Chapter 14: Life Choices

Emmett was in the backyard, just tossing baseballs at the target in front of him. Sitting on the table behind him was a letter from one of the universities he had applied to. Carlisle walked out of the house to find his son more occupied with his pitching than the letter on the table. "I see you haven't opened it," Carlisle commented.

"Nope," Emmett replied, throwing another ball.

Carlisle lifted the envelope in his hands, tapping it against his hand. "And why is that?" he asked curiously.

"Because I don't want to see what Stanford has to say," Emmett replied.

Throwing the last baseball, Emmett looked over at his father. "And why don't you want to know?" Carlisle asked.

"I was hoping not to have to spell it out dad," he replied.

"You don't have to. I already know the answer," Carlisle told him.

Emmett sighed as he stared at the envelope. "You can be accepted Emmett, you just don't have to go if you don't want to. Your mother and I aren't going to drag you kicking and screaming all the way there," he commented chuckling. Chuckling along with his father, Emmett stared at the envelope in his hands.

"What the hell," he muttered.

Walking over, he took the envelope from him, opening it up. "Dear Emmett, Congratulations! It is with great pleasure I offer you admission to the Stanford University Class of 2009," he read.

"Congratulations son," Carlisle told him.

Emmett nodded his head slowly, letting out a deep breath. "Stanford," he murmured.

The next day at school, Emmett got out of his jeep to see Bella waiting by her truck. "Hey Gorgeous," he said smiling.

"Hey," she answered.

She let out a gasp when he lifted her up, swinging her around. There was something different about this embrace; it was desperate, needed. "Everything alright?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah, yeah everything's fine," he replied.

Bella moved her hands over his back. "Emmett, what's the matter?" she asked.

"We need to talk later, okay?" he answered.

"Yeah, sure," she murmured.

Emmett kissed the back of her hand before they walked up the stairs to the school. She couldn't help but feel nervous. The worse four words in the English language 'We need to talk'. As they were walking together, he would glance over to see his girlfriend chewing on her bottom lip. "Baby…" he whispered.

"Yeah…" she answered.

He stopped, moving his hands up and down her arms. "It's good, I'm not breaking up with you that's for sure," he told her. Feeling a little relieved with his words. He kissed her tenderly. "Meet me…by my jeep…after school," he murmured between kisses.

"Okay," she answered.

Moving his hand over her back, he smiled softly before letting her go and practically running to his class. Bella bit her lower lip as she ran to her own class.

After school that day, Bella was sitting by Emmett's jeep when he walked out of the school. "What's going on?" she asked. Emmett sighed, kissing her gently instead of answering her. Stunned, she rested her hand on the side of his neck. After a few seconds, he pulled away, resting his forehead against hers. "Emmett, something's wrong. What's wrong?" she asked.

"I received this in the mail yesterday," he told her.

He showed her the letter from Stanford. Bella stared at the letter in his hand and read what the college had to say. "You were accepted!" she gasped.

"Yeah," he replied.

Throwing her arms around his neck, the girl was grinning from ear to ear. "Congratulations Em," she told him.

"Thanks," he answered.

He set her down on the ground, moving his hand over her arm. "Bella, I don't know if I should go," he said quietly.

"What? Why not?" she asked quietly.

"Stanford is so far away Bells. I don't want to be away from you again," he replied.

Hearing those words made Bella's heart quit beating for a few seconds. Realizing that Emmett would be so far away made her feel sick. The last thing she wanted was for Emmett to be so far away again after she just got him back. Emmett moved his hand up and down her arm, kissing her forehead gently. "I don't want to leave you again Bells," he whispered.

"But this is for your future Emmett, your future," she answered.

"Bella, there is no future for me…if you're not in it," he told her.

Bella bit her lower lip, moving her hands over his arms. "This is a great opportunity; you just can't give this up. Not for me," she answered. Emmett closed his eyes, kissing the tip of her nose.

"Oh Bells," he whispered.

She moved her hands over his back. "You are an incredible woman Bella," he told her quietly.

"You're an incredible man," she answered.

Kissing her tenderly, Emmett moved his hands over her arms. "Bella…" he said quietly.

"Yeah," she answered slowly.

Resting his forehead against hers, he smiled softly as he ran his fingers inside of her jacket, resting his hands on her waist. "I love you," he admitted. She looked up at him, her brown eyes locking with his blue eyes.

"Emmett…" she said quietly.

His smile faded a little bit when she trailed off. A smile appeared on her face, her arms around his neck. "I love you too," she told him. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. "I love you so much," she told him grinning. Emmett let out a whoop as he lifted Bella up off the ground swinging her around.

"This girl loves me!" he announced as he set her back down on the ground.

Bella laughed, hitting his chest lightly. "This girl loves me!" he repeated louder to anyone who was listening.

"Emmett!" she laughed as he swung her around again.

Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her close, kissing her deeply. She kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his back, hugging her close to him. "I love you Isabella Swan," he told her quietly. Bella smiled, moving her hands over his arms.

"I love you Emmett Cullen," she answered.

He kissed her once more before hugging her. No matter what his decision on his future, Bella was going to be sure to remind him that she was always going to be waiting for him. No matter what his decision was, Emmett was going to be waiting for her.