A/N:
I know, I know, I have a lot of explaining to do. These past two months have been so crazy with the holidays and what not. Other than that I have had some personal issues that got me down for a while so my heart wasn't really into writing. At one point I actually decided that I was done writing this story and my other ones as well. Then early today I realized that maybe writing these stories is just what I am missing in my life. So I decided to go ahead and get back into this one and let me tell you, it felt great. So I will be continuing this story for sure. The updates might not come too fast at first, as I need time to get back into the grove, but I promise it will be worth it. Oh yeah and I also promise it will never take two months again! :) I really hope all of you still want to read this story cause I have a lot planned for it and please don't hate me.
And oh yeah, Twilight = Not Mine!
15) Thank You
After our talk I thought Embry and I would be closer than ever, boy was I wrong. It was now Thursday and I had only seen Embry once since Monday. Which didn't even really count because it was only for like 20 minutes in the morning before school on Tuesday. Him and Jake came over, ate breakfast, gave us a quick kiss and that was it. As if that wasn't aggravating enough Brook had to be all calm about it, like it didn't bother her. Obviously knowing the secret, she was used to this type of behavior. I however was not and her refusing to tell me wasn't helping.
Brook and I were sitting around after after school watching TV when I decided it was time to beg her again to tell me the secret. "Come on Brook, you know you want to tell me. Besides it's not fair that you know and I don't.' By this time I was whining like a little kid, she started to laugh.
"Now, now silly sister of mine, we all know life isn't fair. Besides the only person who can tell you is Embry. If it makes you feel any better though, it took Jake months to tell me. I wasn't quite as vocal as you about it but it bothered me not knowing also." I knew it! Sure I suspected it before, that it wasn't just Embry's secret but the whole gangs. After all it really is obvious Embry, Jake, Sam, Paul, the rest of the guys and even Leah. I mean it makes no sense the uncanny resemblance, the abnormal heat, the shaking. Especially the random comments they always said that made no sense to me. Having it confirmed though that I was the only one that didn't know made me feel even worse.
It was as if Brook just now realized that her words were the reason for my revelation. "Oops, I probably shouldn't have said that. You would have figured it out for yourself anyways, if you haven't already." I nodded my head and she continued talking. "I figured you would have you are my twin sister after all." She smiled and we both laughed.
"So tell me Brook, what was your reaction when you found out what the La Push secret was?" It no longer seemed right calling it Embry's secret.
"Nice try Ash but you know I can't really answer that without giving the secret away." We both started giggling.
"Yes Brook I know this but please just give me something to work with." I gave her my best puppy dog face.
"Alright, just get that ridiculous look off of your face." I quickly turned my face serious and started listening intently.
"Well of course you already know it is a pretty big secret and what it feels like not to be in on it. So as you can imagine it annoyed me to no end. I love Jake and the idea of him not trusting me really hurt. Just when I was about to confront him, tell him it was either the secret or me, he told me what it was." Just then she paused and I knew she was reliving that night.
"At first it was a little to take in I'll admit but then... Then I realized that I was truly part of something amazing. No longer was it their secret, it was mine too. The best part though, Jake and the unbreakable bond we now share. Nothing could compare to the feeling I got knowing that I was the one that got to share such an important part of his life with him. It could have been anyone but it was me." The look of love and devotion in her eyes was so strong that even a blind person could see it.
It caught me off guard, I mean I know I am hopelessly in love with Embry but seeing that kind of love on another persons face is indescribable. "Don't you ever worry though? You seem so calm for not knowing where he is or what exactly he is doing."
"Yes, I worry every minute that he is away from me. It comes with the territory though. If being with Jake for the rest of my life means worrying a little, then I will happily do it."
Suddenly I was no longer angry from not knowing the secret, I was eager to be a part of it. "Thank you Brook."
A puzzled look formed over her face. "What for?"
"For not giving in and telling me. Seeing the look in your eyes when you just confessed how honestly you love Jake, I want that too. I know it's only been a couple of weeks but I love Embry and I want to be in every part of his life. So if him telling me the secret is going to bring us closer than ever before than thank you for not ruining that for me." A smile of pure appreciation flashed across her face but only for a second before she started giggling. I was about to ask her what was so funny but she spoke before I could.
"Just don't get too close, like you said it's only been a couple weeks." It only took me a second to get what she was saying.
"Shut up Brook, it's not even like that." Then I realized what else was hiding behind that smirk of hers. "No way! You and Jake? When?"
"Yes, we have been together for a long time so it should be no surprise. The first time was the most amazing experience in my life and it happened right after he told me about the secret. I always said I would wait until marriage but I know with out a doubt that I will marry Jake. So I gave into my teenage hormones." The last part she added between giggles.
I joined in on her laughter, sometimes she was just too much. "Does Aunt Yvonne know?"
"Actually yes, I tell her everything. At first she was a little shocked but glad that I had enough respect for her and myself to go to her first. She took me to get on the pill and of course she gave me the lecture about getting pregnant in high school. She didn't however give me the 'your first time should be with someone special' talk. She knows as much as I do that Jake will always be the only one."
Our Aunt is so amazing, I can't believe how open minded she is. I am so glad I have a parent figure I can talk to as easily as I could my father. "Does she know the secret too?"
"Sometimes I think she does but I have never really asked her about it cause well as you know, I can't. The things she says sometimes though makes me wonder if she does and that is why she is so cool with everything." Yeah that would make a lot of sense I guess but then again I don't know the secret yet so how would I know. "Well I don't know about you but I am starving! You want to make cookies."
I couldn't help but laugh. "Cookies isn't exactly dinner food but why not. Chocolate always makes me feel better and all this talk about Embry is making me miss him." Brook nodded in agreement and we headed into the kitchen to make our Aunt's famous chocolate chip cookies. We were just about to get in a flour fight when the phone rang. "I'll get it?"
"Hello? Oh hi Aunt Yvonne, what's up? Wow that's horrible. Yeah we will be fine. Yes I am positive. Ok we will see if they can. Thank you, I love you too, goodnight." Brook had just put in the first batch of cookies and she was giving me the 'well what's going on' look.
"Auntie's meeting in Seattle ran late and there was a really bad accident on the express way so she is just going to get a hotel room for the night. She said to go ahead and invite the boys over for the night, it would make her feel better to know that we are not alone." Before I could even finish talking she had her phone out, dialing Jake's number. I busied myself getting the second batch ready, anything to ignore her conversation. Embry had been too busy for me all week, I wasn't going to get my hopes up him coming over tonight.
"Ok Ash they will be here in 20 minutes." I'll believe it when I see it. "Let's clean up this mess and bring the pillows and blankets into the living room. It will be like one giant sleep over." Leave it to Brook. 15 minutes later we were in our make shift beds in the living room eating cookies and waiting for the boys. We were so absorbed with the show we were watching that we didn't even hear the door open.
"I SMELL COOKIES!" I jumped nearly spilling my milk all over the blankets. Embry just came over, sat down next to me and took me in his arms. "Sorry baby, I didn't mean to scare you. I've missed you so much." I was going to lecture him, yell at him, ignore him but then his lips came crashing down on mine. Suddenly nothing else seemed to matter except for our soul awaking kiss. I never wanted it to end and it never would have if Brook hadn't thrown a pillow at me. I turned my head and glared at her.
"What did I do?" Damn her innocent face, it makes it so hard to be mad at her. "It's not my fault your big heads are blocking the TV. Besides we have to get to bed, it's almost 11 and we are never going to get up in the morning." Embry and Jake took off their shoes and joined us in our separate beds of pillows and blankets on the floor.
As soon as Embry's head his the pillow I snuggled into his chest and started drifting into sleep. "Oh baby I almost forgot the good news."
"And what's that cutie?" I asked teetering on the edge of exhaustion.
"We finally got rid of that problem that has kept us working all week. We are having a party tomorrow night to celebrate and I want you to come. I have something I need to tell you." Quickly I opened my eyes and stared into his, that's when I knew. Tomorrow I would finally know the secret. I gently pressed my lips to his.
"Anything for you Embry, I love you." With that I drifted into a light sleep, faintly feeling his smoldering lips on my forehead and a lingering 'I love you too' echoing in my ear. That night in Embry's arms I knew what it felt like to be truly alive.