Chapter Eight

Man, I hated high school. You think someone's your friend, and then they decide to switch up on you and change loyalties. I hate this town; it was too small and too ass backwards. Of fucking course Bella and Edward would be getting married after graduation. The world fucking hates me, so let's shit on me some more.

"Go away, Bella."

One week. One entire week I had avoided her. Her birthday had come and passed, and I didn't feel bad about missing it. I was too angry to even care, her birthday gift was still upstairs on my desk collecting dust.

"You have to talk to me, Emmett. You have to let me explain- "I reeled around from the front porch of my house and glowered down at her.

"Explain what, Bella? That you're marrying a guy that doesn't treat you right? A guy who has cheated on you, with fucking proof. What the fuck are you even thinking? Marrying someone right out of high school isn't going to fix anything, it isn't going to fix your parents' marriage, and it sure as hell will not fix your relationship. So, what is there to explain?" Her cheeks grew red from embarrassment and I could see the tears start to swell in her eyes.

"You're my best friend, Em." She whispered. I scoffed and ran my hands through my hair.

"Right. Best friends don't keep secrets from each other. Especially ones like this." We were silent for several moments. She was looking everywhere except at my eyes. I sighed and began to speak again. "I can't keep being your friend, not like this." I whispered, turning around, and going into my house and closing the door behind me.

~~~GND~~~

October

It was mid-October now. The football season had ended, Jasper and I both securing scholarships. His was to Washington State, the college he and Alice agreed upon together. I was going to Tennessee State, and I was so fucking happy. Going to college in Nashville made my chances of being drafted by the Titans that much higher.

I was proud of Jasper; I know how hard he worked and how much stress he was under. Sending one child to college was hard enough, I couldn't imagine sending two. We would only speak in our shared classes and during practice, Alice came first, and Alice was Team Edward. Now that the season was over, I wouldn't be hearing much from him. Something I was going to have to get used to.

Our friend group was so divided, what was once tight knit was now a giant cluster fuck of toxicity. Rosalie was Team Emmett, much to Bella's dismay.

We still weren't talking.

~~~GND~~~

November

The Halloween dance came and went, Rose went with her boyfriend whom I had finally met. He was nice, a complete gentleman. He was everything Rose wanted and deserved. Since he didn't live in Forks, Rose spent her weekends with him whenever she could. I would tag along sometimes, but mostly continued to keep to myself and keep up on my studies and my application to TSU. Even though I had a scholarship, I still had to apply and be selected to attend. Something I felt greatly confident about, I could that.

My mother asked a few questions about my lack of friends a few weeks ago, and I told her everything. I always did, and she was there for me like I wished my friends had been. She didn't beat around the bush either, and I greatly appreciated that. I guess that's where I had gotten my bluntness from. My father was home more often now, trying to stick to cases that were closer to home at the request of my mother. She missed him when he was gone, and so did I.

Things were easier this way.

~~~GND~~~

December

The first flakes of snow began in the first week of December.

I always loved the snow, especially in the morning when it was early and untouched by humans and cars. When it was pristine.

December was also the month that word had gotten out about the Swan's failed marriage. Renee had left Charlie and Bella. I don't think either of them have heard from her since.

Renee Swan was, lack of a better word, eccentric. She was the type to role with the beat of her own drum and shove her opinions down your throat if you didn't agree. She meant well, but it was always her way or the highway. I'm surprised they didn't divorce sooner, I'm sure Bella was what had kept them together for so long, but now she was eighteen. Renee was free to leave the town she had gotten trapped in. Something I vaguely remember Bella telling me once upon a time.

December was also the month that I admitted to myself that I missed her. But she didn't miss me.

I would pass her in the halls, and I'd see her walk to Edward's car in the mornings. Bright smile on her face and a laugh escaping her lips. Sometimes we would make eye contact, but she would always be the one to look away first. And I would try to ignore the pain in my chest every single time.

~~~GND~~~

January

It was the start of a new year. Thank fuck. If anyone needed a fresh start, it was me.

"Emmett!" I heard Rose shout from across the hallway, waving her arms over her head with a bright smile on her face. I found myself smiling back and walking toward her, people creating a walkway for me.

"What's up, Rose?"

"So, I had good news. Well, maybe." She said, linking her arm with mine as we began walking back toward our homeroom. "I spoke to Jasper." I groaned. "No, no. Listen, Mr. McCarthy. He and I actually had a heart to heart." I rolled my eyes and slid into my new seat in the back row as Rosalie slid into the one next to me.

"Oh, is that so? And tell me, Rose. Has he seen the error of his ways?"

"Yes, actually! So, you must come over after school. You don't have a choice." I rolled my eyes again as she flipped her blond hair over her shoulder and started texting on her phone.

Rose was a force to be reckoned with, and if you were on her bad side then heaven help you. When she chose to me be on Team Emmett I was surprised. Bella and she were close, whenever I couldn't be there for Bella then Rose was there and vice versa. I pulled out my homework for biology and began finishing up the last few questions from an assignment we had done the previous week. I heard Bella's laugh and looked up, and I didn't even recognize her.

Her hair was down from her usual bun and instead of overly baggy clothes she was wearing something a bit more form fitting, it was very modest, but Bella was hot, and she always had been. Her blue long-sleeved shirt hugged her curves, and her black skinny jeans made her ass look phenomenal, but she was still wearing her old black chucks. It was almost like a stranger walked in, instead of Bella. Edward was behind her, wearing his stupid sunglasses inside and his stupid hair was spiked. I rolled my eyes and went back to my homework, promptly ignoring everything and everyone the rest of the period.

"Did you see that? I mean, what the fuck? I've tried for years to get her to show off her body, and now she chooses to?" Rosalie scoffed. The homeroom period was over, and we were slowly taking our time walking to our next classes. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't offended."

"Yeah well, that's just the way the world works. I'll see you at lunch?" I asked, coming to a stop in front of her class. Mine was just across the hall.

"Yes! I'll meet you at the jeep." I nodded my agreement and sauntered across the hall and into my physics class.

The rest of the day was boring, I ignored everyone's whispers and looks towards me regarding Bella's new look. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't impressed. Bella was beautiful, and she always had been. She was beautiful before, and she was beautiful now. The only thing that came to mind as to why she would ditch the baggy clothes was the rumor that had been going around since Alice spilt the beans about her and Edward's engagement.

Some said she was pregnant, other people had said she had an eating disorder. I didn't believe any of it, Bella wasn't like that. That girl loved food, there was no way she would give it up. And for the pregnancy rumor, Bella was too smart to let that happen.

~~~GND~~~

"Emmett."

"Jasper."

We were standing in the garage of the twin's house, where we all used to hang out before all the bullshit started. Rose was sitting off to the side, being the peacekeeper for once in her life.

"Look, man, I'm sorry." Jasper confessed, sheeply rubbing the back of his neck and looking everywhere except at me. "Obviously, I'd choose your side, under any other circumstance. But he's my girlfriend's brother. He's my potential in-law. You know how I feel about Alice."

"Oh, so is everyone getting married right out of school too? Or is it just the Cullens?" It was a low blow; I knew it was. But fuck, I was still angry at the entire situation. "We've been best friends for years, Jasper. And you were so willing to toss it all aside, for what? To save face with your girlfriend's family?" I scoffed, jamming my hands in the pockets of my faded jeans.

He took a deep breath before meeting my eyes, and I could see how sorry he was. "I know, my apologies don't mean shit. But I am sorry, Emmett. You're my best friend, and I just tossed you aside, tossed our friendship aside like it didn't mean anything. I promise to do better, and I'll talk to Alice. Maybe I can convince her to talk to you, tell you the whole story."

"Why can't you tell me the story?"

"It's not my story to tell."

~~~GND~~~

R&R