Thank you Twibookworm, brankel1, MammaNita4, .7334, catgrl and the guest reviewer for your reviews.
A/N: Filler chapter. I am referring to the unknown point of view I had written earlier- Part IV, chapter 8- The green eyed monster.
Part IV- Imprint
Chapter 15- The revelation of the unknown POV
"So, I have hardly seen you in these past few days, and that is saying something as we live in the same house" I said, as Paul sat on the sofa facing me, and munched on his sandwich. I desperately tried to hide the bitterness and disappointment that was seeping through my pores at this fact, but I guess I was not as successful as I wished to be, as it all came out lacing through my voice.
He merely shrugged, and the anger that I was feeling rose a bit. He could not even give me a proper answer. Did he not even think me worthy of deserving that much? We lived together. Yes I was aware that it was more like I was the guest in his house, but still we had been roommates back in Pittsburgh, and even more than that we had been friends since years. At least I deserved the courtesy of knowing why I had seen so less of him these past few days.
"Do you want to go to the beach today?" I asked, a small ray of hope building in my chest. Maybe he had not meant to make me feel like this. Maybe he had no idea that he was making me feel so low and so disappointed. I had never been one to hound another. I believed in personal space, and more than that the fact that everyone needed a bit of personal time in their life. I was not Paul's keeper and it was definitely not his duty to tell me everything of what was happening in his life….. But it would have been nice to know that he trusted me enough to tell me of what was happening in his life, which required so much time of him that he did not even have those few rare minutes to talk to me and tell me where he had been the past entire day. Heck, I did not even know when the guy came home, or when he left to go out again. The only indication I had that he was even coming home was that I could see the dirty dishes lying in the sink, Paul hated doing dish duty, or the fact that I could see the leftovers in the fridge lessening by the day. Other than that I had no clue whatsoever, and his phone had been perpetually switched off to make things oh so better!
He shook his head in a hurry, almost as if the idea of spending time with me repulsed him, and I could not hide the hurt that small, maybe not even meant gesture caused in me. Maybe he was genuinely busy. Maybe he wanted to spend time with me, but something had come up. Maybe…..
"But….. It would be fun. The weather is good today" I sighed, trying to convince him otherwise. It had been so long since we had spent quality time together, and even though I had not booked my flight ticket for going back home as of now, I knew that I could not stay here indefinitely. I liked living here, but this was not my home. My home was Pittsburgh, and now that I had seen Paul living here, reconnecting with his childhood friends, I was afraid that he would choose not to come back with me, back to our home. He had nothing calling him back over there. He could choose to stay here, while I would have to go back, to our home…., to my home, and that scared me. I hadn't even known how used to I was to him being around. It was just normal to have him around.
Suddenly, before Paul could reply back to me and let me down once again, from the way he was looking at me, Allison's voice wafted through the house, the happiness that she was feeling clearly evident in her tone "Paul, Bella has opened her eyes"
It was like an imaginary switch was turned on in Paul's head, as not even a second later he went running towards Bella's room up the stairs, leaving me standing there behind, my words and my presence long forgotten.
"Wow…. That went well" I said with a huff, sarcastically. Quite the opposite, wasn't it.
I sat back on the sofa, feeling like shit, and thinking of just running out of here. Anything would be better than facing the embarrassment that I would have to face when Paul finally remembered once again of my presence, but then again wouldn't just disappearing like that, in someone else house, be considered impolite. Allison had opened the door for me, letting me in, and so leaving without informing her that I was leaving, would be considered rude. At least that was what my mom had pushed into my head, on the few rare occasions when I had paid the attention to listen to her incessant ramblings.
It was not a long wait, as in just close to five minutes, Allison came down the stairs and sat opposite me on the sofa, a broad smile on her face, as she wiped a stray tear from her eyes, a tear that I was sure was of relief.
"So, how is Bella feeling now, Mrs. Uley?" I asked politely. Bella was not my friend, the reason for so, I had no idea of, as from my side I wanted to be her friend, but still knowing how stressful the past few days had been for the Uley's made me ask this question.
She smiled, almost like a burden had been lifted off her shoulders "I have told you before, please call me Allison, and Bella's feeling better now. She has opened her eyes…. finally, and even though she is a bit puzzled and overwhelmed at the moment, Paul is talking to her, and trying to get her to calm down, and not ask as many questions as she is currently" she laughed a short laugh "The girl can be such a worrywart at times. She wants to know of every minute that she has missed. Paul is such a good boy though" She smiled, looking at her lap "I worry so much about her, with all that is going on…. but with Paul around to look after her, I feel better. He is good….. good for her" she whispered, before looking up at me, her expression a little shocked, as if she hadn't meant to say all of that out loud "I am sorry, I didn't mean to…."
I cut her off, with a small smile on my face "its okay. Paul is a wonderful person, and Bella is lucky to have a friend like him in her life. He genuinely cares for her"
The words that had left my mouth, I genuinely believed in them. Yes, Bella was lucky to have a friend like Paul, who was extremely loyal and protective once he started to care for you, but still the words felt bittersweet as they left my mouth. I knew that Paul and Bella had history, they had been childhood friends, and had once shared a friendship that rarely forms more than once in a lifetime, I had heard it all before, but still the pinch that he would very well forget me, if something happen to Bella, hurt. Coming here today, to see if Paul was here, was also an opportunity of chance that had paid off. I had just taken a guess to check over here, and for once my guesswork had paid off.
She nodded her head in agreement, and I took that as my cue to tell her that I was leaving, and it was nice talking to her. I told her that I would come to visit Bella again, once she was feeling up to it, as no matter what who said, I knew that I was not one of her favorites, and it was better if she first spoke to family, before leaving from the Uley house. I did not mention Paul, as passing messages via another just didn't make any sense. Hopefully Paul would come back home and talk to me sometime soon. Now that even Bella was awake, I just didn't see the reason for him not to.
I must have hardly walked ten steps out of the front door when I roughly fell on my back after hitting something or rather someone hard, built like a tank and feeling like steel.
"Whoa!" I chided, rubbing my arm that had come in contact with said steel like boy, more like man "What are they feeding you?"
Embry, who looked older and somehow bigger than when I had seen him last, a week back, grinned, showing all his perfectly straight white teeth "I have been working out. Is it showing?"
He gave me his hand, helping me stand up once again, as I looked or rather admired him. He had recently turned fifteen a few weeks back, his birthday being a small affair as he did not believe in making a fuss out of what he termed 'just a normal day', and had preferred to rather see a movie in Port A, with Jake and Quil, but coming back to the point, he didn't look like any fifteen years old I had ever seen before in life. He was filling out, his height increasing and his chest, abs and pecs filling out, making him look almost delectable, and he now looked closer to eighteen than to fifteen. Even his face was more mature and closer looking to an adult, than a just hitting puberty, lanky awkward teenager.
"Are you checking me out?" he smirked, puffing his chest out in pride.
I scoffed with a fake laugh "You wish, Kid!"
"So, you agree that you are an old lady, if you think that I am a kid" he asked, with the same smirk plastered on his face.
I rolled my eyes "Yeah, if you think eighteen is old then yes. But you are an ignorant teenager, yet to even enter the real world. You probably do believe that reaching your twenties is old"
It was a running joke between the both of us that I called him 'Kid' and he referred to me as 'old lady', even though I was way way far from actually being one. I know it was kiddish, but yeah, not every friendship has to make complete sense. It was just one of those 'our thing' kind of deal.
He folded his arms together, sarcastically muttering "You are so funny. Why don't you try for being a standup comedian?"
I fake smiled "Funnier than you at least, and less lamer than you, too"
He scoffed, deciding to change the subject "So, where are you off to?" "And what were you doing here, at my house. Come to see me?" he winked, trying to act flirtatious. Key word here being- trying. Ever since Embry had broken up, or mutually ended his not so much as a relationship, but a trial of a relationship with his first girlfriend who was more like a friend, and just wanted to try out the relationship scenario and experience 'making out', he was trying to reaffirm his place in the world as a Casanova, or mildly put a free bird trying to fly in the air for the first time, with no fixed destination in mind. Yeah, like every other hormonal teenager out there. I know I know that I too was a teenager, and it could be hypocritical of me, but I was eighteen, nineteen in a few months. In my opinion, I was definitely out of this awkward, only hormone induced phase. Saying so, I was also not looking for celibacy or sainthood, but I was ready for a bit more seriousness and 'thinking about the future' kind of deal.
I grinned widely "In your dreams, kid. In your dreams" "But, on a serious note, I was here to see Paul. Could not find him around, so took a chance, and I really don't know where I am off too. Even netflixing has a limit to it, I guess" I finished with a shrug, trying to hide my actual feelings of being left behind.
He looked confused for a bit "Why is Paul Lahote here?"
I shrugged again. It was not like he told me stuff, at least not since he moved here "Probably to see Bella. Oh, Bella has woken up. I just heard it from Allison"
He gave me an excited smile "Really?"
I nodded my head, trying to look happy for him, though it wasn't that difficult to pretend. I was genuinely happy for him. The rumor mills of La Push, that I had acquainted myself with, on one of my rare visits to the local grocery story, had updated me of how Bella Uley had been in a car accident; the remains of her broken truck were found in a mess by the road connecting La push and Forks, and how she had been in Coma since. For a change Dr. Cullen who rarely gave home visits, as I had heard from the local grapevine, was personally monitoring her condition, or so I had heard. I was not as close to the Uley's to actually go and inquire on the exact details though.
"I should go in" he asked, rather stated, as he pointed towards the door.
I instantly nodded my head "Yeah"
He had merely taken two steps to walk ahead when he suddenly stopped, surprising me "What did you mean by 'you don't know where you are off to?' Is that even possible to not know where your feet are leading you to?"
I shrugged, a small smile making its way "I will probably go to the beach or something. Read a book for a change, or maybe plug in my IPod"
Now that I thought about it, I had really not read anything, except probably PEOPLE or The Hollywood reporter in a while, but I guess as they say there is a first for everything.
He looked conflicted for a moment, before he shook his head, a new determination visible on his face "I am coming with you. You could use some company"
I gave him a glare. I was a grown up, I did not like to be pitied "Look, it is really not a big deal. I am not new to La Push; I am not going to get lost, not like there is much to get lost anyways. But the point being is that your sister has just woken up from a Coma. You should go see her. If you feel like it, you can join me later on. I will probably be on the beach for a while"
He shook his head in haste "No, you look upset. You should not be alone right now"
I stared at him in shock and even more than that, surprise. How was it that Paul, who I had known since years had not been able to pick up on this simple fact that I was upset, but Embry who I had hardly known for a few weeks, could say so?
"But, your sister…." I whisper- shouted "You should be with family"
He shrugged "And I will be in some time. Anyways too many people will be hounding Bella at the moment. If I know my mom and Sam, they will be the first two in that list" he chuckled lightly.
I gave him a nod, not knowing how to react to his words. It was not like he was bad company or anything; I just didn't know how to react to him coming to my aid, when I didn't even know that I needed said help or company in the first place.
"So, beach?" he asked, after a minute of silence.
I shrugged "Sure, if you have no other plans"
"Nope, no other plans" he replied, with a shake of the head and a small smile, as the both of us starting walking to the beach in comfortable silence.
"So, Ms. Williams" he turned to look at me, as we walked side by side, on the smooth sand, barefoot. There was a completely different level of happiness in walking barefoot, taking in the feel of the sand as it stuck in the middle of your toes. My experience with sand, water and beaches was very limited, having never lived close to the beach, but in the short few times that I had visited a beach, immersing my feet under a pile of sand, as the cool wind whipped through the air, making my hair fly in every direction, making me regret my decision of not tying them up, was one of my favorite memories. It was a feeling of freedom and complete serenity.
"So, Mr. Call" I responded, with a small teasing smile.
He made an 'hmm' like sound as he kicked a small rock that lay in his path "What does Charlotte mean?"
"Random much" I asked sarcastically, not knowing where that question came from.
He just shrugged in return, coaxing me to answer his question.
"Okay" I sighed, with a roll of the eyes "Well, Charlotte originally means free, but I was named after Charlotte Bronte. My mother was a big fan of her works, and especially of Jane Eyre. Not very fascinating I guess, but it is an okay name"
"Better than mine at least" he muttered under his breath, so low that I almost missed it.
I look at him in amusement, as a smirk covered my face "Okay, so I really need to know this now" "what's the story behind the name Embry? Come on, I need to know this" I pleaded, teasingly, giving him my infamous pout.
He shook his head "No way. No one ever needs to know of that"
"Hey" I pouted "I answered your question. Be fair, and answer mine"
I grinned as I stared at him, trying to give in, and my bad mood all but forgotten.
He shook his head once again "Nope, not happening"
"Embry, please" I said, jutting my lower lip out, trying to look as innocent as possible.
He sighed "I already know that I am going to regret this, but still I don't know why I am doing this"
I rubbed my hands in excitement "Come on, spill"
He shook his head, with a small smile on his face "my name came from a soap opera. Tiffany, my mom, was in love with the main lead of it, he coincidentally had the name Embry"
"Fuck" I said, before I could stop myself, my face grinning wide in disbelief "Really?" I mumbled, through my giggles, as my laughter refused to stop "I am sorry, this is just…." I waved my hands in the air, trying to speak words through my laughter, which nearly seemed impossible at the moment.
"See. I told you" he whispered, looking embarrassed and mildly upset.
"Hey, it is not so bad" I reassured him "At least you were named after a person, even if he was fictitious. It could have been worse. You could have been named after a fruit, a color, or imagine a place or planet"
"Really?" he looked into my eyes, shock visible on his face "People name their kids after all that?"
I shrugged "I knew a girl named Irelynn back in high school"
"Crap, really?" "What does it even mean?"
I shrugged again "A variation of Ireland, apparently. Her middle name was Cara; she made everyone call her that. She said anything was better than being called Irelynn"
He nodded his head in agreement "Poor girl"
I too gave a nod at that "So, do you have a middle name?"
"James" he said, with a shrug "After my paternal grandfather"
"Embry James Call" I said aloud, testing the words on my tongue "Sweet"
He laughed "Thanks" "What about you, any middle name?"
"Nora" I said, with a shrug "Charlotte Nora Williams"
He grinned at me "Nice"
I involuntarily blushed under his stare, as we continued to walk down the beach, unknowingly walking closer than we had been before.
"So, Cherry" he said, after a few minutes of silence "Can I ask you something?"
I nodded my head, giving him the go ahead.
"Do you like Paul?" he asked, slowly, unsurely
I gave him a confused glance "We have been friends for a while now. Wouldn't it be strange if I didn't like the guy, and couldn't stand him?"
His eyebrows widened comically, as he shook his head "No, I didn't mean it in that way. I mean do you like like him"
"Oh" I whispered, understanding what he meant "You mean to ask if I have feelings for him?"
He nodded his head, waiting for me to answer.
I sighed "I won't lie; there was a time when I thought that he could be it. You know the 'it' every person one day searches for. But I soon realized that he did not think of me in the same light, and working on those newly found feelings would just lead to disappointment, and maybe would also end our friendship. Also we are very different people when it comes to life choices, and so it would be better to only be friends, and so to answer your question, I like Paul, but like a friend or a faraway cousin who is more a friend than a relative"
He nodded his head, contemplating something in his head.
"Why do you ask though?" I asked, curiosity dripping through my voice.
He shrugged, chickening out of answering me.
"Hey" I protested, seeing his courage to answer wavering "I answered honestly. Now your turn"
He sighed audibly "Fine" "The thing is I am confused thinking of Paul and Bella. Sometimes I think he likes her, or I think she likes him, but she is also my sister, and I will gladly rip apart any boy who tries to take advantage or her, and…."
"Whoa" I said, stopping him in his tracks "Ignoring all the ripping apart discussion, you think Paul and Bella have feelings for one another?"
"Don't you think so?" he questioned me, surprised"
I shrugged "I don't know, even though I have lived her for a while now. It is confusing at times. Sometimes I think they do, and it is just so obvious, but the other times I am like, Nah, they definitely don't think of each other like that"
He nodded his head "I know what you mean. I guess they really are confused themselves"
I made an hmm like sound.
"Would you be happy if they were?" he asked, looking at me in curiosity and mild worry.
I shrugged, looking at my feet "I guess. He is my best friend. I want him to be happy, even if it isn't with me. Sure, I felt a bit neglected these past few days, but isn't that inevitable in the long run?"
"What do you mean?" he asked, confused.
"As you grow older, there will always be someone who will precede your importance in another's life then be it friend or family. Nothing is permanent, and with time relationships change, friends come and go. I just didn't expect it to happen this soon" "What about you?" I asked, diverting the attention from me to him "Bella is your sister too"
"Honestly, I hate it" he laughed "No one can ever be good enough for my sister, you know, but if she likes someone, and is happy then….."
I nodded my head, as a question made its way in my head "But, tell me something….."
"Wait" he interrupted me, his eyes shining with an interesting idea "I have an idea. We should make this more interesting and fun. This conversation is just becoming boring"
I rolled my eyes at the fifteen year old in front of me, as he divulged into his 'great idea', making me laugh uncontrollably by the end of it.
"You are such a dork kid" I laughed, disbelievingly "Fake detectives and all"
He shrugged "It will be fun, I promise, and we will get to role-play it out, enacting it. Come on, old lady. It will be fun"
I shook my head, amusement clear on my face "Okay lame dork. Let's do this"
I had needed a distraction, and now after talking to Embry, I finally felt like I had one. We quickly donned our fake detective caps, and let the conversation between us flow, by the end of which I was sure of two things. First, someone was creating misunderstandings between them both, and second we had our first plan in place to get Paul and Bella together. Now we just had to get this thing rolling.
