Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight in any way or form. I only own my Oc's, some of the plots, and whatever other poor unfortunate souls my mind will create.

A/N: Oh man, thanks for all the follows and favorites! Also, thank you guys for reviewing. I wanted to update this yesterday, but I never got a chance to do so. Things will start to move faster in the next couple of chapters or so, but please enjoy this chapter! Please excuse any grammar mistakes, as I was in a bit of a hurry to update.

Lara-Cat, inuyashademons14, thischicklinds,and lightbabe: Thank you for your reviews! I dedicate this long chapter to you guys.

We are not friends, nor are we enemies.

Rather we are just strangers who share the same memories.

- Luna Emerson

2005, La Push, Washington:

Nina huffed angrily and pushed herself past Jake and Quil the moment she spotted Embry hanging out with Paul Lahote and Jared Cameron of all people! She heard their protests and cries to just leave it. But, no, she couldn't justleave it.

Nina had just finished explaining to the guys how she spent days trying to see Embry and apologize. It was the longest they had gone without talking to each other because of a stupid fight.

It was just so weird how one moment everything was perfectly fine between them, and the next Embry would start to get angry over the littlest thing. But things just got even more weirder when he was suddenly struck with a bad case of the flu. So, she picked up his homework and copied her notes for him while he stayed home sick. She'd made him soup and would drop by to keep him company. But even then, his mood swings still persisted until finally they got into a huge fight which resulted in her storming out of his house.

Of course a couple hours after she had time to calm down, Nina went back to apologize, but he wasn't there It was the same the next day, and the day after that, and so on. He was actively avoiding her and didn't even bother showing up for school. Even his mother didn't know anything about it, thinking Embry had been going to school the whole time and would hang out with them until late at night.

So, naturally she had refused to believe it when Jake and Quil said that they saw Embry with Sam Uley (Sam fucking Uley who is obviously on some type of drugs given his mysterious disappearance and then new look when he reappeared) and blatantly ignored his childhood friends.

"Embry!" His name rolled off her tongue as she watched him playfully hit Jared in the arm. She frowned and pulled her coat tighter around her. He looked so much different than he had two weeks ago. This tall built Quileute was no longer the lanky boy she had remembered. His long beautiful hair was cut short, there were muscles there that weren't there before he had gotten sick. And for god's sake he was wearing a t-shirt and shorts in the middle of fuckingwinter. Was he asking to get pneumonia and die?

All three of them stopped and only Paul turned to look at her. Jared moved his body slightly in between Nina and Embry, hiding half of Embry's body from her sight. Paul sent her smug look for a second as Jared kept his eyes trained on Embry's form.

Nina let out a small laugh, "Embry, I've been trying to get ahold of you for almost a week! What are you doing wearing that when it's snowing, you dummy. C'mon we are going to Jakes. And I owe you an apology. I shouldn't have said those things and you kno-."

"Not interested."

Nina froze for a second, her mind refusing to register the words. She..she heard wrong. With a shake of her head she opened her mouth, "Oh..okay, well um, it's movie night Em. You know when we go to someone's house, eat junk food until we are sick, rent B-rate movies and criticize them. And you know, it's one of those rare days Jake's not up Bella's ass."

"Hey!"

Embry paused for a second, wanting nothing more than to just say okay and join his friends. How easily he could tell Nina there was nothing to apologize for, but…he justcouldn't. Not when there was a chance he could hurt them. He saw what had happened with Emily Young; what if that happened to him? What if he lost control and attacked his closest friends? He wouldn't be able to live with himself.

"Nina, leave it! Let's go!" Jake yelled out feeling that if they didn't leave something bad was going to happen. This encounter could only be civil for so long.

"Go with Jake and Quil. I'mnotinterested." Embry cleared his throat ignoring the sympathizing look Jared shot him. He needed to get away from them. So naturally, he began to walk away from his closest friends, when every bone in his body screamed to do the opposite.

Nina gaped at the three guys before her walking away, her temper beginning to flare. If there was one thing to be known about the Redtrees', it was that their temper was akin to a natural disaster. She could understand him still being mad at her, but not enough

"Do you know," She hissed, her fists clenching and unclenching, "how many times Itriedto see you? Do youknowhow long I've been looking for you just to apologize?"

How dare he? Howdare he?

"Oh man, Embry's done it now." Jake grumbled to Quil, watching as the female of their group start to rant angrily.

"Shit, do we stop her?" Quil asked, knowing all too well what it meant to if you got in the middle of Nina's tongue lashing.

"Nah, maybe they just need to talk it out."

"Jake, when does talking it out use yelling?"

"Do you even have a clue how worried I was, all of us were?" Her voice started raising an octave higher as she continued to stare at his retreating back. How dare he just act like he could just make them worry and not assure them everything was okay?

Fury clouding her better judgment, Nina (un)logically did the one thing to channel the anger building up inside her. She ran after Embry, and pushed him with all her might and weight. To her surprise, he only stumbled a little bit forward when he should have fell on his face. She was, after all, a really heavy set girl.

"Okay, what the fuck is your problem?" Paul pushed Embry, whose body looked like it was vibrating, behind him. Jared immediately turned his attention to the shaking teen, whispering lowly into his ears.

"You, Lahote, are my fucking problem." She hissed back craning her neck to stare at the towering guy. She shoved Paul away from her when she realized how close he was to her. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Paul fucking Lahote; and I suggest for your sake you don'tever touch me again." He growled back, wolf inside him threatening to come out. "Now run along with those pathetic losers you call friends."

"Don't call them that. Or I swear to Go-"

"You'll what? Sit on me Redtree?"

Nina let out a frustrated scream and swung back her fist launching a punch straight at Lahote's smirking face. However, before her fist could land on his face, someone grabbed her wrist effectively stopping the punch.

"Nina stop!"

"Don't, it's not worth it!"

"What is going on?"A low voice growled out. Paul straightened up at the sound of the voice. "Leave Paul, that's an order."

Nina looked to Sam Uley, and the alpha male dropped her wrist. He was staring at Paul, daring him to defy him before finally Paul gave in to the order and angrily stalked off. His body starting to slowly shake.

"Do you haveanyidea the danger you could have been in?" Sam asked the girl lowly. Nina stared at him, anger in her eyes. She was challenging him to do something, and the Alpha wolf in him screamed for submission, but he bit the feeling down.

"I would've been fine."

"You two are no better. I suggest the three of you go back to whatever it was you were doing." Sam ignored her and turned to Jake and Quil. He turned back to the girl glaring at him a frown etched on his face. "And you, don'teverdo that again." Because next time I might not be there to save you, his mind finished for him. With one last look at the three, his stare lasting a second longer on Jake, Sam turned away and went after his pack ready to chew out Paul's ass.

"Nina, let's go." Quil jogged towards Nina, wrapping an arm around her. He shared a look with Jake. Silently they both agreed to steer clear from Sam Uley's gang, regardless of the fact Embry had left their group for them. They had to make sure Nina didn't let herself get into another situation like this.

"Hey, I have chocolate ice cream at the house." Jake pulled Nina to him in a hug. Hot tears started to fall down her face.

"Embry's an idiot." She hiccupped letting her two friends steer her away from where they had seen Sam and the others take off too, and towards Jake's house.

"You know, I can call Bella an-"

"No!" Both Quil and Nina said in unison. Jake pouted, really wanting to call the pretty brunette. Ever since her and her boyfriend had broken up, Jake and Bella had been spending a lot of time together. Which was why, Nina and Quil had to practically beg Jake to just hang with them in a Bella free environment.

Nina wiped away her tears and smile at her the two guys before them as they begin to bicker over what movie they should watch first. Embry may have left, but at least she still had Jake and Quil.

2007 present day: La Push, Washington

"So I looked at the apartment yesterday, it's a bit of a fixer upper, but I think I could manage." Quil started as the three of them made their way to the gym. The seniors were supposed to go there during the transition time before first period so Principle Khwan can just nag about how they were the leaders and role models for the younger tribal kids.

"With what money?" Embry snorted, knowing full well the apartment near the shore was more than just a 'bit' of a fixer upper.

"My gramps said he'd take care of it until I got a job."

"Well the shop should open soon after we graduated. That ought to help out." Jake quipped helpfully. Him and Embry already worked on some vehicles in his garage, and they already had some people who'd be happy to be their customers once the shop was finally set up.

"Nah, that's more yours and Embry's thing. You decided to stay in La Push after all?" Quil asked shooting a small thanks to Embry as he held the gyms door open for them.

It was no secret (between the pack that is) that Jake has been struggling with the idea of leaving La Push to Alaska with the Cullens, or staying here in La Push and the Cullens staying. On one hand, he'd get to be with his imprint, but at the price of leaving his pack. On the other, he doesn't have to leave his pack, but then Bella and Edward and co. wouldn't be able to see Renesmee as much. It was a tug of war on both sides.

Jake only shook his head, his eyes darkening at the choices he was left with. Easily he could leave with the Cullens, but Leah has been planning to leave to a university. Embry, as his third-in-command could take over, but he knew his friend had his own plans. And it's not like a lot of his pack members would like to go under Sam's command. It's so much more complicated than many of them would think it would be. His couldn't selfishly choose the easiest choice, not when there's still uncertainties concerning his pack.

"Hey, we still have our last year for those things. Let's enjoy what ever normalcy we have left." Embry threw his arms around both of his best friends shoulders. Quil gave an impish grin and Jake shot his own smile.

The trio passed Nina, whose back was turned towards them, and the Salamander twins who sat on the second row of the bleachers. They took their spots on the fourth row behind Arianna Treviathon and John Carabu.

Yeah, it was their last year and they had managed to survive phasing into a wolf, a vampire army, and the Volturi. Guess it was safe to say that no one in their class could ever beat their Senior memories.

Sometimes Embry would entertain the thought of what would've happened if their lives were actually normal. Would he be happily in love with some girl right now? Would the three of them actually be in athletics and be varsity on the football team?

He looked down the stairs at the brunette he once called a good friend. If everything was normal, she'd be up there with them. If things were normal, she wouldn't have been alone when she needed her friends the most. But, their life wasn't normal. Nothing has ever been normal since the moment he phased into a wolf.

Embry won't lie, a part of him envied his classmates. They have a chance of a normal life. They have a chance to actually be with someone without having to worry about breaking their heart because they found their soul mate. They didn't have to live with the thought knowing they had a soul mate out there, but a high chance of not actually finding them. They could easily leave the Reservation with no obligations to hold them back. They were so lucky.

In short, having this supernatural ability isn't as cracked up as many people thought it to be. It wasn't like how authors romanced it to be. It wasn't just a blessing like the Elders had put it, but also a curse.

It did cause a lot of strain in his personal life. A lot more strain that what his pack mates had to go through (except for the pups of Sam's pack) since they had family members that understood what they were going through. And yeah, he did have a chance to let his mom in on the secret, but how could he do that to his mom? She was safer not knowing the real reason he would be gone at night. He was protecting her better this way; she wouldn't have to worry herself to death and it that itself was worth taking her scolding every morning. Not only that, but there was still the concern of who his father was. His phasing left a lot of questions within the pack and out of it, and it definitely had a lot of potential causing more trouble if he gained the confidence to find out who his dad was.

To be honest, it was just easier for him to just go through the motions. It was easier to do as he was told and take everything with a quiet stride. No more problems were created from this, and sometimes it's better to leave a lot of things unanswered. It would be troublesome otherwise, and if there was one thing Embry disliked, it was troublesome things. Sans the whole wolf and vampire thing of course.

"Embry, you there man?" Quil waved his hand in front of his friends face, deciding that if the guy didn't respond he was going to shove him out of his seat. He watched as the glazed look in Embry's eyes slowly fade away and he came back to reality.

"Man, whatever you were thinking about must've been good." Jake said watching confusion fill his friend's face. "C'mon we'll fill you in on the way to Algebra 2."

Embry blinked realizing he had missed whatever was said at the meeting and grabbed his back pack. He gave his friends a sheepish grin and together they left the gym to their class. He hadn't meant to get caught up in his thoughts. It was time to shove them into the back of his mind, and get back to just going through the motions.

Nina placed her tray next to the twins, dropping her back pack unceremoniously and plopped down next to Jen. She let out a small groan hoping her classes after lunch wouldn't suck as bad as her morning classes.

"How was class, college girl?" Greg teased biting into his apple.

"Tell me again why I decided to enroll in the dual credit program?"

"Because you're an overachiever." Jen supplied swiping the juice box from her brother's tray.

"Because you like to torture yourself." He added and took her roll in retaliation.

"Thanks guys, really I appreciate it." She commented dryly as the twins gave her a matching set of cheshire grins.

"Anyways, you never told me! I'm your best friend and you I can't believe you waited all summer to tell me!" Jen slapped the back of Nina's back hard causing the girl to choke on the chicken strip she was eating.

"Yeah Nina! We would like to know our little girl is all grown up. Don't tell me this whole transformation is because of that." Greg added dramatically, his eyes narrowing in accusation.

Nina blushed knowing exactly what they were referring too. It wasn't like she didn't want to tell them, but more like it slipped her mind. She told them exactly that, ignoring their snorts of disbelief.

"Guys, stop whining. It's not thatimportant."

"Not-not that important?!" Jen spluttered, Greg nodded in agreement.

"Ever since we transferred here –"

"Not once have you ever brought it up –"

"Or even talked about it –"

"So yes, it's a big deal." They finished together. Nina shook her head, hating it when the twins would add on and finish their sentences together. It was a little creepy if she was being completely honest.

"Don't you trust us?" Jen pouted and Greg mirrored her expression. Nina rolled her eyes at their antics.

"I do trust you guys," She ignored their huff of indignation, "but honestly it did slip my mind. I don't even know how you guys found out."

"Because big brother Asher doesn't know when to shut up when it comes to his darling little sister."

"Oh look, your darling little step-brother is coming over here." Nina changed the subject using just as much sarcasm Greg had in his comment. Both twins head snapped into the direction to watch as Brady walked up to their table, a nervous grin on his face.

"Well, well if it – "

"Isn't out cute little step-brother. To –"

"What do we owe –"

"This wonderful little visit?" The twins shared mischievous grins ignoring the look of discomfort on their younger boy's face.

"Don't worry. I find it just as unsettling." Nina supplied dryly tearing a piece from her roll with a bit more force than necessary.

Brady looked at her, his mouth forming a slight 'o' shape. His cheeks began to form a pink hue and he began to look every but at her. The twins shared a devious glance and got up from their seats to walk around the boy like a predator circling its' prey.

"You remember our wonderful cute Nina?" Greg gave Brady a grin grabbing onto his left arm, pushing back the vacant chair next to Nina

"Now, don't be so shy little brother." Jen mirrored his grin latching onto Brady's right arm. With a hard tug, the twins sent him into the empty chair. "She doesn't bite."

"You know Nina, cute little Brady here wouldn't stop asking about you all summer." Greg stated casually ignoring how the pink hue on Brady's face turned to red from embarrassment. "Between us four, I think he's got a crush on you.

"I-I..n-no that's..it's not true!" The poor red faced teen stumbled out. "I mean h-having a crush on you isn't bad..not that I'm saying I do!"

Jen and Greg let out laugh, and Nina shook her head, sympathizing with the boy. She was all to used to them toying with someone as if they were their toy. After all, if she wasn't the focus of their antics then they usually found another soul (almost always poor Brady when he was near) to torment. So to save the boy from further embarrassment, she patted his shoulder comfortingly and said, "It's okay, I know what you mean. Don't forget I've been friends with these assholes for two years now."

"Um," Brady started nervously trying not to make even more of an idiot of himself much to the amusement of his evil step-siblings, "I woke up late this morning and um forgot my wallet at home. Um, your mom said to ask you guys for some."

Neither Nina nor Brady missed the gleam that shined in the twins' eyes at his request. Nina sighed as Brady just gave a sheepish grin feeling the heat creep down his neck.

"Um, um, um. Speak clearly; not very good form you know." Greg shook his head in mock shame, "First you stay out all late into the night –"

"Which we covered for you with our mom and your dad." Jen cut in.

"– and now you want us to feed that huge appetite of yours? All because you simply decided to run around with that gang until three in the morning, doing whatever it is you usually do."

"Which of course, we will! You are our darling little brother after all."

"But, we'll only do it for a price. Nothing in life is ever free, ya know."

"Oh my god," Nina groaned fishing out her wallet from her back pack. She took out a ten-dollar bill and shoved it into Brady's larger hand. "Here, get whatever you want and keep the change." She turned to glare at the twins. "You guys are such assholes, I swear."

The twins gave a mock offended gasp, and Brady sent her a shy grateful smile before walking off to get in line.

"We were only just playing around Nina! You ruined our fun." Jen whined.

"No, you guys were being assholes. You should be nicer to him." Nina pointed her fork at them. "Also, while you guys were bullying your little brother. They," Her fork moved to where the self-proclaimed La Push protectors sat, "were one step away from coming over here to beat your asses."

"You don't know that."

"Really? Are you that oblivious to the the death glare that is meant solely for you guys, or do you just not care?"

"We just don't care. Besides if they have a problem with our sibling love, then they can come up here and do something about." Greg shrugged his shoulders leaning back in his chair.

Nina rubbed the bridge of her nose, wondering why either of the Salamanders hadn't gotten their asses kicked yet. Her response was a matching set of mischievous grins, which resulted in a frustrated sigh.

Thankfully the rest of their lunch remained ass kicking free. Though, it was no surprise to Jen or Nina that when lunch was coming to a close, Greg's chair mysteriously tipped too far and sent the older twin sprawling on the floor when Jake happened to pass by to throw his lunch away. The two females of the group laughed at his expense both knowing it was what he deserved for his shit talking.

After convincing Greg to not retaliate, the trio headed the hallway once the bell rang to their lockers. They chatted for a bit longer before finally splitting into their separate ways to their respected classes.

Nina took her time to get to her last class for the day, more than grateful her last first day was coming to an end. She honestly couldn't wait to leave to her part-time job at the Forks Animal Hospital. There was just something about being around animals that was really soothing to her. And she was in such a good mood too. She had almost gone the whole school day without having to be in any classes with her former friends.

"Fuck me." She started, gaping slightly to see Embry's massive body squished into the small uncomfortable desk in her Art class (of all the classes for him to be in!). His legs were sprawled out in front of him, his knees almost hugging the back of the desk in front of him. His eyes were glued to the phone in his hands, making her feel grateful he hadn't seen her yet. The same couldn't be said for some of her classmates however. Small whispers broke out making her feel a bit uncomfortable.

It was a small well known fact within their Senior class, and some of the lower classmen that whenever she and one of her former friends were in the same room (and the same can be said with the Salamander twins), it was a rather awkward and tense atmosphere. No one really knew why the tight knit group had broken up. All they knew was that one by one they had broken off and joined Sam Uley's gang and left her by herself. At least, she was by herself until the Salamander twins transferred and became her friends. The two groups (mostly Greg and whoever he could annoy into action) have since had a very tense and rocky relationship that sometimes (almost) always led to a heated argument. Though, now that Paul had graduated, things seemed to have hopefully settled down a bit.

She quickly looked down, and made a beeline for an empty seat by the window and away from the very person she wanted to avoid as much as possible. Her gaze stayed trained to the ground in front of her as she cursed herself for speaking so soon. Why, why, why was he in Art class of all things?

Not too long after she and her classmates had settled down, their teacher Mrs. Radcliff showed up and distributed a syllabus to the students. She began to explain what she had expected of them for the year and how this wasn't going to the blow off class they had thought it would be. She laid out the rules and guidelines she expected them to follow

"And please," Mrs. Radcliff called out to her students, "do show up to class, or else you'll end up like Mr. Call here and be in my class for a third time. And Mr. Call, they do say third time is the charm."

Giggles erupted from the class as Embry let out a low groan and tried slinking lower into his seat. It wasn't his fault that he had to miss a majority of days because of the whole army of newborn vampires issue that popped up during the end of his Sophomore year. Then in the beginning of his junior year he had to miss this stupid class again because of the Volturi. Out of all the teachers, Mrs. Radcliff was the only one who refused to give in to the School Board (made up of mostly the Elders) and give him a free pass like most of his past teachers. Jake and Quil really lucked out when they decided to take this class their freshman year.

"Now, we have much to learn this year. So let's go ahead and start with your assignment." She expertly ignored the groans and gestured to the cabinets and counters behind them. "Just a quick sketch, painting, oil drawing, anything that you prefer to help us as a class get to know each other. Let your mind run wild and put down on paper something that represents you, or something you care for, anything that lets the viewer get an insight as to who you are."

"Now, seeing as we have only about half the class time left, we will present each art you have designed. It doesn't matter if it is like Picasso or stick figures, as long as the meaning is there." Mrs. Radcliff walked to her stereo and pressed play, letting the soft music of Beethoven's Sonata No.14 "Moonlight" in C-Sharp Minor fill the classroom watching with a keen eye as the most of the students went to the back of the room for their supplies.

Embry, of course, had already known what to expect and pulled out a sketch pad from his backpack. Another class repeater (though by choice), had done the same along with some colored pens.

Nina stayed seated until it was less crowded in the back before heading to get what she needed. She only grabbed a few blank sheets of sketch paper and some colored pencils for what she had in mind. And once she was seated back in her seat, she let what she had in mind take over.

The rest of the class passed quickly, and a few minutes before the bell rang Mrs. Radcliff called out to her students to tell them to go ahead and turned in what they had. She waited patiently as each student came and dropped off their own artwork on her desk, hurrying back to their seats to grab their things once the bell rang.

As usual Embry call was one of the last few to leave her class. She sent him a sharp disapproving look and he gave her a small shy smile and quickly left. He was actually one of her best students and held so much potential. If it only wasn't for his shoddy attendance, he would've passed her class his sophomore year with flying colors.

The last to leave was a rather short girl with copper skin tone. She shot her a nervous smile and said goodbye, to which Mrs. Radcliff replied the same, grabbing the sketch from the girl's hand. She glanced at the sketch, her eyebrow raising up a slight fraction and hummed thoughtfully to herself.

"Now this is rather interesting." She mused grabbing Embry's sketch and the girl's sketch, placing them side by side. She stared at it for a moment longer before gathering all the artwork together. Locking the artwork in her desk drawer, Mrs. Radcliff pushed the familiar yet different sketches away from her mind, before she ended up staying later than she wanted in the high school classroom. After all, it must've been a coincidence that the sketches slightly resembled each other. If anything, she was probably over reading it.

Yes, Mrs. Radcliff decided locking the door to the classroom ready to head home for the day, I'm definitely over reading it.

Although, is anything ever a coincidence, especially when fate has a hand in it?

A/N: Thank you for reading this chapter! Please drop a review, or even PM me and I will reply or answer any questions you may have. Even if it's to tell me that you liked, or didn't like (and what you don't like about it) about Tidal Waves. And if you don't have an account, that's okay! Just leave it as guest or signed review! Until next time!