A/N: Real life has been kicking my ass, guys. I've had bits and pieces of this chapter for a while, but could not find time to really sit down and complete it. So, I apologize for the wait. I am so grateful for all of the reviews. There will only be one more chapter, perhaps a futuretake. The chapter's about halfway done, but I have a lot going on, so I'm sorry if it takes some time to post. Thank you for continuing on with me on this journey 😊

Lost Boy

Chapter 11

Emmett POV

Tonight had been real successful. It was easy to tell whenever I'd had a particularly good night by the way I was walking. If it seemed like I had a rock stuck in my shoe, it really meant there was a big wad of cash lining the bottom, under the insole. After so long on the street, I found that johns weren't above going through your pockets when you're not looking, but they wouldn't go snooping around in somebody's stinking boots. Scum of the Earth, I tell ya.

Anyway, this morning I was walking like there was a fucking boulder in there. I was exhausted and looking forward to crashing in my bed, sleeping until at least 2pm. But it wasn't in the cards.

As soon as I walked into the apartment, I was confronted with Edward looking absolutely manic, pulling his hair in all sorts of directions as he paced back and forth in the living room. I watched him for a few moments, but he didn't acknowledge me, so I spoke.

"Dude, what the hell happened? You're wearing a hole in the carpet."

His head snapped up, his surprised expression genuine, like he really didn't know I was there.

"Oh, Emmett. Wow. What time is it?" he asked, looking to the window, surprised again to see it was dawn

"Six a.m."

Edward stopped short. Gesturing at the carpet, I asked, "How long have you been...doing this?"

"I'm not sure," he replied, dumbfounded.

Now I was worried. "Well, shit, Edward! What the fuck happened to make you pace for hours?"

His shoulders slumped and he looked down to the floor. "Carlisle came back."

Of course this was because of Carlisle. Edward was in love with the man, but couldn't admit it. When shit started getting real, Edward ran away. But that's what Edward does. I mean, he IS a runaway. After all, I found him starving and dirty next to a dumpster the last time he ran away from his problems.

"Like, he came to your corner?" I pressed.

Edward nodded. "Yeah. He was pissed I didn't use the money."

I was definitely upset about it, but didn't think Carlisle would be. Skeptical, I raised an eyebrow. "He's pissed about that?"

"Well, he asked me why I didn't use the money," he conceded.

I crossed my arms. "Hmph. Sounds reasonable. I'm mystified why you haven't used it too."

Edward stepped back defensively. "Emmett, you know why. I didn't finish the job. I destroyed everything. I... I fucked him over."

Couldn't really argue with that, but I tried to make him feel better anyway. "Look, obviously he's not upset. He's not holding a grudge. He didn't have to come find you and insist you use the money. He could have just said 'fuck him,'" I said, using air quotes.

Edward sighed. "Yeah, he could have. But Carlisle's not that kind of guy. I, however, did tell him to fuck off."

Now it was my turn to sigh. "Oh, Edward."

His eyes started to get glassy and he looked away, swallowing hard. "Why am I such an asshole," he whispered.

I took several long steps forward until I was standing in front of him. "You're not an asshole, Eddie. You just don't know what's good for you. You don't know what's staring you in the face."

He didn't like that and glared at me. "And what is allegedly staring me in the face?"

"You love him." Edward looked taken aback and started to protest, but I steamrolled him. "You love him. It's plain as day to me. The way all our conversations revolve around him these days? Your voice gets softer when you talk about him and your eyes get far away. You love him, Edward."

As would be predictable, Edward stormed off to his room, muttering, "This is ridiculous," before slamming his door shut behind him.

That boy needed to listen to reason, but it wasn't going to happen. No, what Edward needed now was a swift boot to the ass, and I would be the one to give it to him.

Xxxxx

My roommate was an idiot. And I was determined to clean up his mess for him so he could have a shot at happiness, and not be stuck in this fucked up life like me. So, I quickly stashed my earnings in my room, changed clothes, and googled the address for The Cullen Group, where Edward had told me he was going for the meeting. I knew Carlisle worked there, so hopefully I'd catch him there. I was going to find this guy and hopefully smooth things over between them. While I was on the bus, the beginnings of a plan began to form in my mind. I would have to find out for sure if Carlisle really cared for Edward, but if he did, then I would put my plan in motion.

The office building was tall and kind of intimidating. I rode the elevator up and strode down the hall, looking like a fucking hobo compared to the other well-dressed people in the building as I walked by in my white t-shirt, torn jeans, and combat boots. People gave me a wide berth. Finally, I reached the offices for The Cullen Group. There was a gum chewing blonde with huge tits and a low-cut top sitting behind the front desk. She quickly swallowed her gum and greeted me in a professional voice.

"Good morning, sir. What can I do for you? Do you have an appointment?"

"No appointment," I said gruffly. "I need to see Carlisle Cullen."

Her eyes went wide and she coughed, then a strange grin spread across her pretty face, well, pretty aside from the fading bruise over her nose.

"Sure," she said with a chuckle. "Right this way." She led me two doors down and rapped on the door.

An annoyed voice inside shouted, "Fuck off, Jenks, it'll be yours soon enough."

I raised my eyebrows at the man's obvious anger, but the secretary wasn't scared off and stuck her head in the door.

"Oh great," I heard the man scoff. "What the fuck do you want, you backstabbing bitch?"

My jaw dropped open as the secretary said sweetly, "Someone to see you, sir."

I was shocked that this jerk could possibly be the same Carlisle that Edward spoke so highly of. His anger demeanor didn't compute with the stories I'd heard. It was such a contrast that I thought it would be kind of fun to fuck with him, see how he would react to me playing the bad guy. So, I fixed my brow in a glare and stood up to my full height, puffing out my broad chest. I knew I cut an intimidating figure, though the hot secretary looked about to swoon.

She stepped back as I stepped forward, filling the doorframe. Carlisle was standing behind his desk, but there were boxes all around, almost nothing left on the shelves or the desk, like he was packing up to leave. His anger made a bit more sense to me now, but I was all in. Carlisle had seen me looking scary, so I ran with it.

The man had thick, short blond hair and was tall and slender, but he looked like there was some light muscle beneath his dress shirt. His striking blue eyes stared at me in shock, his mouth slightly open. He set whatever he was holding in the box and straightened up, jaw setting in a show of confidence, but his eyes betrayed his nerves.

"Are you Carlisle?" I barked at him.

He nodded, looking a little more nervous as I squeezed myself through the door and shut it behind me. Looking back at him, his eyes had widened, realizing he was more or less locked into a small room with a very large man.

"I don't know if Edward mentioned me," I began. "I'm Emmett, and I want to talk to you about what you did to him."

Carlisle's nerves were gone in a flash, replaced by indignant anger. "What I've done to Edward? You mean, how I tried to get him off the goddamn street? How I gave him the opportunity to help himself, enough money to do it with, and he refused? How I've fallen in lo-" He stopped short there, realizing he'd said more than he intended. He clenched his teeth and looked away, the anger melting into defeat.

Taking pity on the poor man, I approached him, and when I was close enough that he might think I'd punch him, I stuck out my hand instead. He eyed me with suspicion, taking my hand warily, and we shook. Grinning widely in my disarming way, I said, "Alright, you pass."

"Pass?" he asked, bewildered.

"Yup. You passed my test. Just wanted to make sure you actually care about my best friend, that you're not going to break his heart."

He shook his head in disbelief. "How can I break his heart? He doesn't love me back. He's broken mine."

"That's where you're wrong, bro." Carlisle looked at me quizzically so I soldiered on. "Edward is confused and scared. He's in denial about his own sexuality. He thought liking sex with guys was a lucky bonus for the job, but he never even considered butt sex before I introduced him to this life. But I'll tell you what, Carlisle, after that first night with you, he changed. He was kind of moony-eyed, ya know? Something about you was different. He would never have agreed to help you out like that, regardless of the money, if he wasn't drawn to you. He's just not that kind of guy...ya know, a straight up criminal, like you," I teased.

Carlisle huffed and crossed his arms, but he couldn't suppress the slight smile that made its way onto his face. Quick as it came, it was gone again, and he asked, "If Edward liked me so much, why'd he go fuck Gianna then?"

I laughed. "Denial is a powerful thing, bro. He didn't want to admit it to himself, I imagine. But when he came home after you caught them and everything went to hell, the dude was messed up. I don't think he liked sex with her as much as he thought he would, and he lost the one guy who made him happy. Like, happier than I'd ever known him to be."

Carlisle seemed relieved to know Edward shared his feelings, but I could see in his expression that defeat was winning. "Well, that's all great to hear, but what am I supposed to do with that information? He won't see me. He told me to fuck off last night."

"That's where I come in."

I had his full attention now, and I filled him in on my plan to get them back together. It would require a bit of misdirection, but I knew Edward would forgive me in the end.

Xxxxx

"Edward!" I shouted, rapping hard on his bedroom door. I worried how he would react after our conversation earlier. Would he even open the door? "Pull yourself together, bro. I got a job for you. You're working that ass tonight."

There were several long moments before I heard him shuffling to the door and when he opened it, he looked like hell. His hair was all over the place, his eyes red-rimmed from crying, his ratty pajamas rumpled. "Emm, I really don't feel like working tonight," he monotoned, his face morose.

"Too bad, brother. I already promised this guy I had the perfect ass for him. High profile dude, finance or something. Fancy hotel, lots of dough," I said, rubbing my fingers together. "And, ya know, since you didn't take that 8k, we're kind of in a tight spot." He sighed and made a face. "I know, sorry to bring it up, but rent is coming up and you haven't been working that whole time you were with...well, you know."

He nodded solemnly. I knew I was convincing him, appealing to his sense of duty. It was low of me, but what I was doing wasn't what he thought it was. He'd forgive me eventually.

"Why aren't you doing it if this guy is such hot shit?" he huffed.

I shrugged. "I would, but I'm not his type. He asked me if I knew anybody with a swimmer's bod and red hair. Turns out I do."

He heaved a resigned sigh. "Alright, but only cuz I feel bad I haven't been pulling my weight."

I clapped him on the shoulder and said jovially, "That's the spirit! Now go get cleaned up. You fucking stink."

Xxxxx

Before long, we were on our way to the hotel. We'd taken a bus most of the way and now we were walking the last couple of blocks. Edward was glancing around suspiciously, becoming anxious. That's why I had come with him. Edward thought I was coming with him so I could point out the john to him when we got there. But really, I was afraid he wouldn't go, that he'd stay out all night wandering around and just tell me he did it when he got back in the morning. Not that he would lie like that, cuz it would be obvious he didn't do it since he'd have no money.

Anyway, Edward's anxiety was getting worse as we neared the next intersection, his breathing coming more quickly. We rounded the corner and there was the hotel. Edward stopped and closed his eyes, trying to control his breathing. He looked like he might have a coronary.

I raised my eyebrows at him questioningly. "Dude, you okay?"

"This is the hotel Carlisle was staying at," he said once he calmed his breaths.

"Oh, really?" I played dumb. " Damn, sorry about that."

He shrugged, as though he could shrug away his anxious feelings. "At least I know the layout," he deadpanned.

"There ya go." I slapped him on the back playfully, then looked around the front of the hotel, and up and down the street. "Alright, I don't see him out here, but we're a couple minutes late. It's okay though, he told me he'd be in the penthouse."

Edward blanched, looking a little sick. "Jesus, that's the same fucking room even."

Trying to seem sympathetic, I said, "Sorry, bruh. But you better get going, he's waiting for you."

I shoved him not so gently toward the door and he grimaced at me before making his way inside.

"Think of the green, bro!" I called after him.

God, I hoped this worked. If it didn't, I might've just lost my best friend. Could he forgive me for setting him up to face Carlisle again? Ah well, it was in Carlisle's hands now.

Tbc. Review?