Chapter 18

I own nothing.

"You have two seconds to remove your hand off of her before I tear you out of that Jeep and set you on fire right now, leech," a voice growled from behind Emmett.

"You had better watch your tone with me with me, mutt, and step away from my car," Emmett snarled, gently removing his hand from where it had been on my face.

I looked behind him to see a furious looking Jarrod. I had never seen anyone look so out of control in my life. He looked like he was seconds away from turning into a massive wolf, not caring who or what was in his path.

"Jared what are you doing here?" I asked, trying to look over Emmett to have eye contact with the young wolf.

"I came over to check on you and it's a very good thing that I did. Otherwise, we'd have a horrible situation on our hands," he answered, only taking his eyes off Emmett to run his eyes over me, as if he was checking to see if I was harmed in anyway.

"She doesn't need you to take care of her, mutt. I have that pretty much covered so you can go back to your little reservation and play with the puppies. Nice to see you again," Emmett said, sarcasm radiating off him.

"I need you both to take a step away from each other. You are both insanely important to me and I'll be damned if I'm going to sit here and watch the two of you beat the hell out of one another," I demanded of both, watching as they did as I asked of them. I was fed up with them name calling and I wasn't going to stand for it anymore. Especially from the two of them. It was annoying and I didn't want to be without either of them, so it was imperative for them to get along with each other.

I slowly removed the harness, screwing up a few times but refusing any help from either of the mythical creatures that tried to help me. I wasn't happy with either of them. I handed Jared my crutches and Emmett my backpack before attempting to get out of the monstrosity that was the Jeep.

"You know, it would be much quicker if you just let me help you out," Emmett informed me a few minutes later as I slowly made my way down.

"You mean if I helped her out," Jared corrected the vampire, earning a glare from me. I needed both idiots to be quiet so that I could finish removing myself from the vehicle.

"Oh, for fucks sake, if you two don't shut up, I'm going to lose it," I snapped, my feet finally reaching the ground. "Hand me my crutches, please." I added.

I was so annoyed I could barely think clearly. On top of that I was in pain from hobbling around Forks High School all day with the damn cast on. I took the crutches and made my way inside the house, silently cursing as I did so. I knew that both could hear me, but I didn't care at that moment. Once inside I threw my body down on the couch and put my leg up, Jared helping me prop my leg up on some pillows while Emmett went in the kitchen to find me some water and my pain pills.

"Thank you," I told them both as I took the pills. I sat the water on the end table and looked up at the men that were staring down at me. They were too beautiful for words, and I knew if either one of them heard me refer to them as such that they be annoyed but if was true. Both men were gorgeous. They were both any woman's dream come true. And I had no fucking clue as to why either of them wanted anything to do with me.

"I need to know what the hell is going on," I started as I looked up at them. "If you could both, please sit down so I'm not looking up at you."

They both did as I asked them, Emmett taking Charlie's recliner and Jared taking the love seat. This is going to get interesting, I thought as I adjusted myself. Thank God I was on pain pills or else I have no clue if I would be able to get through the upcoming conversation.

"I have a lot of questions for both of you and I need you both to let the other answer, even if you don't agree with what they are saying. I feel like I deserve to know what's going on and why the hell either of you would want anything to do with a girl like me," I pleaded, needing them to understand why I needed this so much.

"What do you mean, a girl like you?" Jared asked, confused, Emmett nodding as if in agreement with him.

"You know what I mean. Please don't make me say it," I replied, blushing. I hated talking about my size, especially with members of the opposite sex. And I didn't want to talk about it with ones that I found attractive.

"Bella, I honestly have no clue what you mean by a girl like you, and I don't think the mutt, I mean, Jared, does either," Emmett said, holding up his hands as I glared at him for name calling.

Sighing, I took a sip of water, really wishing that I could crawl in a hole somewhere. "Well, for one, I'm new. Neither of you really know me and yet you still talk to me, seem to want to be around me. Which is so foreign to me if I'm being honest. I haven't ever had any male, other than Jacob, want anything to do with me. They've always seen me as the big girl with excessive flab, never as just a girl.

Jared stood to move and sit at the end of the couch, gently lifting my leg up and placing it on his lap. Emmett got up and came and sat on the floor beside me, near where my head was resting. They glared at one another, but didn't say anything, choosing to look at me instead.

"Bell, I don't know what other males you have been around, but they all sound like complete tools. Anyone who does not see the amazing human you have to be lacking in brain cells. You are one of the most genuine human beings I've ever had the pleasure of being around," Jared started, his hand on my leg, his thumb making soothing circling motions.

"Bella, I agree. I've never met another person who is as kind, caring or compassionate as you are. You are one of the best people I've ever met. And that's just referring to your personality. It has nothing to do with how stunningly gorgeous you are," Emmett added, reaching up and gently grabbing my hand.

"The leech, I mean Emmett is right. I've never met a more breathtaking woman," Jared agreed as he took my other hand in his.

The two of them touching me at the same time was sensory overload. Emmett with his cool, stone like hands and Jared with his hot, callused hands. Like fire and ice. I had never been touched like this and even though it was completely innocent, the touch ignited something in me.

"Why?" I wondered aloud, not understanding what was happening.

"Why what, Love?" Emmett asked, intertwining out fingers.

"Why do you think of me this way? I don't understand," I admitted.

Emmett sat up, sitting on his knees where I could see him better, I supposed.

"Bella, like I told you in the car, you are so beautiful. You seem to be the real deal and that is so difficult to find. You are what I've been searching for all of these years, and I am so glad it came wrapped up in this gorgeous package that is you."

"Bell, when I am with you, I can breathe. As soon as I saw you, my world changed, for the better." Jared stated, his eyes never leaving mine.

"I….I don't understand," I stuttered.

"You are my soul mate."

"You are my soul mate."

"The hell she is! She's mine!"

"You've obviously consumed too much blood from a Dodo bird, because you are a fucking idiot if you believe that!"

"The both of you had best explain what the hell is going on here!" Charlie exclaimed from the front door, his hand on his gun.

"Sir,"

"Chief Swan,"

"Shut up the both of you!" he demanded, walking further into the room, coming over to the couch where I was laying, dumb founded. He sat on the coffee table and looked at me, concern on his face.

"Bells are you alright?" my dad asked.

"I…I feel light head..." I stuttered, the world spinning.

"Awe shit, she's going to faint thanks to you idiots," the chief of the police roared as I let the sweet darkness over take me.

Howdy! I hope that you are all having a very Happy Holiday season. I also hope that this chapter makes you smile. I can't wait to see what happens. Can you? Let me know what you think. Happy New Year, ya'll! And as always, Happy Reading.