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Chapter 12 - I dream of a better world...where chickens can cross roads without having their motives questioned.
EDWARD
I gently rubbed Bella's arms and kissed her forehead. "Let me get rid of my brother," I whispered.
I grabbed my notes from my bag and shoved them at him. He stood there staring, and his eyes kept darting between Bella and me. It was getting annoying.
"Stop gaping," I growled.
He looked down at me, shocked. "That's why you were busy. This weekend, I mean, why I couldn't have the notes?"
I nodded yes, and he smiled.
"Wait until mom and dad hear about this."
"They already know." I was getting more annoyed by the second.
His face screwed up, and he actually looked hurt. "You told them before you told me?"
"You've been a jerk to my girlfriend and harassed her. Why the heck would I talk to you about her, Emmett?"
He shrugged, looking properly chastised. "Because I'm your brother, Ed."
I glanced back at Bella, and she rolled her eyes at me and waved us over. I looked back at my pouting brother and sighed.
"Fine, you can meet her, but don't expect her to talk to you."
Emmett followed me to her desk, and I walked around it, pulling her to me. For some reason, I felt the need to claim her around Jake and Emmett. I knew it was very caveman of me, I just hoped she didn't mind.
I told her I was sorry with my eyes, and I could tell she understood me loud and clear. I was sure she was an expert at reading body language by now.
She looked at Emmett, who was still looking properly ashamed, as he reached his hand out to her. "Hey, sorry for harassing you and all, but you've got to know you're hot, right? And then, the whole no talking thing…come on…a chick who can shut up is every guy's dream."
"Emmett," I growled.
"What I mean to say is that I won't bug you anymore, and let me know if someone else does, and I'll kick their ass. We wouldn't want to see my little brother's pretty face get messed up trying to defend your honor, 'cause I know he would, that's just the way he is. So, you know, tell me first, so he doesn't get hurt."
I thought she would be pissed at his statement. I certainly was. Of course, Bella never reacted the way I expected her to. She hugged my brother and then gave me a sweet smile.
I was left dumbfounded.
I wasn't sure what had happened, but I hoped it stuck, because I was around my stupid brother a lot, and it would be easier if my girl and he got along.
Emmett overheard me telling Bella that we would find a place for Tom, so Emmett volunteered his place. I warned him that Tom would need rest, but Bella and I would help with his care. For the six weeks that Tom was at Emmett's, it had to be a party-free zone.
Emmett cringed and checked his calendar, and then he said he could move a party he had planned. He also wondered if Tom wouldn't mind the couch, because he didn't have an extra bed. I told him we would have a bed for him. He agreed, and then he asked if Tom wouldn't mind sleeping in the closet.
At this, Bella gasped, offended at the very idea.
"It's a really huge walk-in closet with a window. It'd be like he had his own room. I'll check to make sure it's properly vented, but it may actually be a good thing. Emmett has a second closet that's empty we can move his clothes and stuff into. It'll be private and cozy, giving Tom the quiet he'll need," I tried to reassure her.
I knew she'd want to see it and set it up, before we brought Tom home. I let Emmett know that I'd be helping Bella set up Tom's space later that evening. Tom was scheduled to be discharged tomorrow.
I didn't think Bella realized that my family was well off. I lived in a humble dorm, but that was because I liked things within walking distance. Emmett lived in a luxurious off-campus condominium he shared with Jasper. It was a nice two-bedroom place, in an upscale gated community. My mother insisted on the gated part. Emmett found it inhibited his partygoers from coming and going as freely as he wished, and the location kept his parties from getting too rowdy. Mom wasn't stupid.
I was surprised, when Bella spoke up, as we packed up the bed for Tom. "He cares, because you care. He's a good brother. I didn't see it before. He seemed like a jerk, but I can see why you put up with him."
I shrugged. "Yeah, he may push me around and harass me, but he always has my back, so I can't complain. Besides, if it wasn't for him, I would've never gotten up the nerve to talk to you."
"Why not?"
I blushed. "Because you're beautiful and way out of my league." She rolled her eyes at me, and it made me chuckle.
We were both excited for Tom to be released from the hospital and get better. We dropped by Emmett's later, and Bella gawked at my brother's place. I realized that my brother's closet was bigger than her bedroom. We moved Emmett's stuff out, and I made sure the air vents were open. We then set up the bed with the sheets and blanket Bella had brought. I found an outlet and put up a nightstand I had stored in my parents' garage. My bedroom set had come with two, but the second one didn't fit in my dorm.
Emmett brought a small lamp in from the entryway to put on the nightstand. The closet had an overhead light, but the lamp would make it feel more like a bedroom, and Tom wouldn't have to get up to turn off the light. The nightstand had three decent drawers, so Bella put some socks and underwear she had bought for Tom in the middle drawer and some t-shirts and pajama pants in the bottom. She left the top one empty for whatever Tom wanted to put in it. She finished making the bed with a green bedspread, and then she hung a small matching curtain over the window. Jasper had donated some posters that featured horses and old west scenes, and Emmett helped Bella mount them on the wall to give the room some interest. I added another Louis L'Amour book to the nightstand, giving it the final touch to make it feel homier.
Bella had a beautiful smile, when she saw our finished product. She actually hugged Emmett and kissed his cheek, and then she hugged me and kissed me deeply. Man, I loved it when she kissed me.
The next morning, she was at my dorm bright and early, excited to get Tom and show him the place we had made for him. I smiled widely, when I saw her shirt. I knew he would love it, too.
Never knock on Death's door. Ring the bell and run away. Death really hates that.
Tom chuckled when he saw it and chided her for making him laugh. He was still sore, but he was excited to go, though he said he would miss the three meals a day. I promised him he would be getting three meals a day at Emmett's as well. Unfortunately, it would mostly be takeout, but it would still be edible.
Tom had tears in his eyes, when he saw the setup. He thanked us profusely, and then Emmett showed him to the bathroom they would be sharing. It was a master suite, so the bathroom was rather luxurious. Emmett tried to make Tom feel welcome and comfortable by clearing off a space on the counter for him, and he had stocked it with a new toothbrush, deodorant and a comb. He informed Tom he was welcome to use his body wash and shampoo, and then he showed him where he kept the razors and his clippers if he ever wanted to shave or trim up.
Emmett then went on about how awesome Tom's beard was, and he wondered if the blonde bouncer chick at the club would like the mountain man look. Bella laughed at him, shaking her head knowingly.
Somehow, I doubted it, too.
