Chapter 2

The next morning I woke up to my first day of summer vacation. I walked downstairs in my tank top and shorts. My brother Devon was sitting at the table drinking coffee. I lived with my brother and his fiancée Abby. Since I was little my parents had been out of the picture I guess you could say.

"Morning Devon," I said ruffling his bed head. He shook me off mumbling his greeting still half asleep. I walked to the cabinet getting out some Cheerios and popping them in my mouth.

"So I saw you broke one of our pots last night," Devon grimaced. I blushed smiling.

"How did you know," I asked quietly.

"It's in the garbage. I'm not stupid ya know," he said chuckling. I sighed rolling my eyes. It reminded me off last night and I blushed again. Maybe Hailey was right I did need a plan. Wow, I sound like I'm in middle school, I thought shaking my head.

"Where's Abby," I asked.

"At work," Devon replied. "I'm going to in about twenty minutes," he said.

"Okay, I'll see ya tonight," I said kissing him lightly on the cheek. I grabbed the phone out of the kitchen on my way to my room. I dialed Embry's number quickly and listened to his message machine. I sighed he must still be asleep.

I left a message just asking him to call me back. I called Hailey instead.

"Hey Ray," she cried loudly.

"Hey," I said.

"So what happened last night?" she asked trying to hold back laughter.

I groaned. "Does everyone know about that," I asked annoyed.

"No. Almost everyone," she laughed. "Quil told me," she said. "Good job throwing your shirt in Embry's face," she chortled.

"I did not," I cried embarrassed.

"Whatever," Hailey said.

"Anyway about that plan you suggested yesterday," I asked quietly.

"Ray! I'll be right over," she cried and hung up the phone. I groaned and wondered what had I gotten myself into.

Twenty minutes later Hailey was at my door carrying a load of stuff. She walked in dumping it on my bed.

"Okay first things first," she said seriously. "Your hair," she stated yanking out my ponytail.

"Hey," I yelled. "What's wrong with my hair?"

"I am not going to answer that," she said holding a flat iron. "Let's get busy," she said winking.

By the time Hailey had finished torturing me I was afraid to look in the mirror. I didn't even recognize myself. My hair fell silkily below my shoulders framing my face. My eyes were accented with a hint of green eye shadow to bring out the color. They were framed by thick lashes that curled at the edge. I was wearing a jade green tank top that had jewels along the top and mini shorts. Under my tank top you could see the faint blue outline of my swimsuit.

"Now for the final touch," Hailey said proudly. She was holding a pair of silver hoop earrings. I put them in stunned into silence.

"You look perfect," Hailey cheered. "Embry won't even recognize you," she said clapping.

I turned to face her. "Are you sure that's a good thing," I asked concerned. She laughed and nodded.

I bit my lip out of habit when I was nervous. Hailey turned me around to face her and looked me in the eyes.

"Have some self-confidence, Ray." Hailey said. "That's your next lesson be more self-confident. Then people will see you as you see yourself," Hailey said. I turned back to the mirror and smiled.

"Thanks Hal," I said hugging her.

"Hey, anything for a girl with boy crisis," she laughed. I rolled my eyes at her. My phone rang and I quickly went to pick it up.

"Hello," I said breathless.

"Hey it's me Embry."

"Hey Em," I said cheerily.

"You wanna come surfing with me and the guys," Embry asked. Hailey was listening intently pointing to herself pleading.

"Sure but can Hailey come to," I asked.

"Sure I'll see you in about an hour, First Beach?" he asked

"See ya then," I replied smiling.

I hung up the phone and Hailey squealed. "You think Seth will be there?" she asked hopefully. Seth Clearwater was one of Embry's friends whom Hailey had started noticing lately. I shrugged and grabbed my car keys. We headed out the door and I drove us to the beach.

When we reached the beach we pulled up to a parking spot. I saw Embry running after his friend Jacob. The rolled into the sand as Embry tackled Jacob. My stomach started to churn as I watched him.

Hailey was fussing with her hair looking in the car mirrors. "Remember," she said. "Be self- confident," she slid on her sunglasses and pursed her lips applying lip gloss. Then she stepped out of the car winking at me. I slid on my sunglasses as well. I took a deep breath and stepped out of the car repeating her words in my head. We walked closer and I started to settle down. I tried to remind myself it was just a normal day at the beach.

"Hey look who's here," Jared called from his blanket he shared with his girlfriend Kim. I waved and continued to walk closer to Embry. Hailey followed me eyes searching the beach for Seth. Quil ran up to us from behind.

"Whoa, what happened to you," he asked me eyes raking across my body. I blushed.

"You mean her hair?" Hailey asked innocently.

"Sure, let's go with that," Quil said rolling his eyes. Embry had Jacob pinned down when we reached them. They were both laughing.

"Alright losers, the girls are here," Quil said pulling Embry off of Jake. Embry turned around and pulled me into a bear hug.

"Ready to go surfing?" he asked eyes shining.

"Ready when you are chief," I said. He grabbed my hand pulling me with him to retrieve surfboards. His hand was warm against mine and I liked it.

"Embry? Is Seth here?" Hailey asked. Embry laughed and nodded.

"He's down in the water with Colin and Brady," he replied pointing to the water. While Embry grabbed the boards I shrugged off my top and shorts throwing them in the sand.

"Ray," Hailey motioned for me to come to her. "Fall off," she said.

"What?" I asked confused.

"Fall off your surfboard," she whispered. "Guys like to feel strong and like being better than girls," she stated. I nodded.

"Hot damn," Hailey whispered. I turned to see Embry had removed his top. Good Lord he had abs. Hailey stood with her mouth gapping open until I nudged her. I had the pleasure to see Embry's eyes pop out when he noticed my swimsuit.

He cleared his throat. "Ready to go," he said voice cracking. I nodded stifling a laugh. Hailey wandered off towards Seth who was energetically waving her down.

"What happened to your old swimsuit?" Embry asked. I looked at him surprised. His question had caught me off guard.

"Huh? I mean what?" I stammered.

"What happened?" he asked waving his hand in front of my body. I shrugged innocently.

"I lost it," I lied. He nodded. When we reached the water I ran in with Embry behind me. I lay on my surfboard paddling farther out.

"Is it because you're trying to impress Quil?" he asked.

"No!" I yelled shocked.

"Oh, I thought since Quil likes you," he continued.

"Quil likes me?" I asked. Embry searched my face for my answer.

"The feeling is not mutual I assure you," I laughed. Embry smiled and paddled farther out. He stood up on his board catching the wave as I watched. I stood up and caught the wave along with a rush of adrenaline.

I remembered what Hailey said so I leaned a little too far to the right. I fell hitting the water face down. My eyes stung from the salt water as I opened them. I counted to five and waited under the water. I felt a warm arm wrap around my waist that pulled me above the water. I coughed spitting salt and wiping my eyes. I opened them and realized somehow I was lying in the sand.

"Ray!" Embry cried shaking me. I coughed again and sputtered. "Are you okay," he asked. I nodded throat thick from the salt water. "No more surfing," he cautioned.

"What! That's not fair," I cried voice cracking. "I only fell, Embry," I stated.

He nodded. "At least not today," he demanded. The rest of the day Embry sat with me on my towel and talked keeping me company. At one point he even put his arm around me. At the end of the day I drove Hailey home who wouldn't stop going on about Seth.

That night I slept soundly dreaming of Embry my protector.