Part 23

its valentines day and all the Cullens (with the exception of Edward and Bella) are stuck at home. everyone is quite bored. lucky i brought the Osmosis and Diffusion notes to read.

"Drat, im so bored!" moans Alice, slumping on Jasper's arm. Jasper pats her head sympathetically. Rosalie picks at her perfectly manicured nails. Emmett stares unseeingly at the ceiling. suddenly his head snaps up. "yo guys, wanna hit a bar?" Jasper looks at Emmett like he's just sprouted horns. "on V day?! come on man, bars on valentine's is like a slaughterhouse for singles!" he protests. Alice and Rosalie, however, look interested. "hey its better than staying here! lets go!!!" with that Alice snatches up her purse and hustles us into the Jeep.

we hit a rather shady bar along a secluded bit of town. Al's Beers. the walls are kinda dingy but at least the disco lights are pretty and colourful. seeing all the 20-plus-years-old people inside, i feel a bit out of place. the Cullens hustle me into the bar where i quickly sit down on the sagging plush seats. they order drinks but being underage, i refuse. i decide to make origami booties out of the napkin.

the Cullens return with martinis and beers. and orange juice for me (i don't like the weird colour it is). i stare intently at the dance floor, with its twirling lights and blasting music. a rather tipsy man totters off the dance floor. he advances towards our table.

he stands (wobbling a little) beside Rosalie. "hey beautiful, where've you been all my life?" Rosalie is shocked but regains her composure quickly. "hiding from you. come one guys we're outta here." as Rosalie begins to get up, the man reaches out to grab her arm. Emmett, determined to keep up his truce with Rosalie, knocks his hand away. "yo dude, hands off." the man growls and flings himself at Emmett. they rain punches on each other (Emmett presumably not using his super-strength).

the other Cullens yell in outrage and join Emmett's defense. before long, the whole bar is engaged in a fight. furniture and glasses are hurled around. i cower beneath an over-turned table. just as i hear the bar manager calling for poliuce assistance, a pair of strong hands pick me up. Jasper!!! "c'mon, we're outta here!" he yells above the noise.

once out of the bar, we regroup with the others in the Jeep and speed off just as the cops arrive. "oh MAN! that was the best Valantine's Day EVER!" Emmett whoops.

Part 22

"mitosis! mitosis!"

"ARGH will you SHUT UP ALREADY?!"

Emmett does not appreciate good music. we are alone in the Cullen house. Esme and Carlisle shopping for groceries, Edward and Jasper buying a new stereo system and all the girls gone shopping (except for Rosalie who was invited to a fashion premier. she only just left). Emmett, having not finished studying for the Bio test, is made to stay home. graciously, i agree to keep an eye on him.

Emmett is irritated, because he doesn't get the textbook. his hair is ruffled from rnning his hands through it too much.

"urgh. is pancreatic juice acidic or alkaline?"

"alkaline, because the enzymes in the small intestine require an optimum pH of 9. alkaline."

"thanks."

we study peacefully until 8pm. then the phone rings. "I'LL get it. keep studying Em." his face falls. i know he's only looking for an excuse to get distracted.

"yo. who's this?"

a muffled wail come fromt the receiver. "Joy! HELP! my car swerved off the embankment! i can't get it out!" uh oh. "Rose, speak to Emmett okay? he'll know what to do!" i race into the kitchen where he's sitting. "hey Em. Rose's in trouble." i hand him the receiver.

"Rose? what's wron...uh huh...okay don't panic! i'll be there....where are you?...right. got it." he put the phone down. he turns to me and says in a grim tone, "hey Joy. we have to go help Rosalie. come on!"

we run (rather, Emmett picks me up and runs) to his newly-patched-up jeep. the engine roars to life and we speed down the highway.

a little while later, we spot Rosalie waving from the road shoulder. the Jeep is jerked to a halt (its newly-repaired brakes squealing in protest) and i am thrown forward. ouwch. way to go Emmett, give us all whip-lash why don't you.

Emmett hops out of the Jeep and starts examining the BMW M6. the car sits in the gutter, its headlights flickering forlornly. there are finger-shaped dents from where Rosalie tried to pull the car out of the gutter. alsa, the hybrid is too heavy even with her vampire strength.

Emmett rubs his palms together and with a grunt, heaves the car onto the road. Rosale give a cry of delight before hugging Emmett. "oh Em you're a life saver! if i go in my Jeep, we'll call a truck for your BMW," pants Emmett. the BMW's engine is spewing thick black smog, which cannot be a good sign. Rosalie hugs Emmett again before hopping into the Jeep and speeding off.

the sun has set and i only have my tank top on. rubbing my arms a little, i call a cab while Emmett calls a pickup truck. after an hour of waiting (peppered with "are they coming yet?"s and "will you shut up"s) we are in a cab going back to the Cullen place and the BMW's on the way to the workshop. its kind of late so i think i'll spend the nightat the Cullen's place.

the next day, Rosalie's attitude towards Emmett takes an about-turn. indebted for his service, she buys him all sorts of engine accessories (don't ask me to explain those) and extravagant Xbox games, out only in the black market.

hmm. looks like things are about to change for the better.