Penny - And So It Begins (Again)

I'm a teenager. By definition, I should be freaking out about school, crying over lost crushes, and trying weed (a gateway drug in case you weren't already aware) just to see what it's like.

But no.

Instead of being a normal fresh-out-of-10th-grade girl looking forward to 8 weeks of freedom, I was spending my first day of summer patrolling the woods whilst-technically-naked.

At least I had my boyfriend with me.

I heard-well, not exactly heard…more like felt-Embry snicker, and I huffed to myself instead of laughing with him. When danger was present, patrolling could be thrilling. Today, though, danger had hit the snooze button while I was being dragged out into the unusually sweltering heat of Forks, Washington. I was hungry, tired, and grumpy.

We're almost done.

The words came to me in images, and I felt a pleasant tingle that went through me when Embry spoke to me in such an intimate.

I sighed, and then I sat down abruptly on the ground. Sam, the Pack's leader, sensed what I had done from miles away, but he didn't protest. There was only so much a girl could take in a day, anyway…even a werewolf like me.

Not only was I hot, I was hot and bothered. I was itching for a few moments alone with my boyfriend, but it was impossible with the Pack constantly breathing down our necks.

After another hour or so, Sam finally gave us the signal, and I sprinted back to La Push.

Even though summer was going to be boring, I was glad my family-the Pack-would be safe, and I was looking forward to the next few months of freedom.

I should have known from my fractured history that things wouldn't work out as I had planned.

Jacob - The First Stage

"I don't care what you think you heard," I snarled. "You're wrong."

Quil looked like he was about to challenge me, but Embry stepped between us.

"This is going to escalate," he murmured. "Stand down."

No one but Quil and I heard him in the middle of downtown La Push; that was a benefit of having super hearing: no one can listen in on our conversations. The downside? You can never effectively convince your Pack that you didn't hear them when they give you a warning or reprimand. I wasn't sure which Embry was giving us; although, it seemed like both.

"Fine," Quil finally snapped, pushing away from Embry and me. "I just wanted to warn you, brother."

I winced and rubbed my forehead in frustration as he stormed away.

"This can't be happening," I insisted to Embry. "She can't seriously go through with this."

Embry sighed. "I don't see Bella any more than you do these days. I'm not the person you should be talking to."

I looked at him skeptically. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying," Embry elaborated. "If you want information, go to the source."

I shook my head. "No."

"No?"

"No. I don't have to," he said. "The notion is ridiculous. Quil doesn't know what he's talking about."

"Whatever you say," Embry muttered, shouldering his bag and walking toward the drug store Emily had sent us to.

Bella always thought she was serious when she talked about Edward, but this was taking it to an entirely new level. It would never work. She didn't know what she was getting in to. She didn't realize that she and the leech would never work out.

"You coming?" Embry called.

I met him at the entrance of the store and thought of how I could possibly get through to Bella. She wasn't marrying the bloodsucker. She was in denial; that much was obvious.