As Always, thanks for the reviews! Here's a quicker update - I have nothing to do at night! Sleep? Pfft. Naah. Too busy getting these chapters up! :)
Wonder & Fragile by Megan McCauley
Emmett's POV
Charlie wouldn't let Emmett inside.
He had decided to use the front door, since it was still the grey daytime, and had been met by a furious Charlie that was too stubborn to let Emmett in.
"Please, Mr. Swan," he begged, holding the door from closing. "I just want to talk to her for a minute."
"I said no, Emmett, now get off my property!" Charlie snapped.
"But -"
"I said, leave!" he yelled. "Just go! You 'got no right to see her!"
"Dad?" Bella called from upstairs. Charlie turned around to peer at the stairs, face still holding a glare.
"Yeah, Bells?" he yelled. He motioned for Emmett to leave, but Bella was already bounding down the stairs. She saw Emmett and her breath caught.
"Its okay, Dad. I just need to talk to him for a minute." Bella murmured, laying a gentle hand on Charlie's shoulder. He sighed and nodded slowly before backing off into the living room.
"Thanks." Emmett sighed and stepped inside.
"Actually, we can talk outside. Before I head out." The last part was quieter, not intended for Charlie's hearing. Bella motioned to the door and Emmett followed her out to her truck. He noticed that she had a bulging bag on her back. As soon as she turned to face him words were falling out of Emmett's mouth.
"Bella, I'm so, sorry, but you saw what happened and we need to talk reasonably about it. I know what it might have looked like but -"
"I know." Bella's cold tone cut Emmett off from what he had been about to say.
"You...oh. That's...great!" he grinned slightly and leaned slightly closer to Bella. The motion was barely noticeable.
"I've been..." she began, but paused. "I've been thinking. And I was stubborn. I witnessed it, and I know you were just trying to...get her off of you. And I also forgive you for...our past troubles." Emmett's face lit up.
"But. It's...Rosalie."
"Bella -"
"Wait! Let me finish!" She held up a hand and took a deep breath before continuing. "It's not anything to do with your feelings for her. It's that...well, she has feelings for you. And that's my problem. She knew I was watching, and was trying to make a point. She hates me more than ever now that I've forgiven you, and you yourself said, a while ago, that she could try to kill me. She's strong, Emmett. She can do what she wants, even kill me. You won't always be there. What if her next tactic for getting you back is murder?
"Also, those vampires at the airport. I don't think their appearance was random. They could've been sent by Rosalie! And...In that hotel. One of them threatened me, and later attacked me when I was with Jake. She's already trying to kill me!" Bella's voice was higher and desperate. Emmett took a long pause before his answer.
"You've thought about this a lot, haven't you?" he asked quietly. Bella nodded and looked down at the ground.
"Bella...we can leave. I can protect you. We actually were going to leave before...for these reasons. There's no reason not to now." Emmett murmured, trying not to sound like he was begging.
"That's right. I've been meaning to ask you something," Bella said. "Where were we going?"
"We...We were going to Africa." He answered slowly. Something sparked up in Bella's face.
"Of course. Emmett, I know you'll deny it, but you still have feelings for Rosalie. You won't admit it, but small things show. She knows it, too. That confirms everything. It's not safe, and...I just...can't." Bella fumbled for words as she brought her gaze up to Emmett's.
"What...what are you saying, Bella?" Emmett asked quietly. Bella took a deep breath and turned away.
"I'm saying that we're...over. Not together anymore. We can't be. I'm sorry. I won't be the weak one here." She turned her face away from his, but Emmett heard her cry softly. She opened her car door and got in it slowly, not looking back. After she shut it, Emmett heard the lock click and the engine start. His mouth hung wide open, but finally he looked down.
Bella's POV
Breaking up with Emmett was one of the hardest things Bella had ever done.
But she did it.
Tears flooding her eyes, Bella started the engine of her old Chevy. Emmett made no move to stop her, but stood outside, mouth open and eyes not moving. Bella blinked but couldn't see anymore because of the wetness in her eyes. Leaning down, she grabbed a tissue from the glove compartment and wiped her eyes hastily. Shaking, she threw her backpack down on the seat next to her. The whole car shook with her force...which was a bit strange. But looking up at her side window, she saw Emmett outside yelling and fiddling with the door handle. He had hit the side of the truck, probably seriously damaging it. He felt the engine start and leaned down to get his face in level with the window.
"...please! Bella!" she heard only snippets of what Emmett was yelling through the glass. Suddenly, he changed. His desperate golden eyes became larger and took on a terrifying, furious look. He stood and his hands curled at his sides. He truly looked like a monster as he lifted his hand, which curled into a fist. He leaned forward and let his hand blindly strike the car. He hit the window, and Bella barely had time to duck before the window exploded on her.
Razor-sharp shards of glass flew everywhere, covering Bella and the small area around her.
Terrified, Bella's foot pressed down on the gas and she grabbed the steering wheel as she sped forward. She could barely see through her hair to navigate her way out of the driveway and down the street. The whole time she was shaking and whimpering. When she had moved onto a larger street, she checked her mirrors. No cars in sight and a pale silhouette was following through the forest.
Emmett.
Emmett's POV
No! He hadn't meant to break the window!
But Emmett had lost control – something had snapped inside of him and he had taken out his frustration on Bella, striking out at her car. He wanted so badly to take it back – but Bella was already speeding down the road, and he was following through the forest. He only wanted to make her pay for how she had hurt him...abandoned him. Emmett couldn't think straight, so he kept following her. He recognised the route – they were going to the Cullen's residence.
Bella's POV
Arriving at the Cullen's house was like arriving at home.
The familiar white house welcomed her, but she didn't dare unlock her doors. Instead, she dug out her cell phone and dialled Alice's number. Outside, she saw movement in the corner of her sight. A white ghost, flying past.
Come on, Alice! She thought. Pick up!
Alice's POV
Somewhere in the house, Alice's mobile phone rang. She couldn't care less. She was busy talking to...already she had forgotten the girl's name. Carlisle and Esme had left in a flash, only telling her the girl's name.
"So, you're Alice? Jasper's mate? Aren't you supposed to be hunting him down?" the girl's strong voice broke Alice's void of thought.
"Yeah...wait – hey! I'm not hunting him! I was just trying to get him to stop so I could talk some sense into him!" Alice denied.
"Talk some sense? Are you kidding? I thought you guys would at least, you know, punish him for breaking his 'diet'!" April yelled. Obviously one to overreacted, Alice noted mentally.
"Who are you to decide whether or not Jasper should be punished?" Alice demanded.
"I – April. My name is April." She said simply.
"Oh that's it, huh? No last name, reason-for-being-here, or purpose for so rudely yelling at me?" Alice snapped. 'April' just rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, well when I meet someone I don't exactly launch into a tale of family history."
"Well I'm only asking for a more detailed 'who are you' answer."
April sighed impatiently.
"Fine. My name is April Dave, adopted daughter of Isabelle and Jason Dave. Jason is the one that your boyfriend bit, by the way." She said the last part furiously.
"Adopted daughter? But you're a vampire! Don't you think they'd notice that you hadn't aged after a couple years?" Alice nearly laughed.
"Listen." April's voice was cold and nearly frightening. "I just wanted a normal, human life. So I got adopted. I have been for a year now. I was planning on leaving...eventually. Maybe next year. But I actually grew close to the Daves, and now the guy I was beginning to think of as a father is going to turn into a damn vampire!" April yelled.
"Jeez, calm down Miss Month." It slipped out; Alice hadn't meant to make that immature joke. "How about some history? And how you managed to live in Forks without us noticing?" April took some deep breaths before speaking, glaring at Alice all the while.
"Changed in 1936, by vampire-unknown. My name was Alicia McCarty. I changed it when I decided to re-enter the human world. I had three brothers; one went missing a year before I was changed. When I realised that there were other vampires in the area," she paused for breath. "I lied low. Went to a different school. Hunted in farther areas. Didn't draw attention to myself. Actually, it was kind of easy. You guys are real idiots."
1936...Alice thought. Wasn't Emmett changed in 1935?
"Hey – out of curiosity – what was your brother's name? The one that went missing?" Alice asked.
"Emmett." April answered immediately. An explosion of thoughts lit up Alice's mind, and she ran to the table across the room and back in a flash. She returned with a framed photograph of Emmett and Rosalie. She showed it to April, pointing to Emmett.
"Who's this to you?" she asked, holding her breath.
"Oh, God..." April whispered. "That's my brother."
Bella's POV
Alice still wouldn't pick up, and the sun was setting outside. Out of fright and annoyance, Bella slammed her hand down on the steering wheel, honking her car horn. She repeated the movement, causing a particularly annoying noise. A light came on inside, and the front door opened. Alice's face popped out, along with an unfamiliar one. Bella honked three more times before Alice ghosted through the air and down to her window. She took in Bella's beat up car and smashed window, and ran over to her.
"Bella?" She asked. "What happened?"
"It's Emmett," she whispered. "He's...lost it. Please, help me. He's here."
Emmett stepped out of the shadows.
Love it? Hate it? Spotted something wrong? Review, please! Chapters should be coming in WAY faster over the Christmas break! Christmas in two days...can't wait!
Chapter Twelve