Chapter 11: Some Sort Of Passionate Love Induced Action

It was there, sitting atop the plain red brick wall with his head in hands, that I found Embry. It had been at least a month since my beach trip with Emily, and I hadn't seen Embry since. He'd allowed his hair to grow out in a scruffy sort of way. It was all my fault and I knew it. It must have been tough on him-not seeing me. The imprint was hurting him more than it had been me.

But I'd allowed my head to clear, everything was decided for.

"Hey," I sidled onto the wall beside him, keeping my gaze cast downward. I wasn't too sure how he'd react to my return.

As he looked up in response his expression nearly turned my heart to dust. Not just any dust, but a fine white powder that had been ground far too long and far too often. I expected it to change as he saw that it was me, but if anything my proximity only made it worse. Almost immediately he averted his gaze, mumbling some sort of greeting.

"Are you okay?" Stupid question, of course he wasn't. "I'm sorry I haven't been around. I-I just had to sort through some things, you know?"

"It's alright Bella, you don't need to tell me. I've heard it all before. You chose Zayn, and I get that. All of our lives he's gotten the girls, which sounds shallow, I know, but it's true. Any girl I even thought I held any sort of emotion for was swept up in Zayn's 'good looks and charm'. I've heard the whole speech before, so if you could, can we not do this now. In fact, let's not do this at all."

That's what I'd expected Embry to say, but it couldn't have been any further from reality.

"What do you want, Bella?" He intoned.

My face reddened almost instantly. "I-I...ummm...I just...I mean-" I seemed unable to function properly and produce anything even resembling an actual sentence.

In my mind I'd masterfully created scenario after scenario of wonderful reunions between the two of us, all of which ended in some sort of passionate love induced action. That wasn't about to happen anytime soon. I'd jerked Embry around too much for anyone to handle, imprint or not, and he was choosing now to jerk back.

"Well?" He was looking me squarely in the face now, waiting for a reply that I couldn't give. He bore the same cold, steely mask Jake had donned for months on end after my vegetable-state.

"I love you." I blurted out without thinking. Where had that come from? Did I? I'd thought about him and everything else for an entire month, yet I didn't know the answer to such a short, simple question. Did I love Embry Call?

Mutely, he slid from the brick wall, hitting the ground hard. I flinched as his feet hit the ground. How did he feel about all of this? "I'm sorry Bella, I just don't feel the same way."

With that he turned and strode away.

What happened to the imprint? Could he do this? Wasn't there some sort of imprint guidelines that he had to follow that stated he couldn't leave me here like this?

I wanted to jump from the wall and run after him. I wanted him to spin around and catch me in his arms. I wanted him to kiss me until I couldn't catch my breath, but to never stop. I wanted us to be together. I didn't want him to leave.

But, again, none of this would even come close to happening. I was sure that if I even attempted jumping down from the wall I'd face-plant as gracefully as I could ever hope to. I sat alone on the wall without him, watching him walk away-possibly forever. All because I was too afraid to even try and follow. I was a coward of massive proportion.

God knows how long I sat on that wall, letting the wing play along my face without enjoying it. I couldn't enjoy it. I wouldn't. The sun had both set and vanished without my ever leaving the wall. Maybe I wouldn't ever leave. It was certainly an option. Once upon a time I would have deliberated and worried over who to choose, who to go to, what to do. But now, I only wanted Embry-the man I couldn't have.

When the stars came out, I stared up at them, wishing and hoping this was all a dream. I'd never come to the wall today and he hadn't left me. Or maybe, Embry had never imprinted on me. It hadn't happened yet. Yes, I liked that option! Perhaps this was even a parallel universe in which I'd rolled out of bed and into this morning.

"I'd be careful out here if I were you, someone could snatch you up and no one would ever know." Wasn't that the truth.

"What do you want Zayn?" I spoke through gritted teeth and a tense back.

"I've missed you Bella." So graceful that it hurt he hopped onto the wall beside me and grabbed at my hand. I tried to pull it from his grasp but he held on tight. There was no use even trying.

"Yeah, well, I haven't missed you." I was lying and we both knew it.

"Aw, come on, that's not true and you know it. I've indented on you and there's nothing either of us can do about it."

Indenting! I'd almost forgotten. Well, almost. Now was my chance. "What exactly does indenting entail?" My heart was nearly jumping from my chest with the anxiety of awaiting his description. Zayn could probably hear it, but I was far from caring. Maybe there was a way out of this indenting stuff.

"Well, indenting is just like imprinting." Vague? Definitely.

"Let's act like I don't know what that is. Could you tell me?"

He sighed, dropping my hand and pulling me into his arms instead. "It's like the world just stops. The indent is beautiful, gorgeous, stunning, anything you could ever hope for. It's then that you can indent on her, and she's yours. Forever." There was that word again.

Wait, "You can indent on her?"

"Yeah, I mean, it's optional just like imprinting." Obviously Zayn didn't know too much about imprinting.

I could have sung I was so happy. I could be with Embry. If I could convince him to take me, that is. There was nothing standing in my way except Zayn and his infuriating crush. "Zayn, imprinting isn't optional. I'm meant to be with Embry, not you."

"What?" It was such an animal's snarl that I was almost sure it hadn't come from Zayn. But it had. "You're mine, not his. How could you even think that? It-it's not true. You'll never be his! If I want you I can have you! That's the way it is and always has been. If Embryo wants you so bad, then he can come and get you."

In an instant I was snatched from the wall and everything was black.