Sorry that I haven't been able to update much. I've been ssuuuppperrrr busy, but I go this chapter done, and I'm hoping it's good. The Embry thing just popped into my head, so sorry if someone doesn't think it's right.
When I reached the beach, the sun was high in the sky. It felt warm against my skin. Undressing, I ran into the water. Despite the hot sun, the water was cool. It soothed my aching bones, making me relax. At least there was a place I could try to forget everything. Sometimes it worked, and other times…
I started swimming around, this way and that. For a moment, I kept my head under water. How long could my lungs last without oxygen? I asked myself. I started counting in my head. One…Two…Three…It had been over a minute when I felt myself being pulled out of the water.
"Leah? Are you okay, Leah?" The worried voice annoyed me instantly. Embry.
I ran my hands through my wet hair, removing it from my face so I could see him clearly. His arms were around my waist, holding me much too close to him than I'd want to be. Without thinking, I shoved him away.
"Can't there ever be a place where I can be alone?" I asked harshly, watching as he struggled to keep his balance.
"I was worried. You were underwater too long," he explained.
"It was only over a minute, come on. Why were you even here? Surely Seth told you I'd be here. So why did you come? To annoy me again? I've actually had enough of your jokes and all. And if you're going to stay here, I'm leaving. I don't want to explain to the pack why you got back in terrible shape," I warned, walking through the water as fast as it would let me.
There was a hand at my arm. I turned, ready to snap at him, but I didn't have time. Embry's lips found mine with an unexpected eagerness. What new joke was this?
He pulled me closer to him; I struggled to pull away from him. He tightened his grip, trying to get a response out of me, but I didn't know what to do. When it seemed like he had been kissing me for ages, he pulled his face back. What caught me off guard was his expression. It didn't show any signs of a joke.
One of his hands was resting on my waist under water. The other was on the back of my neck, holding me there. The only thing I could think of doing at that moment was what I did next.
I raised my arm and slapped him. The hurt look on his face may have made me laugh…if it had been for any other incident. But right now, I felt something in my chest telling me to go back to him as I swam to shore.
Picking up my clothes, I started to run. Not on four legs, but on two. I didn't even feel like changing at all. I just wanted to get away, fast. I didn't look back; when I did, he wasn't back there anymore. There were only trees and more trees.
At home that night, I didn't want to go downstairs when the pack came over again. My mom had planned dinner for all of us. I had unwillingly agreed to go, but now I willingly agreed not to go.
No. I should go. I couldn't let him think what happened at the beach affected me. I was the female in the group and I wasn't intimidated easily. Though, I did wait until everyone was downstairs at six, to go down myself. I put on my toughest face and walked down. Everyone seemed to be there, but as I looked carefully, I realized I was searching for him.
Not Sam this time. Though, when I saw him with Emily a pain in my chest reappeared.
Embry was the one I was looking for. I didn't see him. I figured I probably just felt bad for hitting him. Maybe I should apologize, I thought. Then, maybe I won't feel like this anymore.
"Leah, you're down. You've been up there for quite a while," my mom, Sue, complained.
"I was just tired," I lied.
I caught Sam eyeing me. I gave him my what-are-you-looking-at look, making him turn away. I felt my breath get caught up in my throat. It hurt me how much he looked at me so innocently. I wanted to believe it wasn't his fault he imprinted on my cousin, but I couldn't bring myself to, even though I knew.
I did want him to look at me. I wanted him to talk to me, like before. Before any of this werewolf thing ever happened. I wanted him to love me again, like he used to. But al this could only exist in my head.
Suddenly, someone tapped my shoulder, making me jump.
"It's only me, Leah," Seth said. "I wanted to talk to you."
"I do too. Why did you tell Embry I was at the beach? He went there to do whatever while I was swimming. And then he-" I stopped before spilling it. He'd find out soon enough anyways.
"I'm sorry, but he looked like he wanted to know," he explained.
"So if a female killing murderer really waned to know where I was, would you tell him? And that's kind of what Embry is," I added.
"Don't be so hard on him. He didn't harm you, did he? He's the one that seems kind of down right now. He old me he was going to go for a walk, but he seemed real anxious to leave when he saw you coming down. I don't know what's wrong with him, and if it has to do with something private, then I'll try not to overhear anything when we change," he promised.
I hugged him quickly. "You're too sweet of a brother for someone as sour as me," I whispered.
He smiled in encouragement as I walked through the pack, heading out the door.
"Where are you going at this time of day?" Jacob teased. I narrowed my eyes at him.
"That's none of your concern," I answered brusquely.
The sun was setting, and I had no clue where he might have gone. If I transformed, I'd be easier, but I wanted to talk to him in person. Running, I called his name a few times. When I was surrounded by trees, I halted. I guess it would be better to transform.
But before I could change, there was a husky voice behind me. "What are you doing here?"
I turned around. I didn't want to see his face for the fear of seeing something else, but I did.
"I was looking for you." I hesitated. "Look, I wanted to…apologize for acting the way…Hold on! Shouldn't you be stopping me right about now and saying you should be the one apologizing, because it surely wasn't my fault you acted the way you did," I complained.
With a sigh, he walked toward me. His face was expressionless. But his eyes told me something I couldn't understand.
"It is your fault, actually. And I am not going to apologize. I did it because…I did it because I wanted to, and I don't regret it, so you can leave now. You're not getting an apology from me."
His words surprised me. I could feel my jaw dropping slightly.
"How can you say you don't regret having done that? Why don't you regret it? Was this some kind of joke? A bet?" I assumed.
"Nothing more than the truth," he whispered, taking my face into his hands.
I jerked away from him.
"Stop playing around," I shot at him. "I've had enough. If you don't want to apologize, then don't. And if you want to stay here, fine, stay here, but I'm leaving."
He didn't stop me, and for a moment it bothered me. I went back home, trying not to care what he did.
When I walked inside, I decided to go straight o my room. Everyone was still there, and I preferred not having to make them see my annoyed-worried- face. I went up to my mom first, though.
"Did you find Embry? He just left without telling where, and when you left I asked the guys-they said you were out looking for him," she said.
The guys. Did they know something I didn't? I didn't actually pay attention to what they thought about when we were in our wolf form; I didn't know why they were al acting all…weirdly toward me sometimes.
"I went to look for him, but I don't know if he'll come here. If he does, good for him, but I don't care to see him…ever." I was being harsh again, but it just came naturally to me now.
"Did something happen between you two for you to feel that way about him?" she asked.
"Why would something ever happen for me to feel-" I wasn't able to finish what I was saying because Paul cut in.
"We know you don't actually pay attention to what we think, but are you that careless? You really don't pay attention? I mean, if you did you'd know what's going on. Just telling you," he informed me, shrugging casually.
He was sitting on the sofa, playing some game with Seth and Quil. I wanted to go rip an arm off or sew his mouth shut.
"At least I mind my own business and don't listen to what other people's thoughts. They could be private! You should learn some manners," I suggested. "I hate being a werewolf for that fact. I hate sharing my thoughts with a bunch of immature dogs."
"Oh, come on, don't talk about yourself that way," Jacob pleaded in a teasing voice. "You aren't that immature, but you are stubborn and cruel," he added.
"Jacob, Paul." It was Sam with his warning voice. Why was he always defending me? Was it because I was the only female, or was it something else…
"You are being a little cruel yourself, Jacob. Let us just mind our own businesses," Emily added…and it sounded so…motherly.
"Yes ma'am," Jacob said, saluting, and then turning back to the others who were at their game again.
I looked toward Sam. He was, as usual, sitting comfortably next to Emily. I longed to be the one sitting next to him, though. As if hearing my thoughts, Emily got up and offered me a seat.
"No, thanks, but I was going to go upstairs," I replied.
Sam stopped me. "Actually, we have an announcement we need to make. We wouldn't wan you to feel…bad for finding out after everyone else did." He seemed as if he didn't want me there either way. What was it he had to tell everyone?
"Everyone," he said before whistling for attention. When he was sure he had their attention, he said, "Emily and I have something important to announce." He looked around. "I don't see Embry."
"I'm here," came a husky voice from the door. Embry had arrived.
What I didn't know, though, was that I was about to get two surprises thrown at me without warning. Two that would crush my life even deeper than it was already.
Well, my opinion on this chapter is that it came out pretty good, but please R&R.
