Disclaimer: I do not own anything…it all belongs to Stephanie Meyer.
A/N: Thanks to Team 108.9, xxtwilightxobsessedxx, Literati Obsessed, KK8806, and babewithbrains88 for their reviews and support. And also to those that made this story a fav or added it to their alerts. Here is some quality time with Embry!!
Tuesday I was feeling oddly nervous. I couldn't concentrate at school all day, but only thought about my plans at the diner later. As I pulled up to the diner, I felt my heart pick up its pace. It's only Embry. I thought to myself. I headed inside to get a table to find Embry was already there waiting for me.
"Hey Bella" he said excitedly. "I just wanted to th-thank you again for meeting with me. You have no idea what it means to me." He sounded slightly nervous.
"It's okay. I want to be here too." We ordered our drinks and I ordered my meal while he ordered what could be for a small army. We held the simple 'how have you been' and 'what was your day like' conversations. But as I food came the conversation turned more serious.
"My mom has just been freaking out on me lately. I mean she is always grounding me for the slightest things. I…got a new …job a couples weeks or so back and it requires a lot of …time. And she just doesn't get it. She accuses me of doing drugs and all sort of things. Which I don't understand. I always been a good kid, and it kind of hurts to think she could see me in such a bad way." I felt like he was leaving some things out, being rather vague. I could only imagine what she could think up with an answer like that.
"Have you explained your job to her. And maybe getting set hours would help, so she would know when you are to be gone." I felt bad. I don't know how I would feel if Charlie accused me of being on drugs. I hated myself enough when he saw me as a zombie. But for him to think so low of me would hurt. I mean I could see where she was coming from, between his change in behavior and friends and then his change in appearance. It is like Embry is a completely different person.
"No I haven't but I can't really tell her about my job. She'd freak and it would make matters worse. But don't worry I am not doing anything illegal. Just kind of secret. And there is no way to have a set schedule, at least no completely. Things come up and I am needed and I don't always have fair warning. Which makes things tough, but you work with what you have, right."
"Well I think your boss needs to understand that you are still in high school and have a mother that worries and bring about better working conditions."
"I mean Sam understands that and tries to work with us but-"
"Wait! Sam? As in Sam Uley." He nodded confirming. "Is he why you can't be friends with Jacob or Quil. Because of Sam Uley and his job?"
"Well, no. Maybe. Kind of. But don't blame Sam! He is a really great guy. People just misjudge him, honestly. He is doing good for the reservation. And he's helped me out a lot too. With me going through…some changes lately, he's been there for me."
"But why can't Jacob and Quil be there for you. They're your best friends! I just don't understand."
"I know. And I am sorry. I try to explain the best I can. But things are complicated. And I will explain better eventually" He let out a large sigh. "God I just messing up your life aren't I?"
"What? No. I just wish you would explain a little more." Just as I finished saying this, I heard a loud shuffle and clunking noises. I look up to see a couple of boys fooling around together and they knock into our table. My newly filled coke pours directly into my lap.
"Ohh. Wow that's cold." The boys just laughed nervously looking from me to Embry and back to me again. "Don't worry its okay. I'll survive." I look over to Embry to tell him I will just go clean up in the restroom real quick to see him shaking furiously and standing up. He grabbed the closest boy and glared at him.
"You will apologize to her for your stupidity and clumsiness. NOW!"
"Really Em, it's okay. All is forgiven. Just calm down." He continued to glare and shake. The boy muttered out a scared apology. Embry let him go and he quickly scurried away. Embry just stood there shaking. I walked over to him and put my hand on him shoulder. I figured it helped with Jake on Sunday, maybe it would calm Embry too. "Really, I fine. Please calm down. Your shaking is starting to scare me Em." He looked down at me and shook his head a few times.
"I'm so sorry Bella. I didn't mean to embarrass you or scare you or anything. They were just so stupid and messed up your clothes and made you cold. It just really pissed me off. Are you really okay?" He said looking me over for potential battle scars from the cup or ice.
"Fine, promise. But jeez I thought Jake could shake with anger. He has nothing on you" I laughed. But Embry was quiet and looking at me concerned. "What?"
"When did this happen with Jake? When was he shaking? What happened?"
"Sunday on the way back from Port Angeles. A jerk almost ran us off the road and I thought Jacob was going to explode right there in the Rabbit." Embry's eyes lit up with both fear and recognition.
"You need to distance yourself from Jacob for a little while. If he gets angry again, especially with you so close, you could get hurt. And I couldn't stand for you to get harmed in any way." When he saw my face flash with anger, he backed up on what he was saying. "I not saying not see him completely. Just please, please be careful." He looked at me such sincerity and concern I found it hard to argue with him.
"I'll be on the watch out. But are you going to explain to me what's going on and why you are so concerned?"
"Just know that Jacob is going through some changes of his own right now. And I will be there for him when the time comes." He then muttered to himself something that sounded suspiciously like 'if he'll let me.' But I let it go for the moment.
"Changes like you went through. This all relates back to Sam right. Jake told me about all of Sam's questions. And well a lot of them go right with what is going on with him. What's the deal Embry?"
"What do you mean? Like he has been eating more? Getting angry more easily? I know that he has grown here lately. Does he feel any warmer to you? Warm like me?" He reached over and grabbed my hand in his large one. Once I was over the shock of how warm it was, I noticed how perfect my hand fit into his. Like it belonged there. Wow. What was that thought. Something is seriously wrong with me.
"Well yeah. To all of those things. His hand isn't quite as warm, but definitely warmer than usual. What does all this mean Embry?"
"It means that me and Jake can be friends sooner than I thought. You will be careful right, around him I mean."
"He's my best friend Embry, I don't have to be careful around him. He would never hurt me."
"I know he wouldn't on purpose. But accidents happen and I can't risk loosing you." He looked deeply into my eyes for what felt like forever. I bit my lip wondering what his lips would taste like. They were so plump and soft looking. He quickly brought me out of my thoughts. "I need to go and…talk to Sam about some new developments at work. But can I see you again soon? I really enjoyed today."
"Sure, I would like that. I liked hanging out. I just wish everything was less confusing. Maybe we can do something Saturday night. Charlie wants the two of us to have lunch and hang out some with Jake and Billy. There is some game on at like noon. So maybe we can meet up at like 6 or something."
"Sounds perfect" he murmured. He threw down some cash for our bill even after I insisted that I pay for my own. I am finding Embry Call to be more stubborn than I originally gave him credit for.
As we made our way outside, he still kept the hand he was holding from earlier. He pulled me into a huge hug. But this hug felt very different from the hugs I was accustomed to from Jacob. Those were tight and all encompassing hugs. This was gentle and sweet and caring. Just like I was beginning to see Embry as again. Maybe I was wrong out at the store. He doesn't appear to be the ass I thought of him at all. Quite the opposite really. I think he was just going through some things and then he would be back to being friends with Jacob and Quil. I could tell he wanted to be their friend but something or someone was stopping him. He said not to blame Sam, so I would try not too. But while hugging this incredible boy or really man, I couldn't find it in me to assign any blame to him. And someone has to always carry the blame right? Maybe not. Not today, and maybe not this week. But some time soon, I planned to find out exactly what was going on down in La Push.
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