DISCLAIMER: I don't own Twilight.

Thank you to my beta and my readers! Fanfiction has been a real pain in the ass, and I simply haven't been able to sign in for the past month, which has been really, really frustrating! But here it - finally - is, so i hope you enjoy!

12. Haunted but alive

Evelyn's POV

I woke up Monday morning after the party by the sounds of a ukulele. Was that really my annoying neighbour again? He was driving me insane. I slipped out from my big round bed, and pulled on a pair of shorts and a red top. I didn't bother with shoes; I liked being bare-footed anyways. I couldn't find Embry anywhere, but maybe he'd just needed a little time on his own.

I decided to go to the beach and write in my diary. I don't know how I long I stayed there, because I hadn't looked at my watch. But I liked being so independent of the time. By the time I got back, I saw something I for some reason thought was important.

Randa and Lucas were standing on the left side of their front porch. It was hidden from people walking on the street, but it wasn't hidden if you were standing on Embry's porch. I wouldn't have stayed and watched them if they'd just been talking, but they weren't just talking. Lucas had his hands on Randa's butt, while her arms were clasped around his broad torso. I couldn't see what exactly they were doing besides that, from this angle. I took a few steps back to better see. Yep, they were kissing. I shook my head and went inside, thinking that the reason Lucas hadn't run by me this morning probably was, that he was too busy with Randa. It was none of business anyway, so I just let it be.

I ate a piece of toast for breakfast. It was enough to keep me full till noon. I took a swim in the oddly shaped pool, now that I was by myself and Embry wouldn't be able to see my bruises. I didn't stay there for long, because I was worried he would be home anytime. Once I got up I went to the front porch again. Randa and Lucas were gone, so I seated myself on one of the lawn chairs and listened to music on my iPod. I didn't need to read a book awhile; it was simply enough entertainment to watch the sky and the sea. Suddenly Embry came walking up the driveway in cutoffs and bare feet. He smiled and said something I couldn't hear because of the music.

"Sorry, what?"

"Did you sleep well?" He repeated, slowly.

"How could I anything but?" I grinned. "Where have you been?" Oh damn. I knew he heard the desperate and worried tone to my voice, because I could even hear it myself. I failed my plans of sounding casual.

"Just out for a walk," He'd now reached the porch and was about to sit down on the lawn chair beside me.

I turned my head to enjoy the sight of him. I felt grateful to have met a man like him.

"Ev?" He mumbled after a while of silence.

"Yes?" My voice was whispery.

"I need to talk to you about something important." Oh no. "I talked to Nikoline last night at the party."

"What did she want?"

"She wanted to make sure I don't hurt you. Listen, babe, I've never treated women right before." He paused to sigh. "I'm not proud of it at all, but it has led me into having a really bad reputation. Have you ever talked to your friends about me?"

I nodded, although I was embarrassed to admit it.

"What did they say about me? Have they heard of me?"

"Yes," I formulated my sentences in my head before I spoke. "They told me to be careful with you, and that I could easily get hurt. And they told me you use women for sex."

I was kind of shocked when he buried his face in his hands. "And you came with me anyway," He whispered almost sounding rueful. He lifted his head and stared me right in the eyes. "Look, I'm not like that anymore. After I've met you, I've changed so much. It doesn't matter to me if you think this is crazy, but I care so much about you and you're the first woman I have ever had these kind of feelings for."

I gazed down at my hands.

"Ev," He pleaded. "Do you believe me when I say I will never hurt you?"

"You're a guy – that's what guys do."

"But you wouldn't be here with me if you believed I could? Or are you just that naive?"

"I'm here because I want to." I said stubbornly.

He reached out to intertwine my fingers into his. It tinkled so much. "Please believe me,"

"Embry, I never believed what other people said about you, I'm not like that. When I met you for the first time, it didn't even cross my mind, you could be that kind of guy. And I still don't think you could. But of course it can worry me, when people tell me to cool off with you. And the thing that bothers me the most about it, is, that um..."

His eyes turned pleading, when I lost words for what I was about to say. "Say it,"

"I get jealous! I don't like that you have been with so many women. It makes me angry, and worried that I might... I dunno... that I might disappoint you?"

His mouth moved, and became a smile. One of those relieved smiles, where you'd think I had just made an avalanche of bricks, glass and concrete aiming for him, disappear. But his smile was also very amused, and I was embarrassed. I regretted saying that I got angry and jealous. He grazed the back of my hand with soft strokes, when he noticed my reddening cheeks.

"Eve," He sighed, but not in a negative way. I gazed at the view from the porch. The wind was harsher today, and the palm trees were swaying. The waves were violent and taller than I had ever seen waves. But despite all of that, the sky was still clear and blue, and the sun was still radiating its warm sun beams at us. I tore my gaze off the horizon when Embry spoke again. "I'm sorry, I really, truly am. But what's done is done, and I can't change it. If I knew anyone who could, I would have made them, but I'm not that personal with God." I smiled slightly, and looked at our intertwined fingers. "But I just want you to know, that there's one thing I can change. I can make sure that I won't be like that in the future." He put his hand on my cheek, forcing me to look into his eyes, the ones that always made my knees feel weak. "I promise you, Evelyn Hart, that I will never betray you, or treat you like I have treated other women. You are special to me, and I care more about you, than anyone else."

I drew a sharp breath, followed by a hesitation. "Okay." I wanted to kiss him so badly. His lips were only inches from mine, and I could feel his breath on my face. Why not? He'd kissed me twice, now it had to be my turn. I took a moment to think it over, and was shocked with myself, as I realized I was going to do it, although I had a boyfriend in Seattle. I leaned over to let the sensation of his warm lips against mine run through my veins again, but he pulled away. My jaw was hanging, when I'd had time to process what he'd just done. It didn't make any sense at all compared to the other signals he'd sent me.

"That reminds me of something else I want to talk to you about," He said.

I sighed tiredly. Why didn't he just get this over with, quickly?

"I don't think us two being together is a good thing right now."

"Don't tell me you're married and have three kids at home," I joked.

He didn't laugh or smile. His face stayed the same serious, but hesitant expression.

"I was just joking," I mumbled. He still hadn't reacted. "Oh, Embry, please tell me you don't have kids and a wife?"

He grinned. "Of course I don't. I was just playing you."

I punched his shoulder lightly and looked away, "You got me worried,"

He looked boyish when he smiled that goofy smile. It made goosebumps appear on my arms. He was just so handsome. "Naw, don't worry." He said. "Look, um, I've been thinking about things. And I mean it, I just don't think that us being together is a good idea right now."

"Why do you feel so differently about that now?"

"Because, I have realized that you need a friend. Not someone to share a bed with. Sorry babe, but you have a lot of problems to work out, and I think you're fully aware of that. I can't help you with those problems if I'm too busy making out with you. I wouldn't be anything else, than a distraction that keeps your mind off the hard things in life."

I felt humiliated above all. He knew about those problems I thought I had hidden so well. But here he was, seeing right through me. I turned my gaze down to the ground. "But what makes you so sure you can help me?"

He looked so determined, while my tears were spilling. "Remember what I said on the plane?" He continued without I had said anything. "How you're not supposed to be a model? I know you don't like it. I can tell from the lack of enthusiasm when you talk about it. Maybe quitting that job would be a good start."

A while of silence passed by. "Maybe,"

The height of the waves increased. "Will you promise me to at least try, Ev?"

I snapped my head up, and looked him in the eyes with as much will power as I contained at the moment. His brown eyes were liquid, as if melted by the sun rays. Even his eyes were irresistible. And now that I already knew what was behind those fragile lips, I wasn't sure I could keep myself in order. Even now, I yearned to feel the explosions of love that happened inside me whenever he looked at me in that way, touched me that way, or decided to kiss me that way. My heartbeat grew faster; I could feel the pounding through my shirt.

I had to be truthful about this. I owed him that. "Embry, to be honest, I can't even stand looking at you," His gaze immediately shot down, hurt. I wanted to make this right, so I put my tiny hands on each of his cheek, feeling the bubbling warmth of his skin. "Look at me, Em," My voice was barely a whisper. "I can't even stand looking at you, without being able to kiss you. I'm hurting, when you're so close to me, but still so far away. I need you, and I never thought I would be able to say it to your face, but... I want you... to want me back."

I'm not sure how, but suddenly I was on his lap, our lips crushing against each other. I clung to him with all my strength. His arms were closed around me, and I had my arms locked around his neck. He moved to kiss my neck and the hollow under my ear. I sighed in satisfaction, and let myself feel what I felt for just a moment.

Embry's POV

A week passed, and I never thought I would ever live to feel such happiness. It was the happiest week of my life so far. I was so filled up with her love, and it made me feel like I was floating somewhere on the top of world. And the best part was that all I would see when I looked down at the world, all I would see was her.

It was noon in Hawaii, and the weather was perfect for a surfing trip.

"Babe, do you wanna go surfing with me today?"

A while passed with no answer.

"Evelyn?" I called.

I went to her room, but she wasn't there. Neither in the bathrooms or living rooms. I looked for her at the pool as well, but she wasn't there. I got worried, and went to Niko's house. I knew they had become closer friends in the past week, so I figured she could easily have gone there. But once I had knocked the door seven times, I admitted to myself that nobody was home. Frustrated, I went to the beach in search of her. Every cell of my body was uneasy and shaky. This was the kind of thing that made me clench my muscles in concentration, so I wouldn't change. I ran along the beach, narrowing my eyes because of the strong light from the sun. The feel of her presence snuck up on me.

And there she was, hidden behind a well of flowers and bushes. Her feet were buried in the sand, while she was running her fingers through it. I wondered what she was doing down here, but came to the conclusion that she might just be enjoying the view like everyone else. Her face matched the mood of the weather and the sea – peaceful, calm and crystal clear. She couldn't see me from where I was standing, but I didn't want her to. Yet. I loved watching her like this – in her purest form. Her hair fell, covering her face, when she grabbed something beside her. Then she began scribbling down with a simple pen in the black diary I had given her. She pursed her lips in concentration, but eventually she would smile, at something she wrote. And once – just once – her face dropped, and her hauntingly green eyes darkened, and filled with tears. Watching her – seeing her look that way – made me feel a big amount of confusing emotions. Sadness, anger, despair and doubt. It made me turn around and walk back to the house, like a coward. I told myself I didn't want to disturb her in whatever moment she was having. But there was one thing I caught on to and was absolutely sure about; those tears were most definitely not the happy kind.

Confused and most of all longing to make her sorrows disappear, I went back to the house and seated myself on the couch in the living room downstairs. It didn't take long before I shifted uncomfortably to lay down – as long as I was – and fall asleep, despite my many worries.

I woke up a while later, by the lovingly strokes on my cheek from Evelyn. I could smell her perfume coming off of her chest and wrists, almost becoming one with her own scent. I didn't open my eyes for about ten minutes, I just wanted to enjoy her touch.

"Embry?" She whispered with a tiny voice. It was the first words in a long time. "Embry?" She repeated, almost desperate.

I didn't open my eyes as I spoke. "Yes, baby?"

"I'm scared,"

My eyes shot up immediately. "What's wrong?" I demanded to know.

"Do you know a man with yellowish eyes and dark long hair pulled into a ponytail?" I couldn't help but notice how fragile she sounded. She must have been really scared.

"Go on,"

"He was really tall with light skin, and he had characteristic eyebrows."

I took a moment to think. "I'm not sure. Why are you asking me this?"

She licked her lips, and clung closer to me. "I was sitting on the beach, and then a man that looked like that came over to me, asking me if I'm Evelyn Hart. So I said yes, and then he laughed and said 'I wonder where your siblings went!' He left before I could say something." Her lower lip was trembling. "M-maybe I'm just being ridiculous and paranoid, but it made me so scared." She stuttered, with wide eyes.

"Can you describe exactly where he was standing? And which direction he walked?" Maybe I could track his scent, and find that creep.

"Um, I was sitting in this notch down at beach, that is almost hidden behind a lot of bushes and flowers."

"I know where it is,"

"Well, he was standing about six or seven feet from me. And he walked west, I think. Towards the Makaha Point."

I estimated the Makaha Point to be about five miles from my house. A million thoughts shot through my head. She had said he had yellowish eyes – could he be a vampire? And if he was a vampire, what did he have to do with her siblings' disappearance? If he was behind their disappearance, was he going to try to take Evelyn too? I wondered if there was any chance he would come back.

"Stay here, okay?"

Her forehead was creasing, but she nodded and left to go upstairs before I was out the door. I ran to the beach, as I had done earlier today in search of Evelyn. I didn't know who I was searching for now. The notch seemed untouched, and there was no scent sticking out from the others except for Evelyn's of course. I bowed down to sniff the sand where she said he'd been standing. I didn't really care if anyone saw me sniffing to the ground, no matter how much it would creep people out.

I have no idea how long I was sniffing around there, and how long it took me to decide to shift when it had gotten dark and no one could see me. My wolf nose had always been better tracking scents rather than my human nose. While I waited for the night, I kept on jogging along the beach, trying to catch something. I'm not sure if I ever did.

Evelyn's POV

I woke up by the phone ringing. I barely noticed that it was still dark.

"Hello?"

No one answered. I looked at the number, but it was blocked. I put the phone back to my ear again.

"Hello?" I repeated, with a little more energy.

Then I could hear a heavy panting. It was ragged, as if the person was hurting. "Are you Evelyn Hart?" A deep male voice sounded. It echoed.

Without thinking, I said yes, which I came to regret immediately.

"Tell her!" He yelled, so loud that I jumped. It took me time to realize he wasn't talking to me. Someone was still panting, but it was cut off by a scream so deep and painful it made me nauseous. The scream was also cut off. Whoever that was, had hung up.

I was trembling, and felt dizzy when I slipped out of bed. The floor felt cold against my bare feet. I went to the bathroom, to drink some water, but my throat was so tight. It was impossible to drink anything. I was scared my legs would fail me, and that I would fall, so I hurried to Embry's room. He was the only one who could make me feel safe. There was something strange about the house, the atmosphere was too quiet. I realized why as I entered his room. He wasn't there. The sheets were crumbled, and the window was wide open. The red curtains were waving with the wind, and it reminded me of a horror movie I had once seen.

I felt so ridiculous, but I was so scared. I literally ran back to my room and hid myself under the sheets. I stayed there, completely still until I could hear the birds start peeping. I could hear the slam of the door downstairs, and steps on the staircase. Was Embry home, and where had he been? One question answered itself when I could feel myself filling up with calmness and peace.

"Baby, what are you doing?" Embry asked from the door. I hadn't noticed him standing there. "Why are you hiding under your sheets?"

I met his eyes. "Someone called me last night," By now I was not even sure if it had only been a dream. "A man asked me my name again, and I'm so stupid that I said yes. Then a woman screamed – in pain I assumed - and he hung up. I think he wanted her to tell me something, but she didn't want to. I just got scared, and I haven't been able to sleep."

"How long have you been sitting like that, Ev?" His forehead was creasing, and an expression I had last seen him wear when he noticed my bruises appeared.

"I don't know... a few hours maybe."

"Are you sure you're alright?" He asked, as he took a few steps closer. I might have looked worse than I felt, because he suddenly looked much more worried and alert.

I heaved a sigh and shrugged.

He took some steps closer, until he was wrapping his arms around me. The warmness in me by his touch was indescribable. I felt so complete, it was driving me crazy. Literally. I couldn't deal with all of those feelings I felt for him. He kissed me on the cheek distracting me from my thoughts, and then very tenderly he pecked me on the lips. He got me to lay down, and then he lay down beside me. He was breathing very steadily, and it calmed me even further. As I rested my back against his chest, he tightened his arms around me.

"Sleep, my one and only," He whispered against the hollow beneath my ear. At least that's what I thought he whispered. I could have been dreaming already, because usually Embry would be more discrete. He would never call me something that indicated to me as "the one". Maybe I was already asleep, or had been all along. But I knew I wasn't when I opened my eyes, to see him stare right back into mine. He bored his eyes into mine, as he always did. It was that look that often scared me. It was when he looked me in the eyes in that way, and so intensely, that I noticed; there was something strange about him. A force, something very powerful. He was so full of energy, he almost felt electric against my body. And then I saw it in his eyes – I could see the moon in them.

Will Evelyn ever solve her personal problems? Who is the guy on the beach? Why are Evelyn receiving weird phone calls?