"What the hell was that?!" Jacob screamed at me. He was shaking visibly.
"He brought me home, Jake!" I yelled back, balling my hands into fists.
"Why didn't you answer your phone, Brook?!" He yelled, getting angrier.
I threw my hands in the air. "Oh, well I must have dropped in when we were having sex in the woods!" I quickly added at Sam's expression. "I left it at home! The battery was dead."
Sam chose now to step in. "Brook, I don't think it's exactly smart to be hanging around the Cullens as much as you do." He leaned against the tree he was standing by and looked at me in the eye. "Especially since Paul has the best sense of smell. You'll drive him crazy."
I barked a laugh. "I already do that! All you have to do is leave the milk open or stay in the bathroom forever." Jake's expression got angrier, if that's even possible.
"Just watch it." They said together, Jacob sounding more like a growl.
"Okay," I said, trying to be calm. "But you are aware I go to school with them, right?"
"Go home, Brook!" They yelled as I climbed onto my bike. I put on my helmet and started on my way home.
I got home just in time; my gas meter hit "E" and my bike gave out. I coasted into the garage and walked inside. Paul was asleep on the couch, but a burst of wind brought the smell on me to him. He jerked out of his sleep and jumped towards me, pinning me to the wall.
He eyes were closed and his hands were pinning my wrists to the wall. He inhaled again and opened his eyes saying groggily, "Brook? You stink." He let me go and I rubbed my wrists. "Where've you been?"
"Places."
"With who?" he asked, awake now. He opened the fridge and threw me a candy bar, which I caught and opened.
"People."
"With beating hearts or no?" Paul didn't like that I hung around with the Cullens because we used to date, and he was still super protective of me.
"What's it to ya?" I asked, walking into the living room and turning on the TV. I plopped onto the couch and Paul sat down next to me, his arm lying on the couch behind me.
"Everything. I don't like the idea of you being turned into a vampire… or being killed by one."
"Emmett wouldn't do any of that!" I immediately pulled air through my clenched teeth. Out of all the Cullens, Paul despised Emmett the most.
"You were with Emmett?" He asked turning to me. "Why didn't you answer your phone?"
Jacob walked through the unlocked door and I groaned. "She told me she dropped it when they were having sex in the woods."
"What?!" Paul yelled. I had already walked into my room, grabbed my cell phone, and walked out.
"It's right here! I left it here because it was dead!" I laughed with the two of them. Jacob had probably gone for a run, and he was in a better mood.
We sat on the couch and I killed both of them-many times-on Halo 2, even when they teamed up on me, for a few hours, then Jacob zonked out on the couch, and me and Paul went down the hallway to our rooms together.
Paul stopped me before I opened my door, grabbing my wrist. "Promise me you'll tell me the next time you go to… anywhere with Emmett. Okay?"
"I would have told you today, but it was kind of unplanned." He gave me a puzzled look. "In sixth period, Alice took me out of class to witness World War 3. Emmett and Rosalie broke up. Emmett kind of grabbed me and we went to this meadow place or something. We just stood there for a while. Nothing happened, okay? We didn't talk even."
"Alright." His eyes were so soft in the dim hallways light, but I knew if anything happened between us, we'd only get hurt. "Just be careful okay? You know what they-"
"Look like when they're thirsty, yeah. Dark eyes, bruise-ish things under their eyes, cranky. I know, Paul. Between hanging around the Pack and the Cullens, I know." I met his gaze coolly, my eyes seeing through this. All Paul wanted right now was for me to be his. He wanted me so badly and I could tell.
Almost before I could register it, Paul's hands were on my face, and his lips were touching mine. His lips were always soft (he used cherry Chapstick), and he caressed my face gently. I started to return his affection, but I knew I would only hurt us both more. I put my hands on his and pulled away from him, tilting my head down and keeping my eyes closed.
"Paul…" Was all I could manage before his hands left mine and his back was turned to me.
"I'm sorry." His voice was hard, heavy with his feelings. "Good night."
"Night." I said, watching him walk into his room. I opened my door and my phone started to vibrate. I pulled it out of my pocket almost robotically, it was so automatic.
Emmett calling… Was the words on the display. I flipped my phone open.
"Hola." I said, my voice happy even though I felt like I should die.
"Hi. Did I wake you up?" I heard Paul call himself stupid as he opened his window in an effort to hear me if I should try to leave. Paul's voice was intoxicating and I couldn't even see him.
"No, I was up."
My voice must have cracked or something because he immediately asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Don't lie to me." His voice was soft, and I knew he wouldn't let this go.
"Paul kinda kissed me just before you called…" There was an awkward pause.
"He said he was sorry, didn't he?" He said it, even though he knew the answer. He also knew that when I lived under the same roof as a teenage boy who just happened to be my ex, stuff like this happened frequently.
"Yes…" I sighed. "You couldn't have called twenty seconds earlier?" We both laughed and talked for awhile, then he made me go to bed. I could tell he didn't want to go either.
I decided I didn't want to go to school today, it was sunny and I wanted to spend it with another group of people who were also skipping. I waited until about noon, then showered and rode over to the Cullen's.
Emmett was standing by the door, out of the sun, waiting for me. He coked his head to Alice, who was reading a book on the couch. I nodded.
"So, what should we do on this fine day?" I asked.
Carlisle walked in saying, "You should be in school, Brooklyn." Esme nodded in agreement.
"School is overrated. I don't need to fit in, so I don't try to." We all laughed, Emmett grabbing my hand and pulling me upstairs.
"Keep your door open, Emmett," Edward said as we passed him on the stairs.
Emmett didn't say anything, just kept pulling me to his room. When we arrived, it was the same as the last time I saw it, only messier. One side of the room was littered with empty CD cases, the other with dirty clothes. He had a couch and a book shelf bigger than an elephant full of books. I had read a lot of them, and put some on the shelf.
I plopped on the couch and hit a button on the remote. His TV swung out of the wall, turned onto the Speed channel. NASCAR was just closing up when Emmett turned the channel. An action movie popped up on the screen. He sat down next to me, putting his arm around my shoulders. I leaned into him and watched the rest of the movie. Goodness prevails, blah, blah, blah…
When the credits were rolling, I kicked off my shoes and put my feet on the couch, leaning into Emmett's side. I heard him inhale through his nose. "You smell like vanilla, and…" He paused while he tried to identify the smell. "Pizza."
I laughed with him and snuggled in closer to the block of ice that was right now, my pillow. I fell asleep during the next movie, and when I woke up, my head was in Emmett's lap and he was stroking my hair gently, watching me sleep. I noticed how dark the room was; even though I knew the curtains were pulled over the glass wall.
I sat up, against my will, and looked at the digital clock. It was two in the morning! I had to get home!
Emmett heard my heart speed up and said calmly, "I called Paul and he said thanks, plus some choice words." I laughed quietly as I began lay back down. Emmett stopped me softly. I looked up at him, puzzled. Dazzled.
He smiled and laid down on his side. I laid next to him, my head resting on his elbow and his arm twisting around my waist protectively.
I fell asleep quickly after Emmett got me a blanket and changed the channel to Cartoon Network. When I woke up, Emmett must not have noticed, because he was whispering in my ear:
"I need you so bad, Brook."
My heart jumped, and he didn't stiffen or immediately take back what he said, but chuckled quietly. I snuggled closer to him and he kissed the top of my head, smelling my hair again.
"I need you too," I said. The TV turned off and we were in darkness. I heard a beep and the curtains opened, bathing us in moonlight.
"I know you do." His voice was so soft. He turned me around in his arms.
His face moved closer to mine. Our lips were so close…
I jerked out of my dream, starting in Emmett's arms. He laughed quietly. "Your heart is pounding. Bad dream?"
Exact opposite. "Yeah," I said, out of breath. I lay back down on his arm. I shivered and I realized I had kicked the blankets off myself. I must have kicked Emmett too, because my foot hurt really badly.
Emmett pulled the blanket back around me, and his arm found its spot on my waist again. I noticed that it was night outside, but the TV was on. The Phantom of the Opera serenaded Christine Daaé until she passed out and he laid her on the legendary "Bird Bed", as Alice and I had deemed it. Emmett whispered all the lyrics in my ear, perfect pitch, just quieter. He lulled me into sleep again and when I woke up, he wasn't laying next to me.
I got up and walked downstairs. The Cullens were all sitting around the living room. Jasper and Alice were reading books, Esme had just left the room, and Edward was sitting at the piano, scribbling down a new piece, I guessed.
"Emmett's in the garage," Edward said as I was about to open my mouth to ask. I snapped it shut and stuck my tongue out at him. "Put that back in your mouth."
I thought something mean at him, then walked into the brisk morning. I had taken one of Emmett's sweatshirts, and it was wrapped around my shoulders. I stepped into the garage and music was pounding through the speakers. Emmett was crouched under the hood of his jeep, his foot tapping to the bass of Underoath.
"Hey." I said, my voice normal. I knew he could hear me. I closed the door behind me and hung his sweatshirt on the hanger on the back of the door. He looked up at me as I turned back around, his face streaked with finger-sized oil-lines of frustration. He walked over and turned down the music.
"Hey." I could hear the thick frustration in his voice.
I smiled. "Want me to take a look?" He smiled back at me and nodded.
"Please." We laughed as I walked over. I was a certified mechanic in La Push, and worked sometimes at the garage here in Forks. Even though Emmett was 93 years old, he knew when he was beat.
I looked inside and worked my magic. It was a minor problem, but he hadn't recognized the noise the car had made when it started. One of the caps was loose, so I tightened it.
"Okay. Praise me," I said, laughing. Emmett raised his hands above his head and bowed, laughing as he stood again.
I rubbed my arm unconsciously, and almost before I could register it, Emmett's sweatshirt was around me again and I could feel his hands give my shoulders a quick, but affectionate, squeeze. He exhaled quickly, and I could feel his cool breath on my neck. Goosebumps popped up on my neck and shivers ran down my back.
"Do you want me to take you home?" He said, suddenly in front of me. I thought about how Bella still jumped sometimes when they did that.
"Not really." We laughed and he picked something out of my hair, his hand brushing my cheek. I could feel my face get warmer, but I didn't quite blush.
"Should I take you home?" He asked quietly. It always kind of surprised how soft his voice could be after I'd seen his eyes look at me so hard.
"Probably. I must stink." He laughed this time as he shut the hood of Jeep. Then my door was open as he stood by and helped me up into the passenger's seat, taking my hand like he was helping a queen.
On the way back to the La Push border, I had put my hand on his shifter, like I always did, but he had put his hand on mine and intertwined our fingers. My pulse must have quickened, because he squeezed my hand gently as he laughed.
I noticed that he slowed to the speed limit as we got closer to the border, and I was glad. It wasn't that his insane driving scared me, driving with him gave me an adrenaline rush; I just didn't want to get out.
When we got to the border, Emmett, got out and I almost got to my door handle when he was there, the door was open, and I was in his arms, bridal style again. My hands went around his neck instinctively, and I ran my fingers through his short hair.
He gently, reluctantly, set my feet on the ground, but my arms didn't move. His hands were secure around my waist, but his right hand came up and stroked my cheek even more gently then when he had set me down. His other arm pulled me closer to him, so my chest was pressed against him. I look up at him, towering six inches over me, and my heart sputtered. The sun had come out from behind a cloud and his skin was sparkling gently for about four seconds, then went back to being pale and irresistible. I looked down so I could try and breathe.
I was looking at a necklace he was wearing when the hand that had been stroking my cheek tilted my chin up so I had to look at him. His eyes were so soft… I could barely breathe. Actually I didn't breathe, I just looked up at him and hoped my heart was still beating.
His face moved closer to mine. My feet involuntarily went onto their tip toes so I could reach him.
I could feel his sweet breath on my face. His cold lips brushed against mine gently…
Sam cleared his throat loudly, making both of us jump away from each other. You know, the pure reaction when you're a teenager and an adult figure of authority walks in on you when you're about to kiss.
Emmett laughed quietly before he disappeared and his Jeep started and drove away. I turned and glared at Sam.
"Do you have any idea how close I was to kissing him?" I was really angry, almost irrationally.
"Yes, I do. But I- we need to talk to you." Jacob, Paul, and Quil all walked out of the forest, all shirtless and in sweat pants.
"IF you guys are going to tell me to stop hanging out with the Cullens, think about it first." My voice was hard and angry. "I'm already pissed."
Jacob stole a glance at Sam, who nodded. "Isn't it weird that you feel so angry at just a small thing like that? A bit irrational?" Jake said gently taking a step towards me.
"No, I really like Emmett, so it's perfectly rational for me to be angry!" I noticed my hands were shaking minutely.
"Please try to calm down, Brook," Sam pleaded with me. His hands were up, palms out, in a sign of peace. My anger was mounting. Why were they being so ridiculous?
"Oh my God, just let me tell her." Paul stepped in front of me, his face triumphant. "You're a werewolf."
Anger reaching a peak, I felt myself lose it. I swung at Paul, and my hand connected with his shoulder. As it did, I felt myself change. My whole world was black for a split second, and all my muscles contracted sharply. Minute pain erupted throughout my body. I thought I would die as my heart swelled.
Then it was gone and I was surrounded by the wolves. Paul was directly in front of me still, and his silver hair was blowing gently to the west. Jake and Quil were to my right, behind Paul. Sam hadn't changed. He stood and watched me cautiously.
I knew that I was a dog right now, and that the last thing I wanted was to listen to the pack tell me I'd be fine but that I couldn't tell Emmett.
So I ran.