Disclaimer: I don't own any characters you recognize from the Twilight Saga. However, I do own Mary.

Here's the Mary&Embry story you've been waiting for! (well, the first chapter :P)

SOOO....

Read, and review...TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!

Chapter One

"Hey, Mom!" I greeted as I entered the house. Finally. It was one Heck of a walk from school. Maybe I'd take a nap before I meet the guys at the mall.

"Hey, sweetie! Food will be ready in ten!" she yelled from the kitchen.

I rolled my eyes; Mom, or just Amelia, was always rushing. It's not like we're ever that hungry when we come back from school.

Since Dad and Allen, my little brother, were still not home yet, I went upstairs to chill in my room.

I entered the dark pink room and threw my book bag on the floor, as if wishing it would disappear if I did. Exams were next week and I had a lot to do.

I quickly went to my bathroom and took a quick, warm shower. I changed to my sweats and T-shirt as soon as I got out.

I was exhausted; Ugh, I hate it when I sleep late at school nights. But I had to study some 'Chemistry'. I huffed at the name of the subject.

I decided to take a break today, to do nothing at all but hang out with my friends and maybe listen to music or something. I went to my computer and switched it on, leaving it to open as I combed my hair and dried it. I didn't have it in me today to do anything special with my hair so I just dried it. I mean, it's just another day at the mall.

I sat down on my black chair and wore my eyeglasses- the ones I only wear when I'm reading or on the computer; it wasn't that much of a deal. I didn't wait for long before MSN finally signed in to my account.

I was checking my mail and Facebook account when I heard the familiar beep. Oh God. Who'd chat now?

My heart raced in my chest in surprise when I saw the name. I thought I deleted him? Crap. I had just decided not a week ago that I'm totally over this whole mess!

Max Watson.

My almost-ex-boyfriend. Yeah, I know it's complicated, but we were just so close to each other, we began as friends…then very close friends…Until we were at that awkward stage, you know? When you're a couple but not officially a couple?

I was ecstatic when we were that close but all my hopes were squashed when one day, out of nothing at all, he ignored me.

He didn't answer my calls, he didn't talk to me when I did, not even a simple 'Hi'. I hated that. I wanted to know why. I wanted to set this straight.

I wanted relief.

Back to reality…

Hey he sent me with this stupid smiley face that I hate. Only now though.

I was determined to get the Hell over him. I wanted to do it.

And I would.

Stacey tried to encourage me to ask guys out after I turned down a lot, I wanted to ask Jacob out but it turned out awful; Nessie and Jacob had a 'thing' and they turned out to be together. I felt even worse than before but shrugged it off; it wasn't important anyways.

Oh, so now you're talking to me? I sent, my tone obvious in my IM.

I began browsing through my cousin's latest pictures as I waited for him to answer me; I was curious.

My bad! I won't talk to you again. Satisfied?

What did he think he was? This cocky, snobbish kid! It was like he was good-looking and he knew it. I think I'm hating him. Good.

Yes, I am, actually.

I smiled proudly; I wouldn't be able to do that earlier. One day, I saw him and his brother while shopping with Stacey and the next thing I knew I was hyperventilating.

Oh, you are?

You're bringing this on!

Yes, I AM, Max! So, STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM ME! I DON'T WANT YOU IN MY LIFE ANYMORE. I'M NOT THE MARY YOU KNEW.

I didn't wait for him to respond. I blocked him and signed out of my account, my hands sweating from all the stress.

I did it!

I glanced at my clock and it was 3:30 already, I had about an hour before I move from here. I needed to call the cab now, I guessed.

So, I quickly called the cab and went downstairs to find Mom still cooking. Ten minutes, huh?

"Mom! It's been an hour!" I groaned." You know what, I need to sleep anyways so I'll just grab something from the fridge and head to my room, 'Kay?" She sighed.

"Sorry, but I burnt it and had to re-do everything again. Eat whatever you want. Are you studying Chemistry tonight, too?" she asked, washing her hands.

"No; I won't study tonight at all; I'll go out with the guys at the mall and just let my mind rest; I've been working a little bit too hard lately, don't you think?"

She chuckled." Do you have a timetable? Are you sure you'd be able to finish everything before the exam?" she used her 'Mom' tone. I nodded as I searched through the fridge for anything but then realized she couldn't see me.

"Yeah," I said, grabbing a huge bar of chocolate and running to my room before she noticed it and gave me a whole lecture on diet.

I snatched my iPod from my desk and jumped to my small but comfy bed, settling on a harmless song, one without anything to do with heartbreak or anything like that. I had one 'safe list' there anyways. It's been a year and a half since Max started ignoring me and I needed to listen to music.

I began nibbling on my chocolate and crying; I loved Max. I didn't know how I could hate him all of a sudden. The only way I began to get over him is that I switched schools last year.

I didn't want to do that. Somewhere in my subconscious, I needed him.

Then it hit me.

I didn't need him, not Max Watson anyways.

I needed someone to be there for me, to hold me close, to listen to me and love me no matter what. I needed to fill that gap in me.

Max was the closest thing to boyfriend that I'd ever had, and now I lost him for good. Maybe, deep down, I had hope. Maybe I hoped he would come back.

But I had to have a healthy life. And this wasn't in any way healthy.

I cried even harder and got back to my chocolate. I didn't even realize it until my alarm went off, announcing it was 4:30 already.

Crap! The cab would be here in, like, well, NOW!

I hurried and grabbed a pair of faded jeans and a red sweatshirt. It was useless to do anything to my hair now so I just made it a decent ponytail.

I ran downstairs and grabbed my purse, which I quickly snatched my cell phone and money in.

"Mom! I'm going now!" I yelled, hurrying.

"Humph. She gets to go out today and I don't!" Al whined. Such a baby! I can't believe he's only two years younger than I am.

I found the cab waiting.

"Ms. Anderson?" he asked professionally.

"Yes."

I slid in the backseat and took a minute to collect my breath. I was about ten minutes late when I finally got to the mall.

"Thank you," I whispered as I handed him the charge, already coming out of the cab.

I entered the mall and scanned the entrance for them, until I found them there; Nessie, Stacey, Brad, Matt and Jacob.

"Hey, guys!" I said, forcing a smile; I was in a terrible mood.

"Hey," they all replied in unison.

"So, what do you want to do?" I asked.

"I thought maybe see the latest bag collection at Guess then-" the guys groaned-" What? We'll go to Starbucks afterward!" Stacey said. I nodded; I definitely needed shopping.

Then I heard someone else.

"We're here!" A guy said, looking at Jacob. I assumed he was one of his friends.

But there was another one right after him.

He was tan and very muscular, his perfect brown hair was in smooth spikes, bringing out his beautiful dark brown eyes.

He was wearing a black shirt on low-waist jeans. I had to collect my breaths for the second time today.

The way he stared at me, his eyes full of…what? Love?

I've been imagining things; after all, I was on chocolate, milky chocolate.

I walked absentmindedly with the guys, well, next to Matt, the only single guy. I was thinking about this mysterious guy, or rather man, he looked like he was at least 20.

I felt my heart pound in my chest with a feeling that I had lost a very long time ago, only that it was much stronger than the last time I experienced it.

I liked him.

Oh, Mary, Mary, Mary. It was the chocolate talking there. I knew I shouldn't have!

I could feel his stares burning holes in my back. Naw. I should probably go to Dr. Brooke, Stacey's father, to see if I had any permanent brain damage because of that dose of chocolate. Who knows?

I entered Guess and started scanning bags and shoes with my eyes. I needed some shopping, but all I could afford at the moment was only one bag, so I picked up the purple one, though I have nothing purple in my wardrobe.

When I got out I heard one voice that made my knees so weak that I thought I was going to fall.

"May I carry this for you?" the Mystery Man asked. I blinked and felt my face got hotter. I loved those delusions anyways. I handed my bag to him. "I'm Embry, and you are…?" he spoke. It took me a moment to be able to form an audible response.

"Mary," I managed to whisper that I thought he wouldn't hear it. I was surprised that he did.

He smiled, showing those super-cute dimples he had. It totally contrasted with his manly look but it still looked adorable on him.

STOP IT, MARY GRACE ANDERSON! YOU'RE NOT DOING THIS MISTAKE AGAIN! YOU'RE NOT FALLING FOR ANYONE!

I sighed mentally; I didn't want to get hurt again. Once is way more than enough.

"So, Mary-" Oh my God, the way he said my name made- FOCUS, GIRL!-" What do you want to order?" Oh, I didn't notice we were at Starbucks already.

"Chocolate," I said automatically, reluctantly breaking eye-contact with him. Did I just say chocolate? Again? What am I doing to myself? "I mean, chocolate milk shake," I quickly corrected, still not looking at him; I didn't want to make something or feel something I would regret later.

I hate more than anything now, Max! I hate you for doing this to me! I hate you for breaking me that much!

I felt tears forming in my eyes and, being in open-air, some dust entered my eyes that I had to blink, forcing my tears down my cheek. Ugh.

Embry seemed alarmed, he immediately took my face into his hands and looked into my eyes.

"What's wrong?" he asked quickly then realized that his hand was on my face, so he dropped it immediately, cursing under his breath.

NO!

In some weird way, I wanted his super-warm hand to stay on my face. I wanted his voice to soothe me. I wanted to hug him and let everything out.

Hell, I don't even know his last name.

"Can we take a walk or something?" I suggested, whispering; if I'm doing this I was going to need to be alone. He nodded and turned to his other friend.

"Seth, I'm going to take Mary and walk," he informed him, he looked at him questioningly and he shook his head. What was that about?

I felt crazy and stupid for doing this. I was going on a walk, alone, with a guy that I barely knew his first name and I was already in danger of falling for him.

What kind of a freak was I?

I got up and walked beside him around the place.

"So, what's wrong? Why have you been crying?" he seemed truly concerned. Yeah, right. This whole thing seemed like a dream that I was just having. Now, I'd wake up to reality…Naw!

I sniffed, fighting the tears that threatened to fall.

"Max is the reason this is going on with me! He broke my world. He squashed every tiny bit of confidence I had. I hate him for that! And I've been eating chocolate and-and-" I stuttered, now, sobbing. He wrapped his arms around me in a warm hug.

"Who's Max?" he suddenly asked. I could swear I heard a low growl.

I couldn't believe I was telling him this. But I felt so safe in his arms, so…so…happy.

"It doesn't matter," I mumbled, finally breathing evenly." Thank you for listening, Embry."

He still had me in his arms but he unwrapped them from around me almost hesitantly.

"It does matter, Mary; he hurt you too much. Too much for me to bear." I raised an eyebrow at him; he had just seen me. I know why I felt this way about him…well, I didn't but, whatever. But, why was he acting this way?

"Can we talk about this later?" I asked. Was there going to be 'later'? It better be! He smiled.

"Sure, Mary," he said.

What had just happened?

What were we?

Friends I suppose.

We got back to the table at Starbucks and joined the guys in their conversation. I was acting robotically, as if I was on 'auto-pilot'.

"So, where do you live?" I asked him, smiling. He smiled back at me.

"I live down at La Push. Do you live here in PA?" he asked, leaning his elbow on the table so his hand was supporting his face. I nodded." Do you want to come to La Push tonight? I'll show you something really cool," he said then frowned, "Nessie and Jacob will be there, too," he added, as if trying to tell me it was safe. I didn't need that; I trusted him already.

MARY, MARY, MARY! WOULDN'T YOU EVER LEARN?

NO!

Oh, great. Now I was talking to myself.

I suddenly asked a question that I had in me for a while, almost without thinking.

"Why do you act like this towards me? I mean, you just met me not a while ago and you already act like-" he cut me off with a laugh, almost bitter.

"I like you," he said, but I sensed that there was a lot that he didn't tell me. I sighed; I was doing this again. It was almost like he could read my mind- or my expressions just gave out too much because he took my face in his massive hand for the second time today and whispered," I would never hurt you, if that's what you're worried about." I was about to protest then I closed myself and frowned, knowing that that was exactly what I was worried about.

"Thanks," I whispered back.

Then, Seth nudged his arm.

"Come on, man! Aren't we going to leave?" he asked, winking at him. He let go of my face and stood up.

"Yeah, sure. We're going to La Push now, right, Nessie?" he said as I began to take my purse and searched for my bag." No, I'm taking that," he whispered in my ear. I smiled and blushed again.

Embry joined Jacob and Seth and I just stared at him, my brain incapable of comprehending the whole day, and I couldn't blame it on chocolate anymore.

"Earth to Mary!" Nessie said. I blushed and chuckled.

"What? I like him!" I tried to sound as normal as possible when whispering this to her.

"Sure you do," she mumbled," What did he tell you we're doing at La Push?" she asked, almost suspiciously. Weird.

"He said that he had to show me something really cool and that helikesme,(He Likes Me)" I said, so fast that I wasn't sure she'd be able to know what I was saying.

"Great!" she said. She sounded genuinely happy for me.

""But I-I...well, dunno how to describe it. I more than like him. It's creepy, considering that I first met him a couple of hours ago." Ness was one of my very close friends, maybe she'd tell me something.

"No, it's not. Really." Huh? Hmm…

We went into Nessie's black Ferrari and Jacob drove, I sat on the side, Embry was in the middle.

I could feel his heat radiating through me. I loved that feeling.

"I like your sweatshirt," he commented. Wow, I haven't noticed that before.

I'd never thought anyone would like me in my pony-tail-and-sweatshirt-no-make-up state. I must look horrible. I suddenly felt self-conscious.

"Umm…Uh, yeah. It's my favorite." Now. He smiled.

"Red is definitely your color," he whispered," It goes with your hair…" he mumbled. I blushed, again, and smiled.

"Thanks. You look great yourself," I commented. Did I just say what I think I just said?

Oh my God.

Oh, well, it was a weird day anyway.

His dark skin darkened even more. Was that a blush?

Aw!

After chatting randomly with him for a long time, Jacob spoke.

"Here we are."

We got out of the car, which was now parked in front of a small red house, and began walking towards the forest. This was getting weirder than ever.

"I'll go check on Amy," Seth said and left us. I began feeling cold, scared.

"Okay, Mary. Before I show you anything I just need you to stay calm. Don't be scared. There's really nothing to be scared of," Embry told me as he came closer. I didn't know whether I was getting warmer because of the sense of security I felt around him or because of his freakish temperature. I nodded.

"Okay." It sounded more like a question.

He got away from me, only a few feet though. The look on his face suggested that he was concentrating really hard on something. He started shaking gradually until, in a blink of an eye, he was gone, a giant gray wolf with cute black spots on his back replaced him.

Was that him? Embry?

Oh my God.

A W-Werewolf?

I felt the blood drain from my face as I stared at him.

"E-Embry?" I stuttered. He howled. It was getting harder to breathe. This wasn't real. NO, it couldn't be real.

Werewolves don't exist.

This whole day is a dream-Yes.

Except that it wasn't.

"It's okay, really. He won't hurt you," Nessie said, rubbing my back soothingly as I froze in my place.

"You knew?" I asked in a whisper, she rolled her eyes.

"Sure; Jake's a werewolf, too." T-This is just…Oh my God. Oh my God!

I tried to collect my breaths before I passed out and, surprisingly, I was able to calm myself down.

He approached me, rather cautiously, and nudged me with his nose. I laughed nervously, I didn't know how it came out though and touched his fur with my hand. It was so soft, so beautiful.

God, Mary! You're talking about a guy that just morphed into a horse-sized wolf thing!

A few minutes later, another guy, who looked like he was from here, too, came in only his sweats, carrying another pair of them in his hand.

"You're stupid, you know that, Embry? You got me running to your house just to get you those!" he complained. Then he noticed me. "Oh, hi" he said, "So you're Embry's imprint?" Im-what?

"Huh?" I said.

"Sometimes you're stupid, too, Quil. He hasn't told her anything yet!" Jake said as the gray wolf ran behind the trees to phase back. What more would he tell me now? Is there anything more than this?

Wait a second!

Why was he showing me this in the first place?

He came back in the pair of sweats that Quil gave him. So, clothes didn't just pop in and out of existence, did they? Too bad; I liked the shirt. I couldn't take my eyes off him as he came closer, shirtless. I hoped he wouldn't hear my erratic heartbeat.

"So, no full moons or silver bullets?" I asked.

"Nope," he answered.

Then, Jacob, Quil and Embry were explaining a lot of things to me. They said that those were only the 'basics' and that I needed to attend a bonfire when the 'elders' explain more of their legends to me. Embry stayed by my side the whole time. I didn't know why I wasn't scared of him, why I didn't just run away and scream my lungs out. I felt the total opposite; I trusted him, I felt safe around him.

I was sure I was going to go into shock…later.

One thing they told me caught my attention though. They said he imprinted on me, which means, and I quote, that "he would always be there for me and protect me as I'm the most important thing to him; the gravity that attaches him to Earth."

The what?

He's WHAT?

I'm….What the Hell?

He was my…protector. My guardian angel.

This was just too much.

So?

Good or bad?

I need to know so I'd know how I'd continue/if I'd continue.

THANK YOU!