A/N: Okay, so I struggled majorly with this chapter. I think I started it about fifty odd times, and everytime it just felt wrong. Getting into Emmett's head was a lot harder than I'd suspected. But with a little appropriate mood music (the Twilight Original Score is soooo good) everything just sort of poured out. Please R&R. This chapter is from Emmett's PoV.

Brighter Than Sunshine

Chapter Two

Dangerous

"Emmett Cullen! You can't seriously expect me to believe that you can list all of the countries in Africa alphabetically, but you don't know the capital of Vermont." The girl walking beside me was eyeing the Geography test I'd reluctantly released into her demanding little hands with obvious disbelief, her voice suspicious. I couldn't help but chuckle. I'd done a lot of things in my seventy-some years of un-life deserving of her mistrust and I gotta say, forgetting the capital of Vermont was not one of them. I plucked the paper out of her fingers, ignoring her "hey!", and tossed it into the nearest available trash can.

It was funny. Not only was I being scolded for an A plus test score, but it was by a human. I may have been a mortal once, but I don't think I'd ever truly understand them again.

Laughing, I wrapped an arm around lightly around her impossibly fragile shoulders, shaking my head.

"What do you expect, Bella? Vermont is boring. I bet you can't name one interesting thing from Vermont that would help me remember its capital."

I was lying, of course. Well, not the part about Vermont being boring, because it was, but the part about not knowing the capital city. Montpelier. With a population of less than nine thousand people, the smallest state capital in the U.S. Also the only one without a McDonalds.

You'd be surprised at the trivial facts you pick up with twenty years of the same social studies classes, and an infinite amount of time on your hands. Really, I could probably teach any of the classes offered at this little school better than my professors, but you know how it is. There were roles to play, images to be upheld, pretending to be a normal, forgetful kid. It was tough, let me tell you.

Add to the fact that I was built like your average linebacker and I probably had it a little more rough than the rest of my siblings. Jasper and Edward were both perpetually broody, so people expected them to be sullen geniuses. Rose was so gorgeous that it wasn't beyond belief that teachers might be grading her on her looks rather than the content of her assignments. Alice…Well Alice was considered the oddest of the Cullen bunch, and no one seemed to have any set expectations for her. But me…Obviously I was the big dumb jock. People assumed I was some kind of simpleton. It really wasn't fair. Just because I didn't spend all day skulking behind a Tolstoy novel, or spouting off lines of Shakespeare didn't mean I didn't know them.

"Maple syrup!"

Bella's sudden outburst had me slanting a curious look in her direction. Apparently my little human had lost her mind.

"Maple syrup?" I parroted.

"Yeah! The interesting thing from Vermont? Maple syrup." Judging by her tone, she thought she'd come up with a pretty good answer. I just shook my head.

"Maple Syrup, really?" She peered up at me hopefully, and I scoffed. "Not only do I despise the stuff, but I said interesting. You're gonna have to do better than that."

Her brows drew together, lips pursed into a little moue as she thought. It still amazed me how much humans moved around. It was like they couldn't be still for even a second. All that nervous energy. How could they not recognize us for what we were? Even the most practiced vampire couldn't exactly mimic that uncoordinated, graceless twitching.

And all those bodily functions! Yikes.

"How about…Ben and Jerry's?" She was determined, I'd give her that.

"I think you'll just have to face it, Swan, I'm not the intellectual type."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, whatever. Just a quick head's up. If you're trying to keep the expectations low, so you can slack off, you might want to skip the flashy extra credit question and just name the capital of Vermont." She looked up at me knowingly and I couldn't help but laugh. The girl was gutsy.

"Geez, Bella, I don't hang around you so that you can insult my intelligence."

Her steps faltered slightly, and I stopped to look at her. She was watching me with those wide, chocolate eyes, her expression one of intense interest. I didn't need Edward's ability to know that she was thinking the very same question I'd repeatedly asked myself over the past month. Why was I hanging out with Isabella Swan?

So far, I hadn't come up with much in the way of answers. She was fun, sure, but so were Alice and Edward. Why step outside of those familiar bonds to actively seek the company of a human? A particularly fragile one at that. Whether saving her from her own homicidal feet, or just playing around, I had to be incredibly conscientious of my strength, lest I break any of her puny little bones. Being around her made me feel like some kind of super-hero or something.

The thought stuck in my head, replaying itself over and over. Maybe that was the appeal. I'd always been considered something of a protector to my family. But when you were protecting immortal creatures with nearly infinite strength and speed, well, the job wasn't exactly fulfilling. Bella's frailty called to my protective instincts as surely as a siren's song.

Unfortunately, that wasn't really an explanation I was at liberty to offer her right about now. I didn't have any idea what I'd say if she actually came out with the question that'd probably been plaguing us both. You'd think, after nearly seventy five years of being around mortals, I'd know what a girl wants to hear. Oh man, I was going to have to have a talk with Alice.

Lucky for me, she chickened out. She smirked, a terrible habit that I was certain she'd picked up from me, and flounced past me, peeking over a slender shoulder to murmur playfully, "I didn't realize there was anything there to insult."

I gave her my best ferocious scowl, though the effect was pretty much ruined when I couldn't resist a laugh at her parting shot. She just couldn't help taunting me, and I had to admit that it was a nice change to the cowering that I was usually the recipient of. Would she be so quick with her comments if she knew what I was? The power she was playing with?

I barreled after her, enjoying her little shriek of excited fear far too much. This…This was a dangerous game, for both of us. And I wasn't talking about Bella's inability to stay upright while standing still, let alone running. Something about the chase, about chasing her specifically, caused my demon to stir. It would allow me a few moments to forget that it existed, before rearing its ugly head to focus on the swift thud of her heart, the steady thrumming pulse of life through her veins, her blush as the blood pooled in her cheeks. It saw her as nothing but a meal, and this pursuit was not a game, but a hunt. I was the predator, she the prey, and I should pounce upon her and tear her throat out. The very idea sickened me, and I knew, I knew I would never do such a thing to my delicate human, but the fact that I could even think it… Well, like I said, this was dangerous.

Bella skidded abruptly around a corner, nearly wiping out as her feet slid on the floor. I grimaced. One of these days that girl was seriously going to injure herself. It's a good thing she was hanging out with me, cause I had a feeling that her coordination was just disastrous enough to take out a few other mortals with her.

I was just rounding the same corner she'd disappeared around when I heard it. A startled scream that had most certainly come from Bella. If my heart was beating it would've stopped, right then. The sound stirred something terrifying in me, something fierce that wanted to crush whatever had scared or hurt her into a bloody pulp. I had to remind myself that more often than not, Bella's own feet were at fault. The thought didn't slow my pursuit.

I rushed around the bend, a little more quickly that was probably wise in terms of protecting my identity, and promptly collided with Bella's still form, barely able to slow myself enough that the impact didn't shatter every bone in her body. As it was, I wasn't able to stop our sudden tumble to the ground, though I did manage to shift us so that I didn't land on top of her. What a mess that'd have been.

She uttered a soft exhalation of surprise as we fell, her back pressed against the unyielding wall of my chest. My arms came around her instinctively, holding her protectively in preparation for impact. I barely even felt the cold, tile floor as it rose to meet us. Leave it to Bella to have enough awkwardness that even a vampire couldn't stay on his feet when she was around.

We lay there for several seconds. Her hair had landed in a soft disarray around the both of us, and the sweet scent of almonds and vanilla washed over me. I inhaled deeply, enjoying the mingling of her human scents with the primal one of her blood. I was surprised to find that it was not just the latter that called to me. She was warm, soft and so very alive. Everything that I wasn't. The steady thudding of her heart, the gentle inflation of her lungs, I could feel every motion that ensured her continued existence. With them came a startling thought. I wanted to protect that life. This human life. When it had become important was insignificant. I just knew that the idea of her death was something unacceptable to me.

I began to pat her down detachedly, my hands strictly professional as I reigned in my wayward thoughts.

"Are you alright?" My voice sounded just near her ear, and I felt her tremble lightly as my cold breath bathed her skin. She nodded, and I shifted so I could see her face. She looked a bit stunned. Could such a little fall cause her to go into shock? It seemed unlikely, but this was Bella…

She couldn't have surprised me more when she suddenly began to giggle. "Geez, you big lug, watch where you're going!"

"Big lug? You're the one that was stopped in the middle of the hall for no reason!" I poked at her side carefully, imagining the internal damage I could cause with just a bit too much pressure.

"I had a reason," she replied primly.

"Oh yeah? Why was that?"

"Your brother."

"What?"

"Your brother," she repeated the words very slowly, as if she were speaking to a two year old.

I'd heard her, of course, but what did she mean?

"What are you talking about?"

She pointed up and I followed the direction of her finger to find Edward standing near my head, looking down on me with such disapproval that I was surprised Bella and I didn't burst into flame right then and there. If he'd been wearing that expression the entire time it wasn't surprising that she'd been frightened when she came around the corner.

"Oh, hey Edward. How's it going?"

My nonchalance sent Bella into another little fit of laughter. I squeezed her lightly in warning. I had a feeling Edward wasn't in the mood to be the cause of our amusement.

"If you're quite finished, Emmett. We'd like you to join us at our table today. There is something we wish to discuss with you."

Hm. I'd taken a couple of lunch periods with Bella recently, and while my siblings hadn't said anything about it, perhaps I'd underestimated the effect my actions would have. I nodded.

"Alright. Meet ya in there."

Edward crossed his arms over his chest, staring at me with quiet intensity.

Okay, then.

I hefted Bella and myself to our feet, and began dusting her off. She swatted my hands away with a little grin.

"Keep your hands to yourself, Mr. Cullen."

I smirked at her teasing.

"You gonna be alright if I sit with the family today, lil bit?"

She chuckled, a single brow rising with her amusement. "No, Emmett, I won't be alright. I can't possibly remember how to eat without the help of a big, strong man. You'll just have to tell your family that you have to…"

I grabbed the hood of her sweatshirt and tugged it over her head, pulling it down until it covered her eyes.

"Brat."

She shoved the fabric back, pushing her hair out of her face. She looked adorable to me in that moment. Something I assure you I'd never thought of in regards to a human. Tasty, attractive, even beautiful, sure. But never adorable. Her dark eyes danced with mirth, and the corners of her lips tipped into just a hint of a smile. The soft apples of her cheeks were gently flushed, her hair mussed in every direction imaginable. I had the sudden, startling urge to kiss her. I batted the thought away violently. I was a vampire. She was a human. I could protect her, sure, but a relationship was out of the question.

I tucked a strand of hair lightly behind her ear, and she swatted at my arm lightly.

"Go on, get out of here. Your brother looks like he could eat a horse."

I grinned. We were speaking quietly, but I knew it was impossible for Edward not to hear us.

"Actually, he prefers mountain lion."

Bella laughed her obvious disbelief.

"And what's your preference, Emmett?"

"Bears." I nodded solemnly.

I heard a strangled noise from behind me and chuckled. That was probably enough Edward-baiting for the moment. With a tug of the string hanging down the front of her shirt, I turned to smile at my brother. He did not return the sentiment.

As he tugged me into the cafeteria, I sighed. This ought to be fun.

"Emmett, you are being entirely selfish! Think about it! This isn't just about you!" Rosalie's voice was just loud enough to make me glance around uncomfortably. Great, give the mortals some more gossip fodder, because they just didn't have enough when it came to the Cullens.

"Geez, Rose, keep it down will you?"

"Why? Why should I? Why do you care what they think about you?"

I groaned. This hadn't just been about my sitting with Bella at lunch. This was about every activity I'd ever done with her, real or imagined. It was ridiculous.

Edward interjected, "He's right, love, we don't need to draw more attention to ourselves than necessary."

Rose just crossed her arms over her chest and glared furiously out the window.

Edward picked up where she left off.

"Look, Emmett, we're just trying to understand why you're doing what you're doing."

Enough was enough.

"What? What am I supposedly doing, Edward?" I could feel the waves of calm pouring off of Jasper, but it did little to cool my rising temper. "So, I'm friends with a human. So what? What's the harm?"

Jasper scoffed. "If you kill her, we're all at risk. You've been seen together. Her disappearance would bring the authorities right to our doorstep."

Kill her? Where had he come up with that? I glared across the table at him, pushing the colorful mush around on my tray.

"Some of us are capable of seeing them as something other than food."

He grit his teeth and didn't reply.

"We just have to be careful, Emmett," Edward placated.

I hated this. What was this supposed to be? Some kind of vampire intervention?

"Why her, Emmett?" Rose demanded quietly.

And there it was. The question I didn't have an answer for. I ran a hand through my dark hair with a sigh.

"I…I don't know. There's just something about her. She's amusing and interesting. I just…" I shrugged helplessly.

Rose laughed derisively, making her opinion on the matter known. To her humans were nothing but animals. They were weak and pathetic, and she held as much respect for them as she did the scum on the bottom of her shoes.

"Why does it even matter? Why are we having this conversation?"

Rose smirked while Jasper sighed softly. Edward glanced at Alice, who had been silent thus far.

"Tell him, Alice," he commanded quietly.

She glanced at me, a pained look on her little pixie face.

"I can't be certain, Edward, you know these things change…"

"Tell him."

Alice reached across the table and took my hand. I stared at her small fingers in confusion. Tell me what?

"You're going to tell her about us, Emmett." She spoke swiftly and quietly, so there was no possibility of a human overhearing her statement.

I was having difficulty comprehending her words, though I'd heard them as surely as if she'd yelled them directly in my ear.

"W…what?" I definitely hadn't made a conscious decision to tell Bella anything about what we were. Alice was wrong. She had to be. "No, no I'm not."

Rose grinned maliciously. "Alice's visions are usually pretty accurate, wouldn't you say, Emmett?"

I snarled a soft warning at her, and Edward drew her closer into the protective circle of his arms.

Alice chimed in uneasily, "You know things can change, Rosalie. If Emmett chooses not to tell the girl, then my vision may be altered."

I nodded. "I'm not going to tell her anything, but if I did…" Everyone shifted uncomfortably at the prospect, but I continued. "If I did tell her, would it really matter? Even with the slight chance that she actually believed me, she's not the type to run her mouth. Besides, Edward can read her mind. He'd know in an instant if we were in danger."

Edward and Alice exchanged a silent, pregnant glance. I frowned.

"What?"

Alice nodded encouragingly, and Edward turned to look me square in the face. His expression was so incredibly serious that my confusion grew. What exactly was going on here?

"Emmett, the girl has the potential to be incredibly dangerous, to you and our family. You cannot allow her to become anymore a part of your life." My mouth opened to interject, and Edward held a hand up, silencing me. "Please, just listen. She's different, and perhaps that's what draws you to her, but no more. You cannot tell her anything, anything, about us."

He shook his head briefly, and a cold smile touched his lips.

"I can't read her mind. She's somehow blocked to me."

I could only stare, reeling with the shock of Edward's confession. To my knowledge there was not a vampire or human alive that had been able to escape the touch of Edward's ability. He blanched at my thoughts. "Have you…"

"I have tried any and everything to get into that little human brain, but it's locked up tight. Not a single peep."

"I don't plan on telling her anything. She's just a friend." I tried to reassure them, but I could see the doubt etched into everyone of their beautiful granite faces.

"Emmett, that's not enough. With what Alice has seen, don't you think it's best that you just lay off? Stay away for a while?" Jasper offered me an unconvincing smile.

I sighed heavily. Could I even do what they were asking? For the past thirty days, if I hadn't been hunting, I'd spent at least a little of my day with Bella. I didn't realize how heavily I'd come to depend on the human companionship. But I couldn't put my family at risk. I'd just have to do it, for them.

Standing, I grabbed the prop that was my tray, glancing into the mush I'd made of the food there, and nodded slowly. Rose looked positively gleeful, and I wanted nothing more than to wipe that smug grin clean off her face. I turned slowly, forcing myself to say the words that would bring some peace of mind to my siblings.

"Fine, I'll stay away from her. She's just a plain, clumsy girl anyway, how hard can it be? I don't even really like her."

The words were bitter as the venom that flowed from my fangs, and I grimaced at their taste.

"Emmett?"

Oh, no.

I looked up to find said clumsy girl standing only a few feet away, clutching a text book to her chest and staring at me with such betrayal in her eyes that I couldn't bear to look at her. Staring at me as though I'd reached into her chest and torn her heart clean out. I fumbled for the words that would make it better, anything to make that expression go away.

"Bella, wait, I can explain." I reached for her, and she stumbled away from my touch, bumping into the next table. She caught herself with trembling hands and smiled faintly. It didn't reach her eyes, which looked suspiciously tearful.

"No, that's okay," she laughed half-heartedly and shook her head hastily. "I just…wanted to give your Geography book back to you. Umm…I…Here." She thrust the book at me, and I slowly reached to retrieve it.

"It's not what you think," I murmured hurriedly, hearing the accelerated pace of her heart, watching her cheeks bloom with a brilliant rose blush. She was an instant from fleeing.

"It's fine, Emmett. Look at you and look at me. I don't know what I was thinking," she chuckled, a hollow, self-deprecating sound. She released her white knuckled grip on the book, and it plummeted toward the floor. I could've caught it, but I let it fall, reaching for her sleeve instead.

"Bella, wait."

"Gotta get to class," she breathed, dancing just out of reach, her lips pulled tight as though she were in pain. "Nice to see you all," she managed to choke out for my family, waving, before turning heel and fleeing the scene of my verbal attack.

I reached for the fallen book, my fingers closing so tightly around it that I heard the binding creak, felt it break into small shards in my grasp.

"Well, that's that, then." Edward declared cheerfully.

I turned slowly, so slowly, to glare at my brother and shook my head. I couldn't even find the words to express the betrayal I felt with his pushing my hand. He had to have seen her there. And he'd definitely known what I was thinking. He could've stopped me from hurting her so severely. But it'd fit into his agenda so conveniently that he hadn't bothered. I cursed at him silently in every language I could think of, knowing he'd hear and understand every word, and fled for the relative safety of the parking lot. If I didn't get out of there, I was going to punch him right in the face.

Alice's soft, amused voice reached me just as I pushed through the doors.

"Edward, the vision hasn't changed."

A/N: Please let me know if you have any questions or ideas! I've got a pretty good idea of where this is going, but I love to hear what you guys think. Reviews make me squee. For real. You don't even know.