*winces* oops. Sup Y'all! So... shit has hit the fan and spiraled at my house, the 'rona damn near took out half my school today and now I'm wishing I was one of those people quarantined so I could publish a few chapters but no joy there. I hope you guys are doing alright, and here's another chapter about a series I do not own.

KENSI

I listen to my sister and Jacob talk in hushed tones through her bedroom door. They're smart; quiet enough I can tell they're being stupid and mushy but not hear what they're saying.

Damn them both. I walk into my bedroom and change my clothes, a royal blue pair of running shorts and a black hoodie.

Embry, to my surprise, is still here.

"Oh." I greet. "You're still here. I thought you left."

He sighs. "I did. I came back. If that's alright."

I shake my head. "Hell yeah it's alright."

I hesitate in the kitchen archway. What am I supposed to do now?

"Can I get you something?" I ask barely able to keep the nerves out of my voice. Stupid girl! Just shut your emotions off and quit! Embry isn't going to fall all over you, so just stop! He's hot, but leave that lie.

"You don't have-"

"Did I ask if I had to get you something?" I ask. WHY? I should've just been a bitch and pushed him away. And yet somehow, I still choose to humor him and be kind and be decent. It pisses me off. It's like my heart is making me say things before my brain can catch up!

"No." Embry admits.

"Great. So. I'm not going to ask if you're hungry, it's a stupid question. I'm popping some popcorn, and then there's coke in the fridge. If you like Pepsi, sorry, but you're out of luck."

"Pepsi is gross." Embry mutters.

I raise my eyebrows in surprise as I grab two bottles from the fridge, popping the tops off both of them before handing one to Embry and the other for me. "Don't know which surprises me more. You like coke over Pepsi or you have a preference. I know the werewolf species isn't picky about their food."

"Paul won't drink sprite." Embry adds. "And Sam refuses to touch root beer."

I snort. "Well I think they both have excellent points. Sprite is basically spicy water and root beer tastes like actual roots. I would know."

Embry chuckles. "Right. Can I help with the popcorn?"

"Nope." I answer grabbing the bag of kernels from under the counter and then a large pot. I pour a whole bunch of kernels into the pot along with a bunch of butter and salt before letting that pop.

"When you said you were making popcorn, I assumed in the microwave for some reason." Embry teases.

"Go big or go home." I shrug. I grab the sugar from the cabinet, and then sprinkle some of that in there too and then close the lid to the wild popping.

"That's a lot of popcorn." Embry notes.

I snort. "As if that'll be a problem between the two of us."

"Good point." He mutters.

"So." I start leaning against the counter. "Can I ask why you're staying here?"

Embry frowns. "I… I'm already in trouble for not coming home, and being out late… I'll go home around five or so."

I shrug. "Alright then." I answer with a smile. "Popcorn. Coke. You good to split the couch?" I ask pointing to the sectional. "We could watch a movie." I offer.

"What are you suggesting?" Embry asks. "And second question, I thought you were tired."

I laugh quietly. "I've got my second wind. Now. There's a bunch of movies in the cabinet under the TV. You can pick one out if you want.

You're spending the night with him! And you wonder why you feel like this!? You're setting yourself up for this eventual heartbreak!!

I take a deep breath as if that thought doesn't hurt. Part of me hopes that Embry imprinted on me. Part of me is starting to believe he did to. I mean, the same thing that initially tipped me off about Jake and Dani, how close he was to her after never seeing her before in his life, was a serious indicator. However, I've met Embry before, and we've had conversations before, but none significant enough to keep feelings for years over. Maybe he did imprint and doesn't want to tell me? Or scare me off? And either way, I don't want to take his right to tell me he imprinted on me himself.

I shake my head, chasing the thoughts off. I grab two bowls, one considerably larger than the other, and divide up the popcorn.

I flick the lights off in the kitchen before walking into the living room. Embry is putting a move in.

I lie down on the couch, propping my head up with a few pillows and setting my bowl of popcorn on my stomach.

I set Embry's bowl on the couch near my head. Again, it's no wonder I'm falling for the boy, I keep inviting him closer and closer.

Embry stands up and grabs the remotes off the glass coffee table. We keep the volume down for Jake and Dani, who may or may not be asleep.

I smirk as the opening credits for the fifth Transformers movie open up.

"Oh sweet." I smirk. "Good choice."

Embry seems pretty pleased with himself as he grabs some of his popcorn.

"I take back my snarky comment about the microwave popcorn." Embry mutters. "This is heavenly."

I smirk. "Stick around pal, I am something of a culinary expert." FUCK! KENSI WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU! Fucking idiot flirting with the man as soon as you get done saying that you should distance yourself so he doesn't get too close.

Idiot! Idiot sandwich!

"You don't watch cooking shows like Emily do you?"

I snort. "Hell's Kitchen, 24 Hours to Hell and Back, Master Chef. Those cooking shows sure. But shit like Rachel Ray or Cupcake Wars are not my cup of tea."

"Grill Masters?" Embry asks. "That's one I'll watch with my mom. She taught me how to make a mean barbeque."

"Oh sweet. I do love a good barbeque." I murmur thinking about a nice hamburger or juicy pork chop or steak or something. "Sketchy things I do."

Embry smirks. "Comforting."

I roll my eyes as we lapse into silence, both of us being pulled into the action of the movie.

Halfway through I can feel myself starting to get sleepy. Second wind is gone ladies and gentlemen!

"Do you want the rest of this?" I ask offering the bowl to Embry behind me.

"Yeah." He says quietly. I look over and see he's staring holes into the screen absentmindedly. He's thinking about something, and judging by the look on his face, it isn't all kittens and rainbows.

"Alright." I interject. "Favorite color. Go."

"Blue." Embry blurts.

I raise my eyebrows. "That's cliché. Give me a little more than that."

Embry sighs. "Sapphire blue. Should I get more specific?"

"How?" I tease.

"Dunno. I was about to bullshit something though."

I laugh softly as he narrows his eyes at me. "Bet your favorite color is something like… green or something."

"Ah… no. Not quite." I answer with a smirk.

"Blue? You don't own anything pink, and your room is primarily green and blue."

"Blue sure. Anything more specific than that?"

Embry smirks. "Teal. Turquoise."

"Hey there you go!" I tease playfully.

I lay back down on the couch, propping my head back up with pillows.

"I am not going to last much longer." I admit with a tired smile.

"The night shift sucks ass." Embry smiles. "If you fall asleep I'll pause it for you."

I shake my head. "You don't have to do that."

"I mean… it's not like I haven't seen it. Besides, you might want to pick it up later and finish it." Embry says nonchalantly.

I smile at him. "Right… I have a lot of time for those kinds of things."

Embry grins before lying down himself. His head brushes mine as we both watch the movie.

"Kensi?" Embry asks quietly.

"Yeah?" I ask.

"Do you want to meet my mom?"

I look over at him in surprise.

"You don't have to." Embry says slowly. "She just thinks I've been sneaking away to see a girl. I haven't-"

"You literally did that tonight." I point out.

"So then I guess it isn't a lie." Embry says quietly. "Kensi she's really sick. Really, really sick. I… Sam has been lenient with my patrols but I don't let him cut me extra slack like that. It isn't fair."

"How sick is she?" I ask twisting onto my side to look at him.

Embry purses his lips. "Leukemia."

My lips part and immediately I nod. "Of course. I'd be happy to go with you. But… what for exactly?"

He sighs. "About two months ago I told her I was sneaking off to see a girl, hoping that maybe she'd… leave me alone a little but she didn't. I know she's worried, she's got her sickness to worry about, and I don't think she needs to worry about whether or not her son is going to come home either."

I nod. "I understand. Do they… do they know how long she's got?" I ask.

Embry shakes his head. "They told her. I refused to accept it."

"Are you asking me to be your girlfriend for your mom?" I tease.

Embry's eyes snap to mine before flitting away immediately. "Yeah I guess." He mutters.

I smile softly. "I understand. I get it. I'd love to pretend to be your girlfriend."

Pretend. Bullshit.

Why did I let myself do this! I'm trying to keep him from getting in deeper and I'm letting him in further!

This has got to be the imprint. Has to be. There is no reason that I would willingly allow myself to fall in love with someone this fast unless there was another reason. And again, I know the supernatural world enough to know that the magnetic pull to Embry isn't a coincidence.

I want to ask him about it. I want to know if he imprinted on me so that there's one less speculation in my life. Knowing for certain might make it easier for me to either deny all feelings for Embry, or embrace them and hold on to them tighter.

But who else could it be? Mara said I was an imprint, and assumed Embry was said imprint because he was in the room with me.

I take a deep breath. "Embry?"

"Hm?" He sounds half asleep. His heartbeat is slow, and his breathing even and deep.

I release the deep breath with a little disappointment. I don't want to wake him up over something like this.

"Good night." I whisper.

I twist over and kiss his forehead before flipping over and facing the couch.

Well that was stupid. Kissing the boy's forehead when you're trying to figure out whether to distance yourself or let yourself fall. Sounds like I've already made up my mind.

As I twist my neck, watching an explosion onscreen cast reddish and orange hues that flicker off Embry's peaceful and beautiful features, I realize that there's no 'prevention of falling for him' anymore.

I've fallen hard for Embry Call.

Make sure to Review or favorite so I know if anyone is even reading this or if I'm wasting my time. Have a lovely night!