Embry

I woke up to darkness, a stiffness in my back. The tv was on quietly, playing some reruns of cartoons that nobody watched anymore. I sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. As my eyes adjusted to the light from the tv, I saw my best friend sleeping on the other end of the couch, our feet tangled together. That would explain why I was so sore. The little couch barely fit me by myself, let alone me and my friend. I realized it must be pretty late, so I nudged her slightly.

"Ruthie, we fell asleep. Ruthie wake up." I said. She groaned a little, sitting up tiredly.

"Do I have to?" She growled.

"Just long enough to tell me if you want me to take you home." I said, already knowing what her answer would be. She shook her head slightly.

"Can I just... Can I just stay..?" She asked. I didn't answer her question, just scooped her into my arms and brought her into my bedroom. I laid her gently on the bed and pulled the covers over her. She smiled in her sleep as she snuggled deeper into my sheets. I climbed out the window after giving her one last glance and phased while I was in the shadows of my house.

Sorry guys, fell asleep I thought to the pack.

Glad you could join us Sam said. He was obviously in a bad mood. The other guys were a little more empathetic, knowing what it felt like to accidentally fall asleep longer than expected. I ran down the small path near my house into the woods, the rest of the pack filling me in on what I had missed. Not much had been going on, just a few vamps here and there. Nothing too dangerous. Hopefully my patrol could get me back to the house before my mom got up. If she saw I was out again, she'd be angry. She wouldn't yell at me until Ruthie left though. My mom adored her, and rightly so. Ruthie was my best friend for a reason. I ran the patrol line that bordered Forks. Since the battle, we had extended our lines to be closer to the Cullen's house. I didn't mind it too much, though some of the other wolves did.

As I ran, I delved into the pack mind. Paul was complaining about how Scarlett had yelled at him for telling her she should take a day to relax. She had just recently moved into his house with him, and being the athlete she was she had been running around the Rez doing everything that needed to be done. Her personality was not the kind of person to take a day off. Seth was thinking about how Ri's best friend was visiting her. He hated not being able to spend all day with her, but he liked Jake regardless. Sam was thinking about Emily. She was three months pregnant, and he was three times more worried about her as he was the day he told us that they were expecting.

These thoughts ran through my mind until I found myself back at my house. The sun was just peeking over the horizon, and I pulled on my shorts, hoping to get some more sleep before Ruthie woke up. I climbed back in through my bedroom window, seeing Ruthie still sound asleep in my bed. I shut my door silently as I went into the living room, planning on sleeping on the couch again. My plans were spoiled, however, by my mother sitting on the couch.

"Where have you been?" She asked in a whisper, not bothering to stop for the explanation hanging off my tongue.

"I never heard Ruthie go home last night, so I went to your room to see if she was still here. I was right, she was, but you were gone." She stated. I looked down at the worn wood floor. My mom still didn't know I was a wolf, so I got this kind of lecture a lot.

"When are you going to outgrow this phase?" She said, still hushed. I had been sneaking out to be with the pack for three years now. My mom still thought it was a rebellious teenage phase. I stood in the doorway for another ten minutes while she continued to lecture me until finally she said I could go to my room. Hungry and tired, I turned on my heel into my bedroom. Ruthie stirred as I sat on the edge of the bed.

"What time is it?" She asked.

"5:30" I replied, leaning my head against the wall. She opened her eyes wide, panic stricken.

"I have to go home. My dad will kill me if breakfast isn't ready when he wakes up." She said, scrambling out of bed and shoving her shoes on her feet.

"Didn't you say your dad was colorful last night?" I said, using the term that we had been using since childhood to describe Ruthie's dad's alcohol problem. If he was hungover he should sleep pretty late.

"He has work today, so it's all the more reason to get home. He's bad when he's hungry after a colorful night and has to wake up early." She said.

"At least let me drive you home." I pleaded. I hated it when Ruthie left the security of my house.

"Fine, but you have to stay in the car." She said sternly. As we passed through the living room, I kept my eyes on the floor.

"Em's just gonna drive me home. Sorry if I was intruding Mrs. Call." Ruthie said shyly. My mom became the opposite of what she had been with me earlier.

"Anytime Ruthie. It's always a pleasure to have you around!" My mom said sweetly. I grabbed my keys off of the table and practically pulled Ruthie out of my house.

Ruthie slid into the shotgun seat of my 1965 mustang. I had worked years to save up enough to buy this car, and Ruthie had been there for most of it. She was as comfortable in my car as I was. I out the keys in the ignition and started her up, glancing over at Ruthie's tense figure.

"If anything happens give me a call. I'll be over as soon as I can." I said as I backed out of my driveway. Ruthie nodded and leaned back in the seat. I could drive the route to her house with my eyes closed, but she wouldn't let me try. I took the familiar turns and corners until I pulled in front of her powder blue house. I turned off the car and looked at Ruthie. She had her hand on the door handle, but was hesitating to leave.

"Promise me you'll call if anything happens?" I said, grabbing her free hand. She gave me a shy smile and squeezed my hand.

"I promise."

hello! Welcome welcome welcome! I hope you enjoy immensely! Also a disclaimer: I do not own anything twilight, I just like to use the characters and he universe for my own endeavors! Please review!