Red

Eme rolled her eyes so hard she was almost sure they would get stuck at the back of her head. “That’s awful, Em. You should care if she’s a nice person! Why would you want to spend time with people that are mean to your sister?” she countered, knowing deep down that she really couldn’t do too much to stop him, but unable to hold back the fierce sibling protection she felt over him. “Oh you definitely need my approval. You are far too nice and have trouble seeing the bad apples, that’s what I’m here for.” she nodded, partly joking in an attempt to keep things in a jovial mood. “Cute? She’s gorgeous!” Eme spoke, meeting her younger brothers gaze for a moment and laughing. “Oh no, she’s way too cool for you.” Eme wound her arm around her brothers, resting against him as they neared the cafe. “I mean I love you, but it’s never gonna happen.”

“We’ve been through some similar shit, we understand eachother.” Emmett simply shrugged his shoulders, wanting to roll his eyes so hard. His protective twin sister obviously coming out as they spoke of Margot. His personal life was always a touchy subject, especially with his sister. She got very involved and wanted to know everything. And sure they shared a lot with each other, but some things it would probably be easier just to keep inside and away from Eme. “I don’t need your approval.” He exclaimed easily, keeping his path infront of him on his gaze, trying not to get too snippy with her. “Okay, yea she is a very attractive girl. But too cool for me? That’s not very sisterly of you to be knocking me down like that.” His eyes went wide for a moment, acting offended but shaking it off quickly with a grin. 

Eme responded only with a look, it was evident in her gaze and the lift of her brow exactly what she would say and that it would most likely include a swear word. At his mention of the clinic, Eme playfully shoved her brother as they walked. narrowing her gaze in his direction. “Your concern is astounding, honestly.” she laughed, putting her hands deep into her pockets in an attempt to fight off the chill that was slowly settling around her. A chill that seemed to deepen at his next words as she audibly groaned. “Uuugh. Seriously. You should stay away from her, she’s not a nice person.. and she called me Amish like four times.” Eme sighed, shaking her head. “There are so many more nice girls here you could be friends with. Like Luci!”

Laughter was nice to hear through their conversation. Having not been one to laugh much when it came to talking with his twin. Shoving Eme back lightly, not exactly wanting to knock her over but wanting that sibling banter to come across easily. Shrugging his shoulders in response, the red head looking back down at the eyes that the two shared. “I’m not exactly worried if she’s a nice person.” Emmett smirked to himself, looking down at the ground under their feet as they took strides towards their destination. “We relate and understand each other. I didn’t really need your approval.” Emmett stated obviously, his dark eyes darting over to his older sister. “Yea, yea, I know Lu. She’s cute.” Admitting easily, so matter of fact. “Are you trying to play cupid or something?”

“A nun?” Eme laughed, unable to stop the giggles that escaped her lips. “I’m as much a nun, as you are a preacher.” she retorted, a wide grin on her lips as she followed him out the door and lifted her shoulders lightly. “There are so many other pretty people to look at anyway. That Charlie guy is pretty cute, and Ezra” Eme trailed off, purely trying to make her brother as uncomfortable as possible. It was one of her main jobs as a sibling. “Well, I would have a better idea of who your friends are if you told me.” she pointed out, matching his pace easily with her long legs. “We’ve got a lot to catch up on Em, why not start by telling me who I can’t sleep with.” she joked, though there was definite truth in the undertones of her words. She had missed a lot in his life, and he in hers. Even with him this close, she felt as though they were still miles away.

“Did you just call us a couple of whores?” He questioned, looking to his sister with confusion set on his expression, though soon breaking into a soft laugh. It felt good to be back with his twin, they always had a good rapport and they fed off one another well. Sure, they got on eachothers nerves more times than none and got into more fights and arguments than anyone could count, but it all just brought them closer. It had been a long couple years of more disagreements than anything else, but it was obvious they were both hoping that now they were both at Daleton that they could get back to their old normal. Emmett knew of the guys that his twin spoke of and he simply shook his head with a chuckle falling from his lips. “I can’t stop you, but just make sure to have the clinic on speed dial if you’re gonna be going through the roster.” Making a point to give his best concerned brother look but knew that his sister was more than capable to hold her own. “My friends? Well... oh I heard you already met Margot.” He exclaimed, raising his brows knowing well how their conversation had gone the night of the bonfire.

Eme groaned loudly from behind her closet door, obscured by the object she quickly pulled on a pair of jeans and a cosy oversized hoodie before addressing her brother again with a very polite gesture of her middle finger. “Your concern for my sex life is heartwarming.” she stated, raising a brow slightly as she headed to her dresser in search of a hairtie. “Speaking of guys I wouldn’t mind having in my bed.. I didn’t know Ari went here.” Eme spoke, mainly teasing her brother as she knew the two males got on well, and she really wanted to see his reaction. Quickly she looped her hair into a ponytail, shoving socked feet into her boots and sliding her phone into her pocket. “Lets go then.. I’m also very keen for bacon.”

Emmett shook his head, ridding his mind of the thought of his twin sisters sex life and really he had dug himself that hole. Gripping and pulling his way out as quick as possible. “No, you’re a nun in my eyes.” Though Eme kept talking and made Emmett feel even more uncomfortable, especially since the male in question was actually a friend of his. “Okay, no. Stay away from Ari. Stay away from any of my friends.” He exclaimed, raising his brows at his sister and gritting his teeth. Shrugging his shoulders easily at the observation and he quickly passed through the doorframe, back into the hallway. “Bacon and caffeine it is. We’re basically a walking, talking ad for heart attacks.” Emmett’s laugh fell from his lips, hands moving to the pockets of his jacket, his head turning over his shoulder, making sure his sister was following behind him. “Slow poke. C’mon before I regret hanging out with you.”

The vodka burned a path down to her stomach— empty save for a few jello shots she’d had on the way out the door (she was certain the coke didn’t count), serving as a hollow reminder of the  pain tomorrow morning would bring. She held the cup loosely now, the last few drops draining out of it as she tipped it carelessly. “I saw her earlier,” Margot mentioned, attempting a vague stance, “I don’t think she likes me.” She peered up at him, eyes doe like and lower lip jutting out (in another life, the silver screen would’ve been appropriate), “She thinks I’m bad for you.”

Emmett stopped for a minute, hearing that Margot and Eme have now crossed paths he could only imagine what kind of things his overprotective sister said about him to a girl he’d been hanging around with for a bit now. “What did she say?” He questioned, though knowing there wasn’t really much of a point in hearing it, probably already aware of what kind of things his twin would have said to the female now infront of him. “Yea, maybe you are bad for me. Where’s the issue with that.” He admitted, smirking at the girl quickly looking at the bartender and ordering two tequila shots. “A little bad never hurt anyone.”

Emmeline was exhausted. Not only had the move from home physically exhausted her, but keeping up with her studies and making sure to maintain her GPA was proving difficult. The Gatsby party however had been fun, and Eme was sure she had made a few more friends, providing that her intense studying didn’t immediately isolate her from them. It had also given her the opportunity to reconnect with her twin brother, one she definitely wasn’t about to take for granted as it was certainly the main reason she had pushed so hard to transfer. That didn’t however mean she was pleased to see him that morning, her firey locks sticking up all over the place, still in her thick winter pyjamas as she opened the door to her brothers insistent knocking. “Please tell me it’s after 10am” Eme sighed, pulling her door fully open so her brother could enter and instead heading for her closet, in search of something warmer than her current attire. “Also, please tell me you’re buying.”

As soon as the door was opened, Emmett couldn’t help the laughter at the sight of his sister, obviously disheveled from a nights sleep and having just woken up. Emmett on the other hand had been up for a couple hours, already having been to the gym and ready for the rest of the day. “Yea, it’s after 10am... if by 10 you mean 9.” He raised his brows, walking into his sisters dorm and shutting the door behind himself. “Please tell me that you don’t have a guy in your bed right now... cause as your brother I have to say this isn’t the way to keep him around.” Emmett exclaimed, looking over at his sisters obvious just rolled out of bed look. Falling easily into a chair awaiting for his sister to be ready to go out. “I’ll only buy if you don’t take longer than five minutes to get ready. I’m in need of some caffeine.”

Her mouth twists to a grin, “alright, alright. I’ll dig out my best spandex and you can show me what you’ve got.” I’m not exactly the one he wants taking over. Light features knead in curiosity for a moment, and perhaps if sober she would have pressed further, though due to both her current state and their position enveloped amidst the club-like melody, she simply moves on, “basically. I mean, I’m interested in fashion,” she shrugs, “but it isn’t a real job, or so my father says. So who knows, maybe next year I’ll be on to the next major.”

“Don’t tease me, Remi. I will come to your dorm at seven AM expecting you to be in your spandex.” He admitted, raising his brows, with a subtle smirk tugging at his lips. The alcohol coursed through his veins so easily at this point, the drunken state was taking over slowly and he almost craved another sip to numb himself. “It could be a real job. Why does it matter what your dad says?” He questioned, having felt the same feedback from his parents about his choice in major. “My moms said the same thing about me pursuing music. Here I am.”

Perhaps if he could have answered in the affirmative, Charlie would have felt more sympathetic through shared experience. Siblings were supposed to be close, he knew that, but it wasn’t uncommon for there to be distance in familial ties, at least in his social circles. “Nope, no siblings. I don’t like to share.” Divorce, on the other hand, although not a reality for him, felt like a more comprehendible concept. “Are you one of those kids really fucked up from divorce? You know, trust issues, abandonment issues, all that.”

Simply nodding his head, Emmett tried not to let his anger and distrust get the best of him throughout this single conversation. Though it was all a touchy subject for him. Family, his sister, his parents... it was all too much to even get into detail about. “Not fucked up. I don’t have trust issues because of the divorce, I have trust issues because people are shitty.” He stated easily, shrugging his shoulder quickly, though what he was saying was so matter of fact. “My sister thought my dad was at fault, I think my mom is at fault... so that’s how that went.” 

her focus is kept on the screen of her phone as she walks, a photo in the process of being edited instead of paying attention to where she’s walking. the moment she has the exposure set just right is when her petite frame collides with emmett’s and she glances up to deliver a quick apology. “ hey ! on my way to escape the cold somewhere besides my dorm room. nothing says warmth like a peppermint white mocha from robust. feel like coming with ? ”

Looking down at Luciana, grinning at the female as she spoke. Nodding his head easily, suddenly the idea of caffeine sounding extremely appealing and desirable. “I would love to. Definitely could use another boost after the gym.” He admitted, honestly the muscles in his arms still quite sore, hoping the rush of coffee would numb the feeling. “Has the excitement of finals gotten to you yet?” The red head questioned, his hands tucked into the front pocket of his hoodie, his Nike trainers scuffing along the campus grounds.

“Are you guys Amish or something and don’t use technology to communicate?” There was obviously something more to it and Charlie wasn’t unfamiliar with odd familial relationships. He didn’t intend to pry further, knowing it was his business, but social interactions were encouraged at this event after all. “Or are you just not close? That’s another alternative,” he added with a swig of his new brew.

Laughter falling from his grin, Emmett shaking his head from the disbelief. “That would be the latter.” He admitted, though it still seemed to be a bit of a lie as he said the words to Charlie. “Just grown apart. Choosing sides through a divorce can do wonders to siblings.” Shrugging his shoulders, taking a look around the party, suddenly feeling more parched than ever, dry mouth residing on the inside of his lips. “You have any siblings?”

The blaring sounds of classic rock strung through his air pods, Emmett finishing off his last set, trying to push himself as far as possible to the point of slight pain. The gym being one of two places that he felt like he could just relax and not be bothered by nonsense and people that he didn’t really care to be around. The music room being the other, or really any place that he could be with his guitar to write. Sighing as he set down the weights along the rack, the tips of his hair dripping with sweat, his biceps slick from the work out.

Pulling his sweatshirt over his clean tshirt, after just taking a shower, gathering his belongings and putting his earbuds back in. The volume turning back up to it’s maximum, the bass of the music throbbing through his head. Barely noticing the winter breeze hit his face, or even the shoulder he bumped into as he kept his gaze down on the ground. “Shit, sorry.” Emmett exclaimed, taking an earphone out and pulling his hood off. “Lu, hey!” He grinned, looking down at the female with a soft grin. “Where you off to?”

Trying to get back into the spirit of education was proving to be harder than normal. Not that Emmett was every really into the whole school and bettering himself thing, but since being back from Thanksgiving break it was a bit tougher. It was a bitter sweet moment having his twin sister around at the same school, being able to check in on him at any minute. But at the same time it was really nice having Eme around. It had been so long since the two really were in close quarters and really hung out or talked. This was turning out to be a great opportunity to get their relationship back to what it was. The cool winter air was like sharp knives against his jaw, wishing now he had decided to wear a thicker jacket. His hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans, his combat boots took strides along the school grounds towards his sisters dorm room. His knuckles soon knocking against the pine of the door. “Let me in, Eme! C’mon don’t end it like this!” Emmett yelled out, laughing under his breath.

She feigns contemplation, features tilting, “I skip all the days, Hoult,” she peers up at him over the rim of her glass, meeting his gaze with an arched brow, “are you going to ditch me now?” Pupils the width of saucers flicker up to crimson tresses, fiery beneath the overhead light, “that’s different. Most here are gearing up to take over daddy’s company. Unless your father is in the music industry as well?” Remi swirls the shot glass’ bottom to the bar’s top, “fashion. Though, I kind of just rolled the dice and picked whatever.”

Raising his brows quickly, Emmett pondering the thought as an act to go along with the conversation. “I’ll just have to be the best influence so you don’t miss anymore of the days.” He nodded, sighing as the burning sensation of the whiskey turning more into a comfort and relaxing feeling that trickled down his throat. “Nope, he isn’t. He does have a big company. But I’m not exactly the one he wants taking over.” Emmett laughed, knowing that running a multi million dollar company was no where near his alley and most likely he would be the one to run it into the ground. “Was it one of those close your eyes and point your finger situations?”

“You can ask whatever you like, angel,” she replied, tone flat. She should try, he was a little too delicate for this abrasive of an edge. Margot composed herself prettily, eyes widened and the ghost of a smile turning up her lips. “It was good, Newport’s always the same. Nice weather, well cooked bird.” She tipped her cup back, motioning for him to do the same, draining it and wincing at the sharp burn. “Did you miss this?”

Emmett biting on the inside of his lip, the whiskey simmering on his lips and quickly taking over and running through his body. Nodding his head, looking around the party and the sloppy drunks that swarmed around. Himself feeling like he would soon be sloppy if he kept up the pace of his drinking. “Missed it so much. Especially now that my sister made a surprise appearance here.” He bit out, sarcasm lacing his words. “Guess she goes here now, needs to keep an eye on me or some shit.”

Brows lift, both shock and amusement colouring features, “careful, Emmett. It sounds like you’re saying I look like I skip leg day,” her chin tilts, peering up at him through lashes, “and thats no way to start a friendship.” Rem’s lifts a wrist in the bartender’s direction before returning her attention to the red-headed male, “what are you majoring in?”    

“Well, do you skip leg day?” Emmett questioned, raising a brow towards the female, quickly eyes scanning her up and down. “Cause I don’t know if a friendship could last if you did.” He shook his head, though with a small smirk tugging on his lips. Looking down at the liquor in his cup, swirling it around for a moment, gazing back up at the female next to him. “Majoring in music. Mainly music theory and composition.” Emmett spoke, nodding easily sipping from the whiskey. “What about you? What prestigious program brought you here.” 

“I can’t imagine being at this thing sober. Even if I didn’t drink, I would tonight,” Charlie answered elusively. The alcohol that had touched his tongue prior helped to loosen it but pushed his mind adrift. Without a directing word, he led the other male party towards the indoor bustle of students as they tracked down the bar. “Don’t you have a twin or something? Are you twins?” Normally, Charlie liked to keep loose tabs on the student body but every now and then there were gaps.

Easily trucking behind Charlie towards the bar, Emmett’s lips already craving the taste of whiskey. Laughing softly at the other male’s observation, still so shocked that his sister had transferred to Daleton. “Uhm- yea, yea I do. Guess she just transferred here.” Emmett shrugged easily, waving down the bartender as quick as possible to get some more alcohol into her system. “Just found out tonight.” He admitted, a small chuckle falling from his lips just before swigging back the amber liquid that was put into his cup. 

“Exactly! And phones go two ways, brother dearest.” Eme retorted immediately, the anger bubbling in her chest quietly simmering away. She assumed it wouldn’t go away soon, it never really did. She was a simmering pool of rage when it came to tensions between her family, never too far from bursting. “I love you, Em. You’re my best friend and my baby brother and I’ve fucking missed you. Okay? I can’t promise not to care about or try to protect you. Just like you wouldn’t when it came to me.” she sighed softly, shoulders slumping as she wound her arms around her brothers waist, embracing him in a tight hug and resting her cheek against his chest. “Stop pushing me away, please.” she whispered, squeezing him a little bit tighter.

Emmett knew it was a losing battle trying to get his twin sister to stay out of his life and his personal business, it was always like that between the siblings. Always had been and it was obvious that it always would be. The reaction only being a hard roll of his eyes, knowing there was nothing else he could even say that he hasn’t said throughout his whole life. Suddenly a little shocked when Eme’s arms were wrapped around his waist and his brows furrowed for a quick moment. Though soon draped his arm around his sisters shoulder and embracing the hug. “I’m not trying to push you away, Eme. You’re my sister, it’s impossible to push you away.” He started, laughing subtly under his breath. “You would always weasel your way back into my life.”