CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Erin Purser

Brian dropped me off on the outskirts of La Push and I trudged back to the house the walk allowing at least for my head to clear a little before I faced whoever may be home. The house always seemed empty nowadays.

I knew Paige was avoiding us all, she'd taken it the hardest I think. Finding the body couldn't have been easy even for someone as strong willed as her. They were always talking about moving my Grandmother into a home and in truth I think it meant Paige had lost her purpose. She spent her time in the garage 'balancing the books' she called it but it seemed more like shuffling papers around to me.

I hardly saw my Mother and my Father only dropped in for the funeral before he left again. Quil seemed like the closets thing I had to family at the moment. I picked up my pace at that thought eager to meet him and tell him about my somewhat successful lesson.

My disappoint was evident upon my return to find someone who certainly wasn't Quil sat up on my porch steps looking like sin.

"Where's Quil?" I demanded scowling at him as I toed at the dirt.

"He had something to do, Tribe stuff. I thought I'd come and keep you company" he shrugged standing up so he stretched above me and I kept my eyes grounded into the floor as I tried to conceal my blush. "I know I'm early" he added in what was proberley some sort of apology but I didn't accept it.

"I need to get changed" I shrugged stepping forwards towards the house.

"You look fine, honestly Erin. Please. Lets just get out of here" he pleaded and I met his gaze.

"Have you been fighting?" I demanded looking at the shading around his eye and noticing the split to his lip which was already crusting over.

"It's nothing" he shrugged.

"I'm getting changed Black, you can wait outside" I snapped back and slammed the door with enthusiasm and leant back against it trying to breathe out my anxiousness.

"I thought we could go for a walk, and then well, I talked to Quil and I got Emily to make us some food. It thought we could have some food. Maybe we could trek out somewhere. I thought you might like it. If you don't we can do something else. Erin I can hear you, I know you standing against the door, please don't just ignore me" Jacob called through the door and I froze with uncertainty.

"You lie to me Jacob. You lie to me, and you keep secrets and, and that fucks me off!" I screeched pulling back the door and glaring across to him. "That really fucks me off" I repeated clenching my hands into fists as I tried to stop the tremor in my limbs.

"I fuck you off?" He questioned raising his eyebrows sceptically.

"Yes. You make me so angry! I just want to scream at you sometimes, I ask you a question and you either bite my head off or you just skirt around it. And sometimes, sometimes you look so dam smug. Like your laughing at me. Like your in on this secret and you think it's kinda funny that I don't get it. Sometimes I just want to slap you so hard …" I dropped of into a husk mid-rant and glared at him for a moment taken aback by my own unexpected outburst.

"I'm sorry, I guess" he shrugged scratching the back off his head.

I ducked my head down skirting against the worn wood of the deck as I tried to rationalise.

"Maybe you should go?" I questioned my voice hesitant.

"You want me to go?" He asked his voice rough with unexplained emotion.

I didn't respond, I kept staring at the deck trying to even out my breathing as my eyes burned. By the time I was composed enough to look up he'd gone.

My hands clenched and unclenched for a moment as my eyes scanned the street for signs of him but I drew a blank.

A deep ache filled my chest and I began to stomp down the steps. I strode down the lawn, until my strides turned into a jog and my jog became a sprint as I realised I'd pushed him away again.

I watched from a distance as soon as the house came into view but I sensed from the silence that suddenly fell on the porch that my presence was certainly known to the group. I banged my shoes against the pavement trying to knock off the dust which had collected over them during my run.

Subconsciously I was aware that Sally would be unimpressed by my current getup and even less impressed with what I was about to do. But Sally wasn't here right now. Neither was Noah, or Paige, or my Mother. No one was here to pass there judgment on my actions.

I walked at a teasingly slow pace trying to build myself up for my next move.

Quil looked cautious and his stare flicked between my body to Jacobs unable to settle. Embry however seemed ready to burst into a fit of laughter.

I ignored them both setting my uneasy gaze on Jacob.

I hated how he always looked so smug.

I hated how his shorts always sat so low on his hips.

I hated how his hair was always ruffled from running his hand through it.

I hated how he towered over me, his height dwarfing me.

I hated how he made me feel.

Paige always said my clothes flushed me out but I didn't listen to her. But now I wished I'd worn something brighter. Something to make me feel more confident.

"Erin, I thought you didn't want to be around me?" He demanded trying to smirk at me but it only enraged me further.

"Shut up! Just shut up okay, for once I want to speak and to have someone listen to me. I don't want to be interrupted" I warned my voice squeaky as I climbed up the porch steps towards him.

"Fine what do you want?" He questioned dropping down a step to meet me in the middle and I flexed my fingers out resisting the urge to clasp them together and sink to the ground.

"I want you to take me out. Like you said you would. I dare you" I asserted jabbing my finger into his chest.

"You dare me?" He laughed.

"I donkey-dare you to take me out Black" I assured.

"Okay" he nodded and I clenched my hands in surprise.

"Okay?" I asked hesitantly.

"Yeah, okay" he shrugged and I bit down on my lip.

Embry groaned from the porch and Jacob took a menacing step towards him which abruptly cut him off.

"Play nicely you two" Quil warned flashing me a teasing smile.

"Maybe try not to be so blunt for a change" Embry suggested and I tensed under the scrutiny.

"Erin's fine just as she is" Jacob defended me and I looked at him daring him to explain himself but he shrugged his broad shoulders and began to walk down the drive side-stepping me.

Quil gave me the thumbs up, and Embry winked playfully before I turned and strode after Jacob.

Authors Note: thank you all for you continued support, I would so appreciate any reviews you may have. Have a lovely weekend.

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