A/N: Wow, I didn't expect any kind of response at all for this story, but I got more reviews for this one than the other one I posted. Thanks so much you guys! You totally inspired me, so as a reward, I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

Disclaimer: See chapter one.

* * *

TWO

* * *

Differentiate y = (3x2+5)1/x

I stared down at the problem on my paper as I sat in my advanced calculus class. It was test-taking time, and I was totally screwed. This was the effect of spending the entire day yesterday in the library, and not once taking a book out of my bag. Damn it.

But I wouldn't take back the time I spent with her.

I took a deep breath, and looked further down the paper hoping to see something that looked inviting.

Differentiate y = 7x(cos x)^x/2

Yeah, no. This wasn't going to work out.

I stood up and Mrs. Mahogany gave me a surprised look. "Embry? Are you alright?"

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. I don't feel well," I grunted, trying my best to fake an 'I have a stomachache' look.

She gave me a searching look, but it must have passed her inspection because she waved me out with a simple, "Please see me about making up this test."

I practically flew out of the room, and slowed my walk when I reached my locker. What now? The nurse could either send me back to class after fifteen minutes, which meant that I would still have to at least start the test, or I could carry it a bit further and get sent home. Technically I was 18, so I wouldn't have to worry about calling my mom to come sign me out of school. I could do it myself.

But did I really want to miss all of my other classes? That was just more work to be done later.

I groaned. And this was supposed to be my easy year!

Thinking fast, before someone caught me loitering in the hallway, I ducked into a bathroom. Maybe I could just spend the rest of the class time in here… studying. I locked myself into a stall. If anyone came in, I'd just pretend to be sick, or something.

An hour and a half later, I left the bathroom as the bell rang feeling accomplished. I made it to my next class early, AP English, and was just in time to hear someone say something about our five-page paper being due today.

… fuck.

* * *

I hated lying. I really did. I hated even more that people nearly always believed me when I did because they knew I wasn't a liar, and I seemed to have a natural talent for it.

But, it was necessary, I argued with my conscience, and now I had a five page paper to be done with by tomorrow morning. Which, naturally, would involve more lying in order to get it done.

But now, I had another problem to deal with. Because I had skipped out on my test, I had to stay after sometime this week to take that test. And I worked every day this week, except tomorrow. And Friday. Friday, none of the teachers stayed after. But tomorrow was the day I had told Cellie I was coming back to the library. Right after school.

Well, now that couldn't happen. Because I had to switch workdays with someone. And in order to not work today, I had to work tomorrow.

So now I was heading to the library to cancel our plans, and I felt terrible. What if she didn't understand that I really couldn't make it, and that there was nothing I could do because of a stupid English paper?

Another thought crossed my mind. Did she go to school? And if so, which one? I knew enough to know that there were no Deaf schools in La Push. Or Forks. Or Port Angeles. And if there was one in Seattle - which I doubted - it would be one hell of a commute.

I got to the library and headed to our round table. She wasn't there. Heart pounding, I went to the glass study room, and peeked in. She wasn't there, either.

"Fuck, man!" I said, completely frustrated.

"SHHH!" someone said, but I didn't even turn around to acknowledge it.

I stood there and made myself calm down.

Okay, so, she's not here. What to do, what to do?

I turned towards the front checkout counter and saw the same dude who had been here Sunday scanning some books.

"Hey, man," I said, walking over to him.

He glanced up. "Hey," he answered in a voice that clearly meant, 'Go away.'

"Would you mind giving someone a message for me?" I asked.

"Yes," he said, after a moment. Then, he turned around and continued to log books, or whatever he had been doing.

I glared at him, and continued to stand there until he acknowledged my presence.

"Can I help you?" he finally said.

"Are you going to be here tomorrow?" I asked, persistent.

"I'm not allowed to give out employee schedules," he said, automatically.

"I'm not asking for that. I just want to know - "

"I'm not allowed to give out employee schedules," he interrupted. Then, he leaned towards me, and continued in a whisper, "And between you and me, you're scary. I don't want you to know when I work. You might come back."

I just stared at him, dumbfounded. Was he serious?

"You're very… unhelpful," I finally said.

"And you're very… tall. Have a nice day," he said, without turning back around to face me.

What the hell?

I huffed and stormed back to my round table. I ripped a strip of paper out of a notebook I pulled out of my backpack, and wrote:

Cellie, I'm so sorry, but I can't make it today. I had to work. If you can come back, I'll be here FRIDAY right after school. I PROMISE.

- Embry.

And praying she would find it, I wrapped it around a rung on the back of the chair she had sat in yesterday.

I really, really hoped she would find it.

* * *

It was torture to sit in school after classes the following day and take that test. I found myself wishing I had just taken the F, but I knew in the long run that that wouldn't have been too smart.

As soon as I finished - it took me two hours - I was prepared to sprint all the way to the library, but Quil was waiting for me outside the school.

"Embry!" he said as soon as he saw me.

"What is it?" I asked. I could tell by his face expression alone that something was wrong, and the tone of his voice confirmed it.

"Somebody - Collin, I think - came across a trail in the woods. We think it might be a seasoned traveler," he replied, seriously.

It didn't take a genius to figure out that traveler meant 'vampire.' Eyes widening, I followed him to his car, and he drove to the woods behind the school and parked. We stripped, threw our clothes in his car, and then phased quickly.

Immediately, we were assaulted by our brothers' voices.

Assaulted? Damn, Embry…

- strong word.

Shut up, guys. We need to -

Is everyone here?

Well, Leah -

Forget Leah.

Everyone else is here. The younger ones -

- newer ones, you mean. I'm not young -

Where's Seth? He was supposed to meet me after school -

We don't need everybody, anyway.

So, why didn't you leave me alone?

The thought was automatic, as my thoughts just were, and there was nothing I could do about it. I felt hurt emanating from a few of the guys.

Ouch, Embry.

Phase back, then.

Of course, their thoughts were automatic, too. I didn't even have to try to explain as moments from Sunday with Cellie flew through my mind. I wanted to go to the library. And they knew it now because they could practically feel my resentment from having been summoned here.

You don't have to be here, Embry. That thought came from Sam, but it didn't come off defensively. It was sort of apologetic.

I'm already here, now.

Why are we here?

Vampire. Somebody picked up a -

LOOK, I WANT EVERYBODY - That was Sam again. And now, he was using his alpha voice, which unfortunately lacked the authority to make everyone shut up. He had tried before, but found that he couldn't stop thoughts. He could only stop actions.

- peanut butter and jelly… Mmmm, peach cobbler -

- wonder what I got on that test?

You failed. Probably.

Fuck you, Paul.

- listening to you, Sam. I'm trying to any -

SPREAD OUT AROUND -

- baked beans… apple pie… -

No, thank you, I have a girlfriend. I'm good -

- THE PERIMETER. YOU KNOW -

- really wish everyone could shut up -

So do I.

- OUR LIMITS. QUICK -

- so fucking hot - I just want to -

- stop, Collin! Stop!

I'll never look at her the same way -

- Dude, that's not the same girl! That's my sister! He's not -

- fuck her over her fucking desk -

DO A HALF AN HOUR SEARCH.

- she IS pretty hot -

Britney! Britney! Britney!

MEET BACK HERE IN AN HOUR -

Please, hurry up, Sam.

- THEN EMILY'S.

- maybe hotdogs? Or hamburgers? Pizza, or -

BETTER WITHOUT -

Britney has a boyfriend.

OVERLAPPING THOUGHTS.

* * *

If there was a vampire, he left just as soon as he'd come. Hopefully, he had picked up our scent and that was the reason why. We came to that conclusion at Emily's, but Sam still wanted us to double patrol for the next two weeks just in case. I had groaned out loud at the thought, but he ignored me. He was able to do that now that we weren't in each other's heads anymore.

Now I walked home, slowly, trying to ignore all the voices in my head that screamed that I had a mountain of homework due tomorrow, and that I really should have been walking faster. At least all of these voices were mine. But still, it resulted in a massive headache. And yes, shape shifters could get headaches. Apparently, since it wasn't a physical sickness, my constant 'fever' didn't 'burn it off' like everything else.

I groaned and flopped onto the living room couch. It felt physical. And to top it off, I was upset because by the time we were finished with everything, the library was closed. I know because I checked.

"Embry, hon? I thought you had to work today?" my mom asked, as she came in ten minutes later with a stack of groceries. I was still on the couch.

"I switched with someone yesterday. Had a lot of homework," I mumbled. The throw pillow on this couch looked extremely inviting, but I knew I couldn't succumb. I just didn't have time. Even now, I was wasting it.

"Oh, before I forget, Rachel Black called. Uh, she said something about wanting to know how the Sign Language was coming along? At least, I think that's what she said. I think it was your friends who were laughing so loudly in the background, so…" Mom trailed off, shrugging.

I just groaned again.

"What's she talking about?" she asked, curiously, while turning around to put the groceries away.

I really wasn't in the mood to tell her, so I just shrugged when she turned back around. I figured it wasn't a lie if I didn't say anything. But I felt guilty, regardless.

"So, Friday! You don't have to work, right? I was thinking we could reschedule our movie night for then. What do you say? We might even be able to go to the movies if you want. I have the night shift, so as long as we went right after school, I'm pretty sure we could make it there and back - "

"Sure, okay, sure," I said, pushing myself up from the couch. She acted like she didn't hear me and kept right on talking. Distractedly, I went to kiss her cheek, and then went up to my room.

The next morning came without warning and too little sleep, as most of them tended to do. Yawning, I prayed that I wouldn't pass out in my first class, and I got dressed, ate, showered, and then I realized that I had done that in the wrong order. So it took me longer than anticipated to get to school due to the fact that I had to change out of soaking wet clothes, and I just barely managed to slide into my seat when the bell rang.

"Cutting it close," Quil muttered from behind me. "And why'd you leave so early last night? You totally missed the fried chicken Kim and Emily surprised us with!"

I didn't get a chance to answer him because right then, the teacher swept into the room and started handing back papers. Thankfully, this wasn't a test I had missed, and he smacked mine on the desk, face down. I turned it over to see a glaringly red "A+" shining up at me in all it's Sharpie'd glory.

"Nice!" Quil said, having stood up to look over my shoulder.

"Sit down, Ateara," Mr. Boris said, smacking Quil's paper on his desk as well.

I turned around. "What'd you get?"

"B," he said, shrugging. "Good enough." I grinned.

"Hey, so… tell me about… her," he said, wiggling his eyebrows.

I copied his shrug. "Not much to tell," I answered, suddenly uncomfortable. All of the guys knew that Cellie had taught me a few words in Sign Language, having seen it in my head.

"Have you seen her again since Sunday?"

"No. You know I haven't," I said, rolling my eyes. "No time."

"Make time," Quil said. "She's your imprint. That makes her a priority."

For some reason, his nonchalant tone got to me.

"I know," I snapped, glaring at him. "I've been thinking about her every second, wishing there was some way I could get in touch with her. It's not that I have any other choice, but to think about her. Even if I did have a choice, though, she's Deaf, and I - I'm busy. It's not like I can just pick up the phone…"

"Hey," he said, his voice quieter. "Sorry."

I sighed. "It's cool."

Mr. Boris gave a tiny cough that indicated he was ready to start class, and I turned around in my seat.

From behind me, I heard Quil whisper, "Don't worry. She'll be there Friday."

* * *

Between school, work, and double patrols, and checking the library every chance I got for maybe a glimpse of Cellie, you'd think time would've flown by. But no. Time hated me, apparently. So, instead it slowed down. And sometimes went backwards. Which was so not cool.

By the time Friday came around, I was having serious separation anxiety. I couldn't concentrate on anything. And we had just gotten assigned two major projects, one of which was a group project, and both due in a month. Joy. I had no idea what either of them were about. I wasn't even sure which classes had assigned them.

As soon as the bell rang, I took off for the library, completely ignoring Quil as he called my name. No. I would not get sucked into shape shifter drama today.

Twenty minutes later - a record! Even for me - I burst through the double doors, totally not paying attention, and collided with someone causing them to go crashing to the ground.

"I'm so sorry!" I said, horrified. I hoped nothing on this person - it was a girl - was broken. Thankfully, I didn't smell any blood, either.

I reached down to help her up, and at first, she glared at me. But then, when she saw my face, her glare almost instantly transformed into a smile. I fought the surprising urge to roll my eyes. At first, I had totally been happy about all the attention I received from girls, women, even the occasional dude. Though, I didn't go for any of them. I didn't usually go for the girls, either, but I had definitely flirted. Now, though, I realized that I didn't find anyone else nearly as attractive as Cellie. Everyone kind of looked the same to me now. I knew it was a side-effect of imprinting, having experienced it through some of the guys' heads. So right now, instead of being flattered, I was just mildly annoyed.

"Oh, it's fine," she said, taking my offered hand. "Don't I know you?"

"I doubt it," I said, helping her up. I leaned down to help her pick up her books, and in a total cliché, we bumped heads.

"Ow!" she said, and I was once again, horrified. There was a red bruise already forming on her head, and I hadn't even felt pain.

"God, I'm sorry," I said, again, but she just giggled.

"I'm Lorene," she said, sticking out her hand.

"Embry," I sighed, reluctantly. "Sorry for…" I gestured awkwardly to her head and then the floor. "I really have to go, though - "

"Wait," she said, quickly pulling out a notebook. She sat her things on a nearby table, and started scribbling something.

"No, I - I'm sorry, I - I'm not interested," I stammered, and her face fell.

Then, she gave me a tight smile. "In case you change your mind," she said, pressing her phone number into my hand anyway. She walked past me out of the doors, and I turned around, ready to give it back and insist that I really wasn't interested when I saw her. Not her, but -

Cellie.

Instantly, I relaxed and my entire mood changed from tense to bordering on euphoria. But when I reached out to, I don't know, touch her, or something, to make sure she was real, she - disappeared.

Not literally, of course.

No, what actually happened was that she turned her back on me and started to walk away.

Surprised, I just kind of stayed there for a second. Then reality set in, and I pushed through the doors after her.

"Cellie!" I called, but she continued to walk, now halfway across the parking lot. Of course. Right. Feeling stupid, I ran and caught up to her, tapping her on the shoulder.

She shrugged me off and kept walking.

Stunned, I stood there for another second. Did I do something wrong?

I caught up to her again, but this time, I cut her off by stepping in front of her. She glared at me, and made to walk around me, but acting purely on instinct, I grabbed her shoulders.

Her mouth opened in surprise and she stepped back. Then, she started signing rapidly. Her movements were short, sharp, and… angry. I felt my heart sink, and my stomach started to clench up with worry.

"I don't understand," I said, trying to convey confusion. "What did I do?"

She let out an angry huff, and then pulled a small notepad out of her pocket. She pulled her backpack off, and started to rummage for a pen, but she couldn't find one. I pulled my backpack off, and gave her mine, and she actually snatched it from me.

Then she narrowed her eyes at me and started to write, or draw. When she was done, she passed it to me, and I saw a picture of my round table, and the character meant to represent her in the seat she had used on Sunday. In my seat, she had drawn a large calendar. But instead of dates, it just had question marks under the Tuesday, the Wednesday, and the Thursday.

The message was clear, and I don't think I had ever felt so horrible. Had she really been here every day waiting for me? Was that why she was back here today?

I wrote,

SORRY.

And then,

I left you a note, but someone must have grabbed it. You didn't get it, did you? I'm so sorry.

I suppressed the sudden urge to draw a giant heart around the first 'sorry,' and just handed the notepad back to her. I watched as she read it and her eyebrows knitted in confusion. She looked up at me and shook her head, and my heart sank a bit further. She didn't understand. She started signing again, and I reached out to take the notepad from her.

This time I wrote,

I'm sorry. I had school.

I passed it back to her, hoping she would understand. She read it and looked up at me. She pointed to the word 'school,' and made a sort of clapping motion with one of her hands over the other one. Her palms touched twice. She pointed to 'school' again, and I nodded.

I signed, SCHOOL, and I nodded again.

This time she pointed to the word, 'sorry,' and made a fist over her heart. She rubbed it in a very tiny circular motion, knuckles pointed towards herself. I repeated it.

And then I signed, E-M-B-R-Y SORRY, C-E-L-L-I-E. E-M-B-R-Y SCHOOL.

I watched as her eyes widened in surprise, and then was rewarded as an unexpected laugh practically exploded out of her face, as if she had just been holding it back. I grinned in answer, and signed,

SORRY, again.

She mouthed, "Okay," and signed a word with one hand that was obviously, O.K. It even looked like the letters, 'O. K.'

C-E-L-L-I-E SCHOOL? I signed, remembering my thought from earlier. Was there a Deaf school around here? How old was she anyway?

She shook her head and signed, NO. C-E-L-L-I-E NO SCHOOL. She bit the inside of her cheek, and I recognized it as one of her nervous gestures.

I quickly signed, C-E-L-L-I-E O.K.? and smiled, hesitantly.

She gave me a searching look, then she finally smiled back and did the knocking motion with her fist before signing,

C-E-L-L-I-E O.K.

* * *

We stayed until the library closed, and she taught me the alphabet. I knew that this was necessary for me to be able to talk to her eventually, but I wished there was a faster way. I was starting to realize that things that I took for granted didn't even register on her radar. Like when the loudspeaker announced that the library was closing in twenty minutes and she didn't even look up. Sometimes she just plain didn't understand what I was talking about, and simply shrugged. But I had to admire her perseverance. She kept signing,

WHAT? WHAT? until I figured out a way to explain it to her. My way usually involved charades and lots of laughter, and when she saw any frustration in my expression, she would sign,

NO MAD. NO MAD. E-M-B-R-Y O.K. and something else that I think meant, 'patience.'

When the library closed, we waited for her mom to pick her up. For, 'mom,' she held one hand in front of her face, fingers spread out, and touched her thumb to her chin.

MOM DRIVE C-A-R.

I nodded. E-M-B-R-Y WAIT, I signed, and she grinned.

YOU MOM DRIVE C-A-R? she asked, and I assumed she was asking if my mom would come pick me up.

I shook my head. ME MOM NO DRIVE C-A-R. E-M-B-R-Y… I mimed walking and she laughed and signed it for me. As always, I had to remember to breathe as her laughter caused my heart to skip multiple beats.

Her mom arrived, and I watched from a distance as they started signing rapidly. I noticed that they had to sign before her mom started driving, and with a pang, I realized that she had to endure 'silent' car rides as well, unless there was someone in the back who could sign with her. Because her mom couldn't sign while driving.

After they left, I walked home, my heart feeling lighter than it had felt the entire week. I liked Cellie. I liked being around her. This is what being around her did to me. Still grinning my head off, I entered my house to find it completely empty.

"Mom?" I called. Huh. She wasn't here.

I went in the kitchen, the refrigerator always my first pit stop on the way to my room. And that's when I saw it, stuck to the fridge with a magnet:

Thought we had a 'date' today, but once again, you blew me off. Don't bother rescheduling.

Shit. I had completely forgotten. She had said something about wanting to hang out today, hadn't she? But just as quickly as guilt and regret set in, it left again to be replaced with anger.

Well, it was her fault. She's the one who wanted me to get a job, and she should realize that I'm stretched too thin. She shouldn't expect the world from me when I barely had time for myself.

Or Cellie.

Speaking of Cellie, she wanted to meet again tomorrow, and I readily agreed. I had to work in the morning, so we agreed to meet at four, which gave us only a little time in the library, since it closed early on Saturdays.

And I didn't mind… because I wanted to ask her on a date for afterwards.

Except, I got nervous just thinking about it. She couldn't know about the imprinting thing, but she had to know I was attracted to her. I wasn't exactly subtle with the openmouthed staring. Unless, of course, she mistook it for confusion, or lack of understanding something she was trying to teach me. I sighed, running a hand through my hair. I noted that it was growing longer and I needed to get it cut again.

How could I not be attracted to her, though? I meant what I said before. She was absolutely the most incredible looking creature I had ever come across. And I swear that even if I hadn't imprinted, she would have been exactly my type. For one, she was funny. She had an excellent sense of humor. For two, she was patient. And while I was usually a very laid back guy - the stress I had been under lately didn't count - I swear she had me beat in that aspect, too.

I turned my attention back to the note. It annoyed me, sure. Sometimes she was kind of childish. But I did love my mom, and with no other kids and only the occasional boyfriend for her, we were used to only really having each other. And I did feel at least a little guilty for breaking our 'date.'

Acting on impulse, I jumped up and opened the freezer. Maybe she wouldn't be as upset if I made it up to her by fixing one of her favorite meals. I took out the necessary ingredients, and then changed my mind deciding I would take a shower first. I went to shower, and afterwards, I came back to the kitchen.

I put everything together and set the oven timer. Then I sat on the couch to wait, and flipped the TV on.

* * *

"DAMN IT, EMBRY, WHAT DID YOU DO?"

I sat up from the couch with a jolt, and turned towards the direction of the voice. The first thing I was aware of was the smell of smoke. The second thing was the sight of it. Coming from the oven.

Dread filled me as I jumped up to find my mom frantically fanning the oven. Oh, no! The food!

We worked together and managed to put out the fire before it started, and when we had gotten everything cleaned up, she leaned against the counter and simply stared at me.

"Well?" she said, angrily. I winced.

"I'm sorry, Mom. I was just trying to - "

"What? Burn the house down? What possessed you to - ?"

"I was trying to do something nice for you," I said, apologetically. I knew I had screwed up big time.

"Well you failed. Royally. How could you fall asleep with something in the oven? You could have died!"

"I know. I'm sorry," I repeated, staring at the floor. Though I knew I wouldn't have died with my super powers and all, she didn't know about that, and wisely I decided to keep my mouth shut. Strangely, however, I couldn't help thinking that even as bad as I felt now, it didn't even compare to how bad I had felt when I had disappointed Cellie.

"If you were tired, then you shouldn't have tried to cook," she snapped.

"Mom, come on, I'm sorry! It's not like I fell asleep on purpose."

"If you were here like you said you'd be, you wouldn't have needed to try to make it up to me," she said.

Enough with the petty jabs!

She glared at me. "So are you going to tell me where you were and why exactly you were so tired?"

"I…" But still, something told me not to tell her. Not with the mood she was in. If I was going to tell her about Cellie, I needed her to have a more receptive attitude. I shut my mouth and looked away from her glare.

"So you're not going to tell me?" she asked, raising her eyebrows. I didn't say anything, and she let out an angry breath.

"Fine," she snapped. "Fine, then, you're grounded."

"What?" I stared, openmouthed.

"You heard me. Grounded. I don't want you to set foot outside of this house unless you're going to school. No hanging out with your friends, no helping Sam unless he calls me himself."

"Oh, Mom!" I protested. "Come on, I'm eighteen!"

She shook her head, eyes blazing and I knew that was absolutely the wrong thing to say. But, "Clean up this mess," was all she said before she headed for the stairs.

There was no way I was missing my date with Cellie tomorrow. No fucking way.

"Well, I have to work tomorrow!" I lied, calling after her. But if she heard me, she didn't respond, or turn around.

* * *

A/N: Again, you guys inspired me, and I'm also inspired by you! Now you know how to get me to write, so please don't forget to review!

- FadingSlowly