Chapter Four: Lonely Road

Emmett POV

I walked for miles before I found the barn I slept in sometimes. I picked the lock, and found my usual corner in the back, and sunk into the hay. How could I have done this? I kept asking myself. How could have sunk so low...to have to get involved with such horrid people. I'd been willing to do anything to get the money I needed instead of just going to school like I was supposed to.

I slipped into a light, terrible sleep with the bullet's ring playing in my ears the entire night. Once the sun began shining through the windows, I picked myself up and headed out. I had no clue where I was going, but I knew I needed out of there.

I walked for hours before I found myself outside of the train station. I took a deep breath when I saw where trains were going, and counted my money. I had just enough to get a ticket, but then I was out. I bought the ticket to Seattle and hopped on. I found a car all to myself and shut the door. I sat right up against the window and fell asleep, but not for long as I saw Edward falling to the ground replaying in my head.

"We will be arrive at King Street Station in just twenty minutes." A voice said over the intercom. I grabbed the small bag of belongings and took a deep breath. This was it. There was no turning back. The conductor had been right, and I was the first one off the train. I found a map that someone had just thrown away and took a close look at it. It was One hundred fifty miles to my destination. I would be walking for days, and I was flat broke.

I grabbed one of the only things I kept from high school, and placed the headphones in my ears. Hero of War came through the headphones, and I began my journey. My iPod died within three hours of my walk, and from then on...it was just the sound of cars on the highway above me, and the sound of nature surrounding me.

I stopped in front of a small diner, about six hours into my walk...just needing to rest. I slid down against the wall, and took in the sweet scent of pie, baking in the diner. Suddenly, a hand fell on my shoulder and I jumped away. I looked up and saw a small, blonde girl standing above me.

"Can I buy you something to eat?" She asked with a smile on her face. I starred at her intently. No one had been nice to me in six years, and I wasn't used to such kindness. I only nodded and stood up, following her into the diner. "I'm Tanya."

"Emmett." I sighed as we sat at the counter.

"Carmen, we need a menu!" She yelled overtop of the music.

"Coming right up!" A voice called back, and then there was a menu in front of me. "Who's this?"

"Emmett." Tanya answered. "He's my date for the night."

"Well, good luck to you, son." A dark hair man laughed as he came up to the counter.

"Emmett, this is my sister and brother-in-law. Carmen and Eleazar."

"You new in town?" Eleazar asked.

"Just passing through." I mumbled. "I'm on my way to Forks."

"Are you...walking?" The girl names Carmen asked and I only nodded my head. "From where?"

"Seattle." I answered as the man put a coffee cup in front of me and pouring coffee. I chugged it and slammed the mug down on the counter.

"That's...ridiculous." Tanya said, shaking her head. "I'm headed to Port Angeles tomorrow for some shopping. Let me drive you to Forks."

"No, I couldn't ask you to go out of your way." I argued.

"It's not an issue." She said. "I don't wanna hear about some really cute guy dead on the side of the road."

"She wouldn't." Carmen agreed.

"Please." Tanya begged. Finally, after a long moment of silence, I shook my head in agreement.

I stayed with Eleazar and Carmen that night on their pull out couch. I'd met these three hours ago, and they were already treating me like a lifelong friend. I was grateful for them, but also just wanted to be alone and hike to Forks. But, I couldn't say no to Tanya...she was too sweet and it would have been like saying no to your baby sister who asked you to play Barbies with her.

They let me sleep for as long as I needed, and Tanya and I were on the road to Forks by noon. The car ride was mostly silent, but it wasn't awkward. She didn't ask me why I was hiking to Forks, or why I was so freaking thin. She just drove and I was thankful when I saw the 'Two Miles To Forks' sign.

"Where am I dropping you off?" She asked after we'd drove into town.

"The hospital." I sighed. She smiled at me before turning onto the road the hospital was on. She parked in front of the main entrance and turned towards me. "Thanks a lot for this. I really appreciate it."

"It wasn't a problem." She smiled sweetly. "You going to be okay?"

"Yeah." I said, trying to be honest. But, I really didn't know if I was going to be okay. He could kick me out and refuse to see me. "I hope I see you again."

"Me too." She sighed. "Here." She said, handing me a piece of paper.

"What's this?"

"If you ever need a cup of coffee...give me a call."

"Will do." I smiled at her and opened the door. I watched her as she pulled out of the parking spot and threw the paper on the ground. She was a sweet girl, but I couldn't have anyone in my life right now. I was risking their lives by just coming to Forks, and I wouldn't put some innocent stranger in danger. As I walked through the doors, I had this eery flashback to my graduation night.

I followed the signs to the ER, and looked around anxiously. I saw him standing with a patient, and sighed in relief.

"Excuse me?" A nurse asked as she came past me. "Can I help you?"

"I need to speak to Dr. Cullen." I answered.

"He's with someone right now, son." she sighed. "Can I just tell him you stopped by?"

"No, I really...really need him." I argued. I must have said it louder than I expected because when I looked over at him again, he was looking right at me. He finished talking to the lady, and walked over to me. "Hi."

"Emmett, what are you doing here?" He asked as he brought me to the side. "Are you hurt?"

"No...well...not physically." I sighed.

"Why don't we take this into my office?" He suggested. He led me down the hall into a small room and sat me down. "I have to go finish up with someone, but I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere."

"I won't." I assured him as he closed the door. I stood up and began looking around at the pictures on his wall. I saw several pictures of him and my Aunt Esme as well as pictures with him and my two cousins, Bree and Diego who were all grown up and out of Forks.

"So, Emmett." Carlisle said as he came back into the office. "After six years, what brings you here?"

"I need...I just need..." I cried, biting my index finger to stop the tears. "I needed...family."

"We've always been here." He pointed out. "You could have come anytime you needed."

"I didn't know what I needed until...recently." I cried, finally willing the first tear to fall. "I'm sorry, I should have called.

"No, you're welcome anytime." He offered. "But, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah."

"What have you been doing these last six years...and where have you been?"

"Nothing and nowhere." I told him.

"I understand if it's hard to talk about but..."

"No, I've literally done nothing since mom and dad's funeral." I explained. "And...I've been jumping around from place to place."

"You've been roaming around for six years?" He asked, coming closer to me, and feeling my pulse. "Emmett, you're pulse in incredibly low."

"I'm fine." I argued, pulling my arm back.

"No, you aren't." He fought. "You look thin and pale."

"Really, I eat."

"How often?" He asked, crossing his arms.

"When I have the money." I shrugged. He grabbed his pager from his pocket, and pulled me up out of the chair and back down the hallway. He admitted me into the hospital where I was fed, given an IV for fluids and a beta blocker so my heart rate would go up to normal again. I only had to stay until the end of his shift, and he drove me to his home.

"Do you have your things?" He asked as he locked his office. I held up the small bag I always had with me and he rolled his eyes. "I'll have Esme get things for you tomorrow. Really, Em...what the have you been doing for six years?"

"I don't." I whispered, sounding like a wounded puppy. I hated that I had been around for only a few hours, and I was already disappointing him. He was my mothers older brother, and it was partly because of that that I didn't want to be around him or my Aunt. being close to them would only remind me that my mother was gone.

We pulled into the driveway and my aunt was waiting on the porch for us. Her face lit up like a Christmas tree and rushed down towards me.

"Emmett!" She gushed, hugging me tightly. "Oh my...Emmett...you're as thin as me."

"No...I'm just as...muscular as the last time you saw me."

"He's one forty-one." Carlisle said as we went inside the house. "And that's not because of muscle loss, Em."

"Okay, it's been a rough six year." I shrugged. I didn't want them to think I was in anymore trouble that they thought. If I could get by and my only issue was I was underweight, and my pulse was low...I'd be just fine with that.

"Which is why I'm glad you're hear." Esme gushed. "I have Ribs in the oven just waiting to be eaten."

"My favorite." I smiled as I sat down. "Thanks."

"Anything for you, my darling." She said. "I haven't had anyone to spoil since Bree moved to Boston."

"Not true!" Carlisle argued as he came back into the kitchen, in shorts and a t-shirt. "You spoil me rotten."

"Well, I haven't had a kid to spoil since Bree moved."

"I don't think Emmett's a kid anymore." Carlisle added. "What...twenty-four next month?"

"Yep." I answered, trying to put a smile on my face. Being in this house with a surgeon and a physiologist reminded me once again that I had nothing. No doctorate. No maters. Hell, I didn't even have my BA. "August sixteenth."

"We'll have to celebrate!" Esme gasped. "I haven't been with you on your birthday since you were thirteen."

"Sure." I agreed. "Why not?"

"That's the spirit!" She laughed as the timer went off. Thankfully, they didn't push me on asking what I've really been up to and why I was really hear. We just talked about old, good memories and laughed at some of the really bad ones they had of me.

For the first time in six years...I had people who gave a damn about me. I had a fucking family.

I woke up the next morning the smell of my aunts pancakes. It had been a while since she'd made me anything, but the smell of her pancakes was something hard to forget. I got out of bed, and made my way to the kitchen, surprised to see Carlisle sitting at the table, reading the paper.

"Morning, sweetie." Esme greeted as she flipped one of the pancakes.

"Morning." I sighed, sitting down. "What are you doing home, Uncle Carlisle? I thought you worked?"

"I do." He nodded. "But, I called off so I could spend the day with you."

"You didn't have to do that."

"Emmett, you come out of nowhere back into our lives...underweight and obviously sick." He reminded me. "I needed to take the day off."

"It's a good thing." Esme smiled. "He never takes days off."

"It's true." He agreed, taking her hand and kissing it. "I was looking online, and found that you can take classes online for Seattle University. I know you haven't been in school for a while, but I thought taking these classes would help you get on your feet again."

"I don't know." I shrugged as Esme placed the pancakes in front of me. "You said it yourself...I haven't done anything in six years."

"Exactly, so unless you want to be a waiter at Peter's Diner down the street...I suggest you take these online courses." He told me sternly. "I won't have you continue to wither your life away."

"I'll take a look at them." I said, sinking into my seat before taking a bite of the pancakes. "Aunt Esme...perfecto!"

"Good." She smiled, sitting down on Carlisle's lap. "I remembered how much you liked them when you were little."

"You remembered well." I laughed.

We spent the morning in peaceful silence as I chomped away at about seven pancakes before I was full. Carlisle gave me a pair of his shorts...which needed a belt since I'd become so thin and a t-shirt since the little clothes I had were complete filth. We headed out to Port Angeles so I could get everything I needed. Clothes, toiletries, bedding that I liked, a new phone, and to my surprise a new laptop.

"This is too much." I argued, handing them the laptop back to them. "Thank you, but I can't accept this."

"Think of it as an early birthday present." Esme insisted. "Take it, Em. You're going to need a good computer for school."

"Thank you." I whispered, taking it again. "So much."

"We're family, Emmett." She told me. "Families do these kinds of things for each other."

"Right." I agreed. "Family." I mumbled under my breath as we took the laptop up the the computer.

A month had passed since I'd arrived in Forks and things had never been better in my life. I began taking the online classes Carlisle had suggest I take, and to my surprise was actually doing very well in them. I had also grown to love my aunt and uncle more than I had before...not just as my aunt and uncle...but my own parents. I felt like a child, relying a others to care for me since I was twenty-four in four days, but they were right.

I was sick. Really sick. I didn't realize how thin I'd gotten until I tried on clothes and my jean size was down to a size six from a size twelve senior year. They brought me into their home without a second thought, and cared for me as they cared for Diego. I had also managed to get a job at the hospital with Carlisle, filing paperwork. It wasn't the most entertaining job, but it gave me something to do, and I earned my own money and didn't have to rely on them for every little thing.

I had also gotten back in touch with Rosalie after a week of being in Forks. She yelled at me for ten minutes about not talking to her for six years and just abandoning her. But, after the yelling was done...she began crying and continually told me she was so happy I was alive. Even I had tears falling by the time we said goodbye.

One of the best things that had come from moving here, was Esme introduced me to one of her coworkers and his wife and little daughter. I was slowly developing a tight bond with him, and I was glad for his friendship.

"When I get back...we're celebrating my friend!" He told me as I left his house the night before he was leaving to get his friend to move her here. "Twenty-four is a big number!"

"Smaller than twenty-six!" I joked, and he slapped me upside the head. "Okay! We'll celebrate!"

"Yeah..I wasn't asking if you wanted to!" He joked.

"My aunt wants to throw a party for me." I told him. "I know, it's corny and I'm a grown man...but you know Esme and she insists on doing the little, silly things."

"Oh, Alice and I will be there." He nodded. "Even got a baby sitter for Melody."

"Damn." I laughed "You're ready to party."

"Hell yeah I am!" We talked for a while longer before he had to go inside and help with the baby. Without Jasper, things were kinda borning for the next three days, but Esme kept me busy with picking things out for the party. I didn't need a party...hell I hadn't had one since my sixteenth eight years ago. But, she was too excited to say no to.

After Jasper got back, he asked me to come and help him unpack his friends things. As I was sticking my head in the truck to see the damage, I heard a small laugh from behind me.

"See anything you like, Bells?" Jasper joked, coming out of the truck with one of the guys. "This is Peter."

"Hi, thanks for helping." Her voice said. I stopped breathing as she talked to Peter. I literally thought she was an angel. After she was done speaking, I knew I had to get my head out of the truck and show myself. My breath hitched when I saw her. Long, wavy brown hair, chocolate eyes, and the body of a model.

"Hi, I'm Emmett." I said, extending his hand.

"Bella." She whispered, taking my hand. Our hands met and they seemed to mold together, like they were meant for each other. "I...I..."

"Bells?" Jasper asked. "You okay?"

"Yeah." She cried as a tear streamed down my face. "I...I gotta go check on the baby." She said and ran back inside.

"I'm gonna go check on her." Jasper told us, running after her.

"Dude...you're drooling. Peter laughed. I snapped back and wiped the drool off my chin.

"Shut up!" I cried, pushing him aside. "Let's start unloading this shit." I said, going to the truck. I looked up and saw her and Jasper walking downstairs, and met her eyes for a minute. I had no idea what had just happened, but I felt something more for a girl that just sex in a long time.

Bella. Her name was Bella. Beautiful.