Word Prompt: Dusty
Un-betad
Epov
I had known it wouldn't be easy to talk to Bella, but I honestly didn't expect it to go as badly as it did. I was determined to make things better between us however, no matter what it took. Bella was worth the effort. I hadn't had the heart to say to mom that I really didn't expect her to agree to Thanksgiving dinner with us. And who the hell was Luca? Nobody that I had talked to in the ER had mentioned anything about a Luca.
Needless to say when I called her that evening after I had gotten home, she was quite upset that Bella had said no, but she was not to be deterred. She was determined that things would get better. After talking to mom, I went into my room and pulled a box out of the closet I haven't opened in a long time. It was a little dusty so I grabbed a rag and wiped it off. I carried it back into the kitchen and grabbed a beer as I sat down at the table. I took a swig of my beer, and opened the box. Inside of it was all of my memories of mine and Bella's relationship. Old concert ticket stubs, movie ticket stubs, notes, and even the garter she wore under her dress to my senior prom. If I could go back in time and do it all over again, I'd do it differently. I would not have ended things with Bella, and maybe we'd be married now.
Bpov
The next day at work things were a little crazy. I didn't go out of my way to avoid Edward, but I didn't seek him out either. I was at the desk finishing up notes on a patient when they brought a woman who'd had a motorcycle accident. She'd been lucky that she was going slow, things could have been much worse since she hadn't been wearing a helmet. She was lucky to get away with just a fractured ankle. Once x ray was finished with her, and Edward checked the x rays he called me over to him.
"Bella, could you please call for a ortho consult? She has a tri malleolar fracture."
"Sure Dr Cullen, no problem." I replied as I picked up the phone.
"So we're back to Dr Cullen now?" he asked with a nervous chuckle.
I rolled my eyes as I hung the phone back up, "I'm being professional, I don't call any of the doctors by their first name."
He smiled as he nodded his head, "Okay, just making sure we haven't taken a step back."
I shook my head as he headed back over to the patient, "I didn't know we'd taken a step forward." I mumbled.
I was in checking on the patient when I heard two familiar voices outside the curtain. They were discussing the patient before I heard the newer voice say my name.
"So where is nurse Bella? You know I'm not leaving the ER until I see her."
"Em, come on leave her alone. Please?" Edward said.
"Uh uh, no doin'. I did that last time you asked me to and I've regretted it ever since. I want my baby sis back in my life."
Oh dear lord, I can't handle this today.
"Em, please. I doubt she'll want to see you."
"Maybe not, but it can't hurt just to say hi."
"This is ridiculous." I muttered under my breath as I pushed back the curtain. Edward's eyes got wide when he noticed me, and Emmett just grinned.
"Bella B! How you doing little sis?" he asked as he grabbed me up in hug.
I froze in his arms. I don't know why I was surprised, I shouldn't have been. That's just Emmett. He's a big ole teddy bear, with a heart the size of Texas. But this big ole teddy bear hurt me too.
"Em, put her down." Edward growled behind him.
Emmett laughed as he put me back down on my feet, I glanced over his shoulder to see the people standing around at the desk watching with wide eyes, just waiting on me to rip Emmett a new one. Oh how I wanted to.
"How are ya Bellsy?" Emmett asked with a wide grin.
"Peachy." I replied through gritted teeth.
"It's good to see you, I'll have to get my Rosie down here to introduce you."
Edward groaned quietly and shook his head.
"No thanks." I replied.
"Come on Bella, look. I know things went all shitty when dumb ass here ended things with you and I'm sorry. It was a bad decision on his part, and even worse on mine for going along with it. I never agreed with him, but he's my baby bro, and I tried to respect his wishes. But I've regretted it ever since."
I took a deep breath, "I get it Emmett, I do. You're sorry, Edward is sorry. I'm sure Alice, Carlisle, and Esme are all sorry. But that doesn't mean shit to me. You weren't sorry enough to contact me in the last ten years, so I don't want to hear you I'm sorry's now."
The look on his face was almost enough to stop me, but I shoved my way past a remorseful looking Emmett, and made my way to the break room. I sat in the quiet room and stewed for a few minutes. Could I rekindle a friendship with Emmett? I would like to, I missed him. But I don't know.
I fixed my cup of hot tea, and grabbed a biscotti before heading back out to the desk. Emmett was standing at the desk on the phone arranging surgery for the ankle fracture. When he saw me come up to the desk he winked at me. I sat my cup down and opened my biscotti dipping it in the tea before taking a bite. He hung up the phone and bumped up against me.
"It was good to see you again Bells, I've missed you. See ya around?" he said with a smile.
I took a deep breath and looked up at him, "See ya around Em." I said giving him a small smile.
He smiled like he'd won the lottery before heading to the elevators.
I said I'd see him around, but I'm not making any promises.
