Ok, I know, it's been a month since the last one. Apologies but if you want somebody to blame, there's school. Yup school because ever since that started I've barely gotten any free time. So I'm sorry again but enjoy! :D

Chapter 37: Cookies.

Embry's POV

*In wolf form*

"Ugh, she hates me. What have I done? My life's over. I'm going to die alone while everyone else is married and has kids. I really screwed up. Why can't I just get hit by a bus?"

"Oh my god Seth, just shut up." Paul grumbled at him. "We get it, she hates your ass but moping isn't going to help you."

"Paul, ease up on him. He's hurting. And it doens't help that she's leaving for New York today and he doesn't know when's he going to see her again." I said, stepping in for Seth because when it came to being sensitive, Paul was not the right guy to talk to.

"Whatever." Paul replied, rolling his eyes. "I'm going; Quil's phasing soon to go up to Claire's house." And with that, he left.

"Why did he even phase if he couldn't handle my thoughts?" Seth asked mostly to himself.

"Because Sam wants us to check up on you every now and then. Make sure you aren't killing yourself or doing anything stupid."

"Why won't you guys just leave me alone? None of you understand how I feel anyway." He grumbled.

"I do." I responded. "Remember when Gab left for LA? I didn't see her or have any contact with her whatsoever for three whole months. But now look at us; we're stronger than ever again. Don't lose hope Seth, just because it feels like she'll never accept you."

"I guess... Thanks Embry. You know, for explaining it to me." he replied.

"Yeah, yeah whatever. Enough of this cheesy bullshit, I spend way to much time with the imprintees that I'm starting to sound like a girl. Wanna go cliff diving?" I said, making a mental note to try and spend some more time with the guys. I was starting to act and talk like a girl now.

"Maybe later, I don't feel like it right now."

"Ok."

After that, we were silent until Quil finally phased.

"Hey, what up?" he asked in his usual cheery tone.

"Nothing." Seth mumbled. Quil rolled his eyes at Seth's tone.

"Sam said that if you need his help just howl. Oh and Embry, Sam said to go back to Emily's to eat soon. It is your day off anyway and Seth needs some 'alone time' as Sam put it."

"Finally, someone gets that I need to be alone!" Seth said in gratitude and annoyance.

"But someone's going to check up on you hourly." Quil added.

Seth then groaned. "I should've known."

"Dude, what's to eat at Emily's?" I asked, hungry since I hadn't ate since last night.

"Food Embry, food." Quil answered sarcastically.

"Really? I didn't know you could." I deadpanned.

"Whatever."

"I'm leaving, see you guys later. And Seth, good luck with Quil." I said before walking over to a tree and focusing on things that made me calm. Of course, Gabriella came into mind almost immediately. I soon found myself on two feet again and I pulled on my shorts.

I decided to walk the rest of the way to Emily's instead of being in Seth and Quil's mind. One can only take so much of Quil in a day. Don't get me wrong, I loved Quil like he was my own brother but somethimes you need some peace and let's face it; he was talkative. I thought about my mom and her being all alone at home. I felt guilty that I hadn't spent as much time with her as I used to before I phased. I knew she felt hurt by me leaving all the time but it was my responsibility. I couldn't just endanger the lives of the people of the tribe. I just hoped she understood.

I saw some birds flying above my head and noticed how quiet and peaceful the forest sounded. I wished that I could just lay down and enjoy the serenity but my stomach was growling at me for not eating since last night so it probably wasn't a good idea. I quickened my pace a little bit and reached Emily's house soon enough.

I had always loved Emily's house; it had become a second home to me once I phased. Emily always gave us a place to stay whenever we needed to crash after a long patrol and she always fed us whenever we got hungry. I couldn't remember a time when she wasn't at the stove cooking something. She had become a second mother to me in the short time I've known her and I appreciated it.

I heard the familiar shouting over the food and the aroma of what Emily's cooking hit me and made my stomach growl even louder. I entered the house and laughed at the site in front of me. Paul and Jared were fighting over the last cookie and Sam was in the middle of them telling Paul off for throwing a plate at Jared's head.

I couldn't hold my laughter anymore and started laughing until my stomach was aching from all my laughter.

"Shut it Call!" Paul growled at me.

I shook my head at him and took a seat at the table. "I'm good thanks." I answered before grabbing the cookie they were fighting about off the plate and shoving it whole in my mouth.

Jared and Paul gaped at me while Sam sighed in relief.

Sam looked at me, "Thank you so much."

"Embry! That was supposed to be my cookie!"Jared whined.

"I think you mean my cookie." Paul said while glaring at Jared.

"Well it's gone now and there's nothing you can do about it. You guys are so childish." I responded, shaking my head at them.

"It was Emily's cookies!" Paul argued.

"It was still just a cookie!" I shot back.

Sam rolled his eyes at us, "Quit it or else you'll both be on patrol for the next month."

We both shut up immediately. Just then, Emily came in holding a plate overflowing with cookies. Paul stood up so fast and was rushing over to Emily but Sam caught him just in time.

"Woah, calm down. It's just cookies Paul." Sam warned.

Paul sat back down and once the cookies were on the table, his hand immediately shot out and grabbed two which he shoved in his mouth. Emily whacked him with a wooden spoon on top of his head.

"Manners!" she scolded before walking back into the kitchen.

Paul scowled at her retreating form but Sam gave him a warning look and it disappeared from his face. Instead, he proceeded to stuff his face in cookies. Me and Jared rolled our eyes at him before following suit. I had to hand it to Paul; Emily's cookies really were amazing.

"Damn, I gotta get Gab to start baking." I said while munching on a cookie.

"I thought she already baked?"Jared asked curiously.

"Well yeah she does... if I beg her." I responded, shrugging my shoulders.

"She makes you beg just to get her baking? I wonder what you'll have to beg for once you guys are married." Paul added, laughing.

"I don't get how that was funny." I replied, glaring at him.

"I was just saying dude, no need to get all pissy on me." He grumbled.

"Quit it and just enjoy the cookies will you?" Sam asked as he took a seat next to me. "You're acting like a bunch of kids."

"It's Paul's fault." I defended.

"Was not."

"Was too!"

"Was not!"

"Was too!"

"Shut up!" Sam yelled at us. "Jesus, for once stop acting so immature and just eat!" he said, sounding aggravated.

I was shocked by his tone of voice. I mean, he did yell at us but never over something silly like this; it was mostly about serious things like patrol or something.

"Sorry." I mumbled while nibbling on a cookie.

Sam sighed. "I'm sorry aswell, I didn't mean to yell at you guys like that. I'm just under a lot of stress right now and I'd appreciated it if you would try to just get along for now."

"Why, what's wrong man?" Jared asked, sounding concerned. Trust Jared to be the mature one in a situation like this.

"Nothing too serious. It's just Seth and his situation with Alex, then Emily planning our wedding and Leah being upset about it. It's hard enough to deal with those three so I'd appreciated it if you tired your hardest to just get along for the time being. Understood?"

We all nodded.

"Good. Now Embry, how's Seth coping?" he asked.

"Not that good. He was talking about wanting to get hit by a bus just before I left him; the kid's gone delusional!"

"You're one to talk Embry, remember when Gab left you because your ass couldn't stay faithful."

I think Paul meant it as a joke. But I didn't think it was all that funny at all. So before I knew it, my hands had a tight death grip on Paul's throat as I held him against the wall.

"Don't ever say that again. You knew that wasn't what happened." I growled through clenched teeth.

Paul was squirming under my grip as I continued to glare at him until Sam snapped me out of it.

"Embry stop it, let him go now!" he commanded, tugging me away from Paul who let out a relieved breath and sunk to the floor.

I took a shaky breath before running outside and just barely reaching the tree line before phasing into my wolf form. I had to get some self control before i went back and apologized.

-0-

"No Embry, you're supposed to add the chocolate chips now!" Gab yelled at me, obviously frustrated.

"No Gab! You sprinkle them on once the dough is on the tray." I argued.

"No!"

"Yes!"

"No!

"Yes!"

Gab stopped talking and put down the wooden spoon she was holding. She turned back to me and glared.

Shit. I should've known she was going to give me the look if I argued with her.

"Aw come on Gab! That's not fair." I whned, grabbing her by the waist gently but she wouldn't budge; she just kept on glaring.

I glared back and we had a glaring competition. I knew it was no use; I always gave into what she wanted anyway.

Giving in, I sighed defatedly. "Fine. You win." I mumbled, pulling her to me into a hug as I dug my face into the crook of her neck.

"I know, I always do anyway." she teased and nudged me gently in the ribs.

"Whatever baby, go put in the chocolate chips now." I said, putting my arms around her waist.

"Don't pout Emb." she warned.

"I'm not!" I insisted. "Just put it in."

"Fine, you better not be though."

"I'm not. Now come on, we need those to be ready in time to bring to the bonfire."

"Yeah, yeah. They will be Embry so stop fussing."

"Ok, I just really want some cookies though."

"Will you ever not be hungry?"

"Probably not."

"How does Emily manage to cook so much for you guys?"

"Because she loves us and you love me too." I teased and kissed her cheek.

"Well, I can't deny that. And how's Seth coping?"

I sighed, "Not good. He's been moping all day talking about how he wish he would get hit by a bus already."

"If you're ever like that I will personally slap you in the face." she commented.

"Why!"

"Because you shouldn't harm yourself just because of me stupid."

"Aw, it's nice that you care." I joked.

A look of hurt appeared on her face but it disappeared as soon as it appeared. "I've always cared about you Embry."

She pulled away from my arms and started to fill the baking tray with the cookie dough, shielding her face away from me with her hair.

"What's wrong Gab?" I asked, worried that I had hurt her feelings or something by my joke.

"Nothing."

"Gab, I'm not stupid. I know there's something wrong and I'm not letting you leave without telling me."

"Do you really think that I don't care about you?" she asked, the worry evident in her eyes.

"No Gabby, that's not it. I was just making a joke. Please don't be worried; I know that you care about me." I assured her, giving her a smile.

She smiled back after a while and hugged me tightly. "Good, because I do."

"I know Gab, I know."

"Wait." she said, pulling back suddenly. "Did you call me Gabby?"

"Yeah, why?"

She burst out laughing after.

I looked at her confused, "What's so funny?"

"Nevermind Embry." she sighed, her laughter dying down.

"Whatever you say Gab."

-0-

"I can't believe you burnt the cookies." I said, shaking my head at her.

"Me? You're the one who forgot about them! I specifically told you not to forget yet what did you do?" she exclaimed.

"Whatever, but they're gonna be pissed that these are burnt." I stated.

"At least I brought something. And they're not even that burnt, they're still edible." she responded, shrugging her shoulders and leaning her head against my shoulder.

"Well hopefully these will be good enough for Paul as an apology gift." I mumbled quietly, hoping that Gabriella wouldn't hear me. Unfortunately she did.

"Apology gift? What did you do Emb?" she sighed.

"Nothing. We just had a little disagreement." I answered.

"Embry, it's not little. Just tell me please." she pleaded.

I didn't dare look at her eyes because I knew that if I did I would cave in and tell her what we were arguing about. I shook my head and kept my gaze straight ahead on the road.

"Fine, be like that. I'll find out one way or another anyway." she commented.

"Ok, just try not to fall asleep during the stories though." I teased, remembering that the first time I brought her to a bonfire she fell asleep.

"Hey, it was your fault! You made me feel sleepy." she protested.

I laughed, "How did I make you sleepy?"

"You just did! So you can't make me feel sleepy again or else Billy might think I don't like the legends or I'm being disrespectful."

"Aren't you?" I joked.

She elbowed me in the shoulder which probably hurt her more than she hurt me, "Like I said, it's your fault!"

"Whatever floats your boat Gab."

She nodded at me and rolled her eyes. I chuckled and pulled her closer to me as we arrived at the beach parking lot and I parked the car before hopping out to get Gabriella's door open for her.

She raised an eyebrow at me as I took her hand and helped her out of the car. "What?" I asked.

"Nothing Emb." she answered, wrapping her arms around my neck and kissing me gently. I kissed her back and smiled against her lips.

"Come on, they're probably already waiting for us there. The sooner we get there the sooner Billy can start so you don't fall asleep durimg the stories."

"Like I said, it was your fault." she glared playfully before taking my hand and we headed down to the beach where we could see the huge fire blazing and everybody sitting on logs around it. This should be an eventful night.

Ok, so can I get three reviews before my next update pretty please? :') so as always remember to hit the review button and give me some feedback! Thanks! Xx