A/N: COULD THIS BE THE MOMENT WE(?)'VE BEEN WAITING FOR?

Chapter 20

Kiss on My List

Our awkward 'just friends' charade carried on for an entire, draggy week. By then, it was only a few days left before the wedding.

I sat on the hanging egg chair on my balcony, watching Emmett set up the wedding pergola to the side of our house.

"Alice did tell him it was going to rain, right?" I asked as I sensed Esme come up behind me.

She chuckled. "I don't think so. But he'll survive and so will it." She said with a laugh and leaned on the rail, studying me. "What's up with you? You've been really off lately. Are you sad about a little summer rain? It's Forks, you know."

I sighed. "It's nothing."

"It's not nothing, love, I know you better than that." She crossed her arms in authority.

I glanced up at her, then leaned back in my seat and hugged my knees. I frowned and pursed my lips.

"Tell me what's wrong." She insisted.

"I feel terrible." I sighed exasperatedly. "I am terrible."

She put on a confused face. "You're not terrible. What makes you say so?"

"I'm distancing myself from Seth." I stated as if it explained everything.

"And why are you doing that?" She asked, sounding even more confused.

"Because..." I fumbled, racking my brain. "Because he's so young! Dad and Jacob even said it's what's best."

"Do you think that as well?" She asked, taking the pouf ottoman and bringing it closer so she can sit on it.

I shrugged and pressed my palm against my forehead in frustration. "Yes. I mean, Seth said he's never dated anyone before. This whole imprinting thing is so sudden. I feel like I rushed him before so now it's best that we ease into it...? I feel like he should be given the opportunity to date other people... or... I don't know."

She smiled at me, resting her hand on my knee. "Honey, you can't control who you love and how much you love them when you do."

"I know. I just didn't want to... I dunno, control him?" I said, starting to tear up.

"I think you and I both know that's stupid." She raised an eyebrow, one corner of her lip curled in a half-smirk.

I looked at her. "Yeah, I guess."

"Callie, if you two are going to spend the rest of eternity together, why are you trying to put things on halt? What your father and Jacob said are stupid, alright? If you love him, you love him. Simple as that. Heck, he asked your father and me if he could start dating you."

I smiled. "Yeah, I know. Jacob told me about it."

"See? He's like, perfect, and would definitely take a bullet for you. I mean, it wouldn't work but you get what I'm saying." She pat my knee. "At least, that's how I understand this works."

I sniffled. "You're right."

"Come here." She said, standing up and looking over at our 'side-yard'. I stood next to her and she put her arm around my shoulders. "See this? In five days, two people who love each other very much will be saying their vows underneath that pergola. They will promise each other to love and cherish the other, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health 'til death do they part. I know that someday, the same will happen for you and Seth. It doesn't matter when, or how long it takes, but it will happen. As Edward found his soulmate, so did Seth find you through imprinting. And I look forward to that beautiful day you two will be united more than anything." She looked down at me.

I started crying and gave her a full hug. "I love you, mom."

"I love you too, my darling Callidora." She hugged me back.

The rain started to pour and Emmett cursed as he got wet, speeding into the house. Esme and I laughed at him, holding each other for a few more moments.

"I'm going to give Seth a call." I smiled after a while.

"You do that. I'll go downstairs and check on the flower arrangements." She smiled, exiting the room.

I grabbed my phone on my bedside drawer and dialled Seth.

"Hello?" He picked up after a few rings.

"Seth?" I smiled, sniffling.

"Callie? What's wrong?" His voice immediately became panicky. I could sense the worry from miles away.

"Can you come over for a bit? I'll be waiting at the back porch." I said, walking slowly downstairs. "I think we need to talk."

"Yeah, right away. I'll get there faster on foot. Just wait for a bit." He said urgently, hanging up.

I stood anxiously on the concrete porch, waiting for any sign of him while I chewed on the inside of my cheek. My feet shuffled as I hugged myself to shield myself from the cold, and clouds of fog escaped my lips every time I took a breath. Warm summer days and cold summer nights...

My family wanted to ask what was going on and why I was out in the cold, but my mom kept them occupied with other things.

I soon heard heavy footfalls, so I looked to the left of the tree line surrounding my house. They stopped for a moment, then Seth came out dressed in nothing but knee-length cut-offs.

"Callie, what's wrong?" He was soaking wet from the rain as he approached me, his toned features tensed in worry.

I was too anxious for him to walk all the way into the house that I ran up to meet him, attacking him with a hug. It wasn't long before I got soaked as well, but his warmth was too welcoming to let go.

"Callie, what happened?" He asked more urgently this time, holding me close. His arms wrapped around me, protectively... instinctively.

I sniffled. "Seth, I'm a terrible person. I'm so sorry, I'm so—"

"Callie, you're not terrible! What are you talking about? What happened?" He countered, pulling away so he could look at me in the face.

"I'm sorry, Seth! I pushed you away because I thought it was best that we just be friends-"

"What are you talking about?" Seth asked, confused. "Jacob told me-"

"I talked to Jacob and he said it was best we just be friends and I agreed because I thought it was best too, so I asked him to talk you into thinking it as well." I rambled semi-incoherently. "I'm so, so sorry."

He was quiet for a while, avoiding my eyes. He was calculating, the wheels in his head turning so loud as if I could hear them. His heart rate quickened, pumping out more and more of his decadent-smelling essence. "So... what?" He asked dejectedly, letting go and taking an inch of a step back.

A flash of lightning then struck nearby, exposing the hard lines on his face... the emotion so clearly displayed that it struck me where it hurt.

My heart fell. "...What do you mean? I'm apologizing." I felt small, the world compressing and closing in on me. My heart wanted out.

"So does this mean… you don't want to be friends?" He asked slowly as if it hurt him to say it.

I was confused, and the tears welled up in my eyes even more, stinging. "No, I don't."

He winced as if I had punched him. He turned to leave, but I ran and stopped him in his tracks.

"No, Seth, it's not like that!" I said, placing my palms on his chest to stop him from taking another step. His skin burned, more so probably because of his escalating emotions.

"What is it then, Callie? I'm doing everything I can here." He whimpered with such sad, heartbreaking eyes.

"I know." My chest split in two. Ripped, torn, broken. "Seth, I want to be more than friends." I pleaded, searching his tired eyes.

He looked confused again, his brows furrowing. "Wait… what?"

A boulder formed in my throat. Did he not want this after all? Did he not want... me?

I should just give up. What if this whole imprinting thing worked differently between us? A vampire hybrid and a werewolf? Why did I think such an improbable thing was possible?

And yet... the fact that he came all the way here — in the pouring summer rain — drew me closer. The fact that he was listening to me doubt myself in this cold shower urged me to just let everything out.

"Seth, I've been waiting... forever to find a mate. Now that I found you, I want nothing more than to be with you! I only thought it was best because… well, you're so young, and other people thought so, too. I was trying to figure out what was best for you; for us." I pleaded exhaustedly.

"Did I ever care about how old you were?" He asked, planting his feet firmly on the ground.

"...No." I sighed sadly, crumbling.

"Exactly, so don't do the same for me." He declared, and pulled me close to him for the warmest and tightest embrace.

I hugged him back with my life, sobbing hysterically and punishing myself in my head for being so damn stupid. My small arms met around his middle, and it took me a moment to stabilize my breathing.

I took in a deep breath and searched his face. I could tell that there was no other place he would rather be, nobody he'd rather be with. It was selfish of me to control what we had, to compare it to others' experiences. The truth was that our relationship was totally unique and different from everybody else's, and it was up to us to do as we pleased. Had I realised that sooner, my recent days would have been full of joy of just being with him rather than misery of being without him.

One look into werewolf boy's eyes was all that it took.

Feeling incredibly, indescribably, unbelievably light of being, I tiptoed and fluttered my eyes shut.

He was clearly taken aback at first, yet I could tell he eased into it and pushed himself down to meet my lips. His were so soft and gentle, like two pillows trying to ease me into a deep calm. He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me closer and diminishing the space between us.

I felt my chest explode, as if a fuse had been ignited. I felt the fire rush through my veins, consuming me. I was engulfed in him, my thoughts of nothing but him. And I was getting lightheaded, an overwhelming sense of euphoria washing over me and making me feel like I was floating.

He smelled of rain, of the forest, and just... Seth. It was a fragrance I'd never forget, etched into the most intimate spaces in my mind. He was mine, and I was his. There was no way for him to escape from me now: I felt my heart, mind, body, and soul need him emotionally, spiritually... physically. I felt that connection: the strong pull as if we were bound by something greater, much more significant than whatever I could imagine.

Then there was nothing I was more grateful for than such a strange thing as imprinting.

And yet the kiss was nothing short of mind-blowing, despite being undeniably simple. No embellishments: no turning of heads, nor movements of any kind — none of that. Just… touching. his soft and eager lips gently but domineeringly pressing into mine…and a kiss never felt more magical to me.

I was the first to pull away from our chaste encounter, and when I opened my eyes, his were still closed. I smiled and breathed shakily.

"Seth?" I whispered under my breath, needing to hear his thoughts.

He fluttered his eyes open and just stared at me with the most endearing look. "Yes?" He mumbled so quietly, as if talking loudly would make everything disappear into a dream.

"My heart is racing and I feel like falling." I said seriously, taking large amounts of air. I still hadn't recovered from my crying, and I felt like the ground was going to give way to let me fall through.

A smile slowly crept across the width of his handsome face. He brushed my hair behind my ear, and gently lifted my chin to look at him. "I'm here to catch you." He whispered, strengthening his hold on me with his left arm while using his right hand to caress my cheek. He searched my face with his enormous brown eyes, and I stared back intently, blinking away the raindrops that blurred my vision. "Can I kiss you again?" He asked cautiously while glancing at my lips and stroking them with his thumb, still quiet as ever. If not for my heightened senses, I wouldn't have heard him.

My face broke into a grin and our lips met once more. As simple as the first, as innocent, and every ounce as beautiful and breathtaking.

I could get used to this.

We pulled away a moment later, and my family wolf-whistled and cheered from the porch. I swear I also heard howling come from far away.

I blushed madly and buried my face in his warm chest.

Seth chuckled, sweeping my hair back and away from my face. "Well, look at us. You got your kiss in the rain."

I looked at him and laughed. "Well, well, well. Yet another cliché."

"I can tick that off my list now." He smiled.

"You have a list?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I made plenty of lists whenever I talked to you." He admitted, shrugging. "And lucky for us, we have enough time in the world to accomplish all of them."

"Is that so?" I asked, playing along.

"Mhmm." He nodded cheekily.

"Is one thing on those lists not getting sick? Because I think we should get out of this rain." I giggled.

"Yeah, you're right." He agreed as I took his hand and walked him into the house.

"That was some pretty intense stuff." Emmett noted as we entered the room.

Seth hugged me to his side to keep me warm until Rosalie covered me with a large towel, and Esme wrapped Seth in one, too.

I blushed even harder in embarrassment sitting on the bar stool.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so happy for you two!" Alice clapped. "This calls for celebration." She announced, going into the wine closet.

"Alice, you don't even drink." I pointed out.

"You do." She called out from inside.

I smiled to myself and Seth sat beside me. I looked at him and admired the happy face staring at me.

Esme appeared before us on the opposite side of the breakfast bar holding a camera. She snapped a shot before either of us could react. "That's going in the album." She announced happily and showed it to Carlisle who walked over.

"Mom!" I whisper-scolded, the embarrassment growing on my cheeks and in my chest.

"What? It's not everyday your daughter shares a romantic first kiss with her mate." She shrugged.

I only managed a nervous chuckle, and Seth laughed, blushing as well.

Rosalie hugged me from behind. "Oh, Callie, I'm so happy for you." She said.

I leaned back into her. "Me, too." I giggled as she kissed my cheek.

Emmett and Jasper came closer as well, towering over Seth. The werewolf turned in his seat to face them.

"Seth, you're a good kid." Emmett started.

I raised my eyebrows at them, leaning on the bar.

"And Callie's good, too." Jasper smiled.

"Now that you two are together, it's our duty as her older brothers to give you a little... heads-up." Emmett smiled mischievously.

Seth's grin fell and he looked at the two vampires worriedly.

"Boys," Carlisle started stepping in, trying to make them back off.

"Okay, alright." Emmett said, raising his hands in surrender.

I furrowed my eyebrows and pursed my lips at them.

Jasper then leaned into Seth's ear. "Hurt her in any way, we make it ten times worse for you." He whispered, and backed off.

Seth gulped.

"Oh, Jasper, please." I stood, pushing him away.

"We were being nice about it and telling him." He defended, chuckling. Emmett joined in.

I saw Bree just watching from the corner, and I smiled at her. She smiled back, and I did a 'come here' motion with my hands.

She drew closer and joined us in the group, just as Alice emerged with two glasses full of pink champagne.

She handed one to Seth and one to me.

"To another wedding I shall plan in the future." She said proudly as we raised our glasses.

I slapped my forehead in embarrassment. Seth chuckled in embarrassment too, his cheeks flushed a bright red.

"You guys really know how to mortify someone." I shook my head, looking down.

Seth looked awkwardly at me with a crooked grin on his lips.

"We're family, Callie! It's in our job description." Emmett wrapped his arm around me, chuckling.

"Oh, jeez." I rolled my eyes.

"What about just 'to Seth and Callie'?" Esme proposed, unaffected, bringing Bree closer.

"To Seth and Callie!" They all cheered.

I looked over at Seth, and he nervously looked at the glass.

"Don't worry, it's not strong. It actually tastes really good." I encouraged him, raising my glass in his direction. "Besides, your body temperature will burn it off easily." I winked.

He smiled and clink-ed his glass with mine, and we both downed the alcohol.