Alaina was cuddled up in her bed, blankets held tightly around her body. Although her alarm wasn't set to go off for another hour, she was wide awake, staring blankly around her room. Thinking about how her life was no more than a few months ago, she couldn't believe how much everything has changed. She felt, for the first time since she could remember, happy… and the thought that feeling could come crashing down any moment was keeping her from falling back asleep.

The court date was looming and every free moment her mother had was spent with the lawyer going over notes and statements. Alaina was grateful that her mother was taking over as much as she could so it wouldn't burden her daughter until it absolutely had to. Alaina tried to keep it in the back of her mind and only worry about it when she needed to.

She was so lucky to have Bella. Even in Detroit she never had a friend that was as close as they were. She didn't even think of her as a friend; they were more like sisters. She was also doing better in school than she ever had before (except biology) and much to her surprise, she was developing a social like with her other friends at school and Emmett.

As her mind often did, her thoughts drifted to Emmett and a familiar rush of emotion swept through her, but she quickly brushed it off. She remember the day before that Emmett wanted her to come over after school. She groaned, realizing that she forgot to ask her mom last night. She knew her mother would already be awake, so she begrudgingly rolled out of bed and walked to her mothers room. She held her ear up to the door to listen if she was truly awake. Hearing her mom rummaging around, she opened the door and walked in.

"Mom?" Alaina asked, closing the door behind her. Her mother was making the bed as her father was already at work on the new interstate project. A look of concern washed over her.

"Are you okay, sweetie?" She asked, finishing the bed and taking a seat on the edge. Alaina normally had to be woken up several times before she got out of bed, so seeing her at this hour was cause for worry.

"I'm fine, mom. I just woke up early," she said. "I forgot to ask you something yesterday. Emmett wants me to come over after school. Can I?"

"Of course you can," her mom said. Alaina smiled and turned to leave but her mother stopped her. "Not so fast. Take a seat," she interjected, patting the space next to her. "You've been spending a lot of time with this boy. Is there anything you aren't telling me?"

Alaina bit her lip. She knew where this was going. "No, mom, he's just my friend." Her mom raised her eyebrow, so Alaina continued. "I swear. We just click, that's all. If anything was happening you know I'd tell you."

"I know," her mom admitted. "But I can't help but notice that you act differently with him. I can tell you like him. Am I wrong?"

Alaina hesitated, but knew she had to tell her mom the truth. "Of course I do, mom. I like him so much it's actually kind of annoying."

"I remember that feeling. Those are always the best kind of crushes," her mom laughed. "The way he looks at you I think he may like you too. Why don't you tell him how you feel?"

"He doesn't like me mom," Alaina said sadly, shrugging her shoulders. "He's literally perfect. I know guys like that don't like girls like me."

"Alaina," her mom said seriously, wrapping her arm around her daughter. "I know why you said that, but you're not right. Yes, I will admit, you look different than the other girls around here. Your hair is darker. Your eyes are deeper. Your hips are fuller. But that doesn't make you any less of a women. I know this is easier said than done, but comparing yourself to other women gets you nowhere, and everyone spends way too much doing it. Try to feel comfortable in your own skin and everything will start falling into place."

Alaina let that sink in. It was one of those moments where you know your mom is right, but just because she's right, doesn't mean you can actually believe it. "It's about that time. I'm going to start getting ready for school."

"I have the day off, so I'm going to stay up here and get some work done. I'll see you tonight. Don't stay out past midnight, please." She gave her daughter a hug.

"Midnight? Wow, mom. Really letting go of the reins here," Alaina teased, getting off the bed.

"It's Friday," her mom said, sticking out her tongue playfully at her daughter. "I can try to be the cool mom on Fridays."

Alaina laughed and headed to her room to get ready. Before changing out of her pajamas, she picked up her phone to text Emmett. Even though it was very early, she knew she wouldn't wake him up (couldn't would probably be the better word).

Mom said yes about coming over. Are you picking me up today or do I have to catch the bus?

She put her phone down and quickly changed her clothes. Before she could even make her bed, her phone was already buzzing with a new text message.

I always pick you up. I'll see you in an hour. Curfew?

Alaina couldn't help but smile. Emmett has been taking her to school for the past few weeks now, but she loved hearing him say yes. In a weird way it almost made her feel special.

Midnight. But that's way past my bedtime so don't think I'm actually going to stay over that long.

The rest of her morning seemed to fly by and before she knew it, she was at school. She wanted to talk to Bella, per usual, but her miserable grade in Biology made lunch a standard date with Mr. Molina. Any class she had with Bella was also with Edward, and even though she knew Edward could read her mind, she didn't want to talk to her about Emmett in front of his brother.

As quickly as the day started, the final bell rang throughout the school. Alaina quickly walked to her locker to grab her backpack and walked out of the school to the parking lot.

It was always easy to spot Emmett in the crowd. He almost towered over every one of her classmates, and also having a cherry red jeep helped. Walking over to Emmett in the parking lot, she could see a goofy grin plastered on his face. She tossed her backpack in the back seat and climbed into his Jeep. "What are you in such a good mood for?"

Emmett turned on his Jeep, revving it to life. "I'm always in a good mood."

"Oh, you are not. Don't flatter yourself Cullen," she said cheekily as they made their way out of the parking lot.

"Ouch," he said, placing his hand on his heart. "That hurt, Detroit. That hurt real bad."

She laughed and looked over to him. "You deserved it."

"I probably did."

Emmett turned on the radio as they sped a little too quickly to the Cullen home. When they pulled up the the home, Alaina noticed the lack of cars normally cluttered throughout the driveway. "Is no one else home?"

Emmett shrugged innocently. "Guess not. We can hang out upstairs until they get here."

Alaina furrowed her brow in confusion, but decided not to press it. As much as she hated to admit it, she reveled in any time that she got to spend alone with him. She followed him upstairs on to the balcony, walking over to the edge and looked over to their massive property.

The two of them stood in a comfortable silence, watching the wind blow through the trees. Although Alaina couldn't see them, she could hear birds chirping comfortably from above her and the calming rustle of foliage from the animals skirting around the Cullen's property.

A cold spring breeze blew through the air, causing a shiver to run up Alaina's spine. Before Alaina knew what was happening Emmett was gone and them immediately returned with a blanket that he draped over her shoulders, causing her to jump in surprise. She didn't like to be touched without warning after Bryce, and Emmett's sudden touch caused her to jump.

"I'm sorry," he said apologetically, "I'm just not used to humans around the house. I'll try to slow down."

She shook her head. "You didn't scare me with your speed. I just don't like to be touched," she said quietly, embarrassed that the soft brush of a hand would cause such pain to return to her heart.

A flash of anger passed through his eyes, but he could tell Alaina didn't want to talk about him, so he wasn't going to push it just yet. "Well," he said slowly, a bit of awkwardness in his normally strong, confident voice. "When I want to touch you in the future, do you want me to ask?"

Alaina could tell that he was being sincere, but she was still confused at his question. "I mean, I'm not sure what type of 'touching' you think is going to happen, but I trust you enough that you don't have to ask. Just don't go all vampire-speed on me if you can help it."

He took a cautious step towards her and wrapped his strong arm around her broad shoulders. "So you're okay with this?"

Alaina's heartbeat starting racing as if she just was just sprinting and she knew Emmett would be able to hear the loudness of the beat, but she tried to play it cool. "I didn't realize you were so affectionate."

"I'm only affectionate to people I like," he said, gripping her a little tighter, gently running his hand up and down her arm to try to warm her up. And just as quick as her heart started beating, it felt as if it was now in her stomach with disappointment. She knew she needed to cut the tension that was forming between them for her own sake.

"Well," she said suddenly, taking a step away from him causing his brow to raise in confusion, "we don't want to give everyone at school the wrong impression now do we?"

He stared at her, his golden eyes unblinking. "What do you mean, the wrong impression? Have I don't something wrong?"

"Of course you haven't," she said, exasperated. "I mean, you're loud, cocky, annoying… but besides that, you're basically perfect. But you can't say things like that to me anymore. It hurts too much."

"Wait, Alaina. I don't understand what you're asking me to do," he said, genuine confusion on his chiseled features. He scanned her wildly as if trying to read her.

Alaina paused and bit her lip, feeling tears welling up behind her eyes. She tried willing them to stop, but she felt a tear escape, falling down her cheek. She turned around to face the opposite direction, wrapping the blanket tighter around her body. "You can't say things like 'I'm only affection to people I like,' around me, Emmett. It just hurts, okay?"

"Why does that hurt you?" Emmett said, appearing in front of her. "I meant everything I said. I never say anything that I don't mean."

"You didn't!" she yelled, the tears now freely flowing down her flushed cheeks. She just couldn't hold it in any longer "You don't like me in the way that I like you!"

Emmett locked eyes with Alaina and she was surprised to find anger staring back at her. "How do you feel about me, then? Because I thought we were on the same page here. Do you think that I hang out with a human for my health? Do you think I risk my life and my family's lives for a human I didn't have feelings for? That I didn't care about you more than anything?"

"I don't know why you do what you do Emmett," she said between sobs, staring hard at the ground. "People like you don't like people like me!"

Emmett firmly placed a hand on her chin and met her eyes. "How can you possibly think that, Alaina," he growled, the normally happy go lucky Emmett, gone. "Why can't you believe me?! Do you realize when those creeps were coming on to you and Bella that I almost killed them? That I almost couldn't control myself? How couldn't I want someone like you!"

"I'm broken!" She screamed, now pacing around him recklessly. "I'm used. I'm fat. Who would want someone like that." She stopped pacing and stared hard at him. "No one would," she spat, throwing the blanket off of her.

Emmett paused, taking in her words, but began to walk slowly towards her. He looked terrifyingly dangerous, and Alaina was paralyzed with fear, her feet rooted on the ground. "I want you, Alaina," he said huskily, closing the gap between them. His cold lips carefully grazed hers, and his large hands slowly made their way to rest on her cheeks. "I've wanted you from the first moment I saw you. What else can I do to make you believe me?"

"Just keep on doing what you're doing and I'm sure I'll come around soon," she said, choosing to ignore the voice inside her head that still thought this was too good to be true, and kissed him again.