4. Clumsy


A/N: Hi, I'm sorry for the confusion on chapter 3. It's just that I have the story all planned out it just kind of makes sense to me and that I assume that others would too. But of course ASSUME makes an ASS out of U and ME. But mostly me. I hope that this chapter 'kind of' clear things up a bit. But the result to her dream (trying not to give much away) will be cleared up in later chapters.

And yes. The red head IS Victoria. Why is she doing in a New Moon plot? Let's just say this takes place near the end of New Moon. This is also cleared up in this chapter. So let's get this chapter moving!


Embry sat on my bedside as he watched me fiddle with a lock of my dark hair. His eyes watched every little thing I did. Like yawning and snuggling into my warm, warm sheets like a furry animal going into hibernation.

When I stared back at him he asked if I needed anything. Water. Tylenol. Food.

"Nah. I'm fine. Just—yawn—really cold."

Truly. The relapse memory that I had in Jared's truck left me chilled to the bone. How could I have forgotten? Traumatic shock? Or chosen forgetfulness?

Embry grinned and took off my layers of quilts and blankets.

"Hey!" I slapped his hand, "what are you doing? I just said I was cold!"

He climbed onto the mattress and wrapped his arms around me in a great bear hug—lying down of course—he covered both of us under with the layers of fabric and I pressed my cheek to his chest.

He was shirtless again.

"Idiot." I smiled as I pressed my fingertips to his face.

He was hot. Real hot. Burning.

"Holy cow Embry! You're burning up!" I hissed at him.

Embry laughed, I could feel the low sound vibrating inside his chest.

"I'm fine Em. You worry too much."

"Oh like you? Seriously you should go see a doctor! What if it's something serious?"

"I'm telling you. I'm fine. I feel fine." He smiled and patted me on the head.

I growled and let go of him, rolling to the other side of the bed. My back turned towards

Him.

"Aw Em. Don't hate me because I'm hot." He snickered at his own joke.

I rolled back to him and rolled my eyes.

"That's lame Embry. Even for you."

Giving into his warmth I slept beside him. Until I knew it, night has passed and hello a new day.

No more memory dreams like yesterday. It seems to be fogged up in my mind. Pushed back to the dusty parts of my brain.

Embry was fast asleep on the hardwood floor. His long legs tangled with the wooden chair legs and desk.

Knowing I wouldn't have the superhuman strength to lift him onto the bed without waking him up, I carefully lay the heavy blankets on him.

Stepping over the heap of sheets and the sleeping form of Embry, I crept silently into the hallway. I could hear Quil's loud rumbling snoring from across the hall.

The pantry was a small cramped space but I made do. The only cooking I've done back home—a pang hit my head as I thought about home—was making Sunday breakfast. Frying up the eggs was a piece of cake.

My stomach protested against such a tasty thought.

Quil was the first one up as I dished out the omelets, sausages and toast. He licked his lips at the smell of food and dug in greedily.

"Hey!" I slapped him with the spatula. "Save some for Embry."

He ignored me and at five sausages.

"Food?" Embry asked from the hallway, his tone of mock surprise.

"Yes food! Now eat something before Quil inhales everything." I glared at Quil.

Embry playfully slapped Quil on the back of the head and stole his plate, inhaling his portion.

Geez! Human garbage cans these boys.

They were done after ten minutes. They took the extra five minutes squabbling who ate the most so that the person who ate the least could have the last piece of toast.

"Quil your refrigerator is empty. And I'm not even exaggerating. I got a couple of bills here…"I riffled through my pockets and un-crumpled the pieces of paper and smoothed them out. One had drops of blood on it. I hid that carefully away from Embry.

"Could you take me to the grocery store?"

Quil looked at Embry. Embry scratched his head and nodded slightly.

"Yeah. Okay. But I might not be able to stay with you."

My eyebrow twitched and I knew I was giving him a questioning look.

"Embry and I have some…stuff to do. With the rest of the Quileute guys. Sorry Em."

I hesitated a bit then nodded.

"Sure. No biggy."

I brought their dishes to the sink and started to wash them. Tapping my foot as if to hurry my pace with the annoying chore.

Embry's warm hand touched my shoulder to turn me around, the other shutting off the tap.

"Hey, are you going to be okay?" He asked.

I hated when he looked at me like that. Like I was about to drop dead any moment.

"I'm fine. I'll just soak up the La Push sun and oxygen then maybe…I don't know. Sleep." I shrugged.

He turned me around and hugged me gently. A friendly gesture.

"I'll make it up to you. I swear. We'll do something fun. Something other than watch movies." He vowed.

"Stupid movies." I corrected.

He snorted and held my soapy hands.

"Only you would jump into someone else's seat at a movie theater."

I sniffed and made a fake hmph sound. "It's not my fault."

Quil made a gagging action behind Embry's back and I blushed. I returned to washing the dishes and Embry and Quil walked upstairs to change.

I didn't see the difference. They were both still shirtless.


Quil and Embry walked me to the small store and gave me orders that if I needed directions, to ask the front counter. Saying that they were friends with the cashier and she would be happy to help me. A helpless lost foreigner. As Embry stated.

I was done shopping in less than forty-five minutes. The cashier was pretty. She had crow black hair and a chipper smile. Her eyes were almond shaped and a strong prominent nose.

She gave me directions back to the houses—I did forget the way sadly—and headed back to Quil's house with handfuls of grocery bags.

I walked along the lush green woods. There was a clear blue sky, birds fluttered by on branches singing merry tunes.

Snap!

I stopped walking—or skipping like an idiot—and stared at the direction of the sound. I was being paranoid I know, but I wasn't going to let my guard down.

What if Riley had followed me? Bringing along that horrible vile red head?

When all I could hear was another round of chirping, I started moving again.

Whoosh! Snap! Crack!

This time I was sure something was following me. My eyes were wide I was sure. Cans of soup clang together in the bags.

I was sure I saw something too. A shadowy figure. It was just standing there. Just among the trunks of those moss covered trees.

Ignoring all panic alarms and protesting thoughts, I stupidly walked into the woods. My actions reminding me of the girl in the movies with the axe above her head—only I have five bags of groceries—walking into a trap.

When I was half way through the trees I stopped and listened. I couldn't see the shadowy figure anymore. But I was sure it was where I was just standing a moment ago.

Watching me.

My arms ached so I set down the bags and sat down on a particularly mossy dead trunk. Its roots sticking up like spider legs. I leaned my head back on the roots and closed my eyes. The sound was peaceful. The nice breeze cutting through branches.

Something smelt really good. Almost like a spice. Cinnamon maybe. My mouth opened to inhale, to taste the air.

Opening my eyes I screamed.

I fell off the trunk and pushed myself off the soil.

My eyes looked right into dark black eyes of a very, very large bear.

But its snout was too long. It had a dog like characteristic also. Wolves aren't that big though…were they?

My breathing calmed when it didn't advance. I was crouched, still looking up at the large dark beige animal. It sniffed the bags of groceries I had lying on the ground and looked back up at me.

It was as if it was saying: "I don't like canned peas." Or something.

I walked carefully slow towards the bags and picked them up. Its hot breath made me sweat. I could feel its fur on my shoulder. It was too close. Way too close. But I didn't feel scared anymore. Just fascinated.

"Embry!"

I jumped at the sound.

The large wolf whined and started to back away.

"Wait!" I was going to shout, my arm outstretched until I saw Jacob walking towards it.

Or was 'it' Embry?

That's a stupid thought.

But when Jacob saw me his face crumpled.

Were there traces of tears on his face?

Slowly…before my eyes. I watched the wolf turn into the boy who saved me.

Embry.


Embry had tried for the past hour to calm Jacob down. I tried to help him but I just ended up staring at him.

Embry's a wolf? Embry's a wolf?! And Jacob knows? Wait Jacob? Oh right I'm supposed to be comforting him.

"It's not your fault Jacob." I heard Embry say.

I quickly caught on.

Bella is probably back with her ex.

The thought about the ex stung me.

I patted Jacob's back as he growled and kicked at pieces of metal in his garage.

"Stupid leech!" He kicked an enormously large sheet of metal out of the garage.

"JACOB!" Embry shouted.

Jacob glared at his best friend then at me.

"I'm going for awalk. Tell Sam that."

"Right."

Embry and I watched as Jacob stalked off.

I took out two coke cans from the dirty grocery bags and handed one to Embry. He looked at my apologetically and accepted the beverage.

"So…" I began.

"Yup." He said, smacking his lips on the p.

There was an awkward silence before I started laughing.

"What's so funny?" He frowned.

I wiped my mouth on his shirt I was wearing and giggled.

"I get why you were laughing the other day. When I said Jacob was like a puppy."

"Oh."

There was another silence as we both tilted the cans to our mouths. Embry finished his with a noisy gulp and crumpled it in his hands.

"You're not…you're not scared?" He finally said.

"Scared? HA! I'm terrified."

I pointed to my eyes and widened them.

He laughed.

"So, you really don't mind that, that I'm a…"

"Loveable puppy? Nah. As long as you're potty trained." I grinned.

He wrapped my arms around my neck and attempted to nuggy me.

But still, I wondered why I wasn't scared. I should be.

But it was Embry. Just playful, loveable Embry.

God…he is a dog.