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“Ms. Woods?” Elle looks up at the mention of her name. “May I have a word with you?”
Callahan speaks as she was just about to leave the room. What could he possibly want? He’s congratulated me a bunch already.
Not wanting to be rude, she replies with a simple, “Of course.” Elle turns towards Emmett, who she was just about to walk out with. “I’ll catch up with you in a second.” She smiles at him.
Elle catches a wide smile on his face as he nods and closes the office door behind him.
She makes her way closer to Callahan. “Thank you, Professor Callahan, for what you said before. It meant a lot.” She adds in a small smile at the end to show her gratitude.
“You deserve it.” Callahan replies. “But don’t tell the other students I said so.” He chuckles. “I have a scary reputation to hold.”
This is the first time Elle has ever heard him laugh. I guess I’ve finally gotten on his good side. She thinks. Emmett said it would come around eventually.
Elle laughs with him. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.” What more was there for her to say?
She thinks for a second and adds on, “I really appreciate this opportunity to work with you. I’ve learned so much.”
Callahan smiles at her. “What you’ve learned isn’t the point. You’ve got instincts, Elle.”
OMG! He finally called me by my first name. So I have gained respect from him!
“I knew Brooke was innocent.” She replies. “I just needed to find a way to prove it, my own way.”
Callahan nods, “It was definitely a unique way, but thanks to you and Emmett, we are one step closer to freeing Brooke.”
Elle smiles at him.
Callahan looks down at his watch. “It’s late and we’ve got a trial to win tomorrow.” Callahan grabs his briefcase and quickly smiles at her. “Have a good night, Elle.”
“You too, Professor Callahan. See you tomorrow morning.” Elle says before he walks out of his office.
Did that really just happen?!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Elle can’t keep the smile off her face as she walks out of the building. Callahan has never acted that way towards her. People can definitely change.
She opens the doors to the outside and walks out. The cool breeze of the Boston weather quickly rushes through her body. It’s March and still cold. It is probably already 80 degrees in California.
Elle looks up to see a figure waiting for her by his car.
Emmett.
She feels her smile get bigger as she takes him in. He really does look hot in that suit. She just wants to kiss every inch of his beautiful, stupid face and-
Hold on, what is happening? Why does she feel butterflies? Why does she want to desperately feel her best friend’s touch on her?
Oh, no. She knows this feeling. But it feels so much stronger.
Elle Woods was in love with Emmett Forrest.
The realization finally hit her. She loved him so much. It was insufferable when he wasn’t with her. Elle loved him.
Elle finally took a deep breath before walking over to him. She needed to keep calm. This was definitely new to her and she didn’t want to scare him off by bursting her feelings out at him.
She makes it up to him and smiles. “Em! You waited.”
He chuckles and oh the butterflies are definitely flying around now. She wants to be the one to keep making him laugh. That sound alone is making her want to hungrily kiss him until-
Calm down, Woods. He’s your best friend. Who you are also desperately and utterly in love with.
Elle snaps out of her thoughts as Emmett speaks. “Of course I waited, we drove here together, I wasn’t going to make you walk back to your dorm.”
He smiles the smile that she loves. The one that makes his whole face light up. He’s so fucking sweet, omg.
She smiles back at him. “Well I am wearing 4 inch heals so that wouldn’t have ended well.” He laughs again.
Yep the butterflies are definitely still there.
“You ready to go?” Emmett asks.
Elle nods and gets into the passenger side of his old car.
He gets into the driver side and starts the car. Is he wearing cologne? She secretly takes a whiff of the smell and-
She knows what a man’s cologne smells like but she has never thought Emmett was the kind of guy that wears it.
Add that to the list of things to ask him about later.
“So,” Emmett’s voice snaps her out of her trail of thoughts again. His eyes are trained on the road. “What did Callahan want?”
Right, Callahan. “He was congratulating me some more on my hard work.” Elle smiles brightly. “Oh, and get this. He finally called me Elle.”
Callahan would always call her Ms. Woods or “Legally Blonde.” So it felt so good that he was calling her by her name.
“Intern of the year.” Emmett says in a singing voice.
She rolls her eyes at him. “Stop it, you’re only saying that because I’m your best friend.” She adds on, “Besides, you’re the one who got Nikos to admit.”
Emmett has his eyes still on the road but she can see a slight smile on his face. “You are the one who led me to figure out how to get Nikos to admit. It wasn’t just me.”
Elle nods. He is right. “Then it was a team effort.”
He laughs, “We make a good team, Woods.”
Warmth spreads throughout her body. “We certainly do.” She smiles.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The rest of the ride to Elle’s dorm is mostly silent conversation wise. Emmett finally pulls up to the dormitory and finds a parking spot. He puts the car in park and turns towards her.
“Seriously, though. I’m so proud of you.” He smiles. “All your hard work has paid off and I already know you will blow everyone away in court again tomorrow.”
God, I love this man so much.
“Thank you for everything, Emmett. I really couldn’t have done it without you.”
He shrugs and takes her hand. “You would have gotten there eventually without my help.”
His hand is warm in hers. I could get use to this.
Elle shakes her head, “But without you, I wouldn’t be where I am now.” She realizes how close their faces are. Who leaned in first?
It wouldn’t take Elle that much energy to just lean forward the rest of the way and-
Emmett suddenly clears his throat and leans away, removing his hand from hers.
What?! Why did he do that??
Elle looks at him. He looks really flustered and his face is red. Could he possibly feel the same way? But if he did, why didn’t he kiss her?
Emmett clears his throat again. “You should probably head inside, we have to get up early tomorrow.”
It’s only 6 pm.
Elle needs to figure out a way to save this. So she lets out a rash decision. Ask him to come up with her.
She takes a deep breath, “Want to come up also? It’s still early. We could order takeout and go over the case.”
Emmett’s eyes widen. Why was he acting like he’s never hung out with her before?
A second goes by and he finally answers, “Yeah, okay. Sounds good.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They finally make their way out of Emmett’s car and towards the building of the dorms. No conversation is made which is fine with Elle for the moment.
She was currently lost in thought of how to tell Emmett how she felt. He was already awkward enough after their almost kiss.
You can’t keep calling it an almost kiss, Woods. It obviously wasn’t wanted on his part, right?
They make it up the stairs and down the hall until Elle hears a voice behind her.
“Elle!”
She looks behind her to see the Vivian Kensington calling her name. What could she possibly want? Is she going to make rude remarks to me again?
Elle puts on a sweet smile. “Hello Vivian. Is everything okay?”
“Yes, Elle, everything is alright.” Vivian replies in the sweetest voice Elle has ever heard come out her mouth. “Can I speak to you? Alone.” She gestures to Emmett behind her.
Right! Emmett. She completely forgot he was standing there. Elle just desperately wants to get him alone in her dorm and-
Again, not the time. Later.
Elle turns back towards Vivian. “Sure, give me one minute.” She looks at Emmett and hands him her keys. “Go make yourself at home and I will be there in a little bit.”
Emmett takes the keys, “Leaving me again?” He eyes her.
Elle rolls her eyes. “It won’t take long, butthead. Now go!” She lightly pushes him in the direction of her pink door.
She doesn’t turn back around until she knows Emmett is in her dorm, behind closed doors.
Elle takes a deep breath before turning back towards Vivian. “What did you want to talk about?”
“Is it okay if we talk in my dorm?” Vivian points to the direction of her dorm.
Elle swallows, “Yeah, of course.” Just don’t murder me. Her thoughts add in.
She follows Vivian into her dorm. Elle realizes she’s never seen the inside. Everything is nice and organized. Law books are covering one shelf and tons of stuff animals are on her bed. I never took her as a stuff animal person, strange.
Elle turns back around to see Vivian closing the door. She waits patiently for her to start speaking.
“I want to apologize.” Vivian says. “I’ve been a terrible person towards you ever since you’ve gotten here just because I thought you were going to steal Warner away from me.”
Elle’s mouth goes dry, she was not expecting an apology. Especially from Vivian Kensington, of all people.
Vivian continues, “But after seeing you today in court, I know I’ve been judging you the wrong way. You really love law, Elle and you belong here. No one should be able to take that away from you.”
Elle’s eyes widen, after a second she finally regains her ability to speak. “Wow, sorry I was not expecting that.” She chuckles. “It’s really no big deal, Vivian. I know you were only like that because Warner is your fiancé and-“
“Was, he was my fiancé.” Vivian cuts her off.
What?!
Elle’s eyebrows shoot up. “I’m confused, earlier in the courtroom he was all over you and now-“ She couldn’t even finish her sentence.
She sees Vivian take a deep breath. “I ended things with him. I mean-“ She pauses, “He isn’t the greatest person to be with, or the easiest. The way he treated both of us. I knew I didn’t want to marry someone like that.”
Elle smiles at her, “Yeah, he isn’t the easiest. I can agree with you on that.”
“So if you still want him, he is up for grabs. Even though I wouldn’t recommend it.” Vivian chuckles.
Elle laughs also, “No thank you, I think I’m over that.” I want someone completely different. “But, thank you for apologizing. It really meant a lot coming from you.”
“No problem, Elle. I won’t take up too much of your time, I know someone is waiting for you.” Vivian smirks at her.
Elle tries to cover up a smile, but fails. “I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow.” She walks to the door.
“See you tomorrow, Elle.” Is the last thing Elle hears Vivian say before walking out of her dorm room.
This night just keeps on getting stranger.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Elle makes her way to her dorm and opens the door. He didn’t lock it, typical Emmett. She locks the door behind her and sees Emmett petting Bruiser on her bed.
His jacket and tie are hanging on the back of her desk chair. She notices the first three buttons on his shirt are unbutton, exposing some of his chest.
God, I’m in trouble.
Elle puts her bag down on her desk. “So what did Vivian want?” She turns back around to see Emmett’s eyes trained on her. She always loved those blue, beautiful eyes. They always knew what she was thinking.
She made her way to sit next to him on her bed. Bruiser makes his way into Elle’s lap as soon as she sits down.
“She apologized for treating me like shit.” Elle says while petting Bruiser.
Emmett’s eyes widen, “We are talking about Vivian Kensington, right?”
Elle laughs and nods, “The one and only. I was surprised myself.”
“Wow.” That’s the only word that comes out of Emmett’s mouth. “I always found her to be evil and bitchy towards you the rest of her life-“
“Emmett!” Elle laughs. “She isn’t that bad.”
He shakes his head, “Of course not. People do change.” Emmett smiles at her, Elle’s favorite smile.
“She also ended her engagement with Warner.” Elle didn’t know if Vivian wanted people to know, but she needed to tell Emmett.
His eyes widen, “Seriously?” He waits for Elle to nod before continuing. “I did not see that coming.”
“Vivian told me she didn’t want to be with someone like that.”
Emmett clears his throat. He was doing that a lot today. “What about you?”
Elle eyes him, “What about me?”
“I mean he’s the reason you came to Harvard in the first place. Now he’s single-“ Emmett’s voice sounds small.
Is he nervous?
“Are you seriously implying that I would get back together with him?” She looks at him, confused.
“No, no!” Emmett replies immediately. “It’s just, he’s all you wanted like 4 months ago.”
Then it hit her. Emmett was nervous because he didn’t want her to get back with Warner.
Interesting.
Elle smiles at him. “Emmett.” She says softly, “He’s not what I want anymore.”
The only person I want is you.
Emmett takes a deep breath. “Good. He doesn’t deserve you anyway.”
Truer words have never been said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“This makes no sense! Chutney could not have gotten a perm and then like 5 hours later taken a shower.” Elle looked at the notes of the case with wide eyes.
They were sitting at Elle’s desk looking over the case notes and alibis. Chinese take out containers flooded her trashcan.
“Well if you look here it says she heard the gunshot while being in the shower.” Emmett says.
Elle leans back in her chair with frustration. “This makes no sense. Something isn’t adding up.”
“Hey, hey. It’s okay. We will hear more of her alibi tomorrow. What’s your verdict right now?”
“Chutney definitely had something to do with the murder. I’m not saying she did it, I’m just saying she took a part in it.” Elle replies.
She closes up the binder of papers and turns towards Emmett. “What time is it?”
He looks down at his watch. “Almost 8:30, I should get going.”
Wait! I haven’t had the chance to tell you I love you, to kiss you hard and fast, to keep you with me forever.
“Are you sure? You are welcomed to stay longer or sleepover if you would like. You know you are.” Elle talks fast.
Emmett gets up and grabs his coat and tie. “I don’t want to be the reason you don’t get a good nights sleep. Also, I need to get home to-“
Elle stares at him, “Emmett.”
“Yeah?”
“Why didn’t you kiss me?”
His eyes widen. “What?”
No! No. Noooo. What the hell, Elle?! Nice going. You scared him. Why did you say that?!
“I-“ ‘How the fuck do I save this?!’ “I’m sorry, that just spilled out and-“
“You wanted me to kiss you?” Emmett interrupts her.
Elle stares at him. She takes a deep breath before nodding.
Emmett’s eyes scan her face. “I didn’t think you did.”
He’s an idiot but I should have been clearer.
She looks down at her hands. “I wanted you to, really badly.” More than you think.
His eyes widen some more and her heart starts racing. “Do you still want to?” He whispers.
Oh. My. Fucking. God.
“So much.” Elle replies.
She stands up and makes her way towards him. “I’m sorry I wasn’t clearer about it.”
Emmett’s breath hitches once she stands in front of him. “No, it’s okay. I just didn’t want to kiss you and then you regret it.” He licks his lips. “I didn’t want it to be a pity kiss.”
Huh? A pity kiss?
“What do you mean?” Elle looks at him confused.
He takes a deep breath. “I uh- I like you, Elle. Like more than a friend.” Elle’s heart explodes. “I didn’t want you to kiss me back and then afterwords tell me you did it because you felt bad for me.” Emmett shrugs.
He likes me. Emmett Forrest likes me! I think I might explode.
Elle reaches forward and takes both of his hands in hers. “Em, I would never do that to you.” She smiles softly up at him. “Oh and just for the record, I like you too.”
I actually love you, but it doesn’t seem like a good time to let it all out yet.
“Really?” Emmett’s face brightens into a big smile.
“Yes, really.” She smiles back at him.
“I really just thought you were being nice.”
He’s such an idiot. But, I guess we both are.
Elle shakes her head. “Now-“ She wraps her arms around Emmett’s neck. “Are you going to kiss me or what?”
She feels Emmett’s arms wrap around her waist. He pretends to think. “Hm, I think I might take you up on that offer.”
Finally, he leans forward and presses his lips to hers. Elle sighs and presses further into him. Her fingers pull at his hair.
Emmett on the other hand moves his hands to her hips and presses her even closer into him. Their kiss deepens and Elle’s tongue asks for entrance at his lips. He gladly opens his mouth for her and Elle swoops in.
He’s a much better kisser than I thought.
The next few minutes are taking up with them kissing each other like there is no tomorrow.
I love him, I love him, I love him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“So what now?” Elle lifts her head to look up at Emmett. They were currently lying on her bed, wrapped around each other.
Elle shrugs, “I guess we see what happens.” Emmett puts a golden lock behind her ear.
“No, I mean-“ He pauses. “What do you think everyone will say tomorrow?”
“About us?”
He nods. Elle smiles at him. “Are you that concerned?”
I couldn’t care less what they think about us as long as he’s mine.
Emmett sighs, “I just, I don’t know. I’m a TA and you’re a student. I think there are rules about that.”
That makes sense why he’s concerned, he could loose his job because of me.
“I’m so sorry, Em. I didn’t think about that.” She bites her bottom lip.
He stays silent for a second. “It’s really not your fault.” He groans as he lays his head down on the pillow. “I wish this was easy.”
“Nothing is ever easy.” Elle lays her head down on his chest and interlocks their hands together. “I just love you so much that-“
Shit, I am terrible at keeping my thoughts from slipping out.
“You- you love me?” Emmett whispers.
Elle hides her face in his chest. “Would it scare you if I said yes?” She feels Emmett laugh and looks up. “Are you seriously laughing at me right now?!”
He speaks after his laughing dies down. “Sorry, you’re just so cute. I can’t believe you’d think I’m scared.”
“So, it doesn’t?” Elle says in a small voice.
“Elle, of course not.” Emmett grabs her face and softly pulls her up to look at him. “I think I’ve been in love with you since the day we met. You came in like a pink tornado and made a huge impression that I’ve kept with me.” He smiles at her, “I love you so much.”
Elle’s eyes tear up. “Are you crying?” Emmett chuckles.
“Shut up and kiss me.” Elle replies.
He does and damn is that a kiss.
He loves me, he loves me, he loves me.
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