Chapter 20 – Distance

Embry's P.O.V

I woke up after a long night of tossing and turning in my bed. Something did not seem right, beside for the fact that I was unnecessarily insolent to Grace the day before. It was not something I wanted to do – or was proud of, there were many reasons to it.

I groaned and then got up from my bed, dragging my feet to the bathroom, feeling totally worthless. It was no secret that when our imprintee is hurt, we feel it to and the worst feeling is when that hurt is because of us. It was the last thing I could even imagine doing since the day I imprinted on Grace.

I engaged in my daily routine, sluggish than usual. I imprinted on Grace and it was the absolute truth that I love her more than anything in this world, just like it was the absolute truth that the sun raises from the east and sets in the west. Yet another truth was that I could not bring myself to see her as my romantic partner, she was my best friend and I would do anything for her, but I could not be involved with her romantically. The thought alone made me feel perverted.

She was so young, and though at one point I was a bit jealous of her boyfriend, I accepted the fact that she would be much happier with him; at least at the moment. She needed to be with someone else, to know what she wanted, I did not want to take her choice away. If Isaac was whom she liked, then she had the right to be with him.

Though, when she confessed of her feelings for me – not once but twice, I was astonished. I was not expecting it, and I tried to let her down easily. After all, I could be what she wanted me to be, but I guess I did more damage than damage control.

I felt my whole body hurt when I stood under the shower. It was not physical pain as much as it was emotional pain which I was feeling this way. It sucked!

I made up my mind to make up with Grace today itself and try to explain her the situation without giving away the fact that she is my imprintee. I practice a speech over and over again as I got ready and had my breakfast.

My heart was beating so loudly, I could hardly sit down and eat my breakfast. The only good thing about this whole situation was that since I had moved out of my mom's house, at least she was not able to catch onto what was going on as soon as it started. Had I been under her roof, she would have caught onto the situation as soon as it started.

I kept moving as I washed the dishes and then finally got out of the house.

At first, I decided to pay Grace a visit, but then I realized, she must be having her school. On my way to the garage, I thought of maybe picking her up from the school, but then I dropped the idea because her boyfriend might not like that and I might add more problems for her, which was the last thing I wanted.

I would wait for her to come to garage, it was decided. If she did not show up by evening, I would go to Emily's and ask her to go for a walk, hopefully she accepts; if she does not, I would ask her to talk to me at the house itself. I just needed to know that she was not hurting as much as I thought she was.

She could hurt me but I knew that she cried herself to sleep. Emily told me that much, and I wanted it to stop. It was like piercing a thousand of knives in my heart when I thought of her crying – for any reason.

I entered the garage and I saw Lisa standing with Quil near the coffee maker. Both of them were engaged in an animated conversation. They waved at me when they saw me enter. I forced a smile and waved back at them.

Lisa was the only one here who believed (or says it to my face, unlike everyone) that I like Grace, more than I admit. She was overjoyed (almost as much as me) when I told her that Grace was going to work with us and it was her idea to get her a desk in my room and for that idea I will be forever grateful.

"Tell him" Lisa whispered to Quil, who told her to hush, with his finger on his lips. Lisa did not know about us and our secret, and if she did, she would have not even whispered because each and every word she whispered was just as clear to me as it would have been if she spoke to me directly.

On any other day, I would have asked Quil about what they were talking about but today I was in no mood. I had this weird feeling, like my heart was sinking to my stomach. I had intense anxiety and it was impossible to sit or stand at one place for a long period of time, it had never happened before and all my thoughts were directed towards Grace.

Maybe, when I see her and if she lets me, if I get to hold her in my arms. This feeling would disappear and I could breathe again.

I entered my office but I could hardly concentrate on my work. I got so frustrated that I threw away the file in my hand and broke a pen. I was shaking. I made a tight fist, and tried to control my anger. I needed to let it out.

I put my head in my hands and closed my eyes. Breathing in and out slowly, trying to regain my composure. It had been so long since I had come this close to losing control. I had it in control all the time but today I was shaking, I could feel the rage, I could feel the shiver down my spine, I knew I could burst out any moment but why?!

Maybe it was this why that had my stomach in knots. I put my head back on the chair and closed my eyes. I had to get it together, this was my work place, I could not lose it here.

"I did not promise him anything, I will tell him" I heard Lisa's voice from the other side of the door. "Just stay" she said in an authoritative voice, which was unusual for Lisa.

Just as she opened the door, I took a deep breath and straightened up, opening my eyes. Her reaction to the mess in my room was priceless, it almost made me chuckle.

"Embry, good morning" she said in urgency, "Good morning Lisa" I greeted with a forced smile. "You need to go see Grace" her name alone made my heart jump. "I will, after I –" I started, "No, you need to go now!" she stormed her foot.

Was everything okay with Grace? What did they know I did not? I got up from my chair, my brows creased together. "Is everything okay?" just when I asked the question, Quil entered the office. "She is leaving" Quil said, leaving?! For where?!

I knew I was shaking terribly, but I could not keep it under control. "Leaving?" my voice would have been almost inaudible to normal ears like that of Lisa's. "She is leaving for England, she would have already left for the airport" Lisa said looking at her watch before placing a piece of paper in my hand, I opened it, there were flight details written on the paper. "You knew?" it sounded more of an accusation than a question. Quil dropped his head, I could feel the rage rising in my chest.

Lisa stepped between Quil and me and I had to give her credit for her courage because not many people try to step close to us, as a natural instinct, when we are angry. "We will tell you everything when you bring her back, but you must go now" Lisa brought my attention to her, I nodded.

I darted past Quil and out of the garage, without looking at whom I was passing.

My instinct was to run to the airport in my wolf form, it would be faster, but I decided to take the car, I could get closer to her that way than I could in my wolf form. It was more sensible, because I was not sure if I could shift back once I had shifted in my wolf form.

A million thoughts ran in my mind when I was on road for Seattle. Why could I not give her one thing she wanted? Had things been different if I had been with her the way she wanted me to? Why did she had to leave? Since when had she planned it? Why did not she tell me? Why did no one tell me? Did I mean anything to her? Why would she do this?

All my speech about explaining myself went out of the window. I was on a rollercoaster of emotions, I was heartbroken, I was enraged, I was feeling betrayed. I hit the steering wheel, frustrated that the car was already on the best speed it could go. Maybe I should have run, should I ditch my car? I tried my best to say in the car.

I pulled out my phone and dialled Grace's number. I would beg her to stop and wait for me, I would beg her not to leave me. I would beg her to stay and I would do anything. I felt as though my heart would escape from my rib cage, it was hard for me to sit in this car, I had a lump forming at the back of my throat, and when she did not pick up my call a single tear dropped to my cheek.

I dialled again and her response was the same by the 5th time she had switched off her mobile phone. Was she in the flight? Had her flight already taken off? No! she could not leave, she could leave me; I would never forgive her if she left me like this. I checked the paper with the flight details Lisa had given me, her flight didn't leave for the next 2 and a half hours.

It was probably the worst ride I had ever endured. I had been on the edge the whole while. How could Grace do this? How could Emily let her do it? How could anyone let her do this? Grace did not know that I imprinted on her but the others knew.

I dialled Emily's number and waited for her to pick up. I felt like my heart was going to escape from my ribcage the whole while and it dropped to my stomach when Emily did not pick up either.

I had to remind myself to keep control on myself, I was shaking terribly. As the time passed, I was starting to lose hope and with that I was losing control.

I called Nessie, she picked up in one ring. "Embry?" her voice was puzzled, "Please call Emily and ask her to stop Grace" I said, urgently. "You know?" she was stunned, "Yes and she is not picking up my phone, maybe she will listen to you, please" I was practically begging, on the verge of tearing up.

"Don't worry, I will call her right away" Nessie assured me, "Thank you" I breathed, suddenly I could see a ray of hope. "And Embry, we are sorry" she apologized before hanging up.

I did not believe in god or any higher power for that matter, but today I was praying. It was selfish of me but I could not see any other way. I prayed that I get to see her, I know I will be able to stop her. I know she would not leave me, I just wanted to see her, talk to her.

Nessie called me back and I picked up immediately. "Emily is trying to hold her up, distracting her without telling her you are coming, where are you?" she asked me in urgency. "I am about to reach" I was close by. "Hurry up Embry, Grace is catching up to the truth" Nessie replied, "Thanks Nessie" I said before hanging up.

I ran through the gates of the airport. People were looking my way as I passed them. I was looking for the one girl I knew had complete control over me.

I had to reach her before she leaves me.

I called Emily as I ran through the airport. "We are outside the Starbucks" she whispered after picking up the phone in one ring, and immediately hung up.

Starbucks, where was Starbucks? I stopped a man passing by. He was wearing a three-piece suit and did not look like a person who wanted to be stopped, but I could not care less. "Sir, where is the Starbucks?" I asked him, he looked at me with bewildered expressions before pointing me in the direction. "Thank you" I said before running in the direction.

I had to remind myself to stay on human pace, but I was hardly passing for running on human pace. I could not risk losing Grace even if it meant that I expose myself. She was all that mattered to me.

There she stood, no one else or nothing else mattered, her expressions were unreadable but from the looks of it, I knew she had cried. It broke my heart to see her this way. She deserved to smile and I was going to do everything in my power to make it happen. My heart was beating loudly, she was so close, within my reach.

I ran up to her and caught her wrist from behind. I could hear her heart skip a beat as she turned around. She gasped as she looked at me. "What are you doing here?" she asked, "You are leaving?" I questioned back, I could not be out of breath physically but I sure felt like it.

For a moment there was silence, and I almost felt that Grace was going to drop her plans and hug me, heck I was counting on it! "Yes" her world brought me back to reality.

"Grace, don't" I begged as I held her by her shoulders. "Embry, let me go" she shrugged out of my touch, her actions were like someone was pouring acid over me, I winced. "I can't" my voice broke, "I don't want to stay here, alright?" Grace's voice was an octave higher.

"I don't want to see you again, I don't want to come back to this place again" she shouted, and it was perhaps the first time she did not care about her surroundings. My heart dropped to my stomach at her words. "I know you love me" I whispered, looking down. "Yes, and that is why I cannot stay here" I knew she was on the verge of crying too.

Without another word, I hugged her close to me. I was not going to let her go, not like this. She was stiff under my touch but then she relaxed before shoving me away.

"Grace" that was the first time Emily spoke. "Goodbye Emily, Goodbye Embry" she looked at each of us for a brief moment before running in the other direction.

She left.

A/N: Hey Readers,

Thanks for all your support, please please please, keep it coming. It means the world to me to know what you think about my story. I will be waiting guys! I swear it won't take more than a minute.

Thanks!

-JT