September 13th 1930…

Since our argument, I thought Caleb Understood that the reconciliation was for friendship. Nope. He came around frequently like before trying to get my attention causing emmett to fight for it as well. He gave me random gifts like books and desserts from his mom. No real complaints about that. He was fighting for me.

I assumed Emmett wanted me just as a friend but even after Caleb came back, he grew closer to me. Something about him made me want to put more effort into my looks. I even asked my friends; Jinny and Grace to help- seeing that they had boyfriends of their own. I took their advice in wearing red lipstick. I hid it from dad of course. I don't need him to push away my new found interest. I initially hated that I fell for the pretty boy that was way too good looking for me. I was pretty plain-quiet. Girls like me never get the guy.

I started to wear my hair in half up, half down styles that looked beyond adorable Grace's blonde locks. It takes more effort since my hair is thick and more curly than hers. I also had hairs that were shorter in the front so a few strands always framed my face. Emmett seemed to notice it but I didn't get an obvious change in regards to his feeling being more than friendly. I wore my hair that way almost all the way through August.

I started to use perfumes-dad noticed. He even asked if there was a boy at school that I was trying to "catch". Of course I blanched at the assumption knowing full and well that I was lying under the sun and everything that witnessed it in the walls. Unlucky for me that boy seemed more disinterested in how I smelled.

He even said so I'm an odd way:

August 18th, 1930

"Emmett is going to be a little late today-had to help his mother with her shop." Dad announces as I move around the kitchen. I make his instant coffee and I grab my own glass of orange juice. I offer it to him at the table and sit across from him.

"That's fine. I can do the chores myself until he comes." I swallow my disappointment and chase it with a sip of my juice. I was less disappointed about doing my own chores and more saddened that Emmett would come late. I internally slap myself at my selfish feelings. Emmett. Isn't mine to have-he has a life and a family of his own he has to spend time with. I wore my hair in a half up, half down style. Strands flew around my face as they were too short to stay tied up. I applied red lipstick and this expensive smelling perfume I got from a womens shop in town.

"I know. I'm sure he's been a big help. Some of the farm hands have been saying he's been super efficient. I've even decided to increase his pay." Dad reads the newspaper as he talks. He takes a large gulp of coffee not caring that it's scorching hot from the recently boiled water-no cream or sugar. Ugh.

"He deserves it. He's helped me so much." I say graciously. He's done more than help me with chores. He helped me see a side of myself I never had. A more fun, social and confident side. I've started talking to my friends more again, we be been shopping a few times. I only agreed to go so I could buy women's button up tops and a coat with Emmett's favorite colors.

"Good. He's a good boy. I think you think so too." He looks at me with knowing eyes.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I blush so hard that blood could start to pour from my pores.

"I used to be a teenager, Bella." He huffs and sets down the newspaper. "You're both young and are changing the older you get. You guys are going to notice the opposite sex and want to be together as more than friends. It happens. Normally, I would shoot the toes off a boy for taking my baby girl's affection but Emmett is a good boy. I know he'll do right by you." Dad nods. He really did like Emmett. Maybe Emmett talked to him about being attracted to me? Why else would dad just be immediately approving?

"That doesn't mean I trust him without 24/7 surveillance if you decide to act on your feelings." He sighs with a pained look in his eye. "I wish your mom was around to help you with a woman's point of view when it comes to feelings. Women feel differently than men, stronger feelings come from their hearts. Emmett is a good boy but that doesn't mean he's perfect-make good decisions and never hesitate to keep feeling regardless of any situation." He pauses. "Good decisions include not having sex." He gives me a pointed look.

I nearly choke on the last of my juice.

"I have no clue what you're talking about." I'm nearly about to pass out.

"Like I said, I used to be a teenager. Just be careful," stands, getting ready to leave. He walks to the otherside of the table and kisses the top of my head goodbye. He's out of the dining room, in the kitchen disposing of his dish and then he's out of the house.

I let go of the breath I was holding and stood shakily. Dads are smarter than I thought. Sex hadn't even crossed my mind. A kiss? Definitely. But the idea of attempting to be physically intimate with Emmett…well…

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I started my chores an hour ago. The hay bales were a little harder for me since Emmett did them but he wasn't here and I wanted to try. I ended up tripping and smacking my forehead against the barn door. Don't ask me how. Surely I have a big bruise on it by now.

I sat on the fence and watched the cows graze. A voice came from behind me.

"Hey Bell!" Emmett's large arms wrapped around my body, my own arms trapped under his large ones. He lifts me and spins. I couldn't help but giggle at the tickle the butterflies create in my gut.

"Emmet! Put me down." I laugh louder. Did I want him to put me down? No, but I wanted to look into those pretty blue eyes of his.

"Fine." He laughs and sets me down gently. He removed his arms from around me but seemed to intentionally touch my wrists with his palms as they went back to his sides. I turn to him with a smile. His grows smaller and concern crosses his face. He's looking slightly above my eyes.

"What?" I asked nervously. Forgetting the obvious.

"You have a big bruise on your head." His voice is concerned but I can tell he's holding back his urge to laugh. "Also…are you wearing perfume and lipstick?" His eyes travel down to my parted lips.

"Oh, I ran into the barn door moving the bales." I shrug off my embarrassment even though I'm sure it's clear on my red face, " yes, I am wearing perfume and lipstick. I went shopping with my friends.We're around farm animals all day. You never smell bad after or even during working." I sigh. "I guess I wanted you to have a pleasant smell around you." I fumble over my words. I feel like an idiot with the way I'm explaining a lie.

"Is it too much?" I asked while I kept walking and grabbed my egg basket that sat next to the chickens ramp. I'm too afraid to hear his response.

"You never smell bad. You've always smelled nice to me too. Especially your hair." He reaches and touches a lock of wavy hair that hangs past my shoulder. I choke on my gasp and fight the shudder than go down my spine. I've had too many physical reactions to him today no thanks to the mention of sex, my teenage mind opened a new gate. Not that I'd be too eager to do that anytime soon."It's not too much. It's nice, I guess. I've just never smelled it before. Are you going somewhere after the farm chores are done?" His questions weren't pressing. He seemed simply curious.

"R-really?" I turn fully to him. He's closer than I thought he was. His chest inches away from my face. I look up through my lashes at him. His pupils dilate again. I lost the ability to say no to his question.

"A hundred percent." He sounds winded. Also, I'm sorry you moved the bales. You could've left them for me. I know they're heavy." He looked guilty and scratched the back of his neck.

"Emmett, I have moved them before. You have a life outside of farm work. Your moms shop comes first." I touch his forearm in a reassuring way. A spark ran up my arm and I shivered in response. Emmett didn't shiver but his pupils dilated slightly.

"Seeing little ole you moving hay bales would've been a treat." He breaths. We laugh-I don't miss the husky tone to his voice. It was deeper somehow. My hand still sat on his forearm. To put a stop to the building heat between us, I let him go.

"I'm stronger than you think." I joke nervously. I turned away to avoid the flash of disappointment that appeared on his face as soon as the physical contact ended.

Current

"Happy birthday!" two feminine, high pitched voices screamed. I turned quickly to my door and I saw two heads, one blonde and one red coming towards me at full speed. I brace and clench my eyes waiting for impact. Jinny and Grace both knocked the air out of me and I fell backwards with them on top of me, we all giggled.

"Hey guys, thanks." I say. We reconnected about a month ago. They were so far into the 'im obsessed with my boyfriend' phase. You know, the one where your girlfriends ignore everything but the guy they are in a relationship with. I didn't take it personally. Not that I understood but who am I to be a blockade in their love lives? I'm just glad they still talk to me.

"You're 16!" Grace says excitedly. She has big golden curls on her head, large blue eyes and really nice full lips. SHe had the skin of a flawless barbie doll. She wore an expensive looking dress that puffed out toward the kees. She wore crisp white stockings and black short heeled shoes. Jinny was less girly with her red hair and freckled face. She also has blue eyes and smaller lips. She dressed more like me, overalls and trousers mostly. They both wore hats and scarves.

"How does it feel to be closer to woman hood?" Jinny asks excitedly. I forgot to mention they're a year older than me so they have an upper hand on what woman hood is like. From their boyfriend stories, they've gone past the kissing stage.

"Well i woke up less than ten minutes ago so i'm going to say it hasn't been long enough for me to tell." I joke sarcastically. I move to get from underneath them. I glance at my window seeing almost bare trees and golden orange leaves indicating fall. I wasn't too fond of the approaching cold but once I'm bundled up, I feel fine.

"Well, since we know what it's like, we are going to prepare you for all things sophomore year and boys. You need a woman figure in your life when it comes to these things." Grace spoke quickly. I know she meant no harm with her words but a reminder of the lack of a mother stung me in the chest.

"Grace." Jinny hissed. "What she means, Bella, is that we are happy to answer any questions about 16 year old life. Though, you're more mature than most teens I know so I feel like you'll be fine." Jinny attempted to sooth the forest fire that started.

"Sure, sure. Well, I have no questions but I am going to excuse myself and freshen up before we leave." I grab my day clothes and leave to get ready for breakfast.

Minutes later, I'm back with the girls dressed in thick nude stockings and brown trousers with an olive green long sleeved button up that hugged me. I braided my hair into two pigtails and tired them with olive green bows. I slid on my low heeled boots and applied my thick long winter coat. We made our way to the bottom of the stairs where dad waited with a small smile. He stood and scratched the back of his head.

"Happy birthday Bells."He hands me a dark green velvet purse that snapped closed with a pearl with gold details along the seams. It looked expensive. More expensive than the journal he got me-one that has been well used. The pouch had money inside.

"Dad, you didn't have to get this for me. I'm sure this purse was expensive. And the money-" i started. Tears welled in my eyes. The things he gets me cost so much. There are

things that I like but I wouldn't want the financial sacrifice at my expense. We could offord many things but materials can only go so far.

"I didn't buy the purse. Well- I did but your mother found it a long time ago and pitched in the money inside. She wanted you to have it once you turn 16. This is the age you open up more to being in the world. Should have a purse and money to learn responsibility as an adult." He really knew how to make anything into a life lesson. I knew he also meant it in a heartwarming way, though.

"Thank you." I smile and he hugs me.

"Are you ready?" he asks. My friends and I nod in excitement and we all get into dads car starting the drive toward town.

We made it to a place called Rumelmyers-they sold ice cream but was also a cafe selling coffee, deserts and hot chocolate.

"Wow, cute place Bella!" Jinny exclaims. She loves hot chocolate. Grace on the other hand usually preferred to stay away from fattening foods. Since it's getting cooler, hot chocolate makes sense.

I also chose this place because mom brought me here when I was a kid. We would always get our own chocolate cake slice. I loved the unhealthy fake cherries they had. Sure they were probably just wax and chemicals but they were so good. Don't get me started on their hot chocolate.

Dad dropped us off-promising to pick us up in an hour. This gave us girls time for our talks - or so he assumed we had before my friends came over. He wanted me to spend more time with them since I'd just be working the farm and going to school. Little did he know, they invested more time in their boyfriends.

We sat in a booth next to a large window. It was gray outside but that made my day better. For some reason a comfy place to eat and drink your favorite warm drink makes the gray days worth having. Everyone got their orders but me. It was hard to decide. Chocolate cake with hot chocolate? Too much chocolate? Maybe I should get a milkshake?

"Bella." Grace eyed me. She had a slice of coconut cream pie and black tea in front of her. She's already taken three small bites. If she really thought she needed to lose weight, she's delusional.

"I know, I know," I sigh and stand.

I just couldn't make up my mind. I bit my lip and eyes at the menu as I stopped behind an older man. The line moved a little slower since Jinny and Graces orders were placed. It started to annoy me.

"Bella?" A voice sounds behind me. Emmett's voice.

My heart thuds in my chest. My best friends and the boy who inevitably stole my heart three months ago are in the same place. I take a deep breath before turning.

"Emmett," my voice is small and shy. "Hi." I blush and look at him through my lashes. His pupils dilate.

"Are you here alone?" He asks. I get a good look at him. He's wearing simple leather shoes, black trousers a white button up and a gray long coat. He looked amazing. His face was happy but concerned.

"Oh, uh-no I'm here with a couple of friends." I say almost choking on my feelings.

"Good. Ladies shouldn't be alone by themselves regardless of the time of day. Especially you." He catches his words. "Not that you can't handle yourself. I didn't mean to sound controlling." He scratched the back of his neck. He wasn't at all sound controlling. He sounded like he wanted me to be safe.

"No, I agree. I promise I'm being safe. Dad is going to pick me and the girls up in about an hour so we don't leave alone." I say. The line moved and we moved with it. This time he's beside me and it looks like we're buying our things together. The daydream episode of him and myself buying food together on a real date went through my mind.

"Good. Happy birthday by the way." He smiles-flashing his dimples.

"I didn't think you'd remember." Shock floods me. Happiness replaces it when I remember I told him my birthday a few weeks ago.

"Of course I remember. It's a special day." He says cheerfully.

"Did you know I was going to be here? Did…did my dad tell you?" My voice gets low.

"No, I promise this is a coincidence. I'm helping moms with the shop. She sent me here to get a couple of slices of cake." Emmett placed his hand on his chest right above where he heart is as a promise that he wasn't stalking me.

I laugh. Of course he's here for something else. Not me. Knowing that both disappointed me but also made me happy so my friends couldn't force him to sit with us.

"That's kind of you." I say. Before I know it, we're at the counter. The young girl behind it watched us with hazel eyes. She cared less about me and practically drooled I've Emmett. I'd be lying if I said it didn't upset me.

"What can I get you?" She mostly asks him. Her full lips parted. Ew.

"Ladies first. Bella." Emmett watches me. As a matter of fact he'd been watching me since we reached our destination. He was completely oblivious to the girl drooling into the register.

"Oh, um. Just a slice of chocolate cake and hot chocolate." I say quietly. The girl watches me with dead eyes. I blush and look down.

"Is that all?" She asks disinterestedly.

"Two slices of pound cake." Emmett says still watching me. This time he has worry in his voice. Maybe a hint of frustration. Before I could register, his hand rested under my chin and he gently pushed my head up to look forward.

I gasp and make eye contact with him. He smiles and winks.

"Two dollars. Please." The girl corrects her tone after watching our interaction. She must've seen the reaction Emmett had to her unnecessary behavior.

I teach for my purse but Emmett is already paying for everything. I'm in shock as I watch him grab his bagged items. He grabs my plate and hot beverage.

"Oh, Emmett you don't have to-," i say ready for each out and take everything.

"Where are you sitting?" He asked. He wasn't taking any objections.

"You don't have to-," I start again. I felt horrible with him already paying.

"Bell." He gives me a warning glare. I give in and shamefully lead him to my friends. They are nothing they've ashamed of but they only know he's been working on the farm over the summer. I didn't tell them how devilishly handsome he is.

"Oh Bella," Grace says in a sing-song voice. I blush as Emmett and I approach the table. He places my items at the empty spot and pulls my chair out. I comply.

"Who is this?" Jimmy asks looking pointedly at me with a reassign glint in her eye, then at Emmett who simply smiled his gorgeous as usual smile.

"Emmett. Nice to meet you." He nods his head at the girls.

"Are you Bella's…" Grace glances at me in a similar way Jinny did-a hint of a smirk on her face. "Boyfriend?" She smiles hauntingly and I feel bile rise in my mouth.

"I'm a boy-that is a friend. Yes." Emmett worded carefully. Though it was true, I couldn't help but almost wince at the pain in my chest at his denial of being something more. Even if it were a lie. It just confirmed that we were nothing more than friends and he may not actually feel as strongly for me as I do for him.

"He's here to pick up deserts. I think he's just leaving." I say almost sharply. I instantly regretted my words. I was being harsh for no reason. He paid for my things and even walked me to the table.

"Right." He says. He's watching me carefully. An odd emotion sat in his eyes, one I couldn't explain. "Have a good night, Bella. Happy birthday. Good bye ladies." He turns to leave and I want nothing more than to chase him. To say sorry. I just watched him leave.

The rest of the time we sat in the small sweets diner, the girls wondered what my reaction was and why I became distant. I'd hardly touched my cake and beverage.