All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer
"I'm sorry…I don't know what's wrong with me." I whispered after I had calmed down.
Emmett had moved us so that we were now sitting on a fallen tree. His arms held me tight to him as one hand rubbed soothing circles into my back.
"Do you want to talk?" He asked, his voice thick with worry.
I shook my head pulling away slightly to look up at him. "I'm fine really. Thanks." I smiled weakly.
It was silent for a few minutes. Emmett continued to hold me close refusing to let go, not that I wanted him to. It was comforting being held by him. He was the brother I always wanted, and he was always able to make me feel better when I was upset.
"You don't have to be brave with me Bella. You can tell me anything."
"I know."
"It's Edward isn't it…and Tanya?" He asked hesitantly.
I shrugged in response.
Just then he grabbed my shoulders roughly turning me so that I was forced to look at him. His eyes were mere slits. "Fight dammit! I always thought you were stronger than this." He growled.
I shook my head sadly. "How?" I felt absolutely defeated.
"Make him forget her. Remind him of what you two have. Hell, I don't know. Just do something."
"It's not that simple." I snapped. He just didn't understand.
"Make it simple." He retorted raising his eyebrows at me, his voice full of authority.
"You just don't get it!" I yelled ripping my shoulders free from his hold. I stood in front of him clenching my jaw. "I can't fight the past. They have a connection. They share something, no matter how much Edward tries to deny it." My voice was a mere whisper as I finished. I looked away swiftly taking a deep breath. "I can't fight her. She's everything I'm not. He may love me now, but who knows after this trip-if she gets him alone…"
Emmett got up from his position on the tree to stand in front of me. He once again grabbed my shoulders shaking me gently. I looked up at him with deep sadness in my eyes.
He frowned slightly. "Don't you trust him more than that?"
I exhaled sharply. "I trust him. It's her I don't trust. She has ways of making men do things they would not normally do, or so I'm told."
"He resisted her before, and that was long before you came into his life."
I shrugged indifferently, taking little comfort from his words, looking off into the forest.
"Bella." He said sharply. He shook my shoulders roughly. "Listen to me." He demanded. Slowly I turned my head back to face him with a sour expression on my face.
"I'm listening." I stated in an annoyed tone after waiting a few minutes for him to continue.
I watched as Emmett opened his mouth to speak but quickly shut it narrowing his eyes. His head wiped sharply around to the right. His nostrils were flared, as he slowly began to bare his teeth. A low menacing growl built in his chest. My eyes widened as I too caught the scent in the air-we were no longer alone.
I felt Emmett tug sharply on my arm as he pulled me into the forest running as fast as he could. He held onto me tightly as we flew through the forest. I was confused as to why we were running, but there was no time for questions. Emmett's face remained fierce as we exited the trees and approached the house only slowly slightly as we burst through the front door.
"We have company." Emmett announced with a growl.
Almost at once everyone showed up looking from Emmett and me intently. Rosalie narrowed her eyes at me as she glanced down at my hand in Emmett's then back up to me again. I quickly let go of his hand stepping slightly to the side. I had avoided her successfully since my arrival in Denali. We had developed a truce of sorts. Avoid each other at all costs, and there would be no problems. I did not want to be the one to break that agreement.
"Who?" Carlisle asked causing me to turn my attention from Rosalie's glare to him.
He shook his head. "I didn't recognize the scent, but I'm going to find out."
"I'll go with you." Carlisle offered. "Everyone stay here. No one is to leave this house until we return." He commanded his voice full of authority, as he and Emmett exited through the front door.
I stared after them for a few moments. I slowly turned around to find everyone still standing in front of me staring expectantly. I furrowed my eyebrows slightly in confusion. If Emmett didn't recognize the scent I certainly wasn't going to be able to. What could they possibly want, I thought.
I heard Rosalie huff angrily. I turned to look at her. She was glaring threateningly at me. "What danger did you bring upon the family this time?" She asked in an icy tone.
My eyes widened in surprise. I shook my head slowly. "I-I…" I stuttered shocked.
"Rosalie." I heard Esme saying in a reproachfully.
I kept my eyes on Rosalie as my face paled even more. The phrase, 'if looks could kill' entered my mind. Finally, I managed to look away after what seemed like forever. I dropped my head keeping my eyes on the floor. "I'm sorry." I breathed.
"Yes, you are." She quipped. "It's no wonder Edward likes to spend so much time with Tanya. She's a real woman" She sneered grinning slightly. I flinched at her words as I wrapped my arms around my torso trying to hold my self together as each one of her words cut into me. "She can give him everything-beauty, charm, wit, experience. I'm glad he's finally smartened up and realized what a…"
"Rosalie!"
Both Rosalie and I turned our heads quickly to look at Esme. Her eyes fell upon Rosalie with heavy disapproval. Her voice was weighed down with condemnation and anger; I had never heard her take that tone with anyone before.
"That's enough." She said in an eerily even tone.
"Fine." Rosalie replied with clenched teeth right before she stormed up the stairs to her room.
I stared after her just realizing how labored my breathing had become. I closed my eyes as I tried to take deep breaths to calm myself. Her words could not have cut deeper. She knew exactly where my insecurities lied, and how to hurt me. And hurt me she did.
"Bella."
I opened my eyes to see Esme walking towards me. Everyone else had left. "She's just scared dear. She didn't really mean it."
I nodded my head and swallowed hard. "Yeah." I whispered trying to smile, but not quite managing it.
"I think I'll go to my room now." I said quickly not wanting to talk further. "Please let me know when the others get back."
I swiftly made my way out of the room before Esme could say anything else. I noticed Alice in the living room rolled up into a ball on a chair. She looked as though she was sleeping, but I knew better. Ever since the threat of Victoria returned she had taken to spending as much time as possibly searching the future for any clues. She spent hours lost in trances as she explored any and all possibilities. Most of the time she found nothing of real use.
I sighed as I entered my room, firmly shutting my door behind me. I climbed up onto the bed and rolled myself into a ball, hugging my legs tightly to myself. I just wanting to go home-to a life simpler before vampires and werewolves existed. I felt like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. I had fallen into a world that was foreign to me, and full of dangers around every bend. All I wanted was my ruby slippers so that I could click my heels and go back to a life that made sense again, a life where no one was trying to kill me, where no one hated me, where I wouldn't feel this pain anymore. I just wanted to be happy, normal again, was that too much to ask?
For the second time I began to cry. I felt empty in the depths of pain. My chest seared with each breath. The worst part was all I wanted was Edward. He was the cause and cure for my pain. I longed for his strong arms to hold me close, and to hear him hum my lullaby to me. I needed him, but he wasn't here…he wasn't here…just wasn't here.
