A/N: In this fic, Embry will be the last to phase, or I'm not even sure if he will, it still has to be decided. So right now, everyone has joined the pack except Embry, Seth, and Leah.
WARNING: This is actually darker than I laid it out to be, but hopefully in the future chapters, it picks up on the positive side. It does deal with drug abuse. And I apologize if I make it sound like the citizens of Forks and La Push to be rude, I'm sure they're not, it just fits the story to let it play out this way, so no offense to anyone.
D: Nope, Don't own it.
CHAPTER TWO
Reaching the worn down house that I call home became a relief. Bringing much consolation to no longer being targets to Paul or Jared, I could remain calm. But it was a matter of avoiding the bullies all summer, and that was a difficult task due to them invading the rez with their ignorance and tendencies to draw attention to themselves. Every girl wanted to be with them while every guy wanted to be them, thought I remain clueless to why.
As I gathered my clothes to throw in the washer, I came to realizations that the power was out, which meant Tiffany lacked in paying the bills again. This was common though; I was always attained to live in candle-lit nights alone on several occasions. I hated it too, especially since I haven't yet conquered my fears of the dark, confined walls of this old creaky house. The fears magnified a couple months ago when I would hear the constant howls of wolves in a distance. I'm not afraid of wolves, but it did give the effect of a haunted house, and that heighted my tendencies to conjure up some pretty messed up nightmares.
This place has never been my refuge, I've yet to find that, and like I said, I plan to find that once I graduate and get out of here.
These were actually the moments in life that I actually hoped Tiffany would return and pay the bills, buy the groceries, and leave. Which became a coincidence when she came barging in the house half-cut, Budweiser in one hand, with a cigarette in the other, staggering as she greeted me with a fake smile and feeding me bullshit by saying she missed her baby.
I glanced outside to see her old beat up Pontiac parked in an angle with the door still open and running through its sputtered engine. It didn't take long for her to pass out on the couch and slump over the edge with her body on the sofa with her head hanging over the edge almost touching the floor.
I shook my head in disgust and retrieved the car keys from the vehicle after parking it properly and packing the little groceries she bought. The good it does us, all the food in the bag needed to be cooked, and I wasn't in the mood to make a fire and cook on the woodstove.
I practically dropped the bags on the counter in annoyance of my supposed-to-be mother letting the rest of her beer spill on the carpet. I picked the empty bottle up, put out her cigarette and adjusted her body to lay properly on the couch. I knew she would be out probably for the rest of the night, so I just decided to call it a night even though it was barely eight-thirty.
As I stared down at my mother, nothing has changed. She still dressed as if she wanted to be one of those slutty teenagers. Her white tank-top shirt bared a brown stain on her stomach. Her pink bra-strap showed with her cleavage peaking out. He small jean jacket seemed as if it didn't fit, her navel piercing looked dull, her thong strings stuck with her skin tight jeans barely covering her butt crack so guys could see her tramp-stamp tattoo of a butterfly above her butt. She disgusted me, and embarrassed me, no wonder Joshua found her easy, she practically had the label embossed on her forehead.
But one thing that came noticeable to me, something I hadn't known from her last visit, the tracks from needles in her arms. She was using drugs now? So this meant that shit was getting worse then they already been. I've always known my mom to be a pill popper all her life, but I guess that high wasn't good enough anymore.
Lying on the foam mattress on the floor of my bedroom was like any other night. A candle poorly lit on my nightstand while I opened my book of poetry to write another saddened haiku of my life. Beginning to jot down my second poem, a loud bang was at my door and Tiffany came barging in a rage.
"WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO THE POWER?" She screamed, blaming me again for her lack of keeping up with the bills. "WHY THE HELL DIDN'T YOU COOK?"
"You forgot to pay the bill again." I said calmly, I knew it annoyed her when I'd brush her antics off. "And I didn't want to make a fire, especially when it's already warm in the house."
"Pfft… fucking useless." She muttered before leaving my room and banging around in the near darkness.
I closed my door again, hearing her muffled rants from the other side. She'll most likely bitch and complain and pass out again. The many difficulties of living with Tiffany, I could swear she could be bi-polar. One minute she was all lovey-dovey –usually when she's drunk- and another minute she's screaming her lungs out at me, and that was when she was sober or sobering up. I could only hope she was gone when I woke up, but that was wishful thinking.
Before falling asleep, I was disturbed by the howls of the wolves again, something I was beginning to despise. But tonight was different, like the one wolf howling tonight, sounded pained and lost, like it was crying out to the night for comfort. I could swear the animal was grieving over a broken heart, lost and perplexed to find a belonging. How could I pick up the emotions from this wolf's cry? Was I a dog whisperer now? Because I'm sure I was feeling what this wolf was, the need to feel accepted and wanted.
I picked up my notebook and figured this would be the best time to write this down.
Lost, no path to lead the way
Agony, please take away this pain
Acceptance, how I long for the day
Love, I hope it exists
Loneliness, its comes more often than I like
Comfort, is rarely on my side
Drama, takes over my life
Love, pray it comes in time.
Sometimes my poem's come out sappy and boring, and this was no exception. But I still keep them as a reminder. After placing the notepad back on the nightstand, it didn't take me long to doze off into sleep.
As morning approach, I lazily opened my eyes and wiped the discomfort of the gunk collected from sleep. I went straight into my routines, and thankfully the water still worked when the power was out, so I could have my morning shower before welcoming another uneventful day.
After finishing my shower and wrapping a towel around my waist, I wiped the condensation off of the mirror to stare at the teen. My shoulder length hair hung to the side of my face. I wasn't much to look at, though I know if I cut my hair and actually dressed casually enough, I would at least look decent and presentable to the world, but that was far from the case. I usually ended up cutting my own hair to the same length since I couldn't afford to get it professionally cut, and it was easier just to keep it at the length.
I tied my hair back and slipped on my khaki shorts with a white muscle shirt. I wouldn't say I lacked the muscles to be acceptable to wear the piece, in fact I thought I was toned enough to not look like some underweight freak.
Sluggishly descending down the stairs to see if my mom was still passed out, I became reluctant to deal with her shitty attitude. So if she were still sleeping, I'd make a dash for it and find something to do. Preferably looking for a summer job. So that meant I would have to hitch hike to Forks to the employment office and hope they were opened on a Friday so I could attempt to make a resume.
Nothing could prepare me for what I was witnessing now. Tiffany, my mom sprawled back on the sofa with a needle dangling from the skin on the front of her elbow with a rubber band tightly tied around her bicep. Her eyelids were partially opened with a bit of drool coming from her mouth. Her body was barely on the couch as her rear was edged over and her head on the back piece. She was lying lifeless with pale skin and the stench of alcohol and cigarettes filling the air. A bottle of opened pills lay spilled across the coffee table in front of her with a blackened spoon sitting on a saucer.
I stood in shock, motionless to do anything, clueless to what my actions should be. I never in my life expected it to get this bad. But it is. I figured that this type of thing only happened in movies, but her skin was becoming paler, and there was no sign of a pulse or breathing coming from her. That's when the tears began to invade my eyes. Whether I had the right to grieve over her, I still hadn't comprehended the facts that she was gone.
I was mind boggled to say the least, still confused in what to do. We had no phone to call for an ambulance, and I doubt anyone would care if I ran outside to ask for help. I mean they would have to, but that doesn't mean they would care to. So it left me one option, take Tiffany's car and drive to Forks police department and see what can be done from there.
It took me countless amount of minutes to get myself out of there, to leave without thinking that maybe she would wake and it would be okay. The sad thing about it was that I would take any arguments or disagreements to this. This was harsh reality, even for me, and I'm beginning to feel that maybe this is what I deserve. Either that, or god has a sick way of punishing me.
By the time I was reaching Forks, I couldn't bring myself to stop bawling my eyes out. I just didn't think that this would have such an impact on me. I don't know, maybe it was the memories of the good times we had when I was younger that were now lingering in my thoughts. The times when she had no regret for me, before any of the adults of La Push brainwashed her of my disapproved existence.
"Embry Call?" It was Chief Swan that broke me out of my heavy thoughts, approaching me as I walked to the entrance. "What's wrong?"
That was the first hint of concern I've felt in awhile, and I wasn't used of it. But I explained my loss, and told him that I didn't know what to do, trying to pull myself together, but failing and breaking out into more tears.
As the ambulance and most of the police department headed for La Push, constable Larkin, a young woman comforted me the best way she knew how. She offered to listen to my sorrow, comforting me and encouraging me to let out tears. I would let go here and there, but I didn't feel comfortable to cry in public. But she refused to leave, and offered me something to drink and eat.
It was a couple hours later before any of the other officers returned with an update. I kept asking any of them what was going on then, but none could say until Chief Swan could tell me. When he returned, he acted as if he lost his best friend. I couldn't gather why he felt saddened about my mom, it just didn't fit. He came and sat next to me on the bench and signaled constable Larkin to leave.
"I'm sorry son…" He rubbed my back. "We couldn't revive her, the paramedics did everything they could."
He continued with his explanation, but I zoned out after that. It hadn't dawned on me that I didn't know where I was going from here, but I had a strong feeling that they would have difficulties of finding a place for sixteen-year-old boy. I would practically have 'Troubled Kid' blinking in neon lights above my head. No one would want to deal with me.
"Are you okay Embry?" Chief Swan asked waving his hands in front of me. "Kind of lost you there."
What could I say? I wasn't fine? I'm fucking lost, and now I clearly alone.
"Do you have anyone we could call? Any relatives you can stay with until we figure something out?" I shook my head. "Any friends?" I shook my head again. "Any community members from the reservation?"
"No." I grumbled. "No one liked me, including my mom. So if you're asking if I'm a loner bastard child without the privileges of company from others, then yes, I am."
He stared at me in shock, afraid to ask another question. I did feel guilty about lashing out at the only person helping me, but I was frustrated and hurt to say the least. He said it himself. 'Somewhere to stay until they figure things out.' That obviously meant that I would be bounced from home to home until someone could tolerate a restless teen until he graduates and gets the hell out of here.
With my outburst, he let me be, and I sat in the same spot, motionless and drained to move anywhere. I didn't want to be bothered, I didn't want to be pitied because I looked as I felt, like shit.
Five hours later, nothing came to a solution according to Chief Swan to where I should go, so he offered me to stay at his place for the night. I should be thankful, but I'm not. I feel like a burden to the man, but he insisted that it should be good, and maybe I could keep his daughter company while he assists in making the funeral arrangements. I was just happy I wouldn't have to make decisions about to what they should do, I hope.
Ten minutes later we pulled up to Charlie's –what he insisted I call him- white two-story house. It wasn't much of a difference from mine other than the color, but it was a place to sleep tonight before I had to worry about tomorrow.
Walking up the stairs in silence, we were greeted by his daughter. Isabella Swan was her name, or Bella is what she prefers. She offered me a smile and food before showing me to my room where Charlie asked her to.
I didn't talk much to her, but I thanked her before she excused me to be alone. So here I was, left with the clothes on my back, in a stranger's house, and a future I couldn't even see now. It literally was up to what others would have planned for me.
I was unaware that Charlie left, and Jacob was now visiting Bella. I didn't make an appearance, but I could hear a heated discussion between the two along with another girl calling, what I assumed to be Jacob, a mutt. I didn't much like to eavesdrop, but they were making it difficult when I seen Bella run outside into a black car with a pixie looking girl, and Jacob pleading something leaning in the window.
The car departed and Jacob was left standing on the curb looking lost. He changed a lot, and from what I seen, he was even more built than I remembered. As I stared down at him from the window, he noticed me, gave me a glance, only to disappear into the forest behind the house.
Great! Left alone once again.
A/N: I didn't think it would revolve around the actual story, which now, will be kind of difficult for me to follow, seeing how I changed Embry's character entirely. So I'm going to tell you to that it will be Jake, Quil, and Seth in the friend group. Oh, and sorry for it becoming so dark.
I'm still cluless to if Embry should stay with Charlie and Bella and stir up some crap… or Carlisle being the nice guy he is by taking him in, resulting in you readers finding out just how much the tribe cares about him. So that is your decision.
I was going to leave it at that, and reply to the reviews without my mentions, but I want everyone to know how much I appreciate them. So thanks to Your Angel Matt (May he RIP, he will greatly missed), Head Mistress Cullen, gaaragirl202, smeellie, dark-magician100, SoundShield11, iJeedai, rAbiDmutt03, ZeroCraft, luvinlapush, and sibaruneko.
Much Love,
TurnItUp03
