Chapter Ten
It Was A Dark Night, A Black Dress

"How was your dinner?" asked Emily with a smile as I walked through the cottage door a few hours later.

"It was okay," I replied, hanging my coat up. "I'm just feeling kind of tired. I think I'll head up to bed."

"Okay," said Emily, her brow furrowing. "Are you feeling sick or anything?"

"Nah, I'm alright, just a little tired," I reassured her.

I went up the stairs, and into my room, closing the door behind me. I flopped on to my bed, not bothering to change out of my dress.

As of now, everything with Emmett seemed to be alright. Trying to be friends shouldn't be that hard right? Oh, who was I kidding? The moment that Emmett had stepped foot into the Cullen's house, every feeling that I had ever felt for him came rushing back to me.

But since Emmett was dead set on us being friends again, telling him how I felt was the worst possible thing I could do. I had no idea if friends was the only thing Emmett saw in our future. I didn't know if Emmett even thought about the future.

I sighed into my pillow. This whole thing was way too dramatic and trying for me. I kicked off my heels and curled up in my warm comforter, then drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

"Sam Uley!! Get your butt downstairs now!" I called the next morning.

"Excited much?" Emily laughed.

"Very!" I squealed. "It's Christmas Eve! God, I adore this holiday!"

Emily smiled and shook her head at me while I stormed up the stairs to get my brother up from bed.

"Sam Uley!" I exclaimed, slamming open his bedroom door. "Did you not hear me call you about six times?"

"Oh, I heard you," he muttered, rolling over and hiding his head under the blankets.

I rolled my eyes. "Sam, it's Christmas! We have to spend the day together. Me, you and Em. A family day."

"Can we start it later?" he begged.

"No," I replied, sternly. "Get up. Emily is cooking breakfast. Don't make me do something we're both going to regret."

"Fine," Sam grumbled, tossing the bed clothes off himself, and grabbing a t-shirt. "I'm up. Happy?"

"Immensely," I smiled.

"Ho, ho, ho!" Embry exclaimed, sticking his head through the front door.

"Merry Christmas!" I smiled, greeting Embry.

"Hey angel," he grinned, putting a small gift-wrapped box in my hand.

"Embry!" I gasped. "You didn't have to get me anything!"

"Yeah, I kind of wanted to," Embry laughed.

"Good," I replied. "Cause I got you something too."

I pulled Embry into the living room where Sam, Emily, Seth, Leah, Quil, Jared, Kim, Collin, and Jacob were already gathered, waiting to open the presents we had gotten for each other.

After an hour or so, of laughing, gift exchanging, and smiles, my phone vibrated. I quickly checked it, and saw I had a new text from Emmett.

Emmett:Hey, listen, Jake's coming over tonight to see Nessie & Alice really wants to see you. I wouldn't mind it either. U interested?

Taylor:I dunno. I kind of promised Sam & Em that it would just be us tonight.

Emmett:Please? (: Only for an hour or so.

Taylor:Yeah. Sure. I'll dodge over w/ Jake.

Emmett:Great. See you then.

Taylor: Yeah. See ya.

"Edward, you are a mental retard. . . You're perfectly aware of that, right?" Jake mocked.

Edward rolled his eyes at Jake's childishness. "How is this any fair, when you have Alice on your side? She'll know what we're going to do before we ever do it!"

Alice and I traded a knowing wink.

The Cullen's, Jake and I were gathered in the Cullen's sitting room, playing a total unfair game of charades. With Alice, Jake, myself, Rosalie, Carlisle, and Jeremiah against Edward, Emmett, Bella, Esme, Jasper, and Nessie, the entire game was a lost cause before we even started.

"Okay guys," Bella interjected. "As much fun as this was, Nessie should really be getting to bed. Edward, Jake?"

Edward and Jake rose from the couch, and followed Bella out back to the cottage. "Tay, we'll leave when I come back okay?"

I nodded my understanding and turned back to the rest of the Cullen's. However, where the entire Cullen clan had once sat, only Emmett remained.

I awkwardly walked over to the empty chair, furthest away from Emmett, and sat down.

"Um, Taylor," Emmett replied, hesitantly.

"What's up?"

"Well, I kind of have something for you."

"You do?" I asked, surprised.

"Yeah," he nodded, pulling out a small white box.

"Emmett, you should've done that. . ." I sighed.

"I saw it and I knew that it would look perfect on you," he smiled.

I got up from the chair and sat next to Emmett on the chair. He handed the box to me, and I was about to open it when -

Aw, shit, shake that ass, ma move it like gypsy; Stop, ho, back it up, now let me see those hips swing. . .

"Just one second," I smiled, pulling my phone from my pocket. "Hello?"

"Taylor?" replied a shaky voice on the other end.

"Th - Thomas?" I asked, confused. "What's going on?"

"Taylor, it's Noelle," Thomas replied, choking on his words.

"Thomas, what about Noelle?" I pressed.

"There was an accident," he sobbed. "She . . She . ."

"Thomas," I whispered. "What happened to Noelle?"

Thomas let out a sob, and managed to choke out, "she's dead."