Chapter 13 – Port Angeles
Embry opens the door of this office for me and I look up at him. "After you" he slightly nods his head and I walk out of the office, I turn around to wait for him and he walks out, closing the door behind him.
"So that is Quil's office" Embry pointed towards the door next to his office and then he gestured me to walk towards the sitting area. We walked down to the sitting area where he told me "This is the sitting area, we are planning to put in some coffee machines and stuff for everyone" and then he turned towards the reception, where Lisa was looking at us inquisitively.
"Have you met Lisa?" he asked me with a smile as we walked towards Lisa's desk. "Yeah, we met" I told him. She waved at us and then went back to her work, we waved back.
"Come" Embry said as he made way out of the office. Once again, he opened the glass door for me and as soon as I stepped out, the cool breeze hit me. I waited for Embry to join me and then I let him lead the way.
"This is the garage" I saw a lot of people working on a lot of cars, while there were 2 more cars in line. "You have so much work here" I sounded impressed, "That is the good thing about being the only mechanic and car wash" he chuckled, "And a good one" I added and he looked down at me with a smile, we stopped in our tracks, "Well, there is the car wash" I followed his finger pointing towards the carwash where cars were lined up for the wash.
"So, this is it" I looked at him now, "This is amazing" I told him. "It's good to be earning" he nodded. "How do you manage it all?" I looked around in an awestruck way. He had started so much in such a short while. He was doing great, given the fact he has his wolf duties.
"I have help" he shrugged, "This seems like such a happy place" and honestly, I was getting positive vibes from the place. "You are welcome to come here as often as you want" and that is what brought my attention back at Embry. I smiled at him and shook my head. Sometimes, I cannot understand why would he want me here, close to him.
"Will you tell me what you are thinking?" he asked me as he inclined towards me. "Nothing really" I shrugged. He narrowed his eyes at me but then straightened up "Let's get inside" he said and I nodded.
We both walked inside his office and as soon as the door closed behind us, I was hypervigilant. I had my eyes on Embry and he had his eyes on me. We both went back to taking our chairs and resumed to sit in the similar position we were in before we had walked out of the room.
The silence was comfortable but I could feel the air getting heavy again, and I was hypervigilant of the few inches that were between Embry and I. Neither was the fact helping that I caught Embry running his hands through his hair. He was smiling shyly at me and all this while I was hoping that my cheeks don't start burning up. Stupidly enough, this was the time my heart chose to betray me, it skipped a beat the next time I looked up at him from under my lashes.
"So, don't you have some work?" I wiggled my eyebrows at him with a playful smile, trying to change the topic. "Nothing that can't wait" he shrugged and went back to looking at me with an awestruck expression, what was with that? "You can work, you don't have to delay anything, and Renesmee would be here anytime" I shook my head. "I don't have anything important" Embry assured me. "Alright then" that topic was closed.
"Are you going to leave after two years?" Embry asked out of nowhere after a long pause. "That is the promise I made to my parents" I told him truthfully. "Is there any way you could break that promise?" I am sure I would do that if you ask me to, "It is not set in stone, who knows what happens in two years?" I shrugged and that somehow made him happy. "What?" I could not help but ask, "you are right, two years is a long time" he nodded. "Exactly, and anyhow, for now I have to focus on getting through high school" I pressed my lips together.
"Do you have any future plans?" he asked me, "Not yet" I shook my head, "Nothing that interests you?" he leaned forwarded, I wonder if it was unconscious. "Well, I do want to pursue English literature" I admitted with a shy smile. "That is great!" Embry had a genuine smile on his face, "But I am not sure" I raised my hands slightly in defence.
"Why?" his eyebrows creased together, I sighed and then said, "My mind is too fickle." "That is okay, you have enough time to decide" he assured me, "I guess" I shrugged.
"Do you like it here?" he asked me, "Of course! I have spent my childhood here, I love this place" and there was a grin on my face. "You have no problem adjusting, right?" he asked seriously. "Just one" I had to admit, "What is it?" he asked me in urgency. I looked at him with confused expressions but nonetheless I smiled. "I have to find a part time job here" I told him, "You can work here" he said immediately with such enthusiasm that it made me chuckle. "I mean if you want" he said, trying to contain his enthusiasm.
"What are the job openings here?" I smiled, "Well" he thought for a moment. "You can help me in management" he grinned. Working so close to Embry? It was tempting, I did not want to say no, but I will not let him create a job for me and pay me for doing nothing. "Do you really need help?" I raised my brows, "Sure I do" I nodded like a child and I chuckled, shaking my head.
"You don't have to create a job for me and pay me for nothing" I told him, "I am not creating a job, I could really use the help" he told me with sincerity. "Alright, what am I supposed to do?" I asked enthusiastically, I might as well know what I was going to do from whenever he asks me to join.
Embry got up from his seat and walked to one of the shelves with a number of files. He pulled out one of the thick ring file from the shelf and walked over to me. He put the file in front of me and sat next to me, pulling his chair closer to mine and immediately I was hypervigilant of the few inches between us. I just had to turn my face and we would kiss.
He started telling me all about planning, monitoring, coordinating, enforcing systems and what not but all I could think of was how close he was to me, I knew my heart had started picking up pace, but could he tell?
He turned his face towards me and that is when my stupid heart started doing summersaults. There was silence in the room and I knew Embry could clearly hear my heart beats. I slightly turned my head towards Embry and looked up at him from under my lashes and he had the same expressions as always – enthralled.
I could feel the magnetic pull towards Embry and I wondered if he could feel the same. I had shivers run down my spine, not because I was scared but because I could feel the air getting heavier in the room. I felt as though, if I touched Embry there will be sparks flying everywhere.
I was about to look down when the worst thing in the world happened!
Knock Knock! There was someone on the door and Embry immediately straightened up and inched away from me, while I straightened up and closed my eyes, mentally slapping myself.
He got up from his chair while he mumbled something that I could not hear. He went to open the door and I turned around to look who it was once my heart settled down a bit.
There stood Renesmee and Jacob, smiling at us. I got up from my chair with a smile to greeted them. "Hi Embry" Renesmee gave Embry a quick hug and then danced inside the room with such grace. "Hey man" Embry and Jacob hugged for a brief second.
"Hi" Renesmee greeted me with a grin, "Hey" I smiled back and then I waved at Jacob who waved back. "Ready to go?" Renesmee asked me enthusiastically and I could not help but grin. "Yep" I told her and she immediately took my hand in her hand. Her hand was cool and hard, but nothing that I could not handle or that would make me jerk away.
"Let's go!" She quite literally dragged me out of the house while the boys followed us. I could clearly see how excited she was about this and I was not going to spoil it for her.
There stood a BMW M6 Convertible and even though I knew nothing about car, I knew two things: 1. This was expensive, 2. This was gorgeous. For a moment, I stood there dumb stuck but then I composed my face.
"Have fun" Jacob told us as Renesmee gave him a peak on the lips and got in the driver's seat. "Enjoy" Embry said as I got in the car. Renesmee and I waved to the boys as Renesmee hit the pedal and drove down the street.
"Are you ready?" She asked me excitedly, "Very" and it was the truth. I was going to have so much fun today with Renesmee. I smiled at her and she smiled back. "Have you been out of town since you came here?" she asked me after a long pause, "No, I did not have a reason to" I shrugged. "Do you remember Port Angeles, since you were here last?" she looked at me for a brief minute and then looked straight ahead.
"Not really, things are blurry to me, I was so young" I admitted, "Well then, you will love this dress boutique we are going to" Renesmee grinned and then continued, "My aunts used to buy all their clothes and my mom's clothes and my clothes from there."
"Where are your aunts now?" I asked in the most non-creepy way possible. "They had to leave" She asked in a serious tone, "Leave?" my brows creased together. Renesmee took a long pause and I wondered if I had overstepped my boundaries. "Grace" she started but did not look at me, "Do you know about me?" she mumbled.
"Yep" I admitted sheepishly, was I not supposed to know? Would that put Emily in trouble? And as if she was reading my mind, "Who told you?" she asked, I looked at her from under my lashes to see if she was angry but she seemed perfectly fine about it. "Emily" I mumbled and looked down, "Was I not supposed to know?" I asked, a frown forming on my lips. "Don't be silly, you are the part of the pack!" that immediately made me look up and I saw Renesmee's eyes widen in horror.
She quickly recomposed her face, "Me? Part of the pack?" I chuckled, what part do I play? "Yes" she said and then nodded slowly before saying "You are our closest friend" that I was, I am glad they consider me part of the pack but I don't know why it appears that is not the part I play in the pack, but what else would it be? I shrugged it off.
"Anyways" Renesmee brought me back from my train of thoughts. "People were starting to notice the obvious lack of aging" she started, "And when there are too many people in one place, it becomes all the more obvious, I could not leave Jake, although he was ready to leave with us but that meant leaving the pack and obviously he was not very comfortable with the thought" Renesmee paused and looked at me while I listened intently.
"So, my grandma, grandpa, uncles and aunts decided to leave" She completed, "So, it's just you and your parents?" I asked and she nodded. "How do people not notice their lack of aging?" I creased my brows together. "Well, they would pass for 23-24 with a little help, and that is what they are supposed to look like" she chuckled as if recalling an inside joke.
"Help?" I asked sheepishly, "Make-up, they hate it" she chuckled and I tried to imagine them wearing make-up, it was ridiculous. "They always wear make-up?" I asked trying to form an image in my mind. "No, only when they are in public" she shook her head. "You know, you should come over" Renesmee said out of nowhere after a long pause.
"That sounds great" I said slowly, with a smile. "Jake and Embry always hang out there and we all can have fun!" she squealed. It was obvious that Renesmee had no girl friend her age, and to be honest it was hilarious.
I had a lot of friends back home and we did sleepovers all the time. I wonder if Emily would be okay with it. I am sure she would not say no, but would she be okay?
Renesmee and I talked and planned all about our soon to be sleepover and some other stuff till we reached Port Angeles and this particular dress boutique.
It was this posh boutique, with glass display windows and huge glass doors. On top of the doors was written 'Black Moss' in cursive, gold. I could see mannequins lined up in the display window with beautiful gowns and dresses.
Renesmee and I got out of the car and I let her lead the way inside. It was better inside, if that was possible. There was soft yellow light in the boutique. The wooden floor seemed as though it was freshly polished which seemed perfect with the off-white walls.
A lady, in a V neck, without sleeves, plain, black dress and black pumps came up to us. She had long brunette hair and front bangs. "Hello, welcome to Black Moss" she smiled at us. "How may I help you girls today?" she switched glances between the two of us but honestly, she was just interested in addressing Renesmee and I did not mind at all.
"We are looking for some dresses for dance" Renesmee told her. "School dance?" the lady had her fake smile plastered. "Yes" Renesmee nodded. "Right this way please" The lady gestured us to follow her and we did so obediently.
Not that I could not afford these dresses, but I found it useless to waste so much money on something I might never wear again. Nonetheless, we let the lady show us the way and then Renesmee told her that we would like to choose our dresses ourselves, for which I was grateful to her.
After an hour and a half we had finally picked out our dresses. Renesmee had picked a royal blue dress, which was strapless, sweetheart neck. It had a 3 inches silver embellishment belt under the bust. Till the waist the dress was figure fitted and then it flowed down. Till the knee the dress had a satin lining under the net, which ended there and then at the back of the dress there was a see through net train till the half of the calves.
My dress was black, with straight across neckline, the dress had a satin cloth from the neckline till the knees where the dress ended, the dress had a lace cloth all over, and the quarter sleeves were made only out of that lace cloth, it also had an open back. The whole dress was figure fitted. I loved it!
Once we were done from there, we walked to the shoe store right across the street and while Renesmee bought a 4 inches pencil heels, silver, criss cross stilettoes, I, on the other hand, bought black platform pumps with 3 inches pencil heels.
After having dinner, the two of us were off to La Push. The drive back was crazy! We chatted continuously about the day and Renesmee made me promise that I would come to her place as soon as possible and the day I had with Renesmee, I would do it over and over again, it was so fun! I was looking forward to the next time I get to hang out with Renesmee and she seemed genuinely interested too.
She dropped me off at my front poach steps and once I waved her bye, she was off. I carried my dress cover with my bag hanging over my shoulder and in the other hand I had my shoes bag. I rang the doorbell and Emily opened the door with a grin.
"Hi Honey" she took the dress cover from my hand as she saw me struggling with it. "Hey, thanks" I grinned. We both walked inside to find an empty living room. "Where is Sam?" I asked Emily, "He has to work late" She replied and I gave her an apologetic smile. "Let's get your stuff to the room" Emily lightens up the mood as always and I nod enthusiastically, I was so excited to show her what I got.
I open the shoe box on which was on my bed while Emily opened the dress cover. "Oh my!" Emily kept her hand on her heart as she looked at the dress in awe."So you like it?" I asked hopefully and she dropped her hand as she looked at me "It's gorgeous and you will look so beautiful in it" she told me with a grin, "Thanks Em" I grinned back.
"Tell me all about your day" She asked me gleefully and I told her all the details and we talked for about half an hour, "Em, do you think I can go to Renesmee's home?" I asked Emily hopefully, "Sure you can, you will have so much fun there" Emily answered with a smile, "Thanks Em."
We continued talking for a little while longer when Emily said that she would hit the hay and I should get some sleep too but just as she was about to close the door, she turned around and said "Oh Grace, Embry came by to drop my car, he was asking about if you have reached home, I told him that you will call him once you are home" How on earth should I thank Emily? She is giving me opportunities to talk to Embry, I love her even more, if that was possible. "Okay" I smiled, "Good night" Emily said before closing the door behind her.
As soon as the footsteps faded away from the hallway, I pulled out my phone from my bag and immediately dialed Embry's number, who picked up the phone in one ring, as if he was waiting for my call.
"Grace" his voice over the phone seemed just as deep as when I hear it face to face. "Hey Embry, I reached home" I said, "That's great, did you have fun?" he asked me, happiness clear in his voice, "Oh it was so much fun!" I replied gleefully, "Well, tell me all about it tomorrow" I could hear him grin. That is when I remembered.
"Embry, When am I supposed to join work?" I asked him hopefully as I played with a lock of my hair, out of nervousness. "Whenever you want" He replied, "Tomorrow?" I asked immediately and then bit my tounge. "Sure, after school?" he asked me, "Yeah, I will be there by 3:30, if that is okay?" I asked, "Sure, I will be waiting for you" and that made my heart skip a beat, I wondered if Embry could hear it over the phone. "Okay" I mumbled and for a long time we were both silent. I did not want to hang up and from the signs of it neither did Embry, maybe he likes talking to me, I smiled to myself.
"You should get some rest now" Embry said, "Okay" I mumbled again, "Good night Grace" his voice was deep and clam and I wanted to tell him to talk to me more, but I knew I could not, I mean what would I say? So, instead I just responded with a "Good night" and then after a few more seconds, Embry hung up.
I sighed as I stared at my phone and I sat on my bed with only one thought in my mind. From tomorrow, I would be working with Embry. I don't care what work it is that he would give me as long as I am with Embry, nothing else matters.
Finally, I got up from my bed and picked up my dress cover, shoe box and bag and put it in the closet, from where I pulled out my PJ shorts and tank top, while throwing in the shoes I was wearing.
I went to the bathroom to change my clothes, once I was done I brushed my teeth and attended to my human necessities before getting in the bed and pulling the comforter over me. That night I fell asleep thinking about Embry. Nothing in particular, just his voice, his warmth, his eyes, his glances, his smile, the way we were so close today...