A/N I AM BACK BITCHES! AHAHAHAHA YEAH BOY!
Oh god I am in such a weird mood tonight -.-
Anyhow I am back with a slightly longer chapter, its like 10 pages on Microsoft and about 5,500 words or something. But yeah that's that. And a quick thing, I apologise if the ending is a bit rushed or the grammar isn't that good. This is because right now its 10:30 at night and I have school tomorrow so my mother is yelling at me to get off my computer -.- So I don't have anytime to review my story. And I gotta update this now or I think she'll kill me 0.o
Thanks for the reviews everyone!
Disclaimer : I do not own twilight
The Good People
Gran's house had always given off this cosy and soothing aura that would always have the ability to make me feel tranquil and at peace the moment I entered the home.
Yet now, with boxes resting on my numb legs, I felt like at any moment I was going to shatter into a thousand tiny pieces of despair
Everything still seemed the same from when I had found Gran sitting on the couch facing the television, the breath from her lungs escaping her in small wheezes. At the time I hadn't known what to do, all I could think to do was act out and slap her as she slowly died right before me. I wept like a little useless child, watching her.
And now I was here, sitting in my execrable wheelchair in her living room that had once been full of life and joy. But now it was hollow, full of nothing but the gut wrenching desolation following her demise. I sat in the centre of the room, clutching onto the single cardboard box which was sitting on my lap as I fought against the tears welling in my eyes.
I sat down the box onto the floor beside my wheelchair as I wheeled myself towards the buffet pressed up against the wall near the kitchen. My eyes were drawn to a particular photograph of Gran and my mother, Grans eyes glowing with joy with her arm wrapped around my mother and her bloated stomach. Yet in my mom's eyes, I could see nothing but sorrow and anguish, as she stared at the camera. I frowned, picking up the picture frame.
It was almost strange now to think that my mother had despised me so greatly. Sure it had only been a short while ago, but now that her attitude had completely changed – I couldn't help but think the person in the photo was someone else.
Yet Gran looked overjoyed in the photo, her eyes glowing gently in her sweet radiance with a smile gracing her slightly worn lips. I smiled at the photo now, feeling my chest swell.
"This place really hasn't changed." Mom spoke to me as she entered the house, her eyes taking in the living room with interest. I gently placed down the photo back on the buffet, staring around the room just as my mother was. "Gran always hated change." I whisper lowly.
Mom glanced over to me, her eyes full of grief.
Mom sighed slightly, shaking her head as if to rid herself of darkening thoughts as she walked towards the couch. The very couch Gran was in when I found her. Yet I was glad mom didn't know that, because she sat down onto the couch, the box still in her hands as she frowns.
"I'll start packing." I whisper, wheeling over to where I had left the box I had on the floor.
"Are you sure you'll be able too?" Mom asks me from where she sat on the couch, her eyes seeming to take everything in. I falter slightly with the box now in my hands, the small hurt filling my chest instantly from her words. I knew she had meant no harm when she'd said it, in fact I think she was just genuinely concerned for my wellbeing. Yet the thought that I would have these restrictions bound to me, that I would have to live with these constant worried questions until my legs healed was a torment all on its own.
My whole life I had managed the torment of being bullied, of having everyone disgusted from the sight of me. I had lived through a life with the memories of being raped when I was only a small child. Yet the fact that I would no longer have the freedom to do things on my own was still unbelievably horrifying, even after everything I've been through. My mother had been my caretaker since we'd left the hospital, given instructions by the nurses at Forks Hospital. She'd dressed me, helped me bathe and even helped me with going to the toilet which had been unbelievably humiliating. I didn't like this, I hated being immobile and useless.
"I'll be fine." I reply smiling up at my mother who had noticed my sudden stillness at her question. Yes, being this way bothered me and I hated feeling the constant mortification at being so useless, but for now I would have to live with it. After all, if I could manage everything else that has transpired in the past month – let alone the past several years, I'm sure I could handle this.
I looked around the room with a determined gaze as I thought of where I should start first. To be honest, I despised the fact that mom had decided to already start packing Gran's things, even though we hadn't even had her funeral yet. The thought of being here, a place that had once been a home to me was extremely painful. I couldn't bear the thought of packing away all those memories, packing away Grans life into nothing but a cardboard box.
Mom planned on selling a few things that wouldn't hold any insignificance in Grandma's memory, but to me everything in this room was dearly important. Gran had lived here for over forty years, spending day after day making sure that this place was a home to anyone that happened to stumble upon it.
Sighing heavily, I wheeled myself over towards the kitchen – a small whimper leaving my lips when I caught sight of a cup on the counter. When I came closer to it, I could see the cup was still partially full – the once hot coffee cold and bland.
I grabbed the cup, frowning as I slowly poured the contents into the sink.
"Riley! I'm going to empty out the shed, will you be alright?" Mom shouts out to me from the living room. I wheel myself into her site, stepping out from the shield from the wall which blocked view of the kitchen. I nod my head mutely, and I watched as mom smiled over at me – walking out of the door with several boxes in her hands.
I get back to work, packing away fragile cups and plates into the cardboard boxes – my frown never once leaving my lips. Seeing as how I couldn't exactly stand up at the moment, I chose to go through the cupboards within my reach. Each item that was placed inside of a box seemed to hold some small memory of Gran, of small moments that we had shared over the years. And with each memory, I couldn't help but realise how many joyful moments I had shared with my Grandmother. My life in this house, each summer that my mother didn't want me would be joyfully spent at my Grans side.
I remember the summer from when I was only twelve years old and my Gran had took me out fishing in the hope that a smile would light up my face. At the time there was no one else but us at the beach, so I had admitted to myself that I was actually enjoying myself, despite the darkness from the fresh memories in my mind. The swarm of other people was like a disease to me and to have no one but Gran and I on the beach was truly a happy day for me.
We hadn't caught anything, but that day was one of the happiest days of my life.
Grans memory was as clear as a chiming bell in the summer evening, and I could already feel the tears welling up in my eyes as I thought about her. It still didn't feel like she was gone, the thought that she was dead just didn't seem to register in my mind. And I knew it would take quite some time for me to finally realise that she was gone, that she was dead.
Everything that had occurred since I'd come to La Push had all happened so quickly, just like a big rush of a harsh breeze that passed me by. It had been fierce and cruel, and it had all happened far too quickly. I just wish I could wrap my head around it, much like I had the other day as I'd laid on my bed back at the hotel. I'd thought everything over, everything that had happened, and I'd felt almost stupid that I'd never thought about all these strange occurrences until now.
That day when I had ventured into the forest, thinking it would be a good idea to take a shortcut back home, I remember I had tripped and lost consciousness. And then…
The man in the leather jacket, with the bright glowing abnormal red eyes had attacked me. The memory was hazy, due to the fact I'd become this strange empty vessel once I thought he'd…. Do something I'd always expected from any man.
Yet he hadn't, he'd done something else, and at the time I remember I had thought something. I'd realised what he was doing, and I'd realised that he wasn't any normal man. He had been something else, something that still made a cold shiver to run down my spine.
That word… That name, I think it might have been-
"Hey!" The loud booming shout startled me from my silent musings, and I screeched loudly when I dropped the plate I had been clutching onto rather tightly. The plate shattered into tiny fragments, and my eyes widened when I felt a small twinge in my foot, something which felt much like a form of pain.
"Jake you idiot!" A voice shouted, and I turned to stare over at the boy rushing towards me frantically. "Embry?" I question, the surprise evident in my tone as I watch him kneel down in front of me with a wild look in his eyes. He doesn't answer me, and my cheeks instantly flushed when he grabs my bare foot with his warm large hands. I froze for a moment from the heat, my eyes widening in shock at the obvious warmth coming from his bare hands. I could feel something, I could feel his heat as it pierced through my once numb feet like pins and needles. I looked down at my foot then, noticing for the first time that I had a small piece of glass imbedded in my foot.
That pain from earlier, that small pierce had been from the fragment as if pierced my feet. This meant that I was recovering, that the therapy the hospital had forced upon me was helping heal my numb legs. A small swell of hope rose in my chest, and I could feel a smile gracing my lips when I realised that I was getting closer to walking again.
"Why don't you have any shoes on?" Embry nearly shouted at me, and I instantly flinched when I met his wide brown eyes. He nearly glared at me, the anger and fierce concern obvious in his unguarded eyes. "U-uh" I stutter, at a loss for words as I finally processed the fact that Embry was here, in my late grandmother's house, holding onto my foot as if I were Cinderella.
"I-its just… I didn't think I'd really need shoes, with that I couldn't…. you know." I murmur, suddenly feeling like a child who was being scolded for being irresponsible. Behind Embry, for the first time I noticed a tall russet man standing behind him whom I recognised as Jacob Black the boy I'd briefly talked to after my semi reunion with Embry.
Embry sighs suddenly, and I look away from Jacob who still hadn't said a word. Embry released my foot, running a hand through his head with a tired look in his eyes. "Yeah, I'm sorry. I overacted." Embry mumbled, standing up onto his feet, a smile coming to his lips as he stared at me softly.
"I'll fix up your foot for you, if that's alright?" Embry said politely, and I was slightly surprised by the nervousness hidden in his tone. "Thanks Embry, I'll just clean this up first." I genuinely smile up at Embry, and I feel so stupid for feeling so bright and cheerful now that Embry was around.
Embry chuckles, almost as if he thought I was making a joke about me cleaning up the mess I'd made. But then he seems to notice me as I awkwardly wheel myself backwards away from the fragments and towards the cupboard with a dustpan. "Whoa whoa!" Embry shouts out to me as he stops me pulling the dustpan out of the cupboard halfway. I squeal like a little girl as he suddenly pulls my chair backwards, away from the cupboard.
"Don't worry about that, I'm sure Jake would be happy to clean it for you." Embry says with a conniving smirk towards his friend, and I noticed Jake roll his eyes. "I'm sorry alright?" Jake whined, giving Embry a genuine apologetic frown which seemed almost too intense for just having frightened me into dropping a single plate.
"It was just an accident; don't fuss ov-over i-it." I choke half way through my words, rubbing at my throat in frustration. The doctors had said I would occasionally have some difficulty speaking with how I hadn't spoken in so long. They said it would be at random moments, but it was nothing to worry over. But nonetheless, it was still embarrassing to start choking halfway through a sentence.
I'm glad that neither Embry nor Jacob question my sudden stutter, and for all I knew they probably had been told about my slight speech impairment, the culprit most probably my flamboyant mother.
"Get cleaning Jakey Poo!" Embry says in a tone that of a child, and I can't help but let out a small giggle as he wheels me out of the kitchen and towards the living room. "Don't call me that!" Jacob shouts from behind us, and I giggle once again, almost proud of the fact that I could laugh so freely around two buff slightly intimidating men.
Embry settles my chair beside the living room couch, pausing slightly with a small frown on his lips. "Couch or wheelchair?" Embry questions, gesturing to the couch with a furrowed brow. I know then why he was asking such a question, and the memory of my Gran heaving out her last breaths on that particular couch come to my mind.
"Wheelchair please." I whisper lowly, my eyes avoiding the couch as I stare down at my wounded feet. Embry simply nods, and then he gently moves my chair away from the couch, putting me in a position which has my back facing the couch. I feel a soft smile grace my lips, a small warmth floods my chest as I stare down at the kind mind before me.
"Do you have a first aid kit here?" Embry asks me, and I nod mutely. "In the bathroom, in the medicine cabinet." I whisper lowly, still slightly surprised by the fact that Embry's small gestures were all so gentle. He seemed to understand so much, he seemed to pick up even the littlest things that wounded me.
I still remember my first day at school (my only day since school started.) and how he'd noticed I'd been lying about the strange sentiments that had overcame me so suddenly. Not a moment later did Embry come out of the hall, a first aid kit in his large hands. He kneeled down onto his knees before me, his hand reaching out to touch my foot before pausing suddenly. He looked up at me, a small flush of crimson on his russet cheeks. "Can I?" Embry asked awkwardly gesturing to my foot as if it were the most sacred and private part of the human body.
I nod mutely once again, feeling heat rise to my cheeks in embarrassment.
His hand lightly touched my foot, as if it were the most delicate thing in the whole word. I flinched, yet for once it wasn't from the fear of a man touching me. It was because of his warmth, which sent a strange, almost frightening tingle of electricity all the way up to my knee.
"I'm sorry!" Embry pulls back from me, raising his hands into the air with a panicked look in his eyes. I shake my head, my cheeks only flushing further. "N-no it's fine." I stutter out, sure by now that my face would be fire truck red. Honestly, I don't I would ever get used to being around boys, let alone Embry's. "It's just…" I trail off, looking into his confused brown eyes. "I think I might be getting a bit of feeling back in my legs." I answer, staring down at the glass still lodged into my foot, a small sting coming from the wound.
Embry seemed to stiffen, and then all of a sudden a bright gleaming smile lights up his entire face. "That's great!" Embry shouts out, his eyes wide much like a small child's would be when they were fascinated by something. Embry stares down at my feet, excitement practically rolling off of him in waves. He gestures to my feet once again, a hopeful look in his eyes that probably resembled how I had looked when I'd felt something after Embry had touched my foot.
I nod silently, allowing him once again to touch me, something I would have been disgusted by even if it had been a mere thought. Yet things were different now, I was different. And although I don't think I'd ever be completely comfortable around men, for now I felt I could trust Embry.
His warm fingers lightly trace up my foot, starting from my toes and up my ankles. I gasped, the electric heat of his touch startling me again. At my gasp Embry beams brightly up at me, a truly happy look in his eyes. "This is amazing Riley, you're making progress." Embry cheers, his smile so joyful that how could I not smile back at him? A sudden curt cough startles us both, causing Embry to turn towards the source in unbelievable speed, his once happy eyes sharp with suspicion. Yet it was Jacob who had interrupted us, and I noticed Embry's tense crouch in front of me falter a he calmly kneels back in front of me, a blush reddening his cheeks as well as mine.
"As touching as this is to listen to, and I am glad to hear you're making progress Riley. But I think I might go help your mom out and avoid all this mushy imprint stuff." Jacob says sarcastically, a smirk lifting up his lips when he spoke the word imprint. There it was again! That word that everyone had stiffened over when Quil had said it, and he'd looked so horrified, as if he had revealed a terrible secret.
I turned to see Embry's reaction, only to see the same enraged expression he had worn when Quil had said it. He glared at Jacob with a dark look in his eyes, yet when I looked back at Jacob I couldn't see an ounce of fear or regret on his face like Quil had when he said the forbidden word.
What was with that? Imprint? All that came to mind was ducklings or geese who imprinted on their mother, or whatever it was they did. So what did ducks and geese have to do with anything?
Instead of questioning on the word, I filed it away to remember to look up later. But honestly, when they said imprint only ducks and geese came to mind.
"You do that." Embry says this through clenched teeth, his light brown eyes darkening slightly in anger. Yet although I knew Embry was angry, and that he seemed to have a bit of a temper, I felt no fear at the sight of his furious eyes. If anything I was more afraid for Jacob, who strolled out of the house with a satisfied smirk on his face.
Yep, definitely looking up the word when we get back to the hotel.
"Sorry about that." Embry tells me softly, avoiding my eyes as he takes out a disinfectant from the first aid kit. I shake my head, confused as to why he was apologising. Embry seems to stare down at my foot for a few moments, his brow furrowed almost hesitantly. He looks up at me then, a nervous and fearful gleam in his eyes.
"This might hurt a little." He tells me, before slowly grasping a hold of the glass imbedded in my foot and pulling it out swiftly. I let out a low hiss when the sharp sting shoots up my leg, yet instead of feeling tears well in my eyes, I could feel a happy smile grace my lips.
"You okay?" Embry asks me worriedly, placing the slightly bloodied glass onto the floor, and I watched him eye the blood as if it were the most horrible thing he had seen. I smile, rubbing softly at right leg as I felt the pain shoot up my like lightening. "I'm great!" I chuckle out, feeling completely unlike myself as I beam down at Embry, completely content even with the shooting pain that shot up my once numb leg.
My smile seems to catch Embry off guard, and I watch in confusion as he avoids my eyes, continuing to treat my wound without a word. "Not to sound rude, but uh, why are you here?" I whisper lowly, staring at him in confusion as he worked on my foot. Embry chuckles at my nervous tone, and I watch with flushed cheeks as he lightly dabs at my wound with the disinfectant.
"Emily told us that you and your mom were planning on moving out some of Lucinda's stuff. So Jacob and I thought we could give you two ladies a hand." Embry replied simply, giving me a rather handsome crooked smile which caused heat to flush my cheeks.
No! Girly thoughts must stop now! Just because you're better around men doesn't mean you can just go around blushing at every little thing he does. It's so stupid, I hardly know him, yet I'm practically acting like I… Like I'm…
I swallowed heavily, forcing the dreaded word out of my mind as I ignore the small questioning look Embry gave me. "Embry why are you so nice to me?" I whisper lowly, avoiding his piercing and unguarded eyes. Those eyes that were so open and gentle and I couldn't understand why they'd always been like that, why he had always been so nice to me when I'd done nothing to deserve it.
Embry stiffens just as he shut the first aid kit, his brow furrowed. It was obvious, even with my tendency to be oblivious and dense, I knew he himself didn't know how to explain his inner thoughts. I suppose he was much like me in that way, although I've only recently found out I'm like that. But when you're silent for so long, with nothing but your own thoughts, it can be a bit difficult to speak them aloud.
"Is that a bad thing?" Embry whispers, turning to me, still kneeling down in front of me as if I were some Queen he was worshipping. Which sounded ridiculous, seeing as my throne was a wheelchair. I shake my head furiously, hoping I hadn't hurt his feelings. "No, I really like i-it!" I shout, only to blush slightly when I realised what I had said wasn't exactly right.
God this speaking aloud thing is difficult.
I sigh ignoring the slight smirk on Embry's lips, despite his effort to hide it. "What I am trying to say is…" I trail off, this time making sure to say each word with more thought rather than rushing my words out. "You hardly know anything about me." And in that moment, I realised how true that was.
The night at the hospital I had spilled out my heart and soul, weeping and sobbing at his bedside as I shouted and cried out every secret I had ever held in my heart. Yet when he woke, he seemed to have no recollection of my story, which could only mean he hadn't heard me at all. I knew that I would find it very difficult to ever repeat such a gut wrenching thing, I had only been able to say it at the time because I was afraid Embry's life was in danger and that if I didn't tell him he would….
But that was then, and now I just don't think I could say something like to him. And it probably helped at the time he was unconscious. But if I told him again, while he was perfectly aware and awake, I could feel the old Riley's thoughts flooding into my mind like a broken dam with flowing water.
I can't tell him, he'll see how disgusting I am. He'll know I'm impure, in fact, he'll probably laugh at me and call me a slut or a whore.
But those thoughts were the old Riley, the girl that thought everyone was cruel and mean and that everyone in the entire world was bound to betray or hurt her. That girl was there, and she probably would be for a long time. But now it wasn't all her, I could still manage some rationality in my thoughts. And I realised not every person in this world were mean and capable of betraying me. Sure there people like that, but for now I knew there was still good in this world. I smiled softly down at Embry, who was staring at me with sad eyes.
Yeah, there really was good in this world.
"What's your favourite food?" Embry's question startled me, and I felt myself jolt slightly when I noticed the bright determined look in his eyes. "Huh?" Yeah Riley, real great with the words aren't you?
"You're right, I don't know that much about you. So we'll start with the basics." Embry smiled up at me, and the pure determination in his eyes made me chuckle lightly. Embry's smile only further brightened at my laugh, and I watched with laughing eyes as he crossed his legs like a small child. He stared up at me expectantly, cutely grinning up at me.
"Well um…" I trail off, finding I was thinking over my answer carefully. "I suppose strawberries?" I whisper lowly, my answer coming out as more of a question. "I guess I haven't really thought over my favourite things." I chuckle.
Yet as I stare down at Embry, I feel my insides churn uncomfortably at the intent look in his eyes. He look so focused, so fascinated by the fact that I had told him my favourite food. I cough, embarrassed slightly as I force myself not to blush under his heavy gaze. But of course I did, I mean I was Riley after all.
"Now you." I gesture, smiling softly.
"Anything edible." Embry replied to me, smirking at my frustrated sigh. "That's not fair, be more spe-specific." I choke, coughing slightly which earned a slightly worried look from Embry. I smile, forcing down the small annoying tickle in my throat. Embry sighed slightly, glancing over to the left (A/N) in thought.
"Well I've always had a bit of an obsession with pizza." Embry said thoughtfully, and a small laugh left my lips from the rather serious and considerate look in his eyes. "Alright, um" Embry mumbles seeming to think over his next question. "Favourite thing to do?" Embry asks.
Being with you.
I stiffen then, blood rushing to my cheeks as I felt my heart lurch out of my chest. What the hell was that!? Why had I thought something like that? Something so girly and mushy!? Oh god, what was wrong with me. "Uh um, ba-basically I really li-like photography." I stutter, reddening even more. I'm glad though that Embry doesn't seem to think too much of this, probably think it was just me stuttering from my speech impairment.
"Really? Why?" Embry asked me, sounding very interested as he leaned closer to me as if he were a child listening to a thrilling adventurous bedtime story. I look away from him, finding his focused gaze far too intense. "I guess it was my way of expressing myself. At first I tried drawing but I was no good at it, I mean I literally drew stick figures on everything. So with my lips sealed I picked up a camera and just never put it down." I explained, smiling softly to myself. And then I froze momentarily when I realised something, the smile wiped from my face.
God, when was the last time I'd gone out photographing?
"That's amazing, I wish I had something like that." Embry smiles up at me softly, a look so gentle in his eyes that it made me want to melt into a small little puddle in front of him. "You don't?" I whisper, a frown gracing my lips. Embry chuckled nervously, and I watched as his eyes avoided mine slightly.
"No, I mean there's lot of things I enjoy." I couldn't help but blush furiously when he gazes pointedly at me. "But I don't really have anything like that. A sort of hobby I take lots of joy out of." Embry smiles sadly. "There must be something." I persist, finding for some reason I was suddenly seeing Embry in a new light. Before he had just been Embry Call, the boy I couldn't run from, and the first boy who had made me angry, the first boy who didn't disgust me.
But right now he was just, Embry Call, the boy.
I saw him as someone real, just a real teenage boy who had problems and issues of his own. Before he was just someone who I knew and felt for, a face with a name who I shared many haunting moments with. But now was different, now I could finally face him as an equal human being. And I felt a large tug shift between us, and suddenly he was authentic.
"Well…" Embry trails off, smiling softly to himself. "Before… Um before a lot of things that have happened, I used to be on the Rez's track team." My eyes widened momentarily when I saw the bright smile on his lips. "I really enjoyed that, so I was really disappointed when I had to quit the team." Embry's frown replaced his soft smile, and I wanted nothing more than to see that happy look in his eyes again.
"Why did you?" I questioned.
I knew I was probably prying into his personal business, but I could see the genuine sadness in his eyes. So if he loved the sport so much, why had he quit to begin with? Embry looks up at me, and I hated the sudden guarded look in his eyes. "I just had too." Was his reply, and before I could do any further questioning, a loud squeal shocked us both out of our own world.
"Jacob don't run with that! You'll break it!" My mom's shout came from outside and I released a hiss of breath as I stared back to Embry, only to see him rising to his feet. He smiled at me softly, his eyes unguarded, yet I knew he was still hiding something from me.
"We'll play twenty questions later?" Embry said almost reluctantly, and I nodded my head mutely in response. But I was glad, at least I had learnt more about the mysterious yet real boy that was my saviour.
Embry Call, the boy who was just.
A/N
So tell me what you thought of this chappy, sorry if the grammar is a bit bad once again. I really wanted to post it now and its about 10:30 now and my mum is forcing me to go to bed so yeah! Gosh that sounded all so rushed . Tomorrow ill probably go through it again and the re-upload the chapter with some better grammar if there is some bad…stuffness in it. Gosh I'm tired -.-
Anyway! Review and tell me what you thought
A/N I said Embry looked to the left because if a person does that then that means they're using the factual and logical side of their brain. As if someone was looking to the right, that would been there using the imaginative part of their brain, which means there probably lying :D …. Yeah I've got Psychology as one of my year ten classes :/