Chapter Twenty

I woke up the next morning to Charlie knocking on my door. "Rylie, I'm heading to work. Don't sleep all day, alright?"

I grumbled some kind of response and rolled over, figuring I'd sleep for a few more hours.

Twenty minutes later, though, I cracked an eyelid and glanced at the clock with a groan. I knew I wouldn't be able to get back to sleep, so I got up and switched on my iHome. As the music started belting out, I felt a sudden burst of energy and hyperness, and grabbed the hot pink feather boa Karen put in my closet, pulled my hair up, slipped on a pair of funny glasses and began to sing into my hair brush.

Na-na-na-na, na-na, na

Na-na-na-na na-na

Na-na-na-na, na-na, na

Na-na-na-na na

I guess I just lost my husband

I don't know where he went

So I'm gonna drink my money

I'm not gonna pay his rent

(Nope!)

I got a brand new attitude

And I'm gonna wear it tonight

I'm gonna get in trouble

I wanna start a fight…

I danced my way out of my room and down the stairs, jumping down the last two steps as the chorus hit.

So, so what?

I'm still a rock star

I got my rock moves

And I don't need you

And guess what

I'm having more fun

And now that we're done

I'm gonna show you tonight

I'm alright

I'm just fine

And you're a tool…

I moon walked into the living room, and wound up backing into the couch and toppling over the back of it.

I laughed at myself before realizing that the couch didn't feel quite right. I opened my eyes, and felt them widen comically.

Embry smiled down at me in almost an indulgent way, brushing his knuckles over my cheek as he took in my ridiculous get up combined with my short-shorts and wife beater tank that constituted sleep wear for me.

"Hello, love."

I eyes narrowed and the happy, hyper feeling I'd had evaporated. I sat up and tried to get off of him, only for him to wrap his arms around my waist.

I felt him nuzzle his face against the crook where my neck met my shoulder, and he sighed, hot breath fanning out over my skin. I tried struggling out of his arms, but found that I couldn't move even an inch, so I crossed my arms angrily and refused to look at him.

"What do you want, Embry?"

He smiled (nervously?) at me, twining a strand of my hair around his finger, like he used to do when we'd watch T.V. "I was actually wondering if you'd like to spend the day with me. I thought maybe we could go get breakfast, then hang out in Port Angeles, maybe see a movie?"

He stared at me earnestly, while I stared at him wide eyed. Was he serious? I couldn't help myself. I burst out laughing, rather bitterly.

"W-wow, Embry!" He was shocked enough, it seemed, by my laughter that he loosened his grip enough that I could get off his lap. I moved across the room, towards the TV, and crossed my arms over my stomach. "After, let's see, almost 4 months (A/N: work with me), you suddenly want to start hanging out with me again after you said we couldn't be friends anymore." I shook my head, allowing another harsh laugh to escape my lips. "Wow, you've got some nerve." I glared at him.

He slowly rose to his feet, towering over me. "Rylie…I can't take back what happened," I let out a rather un-ladylike snort, "but I can explain it."

I rolled my eyes as I turned my back on him dismissively. "It's a little late for an explanation, Embry. You know where the door is, don't let it hit you in the ass on your way out."

I slammed into the kitchen, pulling out cereal and milk, listening intently for the sound of the front door opening and closing. When it didn't come, I turned to go and check if he'd actually left, only to jump with a squeak when I saw him leaning against the door jam between the living room and kitchen.

Gathering my composure, I glared at him with everything in me. "What part of 'leave' are you having trouble with? Get lost, Embry! I don't want you here!"

He began slowly walking, almost stalking, towards me. "Rylie, please. I just—"

I cut him off as I grabbed the phone, ducking past him into the living room as I dialed.

"Who are you calling?" He demanded (like that was gonna make me answer), turning to keep track of my movements.

I didn't say anything as the ringing tone sounded in my ear. Come on, come on. Pick up!

Then…

"Hello?" Ethan's sleepy voice floated over the line.

"Hey, Ethan. It's me. Do you think you could come over?" I glared at Embry. "I seem to be having a pest problem."

"…Can't you call an exterminator?"

I made a moue at the phone. "No, Ethan I can't. There's a particularly large rat in the living room and I can't seem to get rid of it."

There was silence on the other line. "….Why can't you just call an exterminator?"

I sighed heavily. Love Ethan to death, but man he was slow in the mornings. "Ethan, that one person from the party is in my house and he won't leave! Can you come over here and help me out!"

"Oh!" I could hear the comprehension dawning on him, as well as the sounds of covers being thrown back and clothes being yanked on. "Don't worry, Rye. I'll be over in a few minutes. Just stay calm."

I had to roll my eyes; I was the one with the problem and he was freaking out. "Ok, see you in a bit, E."

I hung up, shaking my head. I turned around to face Embry, surprised to find him only a few feet away from me, looking really angry.

"Who was that?" He demanded.

I glared at him again (if I wasn't careful, my face would permanently be stuck like that). "Someone whose gonna make sure that you leave like you're supposed to." I side stepped him and headed towards the front door, waiting for my cavalry to arrive.

"Who did you call, Rylie? Was it that guy from last night?" Embry stalked into the hallway behind me, just as Ethan's car came squealing up the road. Kid must've broken a couple land speed records and risked getting pulled over to get here this fast.

I didn't even bother to look at Embry as I opened the door for Ethan. "Not that it's really any of your business, but yes, I did call Ethan. He would be the guy from last night."

Embry let something that sounded very much like a growl as Ethan came up the walkway after parking his car at the end of the driveway.

I watched (once again) as Ethan seemed to puff himself up like a rooster, coming into the house and standing pretty much toe to toe with Embry.

"I understand that Rylie has asked you to leave." Ethan was trying his hardest to intimidate Embry, but I didn't think it was working.

Embry raised an eyebrow, showing just how bored he was. "Are you trying to scare me, dude?" Embry ran a dismissive eye up and down Ethan's (to me at least) intimidating frame, before smirking cockily. "Please."

Ethan's face turned an icky puce color, like Charlie's did when he was angry. His hands clenched into fists, and I decided that maybe it hadn't been a good idea to call him over.

"I'm gonna ask you one more time, man. Get out of this house, or we gonna have us a conversation outside," Ethan practically growled.

Embry let loose a similar sound, and I was struck by how much the two of them reminded me of two wolves, circling each other, fighting over prey, trying to figure out the other's weakness.

I bit my lip, contemplating what to do. Before I could think of a plan, though, Embry was shoving Ethan out the door and onto the front lawn, where the two of them proceeded to duke it out.

I was able to gather my wits long enough to rush outside to the porch, where I stood watching in horror as the two guys grappled with each other, animalistic growls and grunts issuing from their throats as each tried to get the upper hand.

I was frozen on the porch, unable to believe it, until Embry threw Ethan to the ground, holding him there by his throat and baring his teeth.

"She's mine!" I heard him snarl, even from my spot on the porch. "Don't come near her again."

"I'll leave the choice to her!" Ethan gasped out, his eyes glowing with anger as I came running down the porch steps, not caring that my feet were bare.

"Stop it!" I screeched, latching onto Embry's arm and pulling uselessly. "Embry, please! Stop!"

He started shaking, his muscles twitching and jerking like they had last night, making me worried. What was he gonna do?

He threw me off to the side with a growl, the wet grass cushioning me. I watched, horrified, as Embry pulled his shaking arm back, about to totally pummel Ethan.

I opened my mouth to scream, but several things happened at once before the sound could make it past my sternum.

Ethan and Embry both practically exploded, and in their place were two, gigantic wolf-bear things, who were snarling and snapping at each other. Two more came darting out of the trees, pushing between the two and shoving them back with their bodies, trying, it seemed, to break up the fight and keep them away from me. I felt two arms come around me and haul me up against a chest, tucking me in and shielding me as the owner of the arms began backing towards the house.

"Jacob, Paul, get those two out of here." A voice from somewhere to my left spoke as my carrier headed up the porch steps, but I didn't turn my head to see who it was. My attention was completely riveted on the wolves on my front lawn, unable to believe what I had just seen. My best friend and my ex-best friend had just morphed into giant wolves right before my eyes. Was something like that even possible?

What? You can believe in vampires and the fact that you can do magick (sometimes), but you can't wrap your brain around the idea of werewolves? A sarcastic little voice that sometimes resides in my head decided that it needed to make itself known.

Well, forgive me for being a little flabbergasted. It's not every day that you come across werewolves. I responded.

And vampires are everyday occurrences. Sorry, I didn't think about that.

Oh, just hush you. I don't want to hear your snarky little comments.

…I am you, dummy.

….be quiet.

"…Rylie?"

Realizing that a voice outside of my head was speaking to me, I snapped out of my reverie and blinked up at the guy kneeling on the floor in front of the couch.

"Rylie?" Quil looked really worried as he lifted a hand to my cheek and gently patted it.

I saw another guy standing off to the side, but I couldn't focus on him as my mind kept replaying what I just saw. I was only able to form one coherent sentence.

"What. The hell. Just happened?"