⋅˚₊‧ ☾ ‧₊˚ ⋅ ♡‧₊˚

"Bella it's just Emily's house, stop worrying." I rolled my eyes at my older sister. We had been parked in front of Sam and Emily's house for a good five minutes and Bella refused to leave the truck. It was the third day of spring break and instead of hanging with Jake, I suggested that she have some girl time. She agreed but she still wouldn't leave the truck. "Okay, fine. You want to stay in here then go ahead, but I am going inside." I sighed heavily. I felt her watching me as I opened the truck door but I didn't turn to look at her. I shut the door and headed up the porch steps, knocking softly on the door.

"Hi, Clary." Emily smiled at me. Her long brown hair was piled on top of her head in a bun and she donned sweats and a tank top. "It's cleaning day." She explained her clothing choices.

"I figured." I teased her. She stepped aside and let me in the house, closing the door before any of the cold air seeped in.

"Did your dad drop you off?" I followed her into the kitchen where she resumed her dishwashing.

"No, Bella did. She's still outside too." I slid my jacket off and draped it over a chair. I hopped onto the countertop and watched her clean. "She came over for a girl's day but she won't leave the truck."

"Why not?" Emily turned to me, confused.

"Bella is more of a guy's girl. She's never really hung out with girls before, except me, so she doesn't know how to interact with them." I shrugged. "Plus she's intimidated by my awesomeness," I smirked and dusted off imaginary dust from my shoulder.

"I'm sure that's what it is." Emily rolled her eyes.

"It is! I'm a force to be reckoned with." I flailed my arms dramatically. Emily scoffed and shook her head. "Don't be a hater." I glared playfully at her. She laughed and I stuck my tongue out at her.

"So how are things going with Bella? You two talk everything out?" That was another thing I liked about Emily. She always knew I wasn't okay even if I showed otherwise.

"No. I guess we both just chose to move on from our little disagreements." I shrugged.

"What started this rift between you anyways?" She turned off the water and dried her hands with a towel as she turned to face me.

"She thinks her breakup was rougher than mine."

"Was it?"

"I don't think so but I don't know the relationship they had that well. Emmett and I had been together longer than Bella and Edward but they could've been closer than us." I tried to explain it to her but the more I listened to myself it just sounded like I was defending Bella.

"So why do you think that she thinks her breakup was harder than yours?"

"I guess because I handled it differently." I sighed. "She locked herself in her room every day, only appearing for school. Whereas I chose not to let it change my life any more than it already had. But I still cried and suffered internally just as much as she did. I still am suffering from it but I'm taking it day by day and the pain is starting to slowly fade."

"Have you told your sister this?" Emily moved to the fridge and pulled out a container of leftover pasta. She unwrapped the foil and stuck the bowl into the microwave. She probably heard my stomach growling.

"No. I've learned over the years that some things just aren't worth fighting over. And pain and suffering is one thing you don't want to fight over with my sister." I shook my head.

"And why is that?" The microwave beeped and Emily took out the steaming bowl of food and placed it on the counter.

"She'll win," I answered quietly.

I hopped off of the counter just as the sound of the front door opening echoed around us. Emily and I exchanged a look before turning to greet my sister - who looked awkward just standing there smiling small. "Emily made food, I hope you're hungry," I told her as I brushed past her to walk to the table. She glanced at me before nodding and copying my movements. She sat on a chair in front of me and I tried my hardest not to frown at her. The talk with Emily made me realize just how deep this feud was between us. And neither of the Cullen boys was to blame.

"Enjoy." Em smiled at us. I returned the sentiment and scooped up a mouthful of spaghetti noodles and shoved them in my mouth. Emily laughed as I gave her a thumbs up but didn't comment on my unladylike etiquette.

Bella and I ate silently, neither of us wanting to speak. Emily flitted around the house as she tidied every room and I was vaguely aware of her glancing at us from time to time. I had no idea how long Bella and I had been sitting down staring at our empty plates in silence but noise echoed around us as Sam and the guys returned from patrol. Bella seemed relieved at the sight of Jacob and I fought the urge to roll my eyes. They walked out of the house together and I stared after them quite angrily.

"Clary are you okay?" Jared asked me. I snapped my head in his direction and saw several pairs of eyes staring at me.

"Yeah." I nodded slowly. They didn't seem convinced but only Jared pestered me further.

"Then why were you glaring at the door?" His eyebrows rose.

"No reason." I shook my head and brought my legs to my chest, wrapping my arms around my knees.

"Tell Dr. Jared why you're upset." He smirked and sat beside me.

"Jared you're the farthest thing from a doctor." Embry scoffed. "Now Clary, why are you upset with your sister?"

"How did you know it was about Bella?" I asked him curiously.

"Well, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that you were glaring at the door that your sister just coincidentally exited from." Embry smiled softly before turning to Jared. "Well, maybe it does take a genius."

"Hey!" Jared exclaimed.

"Is for horses," I mumbled. He glared at me while Paul and Embry chuckled.

"Okay, but seriously why are you mad at Bella?" Paul sat down beside Embry.

"Because lately, it seems that she only wants to talk to Jake." I sighed. "I get that they're friends but I'm her sister. I'm hurting just as much as she is but sometimes it seems like she doesn't care."

"Well have you tried to talk to her?" Embry asked.

"Every day. That's partly why we're here. We were supposed to have a girl's day with Em but she wasn't feeling it." I shrugged. "But I've kind of given up. Maybe Jake is who and what she needs right now."

"Well let me tell you what Dr. Jared thinks." Jared wrapped an arm around me. "That sucks. Plain and simple." I smacked his arm and frowned at him. "Let me finish. Your sister shouldn't be acting this way but maybe she's just trying to fill this empty void she has with Jake. Maybe Jake is her distraction from her nonexistent boyfriend. She could just be using him but sooner or later she'll realize that you're who she needs." Jared smiled softly at me before tilting his head to the side. "Well, I hope she realizes that because if she doesn't I just gave you false hope."

"Thanks, Dr. Jared I feel so much better." I rolled my eyes.

"Well, that's what I'm here for. To give you a hug and false hope." He chuckles and stands to his feet. "Well, all this advice-giving has exhausted me. I'm going home, see y'all later."

"It was shitty advice," Paul told him. Jared glared at him and pushed his chair in.

"I never said I gave out good advice, I just said I had some." He defended himself, well tried to.

"Well next time, don't give any at all," Embry mumbled.

"Well next time don't ask for any!" Jared exclaimed.

"We didn't!" We all chuckle. Jared huffed and turned around and headed for the door.

"Good day peasants. Clary, call me if you need anything. The rest of you, don't call me at all. Not even if you're dying." He smirked and saluted us. He opened the door and walked out into the cold, slamming the door behind him.

"He gives me such a headache," Paul grumbled.

"That boy is something else." Embry laughed.

"Be nice, he's your brother." I scolded them with a smile on my face.

"Not by choice." They both scoffed in unison.

"Be nice to him you two." Sam walked in and stared them down. Paul and Embry tensed up and nodded curtly at their order. "Good, now it's your turn for patrol again." Paul and Embry grumbled angrily and cursed under their breath as they stood up from their chairs and walked outside. "Never have kids." Sam looked at me with a blank look on his face.

"Noted." I saluted him and he chuckled.

"Want to watch a movie?" He took my empty plate from me and placed it in the sink.

"I thought you'd never ask." I sighed dramatically. "Will the pretty lady be joining us?" I asked him as I stood up from my chair.

"She's asleep." He glanced towards the hallway and I understood what he wanted to do.

"You know I'm pretty beat also, I think I'm going to take a rain check on that movie and instead take a nap in the guest room." I smiled at him and he nodded thankfully. "See you later Sammy." I patted his chest and walked to the guest room.

"Later Clare-Bear." His voice echoed around me. I opened the door to the bedroom and walked in, closing it behind me. I slid my shoes off and flopped down onto the freshly made bed. I cuddled into the blanket and shut my eyes, sleep easily found me. But it wasn't peaceful. For the second time in two weeks, I found my dreams being haunted by a boy who was no stranger to my subconscious.

Emmett Cullen still haunted my heart and my mind.