I didn't expect to have that dream again, though I very much wanted to. I could do with another good night's sleep, especially as tomorrow was sure to be long and exhausting. I figured a run before school would help ease some of my tension, but Angela had said the rain was only going to get worse, and it really wouldn't be safe for running.

This did nothing to improve my mood, especially since I was still grossly out shape and what I didn't need was to, this early on in my routine, deviate from it.

I tried reading before bed, to try and relax myself. That didn't work, probably because I'd chosen a collection of Poe, and while I dearly loved the man for being sinister and off the tangent of rational thought, he certainly didn't make for great prebed reading, not when you already knew fear firsthand.

I did drift in and out for a few hours, before finally giving up and heading down to the kitchen. I made a tall mug of hot chocolate, grabbed a blanket off the back of the sofa, and went out to sit on the porch. It was freezing out here, but I had never minded the cold. In fact, I thought, thinking of Emmett's hand holding mine, I might even prefer it...

"Stop. Right. Now." I said aloud to myself, after I'd quietly shut the front door. The porch was covered, and though not large, big enough to fit in various potted plants and a swinging bench for two.

I hated the raw attraction I had to Emmett, hated how the gaping hole inside of me seemed to fill when I was around him, whether in reality or in my dreams. For the first time since my family had been killed, I felt whole.

I gulped the hot chocolate, slightly burning my tongue. I wondered vaguely if Emmett's lips were as cold as his hands, and how they would feel against my own and if he liked hot chocolate? And then why did Alice and Emmett eat dinner? I mean, as vampires, they were sustained by blood, weren't they? And then of course that brought up the whole matter of their eye color. I was very uneducated when it came to vampires, the things I knew only gained through first hand experience, and any research I'd tried to do on them lead to very fictional ends. I realized that when dealing with vampires in general it was highly irrational, but some things I'd found out were just too far out of the realm of reality.

I stood up, leaning against the railing. My whole problem was that I was over thinking everything, wanting to analyze every detail until my brain was literally fried.

The bottom line was this. I was terribly attracted to Emmett. He was indescribably handsome and strong and had a smile that could, if you weren't careful, completely blindside you. He was easy to be around, and I felt entirely safe with him. It wasn't just that I was attracted to him, it was that I wanted to know him. What did he like to do? Vampires had to have interests, didn't they? Where had he lived before? How had he come to be with his current family?

I sighed, draining my hot chocolate, ignoring the sting of the steaming liquid. Retaking my seat on the bench, I wrapped the blanket around me, laying flat as I closed my eyes, trying to recall the deeply calming scent of Emmett Cullen.

oooo

I woke up some hours later, my alarm blaring in my ear. Disoriented for a minute, I groggily sat up, not sure of where I was. I was one hundred percent positive I had fallen asleep on the porch, and not in my room, where I was now. My bed was warm, meaning I'd been in it for a while. I lifted my hand, rubbing my forehead. My sleeve pressed against my nose, and I felt a tingle in the pit of my stomach as pines and rain washed over me.

It was official; I was completely and totally losing my mind.

Because other than the possibility that I had started sleep walking and had made my own way back to bed, the only other evidence pointed to the wildly unlikely option that Emmett Cullen had put me there. Had lifted me in his arms, held me to him, silently entered the house, laid me down in my bed, and covered me with the blankets. Had he kissed me, like he had the previous night? Whispered my name? Maybe he had held me tenderly, like I meant something to him...

Or maybe none of that had happened. Maybe I had just spiraled out of the real world and was living off in some other galaxy where insanity was quite the norm.

It didn't matter. What mattered was that I was becoming addicted to a man, to a vampire, that I had no hope of reaching. He wouldn't want a breakable, silly human like me with more baggage than most skycaps could handle.

Which was worse? That I wanted to reach him, or that I couldn't?

oooo

Emmett POV

I couldn't help it. I just couldn't stay away from her. Alice had been right. I'd wanted to more than hold her hand. I'd wanted to be next to her and feel her bare skin on mine and run my fingers through her hair, to feel the heat from her pulse against me and to hear her say my name. And more, so god damn much more.

It didn't have to be dirty, it didn't have to be sex. And that was something way new. It had seemed with Rose I couldn't get enough of her, of being with her. But that...it was nothing like this. Rose and Kelly were complete opposites in almost every aspect, including how they made me feel.

She had been on the porch when I'd seen her, standing there and looking out into the rain like she was trying to solve world hunger or something deep like that. She really had a problem with sleeping. I didn't know much about her past - none of us did - but whatever she had gone through was bad enough to keep her up at night. I wanted to erase all of that, whatever made her scared to close her eyes.

I guess it was stupid of me to think that I could do that. Or maybe it was stupid to think that I had the right to. She wasn't mine, and even if she was, Kelly wasn't exactly the damsel in distress kind of girl.

So what was worse? That Kelly wasn't mine to save, or that I wanted to save her in the first place?

oooo

There really wasn't anything to say about the first part of my day. Angela showed me around and introduced me to her friends. I wanted to like them, I really did, but they weren't exactly the kind of people I pictured myself hanging out with. I had felt more comfortable around Alice and Emmett, two bloodthirsty vampires, then I did around these very safe people I would be spending, at the very least, the rest of my time in high school with.

I had looked for Em - for the Cullens, the Cullens, but I hadn't seen any of them yet. I thought it would be inevitable, with, as Angela had said, Edward and Alice being in the same grade as I was. But so far, they hadn't shown, though I knew that the next class I had was Biology. Angela met me at my locker, her smile sympathetic, as I slammed my locker door shut with more force than was necessary.

"It's just up here. Almost half done, right?" Angela said, slipping into the nearest classroom.

I walked in the classroom, the first thing I glimpsed was Alice, standing at the teacher's desk. She turned around to look at me, winking as I passed her, following Angela.

Angela indicated the spot next to her, but the teacher, an elderly man with glasses too large for his face and a friendly smile, cleared his throat. "We're going to put her with Miss Cullen, Miss Weber." Alice took my wrist and led me to the back of the room, pulling out a chair for me with her ankle.

"And now," the teacher, Mr. Brown, according to my schedule, gestured to the board where he'd written a series of questions. "Biology is first and foremost a science, and the only way we learn about science is to pose questions on which to base theories. Today, I want each of you to interview your partner. Here are some sample questions," he vaguely shook his hand toward the chalkboard, "and tomorrow I want you to combine all your data and form a theory on your partner - it could be what career suits them best, what extra curricular activities they should be involved in, even who they should begin a romantic liaison with." Mr. Brown gave a hearty chuckle, then gave another shake of his hand, dismissing us to begin.

"Well," Alice said, her mechanical pencil poised over her sleek back notebook, "shall we?"

I shrugged, pulling my own notebook out of my bag. I had no idea what to ask her; Mr. Brown's questions were mundane and highly generalized, and the only thing I could think of right now was asking Alice if Emmett had come to school today. God, I was such an idiot.

"You start." I said.

"Okay," Alice squinted at the chalk board, "what's your biggest problem right now?"

I balked. This was not a question on the board. Where would I even begin to answer that? I was falling in love with her older brother, who, being a vampire, was the very thing I was supposed to hate because of the brutal double-murdering of my parents. Not to, you know, mention that I barely even knew Emmett to begin with.

"Shoes," I hurriedly said, as Alice raised an inquiring eyebrow at my silent deliberation.

She nodded sympathetically. "I know, this town doesn't have much selection, does it? You know it's bleak when the nearest Michael Kors selection is an entire day's trip away."

I shook my head. "Not those kind of shoes. Running shoes."

"Running shoes?" Alice said, as though it was inconceivable that I didn't understand her fashion plight.

I nodded. "Yeah. I'm a runner...or I used to be, anyway. I haven't been into it seriously for a long time...I kind of outgrew my pair." I shrugged. It was a feasible enough answer. And the blister on my heel from my last run was proof enough.

"Well, I guess that is a thinker..." Alice said kindly, though I knew she was probably just thinking I was insane. I certainly couldn't disagree with her.

"Next question please." I asked, waiting for her to make notes on her paper. She simply tapped the eraser on the table, considering the board again.

"Favorite color?"

I relaxed a bit; this was Mr. Brown's first question. "Blue." Alice smirked. With a jolt, I wondered if we were both remembering the same thing; Emmett had been wearing a blue long-sleeved shirt at Sea-Tac, the first time I'd ever seen him.

"Favorite food?"

"I'm not really picky. Lots of protein and carbs, I guess. Mexican is good."

"This is really getting us nowhere." Alice said, "I can't tell you what you should do or be or love from these answers. I need better info."

I shrugged; what did she want from me? I couldn't very well allow myself to spill the most intimate details of my life. They were hidden in places I preferred to stay away from, and though Alice was nice and she was obviously tame, to some degree, I didn't think it was prudent to be getting chummy with her. Not when I knew what her true nature was.

So what did that make my feelings for Emmett, then?

God, I was such an idiot.

oooo

Alice POV

Kelly wasn't an easy human to read, but that made it quite fun, really. A challenge, kind of. She liked keeping things simple, general. Nothing too personal, nothing too specific. Details equaled danger to her.

So of course I had to make it my personal mission to find out as much as possible about her. I knew things already, of course, nothing from the past obviously, but things that would take place the future. I would have to prod her and Em along, but they'd get there eventually. For both of them, time was not an issue.

"Emmett!" I saw my brother's broad back in the crowd filtering through the halls toward the lunch room. He turned, grinning at me, and I eagerly returned his smile. Damn, it was good to have the real him back. I'd have to thank Kelly in any way I could, and I knew just where to start.

"Here," I said, when I'd caught up to him. I scribbled down an address in Seattle, shoving it into his hand. "Take her here. As in a-sap."

"This will take the rest of the day, Alice. It's her first day - " He began, looking doubtfully at the scrap of paper.

I shrugged. "I'll take care of it, don't worry. Just bring her to our place after for dinner." I stood on the tips of my toes, pecking him on the cheek. "And remember to drive sane, please. We don't need you scaring her to death."

Em shot me a dirty look as we met Jasper and Edward at the entrance to the cafeteria.

oooo

"So you liking it okay?" Mike asked, giving me an appraising look as I sat down beside Angela. I didn't like the way he was sizing me up, but he did seem nice enough. I supposed it was the new girl vibe that he was finding attractive. I kind of felt sorry for the kid; he had no clue what he was competing with.

"Sure." I shrugged, taking a large bite out of a bread stick so I wouldn't have to talk. There wasn't much of a selection here at Forks High, so I'd grabbed the only thing I could recognize, which was spaghetti and some form of vegetable. I'd have to start bringing in my lunch if I wanted to stay on a balanced eating routine.

"Yeah, this is totally the place anybody would want to be." Jessica said with a roll of her eyes. "I mean let's face it, the only guys worth going out of your way for don't even notice you exist." She shot Mike a furtive look, but he didn't seem to notice.

"You're just jealous because a certain Edward Cullen dissed you." Eric said, pointing a celery stick at Jessica.

"Like I care. He's a freak anyway. His whole family - "

"They seem really nice." I broke in, my voice hard. I couldn't necessarily vouch for the rest of the Cullens, never having spoken personally with them, but I knew Alice and Emmett, and they were far above the stupid, envious gossip of girls like Jessica. Whatever she had intended to say about the Cullens, I could be sure it wasn't going to be flattering. I had only met her that day in history, having been unfortunate enough to be sat beside her. She reminded me of Lauren, the girl from the pizza place last night. Lovely girls, the both of them, I thought as Lauren herself entered the room, casting a scornful look at our table before huffing away.

Angela's eyes followed mine to the door, grinning as the very subjects of conversation walked in.

"It's just weird, I mean they all live together!" Jessica said in a stage whisper as Alice and the tall blond, Jasper, waltzed past us, "Dr. and Mrs. Cullen are like these...foster parents slash match makers."

"Mm." Angela said, watching now as a bronze haired one, almost as tall as Jasper, followed after his sister and brother, "maybe they'll adopt me."

I found myself nodding before I realized what I was doing. Only Angela seemed to catch the movement, though, and gave me a small smile. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw the vampire, Edward I realized, turn to look back at Angela for a second, a crooked, barely there smile on his lips, before following his family to one of the lunch tables.

I looked over the heads of everybody in the lunch room, but I couldn't see Emmett. Was he absent today? Got held up in his last class? What was the reason-

"Hey," I jumped, his voice right in my ear.

"Don't do that!" I said, smacking his arm with my hand, regretting it the second my fingers started to throb. Probably not a good idea to punch a brick wall.

He laughed, and held out his hand. "Wanna blow this joint?"

I looked around at Angela and Jessica. They both looked stunned, their forks halfway to their mouths. Mike and Eric were avoiding looking at Emmett. I wondered if it was some ego thing with them - they were certainly not on par with Emmett, in any sense. "Um, sure." I said, shouldering my backpack and leaving my lunch tray on the table. "See you." I muttered to them as I took Emmett's hand.

He didn't let go of my hand, even after he had pulled me out of my chair. As we left the lunch room, I noticed many glares from girls I didn't even know sent my way. I felt a pang of pleasure at this; I had something they didn't, and that was a rarity. It felt...God, it felt so nice. It was like being normal again, like the small gesture of affection, regardless of what intention Emmett had behind it, had made my entire day worth living through.

"Where are we going?" I asked, as Emmett pulled me out into the parking lot. He led me to a large, shiny black Jeep Commander, sleek and looking like it belonged in posh sections of New York City with ease, fitting in with all the expensive, manicured cars there, while at the same time could handle the most extreme mudding excursions.

"Outie." He said, opening the passenger door and helping me in.

"Outie." I repeated, thoroughly lost, stowing my backpack under my feet.

"Yup." Emmett was around the jeep and in the driver's seat in a flash.

"You really make no sense." I said, trying to stop myself from smiling. There was so much ease between us, so much...chemistry? I flushed at that thought.

"You really make it fun making no sense." He said, nudging me softly with his shoulder.

"Now you're just being difficult on purpose."

"Now you're making it fun to be difficult on purpose."

I mock glared at him, sure there was no possible way that I could be or stay angry at him, not when that effing amazing smile was plastered all over his chiseled face.

"Alice says you're a runner." He said a moment after we'd pulled out of the Forks High parking lot and were starting along the highway.

"Alice is right." I said, wondering how Alice had had time to relay this information to her brother before lunch.

"And runners need good shoes, right?"

"Of course," I nodded, "they're the most vital tools of the trade."

"Well, there ya go." Emmett said in a satisfied sort of way, as though that answered my question.

"Are we going to be back in time for class?" I asked. It probably wasn't a good idea to skip out on my first day, but I was finding it difficult at this moment to really care. Emmett seemed to drain away any negative feelings I had. He had a real streak of adventure, and even something as mundane as cutting out on lunch seemed fun.

"Wouldn't count on it." He said, as we passed a road sign for Seattle.

"Er...are we going to be back for the rest of the day?"

Emmett flashed me another smile. I was ready for it this time though, and held tightly onto the door handle for support. "Would you be mad if we weren't?"

"Not if 'we' is inclusive of you and me." I said without thinking. Horrified, I pressed my lips together, passing my hand over my eyes. I despised the fact that around him, I completely lost my ability to keep my thoughts in my head.

"My feelings exactly." Emmett said quietly, almost too quietly for me to hear.