Well here it goes.. Here is an Embry story that I think he deserves. I've noticed there aren't a lot of them and decided to write one. Liljenrocks is also contributing to this story so please remember to give kudos to her as well. And please review!!
disclaimer-- I do not own twilight
Chapter one-- Creepy Eyes
Tick Tock, Tick Tock, Tick Tock…
Fifteen more minutes…Fifteen more minutes…I thought to myself.
"Mr. Call, are we interrupting your daydreams?" I looked up at the tall lanky tortoise-shell glasses wearing woman next to me. She had a pencil stuck in her head, and she tapped her foot at me, waiting.
"No, Mrs. Hasenfratz. I was just trying to remember what you said yesterday about the tragedies of Shakespeare," I lied my ass off. I could've cared less about Billy Shakespeare.
"Dude, that was awesome." One of my best friends, Jake, whispered in my ear.
I chuckled under my breath. "Thanks."
I went back to counting the minutes left in the school day as Mrs. Hasenfratz droned on and on about all kinds of literature. I really hated this class. I couldn't for the life of me figure out when, in my existence, I would need to know about Shakespeare or Hawthorne or the elements of a haiku. I would rather be in Physics, where I might actually learn something to aid in my motorbike obsession. It wasn't that way though. Apparently there were rules and requirements about what you had to take to graduate, and literature was one of them.
"You coming over later?" Jake whispered, tapping me on the shoulder. I nodded to him.
"Mr. Black and Mr. Call, would you like to share with us, and try not to use the bull about the Shakespeare tragedies again," our teacher frowned.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Saved by the bell, school over for the day and I headed to my locker. "I gotta stop by the shop and tell Mom where we're going," I said to Jake and Quil.
"Yeah, cuz we don't want another repeat of last week," Quil groaned.
"Hey, she's my Mom. She worries about me, " I said, slamming the locker shut. "And you know, things are kinda freaky around here lately."
We walked to the door, a tight group of three, like we always did. Me, Jake and Quil, the three of us. We always went our separate ways now, until we could meet up later. "So, we meet back at my place, right?" Jake said . We all nodded, following his example, me going to the east, Jake the west, and Quil south.
Things never changed on the rez, I kicked at an old rotting pinecone, walking down the road. I shoved my hands in the pocket of my hoodie. It was freezing, little snowflakes falling down, but, for some unknown reason, I wasn't cold. In fact, what normally would've resulted in a scarf and gloves could be dealt with now with a simple hoodie. There was no explanation for it, I thought about it, Mom had threatened to take me to the doctor in Forks, claiming there was something definitely wrong with me, but I ignored it.
"Embry Joseph Call!" I heard as I slipped the earbuds out. "You were supposed to be here five minutes ago! Where have you been?" My mother had been uncharacteristically overbearing lately. I couldn't go anywhere without telling her where I was going, when I'd be back, who was going with me, the usual. While most kids had cell phones, my only luxury was my iPod, filled to the brim with songs Jake and Quil and I shared.
"Sorry, Ma. I walked a little slower today," I told her, leaning over to kiss her cheek.
"And your coat? Where's your coat? I spent a lot of hard earned money on that and you never wear it," Mom asked, putting her hands on her hips.
"Don't need it. I'm not cold, I feel normal, you know?" I picked up a dreamcatchter, looking at it. "Do people actually buy these?"
I looked up at my mother, she looked so much older than she was. Not even 33, the mother of a 16-year old boy, and she deserved so much more. Sure she was like a warden when it came to making sure I did what I was supposed to, but she sacrificed and did so much more for me than I could've imagined. Grace Call, my mother, hailed from the Makah reservation but found her way to La Push, working a lowly job at the reservation's souvenir shop.
"Yes, they do, and that's what helps pay for everything we have," Mom snatched the dreamcatcher from me. "Are you going to the Blacks'?" She looked up at me, trying not to make it obvious she was intrigued.
"Yep," I picked up a Snickers bar. "Can I?"
She nodded, pulling out a dollar from her apron and putting it in the register. "Try to be home at a reasonable hour, Embry."
"I will," I smiled, giving her another kiss on the cheek, before turning around and striding out the door.
I found the pine cone again, kicking it down the road, past the wooded areas. I kicked and walked, walked and kicked, listening to a little music here and there, until I made my way up the Blacks' driveway. Jake sat in the garage, throwing rocks at empty beer cans. He did that a lot lately, sit and throw, thinking about something he didn't feel the need to share with us.
"Yo!" I said, waving my hand in his face to get his attention.
Jake swatted it away but gripped my arm. "Dude, your hot," Jake said.
"Uh, thanks, I think," I chuckled.
He rolled his eyes. "That's not what I meant, Call," he threw a tiny pebble at me, bouncing it off my forehead.
"Ow! Jerk!" I chuckled, picking up a stick and throwing it.
"I think you're both losers, but that's just me," Quil said, walking up behind me. "So, my friends, what's on the agenda for tonight." Quil smirked and rubbed his hands together, a bit of mischievousness in his face and words.
"We could—" Jake started but was cut off.
"You three could quit being lazy asses and help me with some stuff around here," Billy Black said, rolling out the door in his wheelchair. "Plus, I was thinking of going to Forks tonight. Wanna go, Jake?" Billy got this gleam in his eye at that statement. There was only one reason Billy went to Forks: Charlie Swan's big screen TV, and there was only one reason Jake went with him, to see the elusive, Bella Swan.
Jake didn't say anything, kept his eyes to the ground. "Nah," he sighed.
"Well, then, I guess we'll just have to stay here then. I was thinking Jake might make us some spaghetti, you boys up for that?" Billy smirked as Jake shrugged.
"Sounds good to me," Quil smiled. I nodded and followed them into the house. Billy wheeled himself to the pantry, pulling out cans and handing them to Jake.
If there was one thing I envied about Jake, it was Billy. See, I had never had a Dad. I didn't know who he was or what he did, all I knew is that he wasn't with me. Billy was a good Dad, and I can remember, when I was little, imagining that Billy was my Dad too. Back then he wasn't in the wheelchair, and he would lift Jake on his shoulders, making me so jealous it hurt.
I wondered who he was, the sperm donor that contributed half his DNA to me, then left without leaving anything but half of my chromosomes, not even a last name. Growing up, I always had others around me that acted like fathers. I had Billy and Harry and Quil Sr., but I always knew, at the end of the day, I would go home to just Mom, and they would return to their own families.
"Em, where's your coat?" Billy asked, examining me. "For Pete's sake it's snowing and your running around in a thin little coat."
I shrugged again. "Don't need it. I'm plenty warm."
"Yeah, he's practically on fire. If I didn't know better, I'd say the dude had a fever," Jake said.
Billy wheeled over to me. "Lean down here and let me feel your head."
I did as he asked, leaning down as he put his hand on my forehead, then my cheeks. "How long you been like this?"
I shrugged at him again. "Um, I don't know, since like Christmas, I think. Why? Is something wrong with me?"
Billy shook his head. "Nah, I was just curious is all. You look like you've gotten taller too, Embry. What's your Momma feeding you?" He chuckled, but it wasn't his normal chuckle, it was hesitant, like there was worry in it.
"So, why didn't you wanna go to Forks tonight exactly?" Quil wiggled his eyebrows at Jake.
"Just shut up!" Jake stomped, picking up the kitchen towel and snapping it at him. "I just didn't want to. I don't need an excuse."
I helped Jake finish dinner, watching his eyes. I could practically hear his thoughts. Bella, Bella, Bella…
Damn I hoped he brought her by soon, I really needed to see what all the fuss was about. I mean, it's not everyday a girl wreaks havoc on the city of Forks, as well as the La Push Reservation, all in a just showing up. The pictures I'd seen of her didn't show much, most of that because they had a 9-year old girl in them, with long brown hair and chicken legs. She must have filled out, because the girl in the picture was not worth all the drama she was causing Jake.
"I heard Bella's been getting better, actually going to school and stuff," Quil said, hopping up on the counter and not looking at Jake.
"That's what Charlie says," Billy watched Jake too.
"Can you imagine being all alone in the woods like that? It's a good thing someone found her, you know? Who was it that found her, Billy?" I wasn't sure why Quil was asking, he knew the story, we'd heard it a billion times. The great Sam Uley saving the day, well, la-dee-freakin'-da.
"Sam Uley, found her, she was…" Billy continued but I zoned out, watching Jake continue fixing dinner while Billy entertained Quil with the recount of the rescue.
We sat at the table to eat, each of us tearing into the spaghetti. "Geez, Embry, did you not eat lunch?" Jake asked as I piled on my third plate of food.
"I'm hungry! I'm a growing boy," I said as I sat my plat down and then patted my stomach.
"There are professional football players that don't eat that much," Quil turned up his nose as I twirled the noodles on my fork.
"Whatever," I shrugged swallowing down the bit of spaghetti. The others at the table watched every single bite, and I could've actually gone for a fourth plate, but with the six eyes boring into me from around the table, I decided to forego the extra serving.
Before long, the kitchen was clean, the game was on in the living room, and Quil bounced on the couch, yelling as the Packers were on their way to beating the Vikings. "Seriously, ref?! Are you blind?!" he shouted. I wasn't too into the game, knowing Mom was home by herself and I needed to join her. I looked down at my watch as the game came to an end. Ten o'clock.
"Shit," I muttered under my breath. "I gotta go, guys. Mom's waiting."
The boys knew better than to tease me about my Mom. That one area you didn't touch. "Hold on a sec and I'll follow you out," Billy wheeled himself forward and out the door in front of me.
"Alrgiht, well, I better go. Thanks for dinner," I smiled, getting ready to put the iPod back in my ears.
"You know you're always welcome here, Embry. I wanted to ask you something real quick. Have you noticed any changes lately, like a shimmering sensation. Or better hearing, that kind of thing?"
What the hell? Was Billy going insane? "Um, no, why?" I asked, giving him a funny look.
"Nothing," Billy shook his head and wheeled back in the house, stopping in the doorway and turning to me. "If something happens, you know, like that, come see me as soon as possible."
I nodded, then turned around headed back home.
I walked in the dark, no ear phones this time and listened to the sounds of the night. I knew the way back to my house like the back of my hand even though it was pitch black out, but I couldn't shake the feeling that someone or something was watching me. I glanced over at the trees and frowned, stuffing my hands in my pocket. Creepy.
I kicked up the dirt, dreading going into the house. I neared it and saw the porch light was still on meaning Mom had waited up for me. Crap. I was in for it now. I still had homework to do that I really had no intention of doing, but if she'd been home long chances were she'd already looked through my bag and saw the assignments. I paused outside sighing and taking off the jacket I had on, letting the cool air hit my hot skin. It felt amazingly good to me.
I looked at the outside of our house, really looking at it. It was small, way smaller than Jake's even. It was only a 2 bedroom house, but it was big enough for us. It was small inside and sort of cluttered but it was clean when I wasn't making a mess. It could use a paint job and I should probably pick up all of the useless items laying around outside I thought to myself. I heard the scuffle sound again and took a few cautious steps to the outline of the forest and peered in. I heard a deep growl and jumped back, falling down backwards flat on my ass. I heard a howl cut through the air and jumped up hurriedly and tripped again on my way into the house forgetting that it was either face whatever the hell was out there or the mother t hat was waiting for me inside the house.
I slammed the door hard and leaned against it, trying to catch my breath. The TV was on and I heard the footsteps as my mom got up. "Do you know what time it is?!" Mom snapped nearing me now. She had on her robe and slippers and looked tired.
"I know. I'm late." I said standing up straight and tossing my jacket on the back of the couch. I was kicking my shoes off when she started again.
"Why didn't you call? You know to call if you're late. Don't you realize I worry?"
I sighed and walked past her into the kitchen to eat dinner. I knew she'd cooked, I could smell it. "I didn't think to call." I tried again spotting the foil wrapped plate on the counter and grabbed it.
"I told you before you even went over there to be home by 9. I want you home early. You still have homework to do too, I saw it." Mom said pursing her lips watching me.
I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and sat on top of the counter, eating without a fork using my fingers. "But you knew where I was at. You could have called me." I argued knowing it would be easier if I just shut up.
Mom reached over and grabbed a fork and shoved it at me. "Or you could just stay at home and not have the privilege of going anywhere."
I felt my stomach sink a little bit. There was no way I wanted to be grounded from Jake's house. I loved it there. "I'm sorry Ma. I'll call you tomorrow I promise. I was just hanging out with the guys." I stabbed the piece of deer meat with the fork she'd handed me.
"What was that weird howling noise?" Mom asked next peering out the kitchen window.
"I have no idea. Dog I guess. Or maybe it was a wolf. Billy said they were harmless though." I told her chewing a mouthful of food up.
Mom handed me a napkin next, dabbing at my mouth until I turned my chin up to stop her. "See? You don't need to be out walking around at night anyways. Its dangerous. I'll make your favorite for dinner tomorrow night and if you'd like to, I'll stop and rent you a movie."
Ah. Bribery. It was the quickest way to get me to stay home with her. "Umm. Maybe, I think Jake wanted me to help him with the car though." I replied.
"Why don't you ride your bike some tomorrow too? Me and Grandma didn't spend all of that money just for it to sit there."
I hadn't rode my dirt bike in two weeks, which really wasn't that long. "Okay. I guess I could.. I could ride around a bit." I slid down off of the counter and dropped my plate into the sink. "I'm gonna go get started on my work while I'm still awake." I told her.
Mom nodded and followed after me, stopping at the end of the short hallway. "I laid you some clean clothes on your bed too."
"Thanks." I said walking down the hall to my tiny room. The carpet in the hallway felt worn under my feet but familiar.
"Embry?" Mom said just when I reached the door.
I stopped with my hand on the knob. "Yeah?" I sighed wondering what could possibly be left for her to say.
"I'm going to bed and I except you to be here when I get home from work tomorrow evening."
"Mom, it wont hurt anything for--" She cut me off. "For you to go to your grandmas for a while in Makah."
Makah ugh. That was a threat. I didn't like it there, I didn't know anyone even though they were supposed to be our real tribe. "Fine." I said swallowing and opening my door, shutting it loudly behind me.
I plopped down on my bed, not even glancing at my books. I didn't even bother to change into my sweats or to turn off the lamp. As soon as my head hit the pillows, I passed out.
I fell into a deep sleep, the type of sleep that you have when you're sick. I was walking home from Jake's house in the dark, hearing that same noise and feeling like someone was watching me again. I moved closer to the woods and peered inside the bushes like I had earlier, only this time a pair of glowing eyes was staring back at me.
The eyes emerged from the bushes revealing a wolf like I had never saw before. It was huge and it opened its mouth and said. "Embry. Come." Very clearly before trotting off into the darkness.
I followed after it, a searing heat shooting through my body burning me. I jerked and sat up straight realizing the burning wasn't a dream. I actually was burning up to the point of hurting. I was breathing heavily in the dark, trying to comprehend what the hell had just happened when the howl cut through the night air again.