Chapter 8

Before I even have time to form a coherent thought, Rose is bustling down the stairs and jumping into his awaiting arms. They partake in an almost gag worthy make out session. Almost. I awkwardly clear my throat, letting them know that, oh I don't know, I'm still in the room.

"Bella, sorry." Rose pulls away, fixing her lipstick. I roll my eyes. I can feel his gaze on me, questioning, but also longing in some ways. "Bella, this is Emmett, my boyfriend. Emmett this is my best friend Bella." For a split second there's an awkward silence that follows after what Rose believes to be our first meeting, comprised of Emmett and I staring at each other and Rose looking back and forth between us.

"Bells." He said, his voice soft.

"Em." And just like that I'm lifted a foot off the ground and squeezed tightly. This time, it's Rose that clears her throat. "So you two know each other?" She asked, shooting me a look.

"You could say that." Em nods still staring at me.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer." I tell him bitterly. He takes a step back, as if this physically hurt him.

"Well, color me confused." Rose mumbles.

"Rose, this is Emmett Cullen, the same Emmett from what I was telling you earlier. I don't know how you couldn't put the pieces together." I explain, waving a hand towards Em.

"So this is where you ran off to? Florida? Oh man! Everyone's gonna flip when they find out you live here. Alice will go crazy." He hurriedly picks his phone out of his pocket, and starts hitting buttons.

"No!" I'm surprised by the octave my voice just embodied, from the looks of it Rose and Emmett are just as surprised. "I mean," I take a breath, "I just, hold on okay? Let me figure this out."

"You don't want them knowing you're here." It wasn't a question from him, more of a statement. Wow, college sure worked from miracles on that boy.

"It's not that, it's just, I have a good life here, Em. I don't want to go back now. Things are different now, I'm different." I explain, trying to make him understand.

"Oh, no I get it perfectly, Bella. You leave us behind, but we're all the bad guys. Makes perfect sense, really. Awesome. Just awesome." His fists clench and his nostrils flair. Rose looks panicked for a moment, but I keep my ground, knowing full well he wouldn't hurt a fly, much less me. But before I can retaliate, a less angry voice rings through the house.

"Momma." Both Rose and I turn around, instinctively. I see it though, out of the corner of my eyes that Emmett makes the connection, I mean, I know it's not that hard to do. But seeing it on someone's face makes all the difference. I brace myself, for him taking off out the door and to comfort Rose. Yet again. But it doesn't happen, neither one happens. Instead I watch, in astonishment, as Emmett's face breaks into a goofy grin.

"Wow. She's beautiful," Emmett walks pass Rose and I to the stairs, "hey pretty, I'm Emmett, and you?" He kneels down, making himself less tall and scary. Rose shoots me a beaming smile, and her eyes? They say I told you so. Lily hides behind her blanket.

"Lily's just shy, is all. She'll warm up to you." Rose explains, faltering slightly. I wanna tell her that it's only the first meeting, but Rose is Rose.

"No worries, I'm a pretty big goof to take in all at once. She can take all the time she needs, I'm not going anywhere." The one sentence is practically enough to send Rose into a fit of tears. Oh, god.

"I'll just leave you two to talk. C'mon Lily, I'm sure you're hungry." I put my hand out, and Lily takes it willingly.

"Bella?" I turn around. "We will talk, though? Later?" Emmett asked, voice near begging.

"Yeah, Em. We'll talk." I agree.