I awoke a few hours later and had shifted on my side at some point. I could feel Emmett's arm wrapped around me, pulling me tightly to him. His breath hit my neck.
"You okay?" he whispered softly, I turned to him and his eyes were open.
"Yes." I said, "Do you ever sleep?" he shook his head
"I have troubles sleeping." He shrugged, "I'm really surprised I fell asleep for the few hours I did."
"I don't know how you can do it." I said cozying back into his body, he gently stroked his finger across my thigh. I yawned. Leaning my forehead against his chest.
"Honestly…" he began, "I've had insomnia most of my life…" I felt him shift as he looked up at the clock on the wooden backboard of the bed. "It's 6. I slept for three hours… That's the most consecutive sleep I have gotten in 4 years." He giggled softly. He settled back into the bed. Running his finger up my side. He kissed my forehead gently and then squeezed his hand around my side.
"I'm really sorry." I said softly into his chest.
"Go back to sleep for a bit. I'm going to go get breakfast started." He shifted, catching my chin with his finger he kissed me lovingly, as he parted he kissed my cheek. He pulled himself from the bed. "Call if you need me. I'll leave the door open. I'll come wake you up when I'm done okay?" he pulled on a faded blue shirt and swiped his hand through his hair and stretched.
"Okay." I said. He walked to the side of the bed I was on and leaned down to me, kissing me once more lingering against my lips as if he did not want to leave.
"Door will be open. Just call if you need me." he repeated as he backed slowly away from me.
"What if I just want you?" I asked.
"Call me in that case too." He joked with a wink, pecking my lips with his. He then turned and left the door, leaving the door half open.
I could hear pots rattle and the pantry door open and close. After a few minutes I could hear Emily talking. Her and Emmett chatted and joked around as they moved about the kitchen. I listened to his smooth voice, it sounded as smooth as butter, I grinned to myself and my body tingled remembering hous his voice controlled me last night. After a minute he re-entered the room with a tray.
"Hey Teen." He whispered, "Made coffee if you want some." He set the tray on the nightstand beside me, placing a kiss on my forehead.
"Thank you." I said softly. He then retreated from the room again and I heard him resume chatter with his sister. I heard Russell join them soon after.
I looked to the tray and a small, hard plastic coffee cup sat steaming on it, along with a small cup of crème and a few lumps of sugar. I smiled as I reached over and dropped a few cubes in along with pouring in the crème. I stirred with the small spoon and then took a sip. I sighed at the warm crisp taste. "Oh coffee I missed you." I drank the majority of the cup before setting the cup back down.
I laid back down and closed my eyes again, still listening to Emmett's smooth voice. I dosed off for another 30 minutes before awakening to loud voices that seemed slightly disgruntled.
I sat up in bed. There seemed to be a new voice in the mix of the three. A voice that seemed familiar to me, but I couldn't make out who it belonged to. I rubbed my eyes and yawned, licking my dried lips.
I swung my legs out of the bed and took the cup of coffee in my hand, sipping the second to last sip from the cup. I adjusted my shirt to make sure everything was covered. As I walked out of the room I saw Emmett, Emily, and Russell on the 3 sides of the Island that could face me. Another figure in a dark hoodie and baggy jeans stood facing away. Emmett's eyes seemed angry and worried. As he looked to me a look of sorrow swept over him. The figure looked up to him and then turned.
I swallowed hard and froze in place, my body going numb. The plastic cup fell from my hand. Clattering on the hard tiled floor and splashing the small bit of coffee on my feet. The man smiled at me and rushed to me with his arms outstretched. His long blond hair pressed against my face. I couldn't raise my hands. I just stood frozen.
"Oh man Tiny. I thought you were dead!" he cried into my ear. I looked to Emmett, trying to beg him for help with my look. Emmett himself seemed frozen with worry. The man broke from me then pressed his lips hard onto mine, forcing his tongue into my mouth. I stifled my need to gag as I tried to push him from me.
"Reese…" Russell started. "She just woke up, calm down."
"Shut up, I'm kissing my girlfriend."
I pulled away from him, taking a step back. "I'm not your girlfriend Reese…" my whispered voice cracked in fear. He shifted closer to me.
"Girl Shut up. You know you was gonna get back with me like you always do." He reached for me again and I shifted to the side and ducked past him, walking to Emily. She placed her hand on my shoulder.
"What even happened to you Reese?" Emmett asked him, he stepped closer to me. I watched Reese's left eye twitched, the way it did when he was angry.
"Those fucking things attacked me and the boys out in the yard." He started, he then went off on a long incoherent rant about the day the outbreak started. Emmett had walked to me at the end of the island. Below the tall counter he placed his hand across my low back trying to comfort me. For a moment I sank into his touch, trying to cut Reese's wanna-be gangster voice from my head. But suddenly his harsh voice broke through my silence.
"Girl get ova here." He said motioning to me. I finally looked him over, he was scratched and had a bruise on his cheek. His black sweater broke away to an oversized jeweled shirt and a golden chain draped around his neck. His jeans were baggy, clean but had a few rips near the knee, which were common for him.
"Reese…" I started shaking my head.
"What, we don't talk for 10 weeks and you just lose interest?" he asked, throwing his hands up as if it's a joke.
"In case you forgot. I told you we were over." I said to him. Emmett's gentle hand on my back gave me a jolt of confidence.
"That's fuckin dumb, Satine," He laughed, "Telling me you ain't sure you wanna be with me no more ain't a breakup."
"That's a break up." Emily defended. He rolled his eyes.
"Whatever, we did not break up." He said scoffing.
"Reese." Emmett piped up, "Whatever happened we aren't bringing drama down here. Okay?" he stepped away from me going to his bedroom door and picking up the cup I had dropped. "Whatever happened before this is done." He said looking down at Reese. "We are in a whole new world. It's us against the world. And whatever happened before doesn't matter. What happened with you and Satine before any of this is history. As far as we are concerned you're broken up. All of it is done." Emmett turned and locked eyes with me, I followed him as he made his way to the sink, rinsing the cup out. "You can take the room at the end of the hall."
"I'll show you to it." Emily said quickly. Reese glared at me, then to Emmett and back at me. His icy blue eyes paralyzed me in fear. But he picked up a duffle bag at the side of the island and followed Emily down the hall. I took a deep breath as he disappeared.
Emmett came to me, pulling me into his arms and hugging me tightly. "I'm sorry Satine." He said softly, "Russell and I both figured he just didn't make it." I wrapped my arms around him, a tear trickling from my eye.
"I'm sorry Tiny…" I heard Russell add. Emmett broke away from me to make sure Reese didn't see us if he came back.
I shook my head, "No… it isn't your guys fault. You couldn't have known." I said. Emmett used his thumb to wipe a tear from my cheek. I heard footsteps coming back down the hall and Emily and Reese reappeared. "So is breakfast ready!?" I asked excitedly trying to hide my discomfort.
"Yeah. Let's eat." Emmett said with a forced smile.
He turned and handed me a plate, behind him on the stove was a pan filled with eggs, pancakes stacked on a plate and another plate with a pile of bacon. We filled our plates and joked happily, occasionally I would look back and Reese would catch my eyes. He seemed upset and frustrated. He soon came and filled a plate as well.
Emily and Russell went to the couch and sat down, Emmett selected a movie from the large library of DVD's and sat in the large oversized chair. Reese sat in the small chair across the Livingroom from him. Reese gestured to me, "Come here." He said waving to me. I swallowed hard. Walking slowly past Emmett I sat on the end of the couch nearest the chair Reese had sat in. He put his hand on my knee and squeezed. I ate in silence taking a few tiny bites of food as Emily, Emmett and Russell spoke to each other. Reese kept his hand securely on my knee as he scarfed down food. Emmett didn't take his eyes off me he sat upright rather than lounging back, as if he was ready to leap into action if needed.
"Hey Satine." Emily's voice broke me from my silent trance. "Wanna come help me pick food from the garden?" she asked. I smiled and nodded.
"Sure." I said standing with my mostly full plate.
"Here, I'll take your plate." Emmett said standing to meet me. He smiled down to me and I looked at him, seeking help. He took the plate from me. Letting his finger brush my hand.
"I'm gonna go get dressed." I said as I escaped to my room. I locked the door behind me and sunk to the floor. Taking a deep breath I walked to my bag. Pulling out a t-shirt and sports bra I pulled it on along with my jeans I had worn yesterday. I brushed through my long hair. Pulling it into a high bun on my head. I usually never had my hair down around Reese… it was too easy to grab…
As I stepped back out into the hall Reese was waiting outside my door, he backed me back into my room.
"I like you better with your hair down." He said. He closed the door behind us and advanced on me.
"Reese… Stop." I ordered
He reached for my arm and I pulled back "What?" he asked "You don't want me anymore?"
"Stop…" I said again. He reached for me, pulling me too him, trying to press his body against mine. "Reese."
"C'mon Tiny." He ordered, "Stop messing with me and touch me."
"Reese. We are over." I said, "I already made that clear." I pulled myself from him. He squinted his angry eyes at me.
"Why." He asked. "Why don't you want me?"
"We are done." I said pushing him away. I pushed past him and ran out of my room. Emmett met me in the living room, he had also pulled on a pair of worn jeans. Emily was standing at the sink filling a water bottle.
"You Okay?" he asked. I looked back and saw Reese appearing from my room.
"Can we go now?" I asked Emily she nodded and walked around the island quickly.
"Keep Russ Company!" Emily said cheerfully, "We are gonna go garden!" Emily grabbed a large basket from beside the stairs and I followed her upstairs. Emmett followed after me. Emily typed in the code to the door and it slid open. After she did the next door. We pushed quickly into the garage. The dark Suburban greeted us. As Emily closed the door behind us Emmett grabbed me into a hug.
"Are you Okay?" he asked me. I shook my head, letting a tear drop down my face.
"I don't want him here…" I said softly. Emily placed her hand on my back.
"What is going on…?" she asked us.
"I guess Reese isn't the nicest guy…" Emmett said looking to me then to his sister, "Kinda an abusive prick…"
"I'm sorry Satine." Emily said, "We all just figured he wasn't… around anymore…"
"He rang the bell while you were still asleep…" Emmett added.
"He is Russell's best friend… We couldn't turn him away…"
"Why don't you just stay with me?" Emmett said, "Those rooms are connected and the bathroom doors don't have locks…" I nodded and he pulled me into his arms again, kissing my forehead. "I'm not going to let him mess with you…" he leaned down and kissed me sweetly, his soft lips replacing the disgusting feeling that Reese had left on me. "I promise." He said as we parted. I nodded, holding onto him tightly. Hopping that that would be the truth.
"So, like I don't really need that much help in the garden..." Emily broke as Emmett consoled me. "I just figured it was a good excuse to get you out of there"
"I appreciate it." I said to her.
"I was thinking Emmett could take you inside and show you the Piano."
"Piano?" I asked looking up to him, his face blushed bright red and he shifted nervously.
"I dabble a little." He said
"Don't be modest." Emily ordered, she looked to me, hitching her thumb at him, "Emmett had a full ride scholarship for musical Arts" she said rolling her eyes, "Piano, guitar, violin, ukulele, clarinet… you name it, this kid has played it."
Emmetts face turned even brighter red "I just have a knack for it." He said shrugging.
"Whatever!" Emily sighed. "Go show her." She hiked her basket into her arms and walked toward a door at the back of the garage. When I looked up to Emmett he looked down on me and smiled.
"C'mon. I'll show you the house." He beckoned me to follow him through the door beside the bunker door. As we walked through he pressed on a keypad beside the door inside, I heard a soft buzz and the metal coverings slid open from the windows revealing a bright, beautifully decorated living room and kitchen, very similar to downstairs but twice as big. A black grand piano sat in the corner beside a large bay window. Below it was a pristine, circular, white rug it looked almost like a fancy dining hall.
"Your dad has amazing taste." I exclaimed as we walked through the space.
"Actually it was our moms design." Emmett said as we made our way to the Piano "she designed everything and it's stayed this way since we were little when they split up."
"Why wouldn't he change it?" I asked, "If you don't mind."
"Oh, he loved mom with all his heart. Just with their careers they couldn't always be together." Emmett sighed. He lifted the cover to the Piano keys and sat in the bench. "They found it a lot easier to be apart then together, but they had an okay relationship otherwise."
"Why don't you guys stay up here?" I asked.
"Only the security system up here is powered by the solar power. There's a generator but we would need to find gas constantly, so it's just easier to stay downstairs." He said as he scanned the piano. I leaned across the side of the piano and watched him placed his fingers on the keys. He played a warm up chord for a few seconds and then brought his fingers back to the starting positions.
As he began playing I smiled. I recognized the old song from a band in the early 2000's however I had never heard it on Piano. He began humming softly along with the chords and then he sang.
His voice was low and soft as he sang. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back, a smile playing on his face. After a few versus he looked to me. His hands hammering on long chords.
"But I must… admit it… I would marry you in an instant. Damn your wife, I'd be your mistress just to have you around." His bright white smile shined in the morning sun. His emerald green eyes glistened happily as he sang to me. I started to sing along softly with him. As the song ended he immediately switched into a slower more somber song, I recognized the melody but the words he sang were completely different.
"hello Satine, my new friend…" he looked up to me with a devilish smile, "Want to make love to you agaaain." I began to giggle, but I had to admit, his silky smooth voice intoxicated me. "Because your laughter Is entrancing, and your soul just needs romancing…" I leaned my head in my hands and swooned at his singing. "And your bodyyy That has planted in myyy braiiin. Still remaaains… and your smiiile…. Is blinding…"
I suddenly stood, feeling as though I wanted him in my arms. I walked around the side of the Piano, I cut his voice off with my lips but his fingers still played the end of the chord and then slowly drifted away as he reached up to grip my waist. Pulling me closer to him.
"You have a lovely voice." We turned to see Russell in the doorway with a broad smile.
I pulled myself quickly from Emmett. Trying to look around for Reese.
"Don't worry he said he was going for a shower."
Emmett and I both sighed in relief.
"What's up Russ?" Emmett asked.
Russell hobbled in on his crutches, letting the door close behind him.
"Tiny," he started as he crutched his way to the Piano. "I told him to leave you alone…" he sighed "I know about everything he did to you…"
"How…?" I asked, I felt Emmett place his hand on the back of my leg.
"I mean, he used to tell me some stuff and I just never did anything…" Russell sighed, "I'm really sorry Tiny… I should have said something when I learned about it."
"It isn't your fault Russ." I said with a smile, "it wasn't your job to."
"I know, but I still feel bad, I mean maybe he wouldn't have been as bad if I said something…"
"It's too late now," I said, "The past is the past. Like Emmett said, what happened back then doesn't matter now. It's a new world."
He nodded, I could still see the sorrow in his eyes.
"Don't worry Russ." Emmett broke. "What matters is here and now, we can protect her now."
Russell smiled with a nod, "I'm not gonna let him do that shit anymore Tiny, I promise."
"Thank you Russ." I said with a broad smile.
"Besides that y'all are way cuter together." He added.
We all laughed and smiled. After a moment Russell turned to start heading back down stairs. I saw Emily meet him in front of the door. I turned and kissed Emmett again quickly then sauntered to the door to join Emily and Russ. As I looked back I watched Emmett stand and close the cover to the piano. He looked around sadly, letting his fingers linger on the top of the piano then made his way to the door behind me, typing into the keypad to rearm the house. We retreated back down to the bunker. Where Reese sat on the couch with his feet propped up on the coffee table.
As Emily and I unloaded and washed the basket of vegetables that Emily had picked, Russell hobbled back to the couch. Falling down next to Reese. Emmett went to his room and came back a moment later with his back pack, another bag, and gun holster. He was unloading the clip from the gun, checked the rounds and then pushed the clip back into the gun. He then cocked it and placed it carefully into the holster at his side, slipping 2 spare clips into his pocket. I looked up to him with an unsettled look and he smiled. "Don't worry." He said, "Just some reconnaissance." He promised as he walked to me. He leaned down and kissed my cheek. I smiled.
"Okay…" I said with a nod.
"Hey Reese." He called, "Get ready, we are going to go out."
Reese looked up to him cocking his eye, "Why do I have to?" he asked.
"Cause everyone who can helps out." Emmett said adjusting the items in the extra backpack. "We all pull our weight, the girls got lunch, so we are going to go down to the one of the stores nearby and see if any extra food or clothing can be scavenged. Plus you can drive."
Reese groaned but stood and headed back to the bedrooms. Emmett looked down to me.
"I'll come with…" I said. But Emmett shook his head quickly.
"Absolutely not, we are used to going out, you aren't, stay here." He smiled.
"But I can be of help…"
He shook his head, "I said no." he repeated, "I'm not risking you coming out there."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because you've been bunkered down in an airport for 10 weeks, you don't have the experience to be out here. It's not safe…"
I scowled at him and furrowed my brow, "Fine…" I said reluctantly.
"Is there anything in particular you want me to look for?" he asked, kissing my forehead as he strapped his backpack around himself. I thought for a moment.
"If you find one of those cookies and crème candy bars, I would love you forever."
He chuckled and nodded. "Gotcha." He said. Reese returned with his usual gangster wanna-be apparal. The edge of his shirt was propped up by a gun stuck barrel down in the waistband of his pants. I cringed.
"You should see if you can find some gummy worms!" Emily said over the splash of water.
"You know we have looked everywhere and can't find any."
"Maybe this store will be different." I defended. We laughed.
"I'll check." He said, he did a finger gun toward Russell, "Russ, anything in mind!?"
"Boxers." He said with a laugh, "and a back scratcher so I can scratch my damn leg through this cast." He rolled his eyes.
"Oh!" Emily said. "That's a good idea! Undies!"
"I am not picking out your undies!" Emmett laughed.
"Then I will come with!" she said, "Satine, do you think you could finish washing and skinning the veggies?"
"If you find some stuff that may fit me?" I started.
"I'll grab whatever I can!" She said as she walked back to her room, she returned a moment later, clipping her holster to her jeans and slinging her bag around her back.
"Thank you!" I said.
"No problem!" she walked over to Russell and gave him a long sensual kiss.
"Be safe." He ordered in a loving tone.
"I will." She kissed him again.
Emmett smiled and walked up to me, he had a marker in his hand. He took the back of my hand and wrote something down, "This is the code to the first door." He said, putting one dot by it, "this is the code to the second door." He said, as I looked down the numbers were 2357 and 0013. "I don't want you guys going out, but if for some crazy reason you need to then use these codes." His warm eyes looked over me.
"Be careful." I whispered, "I really want you to come back…"
He smiled, "Don't worry. I'll be safe." He said. He kissed the top of my fingers and looked up to warmly. He let his fingers linger on mine before he let my hand go and the three of them disappeared up the stairwell. I heard the doors buzz softly and shut behind them. I stared after them longingly.
"Hey, don't worry. The twins go out a lot. They always come back." Russell called to me from the couch. I nodded as I stared at the closed door.
I felt my chest hurt, for some reason thoughts flooded my head of Emmett or Emily getting hurt. "I trust them." I said, "Just not him."
"Don't worry, Emmett could take him." Russell assured. I nodded as I turned back to finish the vegetables that Emily had left with me. After a moment of silence he remarked, "Why are you so worried Tiny?"
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Cause in the three years of knowing you I've never seen you worry so much about someone like you do in just one day of knowing Emmett."
I shrugged, "I don't know." I said placing the veggies on a plate beside the sink.
"You really dig him huh?"
I shrugged again.
"Honestly Tiny, he is a really nice and talented guy. A lot better than Reese." Russell shifted uncomfortably, "Think you guys would have done really well if you had met him instead of Reese."
"You think?" I asked turning the sink off.
"Yeah, He's a good guy, and you guys seem to have a weird chemistry."
"I think it's situational." I said
"I don't think so." When I looked back at him he was staring dreamily at the TV, "People are meant to be together I think. Like Emily and I. We have been 'together' since we were children. Inseparable basically. I think our souls were meant to be together." He looked back at me, "we were just lucky enough to find each other young. God has a freaky way of bringing soul mates together, and I think, unfortunately this was the way for you and Emmett."
"Russ you know I don't believe in that stuff." I said as I walked over to the couch. "Plus Emmett and I have known each other less than 24 hours, it is not possible to be able to detect that stuff."
"Maybe your bodies and minds have only know each other 24 hours, but your souls have known each other for eternity." He waved his hands above his heads dramatically.
"What a crock." I said as I fell into the oversized chair. We both laughed hysterically.
"I do think that Emmett and you have some weird connection though."
"I don't."
"You already spent the night with him didn't you?" He asked, I shrugged with a sly smile but I could feel my face blushing. "Guess we will see." He added with a grin.
I shrugged as the movie played I drifted off to sleep. When I awoke I saw Russell had fallen asleep as well. I went to Emmett's room and pulled out the large blanket draped over his bed and pulled it out to the chair, I hit restart on the TV and watched a few minutes of the movie before drifting back into sleep.