this golden sun || emmett cullen

Five: And The Outside Waits For Me

Screams had yet to plague Bella's dreams, yet another rarity in her life, post-Edward, of course. Emmett laid by her side the entire night, her grip on his shirt never faltering. As the sun rose, a name slipped through the pink lips of the human, "Emmett," he knew she was asleep, her heartbeat was steady along with her breathing. This didn't stop his gaze breaking from the ceiling to look at the brunette.
She breathed his name again as her grip tightened and he urged himself to not look at her. Letting out a gasp, Bella woke up, Emmett continuing to look at a specific spot on the ceiling. He could practically feel the blush on her face, he never brought it up, although his chest was swelling with pride and a smirk plastered on his pale face.

"I need to get out of the house," it was obvious that Bella hadn't done much of that, yet Emmett still worried. "I'll be fine," she placed her hand on top of his, reading his expression. Ignoring the fireworks shooting through his hand, he smiled and nodded.

"Where are we going?" Emmett called through the bathroom door, waiting, as Bella showered and changed into something outside appropriate.

"I was thinking, maybe, the mall?" Emmett was confused, Bella hated shopping. She expressed that everytime Alice forced her to, why the sudden change of heart? Bella walked out, now dressed. Emmett tried not to notice how her grey t-shirt was slightly low cut, the leather jacket she wore zipped up right to that point. He simply nodded, the ability to speak failing him. She grinned, her face lighting up. After putting on her Converse, the pair left the house, dribing quickly to the mall.

"Which one? Blue or yellow?" Bella had asked Emmett for his opinion on everything she saw. He loved it, Rosalie never invited him shopping with her and Alice as the latter had done with her husband.

"Um," he pretended to contemplate, even though he already knew his answer, "Blue!" The duo laughed, having never spent this much time together.

Bella's eyebrows furrowed as she looked at the price tag, her smile dropping as she put it back on the rack, "It's too expensive." Emmett, in turn, looked at the price tag: $45.60. He laughed internally as he picked the dress back up, throwing it over his arm. She looked at him, sadness etched on her face, "I told you it was too expensive."

"And I'm telling you that I'm buying it for you, along with anything else you see that you even remotely like," as Bella went to interject, he cut her off, continuing, "Before you say anything, I know that it seems like a lot to you, but I truly don't mind if it makes you even a sliver of how happy you've been today, especially after everything my family has put you through." She smiled at him, throwing her arms around his neck, tears welling in her eyes at the truly venerable creature standing before her.

Bella doubted almost everything she tried on, Edward would have never allowed her to wear such clothes. The hole in her chest swelled with the thought of Him. Emmett reassured her, nonetheless, wolf-whistling everytime she came out of the dressing room, annoying customers and making Bella red in the face with shyness and slight embarrassment.
After clothes shopping, Bella shyly asked if they could shop for makeup, Emmett reassuring her that he didn't mind if it made her happy, so long as she understood that she didn't truly need it. She agreed, simply wanting to try it, wanting to reestablish her style, jokingly saying that she wanted Alice to be proud of her.

Bella Swan knew close to nothing about makeup, only the mascara and purple eyeshadow she had worn in middle school, only a month later deciding it wasn't for her. Luckily for the pair of clueless shoppers, a kind saleswoman helped them tremendously, recommending what she thought best for the pale girl, from primer to eyeshadow to lipstick and much more, even giving the teen tips for application. Bella was truly happy with the purchases, despite the price, which was again assured by Emmett was "nothing".
Deciding that it was probably time for Bella to eat as it neared half past noon, Emmett gently pushed her toward the food court, letting her decide what she wanted to eat when he noticed Jessica Stanley and Lauren Mallory, laughing obnoxiously. They hadn't noticed Emmett or Bella yet and he didn't need Alice's gift to predict the outcome.

"Bella," he addressed her calmly and she turned to him, "Lauren and Jessica are here. Don't lose everything you've worked so hard to rebuild, they're just people, don't let what they say or ask tear you down, please." She seemed to panic for a second before composing herself, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath before looking at Emmett once again. She smiled at him and grabbed onto his cold hand, grasping it in her own.

"Bella! Oh my god, it's Bella!" Lauren's voice was distinct, to be heard by anyone and horrible for Emmett's sensitive hearing. The two girls ran over to where Bella stood, seemingly bracing for impact.

"Oh my gosh, where have you been?!" Jessica didn't let Bella answer as she continued, "Apparently, you've been, like, a zombie! Is it because Edward left?" She apparently didn't have a sense of volume as she loudly announced things that were none of her business. Emmett rolled his eyes, not caring if the teens noticed.

"Yeah, I've been gone," Bella had found her voice, "I think I'll be going back to school soon. You guys know Emmett, right?" Lauren and Jessica knew of him, they drooled over him as they had done with his brothers.

Lauren wasted no time in digging for gossip, "So this is, what, your second Cullen?" Emmett glared at the blonde, noticing Bella's cheeks flushing.

"Actually, Lauren," her voice was poison-filled, "I have better things to do than listen to you insult me for actions that have nothing to do with you or you," her finger stung Jessica's chest. Emmett was shocked, to say the least. As they made their grand exit out of the mall, he resisted telling Bella how extremely hot she had been. He couldn't even fathom thinking about how hot she could be as a vampire.
On the drive home, she had decided that she wanted something from the diner, just to take home. He happily obliged, even going inside, ordering what she told him to, then carrying it back out, ignoring the staring eyes burning into him.
Upon their return home, Emmett noticed that Bella had fallen asleep. As he gently woke her up, she groaned, reminding him of the morning. He cringed, knowing he shouldn't think of her like that, she was hurting. He was one of the causes of her hurt, and he was attracted to her. Emmett felt guilty, he knew the vision of Alice's had not yet finished and figured that the guilt would eventually vanish.
Emmett and Bella talked happily as she ate her dinner, finishing most of it, surprising even herself. She had somehow found her way into his side, not at all bothered by the cold, unlike the first few months of her relationship with Edward. During their conversation regarding her return to school, she looked up at him, their eyes meeting in what seemed like a crossfire. Gold met mahogany and it seemed only natural that their lips meet. Emmett felt an unfamiliar, heavy tug in his chest, unbeknownst to him, Bella felt a similar, albeit milder, tug in her own. As the pulled away from each other, neither of them looked away or even moved their eyes from the others.

Miles away in London, England, Alice Cullen sat very contently in a large armchair. A blazing fire illuminated her and Jasper's pale faces as she spoke, "Finally." As sudden as that, Bella's future went black.