A/N: Hey guys! So I'm not really feeling the love for this story right now as no one is reviewing or anything so I've decided to mega speed up the story line to try and keep at least a few of you interested. So if you do find yourself reading this and want to make a certain Lemming smile, then PLEASE, PLEASE REVIEW!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything except my own characters.

Chapter 10: Never See It Coming

Maiyah's POV

Embry had been acting really weird last night at the bonfire. He dragged me home when I was having a great time. That really sucked. Then this morning he was avoiding me or something like that. Every time I walked into a room that Embry had been in, he would just up and leave. Bit annoying if you ask me. By lunch, I had had more than enough so I cornered him as he tried to leave the bathroom, hands on hips, angry little girl frown, all the things that usually work on him.

"Why are you avoiding me as if I have some sort of creepy bubonic plague?" I demanded, using my most recent history lesson to improve my point. Embry looked a bit shocked.

"I wasn't avoiding you" he said too quickly for it to be the truth.

"You are. Are you keeping something from me? Because we all know how well that turned out" I yelled out at him, reminding him of my various suspensions. I watched as Embry's expression changed.

"I'm sorry. I thought you were mad at me for making you leave last night" he whispered, looking down at the floor. All my anger at him melted away and I wrapped my arms around his waist.

"Is that it? I know I get angry at stuff but seriously, you're my brother, I can't stay mad at you" I said into his stomach as he hugged me back.

"Sorry Moomin, I should know that" he sighed and lifted me up, "now we have to be somewhere"

I looked at him curiously. I hadn't known of any plans for today, but Embry just laughed and took me outside where he placed me into his truck.

"Road trip?" I questioned as he pulled out of the yard.

"Almost. But it's something much, much better" he said with a grin.

I couldn't stop bouncing my knee nervously as we left La Push. Embry never, ever drove out of La Push unless it was some serious emergency. I glanced worriedly at my brother but he had a giant smile on his face. There couldn't be anything wrong if he was smiling. I mulled over my thoughts for a while and looked out of the window when I felt the truck slow and stop. I span round staring at Embry in a mix of shock and confusion. We were at the Newton's store. I started spluttering at Embry but he just dragged me into the store and to the back wall where my dream was shelved.

"Paul!" I yelled, my voice full of excitement as I barrelled out of Embry's truck and into Sam's house. Paul ran into the hallway looking a bit wild, obviously assuming something bad was happening.

"What? What's the matter?" he shouted looking around for the non-existent danger. I beamed up at him and held out my brand new bike helmet.

"No way!" he exclaimed, taking it from me and examining it from all angles, "Embry get you this?"

"Yep" I said enthusiastically nodding my head and running to my brother when he appeared grinning in the doorway, "Embry's the best"

"Oh really? What about poor Paul?" said Embry, pulling a mock sad face in Paul's direction. I giggled and squeezed Embry.

"Paul's the worst, don't you think?" I said grinning evilly.

"What? I'm like the best one here!" exclaimed Paul trying to defend his 'brilliance'.

The rest of the afternoon was a lot of fun. Embry and I spent a lot of time ganging up on Paul and insulting him. He didn't take it very well and almost phased which put a stop to our little games. The only other thing wrong with the afternoon, was that creeper Brady. He was always watching what I was doing or lurking in the corner of the room.

Dinner was an interesting affair. Emily had made a huge lasagne, which apparently was a favourite of the pack. I tried to muscle my way through the boys to grab a plate, well as much muscle as an eight year old can give, but I was pretty much unsuccessful. I needed to try a different tactic. I happened to be sat between Paul and Quil who were having a heated discussion over who was fastest in a race and I decided now was my chance. I slid my plate closer to Paul's and quickly scooped a chunk of his lasagne onto my plate before settling into my original position and tucking in. A whole ten seconds passed before he noticed.

"Who the hell stole my food?" he yelled, jumping up and glaring around the table. Somehow I managed to keep a straight face as his eyes searched my face.

"Dude maybe you just ate it yourself?" I said innocently smiling up at him.

"No, I distinctly remember not eating it" he growled and I couldn't help the cheeky grin that spread across my face. His face was a picture as he realised what had happened.

"You- my food!" he spluttered waving his arms around the place.

"Nice job squirt!" laughed Jacob, ducking as Paul went to slap him. I couldn't stop the uncontrollable giggles that erupted from me as Paul huffed back into his seat purposely pushing my chair back in the process.

"Don't push her" I heard Brady growl from across the table. A silence descended in the kitchen as everyone stopped what they were doing to stare at Brady. He was really starting to piss me off.

"What is your problem Brady?" I yelled across at him, leaping to my feet as a surge of anger swept through me.

"He could have hurt you, pushing your chair like that" Brady defended his actions but I had had enough of him being a creepy stalker.

"Paul wouldn't hurt me" I cried waving wildly at a shocked looking Paul.

"He nearly did earlier" Brady yelled back at me slamming his fist on the table making everything rattle.

"We were just messing about, you know having fun like normal people do instead of being creepy and weird" I yelled feeling the angry red colour flood my face and my little fists form balls.

"I don't care! He nearly phased on top of you" Brady leapt to his feet pointing an accusing finger at Paul.

"I know!" I screamed at him, "I pushed him too far, I know that, but we got over it"

"How can you get over it? He's not meant for you"

"What the hell do you mean? He's the best friend I've ever had, but you, you're the most annoying, arrogant, freaky, stalker I know" Brady's face seemed to twist as I said that and when he spoke next his voice was much quieter but sounded a little strange.

"You think I'm like that? Really? But I just want you to like me"

"What? Why would I like you? You follow me around but never talk to me, you just creep around like a shadow that never leaves and I'm fed up of it so just leave me alone" I finished as I felt someone's arms wrap around me pulling me back from where I was almost climbing onto the table to get at Brady.

"Enough!" came Sam's booming voice from the doorway, "Brady, outside now"

As Brady and Sam left the room, I collapsed into Embry who was holding onto me and cried my eyes out. I didn't understand anything. Brady wasn't my friend and I didn't want him telling me who was good for me to hang out with.

I was still crying when the phone rang. Emily went to answer it as most of the wolves had left me and Embry alone. After what seemed like an eternity, my tears finally dried up and I just sniffled into Embry's t shirt.

"You ok?" whispered Embry into my ear. I nodded, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"I don't like him" I whispered, as if it wasn't obvious enough already.

"I know, it's ok, you don't have to like him" soothed Embry, "but you like Paul?"

"Yeah, he's my friend" I said nodding and pulling back from Embry who smiled back at me as Emily returned to the table.

"Embry?" Emily sounded a bit nervous so I turned to look at her, "There's someone on the phone for you"

"Who?" he asked setting me down next to Emily who immediately wrapped me up in a hug.

"It's a Mrs Parker" she said nervously and I noticed Embry start to shake and clench his fists.

"Mrs Parker? As in..." Embry trailed off when Emily just nodded. Then a thought popped into my head as he left to get the phone.

"Anya's mum?" I questioned cautiously glancing at Emily's face. She nodded and a tight smile formed on her features. I gulped loudly and squeezed my eyes shut, clinging onto Emily as though something bad would happen if I let go.

"Maiyah?" I peeked out through Emily's long hair at my brother who had a funny expression on his face, "can we chat for a moment?" I nodded and slipped across the room. Embry led me outside and we sat in the dirt by the edge of the forest.

"Why was Mrs Parker calling you?" I inquired because I was very confused.

"Mrs Parker... Mrs Parker would like to meet you" said Embry quite quickly and I looked up into his face to see how he was close to phasing, but it didn't scare me.

"But, why?" I pushed for answers. He took a deep breath before reeling off his answer.

"Anya Parker is very sorry for what she did. She didn't realise what she was doing and would like to apologise for her terrible actions" recited Embry. I sat there in shock for a few moments before mulling over what Embry had said.

"Ok" I whispered simply. If Anya was sorry and wanted to apologise, I should listen, right?

"Ok? You really want to hear her apologies?" Embry looked a bit shocked.

"Yeah, I can hear what she has to say, then set the pack loose on her" I finished up with a toothy grin. Embry chuckled and wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

"How did I end up with such a great sister" I beamed up at him and crawled into his lap.

"So, when do I have to go meet her?"

"Tomorrow" we both sighed, "Mrs Parker will pick you up from here around 10 and then I think she's taking you to the ice cream parlour with Anya"

"Ok, at least I get free ice cream" I said with a sigh as Embry laughed at my reasoning.

"That's right Moomin! Now go take a cycle, I want you to use that helmet until it shrivels up and goes mouldy" I laughed as Embry pulled me to my feet and handed me the shiny new helmet. Those next few hours were some of the best I ever had. The helmet was even better knowing that Embry had given it to me.

"Maiyah come on, we need to get to Sam's" yelled Embry up the stairs, tapping his foot impatiently.

I rushed from my room, grabbing my bike helmet on the way. Embry had promised that I could cycle to Sam's just so long as he got to run with me. I had no problems with that, after all, Embry wanted me to wear this helmet to death. I raced around the side of the house and grabbed my bike, wheeling it round to the front yard. Just as I was about to climb on Embry grabbed me and pulled me back.

"Helmet first Moomin" he said with a smile.

"Hurry up duuuude" I whined impatiently as he clipped the helmet onto my head and adjusted the strap. As soon as he tapped the top of my head I was off.

"Not too fast" I heard Embry yell as I raced off into the distance.

"Sure thing bro" I called back, completely ignoring him.

The ride there was great. It was surprisingly sunny for La Push and as I looked into the forest, I watched with a smile as the sun bounced off Embry's fur. All too soon, we were at Sam's and the dreaded wait for Mrs Parker began. I sat on the edge of the sofa feeling restless but at the same time not wanting to do anything.

"Want me to rough her up squirt?" whispered Paul with a nudge to my shoulder as he sat next to me.

"Not yet" I said absentmindedly crawling onto his lap, "what if I get mad and throw an ice cream?"

"Then I'll know I've been teaching you properly" he chuckled and I grinned up at him.

"I'll throw one especially for you"

"A big chocolate one covered in gooey sauce for maximum impact?"

"Yes sir" I mock saluted him and we both fell about laughing. The mental image was great.

My momentary happiness was just that- momentary. There was a knock on the door and I cringed back into Paul who automatically tightened his grip and growled.

"I've come to pick up Maiyah Call" said a man's voice from the porch. I glanced at Paul. It was meant to be Mrs Parker, not some man I didn't know about. Luckily Sam was thinking the same thing.

"We were expecting a Mrs Parker. Who are you?" Sam demanded in his alpha voice that no one could refuse, not even someone who wasn't in the pack.

"I'm Rhys Parker, Anya's brother. My mum's been held up but she sent me to collect Maiyah" said the man very confidently. There was a pause. I guess everyone was sizing up the opposition. Hands down the pack would win.

"Maiyah" I heard Sam call out to me and I climbed off Paul. I turned and gave him a brave smile.

"I'll be right back" I said quietly to him

"He tries anything, I kick his butt. Now go make me proud my little ice cream throwing munchkin" Paul replied pushing me towards the door. I gave him one last smile and exited the room, making my way to the front door. Embry, Sam and Jared were blocking the man from view and I smirked at the thought of how intimidating they could look. I tugged on Embry's shirt to make him move out the way. As I passed he pulled me back and knelt in front of me.

"I'll come check on you if you like" he offered. I just shook my head.

"It's just the ice cream parlour, I'll be fine and anyway you have to help Paul kick butt if anything happens" I smiled at my brother and gave him a final hug before turning and looking at Rhys Parker. He was a bit odd looking. His brown hair was very short, as though one day he'd just taken a razor to it, his skin was blotchy and a bit puffy and his clothes were old and creased.

"Let's go kid" he said before turning and walking out towards his car.

I got in and nervously turned to wave at my extended family. If I had known then that I wouldn't see them again for an eternity I would have ninja rolled straight out of the car. But unfortunately no one has foresight so I stayed put, being driven to my doom.

A/N: So there's the end of another chapter. Like I said earlier, I'm not feeling the love but I hope those of you out there who do read, are enjoying the story.

Anyway, please review, it makes me happy!

-Lem x