A/N: Hello lovelies! It's been a while since I've last updated. Well, there's been a lot going on in my life and my computer ate my office program, so that's been fun. Here's a little update for the fun of it.
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Sadie bounded over to the Cullens at the end of the school day with a small smile on her face. Alice had a small frown on her lips while Jasper seemed to be relieved that there was a momentary break in the storm of emotions that Sadie usually brought with her.
"Are you really going to join the volleyball team?" Alice asked, hooking her arm around one of Sadie's. "Like really join it?"
"If I can convince Carlisle or Esme to sign the permission forms and whatnot, then yeah." Sadie smiled slightly. "I need something to keep me busy, Alice. And the coaches seem to think that I could be really good at playing volleyball. Why shouldn't I play?"
"Because one, you're a wolf and have to hide your supernatural abilities," Alice said, holding up a finger. "And two, you're only wanting to be on the team because you want to avoid the issue of you and Emmett."
"Alice!" Sadie exclaimed, looking around in alarm. "What did I tell you about talking about that? Someone could hear you! And that's not a good thing right now!"
"Oh, c'mon. Jasper knows. Edward knows," Alice pointed out.
"I don't care that Jasper knows." Sadie glanced at the silent vampire. "I can't do anything about Edward knowing, but I can do my best to keep the others from learning that something is trying to pull me and Emmett together." Sadie crossed her arms over her chest. "I can beat this, Alice. No one needs to know because nothing is going to happen. Nothing is going to change in the relationships at the Cullen household. I promise."
Alice looked doubtful which made a knot form in Sadie's stomach. She wondered what the psychic vampire could see in the future and was afraid of it at the same time. She'd ask, but she knew that she wouldn't like the answer and would have to build up more walls around herself.
Or run away again.
"Well, let's go home then," Alice said, heading over to the driver's side of her flashy yellow car. "Esme has a new recipe she's been wanting to try out on someone. Something about taco soup with all the fixings."
"That sounds good." Sadie jumped into the backseat of the vehicle and buckled up. "My sister used to make taco soup every now and then. A big pot of it to feed the pack." She smiled slightly. "Her mate would help out because she had a bad habit of walking away from the pot for a long time and nearly caused a kitchen fire a couple times. God, I miss them all."
"They sound like nice people," Jasper commented, glancing over his shoulder at her as Alice pulled out of the school's parking lot. "From what little you talk about them."
Sadie sagged back in her seat. "They were nice and fun to be around...but thinking about them, it just hurts, you know?" She let a half smile touch her lips as she saw the look in Jasper's eyes. "You do know, Jasper. That's why I don't talk about them. Despite all the good things that I remember about them, it's tainted about what happened to them the day that I ran away from them. The day that my entire pack was destroyed just because we didn't hate vampires and the vampires didn't hate us..." She sniffed, forcing herself to keep her tears back. "I don't want to bother you all with my sob story, so please don't ask a lot questions about my sister and our pack. I need...I need time before I can do that."
"Okay," Alice said with a smile thrown over her shoulder as she sped down the roads of Forks. "You just let us know when you want to talk and we'll be there to listen with a shoulder to cry on, tissues, and a bunch of chocolate."
"Thanks Alice."
No one spoke again until they were at the Cullen household. Sadie followed after Alice into the kitchen where Esme was stirring a pot of soup that smelled delicious. She dropped her backpack on the stool next to the one that she sat down on and smiled at the motherly vampire.
"Hey Esme," she greeted.
"Sadie, how was school?" Esme asked, smiling over her shoulder as she continued to stir the pot's contents. "Did you get a lot of homework?"
"No –"
"She wants you and Carlisle to sign permission forms that will let her play on the volleyball team after school," Alice announced loudly. "Coach Andrews asked for her to join after the gym class ended."
Esme turned. "Sadie? Is this something you want to do?"
"Yeah. I was part of a team when I was in middle school back home," Sadie said, lying slightly. She had been on a sports team in eighth grade before giving it up. "I miss playing, Esme. And I need something more to do around here." She frowned. "Not that you guys have been boring me, but..."
"I understand," Esme said, returning to the pot. "I will talk to Carlisle when he comes home this evening and I'm sure he'll agree to let you play. I think it's a lovely idea for you to be a part of a team. I bet you're a true athlete on the court."
"She is," Alice said with a smile. "And I'm sure the volleyball team will keep her busy with all the late night practices, leaving her with no time for anything else...or anyone else."
Sadie sent the psychic a deadly look.
"Are you ready to eat?" Esme asked when Alice and Jasper left the room. "Let me know what you think of this. I've never tried it, but Pinterest said that it's a favorite of the internet."
"Okay."
OOOOOOOOO
Sadie stretched outside the Cullen household after having a large dinner and doing all of her homework. Carlisle had agreed to sign her permission forms and gave her his blessing to join the volleyball team when he had come home a couple hours prior. Now, she was ready for an evening run before a shower and bed.
Thank God it's a Friday, Sadie thought, pulling her foot up behind her back and then releasing it to do the same with her other foot. No more homework until Monday and I'll have time to practice my serve again...
"Hey Wolfy!" Emmett's voice boomed in her ears. "Are you trying to sneak a run through the woods without me again?" he demanded. "We made a promise that we'd run together the next time you decided to run."
Calm down, Sadie thought, telling her heart to keep from beating faster at the sight of the giant vampire. You can't have him. You can't let him know that you want him. You can't...
"I forgot," Sadie muttered, bouncing from foot to foot. "But I haven't gone anywhere yet, so no harm, no foul." She glanced at the woods. "We can still run together, if you want. That is, if your bitter half doesn't mind you getting smelly with a overgrown dog."
"Don't talk about yourself like that," Emmett ordered, stepping closer. "You're a wolf. Not a dog." He gestured back at the house. "And Rosalie knows that I like a little friendly competition, so she shouldn't care much."
Sadie bit her bottom lip rather than let herself breathe in too much of his scent. "Fine. Let's go for a run. I'll lead the way because I only want to go so far before turning back. I promised Carlisle and Esme that I wouldn't go too far away from here."
Not without saying a proper goodbye.
"Lead the way then," Emmett ordered, turning his baseball cap backwards.
OOOOOOOOO
"And stop," Sadie called out, skidding to a halt several miles away from the Cullen household.
All around her was an open field that let her look up at the darkening sky. She tilted her head back briefly as the breeze stirred around her, causing her hair to brush across her face. Her body tensed and relaxed at the same time when Emmett's scent made it into her lungs.
"Are you sure you want to stop now?" Emmett asked, stopping several feet away from her. "I thought we were just getting to the good part of the run."
"No. We're good." Sadie said, pushing her hair out of her face. "Give me a moment and we'll start heading back home."
Emmett watched as Sadie stretched out again, causing her to tense up. She straightened to her full height and frowned at him.
"What's wrong now, Emmett?" she asked.
"You joined the volleyball team," Emmett said.
"Yeah, so?"
"Why?"
Sadie crossed her arms. "What do you mean why?"
"Why did you join the team?" Emmett asked.
"Because I was offered the position and I wanted to play. Why else would I join the team?"
Emmett moved closer to her. "Because you want to avoid being around me. And I have no idea why that is."
Sadie's heart started pounding harder. "Not everything I do revolves around you, Emmett. Maybe I actually want to be a part of a team. Getting away from you and your bitter half could be a benefit that comes with the position."
The wolf froze when Emmett brushed his knuckles against her cheek. His amber colored eyes looked down into her brown ones and she saw that they were softer than even when he looked at Rosalie.
"Sadie, why are you pushing me away?" he asked. "I want to be your friend. I want you to be able to confide in me like you do with Alice and Jasper. Is that too much to ask?"
"Emmett..." Sadie breathed, staring up at him. "I can't...I can't do this. Please..."
Time seemed to stand still as Emmett's face grew closer to hers. Sadie's eyes fluttered shut as Emmett's lips brushed against hers. Panicked, Sadie pushed her hand against his chest.
"You can't do this," she told him, stepping back away from him. "You have Rosalie to love. She's your wife several times over and I'm not going to try to take her place..."
"Sadie," Emmett began, taking a step in her direction, but she warded him off with a hand.
"No, you asshole!" Sadie snapped, taking another step back. "Go back to her. Go back to Rosalie and continue living as you have been for as long as you have been. Forget what happened here. Ignore me and whatever is going on about me in your head. We can't have anything."
"But Sadie –"
"I don't want anything between us, Emmett," Sadie growled, glaring at him and hoping that there were no tears in her eyes. "I don't care about you like that. We are nothing but friends. Do you understand? Friends."
Emmett's face went blank. "If you say so, Wolfy." He gestured back at the woods. "Should we head back to the house now?"
Sadie nodded and started off without looking back at him or saying another word to him as she ran away.
As the two neared the Cullen house, Rosalie rushed through the door to greet Emmett. Sadie watched the beautiful blonde embrace Emmett and kiss him with passion. Her heart clenched and she moved past them, mentally telling herself to keep herself together.
She made it upstairs and into the shower before falling apart in the shower. Tears fell unchecked under the hot spray of the water and Sadie wrapped her arms around herself, cursing herself for everything that had happened and everything that she knew would happen because of what she had let come between her and the gentle giant.
OOOOOOOOO
A/N: Well, there's that update. Let me know what you think. Thanks! And lots of love and puppies your way! -Scarlet
