Chapter 2:

Awkward Turtle

"So, what? You're not going to talk to me anymore?" asked Nikki. She just stared at her nails acting as if she wasn't caring that I was mad at her.

"How could you do that? You know how I feel about Quil!" I really didn't like getting in fights, but my sister was being a major pain. "Just because you're one year older than I am doesn't mean that you can go around doing whatever you want!"

"Oh, please. Don't act so immature. I'm not doing 'whatever I want'. You don't own Quil. Are you dating him?" she replied, looking bored.

"Me? I'm immature?" I scoffed. "And no. I am not dating him, but it's not that. You flirted with him when you knew I liked him! Plus, you should NOT be cheating on your boyfriend for crying out loud!" This was unbelievable!

She gave me a look. "Don't even think about telling Chris," she threatened.

I really hated having this argument so I just sighed. "Whatever." I went to my bed and started folding my clothes and putting them in my wardrobe.

Nikki moved so that she sat across from me and sat in my desk chair. She put her head in her hands. She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Claire. I was drunk and I really felt bad last night. I honestly did. I'm sorry." Wow, great speech, but she probably did mean it.

I put my hand on her shoulder. "It's okay. I forgive you. Just don't do it again," I warned.

Nikki gave a laugh. "Yeah, I won't steal your man."

"No, I mean don't cheat on Chris again. I won't tell, but seriously. He's a good guy."

She nodded in agreement. "He sure is…"

I was unbelievably bored. Like, seriously not even a ten-year-old who was stuck in summer school was as bored as I was. Sitting on my living room couch, I stared at the wide TV screen and eventually turned it off. I groaned. "Why isn't there anything good on anymore?" I said to my ceiling, not expecting an answer.

"Maybe you're just a picky watcher," I heard someone chuckle.

I fell off the couch and gave a shriek. I looked up to see Embry and Quil standing over the back of my couch with amused faces. "Someone fall?" Embry and Quil burst out laughing.

"Life alert! Life alert!" screamed Embry, faking a heart attack himself.

"Jesus, Embry. Don't scare me like that!" I really didn't need their teasing right now. I threw them a glare.

I got up and shoved my shoulder into Embry. Of course, it hurt me more than Embry. Today had not been the perfect day. I woke up late and therefore got to work (at the town diner) late. Then it was completely crazy. I got thrown up on and I got shoved over while I was carrying a whole tray of food. You can guess what happened after that…

I passed them and headed upstairs to my room. I was home alone, which I normally wouldn't have minded, but ever since I proclaimed my love for Quil, things got…well, a little awkward. So, I escaped to my bedroom.

I got in and immediately flew on top of my bed. It felt so soft. I could sleep like this, I thought. But, of course, I was interrupted by a knock on my door.

"What?" I sighed into my pillow. I felt a weight on my bed. I looked up from my pillow to see Quil sit next to me.

"Tired?" He asked.

I just nodded into my pillow. "Today was terrible. Work was tough," I explained, my voice muffled because I talked into my pillow.

I felt Quil's hand on my back. I knew he was just trying to comfort me, but him rubbing my back did nothing but give me a tingling feeling. These feelings that I had for him had exponentially grown in the past day. I couldn't help but feel awkward in front of him now.

Quil felt my body stiffen and he stopped. He took his hand off my back. "Uh… are you okay, Claire?"

I nodded my head into my pillow. "Yeah," my muffled voice spoke out. Even though it was muffled, Quil picked up on my uneasiness.

"Claire."

I waited for him to say something else, but he didn't. I didn't talk either. I didn't know what to say. 'Sorry Quil… I'm just feeling really awkward about this situation. I did tell you I love you, you know. Now it's your part to say you love me, too?' Yeah, no.

"Claire, I can tell that you are uncomfortable. I know why, too. Obviously…" He obviously didn't know what to say either. "Can't we just go back to normal?"

I sighed. It certainly had been uncomfortable being around him. But him asking to go back to normal was still a rejection. I was expecting it, but it still hurt.

I pulled my face out of my pillow and sat up. I looked at Quil and didn't say anything. I couldn't tell him how I actually felt. Rejected. How could things go back to normal?

I nodded and then started to walk out of my room before Quil suddenly spoke. "Oh come on, Claire. No hug, seriously?" He smirked.

I couldn't help but smile back. I walked to him and gave him a hug. I still got those usual butterflies in my stomach when his warm hands touched my back. But he doesn't like you, Claire, I would remind myself. Oh, yeah. He didn't like me back.

I suddenly remembered the day when we went to the bonfire. I realized that my questions were never answered. "Hey, Quil?" I said, still in his embrace.

Quil let go of me and said, "Yeah?" He gave me a questioning look.

I sat back down on my bed and motioned for him to do the same. "Quil, the other day at the bonfire," where I announced my love for you, I thought, "I was really confused."

Quil didn't like where I was going with this. "Confused about what?" he reluctantly asked. He shifted uncomfortably.

"First of all, why did you get in an argument with Sam?" I didn't expect an answer, which was good, because I didn't get one.

"I… uh… can't answer that one, Claire. Sorry."

I folded my arms across my chest. I let out an annoyed sigh and continued with my next question. "What else did you want to say to me after I got mad at you for the whole Nikki thing?" I didn't like bringing up the whole Nikki situation. It got rather awkward.

Quil gave a nervous laugh and said, "Pass."

I was not happy about the lack of information given. "Fine," I pouted.

"Are we done?" he asked hopefully. He got up, ready to leave my bedroom.

"Whoa, whoa, there Quil! You're not leaving just yet," I said as I put my hand on Quil's chest (swoon) and forced him to sit back down on my bed. He looked around nervously and I noticed he couldn't stop moving his hands.

I had had enough of the small talk so I took a breath and gave a direct question. "You said I was the only girl for you; that you wanted to spend your time with. What did that mean?" I knew I was putting him on the spot, but I didn't care. I gave him a hopeful look. Now was the time to tell me you like me back, Quil.

Quil put his head in his hands. All he said was, "I meant what I said, Claire."

Well, that explained everything, didn't it? I thought over what he had said the other day. I was the only girl for him. He likes spending his time with a girl, but in a friendly way… "Are you gay?" I blurted out. The more I thought about his possible homosexuality, I started to see it. Of course, the hot guys were always gay.

Quil gave me an incredulous look. "What?" he asked. "Did you just ask if I was gay?"

I knew it, but now it was out. It must have been his secret! "I won't tell, I promise!" I reassured. "But, oh my God. You are gay!" This was going to take some time to get used to.

"NO!" He took my hands. "Claire, I'm not gay! I mean, I'm all for gay rights, but no! I like women!" He laughed nervously.

Now who was embarrassed? I certainly was. Oh my God. Wow, Claire, nice move. I was starting to feel an 'awkward turtle' scene coming. "Oh."

"Maybe we should just stop with the questions for now, don't you think?" Quil asked and he bolted for the door.

I just sat on my bed. I heard him go downstairs and then I heard the front door shut rather loudly.

Embry suddenly appeared in the doorway to my room with some Fritos and spray cheese. His mouth was full of junk food when he said, "Foo mokay?" He spit some food out while he said this.

"Ugh," I groaned and fell back onto my bed. "I hate my life," I said rather maturely.

So I had no questions answered except that Quil wasn't gay. I managed to make things more awkward between Quil and I, and because of the whole werewolf mind-reading thing, I was pretty much laughed out of Aunt Emily's house. Now, the only place that I really wanted to be was at work, which was telling me how badly things had gotten.

"Hey, Claire, should we take a break?" I heard a male voice behind me. It was Aiden.

I smiled up at him as I was cleaning my last table. It was late, and I didn't understand why we had to work until midnight when no one wanted to go to a diner after nine. "Yeah, be there in a minute."

I finished cleaning the table and headed out to the kitchen and out the back door. "I'll let you know if someone comes in," replied Bob.

Bob was one of the coolest and most relaxed coworkers. He was a cook for the diner and he gave the diner a homey feeling to it. He was part of the diner family we had here, and also he had been working at the diner for several years.

"Thanks, Bob." I smiled up at him and he gave me his slight crooked smile. It wasn't really a smile to me, but it was to Bob.

I got outside and sat down on the steps next to Aiden. "Well, we have just about forty-five more minutes of work and then freedom is ours to explore the world," said Aiden looking at his watch, "of course, if you have the money and time to explore the world until morning."

I smiled. "How exciting. But actually, I'm going to be really lame and go to bed. I have not, unfortunately, been invited to any parties or planned any exciting journeys across the world," I joked with a sad smile.

Aiden laughed. "Well, that's a shame. But if it makes you feel better, I am going to probably go home and do the same." He chuckled. "…But, to make sure we don't come across this lack of exciting events, why don't we do something together?"

He looked a little nervous, which wasn't like the usual Aiden I knew. He was normally confident, but then again, I never saw him ask someone out on a date.

"Is that how boys ask a girl out these days?" I chuckled.

Aiden smiled and said, "Well, it's how I ask girls out. I'm not sure what others do," he said, winking at me.

"Well, that certainly sounds possible," I said.

"So it's a date then?" he asked. I nodded. "Okay, then. Where would you like to go?"

I gave him a disapproving look. "I don't know, Aiden. Why don't you try to guess," I challenged with a smile. I just seemed to keep smiling.

I saw Aiden's eyebrows crinkle together as he thought. I was starting to realize how cute he was. He had shaggy brown hair and a nice, smooth face. He was very well built, but not like Quil. He wasn't close to Quil, but he was sweet and cute nonetheless. He lived in Forks, but worked here in La Push, so I never went to school with him. He was a good friend and I had known him ever since we first worked together, which was about two years ago.

"Well you seem like just the kind of girl who would love to go to Port Angeles and play some lazer tag, but maybe that's just me really wanting to play lazer tag."

I laughed. "Actually, that sounds like just the thing I want to do."

He gave a wide smile and looked out into the empty parking lot in front of us. "Well, then. How about tomorrow and I'll pick you up at three and we can go to dinner after?"

"Sounds perfect. I'll have to check in with my mom and let her know that I'm going, but I'll call you tomorrow morning."

"Okay," said Aiden and he looked back at his watch. "Well, it's time to get back, you ready?" I nodded and Aiden gave me a hand. I took it and got up, heading back inside.

Although I liked the idea of going on a date with a cute and really sweet boy, Quil crept into my head, like normal. I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was somehow betraying him, but what was I supposed to do? He didn't love me back, so I had to move on, right? I just couldn't help but wish it was Quil sweeping me off my feet this time.

So…I haven't gotten any reviews? I kind of understand because I normally don't like to review when there's a story with one chapter. I'm not quite sure why, though. Hmmm…

But, you guys better review this time! Or… I'm quitting the story right away. But, if no one answers I guess that won't make a difference, eh? Well, I certainly hope to hear from you!

Erin