Me: So, Fang's in a depressed mood today because we took a bike ride down to Cumby's and we found out they weren't selling Fang's favorite slushie anymore.

Fang: What am I supposed to drink now?? I want my red slushie back!

Me: They'll have it back. They just have different flavors right now.

Fang: But they don't have caffiene!

Me: -mutters- Like you need it.....-not muttering- You like the blue one ok!

Fang: Yeah, ok.

Me: Well, I'm going to write the chapter while you sit there and pout about your slushie.

Fang: I'm not pouting!

Me: And now for something completely different.

Fang: What do you think this is? Monty Python?

Me: Oh, shut up.

Embry's POV

"Embry," Risa said. "First Beach is nice, but...Weren't we going to see your mom?"

I reached over and pulled her into a hug. "What? I thought you liked the beach. You're always saying how you wish we could go to the ocean more."

She smiled. "Yeah, but not when we have places to be."

I sighed. "Alright, let me just go shove Fang in the water, and we'll go." I turned toward where Fang was standing nearby.

She grabbed my arm. "Don't you dare."

I grinned. "What? Will he melt?"

Fang glared in my direction.

I almost laughed. "Well, Risa, we've found Fang's secret. He's really the Wicked Witch of the West."

Fang started to walk over. "Oh, and that means you must be Toto!"

Risa rolled her eyes. "And I'm Dorothy. Now, come on, let's follow the Yellow Brick Road." She started to walk purposefully off the beach. We followed her until she reached where the parking area was. There, she stopped.

"Risa?"

She turned back to me. "Embry? Uhhh...Where's your house again?"

I smiled and took her hand. "This way." I started to lead her off.

Fang, in another bright, jealousy-induced move, grabbed Risa's other hand. Great, now we looked we were playing some messed-up version of 'Ring Around the Rosie.'

I moved to put an arm around her shoulder instead, hoping it would look less stupid. He, of course, went and wrapped an arm around her waist. So, I moved my arm down around her waist, pushing his away. So, he put his arm around her shoulders. So, I moved my arm again to put my arm around her shoulders. So, he moved his arm back around her waist. So, I moved my arm back around her waist.

"Guys!" Risa said, jumping away from us both. "Really, we're not doing some weird form of the Macarena here!"

"Sorry, Risa." I said.

"Yeah." Fang added. "Sorry."

We continued walking, this time, neither of us touching Risa. Damn Fang. This was all his fault. I'm not sure how, but I'm sure, in some way, it was his fault.

"Boys," Risa spoke up. "Why don't you try, when you get angry, thinking about something else?"

"Something else?" I asked. "Like what?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. Random thoughts. You know, like, when a tree falls in the forest, and no one's around to hear it, does it make a sound?"

"Oh, I get it." I said. "Like, how do they get the 'Ms' on the M&M's?"

Yeah, or, if you choke a smurf, what color does it turn?" Fang added.

We both looked back at Fang. "Choke a smurf?" Risa asked.

Fang just shrugged.

I went back to leading us to my house.

Another reason why I needed to get Fang away from Risa. He was a sick guy.

We were getting closer and closer to my house. And I was trying harder and harder to get away from it.

"Risa, there's some nice places to eat around here. Don't you think we should get something to eat?"

She smiled. "Sure, we'll invite your mom."

Yeah, she was on to me.

"Hey! There's Jake's house! You want to meet Jake?"

"After I meet your mom..."

Maybe it was hopeless.

"What's up with you and your mom anyway?" Risa asked. "If you told us, maybe we could help."

I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes. She said 'we' like Fang would actually help. She only added him so he wouldn't feel left out. Like Fang could help me out anyway. He never had to deal with parents.

"It's alright Risa, really. I'll deal with it on my own."

She didn't look happy about that, but she didn't push the subject anymore, either. I knew she just wanted to help, but I had decided to try to deal with this myself.

And then we were there. We were standing in front of my house.

I breifly considered that I could just keep walking, but that would just be stalling. Risa would make me come here eventually.

"So, is this the place?"

I just nodded.

She nodded. "Good." Then, she began marching straight up to my door.

"Risa? Risa, come back!" Fang and I both ran after her up to my door, but by the time I got there, she had already knocked.

I took a deep breath. "Ok, guys, remember, no mentioning of the 'wolf' thing. She doesn't know."

Just as they were both nodding, the door flew open.

"Embry!"

"Hey, Mom. I-" I was suddenly embraced in a tight hug.

"Embry, I've missed you so much! I've been so worried about you! Have you been ok?" She put a hand on my forehead. "Are you running a fever?"

I moved her hand away. "Mom, we've been over this, I just have a high body temperature. Dr. Cullen told you it was normal, remember?"

She nodded. "Oh, yes, Dr. Cullen. I heard from Jacob that you're staying with them?"

I nodded. "Yeah, it's more roomy."

She looked like she was about to say something or complain when Risa, ever the peace maker, jumped in. "Hi, Ms. Call, I'm Risa, the girl you talked to on the phone." She said, holding out her hand.

"Oh, yes, Risa!" Mom said, shaking Risa's hand. "The girl who got Embry to come back." She looked around at Fang. "And you are?"

"Fang." He answered. "Risa's....friend." We had decided not to even try to explain the whole mess we were in, much to Fang's dismay. I could tell being the 'friend' wasn't making him happy.

Good.

Mom invited us in and asked us if we'd like anything to eat. Risa tried to ask her not to go through the trouble, but Mom wouldn't hear of it. We soon had a plate of sandwiches, some chips, and drinks in front of us, and we all took advantage of it.

"Embry..." Mom began. "I wanted to talk to you about last time you were here..."

Oh, great. "Look, Mom, it's ok."

"Embry, first of all, I don't even care about that whole thing of you running out of the house all the time anymore. You're 18 now, out of the house, I can't give you a curfew anymore, it's all water under the bridge to me."

I could tell Risa and Fang were taking this all in, but I tried to ignore them. "Like I said, it's ok." At least she hadn't brought up the other problem yet.

But, my luck was bound to run out. "Second, Embry, about....The other fight we had."

"Yeah?"

"Embry you just...You don't completely understand."

"What? What don't I understand?"

"Embry, it's...complicated. I just think it's something that's best to just put behind you."

I should've known she wasn't going to change her mind. "Put it behind me? Maybe I don't want to put it behind me! I think I have a right to know who my own father is!"

"Embry, you don't understand."

"How can I understand? You won't tell me anything!"

"It's information you don't need to know, Embry. It's not going to make your life any better."

I stood up. "I don't care. I want to know!"

"You never needed to know before. You did fine without a father in your life. What makes you think you need to know now?"

"I just want to know, Mom. I don't need him in my life, I'm not sure if I want him in my life, I just want to know."

She shook her head. "I don't really think that's a reason."

I rolled my eyes. "Of course you wouldn't. Well don't worry, I just won't bother you with my questions again." I stormed out of the room and out the door.

I was already down the driveway by the time Risa and Fang caught up with me. Risa put a hand on my arm. "Embry..."

"I don't want to talk about it."

She just nodded. "Let's head back to the Cullen's."

It was easy to forget about the meeting with my mom when we got back to the Cullen's. No sooner did we walk in the door when they invited us to come see one of their baseball games. I mean, how can you pass that up? By the time we were halfway through the game, I'd almost completely forgotten what had gone down with mom.

At one point, Alice asked Risa if she'd like to try to pitch. Risa, of course, excitedly jumped up from where she was sitting next to me and ran over.

"So, that's it, huh?"

I looked up at Fang, who was standing next to me, confused. "What?"

"That's what's causing the fight with your mom?" Fang asked. "Wanting to know about your dad?"

I glared at him. "Well, yeah. I have a right to know, right?"

Fang shrugged. "Enough of a right to not talk to your mom?"

"Hey, what do you know?!" I spat. "You never had to deal with parents!"

"Exactly!" Fang shot back. "I never had parents. You have a mother that loves and cares about you and what do you do? You don't talk to her, ignore her, and fight with her! And it's all about some dad that hasn't been around since before you were born. I wish I had a mom or something, but what have I got? I've got Risa, I've got Bo, and I've got, unfortunately, you. You want to end up with no family like me? Just keep treating your Mom like crap." He spun around and stormed off toward the woods.

I tried to turn around and just watch Risa's attempts at pitching, but I couldn't keep my mind on it.

I hated to admit it, but, maybe, Fang was kind of right.

Fang: Of course I'm right! I'm always right!

Me: Sure.....And thanks for inviting us all to come along on your little ego trip.

Fang: Oh, shut up.

Me: -whacks Fang- You shut up!

Fang: Rawr.

Me: -bites-

Fang: Stop it!!!

Me: Love bites...Hee hee...

Fang: -sigh-

Note: The 'choking a smurf' thing was from Jeff Dunham. Love that guy!

R&R?

P.S. Just spreading the word, in case you haven't heard, Catherine Hardwicke, who has gotten the job to direct Maximum Ride, would like to cast Robert Pattinson as Fang and Kristen Stewart as Max, A.K.A., Edward and Bella. If you don't want a blonde, pale, 20-something guy playing black-haired, olive skinned, 14 year old Fang or dark-haired, serious, 18ish year old Kristen playing blonde/brown haired, sarcastic, 14 year old Max.....

SIGN MY PETITION!

It's on my profile. If you don't have an e-mail address which is required to sign, and you still want to sign it, tell me, I'll sign it for you.

The petition will be used in a sort of Day of Anti-Hardwicke organized by FashionDiva7. You can message her for more info.

-Saint