Chapter 7: Left Behind

Bella was packing her clothes when she heard a knock on the door. "Yeah?" she answered.

"Hey, it's Tara, can I come in?" Tara asked.

"Sure," Bella replied.

Opening the door, Tara walked into the room. "So…when do you guys leave?" she asked.

"Friday," Bella replied.

Tara walked over and helped Bella fold her clothes. "I'm sorry…," she said suddenly. Bella looked at her in disbelief.

"What?" she asked.

"I'm sorry okay? I'm sorry I was nothing but a bitch since you walked through the door," Tara replied.

Bella bit her lower lip. "I'll forgive you, but why are you so mean?" she asked. Tara sat down in the chair. The young woman was quiet, letting out a deep breath.

"It's an act," Tara replied.

"Why?" Bella asked.

Tara shrugged, sitting back in her seat. "Why should I want to leave when I have a good thing going here?" she replied simply.

"Good point," Bella commented.

Tara smiled. "Have you talked to Emmett?" she asked.

"I haven't seen him since I told him I was leaving," Bella replied sitting down on her bed.

Tara sighed, tapping her fingers on the arm of the chair. "He's been at the football field if you want to talk to him," she commented.

"What do I say Tara? Goodbye have a nice life?" Bella asked.

"Bella, you're going to live with your dad. You're not dying. I think this inventor called Alexander Graham Bell invented a contraption that you can dial a number and talk to someone. There's also the newest way to contact someone through the internet called 'email'," she replied.

Bella bit her lower lip. "But Emmett won't even talk to me," she commented.

"Then go talk to him," Tara answered.

Nodding her head slowly, she finished packing her suitcase before leaving to find Emmett.

Emmett was now at the baseball field, practicing his batting. "Emmett?" Bella called. He glanced at her.

"Hey," he answered before taking another swing.

"Can we talk?" she asked.

"Sure," he answered.

Bella bit her lower lip. "Why won't you talk to me? Why do you avoid me?" she asked.

"I've just been busy Bells," he replied.

"You have never been this busy before," she told him.

Turning around, Emmett put the bat on the ground. "What's going on?" she asked.

"Is it not that obvious Bella?" he asked.

"I wouldn't be asking if it was!" she exclaimed.

"I don't want you to go!" Emmett admitted loudly.

She suddenly saw the pain in his eyes as the words left his mouth. "I don't want you to leave," he told her. Bella bit her lower lip, sticking her hands in her jacket pockets. "I'm happy your dad found you and everything. Trust me, wish my dad would quit the bottle and be a dad. So yeah, you're getting that wonderful life with a dad and all that. I'm still going to be here. You're going to forget about me," he explained.

Bella stared at him in shock. "What are you talking about?" she asked.

"You're going to make friends, maybe your dad and that new wife of his might have a kid of their own. I'll behind and forgotten while you're living every foster kid's dream," he replied.

Bella ran around the fence to get to him, throwing her arms around his neck once he was close enough. Emmett stumbled back a couple of steps before hugging her back. "You're wrong," she told him. She had tears pressing against her eyes. "You're wrong Emmett. Out of all the people I have ever met you're one I'll never forget, never," she added.

As she held onto him, a tear fell down her cheek. "Out of everyone at that house, you're the one I am regretting the most about leaving," she told him. Emmett hugged her tight, resting his forehead against the top of her head. "I want you to come too," she told him letting out a sob. Bella let out a sob, feeling her whole world starting to crumble. "You're so important to me Emmett, it's killing me that you have to stay," she added.

"You're important to me too, Bells, you haven no idea how important you are to me," he answered.

Bella pulled away and Emmett stroked her cheek gently. "Just email, write, or even call?" he asked.

"Always," she answered.

She wrapped her arms around his neck again, hugging him. Emmett hugged her back, lifting her up off the ground, swinging her back and forth in his arms.

After setting her down on the ground, Bella sniffled softly. "I made this for you," she told him. She reached into her pocket, pulling out a white hemp bracelet. Emmett smiled.

"I'll wear it for luck," he told her.

He reached around his neck and unclasped the gold chain with the small leaf from around his neck, placing it in her hand. "That's for you," he told her. She smiled as she closed her hand around the necklace before looking up into Emmett's piercing blue eyes. Emmett smiled gently, his hands resting on her little waist. Bella closed her eyes as he began to lower his face to hers.

"Bella? Emmett?" Anita called, forcing them apart.

Bella took a step back, letting out a deep breath. Emmett gave her hand a gentle squeeze, giving her a small smile. "Let's go," he murmured. She nodded her head slowly as they walked back to the house.

When Friday came around, Charlie was putting Bella's suitcase in his car. "You have everything?" Charlie asked. Looking over at the house, Bella saw Emmett standing on the front step.

"I think so," she replied.

Charlie looked over at Emmett before placing his hand on his daughter's shoulder. "Go make your rounds kiddo," he told her. She nodded her head slowly. Walking over, Bella hugged Anita tight.

"If you need anything, just call," Anita told her.

"I will," she answered.

Shawn hugged her with a grin. "Hey it was nice to watch Tara get flustered about not having enough barrettes," he quipped. Bella laughed before she hugged Tara.

"Take care of yourself," Tara told her.

"Always," she answered.

"Keep in touch," Tara added.

"You know it," Bella answered.

Tara smiled before letting her go.

When she reached Emmett, Bella felt as if someone was constantly punching her in the gut. Emmett let out a deep breath before hugging her tight. Bella hugged him back with a shaky breath. "I'll be waiting for that call and email," he told her.

"I'll keep in touch, I promise," she whispered.

He kissed the side of her head before letting her go. Bella smiled sadly before walking back into the car. Emmett watched as Charlie started the car and drove off once both passengers were secure. Letting out a deep breath, he ran off the front steps. "Emmett!" Anita called as he ran into the forest.

Bella was watching out the passenger window, biting her lower lip. "You okay kiddo?" Charlie asked.

"I think so," she replied.

Charlie patted her knee gently before looking back at the road.

Emmett ran as fast as he could, making every shortcut he could think of. He knew this forest like the back of his hand and just hoped he didn't miss her. "Come on Emmett," he muttered to himself. He finally found the side of the road just as the car started driving by. Stopping he saw Bella's smile, making his run worthwhile, just to see her smile. He smiled back and started waving at her.

Bella saw Emmett standing on the side of the road, trying to catch his breath from his run. She gave him a smile, waving at him. Emmett waved back, giving her the smile that would be forever imprinted in her mind before Charlie turned the corner and he was out of her sight.

Emmett watched as the car disappeared from his sight, letting out a sigh. "There went my light," he said quietly to himself. He turned back around and started walking back home with his hands stuffed in his pockets.