Author's Note: I do not own anything related to Twilight.
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The financial advisor I spoke with pretty much told me I was screwed. There was no possible was I was going to pay everything off. Well, not legally anyways. Sure, I could become a crack whore and 'turn tricks', or whatever, but I think Ben and Embry and the rest of the guys might have had a problem with that one.
Ben.
I learn in one night that my best friends are werewolves and that my brother is a vampire. A vampire to be perfectly preserved as a seventeen-year-old boy for forever. I wondered if mom and dad knew before they died. Probably not, because not even I noticed anything different about him--other than his skin was paler. Other than that, his eyes were the same icy blue, he still ate 'human food', everything about him was practically normal...or so I thought. I didn't know what to make of it, really.
Embry told me that since I knew about my brother's vampirism that Ben had to move out of the house because vampires weren't allowed on La Push territory. I thought that was a stupid rule, but in a way it made sense; I wouldn't want something that was living yet dead residing on my territory.... The pack--I was still getting used to that term--had only decided that it would be best to allow Ben to stay at the house only as a precautionary measure...so, pretty much, they didn't want me to know about their abnormalities until much later in my stay. Personally I thought it was shit that they couldn't trust me with news like this...or did I? Either was I shook it off my shoulders as I pulled into the driveway yet again.
I was alarmed when I discovered my unlocked front door. Did this mean that Ben had come back to the house? Last I knew he was staying with some other family--Cullen or something like that. It didn't matter; Ben wasn't allowed on La Push territory and the last thing I needed right now was for my brother to get murdered by a bunch of pissed off werewolves.
"Ben?" I called, then realized the idiocy of my actions. What if someone had broken in? Wait a minute...seriously? A burglar wouldn't have taken the time to unlock the door, retard.
"No, are you expecting him?" Embry asked as he peered around the kitchen doorway. "Sorry for just letting myself, but I smelled something off and wanted to check around. Jake's here, too."
"Shit guys, you almost gave me a heart attack." I breathed a sigh of relief as I put all of my papers on the kitchen table and noticed an envelope.
"Do you really think a burglar would take the time to unlock the door?" Jake chuckled as I picked up the mysterious envelope. I was too preoccupied with what the letter inside said to really pay any attention to Embry and Jake.
Sis,
I know that I haven't been the ideal brother over the years; when you first left, I thought it was my fault, but then over the years I realized that it was mom and dad, not me. I never wanted to hurt you by changing into a vampire, I hadn't really thought about how my actions would affect you because, in all honesty, I had forgotten about you. Don't give me that look, I hardly saw you and the only interaction I had with you was through the telephone. I still love you, and I hope you still love me; nothing has changed other than my diet. I'm still the same person I used to be. Sure, I 'm going to outlive you and everything, but please don't hold that against me. If you think it would be easier with me out of your life entirely, just tell me, okay? I want to make this as easy for you as possible...but I really don't want to lose you. I just got my sister back.... I'll try to stop by again soon, but it has to be while the dogs are out of town; we don't exactly all get along anymore, but that doesn't change the fact that you and I need to talk about things. You can't throw me out of the house this time, either. There's facts you need to know.
Love you Always,
Benjamin
P.S.- I have enclosed a check that should cover all of the expenses for the house and everything else mom and dad didn't have the money for. Please accept it, it's a welcome home gift from the Cullens, they'd be hurt if you didn't take it.
"Well you should have thought of that before you became a fucking vampire!" I screamed as I balled up the letter and threw it across the room. There was no way I was going to accept money from...them. As far as I was concerned that money was dirty; I might as well have just become a crack whore and sold my body because anything was better than what I had just been offered. What really pissed me off was that my brother didn't even have the balls to confront me face-to-face. What damage could I possibly do? I was just a mere fucking human!
"Is everything okay?" Embry asked as he and Jacob came around the corner.
"If you smelled a vampire it's because my brother was here." I spat. "He gave me a check and a letter...I can't deal with this right now."
I picked up the letter and thrust it into Embry's hands then went to the kitchen. If I recalled correctly, the alcohol cabinet was right above the sink--too high for us kids at the time, but I had no trouble reaching it now. Mom and dad only drank the finest, but could've settled for anything at that moment. Rum. Did I want rum? Did I want vodka? I did what my father would have done in a time like this: mixed them. Sure, it tasted like shit, and I choked at first, but I somehow managed to chug the brandy glass amount of alcohol. I felt a little better as the liquid entered my bloodstream and poured another glass to sip on...only the second time I added ice. I had half of it gone before I even left the kitchen, so of COURSE I had to refill it....
"You reek!" Jacob said in disgust when I entered the dining room again.
"What the hell, woman?!" Embry demanded when he spotted the glass of liquor in my hand. "You don't drink!"
"Oh but I do." I smiled. My words were a bit slurred--I didn't hold my alcohol very well because, as Embry said, I don't drink.
"Since when?" Jacob asked as he tried to pry the glass out of my hand. He wasn't doing a very good job because I kept moving around so he couldn't get a good grip on it. In desperation I guzzled the last of it down and politely handed the glass to him with a smile. "So now you try to give it to me." Jacob sighed as he rolled his eyes.
"Since I finout my besfrien is in love with me and that my broter is a vamp, vamp...peo-ple eat-er...who would prolly much rather eat me than love me as a siser.." I answered Jacob's question, though I would have been surprised if they understood any of that since it was so slurred.
"She's about gone." Embry glared at me.
"Whoa, I thought you were s'posed to love me, Embry? That look is not a look of love." I sang the last part, then looked at him seriously. "Um...guys...I think I'm going to be sick...."
My head was killing me. What was I thinking when I downed three glasses of hard liquor? Especially since I'd never really drank like that before? I felt very stupid as I rolled over and saw that Embry was in bed with me. To make matters worse, he was only in his boxers.
Whoa! Holy hell what exactly had I done?! In my drunken fit had I forced Embry to have sex with me? Good gravy I was going to have to leave this town again....
I sat up and tried not to vomit as my bodily fluids adjusted themselves. I held onto my head because the pounding was horrid and was almost stood up when Embry spoke, nearly causing me to shit my pants.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes." I replied after my heart calmed down a little. "I'm sorry I made a complete ass of myself, Em."
"Look, you're stressed, okay?" He rubbed my back. "You're not entirely sure how to handle this, and that's okay. That's why you have me and the guys, Rae. Just...please never do that again."
"I don't think you have to worry about that." I assured him as I rushed to the bathroom yet again.
***
"How's the drunkard feeling?" Jacob joked as I descended the stairs.
"Shut up, Jake." I mumbled.
"Hey, I'm going to tease you about that for a while, just to let you know...but just to be nice, I will wait until you're a little more sober."
"Well that's mighty white of you." I rolled my eyes at him.
"So...what're you going to do with the check?" Embry asked cautiously.
"Well I'm not going to take their money, that's for sure." I answered stubbornly.
"But you really need this, and that's a lot of zero's." Jacob grinned and raised his brows at me.
"Yes, that is a lot of money, but not enough to make me forget that they stole my brother. Maybe not the Cullens, but some vampire out there somewhere did."
"It was the Cullens." Embry said softly. "I can't believe I'm sticking up for them, but there's a good reason."
"Like what?" I shot back. "Like the fact that they're mongrels who thrive on humans? My brother in particular?"
"Ooh I like her attitude." Jacob chimed in with one of my favorites grins. "Don't worry Steph, I don't much like them either."
"You're not helping, Jake." Embry growled. "This was something Ben chose. Rae, he--"
"No offense, Em, but I don't care to hear excuses right now. Not now nor ever. As far as the rest of the world is concerned, Ben is dead. Not only to the world, but to me, too. I'm not going to deal with him like that, he made his decision and I just made mine. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a phone call to make."
***
The phone was ringing, but I didn't feel like answering it. However that didn't stop Embry who insisted on staying at my house in fear that I'd inebriate myself again. He walked into the living room and handed me the cordless telephone.
"This better be important, I'm in the middle of a good Lifetime movie." I mumbled moodily as I took the phone. Embry only smiled at me. "Hello?"
"Stephanie?"
"This is not important." I snapped and hung up the phone. I didn't believe in talking to dead people. Almost instantly the phone rang again. I rolled my eyes but let it ring. It stopped ringing for a split second then started up again.
"He sounded pretty pissed, you might want to answer that." Embry said from the chair across from me and the couch.
"Well I'M pretty pissed."
"You always were hard headed." He smiled and shook his head. "Fine. I bet you won't answer it."
Damn him and his ways. He knew I had to answer it now.
"You're an evil, evil man, Embry Call." I glared as I pushed the 'talk' button. "What do you want?"
"What the hell is wrong with you, Stephanie?!" Ben shrieked at once.
"Well this isn't a good way to keep me on the phone, Benjamin." I warned.
"You're right, it's not." He paused. "Why did you call our aunt and uncle and tell them that I killed myself?!"
"Um...well I thought it was pretty accurate." I answered honestly and heard Embry snicker. "I mean, if you think about it, you chose to become a vampire, which means you chose to die, which ultimately ended in your death...which means you killed yourself."
"Man I like her logic." Jacob said out of nowhere. When in the hell did he get back?
"How did you find out I told them, anyways? I doubt they called your cell phone to verify."
"I have my ways." Was all he said. "Why aren't you going to cash the check? You need that money."
"Because it's from you." I paused. "How did you know I wasn't going to cash the check?"
"What's that mean?" He asked defensively. Really? Did I seriously have to go through this again?
"Um...how about because I consider it dirty money. I'd sell my body for sexual favors before I ever accepted money from the scum you live with."
"I see you've been hanging around Jacob more."
"How would you feel if I became a werewolf?" I blurted, which brought out more laughter from Beevis and Butthead.
"Um...it doesn't work that way." Ben sneered. "It's not like the movies where they bite you and you change into a dog."
"...Oh." I paused. "Then are you done saying all that you need to say?"
"No, you need to hear what I'm about to say."
"Is it an excuse?"
"Of sorts."
"Then I don't want to hear it. Goodbye, Benjamin." I hung up the phone and threw it on the floor. I turned my attention to Embry and Jacob. "What are you two baboons chortling about?"
"You thought you'd change if we bit you?" Jacob managed between laughter.
"And the reason you said it was a suicide!" Embry added. Watching the two of them hunched over in laughter, I couldn't help but join in--they looked so ridiculous.
"It wasn't even that funny, guys." I sighed after a few chuckles.
"Maybe not to you, but you should have seen your face."
"Hey, what did he mean by saying that you've been hanging around me more often?" Jacob asked, suddenly serious.
"How did you...?"
"Super hearing; we all have it." Embry answered. "And Jake, you do speak pretty badly of the Cullens."
"Oh...well, you don't think too highly of them, either!"
"Guys...I'm hungry. Who wants some food?" I changed the subject as I dialed the phone for pizza. It was a stupid question, because my boys were always up for food.
It had been a month full of annoyances. My annoyances ranged from the bank not willing to give me money to Jake eating all of my food, to me not being able to find a job and Embry being so...there. He was always there, every time I turned around he was right there with a smile ready. Sure, most adults and many teens would drool over his perfectly tanned skin and dark hair, but not me. As much as Embry would have liked for me to run to his arms and kiss him passionately on his full lips...maybe he would even pick me up so as to bring me closer to him...maybe we could even--stop, Stephanie! I needed to focus on what was being said to me and not the progress I was making with Embry....
"I know we've told you this before, Ms. Allen, but it wouldn't be very wise of the bank to loan you that much money without you having a job." The representative's empathic voice made me want to vomit...or punch her in the face...or maybe even both. At the same time. No, that'd be gross. I restrained myself, but only because the lady was only doing her job. I thanked her and gathered all of my stuff and left the building. I had made up my mind that I would not try to get help from the bank.... So what else was left? I was going to ponder that question a little more, but then my cell phone rang and I delighted to see it was my aunt and uncle.
"Hello, Aunt Helen!"
"It's good to speak with you, Steph." Aunt Helen started. "Look, your uncle and I have to the realization that you are without."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Your financial situation, dear." She answered as if it were the most obvious thing ever.
"Oh, don't worry about it." I replied quickly. "I have it all taken care of."
"And just how is that?"
"Um...." I studied my surroundings as I walked down the street to my car.
"That's what I thought." I could practically hear the smile of triumph in her voice. "I'll be sending Damian your way with a check."
"Damian?" I stopped in mid-step with a shocked expression written on my face.
"Yes, he misses you something terrible."
"Aunt Helen, he can't come out here...not right now, anyways." I struggled to sound calm.
"Why not?"
"Because things are still too hectic." I lied.
"Well...alright. I guess it's a good thing I hadn't sprung the idea on him or anything. I'll still send the check in the mail, then."
"Really, Aunt Helen, you don't have to worry about me...I'm not a financial burden anymore." I assured her.
It was quiet for a moment, and then, "Stephanie, you have never been a burden of any kind to your Uncle Henry and I, and don't you forget that. We took you in as our niece, but somewhere along the way you became like a daughter. I'm not sure if you've realized this or not, but your uncle and I have always wanted children, we just weren't every able to conceive."
"I didn't know that." More than just a little shock tainted my voice. "I'm sorry...."
"It's not your fault. Anyways, you're going to take this check, and you're going to use it, no arguing. Or better yet...never mind on the check. I've got something else planned. Oh...and I might have been lying when I said that I hadn't mentioned the idea to Damian...but I guess you'll understand what I mean when you get a phone call in a few hours. Goodbye!" And before I could argue or say anything, Aunt Helen hung up.
"Well that was a little weird." I mumbled as I opened my car door and got in. Embry was sitting in my front seat. "Why should I not be surprised that you're here?"
"So you're getting a little money, huh?"
"I don't know about you, but that super-hearing you've got is a little annoying." I confessed as I pulled away from the curb and started my journey home.
"I know you like it when I'm around." He smiled confidently. Dammit, he was right.
"Can't prove a thing." I smiled back. We pulled into my driveway to find Sam and what looked like the rest of the pack gathered around.
"What's up?" Embry asked as he unfolded himself from my car.
"We've got wind that some bad people are coming to town." Sam informed us. "The same people who checked up on the Bella chick...."
"What about them?" Embry asked.
"Who's Bella?" I asked, but Jacob only shushed me.
"Well, they found out that your girlfriend here knows about vampires and...well, you know...."
"They're pulling this shit again?!" Embry's body started violently shaking and it scared me, to be honest.
"Looks like it." Jacob confirmed.
"Wait...something doesn't add up here." Seth stood up suddenly. "They've never demanded that the others who know, like Emily, should be turned into vampires or die."
"Die?!" I shrieked as I turned frantically towards Embry, who was still shaking. "I have to die?!"
"Don't get too close." Quil warned when I stepped closer to Embry. "He's going to phase at anytime."
"Would someone please explain something to me, dammit?!" I pleaded. I heard a ripping sound and turned just in time to see Embry phase. It was the most disturbing, disgusting thing one could witness, and I suddenly felt sick to my stomach. "Holy shit."
"Yeah, the first time's always a doozy." Jacob chuckled as if it were nothing. "But the feeling of phasing is so...exhilarating."
"Why don't all of you baboons leave and I'll explain everything to poor Stephanie here?" Emily offered as she led me inside my house.
"Okay, but just keep the alcohol away from her!" Jacob called after us.
***
So my only two options were to either die or let the vermin turn me into one of them. Either way I'd be dying--either way I wouldn't be able to live with the ones I loved since they were all werewolves, and we all know that werewolves and vampires did not play well together. The same hatred that I'd had as a child was slowly, yet steadily bubbling its way to the surface. Everything bad in my life so far had happened under the house's tainted walls. I wasn't sure why that was--maybe the previous owners had put bad chi throughout the house or something....
Thankfully Emily had convinced the rest of the guys to leave...all except Embry. I really wasn't too upset by that, though, since I really didn't want to be alone. I had to face the fact that my life would probably soon come to an end and if that were the case, I'd much rather be with Embry than by myself. Which brought up an interesting question....
"Em...if I die, what will happen to you?"
"Don't talk like that!" He ordered, which caught me off guard, but I understood why he was so worked up.
"I'm just curious...."
"Rae, if you die then I'll be nothing. Sure, that sounds a little dramatic, but I don't think you quite grasp how this whole imprinting thing works." He frowned but sat down next to me. "Without you...well, imagine how you felt the first time you fell in love."
"Em...."
"Just do it. I know you've had boyfriends in Utah." He grinned. "Ben never did know how to keep his mouth shut. Anyways...imagine how you felt every time you'd come into some sort of contact with them, or even imagined them. Got the feeling? Now amplify that by one hundred and you'll get the idea of imprinting. Once we see that one special person, we can't go without them...we feel empty inside."
I didn't know what to say...it'd be terrible to walk around day after day with nothing but a shell of who you used to be. Unless....
"You have to promise that if anything ever happens to me that you won't go and off yourself or anything." I demanded as I turned to look into his deep brown eyes. "I don't care how this imprinting thing works, you have to move on with your life, got it?"
"I can't promise anything, Rae." He answered honestly. "I love you, you know that. I always have, only now my love runs a little deeper than that day in the woods before you moved away."
I wasn't sure what exactly I was doing, but before I knew it my hands were reaching for Embry's face and my lips planted themselves firmly on his. I didn't want to kiss Embry the way I was, because Lord knew I wasn't ready to love him that way...yet. However my fingers seemed to have a mind of their own as they wound their way through Embry's thick hair and around his neck. Embry wasn't exactly holding back, either, as he pulled my body closer to his and licked my bottom lip with his. I invited him in lustfully as our tongues clashed and explored each other's mouths. I let out a sigh just as I heard someone enter the room.
"What the hell is going on here?" A familiar male voice asked. I pulled away and looked up with a shocked expression.
"Why...what...what the hell are you doing here?!" I finally managed.
"Who the hell is this?" Embry demanded as he stood up and towered over my sudden guest.
"Um...Em, this is Damian...my boyfriend."