Another One Bites the Dust

AN: This is my first fic I've ever written. All spelling and writing errors are mine, I do NOT have a beta. I am writing on a whim here but have a very good idea of where this story is going. I am going to continue to update after this chapter tonight, or early tomorrow. Also happy holidays to all of my readers out there! (If there are any!) Please review, I am very open to ANY criticism, I want to get better at writing and hearing what other people have to say is very helpful :) Hope you enjoy!

Pairing: EmbryxBella, a tiny bit of JakexBella

AU: This story will follow its own timeline. Also embry has not phased as of yet. Imprinting may show up in this story with a few of the main characters but it will not be all encompassing or as common as it is in most fics. The guys are all older than the books, jake, embry, quil are bella's age 19, paul is 22, jared is 23, and sam, leah, emily are 25. Seth has phased and is 16.

Bella

My alarm clock was ringing loud and clear while I smashed it into silence. "Ugh, shut up", I groaned and sat up and looked out of my window. Another typical forks day, the rain was pelting the window in droves. Droplets were racing each other to the window sill. I was silently cheering on the left raindrop to beat the right drop when I realized I had been zoning out. I shook myself out of my haze and made my way into the shower, letting the hot water wash away my strange dreams but good dreams. I had been sleeping amazingly lately.

Today was going to be a good day, and that's all that had managed to make me get out of bed. I'm seriously not a morning person, not even a little bit. It takes a lot to get me up. I was too excited for tonight to care this morning, though. Christmas break started after exams this morning. I was completely relieved. I had been waiting anxiously for my first semester of college to end, it was my first big accomplishment since getting out of my funk after doucheward left me. I had to remember to thank Paul for the nickname. Cullen really had done a number on me… Without the pack I really don't know where I would be today.

I got out of the shower and got dressed in my typical daily attire of a purple flannel, camisole, and jeans with my winter boots. Brushing my matted brown hair into a manageable ponytail, I threw some extra cold water onto my face to wake me up just a little bit more. I called for Charlie, hoping to talk to him before I left. I yelled out one more time, with no response. I was wondering where the hell he was when I realized he had to leave early for the Forks town Holiday parade. They were running security and had a big float that Deputy Matt had put together, shockingly well for a bunch of rough and tumble backwoods cops. I chuckled at the thought of 4 mustached guys stringing streamers. I pulled out a notepad and I left charlie a note, knowing he wouldn't check his work phone today.

Hey dad,

I'm not going to be home tonight, I'll be hanging out with Quil and Jake as usual. The christmas dinner in La Push is tonight and Jake invited me. Love ya. There's some beer and casserole for you and the other guys from the station in the fridge. -Bells

I grabbed the note to leave it on the counter as I stumbled down the stairs to pick out a cliff bar, attempting to slightly upgrade from my usual poptarts. I grabbed my backpack, my keys to big red, and headed out the door. I was already running 10 minutes late, shit. I cursed under my breath remembering I had a ton of chores to do before the Christmas Dinner at the Akalat center later tonight.

I made it to the parking lot of Peninsula College just in time for my english lit exam. I walked away from the exam feeling great. English had always been a piece of cake. It's not what I wanted to for a living, though. A subject that Charlie had been trying to continuously breach. He kept telling me I'd be a great English teacher or writer, but it was my hobby, I didn't want to ruin it by making it a career. It was a passion but not something I wanted to do for a living. Charlie just couldn't get that. I didn't want to make it into a deadline. No one got it besides Jake, he didn't want to ruin working on cars by making it into a living. He wanted to build things. I wanted to create things, well food not things. Which reminded me all too well of my culinary final I had to rush to get to before I headed back to forks.

Taryn, my culinary teacher had told me that I was incredible at building flavor and told me I passed my final with flying colors. I was so proud of myself, I had been practicing dishes the past 3 weeks for the pack to prepare for the exam. They were no help deciphering which dish I should go with, saying they were all to good to pick one. I ended up going with the Beef Burgunoin. I had nailed it. I practically skipped out of the large building's doors almost jogging to my truck.

Today really was going great. I hopped into red and turned on the new radio Jake had put into my car for my 19th birthday. It even had an aux cord. I plugged in the cord to my brand new ipod, which charlie got as another present. I let the thrumming guitar and drums from Breaking Benjamin's I will not bow ring out from my speakers singing loudly along the redwood lined 101 towards Forks. I saw the trees blur past as I pressed down on the gas. Sighing lightly I realized just how much Washington had grown on me. It was so beautiful. The deep hues of green that surrounded the dark grey sky and navy shoreline. It was a sight for sore eyes. This land had healed me nearly as much as Jake and the guys had. Halestorm's I am the fire blared out of my speakers as I pulled up to my little white house not being able to contain the grin on my face, it was hard not to smile on a day like this.

I got inside and made a snack to tide me over until dinner. I had thankfully gained a little weight much to the happiness of all the guys. They had always thought I was too skinny. It worried their wolves or something. After hanging out for a minute watching TV and checking my cell I figured I better get started on the chores I had to finish for the weekend. I vigorously cleaned the kitchen, living room, and my bedroom. All that was left to do was laundry and get ready.

Nearly forgetting I promised the guys baked goods I pulled out the bowl and pans kicking myself for not remembering pre cleaning. I made a few dozen thumbprint cookies for the pack to bring over before the dinner. They always begged for dessert first, so for once I thought I'd oblige. I put the cookies in the oven and washed up, then threw the laundry in the machine and it was time to get ready. I wanted to look good for tonight for once. Jake and I were actually dating now, and had been since this past june, so I'd been trying to look a little better for him than usual. I pulled out a deep purple sweater dress from my drawer and a dark brown belt to go around the waist. I put on my dark brown riding boots and tights. Twirling around in the mirror I thought I looked pretty good, for once at least. I pulled my hair out of its ponytail thoroughly detangling it, letting it fall down to my waist. I had let it grow out. I put on my silver wolf earrings and leather bracelet with my wolf charms. Finally, I put on some light make up and I was ready to go. I grabbed my purse, wallet, jacket, and car keys and headed back out again.

I made it to La Push in record time feeling a weight lift off my chest as I crossed the line into the rez. I had been waiting for today for a long time. Since I was a little damaged from the cullen's abandonment I had a fear of intimacy. Jake and I had kissed and done other stuff but we had never done it. Although, Paul said he was always willing to let me practice if I wanted, I didn't know if he was serious but he sure as hell did like getting a rise out of the baby alpha. Everyone had took to calling Jake baby alpha, even though he had vehemently refused to take over the pack, much to everyone's relief. Jake was a sweet kid, and it was in his blood, but he wasn't ready and most of the guys doubted he ever would be. Anyways, today is going to be the day I finally did it, and gave it up to Jake. I'm sure he would be more than thrilled. Even if he wasn't a virgin anymore. Jake definitely had needs, which he never forgot to mention to me.

I pulled up to Emily and Sam's house and knocked on the front door. Emily greeted me with her megawatt smile and I relaxed into her hug. Emily had become like an older sister to me since I had been let in on the pack's secret, ecstatic to finally have a girl who knew about all of this besides Kim. She ushered me in and Sam gave me a big bear hug, he had slowly but surely become one of my best friends. His quiet stoicism had really grown on me and we usually took to having long intellectual talks after everyone had passed out during our weekly bonfires or house parties. I walked into their homily and spotless kitchen where the majority of the guys sat around their large wooden carved table. Paul was the first to get up and greet me. He picked me up and twirled me around in circles, until he put me down gently. "Hey, shorty." He grumbled. I gave him a quick peck on the cheek and handed him the cookies I had made. I think I heard all of them audibly moan when they started grabbing the cookies. Oddly enough, Jake wasn't there and neither was Quil. Jared and Kim were sitting in the far corner of the kitchen with their tongues down each others throats. Barely looking up to give me a small waved. I bit back the urge to make a puking noise at them and gave them a small smile.

"Hey guys, where are my dudes? Quil and Jake should've been here by now...". Sam made a low growl, and spoke "Quil had an emergency at his Mom's store. I have no effing clue where Jake is and it's starting to piss me off that he hasn't showed up. He had patrol but hasn't come back yet. Quil was on patrol with him and said that nothing is up and there aren't any scents so I'm starting to get a little annoyed. Leah should be here any second to relieve him and you know how she feels about being here." "Thanks for letting me know, Sammy. I'm going to head out and look for him, I know he's been excited about this dinner for a long time. He always says it's his favorite time of the year. Thanks guys and enjoy the cookies, I'll see you in an hour for the dinner." They all gave their goodbyes, I gave them their hugs they always demanded and then I was heading back out to big red for what seemed like the hundredth time for the day.

I scanned everywhere, our spot on the beach, his house, quil's house, and even the center to see if he was there early to help. He was nowhere to be found. I even thought about going to Embry's house but I knew he wasn't allowed there anymore. Secretly, I knew it was killing Em. I saw him every once in a while at school, he was an engineering major I think so I didn't see him that often. Everytime I did see him he looked crushed and alone. He never approached me though, even if I wanted to approach him. I couldn't stand to know I was hurting someone. Jake, Quil, Em, and I were thick as thieves before the whole phasing fiasco ruined the long standing friendship. Em didn't phase and was not expected to. He wasn't Quileute, and Old Quil was adamant about that. I sat in the truck trying to figure out where the hell jake was when I figured it out. He must be on our cliff. I cut my lights off as I pulled up to the trail and walked out, the dinner had started already and I was getting worried. I knew he would be here. I could feel it. I walked up the trail slowly making sure I didn't trip on any tree branches and was stunned with what I saw, my jaw dropping to the floor and my heart constricting so tight I thought I would pass out. This seriously couldn't be fucking happening.