Not a single review for the last chapter? What the hey guys!
"I don't want to be presumptuous," Sarah starts, which is how I know that is exactly how she's about to be, "But I think you and Seth are going to get married."
"Oh, get a grip, Sarah." I roll my eyes. "I've known the guy a week."
"I am being serious!" She promises. "You both look so good together, it's like you guys just fit. Plus, I've never seen you so happy before."
"I just don't want to ruin it, ya know?" I mumble, averting my eyes from Sarah and choosing to stare ahead at the lockers as we walk down the hallway. "He thinks too highly of me, I'm only going to let him down."
"Well maybe you should tell him all your deep, dark secrets and maybe he'd surprise you." She lets out a long sigh but I decide not to respond. At some point while texting Seth until two in the morning, I had thought that maybe I would tell him about my life. About how I have an absentee mother and I don't know who my father is and how I live in a trailer. But that had been deliriously happy and deliriously sleepy me. Now, almost thirteen hours later and leaving school, I thought two in the morning me was dumb. Besides, Seth would probably grow tired of me in a few days. There was no point in opening up to someone who wasn't going to stick around anyways. A smaller, nagging voice in the back of my head tells me Seth isn't going to get bored with me but I decide to ignore it.
"Oh hey, there's Dylan, I'll meet you out front." Sarah whispers, her gaze already focused on the sandy haired boy across the hall. Poor guy. Sarah was a girl who didn't really have to try hard for people to like her. And she didn't have to try hard for boys to fall all over her. When she decided she did want to try, that's when the boys were in trouble. Lately, she had decided Dylan Newton was someone she was going to put in effort for.
Dylan Newton was very cute. He had sandy, blonde hair that fell into his blue eyes. He looked like a younger version of his brother — or at least that's what everyone said. His brother had graduated three years ago, before I had even come to Forks. Dylan was nice and I had decided that Sarah was probably in need of a good dose of nice. He did always look happy to see Sarah but he also looked scared out of his mind, like he wasn't quite sure what to do with her. I keep walking towards the school exit but don't miss the pleased smile on Dylan's face when Sarah slides in between him and two other basketball players he had been talking to moments before. Poor Guy. He had no idea what he was in for.
I'm still thinking about Sarah and Dylan while I walk out to the parking lot, towards Sarah's car. My focus being on them is probably why I don't notice Seth until I'm about ten feet away from him. He has double parked his mom's sedan, effectively blocking Sarah's car into her spot, and is leaning against the side of her Jeep. I halt my steps in surprise, my eyes sweeping over his beautiful form. How is it possible that, out of everyone, this boy is here for me?
I want to walk up to him slowly and say something smart or teasing but, in reality I am too excited to see him and I quickly close the distance between us. I've dropped my backpack on the ground next to us, he's wrapped his arms around me, and has his lips on mine before I can even think of what to say. I kiss him happily, relishing in the feel of his arms around my waist and snaking my own around his. I had seen him on Saturday at the cookout and we had spent most of Sunday texting, but it wasn't the same as being with him and wrapped in his arms. He pulls back but moves his lips to my neck. His teeth graze over my pulse point and I shiver, wondering if he has any idea what he's doing to me.
"You know," I start, able to collect myself to speak coherently once he has pulled his lips from my neck. "I wish I had known you were coming. My other boyfriend was going to pick me up today and that's just bad optics to have him catch me kissing you."
"Boyfriend?" Seth asks, laughing, and I realize that I have inadvertently called him my boyfriend.
"Oh, I mean—" My confidence waivers for a second and I try to pull back from him but he keeps his arms locked around me.
"I would like very much to be your boyfriend, Emma." Seth says. "But I don't do too well at sharing so if you can tell your other boyfriend that it's just not going to work out with him, that'd be great."
"You don't—" I start, feeling my cheeks getting warmer. "We don't have to…we can keep doing…whatever it is we're doing?" Seth rolls his eyes looking very much like his sister and leans down, placing a quick kiss on the tip of my nose.
"Nope, it's decided." He says cheerfully. "You're my girlfriend, no take backs." I let out a little content sigh of happiness, leaning into his chest, and wrapping my arms tighter around his waist.
"How did you get here so fast?" I ask, "Didn't school just get out for you too?"
"I had a free last period, I figured I'd cut and come see you." He explains and I pull my head back so I can look up at him. He pulls one of his arms away from me and reaches into his pocket, pulling something out and holding it in front of my face. I take the small object he's presented me and grin. It's a small keychain with a tan wolf attached.
"For me?" I ask, making a happy sound. He nods his head seeming pleased at my reaction and rewraps his other arm back around me. I cradle the present between my hands, staring happily at it.
"Sarah's right, you're way to easy to please." He teases but I'm too happy to defend myself. I didn't need anyone to spend money on me or take me to lavish places but little things…like this keychain…meant the world. It meant that Seth was somewhere and thinking of me and cared enough about me to find something that would make me smile.
"Thank you." I whisper and lean up to press my lips back to his in a light kiss.
"So are we gonna do something or are you two just gonna make out all day?" A voice says, sounding more teasing than annoyed. I peer around Seth and see Collin leaning partly on the roof of the sedan. He must have been sitting inside the vehicle but had decided it would be more fun out here. He comes around the car and leans against Sarah's Jeep next to Seth and I.
"Hey, Collin." I chirp, grinning at him.
"Am I your other boyfriend?" He asks, reaching out and pulling on the end of my ponytail.
"Yuck, no." I respond, rolling my eyes. "He should be around here somewhere though. He's very handsome, doesn't eat sugar cookies…" I stand on my tip toes and pretend to look around. Seth growls and pulls me closer to him, pressing his forehead to mine.
"I told you, I don't like to share." He reminds me.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Sarah's voice trills across the parking lot and I'm pretty sure that if anyone at Forks High School wasn't already aware that I was wrapped up in the arms of a large Quileute man, they knew now. I try to pull away from Seth but he keeps his arms wrapped tightly around me and the most I can do is twist slightly so I am facing Sarah as well. Collin looks very amused and gives my ponytail one more tug.
Dylan Newton is walking by Sarah's side, he has a grin on his face and his full attention is on her. Yup, that boy is in trouble. Two of Sarah's other friends, Lily and Veronica are also with them. They've never been mean to me per say but they've never been overly friendly either. Lily isn't bad — she usually has a smile for me the hallway. But Veronica has scowled at me ever since I took her seat in Anatomy last year. Veronica eyes Seth hungrily and I bristle in defense, surprised by the feelings of jealously and possessiveness that course through me. Seth dips his head and presses a kiss behind my earlobe and I force myself to relax in his arms. Veronica trails her eyes over to Collin instead and I don't miss the flirty smile that the younger boy gives her.
"Hey, Sarah." Seth says. "Thank god you're here, Emma is forcing me to be her boyfriend."
"Seth!" I squeak in surprise and embarrassment even though I know he is kidding. I try to break out of his grasp again but he holds me tight and I let out a sigh of frustration when I give up. There were worst places I could be, I suppose, than pressed up against Seth Clearwater's chest.
"Oh she is, is she?" Sarah asks, her eyes sparkling in amusement as they slide over me. I realize she's not surprised in the slightest by the news and had likely known I would cave immediately — even if I had insisted Seth and I would never be anything serious.
"Hey, man, I'm Dylan." Sarah's latest boy-toy reaches his hand out to Seth.
"Seth." My boyfriend introduces, shaking his hand. "Nice to meet you." I use the opportunity to duck out of Seth's grasp but I don't even make it a foot away before he's snagged my belt loops and pulled me back to him. Dylan introduces himself to Collin as well and shakes his hand.
"This is Veronica and Lily." Sarah introduces the two other girls. "We were going to head back to my place and hang out, you guys will come?" Sarah turns her attention to me, her eyes wide and silently begging. I didn't usually make a habit of hanging out with Sarah while she had other friends over but Lily nods her head happily at me. I glance at Seth and he shrugs. Well, it's not like I can take him back to my place. I don't really have anywhere else to bring them.
"Are you sure?" I ask. Sarah rolls her eyes.
"Yes." She responds. "Let's hang out in the game room and my mom can order us pizza." Collin and Seth both look at me interestingly at that. Yup, these boys want pizza. Collin, Seth, and I get into the sedan with Sarah, Dylan, and the other girls following us in Sarah's Jeep.
"We can always do something else." I say, once we're in the car.
"And turn down free pizza?" Collin questions, spinning from the passenger seat to look at me.
"Is there something else you want to do?" Seth asks, eyeing me from the rear view mirror. I flush under both of their attention. I didn't want Seth to cater to me. "Aren't they your friends?"
"Sarah's my best friend." I answer automatically, because it's true. "The other girls...not so much."
"Well, then we'll do something else." Seth sates matter of factly. "Do you want to head back to La Push or hang around here?"
"Seth!" Collin says, sounding frustrated.
"I don't care if you want to flirt with that girl or whatever. If Emma doesn't—"
"No, no, you're right." I swallow to force myself not to grimace at my next words. "We should go. It's fine. I'm fine."
"Emma—"
"No it'll be fun, besides I want pizza." I smile at the two of them encouragingly. If I had them keep driving to La Push, Sarah would definitely be mad since I had just told her we would come over. At least I would get a free dinner out of this. I just hoped the other girls wouldn't say something rude or bring up the fact that I live in a trailer park. We pull into Sarah's driveway, Sarah pulling in right behind us. Seth's hands are gripping my hips as soon as we get out of the car.
"The second you want to go—" He promises but cuts off as everyone else piles out of the Jeep. I nod my head and lean up to press my lips to his jaw, letting him know that it's okay.
"Mom!" Sarah calls as we all enter into her house. "I have friends and we want pizza pretty please!"
Linda Adams pops her head out from around corner of the kitchen, smiling happily at us. I was convinced that Mrs. Adams was quite possibly the most perfect housewife to ever exist. She always had something baking, a candle lit, and she clearly adored her daughter and husband. She also loved when Sarah had friends over. She would plan elaborate movie nights or cookouts for Sarah and her friends, no expenses spared.
"Hey, Kids!" She smiles. "The usual, Sarah?"
"Yeah, Mom." Sarah nods her head, carrying her backpack into the kitchen and dropping it onto one of the kitchen chairs. "We're gonna hang out in the game room." Lily is already walking down the basement stairs and Veronica has grabbed Collin's hand, pulling him along after them.
"I believe I see some new faces." Mrs. Adams says, her eyes following Collin who is already disappearing down the stairs and then flickering between Seth and Dylan.
"That's Collin." Sarah says in explanation, following her mothers eyes towards the stairs. "Dylan's in some of my classes." She continues, gesturing towards Dylan Newton. "And Seth is Emma's boyfriend." Sarah grins evilly at me and I blush.
"Very nice to meet both of you." Linda says, giving me a small smirk. Thankfully she doesn't press the whole boyfriend thing and I wonder if Sarah had already told her about Seth.
"We're gonna head downstairs, let me know when the pizza is here." Sarah chirps, grabbing Dylan's hand and pulling him towards the basement. He momentarily looks seriously freaked at holding Sarah's hand then breaks into a goofy grin. Seth and I make eye contact and try our best to hold back laughter.
"Nice to meet you too." Seth says, letting me pull him after Dylan and Sarah.
The Adams had finished off the entire basement and made it into a hang out space for Sarah and her friends. There was a pool table, a large television, two huge couches, and even a foosball table. It was the perfect space to lounge around at and made Sarah's house a favorite of just about ever senior at Forks High School. Collin, Veronica, and Lily have already begun a game of life size jenga and have the blocks stacked on the large coffee table in the center of the room. All three of them are sitting on the ground and Veronica is pressed up against Collin's side. She works quick.
"I really want to tell her he's sixteen." I whisper to Seth. I wouldn't have thought Collin would have been able to hear me but he whips his head towards me immediately, staring at me with wide eyes. Seth laughs as we walk over to the group and take seats on the ground near them. "I'm kidding." I promise Collin. Veronica gives me a confused look, clearly not having heard my comment, but is distracted by Lily prompting her to choose a block.
"Come on, Dylan." Sarah says, "Let's play foosball." I know Sarah must be thrilled at Dylan hanging out with us. He had never been to Sarah's before but it was definitely easier to invite him over with the preface being a group hang out.
"He is so nervous right now." Seth whispers in my ear, making me laugh.
"Yeah, Sarah has that affect on people." I reply, leaning forward and expertly tapping one of the wooden blocks until it slides out effortlessly from the other side.
"So do you guys live on the reservation?" Veronica questions.
"Yeah." Collin nods his head.
"And how did you meet Emma?" Lily asks, starting to try to remove one block but thinking better of it and choosing a different one.
"Sarah and Emma were skinny dipping on the beach at, like, ten o'clock at night." Collin laughs and I blush bright red. "We were having a bonfire on the beach and, well, I'm pretty sure Seth was not going to let Emma leave without getting her number."
"Skinny dipping?" Lily asks, seeming surprised. She didn't know me that well but skinny dipping wasn't something she would probably expect from me. I bet she would be even more shocked if she knew it had been my idea.
"Wow, Em, couldn't just be the Forks town slut, you had to move on to La Push too?" Veronica snickers, rolling her eyes.
I stiffen at Veronica's comment. Lily's eyes are wide and she glances over at Sarah to see if she heard. Sarah would never put up with Veronica talking to me like that and they both know it. Sarah's completely occupied in her foosball game with Dylan, both oblivious to the scene playing out near the table. I'm trying to think of what to say in response but my mind is completely blank. Seth's entire body is tense but he tightens his hand around mine from where it rests on the floor.
"She's kidding." Lily quickly says. Collin physically removes Veronica's hand from from his chest and shifts away from her, closer to me. I look over at him, surprised by his reaction. He has a hard glare on his face though and is making his position to Veronica clear. He's choosing me. It wasn't that I thought Collin would laugh or agree with Veronica but I certainly hadn't anticipated his loyalty.
"It was a joke, sheesh." Veronica says, rolling her eyes but I can tell she's disappointed Collin has stopped his flirting.
"Let's play darts." Lily says suddenly, grabbing Veronica's hand and yanking her up from the ground.
"Ow." Veronica mutters but stumbles after Lily nonetheless. Lily shoots me a sympathetic look over her should and mouths 'sorry'. It seems like she really means it too.
"I'm…I'm not…" I whisper helplessly, feeling like I have to say something but not really knowing what.
"What a bitch." Collin fumes, surprising me again by his reaction. I finally glance over at Seth but his face is carefully neutral.
"Her ex-boyfriend asked me out one time." I hear myself trying to justify Veronica's comment. "They were broken up before I even moved here and I said no but she's never forgiven me. I swear I'm not—"
"You don't have to explain yourself, Em." Seth says firmly. "We know you're not and we don't believe anything she says."
I nod my head weakly. At least she didn't say I was a slut from a trailer park. That would have been worse. Seth wraps his arm around my waist and drags me across the carpet, directly to his side.
"Girls are mean." Collin says, shaking his head. I glance over at Veronica and Lily to see they are now — poorly — playing darts. Both of them have missed the board altogether.
"Tell me about it." I sigh. None of Sarah's friends particularly enjoyed when Sarah and I spent time together without them. I know Collin's comments about the skinny dipping is probably what set her off. The idea that Sarah and I were having fun at ten o'clock at night on the beach was probably too much for Veronica to handle.
"Food's here!" Linda yells from the top of the stairs. Sarah bounds over and rushes up the stairs. I jump up as well.
"I can—" Seth starts.
"Nah, I got it." I promise, following Sarah up the stairs to help carry down the food. "How's it going?" I ask Sarah once we are in the kitchen, deciding not to throw Veronica under the bus. It really wouldn't do any good.
"Well at least I can confirm he knows I exist now." She says cheerfully.
"Oh, please." I roll my eyes, "Everyone knows you exist, Sarah."
"How's it going on your side?" She smirks. "You know as soon as they leave you are going to repeat every word he said to you that led up to him officially being your boyfriend."
"Of course." I laugh, "If I don't tell you then it will be like it didn't even happen." Sarah rolls her eyes but grabs the three boxes of pizza. I balance the two liters of soda and follow her back down the stairs. In the back corner of the Adams' basement, there is a built in bar. Sarah sets the pizza down on the long counter and I put the bottles of soda next to it before walking around and grabbing a stack of paper plates, cups, and napkins that they keep in one of the cabinets down below. Everyone ambles over to the bar counter and begins grabbing pizza and drinks.
"Jason Q. texted me while you were upstairs." Dylan says after he's taken a couple bites of pizza. "His parents are going to be out of town this weekend so he's gonna throw a rager on Friday — we have to go." Sarah and the two other girls light up at this but I only shrink lower in my barstool, hoping everyone will forget I'm there. I know Dylan is including me in the invite but going to a Forks party was not my idea of a fun Friday night. I had gone to some of the parties but they were all the same. Everyone got too drunk, too fast. Sarah had too many friends and ditched me after an hour, even though I know she didn't mean to. And I was left drinking Natty Light and trying not to get bumped into in the kitchen while some guy tried to get me to sleep with him.
"You guys should come too." Dylan clarifies, including Seth and Collin in his invite, "Bring whoever you want."
"Yeah!" Collin says immediately, clearly thrilled by the idea. I wonder if there are many parties on the Rez or if Sam breaks them all up — it just seems like something he would do. Seth doesn't answer and I know he is looking at me again.
"Oh please, Emma." Sarah begs before turning her attention to Seth, "Em never wants to come out with us."
"That's not true." I mutter.
"We'll let you know." Seth finally says with a shrug, not committing either way. He waits until we're all done eating and Veronica and Lily have gone over to the foosball table before he brings it up again. "If you…if you don't want me hanging out in Forks with your friends, that's okay."
"What?" My eyes widen, wondering how he could possibly think that.
"Are you embarrassed of me? Of us?" He whispers. "Is that why you don't want Collin and I here?"
"No, no, Seth." I promise, launching myself at him and wrapping my arms tight around his waist, needing him to feel how much I want him close. He stays seated on his own barstool but wraps his arms hesitantly around me and tugs me to stand between his legs. Sarah and Dylan are at the opposite end of the bar and leaning in close, speaking quietly and completely oblivious to us. Collin is next to us but has nicely become very interested in his pizza crust and I know he is trying to let us speak. "It's not that at all, please don't think that."
"I probably shouldn't have surprised you at school like that, that wasn't fair of me." He sighs. "I wasn't trying to overstep into your life or force your friends to invite me places."
"Seth." I whisper sadly. I've only known him a week but I already feel so attached to him and the idea of anyone making him upset pains me. Knowing I am the one who is causing his hurt is almost unbearable and it makes me hate myself. How do I explain to him that I am the embarrassment? And that the people I am around are nothing like Collin and Brady and all of his other friends? "You surprising me at school today made me so happy and I want you with me — I don't care if that's in Forks or not. I just don't have friends like yours and the people I'm around aren't always the nicest." I glance over at Veronica and sigh before turning back to face him.
"I don't really hang out in a lot of group settings with Sarah's friends because I feel kind of alone but you make me feel the opposite of alone." I explain. "I really like being with you and Collin and all your other friends so as long as you guys are there, I'll be fine and I'm sure it will be fun. My hesitance is nothing to do with you being there."
"Are you sure?" He asks. I nod my head and lean forward to press my lips to his in a quick kiss. He relaxes slightly and pulls me a little closer.
"Positive." I do my best to assure him. And I do mean it. My least favorite part of group events or parties in Forks is that awkward feeling of not having anyone to talk to or knowing what to say when people do try to talk to me. I wanted to be with Sarah of course, but I didn't really want to hang out with any of the other students at Forks High School. I did want to be with Seth though and the idea of spending a Friday night with him close and arms around me didn't sound too bad.
Next chapter is a lonnngggg one guys! And this story will be rated M for a reason. ;)