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I was running.

That much I knew. I couldn't see where. The sky was dark but I could make out the outline of the trees as I dodged them. I had no idea where I was headed, but I pushed forward. I tripped over a fallen tree and I stumbled into a small clearing. Separating the clearing in half was a small creek. It seemed familiar to me and as I walked toward it, I realized why. But it wasn't how I remembered, this creek was dry of any water. There was no sun shining down on it, it was sad almost.

I heard a twig snap and I snapped my head up. Standing across from me was Jared. His demeanor was stiff, his smile wasn't on his face. His lips were in a tight line and his glare pierced my skin. I felt someone's presence behind me and my eyes widened as I took in Emmett's predatory stance. He was standing on the edge of the tree line but he wasn't focused on me. His dark eyes were glaring at Jared and his fists were clenched tightly by his side.

He didn't even acknowledge me as he took a few cautionary steps forward and snarled at Jared. My eyes flickered back to Jared but I gasped as Jared was no longer there. Instead in his place was a large wolf. The lighting was too dark to determine what color his fur was but his stance matched Emmett's and he returned the snarl.

Jared leaned back and crouched down, ready to pounce. I looked back at Emmett as he crouched down slightly and his face tightened as he growled. I glanced back to Jared and he let out a loud growl as he flung his body into the air. My head snapped to the side as I saw Emmett do the same and I couldn't stop the scream that escaped me as their bodies collided in the air directly above the creek.

It was just a dream.

I sat up in bed panting heavily as that realization came to me. It was nothing but a dream. Jared and Emmett weren't fighting, I wasn't watching helplessly, it wasn't real. But it still haunted me.

I climbed out of bed and headed straight to the bathroom. Once there, I immediately stripped and stepped into the shower. The warm water washed over my skin and I sighed gratefully as it calmed me. Once I was clean, I stepped out and wrapped a towel tightly around me. I quickly walked to my room, avoiding any awkward run-ins with Dad.

I slipped on my bra and underwear before turning to my closet and settling on an outfit. I grabbed my oversized white knit sweater and threw it on my bed. I grabbed a pair of black leggings from my closet and put them on before putting on a plain blank tank top and sliding the sweater on over my head.

My hair was still wet from my shower so I just brushed it and braided it loosely. I slipped on my white converse and grabbed my phone and backpack before heading downstairs.

"Morning." Dad smiled at me. He held Bella's presents in his hand and I grabbed mine from him. Today was her eighteenth birthday and she dreaded this day, which only made it more fun to celebrate it.

"Let's do this." I dumped my bag on the floor and dashed up the stairs to Bella's room. I knocked on the door and headed in after I heard her murmur words. She was sitting up in bed and I so desperately wanted to laugh as her thick brown hair resembled something that a bird would call home. "Happy Birthday loser!" I grinned at her. I plopped down beside her on her bed and ignored the glare she sent me. I placed my neatly wrapped gift in her hand and motioned for her to open it.

She picked at the green wrapping paper cautiously before just tearing a large piece off and tossing it onto the floor. She removed the rest of it before she finally opened the small white box. She lifted the lid and let out a small gasp as she saw the charm bracelet that was inside. She picked it up and observed a few of the charms that I bought for her and smiled at me. "I love it, thanks, Clary." She gave me a small side hug and I helped her put the bracelet on her left wrist.

"Oh, here," Dad mumbled. He handed his and mom's gifts to her with a small smile. "The camera's from me and it kind of coincides with your mom's gift." He explained. Bella unwrapped the gift and sent Dad a confused look. "It's a scrapbook. Your mom thought it'd be cool for you to take pictures of your friends and stuff, you know make memories."

"Thanks, Dad." She smiled slightly. "And I'll call mom and thank her later too."

"You're welcome. Happy birthday." He smiled. "So how's it feel to be old now Bells?" He joked.

"Eighteen is not that old." Bella blanched.

"Are you sure?" Dad stepped closer to her. "Is that a grey hair?" He peered at her hair jokingly and I suppressed a laugh as Bella panicked and jumped out of bed to glance in her mirror.

"That's not funny." Bella scowled at him.

"Happy birthday Bells," Dad smirked and walked out of the room. I finally released the laugh I had been holding in and Bella shook her head disapprovingly at me.

"You know Bells, I'm kind of wondering how Edward feels." I stopped laughing. She shot me a confused look and I simply grinned innocently at her. "I mean, how does he feel dating an old woman?" I laughed.

She chucked the sweater she was holding at me and I dodged it as I ran out of her room. "You two are insatiable!" She screamed at me.

"What did you do?" Dad asked accusingly at me as I picked up my backpack.

"Why do you always assume I did something?" I glared playfully at him.

"Because out of the two of you, you're my evil child." He glared right back. We had a small staring contest - which I won - until Bella came downstairs.

"Oh knock it off." Bella groaned. She dragged me out of the house by my hand as I yelled at Dad.

"This isn't over old man! I will have my revenge!" I held my fist up and shook it as Bella scoffed at me and shoved me into the truck.

"I worry about you sometimes." She murmured under her breath.

"Only sometimes?" I wiggled my eyebrows.

"You're so weird." She started the engine and didn't even look at me.

"You mean that to be insulting but I am taking it as a compliment."

"Take it any way you want, it's still the truth." She smirked at me as she drove. I was about to reply when she shushed me and turned on the radio. The guy on the radio started ranting about some killings in Seattle and while Bella listened, I didn't. "That's terrible." She commented after a while. I didn't respond to her, only because we had already arrived at school and standing by Edward's silver Volvo was my oh-so-wonderful boyfriend.

He smiled at me as Bella parked the truck and I watched through the window as he walked over to us. He left Edward alone with Alice and I saw the small silver-wrapped package in her hands. I let out a small laugh as I heard Bella sigh heavily. She started mumbling under her breath as she climbed out of the truck and I just sat there laughing at her distaste for birthday presents.

"She really does hate her birthday." Emmett chuckled as he helped me out of the truck.

"Nah, she just hates being a senior." I joked. Emmett shot me a blank look at my lame joke. "Get it because she's a senior in high school and she's old." I nudged him playfully with my elbow.

"Babe, you're not funny." He spoke truthfully.

"Jasper thinks I am." I frowned and crossed my arms over my chest.

"He just likes your happiness." He replied. "Something about how you 'always radiate happiness and its infectious.'"

"Aw, that's so sweet!" I swooned. Emmett rolled his eyes and placed one of his arms across my shoulders as we walked into the school.

"I can be sweet too." He glared at nothing.

"You can but it's cuter when Jasper says stuff like that." I laughed at his jealousy. "You know his southern accent only adds to his charm."

"Well then maybe you should date Jasper then." He glared at me. I dropped my bag in front of my locker and turned to face him. I leaned up and cupped his face with both of my hands as I looked him in the eye.

"Don't be jealous," I started straightaway. "It's you I love, you I kiss, and you I hold. Why would I want anyone else when I already have you?" His glare softened as my words rang through his mind. My hands slid down from his face until they were placed on his chest. His hands reached up and cupped my face as he brought his lips down to mine.

Our lips moved together beautifully - almost perfectly. Just as he swiped his tongue across my bottom lip, someone cleared their throat behind him. We pulled apart and he turned to glare at whoever it was but stopped when he noticed that it was only Jasper and Alice standing there.

"PDA is not permitted at school." Jasper shook his head disapprovingly at us. I giggled and removed my hands from Emmett's chest and opened my locker. I shoved my bag in and grabbed my books just as Emmett began tugging me away from it. He closed the locker for me and I laughed at his pouting face.

"Don't forget about the party!" Alice called out to us as we departed. "Hope you like the dress I chose for you!" She shouted right before we turned the corner and walked down a different hallway.

"Where are we going?" I finally asked Emmett. He ignored me and continued to drag me by my hand through the halls. He opened the doors to the library and released my hand. The librarian was nowhere in sight as his hand was placed at the small of my back and guiding me towards the shelves. He directed me towards the very back of the library when he finally let go. He grabbed my books from me and placed them on the floor. I sent him a confused look which he ignored and simply lifted me.

I felt my back collide with the shelf and I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist just as his lips attacked my neck. I let out a small moan as his lips sucked fervently and he grunted in reply. My arms found their way around his neck and my nails scraped against his skin softly which earned a greedy response from him. He rolled his hips against mine and I let out a loud moan as he brushed against me. I was only wearing leggings and every roll of his hips showed me just how much he was enjoying this.

His lips finally captured mine and our tongues instantly met. I easily gave him dominance and I let out another moan as he explored my mouth. His lips left mine as I pulled away. I didn't give him any time to finish his attack on my neck as I got to work on his instantly. I sucked on the spot below his ear and I bit down gently as his hips moved against me. I was slowly losing my mind. Kissing Emmett did things to me and if I wasn't careful, I wouldn't be waiting for marriage - I'd be giving myself to him in the back of the library.

"We should get to class," I mumbled against his skin.

"Yeah, we should." He agreed but I didn't let up. I continued to nip and suck at his neck and I could feel him slowly losing control over his movements. He ground against me roughly and I had to bite down on his jacket to muffle the moan that escaped me. My body seemed to love the rough movements against it and I found myself moaning every time his hips met mine. "We need to stop." He spoke gruffly but he didn't cease his movements. It wasn't until I bit down on his jacket again that he finally did. "I'm not giving you your first orgasm in the school library." He chuckled though his eyes spoke differently.

"Not my first," His eyes had darkened tremendously and I could see the lust in them. He set me back onto my feet and I buried my face into his chest as I struggled to calm my body down. I felt him run his fingers through the ends of my braid and his other hand rubs my back soothingly. We both lost control of ourselves and for once I didn't care. I was always the one to stop things from getting further but this time - this time I didn't want them to stop. I didn't know what it was but Emmett was making me lose my mind and I was shamelessly ready to lose my virginity in the library.

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"You know what I just realized," I mumbled to Emmett. We were sitting on the couch in the living room of my house while Bella was upstairs with Edward. Finding Nemo was playing on the tv but we both guiltily ignored it as we chatted animatedly. "You already graduated yet you show up at school every day and walk me to all of my classes anyways."

"The school hired me as the assistant coach for the football team." He answered me. "It'll only be for the next two years, just until you graduate."

"Do you work at the school?" He nodded. "Now is this because you like football or is it because you want to make sure all the boys in school stay away from me?" I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Both." He smiled sheepishly.

"Fine." I smiled softly at him. "You look cute when you're jealous." I pecked his cheek before climbing off of the couch.

"Where are you going?" Emmett whined adorably.

"To change for the party." I winked at him and dashed up the stairs. I locked myself in my room as I began to get ready. I shrugged off my sweater and tossed it on my bed. I stripped out of the rest of my clothes as I took the dress Alice bought for me out of my closet. The dress was black with long sleeves made entirely of lace. The skirt flared out nicely into soft pleats and it fit me perfectly. I paired it with the black heels Rosalie gave me and my charm bracelet that matched Bella's.

I quickly did my makeup and ran my fingers through my wavy hair before walking downstairs and meeting Emmett. His head snapped up as he heard my heels tap against the floor and his eyes darkened like before.

"You look amazing babe." He breathed out as I reached him.

"Thank you, shall we?" I asked him. He nodded and bent down to kiss my cheek before guiding me out of the house. We had to be there earlier than Bella so we could help decorate and so Emmett could change. Emmett quickly drove us in Carlisle's car - that he practically begged to borrow - and we were at his place in no time.

"Clary!" I heard Alice screech my name as we entered the house. "You look so beautiful!" She gushed as she made me twirl for her. The skirt of the dress flared out as I did so and I couldn't suppress the giggle that erupted. I beamed up at Emmett after and his eyes held an emotion that I couldn't decipher but judging from the smile on his face, I knew it wasn't anything bad.

"Rosalie!" I squealed as my favorite Cullen - besides Emmett of course - walked over to me. While Rose had disliked Bella almost instantly when they were introduced, she took a liking to me. She claimed that I was just too adorably happy to hate. And I didn't object.

"You look stunning Clary." She smiled genuinely at me. "Unlike the oaf over there who is still wearing jeans and hoodie." We heard Emmett scoff but we girls just laughed and ignored him.

"I'm gonna go change. Don't listen to anything they say." He glared at Rose and Alice but smiled at me. He kissed my forehead before walking away from us.

"Hello, Clary." Esme greeted me. She gave me a small hug that I happily returned. "Alice was right, you do look amazing."

"Thank you." I smiled shyly at her.

"Come say hello to the boys." She grabbed my hand and we all followed her into the upstairs living room. The men were standing around joking with each other when we walked in. Emmett had joined them and he no longer wore his clothes from earlier. Instead, he wore a white dress shirt with a black vest over it and dark jeans.

"Damn Emmett, is that your girlfriend?" Dominic joked as he looked at me. "She's beautiful." He smiled at me. "So what's she doing with you?" And then we all laughed, well except Emmett. But he didn't glare like we all thought he would, instead he smiled at me with an unknown look in his eyes. Alice knew what it was as she gasped and mumbled something under her breath. I couldn't hear what it was but the others did and they all smiled knowingly at Emmett who just blushed and turned away.

He was about to say something but then Edward and Bella entered the room. "Happy birthday Bella!" Most of us cheered excitedly at her. She blushed and looked away from us shyly. Carlisle was the first to greet them followed by everyone else. Her blush deepened as we all spoke to her and Emmett and I couldn't stop teasing her for it.

While everyone was crowded around Bella, Rose, Jasper and I hung back. We stood by the table that Alice had set out with a birthday cake atop it. "You confuse me sometimes," I whispered to Jasper. Rosalie looked at us as we talked but she didn't join the conversation.

"How?" He asked me.

"You can't be around Bella or anyone at school for too long but here you are having no problem standing next to me." I turned my body to face him fully and he seemed deep in thought.

"That confuses me too." He confessed. "I don't know why but I feel as if I can't hurt you or more like I wouldn't. Like as if I'd feel deep regret and that I should do nothing but protect you."

"I feel it too," Rosalie commented. I turned to look at her and she had a faraway look in her eyes. "I usually dislike all humans but you're different. I felt as if I couldn't hate you, the same as Jasper. Like I couldn't ." I looked away from both of them as I comprehended what they had both just confessed. They were the two out of their family with the most animosity towards humans, yet here they were befriending one.

I was startled away from my thoughts as Bella was handed her presents. Emmett handed her a messily wrapped box and I watched as Bella shook it. "Car stereo, already installed in your truck." Emmett then commented on it finally getting some good music but Bella immediately shushed him.

"Don't hate on the truck." We all laughed and I even heard Rose snicker quietly.

"Open this one!" Alice shoved a small box into Bella's hand. "I think you'll love this one!"

Bella looked at the box carefully before beginning to pull back the wrapping paper. What happened next was something I didn't expect.

Bella lifted her finger away from the box and held it up. Even though I wasn't close to her, I could faintly see the small red drop fall from her finger. She was bleeding. Jasper suddenly was no longer by my side and he was making his way to Bella. Edward shoved her back roughly and she landed against a table and shattered a glass vase that was on it. I watched as she fell to the ground before Rose shoved me behind her and stepped in front of me protectively.

Jasper struggled to get to Bella. He tried to shove past Edward but Emmett and Carlisle grabbed him and even they struggled to hold him back. Dominic stepped in to help and I felt Rosalie's hand tighten on mine as she tensed up. I winced as I felt her nails dig into the palm of my hand and suddenly everyone turned to us. Rosalie hesitantly turned around and looked down at my hand. Her eyes darkened but instead of attacking me as Jasper had done, she removed her hand and sped away from me.

I clutched my hand that had a few drops of blood seeping from it to my chest and stared at the family of vampires eyeing me warily.

"Why does hers smell different?" I heard Dominic mumble. The others glanced at him but he ignored them and took a step toward me. He stopped as Emmett growled protectively. "Don't you smell it too? I can't describe it but it doesn't affect me as Bella's did."

"Carlisle?" Esme looked at the blonde vampire nervously but he shook his head and turned back to Jasper, who was still snarling at Bella but was no longer fighting against Edward's hold.

"Emmett, Rose, Dominic, get Jasper outside." The three of them nodded and tugged Jasper out of the house. Emmett sent me one last look before he disappeared from my sight.

"I'm so sorry girls." Esme smiled sadly as she looked between Bella - who was still bleeding on the floor - and me. I smiled slightly at her before she rushed out of the house.

"Come on girls, I'll get you stitched up." Carlisle beckoned me over while he lifted Bella. He walked us to his office and he sat Bella down on his desk. He began to address her wounds first since they were more severe than mine. I sat down on his desk chair and waited patiently but my thoughts drifted to those that were outside.

It wasn't too long after that it was my turn to get cleaned up. Carlisle cleaned away the blood on my hand before disinfecting the small crescent-shaped cuts.

"Carlisle," He looked at me expectantly. "Why does my blood smell different than Bella's? Why didn't it have the same effect?"

"I don't know." He seemed disappointed. "I've never encountered something like this before."

"Oh." I sighed softly. He patted my hand soothingly after he placed a large bandaid over my palm. "Thank you." I hopped off of his desk and began to walk towards the door.

"Clary?" Carlisle's voice stopped me. I turned my head to look at him and he had a small smile on his face. "I'm not sure how much Emmett has told you about us, but you're family now. Don't ever forget that." I smiled thankfully at him and left him alone in his office.

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"Why haven't you said a word to me since the party?" I demanded. Emmett and I were sitting in his jeep silently - well until I said something.

"There's nothing to say." He grumpily replied. I opened my mouth to respond but I quickly clamped it shut and nodded instead. I leaned over and pecked his cheek.

"Goodnight," I whispered to him. I carefully climbed out of the large vehicle and walked to my front door. I didn't hear him follow and it broke my heart when I entered the house and heard him start the engine. I quietly slipped off my heels and headed upstairs. I heard muffled voices in Bella's room so I assumed Edward was there. I locked myself in my room and sat down on my bed.

I tied my hair back carefully after I stripped out of my dress. I slid on a shirt Emmett had left on my floor before crawling underneath my comforter. My window wasn't locked nor was it open and as I closed my eyes I was unaware that the next morning I'd be disappointed to find that it still hadn't been opened.

Emmett didn't come that night.