A/N: SM owns her characters, I own mine. Thanks to everyone who's reading. This one's going a lot slower for me than the other one I'm writing but I'm still plugging along. Hope you enjoy.

Oh and One more thing before we start:

I've been nominated! YEAAAAAAAAA!

The Silent Tear Awards have picked THAT PULL (My other story, you should check it out)

I'm so excited. I'm so honored. I'm sure Tink had something to do with but however I got nominated I did make the cut into final voting so SQUEEEEEEEEEE!

Please, check it out if you have time and vote for the story if you love it.

It's under the BEST IMPRINT category.

Here's the site that the awards are on: http://silent-tear-awards .yolasite . com (Don't forget to remove the spaces)


Pretty Little Secrets Chapter 3

The weekend following dinner with the Blacks was uneventful. Andy and I worked around the house fixing it up more. We explored the small town of Forks, meeting a few people here and there at different stores and the local diner. Andy offered to take me back to the beach, I quickly declined. I tried to put meeting Embry to the back of my mind, most of the time it worked. Being a dysfunctional mess had its perks I guess.

On Monday Andy drove me to Port Angeles to meet my new doctors. I would have to come once a week for therapy with Dr. Sears and a check up on how my wounds were healing from Dr. Amir just once in a while.

On Tuesday Bella stopped by to see if I wanted to do lunch and the school visit the next day. I agreed. Andy and I had met with the principal that morning. I didn't know how much he knew, or how much Andy filled him in on, just that some friends in high places convinced him to hire me without even an interview.

So here I am standing in front of my closet deciding what to wear. This is only the second time I've really been in a situation where I was expected to play my new role as Denise Lange. This time though, Andy would not be there with me. What if I mess up or slip? God this was going to be hard.

I quickly throw on jeans and a nicer T. I figure everywhere in this town was casual so I am okay. I heard a knock on the front door and Andy greeting Bella. Show Time!

"Hey Denise," Bella is a cheerful person, of course she is her life was perfect. And I bet she just takes it for granted. Don't we all.

Flashback

"A Car?! You got me a car!!" I can't believe it, a car.

"Happy Sweet Sixteen baby girl."

"Oh Daddy," I jumped up and hugged my dad and mom. I am the luckiest girl in the world.

"Of course, you'll need to take care of it, gas, insurance; it's a responsibility not a right."

"Yes daddy," I rolled my eyes at him.

End Flashback

I'd give it all back, the new cars, the expensive clothes, the fancy school, if I could just have one more day with them.

"So, um, are you ready?" Bella asked as Andy stared at me with wide eyes silently asking me to snap out of it.

"Yeah, sorry, space cadet I guess." I smiled lightly at her and then turned to look at Andy with equally wide eyes asking him to 'shut the hell up' silently.

"So I need to drop Sarah off at her aunt's house and then I'm all yours ok?"

"Sure," I nodded not knowing what to say. I felt awkward and out of my element. Make small talk, maybe you'll find something in common to talk about. We buckled into the mom mobile and headed out. I couldn't help but notice that we turn left heading down the road I took to the beach. I started to panic; I hadn't been there since I met Embry. Why are we going to La Push?

"Denise, are you ok?"

"Um, ha, yeah. Why are we going to La Push then?"

"Ummmm," Bella dragged out like I'm crazy for asking, "My sister-in-law, Rachel, lives here. She's watching Sarah." I noticed her look at me from the corner of her eye, probably wondering if she shouldn't just drive me straight to a psych hospital.

"Oh, that's nice." I said trying to recover and sound interested.

"So tell me about Forks Bella," small talk will help to occupy my mind. She perked up again and ignored the hissy fit I was having.

"Well, I've lived here since high school but grew up here during the summers when I was little. It's a great town. I thought I would hate it at first but it grew on me. My dad still lives here, with his wife Sue, my stepmom. He's retiring in a few months from the police department."

I saw how her face lit up when she talked about her dad. She really loves him. It makes me sad to think my dad was gone and he would never see me grow old, never see my children. Well that is if I had the chance to grow old and have children.

"How old are you Denise?"

"Twenty five, you?"

"Twenty nine next month, you look great though I would have never guessed twenty five."

"Oh? How old do I look to you?" Trying to be nonchalant about it but I was freaking out internally waiting for her answer. Maybe our cover isn't going to work.

"I was going to guess twenty two, maybe twenty three but be thankful, when you're my age you'll be glad you look younger." She said laughing at herself. I quickly let out the breath I'd been holding.

"Well twenty five isn't all that bad, I'd give anything to be twenty one again." I said laughing at my own sick sense of twisted humor.

"Wouldn't we all. We're here, I'm just going to run Sarah in since we're on a time crunch and you can't meet Rachel later when we pick Sarah back up if that's ok."

"Sure, no problem." I hadn't even noticed that we pulled up to a nice cottage style home. I'd give anything to be twenty one again, I thought to myself as I looked out the windshield.

Flashback

"SURPISE!" everyone yelled as I walked into the restaurant. I looked around, everyone was there. All the girls from my house, my boyfriend Derek, even my parents and Roxie.

"Mom, daddy, what are you guys doing here?"

"Like I'd miss my baby girl's twenty first birthday, now let's get you a beer, your first one right?" dad smirked at that idea. The funny thing is that I end up sending him back to his hotel in a taxi later that night.

End Flashback

"What are you thinking about?" Bella broke me out of my reverie and I sighed.

"Just thinking about my last birthday." Oops.

"Oh? Twenty fifth was exciting huh?"

"Indescribable," was all I could say. Indescribable because it hasn't happened yet and probably never will.

~~**~~

Bella and I had a nice time; we ate at the small diner I passed on my way into town. Of course she knew everyone there and introduced me to a few people. She talked a lot; I listened and found I was actually interested in what she said. It surprised me; she filled me in on her family and all her friends. There were a lot of them.

"Oh, and there are quite a few single guys in the schools, if you're interested of course." She tried to hide her smirk.

"Oh no, uh huh, don't start match making me just yet Bella," I giggled. I thought of Embry though and how perfect he was. I wondered if Bella or her husband knew him. What's it matter anyway. Leave it to my luck to find the perfect guy at the most imperfect time. Perfect Guy? I hadn't even spoken to him but somehow I just knew.

"Ok, no match making, yet," she had a mischievous look in her eyes.

"You're used to getting your way aren't you?" I asked shaking my head. She just wiggled her eyebrows at me.

We walked around the school's campuses. She showed me around the high school, stopping to introduce ourselves to anyone we saw. It was weird how easy it was to fall into my new roll. I found myself feeling guilty once or twice, like I was forgetting the old me, the real me.

~~**~~

On our way back to La Push I felt myself getting nervous again. I was being a total spazz; it isn't like I'm going to run into Embry. I mean the town isn't that small. We pulled up to the cute cottage and I got out this time. I saw Sarah playing in the yard with a boy that looked a few years older than her, and a woman on the porch watching them cradling a baby.

"Mommy," Sarah came running and hugged Bella.

"Hello Miss Denise," she said to me. So shy, I saw a blush crawl up her cheeks.

"Hi Sarah, did you have a good time today," I squatted down to her height and she nodded her head.

"Paulie and I played in the sand." Just then a hulk of a little boy came barreling over.

"Hello, you must be Paulie, I'm Miss Denise." I extend my hand to him. He took it and giggled kicking at some stones with the toes of his shoes. Then he flew up to the porch where I assume Rachel was sitting.

Bella grabbed my arm "I think someone has a crush," she said nodding to the boy who was standing by his mom doing his best not to look at me.

"Denise, this is Jake's sister Rachel, Rachel this is Denise."

"Hey," she said just nodding to be because of the baby she was cradling.

"And this is my little William," Bella said stealing the baby and thus ignoring us completely.

Rachel offered me a seat on the steps of the porch and Paulie sat down between us staring up at me. Rachel rolled her eyes and mumbled something like 'just like his father.'

"Since Bella's off in biological clock land, why don't you tell me about yourself?" Rachel said laughing at Bella who was engrossed in smelling little William's head.

"Not much to tell, I've not been here that long, I'll start teaching at the elementary school soon. I have one brother, not much else in terms of family or friends." Got it really sounded pitiful when I said it out loud.

Flashback

"Thanks for coming to visit me in the hospital guys," I looked up surrounded by all my sorority sisters and Derek.

"Of course," Anna, my best friend said. "Do you know when we can get you out of here?" They had been my sole support since my family died. I didn't have the heart to tell them that Andy was taking me to St. Louis the next day and this would be the last time I would see them.

I was a coward; I couldn't stand to see their faces when I told them I would never see them again and not give them a reason why. Everyone left to give me and Derek some time to ourselves.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" he asked, he really wasn't sure how to handle me since the attack two weeks ago. I started to tear up.

"Just promise me you'll be happy." That was all I said and I think he knew that I was saying goodbye. I left that night, never to see them again.

End Flashback

I came out of my daze to see Rachel and Bella exchanging a look and some sort of silent conversation. Bella blushed when she realized I caught them. It was Rachel who decided to cut the tension.

"So, you like your house? Bella said movers came and set you up? That must have been nice."

"Uh yeah, I didn't have a whole lot of my own stuff so Andy hired someone to furnish the place for me. They did a really nice job." I tried to keep the conversation going so that they didn't think I was a total freak.

"I've got some really nice wooden furniture in my bedrooms and on my back deck. Do you guys have a lot of hand crafters around here?"

Rachel laughed out loud, "Not a lot, just three that I can think of." Bella's eyes twinkled.

"What'd I miss guys?" I said laughing to but at what I had no idea.

"Rachel's husband Paul; he owns a home made furniture business with two of his friends. They use all local timber from the forests." Oh, I laughed at the coincidence.

"Well, tell them I love my new bed."

"Ah that would be Em; he does all the bedroom stuff. Paul does dining sets and Sam does large pieces like bookshelves and mantles." Rachel added.

"That's nice, working together like that. You guys really have a great little tight knit thing going on here."

"Yeah we've been lucky though we've had our scares in the past, you'll see Denise, this isn't such a bad place."

We said our goodbyes and Bella placed Sarah in her car seat. Paulie came up and handed me a 'flower' he'd picked from the ground. And by flower I mean dandelion. He started to kick the stones again, "will you be back Miss Denise?" What a charmer.

"Of course, Paul and you know, I live right across the street from Sarah so you'll have to come see me when you visit her ok?" He got a huge grin on his chubby little cheeks and ran back to his house.

"I think you're going to be great with the kids Denise," Bella said as we pulled out of the drive. "I want to ask you something though, if you don't find it too pushy."

"Sure Bella, what is it?"

"You seem to wander off into your own world a lot." She was getting nervous to ask; frankly I was getting nervous waiting for her to ask. "Well, I was just wondering, what's that about?"

I started laughing because really what do you say to that.

"I'm sorry; I'm not very tactful am I? I just mean, you seem so sad when you do that, and if you ever need to talk, just let me know."

"Thanks Bella and I'm sorry I've been trying hard not to do it. Mostly I'm thinking about my family. Andy leaves soon and I'll be alone for the first time since my parents died. I know I'm twenty five but it's still really hard sometimes. I just think that if I kept remembering them then I won't forget them."

"I understand, and I'm sorry. But you're wrong about one thing." I looked at her like she had two heads.

"You won't be alone when Andy leaves, I'll be here. And so will Jake and just wait until you meet the group of monkeys he runs with. You'll see, everything will be ok."

And at that point, I almost believed her. There was something about Bella that was so warm and selfless that I could help but hope that maybe she was right. I trusted her and I was glad that I would have at least one person. Guilt ran through me again though knowing I would be lying to this person who just opened her life to me.

When we got home got home I thanked Bella again for such a nice day. She asked me if Andy and I would come to her Labor Day cook out on Monday, her send off to summer before school started. She said her whole little family would be there and I'd get to meet all the women, make some friends.

I had to politely decline because Andy promised to take me to Seattle for the weekend so I could get my fill of big city while he was here. Once he was gone I wasn't suppose to travel far or to large cities without him. So the asshole that ruined my life gets to go on his merry way and I have to be held prisoner in this 'town'. Doesn't seem far does it.

~~**~~

Andy and I spent a pretty mellow weekend in Seattle. The hotel was right downtown. We did the Space Needle thing; we did the Pikes Place thing, and all the other 'things' to do when you're playing tourist in Seattle. I even got to do a little shopping which Andy was a trooper about. I figured club clothes of a twenty one year old wouldn't be good for a twenty five year old kindergarten teacher. I'm no Erin Brockovich. It was nice to feel almost normal for a change. Well normal as can be with nightly bad dreams and random flashbacks to remind me why I was here.

It was Monday evening when we finally got back, around 7 PM and I noticed that Bella's cookout was already over. I guess with Bella and Sarah both starting school tomorrow they called it an early night. I was nervous and excited to get started.

Andy was excited to get back to St. Louis on Saturday. We had gotten pretty close, he really was like a big brother to me but he did have a life waiting for him back in St. Louis. He promised to visit often even if work didn't require it. It must be hard, his line of work, even if he wouldn't admit it I could tell he was getting attached to me too.

I stayed up late trying on different outfits to wear the next day. What do you wear to color squares and circles and read 'Where the Sidewalk Ends'?

Flashback

"Honey you look fine. It's just school not a fashion show." My mom was calling from the bottom of the stairs.

"Moooom," I called out in a whiney teenage voice. "Just school, how can you even say that?"

Doesn't she know anything? I'm fifteen for Pete sake. The first day of school is a big freaking' deal. I spent an hour on my hair and makeup, an hour the night before deciding what to wear, welcome to high school. I walked down stairs where a seven year old Roxie was eating her Cinnamon Life.

"You look beautiful sissy," she said in awe.

"Thanks baby, you look pretty cute yourself."

Mom kissed me goodbye wiping off my blush on the process. Parents just don't understand.

End Flashback

"Humph," I threw my new khaki skirt on the bed and stomped my foot.

"Are you trying to impress the kids or the parents?" I looked up to find Andy leaning against the door frame of my room.

"Shut it Andy, I just want to look nice. I also am trying not look somewhat older you know. Imagine the shit I'll get if the parents this I'm some dumb kid."

"Alright, I'll leave you to yourself loathing but remember, crayons, recess, calk walk." And with that he was off to bed.

I looked over my lessons, packed my lunch and set out my outfit for the next day. One AM, I couldn't hold off the sleep anymore and I drifted into my nightly reminder of the worst day of my life.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." His icy voice echoed in my head.

I didn't even look back I just ran for the door. I was halfway out when I felt a cold sting run down my back and a gush of warm liquid follow. I fell to my knees at the top of the steps. So this is how I was going to die.

I felt his cold breath on my neck. "Looks like you picked the wrong time to come home."

I closed my eyes and waited for him to finish me off but I didn't feel anything.

"Dominic, we've been looking for you." Was someone else here? "Seems you've been busy." And then there was a tinkling dark laugh before a swift cool breeze blew by me. Then there was silence. I let the darkness take over.

I shot up in a cold sweat. At least I wasn't screaming tonight. That would have to be categorized as one of my better nightmares. I didn't see his face, that haunting face or the blood, the blood is always what got me. After that dream though, I always stayed up thinking, wondering, was there someone with him? And Why? I looked at the clock. Five AM again, time to get up I guess.

~~**~~

I said goodbye to my last student on Friday afternoon. Well except for Sarah who always hung out with me the few extra minutes it took Bella to wrap up her classes and walk from the high school to the elementary. One week, my first week and it flew by.

I can honestly say that it went pretty smoothly. It was a lot more fun than I thought it would be. The kids were all great kids; I had fifteen total so it wasn't too big of a class. Surprisingly enough even the parents were all pretty cool, with the exception of Mr. Newton who was apparently newly divorced and felt the need to flirt with me every day when he dropped his son off. Ewe, who flirts with their kid's teacher?

I was busy picking of toys and books, Sarah was coloring a picture at her table. I couldn't wait for the weekend. I had to say goodbye to Andy tomorrow and I knew that would be tough but I could do it, I think I could do it, who am I kidding, I'm going to fail miserably.

I was in the supply closet putting toys in their right bins when I hear the door to my classroom open.

"I'll be right out Bella, hold on a sec ok?" I shouted figuring she was here to get Sarah.

I walked out of the closet and saw a large man kneeled over Sarah helping her with her book bag. I gasped and I felt my chest tighten and my heartbeat pick up. I would know that man anywhere, my heart would recognize that pull from a mile away.

He stood up and turned to face me with a big smile on his face.

"Embry?"


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