Chapter Seven: Realisations

I wasn't looking forward to the boring, Emmett-less Friday. He wouldn't be there to make me laugh and I was not looking forward to the monotony. I think I genuinely miss him when he's not here. I liked him a lot, which was obvious. I had never been this close to a boy before.

Of course, I had never met a boy like Emmett before. He was handsome, strong, funny, and mysterious. He had basically confirmed yesterday that he wasn't human. I should probably be scared but I wasn't. The more I found out about him, the more I liked him. He was just so sweet and funny. Maybe he was exactly what I needed: someone who could take care of me and make me laugh.

Mike was glum when I got to English. I wondered if it was because I didn't show up in gym yesterday. He probably jumped to the correct conclusion that I left with Emmett. I didn't know what to say about the biology incident.

I didn't have to worry about it because the first think he said when I took my seat was, "sorry, Bella. We have to postpone the beach trip."

"How come?" I asked, trying to sound upset.

"It's going to be cold and rainy all day tomorrow. We'll have to wait for better weather." Mike sighed, looking extremely disappointed like he had been waiting for this for more than just a few days.

I had mixed feeling about it. I hadn't been looking forward to the trip but now I didn't have anything to do this weekend. Charlie had been more enthusiastic about the trip than I was. I think he felt guilty for leaving me at home all the time. I didn't mind that but being bored and thinking of nothing but Emmett sounded kind of depressing because I know that is what is in store for me now.

"That sucks. Maybe next month," I used a tone appropriate for the disappointment I was supposed to feel.

"I was thinking you and I could-" Mike began but Mr. Mason called class and he didn't have a change to finish. I had an awful feeling he was about to ask me out again. Thank goodness for Mr. Mason's good timing.

The day pasted slowly and it was finally time for lunch. Jessica chattered all the way to the cafeteria. She wanted to know what Emmett and I talked about yesterday. Unfortunately, she also asked about biology. I guess Mike told her about the fainting.

I was about to lie about it all when the unexpected happened. I never would have expected it even if I had been forewarned. It was just such an anomaly. Just like Emmett sitting away from his family to sit with me.

I was headed to the lunch line when an unfamiliar voice called, "oh, Bella!" The voice was high and musical like wind chimes.

I turned to see Alice Cullen and Jasper and Rosalie Hale waving at me. Alice danced over to stand in front of me with a huge grin. Jasper and Rosalie followed.

"Hey. We wanted to talk to you. You can sit with us today if you want." Alice offered. The others nodded in agreement.

"Uh, sure. See you later, Jess." I muttered, baffled. They didn't talk to anyone usually. I followed them back to their table, feeling Jessica's eyes bore into my back. I sat facing them.

"I'm so glad we are finally getting to talk to you. Emmett just about collapsed with relief when we told him we were going to introduce ourselves to you today. I'm sure you already know this but I'm Alice and this is Jasper, my boyfriend, and his sister, Rosalie." Alice tittered excitedly. Jasper and Rosalie smiled warmly as they said hello.

"It's nice to meet you too. Why was Emmett so relieved?" It seemed odd to me. Emmett didn't worry about anything. Why would he want me to meet his family so badly? We weren't dating, just friends. There must be another reason.

"Haven't you noticed how crazy he is about you?" Jasper asked in his low bass. The question caught me off guard. Emmett was crazy about me? What exactly did that mean?

"You must have noticed by now. He could hardly stand leaving because he wouldn't get to see you." Rosalie explained.

"Really?" The idea that he missed me as much as I missed him gave me a warm feeling. Jasper smiled like he knew exactly what I was feeling.

"Yeah. So we decided to get to know you while he and Edward are out of town." Alice continued.

"Of course, Edward will want to meet you when he gets back." Rosalie added. She said his name with a lot of affection. Alice had used the same amount of affection when she said Jasper's name. They truly cared about each other.

"I'll look forward to that. So when are they coming back?" I asked. I couldn't hide the longing in my voice.

"You miss him, don't you?" Jasper asked and I blushed. "He'll be happy to hear that. You should know, Bella. He misses you too."

"A lot. We can miss our guys together if you want. Emmett said you were going on that beach trip tomorrow but we can hang out on Sunday until they get home that night." Rosalie offered sweetly. It was so nice of her to offer even though she barely knew me and had no obligation to do that.

"Actually, the trip got cancelled. And I'm not Emmett's girlfriend so I don't know if I should." I said dismally. He had never said he wanted me to be, exactly. I didn't know how I would be received if I were waiting for him at his house for him to get home. It might scare him and I didn't want that.

"But you will be." Alice trilled excitedly. "Oh, the three of us can go shopping tomorrow. Just us girls."

"Bella, Emmett cares about you fiercely. I've never seen him worry about anything before. He worries for your safety though. He wants to see you when he gets home too." Jasper told me. I tried to see if he was just messing with me. I saw from the set of his jaw and the look in his eyes that he was completely serious.

"Wow. I had no idea Emmett felt that way about me." I smiled at the thought. Emmett Cullen worried about me and wanted me there when he got home.

"You feel the same way about him." Jasper stated. It wasn't a question, like he knew that I cared immensely for his brother. I just nodded, embarrassed to voice my feelings out loud for Emmett to his family. I should be telling him.

"You don't have to reply to that. Emmett should know your feelings for him before we do. Jasper's just nosy sometimes but he means well." Alice said as she poked her boyfriend in the side. Jasper jumped slightly and laughed a little.

"So will you go shopping with us?" Rosalie implored me. "Emmett would feel better if you were with us. He wouldn't have to worry about you and you could talk to him when they check in. please. We really want you to come."

I wasn't one for shopping but hanging out with Alice and Rosalie sounded like a good idea. "Sure, sounds like fun."

"Excellent. Maybe you can spend the night some time." Alice squealed. She practically bounced in her seat.

Just then, a phone rang and Rosalie reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, silver cell phone. After looking at the caller id, she answered, "Hello, Edward darling. I miss you too… sitting at lunch. Good for you, sweet heart…" This went on for a few minutes before Rosalie said, "ok lemme talk to Emmett. Just for a minute… Hey, Emmett. Guess who is sitting next to me at this very moment. Bella! She's fine. Ok, here she is." Rosalie handed me the phone.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hey, it's me." Emmett's voice came over the phone. My heart sang at the sound, it was just so perfect.

"Hey, how's the hiking?" I asked. Alice, Rosalie, and Jasper had an odd look on their faces.

"It's fine. Wish I were with you, though. I want to ask you something that I should have a while ago, Bella." He sounded so sincere.

"Ok, go ahead." I had a feeling I was really going to like the question.

"I want you to be my girlfriend. Ok, that's not a question. Bella, will you be my girlfriend?" Emmett asked, slightly nervous.

I smiled widely. This was exactly what I was hoping would happen. "Yes, Emmett. I will be your girlfriend." Alice squealed as I said it. Jasper and Rosalie smiled widely.

"Bella, I-" Emmett cut off and took a deep breath. "I'm glad you feel that way. Hey, are you still going to the beach?"

"No. It will be too cold tomorrow. I'm going shopping with Alice and Rosalie instead. Will you be ok out there?" I let my concern color my voice.

Emmett chuckled. "I'll be fine. My skin is already cold so that isn't an issue. I do like hearing the concern in your voice, though. You might want to get a good night's sleep if you are going shopping with those two. You don't really seem like the type of girl who likes shopping."

"I'm not really." I admitted.

"Figured. Lunch is probably almost over. Let me talk to Rosalie. I will call tomorrow while you're with them." Emmett assured me.

"Can't wait. Here she is." I handed the phone back to Rosalie who murmured some things I didn't catch.

"Oh, Bella. I am so happy. You and my brother; and you will be great friends with Rose and me." Alice was positively bubbling over with joy.

I smiled at them. Even though this was the first time I had talked with them, I liked Alice, Jasper and Rosalie already. They were just so nice to me and I knew that it was because they liked me and not just because I was their brother's girlfriend. It felt so right to sit here with them. Most of all, it felt right to be with Emmett.

And there was my answer. Ever since yesterday, I had been asking myself if I could handle the fact that Emmett and his family weren't humans. The answer was so obvious, it was like a truck with headlights blaring its horn at me: yes, I could handle it. It doesn't matter to me what they are because I… love Emmett? Yes, I love him. I am in love with Emmett Cullen. That realization was the truck hitting me but it left me with a wide smile on my face.

I looked up and saw them all staring at me. Jasper's smile was almost as big as mine. We should get to class now." I suggested, slightly embarrassed.

"We'll walk with you to your class." Rosalie offered. We all left the cafeteria together.

"Ok, so what time do you want to meet up tomorrow and where?" I asked as we walked through the rain.

"How about we pick you up from your house at ten?" Alice suggested.

"Sounds good. See you then." I said to Alice and Rosalie. "Later, Jasper." They said goodbye and I entered my biology class.

****

"You aren't still going to the beach tomorrow, are you, Bella?" Charlie asked at dinner that night. "It's supposed to be cold tomorrow."

"No, I have other plans." I told him.

He stopped eating. "Oh, like what?" Charlie tensed for my answer. Maybe he thought I had a date. I wish that were the case.

"Alice Cullen and Rosalie Hale invited me to hang out with them tomorrow. I think we're going shopping." I told him. He relaxed instantly.

"Dr. Cullen's daughters?" I nodded. "Nice girls. You should have a good time with them." Charlie approved.

"So you like the Cullens?" I asked.

"Dr. Cullen is a valuable asset to this town. He's a brilliant surgeon and his wife is a wonderful woman. I thought I was going to have a problem with all those adopted teenagers but they all turned out to be very well behaved and respectful. More than I can say for some of the other kids your age whose families have lived here for generations. Why do you ask?" Charlie got suspicious as he posed the question.

"Just remember what you just said about them, ok? I'm going to bed. 'Night, dad." I hedged and hurried up to my room.

I took a shower and settled down in my bed. I tried to relax enough to fall asleep so I pulled up an image of Emmett's face. My boyfriend's face. His perfect face had that dimpled smile I loved so much on it. Sleep slowly took me with that vision in my head.