Broken Soul • Emmett Cullen

chapter nineteen

"Welcome to Washington!" The flight attendant said cheerfully, causing the people in the plane to shift in their seats to collect their belongings. They continued to drone on about the time and the weather, but Alaina wasn't listening. She still couldn't get the conversation she had with Carlisle the night before out of her head, replaying over and over again.

"Alaina, my dear, first and foremost we wanted to check up on you. I know that we haven't been there for you over the last few days, which we will discuss in a moment, but I need to make sure that you are okay."

"Yes, I'm okay; it's all over. But what's going on? What happened? Where is -- where is Emmett? Where is Bella?"

Carlisle began telling Alaina what happened after she left on the night of the baseball game. A group of nomad vampires interrupted the game, asking to join, but when they saw Bella was a human, their instincts took over and they moved to attack. The blond one, James, became obsessed with Bella and began tracking her scent. The situation became so serious that Alice and Jasper fled with Bella to confuse his tracking and disperse her scent, but that could only last for so long. He was on his way and Bella, being a strong-willed yet hard-headed person, wanted to protect the people she loved by fighting him alone. She broke her leg and was bitten before the Cullen clan saved her and killed James.

Alaina could barely believe the story, nor the life that she somehow had gotten herself into. Although she was still extremely hurt, she knew why they had to cut off communication. They had to protect Bella, and by extension, Alaina herself. James was becoming more and more reckless and only wanted to hurt the Cullens. If he found out about Alaina, the other human, who knows what could have happened. Forcing her out of the situation was her protection.

"Honey, we're home," her dad said. Alaina unbuckled her seatbelt and grabbed her bag from the upper compartment of the plane. They disembarked and started the long walk to baggage claim.

The airport was unusually quiet. The rhythmic clicking of their shoes echoed in the terminal, the only noise filling the almost uncomfortable stillness around them. "Alaina," her mom broke the silence while they walked towards the airport exit. "One of your friends texted us yesterday asking if they could spend the rest of the day with you. We told her, yes, hoping to give you a little surprise and a break from... from the week. We hope that's okay."

Alaina furrowed her brow. "Who is it?" She asked as they walked out past security. She stopped to look at her mom. Her mother made eye contact with someone in the waiting area and gave a quick nod. Alaina followed her gaze, and even in the crowded airport, she could see who came to pick her up.

"We will take your stuff home. You don't have a curfew tonight -- just let us know when you'll be home or if you will be staying with a friend, okay?" Her mom said, taking her suitcase from her. She wrapped her arms around her daughter. "We love you so much."

"I love you too, mom," she said, hugging her mom back. She could feel a large, warm hand on her shoulder, her dad's love radiating just as strongly as her mother's hug.

"Tell her we say hello."

Alaina began walking towards her friend, but the walk soon turned into a run. She didn't know what had gotten into her, and she had no idea how the typically frigid person would react, but she couldn't help it. She was just so incredibly glad to see her safe and sound.

"Rosalie," she said, hugging the beautiful girl. The tears were flowing freely onto Rose's coral sweater, and she could feel a comforting, albeit cold, hand rubbing her back. After a moment, Rosalie seemed to melt into the hug, squeezing her tightly. Maybe a little too tightly. "Oof, I can't breath."