(A/N) – Thanks for the reviews guys! They really make me feel more confident about the writing. And I don't mind criticism either, as long as it's honest. It helps me improve. Thanks again!

Chapter 4

Okay, so I'm trying to get over it. Yup, Jake likes Bella. The guy I have liked since practically the seventh grade just announced that he likes another girl. And really likes her. Not just another crush or something. He really likes her. His exact words. The exact words I keep repeating to myself, trying to assure myself that it's not as bad as it really is.

I grabbed my hair and put it up in a ponytail, not caring how messy it looked. There were just a few more minutes until the party at the beach started. It was kinda foggy outside, and the weather forecast said that it might rain a bit, but the party was going ahead anyway. People were used to the rain here.

I ran downstairs and pulled on my old battered sneakers. Jake was gonna be at the party, and usually I might have tried a little harder just to look good for him. But there was no point now. He'd be daydreaming about Bella the whole time anyway. The little bi- No. Don't insult her. It's not her fault, it's my own problem, and I can't go round swearing at her just cause it makes me feel better.

I jogged down to Embry's house, and knocked the door. He promised that he'd walk to the beach with me. We would have taken his car, but the beach was close enough to walk to. Embry opened the door, looking just as exhausted and bad as he did this morning.

"Okay." I said, looking at him. "You are not coming to the party. You look terrible!"

"I'm fine. " Embry insisted, sounding more like he was convincing himself than me. "I'm fine. I can come to the party."

"No, you really can't." I insisted. Couldn't he see how sick he looked? "Embry, I think you should stay home and rest for a while. The party's not that big of a deal."

"I'm fine, Cherry. I wanna come to the party, okay?" He said.

"Embry, I'm not letting you. Have you even looked in the mirror?" I asked him. How could he think that he was fit to go to the party like this?

"I said that I'm fine! Why the hell can't you understand me?" He yelled, losing his temper. I took a step away from him, in shock. Embry didn't yell. Embry never yelled. "Oh, god." He said, looking surprised at himself. "Cherry, I'm so- I'm sorry, I can't believe that I did that."

"No, I… Its okay, Embry. Really." I assured him. I wasn't mad that he had yelled, but I was worried. Something was really wrong with him.

"No, it's not okay. I shouldn't have done that. I can't believe…" he looked worried and tense.

"Embry, just forget it. Let's go to the party okay?" I asked, and he nodded. We started to walk down the street.

"So, um… why do you look like you just got out of bed?" Embry asked casually, trying to lighten the mood after the awkward moment.

"Oh, come on, I don't look that bad do I? I didn't put much effort into dressing up or something. It's just a beach party, right? We have them practically every week." I said casually.

Embry looked like he didn't believe me.

"Are you sure? Or does this have something to do with Jacob's announcement this afternoon at lunch?"

"I… what?" I asked. I was surprised that Embry was mentioning that. "Why would you think that?"

"Maybe because you admitted that you liked him the other night? Cherry, it's kinda obvious to everyone but him." Embry said sympathetically.

"Yeah, okay, I do like him. And I'm jealous of Bella. Happy?" I asked annoyed.

"Not exactly. Cherry, I'm trying to help. I know what it's like to like someone that only thinks of you as a friend. But… Bella's not really the one for him. She doesn't like him that way, you can tell. In fact, I think she's using him." Embry said.

"Using him?" I asked slowly. "What do you mean?"

"You know the Cullens? The ones who live in the big fancy house in Forks?" Embry asked me.

"Yeah, I know them. I went to a couple of times, when I broke my leg a few years ago." I said, wondering what the Cullens had to do with it.

"Well, according to what Jake told me, Bella used to go out with one of them. Edward, apparently. Dr. Cullen's son. And then he ditched her, because they left town a while back." Embry said.