Disclaimer: Recognizable bits not mine. Thanks, SM!

A/N Thank you so much for the wonderful comments on the last chapter. I'm glad so many of you love Embry and Bella as much as I do. This is ultimately a story of two shy people who are navigating the supernatural issues as well as just typical adolescence. They don't know everything about themselves yet, but are slowly figuring a few things out. They assume wrongly about others sometimes, but then have glaring insight at others. They haven't figured out how to communicate openly all the time or even many of the times when we'd love for them to just say what they feel already! I can promise they're getting there, though. One chapter at a time. :)

Chapter 10

Bella POV

When we get back from dinner, Embry asks if I can put all my clean clothes all over both beds.

I have no idea what he's talking about, until Leah says, "Oh, yeah, that's a smart way to do it. It will last for a while that way."

So, I begin unpacking my drawers and laying things all over the beds. Embry and Leah each lay down on my clothing and roll around over it while I stand there and giggle.

"It's not that I don't appreciate what you're doing right now," I say when Leah shoots me a dirty look, "but I was just thinking about how I could possibly explain what's happening right now if my roommate were to walk in."

"That's probably enough," Embry says, getting up from my bed. "I'll help you put these away and then you can get things out of your closet for the same special treatment."

"No, I'll do it!" I say. I don't really want Embry touching my underwear. Him seeing the pretty things would make me blush, but I definitely don't want him seeing the ratty granny panties I keep around for certain times of the month.

Embry looks a little flustered as he looks down at the bed and realizes that he was just rolling around in my underwear. "Oh...um, okay." He stammers.

I don't want him to feel uncomfortable, so I distract him and ask him if he can start getting the things from my closet.

"Sure," he replies quickly and goes to my closet. Luckily, there's nothing more than a couple of dresses and a bunch of shirts in there.

Leah pipes up, "Hey, Call, when we get home, be sure to drop into conversation with Jake that you've gotten further with Bella than he has. At least you had your hands all over her underwear while in her bed."

I blush, and Embry growls and tenses up at Leah, but stops in surprise when he sees me laughing.

"Oh my goodness, can you imagine? He'll be livid! Don't even think about that Leah! I like Embry's face just the way it is." And I wink at him hoping to calm him down.

It's moments like these I am reminded that he's only 17. While he has life and death responsibilities, he's also a teenage boy. Maybe this is all new to him. I don't know if Embry's ever had a girlfriend. He's never mentioned it. He's always been so calm and even before, but maybe that was just because I didn't know him as well. He seems a little more temperamental. He's still way more in control than the average wolf, but it's almost as if he feels unsettled about something.

Once upon a time Jake would have been mad at Leah's comment because he had me on a pedestal and claimed he was in love with me all the time. In truth, he really was incredibly kind and sweet and honestly, I don't think I would have snapped out of my Cullen-induced funk as quickly without him, pathetic as that is. But my love and his love were not on equal footing. It's so much better now that he and Katie are imprinted. He and I can love each other as best friends or even like really close relatives. It makes my heart happy. So, now if Embry were to say what Leah just suggested, Jake would beat him to the ground in defense of my "honor", not out of jealousy.

Embry POV

I am completely out of my depth here. I want to kill Leah for the underwear comment. I don't like it when she embarrasses Bella, and talking about like Bella is some trophy or accomplishment? That's wrong. How dare she talk about her like that? And reminding me again that Jake was there first, or not in this case, is not making me any happier. Okay. Actually, I am glad Jake wasn't there first. I'm kind of jealous like that. I'd like to blame the wolf, but I think that the human part of me is a little more caveman than I would actually like anyone to know. This is kind of a disturbing thing to realize about myself.

And then Bella starts laughing, and I really have no idea what is going on. Bella three months ago would not have laughed at that kind of comment. But she's clearly not offended by Leah and she says she likes my face! And just like that, I relax.

I don't know what to do with all of my emotions right now. At home, I can burst into a wolf if it gets to be too much. I don't really have that option at the moment. And I don't want to appear like a toddler throwing a tantrum and storm out of the room over apparently nothing. Being around Bella, but not being entirely sure where I stand with her is making me and my wolf crazy. I tamp it down, though. It's easier as I grab all the clothes from her closet and try to surreptitiously smell them while I carry them the few steps to the bed, so I'm wrapped in her smell for a moment.

She's got the bed cleared again, so I carefully begin to lay these across as she moves over to Leah's bed to put away those clothes. And then I lay down again on the bed, close my eyes, and breathe deeply. I hear giggling after a moment. And then, "Oh, Emmmbryyyyy!"

My eyes fly open just in time to see Bella launch herself up in the air like she's going to land on top of me. This was not an "I'm going to seduce Embry and make all of his fantasies come true" kind of move. This was more a "Quil made me watch too many clips of WWF wrestling last summer and now I think I can tackle wolves" move.

This is when wolf reflexes are handy. I roll quickly to my side and she lands on the mattress with a groan. She looks up at me accusingly. "You moved!"

"Yes, I did. I like all my organs where they are, thank you, and the trajectory your knees were following was definitely going to relocate a few."

"Hmph. You're no fun."

I grin at her. "I guess not."

"Sorry, I just couldn't resist the opportunity when you were lying there so peacefully. Remember over the summer when I would do that to Quil every time he tried to take a nap?" She giggles at the memory. "It was the only way to get him to stop showing me those awful videos all the time."

Elbows on the mattress, she props her head up in her hands "Do you guys have to leave tomorrow. Really?"

I nod. "Yeah. I'm already behind in school and even though my absences are excused, the work isn't. I can't afford having too much extra to make up. Especially with all the patrols I'm going to have to make up."

Is it wrong that it makes me really happy to see her sad that we're leaving?

"Want to go for a walk? I am all riled up," she says sitting up. "Leah? Walk?"

"Enough with the dog references, Swan," Leah snarks while checking her phone. "Can't. I'm meeting up with Victor for my own college tour. I'm exploring the possibility of starting school. So, he's going to show me around and tell me the details of how their pack does it."

"Leah! That would be awesome! Here? Would you come here, too?" Bella is genuinely excited at the thought of Leah. She really must be lonely down here.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves now. I'm just looking into it for now."

I don't say anything, but inside I am quivering with hope over this idea. If Leah can do it, than surely the rest of us would be able too as well someday.

Bella glances over at me, and I must be showing something in my expression, because she instantly brushes my cheek and smiles at me with understanding.

"Come on, Embry. Let me put away my clothes and we'll go for a walk."

"Okay, let me just call my Mom first?"

"Oh, of course. If you want some privacy, there's a lounge right next to the elevators."

"Yeah. Thanks. Come by there when you're done. I'll be ready to go."

I head down the hall. I might be able to actually go to college, too. I'm not lying to my Mom about this weekend. I was actually checking out a school!

She answers on the second ring, "Hey, Mom! I love it here!"

Bella POV

Leah is quiet when Embry leaves.

"He's being awfully mercurial lately. Hopefully just those teenage hormones and he'll get over it soon," she finally says.

"I think it's more that that, Leah. I think being here has been really hard on him. Like being a construction worker for a hotel that you'll never be able to afford to go to. Just because his Mom slept with a guy with a wolf gene, he suddenly can't go to college."

"No!" Leah says suddenly angry. "Because your precious bloodsuckers came back, all of us had our lives screwed up!"

Woah. I feel like she's slapped me. Here is the Leah I'm accustomed to. Okay. This is the Leah I was expecting to deal with. And actually I had kind of a speech all worked out months ago to tell her, but I was always too chicken to say it. I guess now's the time.

"It's true. I'm sorry that their presence in Forks did that to you. I didn't know they even knew about wolves when I knew them. Not that I knew that I knew about the wolves at the time, either."

She drops her head down. "I know. And I know I shouldn't take it out on you."

"But I'm right here and you don't have to worry about a treaty with me, so you and your wolf see me as an available target."

"Have you always been this insightful, Swan? Because it's seriously starting to freak me out a little," Leah complains.

"Leah, I'm going to get girly for a moment. So sit on the bed and don't say anything until I'm done, okay?"

Leah looks deeply suspicious but sits on the bed. i take a deep breath because she seriously might kill me after I get all this out.

"You got the worst end of pretty much everything in this whole supernatural nonsense and yet you have still managed to function. Leah, you are strong, and brave, and beautiful, and intelligent."

"You're not really my type, Swan," Leah interjects trying to deflect with sarcasm.

"Shut up, Leah. It's still my turn to talk."

She closes her mouth in surprise.

"And while you still scare the hell out of me most days, I also really look up to you. What did I do when I got dumped by a guy? I went comatose for a couple of months and scared everyone. What did you do? You sucked it up and learned how to be a good wolf. You immediately protected your brother and mother and pack brothers and tribe even while you were dealing with your Dad's death. And then you protected me, too, even though you hated me. Leah, you are amazing! And if you have to let off some anger at the whole thing sometimes, I'm okay with you directing some of that my way. I know you phasing isn't my fault, but I'm the closest thing you've got to the Cullens, so you're allowed one snap a day at me. You may save them up in a week and be nice to me for six days and terrible on the 7th; that's fine, too. And it's not because I'm being masochistic. It's because I can take it, and you need to get it out. I'm a safe person to do that with now. Although, ask Paul, my slapping technique is getting better, so don't push your luck," I joke lamely.

She sits staring at me.

"Okay. You can talk now," I say as I feel my courage leave me. Leah is looking at me like every inch of the ferocious warrior she is. And then I notice her chin tremble just a bit. I look away, because I'm sure that she does not want me to see her cry.

"You are full of surprises sometimes, Swan," she manages. Her phone chirps with a text alert. "Victor is on his way. I'm going to go meet him downstairs."

And just like that she stands up and walks out of my room. She stops the door before it slams, though, and ducks her head back in the room. I look up at her, she meets my gaze and says, "Thank you, Bella. I needed that." And then steps out and lets the door close.

I exhale in relief that she let me talk to her like that. And then smile as I get the beds all cleared off from my clothes and get my sneakers on for a walk with my most favorite wolf on this campus.

Embry POV

We have to leave early the next morning. Bella walks with us down to the car, carrying bags of food for us to eat on the road. "Please text me as soon as you get home, so I know you made it safely," she says.

I smile and put my arm around her. I slept in her bed again last night. Bella Swan invited me to her bed again! While my teenage brain can imagine other things I'd like to do with her there, falling asleep and waking up with her in my arms seems like it would be really hard to beat right now. I suddenly feel like I understand every sappy love poem ever written. I'm a mess.

"I just worry," she practically whispers.

"I promise I'll text you, Bella."

"Well, see ya around, Swan. Thanks for the hospitality," Leah quickly says while opening the car and loading her backpack and the food in.

"My pleasure, Leah. And thank you for making the trip."

Leah does not make eye contact. This is much more status quo for the two of them, and even though Bella looks slightly disappointed at Leah's behavior, she also seems understanding.

I let go of Bella for a moment to put my bag in the backseat. When I turn back around, her eyes are shiny like she's about to cry.

"Bella?" I step closer, and she throws her arms around my middle.

"I'm going to miss you so much, Embry. Thank you, thank you, thank you for being here."

"Hey, I told you last year that I'd help you in any way, Bella." I do not add that it's because I love her. She must know that, though, right? I feel like the whole world must know that.

"I know you did. But I didn't think that included driving thousands of miles to negotiate with other wolves."

I chuckle. "Well, that's true. At the time, I was thinking more if you needed help hanging up a shelf or something, but this works, too."

I feel her laugh as she buries her face into my chest. I lean down to kiss her head. "Goodbye, Bella Swan. Try to stay out of trouble. We'll see you in six weeks for a feast!"

Letting go of her and having her pull away from me is one of the worst things I've ever had to do. My wolf is already incredulous at the thought that I'm about to go away from her. I agree with him again. This sucks. I really want to tell her that I love her and that I don't want to leave. But I can't say those things. It's not fair. I pull her in for one more hug, and one more kiss on the head and then force myself to get in the car. I don't even turn back to look at her until my seat belt is on and Leah is actually driving away.

The sight of her smiling and waving makes me smile, but the burning in my chest is there, too. Leah has the decency to pretend she can't smell the couple of tears that leak from my eyes as I close my eyes and pretend to go to sleep in the passenger seat.

Bella POV

Letting go of Embry and saying goodbye is one of the worst things I've had to do in a long time. It was only the sight of how ridiculous he and Leah looked folded up inside the rabbit that made me laugh instead of cry as they pulled away. It really did look like a clown car for them. Even though I'm smiling, the tears that were threatening to fall went ahead and did so. But it's okay. I feel loved by people I love.

It's a beautiful morning, so I go for a slow walk around campus before I have to go study for my first quiz of the week. Leah didn't come back to the room until quite late last night and she was in a more somber mood than the previous evening. She simply nodded hello to me when I sat up and peeked over Embry's body. I hope I didn't overstep my boundaries too far with her. I really do admire her.

I still feel a little like Embry is with me. Sleeping wrapped up in him my is my new favorite thing.

I wish he was mine for real.