Chapter Three: Phenomenon

I woke up in the morning and groaned when I looked outside. Yesterday's rain had frozen and everything was covered in ice and snow. I suppose it was beautiful but it was a clumsy person's worst nightmare. I had enough trouble walking on a flat surface, never mind downhill and covered in ice. Today was going to be terrible.

For a minute, I considered crawling back into bed and skipping school but I didn't. I wanted to see Emmett Cullen in all his perfection. I wanted to hear his beautiful voice and booming laugh. I noticed yesterday that when he laughed, the light bounced off his curls very handsomely. The smile that showed off his dimples filled my head as I got ready for school.

Emmett Cullen presented an interesting mystery. There was something strange about him. The first time I saw him, he had stared at me with coal black eyes. Yesterday, his eyes were a strange ochre color, just a shade darker than butterscotch. I was too busy with our conversation to ask about it and it would have seemed rude if I had.

But there was something else. The one time he had touched me was so odd. We had both definitely felt the electric current between us. I wondered why that had happened. It didn't hurt; actually, it was kind of nice. Did he like it too?

No, probably not. I was well out of my range. I didn't have a chance with Emmett Cullen. I knew that his league and my league were spheres that did not touch. There was no reason that I should be anxious to see him because there was no way he could ever be interested in me. I was just setting myself up for rejection.

It took all my concentration not to lose my balance as I made it to the truck. I almost lost it when I reached the truck but caught myself on the side mirror just in time.

My truck had no problem with black ice on the roads but I still went slow anyway. When I got to school, I discovered why I had no trouble with the roads. Charlie had gotten up- who knows how early- to put snow chains on my tires. I carefully walked around the side of my truck to see the chains on my back tire. I wasn't used to being taken care of- it was my job to take care of Renee- and it sent a wave of emotion over me. Charlie's unspoken concern caught me by surprise.

I was trying to recollect myself after the emotion and shock the snow chains had brought on when I heard an odd sound.

I looked up, startled by the high-pitched screeching that was fast becoming painfully loud. It hurt my ears so I covered them.

I saw several things at once. Adrenaline rushed through me to make my brain work faster. I was able to see, in clear detail, several things at once. It was cool and frightening at the same time.

Emmett Cullen was standing four cars down from me, next to the silver Volvo his brother, Edward, owned. The usual humor in his face was replaced by horror as he stared at me. His was the face that stood out the most in the crowd who were all frozen in masks of shock and horror.

But more immediately important was the blue van careening wildly through the parking lot. The brakes were locked and squealing as it slid, out of control, over the ice. It was going to hit the back corner of my truck, and I was standing between them. Oh, crap! I was going to get hit and I didn't even have time to close my eyes.

Just before I heard the shattering crunch of the van colliding with me and wrapping around my truck bed, something hit me, hard, but from the wrong direction. My head cracked against the icy black top, and I felt something big, solid, and cold pinning me to the ground. I was lying on my back behind the tan car I parked next to. There was no time to notice anything else, because the van was still coming. It had curled around the back of my truck and, still spinning and sliding, was about to collide with me again. It was determined to get me.

A low swear word made me aware that I was not alone and the voice was impossible for me not to recognize. A pair of big, white hands shot out protectively in front of me. The van shuddered to a stop a foot from my face. There was a deep dent in the side of the van that fit the hands.

He moved his hands very fast. One was suddenly gripping under the van, and something was dragging me as if I were a rag doll, and swinging my legs to hit the tan car's tire. The van settled with a groaning metallic thud. That hurt my ears, glass popping and shattering to the ground- exactly where, a second ago, my legs had been. I was one lucky person to have survived that.

The screaming began after a long second of silence. I could hear several people shouting my name in panic. But more clearly than all the other shouting, I could hear Emmett Cullen's low frantic voice in my ear. It sounded off; the humor was all gone, replaced by worry.

"Bella? Are you ok?"

"I'm fine." My voice sounded strange. I realized that he was holding me to his side with an iron grip when I tried to sit up.

"Don't," he warned as I struggled. "I think you bashed your head against the concrete."

Right on cue, I became aware of a throbbing ache above my left ear.

"Ow," I said, surprised.

"Definitely hit it." I heard the smile and the concern mixed into his voice. He was hardly bothered by anything.

"How in the…" I trailed off, trying to clear my head and assess the situation. "How did you get over here so fast?"

"Don't you remember? I was standing right next to you, Bella." He said. He was trying to be serious but it warred against his personality.

I turned to sit up again but he refused to release his hold on my waist.

"Don't, Bella. You shouldn't move. You might be hurt." Emmett said, still refusing to release me.

"Fine. " I muttered. I wasn't going to complain. It was strangely pleasing to have him so close to me. The electricity between us was intense. I wondered if it felt that way to him. Could he be taking some pleasure in holding me to him? It felt that way because he pulled me into his lap and slid his arms all the way around me. His body was cold stone under me. It was odd but not uncomfortable.

After a few minutes of noise and panic, they finally managed to shift the van far enough away from us to bring in the stretchers. Emmett refused his but insisted that I use one. I couldn't resist the look he gave me. It was that perfect dimpled smile and pleading eyes that I just couldn't say no to. I allowed the EMTs to strap me to the stretchers and even put me in a neck brace as long as Emmett stayed with me. He beamed at my request and jumped into the back to help load me in.

Before I was completely in, I caught a glimpse of my father's face, worry and confusion plain there.

"Oh, Charlie." I moaned. I closed my eyes so I wouldn't have to see Charlie's face. His voice was full of panic, as he demanded to know what had happened.

It startled me when I felt Emmett's cold hand on mine. "What's wrong, Bella? Are you in pain?" he asked tenderly. I opened my eyes to see him sitting next to me, holding my hand and smiling at me so that it showed his dimples.

"My dad was there. He looked so worried. The sooner this is over, the better. Poor Charlie, he must be freaking out." I told Emmett. He squeezed my fingers in comfort.

"I'll take care of that. Let me get you to my father first then I will deal with yours. Carlisle will take care of you. Trust me." Emmett promised. His smile was so assuring that I couldn't help but believe him. I felt so safe with him even though I barely knew him.

"Whatever you say, Emmett." I murmured, deciding to go along with it.

He flashed me his dimples again. He was about to say something but we were at the hospital now. They wheeled me into the long hall of the emergency ward. I was left there to wait my turn for the x-ray while Emmett went to talk to our fathers. Before he left, Emmett bent down and kissed my cheek. Even though his lips were hard and cold, it still sent a warm thrill through me. The skin there felt burned but it was not painful. I wanted to react but he was already walking away.

About five minutes later, they wheeled Tyler Crowley, the boy who was driving the van, in and put him in the bed next to mine. He looked a lot worse than I felt. It was stomach churning to see all his cuts.

"Bella, are you ok? I thought I was going to kill you. How did you get out of the way so fast?" Tyler asked me.

"Don't worry about it, Tyler. I'm fine. Emmett pulled me out of the way." I told him.

"Who?" Tyler asked confused. Apparently, not everyone was as aware of him as me. What a shame.

"Emmett Cullen. He was standing next to me and pulled me out of the way." I replied, using the excuse Emmett gave me.

"Cullen? Huh, didn't see him. Is he ok?" Tyler sounded mildly concerned.

"He's fine. I'm not sure exactly where but he's around here somewhere." I informed him.

"Bella, I'm so sorry!" Tyler apologized just before the nurse came to get me for my x-ray.

I told them there was nothing wrong with me and I was right. Not even a mild concussion. They wouldn't let me leave until I saw a doctor, though.

They put me back in the ER next to Tyler. No matter how many times I told him I was ok, Tyler wouldn't leave me alone. He kept apologizing and promising to make it up to me. Finally, I closed my eyes and pretended to fall asleep as he continued to harass me.

"Is she asleep?" a voice so beautiful and amused it could only be Emmett's asked Tyler. My eyes snapped open to see Emmett at the foot of my bed. He was grinning at me and started chuckling softly when he saw my reaction to his voice.

"Emmett, man, I'm sorry." Tyler began before Emmett held up his hand.

"It's cool. No blood, no foul." Emmett chuckled again before sitting on the edge of Tyler's bed to face me. "Hey, Bella. So what's the diagnosis?"

"There is absolutely nothing wrong with me. But they still wont let me leave." I told him.

"Well, that's good to hear. I was afraid I'd hurt you. Don't worry, Bella. I came to spring ya." He winked playfully at me.

Before I could ask what he meant, in strode a man in a doctor's coat. He was tall, blond, and handsome. He looked more like a model than a doctor, only one that has never seen the sun. I knew that this was Emmett's father.

"Carlisle, this is Bella Swan." Emmett said to the doctor. He turned to me with a smiled, and said, "Bella, this is my father, Dr. Carlisle Cullen."

"Hello, Bella. Emmett says you hit your head on the concrete. Let's see your x-rays." Dr. Cullen turned to the light board next to my bed and put my x-ray up. He studied it a minute. "Everything looks fine. Turn your head to the side and look at Emmett, please."

I did what Dr. Cullen asked and looked at Emmett. He was watching me intently and grinning that dimpled smile.

I felt cool, gentle fingers probe my head. When they came to the bump on my head where it had hit the pavement, I winced. Emmett looked like he wanted to take my hand and comfort me.

"Tender?" Dr. Cullen asked from behind me.

"Not really," I'd had worse.

"Well, you are going to be fine. Take some aspirin for the pain and come back if you feel dizzy or have problems with your vision. Let me fill these papers out and you can leave, Bella. I must say, you are lucky to be alive after nearly being run over." Dr. Cullen said as he started to fill out my paperwork.

"Actually, I was lucky Emmett was standing next to me so he could pull me out of the way. He saved my life." I corrected him.

"Oh, well, yes." Dr. Cullen muttered and suddenly, he needed to concentrate on the papers. Obviously, the doctor knew the truth that Emmett really wasn't next to me. Fine, then. "I'm afraid you will have to stay with us a little longer, Mr. Crowley. Bella, you can go home now."

I groaned. "Can't I go back to school?"

"Actually, it appears that half the school is in the waiting room along with your father. You should go home with him." The doctor contradicted.

"Ok, fine. Does Emmett get to go back to school?" I asked.

"Someone's got to let the school know that we survived." Emmett shrugged. "Your father is waiting for you, Bella."

"I'd like to talk to you alone, Emmett." I jumped of the bed and stumbled into his arms.

Emmett looked down at me after steadying me. He looked concerned.

"I'm fine. Let's go." No need to tell them that my balance had nothing to do with my head injury. I grabbed Emmett's hand and pulled him along to the far end of the long room. I was pleased that he didn't pull his hand back and that he was so content to hold mine. We were out of hearing range when we turned the corner.

"I wanted to ask what happened with the van. How did you save me?" I turned to look at him.

"I told you what happened. I was standing right next to you and I pulled you out of the way. Is your head ok? You mist have hit it hard." He grinned as he finished.

"I know better than that. You were at Edward's car and then you were suddenly next to me. Don't tell me you weren't because Tyler didn't see you either. Then the van was going to crush my legs but you held it up." I trailed off at the end. It sounded crazy.

"You think I lifted a van off you? No one will believe that, ya know?" he chuckled and his tone was patronizing.

"I'm not going to tell anyone what really happened." I told him. His expression changed.

"Then why does it matter what really happened?"

"It matters to me. I don't like lying so I should get an explanation for why I am." I wanted him to trust me enough to tell me.

"Lie for me, then. You need to trust me on this. I can't explain right now but I will. I want so much to be able to tell you everything this moment but I can't. Just be patient for now and later, I'll tell you everything." His tone was sincere and pleading.

"Ok, then. When will you tell me?" I asked him.

"Soon. I promise, as soon as I can." He stared into my eyes as he spoke. "You should go. Your father is anxious to see you. He was jumpier than a rabbit when I talked to him. See you tomorrow at school, Bella."

"Ok, that's fine. I'll see you tomorrow, Emmett." I replied. He looked tenderly into my eyes and squeezed my hand before dropping it and walking away.

As promised, my father and everyone I knew from school were waiting for me. I didn't feel like being bombarded now so I was grateful when Charlie insisted on getting me home to rest. He had called my mom so I spent about half an hour reassuring her that I was fine. She wanted me to come home but forgot that home was empty.

I couldn't go home now anyway. If I did, I would never find out about Emmett. Part of that was the mystery of him. The other part was the odd attraction I felt for him. It felt to me like he felt it too. He seemed more than happy to be near me and hold my hand. Maybe this could be something. I had to find out. I was determined to stay.

That was the first night Emmett Cullen stared in my dreams.