Disclaimer: Still don't own Twilight

Chapter Two

The teacher stood in the front of the room as I, books in hand, walked in. I saw Emmett, sitting in the back of the room, smile and wave. I couldn't help but bite my lip and blush. My hands became sweaty and I dropped my books. The teacher began to bend down and help me pick up my books, and I assured him I could pick them up.

As I stood up, the teacher pointed to an empty chair. I made my way to the seat. It was pretty close up to the front of the room, and a few rows up from Emmett. He caught my eye and mouthed, "Sorry." I looked at him quizzically.

"For not helping you with your books," he mouthed. I smiled, becoming aware I was still standing and everyone was staring at me. I quickly sat, almost knocking the chair over.

I gave Emmett a look saying, "It's okay," then turned to the person sitting next to me. It was a greasy haired boy, tall and gawky. He was about to say something when the teacher started to speak.

"Hi. I'm Mr. Dawns, and the reason I'm saying that is because there is a new student with us today. Please introduce yourself."

Worry swept over me. Already, I hated history. Why was Mr. Dawns doing this to me? I was not good in front of crowds, if you could call a class full of kids that. "I – I'm Bella Swan. I moved here from P – P – Phoenix."

"Yes, Isabella's dad is Chief Swan," Mr. Dawns said. I didn't know why that mattered.

"Bella."

I turned, hearing the rough voice.

"Did you say something Emmett?" Mr. Dawns asked.

"Her name is Bella," Emmett said in the same rough voice, but now raising his eyebrows.

"Yes, yes, very sorry Bella."

I nodded.

"Chief Swan's daughter," the boy sitting next to me said, nudging me. I smiled, unsure of what else to do. I turned towards the board, seeing Mr. Dawn was furiously scribbling notes. I took out a pencil and copied what he was writing.

"So you know Emmett."

It was the greasy boy again. I gritted my teeth and nodded, still taking notes.

"I'm Eric by the way."

"Hello. Eric." I said slowly, annoyed. I was slightly aware he was still talking, but ignored him. Until I heard him say, "Emmett."

"-and he lives with Edward and Alice, and Rosalie and Jasper Hale. Rosalie and Jasper are twins. I heard that Edward and Rosalie and Alice and Jasper are together. Like, dating. And the weird thing is, they live together."

Eric then launched into a description of other classes.



History was surprisingly easy. I was taking most of the same classes I took back in Phoenix, and we had already learned the lesson we were learning now. I slowed the scribbling of my pen and let my mind wander. I was thinking about my life back home when a note fell onto my desk.

The note was delicately folded. I didn't want to touch it in case it fell apart, but I decided my curiosity was larger. A small tab stuck out of the note, which looked like an envelope. I pulled the tap, and the paper folded open. In a messy scrawl there were the words:

Are you always this clumsy?

Emmett

I smiled and wrote back a yes. When Mr. Dawns wasn't looking, I reached as far back as I could and tossed the note. Luckily, it landed on his desk. He looked up, and I gave him the largest smile I could muster.

--

After a long period of exchanging notes with Emmett he walked me to math class. He asked me to sit with him at lunch, and after taking one look at his beautiful pleading eyes, I agreed. History was the only class we had together all day, but after every class, Emmett was somehow always there to walk me to my next class.

Emmett met me outside of science, and led me to the cafeteria. I was afraid to go to lunch. I barely knew anything about him. Who did he sit with? Would he act all weird around his friends? What if he was a complete jerk? I didn't have much boy experience. Actually, I didn't have any boy experience. And the realization of that made everything all the more cruelly torturous.

Emmett read the look on my face. "You're worried," he said. I nodded. "Why?"

I felt no need to say anything. I just looked in Emmett's eyes, and he understood. He said nothing, just led me to an empty table. I looked around, trying to get used to the new environment.

I felt eyes on me. I turned, seeing Emmett's carpool staring at us. All four of them. They all had breathtaking but harsh eyes, all amazing non-human colors. Looking back at Emmett, I asked, "Why are they staring?"

Emmett turned, and his eyes immediately narrowed. He said nothing, but stared at the bronze haired boy. He looked like he was thinking hard. The boy turned to the table and said something to the other three, and all of their gazes left Emmett and I.

"I – I'm sorry," Emmett said. "I …"

I nodded, insisting him to continue.

"We've never really… this is the first time I haven't sat with them."

"Yeah. Eric told me about 'them.' Edward, Alice, Jasper, and Rosalie, right?"

Emmett nodded. "The black haired one is Alice. The darker haired boy one is Edward and the blond haired boy is Jasper. And the blond –"

"Rosalie."

"Yeah."

"So I heard, you know, are they…together?"

Emmett shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah. Edward and Rose and Jasper and Alice."



"Well, what about you?"

"What about me?"

"Are you…" My voice trailed. Emmett frowned. "Oh. Sorry. I – I didn't mean to –"

Emmett held up a hand, a signal that it didn't matter. His brown eyes hinted a smile, but I was too busy looking into them to notice anything else. We sat silently for I don't know how long, but when I finally looked away, I noticed the cafeteria was empty.

"How 'bout we ditch class, Bells?"

No one had ever called me Bells besides Charlie. It made me feel more at home. I smiled, but shook my head. "It's my first day, Emmett."

He grabbed my hand and pulled me to his muscular chest. My eyes widened and my pulse quickened. I wasn't used to this. Apparently he felt the fast agility of my heart and released me. I frowned.

Emmett was confused by the fast change of my emotions. I smiled, letting him know he should keep going. He grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the school and to his car. "Emmett," I said softy. He looked deeply into my eyes. "Won't we get caught?"

He laughed his amazing laugh. "Don't worry about it. It's all under control."

"So where are we going?"

"You'll see," he teased me.



I blushed. I don't even know why. But there was one thing tugging at me. One thing I wasn't sure about. I'd kept myself from asking Emmett, but I couldn't stand not knowing.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Mmm," Emmett replied thoughtfully.

"Yes or no?"

He laughed.

"Emmett!" I cried, on the verge of laughing too. His laugh was just so… beautiful.

"Yes. Ask."

"Why did you choose me? I mean, there are so many, I don't know, better girls."

"What do you mean better?" Emmett said, eyes twinkling.

"Less clumsy. More beautiful. Oh, I don't know. Just… better."

"Bella." The twinkle in Emmett's eyes disappeared. "You are beautiful. And I like that you're clumsy. It gives me a reason to stay with you. To protect you."

Emmett looked torn. I was usually pretty good at reading expressions, but Emmett posed a challenge for me. Finally, he reached out and touched my neck. I took his hand in mine and lay them both on my lap.



Emmett suddenly started the car. "Where are we going?" I asked. Emmett turned his head and smiled. I had to smile back. "Oh, come on, Emmett!" I laughed.

We drove for about five minutes in silence.

"Close your eyes, Bells."

"Huh?"

"Close them. I want this place to be a surprise."