Old Soul

Chapter Ten: The Truth Always Comes Out

From the second my eyes open I feel jittery. I pull on a periwinkle sweater dress and see-through gray tights. I attempt to use a straightener on my hair to tame it, to no avail. The frizz remains. Before heading downstairs, I spritz on some frou-frou perfume my grandmother got me for my birthday a few years ago. I take a deep breath. And another. I don't feel any calmer. I skid into the kitchen and grab a poptart. I take a seat at our barely used kitchen table, opening the tin foil. I take a bite of the chocolate toaster pastry, getting more and more amped up with every munch. I'm staring at the clock, waiting in anxious anticipation for Emmett to text me. We hadn't set up a time, but I had a feeling it would be in the morning. I throw the foil wrapper away after I finish my breakfast. My phone dings, the chipper sound at odds with the turmoil brewing in my stomach.

Are you ready? Emmett's message reads.

Physically? Yes. Mentally? Definitely not. I send back.

Come on, you got this. You've done it before. Just try not to bleed this time. And Edward isn't here today, so no mind reading. I promise

I make no promises. With that message, I slide on some boots and a jean jacket. I call out a goodbye to my mom, who's up getting ready. I take the now familiar road to Emmett's house, but rather than comforting, the long, twisted roads feel more ominous. I'm so nervous I almost miss the turn. Emmett's waiting for me on the porch. When I go to open the door a second later, he's already there, unclipping my seatbelt for me.

"I can do that." I argue.

"But this way I can guarantee you won't run away." He smirks. He takes my hand and pulls me along behind him before stopping right before the porch steps and turning to face me.

"Are you wearing perfume?" I should've known he'd be able to smell it. I blush, embarrassed and not wanting him to think I did it for him, even though I kind of did.

"Yes." I keep my answer short, hoping he'll drop it.

"Why?" His eyebrows knit themselves together.

"Well, you acted like it can be a bit difficult for you to be around me due to my pleasing aroma," I wiggle my eyebrows at the last bit. "I figured if I could mask the scent it would be a little bit easier for you."

Emmett stares at me for a moment, digesting what I said, before letting out the loudest laugh I've ever heard from him, the sound bouncing off of the trees. He picks me up and spins me around before setting me back down and grabbing my hands.

"That's incredibly endearing. But not very effective. It isn't easy for me to be around you, but I like to think I can handle it because I like you." I blush even deeper. Emmett rubs my cheek with the back of his hand, still holding mine. He lets go of one of my hands so that I can walk, pulling me up the porch steps and across the threshold of the house. I'm grateful that he's so giant—I'm concealed behind him. Despite the fact that I've been here before, I still feel nervous, now that I know—and his family knows that I know their secret.

"Ma, you've already met Raquel." Emmett gestures with our joined hands between Esme and me.

"I'm glad you came back." Her smile softens her already delicate features. She opens her arms slightly, an invitation for a hug without expecting me to accept her offer. I let go of Emmett's hand and step into her embrace. Her grip is cold and gentle, like a child delicately hugging a china doll, as though worried she'd shatter it. "Emmett has been much happier with you in his life." She's says the last bit in a stage whisper, giving me a conspirator's wink when I pull away.

"Ma, you're gonna make me blush." Emmett wraps an arm around me after I step back to his side. "Come on, I'll show you around."

"Without introducing us to her first?" A soprano voice, like a windchime stirred by a breeze, trails down the beautiful wooden staircase. Alice appears, moving too fast for my eyes to process, her spiky black hair slightly ruffled from the mini-whirlwind she created. She skips over to me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders, all within the blink of an eye. I'm so shocked I just stand there until she steps back.