A/N: So, my computer decided to a get a virus, so I'm having to use my parent's desktop. Grr. Hopefully I'll be getting my laptop back from the computer guys soon. *sigh* Thanks to LittleLea05 for being my awesome beta!!! :-)

Disclaimer: Don't own Twilight, nor Emmett. Dang and blast.

EmPOV

I'd been home for nearly five days. Nine days since the accident.

Depression was threatening to hit me full force at any moment, and I fought it off with a machete. I didn't want to be that guy.

It was pure torture, staying in my bed all day. The last time I'd done that, I was nine years old and I had bronchitis. I wasn't happy then, and I wasn't happy now. My mom had done everything short of bringing Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky to my bedroom to make me smile again. It hadn't worked.

I wasn't meant to be on bed rest. I wasn't that kind of person. I hated to think that my soul was being crushed just by resting my head on these pillows.

My entire left side still seared with pain any time I tried to move. My left arm was in a cast, which was stifling in the mid-summer heat, and though my leg wasn't in a cast, the bandages and pins holding my leg together didn't feel pleasant, either.

I was just glad that the drunk motherfucker who T-boned me was going to jail. And he survived without a scratch. Goddamn-mother-fucking-cock-sucking-son-of-a-bitch.

I was already bored of TV. Sick of movies. Couldn't play video games with a gimpy arm. Too tired and foggy to read. Music was my only salvation. That was the one thing I could do without asking Swan for help, though it took me longer to put on my headphones with my lethargic, medicated right arm than I cared to admit. My iPod was full of songs that could relax me. Anything to drown out the heavy silence of my apartment. Swan was reading again. Did the woman do nothing else?

The shuffle setting hit "Hotel California," by The Eagles, one of my all-time favorites, but memories of being crushed by a Hummer while listening to it instantly dampened my spirits. Moving on… "Bohemian Rhapsody," by Queen, another one of my all-time favorites also did nothing to boost my morale. "Mama, life had just begun, but now I've gone and thrown it all away…" Too close to what I was feeling right now. My eyes drifted shut as I chose a more uplifting tune.

Moments, or perhaps hours later, Swan swooped into the room, carrying a glass of water and some pills.

I groaned at the sight of the pills. They made me so weak, so out of control. I hated taking them, though I knew I had to. I'd regret the pain worse in the long run.

Swan frowned when she heard me groan. "Nice to see you, too, Cullen," she spat out. I frowned right back at her. For being so hot, she sure was a bitch. No matter how many sexual dreams I had about her, and no matter how badly I wished I weren't crippled so I could fuck her silly, I still couldn't control my reaction to her: instantly defensive and equally as harsh.

"Do you want your pills now?" she asked. She wasn't looking at me now. In fact, her eyes were looking everywhere but at me. Her mouth was set hard in a permanent scowl. Bitch.

"Fine," I said curtly. I took the cup of pills from her, and popped them in my mouth all at once, grabbing the glass from her so that some spilled over the side, splashing onto my good leg.

"Sorry," she muttered, and wiped away the droplets with her fingers. They were warm, and I was shocked to realize her touch made my skin tingle oddly where we'd made contact. Weird, I thought, as my heart rate accelerated.

I took a large gulp of water, swallowing the medicine, trying hard not to think about how much I had liked her soft, smooth skin against mine. Not good.

"Are you hungry?" she asked when I set my glass down on my bedside table.

I paused for a moment, thinking about it, trying to figure out if the pangs in my stomach had to do with how she looked in tiny short shorts, or if it was actual hunger. My stomach rumbled slightly, and I knew that it must be physical hunger, and absolutely nothing at all to do with Swan's tempting curves.

"Yeah, I could eat something," I said, choosing not to look at her at all costs.

I epically failed when she turned on her heel and stalked out towards the kitchen. God, her ass looked good…

I groaned, and covered my eyes with my good hand. These thoughts were nearly as bad as my thoughts of my future. Both made me cringe with fear.

I heard a knock at the door. The last thing I wanted was for someone else to see me like this. Go away… I thought to myself.

Bella rushed to the door, and her voice changed instantly.

"Edward, what are you doing here?"

Edward? Who the fuck was Edward?

"I had to see you, Bella. I missed you. Missed your mouth. Missed your sweet little-" His voice was full of arrogance and I could tell he was the kind of guy who just expected women to collapse at his feet with a few carefully chosen (and rehearsed) words.

"Stop it! He's awake!"

My heart sank before I could stop it. She had a boyfriend. And this Edward sounded like a real asshole. I already hated to think of her with him.

I feigned sleep as they walked by my door. I could hear him pause at the doorframe; his heavy footsteps stopped, and I could feel the unnerving sensation of someone watching you when you weren't looking back. I felt tense all over. I knew I was breathing too hard for someone who was supposed to be asleep. I had no idea why I disliked this guy so instantly, so strongly, but the feeling in my gut was too overwhelming to ponder it for long. I just knew I didn't like him, and I wanted him to stay the hell away from Bella… err, Swan.

Minutes later, Swan rushed into my room with a tray of chicken broth and soda crackers. Joy of joys, I thought dryly. She noted my expression at the food selection.

"What, do you want some Jell-O to go with that? Perhaps some chocolate pudding? You know you won't even eat all of this."

I glared at her. "You'd probably want some of the pudding anyways, for your little boyfriend out there."

"He's not my boyfriend," she hissed, and flounced out of the room again. This time, I was too angry to stare at her butt.

I could hear them talking in the living room, but they were whispering and I couldn't make it out. I tried to eat more than a few spoonfuls of soup, but there was no way I could tolerate the watery broth for more than five sips.

I nibbled on a cracker as I sank my head back into the pillows. The medicines were starting to kick in, and I was wobbling in and out of consciousness. I hated the fucking things. My dreams were getting more and more vivid, and all of them featured Bella in various stages of undress, and in many different positions. Most unsettling had been the dream where afterwards, we'd held each other and I kissed her passionately. The kiss was better than the "sex" itself, and that's what terrified me.

"Edward, will you just leave?" I heard Swan shout, and moments later, the door slammed.

BPOV

I buried my face in my pillow and screamed. So many different emotions bombarded me all at once. Anger, resentment, frustration, fury… I couldn't believe the insinuations Edward made of me and Emmett, and our situation together. I couldn't believe life had dealt us this situation. Nothing was right.

My hands were itching to pack my bags, to head out of here. I didn't want to leave because Edward was so insistent. I was sick of going between lust and hate with Emmett. It was unnerving and I didn't like it one bit. I hated the pull towards him. It was worse than any biting comment he could make to me. That I could handle.

I didn't want to be here, Emmett didn't want me here, and Edward didn't want me here… But Esme did. Carlisle did. Renee did. I couldn't turn my back on them. I sighed deeply.

"Bella?"

Emmett sounded hesitant, and not unkind. I noted that he used my first name instead of my last for once, and pondered for a minute what that meant. I sighed again, rubbing my eyes wearily, and rose from the couch.

"Yeah, Emmett?" I paused in his doorway, and crossed my arms.

"Are you okay?"

My heart softened for a moment, but only a brief moment. "Yeah, I'm fine. Edward was just being an a-hole."

He seemed pleased at my assessment. I adored his dimpled grin. Knock it off, Bella! Fucking stupid emotions.

"An a-hole, huh? Too bad I'm a gimp; I'd kick his ass for you."

"That would have been nice."

"What did he say?"

I took a heavy sigh, trying to decide whether or not to tell him. But for once, he seemed eager at something I had to say, and I had to admit that I had been lonely the last few days. One glance at his face told me he was sincere. I wondered if he had felt as lonely as I had.

"He's convinced I'm going to fall in love with you. Actually, what he's most afraid of is that you and I… You and I will…" I sighed. "Have sex. We are all alone, you know." I rolled my eyes.

He burst into laughter, and immediately folded in on himself in pain. I rushed towards him, unsure of why, but instinctually wanting to soothe his pain. "Emmett, are you okay?"

"Yeah," he gasped, clutching his ribs with his good arm. "Don't make me laugh."

"Sorry, Emmett, I'm so sorry!"

"I'm. Fine." he said through clenched teeth.

"Fine," I said, closing up again. The moment had passed, and he was back to being himself again. He didn't want sympathy, he didn't want anyone's kindness. Well, he certainly wasn't going to get it from me.

"Good night, Emmett," I said, and went out of the room.

"That Edward guy is crazy," he called after me. "I'd never sleep with you, Swan. Ridiculous. Even if you were naked and begging for it, I'd never do it."

"Well, same goes for you! And believe me, I'd never beg!" I shouted.

I could hear him flick on the TV again, and I fought back angry tears. I knew what he was doing: replacing depression with rudeness. He hated this situation just as much as me, and we had to get over it.

My phone buzzed next to me, and I flicked it open. "Oh, Alice, I'm so glad you called, I have to talk to you, or I'm going to go insane!"