9. I.O.U.


I woke up feeling better. No longer shivering, of course, my personal heater lay asleep beside me, holding my hands under the pillow. My smile had stretched and broke my dry lips. I licked it away. It tasted like metal. Embry's lips were full and parted. His warm breath blowing across my face, like a summer breeze, with mother's apple pie aroma floating out of the window. I closed my eyes to block out the memories. Anything to forget about home. Where my old self had died.

"Good morning sunshine."

Embry kissed my forehead and rolled over to see what time it was. I squinted my eyes to look out the window, sun light was pooling around my cheeks.

"Okay. I'm going to take you out today."

I groggily sat up and rubbed my reddened eyes. I made sure my morning breath wasn't too bad before I started to speak.

"Take me out where?"

He stood up and straightened his pants and took a plain shirt off a hanger before smiling at me again.

"I told you before I was going to take you somewhere. Because I owe you, for ditching you."

He didn't answer my question.

"O…k…" I dragged the words with sarcasm.

He rolled his eyes and slid into the t shirt.

Embry. Wearing a shirt? We must be going somewhere good. Or the movies.

"Just get changed ok?" He leaned forward to kiss my forehead and cheeks.

"Fine. Dictator."

He chuckled and walked out of the room.

I quickly rushed into the bathroom and brushed my teeth. My hair smelt like salt but I didn't think I'd have enough time. Quickly pushing it back into a ponytail I dashed into the bedroom and picked something from the closet.

Embry wrapped me in his arms and spun me around. The room looked like a swirl of browns and blues.

"Hey, hey! Still mildly sick here!" I laugh.

He set me down with an arm still wrapped around my waist and stuffed toast into his mouth. Toast, the only thing he can cook.

I took out the jug of milk and poured us each a glass. Until I remembered that something/one was missing.

"Where's Quil?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Well I don't here his thunderous snoring."

Embry gulped down the milk and put on his runners. "He's with Sam."

"Running." I nodded.

"C'mon! Hurry up or we're never going to make it to the bon fire tonight."

"Alright, alright."

Embry had borrowed Jared's truck—which is actually Sam's—and had turned the radio on loud.

"So what's new with the crew?" I ask, seeking for something to talk about.

"Mmm…not much. Jared's got a girlfriend. Um…that's about it."

"Jared must be happy. He was talking about how everyone at your school is coupled." I remember how he sulked around Emily's house and nearly choked on his mashed potatoes when Sam and Emily started their kiss-a-thon in the kitchen.

"Yeah, I guess. But we all knew it would happen sooner or later."

"Why do you say that? Did he have a crush on her or something? Or the other way around?"

He chewed his lip and turned onto the highway before he spoke.

"You know how, I'm always so warm?"

Well duh. I nod.

"And how I can heal really fast?"

I flinch at the topic.

Two weeks ago when I was making a fancy dinner for Quil, Embry and Old Quil, Quil had forgotten to take out the large pile of trash that was occupying the kitchen. I had tripped over a bag and a knife soared and was caught by Embry. Blade side. He had sworn a million words a mile before he saw my shocked face. But when he washed away the gore, all there was, was a faint pink line.

"Well, it's another… "wolf" thing."

There was silence in the cabin. Embry glanced at me; he smirked at my puzzled face.

"What—so you fall hard real quick or something?"

"No. It's called an imprint. Basically there's someone who we can't help but feel attracted to. Like Jared, the girl he's dating now has been sitting in his class for over a year and he never knew she existed!"

I scowl at his choice of words.

"But after he—changed—all he can think about is her."

All Jared can think about is the girl who sits next to him in class.

Was I Embry's imprint.

I open my mouth but close it.

"It's quite annoying actually." He murmured.

"Hmm?"

"Well, it's like we don't have a choice. I hate how we don't have a choice."

I patted his hand and bit my tongue before I could say: "everyone has a choice."

"Is there, any other wolfish symptoms?"

He smiled again.

"Yeah. We have impeccable senses. Like the sense of smell. How long have you washed your hair?"

I pinched him.

"Hey ow! I'm driving at eighty miles an hour here!"

I cross my arms over my chest and look out the window. It was nothing special. Seen this, seen that. We were still in forest area.

Embry parked outside of an expensive looking restaurant. My eyes bugged at the cost.

"Embry we can't—"

"Yes we can. Come on. They won't eat you."

No but they'll stare. Much, much worse.

It was the afternoon but there weren't much people in the serving booths. But the few customers looked like well paying customers. All I have left is five bucks. What's that going to get me? Breadsticks?

The waitress looked us up and down and finally landed her eyes on Embry. Her head was tilted way up and she smiled.

"Welcome. Let me get you seated."

We didn't get kicked out. Drat.

She led us to a small table and handed us the black leather menus with the gold embroidering. Fancy stuff.

"And what would you like to drink?"

"Water please." I said quickly.

Water is free. Kind of.

"I'll have a coke." Embry smiled.

She blushed and walked away.

"What are you thinking? Have you gone nuts? Wait you must have caught what I got. Let me feel your forehead. Wait that won't work you're already so hot."

Several heads turned towards me and I sunk low in my chair.

"Calm down Emma."

"Calm down?"

He placed his hand on top of mine. I realized that I was hyperventilating.

Calm down…

"Alright? Calm? Not spastic?"

"I wasn't spazzing." I growl.

"I got a job ok? I might not go in much but they pay well."

My eyebrow arched. Embry watched it go up too.

"I'm a lifeguard. They needed some help so I went. The hours are easy and it pays pretty well." He explained. "I just wanted to treat you someplace nice."

"Nice is an understatement." I scrutinized our vicinity.

The waitress came back and her face brightened at the mood I was in. She probably thought the "date" was a bust.

"Ready to order?" Her teeth seemed to shimmer.

I think she drank bleach before she came back.

"Umm…I," I looked down at the menu and quickly picked the most reasonably priced meal.

"Spaghetti with tomato sauce and parmesan."

"And you?" Her voice went down several pitches.

"Um I'd like a basket of garlic bread, ravioli with mushrooms and…what else?"

"Nothing!" I hissed.

He smirked. He was clearly teasing me. "That's it."

The waitress nodded and collected our menus and pranced away.

I hope she trips.