Chapter Ten
"Who's Jeep is that?" I asked.
A scowl darkened Edward's lovely face. "Emmett's. I didn't think he'd actually show up."
"Emmett? What's he doing here?"
"He wants to find out how this morning went," he said.
"What? Breakfast with Charlie? Why does it matter?"
"He and Jasper took bets on whether or not he tried to use his taser on me."
"Are you serious?"
"Alice assured them that everything would go fine. Why does everyone insist on betting against Alice?"
I couldn't help but snort slightly. "They really thought Charlie would try to tase you? That's funny!"
Edward rolled his eyes as he threw the Volvo into park. "Allow me to apologize now for anything inappropriate my big brother may say. He's not known for his tact."
"Let me guess: He hasn't had as long to perfect it as you have, right?"
"No, he's had plenty of time. He's just not as refined as I am." I laughed at that one as he sighed melodramatically. "I guess it's best to just get this over with. It will be worse if he suspects we're trying to avoid him."
I unbuckled my seatbelt and climbed from the passenger side of the car, waiting for Edward to join me. Quicker than I could blink, he was at my side, his hand grasping mine. I shivered slightly at the cool touch. "Are you alright?" He asked.
"Perfect," I responded with a smile. I puckered my lips for a kiss before we continued across the parking lot to Esme's gallery.
As soon as we opened the door, Emmett was there, his booming laugh reaching my ears. "So? How did it go?"
"It was fine, thank you," Edward said coolly. "If you don't mind, I need to use the restroom."
"What?" Emmett asked, giving me a quizzical look as Edward hurried past him. I offered him a shrug.
"He ate an egg," I said, by way of explanation.
"Huh! He must really like you," he said, eying me with a look of approval. "So really, how was this morning? Did he even try to whack ol' Eddie's kneecaps with his baton?"
His laugh was infectious and I couldn't help but join in. "Nope. I have to admit, I was a little nervous when I came downstairs to find Charlie already had his gunbelt on. I just knew he was done for. Edward's just lucky that Charlie's not completely awake before his coffee."
"Oh man!"
"So how much do you owe Jasper?" Edward asked, coming out of the back area.
"Only twenty bucks. But still! I don't think he should be allowed in on this if he's just going to ask Alice the outcome," he complained. "I swear. How freakin' unfair is that?"
"If it'll make you feel better, we could always say that Charlie dry stunned him," I offered. "I'd be willing to go along with that."
"Well I wouldn't. And please Bella, don't encourage him."
"Hey I like the way you think!" Emmett boomed, ignoring Edward. "Or at the very least pepper sprayed him."
"Emmett, stop trying to corrupt her."
"Hey, she's the one who offered! I'm just trying to expand on the idea she already offered!"
Edward rolled his eyes before he turned to me. "I assume you aren't opposed to a bit of company today?"
"Of course not," I replied.
"Awesome!" Emmett said, making himself comfortable in the chair behind the front desk. "So what are we doing today then?"
"We," Edward said, motioning to me and him, "are hanging out. You," he said, pointing to Emmett, "are going back home to Rosalie."
"Not today," he said with a shake of his head. "Alice kidnapped her for the day. She won't be home until seven."
"Then go hang out with Jasper."
"Nope. Jasper went along with them. You know how he is. He's always shoved so far up Alice's as–"
"Watch your mouth," Edward scolded.
"Oh come on Eddie! It's not like she's a toddler!"
"Still! It's not nice to talk that way in front of a lady."
I couldn't help but laugh at the exchange. The first time I'd met Emmett, I had gotten the impression that he was someone I could get along with, so long as his beautiful blonde girlfriend was nowhere in sight. She didn't like me, and I figured that he went along with whatever she wanted. But here, without her around, he was warm and friendly, acting as though we'd known each other for years.
"So!" Emmett said, slapping his hands together, before rubbing them together. "What's the plan for today?"
"She's working Emmett."
"Oh yes, because business is absolutely booming right now," he said with a roll of his eyes. "Esme wouldn't care if we ditched the place for a couple of hours."
"I probably shouldn't leave," I said with a shake of my head. "But I wouldn't be opposed to you hanging out here with us Emmett," I told him. "If you wanted to, I mean."
"Not like I have anything better to do," he said, scooting back in the chair to prop his feet up. "Edward, be a dear and go grab my laptop out of the Jeep, would ya? I just downloaded a new movie."
"No," Edward said stubbornly. "You really don't have to be nice to him. No one else is."
"You're just jealous because I'm Esme's favorite."
My lovely boyfriend rolled his eyes at his brother before he turned his attention back to me. "He's always like this. We think he was dropped on his head several times when he was still human."
I laughed, shaking my head. "It's really okay Edward. I think he's pretty funny."
"You hear that Edward?" Emmett asked with a smirk. "She thinks I'm funny. I knew she'd fit in just fine around here."
xoxoxoxox
From the first day I'd started at Esme's, I'd always enjoyed working there, but nothing had compared to my day with Edward and his brother. Emmett was absolutely hilarious, but the two of them together was hysterical.
"I can't believe how funny Emmett is," I said, my sides still aching from all the laughing I'd done.
"Ugh. Just don't go around telling other people that. He'll let it go to his head and he'll be even more insufferable than he already is."
"I'll do my best to keep that to myself."
"Thank you," he said with a grin, leaning over to press a kiss to my knuckles. "I don't think I've ever seen you laugh as much as you did today. You really do have a lovely laugh, you know."
I blushed, ducking my head slightly. "Thank you," I said softly. "I really had fun today. Emmett seems like he's a pretty cool guy to be around."
"He likes you, you know. He felt pretty terrible about how everyone reacted to you at the open house. But he pretty much goes along with what Rosalie wants to keep the peace, but he's been trying to reason with her since."
"Really?"
"He's the one who initially talked me into coming to the gallery the day you started."
"Remind me to thank him for that," I said, giving him a smile. It had truly hurt my feelings to think that the Cullen siblings didn't like me because of what I was… or I guess because of what I wasn't. To know that Emmett had been on my side from the beginning was a relief.
"What about Jasper? He didn't appear to be unfriendly, but I got the impression that he was uncomfortable with me there."
He laughed lightly. "Jasper is… a little different from the rest of us."
"What do you mean?"
"It's harder for him to abstain."
"Oh!" My eyes widened in surprise.
"You see, for the rest of us, we had Carlisle to turn to as a role model of sorts. Alice and Jasper weren't 'born' into the family. Does that make sense?"
I nodded. "But how come Alice is so comfortable with this lifestyle?"
"We aren't sure. For whatever reason, Alice didn't have the usual 'newborn' experience, from what she can remember. But Jasper… It's the hardest for Jasper because it was never a conscious decision to abstain for human blood. He does it because Alice does. He knows how disappointed she would be if he slipped up."
"Oh wow."
"It's a struggle for him, but he's done very well so far."
"Do you think he'll ever be comfortable around me?"
"I think he'll get used to you," Edward said with a nod. "It's really my fault that you haven't been reintroduced to him."
"What do you mean?"
"You have to understand something Bella. I barely trust myself around you. If I allow myself to lose control for even one moment in your presence, I could end everything. It's… hard for me to be okay with putting your life in the hands of someone else. Even if he is my brother."
"He must think you have absolutely no faith in him!"
"It's not that I have no faith in him. I'm just… I'm afraid for you."
"Well that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!"
"What? I can't help wanting to protect you!"
"No, and that's fine, but for God's sake Edward, he's your brother! Do you have any idea what this must look like to him? He probably thinks I'm terrified of him!"
"You should be! You should be terrified of all of us! We're monsters, Bella!"
"If I truly believed that, do you think I would be sitting here alone with you? Come on Edward. Give me a little more credit than that, please."
"I don't think you take this quite as seriously as you should."
"And I think you take it more seriously than necessary. You have had plenty of opportunities to hurt me Edward. Alice too! But it's really not that big of a deal to me." He sat in the driver's seat, still as a statue, his face set in a scowl. "Ugh. Are you mad?"
"No, I'm not mad," was the clipped response. Oh yeah, he was mad.
"Why are you mad?"
"Didn't I just tell you I wasn't mad?"
"Yes, but that doesn't mean I believe you." He rolled his eyes, and I could feel my jaw clenching. No wonder Charlie was so irritated with me when I did that. It was infuriating. His eyes never left the road.
"Why are you mad?" I repeated.
"I'm not mad!"
"Well then why are you acting like this?"
"I knew this was a bad idea."
The words slashed through me. The anger I had felt quickly dissipated, a feeling of hurt washing over me in its place. "What?"
He seemed to realize what he'd just said, because at once, his eyes widened and he turned his face in my direction. "Oh my God. I didn't mean it like that."
"Then what exactly did you mean, Edward?" I asked, unable to stop the tears that had formed behind my eyes. "You know what? I don't really care what you meant. Stop the car!" I demanded.
"Are you crazy? I'm not letting you out here."
"STOP THE CAR, EDWARD!" I surprised even myself at the volume of my voice, but it had the desired effect. His foot slammed on the brake, and before I could comprehend what was happening, I yanked my seatbelt off and jumped out of the car, slamming the door behind me.
Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid! So stupid to think this ever could have worked! Do you have eyes? Did you not see how beautiful he is compared to you?
"Bella!" I heard him calling to me, but I just didn't care. I broke into a run, knowing it was stupid. As if he couldn't catch me! "For God's sake Bella! Would you just stop for a second! I didn't mean it like that!"
I ran faster, praying that my clumsiness would not win out over my desire to put as much space between the two of us as possible. Leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me alone! Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid!
I didn't hear when the tires of the Volvo skidded to a stop. I didn't hear when he slammed the driver's side door. I didn't hear the gravel crunch under his feet as he sprinted towards me. I felt his cool hands grabbing my wrist, nearly causing me to fall to the ground, but he was much to quick for that. He grabbed me up, pulling me forcefully to his chest, crushing me against him until I could not move.
"Let me go!" I shouted, but he just pulled me closer to him.
"Not until you listen to me!"
"I don't care what you have to say! Just go away!"
"I'm not going anywhere!" I pushed against his chest, the tears streaking down my cheeks. I could feel his fingers weaving through my hair. "Please let me explain! I didn't mean to upset you! That's not what I meant! Please Bella!" He pleaded.
I didn't speak. I couldn't trust my voice, but I stopped fighting him. The tears continued to stain his shirt, though he didn't seem to mind. I don't know how long we stood there, his arms wrapped around me, holding me tight.
"If I let go of you, will you promise not to run from me again?" His voice was painfully sad as he whispered into my ear. He sounded just as broken as I felt.
I nodded against him. "I promise," I responded, equally as soft. I could feel him nod as he loosened his grip on me.
"Let's go back to the car."
He laced his fingers through mine as he tugged me gently, pulling me in the direction of the car. I hadn't realized just how chilly it hadn't gotten outside. I didn't realize I was shivering. He opened my door before he shrugged his jacket off, slipping it around my shoulders.
He helped me into the seat before he went around to let himself in. He reached for my hand once more. "Would you please allow me to explain now?" Again, I could only nod. "I didn't mean that our relationship was a bad idea, Bella. At times, I think it's probably more dangerous than necessary for you, but I could never, ever regret what we have."
"Then why did you say it?" I asked, my voice cracking slightly.
"I meant it was a bad idea to even bring up the situation with Jasper."
Wow. You're an idiot Bella. Way to jump to conclusions. "Oh," I responded dumbly.
"I know you may have a hard time believing this Bella, but I'm in love with you. I've never felt this way about anyone, ever. I don't know exactly what that… what that boy did to you to make you think you're so incapable of being loved, but he was wrong, and he was very, very stupid. I'm not going to make his mistake."
I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes again. "I'm s-so sorry I overreacted."
"You don't have to apologize for that, love. It wasn't the wisest choice of words. I probably would have come to the same conclusion."
"No you wouldn't have! You're not as stupid as I am!" I cried, reaching up to swipe at the tears on my cheeks.
"Hey," he said sternly. "You're not stupid. You've been hurt. I don't think I'll ever be able to comprehend exactly how difficult it was for you to have him make you believe you weren't worthy of him, but I can promise you, I'll do everything in my power to make sure you never feel that way again."
He leaned over, pressing his cold lips against mine in a gentle kiss. "Do you remember when Alice said she saw you before you ever came to Forks?" I nodded. "And that we couldn't exactly figure out what it meant?"
"Yes."
He hesitated. "I think you came here… for me. We're supposed to be together, Bella. As much as I wanted to fight it in the beginning, I couldn't. I never believed in fate until I met you. I think that's why I've been alone for so long. You hadn't come along yet."
"I'm so sorry I upset you, Bella. That was never my intention. I just… I have to be careful with you. I couldn't bear it if something happened to you. Especially if something happened simply because of what we are."
"If I… If I promise to try and take this whole thing a little more seriously, would you be willing to make me a promise too."
"Anything you want, love."
"I'm not asking that you ignore your instincts when it comes to what's safe for me when it comes to your family. But at least give me a chance to know them, Edward. I want to know every part of you, and I can't do that if you keep me away from them."
He nodded. "I can agree to that. But you have to give me your word that the minute things get too dangerous, or too out of hand, you'll allow me to remove you the situation without so much as a grunt of complaint."
"I promise," I said with a nod.
"Good," he said, giving me that crooked smile that melted my heart. "I suppose I should probably get you home to Charlie."
"Will you come over tonight?"
"Of course."
I leaned over to give him a kiss before situating myself in the seat once more, pulling my seatbelt across my chest. "Edward?"
"Yes love?"
"I love you too."
A/N: So I should probably apologize for the seemingly unnecessary drama of this chapter. But I promise, I needed to do this to get the ball rolling for future chapters! Emmett was just a fun little thing to throw in. He's been prancing around in my head, begging to be let out! So there you have it! Also, if anyone has any suggestions as to what they'd like to see (because this story is moving faster than I'd planned) then feel free to email me at . I'm always open to emails because like REVIEWS (please don't forget me!), they dazzle me. Love you guys!
