Chapter 2: Decision Made

Through out my next few classes I tried to make sense of my thoughts. No such luck. Even now as I was walking to lunch it was clear that there was something on my mind. I went through the lunch line on an autopilot. I picked some food, grabbed a drink, paid for my lunch, and sat down before it finally registered in my mind. I made my way over to the table where Riss was already sitting and took the seat next to her.

"I need your help," I told her, a little desperate. I needed answers. I was more confused than I had ever been before.

"Whats wrong?" she asked. I could tell she was concerned about me. I'd never really asked someone for help before.

"I-i don't really know," I couldn't even look at her. My eyes were focused on the tray of food in front of me. How do I tell my best friend that I'm actually considering taking Embry up on one of his offers? Embry, of all people! I was always so picky about the guys that I spent time with. On top of it all, I had been turning Embry down for years! I mean, I know we're only sixteen but he's been after me since our sandbox days. I sighed and rubbed at my forehead. I could already feel the migrane forming.

"Teagan? What is it?" I glanced up to look around the cafeteria. All of the other students were emerged in their own conversations. Paul and Jared sat in the far corner, away from the rest of the student population. The fake girls sat at another table, painting their nails and fixing their makeup. And then my eyes stopped on him. Sitting at a table with Quil and my brother. They were joking around, laughing, but I could tell that he wasn't really as happy as he showed, his eyes gave him away. I guess she must have caught on to where I was staring because when I turned to face her she was looking from me to where Embry sat, then back to me.

"I don't know what to do Riss. I'm so confused," I admitted. I looked her in the eyes so that she would see that I was serious and this wasn't just some joke. She continued to just stare at me. It was really starting to make me nervous.

"I thought you wanted Paul," I snorted. Of course I wanted him, but that didn't mean that I was going to get him.

"Who doesn't? But lets be realistic here! Thats never going to happen. And no other guy wants me, so why not at least give Embry a chance?" I pondered outloud, but mostly to myself.

"But..but its Call!" she cried out a little too loud and I rushed to cover her mouth with my hand. I looked around that cafeteria. A few kids from the table next to us were giving strange looks but other than that it seemed that nobody else had noticed.

"Ew!" I yelled and quickly retracted my hand when I felt something wet on my palm. I wiped my hand down the sleeve of her shirt. I couldn't help but start laughing at that point. As soon as I started Riss gave in and started laughing too.

When we had finally calmed down, and regained our breathe, I looked back to see that Embry was looking at me. I caught his eye and gave him a small smile which cause a massive grin to engulf his face. I threw in a small wave, but turned back around when he eagerly started hitting Quil on the shoulder to get his attention.

"You're really serious about giving him a chance, aren't you?" Riss questioned.

I gave her a small smile, "Yeah. Yeah, I am."

She threw a small punch into my shoulder, "Whatever you gotta do kid."

I knew that she wouldn't exactly be encouraging about the whole thing, but it meant a lot that she wasn't flat out ridiculing me. Maybe this wouldn't be such a bad idea after all.

Walking home from school that day, gave me some time to think. By the time that I had made it back to my house, I had made up my mind. Next time that I saw Embry, I would talk to him. I wouldn't chicken out either. At least I hope I won't.

When I entered the house, I took my shoes off at the door and then went to put my bag down in my room. The nerves were already building up in my chest. I decided to go make a cup of tea, maybe that would help me calm down. But when I arrived in the kitched, I saw my father sitting at the table, working on some paper work, and I froze. My father. My father who had to approve of the guy before I was allowed to actually go out. How could I have forgotten? I hadn't even worked out how I was going to approach Embry but now I had to tell my father too.

Better now than later, was the only thought that came through my mind at that moment.

"Hi, daddy," I greeted as I cautiously lowered myself into the chair across from my father. He looked up at me, and I gave him a nervous smile.

"Everything alright sweetheart?" Leave it to me to actually have a father that picks up on their kids emotions. Then again, I guess as cheif of a tribe, it was essential for him to catch on to how people were really feeling.

"Embry asked me out again today," I blurted out before I could even process what I was doing.

"That all?" He laughed it off like it was nothing. I couldn't really blame him though. This was a common occurence that happened more often than not. I started wringing my hands together.

I looked down at my lap too afraid to see his expression, "I'm thinking about saying yes."

It was quiet for a few minutes. I couldn't take the silence anymore and chanced a look up. My dad was just staring at me. I swallowed a lump in my throat, trying to force words out to break the tension, even if it was just a little bit.

"Is that boy pressuring you into this?" He asked with the most serious face I'd ever seen on him. It was kind of frightening.

"No daddy!" I exclaimed immediately.

"Are you sure? You know you can tell me right?" He assured me. When I just nodded my head he questioned my change of heart.

"I'm not really sure to be honest. I was just thinking I guess. I mean the only reason I kept saying now was because he was Jake's friend. And thats really not a reason to not at least give someone a chance. Right?" There was no point in lying to him. Billy Black could always tell when somebody was lying to him, especially his own daughter.

"I guess it could be worse," he started and I let out the breath that I had been holding in. "But just because I already like the kid, doesn't mean he gets out of my father-boyfriend talk!"

"Alright daddy," I let out a little laugh as I stood up and gave him a kiss the cheek. I headed into my bedroom to start on the mountain of homework that I had to do.