CHAPTER VI ―

DON'T. I MEAN IT!

𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐀 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐖𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐘 for her literature class so she could finally see what Alice had wanted. She was standing at her locker, wondering about Alice and her Lit class, when the bell rang.

A curse left Nora's peach-colored lips as she knew she was going to be late, slamming her locker shut with another curse.

"Emmett?" The boy had come out of nowhere around the corner, startling Nora slightly as it took her by surprise. He gave her a large grin.

"Hmm, already running late to class, I see?" The smirk on his face was hard to look away from and Nora cursed at herself. "Don't worry about it. The teachers love me, I'll be able to cut you some slack." She knew he was right. How could the teachers not adore the Cullen's? "I need to talk to you."

Nora winced. Great! She thought sarcastically. Just what I need... another "talk" with a Cullen. "Why?" She snapped. Nora had thought they didn't like her much at all. They'd act like they did and the next minute, they didn't. She began walking down the hallway, or more like stalking. In a flash, he was walking right beside her without a struggle to keep up. "I don't mean to be rude, but I really don't get or have time for your Cullen mood swings."

"Cullen... mood swings?" He laughed a sweet laugh that made her stomach churn. "I don't understand what you're saying."

Nora paused, turning around to face him. She tried her hardest to show her confusion and anger. "One minute, someone in your family is super nice to me. The next, they're not. What do you want from me? What am I to you? I'm just some new girl." Her voice had gone to a whisper now as her eyebrows furrowed. "Don't waste your time talking to me."

"Ah, but I want to-" a cold hand was placed on her shoulder and Nora looked at with raised brows. "We've just had some family issues lately, but we're past that. We'd all like to know-"

"Well, thanks," Nora mumbled, adjusting the books in her arms.

"And we want to continue talking to you." She paused, waiting for him to say more. His face was grinning at her again, gold eyes bright. "We're decently friendly people. When we see someone we like, that is."

Nora paused. Glancing around the hallway, she didn't want to be seen with a Cullen again. Especially her friends. "Maybe you are, Emmett. Or at least, the two out of the five of you are." His smile dropped slightly. "I mean, you and Alice seem to be wonderful. Jasper, Rosalie, and Edward on the other hand..." she shook her head, confused at why the three didn't like her, especially Edward.

At first, she'd thought Edward had, but that changed after that day.

Emmett's smile at fully dropped now as he stuffed his hands into his jean pockets. "I probably shouldn't be saying this," Emmett looked back up at Nora with a smirk. "Rosalie is a little dramatic, I should know. I admit it. I even had difficulties reaching her sometimes." He paused, inspecting Nora's unhappy face with a smile. "Edward is very fond of you."

"That's a great joke!" Nora burst into a fit of giggles, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, right. The guy can barely sit next to me in bio, I really don't think that counts as "fondness" in my book. He glares at me! He doesn't like me."

"Like I said," Emmett shrugged. "there were issues in the family and we all feel sorry for hitting you with our car."

"Don't. I mean it." Even if it was their fault, Nora didn't want to be friends out of pity. "I just... I don't want to make a lot of friends here. I won't be staying long, I never do."

"Why not?"

"My father's job forces us to move a lot."

"Even if you are here for a few more weeks, it couldn't hurt to make a few more friends."

"Why are you trying so hard?" Nora narrowed her eyes. "You have more than one option to let into your little clique, yet you keep pursuing me. Isn't it enough I'm scared of you?"

It had slipped out of her mouth faster than she could realize. "Scare you?" Emmett's gasped, eyebrows furrowed. "That has never been our intent. Not at all."

That was the last thing she'd wanted; for Emmett Cullen to know she was afraid of him and his entire family. The worst part was the fact that she had no reason to be afraid of them. They were all so cold and beautiful. Nora thought she was probably being superstitious towards them. Her head hurt and she wanted to get to class. "Never mind what I said. I'm sorry, Emmett." Her voice was quiet now. "I have to get to class."

She'd brushed past him and rushed off towards her class. Without him escorting her to class, Nora had a high risk of getting detention, but at that moment she didn't care. She wanted to get away from him... the one Cullen she hoped would leave her alone beside Rosalie. And now he wanted to be friends again? There was something about the Cullens that made Nora nervous... a feeling she didn't like.

...

After a short reaming from the teacher and a warning, Nora found herself sitting next to Alice again, the only seat left open. "Hey," Alice waved a little, whispering quietly to her. "Emmett talked to you today?"

"How did you know?" Nora's voice was filled with sarcasm.

She shrugged casually. "I talked to him yesterday. I told him that you and I talked and I could tell you were a little standoffish."

Nora flushed. "You could tell that?"

Alice smirked. "I can tell a lot of things..." she winked. "You got upset with him, didn't you?" Before she could answer, Alice did for her. "I know we've seemed odd lately, but it's just been some family issues that we've resolved, but we all like you." She smiled. "Rosalie and Jasper included." Yeah, right.

"Thanks, Alice." Even if you are lying... "That's very nice of you."

"About Edward." Her words were slow and drawn out. Nora waited for her to continue, and as much as she hated to admit it, the boy's name piqued her curiosity. "He has some mood swings. He doesn't really care for people. It's not that he doesn't like you... it's not that at all, it's just-"

"That he doesn't like people. I get it, Alice. It's okay." Nora quickly assured her. "You don't have to worry."

"You should sit with us at lunch."

Nora bit down on her lip as she held herself back from erupting into a fit of "No's!". How could she sit with her at lunch? Candice would have a cow! And she really didn't want to risk getting Rosalie angry. Or Edward, on that note. "I-I can't. I have a table I already sit at. They wouldn't understand why I left."

"I'm sure they will!" Alice's tone was pleading now. "Just for a day or two!"

"I don't know..."

"Come on!" Alice urged with her hands clenched like a prayer. "I promise, we don't bite..."

Hearing those words shook Nora slightly, but she nodded anyways, not wanting to talk anymore. As a bright grin took over Alice's face again, Nora began to listen to their Lit. teacher, not wanting to miss anymore. She'd glance over to Alice again.

"I promise we don't bite." Rang through her head again...

How doubtful.

─ ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧ ─
And it's here!
Sorry for the delay.