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𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 as Emma wilted into a shell of herself as the skies darkened and the temperature dropped. It didn't help that it was raining practically every day at this point, meaning not even the magical – scientific – properties of the sun could boost her mood.
At least at school Emma could distract herself with her students and her work, putting on a brave face and finding joy in teaching her favorite books and lessons. But it was the moments when she was alone that she found her mind drifting back to- No. She had already cried too much over the past few months over him. She was a grown woman. She needed to move on. He made it clear he wouldn't be coming back. It was foolish of her to hope that he would show up and beg to take her back, claiming it was all a mistake, wrap her in his arms and vow to never let her go – and be honest about it.
While Emma was still deeply hurt and would take time to heal, Bella felt the suffering of her broken heart a thousand times worse. She fell into a deep depression for months. Emma and Charlie tried everything they could to get her back to the sweet, loving, humorously dry girl she was. It was like they were talking to a ghost. If they were lucky and their questions did elicit a response, it was never more than a mumble and maximum three words.
Charlie just about cried tears of relief when Bella finally forced herself out of the house to see Jacob Black – the first time she left other than for school in months. Emma was reading in her living room when she heard the sound of clanging metal outside. Curious, she got up to see what all the commotion was about. She opened her front door to see Charlie and Bella attempting to lift motorbikes into the bed of her truck. Emma didn't know if the Swans even owned motorbikes.
"Hey," Emma greeted as she crossed the street to join the two. "Neat rides. What are you guys up to?"
Billy clapped his hand on Bella's back, his mood lighter than it had been in weeks. "Bella, here, is going to take these bikes to Jake to fix up. Don't know where she got her interest in them from. Her old man hasn't ridden one of these in years."
"You're going to the reservation?" Emma inquired, her interest piqued. Now that she was slowly going out again – keyword, slowly – La Push had been in the back of her mind the past week. She had yet to see the popular beach yet, and a part of her wanted to see Leah and Seth once more. She hadn't seen them since mini golfing. "Can I join you? I can help you with the bikes."
"Yeah," Bella nodded, sending her a small smile. It was her first one in months. Charlie knew that Emma was also struggling with the Cullen's disappearance, and he hoped that Emma could help Bella cope and heal. "Bye, Dad." Bella then hopped into the truck to leave.
