Chapter 12:

When I woke up the next morning I didn't wake up to my alarm, but to voices. I looked over at my alarm clock and saw that it was almost seven o'clock. I slowly climbed out of bed and left my room. I was able to hear the voices clearer as I went down the stairs.

"Things are settled… then when?"

"For us… but not for…"

Both voices were clearly male. Stepping off of the stairs, I wondered who Embry had let into the house.

"…clearly likes…knows everything…except for…"

God, this partial conversation was getting annoying. I quickly walked through the house to see Embry and Jacob standing in front of the front door. They'd stopped talking when I entered the hallway.

"Hey Embry. Jacob, what are you doing here?" I asked.

"Just came to pick-up Embry for school," Jacob said.

"Oh, OK. Just remember to come back here after. I may be picking someone from your pack, but I'm not going to outright turn everyone down – it wouldn't be nice," I said.

Embry nodded. "Sure, I'll be here."

Embry and Jacob left the house, carrying out their discussion somewhere else. Automatically, I let my feet carry me to the kitchen. I thought about last night as I put together a bowl of cereal. Embry had used his magical comforting abilities to get me to relax. As the time passed with Embry sitting at my side, we discussed his pack. He fully disclosed any questions remaining questions about the pack. I looked down to realize that I'd stopped eating and my cereal was getting soggy. I quickly downed the rest of the bowl before it became disgustingly soggy. I'd got too caught up reliving the few short moments I'd spent in Embry's arm. Why was I so comforted by Embry? I thought. I remembered wanting to ask if it was part of the Pack thing, but decided against it. Because what if it wasn't? Then I'd be alienating another person. I didn't need that.

I washed my bowl and placed it in the drying rack. Then I went upstairs to shower and change. While I was in the shower I prepared myself mentally for the amount of kids that were stopping by today. The first was coming at three and I'd be busy until five. I'd be picking from the Pack, because I felt that I owed it to them and by giving them their own room I would be helping them out, and I was happy to do so.

Leah was a given, I couldn't live with just guys after growing up with all my sisters. Next up were the graduating seniors, Quil and Embry. A smirk formed on my face. I'd turn the house into Pack Central. It would be the one place where they wouldn't have to hide their secrets (only some of the boys were 'out' to their families). I'd guess I could deal with that, I had a month away from them remaining and if it ever did become a problem I could just kick them out. But I wouldn't be so willing to do that, not wanting it to come back and bite me in the ass being mean to my protectors – or, to the tribe's protectors. It'd be hard to break my reflex of calling them my protectors.

I drove into Forks to get some sheets for my parent's bed. It just felt weird to use all their stuff. I was planning on moving into their room, to make room for the Pack members I'd be letting in. Top floor was girls only, Leah getting my old room. Quil and/or Embry would get the girls' old room on the first floor. So with that push, I was hoping to move into my… new room today. I'd still keep the sheets that were currently on the bed as spares, but a new style wouldn't be a bad change.

My cart was full with some new pillows, pillow covers, and a sheet & comforter set. It felt good to do something so normal and not have fear overcome me. I knew I had no reason to worry anymore – there was no longer any person out to get me – but I still couldn't help but get the least bit anxious going out in public. For some reason I couldn't get myself to get gas in Forks. I barely made it back to La Push.

I emptied out my wallet filling up my tank, and then headed back home. I had some lunch then got to work changing the sheets on the bed and washing both sets. I switched out the pillow that I used in my room with one of the old ones. I put the new beige and purple sheets on the king sized bed. I threw the comforter over it, with the large helix and corkscrew design on top. It took me ten minutes to get the nice, soft pillow cover on the new body pillow I got at the store. That I placed against the head board. I put a new light purple cover over my usual pillow and over a new pillow. I threw the remaining pillow in the empty closet in my new room.

I went to the dryer and got the old sheets. I folded them and placed them in the linen closet, next to the bathroom which was beyond the stairs, in a mini hallway.

By the time I had transferred all my clothes from my old closet to my… new closet (my mother's old one) it was two o'clock. I walked back into my old room and took down all the posters and pictures on the walls. I hung a majority of them back up in my new room, storing the rest in the other closet. I took down a few of the pictures and set them aside to find a new place for them. A made a mental note to find some new picture frames, hopefully one that was the collage type.

At 2:50 I went downstairs, just in time to let Embry in.

"Hey, Embry. Thanks so much for doing this," I said, following him into the family room.

"Not a problem," Embry said, taking a seat on the couch, looking perfectly at home. "So who have you decided on?"

"Leah's a given. Of course that leaves only Quil to get the old girls' room, but I was wondering… would you want to room with Quil?" I asked. He hadn't called or anything for the spot, but I knew he would be graduating. Embry looked surprised by my question.

"Me… Really?" Embry stuttered out. "I didn't- wouldn't think that…"

"If you meant to stay at home with your Mom, forget that I asked. But if you don't mind sharing a room with Quil, the offer is open. Of course Quil doesn't know… he'd probably be happy about being in his own place," I said, trying to cover my tracks. I had guessed that he would want a spot, but was too shy to ask for some reason or another. It looked like I guessed wrong.

"No, no," Embry said, standing up. "I'm very grateful that you'd offer, Ashley. I just didn't guess…"

"Do you want it or not?" I asked quickly, slightly turning at the sound of the doorbell.

"-Yes," Embry quickly said.

I smiled before turning and walking to the front door.

Aya arrived five minutes early. I vaguely recalled her from high school. She had been a senior when I was a Junior. I knew her name, but that was all I knew about her. I tried my best not to seem bias or let-on about the spots now being closed. The 'interview' lasted for fifteen dreaded minutes.

I waved goodbye to her from the door thinking, what a bitch.

"What a bitch. I'd reconsider hitting a girl after what she said," Embry commented, walking into the hallway from the family room.

I had interviewed Aya to the kitchen while Embry easily listened in from the family room.

"Let's hope the next person is far nicer," I said, closing the front door.

"Are you okay?" Embry asked, concerned.

I waved a hand. "I'm fine."

Embry observed me, doubting my answer.

"I said I'm fine, Embry. Really," I said.

"When is the next one?" Embry asked, moving on the conversation.

"3:30, Leah is coming at four, that's when I'll tell her where she'll be. Some Brock dude will be here at 4:30 and Quil at five," I answered.

Embry nodded. "Do you want me to just chill in the family room for all of them?"

"Yeah, pretty much. You can obviously come out for when Leah and Quil are here. Maybe talk to Quil about sleeping arrangements," I said.

"You know you are really cool doing this for us," Embry said.

I shrugged. "I can trust you guys."

"Just know that you're totally awesome for doing this," Embry said. I smiled at him. "But you know this place is going to be crawling with the Pack once we all move in," Embry said.

"Ugh, using the word crawling does make it sound bad," I said, making a face.

The doorbell rang and I shooed Embry off. After watching him disappear down the hallway, I opened the front door and froze. I couldn't believe I didn't attach the name to the face, or should I say body.

"Jack?" I said, surprised. The boy who I had crushed on the hardest in my whole high school career was now standing in front of me.

"Hey, Ashley," Jack greeted.

"Um, sorry, I just didn't think…" I said, I knew he was with that bitch Dakota when we graduated. I never thought he'd be leaving that beautiful girl. I let Jack in, memories of high school life flashing in my mind. The small moments we had shared flirting before Dakota won him out, fully bringing out the jealousy beast in me. My friend Hannah and I had spray-painted her fancy unused car the night of prom, clearly writing profanity over it with spray paint.

"I know, we broke up but she kept the ring, so I'm on a bit of a budget after she kicked me out of the house," Jack said.

I led him into the kitchen, motioning for him to take a seat at the table. "That's too bad, I'm sorry it didn't work out."

Jack brushed it off. "I'm just happy I'm able to still stay on my feet. But I'm afraid I'll have to fall on my ass and move in with my parents until everything gets sorted out with Dakota."

I seriously considered telling Quil to forget it so I could get another swing at Jack. He was still super fit, perhaps even more so since graduation. He looked just as handsome too.

"Well, I hope everything does get sorted out, Jack. You really are a great guy and you deserve better," I said.

Jack smiled at the compliment. "Thanks Ash, you were always the charmer." He winked at me and I laughed. "It may have been a little prank we all pulled voting for you, but you really were the most likely to talk yourself out of a ticket." I laughed. "It's true! You are such a people person, Ashley. It seemed like you could get along with everybody."

I shrugged. "Well, not always…"

Jack leaned forward, reaching his right hand out across the table. "I really wish I'd known back then what I knew now. Because if I had, I would've picked you."

I couldn't help but blush. I wasn't the only charmer in the room. "That's really sweet of you Jack… but you won't be any more likely to get a room."

Jack smirked and glanced down at his hand. "Would it be best if I said that was why I was flirting?"

There were two big things I could choose to do. I could agree with him or I could reach my hand out and put it on top of his, saying that I was happily returning his flirtatious comments. I wasn't exactly ready for a relationship, but maybe, by the time we got to that – I may be ready for it. So I hesitantly reached out my left hand to rest on top of his. Jack looked up at me, surprised.

"You weren't the only person in this room flirting," I said quietly. Jack smiled at me and covered my hand with his other hand. "I had the biggest crush on you in high school and now since we're older, the age difference means a whole lot less."

Jack laughed. "Yeah, it's funny how that changes. You could be dating a thirty-year-old and it wouldn't be weird."

I laughed, knowing that I never would. "I'm not so sure about that, but yes that is true."

"Well even if you don't pick me for a roomie, you have my number for whenever you want to call," Jack said.

I stood, pulling my hand from between his hands. "Yes, I'll call you sometime. I'm at school most of the time now, but maybe some weekend…?" I left it open for Jack, so he could choose if he wanted me or not.

"Sure, definitely," Jack said, standing up.

"Well, you'll be getting a call from me no matter what," I said, trying to put on a sweet smile.

Jack stepped forward unexpectedly, leaning in close to peck me on the cheek. He slowly pulled away, probably proud of my stunned expression. "I'll be looking forward to that."

Jack left the house by himself; I was too stunned to move. A smile crept onto my face, and I raised a hand to lightly touch my right cheek, the one that Jack's lips had lightly pressed onto my skin. I was so caught up with myself that I didn't notice Embry standing in the archway of the kitchen. I only realized he was there when the doorbell rang. I looked up, startled by the sound. Embry backed away in order to let me through. I hurried past him and his changed attitude.

I quickly opened the door to see Leah.

"Are you really going to hand the spots out to the Pack, or do you still want to do interviews?" Leah asked.

"Yes, you have one of the spots," I said, easily smiling after spending some time with Jack.

Leah grinned. "I'd hug you if I could!"

"Why couldn't you?" I questioned, stepping away from the door to let her in.

Leah walked into the hallway. "It's just not my style. Eventually we might get to the 'hugging' stage, but not yet."

"Because being emotional is hardly something Leah ever does," Embry commented from the end of the hall.

"Oh, be quiet Em," Leah said.

"You better get along well with Embry and Quil, because they'll be living here too," I commented.

Leah looked over at Embry surprised. "Embry and Quil? As long as I'm not sharing a room with them."

"No. Why don't I show you to your room?" I suggested.

Leah agreed and I led her through the house, up the stairs. I opened the door to what would be her room. It looked out over the front lawn and had a bay-window sort-of-thing working for it. It was really three walls that were built out of the face of the house. The three full-length windows let in a lot of light, making the room a lot more spacious than it already was.

"Wow, this is a really nice room," Leah commented. She looked around the walls. "Did this used to be yours?"

"Yeah," I answered. "I moved into my parents' room. You'll have free range with the room to do whatever, just no demolishing anything."

Leah walked across the room, to the opposite wall of the almost-bay-window and opened the closet. "Oh this is awesome, I'll take it." She closed the door and walked to stand in front of me. "How much will it be?"

"Until the end of the school year it will be split between you and me," I said.

"Cable and utilities?" Leah asked.

I nodded. "Yeah, the house is actually paid off, and I don't have the need to make a profit out of this. I just need someone in the house and to keep watch on it. If you want to get anything for the house, you can talk to me and maybe we can split it, otherwise you'll be paying for anything you get."

Leah tilted her head to the side. "What about groceries?"

"You eat what you buy, you can only take from it if it's offered to you," I said, drawing the line somewhere. I really only expected food trouble for when the boys moved in.

"So what does it total up to?" Leah said.

"200 and that's the two way split. Only 100 once the boys move in," I explained.

Leah nodded her head. "Sounds like a deal," Leah said, holding out her hand. I took it, happy to have it settled. "I'll move in tomorrow if that's okay."

"That's fine. I'll be here if you need any help," I said, walking out of the room.

Leah followed behind me as I walked down the stairs.

"I think I'll be good. The hardest part would be dealing with my Mom, but I'm sure at the same time she'll be happy I'll be leaving. She'll only have to worry about one kid being home when she brings Charlie over."

"Charlie, who is that?" I asked, stopping in the family room.

"Charlie Swan, police chief of Forks," Embry said.

"Oh, him," I said, dropping the subject. I'd met him more than I'd ever like to.

"What? Are you saying that you got tangled up with the Forks authority?" Leah questioned.

"Umm, sort of. It was more of the fact that they didn't have anything on my friend and I, and I've had a speeding ticket or two," I mumbled, wanting the conversation to be over.

The doorbell rang.

"Saved by the bell," Leah said. "We'll chat once you're done with your 'interview'." She took a seat at the couch looking around the room.

"Just don't let him hear you," I said, leaving the room when the doorbell rang again.

I answered the door and had a quick little chat with Brock, telling him that I will call if he got the spot. I went back into the living room to find Leah and Embry in a quiet but heated discussion. Their conversation dropped when I stood in front of them.

"Will there be anybody else that will be interrupting our nice little conversation, Roomie?" Leah asked.

"No, Quil is the only one left and he's supposed to be coming at 4:30," I said.

"Knowing Quil, he'll be here in five minutes at most," Embry said. "He was really excited about getting out of the house."

"I could tell," I said. I sat down on the love seat that was perpendicular to the couch Leah and Embry sat on.

"He'll probably want some sort of new-roomie-bonding-time dinner," Leah said, glancing at me sidelong.

"We could all run to the grocery store real quick," I said.

Leah grinned, leaning towards me. "Or not real quick. We could pull a prank on him. Leave the house, all the lights turned off and all the doors locked."

"Are you sure it wouldn't, I don't know, upset him?" I asked. I could picture the puppy-dog look on his face when he found the house empty and dark.

"He'll be fine with it, especially with the soothing feeling of food in his stomach," Leah assured me. I glanced over at Embry and he shrugged.

Trusting the pair, I nodded. "Okay, let's go."

"Shotgun!" Leah shouted.

Quil POV

I paced in my room watching the clock. I wanted to get there early, but not too early that I would interrupt some other interview. If I ran as fast as I possibly could it would take not even a minute to get there. So as soon as my clock hit 4:44…

I bolted out of my room and out the back door, tearing off my shirt as I went. I stopped in the woods, struggling with my shorts slightly. I was annoyed that I'd have to tie them to my leg because there wasn't a shorts stock nearby Ashley's house. I ran off like a bullet to the woods behind the house. I quickly phased back, put on the shorts and ran to the back door of the house. The lights weren't on and I couldn't hear anyone inside the house.

I lightly rapped on the window pane of the door and waited a moment. There was no movement inside of the house. I looked inside some more and saw that it was a kitchen. To the far right was a table with five chairs around it. On the left was the kitchen area. A grin spread across my face at the sight of the stainless steel mega-fridge they had (mega in comparison to the one at the house) that was beyond the short little island that couldn't be more than four feet in length. Two little stools were pushed together underneath the bit of overhang counter.

I looked down and tried the knob to see if it was open. Nothing. I refrained from growing frustrated.

"Ashley," I called against the door. I listened in for any movement in the house. There weren't any heartbeats sounding in any part of the house, except for a few that were quite possibly in the attic. I thought about telling Ashley about her little mice problem.

I went around to the front door and rang the doorbell anyways.

"Ashley?" I said. I leaned my forehead against the door. Is this what I got to be so eager about moving out? I mean I loved my mom; she was my mother, but… I just know I need this bit of independence before I get with Claire. Sure, I understood I wouldn't be here until the very day that I got a place for the two of us. Embry and Ashley would sure get together before then. When that time came, I'd go looking again. But right now, I needed to get myself out of the house and try to live a normal life on my own. There was money for the Pack that we got for the hours that we patrolled, because it took time away from when we could be at jobs. Leah had proven that a job and patrols were hard to juggle. For us still in school, it was basically impossible.

I knocked on the wooden door, knowing no one was there, but did it anyways to make myself feel better. Ashley had forgotten about me, running off into the sunset with Embry in hand and Leah living in her house.

Ashley POV

We all kept an eye out for Quil as I pulled onto my street. As I turned into my driveway I saw Quil sitting against the house, his head resting between his knees- that was before I turned onto the gravel of the driveway. His head came up an expression of surprise on his face and then excitement as he got up and ran over to the car. Leah and I were laughing, both of us sitting in the front.

Leah unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car as it was still rolling up the driveway.

"Ha, your face! It was hilarious!" Leah said, meeting with Quil mid-way.

"So, wait- you're?" Quil was hesitant to ask.

"We're roomies! Embry too," Leah added.

Quil glanced over at Embry before, running over to me.

"Uh, Qui-!" I got cut short by Quil, hitting me with so much force that I was forced up against my car.

"Ohmygod! I'm so sorry Ashley –but you're the best," Quil said, giving me a nice bear-hug. "I love you so much… You're the best!"

I slowly shifted under his grip, getting my arms out from under his own to hug him back. "It's all good Quil. I know that you're just… excited." I wasn't so sure about the 'I love you' part, but that I'd attribute to the excited bit.

"Tha-ank yo-ou Ash-ley," Quil stretched the words out as he whispered them into my ear.

"Okay, Quil, you're freak-factor has just hit fucking 100," Leah said from my left. I hadn't heard her come due to the hug I was still stuck in.

Quill turned to face Leah, while still hugging me rotating our little arrangement 90 degrees clockwise. "You're just jealous!"

Leah scoffed. "Jealous of what?"

"You didn't get a hug from Mama Wolf!" Quil said. "You okay with me calling you Mama Wolf?" Quil whispered into my ear.

"Sure?" I said, wondering when the hug will end.

"Oh, so now you're so tight with her that you're giving her nick-names?" Leah teased. "Well, guess who has the biggest room, and is living by themselves?"

"Pssh, I'll be living-" Quil broke off to turn completely around to look at Embry, who had been standing behind him. He looked at him a moment before turning back around. I was slightly able to keep up with him and his movements. "Whatever," Quil said.

"Quil, are you done yet?" Embry asked.

Quil instantly released me. He looked back at Embry, glancing over his shoulder. He looked back at me giving me a sheepish smile.

"Sorry."

"… It's okay, Quil. Do you want to help with the groceries?" I asked, attempting to get him off the awkwardly long hug moment.

"Sure," Quil said with a shrug of his large shoulders.

"It's for all of us dummy," Leah said, pulling one of the bags from the trunk.

Quil's eyes brightened and he looked down at me smiling. "I'd give you another hug for being so awesome but I think that last one can count as two."

"It could count as twelve," Leah said, walking inside with some bags.

Quil quickly walked over to the trunk and lifted five of the bags out. Embry got the rest and I was happily left with closing the trunk. I held the door for the boys and then followed them inside.

AN: I do not know why I do this! Why do I always create some rival character only for Embry?I did that Quil thing because I felt like it (even if I did say POVs would be between Ashley and Embry) I'm really asking for some reviews here in BOLD, because I really want them and because if I don't… all of my 31 alerters and 14 favs won't be happy. I get it, it is a depressing story – but give me something! It is getting better (at the same time that I deviate from the DSM-IV-TR) oh and also do you want the dinner scene with Ashley, Embry, Leah and Quil?

& Now a message from mon Beta!:

You're being very mean to poor Embry! Poor thing! Your stories great! People, REVIEW! I'm an author myself and it means soooooo much to get them! I love seeing them in my inbox every time. She's an amazing author and her story is great and it can only get better. ~With Mucho Love, Fanpire95, aka Beta-extraordinaire!