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Chapter Three

Mary's POV

"So you went out without telling us," Dad said, gritting his teeth, "Went to the reservation, switched off your phone, got into trouble and couldn't bother calling us until Dr Cullen told you you had to!"

I grimaced. Mom nudged him subtly. "Easy on her, William. It's not like she meant to get into trouble."

"Yeah, Dad," I said, "That guy just appeared out of no where and, and -"

"And what? Held you? An unarmed man hopped on a car, broke its glass and then held you against him and you couldn't resist? Matthew couldn't have done anything?" he mocked, "How would you expect me to believe that, young lady?"

"Well, it was what happened!" I yelled, getting up from the couch in our living room, fed up with their doubts. "And if you two just can't believe me then it's just too damn bad!"

"Mariah Jane Anderson don't you dare-"

I cut Mom off. "Stop fucking doubting me! Why would I make this up, huh?" I said, "Why would I do this?"

"Watch your language, young lady!" Dad yelled.

I bit my lip in frustration, pulling on the sleeves of my shirt. "You never believe me," I mumbled, "Not now, and not even back then. You would never believe how your beloved Jackson could ever-" I paused, tears welling up in my eyes in the memory of my ex. "How can you ever expect me to come to you when you can't even believe me?" Dad cursed and Mom kept exchanging glances with him, looking back to me with an apologetic eye. "You know what? Just...just leave me alone."

I ran my way to my room, slamming the door shut behind me. My parents were always like that. There was nothing I could tell them they could take for granted - there was nothing I told them they believed without solid evidence. I had no idea why they never trusted me, it wasn't like I deceived them before, or used to lie to them the whole time. They were the reason I ever became friends with Jackson, the reason I kept telling him everything, bonded with him not because I liked who he was, or thought he was my prince charming, but because I needed him - I needed someone to listen to me, to believe me, to soothe me. All I ever wanted was to them to think my feelings, my emotions, were valid. It would've been nice to talk to them without being told I was lying, or I was being an emotional bitch.

He was my resort, my safe harbour. We would talk to each other the whole time, text each other the whole day, hang out with each other every minute of every spare hour. It didn't take us long, about a couple of weeks, to go out together on real dates and it only took one date before we were officially a couple. The first two months of our relationship were heaven, I had to admit. My life depended on his presence. I couldn't do anything without telling him, couldn't make a decision completely by myself. Instead, I relied on him. I didn't even let myself think things through, and he knew it. He knew just how much he could control me. He knew it, and he used it.

I buried myself under the covers, savouring the warmth of the bed. I curled in a ball, taking deep breaths. It has been two months since I dumped Jackson, but whenever I remembered him, my life with him, everything in me shook. Sometimes, at the beginning, I mistook that for missing him. Truth was, what I missed wasn't Jackson -hell no- but the feeling that I could talk to someone.

Something not even my own parents could give me.

Sometimes I wanted to talk to Matt, my closest friend. But no matter how close we were, how much I knew I could trust him, I just couldn't do it. Something in me was convinced that what happened wasn't Jackson's fault - it was mine. It was my fault what happened actually happened. It was my fault I let him control me like that. I didn't want to make another Jackson out of Matt. I was safe alone, without anyone interfering in my life. True, it burned and choked me that I couldn't talk to anyone but myself - not even my diary in fear someone would find it someday - but it was safer.

My phone vibrated in my pocket and I slid it out, answering it. "Hey Matt," I whispered, clearing my throat.

"Jake got it fixed," he said, his tone flat. "Mary, look, I gotta-"

"If you're gonna apologize again, I seriously don't wanna hear it."

He sighed. "Not really," he said, "I wanna make it up to you."

I rolled on my side. "Yeah? Make my parents believe me. All I want."

"What happened? What did you tell them?"

I huffed. "What really happened," I said, "I told them everything that really happened and they couldn't bring themselves to believe me."

"Aw, I'm sorry," he said, "Wanna hang out sometime?"

"When? Today?"

"Nah," he said, "Tomorrow morning. I got this tennis thing and then I'm free. Nessie called me a while ago - she said you wouldn't answer her?"

"Oh," I said, "Yeah she called while I was arguing with Dad."

"Yeah, anyway: she was wondering if we could join her and Jacob, and a couple of guys from La Push in a bonfire they have on First Beach," he said, "What do you say?"

"Well that depends," I said, "Can you get me a couple of bars of chocolate on our way there?"

He laughed. "Yeah, sure. See you in the morning - I'll wake you up when I'm done with tennis and then we can hang out somewhere before going to the bonfire, maybe?"

"'Kay, sure."

"Alright, bye!" he said and hung up. I smiled and slid my phone back in my pocket, glad thoughts of Jackson were gone and closed my eyes, hoping I'd get some sleep instead of having to deal with le family during dinner.

It was my wedding day. To whom was I going to get married? I had no idea. But everyone seemed happy for me, so I went along. My friends from Forks were helping me with my make-up and I had the most gorgeous wedding gown I'd ever seen - bright white with riffles and sparkly goodness. While I was staring at my reflection in the mirror, I felt my feet get wet. For some reason, it didn't bother me. The water kept rising up, soaking me in my dress, bit by bit, until I was all covered in water. I struggled to breathe, all the oxygen in my lungs was spent in a split second.

I woke up with a gasp, still struggling for breath as I did in my dream. I sat up, trying to calm myself to get some air. My chest was tightening, hurting, with every breath I tried to take. I felt my face heat up and I had to endure the pain in my chest to get some air until it was unbearable. I tried to scream, but it was useless; I couldn't even breathe let alone get out any type of sound. I tried to wake someone up but I couldn't move, and my vision got blurrier every second.

I closed my eyes and worked my best to calm myself, to slow down my heartbeat. I hadn't got any of these attacks in a long while now, but when I used to get them, my doctor had told me they were all psychological, that I could control them. I tried my best to focus but all I could think about was the whole day - Jackson's threats, the accident, my parents, everything.

It wasn't until a couple of minutes later that I could breathe normally again. Once I could, I went into tears. It was like everything was back again. My old life struck back with full force. I glanced at the alarm clock on the side table to find it was a bit after 1 am. I couldn't bring myself to sleep again, afraid I might get another attack, and I couldn't call Matt or Stacy or anyone - no one would be awake that late, would they?

Embry's POV

I couldn't sleep.

All I could think about was Mary. Mary, Mary, Mary. Technically, I knew nothing about the girl yet - but the feelings I had for her were as strong as steel. Once I saw her, my world both physically and mentally shifted. The center of the universe wasn't mac and cheese anymore, it was the most beautiful, angelic creature I had ever laid eyes on. She was so incredibly amazing.

But the feelings I was having now weren't of love or adoration, but of worry, of anxiousness. Something in me wasn't relaxed - I had a feeling she wasn't alright, that she needed my help. I brushed it off, though; we had found the vampire that had dared to lay hands on her earlier and I had the honor of tearing his sorry limbs into tiny shreds and setting them on fire. The other leeches had escaped into the water, and until this very moment no reports of any scents were given. Maybe it was just something...natural. Maybe I was just worried because she wasn't right in front of me, but rather far, far away.

I couldn't wait until the bonfire tomorrow. I would see her, here, and spend some time with her - maybe even talk to her, who knew?

"I'm so damn happy you imprinted. You know why, Em?" Leah said, grinning mischievously, sitting beside me on the cliff. It was where I went whenever I couldn't sleep or rest at home.

"Why, I wonder?"

"Because from now on you can't think about those skanks you sleep around with." She laughed. "At least it would be only one."

I playfully hit her. "Don't compare Mary to the others."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. I bet she's this angelic perfection-on-earth that has never been in a relationship," she said, "'Cause that's the only way she'll ever be your girlfriend."

"Ouch," I said, "Take that back." She laughed. I sighed. "Nah, she has a boyfriend."

She frowned. "That boy she was with earlier?" I nodded. "Aw, I'm sorry, Em."

I shrugged. "I'm whatever she needs right? We're destined to be together, I'm sure there would be some way I could -"

Leah gasped. "When did you grow up so much?"

I huffed. "Leah..."

She chuckled. "Alright, alright," she said, "So tomorrow - the bonfire - it's a code red, eh? No mentioning wolves, imprints, vampires..."

"Yeah, you know the drill."

I was on First Beach ever since the sun rose, just sitting there. I even helped Emily and Kim with setting up everything for the bonfire. We had burger, salad and lots of drinks - and a ton of desserts: cupcakes, cookies, muffins, the whole thing. As Emily put it, it was "a way to keep the pups mouths shut and not expose our secret". Throughout the whole process, Emily kept telling me how happy she was I finally imprinted and kept showering me with questions about Mary - how she looked like, how I saw her, whether or not I did something dumb while talking to her (which barely happened).

By seven, everything was ready. The elders weren't going to attend tonight - the whole thing was just an excuse to meet her again. And honestly, the last thing we wanted was for her to connect yesterday's accident with the legends. I basically went to Jake and begged him to set a date with her for me, and he was all for the bonfire idea. Everyone was here now: Seth, Amy, Jared, Kim, Sam, Emily, Paul, Rachel, Brady, Collin, Leah and a couple of newly-phased newbies. We were circled around the fire, each chatting with each other, waiting for Jake, Ness, Matt (unfortunately) and Mary. Jake and Nessie were picking Matt and Mary up.

I heard the Rabbit screech into the parking lot and my heart sped with excitement. I looked their way as they approached, my eyes only focused on Mary. She looked absolutely...miserable. I frowned. Her eyes were half-closed, the area under her eyes dark, the rest of her face pale. She was dressed in an excessively-long-sleeved pullover and skinny jeans, her hair lifted up in a pony tail. She clasped her hands together, rubbing them. Her shoulders looked like gravity had been pulling on them for days, and she walked so lazily, lifelessly.

"Hey!" I said, waving to them - or rather just her. She looked at me for a second before recognition hit her and her lips spread into a small smile.

"Embry," she whispered so low that, if I wasn't a wolf, I wouldn't have heard her.

Matt and Jake said something as well, but I didn't pay attention, nor did I care. I was only focused on her, much to no one's surprise. "Guys!" Only Mary, please. "Come over here!"

A bunch of "Oo"'s and "Ah"'s spread across the guys and Paul nudged my shoulder. "Whipped puppy."

I rolled my eyes and watched her as she walked awkwardly to where I was. She turned to the others and simply waved at them, they smiled -some laughed- and waved back at her. Then she looked up at me, and it was the first time to notice how short Mary really was. She barely made it to my shoulders. "Embry, right?"

I laughed. "Yeah," I said, "Mary, right?" Mariah Anderson, junior at Port Angeles High. Nessie only told me that much.

She nodded. "Yeah...I never got to thank you last night." She looked back to find Matt hanging out with Nessie and Jake, getting introduced to a fellow tennis player, Collin. "Thanks a lot, for everything."

I grinned. "Any time, Mary. How's your arm? Feelin' any better?"

She only half-smiled. "Yeah, sure. A lot better."

"Did you report the accident?" I said as I sat down and patted the space beside me. She sat down too, next to me.

She shook her head. "Nah, not really." Her voice was strained, broken.

"Is everything alright?"

She frowned, her eyes connecting with mine. "Um, yeah, sure. Why?"

I shrugged. "You just don't...sound that well."

She looked down at her hands and winced. "How'd you know?"

Oh, I don't know. I just imprinted on you - so I kind of feel everything you feel, to some extent. I can read you like an open book. And all that. "I dunno, I just do. You sound a bit off."

She averted her eyes to the scenery around us, taking a deep breath. "Hey, do you surf?"

I shook my head, smiling. "You're impossible," I mumbled, "Yeah, I used to, back when I was seventeen or eighteen."

She frowned. "Oh? How old are you now?"

About seven years older than you. "Hey, you want some burger?"

She laughed and got up. "Yeah, sure, whatever."

Mary's POV

Everyone at the bonfire was pretty nice, especially that Embry dude. He kept following me around like a lost puppy, and since I had nothing better to do, as Jake and Nessie took Matt away to show him something at the cliffs, I just played along. He took the responsibility of introducing me to everyone there - and they were a lot.

"So those were the guys," he concluded, "And their girlfriends - wife in Sam's case."

"Aha," I said, "Are you all, like, related somehow?"

He licked his lips. "Not really - like, Sam is my half-brother and all, but other than that, we just grew up together, I guess. I even work with Jake and Paul at Jake's garage in Port Angeles."

"Ooh!" I said, "Nice. So you're good with cars, I get it?"

He smiled, lying back on the sand. "I am great with cars, my friend."

"Oh yeah?"

"The best," he arrogantly said.

I rolled my eyes. "And motorbikes?"

He flexed his hands. "Please, you're offending me," he scoffed. "I made one of those babies from scratch."

"Show me or it never happened."

Without ever sitting up, he pointed at a shiny white motorbike in the parking lot, standing proudly, elegantly. "That's my baby."

I was almost drooling, looking at how magnificent it looked. "No way in hell you built that!"

He laughed. "Come on, you're underestimating me!" he said. "You know what? How about I pick you up from school Monday and I'll take you to the garage - so you can see magic happen right in front of you. We're working on this Porsche these days - absolutely beautiful."

I grinned. "Sounds like a plan," I said, "I'll let the folks know and see if I can spend the whole day - Jake would be there too, right?"

He frowned. "Ah, yeah, sure," he said, "Why don't you call me? Lemme know if you can make it."

I bit my lip. There was nothing wrong with this, and it would be more than amazing to be able to watch him work on a real car - and a Porsche for that matter. I slid my phone out of my pocket. "Yeah, sure." I handed him the phone. "Save your number."

He grinned and typed in his digits, making sure to ring himself so he could save my number, too. As soon as he gave me back my phone, it rang. I thought it was Matt, so, without even checking who it was again, I answered.

"Hey you. Where have you been?"

"Looking for you."

I froze. It was Jackson. I got up, walking away from Embry and everyone. "What do you want?"

"I wanna see you," he said, "Come on, Mary, I just want to see you."

"How did you find my number?"

"Ah for fuck's sake, Mariah, stop asking so many questions."

"Stay away from me, Jackson," I said, "I swear to God - if you ever come anywhere near me I'll-"

"What? Report me? Tell your daddy?" Jackson mocked, "Because you can't and you know why. You know what I can do, Mary. You better not mess with me."

I sobbed, my chest clenching. "Please, Jackson, don't."

"Then meet me."

"Look, I can't, but-"

He huffed. "But what, Mariah?"

It took me all my courage, all my nerves, to hang up on him. I held the phone close to my heart and ran to the parking lot, not wanting anyone to see me as I cried. I hadn't felt so weak, so vulnerable in so long. My heart was racing, my tears unstoppable. I wrapped my arms around myself and sat on the ground, hiding behind a car, sobbing. I kept shaking, my head getting heavy. My health issues never helped with this bullshit, but I did my best to calm myself down.

"Mary! Mary!" Embry called, looking for me. I tried to stop crying, but I couldn't. It was out of my control.

"Where are you?" Matt's voice joined in.

I didn't bother to move. I was well aware of how pathetic I looked. Hell, Embry might not want to hang out with the emotional bitch I was anymore, but I didn't care. I was absorbed in my own pains, my own memories, and the last couple of days, in addition to the events of the past year, came hitting me with full force.

"Oh my God," Matt mumbled when they found me. He knelt down beside me, and Embry did the same, on my other side. The only difference was that Matt was patting my shoulder, half-hugging me. "Mary? Mary, what happened? Did you get hurt?"

Before I could answer, Embry spoke. "She was alright, laughing even, and then she got a call and walked away."

Matt pulled me a bit closer and moved his face in front of mine. I heard a growl somewhere, but I ignored it. I was still crying, shaking. "Who called?"

I shook my head, refusing to answer. He didn't know anything about Jackson nor did he ever need to. "Nothing. No one."

"Mary, this is serious," he said, "I've never seen you like this. Tell me what happened, please."

Could I? Could I trust him? Could I tell him? I didn't know. I couldn't think straight. I couldn't do anything. I needed to be safe. Safe, yes. Safe was keeping the secret buried inside me. No one ever needed to know, no matter what.

"Please take me home," I whispered as I stopped crying, my chest heaving.

"Did anyone bother you? You can tell me, eh? I'll teach them a lesson," Embry said, smiling, trying to lighten the mood. I'd almost forgotten his presence for a moment.

"No, Embry. No one did," I said, wiping my eyes. Matt patted my back gently. "I'm sorry for...this. The bonfire was great. I'll see you Monday," I said dismissively and stood up, both of them doing the same as I did, and turned to Matt. "Take me home?"

Jacob cleared his throat from behind Embry. "Embry - take the keys to the Rabbit. I gotta stay here for a while. Drive them home, Matt will tell you where to go."

He nodded and looked at me. "C'mon, let's go," he said gently, his voice soothing.

Matt kissed the top of my head as we got to the car. "Feeling any better?" I nodded, lying. "Cool. Give me your phone." I frowned, but before I could process what he said, he'd already taken it, scrolling down my Received Calls list. He sent Jackson's number to his phone as he opened the car's door for me. "There. I have it. Now, do you wanna tell me, or do I have to find out for myself?"

Woo! This chapter hit 4K .. the longest one in this story so far. What did you think? Love it? Hate it? Have some comments? Review please! I'll even get you some chocolate with that :)

On a side note, I gotta say it's so awesome writing something that's partially real but editing it to be more sweet 3 Haha. Yeah this story is semi-based on a true personal story.

Anyway, review! Thank you!