Disclaimer: Any recognizable characters are the creation of Stephanie Meyer, I am merely an obsessive fan too impatient to wait for the next book.
After looking both ways, as if I were lost instead of standing in front of my own apartment, I considered the possibility this present wasn't meant for neither Emmett nor I. Perhaps, as an alternative theory, it was meant for some other resident. I set everything down, fished my keys out of my pocket, and let myself in.
"Emmett?" I yelled in semi-question so he'd know there was something irregular going on.
While waiting for him to appear, I picked up the wine and set it on the counter along with my purse and a bag of groceries, figuring the most valuable stuff should be taken in first. Then I went back for the rest of the groceries, taking one last peek around my door before shutting it. "Hey Bells, Whatcha got?"
I nearly jumped out of my skin before turning around and coming to my senses. His sifting through my bags set me on edge, reminding me of Jacob and Charlie when they'd come over expecting to find microwave meals or something of the sort. Honestly! It's as if these boys didn't know me at all! Sure it's easier, but you want easy and fast, you can go to a fast-food joint. You move in with Bella Swan and/or raid her kitchen- you're going to get the real deal. After all, it is what I was going to go to grad school for. After seeing his face drop with disappointment at the lack of junk food, I had to retort.
"Food, Em. Basic food."
"No cereal, popcorn, chips, sodas, easy-Mac? What'd you even bother going to the store for? How about you have your side of the fridge, and I have mine, and we both do separate lists."
Oh yeah... Like that one was going to fly. "Or, Emmett McCarty, we can have one side, with one list, on which you are free to make suggestions I can veto, while you learn to eat healthy and smart and quit squandering money like it grows on trees. I don't know how long you think you've worked to save up some vast amount of money, but boy I've got news! You've only been alive 19 years, sir. Working as a construction worker for a year after high school is not going to get you enough to survive like you think you can!"
By this point I'm sure my face was Charlie-puce as Angela had always called it, taking after my father's coloring when we both got angry, due to our short fuses. At least I wasn't truly angry, as with Emmett, I could never be. It was like dealing with a two year old, he's just so cute and innocent. He really doesn't know any better. If I was truly angry, my eyes would have watered like a hormonal pregnant woman.
"Alright, alright. Sorry," He said drawing out the r. And I could tell he was. I think it was just the reminder of back home, my past that caught me off guard causing me to lash out.
I quickly strode over to wrap my arms as far as I could around him- it was like trying to hug a house.
"I'm sorry Emmett; I don't know why I did that. Forgive me?"
"Yeah yeah, you don't even have to apologize. I may not know what I do, but I know what it causes, I am your older brother after all… or did you replace me on the way to the store?"
Knowing full well I could never replace him as an older brother figure, though he may not literally be, I chuckled for about a second at the thought of finding someone to replace him before the mention of it led my wandering thoughts to this afternoons events and the man with the cab. From that strange occurrence, I went on to think about the strange expensive wine that now sat on my counter.
"Emmett… is there anyone else new to the building?"
"What you want to trade roommates too, not just best friends? Why, Bella Swan, I'm Shocked!" He said in mock offense. "But no, there isn't. My friend was the only one to move out in the last year, everyone else has been here for quite some time, why?"
Figuring he might have some friends who go to college as he is a year older than me, perhaps the bottle was meant for him if not for anyone else in the building.
"Well, then, perhaps this belongs to you." I went over to grab the wine, and showed it to him as any fine maître d' would, explaining the qualities.
"It's worth about 200. Has aromas of sandalwood, leather, dried plums, mint, and cedar. Medium-bodied, very elegant and refined. Tannins are integrated. Layers of complexity with replays from the nose joined by more red fruit. Moderate-long finish, about 40-45 seconds, I'd say, with fresh and dried red fruit and leather. It's has quite a persistent finish."
"Huh."
"So…?"
"First I'm trying to figure out what you just said outside of the fact that this thing is worth a week's paycheck, and how you know all of that. Second, sweet! I always wanted some richass wine like those boys in suits."
"I think you're missing the point, Emmett. Someone gave this to us, or you. Or possibly just got the wrong apartment all together. And they didn't even leave a name for us to know who it's from. That's a little suspicious to me. Do you have any idea who it might be from?"
It was like watching a train wreck, I just couldn't look away. Emmett was opening the wine bottle as I was speaking, and I was powerless to stop him. It's a rule most know: don't open anything that's not yours, or is not confirmed as yours.
"Nope, sure don't know who it's from," he said as if he was doing no wrong, despite the fact that the look on my face must have told all. "But I sure am glad they gave it to us! Now we can feel fancy. So… what's for dinner?" he asked as he held the bottle out to me.
It was useless to try to be angry with him. And it clearly must have been meant for us anyway, so I adopted the motto "If you can't beat'em, join'em," and went about getting wine glasses and a decanter.
"Honestly, I don't feel like cooking at all today. Just relaxing. We've been working so hard to move in, I just want a nice hot meal- something to go with this wine would be great."
"Well then cheer up puny, because I'm taking you out!" After seeing my confused expression, he clarified, "That's right, put on your fancy sneakers and something nice. We're going to have a night on the town, compliment of me, Emmett the greatest. You don't have to tell me, because I already know… You love me."
I couldn't help but smile at this overgrown child. He knew just what to say and do to soften me up and calm me down, and simultaneously excite and rattle me all at the same time.
We played video games for an a few hours while munching on apples before we decided to get ready to go out. But just before getting ready, we figured the wine had had enough time to fully decant and blend with the oxygen around it, so it was definitely time to taste the wonder of overpriced fancy wine. I poured each of us about two sips worth apiece, as is custom for a wine taste before actually pouring a full glass. Emmett gave me that tilted head grin with his eyebrows raised as if he was asking "Ya wanna?" And, knowing exactly what that look was referring to, I decided why the hell not. We linked arms and toasted the new apartment, new friends, new life, each other, and of course he had to throw in free wine. We clinked our glasses backwards and drank in celebration.