He Makes 'Em Good Girls Go Bad

A Twilight FanFic

8. Basketball Game?

Sam, Quil and Embry were on one team; Paul, Seth and Jared were on the other. I watched from the sidelines, with Kim and Rachel beside me. Emily was inside, making something. For right now, the boys were playing a 'game' of very violent basketball, just to warm up a bit and have a little fun. Embry, all sweaty and in sweats, is making me horny just sitting here. Sorry, if I'm grossing anybody out on the receiving end.

Sam had the ball, and was dribbling down to the opposite end of the court. Seth and Jared were on defense; Paul was guarding Embry just in case Sam wanted to pass. Embry agilely pivoted out of the way and ran to the other side of the court length-wise. Sam threw him the ball, and Embry took off full throttle to the waiting defensemen in front of the basket. Paul went after him, but decided to guard Sam instead. Quil was waiting behind Seth, arms open.

Embry kept dribbling, and threw the ball at Quil. Seth jumped in the air, and intercepted the pass.

"Yes!" Jared cheered.

"In you're face!" Paul laughed. He went to smack Seth's upraised hand.

"Good game, guys." Seth clapped Embry on the back, who was panting and leaning down, gripping his knees for support. Sam walked over to us.

"Ready to play?" Sam wondered, sweat dripped down his face.

"After watching that, I'm scared to be on the same court with you guys."

"Hah, we'll go easy on you."

"By easy, how easy do you mean?" Sam grabbed me by the wrist and helped me up. I turned back to Kim and Rachel, mouthing, "Help!"

Kim sighed. Rachel got up and followed us onto the court. Embry was still panting, and I could see sweat droplets layering across his face and neck. I left Sam and Rachel, walking over to him. He was lying on his back now on the cold cement.

"Feel nice?" I asked him as I loomed over top of him. Finally, I felt taller for once.

"Oh-my-god, yes. Come lay beside me, it'll make it all the better."

"Anything for you, Embry." I sat down, cross-legged.

"Anything?" His eyes lit up.

"Do you want to play some basketball, or not?" Sam asked, his tone clipped. He was retrieving the ball from where it had rolled onto the grass.

"Yes." Embry sat up, and wrapped his arms around his legs.

I decided to help him up. Embry took my hands and heaved himself up, making a grunting sound as he stood up to his full height. He brought me right close to his sweaty body, and pecked me on the nose. "First, show us what you got."

"I'd rather not embarrass myself." I admitted.

"Okay; then show me how to dribble."

"Fine."

"We have to decipher how much work we're going to have to put into you to make you an all-star."

"I don't want to be an all-star; just good enough not to injure people when I pass them the ball."

"Sam." Embry looked at Sam, and suddenly an orange basketball came hurtling into his hands. "Show me what you got, babe."

He tossed the ball lightly, and I fumbled with it as I tried to catch the bulbous ball. I ended up with it in my hands, ready to kill anybody near. Deep breath in, deep breath out.

I bounced the ball a couple times against the cement, and it came back up fast towards my hand. I smacked it back onto the ground. I did that a couple more times, until Embry caught the ball before I could hit it again.

"Okay, number one: you're not smacking it right."

"You need to use you're whole arm for leverage." Sam said, arms crossed. That suddenly reminded me, out-of-the-blue, of Leah's posture today. Speaking of which, where was she?

"Try again." Embry threw the ball back at me, and I caught it this time skillfully. I dribbled again, but nothing felt different. What did he mean by using my whole arm?

"Here, let me help you." Embry took the ball and showed me up front. It looked no different, except when Embry played sports, he looked totally hot.

"I don't see a difference."

"Then I'll get up close and personal about it," Embry said. He came around to stand behind me, and moved closer until I could feel his body against mine. He put the basketball underneath my hand, and held my arm. I started dribbling, and I could feel the muscles in my arm working to keep the ball under decent control. It was helping – a lot.

"Ooh, I get what you mean now." I said.

"Good. Keep dribbling."

"Embry, leave the student alone." Seth sighed.

"He just wants to get close to her while remaining inconspicuous about it." Paul jeered.

"Shut up."

"I don't mind." I said in a small voice. I switched hands and started trying my new technique with my left hand. Embry came back over to me, and hugged me close to his body.

Soon after two hours of a grueling, tiring learning experience, after my muscles were rubbery, and after I was drenched in sweat, I was decently covering the court like a damn pro.

"After two hours of that, I'm impressed, Shenae," Seth commented, and stole the ball from me. He winked at me.

"I know, right?" I let him get away with it, and then walked over to Embry, who was on the sidelines with Sam. Smiles of satisfaction were wide on their faces. I wrapped my arms around him, regardless if I was sweaty and gross or not. He was like that earlier, so it shouldn't matter.

"How are you doing?" Embry asked, and kissed my hair.

"Pretty good, I think I'm at least good enough not to kill people."

"That's good. With more practice, I think you can try out for the NBA."

"I don't think I'll ever make it that far, darling."

"You never know."

"Hah, yes I know."

I watched Seth shoot the ball neatly into the basket, and Quil retrieved it.

"I think Quil and Seth might like you, considering what I've seen."

"Didn't Quil already imprint?" The word tasted funny in my mouth.

"Yeah, on a two year-old."

I almost choked on my words.

"That's, uh, not creepy at all."

"I know."

"So, technically, Quil's attracted to a two year-old?"

"You don't get it."

"No, I really don't."

"When Claire grows up, Quil is going to be her best friend, and listen to her problems and issues as he waits for her. It's like a missing puzzle piece, when Claire comes of age, she has no one else but Quil who knows her better than she knows herself. They'll click."

"What about Seth?"

"He hasn't found that special someone yet." Embry watched the fast moving players on the court, his eyes catching every single movement and play they made.

"Hmm, I hope he does. He's the odd one out."

"Yeah, me too. He'd better not steal my special someone though." Embry looked in the opposite direction as he said this.

"Oh, and who would that be?" I wondered casually.

"You." No hesitation. Awe, what I'd been waiting for for so long. I turned my head and kissed his shoulder. Embry didn't react.

"What, do you not want to kiss me?"

"No, saving the best for last." Embry kissed me on the lips, gently, and then got more intense as time wound on.

"Eh, no tongue-action while I'm right here!" Seth complained. He had stopped playing to just say his comment.

"Then play your game and ignore us." Embry suggested. He continued kissing me without Seth's consent. Seth stood for a few more moments, and then walked away.

"I think he likes you. Same with Quil, but he has Claire …" It sounded like Embry was talking to himself.

"Who doesn't like me?" I joked, trying to sound like Sydney, the snobby cheerleader.

"Want to practice again when these guys are done?"

"I'm beat. How about after school tomorrow?"

"That works. I'll pick you up, okay?"

"Well, I left my car in the parking lot, so …"

"I'll be there, anyways."

"Okay. All my friends think you're totally gorgeous, so they might freak out a bit. Again."

"I know. They were bugging you about asking me out, weren't they?"

"But, I made the first move."

"I'm glad you did."

"So am I."

"Misty told me to keep you to myself, because girls will be all over you. I don't blame them."

"Hah, I'd never fall for those snobs. Typical teenage girls."

"I'm even quirkier than they are."

"You look at the world in a totally different perspective. To you, the world doesn't revolve just around you and boys, and typical things … You know what you want to do in life. You're still like a teenage girl, but in more ways than one, you're different from them. I like that."

My eyes got really moist, but I bit my tongue to prevent them from brimming over. "Awe, Embry." But instead, I blushed a bright, bright red crimson. Embry touched my cheek; he made my skin burn hot under his blistering touch.

"You're so cute when you blush."

"No, I'm not. It's embarrassing, just my like accent."

Embry rolled his eyes. "It's better than having you're voice crack whenever it gets too deep."

"It makes you sound manly." I deepened my voice considerably on manly. Embry laughed at me, flashing his white teeth.

"I think we should go, before my parents get home and realize that I'm not home." I said, edging towards the road.

"Yeah, and so you can shower."

"Oh, thanks, Embry." I ignored his comment. "Will you stay over tonight?" I pulled the puppy-dog eye trick on Embry, like Kim did. Hey, maybe I'd have the same effect on Embry like she did on Jared.

"I'm sure I can skip my duties for another night."

"Yay!"

"By the way, you can pull off those puppy-dog eyes better than Kim."

"I heard that." Kim snarled.

"You were supposed to." Embry chimed.

"Haha, what could I get Embry to do …" I planned diabolically.

"Oh, God." Embry moaned.

You could see the moths and bugs starting to come out, and some street lamps were flickering to life. Mom and Dad would know I wasn't home, and they would know I was probably with Embry. Let's just hope I wouldn't be in to much trouble tonight. I'm getting more attached to Embry every moment I was with him.

"Guys, I'm gonna take Shenae home. I'll see you later."

"Bye, Shay!" Kim had resorted to calling me 'Shay'.

"Bye!" All the other guys called.

"See you later, Shenae." Quil came up to kiss me on the cheek. I blushed uncontrollably.

Embry entwined his fingers with mine as we walked back to the restaurant. "Yeah, he totally likes you."

"You don't know that for sure. Quil seems like he's a natural flirt."

"He kinda is. I'll change into my wolf form tonight, and find out. He doesn't usually act like that around other people's imprintees."

"Don't worry, Embry. You're my one and only."

"Same goes for you, hun." He still sounded a little distressed. I walked in front of him, but he just pushed right past me.

"Embry … don't be like that."

"How can I help it? You look like an angel; of course guys are going to be all over you."

"Now, remember what happened today? Sydney tried to give you her number, but you refused?"

"Yes. Why would I take it?"

"Because you love me and you know it. If the same situation happened to me, I'd do the same. Except it would be with a guy, not Sydney …"

"But, remember earlier when you said you wanted Seth to find that special someone? What if that happened to be you?"

"I'd be happy if he wasn't the odd one out anymore, but I would be disappointed if he fell for me."

Embry sighed. I tried to stand in front of him again, and this time I succeeded.

"Embry, we have a whole night to ourselves, and we'd better make the best of it. I don't want you to be upset the rest of the night, promise?"

"I promise—," Embry raised his hand to solemnly promise.

His black car was in sight now, but just barely against the dark night. I could see the faint dent below the hood from ramming into the car earlier.

Embry opened my door once again, and helped me into my seat. As soon as he shut my door, I rummaged around in the glove compartment. I found lip balm, his car insurance, a pen, a camera and a bunch of pictures. Most of them were of Embry, and some were of him and Quil and Jacob.

Embry got in and started the car. It purred to life, but a few seconds later, it stalled and stopped completely. He tried again, twisting the key. It started, but stalled and stopped again.

"Dammit." Embry cursed under his breath. I peeked at his expression; livid.

"What?" I still had the pictures in my hand, and I dropped them on the seat. I opened my door, and got out. Embry followed suit.

He threw open the hood. "The engine's not starting – I think after we bumped into that car, and let it sit for a bit, the engine won't start. I'll get Jake out here to get it running; I'm guessing we're walking home." Embry exhaled loudly.

"Wait, I want to see those pictures of you."

"NO! Don't look at those!"

I opened the passenger door, and snatched the pictures before Embry was right behind me, arms around my waist, yanking me back.

I caught a glimpse of one picture, it displayed Embry, I assumed, who was way younger, about four years-old.

"Embry, is that you?"

"Yeah … I told you not to look at them …"

"You're so cute … what happened?"

Embry twirled me around in his arms, and faster than I could ever expect, I was on my back on the pavement, Embry carefully balanced over top me. A playful growl was developing in his chest and a glint in his eyes. I placed my hands on his perfect face, and kissed his full lips. "I was kidding.

I held up the pictures, so I could look at the rest of them.

"I wanna see them, too – I haven't seen those pictures in so long."

"Then look at them with me."

"I can't see 'dem doe." Embry said in a cute, childish voice. I looked at him; he looked so darn vulnerable that I had to let him look at the pictures with me.

"Don't ever do that to me, again. Please."

"And why not?"

"Because you'll be capable of me doing absolutely everything for you."

"I could use that to my advantage, then. Thanks."

"Oh, no."

Embry lowered himself slowly, and kissed me gently. Our kiss was interrupted by somebody; I knew the voice, but I couldn't quite put my finger on whose voice it was.

A dark figure was standing above us, unmoving and quite still. I imagined that whoever it was would be too embarrassed and awestruck to even budge. I didn't blame them – this sight might look just a little bit disturbing.

"Embry?" It rang a bell …

Embry froze, and glanced up to see the startled face of his co-worker. "Selene?"

"Um, nice to … I'm gonna go." Selene jerked her finger over her shoulder, and slowly backed away.

"Good idea." Embry said. I gazed into his eyes; I could see Selene's retreating figure as a reflection in his eyes. He shifted his gaze to me, and leaned forward to kiss me.

"We should go." I said casually.

"I'm good right here," Embry shrugged.

"Can you imagine the minds of some people here?"

"Alright, let's go." Embry groaned as he lifted himself up, and I scrambled to my feet, brushing off my back and my butt. Oh, wow. He wiped off any remaining dirt that clung to my clothes. "Now all the dirt's gone." I giggled.

I clutched the pictures in my hand while Embry locked his car. He stuck his hand in my back jean's pocket, like he did before. I leaned my head on his shoulder.

The picture with Embry as a kid was still in my hand, on top of the other pictures. "I'm so keeping this picture, you're so cute. And, you still are." I patted the side of his face with my free-hand, and shoved the picture of Embry when he was a little kid in my other pocket.

"No, you aren't. There's a better picture." He flipped the assortment of pictures. "See?"

"I don't care; you weren't actually posing in this one."

"Oh, well. I tried."

I ignored him. "Awe, you know what we should've gotten? That camera … ah, I have another one at my house."

"Don't tell me you want to take pictures?"

"Mhm." I nodded my head.

"This'll be tons of fun."

I nodded my head again.

"That's me, Jake and Quil when we were nine."

"Awe, you guys were all cuties."

"And, me again. When I was … seven?"

"Who's the girl?" I cocked my head. "She looks like me when I was seven …"

"She does look like you …" Embry quickly chose another picture.

"No, she really looks like me … I think I have the same picture some where in Mom's photo albums …"

Embry reluctantly took out the picture again, and handed it to me.

It was me. And, I was holding Embry's hand. Just like my dream a few nights ago. Was that what my lost memories were of? Was Embry not telling me something that was clearly important? Maybe not important to him, but could mean every difference to me? My heart pounded loudly in my ears.

"Exactly what happened … in my dream," I whispered, so quietly I couldn't even hear my own words.

"You had a dream? That took place there?" Embry pointed to us, and the trees around us. "That's first beach. And, then the woods."

"Yeah, that's exactly where we were."

"We?" Embry was panicking now.

"You were in it, too."

"Hm … weird." He toned his voice down, like Sam does. Cool and calm. But something underneath it is burning up.