutes later, she was still staring at the ceiling. Giving a cry of frustration, she threw the bed sheets off and sat up. This has to stop, she thought with finality. I WILL NOT let him mess with my head like this. Starting tomorrow, the ball will be back in my court. I WILL get control back. With her decision made, her mind finally settled enough for her to attempt sleep again. Finally she drifted off to sleep, where her dreams were filled with hazy thoughts of green eyes and bronze hair.

*****

The next morning dawned with promising blue skies. It was Saturday and the 'group' had planned to spend the day at the river. They were planning on meeting at the Cullen house and from there packing a picnic and driving out to the riverfront. Bella decided that now would be a perfect time to implement her new plan: Subdue Edward Cullen.

Voices from the kitchen drew her in from the front door. Once she got there, she was treated to the sight of Emmett, Edward, and Jasper all attempting to put food together under the direction of Rosalie, who was supervising.

"No, Jazz, cut the carrots into strips, not slices. It'll be easier to eat. Emmett! Why are you bringing tater sauce? We're packing salad and sandwiches."

"I know, but I figured we could use it when I catch a couple of fish."

Rosalie rolled her eyes. "You have never caught a fish big enough to eat and you know it." Then she wrapped her arms around him and placed a kiss on his cheek. "You are so lucky I'm too in love with you to care, silly boy," she teased.

Bella turned her head away in embarrassment at witnessing yet another tender moment between Rosalie and Emmett. As a cover, she decided to implement her latest plan regarding Edward. Stepping behind him where he was washing vegetables in the sink, she wrapped her arms around his waist. "Good morning," she breathed into his neck.

Goosebumps rose on his skin where it had been chilled by her breath. The sensation caught him so off guard that he dropped the lettuce he was rinsing. Scrambling to pick it back up before his fumble was noticed, the back of his mind registered that this behavior was somewhat different for Bella. It just seemed so much more…intimate than her previous actions.

His mind raced back to their date the previous evening. It had gone perfectly up to the point when he brought her back home. They had been laughing together and had somehow ended up much too close. He could see the flecks of gold in her chocolate eyes, could feel them drawing him in. Realizing he was probably invading her personal space, he'd stepped back. It was only later, as he tried to sleep, that he realized that she might have been leaning in towards him. When that thought came, his pillow received an undeserved but thorough beating.

Bella's arms now wrapped around his waist, with her cheek laid against his shoulder, gave him fresh hope that last night may not have been his only opportunity. In fact, the day's agenda of hanging out by the river might even afford some time for each couple to slip off for some private time. The thought of stealing Bella away for alone time caused him to drop the lettuce again.

"Edward! Stop dropping the poor produce, or I'll put you on slicing duties!" Rosalie teased.

"Trust me, sweetheart, you don't want Edward anywhere near knives. Do you want to see the scars on his hands?" Emmett gave a dramatic shiver.

"What scars?" Bella asked curiously, removing the vegetation to look at his hands closely.

"Em's exaggerating. I only have the one little one here." Edward pointed to a faint white scar on his thumb. "My mom was making me help her get dinner ready when I was a kid. She asked me to slice some tomatoes, and I got myself instead."

"Yeah, we couldn't tell what was Edward and what was tomato with all of that red stuff!" Emmett chortled. "Took awhile to even see where he was bleeding from!"

Bella shuddered. She hated blood, even the thought of it. For some reason, the thought of it being Edward's blood made the image even more abhorrent. She tried not to think about the reasons why.

Alice finally arrived just as the food was completed to Rosalie's satisfaction. They all packed onto their cars and headed out.

The river was beautiful. The spot was an unofficial "Cullen Spot" that the boys had found several years previously. Emmett claimed that it was the best location for fishing, though he had never caught anything noteworthy. He had never caught anything longer than four inches, truth be told.

Once they made it to the river, they spanned out, setting up the food, blankets, and Frisbees and fishing poles brought for amusement. Edward and Jasper headed out to gather wood to make a bonfire, while Alice and Rosalie retrieved the food from the car. That left Bella and Emmett to spread out blankets and bring out the toys. As their job was finished first, they began throwing the Frisbee back and forth while waiting for everyone else.

"So, how are things? Did you and Ed have fun on your date?" Emmett tossed his question along with the disc.

"It was nice," she answered noncommittally. "Missed hanging out with you guys though."

"Why?" Emmett was truly puzzled as he held onto the disc that he had just caught, taking an unconscious step closer. "Come on, are you telling me that you're not sick of us yet?" he teased, giving wink.

"Never!" she teased back, stepping closer.

Her face grew serious for a moment. "It's just…" she broke off, uncertain how to continue. "Have you ever felt something for someone that was so strong it scared you? Strong enough that you would do anything just to be near that other person." She gazed into his beautiful brown eyes, just a few shades lighter than her own, willing him to see the meaning behind her words. It's you Emmett. It's always been you.

Emmett's eyes widened at unexpected question. "I, uh, I think you should listen to your heart." He was decidedly uncomfortable having Bella reveal such personal thoughts about her feelings regarding his brother. Thankfully, Rosalie's voice called them out of their suddenly serious conversation.

"Em! I need some help with this! Can you tear yourself away from La La Land long enough to come help me?"

"Awfully bossy, isn't she?" Bella muttered under her breath.

"Well, she keeps me in line. Never lets me get away with anything," he winked. Bella's heart squeezed at the adoring look he turned toward Rosalie. Would he ever look at her that way?

While Emmett was helping Rosalie, Edward and Jasper made their way back to the group with their arms filled with wood for their bonfire. Jasper immediately sought out Alice, who was carrying the last load from the car. Dropping the sticks he'd gathered, he rushed over to help her. Edward smiled slightly and shook his head. His best friend was so incredibly whipped.

Focusing on starting the fire, it took him awhile before he noticed that Bella was seated next to him, gazing into the flames. Reaching over, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, the action reminiscent of the previous evening. Bella didn't look up from the fire, but her lips pulled upwards into a small smile. Edward could not stop staring at her. She was so incredibly beautiful. Touching her had been a reflex, an assurance that she was actually sitting beside him. Dropping his hand back down, he followed her gaze into the fire, trying to ignore the sparks that still made his fingers tingle after touching her.

Bella's thoughts were so far gone that Edward's action was hardly noticed by her. Instead, she was re-evaluating the plan and the choices that had brought her to this point in time. She could not get past the look of pure love that had been on Emmett's face when he had looked at Rosalie moments earlier. She had felt like an intruder seeing that look, as if she had seen something that was intended to be private.

When she had woken up that morning, her mind had been settled. She was going to reign in Edward and reassert her position as the dominant one in the relationship. She also had little fantasies of stealing a few precious alone moments with Emmett. Instead, after spending only a minute and a half alone with the man of her dreams, she was now considering chucking the whole scheme. And it was all because of one look that lasted for only half a second.

Knock it off, Swan! So he looked at her. Big freaking deal! It's only because he doesn't know any better. Once the plan works, he'll be looking at you that way. Besides, he said that you needed to follow your heart. Well, that's what this plan is all about—your heart.

Finally unable to stand listening to her circuitous thoughts any longer, she stood and went to find Alice. Pulling her away from Jasper, she headed along the shoreline where they could talk privately.

"Okay, what's up?" Alice broke the silence that had surrounded them since leaving the group.

Bella sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, unconsciously imitating Edward's favorite thinking gesture. "I don't know if I can keep doing this," she finally mumbled.

Alice jerked to a stop, whirling Bella around to face her. "What do you mean you don't think you can do this anymore?" her voice rose in disbelief. "We're so close! This is the best plan yet that we've tried, and you know it. We are hanging out with Emmett Cullen on a nearly daily basis now. And you don't think you can do it anymore?"

"I'm sorry, Alice. I just…I don't know. It just seems…different…now."

"What do you mean 'different?'"

"I don't know what I mean, okay. I don't know anything anymore. I'm just—"

"What happened last night?" Alice cut her off. Bella's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden turn in the conversation.

"What do you mean?"

"Cut it out, Bella. I mean that before yesterday, you were all gung ho on this plan, same as me, and now, after one date with Geek Boy you're having second thoughts. Now tell me, what happened?"

"First off, don't call him Geek Boy, and second, nothing happened."

"First off, I call them like I see them, and second, bullshit nothing happened." Alice retorted.

"He's not a geek." Bella chose to address the less explosive of the two issues. At Alice's disbelieving look, she amended her statement. "Well, he's not a geek anymore. Besides, he's no worse than Jasper."

"Leave Jasper out of this." Alice bit back, surprising them both at her vehemence. Where the heck did that come from? she wondered. "Now are you going to answer my question or not?"

"Fine," Bella sighed, "but you're going to be really disappointed because I meant it when I said nothing happened." She recounted the evening for Alice, who listened with an oddly thoughtful look on her face.

"So you see, nothing happened," Bella concluded.

There was a short pause before Alice spoke in a small voice, shattering Bella's mind frame with her words.

"You like him." It was not a question. Alice stated it exactly the same way she would affirm that the grass was green. Bella's jaw dropped in shock.

"No! I don't like him. That's ridiculous, why would I like him? You said it yourself, he's a geek and I am Bella freaking Swan! I DO NOT like losers, and you know it."

Alice patiently watched Bella's mini tantrum. "Pretty strong words there, for someone who doesn't care. Besides, I believe it was you who said that he's not a geek anymore."

They both looked back along the shore to where the boys were playing Frisbee. Edward looked carefree as he caught the disc and tossed it towards Jasper in what looked to be the same movement. Bella had to admit that if she was an outsider looking at them, she would never guess that two thirds of the boys present had until recently been social outcasts. All three boys actually looked…hot. Hmm, when did that happen? When did presentable become attractive and then hot?

"Moving on," Alice focused them back on their previous subject. "Now that we know nothing happened last night, was there something that happened today that made you change your mind?"

Bella slumped her shoulders in capitulation. May as well lay it all out there. "Emmett and I were talking earlier, and then she called him away on some errand. We started talking about her a bit, and he had a look in his eyes as he looked at her. It was…I think it was love, Alice. I mean real love, not that watered down stuff that we usually see. I guess I just…didn't want to ruin it for him." Bella's voice grew lower as she spoke, ending in a barely discernable mumble as she shifted the sand beneath her with her toes.

Alice thought for a moment, considering the new piece of information. Staring off in the distance, she slowly started nodding her head. "Okay. So here's the way I see it. Nobody knows about this little plan of ours except for us, right? So maybe we should just see what happens. You can't honestly say that it's torture to spend time with Edward, and Jasper's not too bad either. So we stay with our boys, have some fun, and what happens, happens. If Emmett ends up breaking up with her, we're nearby just in case. And if he doesn't, well, honestly I don't know of any other guys worth our time. If we end up wanting to be around someone else, then we 'break up' and move on, just like we planned in the first place."

Bella considered the new adjustment to their scheme. It made sense. Alice always seemed to make sense, no matter how far fetched her ideas were. Damned pixie. She was a little uneasy about the idea of tossing Edward to the side whenever she was done with him, but hadn't that been the plan all along? It seemed hypocritical to feel guilty about it now. Pushing down her inner confusion, she pasted on a practiced smile, nodded to Alice, and headed back towards the others. What do I do now?