Disclaimer – I think you know… but if you don't, I do not claim anything from the Twilight saga as my own. The only thing I can claim is Addie.

Author's note: I'm a little more strapped for time lately, but I'm excited to share this chapter! If you want, let me know what you think in the reviews.

Chapter 8: Requests

Addie POV

My thoughts swirled as I struggled to think up the most natural way that I could talk to Emmett about the gym equipment. Did I have the nerve to walk up to the Cullen table to ask? No... I didn't think that I could handle that. What if I tried stalking him and finding out what his class was before lunch and then sprinted there tomorrow to make it seem like I was coming from the same place? I didn't know how I would figure that out without asking someone, so I nixed that plan too.

I thought through countless scenarios, but I didn't like any of them. I felt desperate and awkward in all of them – things that I didn't usually experience. I would probably cop out and ask Alice if she would ask him for me.

My face was scrunched up in concentration as my white Keds sneakers slipped a little on the linoleum. The ground outside was wet outside, and the cafeteria entrance was slick from countless other students who had filed into the building before me. Before I knew it, I lost one foot from under me. My only free hand reached out for the door as my right hand balanced my travel mug.

I couldn't grab the metal bar fast enough and felt my body slide backward, legs sprawling in front of me. Right as I prepared for a hard plop on my behind, I felt strong, firm hands grip under my arms and slowly pull me back up. It was almost so slow that it was awkward ,like I was being saved in slow motion.

I regained an upright position and turned around, immediately having to crane my neck upwards. There was standing Emmett Cullen – the subject of my distraction – with a concerned look.

"Wow, thank you," I said with a blush.

He looked at me with a shy grin and scratched his neck. "Did I hurt you?" He asked.

Hurt me? My voice verbalized the thought.

"Yeah, did I pull you up too hard?" I looked at his face, feeling my blush magnify. Maybe too slow… but I was not going to complain about it. Not for one moment.

"No, not at all! Honestly, you saved me there. Thank you!"

"You're welcome," His voice deep. We stood there for a second and my eyes wandered to his large hands that he was holding palms up. He was looking at them too. We both realized that we had been silent, and I saw him start to move to walk around me.

"I actually wanted to talk to you," I blurted out as he began to pass me. He stopped and turned to face me again, with a surprised look in his golden eyes. We were doing a little dance, turning again to talk to each other.

"Really? What about?" I bet he got hit on all the time and was waiting for me to ask him out. I wouldn't let him think that, even if every muscle in my body taut with the excitement of his presence.

I felt a warmth in my chest from being so close to him. It was undeniable that he was beautiful, but there was something else there too.

"Well, I wanted to talk to you about weight training. I've been here for nearly a month and haven't been able to find anywhere with a full weight set and rack. Bodyweight exercises are great and all, but I can already feel my strength slipping and I don't want to see it totally go from five months in Forks…" I had been looking down when I said this out of awkwardness, but I paused to look up at him. I was hoping he would catch on and offer on his own.

He did not, but he did look interested in what I was saying with his head tilted slightly to the side and he looked down at me from above. I realized I would need to elaborate further.

"Alice said that you have a gym at home in your garage. I was wondering – and you can tell me 'no' – but would it be okay for me to train at your place once or twice? I really need to challenge myself. It would just be until I can find a permanent solution," I explained.

Emmett had a look of awe and amusement on his face. "So, you want to come train with me, is that it?" He asked cockily, flexing his bicep to show off with a goofy smile. I flushed even brighter red and felt my heartbeat speed to a million beats per minute.

Train with him? Could I even handle that? Was he making fun of me? His arm was enormous… So many thoughts rushed through my head.

"Well, not necessarily. I want to use your weights… you don't need to train with me. Unless you want to… I mean, I can spot you?" I asked, unsure of what I was saying.

Emmett laughed. It was a hearty chuckle and the sound of it reverberated off of me, making me let out a quiet giggle.

"Alright, Addie." He knew my name. "I need to check with my family to see if there is anything on the calendar, but I'll let you know?"

I nodded. "Yeah, that would be amazing. Thank you, Emmett," I said with a smile, preparing to move from the spot in the cafeteria entrance where I had planted my feet. He made to move too, and we walked into the room together.

It was then that I felt all of the eyes glued to us.

Emmett POV

Man, I hope today ends up being a little more normal, I thought to myself as I walked under the fluorescent lights of Forks High Building 5.

The past two weeks had been different from every other week in Forks. Alice, Jasper, Edward and I were all pros at the fake human teenager charade that we had going on the last two years in Forks.

We'd done it time and time before – show up, pretend to be human, keep our distance, and stay in control. An important dynamic of our residency in each place was that we tipped the balances to seem more normal at school than we would if we didn't attend. These past two weeks would receive a big, fat "F" if we were being graded on our ability to blend in.

I couldn't point the finger at anyone because I was the one to start it all.

I'd been walking through the cafeteria, "playing human," as I liked to call it, when a girl collided with me. Once upon a time, let's say 40 years ago, I would still engage all of my vampire senses when around humans. I would notice their heartrates, see their emotions manifest in beads of sweat or huffs of frustration, and maneuver around them to avoid any opportunity for temptation.

Now, after decades of "vegetarianism" and time with Carlisle, I didn't take the time to do those things. In general, I was used to chowing down on a few bears each week and wandering through the high school schedule until it was time to get home and have some fun. It had been a long time since I felt genuine concern about my will power to resist blood.

Did humans smell amazing? Hell yes! Did I have to focus hard not to pounce on one and completely blow our cover every day? Nah, not really. There was too much at stake, which was why I didn't see Addie Day coming before she was already there.

Once she was there, she was delicious. Her blood was intoxicating and the smell of it was more than I could handle when she flushed.

My throat was burning, my mouth full of venom, and all I could do was stand there shouting "mayday" signals to Edward with my thoughts. I tried to take my mind off the thirst… humanize her, I thought.

What could I think about that would make her more of a person and not a meal?

Well for starters, there were her deep blue eyes which peered at me with such confusion. They were so soft though, as she took in my stature, naturally drawn to my vampire appearance.

Girl was a hottie herself. I forced my thought to stay on anything other than the smell of her which reminded me of honey and wildflowers. I still hadn't moved, but then again, 'EDWARD, should be sending me HELP, ASAP.'

She had a tight little waist and toned legs. I was impressed to see some definition in her arms, which were holding the tray to her body. I tried to let my mind wander to human places rather than answer the demanding vampire ones that insisted I drain her right then and there.

Finally, Alice showed up, placing a hand on my arm and making some excuse for my bizarre behavior. It took me awhile to chill out after that. I ran as far as I could away, nearly to the Canadian border, before hunting.

Carlisle and I decided that I would need to start re-engaging all of my vampire senses again. I thought I was good to go!

Then Edward lost it too. What the hell was going on? Two irresistibly delicious smelling new girls in 8 days? If there was a God, he was testing us.

Edward did not handle it nearly as well as I did. It wasn't a brag, just he was way more intense about everything. The guy read thoughts all day, so I guess it might be merited, but I was not on his level when it came to extreme fear of failure. The guy was a vampire, and his anxiety was the kind of level that kept humans awake at night. Poor Jasper, the dude was exhausted.

All of this to say, I noticed a certain girl's scent the second I walked into the Cafeteria building. Her bouncy frown curls were pulled back partially with a small bun holding the top half of her hair away from her face and exposing her neck. I noticed the curve of her hips in her jeans too. She would be a smoking hot vampire, if she were one.

I was getting ready to speed up to pass her when I saw her foot slip. Her left arm went out and before I knew it, I was positioned behind her holding her body weight up. Instantly I felt fear course through me that I might bruise her, so I slowed down my efforts to pull her up.

Once we were facing each other I saw a blush fill her already rosy cheeks. It was delightful on two levels…

She told me she wasn't hurt, which I tried to believe and thanked me for the assist. I thought we were done when she blurted out something peculiar – she wanted to talk to me.

I little swell of pride swelled. Time to get hit on by the little human girl.

Then she started telling me about her weight training and I was completely lost. Where was she going with this? Maybe she was looking for advice because of my physique? Too bad for her cause I hadn't needed to strength train in decades.

I waited for her to elaborate which was when she gave me the first clue – Alice. Alice had told this human girl that I had a home gym. Why? Knowing that Edward was going to ask her for me. Make sure she is ready to answer when I get to the table, Eddie, I thought loudly.

Addie was obviously embarrassed by the request, so I tried to poke a little fun, flexing my human (and my bicep). I let her know I'd have to check with my family… of vampires about it, but I left the last part out. Alice must be losing it!

We both turned to find the entire school staring at us. It was not very conspicuous of me to have this chat with her in that public of an arena… but then again, what could be more believable than a human dude chatting with a cute girl. Maybe I was helping the cause, I argued with Edward when I sat down.

Alice's knowing, but guilty look was enough to set a laugh through me that bounded through the room. What was she up to?