I made my way back to the Cullens' house, navigating the familiar path effortlessly. As I entered, a bright smile adorned my face, reminiscent of a delighted child receiving a cherished toy. I noticed Esme and Carlisle glance at me, undoubtedly aware of our conversation, yet they smiled sweetly, never letting on or revealing anything to me.

I got dressed, borrowing some clothes from Rosalie. I was surprised to find that we were nearly the same size, although her clothes were still a bit baggy on me. Nevertheless, I made them work. I spent some time alone, engrossed in one of the many books the Cullens had in their collection. However, as night fell, I found myself reading mindlessly, lost in my own thoughts. Worry gnawed at me as I hadn't seen Emmett since our near-kiss moment; he had simply vanished. I couldn't help but wonder if he was deliberately staying away from me.

Carlisle informed me that Bella had injured her hand by punching Jacob in the face. My eyes widened in surprise, though it was exactly the kind of thing Bella would do. I hoped she would share the details with me later. Carlisle and I waited for her within the kitchen, his medical bag placed on the counter.

Soon, Bella and Edward walked in, her eyes immediately locking onto mine. I instantly knew she was aware of what had happened yesterday. "Charlotte," she breathed my name in one relieved exhale, clearly glad to see I was okay.

"Hi," I replied sheepishly. As she crossed the remaining distance between us, I offered her a gentle hug. "I guess you know?" I asked as we pulled back, noticing she was still clutching her right wrist.

"What happened?" Bella asked, her expression filled with concern.

"I'll tell you later," I replied, wanting her to be checked out first. She nodded in understanding as I gently guided her over to Carlisle. He began his examination, carefully inspecting her hand and asking her to perform various movements to ensure it wasn't broken. Bella winced occasionally, but Carlisle's calm demeanour seemed to reassure her as he meticulously assessed her injury.

"It's just a sprain," he stated while carefully bandaging her hand. "It should heal fairly quickly," Carlisle explained. I stood behind him, leaning against the counter, while Edward stood close to Bella.

Quiet footsteps entered the room; if it hadn't been so silent, I might not have heard them. "Trying to walk and chew gum at the same time again, Bella?" Emmett's deep voice rang out from behind. I turned my head over my shoulder to see him slide onto the countertop and lean over. Clad in a stylish vest, shirt, jeans, and belt, his overall attire suited him impeccably. He looked undeniably dashing.

Yet as I gazed at him, memories of what had happened came rushing back. The sensation of our lips nearly touching, the moment before we almost kissed. Just the memory alone made me feel warm inside. His golden eyes flickered to meet my gaze as if he sensed my thoughts. They appeared brighter, suggesting he had fed not long ago. But our brief connection was soon interrupted as his eyes returned to Bella.

Bella chuckled at his remark before speaking. "I punched a werewolf in the face," she stated, casting a glance at Emmett.

"Badass," Emmett remarked, clearly impressed by her bravery. "You're gonna be one tough little newborn," Emmett said with a boyish smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. I silently stepped back, positioning myself to have both Bella and Emmett in my view.

"Tough enough to take you on," Bella said, smiling at him, which made me chuckle at her words. Suddenly, there was a 'thud' as a newspaper hit the table. Rosalie rose from the couch nearby, and walked across the floor, her heels clicked against. She was clearly against Bella becoming a newborn.

Rosalie made her way to the kitchen balcony door, opening it and stepping out into the night. We all watched as she walked across and out of the door, leaving a palpable tension lingering in the air.

"Don't worry about it," Emmett said softly, acknowledging Rosalie's outburst.

The room fell silent for a moment as Carlisle stepped back from Bella, having completed what he needed to do for her hand. I noticed Bella glancing out onto the balcony.

"Got any leads?" Edward asked, redirecting the conversation from Rosalie to something more important. I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for Rosalie; she simply desired a human life, with all its ordinary joys—living, having children, growing old. I empathized with her perspective.

"No sign of the intruder. But Victoria continues to make appearances," Jasper stated, capturing the attention of both Carlisle and Edward. I noticed Bella getting up from her chair and quietly heading outside, wanting to have a talk with Rosalie.

Suddenly, without warning, I felt large hands hook under my arms and hoist me up onto the countertop. I let out a squeal for a moment before turning my head to the left to see Emmett retracting his hands.

"I'm sorry for disappearing earlier," Emmett began, his husky voice echoing in my ears. I clasped my hands together in front of me, trying to stop myself from fidgeting with them.

"No, I should be the one to apologize," I retorted, meeting his gaze once again. "I didn't mean to overwhelm you with those flowers and my-"

"It wasn't that," Emmett admitted, cutting me off before I could finish my sentence. I frowned at him, my eyebrows knitting together in confusion. So, it wasn't what I had thought. "I was amazed at what you did. At how you explained how you felt everything around you, and I just thought," Emmett paused for a moment, his expression reflecting the struggle to articulate his thoughts. "That every time you look at me, you'll just feel death, then,"

"No, don't do that," I interjected, shifting my body to turn more towards him, eager to connect. "I don't need my powers to tell me what I feel from you, Emmett," my voice softened, almost taking on an angelic quality. "Bella fell for Edward of all people," I chuckled, lightening the mood. He allowed a chuckle to escape, understanding my jest. "Do you think she sees death every time they kiss or touch, that she's bothered about the cold? No, because she loves him deeply. She sees past all that," I explained, hoping my words would reach and resonate with him. "I don't see you, or the others, as vampires. I see you as compassionate people," I spoke gently, conveying the truth. They all meant so much to me now.

I released a sigh, unfolding my clasped hands. "You saw what I did, how destructive it was. Yet here you are, unafraid, because you understand what it's like to hold power you can't control. Strength that cannot be contained. Whether it's physical -- or in my case -- magical," I lifted my right hand, extending it slowly toward his cheek. As I made contact, I pushed past the icy chill, determined not to let it affect me. "When I look at you, I feel alive," Emmett's presence drew me out of my shell, elicited laughter, and made me cherish life. He never held my witch heritage against me, nor was he afraid of what I could do. With him, every day felt meaningful, like it truly mattered.

Silence enveloped us, yet our gazes remained locked, a silent exchange of understanding passing between us. He nuzzled into my hand, relishing the sensation of my touch against his skin. "You're so beautiful," Emmett breathed out, his words spoken without hesitation, a genuine expression of admiration.

Warmth surged through my body as his words struck a chord within me, flushing my cheeks crimson with a deep blush. Stunned into silence, I leaned up, lifting half of my body, and enveloped him in a hug, wrapping both arms around his neck. As I embraced him, I felt his arms encircling me, his touch gentle so as not to crush me. Unable to find the right words, I hoped that my actions would convey the depth of my feelings to him.

I don't know how long we remained in that embrace, but we parted when Bella returned to the kitchen. She gave me a knowing look, silently signalling that she wanted to talk to me later about what was unfolding between Emmett and me.

.........................

Bella recounted the events with Jacob in detail, explaining how he confessed his feelings and kissed her, which infuriated her and led her to punch his face. I listened intently, absorbing each word she spoke, before sharing my own experience. I confessed to losing control, allowing my emotions to overwhelm me. I spoke of the genocide that the Volturi did against witches, and the looming presence of the newborn army, expressing my fervent desire for a solution to end the chaos. I longed for the power to utter some magical words that could put an end to Victoria's vendetta against us, allowing us to finally live in peace.

I confessed to Bella about my feelings for Emmett, sharing the many moments we had shared together. They seemed innocent on the surface, but I knew there was more depth to them. I expressed my doubts to her, worried that Emmett might not truly like me and was just being kind.

Bella told me that I was being stupid, and told me that Emmett was definitely drooling over me. Her words, not mine. I did feel a spark of hope ignite within me, realizing that perhaps my feelings for Emmett were not as one-sided as I had feared. I told her not to mention this to Edward, as he would tease Emmett, but I think he already knew.

Despite my recent challenges, I felt a surge of excitement as Graduation day arrived. It marked the end of an era at Forks High, a chapter filled with memories I cherished. Amidst the festivities, I couldn't help but reflect on the reasons for my relocation here, realizing how much I had grown and learned to control myself. Sitting beside Bella in my cap and gown, I eagerly awaited the commencement ceremony. All eyes turned towards Jessica, who stood behind the podium, ready to deliver her speech.

"When we were five, they asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up," Jessica's voice resonated across the audience via the microphone. "Our answers were things like astronaut, president, or, in my case, a princess." Her remark elicited chuckles from the entire audience. "When we were 10, they asked again. We answered rock star, cowboy or, in my case, a gold medallist... But now that we've grown up, they want a serious answer. Well, how about this?" Jessica paused for effect, glancing down at her speech. "Who the hell knows?" Her words ignited a wave of cheers and applause from the audience. I glanced at Bella and Edward, sharing a smile as we joined in the applause.

"This isn't the time to make hard-and-fast decisions. This is the time to make mistakes. Take the wrong train and get stuck somewhere. Fall in love... a lot," a cheer erupted from some students. "Major in philosophy, because there's no way to make a career out of that. Change your mind, and change it again, because nothing's permanent," Jessica's eyes swept across the gathered students, her words carrying weight. "So, make as many mistakes as you can. That way, someday, when they ask what we want to be, we won't have to guess. We'll know." Jessica concludes her stirring speech, eliciting applause from both students and adults in the audience.

One by one, each student approached the stage to receive their diploma from the principal. As my name was called, I stepped forward, feeling a surge of confidence that hadn't been there when I first arrived at this school. Though traces of shyness remained, they seemed to diminish in the face of this momentous occasion. As I ascended the stairs to the stage, I caught sight of my grandmother in the audience. She rose from her seat, applauding enthusiastically, her pride evident in the tears glistening in her eyes. I couldn't help but smile back at her, grateful for her unwavering support throughout.

Reaching the principal, I accepted my diploma with a sense of accomplishment, my gaze lingering on my grandmother's tearful expression. I knew my parents would have been just as proud if they were here to witness this. Next in line was Bella, and as she made her way to the stage, I watched Charlie stand up with a proud smile, mirroring the emotions I had seen in my grandmother just moments before. It was a reminder of the support and love that surrounded us on this special day.

High school was over. So, what was next for me?

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