Chapter Fourteen: Questions

I woke up the next morning and stretched, looking for Emmett but he wasn't there. I was alone in my bed. Did I dream the whole weekend up? It seemed too good to be true. Finally becoming Emmett's girlfriend, kissing him, falling asleep in his perfectly muscular arms as he sang to me; it all seemed kind of impossible.

But there were some things that were impossible to make up like his scent or the sensation of his lips on mine. I certainly couldn't have dreamed up the terrifying feeling of running that fast while clinging to Emmett or the confrontation with Edward.

I sat up to look at my alarm clock, to check the date. It was Monday, the day it should be. So maybe I hadn't imagined it. I hoped so even though I just couldn't see Emmett interested in someone as plain as me. He was perfect and I wasn't even close.

More proof that I wasn't dreaming, there was a piece of folded white paper under the corner of my alarm clock. My name was written on it in Emmett's personal calligraphy. I grabbed it and flipped the not open.

Good Morning Beautiful,

How was your night? Mine was wonderful since I finally got to lie next to you as you slept. I've wanted to do that for a while. Sorry I had to leave. I wish I could be there when you wake up but we but need to get ready for school. I'll be waiting for when Chief Swan leaves.

Love,

Emmett

I felt a fluttering in my heart as I read his words. It was the sweetest thing anyone had ever written to me. The paper smelled like him and I wondered if he had breathed on it. Emmett had the most delicious I had ever smelled before. Everything about him was perfect. And, oddly enough, he wanted me. I basked in the thought for a minute.

Then the meaning of his note sank in. I sprang out of bed and threw on one of the outfits Alice had bought me. I didn't bother with the makeup she had given me because I didn't know how to use it; I didn't wear makeup much. Alice had matched to outfit for me already so I was set.

I ate breakfast quickly and in relative silence. Every now and then Charlie would look up at me then grunt and look back down. I don't know why he seemed so moody today or what he was looking at; the TV wasn't broken and he had plans to go fishing this weekend again. He shook his head a little and there was the barest hint of a grin on his face for a moment.

"I'm gonna be late tonight for dinner. A security guard at the mill got attacked by an animal and I need to go investigate." Charlie said as he rinsed off his plate.

"An animal?" I asked. That was something new.

"You're not in Phoenix anymore Bells. Anyway, I'll see you around 7:00 kid." Charlie said as he pulled his gun holster on.

"Be careful." I said as he pulled his boots on.

"Always am. Have a good day." Charlie replied and left.

When he finally left, I hurried up to the bathroom to brush my teeth. Looking in the mirror, I saw what Charlie had reacted to. I looked different, there were hectic red spots across my cheeks and my lips were stretched in an unconscious smile. My eyes shone bright. I looked happy.

I headed back to my room to get my bag after my teeth were clean. Suddenly, Emmett was in my doorway. I was so startled that I stumbled backward and almost fell down the stairs. Emmett caught me before I could and held me tightly to him. I buried my face in his chest as he stroked my hair. He was back and I was happy.

"What am I going to do with you, love? I leave you for an hour and you nearly fall down the stairs." Emmett chuckled and kissed the top of my head.

"That wasn't my fault." I retorted, looking up at his wonderful face. "You surprised me."

He shrugged and said, "fair enough. But try to be more careful. You seem to attract accidents."

I was about to protest his statement but his lips were suddenly on mine. Emmett's lips moved with mine perfectly as we kissed. His tongue swept along my lower lip and my breathing sped. My heart raced as his hands felt along the skin at the small of my back. My arms locked around his neck to pull him closer to me. I let one palm rest against his perfectly smooth, cold cheek and my body melded to his.

Emmett pushed me away gently, easily breaking my hold. His expression was pained as he looked into my face. "careful." He warned as I stared at him.

"What? What's wrong?" I asked, hoping I hadn't done something wrong. Maybe I felt too warm to him.

"I have to be very careful around you. I'm so much stronger than the others and I could easily hurt you if we got too… enthusiastic." He said and gently drifted his fingers across my cheek.

"Oh. " I said and looked down at my watch. "We should be going anyways. Let me just get my bag."

"Already in the truck along with my bag. Let's go." Emmett told me and lifted me in his arms to carry me down the stairs.

"Hey, put me down. I can walk, you know." I protested but kind of liked being in his arms.

"Too late." He smirked and set me down by the door of my truck he was holding it open for me. I got in and stuck my key in the ignition. He was sitting next to before I even had it started. "So I have a question. I want to know you a bit better" He as we went down my street.

"Am I allowed to ask questions too?" I asked as I drove. There were so many things I wanted to know about him. "If you want to know me, shouldn't I know you?"

I saw him beam at me from the corner of my eye for a second before saying, "Sure. I'll ask a question then you can ask one." I nodded in agreement and he started with his question. "What's your favorite color?"

"It varies."

He smirked. "What is it today?"

I thought a minute. "Brown, I think."

"Why?"

"Brown is warm. I miss brown and everything that's supposed to be brown. Trees, rocks, dirt; it's all covered up by this green stuff here." I answered, glaring at the mossy webbing.

He contemplated me for a minute before reaching over and brushing a strand of my hair out of my face. "You're right. Brown is warm. I like brown too."

"Where did you go that week after we first met?" I asked him. Why did he leave?

Emmett exhaled like he was hoping I hadn't asked that question. "I went to Denali up in Alaska. There's another coven like our up there and I stayed with them. I left because my power was warning me of danger. "

"Why?" I asked wondering if he had seen me as a threat. It didn't seem likely; how could I, a weak human, threaten him, a strong vampire?

"You were something different. I'd never had much interaction with girls before, except Alice, Rosalie, Esme, and my mother. Edward couldn't read your mind so we had no idea of your reaction to me. It seemed like you liked me so I got scared and ran. How was it that a little human girl could make me so nervous and drive me from the place I really wanted to be?" Emmett looked over and smiled at me. We were at school now and it was time for class. We got out and he met me at the front of the truck.

"I thought about you the entire week." Emmett continued as we walked to the English building. "I felt like a coward for running away from you. It's dangerous to be so close to humans and when I realized that I wanted you, I couldn't stay here. But I couldn't make myself stay away for long. I came back because it made me unhappy to be away from here and away from you. Here with you and my family is the happiest place for me to be." He smiled that breath-taking dimpled smile of his at me before asking, "What's your favorite gemstone?"

Without thinking I replied, "Topaz." I blushed deeply as I realized why I said that.

"What? Why are you blushing?" he asked as he brushed his fingers over my burning cheek.

"Topaz. It's the color of your eyes today." I answered, looking into his eyes. "I guess if you ask me in two weeks I'd say onyx." He smiled at me brightly, which gave me the confidence to ask another question. "So where exactly did you go this weekend? Hunting animals?"

"yeah." He smiled at me casual reference to his family's eating habits. "Edward wanted to go find some mountain lions. They're his favorite."

"What's yours?" I asked, trying to keep the conversation going.

"Grizzly bear, especially around this time of year. They're fiercer because they're just coming out of their caves." He laughed at the memory of this weekend.

I raised my eyebrows incredulously. "Bears? Really?"

He shrugged. "I guess I never got over losing that first fight. I don't like to lose."

"oh." Was all I managed to say.

The warning bell rang and Emmett pulled me behind the building and out of view of the rest of the students. "I'll save you a seat at lunch, babe." He said and kissed my lips. I barely had time to realize what was happening before he stopped and pulled me back toward my class door. "See you later. Love you." He said and walked away toward his class.

I stumbled into class in a daze and took my seat next to Mike. Class hadn't started yet so he leaned over and said, "hey, Bella. Where were you yesterday? I tried to call you but Chief Swan said you were out."

"Yeah, sorry I didn't call back. I was out pretty late last night. So what's up?" I asked, distractedly.

"I was kind of hoping that maybe-if you aren't busy- we could go out tonight. I'll buy you dinner." Mike said hopefully, trying to mask his nervousness.

I floundered for a minute. What was with this boy? I'd turned him down to go to the dance and he asked Jessica. If he wanted to go on a date, he should ask his date. I didn't want to hurt his feelings though. He was still my friend even though his invitations were getting on my nerves.

"Mike, I think that's a bad idea. Jessica would be really hurt." I told him, hoping he would get going on her instead of me.

"Jessica?" he asked, clearly not thinking of her.

"Are you blind, Mike?" I asked, wondering if he was. "If you ever repeat this, I will cheerfully beat you to death but Jessica really likes you. I think you should ask her out instead."

"Oh, yeah." Mike stared down at his desk for a second before quickly returning his eyes to me. "Are you going out with Cullen?"

I was taken by surprise again. "That's… that's none of your business, Mike."

"Answer the question, Bella." Mike demanded almost rudely. "Are you going out with Cullen or not?"

I knew I wasn't going to get out of answering. "Yes, I am. I'm going out with Emmett."

"I don't like it. He looks at you like you're something to eat and he's so big." Mike said with a hint of concern but mostly jealousy.

A hysterical giggle slipped through my lips. "Well, it doesn't matter what you think. It's my life and he's really not that scary."

"fine." He said and folded his arms over his chest before turning to face the front.

****************

Emmett met me outside my class so we could walk to lunch together. I was relatively silent, still a little shaken from my argument with Mike. Emmett slung his arm around my shoulder and said, "Are you ok?"

"Yeah, but Mike's mad at me." I sighed and leaned into his arm.

"Did you want to continue with our questions?" he asked, trying to distract me.

"Sure. It's your turn to ask." I said as we walked into the cafeteria.

"What's your current favorite song? You seem to like a few." He asked as we got into the line.

"I love Wild at Heart by Gloriana." I answered and noticed that he was filling a tray up very full with food. "What are you doing? You're not getting all that for me."

"Half is for me silly." He said and mussed my hair before going to pay for the food. Then he started walking toward his family's table.

"What's your favorite song?" I asked him as we walked across the cafeteria.

"I have a lot of favorites but I do like that song too." He said as we got close to his family.

"Hi, Bella!" Alice shouted as we got closer. She was jumping up and down with a huge grin on her face. Jasper was beside her with a restraining hand on her shoulder.

"Hey, Alice." I said as we sat down. "Hi, guys." I greeted the others.

Emmett pushed the tray he had toward me and said, "Take anything you want, Bella."

I picked up an apple and bit into it. "I'm curious." I said slowly. "If someone dared you guys to eat human food, could you?"

They all started laughing. Emmett grabbed a slice of pizza off the tray and lifted it to his mouth. The others followed his lead and took bites of the food in front of them. They chewed and swallowed simultaneously. I watched this in shock, having never seen them eat food ever. "If someone dared you to eat dirt, you could, couldn't you?" Emmett asked with a playful grin and handed me the slice, which I took a bit of. They were looking at me like I had just done something extraordinary

"It's not we're so different from you that we can't do that. It isn't appealing though. Your food is slimy and repulsive to us." Edward said as he crumbled up the cookie he had been eating into a fine powder and sprinkled it back onto the tray. I grimaced at the thought of how uncomfortable they must be.

"Anyway, what should we do today after school? Alice, do you want to go shopping?" Rosalie asked politely to change the subject.

"No. I've seen what we're doing already. Bella is coming back to our house to read her poetry to us." Alice announced firmly.

My stomach dropped down to my feet. "I don't know, Alice. I hardly ever read my poetry."

"Oh, come on. I know you have a poem for Emmett." Alice complained.

"Yes but I was going to read it to him in private." I protested but I could see that she was going to get her way eventually.

"You wrote a poem for me? I can't wait to hear it." Emmett said next to me and kissed my cheek. I blushed as I thought about what I had written.

"Esme would love to hear it too." Rosalie chimed in.

"Will you read it to us?" Edward said imploringly.

I looked at all of them, their eyes begging me to give in. I got lost in Emmett's eyes for a minute when I looked at him. "Ok, I'll do it." I said, giving up the fight.

"Yay!" Alice squealed. "Poetry fest right after school." She said triumphantly.

A/N: Big News! I was lucky enough to stumble across a brand new twilight song by Rob Pattinson. i was so excited that i couldnt resist adding it to my collection 'Twilight Poetry'. go hit that story and check it out. the lyrics are amazing!

emeralda violeta