Get Underway

"I can't believe you actually bought a guitar," Jacob said with a chuckle as he, Quil and Embry walked along First Beach towards the cliffs.

Embry frowned at him as Quil laughed loudly.

"What are you planning to do? Serenade her?" Quil asked. Embry rolled his eyes and looked out towards the ocean.

It had been a couple days since he found Freja alone at the shop and while the temptation to go back and see her again was strong, Embry had resisted. He didn't want to come off as a stalker and there was no telling if he would find Freja there or her slightly intimidating grandmother.

"I needed an excuse to go to the shop," Embry said half-heartedly, knowing that Quil and Jacob were not about to let him live this down, even though they had been going on about it for the last few days. Granted, he had given both of them a hard time when they imprinted. He supposed this was just payback.

"So, are you planning to learn how to play the thing?" Jacob asked.

"Suppose I should. Spent $75 on it," Embry replied. "Wasn't planning to actually buy anything…" Both Quil and Jacob laughed again, Embry shoved Quil and then looked at Jacob. "Did you ever get around to asking the Cullens about her or were you too distracted by Nessie?"

"I did actually," Jacob said. "See? I don't spend all my time hanging out with Nessie…"

"Right. Quit stalling. What did they say?" Embry asked, knowing he sounded slightly desperate.

He supposed he was. He knew painstakingly little about Freja, though at least now he knew that she was born and raised in Forks on top of working at a music shop. One that she apparently works at a lot that is owned by her grandparents. And she seemed oddly attached to the old guitar that he bought.

"They didn't really know anything. I mean, Bella knew nothing about her, so I'm guessing she's younger than us. Alice said she remembered seeing someone that looked like her around town," Jacob said, causing Embry to frown. "I mean, it's not like they were the greatest at mingling…"

"And Bella was obsessed with Edward," Quil added. Jacob nodded in agreement.

Embry sighed as he looked down the beach in front of them. This was disappointing. Though he figured from the beginning he was going to have to go about this on his own. It was curious, however, that despite the fact she had grown up in Forks, people knew so little about her. Or well, maybe not. As Jacob said, it wasn't like the Cullens spent much time around anyone but themselves until Bella came around. Perhaps they weren't the people to ask. But they were the only people Embry knew that spent a decent amount of time in Forks.

"Well, that's a bust. Looks like you're going to have to do it the old-fashioned way," Quil said. Embry looked over at him questioningly. "You're going to have to actually get to know her for yourself." He grinned at Embry, who only huffed again.

"I know. But kind of hard. She said she works a lot and it's not like I got her number," Embry griped.

"And who's fault is that?" Jacob asked.

"I know," Embry said, still kicking himself over the fact he didn't ask for it when he bought the guitar.

"Just… dunno… break the guitar and take it back in to be repaired," Quil suggested.

"No," Embry said a bit more forcefully than he intended, causing Quil and Jacob to stare at him. "I mean… she seemed really attached to it. Told me to take care of it and all… I don't want to intentionally break it just so I can see her again."

"Then you're going to need another plan," Quil said. "Maybe you should buy a fiddle next…"

"No, drum set," Jacob said.

"Just buy everything you need to start a band," Quil then said.

Embry shook his head as Jacob and Quil went back and forth, listing out a rather large amount of instruments that Emby should buy, just to have an excuse to go into the shop and talk to her again. First of all, he wasn't that desperate. And he didn't have the money to make that many purchases. He probably shouldn't have bought the guitar, now that he thought about it.

But he had wanted to see her again. Talk to her. And Embry swore that at least for a bit, she had been happy to see him too. Or well, she hadn't seemed afraid at least. Definitely a bit on the cautious side.

Was Freja always like that, or was it just him? And why did she seem attached to the guitar? Maybe that's just how she was with instruments. Treating them with reverence. Embry had to admit that whenever he was at home, he was constantly drawn to it. Either just studying it or occasionally he would pick it up and strum it a few times.

Maybe she was a musician. She had to be. Embry remembered hearing her play the piano, how good she was. Could she play guitar too? How many instruments could Freja play?

A million and a half questions about the mysterious young woman swirled around in Embry's head. It had been like this since the day he imprinted on her.

"That's it," Jacob said with a grin, pulling Embry out the near-constant vortex of questions in his mind. He looked over at his best friend. "We start a band called The Wolf Pack and then write a kick-ass ballad. We all go over and play it outside the shop. There's no way she won't fall for you."

"It's perfect," Quil added.

Embry came to a stop, giving both of them an incredulous look. Even though he knew they were joking, both looked pleased with themselves.

"How did I get stuck with idiots for best friends?" he asked as he started walking again.

"It's not that bad an idea," Quil pushed.

"What? So you're going to learn how to play the bass? And sing?" Embry asked, shooting him a smirk.

"No, I'm drums. 'Cause I got rhythm," Quil replied. Jacob snorted.

"Right," he said. "I call bass."

Embry just shook his head as they kept walking. They were starting to get into rockier terrain with the beach cutting off, though there was a trail that led up towards the cliffs. While the packs had spent enough time there in years past, jumping from the highest cliff, they had mostly left it to younger guys on the reservation now. Embry was slightly surprised to see that none of them were out, considering it was a rather warm and nice Saturday.

As his eyes traveled up, he felt his heart falter slightly when he saw a shock of white blonde hair. Blinking a few times, he looked away and then back, making sure it wasn't wishful thinking.

Sure enough, perched on a rock at the top of the cliff with her legs dangling over was none other than Freja. It was as if Fate was trying to help him out a bit.

"What's gotten into you?" Quil asked, though Embry ignored him.

"Wait… is that her?" Jacob asked.

"Yea… it's Freja. What is she doing all the way out here?" Embry wondered out loud.

"Well, let's go ask her," Quil said, already starting towards the trail.

"No… wait!" Embry shouted. Quil and Jacob stopped, turning to him.

"Not scared, are you?" Quil asked, a daring grin on his face.

Embry frowned at him, then looked back up at Freja. Already he could feel his body yearning to go up the trail. To be closer to her. But he wasn't exactly sure he wanted to include his friends in this. He had just found her and was still trying to figure things out as it was. Jacob and Quil would only embarrass him. Or make things worse.

"Do not tell me that you really are afraid," Quil said.

Embry furrowed his brow, his eyes still trained on Freja. From here he couldn't really tell, but it seemed that she was looking out over the ocean and hadn't seen them at all.

"Not afraid. Just not sure I want her to meet you bozos yet," Embry replied, smiling slightly as he looked back down at Jacob and Quil. They stared at each other a moment before smiling and glancing over at Embry.

"Well that settles it. Now we have to meet her," Quil said just before he and Jacob took off running towards the trailhead.

"Shit," Embry muttered under his breath.

He shot another look up at the cliff and then took off after them, hoping to cut them off before they did or said anything embarrassing.

OOOO

Freja leaned back, bracing herself against the rock as she watched the waves rolling in. Her grandmother's hovering had gotten a bit too much that morning, so she had set out fairly early on and had spent the day so far hiking around the coast before settling in her favorite spot once she found there was no one there. In fact, in the couple of hours she had been sitting there, she had only seen a couple people walking down the coast along the beach.

"Embry Call," she said softly to herself, allowing herself the freedom to think about him now that her grandmother wasn't around.

His warm eyes filled her mind and a small smile came over her face before Freja shook her head.

"No," she said firmly as she furrowed her brow.

But it was hard and getting harder. Embry was never far from her thoughts and Freja had found herself looking towards the shop door often at work, wondering if he would come up with another excuse to come by, but he hadn't. She had even gone as far as to hope for a job that would take her to La Push, but none had come in since the school had her tune the piano in the music room. Sighing, she sat up slightly, pulling her knees up towards her as she wrapped her arms around them.

She really needed to stop this.

Freja turned slightly, hearing rustling and the sounds of feet. She looked back towards the ocean, figuring it was some sort of animal running through the forest. But when it got closer and louder, Freja found herself turning towards a trail, wondering who was coming towards her.

Suddenly, two large men around her age appeared through the trees, both of them laughing and looking back over their shoulders. Immediately, Freya started to get off the rock, intending to head back to the house and let them have the space. She had been there long enough anyway.

"You don't have to go," one said.

Freja looked up, her eyes wide as she took in their grins. Someone else was coming up the trail. Before she could respond, Embry entered the clearing and came to a stop, his cheeks containing a hint of red. Immediately, her heart rate sped up as the urge to start smiling came over her. But instead, she stood there frozen.

"Hey, Freja," he finally said. "I… sorry… We saw you from the beach and… these two are idiots."

Freja blinked a few times before a small smile appeared.

"I'm his idiot best friend, Quil Ateara, and that idiot is Embry's other best friend, Jacob Black," one of the men said, stepping towards her with his hand out. Freja looked down at it, for a split-second worried, but then accepted it.

Christ, now she was afraid to just shake hands? What was wrong with her? There was nothing wrong with shaking hands.

"Freja," she said, now curious as to what Embry might have said about her. A warm feeling settled in her stomach at the thought of him talking to his friends about her. "Freja Larssen."

She shook Jacob's hand as well, but her eyes kept sliding back over to Embry.

"What are you doing up here?" Quil asked. "Pretty far from Forks."

"Oh. Well… I live down near Second Beach," Freja said, pointing back over her shoulder with her thumb. "I hike up here sometimes… I like the view…"

Crap, that sounded lame to her own ears. But both Quil and Jacob gave each other happy looks before glancing back at Embry.

"You ever tried diving from the cliff?" Jacob asked, looking back at her.

Freja's eyebrows rose slightly as she looked back over to the point where she had seen the others jump from. She had done it a few times before, enjoying the rush of it, though she preferred to sit there and take in the view. She was honestly surprised that anyone was allowed to jump from there, to be honest. The currents down below could get strong and easily pull you under or bash your head against the rocks if you weren't careful. Though she never worried about it, being a strong swimmer and all.

"Here and there," she said, turning back to the men.

Even though she knew absolutely nothing about them, Freja felt comfortable. Like they were all best buddies and had been for years.

It was strange to be sure.

Quil gave her an impressed look while Embry appeared slightly shocked at her admission.

"You've jumped from the cliff?" Quil asked.

Freja crossed her arms in front of her, fiddling with the sleeve of her shirt. Even though it was warm, she had taken to wearing long sleeves to cover the ever-growing patch of flaky skin on the inside of her arm.

"Not that difficult," she said casually, the corners of her mouth twitching slightly as she really wanted to give them a smug grin, enjoying their reactions. Quil chuckled and looked back at Embry.

"I like her," he stated.

Freja felt her cheeks heat up, recognizing the statement for what it was. Embry had talked about her. While she felt relieved to have Quil's approval, she couldn't help as her head spun just a bit. Forget the fact that she and Embry didn't know each other and had barely spoken, she couldn't do this. Freja was supposed to be staying away from him and he was supposed to be forgetting her.

From the look on his face it appeared there was fat chance of either happening unless she resorted to locking herself up in her room, which was definitely not an option in her book.

"I should probably get back home," Freja said, starting to back away from them, even though she really didn't want to. She told herself that she had to.

"So soon? We just got here," Jacob said, stopping her.

"Yea, so Forks, huh? Embry says you work at a music shop," Quil then said. Freja's eyebrows rose slightly as she took in the embarrassed look on Embry's face.

"Yea… my grandparents own it. Had it since they moved here before I was born," she said.

"That so?" Jacob asked, glancing at the still mute Embry. "So they've been here a long time."

"Moved here a few years before I was born with my mother," Freja said without thinking.

Damnit. She was on the verge of breaking so many of her grandmother's rules. Had actually already broken some. She shouldn't be standing here talking to them at all. But at least the chances of her singing or playing music were next to nil.

But then again… maybe it wouldn't hurt to get to know Embry just a bit… And just being around the others wouldn't hurt. So long as she didn't do anything that would inadvertently enchant them. Like singing or playing music.

"You all live in La Push?" she asked.

"Born and raised," Quil said. "Embry and I work at my grandfather's woodwork shop." Freja nodded, remembering Embry telling her. "Really, you should come by. Embry's a real genius at it. Makes some impressive stuff."

"Is that so?" she asked, smiling slightly as she looked at Embry.

"It's not that great," Embry said, scratching the back of his neck.

"That's a lie. He really is good," Jacob said. Embry punched him in the arm, but Jacob only laughed in response.

"So you just… tune pianos and sell instruments?" Quil then asked.

Embry shot him a look, but then Freja could see his curiosity just underneath it.

"Yea, and I help repair a lot of the instruments," she said.

"Did you fix up the guitar Embry just bought?" Quil asked. Freja nodded, feeling her cheeks heat up a bit.

Embry's eyes widened slightly as he seemed to realize why she had reacted the way she did about it at the shop. Crap. This wasn't good. A look of awe was starting to come into his eyes.

"Honestly, I really should get back. My grandmother is going to wonder where I am," Freja said, trying to not sound reluctant.

"Ah, well… we're having a party on First Beach in a few days. You should come," Quil said, shooting a grin at Embry.

"Oh… I don't-"

"It's fine," Jacob added. "Just get Embry's number and he can send you the details."

Freja gulped slightly as she met Embry's eyes, noting that he looked just as shocked as she felt. She really shouldn't get his number. But dammit, she really wanted to.

"Oh… okay," she said, pulling her phone out of her pocket and walking towards them. She knew she was going to have to hide this from her grandparents. Her grandmother would make her delete it immediately or block it.

But even though she knew it was dangerous, Freja held her phone out. Embry reached out and took it, their fingers brushing slightly. She shivered at the contact, but her eyes never left his until he looked down to punch in his number. He then pressed send and handed it back, taking his own phone out from his pocket as it buzzed.

Freja quickly saved it and slid her phone back into the pocket of her shorts.

"So, yea… I'll see you later," she said, waving weakly.

"Hopefully at the party," Quil said. He then looked at Embry and elbowed him in the ribs.

"Yea… hope to see you there," Embry said, meeting her eyes again.

Unable to speak, Freja just nodded and then turned, making her way over to the trail that would lead her back to the beach and the house. But she glanced over her shoulder a couple times, seeing the three men standing together. Embry was still watching her as Quil and Jacob seemed to be teasing him.

Blushing, she turned her attention back to following the trail. Despite all the warnings, Freja really, really wanted to go to the party. She hadn't realized until Embry walked into her life just how lonely she had gotten since Amy and Natasha left. She wanted to hang out. To have friends. The Change, be damned. If these were going to possibly be her last few weeks on earth, she wanted to enjoy it.

And her mother had fallen in love with a human. Been with him years without anything bad happening. Surely, Freja could control herself as well.

A small smile came over her face as she walked along, her step lighter. She knew then that she was going to go to the party. She just needed to figure out a way to sneak out of the house.

Surely she could figure that out, at least.

OOOO

Getting a lot done! And I'm officially on vacation until Nov. 9 - not to mention Halloween was cancelled in my city this weekend - so hoping to get a lot of work done over the next week. But thought I would give you another taste of awkwardly adorable Freja and Embry.

Guest - Thank you! I love writing these two. Got some more cute stuff coming before things take a bit of a serious turn. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Thanks everyone for reading and following!