Chapter Seventeen

"Don't you think they're going to think it's a bit odd that we're soaking?" Zondrea asked Emmett, her red eyes glowing happily, despite the fact that she was drenched, her jeans clinging even closer to her skin and the sweater she was wearing sticking on her slim shoulders. Emmett, tried not to divert his eyes to anything, but her face.

"How about we go for a run? I'll race you to the border." He suggested, and he was most definitely referring to the US/Canadian border.

Zondrea perked up even more at that, and he felt a surge of emotion go through him as he saw the familiar competitive look in her eyes. "You're so on." And then she was gone in a blur of colors.

Emmett let out a loud, roaring laugh before chasing after her, trying his best to keep up, although she was almost as fast as Edward, which was something.

But, he didn't mind lagging a bit behind. It was amusing and almost enchanting to watch her. Despite the vivid and horrific story he was just told of Zondrea's past, he still couldn't see her as anything, but good. Some people, or vampires, just shine brighter than others, and she was like the morning sun to a night sky.

She was amusing to watch, though, because it was fun to see her dart out of the way of trees or branches, or another other sort of forest debris. And it was interesting because despite the fact that her clothes were still damp and her curls hung limply from being in the water, she still look graceful and elegant.

"Come on, Emmett, this is hardly even a challenge." She suddenly said, looking back at him with a sly smirk that just seemed to fit with her elfish features.

"You know, I might not be the fastest, but I could dominate you in strength any day." He shot back with a smile, still charging forward after her and avoiding a huge oak tree.

"I don't doubt that." She winked at him, and then she disappeared and Emmett had to stop, his shoes digging into the forest floor.

"Z?" He asked, and not a second later he felt the air move behind his back and a weight was suddenly on his back.

"But, I'll always win at surprises." And then she was gone again, but just ahead, gesturing for him to keep following.

He slightly shook his head in wonder before going along, still trying to keep up with Zondrea and her crazy moods that could shift so easily. It was complicated, but exciting, at the same time.

They continued running till they reached the border and they found themselves on a very high ledge that was overlooking the forest they had just been passing through.

Zondrea sat down on the edge, letting her legs dangle. Normally, Emmett would have been a bit worried, but he was more than sure she could handle herself, so he decided to sit next to her instead, smiling down at the view.

"It's amazing, isn't it?" She spoke quietly and he turned to look at her, admiring the look of awe in her eyes, though there was a slight fear there too.

"What?" He asked, curious as to exactly what she was referring to.

She smiled softly and gestured to their surroundings. "I mean, look around Emmett. There's this whole world full of humans and life. It's just breathtaking. And then I'm thinking that we're honestly the most dangerous predators out there, but some of us are not even that bad. Like, look at your family-"

"Our," He immediately corrected without thinking. "Our family."

Her smiled widened, "Okay, our family, isn't bad at all. In fact, Carlisle helps humans and is probably the best doctor out there. It's just if the most dangerous predator out there can be good and decent, then this world can't be such a bad place, can it?" She finished, turning from the view and meeting his gaze.

His mind worked quickly to take everything she said in and he didn't break eye contact, though he was sure if his heart was still working, it would have skipped a beat under her unnerving gaze.

The thing was, while he kept trying to think of a response, his mind wanted to think of other things, other things that he knew were not morally right because he had Rosalie who was always faithful to him and now, here he was, with a girl that had shown up out of nowhere only a month or so ago.

But, while he kept trying to deny himself, he couldn't help, but think that Zondrea was not just some ordinary girl, she was much more than that. Despite being absolutely breath-taking, she was smart and wise. And the way she viewed the world and searched for their help all on her own obviously meant she wasn't a bad person, infact, she was just the opposite, despite her gruesome past.

So, he made a decision and Emmett wasn't the type of person to hesitate. When he really wanted something, it consumed every part of him and he would work to the end of world to get it.

"Emmett, I-" Was all she got out before he gently placed his lips on hers and it almost felt like a fire was burning inside of him, consuming everything, but the heat felt good.

And for the first moment everything was gentle and Zondrea was not responding, she was as frozen as a stone. But, then she seemed to realize what was happening and was suddenly in action, he hands reaching up to tangle with his hair and bringing him in closer, almost as if she couldn't get close enough to him.

His hands moved to her tiny waist, gripping tightly and his lips moved against hers, just as fast and as desperate for more.

She moved back only just enough, so that their lips were not touching anymore. "Emmett, think before you make a mistake." She warned gently, but her voice just egged him on even more so.

He just let out a soft, slightly frustrated growl in his throat before bringing her back closer and attaching their lips once again.

He let himself forget about absolutely everything besides just them in that moment. He made himself forget about Rose, his family, and any regrets this could possibly cost him because he was selfish enough to let himself have this, to have Zondrea like this, because it just felt right. And it was an 'in the moment' complete decision, he'd been wanting to do this after a week of knowing her.

Emmett smoothly changed their position, so instead of sitting too near the cliff-face, he had Zondrea laying on her back, face turned towards the darkening sky and Emmett supporting himself above her, never once breaking contact.

Zondrea did, though, she dragged her hands down from his neck to his forearm and he broke the kiss, looking down at her. She was looking slightly past him, though, and in such a quiet whisper it was almost inaudible to him, she spoke, "Look." And he did, craning his neck and looking at what she was seeing.

It was even more breath-taking than the scene before. The sky had darkened to a point where the sun was no longer in sight, but every single star was. And every single little speck of light was so bright and full, especially with not a cloud in the sky.

Emmett flipped over, so that he lying beside her, their arms brushing and he reached for her hand, loving the way it was swallowed by his.

"This is what makes living two-hundred years worth it." She said, her eyes dancing from constellation to constellation.

"The stars?" He asked, suddenly curious.

She turned to him, red eyes glowing in the dim lighting, her lips were pulled up slightly in her signature smirk. "Well, those too." And then she squeezed his hand slightly, indicating at what she was referring to.

They lay in silence then, but Zondrea being herself, got restless. "Edward's going to know." She suddenly said, voice breaking the peacefulness of nighttime. And then he saw her eyes go wide. "Emmett, what about Rosalie?" There was a slight hint of panic there.

"Zondrea, you told me not to do anything that I thought was a mistake. And I didn't." He informed her easily, still laying down with ease.

But, Zondrea was sitting up, quite quickly too. "Emmett, I can't. I barged in on this family without any warning and I am not going to be the one to tear it apart." She said sharply now, and he was quickly now as well.

"You wouldn't be tearing this family apart." He pathetically argued because he knew this was a battle he couldn't win.

"You and I both know I would be and I'm not allowing that to happen, Emmett." Her eyes were completely guarded of emotion now.

"Zondrea, please don't-"

"No, this can not go on. I'm such an imbecile for not thinking about it before and now Edward will find out. Do you think I want him to resent me?" She asked, now almost accusing.

"I didn't-" He tried to speak again, but she cut him off.

"I think it'd be best if we stay away from each other." And it felt like he was dying all over again when she said that because not only did he have strong feelings for her beyond friendship, but it was like she was a best friend to him.

"Don't do this." He got out, eyes now turning angry as well.

"Don't follow me back. I'll show up later than you, so no one is to assume anything." She warned, jumping up.

"Zondrea, just wait." He tried again, but she wasn't listening.

"I'll see you later, Emmett." And then she was gone, already heading down the cliff face and out of reach within a few seconds.

He knew he had messed up, but not in the way Zondrea was saying. He was worried because he had upset her, he wasn't worried about Rosalie or Edward right now. He just wanted to rewind an hour to when everything had been fire and warmth. Now his skin felt colder and his hand empty.

(A/N : Well, there's a little action. The next chapter should be interesting, but I decided to put this one in Emmett's POV because I want you guys to see some of the relationship from her perspective. Anyways, review and new chapter tomorrow!)