I know I mentioned about updating every other Friday, but last Friday (when I was supposed to update) my sister ended up getting admitted to the hospital. Now thankfully she's doing a lot better and is home, and then the holidays happened. Anyway, I hoped every one had a great holiday, and will have an even better New Years! :) Please enjoy this overdue update!
~ CS
"It was not the feeling of completeness
I so needed, but the feeling of not being empty."
- Johnathan Safran Foer
The days seemed to pass by painfully slow for him as he waited for Nina to be ready. Sure, it may have just been Wednesday, but four days had already passed since he revealed his secret to Nina. Three since Jake's stupid rash decision to confront Nina after he had told Embry to give her time, and two since Quil informed them of his "perfect" plan.
Bets had already been placed within the pack on how successful Quil's plan would go. Many of the bets favored in the fact that it'd blow up in Quil's face, and as much as Embry would like to be optimistic, his latest experiences told him to think otherwise. He's not ashamed to admit that he even put his money on the fact it'll backfire (what can he say; betting is life), where as Seth, the ever optimist, placed his on the idea it'll succeed.
Embry doesn't even know how Seth does it. He's never met anyone more optimistic than Seth in his life before; the guy practically radiates sunshine. If someone were to go up to him and tell him that Seth pisses out rainbows, and could make the wildlife do his bidding, Embry would believe it in a heartbeat. Nothing against Seth, he loved his pack mate, he just wished he could express the same optimism as he does.
Okay, and maybe he's just a little bit of jealous of the guy who is figuratively the sun personified. Could anyone blame him?
No matter what Embry tries to do, his imprint wanted nothing to do with him. He knows, because Nina literally told him that it'd be easier if they continued to pretend to be strangers to each other. Also, it's in the fact that she's been avoiding him too. Sure, she said that they'll talk later, but why isn't later already here after four days of waiting?
If Embry felt like lying to himself, he could just say that him turning into a wolf is the problem. He could fool himself into believing he scared her with his transformation, or her knowledge of him being able to turn into a wolf at any given time makes her nervous. Yet, seeing her laugh and hang around Seth immediately buries those thoughts into the ground. Whereas the truth just made his efforts even more strained, it only strengthened Nina's and Seth's relationship.
It isn't fair. He would think more often than naught, especially when he spied the two together. But he knew it was his fault, he tricked himself into thinking the truth would set him free and she would immediately forgive him.
It's never easy with her.
But could he blame her? No; after all he made his bed, maybe it's time he finally decided to sleep in it.
I deserve it after all.
But, he couldn't help being so hopeful on the day after he told her: hopeful of the idea that she'd forgive him, and they could start over.
He's an idiot.
It'd be okay if she doesn't ever forgive me, he decides, knowing that it's the complete truth. He'd honestly be okay if she doesn't forgive him, because right now all he cares about is her happiness and safety, which is why he's trying not to let the jealousy consume him. It's just him being selfish in wanting her to forgive him and forget how wrong he did her.
Quil understood how he felt about just wanting her happiness and safety; he's the exact same with Claire, even if Embry's bond wasn't like a sibling bond Quil had with Claire. To be honest, Embry didn't even know what kind of bond he held with Nina.
A part of him wanted to try and be in a relationship with her, and another part was content with just being a friend. Yet, neither of those could perfectly describe the bond they had between each other. They just didn't fit it quite right, and it bothered Embry.
None of his pack mates had an issue with how they felt with their imprints, and could describe it perfectly. At one point in the beginning, Embry could have easily described the bond as being romantic type of bond, at another point it became reduced to a platonic type of bond, and now it was just an empty type of feeling.
He knew he wanted her happiness and safety. He knew he didn't want her to be hurt in any type of way, and reacted when she was. He wanted her forgiveness, he wanted her to look at him again with something other than anger or indifference.
So, why is it that when he tries to feel for the bond he doesn't feel anything?
Embry wondered if this is how Sam felt when Emily rejected the bond when he first imprinted on her, but couldn't remember either of them mentioning the emptiness. Emily had only mentioned that Sam's constant presence and adoration warmed her into accepting the bond between them.
Sam had even given him advice, telling him to tell her about the imprinting, but Embry knew how she'd react to knowing that because of some magical phenomenon she was forever tied to him. Embry knew her well enough to know how she'd react to being cornered like that; she'd either run or avoid the problem; just what she's doing now.
That'd be before or after the fact she gives him a tongue lashing over how that was the only reason he tried to reestablish his relationship with her, and he would only be able to weakly defend himself knowing it was the truth.
"Embry!" He looked up from the plate of food in front of him, Emily's worried face entering his vision. He forced a grin on his face, not wanting to have to go through another discussion of how his imprint wanted nothing to do with him, and how he just needed to give it time. "Yeah?"
Emil frowned, knowing full well what was running through his head. Her heart went out to him, she knew all too well what it felt to have a bond that was being rebuffed. She'd regretfully admit that she's the reason as to why she knew that feeling, and she just knows if Embry doesn't give up like Sam hadn't, then everything would work out for the best.
"Your food is going to get cold." Emily said instead, patting his hand comfortingly. For a second she sees his mask slip before he schooled it into a sheepish grin, forcing a forkful of mash potatoes in his mouth.
He was more than thankful that she didn't pursue it. He didn't know how she would take it if he admitted that he wished Seth had imprinted on Nina instead, because it hurt, it hurt so bad to feel the empty coldness on his side of the bond.
It's easier, his mind whispered as he bit into a piece of pork, the food tasting like cardboard in his mouth, for me to not pursue it. She's happier that way, and that's all that matters.
He felt something crack inside of him, and it wasn't until he's pulled into Emily's petite embrace that he felt the wetness on his cheeks. It took him another couple of seconds to realize that the choked sobs he heard were coming from him.
As long as she's happy, that's all that matters, even if it breaks me.
It feels like there's a hole in her chest where her heart is. She doesn't know why, or when it happened, all she knows is that she just woke up one morning and felt a cold emptiness. To make matters worse, the itch she had been feeling had intensified into a burning sensation, and no matter what she did couldn't make it stop.
Nina's body itched to run, to distract herself from the burning pain coming from her chest. Yet, she couldn't, not because she wasn't able too, but because running didn't help any more. Her mind was clouded more and more as the days went by, and not even running could clear it for a moment.
"Go home kid." She looked up to see Uncle Bobby standing in the doorway, her grip tightening against the broom handle. Nina didn't want to go home because then all she could do is wonder why it felt like someone punched a hole through her chest.
"My shift doesn't end until six." A quick glance at the digital clock on the counter across from her showed it was barely five o'clock.
"Yeah, and I'm saying your shift ends now. You're distracted, and I don't need you accidently messing up on a client's pet." Bobby grabbed the broom from her, blue eyes assessing her causing Nina to shift her eyes away. "Want to talk about it?"
Nina tensed, eyes moving back to him in surprise – did everyone know about teenagers turning into wolves but her? "Asher told me that you and that guy broke up." She relaxed a bit, berating herself silently for thinking that Bobby would know that truth about what's bothering her.
"It's okay, I'm over it." She wasn't lying. Their break up had been a long time coming, and despite her hurting over waiting for him, the fact she no longer waited to hear from him had released a weight on her shoulders she didn't know that had been there.
"Right," he gave her a critical once over not even believing a word she said, "either way somethings distracting you. Jan said that your schedule is clear for the rest of the day, so go home and figure out what's bothering you. If we have any walk-ins we can just schedule them an actual appointment."
She relented knowing that once he set his mind, it would be hard to convince him otherwise, telling everyone goodbye.
Nina just wished there was something else for her to do distract her mind from the craziness that life has given her.
For a moment, the looming form of the cliffs appeared in head, but she quickly smothered that thought as fast as it showed. Even if the tide had steadily risen to where it wasn't as a big of risk for her to jump, the days became colder than the last, and she'd risk hypothermia.
The risks still outweighed her need for a peace of mind, and Nina would just have to settle for whatever peace running can give, no matter how small and brief it is. She wasn't even a hundred percent sure that jumping off a cliff would give her what she wanted anyways.
I'm going crazy. She thought, trying in vain to ignore the painful burning in her chest. The cold emptiness she felt did nothing to help soothe the burning, if anything it added to it.
The emptiness she's familiar with; an emptiness caused by the loss of her parents that became dull over time and would only hurt when she dwelled too much on the memory of them. It's an emptiness that she knew would never go away, but the emptiness she felt now is different in a way. Nina didn't know how to explain it, just like how she didn't know how to explain the feeling of something cracking inside of her. She just knew that whatever it is, it's the cause for the burning in her chest.
Her eyes blurred, but she didn't bother to fight back the tears. She hoped that letting them out would soothe the pain.
What's wrong with me?
Jen had said it's because of the breakup, and Greg agreed saying that it's only the effect of a heartbreak. But Nina knew, she knew that the breakup wouldn't impact her like this. Even if she wasted more than half a year of her time on someone who wasn't worth it, the emptiness she felt right now didn't stem from heartbreak.
It's just like how she knew that there was something in her cracking, almost near to becoming shattered. She knew the painful emptiness and burning in her chest was a result of it. She just wished she knew what caused it, and what she could do to alleviate it. She'd give anything to find the antidote to whatever plagues her.
I need it to stop.
Nina pulled over to the side, throwing her car into park. Not a second later, her hands clawed at her chest desperate to find whatever it is that's causing the burning and tears flowed freely down her face, sobs racking her body.
She wanted it to stop. She wanted to feel whole again. She wanted to know why she felt like something inside her was breaking. She'd tear a hole into her chest herself if it meant that it'd finally stop.
"We need to do something." Emily said softly to her husband, her hand brushing back his hair gently.
"It's not our place to tell her about the imprint bound Emmy." Sam breathed through his nose, closing his eyes at the soothing feel of her hand through his hair. It was too early in the morning for them to talk about this…again. "It's Embry's call on when she's ready to know."
Emily giggled at his play on words, while Sam groaned quietly, burying his face into the pillow as he pulled his wife's lithe body against him.
"You weren't there," she refused to back down as she shifted her body away to look at him better, "you didn't see the way he broke down Sam. Have you seen how it's affecting him?"
He stayed quiet, moving his hand to grab his wife's smaller ones, knowing better than to lie to her. Of course, Sam had seen how Embry looked with his sullen eyes surrounded by purple bags, and the way he had withdrawn into himself. Even though the younger boy joked about his situation, they all knew better on how much it truly weighed on him.
"It's not just him either, Kim told me that Jared had seen Nina have a meltdown in her car yesterday. Her refusal to accept the bond is only going to get worse; she needs to know." Emily continued, her fingers lacing through Sam's as she stared at him worriedly.
"Embry believes her knowing would only make matters worse. I trust his judgement."
"His judgement, is his belief on what's best for his imprint; right now, he believes that if he leaves it be that it'll be okay, but you and I both know the bond affects both ways. Sam, you weren't there to see how he looked before he broke down, that face was one of someone giving up. You think it's bad now from her resisting the bond, imagine how it'll be if he resists it as well."
"Emily," Sam opened his eyes to stare at the beautiful deep brown hues of his soulmate's, "it's not my place to make him tell her – I'm not his alpha anymore. They were close friends before this, and he knows her best because of this; if he doesn't think she's ready, then so be it."
"He's your brother," she urged softly, pressing a chaste kiss against his scarred knuckles, "as a pack member and by blood. What Embry considers best for himself, isn't really what's best for him."
Sam sighed deeply, tugging her back into him while wrapping an arm around her securely. Tucking her head under his chin, he considered what she said knowing that his imprint was right (as always). Even if it hadn't been officially confirmed that Embry's his half-brother, Sam accepted it after some time and he wanted the best for his younger brother.
"Look, I'm not saying you should have Rachel set up a get together with all the imprints at either hers or Kim's house. I'm also not saying that you should let her know that you guys know the truth as well. And I'm definitely not saying the conversation should eventually end up turning to the topics of imprinting and how the bond can affect said imprints."
Emily smiled smugly, pushing herself away from her husband to pull him into a passionate kiss. Already, her mind went through various ideas and detailed steps of a forming plan to finally meet the renowned tempered imprint that had been the cause of many betting pools in her house.
Worriedly, Jen looked at her brother, gesturing silently to the brooding girl next to her, before motioning half circles under her eyes with her fingers to mimic the large bags evident on Nina's face.
Rolling his eyes at his twin's theatrics, he snatched a peach off Nina's tray hoping to instigate a reaction from her. However, he wasn't expecting her to move her tray closer to him in surrender to eat the rest of her favorite fruit, and looked back Jen who made a face as if to say, "See!".
"Rough day?" He broke the tense silence over their group, watching as the reason for said tense silence crossed her arms against the table and buried her head into them. He shifted uneasily, shooting the other female in their group a desperate look because he's one of the worst people to try and comfort somebody.
"Useless!" Jen hissed at her twin with a glare as she wrapped a comforting arm around Nina. She struggled internally, trying to figure out the best way to say nicely, "Hey, you got your heart broken, but move on already!", then again, Jen's never had her heart broken before – seeing as how she's usually the heart breaker the times she was dating someone.
"It'll be okay! Zach's an asshole anyways, and didn't deserve you." Jen nodded in satisfaction, mentally applauding herself. "We can eat ice cream and watch some gory action movies, that always makes Greg feel better when he gets rejected."
"Hey!"
Ignoring the offended cry coming from her brother, Jen continued, rubbing Nina's back sympathetically. "And if that doesn't work, we can always ruin Greg's day by beating his highest score on his game like I do when I need a little pick me up."
"Wait, that was you?! I've been blaming Collin this whole time!" He felt personally victimized by her, his mouth set in an angry pout. (Jen knew he had spent days to get that score, and she had the nerve to go play a game she didn't even like just to one-up him.)
"Or, and this is my favorite, tomorrow's the party so we can just spend it getting drunk off our asses!" Jen cheered happily, a wide grin on her face. She'd been looking forward all month for their little birthday bash, and she knew her best friend needed something to help soothe the pain.
Nina gave a soft groan, tiredly peeking up at her best friend who looked proud of herself. She was in no mood to party, let alone be around anyone. The last thing she needed is to be surrounded by drunken high schoolers, but she had already promised the twins that she'd go for them.
"I think getting drunk is the last thing I need Jen." She reasoned, letting her head fall back into her arms.
Frowning, Jen looked back at Greg, who only shrugged in response. With a roll of her eyes, the raven-haired girl retorted: "That's where you're wrong Nina! It's exactly what you need, and let me tell you why; it helps you forget. You're so hung up on this guy who doesn't deserve you, and you need a night free of distractions and too much thinking!"
Nina sighed, pushing herself up and ready to retaliate, but something caught her attention making the words die on her lips.
Jen stared at Nina's open mouthed face, a brow raised at her frozen expression. Slowly, she looked to see what or who had caught her attention, curious to see what had made Nina speechless. To her dismay, it was the devil's trio who had walked into the cafeteria, but what captured her attention was Embry's haggard appearance.
Dark bags showed prominently against Embry's pale russet skin, his eyes were red – either from crying or not sleeping, she didn't know – and his posture that usually screamed confidence, whimpered dejected instead. It's a lot like –
Jen's head swiveled back to look at Nina, her lips pursed thoughtfully, but Nina had already turned away in favor of going back to her position.
"You invited them, right?" Jen asked Greg suddenly, nodding at the group that had just walked in. Her twin looked at her a bit guiltily knowing that she wouldn't approve. A slight nod of his head confirmed her question and Jen stared at Embry studying his appearance.
As much as she wanted to push on the matter, a quick glance at her brooding friend made her decide otherwise. The last time Jen had kept pushing on a subject that Nina wasn't ready to tell her about had resulted in a stupid fight. This time she'd wait for Nina to come around, but that doesn't mean the same for the boy who was the cause of said fight. The party would be the perfect chance for her to get the answers for all her questions.
"Honestly Frederick, if I didn't know you better, I'd swear you're a bit touched in the head." Alexander stated, shaking his head at his maker over what he had just revealed to him.
"All the best people are a bit touched." Frederick smirked, raising a blood-filled wine glass at the young man he had sired many centuries ago. "Well, I have stated my terms and my involvement in your undertaking. Is there anything you'd like to say?"
A ring of the doorbell echoed through the house, effectively stopping whatever answers Alexander held in response. The two vampires shared a cursory glance, before both made their way to the door. However, the sweet smell of jasmine invaded Alexander's nose causing his body to relax.
Swinging the door wide open, his eyes roved over the willowy form of his mate, taking time to appreciate how her golden brown springy coils swept over her dark neck in such a tantalizing manner and the way her pastel yellow sundress hugged against her curves.
"Symone," he said breathlessly, taken away by her astounding beauty as always, "what a very welcomed and pleasant surprise."
"Alexander," she greeted with that teasing grin he loved so much, "I couldn't just let you wither away into nothing in this bottomless hell hole as you so sweetly dubbed this city, now could I?" He grinned back at her, immediately sweeping her up in his arms, his nose taking in her enchanting scent letting it lure him into pure bliss.
"My Alexander, who is this fascinating creature?"
Trust his sire to ruin his bliss with just the velvetiness of his unneeded voice. He let himself frown into his mate's neck for a moment, before regretfully pulling away from her. Turning to Frederick, he let his good-natured smile fall back into place as he introduced his mate. "Symone, this is my sire Frederick Hansely," he gestured to the smirking brunette, before gesturing back to his lover, "and Frederick this is my better half Symone Craven."
"Pleasure to meet you." Symone greeted, her lips pulled into tight smile as she regarded her mate's maker.
"No my dear," he grabbed her hand to press a chaste kiss on her knuckles, "the pleasure is all mine. I didn't know Alexander had taken a mate."
"Yes, well that happens when you disappear for four centuries." Alexander remarked dryly, pulling Symone behind him protectively, after all, there had been a good reason why he hadn't mentioned her since the time he arrived here.
"Yes, well you must be famished from the long trip my dear. Unfortunately, we seem to have run out of our delicacy at the time being – Alexander, watch the house while I go find some entertainment, and fresh dinner for tonight." Frederick disappeared as soon as the last word left his mouth, leaving the two vampires alone.
Breathing through his nose deeply to calm his nerves, Alexander turned to his mate, "Well love, you're a breath of fresh air if I say so myself."
"Silver tongue," she teased quietly as she walked into the foyer, "but enough of sweet nothings darling, I'd rather hear why your sire isn't dead yet."
"In due time my love," he pulled her against him, his hand running up and down her spine tenderly, "but for now, let's make up for lost time, yes?"
Dodging the kiss, Symone pulled away from him with a smirk as she eyed her overeager lover. "Not just yet Alex, I need to know how far along you are with the plan."
"Always business before pleasure with you." He grunted displeased and sat down. "If you insist –"
"Oh I do."
"– then be rest assured that everything is still going according to plan. I have yet to meet with the Olympic Coven, though with the way Frederick has been spiraling into desperateness, I'm more than certain our meeting will be soon. My proposition for them is…more than desirable to say the least."
"Mmm," Symone hummed, walking behind Alexander as she let her hand trail from his arm to his shoulder, "if it were up to me, he'd be dead already and the Olympic Coven would share the same fate if they decided that your proposition didn't meet their standards."
"And that," he grabbed her hand, tilting his head to look up at her, "is why I meet with our potential allies. Besides, there is someone there in that little quaint town that they're protecting that is of interest for us."
"Oh?"
"His siren."
"My, my, my, that certainly does change the game doesn't it love." It was more of a statement than a question, and Alexander knew it. He grinned up at his wife, more than pleased to know that she agreed with him on this game changer.
An unexpected (though welcomed) pawn had stumbled into their game, and now he knew there'd be nothing to stop him from the goal he yearned for. Now, if only the infamous coven widely known for trumping the Volturi decided to join his side, his conquest will be more than guaranteed.
Cheers erupted from Greg and John when the ping pong landed in the last red solo cup, granting them the winner of that round. Greg and John high fived each other, while Arianna and Julie (Collin's older sister) chugged the rest of their beer.
"Ready to lose another round?" John asked with a cocky grin, laughter exploding from the dining room behind them.
"Sorry John, but my ego can only handle so much of losing to your dumbass." Julie passed, smirking at Arianna who laughed at John's offended expression. "Come on, I think they're about to start a new game of King's Cup."
"Holy shit dude," John began while Greg put the red solo cups back into place, "Jules still wants me!"
"Really? That's what you get out of her insulting you?" Greg shook his head at his teammate.
"No man, that's her game - you got any condoms I can borrow?"
"Um, first, ew!" Jen shuddered, catching the end of the conversation. "And two, I seriously hope you're not trying to borrow a condom because that's just disgusting, even for you John."
"You know what I meant Jen!" John swore if he rolled his eyes any harder at the dramatic twin, they'd pop out his head. His eyes caught sight of Nina who held her cup tentatively between her hands and grinned – if anyone had told him back in Freshman year that Nina Fattree would become Nina Hottree by Senior year, he'd have laughed himself into an early grave.
"You guys up for shots?" Caleb Lahote popped up, holding up a bottle of Ultimat Vodka with one hand and two shot glasses in another. Gene Door was already setting down the rest of the shot glasses he was carrying down onto the makeshift ping pong table.
"Oh I'm good." Nina passed, sipping nervously at her cup of Jungle Juice.
"Oh come on!" John moved in between the twins and swung an arm around Nina's shoulders, ignoring the scathing glare sent his way from Jen.
"Yeah, there's more than enough for all of us!" Gene agreed, pushing a freshly filled shot in front of her.
"Don't be such a spoiler Redtree!" Caleb added on with a shy grin. He locked eyes with John who smirked at him, raising his shot glass encouragingly at his friend.
Nina sighed, putting down her cup to grab the shot glass reluctantly, and John squeezed her against him proudly. Raising up her shot glass, they all clinked theirs against each other, and she watched as everyone threw their head back before repeating after them awkwardly. The vodka burned her throat as it went down, her face scrunching up at the taste. Someone pushed her drink into her hand, and immediately she took a deep swig to chase it down.
"Wooh!" John exhaled, putting his arm down finally. "I needed that if I'm gonna go and get Jules back."
"Really, that's what it took?" Nina asked incredulously, wondering why he needed to take a shot just to go get back with his ex. John gave her a sly grin, looking to Caleb and then back at her as he said, "It's called liquid courage for a reason Redtree!"
"Besides, John isn't the only one who needed that tonight, eh Caleb!" Gene broke into laughter and Caleb unsubtly elbowed him in the side. Noting the action, Jen looked to her brother curiously, watching as he guiltily looked away from her with an innocent shrug.
"Subtle." She remarked dryly, watching how Caleb blushed when Greg shoved the Junior none to gently closer to Nina. She didn't know him all that well, but anyone was better than Embry Call in her books, so she approved.
"C'mon let's play!" Jen grabbed onto her brother, smirking at her friend. "The marvelous twins against you and Caleb!"
"I don't know how to play!" Niina hissed while Gene offered to get her and Jen more to drink for the game. Before she could say anything, Jen agreed for them both and smiled at Nina slyly as she suggested: "It's okay Nina! Caleb can teach you as we go."
"Don't worry, you'll catch on quick!" He smiled shyly as he tucked back a long piece of raven hair behind his ear. Nina grimaced, not wanting to make a fool of herself, though knew it was too late to back down when Caleb took his spot on the opposite side of the table and waited for her.
Greg sighed, hiding his disapproving frown behind his cup as he watched Caleb explain the game to Nina. Glancing over at the bodies in the living room, his frown deepened when he didn't see the group he had invited personally anywhere. He hoped that maybe they were in the dining room were another game of beer pong was going on along with King's Cup.
He did make sure during lunch yesterday to remind Quil about the party, and he remembered him being really excited about it. Giving another sigh, he decided not to stress about it knowing it was a still a bit early so hopefully they'd show up soon.
Jen elbowed him to catch his attention, motioning over to the laughing pair across from them with a grin. "See, I told you this is exactly what she needs."
"Let's just play the game." He grumbled fully believing that the sooner they get the game done with, the sooner Caleb would leave Nina alone. At least if Seth was here, Caleb would respectfully back off – actually where is Seth? The happy go lucky teen swore up and down he'd be here too. Great, the last thing Greg needed was that ragtag group be no shows to his party after he had defended his decision to his twin and friends about inviting them along.
Gene walked over to their table, giving Jen and Nina their drinks, a blonde girl from Forks trailing after him. The jock grinned at his teammate, giving him an encouraging thumbs up which made the younger teen's cheek become red and Greg roll his eyes.
Nina, of course, was none the wiser as she focused on throwing the ping pong into the cup. She missed and Greg watched with narrowed eyes as Caleb bent down to say something to her that made her smile up at him.
"Oh my god, I'd swear if you didn't look like the less better looking version of me, I'd believe you're Asher right now." Jen groaned out with a shake of her head as she handed the ball to him. "By the way, I made it in so we go first."
"I don't know what you're talking about." He played innocent, carelessly throwing his ball without a second thought just to annoy his competitive sister. Not too surprisingly, the ball missed and he stepped back to let her go next, eyes casting another glance around the crowded room.
"You know exactly what I mean!" She hissed at him, bristling when he just shrugged at her. Taking a deep breath to settle her nerves, she focused on the red cups in front of her and tossed her ball. She grinned triumphantly when it landed in one of the middle cups and watched as Caleb grabbed his beer from the side to take a deep swig.
"Later." He relented knowing exactly how stubborn his sister was, grabbing his beer to chug the rest of it when Caleb made it into one of the cups as Jen moved the same cup to the side. Nina went next, this time her ball made it in and the pair cheered and high fived. He needed to drink to more if he was going to have to deal with watching Caleb flirt with his oblivious best friend. "Gene, take over for me while I get more to drink."
Greg didn't wait for his friend to reply, already heading towards the kitchen hoping that there was still some Jungle Juice for him to drink, the taste of the beer not settling well with his taste buds.
A chorus of happy birthday met his ears the moment he stepped into the kitchen, a group mixed of his classmates and Fork's students huddled around the island, a lone bottle laid down against it and circled around by different colored jello shots. I didn't even know we had jello shots.
Mirabelle Black gave him a flirty smile, detaching herself from Clara Fox's side in favor of him. If it wasn't for the fact that he needed to keep an eye on his best friend and her beer pong partner, then Greg would definitely not pass up the chance to talk with the raven-haired beauty, sadly the fact remained that he needed to get back soon.
"Happy birthday Greg." Mirabelle touched his arm gently, eyeing the Makah native up and down. She was pleased to notice how he did the same with her as he gave his thanks. "I hope you're having a good time."
"Well, I'm talking to the prettiest girl here, so yeah I'd say I'm having a good time." He grinned at her, something in the back of his head trying to remind him of something the needed to do (hey, he's weak against beautiful girls). Yet, the way she looked at him completely pushed whatever it was onto the back burner.
In the morning, Mirabelle would blame the alcohol in her system for what she said next and try to find the nearest hole to crawl into. However, it was the present, and Mirabelle leaned up to say, "So, how about we go upstairs and we can 'unwrap' my present for you."
"Yeah, no." A smooth voice cut in before anything else could happen, and Greg watched as Mirabelle was pulled away from him by her older cousin and one of the guys he had been waiting for all night. "You are going to start drinking some water to sober up Mira, and you're going straight home once you do. I don't care if I have to drive you there myself."
"Wow Jake, way to fucking kill the mood." Mirabelle frowned, pushing herself away from her cousin. "You aren't my brother."
"Yeah, and I promised Nate I'd keep an eye out on you." He shoved a water bottle into her hand and spun her around with a gentle push towards her friend direction who held her own water bottle. "Now sober up Mira, or else."
"This is why nobody likes you." She grumbled angrily, grabbing Clara's arm to drag her out of the kitchen.
"Well," Greg grinned easily as if Jacob Black's younger cousin didn't just offer to 'unwrap her present' just now, "you're a sight for sore eyes Black. Where's the rest of your crew?"
Jake glared at him, knowing he couldn't really do anything because his classmate didn't actually do anything with Mirabelle.
"Quil and Seth are watching your sister and Nina play against each other. I came to get drinks and found you all over Mirabelle."
"Correction," Greg grabbed a red solo cup to fill it up, "you found your cousin all over me. See, that's how nasty rumors get started." He handed Jake the cup, whiskey eyes twinkling with mirth as he watched him begrudgingly grab it from him. Feeling as if he won something, Greg turned back around to pour some drinks for the two. Wait – "Where's Call?"
"Working." Jake gruffly replied not wanting to dwell on his strained relationship with his best friend. He needed to apologize to Nina for what he said.
Handing Jake the other cup up to hold, Greg grabbed his cup and another one and steered them over to their friends. Gene and the blond were nowhere to be found, and Greg tried to remember if he said anything about how having sex upstairs was off limits.
Quil (who excitedly took over Gene's place as Jen's partner) let out a loud whoop when his ball bounced off one cup and landed into the one behind it successfully putting them into the lead with three cups on their side and two on Nina's.
Jake and Greg noticed how Caleb placed a hand on Nina's back as he said something to her that made her laugh, not realizing that their displeased expressions mirrored each other. Even Seth had seen the action between the partners, shifting uncomfortably by their side.
Figures Lahote would get drunk enough to not back off once Seth got here. Greg thought bitterly, as he greeted Seth with an easy going smile and handed him his cup. Grateful for the distraction from the one-sided flirting he had been forced to watch, Seth greedily drank from his cup.
"You should slow down on the drinking Nina." Jacob suggested to his cousin when he'd seen her throw back her head to finish the rest of her cup. Seth winced knowing that was exactly what Jake shouldn't have said.
"Oh, go fuck yourself."
Greg couldn't help but laugh at Jake's affronted expression, Jen copying him from across the table. He knew from watching Nina that the alcohol made her less reserved about her actions and words (which is probably why Caleb looked like he's in heaven just from Nina's attention), but he didn't think it loosened her this much.
Before Jake could even retort Arianna, Julie, and few other girls from Forks stumbled into the table, knocking over some of the cups. They burst into a fit of laughter, half assed apologies coming from them as Julie held out a half-filled bottle of apple flavored Ciroc in front of her.
"Who's down to chug the rest of this?" She slurred out with a lopsided grin not knowing that she stumbled in at the worse time. Which is why her and her friends didn't see the "just watch me" look Nina gave Jake as she reached over to pluck the bottle away from Julie.
Amazed, everyone watched how easily she downed the bottle, delayed cheers coming from the drunken group of girls.
"Holy shit, is that really Redtree?" Gene pushed into the clustered group, his mouth agape. He never thought he'd see mousy and reserved Penina Redtree knock back a bottle of liquor like a pro. A quick glance at the Junior next to her made him snicker and nudge at Greg to look. "Looks like Caleb fell in love!"
Greg groaned quietly. He definitely needed to be more drunk if he had to deal with this any longer.
"Look at what you did!" Seth cried out to Jake, pointing at Nina dramatically as she slammed the bottle down onto the table. "You created a monster!"
"I didn't do anything!"
"Well, you did tell her to slow down." Greg added with a shrug, ignoring the glare sent his way. "And there's no way she's going to let you push her into being sober like Mirabelle did. Way to go Black."
"See!" Seth grounded out over the loud drunken cheers, eyeing Nina nervously as the game resumed back on.
"Don't be such a worrywart!" Gene supplied, fixing his mussed hair. "She's a big girl and can take care of herself."
Greg wanted to agree, he knew she could take care of herself, but not like this. He didn't want her to drink just so she could spite Jake, because he knew she'd regret it in the morning. With his mind made up, he shoved his drink into Gene's hand and grabbed onto Seth.
"Sorry Lahote, but she's done for the night. Seth can take over, I heard he's a beast at this game."
"Wait – what – beast – me?" Seth stumbled out as he let Greg guide him into Nina's place. Leaning closer to the twin he squawked, "I don't know how to play this!"
"You basically just throw the ping pong and hope it makes it into the cup." Greg explained with a careless shrug as he grabbed onto Nina and pulled her away. He ignored the booing coming from the drunk girls as they walked away and back towards the kitchen.
"Why'd you pull me from the game?" Nina whined, letting him steer her into the kitchen. He ignored her in favor of telling everyone else in the kitchen to get out and go to either the dining or living room. Opening one of the cabinets he grabbed a bag of chips and a water bottle from the counter and handed it to her.
"I'm fine!" Nina laughed as she struggled to open her water bottle. Greg snorted at her making the drunk teen pout and hold out her water bottle for him to open. Twisting the cap open, he surveyed the kitchen and grimaced at the mess on the island.
"Yes, because chugging half a bottle of liquor out of spite tells me you're fine." He gave her a pointed look as he pulled out a large trash bag. "Talking about that, why'd you go snap at Black like that and tried to make a point?"
The crushed jello shot cups were the first to go, and – Seriously? Where do these liquor bottles keep coming from? – empty red solo cups were next. Setting the bottle right side up, he turned back to Nina who kept her focus on her opened bag of chips.
"Confession time?" He prodded, setting the garbage bag down to focus on his friend. To his surprise, glassy eyes looked up at him and he felt at a loss.
"Am I a brat?"
"What?"
"Jake…Jake he said – he said I was a brat, and that – and that my parents dying should've made me grow up." Her voice cracked in the end, a few tears sliding down her face. Straightening up, Greg put his hands on her shoulders and said, "This is coming from a guy who ran away from homw a year ago because he got rejected, so don't listen to him Nina. Actually, just stay here and I'll be right back okay."
Letting go of her, Greg took a deep breath to calm himself down and walked out of the kitchen, almost running into Caleb. Muttering an apology, Greg stalked forward searching for Jacob Black.
I'm not going to do anything crazy. I'm just going to have some words with him like a rational person.
Greg heard Jake laugh before he saw him when he walked into the living room. Just seeing Jake there with his friends and laughing stupidly while he was the cause for Nina crying in the kitchen made Greg see red. Fuck it.
Grabbing Jake's shoulder, Greg pulled hard to turn him around, his right arm reeling back. Before Jake could say or do anything, Greg let his arm fly straight, his fist slamming into Jake's face causing the shapeshifter to stumble back in surprise.
"Holy shit!" Quil backed up in surprise, the room quieting as everyone stopped what they were doing and stared.
"FUCK!" Greg screamed, grabbing his right hand, pain exploding from his hand, and shooting up his arm. If it wasn't for the fact that he knew he punched Jacob Black's face, Greg would've thought he punched a brick wall because – fuck this hurts so bad! I think I broke my hand punching Jake's ugly ass face.
Jen immediately crowded around him in worry as nervous chatter started throughout the living room. Bodies began to flood in from the dining room in hopes of seeing some drama begin to unfold.
"Are you okay?!" Seth asked Greg worriedly, his voice a pitch higher than usual. He coughed embarrassedly, this time asking in his normal voice as he eyed the crowd that started to circle them nervously. He knew Quil could handle Jake who seemed more shocked that angry from the random attack, he was just worried that the football team would do something, or worse: Jen.
"No, he's not." Jen answered steely, straightening up to look at everyone around them. "PARTY'S OVER! GET OUT!" Everyone stared at her, and Jen frowned as she placed her hands on her hips as she yelled, "DID I STUTTER? GET THE HELL OUT!"
Murmurs came from the grumbling party goers who wanted nothing more than to see a fight break out, as Jen asked (ordered) Seth to turn off the music and make sure everyone left.
Shakily, Greg grinned at his twin as he said, "Relax Jen, it's not that bad."
"You!" She glared at her brother, long black hair whipping behind her when she spun to look at him. "What the fuck is going on in your mind Gregory?!"
Not wanting to hear an "I told you so" from his twin, Greg only shrugged his shoulders and bit the inside of his cheek in favor of shouting a not so good word at the pain emitting from his hand. "I didn't like how he looked."
"You didn't like – oh my – Greg I'm going to fucking kill you!" Jen seethed, wishing more than anything to shake the stupidity out of her brother. Instead, she turned around looking for a missing best friend in the dwindling crowd trying to leave. "Where is Nina?"
"Oh," Caleb came up to them having heard Jen's question, "she left not too long ago saying she had to go somewhere."
"Did she say where?" Jen's voice hitched, because the plan was for her to stay the night, and Greg felt his insides twist unsettlingly.
"No idea. It was weird though, because I was telling her how I finally jumped off the second to highest cliff this summer, and she just cut in saying she had to leave."
"What?!"
They all turned to look at pale faced Seth, and the unsettling feeling Greg had worsened by three times.
The cold unforgiving wind pushed against her body as if the element itself was trying to stop her from the madness she was about to commit, but Nina didn't let that stop her. Instead she persevered, refusing to back down and stumbled her way up to the top of the highest cliff.
The moment she reached the top, she glanced at the bottle of liquor in her hand, hesitating for a moment. She couldn't do this! It'd be as if she signed her own death sentence if she went through with it!
"It's called liquid courage for a reason Redtree!"
John's voice echoed in her head, and before she could stop and think about it she chugged half of the bottle, ignoring the burning sensation in her throat as the liquor slid easily down. Heat flooded into her cheeks and she noted that the taste kept getting better the more she drank it.
"Liquid…" she repeated, staggering closer to the edge, "courage."
Nina decided then and there that Jen and John were right, the liquor lived up to what they had said, and stopped at the edge of the cliff. She stared down into the dark waters, watching as the waves crashed against the cliffs, taking another swig of the liquor for reassurance. She could do this, she could jump, she could forget and be free.
She closed her eyes, letting the wind push against her body, stumbling backwards when a harsh breeze whipped at her and barely caught herself from falling over. With an encouraging breath, she hurriedly downed the rest of the bottle, feeling warmth pool in the bottom of her stomach before it found its way in her cheeks.
"NiINA!"
She spun around so fast, she tripped over herself and laughed merrily on her way down. The world spun the moment she landed on the ground, and she had to blink a couple of times until the world finally righted itself.
"ARE YOU INSANE?!"
Squinting Nina could make out Embry's form rounding up the rest of the path that led to the top of the cliff, and she cheered, "Embry!"
Embry started, blinking in surprise at how happily she called out his name and watched Nina scramble up, a wide drunken grin on her face as she pointed at the edge of the cliff, "You called me a scaredy cat back then, but you watch!"
"You're drunk Nina," nervously he walked closer to her, worried that if moved too fast he'd scare her into jumping off, "so walk over to me okay? You're way too close to the edge."
"No," she stomped her foot angrily as she slapped her hand against her chest, "no, this is gonna help me! It's going to free me."
Before he could move, Nina hurriedly spun back around taking a running leap off the cliff. It took a good few seconds to realize she was falling through the air, and another for her mind to realize she just threw herself off a cliff.
Flying, her mind strung the words together as the adrenaline and alcohol pumped through her system and she closed her eyes to live in the moment, it feels like I'm flying.
She had been right though, free falling through the air did help her forget. The exhilaration helped her feel free with the air rushing against her and through her hair. For just a moment, she finally felt the peace she had been seeking for after such a long time, and happily surrendered herself into the feeling.
Then her body plunged into the icy depths of water, completely engulfing her as she kept sinking down into the deep. It didn't take long for the water to slow her descent into a stop, her body floating in momentary stillness, until the current pushed and pulled at her body.
Her eyes snapped open, the faded brightness of the full moon barely giving any indication which way was up, and kicked her legs and moved her arms in an attempt to fight against the current. In that moment, she realized that she had traded one unforgiving element for another.
The frigid waters were beginning to make Nina's body feel numb, and her drunken mind kept getting turned around with each current that bashed her body. She felt a familiar burning sensation in her chest, though different from she had been feeling lately, and regretted that she hadn't actually take a deep breath before she plunged into the water.
Nina's eyes were stinging from the ocean as she looked upward and the current pushed her further down into the deep, effectively making whatever effort she had made before fruitless. But she couldn't give up, she needed to try and keep moving despite the numbing and weakness in her muscles. She couldn't die here!
A memory of her brother flashed through her mind, and with a renewed strength she pushed upward despite the ocean fighting against her. It didn't matter that her arms and legs were working so sluggishly, Nina refused to die here.
Something wrapped around her waist from behind, and a scream tore out her throat only for it to be diluted by the salty water that flooded into her mouth. Her lungs were now begging for air, the last of it used in a pointless scream, and she choked on the water that had flooded in before she shut her mouth.
Nina squeezed her eyes shut, weakly trying to push against whatever had grabbed her and was currently pulling her into certain death. In response, she only felt the grip tighten around her, her chest burning painfully.
I'm going to die, because there's no way that Embry would jump after me; mystical shapeshifting powers be damned, he'd be insane to jump after me. Even if he did jump after me, there's no telling that he'd be able to find me and fight the current with me hanging onto him. And it's not like I've really given him any reason to jump after me either; especially with how I went off on him last week and have been ignoring him.
No, Nina's only hope is to believe that Embry went to go and get help, and even then, it's bleak. How long would it be until help finally came, and how long until they finally find her body? Who would break the news to her brother – oh god her brother! How could she do this to him? How could she make him go through this again and leave him alone?
If she hadn't been engulfed in water, Nina was more than sure she'd be crying right now at the thought of leaving Asher alone to go through another death. He'd blame himself for her death, because that's how he was, and no one would make him see otherwise.
I'm so sorry Ash.
Cold air kissed his wet skin the moment Embry broke the surface, and he greedily sucked in air. Nina grew heavier in his arms, and Embry was more than grateful to see that they weren't too far from the shoreline. He swam desperately, fighting against the unforgiving sea that kept trying to pull them under with each wave sent their way.
In what felt like hours (in reality less than five minutes), Embry finally felt the sand beneath his feet, and with renewed vigor he hurried onto the shore, far away from the ocean and any possible driftwood that would come in. Setting Nina down hurriedly, Embry's breath hitched when he realized she hadn't been breathing the entire time
"C'mon Nina!" He grunted anxiously as he placed the heel of his left hand on the center of her chest, and placed his right hand on top of his left. Restraining his strength, he began doing chest compressions, begging her to wake up and breathe. "C'mon Penina, breathe! Breathe!"
Nothing happened, and desperately Embry tilted Nina's head back by her forehead, lifting up her chin just like how he had seen in the movies. Pinching her nose shut, he pressed his mouth against hers and breathed once. He pulled away waiting for any sign of movement, and in seeing none repeated his last step again.
"You're not…dying here Penina!" He cried out, his voice cracking and wild with anxiousness as he started to do chest compressions once more. "You can..hate me all..you want…just breathe!"
As if she heard his desperate plea, Nina turned to her side, water expelling from her mouth. Embry felt like crying tears of joy as he patted her back while she coughed up the water she had in her lungs.
"It's okay Pen, it's okay, I have you." Embry whispered comfortably to Nina, his patting turning into a soothing rub when her coughing subsided. To his dismay, she peeked up at him through half lidded eyes when she turned back, and he noticed how pale her skin had become. It served as a terrifying reminder that she didn't have his unnatural ability of staying constantly hot, and he swept her up in his arms.
"E-Embry?" Nina croaked out weakly, feeling sick at the sway of her body in his moving arms. Embry hushed her, hurrying to her car, giving thanks to Tsikati that she had left it unlock, and he hoped that she didn't have her car keys in her jacket when she decided to jump off the cliff like it was the most natural thing to do before an incoming storm. To his utter delight, not only was the car unlocked, but Nina had left the keys in the engine as well.
Gently setting his imprint down in the back seat, he hurriedly turned on the car, putting the heat on full blast. A weak, "Quilt in trunk," came from the back, and Embry obliged her request, quickly grabbing the quilt and handed it to her before getting into the back seat with her. Adjusting himself in the backseat to where he awkwardly had one leg halfway stretched out on the seat and the other bent uncomfortably on the side, Embry grabbed the quilt and wrapped it securely around Nina before pulling her against him.
"You…you jumped after me." Nina whispered softly in surprise as Embry tucked her head under his chin, and it was only thanks to his supernatural hearing that he even heard her to begin with. Wrapping his arms around her when he felt her shiver, he shrugged at her statement as if to say it wasn't a big deal that he jumped after her into a raging sea. "You're insane."
"Says the girl who almost drowned from drunk cliff diving." Embry retorted as he closed his eyes to savor the feel of his imprint in his arms. The terrifying worry that held a tight grip on his heart slowly began to release as he listened to Nina's slow exhales and beating heart. "Don't you ever scare me like that again Penina Redtree! I don't know what I'd do if I lost you."
The quietness of the car was his only reply, Nina's shivering slowly subsiding. Embry gave thanks to the universe that she's okay, his grip tightening around Nina as he pulled away enough to press a kiss against the back of her head before resuming his earlier position.
"Having you hate me and fighting against the bond is a much better alternative than losing you forever." Embry admitted quietly, shifting uncomfortably in the hot car. "I don't know what you meant by jumping off a cliff would make you free, but I swear Nina, that I'll find a way for you to feel that way without the means of doing something insane like this ever again. You have no idea how terrified I was when you jumped off and weren't breathing when I got us to shore."
"I don't care if you never forgive me, as long as your safe. I'll shoulder the pain from a weak and closed bond if it means you'll be alive and well. I'll do anything for you Nina, just please don't ever do something as crazy as this again; please."
"I'm sorry for what I said to you back then. I'm sorry for ignoring you for two years and not being there after your parents died. I'm sorry it took imprinting for me to realize you were still here. I'll apologize to you a thousand times and more, because you deserve to hear it after everything me and the guys did to you."
Embry meant every word that left his mouth, wishing more than anything that Nina had actually been awake to hear his speech. With a quiet sigh, and a bit of reluctance, Embry let go of her and opened the door. Slowly he exited out of the car, gently laying her down so to not wake her up, and ignored the numbing pins from his leg that fell asleep. He walked around to the driver's side quietly, and after some adjusting to the seat, drove away from the beach.
It didn't take long to reach the Redtree home, and Embry noticed that Asher was thankfully not there. The second he turned off the car, Embry was already outside with the backseat door open and pulling Nina into his arms. He carried her bridal style as he walked up to the front door, and clumsily unlocked it.
"Nina," he said gently as he made his way to her room, "you're home. You need to get out these wet clothes." Setting Nina down on her bed, he shook her shoulder to wake her up, "C'mon Nina, you're going to get sick if you stay in these clothes."
A quiet grumbling met his ears, Nina peering up at him with dazed eyes. Embry smiled at her, tucking a stray wet strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm going to get you something, so you better be in dry clothes and in bed when I come back okay."
Leaving no room for any possible argument, Embry walked out of her room into the kitchen. If I remember right, and everything is still in the same place, then the aspirin should beeee – aha! There it is, and the glasses are – yep the exact same – then that means the post its and pens arrrre – here we go! Closing the cabinet drawer triumphantly, Embry filled the glass a bit more than halfway with water, and took out two aspirins. Quickly, he penned down a little a note, ripping the post it off and grabbed the water and aspirins. When he came to Nina's bedroom door, he peeked in cautiously, satisfied to see a lump of wet clothes and quilt on the floor, and an undefinable lump under the covers.
Setting the note, water, and aspirin on her night stand, Embry carefully pulled back the covers to reveal a mess of wet hair scattered against Nina's sleeping face. He couldn't help the smile that formed as he saw how peaceful she looked, and gently pressed a kiss against her forehead. "Sleep sweet Nina."
Embry barely had one foot out the bedroom when he heard a sleepy, "Thank you Embry." He grinned happily, feeling his cheeks start to warm, and with a lighter step walked out of the house. Even the bond didn't seem as cold as it had before, and this gave Embry hope. He could do this.
hateme101: He is an ass! He's just likes to have the last word, even if it is cruel.
inuyashademons14: Nina's and Seth's relationship is definitely my favorite! I love writing their moments together since they flow so well.
rissbenzo: I'm glad you think so! And Seth is actually my favorite character in the series!
lightbabe: It really is. From their point of view, even in the case of Emily Young, it had always been easy for the guys to woo their imprints. For Nina to be such an outlier bothers them because in a way it's unchartered territory and they can only go off of how Emily and Sam's relationship started. Which doesn't excuse why they're trying to sweep what the guys did under the rug.
Icewomen: Well she didn't, but Greg took one for the team! And the drama of the truth about imprinting is about to unfold so keep an eye out for the next update!
Child of Dreams: I'm glad it helped out! And yeah he is! Jake needs a reality check to be honest.
2017: It makes me happy that the story so far is making you smile! :)
megagenie: I'm glad you came across it too! It's still going to take a while for her to forgive them, and even if it just one of the guys eventually, the other two will still have to work for it!
Thank you everyone for all the love and support! I hope this new year brings each and everyone of you happiness that this awful year (IMO) couldn't offer! :)