Four.

Three days after the party, Emmett had packed his belongings and was waiting at the end of our driveway ready to go.

It had been decided that it would be too overwhelming for me to come drop him off at his dorm, so I was staying with Alice for the night.

When I dragged my feet down the driveway to say goodbye, kicking dirt off the pavement as I went, I couldn't look up at him. When I was standing directly in front of him, he yanked me into a bear hug, lifting my feet off the ground.

Tears immediately sprang from my eyes as I squeezed them shut.

"I'm gonna miss you so damn much. Don't do anything dumb while I'm away, yeah?"

"Okay," I choked out.

Emmett dropped me back on the ground, tears shimmering in his own brown eyes. "I mean it, Bell. I'm coming back, and I'll know if you've been up to anything stupid while I'm away."

I cracked a smile and he nudged my cheek with his fist.

I knew what he was doing. He was reassuring me that he wasn't going to disappear. Right after my mom died, I was terrified whenever Emmett was out of my sight. I'd panic and scream his name through the house, only for him to emerge from the bathroom bewildered at my overreaction.

I got especially clingy to him and my dad, and eventually had to go to therapy to learn how to cope with my fears of abandonment. It helped, a lot, and I slowly lost the clinginess. But, deep down the anxiety that someone important to me was going to leave never really went away.

With a light kiss on my forehead followed by one last noogie, Emmett turned and got into the car.

My dad stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me, kissing the top of my head.

"I'll be back around midday tomorrow. I'll come get you from Alice's place. Love you, kid."

"Love you, too," I mumbled into his soft flannel shirt.

I waved as they pulled out of the driveway, keeping the tears at bay until they rounded the corner then I let the floodgates open.

I trudged my way back inside and sat on the couch, pressing my face into the upholstery as I sobbed.

He was coming back, I told myself. But my heart just hurt so bad.

—

An hour and a gooey bundle of Kleenex later, Alice let herself into my front door and silently wrapped herself around me on the couch.

"You wanna go get ice cream?"

I snorted out a laugh and looked up at her, smiling back down at me.

"Yeah, okay. We've gotta wait for Edward, though. He should be here soon to say bye."

Alice nodded and grabbed the TV remote, flicking mindlessly through channels.

A short time later there was a knock on the door.

I walked over and prepared myself for another tough goodbye. This wouldn't be as hard as Emmett, but Edward had become such a pillar of comfort for me. He was always there, carefree and silly and looking out for me.

"Hey," I mumbled, seeing Esme standing behind Edward with a sympathetic smile on her face.

Edward looked at my red-rimmed eyes and puffy face and let out a light chuckle.

"All this crying over me? I didn't know you'd miss me so much, Bella."

"Shut up," I chuckled, taking aim at his ribs which he deftly twisted away from. "I am going miss you, though. I guess," I shrugged.

His eyes twinkled and he cracked a teasing smile. "Yeah okay, Miss Blasé. I'll miss you too."

He paused for a moment looking at me. "You gonna be okay?"

"Yeah, Alice is here. We're gonna get ice cream."

He laughed. "You know that's not what I meant."

And I did know. Edward had been around when my mom died, and he saw firsthand what it did to me growing up and the way I clung onto Emmett like a life raft. Edward's parents kind of took our family in after that, and Esme became a surrogate mom of sorts when my dad's lack of feminine intuition became apparent. Like when I got my period or had to shop for bathing suits.

I took a deep breath and nodded, ducking my head. "Yeah, I know. I'll be okay."

After another pause, Edward stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me. I breathed in his familiar scent of soap and laundry detergent, squeezing him tightly before he stepped back.

"Be good, kiddo," he said, giving my shoulder one last squeeze.

I nodded silently and Esme stepped forward to hug me.

"You'll be okay, sweet girl. I'll see you when we get back."

Again, I nodded and watched them make their way to the car where Carlisle was sitting idling. He waved through the windshield, and slowly backed out of the driveway.

I walked slowly into the living room where Alice was perched watching me carefully.

"Okay," I sighed. "Let's go get ice cream."