Monday came quickly, Emmett spending most of the weekend running. Not hunting, just thinking. What was Shai? He came to the conclusion she couldn't be human. Alice barely saw her in visions, and he was sure most of what she saw was wishful thinking. There were various supernatural creatures that roamed the earth, vampires and dirty dogs couldn't be the only ones.

"Or, you know, she could just be a regular nice girl." Edward said, getting into his car.

"That's the fifth time this weekend you've found your way into my thoughts." Emmett growled under his breath.

"Well, maybe if you stopped thinking about-" Emmett started his car in and drove away quickly, the engine roaring loudly. There were more than enough cars for his siblings to find a ride to school.

He sulked outside his car, pretending to read a book while the paged curled under the constant Forks drizzle. He pretended not to notice his family parking around him.

"Sorry if I bothered you." Edward said apologetically.

"All fine brother." Emmett smiled wickedly, but he knew it didn't reach his eyes. Across the lot, a familiar black mini van pulled into the parking lot. Shai hopped out lightly, wearing an old dress with a jumper on top. She looked cold, but perhaps her aesthetic was more important to her.

She was pretty. He'd give her that much, before looking back down at his book.

"Emmett, why won't you give her a chance? I thought you said you said you didn't have feeling for Rosalie anymore?" Alice asked. He exhaled unnecessarily.

He tracked her across the lot, saying hi to people but never stopping for a conversation. She looked up, meeting his eyes with a large grin.

Then brilliant thought hit him.

"Okay, fine." I'll give her a shot." He smiled back at her. By spending more time with her, he could potentially figure her out. Find her ticks, something weird that would give away what she was.

"Really?!"

"He's being weird about it. He's convinced she's not human and wants to go out with her to study her." Edward said beside him. Emmett growled.

"It's better than sitting around moping." Alice shrugged, happy with any outcome that got him with Shai.

"Hey, this is as much your plan as mine. How should I go about this?" Emmett asked.

"Are you nervous?" Jasper taunted.

"Okay, let's all ignore the fact we've been with our partners for decades. Or rather…" He stared at the ground, rage filling him.

"If you ask her out, she'll think you want to do homework. Just clarify, she already think you're cute." Alice patted his shoulder, and left his room.

He decided to keep the rest of his questions to himself. As to where to take her, he could decide that on his own.

"Bella, where do human girls like to go on dates?" Edward asked.

"What I could like is not what Shai would like." Bella said.

Before the conversation could continue, Emmett walked his way, incredibly early for his first class. To be alone with his thoughts, Shai fully immersed in them.

During History class, the teacher handed out the guidelines for the rubric for the first major part of the assignment him and Shai had to write together.

"I swear, this class is really cutting into my time." Shai said, sighing. She tucked her long hair behind her ears, this time revealing large clear crystals.

"Well, when are you free?" Emmett asked. If he was human, he might have felt nervous. But this couldn't be nervousness. He was a strong man, a strong vampire.

He knew how to do his research.

"I have to check my work schedule, but I can text you a time we can meet up to work." She smiled as the bell rang, picking up her belongings.

"Wait." Emmett said lowly. She turned, an innocent curiosity on her face. "Uh, I also was wondering, in general, when you're free."

Shai furrowed her brows. "I like to keep some free time for myself and not to do homework! But I can text you a schedule."

"Well, I mean-"

Emmett for christ sake get it together!

"Do you have any time reserved to not study? With me?" Her face when from curiosity to something…else.

"Maybe." She said.

"I'm sorry, you probably don't-" Shai cut him off.

"I'm not turning you down." A small smile appeared on her face. "If you're asking me out on a date, yes. Is that what's happening?"

Emmett nodded. "Been a while." He rubbed the back of his neck. Her smile grew wider.

"So then I'll text you all the times I'm free, and we can schedule both. That work?" Emmett nodded, Shai walking away with a spring in her step.

"Smooth." Edward said standing right outside his class.

"Cool it." Emmett snapped back. If he had any blood rushing through his body, it would be right as his face right now.

Shai texted him that night, and only had one free night in the week.

'Are you free tonight?' He texted her.

….

You're bold

He sighed, almost throwing his phone across the room before it vibrated again.

But yes, I am. Wanna hang?

Jackpot. He ran around his room at lightening speed, getting changed from his school outfit for date.

Date.

The word made him halt, a sinking feeling fell into his chest.

No. Just for investigation. I'm never dating again.

Emmett picked up the phone.

'Yes, want to go to the new display at Forks art?'

….

Sounds good!

'Great, I'll pick you up in about an hour."

I'll just meet you there.

Strange, but he accepted it. He paced around his room, thinking of ways he could try and figure her out. If he was a human man, he wasn't sure if he'd be nervous or excited.

"Relax, Emmett." Edward said, quickly appearing outside of his room.

"Do you enjoy hearing my thoughts?" Emmett remarked.

"No, but I also didn't hear anything. You're pacing around your room like a 15 year old boy who has never been on a date before." Edward smiled lightly.

"It's not a date."

"Why not? Emmett, you can't live in this eternity in pain. Sure, if you think she's some wild creature I'm not going to stop you from snooping. But maybe this wild creature is what you need right now." Edward sat next to his brother.

"I'm not in pain. Not anymore." It was half a lie. Emmett was more angry than anything. He wanted to be angry. Angry at Rosalie forever.

"It's an interesting and wonderful experience, take it from someone who is going through it right now. Bella is everything to me. Just give it a chance. And relax, she likes you. I already know." Edward patted Emmett on the back, and walked out of his room.

Emmett grabbed his keys, gave himself a once over making sure he was dressed appropriately and headed out.

"Have fun!" Esme said, gleaming. Emmett tried his hardest not to roll his eyes at her exuberance. He knew it was making her happy.

It took him about twenty minutes to drive to the gallery, without him speeding. Emmett decided to stay in the car, hard rock playing lowly in the background as thick droplets fell on his car. He anxiously looked around, and after another twenty minutes Shai's old black van rolled into the spot next to him.

The rain felt warm on his ice cold skin, but he could tell Shai was freezing when she got out of the car. Shivering and all, she still looked beautiful. Her hair was half up, wearing a long flow skirt and a tight red top that complimented her skin tone magnificently.

"Hi." Emmett said, her bare skin glowing. She smiled at him.

"Hi." Her smile grew wider. "Shall we go inside? It's freezing out here." Her hand slipped in between his, before he pulled away briefly pretending to scratch an itch.

He didn't like that he enjoyed that small moment. It made him feel guilty.

The gallery was small, only showing two small collections.

"I want to know more about you." He asked. His voice was low, hopefully to be interpreted as flirting.

"Goes both ways." She said, giggling. "What do you want to know?"

"What brings you to Forks?" He asked. She sighed.

"I needed a change, and my grandmother used to live here. She passed shortly after I moved, but I didn't want to leave." Although she was looking at the art, he could tell her expression dropped.

"I'm sorry."

"Everyone dies, it's just hard to deal with." His sick self smiled internally. Not everyone did die. "So, do you have any plans after the year?"

Emmett shook his head. "We'll play it by ear. You? Moving back to L.A.?"

"Never." Her words were sharp.

"What do your parents do?" Emmett asked. Shai sighed, turning the corner to the second collection.

"I'd rather not talk about family." She said, her hand briefly grazing his. He wanted to grab it, have her warm fingers intertwined with his again, but he refrained.

"I hope I didn't offend you. Like I said, just want to get to know more about you."

"You didn't." A smile returned to her face.

They spent the rest of the time looking at the art, Emmett's old funny self he thought he lost when Rosalie left appearing every few moments. Her smile was bright, she didn't hide behind her hands as many humans do when they feel insecure about their teeth. She was open, Emmett finding it better to be at ease with her.

Outside, Shai proceeded to kick off her shoes and hold them in her hand.

"What are you doing?" Emmett asked.

"I like being barefoot." Shai giggled."It's probably not first date appropriate, but this is me." She shrugged.

He made a mental note. Perhaps some sort of shape shifting animal?

"Any reason?" He said.

"I like feeling connected to the Earth." Her voice was low, the sun setting under a sea of clouds illuminating her golden hair. They walked over to their cars, her hand still incredibly close to his.

"How far away to do you live, anyways? Why commute to Forks? I totally could have picked you up, the old gentleman way." Emmett asked.

She sighed. "I live in my car, okay? Just, don't tell anyone." She opened the back, revealing a small mattress squished in between a small set of drawers with christmas lights hanging from the roof.

"Why?" He asked, genuinely curious.

"That's a story for another time. Thanks for tonight, by the way. I had a lot of fun." She stood on her tiptoes, Emmett still as a rock. Her lips where warm, gently pressing upon his cheek.

"You don't have to thank me. I'll see you tomorrow." Emmett quickly walked back to his car, blasting music and driving away. He didn't look back to see her, because he didn't want too. The feeling on her lips still lingered on his cheek.

Driving fast home, a small smile appeared on his lips. He didn't try to hide it in his private moment.