Hi! Here comes finally ch. 16 of "All you need is ME" and... I have to thank you all of the amazing support and fanning, you're all FANTASTIC!!

Hope you'll enjoy it, Shane and Emmett's relationship is growing and they are bonding more...Emmett is actually thinking of ... you'll see. Let me know what you think, please, love to read your comments!!

A picture of Roman on the right --> Luke Armitage

Dedicated to all of you and in particular to ladydianna01, thanks for your support and comments! And you also write great stories!! xox

Cheers

EMMETT POV

The drive back to Dublin had been quiet, Shane didn’t talk much, although he would try to say something and smile or laugh at what I said. One of his favourite bands had played along the trip, but that didn’t change much the situation. I could see he was thinking about something; he was thinking about going back to his relative’s place and the hidden gloom on his face and the slightly tired attitude of his body had quite an effect on me.

For him it felt as if reality was crushing back in his life and I understood, even if only little, but I did understand him.

When he made that remark about his aunt’s cooking, for a moment I felt a chill of annoyance and anger running down my spine and I wanted to say something, but it wasn’t the moment and the place. Shane had already a lot in his mind; my story was probably still playing and twisting in his head and the fact he hasn’t asked me more about it, meant he was still processing all the information. He knew what it meant to lose your family and having them to turn their back at you. At least I had Alice and she was my angel; Shane had no one. I wished I could do more for him. Thinking about Alice, she liked him and I knew she wanted to keep more in touch. The idea brought a smile on my face; my sister would be amazing also for this brat. She really would.

I silently chuckled.

Brat.

It was clear in my head that I shouldn’t call him like that, but I couldn’t help it; it pissed him a bit sometimes, but he got already I didn’t mean anymore in that way. It wasn’t anymore meant to call him immature or young.

I had an idea in mind, since last morning, but I hadn’t say yet a word; not sure completely about it, because it meant to take a very big and almost scaring step and I had to be certain hundred percent before speaking. It wasn’t easy to suddenly change your life and be willing to take a considerable risk, because my idea meant to take a significant leap, which might end well or not. I had also made a promise to Shane and I didn’t want to break it. I’ll have to see how things will develop; perhaps the answer will just come by itself.

The fact was that I couldn’t stand either the thought of him going back to that place, not after witnessing what his uncle could do to him and even more not after hearing what happened years ago. Forcing anyway wasn’t the solution, he was without doubt a strong and mature person, he knew what he wanted or so it seemed to me, but Shane was still a little fragile inside. He constantly needed to know a person wouldn’t drop him at the first chance; a person wouldn’t let him behind and chase him away or leave him for good. It was crystal clear, believe me, even if he’ll never admit it; when we had sex the first night and he asked me to not leave him, his eyes pierced me painfully. Shane was strong-minded and more mature for his age, true, but he was still fighting a delicate and messed up situation.

Better to actually not dwell overly long on that particular thought, because it had a very scaring and enraging impact on me. If I were to meet his uncle I had no idea what my reactions could be, even if I knew what Shane told me.

Now he was sitting on the sofa, watching a movie on TV, and I was cooking. Honestly, cooking somehow relaxed me, it’s always been like that; while preparing the food, my mind would slow and cool down from its gloomy and annoyed thinking and would simply enjoy the process. Thus it would give me time to think about something else, something more pleasant or at least less grumpy. Well, since I met Shane things changed quite a bit and I realized I hadn’t had pitiful and pathetic thoughts or I didn’t feel like falling down in few days. Nothing.

Shane wasn’t kidding the first night he kissed me. He was damn right in saying that we all need something and he was what my pathetic and old selves needed to find a peace of mind and equilibrium.

It was strange he wasn’t around here wanting to talk or help me out and somehow I missed his cheeky and smiling presence around me.

“Shane, want to help me slicing and preparing potatoes? Promise, no smashed potatoes tonight.”

I heard him chuckle and move from the couch.

“What are you making?” He asked, his liquid blue-ish green eyes scanning the kitchen counter and the stove.

“I found some cod in the freezer, baking that with some wedges and tomatoes. Is that good for you?”

“More than good, sham.” Shane smirked and stopped beside me, picking up a knife. “So, what do you me to do?”

I explained him and he went on with his task, with me stealing occasional quick glances to his figure and face, trying to understand everything going on in his mind.

“What will you do for your birthday?” I asked, trying to make him talk and honestly curios about that.

Would he party and get wasted with his friends? He told me he had few friends from playing soccer, but never met them and no idea what they were like. The idea of Shane getting blasted with some of his mates didn’t play well at all in my mind.

“Nothing much, I think Enna wants to make dinner for me at his place and then probably I’ll go drinking something with my friends, it’s their treat.” He shrugged and tilted his head to study my face. I pulled out a poker face, but guess it didn’t work perfectly. “What Em? Don’t tell me you’re jealous or worried I might get drunk and fuck someone else? I have never been with any of them, they are just friends.”

He sounded very arrogant and provoking in this moment and given how already the mere idea irritated me, I groaned annoyed and seized the back of his neck, pulling his face only a breath away from mine.

“I wasn’t even considering that, because I don’t want to think about it Shane. You won’t sure mess around, brat. I had been clear on that already, haven’t I?” His eyes soared with many emotions and a full smile finally bloomed on his face.

“I bloody won’t, you’re right. I have you, now.” He said with firm and challenging voice.

I smirked, liking to hear that, and closed the small distance between us, but Shane reacted faster and attacked my mouth.

“Why don’t you come with us?” He proposed, keeping his lips on mine.

“No, that would be like intruding your fun. Plus, me with a bunch of swearing punks? No thanks.” I joked and he scowled rolling his beautiful eyes.

“What a tool you are, sometimes. Isn’t it because you don’t want people to see us together?” That was a provocation, I damn knew it.

See? I told you Shane still had the vital necessity to hear from people that they wouldn’t let him go.

“You really think that’s the matter? Because you know is it not. I have been quite open with you, not caring to kiss you in a pub. I really don’t want to spoil your fun, that’s all.” I thought about the situation of me being a teacher and Shane still a student. “Well, we probably might need to act casually when together around Dublin. You’re still a student and I am teacher, Shane, even if you’re almost twenty years old.”

He considered that for a moment, chewing his inner cheek. His eyes gleamed of green and blue lights and then pierced mine.

“That’s bloody true...I haven’t thought about it.” He sighed.

“I don’t care what they could say about me, they are not gonna fire me, at least I don’t think so. But you said you don’t need any more pain in the neck, brat. Remember?”

“Yep, remember.” He grunted, now his features darkening and tensing. I dropped what I had in my hand and dragged him in a strong hug.

“Shane, it won’t change anything between us. I promise you. We just need to avoid very explicit and rated display of affection in public.” I softly chuckled, thinking about the time we had in Galway.

Even a blind person would have seen and understood Shane and I were together.

Shit. I just said it, didn’t I? Yes.

That was true. Shane and I were together. How was I supposed to call him? I had no idea. Ok, more time was needed to process everything and the right time was required to say the right words. Which words I had no fucking idea, but I knew it wasn’t now the right time. One thing a time, if we were to overload, it wouldn’t come out right and as it was supposed to be.

“Fine, I’ll try to behave, but will you be able to resist me and my alluring lips?” Shane flashed his usual devilish smile and there was that light. A light I never saw in anyone before.

“I’ll try to resist you.” He smiled again and kissed me another time. I sure liked kissing him and it had every time a fuelling effect on my senses. “Now, how about we finish preparing dinner?”

“Grand.”

We ate at the table in the living room and as usual he complimented my cooking. Again that idea and thought agitated in my head. Was the right moment now to ask him? Would that be a real good idea or simply the spur of the moment? Hell if I knew. My older self began to shout in my mind to fucking square my balls and realize it wasn’t anymore the time for hesitation. That was right.

I asked him more about school, if he had homework to do or anything of the sort, but he had none. The school he went to was a very “bloody knackered” school, that’s how he called it and apparently didn’t provide with the best education, which was a pity. Shane sure had a brilliant and smart brain.

“What do you want to do after school? Would you like to go to college?” I inquired, quite curios.

“The only thing I want to do once that fecking diploma is in my hands is to leave that bloody hellhole and those bastards of my relatives. I’ll find a job and that’s it.”

He would be so wasted to just find a job. He could so much more.

“Never thought about college? You can apply for scholarship.”

“You bloody kidding? Scholarship, me? Ha, what a craic, sham. That’s impossible, my grades aren’t exactly brilliant, because I can’t always study, need to work from time to time to earn a bit of money if I don’t want to live in shit.”

That anger flooded again violently in me. Shane had so much potential, but couldn’t let it out and express it because of those damn shitheads. How unfair was that? How fucked up was that? I tried to sooth it away, but it wasn’t easy; all of this was completely new and not being used to this, only made it stronger and more powerful to feel.

I had to let it out now. I had to ask him, even if he might not be ready for that and even if it might cost some risks and problems. At this point, I couldn’t give a rat ass about that and about my pathetic issues.

“Shane, why you keep staying there? I honestly don’t like the idea of having to take you back there. If they’ll dare to land again their hands on you, I’m not sure this time I’ll let it pass.” I growled and fought to keep at bate my problematic temper.

SHANE POV

He was thinking about something that pissed him off, bloody hell, you could tell by the way his eyes flamed and his lips clenched.

“Shane, why you keep staying there? I honestly don’t like the idea of having to take you back there. If they’ll dare to land again their hands on you, I’m not sure this time I’ll let it pass.” He asked suddenly, his face and voice had darkened, and his strong jaws clenched along with his full lips. He took a deep breath and exhaled.

It was such a new and overwhelming feeling having someone truly caring for me. I felt a lump in my throat and cursed in my head for how mushy I was turning out.

“I told you why I need to stay there.” I simply said, keeping my voice down, even though it was only the two of us here.

“You have only few months left, so why don’t you...” I stopped him right there.

He was making things bloody difficult and hard for me. What he wanted to say? That I could leave the place and leave where? I was sure as hell he wouldn’t let me live with him, of that I was bloody certain. So why making things this damn hard? It was already torturing me the idea of having to go back to that hellhole on Monday, not even knowing how they would “welcome” me back. Would they beat the shit out of me? Would they ignore me? Would they insult me and use me as their stress reliever? I had no bloody idea.

“Emmett.” I said, now my voice trembling with annoyance and growing resentment. “Don’t say another word.” Even my hands were now shaky and felt my blood pulse faster.

“What?” He snapped, looking at me with an unpleased hard expression. “Why should I just shut up? I am worrying about you, brat.”

“Amn’t a fecking brat and you know that. Don’t make things harder and more complicated for me. I can’t leave that bloody hellhole and you fucking know that and why and even if I were to leave it, where should I go? On the street again? I can’t go and bother Enna and Roman for months.” I snarled while I spoke, my voice spitting so much resentment and wounded pride that my mouth tasted bitter.

Yes. I had fecking pride and if you thought it never hurt when someone stepped on it, you are a bloody tool. It fucking hurt and angered me.

Emmett sprang up and grabbed my wrist bloody hard, and jerked it to pull me a mere inch at his now storming face, since I wasn’t looking at him. His eyes and his entire figure bloody scared me. He was visibly fuming with annoyance and fighting to keep calm. He clearly didn’t like my outburst and my affront.

“What the hell did you just say, Shane?” His voice was low and hissing and I gulped. He gripped my wrist harder and I flinched, but he didn’t let go. “Did you just forget what I promised you last night and also the night before? Do you think this is just a game for me?”

His words flashed in my head, not just what he promised me that night, but also the night I told him my past, when I met his sister via Skype. I opened my mouth to say something, but I closed without uttering a sound. I looked away. I wasn’t used to this; it was scaring, bloody scaring.

I was falling hard for Emmett and the more I fell, the more I feared to lose him.

I heard him exhale frustrated, trying to keep at bate his bloody temper and thin patience, standing up in front of me. My wrist was still in his hand and he forced me to turn in his direction, when I looked away.

“Shane, look at me.” His voice was calmer now and warmer. I dared to look and he was there, squatting right beside me, his eyes right in front of mine. “Shane, what I meant to say wasn’t for you to leave that shithole and go on the street or to Enna. How can you think that? I meant you could stay at my place.”

I widened my eyes and all blood gushed away and left me paling down.

What he just bloody said?

“What?” I whispered, feeling more and more scared. “No ... I mean, bloody no. No, no..”

“Shane, relax.” He let go of my wrist and placed his warm hands on my now cold face. “Why are you so scared?”

“Because you’ll get tired of me and you’ll leave me behind and kicked me out of your life and what after that? No, no, no...I don’t want that, I ... I ... if we live together you’ll began to hate me and you’ll..” His lips went on mine and my body responded at his kiss immediately. I melted there and let his arms reassure me.

“Shane, it’s true we know each other for too little time and normally this wouldn’t be enough. That’s true and I do understand your feelings and your fears. But you have to understand something else, brat. With you, everything is completely different; with you, logic and rationality don’t apply anymore. Do you understand what I mean? I am more than willing to risk it and I know I won’t get tired of you. Just in one week, you were able to crack my dull and pathetic self and make me realize what I had become. Brat, you’re something I never met in my life, you’re someone completely unique.”

I felt the lump in my throat press harder and getting almost chocking.

“Amn’t willing to risk it, I am afraid to lose you. I don’t want to lose you.” I admitted. He sighed and simply hugged me tightly and reassuring.

“You don’t trust me completely, yet. I do understand you.” He said with a matter of fact voice. “It makes sense after what you experienced and I’m sorry for pushing you into this.”

No.

That wasn’t the bloody reason.

No.

It’s not that I didn’t trust him or shit like that, but I was simply afraid. I was freaking out with fear to lose him because of my attitudes, I was afraid to do something to piss him off, annoy him, or make him realize he was wasting time and nothing more.

Bloody hell.

I was falling for him hard, yes, very fecking hard and I wasn’t still ready to completely trust my heart in his hands, because it terrified me the idea of losing him. I was bloody afraid to do that and knew it would hurt me to a point of no return if he would break it.

Although, I did TRUST Emmett, fuck, I bloody TRUSTED him with everything and completely.

I was so bloody confused right now.

“Sorry Em, it’s not that I don’t trust YOU. I am just a bloody and coward brat scared of trusting someone I like too damn much.”

He was going to hate me for what I just said, especially considering the size and irritability of his arrogant ego and pride.

“Shh...don’t you dare to call yourself a coward brat. You aren’t a fucking coward, you’re my cocky and strong and amazing brat. I understand what you mean and I am sorry I upset you by saying what I said. I was, shit, I AM just worried about you, it enrages me the idea of that bastard of your uncle..it’s hard to let it go and I would really like to make things better for you.” He pulled me back and looked straight in my eyes the whole time he talked. He wasn’t spitting lies or saying something just to make me feel better.

He meant what he said; he bloody meant it.

My God, could I be a bigger tool?

“Emmett...I don’t know what to say... Thank you, you make me feel so cared, wanted, desired, needed..”

“That’s because I clearly need you, Shane, and because I clearly want you, desire you... and care for you and worry about you.” I could tell it cost him much saying that, it was out of his arrogant and full of himself character to admit such a thing, but he did it. He did it, because he knew I needed to hear that.

Falling for Emmett?

I was already in love with this man, but I knew he still wasn’t there and didn’t know if he’ll ever reach my same level.

Emmett was my first love. My real, pure and bloody headache love.

“I need you, too. That’s why I’m bloody scare to lose you.”

Fuck, I just finally admitted it.

His arms tightened around me stronger and more protective. He knew very well what I meant and I knew very well how he felt.

“Shane, I understand you and I will not bother you about this anymore, but you have to promise me something.”

“What?”

“If those bastards will dare to hit you and beat you another time, you’ll have to move with me instantly and I don’t care what the welfare says or anything one else.”

I was going to promise something hard and difficult to keep, because I knew I risked everyday a possible beating. Could I anyway refuse such a request coming from him? No, I bloody couldn’t and I would keep my word and promise. Emmett wasn’t someone to fail and sure as hell I didn’t want to fail him.

“Alright, Emmett. I will do that, I promise.” My voice was trembling for the storm of emotions thundering inside me. He understood that and kept hugging me, not letting go of me.

“Good.” Em murmured, pulling then away to face me. “You finished with dinner?”

“Yes, finished. Want me to help you with the dishes?” I tried to sound more relaxed and calm, but didn’t work very well.

“Leave them there, don’t care about it.” He stood up and pulled me standing with him. “You asked me before if you could see me playing.”

I widened my eyes and simply nodded. Emmett was willing to show me how he used to play in NBA and that must cost him some bloody effort.

“C’mon then, I’ll bring the laptop in bed.”

Bloody hell, laptop in bed. An idea flashed in my mind.

How would be living together with him? I felt now sudden and crushing warm fire my face and body. Living with Emmett would be bloody overwhelming.

We lay in his comfy and soft bed, leaning on the headboard and on a couple of pillows; Em just wore a loose pair of basketball shorts, me shorts and t-shirt. Yeah well, bet me bollocks the t-shirt would go to hell quite soon.

The laptop was on and he was searching for some videos in a specific NBA website. He found what he was looking for and turned on the video.

“This is a game we played few months before my accident, one of the best ever. There I set a new record for points.” His voice held a clear note of excitement and pride, sounding almost arrogant and self indulgent, but hey, I loved it. He sounded so bloody confident and his eyes burning so intense that it was fecking overpowering, I felt his excitement in me.

Emmett really loved basketball.

The video played and I kept watching it in complete silence and astonishment. I had already seen few games on TV, thus I knew more or less how they played, but here the craic was bloody different. Here it involved Emmett and let me tell you, Emmett looked like a god in that court, like a war god or a demigod general directing the war operation and the game, setting the rule, commanding the game and crushing his opponents. It was incredible, Emmett was incredible.

He really was the best.

In the video, he dazed and confused opponents with his fast and unpredictable dribbling, easily changing from one hand to the other, changing legs, stance, direction, pace. It was almost difficult to follow him. And that arrogant and full of himself side was there at its fullest extent. You could see it, if you know what I mean. He was bloody brilliant, jumping high with shocking force and power, slamming the ball in the basket almost threatening to break the basket. Em wouldn’t let the opponent foul him or take away his ball or attack him. Bloody hell, no. He was precise, fast, impulsive, strong.

Goodness, I was breathing hard, it was such a bloody strong emotion to watch him play. He was a god out there. Why he had to lose all of it? Why?

“Em, you look like a bloody war god in that court.” I breathed.

He shifted closer to me and tilted my face towards him.

“You like it?” His eyes gleamed of that excited and liking to be in control light and I nodded in a complete lack of fecking words. He smirked and leaned closer. “Once it’s slightly warmer, I’ll teach you a couple of things.”

I smiled and pulled his mouth on mine. Our tongues met immediately and melted in a hungry assault of twirling, grinding, rubbing and soon I found myself completely pushed down from his body. My fingers locked in his hair and I deepened the kiss, letting my tongue twist around and then I teasingly sucked his. He growled and his hand ran under my t-shirt. I moaned, but then I heard a loud whistle. The game, bloody hell, it was still on and I wanted to watch more of it.

I tried to push him away, but it was a hard task.

“What the hell do you think you are doing, Shane?” He groaned, annoyed at my pushing him away.

“I want to finish watching the game, tool.” I sort of rolled my eyes and managed to sit back normally.

Emmett snorted something and shook his head; he turned to the computer and stopped the video, closing the page.

“Why would you do that?” I hissed, punching his arm. “I want to watch you playing.”

“Shane, it’s a damn video, we can watch it later or tomorrow.” Tomorrow. I felt something grabbing my guts. Tomorrow I won’t be here. He read my expression and stroked my hair. “If not tomorrow, any other day you’ll have time to come over. Now, will you give me your undivided attention and just kiss me?” I shot my eyes at him and chuckled. When he pulled out the charming and joking card I couldn’t resist him.

I jumped on him and he ended on his back; without wasting a moment, my lips connected with his and we both groaned loud and hard.

I guess Em was right, the video could bloody wait.

Author's chit-chat:

Next chapter we'll have Shane going back to his place...what will happen? Will everything be ok for him? How did you image Emmett playing basketball?

And what do you think of his birthda? Hehehe)))

I'll upload in few days!