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"It's better for the both of us if we weren't friends." Is the first thing Emmett said to me that morning. I walked into school and found him standing by my locker with his brother Jasper by his side. I figured he would greet me like he normally does, not with that "we shouldn't be friends."

"Why?" I asked him as I opened my locker.

"I'm not good for you." He warned me. I raised my eyebrow at him as I shoved my jacket into my locker and he stared at me with a blank face.

"So you're saying that we shouldn't be friends?" I closed my locker and turned to fully face him. Jasper glanced between us with an amused smirk on his face as he glanced between Emmett and me.

"Yes..." He trailed off as he seemed unsure of his answer.

"Okay so if we shouldn't be friends, then why are you always the one to begin our conversations?" I smirked slightly at him. He stared at me, his blank look remaining, but didn't say anything. I heard Jasper let out a small chuckle. "See you in class Emmett." I grinned and patted his chest before walking away. "Bye Jasper."

"Bye Clary," Jasper called out to me.

Emmett Cullen is the most confusing boy I've ever met.

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"So he said that you and he shouldn't be friends?" Jennah asked as we sat in the library studying. It was lunchtime and neither of us wanted to sit in a noisy cafeteria today.

"Yeah, that's exactly what he said." I nodded, copying down notes from my chemistry textbook.

"And he said because he wasn't good for you." She stated.

"Yeah, but he seemed like he was trying to convince himself instead of me." I put my pencil down and ran one of my hands through my straightened blonde hair.

"Weird." She mumbled. "Well, maybe it's because of the rumors. Maybe he doesn't want to bring you into the craziness that follows his family around?" She suggested.

"But they're just rumors. It honestly shouldn't matter." I sighed and went to rub my eyes but remembered that my makeup was done so I put my hand down. "He's just the most confusing boy I've ever met." I closed my textbook in frustration.

"I can agree with you there. Not even Asher is that confusing and the boy has rainbows and lollipops clouding his mind." She laughed. I laughed with her knowing just how eccentric and unique Asher is. "Have you talked to your sister about this?" She asked me.

"No," I shook my head. "Not yet."

"We'll talk to her, maybe she can help." She shoved her notebooks and textbooks into her backpack and stood up. "I've gotta go meet Asher, I'll see you at cheerleading tryouts?"

"Yeah, I'll have my pompoms ready." I grinned. She smiled at me and left the library. I opened my textbook and flipped to the page I needed and continued writing down the notes for the test.

"I found you." I heard the voice of the boy who claimed we shouldn't be friends say from beside me.

"I don't remember being lost," I told him, not looking up from my notes.

"Well I looked for you at lunch and I couldn't find you so I asked your sister and she said for me to look here. So here I am." He pulled the chair away from the table and took a seat in front of me. "What are you doing?"

"Studying for a chemistry test," I responded. "And I thought that you said we shouldn't be friends?"

"I said we shouldn't not that I didn't want want to be." He clarified.

"That doesn't make it any less confusing," I told him, finally looking up at him.

"I know." He simply said. "Anyways, I came to talk to you." He said. I sighed and closed my textbook once again and gave him my attention. "First, Jasper wants you to come over later to do the art project, so you'll be going home with us. And two, I need your phone number."

"I have cheerleading tryouts after school," I told him.

"That's fine, we'll wait for you." He dismissed.

"Okay." I tore a small sheet of paper from my notebook and scribbled my number onto it before sliding it over to him. "There ya go."

"Thank you." He smiled and placed it in his pocket. I smiled back and began to pack away my books. I zipped up my backpack and stood up. "Where are you going?"

"To class." I said in a 'duh' tone. He shook his head distractedly and stood up also.

"Okay, let's go." He said after he pushed his chair in. "How old are you?" He asked randomly as we walked out of the library.

"Sixteen," I answered him.

"You don't seem sixteen." He said.

"Ever heard the phrase girls mature faster than boys?" I teased him.

"Ha ha." He rolled his eyes.

"And besides you're what, eighteen? You're only two years older than me." I dismissed him.

"Yeah, two years." He mumbled almost inaudibly.

"You know," I stopped in the middle of the hallway and turned to face him. "that secret of yours has me curious." I emitted. He opened his mouth to respond but I cut him off before he could. "Don't worry I won't bug you about it research it like Bella is doing but it has me wondering nonetheless."

"Wondering what exactly?" He raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. I wasn't comprehending what he had asked me as I watched his muscles bulge under the thin fabric of his long-sleeved tee. He cleared his throat and I looked away from him as I felt my cheeks heat up.

"What you are," I confessed. His smirk faded away quickly as the words came out of my mouth and his eyes held a silent glare. "As I said, I'll let Bella figure it out. Well at least until you're ready to tell me." I looked away from his heated gaze and slung my backpack over my shoulders and walked away from him.

He didn't want me to find out what he was but I knew that sooner or later I would. Either from him or Bella, but soon I'd know. And that worried me. Why did he want to me not know so badly? And why did Bella want to know?

I didn't hear his heavy footsteps behind me so I assumed he hadn't followed me. I sighed under my breath and headed for Art, a class I shared with him. I was a bit worried about our next conversation, considering he seemed upset about the one we just had, but I shook it off and set it aside. I had more important things to worry about, like the fact that I'm going to his house later. A place I've learned that no one at our school has ever been to.

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"Clary you were good today!" Jennah cheered as we walked out of the gym. Seeing as how I was the only girl who showed up to tryouts, they gave me the uniform and told me I was now part of the team. They of course had me audition first which only made them even more excited. "Have you been on a cheerleading team before?"

"No, but I used to dance when I was a kid," I admitted sheepishly and watched as she yanked on her uniform skirt.

"You were great! Okay, we have a game Friday so come here straight after school." She told me with a smile on her face. "Oh and wear your uniform to school that day." I nodded and as we both reached the parking lot, we parted ways. I looked around for Emmett and found him, Jasper, and Alice standing by their car. I subconsciously pulled on the skirt to my cheerleading uniform as I walked over to them. I could feel my ears being bit by the blistering wind as I walked and I quickly yanked my hair out of the hair tie that had been securing it.

"Well look who's a part of the Spartan family." Emmett teased. I stuck my tongue at him as I stood there slightly shivering. He chuckled and jumped off the tailgate of the Jeep. "Let's go." He said as he closed it shut. He moved around to the front of the jeep and opened the passenger side door, gesturing for me to hop in. I quickly did so as my bare legs began to freeze from the harsh weather.

"Hi, Clary." Alice greeted me once we were all seated warmly inside the vehicle.

"Hey, Alice." I smiled at her. "Cute jacket," I commented on the brown leather jacket she had on.

"Thanks, cute uniform." She winked. I laughed and greeted Jasper, who also teased me about the uniform.

"Leave her alone." Emmett laughed at his siblings as he backed out of the parking space. "Only I get to tease her about it." I gaped at him before hitting his arm with the sleeve of my sweater. "Hey no hitting the driver!" He protested as he moved his arm to dodge my hits.

"Then the driver should shut up before he gets injured," I stated.

"Next time the driver should have the passenger sit in the back." He grumbled.

"What was that?" I teased.

"Nothing!" He immediately responded. I chuckled and nodded my head. He grumbled some more but I simply laughed at him and looked out the window as we drove.

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"This is your house?" I gaped in awe at the large house he parked in front of.

"Yeah." He answered proudly as he draped his arm across my shoulders. "Come on, my parents are cooking so I hope you're hungry." He guided me up the steps that lead to the door and opened it and revealing a spacious room with walls made up entirely of windows. "You can gawk at it later, lets's go eat so you can do your project with Jasper." He directed me to a flight of stairs and as we ascended them the smell of spaghetti hit me.

"Smells good," I commented as he grabbed my bag from my shoulders and placed it on the small couch before guiding me to where his family had gathered.

"It does." He smiled at me. We walked into the large kitchen and I saw his siblings sitting around the table chatting animatedly and, I'm assuming his parents, moving about as they cooked. "Guys this is Clary." He announced as everyone looked over at us. I shyly waved and smiled in greeting. I was immediately engulfed in a hug by a woman with auburn hair who was about the same height I was.

"It's nice to meet you, Clary, I'm Esme, Emmett's mother." She smiled warmly at me. "And this is my husband Carlisle." She gestured to the man, who I've seen at the hospital due to my clumsiness, to walk over to us.

"It's nice to see you again Clary." He smiled at me.

"It's nice to meet you." I smiled at them. "You have a lovely home," I commented as I glanced around the spacious area we were in.

"Thank you." They both smiled. "I hope you're hungry, we made spaghetti."

"Starved." I chuckled as I felt my stomach growl.

"Well take a seat and Emmett will serve you a plate to eat." Esme smiled. I heard Emmett groan as I moved to the table and sat beside Alice.

"Thank you." I smiled at Emmett as he set a plate in front of me. I picked up my fork and glanced around as everyone watched me. I raised an eyebrow and Esme answered my silent question.

"We've already eaten." I nodded but I couldn't help but note the full pot of spaghetti that sat on the stove that had only a small portion missing from it.

"So Clary, you're on the cheerleading team?" I looked at Carlisle as he asked me. I finished chewing the bite of noodles I had in my mouth before answering.

"Yes sir, as of about an hour ago." I chuckled before taking another bite.

"Were you a cheerleader back in Phoenix?" Esme asked.

"No, but I danced as a kid."

"What type of dance?" Alice asked.

"Ballet." I heard Dominic and Rosalie chuckle but I didn't pay any mind to it. After a few minutes of silence, I had finished my food and Emmett silently grabbed it and took it to the sink.

"So Clary tell us about yourself." Esme smiled. I heard Emmett groan as he sat beside me at the table again.

"She's supposed to be working on a project with Jasper, can't this wait?" He grumbled.

"We have time," Jasper commented with an amused look on his face.

"Be nice." I slapped Emmett's chest with the back of my hand and turned to Esme.

"What would you like to know?"

"How old are you?" I heard Rosalie ask.

"I'm sixteen."

"Is blonde your natural hair color?" Dominic asked.

"Yes."

"Why did you move to Forks?" Alice asked.

"My stepdad plays baseball and he and my mom were going to travel together for his tournaments, so Bella and I decided to come here."

"Do you not like baseball?" Carlisle inquired.

"No, I do. I've played a few times with Phil but his games can get kind of boring." I answered truthfully.

"I don't mean to pry but you sound a little apprehensive about him," Esme commented.

"No, Phil's cool, great even. The situation is still a little awkward though."

"How?" Jasper asked.

"Well despite my parent's divorce, I've spent almost every summer and Christmas here in Forks, and it's awkward when they ask about each other. Plus I've grown to my dad's ways so it's a little weird for me when Phil does the same thing differently." I tried my best to explain how I felt and I think they were able to comprehend what I was saying.

"Well, that's understandable." Esme smiled kindly at me. "Well, before it gets any later, you and Jasper should start on your project."

"Finally." Emmett cheered under his breath making us all laugh.

Everyone dispersed from the room and went to do their own thing as Emmett, Jasper, and I sat at the table and discussed things. Well, Jasper and I discussed things, Emmett just sat there twirling pieces of my hair. We talked about what subject would be our main focus and we managed to even do a little sketch of what we wanted it to look like. Soon enough our mural would be complete. After we were done planning, Emmett offered to drive me home. So we said goodbye to his family, clambered into his jeep, and set off for my house.

"Your family was nice," I commented as he parked in front of my house. The living room light was on, signaling that someone was up waiting for me.

"They liked you." He smiled at me. He opened his door and climbed out before jogging over to my door and opening it for me. He grabbed my hand and silently helped me out of his large vehicle safely. "What are you doing Friday?" He asked as we approached my front door.

"Well there's a game after school, but after that I'm free." I smiled at him.

"Good, because I'm taking you on a date." He smirked.

"Okay," I answered dumbly with a stupid grin on my face. "Goodnight Emmett." I stood up on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek lightly.

"See you tomorrow Clary." He smiled back at me. I opened the front door and walked inside before quietly closing it. I scampered over to the window and peeked through the curtain. I watched him shove his hands in the pockets of his jeans and walk away to his jeep.

"Well aren't you home late." I heard a voice say from behind me. I jumped and turned around to see Bella sitting on the couch reading a book. "How'd it go?"

"He's taking me on a date." I squealed. She smiled with me and we sat on the couch just talking about the new boys in our lives and I smiled at how great things in our lives were going. The Cullen boys may be confusing but we still couldn't help but fall for them.