𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨. emmett cullen

twenty six

⋅˚₊‧ ☾ ‧₊˚ ⋅ ♡‧₊˚

Horrible. That's how I felt that morning. I wiped away the stray tear that fell from my eye and got ready for school. As I dressed, I found myself glancing towards my closed window and felt another tear fall. Since we started dating, we hadn't gone a night without being by each other's side. But now we have and I didn't like it.

Bella could tell something was wrong when I met her in the kitchen. Dad had already gone so I felt no need to plaster a smile on my face and pretend that everything was okay. She briefly glanced at my faded blue jeans and grey hoodie before smiling slightly at me and ushering me out to the truck. The ride to school was silent. Neither of us spoke a word and neither of us tried to. I kept poking at my bandaged palm anxiously as we drove and I could feel Bella glancing at me.

Once parked, Bella and I immediately caught sight of the silver Volvo. Leaning against it was Edward but no Emmett. I frowned and exited the truck. I didn't follow Bella over to Edward, instead, I headed straight for the school. I kept my head down and avoided anyone I passed. It was unusual for me to do so, but I honestly wanted to be left alone. Scratch that, I just wanted Emmett.

I swapped my bag for my books at my locker and then headed off to my science class. People greeted me kindly and I did my best to return them but they were halfhearted and anyone could see that. The rest of my classes blurred by just as quickly. I didn't pay any attention to any of them, my mind was only on Emmett.

After school, while Bella headed home, I headed to cheer practice. I changed into black gym shorts and a loose white tank and headed to the football field with a small hope that the new assistant football coach would be there. He wasn't. Evie - the new cheer captain who replaced Jennah when she graduated - could tell something was bothering me and had me sit out for the rest of practice. The other girls glanced at me worriedly, but I ignored their gazes and kept my eye on the trees.

Part of me hoped he would walk out from them and reassure me that everything was okay but after last night, part of me knew he wouldn't. I hitched a ride home with Evie and she did her best to provide any advice I asked her for but my boyfriend's problems were way past anything she had ever experienced.

When I got home the sky had begun to darken as the sun faded away from the sky. I didn't notice my sister's absence as I entered the house nor did I notice Emmett sitting at our kitchen table watching me carefully. I tossed my gym bag and backpack onto the floor and went to the fridge for a bottle of water. I was still sweaty from practice so I hadn't changed back into my other clothes, only slipped my hoodie on over them.

When I finally turned away from the fridge, I noticed him. He sat there with hooded eyes as he fiddled with a set of keys. He had one arm draped across the chair next to him as he stared glumly at me. He finally slid the keys into his pocket and stood up. He silently reached out to me and I cautiously grabbed his hand. He led me outside through the back door and past the forest line. I followed behind him on the little manmade trail before I quietly slipped my hand from his and wrapped my arms around myself as we continued to walk. When he came to a stop, his back still faced me and I scowled at it.

I knew what was about to happen. I hoped and silently prayed that it wouldn't, but it was hopeless. My suspicions were confirmed when he turned and met my gaze. His eyes held a form of sadness and regret as he stared. I felt the tears well up in my eyes and I had to look at my sneakers to clear my blurry vision.

"So this is it," I murmured. I glanced up at him and saw him nod his head slightly. I let out a small sob as he did so. I didn't bother asking why, I knew he would just lie to me. "This is really it?"

"Yeah." He nodded curtly. "This is really it." His eyes looked anywhere but at me and a part of me hoped he would take back his words, but he didn't.

"You promised," I stated sadly.

"I did." He sighed. "I'm sorry."

"I don't want an apology," I told him honestly. I wiped the tears from my face as I looked at him one last time. "If you ever come back, don't expect forgiveness." I turned away from him and began to tread home. "Or for me to be waiting," I whispered. I heard a twig snap and when I turned around, he was gone. And that's when I broke down.

I slid down to the forest floor and huddled myself into a ball. I buried my head in my knees as I cried. He was gone, his promises were broken, and I was left alone. I rested my back against the trunk of a tree as tears fell endlessly from my eyes.

He was gone. He left and he took my heart with him.

I didn't know how long I had stayed there crying but when I looked up, the sky had darkened completely and I could faintly see the stars through the tops of the trees. I stood up and slowly walked back to the house. I felt raindrops land on me lazily as I walked but I ignored them. I was cold, despite the hoodie I was wearing, and my arms wrapped around my body as I attempted to keep any body warmth I had left. As I approached the forest line, I saw lights flickering through the trees and I rubbed my eyes to see them.

One of the first things I noticed as I stepped out of the trees was a group of men standing around shining flashlights through the darkness. My dad was among them, along with Billy and Jake, but they weren't who I noticed first. Paul was. He stood there shirtless beside Sam and Jared and I immediately ran into his arms and broke down against his warm body.

"She's safe." I heard him mutter to someone. Paul wrapped his arms around me and I welcomed the feeling of security they provided. One of his large hands began to rub my head soothingly as my sobs grew louder.

"Clare-bear, what happened?" I snapped my head and blinked through my tears and saw Sam staring at me, concern clear in his brown eyes.

"You were right Sammy." My voice was hoarse from the crying and I knew he was confused by what I said. "Boys aren't worth the pain." I lied, Emmett was. "He's gone."

I broke down again but this time I felt someone else arms wrap around me. "I've got her." It was Jared. He lifted me into his arms like a child and I wrapped my arms and legs around him. He held onto me tightly as I sobbed into his neck. I felt him begin to walk before he finally spoke. "I'll take her to bed. She'll be okay." I tightened my hold on him and just cried.

I felt him sit down and when I moved away from my neck, I noticed it was my bed. I moved off of his lap and curled into his side. He scooted down until he was laying on his back and he wrapped his arms around me as best as he could. "Go to sleep Clary, I'll still be here when you wake up." I nodded and I closed my eyes. Tears still threatened to leak but I held them back as I snuggled into Jared and eventually fell asleep in the arms of my best friend.

Emmett was gone, my heart leaving with him. And that night a nightmare was dreamt and in it was none other than Emmett Cullen.