Embry's life became hectic with the new addition to his home. Now he had to knock before entering the bathroom, had to become the new human alarm clock and teddy bear because Alexander would sometimes sleepwalk into his room, wherever she had to go he had to go and in some cases vice versa, they had to do the laundry and food shopping once a week, any sneaking out at night had to be done by deals and blackmailing. Embry even had to be designated police officer of the urban goth bad girl. By the time the second month of school rolled around Embry was more than happy that Alexander had friends she could kill time with. However there was so much more about her he had to know that she wasn't saying. Like how he and Jacob found out about he being the top of their class removing the current junior from her spot on the Dean's List and that Alexander was already earning college credits because half her classes were advance placements.

Yet he also had to find out things that just didn't add up. The day Seth came back with the file they all choked on their lunches.

"Yo! You would never believe what Ms. Secretary told me today." Seth sat down with his lunch in hand. "Lexie's got another side to her, man. She's only being good and fun now but we've all seen snippets of the dark side."

"What? You boning the new secretary now?" Quil joked.

"Not yet, but getting there. They really shouldn't let a young, fine, slender something like that work with high schoolers, man." Seth said, "Embry you want to hear or not?"

"Yeah yeah. I choose not the hear about your sex life." He said biting into his sandwich.

"WELL! Little Lexie's got a record. She's got a temper that gets her into a lot of trouble. Been busted for underage drinking, smoking, and clubbing. She's not keen on fights because aside from her brute force she's got a combination of moves to go with that." Seth laughed, "Although Alex has never gone to Juvie, just counseling, the last scuffle she got into, landed her here. And in that she also claimed she witnessed a homicide and the man she described is nowhere to be found and the victim, not so recognizable anymore. Everyone thinks she's traumatized by it, that's what made her bash that guys head in because of paranoia, they decided to not send her to the detention center. It was either that, or lay low, preferably outside of the Manhattan. My girl took it like a bat out of hell. However this is just what was explained to the principle by word of mouth. I'm thinking there's more to this than Alexander is explaining and it's got something to do with that Vampire because the entire record of what she's done- gone! Not even the back up. " Seth finished.

"The entire record gone. For a AP student earning college credits and wanting to get a degree in journalism, she sure knows how to make things go her way." Jacob whispered.

"But she's so intelligent and has common sense, why is she doing things like that?" Embry's brows furrowed. He swallowed too much and was choking. He felt a something cold collide with his head.

"Maybe I'm not doing things like that." Alexander sat down across the table from them, next to Quil. "Enjoying story time boys? Want to know whom I'm fucking, too?!" she huffed. "I don't know about you but the way you find out about people is you ask and wait for them to tell you!" She slammed down the can of soda and slid it over to Embry. "You assholes, really piss me off."

"Well you weren't speaking so we had to find out somehow. Everyone here knows you're the new school badass so what's wrong in us finding out." Seth shot back defensively.

"So the Detective speaks. Well I wonder what's going to happen to your little secretary girlfriend, hmm?" Alexander smiled slyly. "Anonymous tip, she's a promiscuous woman. She's not only aiming to bed you Seth, baby. Apparently the science teacher can throw it down just as good, maybe even better. However it would be a shame if she were charged on suspected Statutory rape."

"What about you screwing your good-looking thirty-something year old Korean mentor and counselor?"

"Babes, try again. That hasn't been proven. And I haven't done anything with him. Besides I'm turning 17 in less than a month, even if I were it wouldn't matter, and since I'm not, there is no reason to have this discussion. Added to that. Stop digging into my life or else I will make you talk- ALL of you talk without having to move your lips or making a sound."

"You can be real cool sometimes but today you're real sinister. Sorry to say, but there is nothing to talk about." Seth growled.

"Whoa, this conversation has gone AWOL. Listen, Lexie we're sorry. It's just that you leave so much out. Embry says you sleep walk sometimes and sometimes you say things but never finish them. We're only trying to piece together things to help you." Jacob put his hands up in defense.

"Well how about this, you think I haven't noticed that none of you seem to bat an eye when I mention vampire and murder. And form the way Seth was talking I'd say you guys have encountered a few. So there is more to this than you want to tell me." Alexander pulled something out of her pocket and placed it on the table. "This is from your fan girl Jacob. Be nice to her, since you disregards other people's feelings."

Alexander stood up and turned to leave. Embry noticed she had her book bag going in the opposite direction of class.

"Where you going?"

"Back to the house."

"You're gonna skip?" he started getting annoyed. "After what we just-!"

"I am entitled to skip, heads up Embers but I've already reached the top of the class. I really don't care about attendance. I get here every morning and I leave after it's all done. Go to hell if you think I'm going to sit there and have your presence emanating in the same classroom after what you guys just did." Alexander turned and stalked away leaving everyone uneasy.

"Well I think its safe to say that she's pissed off at you three." Quil mumbled slyly.

"Oh yeah and what makes you so exempt?" Seth growled.

"Heads up little pup, I'm the only one she didn't yell at." Quil grinned

"Well if you're feeling so cheery about it, how about you go ask her if she can forgive us, huh?! Not liking that idea now are you. No one is exempt from that scorn." Embry retorted.

"Fine Fine." Quil mumbled and got up to leave, heading for class.

49187

Embry got home to find an empty house. He groaned out loud. Why did she have to disappear? His mother would be home by seven, an hour earlier than usual and if she wasn't there, he would have to explain why. This girl was becoming a pain in the ass far more than he thought. Embry dropped his bag by the door, kicked off his shoes and went to his room. He threw himself down on the bed out of mental exhaustion. Embry looked out the window at horizon. His house was the closest one to the beach, it was on a hill, near a cliff and the rest was forest. There were neighboring houses nearby but they were as close together as those at the bottom of the hill where Jacob, Sam and most of the others live. Seth was the only one who lived a few houses down.

Rolling over on his back Embry began to think about his day. Which became a routine since the arrival the pitchfork woman. He laughed at himself. The truth was he actually liked Alexander. She was hard working, funny in a sarcastically mean way, intelligent, really sweet… when she was sleeping, and at times really thoughtful of others, even though she sometimes looked upset doing it. The only problem was Alexander's short fuse. That temper of hers really got him sometimes walking on hot coal. Her words are always biting, eyes cutting, gestures cold, and worst of all god so help you if you don't make it right, she will seriously destroy you like the Conqueror Alexander. Sometimes her temper suddenly made you feel completely small.

The thing that he realized about her was that she either always wore gloves of some kind or made no hand to skin contact with anyone else. At first he thought it was just him, but then he realized she did it to everyone. From taking change at a register to a hug from someone. Embry couldn't say that she didn't like being touched because she accepted affection from others in an awkward way. In fact her 'leprosy' obsession was quite the opposite from when she opened mouth. Instead of being blatant about it, like her words cut into you mind, she was subtle about changing her position so that your skin can avoid hers, not the other way around. She gave other's space. And when someone of her friends became sad or angry about something and they wouldn't fess up about it, she would be the most worried even when she didn't say anything. Three months and Embry had to do all the observing to figure out how not to rub her the wrong way. Too bad she wasn't attempting to do the same. After a few minutes Embry fell into a deep sleep not knowing who was watching silently from the shadows.

A few hours later there was a knock on Embry's door. Sleepily he woke up to find Alexander leaning on his doorway. Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, Embry sat up and threw his legs over the side off the bed.

"Where've you been?" he asked, his voice cracked.

"Dinner's ready." She simply stated. He expression was soft and her eyes watchful.

"How long you been standing there?" he asked.

"Ten, fifteen minutes maybe."

"Oh so you can stand my presence now?" Embry was gearing up for fight.

"Well I was wondering whether I should pound you to death now or later." Alexander had a small smile on her face. "Well the truth is I don't want Aunty to come back and think we've been fighting again." She scratched the back of her head. "its sort of sickening how we argue like a married couple of twenty years." She chuckled and began to walk back down the hall. It was moments like these that Embry felt bad about something he said. Following behind her, he asked once they reached the kitchen:

"Why would that be a bad thing? Us arguing like a married couple of twenty years?" Embry saw Alexander freeze for a second and then resumed putting food on a plate.

"Because for one thing I've only known you for a few months to know that being married to you would only drive me insane. There are so many things I want to do with my life before a make commitment like that. And I am the biggest commitment phobe on this reservation. I'm pretty sure you've heard about all the guys and some girls I've rejected." Alexander the plate on the table, "Seconds you'll have to get yourself. I already ate."

"Yeah." Which was the reason why he never told her about his interest in her growing.

"Besides sometimes I feel like a total idiot when I snap off at you nastily when it's not even your complete fault." She pulled her hood over her head and looked out the kitchen window. Embry knew that as her way of hiding her vulnerability. Whenever Alexander had to open up emotionally about some thing, she would always cover her face.

"What a nice way of apologizing…" Embry said sarcastically.

"Take it or leave it."

"Taking it, all the way because it was wrong of us to have Seth pry into your business and your life. In actuality it was I who asked Seth, not Jacob, so you might want to apologize to them too." He said.

"Better learn to share the love." Alexander grinned and the orange glow of setting sun looked beautiful against her skin.

"You know Embry, part of me wants to continue being a bitch to you and the other half wants to let you in nicely. The problem is trying to find a balance. Like right now, I'm starting to feel a little too close to you and want to say something snide to ruin the mood but whatever. It is what it is."

"Can't you just let someone in. It's a cold and bitter life if you can't trust people." Embry whispered.

"You'll find out when the time is ready." Alexander said facing him. Before he could respond Alexander spoke again. "Ah! Aunty is here! This session has just closed." She smiled and darted into the living room. Embry sat looking at his plate of food in the short minutes it took his mother to reach the door. After taking the first bite, Embry swallowed hard. There were going to be more battles in the near future. When was he going to get an opening?

-kjnyoier-