Rain was coming down hard when Nell woke up.
She was in a bed that wasn't hers, tucked tight under the blankets, with a feather pillow so comfortable it was intoxicating—that distinct smell of soap. She had to fight like hell not to open her eyes right away. But when the second thunderclap crashed, she couldn't help it.
—Morning. — he whispered.
—What's so good about it?—she groaned, yelping from the scare.
She noticed the strength in his voice when he laughed.
—You sound just like you do in your dreams. —he declared.
Her eyes went wide as saucers.
—I talk in my sleep?
—More like you complain—He said, grinning sideways—. It's like listening to a horse whinny
—Oh, shut up.—Nell made a face and got out of bed immediately.
He looked her up and down.
—What?
—You drive me crazy— she explained, crossing her arms.
Emmett thought about it for a second and seemed pleased when he asked:
—Seriously?
—Want me to hook myself up to a lie detector?—she asked, all sarcasm.
A triumphant smile lit up his face and he leaned in slow, right up to her ear.
—Don't think I need one.—He tapped his chest twice.
A little shiver ran through her.
—Good thing you're a cardiologist. —She knocked his hand away—So, you taking me home now?
He shook his head: —You gotta eat breakfast.
—But I'm not hungry yet.
—Then how about some coffee?
Nell thought about it a little. She liked coffee.
—Fine. — finally said.
Then Emmett took her hand and led her downstairs. Like always, Nell couldn't help shivering at his ice-cold touch. When they got to the kitchen, he let go to mess with the coffee machine, and she hopped onto the island stool.
From where she sat, she could admire his broad back, every muscle carved to perfection. She shook her head, amazed...
—You got dazzled again?
Emmett didn't turn around when he said it, but Nell could see the mischief clear as day in those dimples.
—In your dreams.—She hopped down and walked over to him, trying to keep her heartbeat in check.—You're doing it wrong. You don't take the lid off, you just press down. The machine does the rest.—She looked up, hunting for his eyes.
But she realized he was already staring at her, hard. And that only amped up her nerves. She focused on other stuff: like the coffee smell coming from the machine, or the rain hammering against the windows. Still, their eyes stayed locked.
In that silence that had formed, Emmett was the only one who broke it.
—I want to show you something. — he said.
—Now?
He shook his head.
—No. At midnight.
Nell raised an eyebrow.
She only debated a second before realizing that either she took the invitation, or she went home and locked herself in her room with leftover takeout, replaying the traumatic events of the day. Before she could settle on an answer either way, Emmett pushed:
—You'll like it. Promise.
●●●
Naturally, once she was home, she replayed everything that had gone down. She was instantly wiped. Finding out Shelly had been snatched by the town pastor, the weird sensations she got from touching him and the nausea that followed; the Cullens taking care of her, and especially whatever happened with Emmett.
Suddenly, more than exhausted, she felt alone.
She hadn't expected to feel this drawn to someone like him. But there she was, heart still pounding even from miles away. How was it possible she'd almost kissed him? Or better yet, what would've happened if she had?
Instead of driving herself crazy, she grabbed her phone and got comfortable in bed. She needed to get her head straight; distract herself. She opened her messages, but the inbox was empty. And she only had two numbers saved besides her brothers': Seattle Psychiatric Hospital... and Emmett's.
Damn it.
Then the front door opened.
—Nell?—her brother called. Who else could it be? She jumped out of bed and flew down the stairs. She watched him struggle to peel off his soaked coat-useless effort since his shirt had gotten caught in one of the sleeves.
—Let me help. —she said, moving toward him. She stuck her hand inside the sleeve and yanked the coat hard.
Steve smiled, relieved.
—Thanks.—He hung it on the coat rack by the door—Damn rain. Only thing it does is ruin a good outfit.
Any other time, she would've made fun of him. But suddenly, she'd caught something that seemed totally off. Something that made her frown.
—You hurt yourself?
Steve followed her gaze to the burgundy stain on the gray jacket. Then he looked back at her.
—Oh, no. Must be Charlie's. He cut himself with the bottle opener at the restaurant
—Is he okay?
—Just a small cut on his hand. Nothing to worry about.
Eleanor had plenty of reasons to trust her brother. One was that he couldn't lie to save his life; whatever he thought, he said out loud, and that was something they both had in common. The other was that whenever she touched him, she never saw anything abnormal—just a man haunted by his past who hid in his books to escape it. A way to stay sane and busy.
So she couldn't understand why, looking into his eyes, she felt like he was hiding something.
When Nell didn't answer, he suddenly asked:
—How was the sleepover?
—Fine—was all she managed. She was dying to escape to her room, but her stomach sent her running to the kitchen to reheat the lasagna.
—You in a rush?
Steve surprised her in the kitchen and she jumped, eyes wide. Still, she managed to play it cool after a breath.
—Yeah, I'm beat. Going to bed early.
—You seem nervous— he commented, suspicious.
"Ugh! Why? Why did he have to pick tonight of all nights to actually pay attention to me? " she thought.
—Really?—She grabbed some silverware from the sink and put it on the plate..
Seeing her, he realized she planned to eat in her room.
—If you want to go out, you can. Just don't come home late...
—No, Steve. I want to eat and sleep. That's it—she cut in, already tired—See you tomorrow.
—Alright. Good night—No doubt he'd be listening sharp.
She made an effort to sound slow and tired as she climbed the stairs to her bedroom. She shut the door hard enough for him to hear, then rushed to the window on tiptoes. She yanked it open and peeked out, noticing the rain had lightened up.
When she turned around, she let out a yelp that almost made her spill lasagna all over the carpet.
Grinning ear to ear, Emmett was sprawled out at the other end of the room.
—Ugh!—whispered, feeling like her knees were about to give—You trying to kill me with that scare?
Emmett pursed his lips trying to hide his delight.
—Sorry.
—I thought you were coming at midnight. —she said, confused.
—I know, but I couldn't wait any longer.
The intensity of his gaze was so strong she had to fight like hell not to look away. Was she still some hopeless sucker? Or had his charm gotten even stronger since last night?
Nell looked like she was about to explode. And he'd definitely noticed.
—How's the heart?—he asked, making a teasing face.
—You tell me. Pretty sure you hear it better than I do.
He let out a small laugh before backing off a little.
—Eat— he ordered—Before it gets cold.
Emmett stretched out on the bed, hands behind his neck, feet dangling off the other end. He was the picture of carefree Adonis.
"Right. Like that's even possible with that view right in front of me."
Uncomfortable, she sat at the desk and put the pasta plate down. Keeping her eyes glued to the lasagna, but fully aware he wouldn't stop watching her.
—You just came here to watch me eat? Because I'm pretty sure there are better ways to spend your time.—She glanced up at him.
His lips curved in a smile, and the statue came to life.
—No, I also came to listen to your heartbeat, which actually sounds like a seventies record
—Great—she replied, dripping sarcasm—Now I know exactly what to tell my doctor at my next checkup
He laughed again with that low, guttural sound of his. Nell had heard him laugh more tonight than in all the time she'd spent with him.
—Can we go now?—he asked, pushing away her half-finished plate
—You seem more enthusiastic than usual— he observed.
—You're being way too mysterious—she said, crossing her arms.
—Not as mysterious as you.
Nell furrowed her brow. Confused. Her brain was scrambled.
—I'm not mysterious.
—Yeah, you are. —And suddenly he was right in front of her again, half a meter away, crouching down so she could climb on his back—Now it's my turn.
With that, she had no choice but to accept that this was how she'd be traveling from now on. She sighed and settled onto him, inhaling that soapy scent.
—Hold on tight.
Right after, the curtains flew up with force, and the room was empty.
●●●
—Are we there yet?—she complained, frowning.
He'd let her down once they'd gotten deep into the woods, and from there they'd started walking. Emmett kept helping her up by the elbow and letting go whenever the path cleared. Even though the rain had stopped a couple hours ago, you never knew when another storm would hit.
—Almost—he smiled at her mood swing—. You see that glow up ahead?
—Hmm.—Nell squinted through the dense forest foliage in the darkness—Am I supposed to?
He flashed a teasing grin.
—Maybe it's still too soon for your eyes.
—Or maybe it's too much for yours— she shot back.
His smirk deepened.
But then, after another hundred yards, she caught a small light between the trees.
Nell picked up the pace, pushed through the last patch of ferns, and stepped into a meadow—a perfect circle of wildflowers lit by moonlight. She could hear a stream bubbling nearby and crickets singing from the trees.
She turned around to share it all with Emmett, but he wasn't there.
Suddenly alarmed, she spun around looking for him. She spotted him beneath the thick shade of branches, sitting on a red blanket.
Eleanor took a step toward him, eyes locked on his.
—Don't tell me.—she concentrated, pursing her lips—Another one of your thinking spots?
—Actually, I use this one for training.
—Don't you train at your house?
—Sometimes. But here...— he gestured at the space with his arms—...I don't have to hold back. I can be myself.
She had a moment of reflection; where her hands brushed the leaves, the flowers, even the grass. It wasn't just about releasing energy, but about searching for freedom.
—I think I understand that feeling.—she smiled and sat beside him with her knees pulled up. Then she took in the view—How do you keep finding these incredible spots in such a... basic place?
—I guess it's from my vast experience.
Nell rolled her eyes.
—Right. Vast experience—she repeated—Something tells me you ripped this off some Forks tourist brochure.
—You think tourists would risk coming into a forest with wild animals?
—I did.—she pointed out.
—Yeah, but that's because you're suicidal.
Nell looked at him, aghast.
—That´s not true!— She gave him a shove—I'd never have gone into some forest without knowing it was safe.
—Oh, really?— Emmett raised an eyebrow—What about right now?
She needed a second to realize he was a little closer than before.
—I'm with you.
—With a wild animal—he declared sardonically. But Nell didn't find it funny.
—You're not a wild animal. And for the record, I feel safer with you than with anyone else in this world.
For the first time, she left him stunned. Well, it's not like she was entirely sure about that, but since she'd met him, she'd never seen him wear such an expression of disbelief. Like he hadn't expected that at all. And honestly, neither had she. Her brothers had been her sanctuary most of her life; even before the tragic events that followed. But now that spot belonged to Emmett. Illogical and irrational!
In the silence that followed, she looked away to busy herself with the dry grass.
—I have a question. — Nell said, trying to restart the conversation.
—I hope they're more creative than last time. — he said mockingly.
—Well, no. Not creative. —she admitted—But something I've been thinking about for a while.
He seemed more interested.
—Well, go ahead.
She looked him in the eyes and then said:
—How does a person become a Vampire? I mean, do you just bite them and that's it? Or is there some kind of ritual?
Emmett smiled at her suspiciously.
—Why? Are you planning on becoming one?
—No. Just curious. — she insisted.
He thought for a moment.
—For starters, nobody knows when the first vampire in history appeared. Carlisle told me it started with a virus. A venom that transmits from bite to bite. And that after that, you stop being the person you were before.—He ran his tongue over his lips—Though doing it isn't easy. Not many of us have the necessary self-control to stop once we sink our teeth in. And the venom is very painful.
Nell bit her lip, cautious, before asking:
—Do you miss your human life?
—Not really— he was sincere—I like who I am now, strengths and flaws included. Though I do miss my sisters, even if some memories are blurry.
—What were they like?—she wanted to know.
Emmett smiled at the memory.
—Charming, smart, and they had a sense of humor. They remind me of someone I know. —then he looked at her. Driving those bright eyes into hers.
Nell dropped her head.
—You say that. But there are still things about me you don't know.
—Then tell me.
SShe smiled slightly with mockery and looked at him.
—You make it sound so simple...
—That's because it can be simple.
She played with the beads on her blouse, resisting his words but accepting them gladly at the same time.
—Even if it's about a past that's still alive in the present?
—You're talking about your father?
She nodded slowly.
—Among other things.
Emmett guessed what the other things were that she was talking about, however, he didn't mention them. Instead, his focus shifted to another matter.
—I'll tell you something a Seer once told me.—Nell looked at him with a raised eyebrow—I know what you're thinking. Back then I did it for fun, but it ended up convincing me. —He smiled—His words were: forget the past, forgive yourself, and start over right this instant.
—That's something even I could've said. —she inquired mockingly.
—It's something we all could've said. However, those are words that only appear when we need to hear them.
She stayed quiet. Reflecting.
—Can I ask you another question?
He nodded, encouraging her to continue.
—Why did you bring me to this place?
There was a pause.
—You mean, why did I take you on a stroll to a meadow in the middle of the night?
Nell said nothing. And Emmett hesitated.
—Because—he started to say, eyes fixed on hers—if I were in your shoes and had faced an experience like that, I'm sure I wouldn't be able to sleep well either—He smiled slightly.
She detected something in his tone and looked away. When she spoke, she did so with a soft voice:
—Please, don't.
—Don't what?
Nell inhaled air slowly.
—This. Today. Yesterday. Everything.—She shook her head sadly—You're always helping me, comforting me. You make me laugh, even in the low moments. You're one of the few who doesn't think I'm cursed, or treat me like I'm crazy, and that means a lot to me.—Her expression shifted to something more serious—However, it scares me. Because nobody had ever shown me anything other than aversion before. And that makes me wonder what kind of relationship I have with you. Or...—she swallowed, nervous—...what I mean to you.
Emmett stayed quiet for a while until, finally, he answered:
—It means... that you've influenced my life much more than I imagined.—He paused. Then his voice sounded more settled—. I didn't think I'd find anyone I'd want to be with differently than how I am with my brothers and sisters. And then I discover that being with you comes naturally to me. You're smart, funny, and extremely curious. And that's what fascinates me most about you. You make me feel vulnerable again, and I haven't felt that in a long time. I can't say I like that feeling, but the alternative would be worse, because it would mean never seeing you again. And that would be, for me, a true curse.
When he finished speaking, Nell felt almost dizzy, overwhelmed by his answer. Emmett had expressed his feelings without shame or fear. It was his attitude, more than anything, that allowed her to regain her balance.
—I...I don't know what to say. —she admitted, trying not to lose her composure.
—You don't have to say anything. I didn't say it because I'm looking for an answer. But because you asked.
—And were you serious?
He looked at her with total conviction:
—Every word was serious.
Nell could feel a need taking hold of her. The voice inside tried to restrain the impulse fighting to get out, but she knew it wouldn't help to stop it for much longer. Unable to help it, she moved up to his face and kissed him.
His lips were cold as marble, hard as rock, and burned like fire. But it was the most pleasant sensation she had ever melted into.
Emmett, surprised, held her tight, and Nell slid her hands across his chest and shoulders. When he buried his fingers in her hair, she trembled with a shiver, aware that this outcome was the fruit of what had been brewing inevitably from the start.
Then, too soon, she stopped.
Nell opened her eyes and saw that his were closed. He didn't move or speak to her while he held her in his arms. She knew at any moment he might not be able to control himself and end her life so fast she wouldn't even realize it, though that didn't scare her. She couldn't think of anything except what had just happened.
Emmett let her go to look at her and she glimpsed the hunger in his eyes.
—I'm sorry, I...—she turned her face away, embarrassed—I'm not making this easy for you.
Emmett gave her an incredibly confident smile.
—Don't worry. Looks like I'm much stronger than I thought.
—I wish I could say the same about me.
—Does that mean you want to kiss me again?—He smiled mischievously.
Nell paused before answering with her heart racing and completely open:
—Yes...
No more words were needed. Emmett took her in his arms again and kissed her once more.