Chapter Two: Can You Hear

Emmett POV

"Mom!" I called out as walked into the house. "I'm here!"

"There's my graduate!" She called as she rushed into the foyer to hug me. "How does it feel?"

"I don't know." I sighed as she lead me into the kitchen where she has her famous fried chicken waiting for me. "Plus, I'm technically graduated yet."

"There's only seven days until then." She pointed out. "You took your last final, I count that as you being a graduate."

"Whatever makes you happy, Mama." I laughed, biting into her delicious chicken. "Where's dad? I thought he had off today."

"There was a problem with the Tanner's paperwork." She sighed. "Something he neglected to sign." My father worked as a Lawyer for a small, independent firm. He worked in Family court, helping people win custody battles since he lost his so long ago. Before meeting my mother, and having our family, my father had been in love when he was only eighteen. He and his girlfriend had a son, and were doing great in working together until she just up and left him. He fought for custody, but since his family didn't have as much money to help support the boy, he lost the battle. He hasn't seen his son since she was two...twenty years ago.

"Hello!" I heard him call as he entered the house. "How'd I know you'd be in the kitchen?"

"Are there other rooms in the house?" I asked.

"How does it feel to be a graduate?" He asked as he sat down and stole a piece of chicken.

"I'm not technically graduated."

"Do you have to go to school?"

"Well, no...but..."

"Then...you might as well be graduated."

"I give up!" I sighed, putting my hands up in defeat. "You two win."

"As usual." My mother smirked.

We spent the rest of the night as a family. We played my old board games, and my mother attempted to play Halo with my dad and I. I was an only child, and my parents and I had always been really close. We rarely ever fought, even when I was thirteen years old and when we would, it would last for like an hour.

"Ma, you gotta...RUN!" I yelled as she was shot in the game.

"I give up!" She sighed, giving her controller to my father. "I will never understand why you play these games.

"They're fun, Mom."

"I don't understand that, either." She huffed. "Pretending to kill people...shooting others. It doesn't seem right."

"Well, Emmett knows it's just a game and would never sink to the level of needing to shoot someone." My father pointed out. "Right?"

"Oh yeah." I agreed. "Seeing this..kinda turns me against real guns and stuff."

"As long as you never own one of those...I don't care what you play." She said, standing up and going upstairs.

I stood in front of my parents floor length mirror, and took a deep breath. It was finally the day I was graduating, and soon, I'd be out of this dinky town and in Chicago.

"Emmett!" My mother called. "You ready?"

"Yeah! I'm coming!" I called, grabbing my cap and gown and heading downstairs. "You guys following me?"

"Yeah, we'll meet you there." She said, giving me a kiss on the cheek. I headed out the door, and met my best friend Rosalie. Rosalie and I had lived next door to each other since we were born, and have been best friends since we were placed in the playpen together. When we were thirteen, and our friends began to 'explore the idea of kissing' we thought it would be a good idea to kiss each other. That was our first, and last kiss. It was like kissing my sister and it was just awkward. We would only ever be each other's best friends.

"You ready for this?" She asked as she put her foot on the gas.

"Fuck yeah!" I shouted, and began pounding the roof of her car. "Fucking graduation!"

"I know!" She squealed. We pulled into the stadiums parking lot and made our way to the locker room where we were to line up for graduation. Rosalie and I gave one last hug before we were told to get in our places, and the walk began. I looked up to the stands eagerly trying to find my parents. However, they were no where in sight, and my spirit dropped.

They're stuck in traffic. They wouldn't miss this.

I kept telling myself as more and more time passed, and they still hadn't shown up. Rosalie was called to the podium to give her Class President speech, and put nearly everyone into tears. I stood up for her when she was done, and despite the principle telling her just to sit when she was done, came rushing over, hugging me tightly.

"It was awesome, kid." I whispered. She was quick to sit down so the diploma's could start being passed out. I looked up as each name was called, and my parents were still a no show. I was okay with them missing all the speeches, but to miss me getting my diploma was uncalled for, and my blood began to broil.

"Emmett David McCarty!" My homeroom teacher called up, and the kid behind me had to push me to go. I shook the teachers hand, and thanked her and looked up to the crowd to find the only people who were clapping extra hard for me, were the hales.

"Congratulations to the class of 2006!" The principle called out and everyone stood to throw their caps in the air but me. My parents. My own parents missed their only sons graduation. Rosalie came barreling towards me, only to stop when she saw me hunched in my chair, diploma on the ground and cap still on my head.

"Hey," She said as she knelt down beside me. "They're probably here, and they were hidden."

"No, they were never here." I sighed, standing up. "They would have been sitting with your family."

"Emmett," Rosalie sighed as the Hales came towards us. They hugged and kissed us a hundred times before noticing how upset I was.

"Did they say anything to you?" I asked Mrs. Hale.

"She text me right before the ceremony saying they were running late, sweetie." She sighed. "I haven't heard anything since."

"Em, I know your folks." Mr. Hale said. "And, I know they wanted to be here more than anything."

"You aren't saying...something happened to them...are you?"

"I don't know that, Emmett." He sighed. "Here, take the Honda. I'm sure Rosalie will drive us home before going to the party."

"You sure?" I asked, taking the keys.

"Emmett, go." She urged and I kissed her on the cheek before rushing to their blue Honda. I probably broke seven different laws trying to get home, but I didn't care. Mr. Hale was right. They wouldn't just blow me off like this. My breathing stopped when I tried pulling onto my street, and saw smoke rising in the air. There had to have been ten firetrucks on the street, and I prayed as I walked towards the smoke, it would be at someone else's home.

"Oh my GOD!" I screamed as my house came into my sight. There was no house anymore. Just a big pile of burnt rubble, flames still blazing. I ran towards the house, but someone grabbed my waist and held me back. "Get the fuck off of me!"

"I can't let you go anywhere near the house, son." I heard a mans voice say.

"This is my house!"

"It's too dangerous." He told me.

"Was...was anyone inside?" I asked and his facial expression told me they were already dead by the time help arrived. "Oh."

"I'm sorry, son." He whispered. "By the time we arrived, the two inside had already died."

"Where are they?" I asked.

"They were taken to the hospital with the coroner." He whispered.

"Emmett!" I heard Rosalie's voice cry through the crowd. "What the hell happened?" She asked as she ran into my arms.

"I don't know." I sobbed. "They're dead, Rosalie."

"No."

"They died by the time help got here." I sobbed. Soon, the rest of the Hales were able to get through and offered to take me to the hospital. I rushed to the main lobby and demanded answers.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" The nurse at the desk asked. I was about to explode at the poor girl for being so happy and chipper in a time like this, but I felt Rosalie grab my hand and I instantly calm.

"My parents were brought here." I said dryly. "They died in a fire."

"I'm sorry, sir." She shook her head. "I can't let you into the morgue."

"I just fucking graduated and my parents weren't there because they fucking died...and you're telling me I can't go and see them?" I asked, my blood broiling. "Are you...are you SHITTING ME?"

"Em, calm down." Rosalie whispered.

"Calm down? You want me to calm down? HOW THE FUCK AM I SUPPOSED TO REACT TO THIS, ROSALIE?"

"Look, there isn't anything we can do right now." She whispered after she'd taken me outside for fresh air. "Let's just go back to my place."

"No." I said immediately. "I'm not going anywhere near there."

"Emmett,"

"I don't care what that fucking nurse said!" I yelled as I headed inside again. I followed the signs to the basement, and found the door labeled 'MORGUE' I took a deep breath and went to push it open before a voice stopped me.

"Excuse me." It said and I sighed, turning around. "Are you here to identify a body?"

"I already know my parents are here." I sighed dryly. "Can I please go see them?"

"What are their names?"

"David and Riley McCarty." I told her and she looked at the clipboard she was holding. Her face went white and she tried to keep cool. "Please, I'm their only son."

"I don't think you want to see them." She whispered. "I can't let you go in there."

"Bull shit!" I screeched before I pushed the door open into a cold, white room. It was bright almost to the point where I couldn't see anything. I looked at a clipboard hanging on the wall and found where my parents would be. I took a deep breath before unlatching the door where my father was, and opened it.

"Who are you?" Another doctor asked as he came into the room. "Son, I wouldn't do that!" He screeched as I pulled my father out from the chamber. I nearly threw up when I saw him. His skin was charred and I couldn't even see his face.

"Shit." I sighed as I went to the next door and opened it, exposing my mother's body.

"You need to leave." The doctor said.

"FUCK OFF!" I yelled and turned back to my mother. She was as burned as my father was, but she still was black all over in charred skin. "Mom." I cried, grabbing her hand. I gasped when I felt it, cold and dry. I fell to my knees, unable to stand anymore. I felt a pair of arms helping me up, and I didn't have the strength to fight them off. I let them lead me upstairs to the waiting room, and drank the water they gave me.

"Emmett!" Rosalie called as she rushed over to me. "Where did you go?"

"They need to have a closed casket." I sighed, standing up and walking away from here. As soon as I was out of the building, I began running. I didn't know where to, all I knew was I needed to get out of there. Out of the town. Out of the city. Out of Tennessee.

Six Years Later

"Em!" James called as I rounded the corner. "Where have you been man?"

"No where." I shook my head. "Just needed to think." When my parents died, I knew they'd left me everything. But, when they were gone...so was everything they'd left me. The house was burned down to just a pile of ashes. Although I would get the insurance claims for everything in the house, and for their lives, I wanted nothing to do with it. I didn't care that my life had turned to absolutely nothing...I didn't want the money I'd get at their expense.

Since leaving Tennessee, I'd become everything my mother feared. I didn't end up going to college. I was a nomad, moving from place to place. I was a complete loaner. Until I'd found James and his gang. It was wrong, and I shouldn't have been there with them. But, they accepted me and didn't question me about why I was with them. They left me alone and I got money when I needed it.

Rosalie and I had fallen out of touch since I ran from Gatlinburg. I didn't need her pestering me that I needed to get my shit together and go to school before it was too late. I didn't wanna hear it because I knew it was right. I was twenty-four years old and didn't have anything above a high school diploma and no college would take me now. It wasn't what my life was supposed to turn out to be, but I didn't give a damn.

I hadn't been with James's gang for long, and I hadn't done much with them. I saw the mugging they'd do, and usually, they used me to scare the shit out of people to get their money. It was a win win. I never wanted to be someone to beat another person for money, and I never would have to if I was around James and stayed the size I was.

"What are we doin' tonight?" I asked as he gave me a cigarette...something else I never thought I'd do.

"There is this pretty small town right outside the city. Bridgeview." He explained. "Small, but there are some pretty nice houses around that area."

"Okay?"

"Most of the families are away for the Forth of July." He said. "Meaning, all them houses are free of people...and loaded with goods."

"Rob...rob a house?" I asked. We'd done a lot of mugging, but we'd never been in someone's house before...at least when I was with them.

"Yeah, rob a fucking house." He seethed. "You gotta problem with that pretty boy?"

"No." I lied. I didn't feel right mugging people, let alone stealing right from their homes. "What do I gotta do?"

"You're big." He pointed out. "You're gonna break the windows after Alec trips the alarm system. I just need ya to stand guard, make sure no one sees us...and put the occasional dog in the basement and shut it up."

"Right." I sighed. "Got it."

Only four of us headed out of the city to the small town of Bridgeview and we parked the truck in a playgrounds parking lot, far enough away from the house we were about to rob. I jumped when the car backfired since it was loud and I was afraid people would be coming outside to check it out.

"Chill out, new guy." Felix whispered. "Everyone who lives around here is on vacation."

"Right, I know that." I sighed, jumping out of the truck. I turned around to see James with a gun in his hand, and jumped back. "What do you need that for?"

"Protection." He shrugged. He'd never used a gun...at least around me he hadn't. "Why? You afraid of a little gun, Em?"

"No." I lied again. "Just didn't know you brought it with you since the houses are empty."

"You never know." He sighed. We began walking towards the first house, and Alec was able to trip the alarm system easily and there was no dog for me to take care of. We'd hit seven houses by the time we reached the smallest one on the block. It was a nice looking house, yellow with a gray roof.

"Is this one even worth it, James?" Felix asked as we walked up the steps to the big window.

"Every house it worth it." He sighed and got the nod from Alec that the alarm system was no longer working. I covered my hand in my sweatshirt again and punched the window, shattering the glass. I heard no dog barking as we stepped inside. I looked around and saw that even though the house was small, they lived well.

We spent five minutes, grabbing what we could from the downstairs and were about to head upstairs when we heard he floorboards creek. We all stiffened before sliding behind the swinging door to the kitchen. I saw James giving Felix a look, and then saw him pull his gun out of the hoister. I held my breath as we moved towards to living room, and came face to face with the owner of the house.

"Get out of my house." He seethed, and I saw his hands shaking as he lifted the baseball bat.

"No." James said simply, and pressed the trigger. I jumped back as the man fell to the ground in a pool of his own blood.

"What did you just do?" I whispered as I saw the color leave the mans face, and looked up to see a picture with him and a a pregnant girl. "Shit. James, he was about to have a kid."

"What do I care?" He asked as he and Felix headed upstairs. I walked closer to the guy, and looked long and hard at his face. I squinted to get a better look, and gasped when I remembered where I'd seen his face.

"Did she send his picture again?" My mother asked as she read the letter Elizabeth had sent him concerning my father's other son.

"Yeah, senior picture. Damn." My father sighed. "I can't believe he's graduating this year."

"I know, me either."

"Oh..god." I sighed, stepping back from the body. This man that James had just killed was my half brother, Edward. "Oh...god."

"Sirens." Alec pointed out. "Let's get out of here!"

"Em!" Felix called, grabbing my arm. "Come on." We climbed out of the kitchen window and ran like hell until we found our truck again. We sat in the parking lot, and watched as the wheeled the dead body out of the house.

"Oh god." I repeated.

"Would you get a fucking grip?" James asked as we began to drive away. "It's apart of life and if you can't handle it, maybe you should just get out."

"Fine, stop the car."

"What?"

"I wanna get out!" I screamed. "I'm done!" He slammed out on the breaks, and had Felix push me out of the car. I could handle mugging a few people, and getting the cash, but I couldn't...wouldn't handle watching people get killed. I told my mother I would never become what those people in Halo were...killers.

I had to keep that promise. It was the only thing that kept me with her.