Welcome! I'm very excited to present to you my story! Just to get straight to it, I don't own Twilight, nor Almost, Maine (which belongs to John Cariani). So...yeah this is an awkward introduction. I really hope you enjoy my story. If you review, which I hope you do, I would really like constructive criticism. Thank you so much! This first chapter is a little short because I didn't really know what else to put. I'm going to try for longer chapters in the future. Enjoy!
Quil and Jacob stare at my devastated look as I watch Embry's retreating form. My face works through maybe eight different emotions before it settles on one in particular, rage.
"Embry Ryan Mother Fuckin' Call! Don't you dare walk away from me when I'm yelling at you!" I scream, walking forward. "All I want to know is why the hell you think you have to leave your best friends! Who the hell do you think you are!" I yell, struggling to find words. He turns around and looks at me. He sizes me up, and then his eyes soften. "You know what?" I ask, laughing humorlessly. "I'm leaving. I'll be in Seattle for the next few days. You know my number if you feel like being a true friend. So fuck you, and have a horrible day." I say turning on my heel and walking towards Jacob's car. I get into the backseat of the Rabbit and wait for my friends. The only two I have left. Jacob climbs into the driver seat all the while Quil climbs into the backseat with me. Jake starts the car and drives away, that's when I let myself fall apart. Quil, who's quiet and not annoying for once, just hugs me and lets me cry on his shoulder. I don't even realize when Jake stops and gets out of the car. A few minutes later I hear the trunk open and then it closes again.
"We're going with you." Jake says, looking at me in the rear view mirror. I know I must look like a mess. The three of them have only ever seen me cry one other time. It was when my dad died. That thought brings on a new wave of tears and I cling to my make-shift teddy bear tighter. I don't even pay attention as Jake makes the proper arrangements. Seattle, that's where our drama club is taking a show to the state competition. Jake, Quil and the unmentionable are only in drama club because I made them come with me when I joined freshman year. We always used to do everything together. It's always been the four of us. We've been through everything together, and the thought of how they're being for me here now makes even more tears come to my eyes.
"Damn it." I say through my teeth into Quil's shoulder. "All I have to say is that this better be enough emotion for Tim."
"You're going to be perfect Maria." Quil says, rubbing soothing circles on my back. I give him a weird look. "You're right Maria sounds weird, you're more of a Mar-Mar." He says, gaining my respect back. They haven't called me by my full name, conversationally, since ever. Maria Lillian Clark is my given name. Affectionately shortened to Mar-Mar in the sandbox days of our youth.
"I just...I don't know what his deal is." Jake says, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. He keeps his eyes on the road as he gets on the highway. I then realize we're joining our fellow thespians in Seattle. Originally we were all going together, but then Jake became obsessed with that Bella chick and Quil...he was just lazy. Then Embry started being a jackass, so they decided they weren't going. We've got rooms reserved at the hotel though. One for the guys then, by request, I have one to myself. Since we're (really I'm) paying for it, the director really doesn't care. Anyway, Jake and Quil apparently have changed their minds.
"Do you need to call your girlfriend?" I ask, knowing I sound bitter and sullen. "Sorry, I'm just not a fan of people playing games." Directly linking it back to Embry. Right now, I could probably find a probable reason as to why world hunger is his fault. Abandonment is a big issue with me...and he knows it. I've been accused of being in love with Embry, but right now I'm too upset to even deny it. Right now I feel like stabbing something.
"It's fine Mar-Mar, why don't you try and get some sleep?" Jake says with a sigh, knowing how I get. Sometimes it's weird how well these boys know me. They annoy the crap out of me, they tick me off beyond belief, but in the end they always know exactly what I need to hear. Jake is especially good with knowing what to say to me. He's gentle...it's easy to see why anyone who's hurt would drift to him. He's so undeniably good.
"I love you guys." I say, a fresh wave of tears coming on. Quil wipes them away, raising his eyebrow at me.
"You're not drunk, so quit sounding like it...weirdo." He says flicking my nose. I roll my eyes and take the blanket I keep in the back of the Rabbit and cover myself in it before making Quil into my pillow. "Everything will be okay."
"You just...you don't pay attention anymore. You go somewhere, and I don't know where you go, but you go somewhere where you can't pay attention. And you forget your son's first hockey game..." I work through my lines with excellent emotion. I feel the frustration build as my acting partner cuts me off.
"Hockey equipment costs money!" He says, giving an irritated sigh, rolling his eyes. I feel my anger flare.
"Your daughter's birthday! And you forgot your anniversary!" I scream, "I mean, I brought you here hoping you'd remember about us and you didn't! And that makes me so mad I don't know what to do anymore!" I finish, walking to the other side of our area. Literally fighting back the tears. My acting partner, Henry, uses the pause to allow me time to gather myself.
"You lie." He says, sounding very bitter. I look at him, while still facing the audience with a look of utter disbelief on my face.
"What?" I ask, sounding incredulous. I cross back over to him, keeping the same posture I've held since yelling.
"You lie, so bad!" He says, getting a slightly hysteric laugh. Which fits perfectly for the kind of arguments I have.
"I don't lie!" I yell, my voice gaining a new edge, an edge of raw emotion. I see Henry get a somewhat worried look in his eyes, not noticeable by our audience...I hope.
"Yes, you do! You say you're not mad, but you are! You say you had a good time, but you didn't! You didn't have a good time did you?" He says the line, bitterly.
"No." I say, just as bitterly. I cross my arms over my chest and walk around to the backside of the bench.
"But you kept saying you did." He says, letting his hands fall to his sides. I look up at him and I let out a incredulous laugh.
"I didn't." I start bitterly. "I didn't have fun, Phil. I don't have fun with you anymore." I pause, then look away. "Did you?"
"No." He says, just as bitterly. "I had a rotten, lousy time." He finishes, coming around the bench to me.
"Well then." I say, taking my turn to let my hands fall to my sides. "What are we doing?" I ask, "What are we waiting for?" I finish, then we both look down and under the bench where we stare amazed for a minute before Henry grabs my shoe and hands it to me. I snatch it from him and walk around the front of the bench and sit down. I pull on the shoe, stand up, take my borrowed car keys out of my coat pocket, and leave the stage. After a while, the entire theatre bursts into applause. The very final scene to our shortened version of Almost, Maine (The Epilogue) goes on and then we're done. Henry stares at me wide eyed.
"Maria...that was...I don't even know what to say...I almost wet myself." He whispers giving me a great big hug. I pat him on the back lightly, and then we wait.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" The host announces. I clutch one of Jake's hands and one of Quil's hands. Even though they aren't announcing the placing for the shows today, they're announcing personal awards. "I'd like to start off by saying that we've seen so many wondeArful shows today. Now, I'm going to give out a few special awards for the people who really spoke to us." The man rambles and I feel my eyebrow twitch. "The first one goes to..." I space out, not really all that interested in who all got special awards. "Next, we have Maria Clark as Marci in Almost, Maine!" The entire theatre bursts into applause and I hear whistles. Jake pretty much lifts me over him and I make my way to the stage. I accept the certificate and shake the man's hand before heading back to my seat. Slapping high fives as they're offered to me. Jake lifts me back into my seat and I can barely sit still through the rest of the awards. When they're over with Jake, Quil and I saunter to the lobby.
"You made me cry." A girl says as she walks up to me. "I've seen this show before, but I've never felt so much...emotion. Thank you so much for that." She says, very seriously.
"Your welcome?" I ask, laughing a little. "Thank you, though." I say and the girl moves on. I look to my friends and shrug.
"We always knew that this little body of yours held a big voice." Quil says, patting my head. I glare at him. They're always so fond of pointing out how short I am.
"So, anyway, we've got three hours until the dance. What should we do til then?" Jake asks, and I look around.
"Let's find a bar, so dark we forget who we are." I sing the line from Out Tonight in RENT. Jake rolls his eyes at me and I smile nudging him with my elbow.
"The lounge it is then." He says, and I take his arm. I don't do well in big crowds, so they usually hold onto me (or vice versa) in some way, shape, or form.
Currently, we're sitting at a table in the teenager's lounge. A half drank soda sits in front of me and I stare at the ice cubes floating around. My head rests on the table.
"If you don't cheer up, I'm going to tickle you." Quil says conversationally. I look at him side ways. "Come on Mar-Mar, you know we hate seeing you like this. You're supposed to be...cheerful, and slightly spastic."
"Maybe, I'm becoming a different person Quil." I say, sitting up and sounding quite dignified. In all honesty. I usually am cheerful and spastic. It's not always though, I'm human. I have all emotions, some are more intense then others. "I'm going to flirt with a stranger today." I say, combating my possible feelings for Embry. "Hmm...what about Sweeney?" I ask, gesturing with my eyes towards the guy who played Sweeney Todd in his school's production.
"I don't know, he seems a little stuck up." Quil says resting his chin in his hand. "If you're going to flirt with someone, why don't you flirt with someone at home? He'll at least be able to see it there." I glare at him.
"Quil, you're fired." I say, and turn away from him in my seat. "Hey Jake..." I start, but he just stares at me blankly.
"No." He says bluntly, and I open my mouth to protest and he stops me. "No, I'm not going to be your personal fruit loop for the day. Besides...you're like my little sister. Why on Earth would I want to help you look for some random guy to flirt with?"
"Because, I am like your little sister, and you love me. You wish happiness for me. You know how giddy revenge makes me feel even if the vengeance is taken upon someone who doesn't know/care about it." I say, keeping the same tone throughout.
"Which is exactly why I'm saying no." Jake says, crossing his arms over his chest. I pout and put my head back down.
"Fine then, I'm going with Quil's idea then." I say, getting in mind who exactly my target shall be. My phone suddenly goes off, my ringtone being 'Who Let the Dogs Out?'. I look at the caller I.D and frown. "Guess who it is." I say, almost bitterly before answering.
"Mar-Mar, is that you?" He asks, sounding very different. I've been ignoring his calls all day yesterday and all day today.
"No Embry, I'm the mother fu-" Jake quirks his eyebrow at me. "It's me." I say, rolling my eyes. "And you have five minutes to say what you need to say because I've just met a very nice boy from Port Angles." I lie, earning an eye roll from Quil.
"You what?" Embry asks, his voice going...almost deadly. I feel my eyebrows furrow together in confusion.
"I met a nice boy from Port Angles who wants me to dance with him, and then he wants to buy me a drink. So hurry up and say what you need to say." I say, making myself sound irritated.
"I'm coming to Seattle. What the hell are you thinking? You're barely sixteen. God, I can't leave you alone for five minutes" Is all he says. That's where I draw the proverbial line. He's not staying in my nice rooms I have for me and my friends if he's going to be an asshole.
"No Embry, you've got friends to hang out with now. You made that very clear. So just go ahead and stay in La Push. We'll be fine without you. I assure you. Oh, and for the record, you didn't leave me alone for five minutes. You left me alone for a week, maybe more." I say, going into bitch mode. "Is that all you needed to say?"
"No, I wanted to apologize. Please Mar, I'm begging you. I want to explain what happened but I can't." He says, sounding irritated.
"If you're just going to be a douche, stop calling me. I don't even know why you bothered Embry. Oh. and please don't call me Mar-Mar. That is reserved for my friends." I say, then hang up.
"Wow...you've...become..." Quil searches for the words. "You've grown up a lot." He finally decides on. I shrug, wiping at my eyes.
"I'm not going to tolerate people hurting me anymore. So I'm not going to give anyone the chance to." I say, my voice shaking a little.
"We're not going anywhere Mar-Mar." Jake says, smiling at me. Jake has the kind of smile that will make anyone smile.
"I don't even want to dance with anyone." I say with a laugh. "It sounded like it ticked him off though." They look uncomfortably between each other. "What?"
"Well..." Quil starts then stops, pursing his lips. "I want to dance with you." He says standing up and pulling me up with him. I laugh and Jake just shakes his head.
"Mar-Mar! You're beautiful! Come on, we're going to miss the dance!" Quil says, beating on the bathroom door. I open the door where his jaw drops. The theme of the dance is that you can dress up as any fictional character. I chose Princess Jasmine. I have copper skin and long black hair. I cross the room and look in the full length mirror. I only have one modification for the costume. I take a see-through sparkly piece of blue fabric and use it to cover my stomach. It definitely cuts down the sex appeal of the costume, but I must admit. I look pretty dang hot.
"Quil, close your mouth and lets go." I say pulling him out of the room. Jake meets us in the hall and I close the door to my room and we head downstairs to the dance. The ballroom was transformed into something out of the movies. "Whoa, this is awesome." I say looking around.
"That's for sure." Jake says, as he heads for a table. I run and catch up with him, grabbing his wrist.
"Quil danced with me earlier. Am I going to have to steal your car and go get that Bella girl myself so you'll dance?" I say, tugging at his arm.
"Come on Mar, you know I don't dance." He says groaning. I laugh and continue to pull him. I laugh.
"You can dance with Quil." He says, trying to get me to let go. I don't though, I break out my infamous puppy dog eyes and he sighs. He allows himself to be pulled to the dance floor, where we start dancing. Not in the way most people do though. I'm not really a fan of rubbing my butt against a guy...anyway, we dance for a while then go to sit down. Quil hands me a can of Dr. Pepper.
"You're a gem Quil." I say after cracking it open and taking a big gulp. I notice them looking over my shoulder. I turn around and I feel a scowl work it's way onto my face. Embry's walking towards us, and he had the nerve to bring Paul Lahote and Jared Cameron. I stand up, ready to go off. I feel a hand go around my wrist, I'm guessing it's Quil because he was sitting closest to me. "You're coming with me or letting go." I say through my teeth. He sighs and stands up. I hear Jake stand up to and we walk towards them. I find it a little funny because Quil and Jake are on either side of me like Paul and Jared are on Embry. "Didn't I tell you not to bother?" I ask, acid on my tone. "Or did I not make it clear that we didn't want you here Embry?" I say, even though it's a total lie. I want him here, I want to be making him dance like I made Jake dance. I want to make him carry me piggy-back upstairs.
"I need you to listen to me Maria." He says through his teeth. I cross my arms over my chest, and look at him expectantly. "Can we go outside?" He asks, and I just start walking. I know that Jake and Quil follow me. Once outside, I wrap my arms around my middle.
"Well, are you going to talk or wait for me to freeze to death?" I ask, using the same bitter tone I've been using with him.
"I want to tell you why things have to be this way, but I can't." He says, taking deep breaths. It's almost as if he's trying to control his anger or something. "I can tell you though, that I don't want things to be this way." He gestures between us. He notices the tears in my eyes and steps towards me. I hold out my hand and he runs into it.
"You came here to tell us something we already know. That you've joined some gang or whatever. You came here to tell us that you can't be our friend anymore. Bringing along your new friends I might add. What's-his-name," I say gesturing to Paul. "doesn't even look like he's all there." I reference his appearance. Staring at me, mouth slightly open. "So, you know what Embry? Things may just have to be this way. I'm not going to get used to saying goodbye to you. So you can decide. I'm not going to make you choose between us and them, but you could at least have the decency to keep us at least a little close."
"You're making this more difficult then it has to be!" He yells, and the invisible force pushes me and I stumble backwards.
"Don't yell at her!" Paul yells, shoving Embry back. He puts himself between us. "Don't you dare think you can yell at her." He all but growls.
"Don't tell him not to yell at me." I ground out through my teeth. "Let him yell, that gives me an excuse to knee him where it hurts." I say and I feel arms restrain me. I know they're restraining me because they know I'd really do it. I have before.
"We'll be right back." Jared says as he takes Embry by the arm and starts pulling him towards the fence, which they jump.
"Careful Paul, he'll probably up and leave you too. Promises don't mean anything to him." I say bitterly. He just stares at me, his eyes full of some emotion that I can't quite place. I do my best to keep myself from crying, but I fail. So I turn away from him and into Jake.
"I'm sorry." Paul says quietly after a while. He sits down at one of the unused patio tables. "I know that this all really sucks. He really hates having to leave you guys behind." He doesn't look at us as he speaks. "It's as hard on him as it is on you. Especially you." He says, nodding at me. "I had to do the same thing." He says and I sit down across from him.
"Paul..." I say and he looks up, appearing to be pleased that I knew his name. "There is always a choice in life. No matter what kind of trouble you may be in." I reach across the table and put a comforting hand over his. His skin is burning hot, just like Embry's.
"It's not that easy Maria. Thank you,though." He says in a gentle tone, which I take it that he isn't usually gentle. Everyone knows that Paul Lahote has a bad temper. I sigh and stand up.
"Sure it is, you're just making it more difficult then it has to be." I joke lightly. "We're going to head back in." I say, speaking in plural. "Could you please let Embry know that I'm over it?" I ask, clearly not over it. I mean, accepting my feelings, I've been in love with him for only God knows how long.
"Can you honestly look me in the eye and say that you're over it?" He asks, looking into my eyes. I feel my heart flip, and butterflies instantly fill my stomach. I force myself to stare straight back though, fighting the random shyness.
"I am over it." I say, my voice faltering only so slightly. Honestly, I don't think anyone could hear it. Maybe if they were listening oh so very closely for it. What reason does Paul have to listen closely to me for though?
"Let's go Mar." Quil says gently. I nod and the three of us head back inside. I ignore the doors to the dance though and walk straight for the elevators. I push the button and lean against the wall to wait. I know that I must look very confused.
"Do you guys know what he meant when Paul said especially me?" I ask as we walk onto the elevator.
"Maria!" Embry calls my name and I can't help but stop the door from closing. I step out and I hear the guys sigh as they follow. "Maria..." He stops running as he approaches me. I just look up at him, not bothering to hide how hurt I am. Suddenly, he leans down and he kisses me. I'm totally stunned. My eyes don't shut, but I see that his are. He kisses me insistently, but I feel...nothing. After all of the years of wondering what it would be like to kiss him. I feel nothing. This can't be right. I close my eyes, and kiss him back. There has to be something. After a moment, we pull away. I feel the tears in my eyes. "You don't feel anything do you?" He asks, sounding saddened. I shake my head and look away. "Well...it's okay." He says, smiling at me. "We can still be friends, right?"
"You tell me Embry." I say before heading for the stairs. Our room may be on the sixth floor, but I don't care. I just need to get out of there. I just need to get away.
