A/N: Guy's I'm stuck... I'm going on vacation though for a few weeks so hopefully I can get some writing done on the drive there. Sorry if I don't update next week, internet doesn't work very well at my grandpa's. See you soon, hopefully, and please review!

When Gravity Moves

Chapter 12- all that matters

"I've heard about the wolves' fast healing, but this is just incredible. You said you broke them early this morning?"

I shift slightly, uncomfortable with his thorough examination of my body. I'm completely at ease sitting on the kitchen counter topless, it's his closeness and cold hands probing my healed ribs that make me feel odd.

They don't really hurt anymore, just a sore twinge if I twist my torso too far, so the examination really is pointless.

It's because of Alice hovering beside me that I'm being as tolerant as I am. She has the cutest worried expression as her coven leader prods my side once again.

"Yeah, he hit me head on."

"Well, they are just fine."

"Thank you," I say, snatching my shirt off the table and tugging it on. I already knew that they were fine.

I turn my head to my imprint, who seems reassured by the doctor's opinion, and swing my legs softly.

"Hey, Alice," saying her name sends a thrill through me.

She looks at me and smiles.

"You wanna hang out sometime? I would really love it if we can be friends."

I know that she already has a mate, and it wouldn't actually be a date that we would go on, but my heart still stalls when her smile somehow grows even more in excitement.

"That would be amazing!" She hops up and down, clasping her hands together. "Nobody else really likes to go shopping with me anymore, but you don't know any better yet. We can even make a trip out of it and go down to Seattle and hit up all the stores, and even the little shops."

My smile twitches as she goes on and on about shopping, and I just then start to wonder what this imprint is going to mean for me. And then I decide that I don't care, because her eyes are the brightest topaz I've ever seen, her inky locks bounce chaotically with her, and she looks so incredibly happy.

Even if it means that she's going to drag me shopping every time we are together.

I suddenly want to touch her. Just to brush my knuckles across her cheek, or hold her hand. I want to touch her, but I know I can't. Not yet.

I have to take this slow, let her form friendship feelings, at least, first. Normal people don't instantly form a bond like an imprint the moment they see them.

No, that's a wolf thing.

"How about this weekend?" She offers.

"Okay," I answer instantly. I don't know if I have any plans, but if I do, I'll have to reschedule.

"Do you want me to pick you up," she suddenly becomes uncertain. "Or, I guess I can't really go onto Quileute land without an escort...do you want I meet me here?"

She seems upset about the border, and I hate the uncertainty in her expression; she should be allowed to do whatever she wants.

"You can pick me up," I say quickly, and her expression turns surprised. "If I let them know you will be coming, it'll be fine."

She slowly starts to smile again, and I relax when the excitement returns.

"So I'll pick you up Saturday at about four so-"

"In the morning?" I squeak.

"Of course; Seattle is a few hours away and we need the entire day to shop, especially if we are stopping for food to feed you."

"Okay," my voice, which has been rougher since my change, still seems unnaturally high. I don't want to get up that early, but then it doesn't matter because now she's hugging me.

"Yay! I need to go plan!"

She's gone as quickly as she came, taking her cold with her even though her scent still clings to my shirt and skin.

My eyes follow her longingly before they catch sight of Jasper just in the doorway. His head is tilted curiously, examining me like I'm a fascinating puzzle.

When I start to grow uncomfortable, he looks away and I go in search of Emmet to play some games. I don't yet want to go home.

...

It's awful. It's something that just really needs to go die in a dark dingy hole, never to see the light of day. Well, I guess a situation can't really die, but I sure wish it could.

My attempt to pry my eyes open again is met in failure and a whine escapes my throat. I'm so tired.

I shuffle around my shared bedroom, ignoring Leah's grumbling and sleepy complaints, with my eyes cemented closed.

I grab a shirt and pants blindly, hoping they'll match, and slide them on with shaky effort. My heavy limbs are a protest all on their own, along with my mind that seems to still be trying to slide into sleep even with me on my feet.

I only got two hours of sleep last night because of patrol, and I hate Sam all over again for not changing my times. Though, I probably shouldn't have asked right after destroying Emily's flowerbeds with a fight I started; I'm lucky I didn't go through the wall of the house.

There is a knock on the front door, and I'm blinking tiredly again, unaware that I had dozed off with only one leg through the pant hole.

I hurriedly pull them all the way on and stumble down the stairs to open the front door with half lidded eyes.

"You own me," I grumble half-heartedly, knowing full well that this is basically what I wanted. Just...does it have to be so early?

Alice giggles and takes my hand in both of her's. They are shockingly cold against my feverish temperature, but it's the fact that she's holding my hand that snaps my mind suddenly alert.

"Come on," she says with a charming smile, "you can sleep in the car."

But I know that I won't; not with her excitement that magically transfers to me, or now that she's actually here in my presence.

I subtly breathe in, inhaling her paradox scent of rain and sun and honey.

"I'm sorry," her cheeks pale in that cute not-quite-a-blush way, moving to roll down the window in her shockingly yellow car. "I must stink to you right?"

She must have caught my subtle sniff.

"Not at all," I admit. "You smell really amazing. Sun and rain, a perfect paradox of what you are- beautiful and dangerous."

Her cheeks pale even more. "Thank you; but you don't have to lie for me."

"No, really," I insist with wide earnest eyes. I lean forward, sticking my nose right into her neck and inhaling, to prove it to her. "You don't smell like normal vampires to me at all. You smell incredible."

I lean back into my seat before my closeness could get weird.

"Thank you," she says after several long moments and rolls the window back up.

"I must...stink to you though. Rosalie says I smell like road kill mixed with garbage with an undertone of wet dog."

Alice frowns cutely. "Actually, you don't. At least not to me. You just smell like the woods- wild and rain damp, and some honeysuckle. It's strange because no one else in my family smells that from you."

A grin splits my teeth. Does the imprint work both ways? Is it affecting her too?

Excitement stirs in my belly, flipping it into knots. Could she love me too, like Emily loves Sam? I sure hope so. I don't really want a relationship like Claire and Quil for the rest of my existence. I would be okay with it, happy with it, but this is the first sign that we might be able to be more.

But then I remember that she has a mate and any brief fantasies I might have had, vanish.

It takes a lot of effort to shake off the disappointment, but what I might want doesn't matter.

She's all that matters.