A/N - Sorry about the abrupt ending! my MS Word went totally wacko, and it stopped letting me type! So Now I've gott use notepad, which is freakin' annoying, cause it hasn't got all the features! Anyway, here's the story! Sorry about that!

Chapter 5

"So... hold that thought a second." I said, looking up at Embry. "She's using him as a rebound! That is so low! How can he not realize that?

"I don't know." Embry said sadly. " Something tells me he does, but he doesn't care."

"Not possible." I said firmly, as we walked onto the beach. "Jake's not that stupid."

We walked into the center of the beach, where loads of people were sitting in groups with drinks and chatting and laughing. I glanced around and saw Quil, and waved him over to us.
"Quil! Over here!" I called, and he joined us.

"Hey Cherry, Embry." Quil replied. "Whoa... Embry you look awful!"

'So I've heard." Embry muttered, ignoring Quil.

"So where's Jake?" I asked Quil eagerly. This was the only chance I'd probably get to hang with Jake without Bella being around and ruining things.

"You don't wanna know..." Embry muttered again, before Quil could reply. I stared at him, wondering what he meant, and then followed his gaze over the waterline. Oh no. He did NOT invite that little bitch!

"Where are you going?" Quil asked doubtfully, as I started to walk.

"To yank the lovebirds out of dreamland." I mumbled, and went over to join Bella and Jake. "Hey guys. I said cheerfully, sitting on Jake's other side. "What a surprise to see you here, Bella!"

"Umm, Jake invited me here last minute." She said, looking slightly uncomfortable at my prescence.

"Really? That's cool, Jake, I guess you're introducing her to the La Push ways huh? Since she's an outsider and all." I said, my voice a little cold, but Jake didn't notice it.

"Yeah, Bella was kinda interested in the whole La Push legends and stuff. I was gonna invite her to the next bonfire too." Jake said casually, smiling at me.

"Really? How sweet of you. " I said through gritted teeth.

"Um, Jake, i'm just gonna get somehting to drink, yeah?" Bella asked slowly, and got up.

"Oh, you want me to get it for you?" Jake asked, ever-willing to help.

"No, it's all right, you guys stay here."

"She's just awesome, isn't she?" Jake asked me dreamily after Bella had gotten out of earshot.

"Yeah." I said sarcastically. "Simply unbelievable."

"I really want to ask her out sometime." He said, oblivious to my sarcastic tone.

"Really?" I asked, hurt. "I'm... not too sure she's your type, Jake."

"Oh, she totally is!" Jake assured me. "I'm just not sure how to do it. I mean, you're a girl, right?" he asked, his face brightening. "How would a girl want a guy to ask her out?"

"I... I'm not too sure, Jake." I said, hesitantly. "Maybe you should just be yourself. But are you sure you should do it this soon? I mean, I heard rumours about her not getting over that Cullen guy."

"Oh, but she told me that I make her feel happier, and forget about Cullen!" Jake said, happily. "She said that she really likes my prescence."

"Jake." I said taking a deep breath. "Don't get mad at me for suggesting this, but... doesn't it sound as if she's using you? As a rebound?"

"What! No!" Jake cried, looking astonished. "She's not so bad, Cherry. Just cause you guys used to fight when you were kids doesn't mean that everything she does is bad."

"Yeah... I get you." I lied, and I stood up slowly. "You know what? I'm gonna get back to Quil and Embry."

"But what about Bella?' Jake asked, worriedly. "I mean, the asking out thing? I was hoping for more advice."

"Be yourself Jake." I repeated. "It's the way I like you best, anyway."

"He's obsessed." I replied quietly, as I walked back to Quil and Embry. "He wouldn't even listen to me when I suggested she might be using him as a rebound."

Embry looked at me sympathetically, but I glared right back at him. I didn;t want sympathy, not now.

"I think he's throwing himself off the deep end." Quil said simply. "I don't really like Bella all that much."

"She's bad news." Embry agreed, and I kept silent. I felt like if I opened my mouth, I wouldn't be able to stop myself crying."He's just being an idiot, Cherry." Embry said softly when Quil was turned the other way. "He'll get over it."

"You know what?" I said softly. "I don't even wanna stick around any more. There's this new recipe I saw on t.v this morning for lemon cakes. I think I'll get home early and try it out."

"I'll walk home with you, if you want." Embry offered. "Yeah... that would be nice." I said, and we left the beach.

"You know, he's gonna get some sense sooner or later." Embry said, as we walked in the street. There were a few people around, most from the party, but none of them paid any attention to us, they were too busy getting themselves trashed. Broken alcohol bottles littered the floor, and I couldn't help but kick a piece into the bushes to vent my anger.

"You'll find someone better, Cherry." Embry continued.

'I know, Embry." I said, finally getting the courage to speak. "It's just... hard. I can't help but get those butterflies in my stomach when I see him, and I can't help it. Sometimes I wanna forget all about it, but I can't. I don't think i could bear it if they went out. I mean, if she really liked him, that would be a different thing. But she;s using him, Embry! And he doesn't even know it!"

"I know." Embry said, in that soothing voice that always relaxed me. "But he will realize it, Cherry. Don't worry about that."

"I don't know..." I said with a sigh. A drunk guy suddenly came up to us, and interuppted my thought by grabbing my hand.

"Ello, love." he said, his voice slurring. "Try a pint?"

"Get away." Embry growled. Wait, did I just think that? Embry GROWLED?

'Aw, don't be such a sourpuss!" the drunk guy insisted, looking at Embry.

"Let go of her." Embry hissed, grabbing the guy's hand, and yanking it so it let go of mine. The guy looked startled and walked away, frightened.
I looked up at Embry to thank him, but what I saw was a very strange sight. Embry was shanking all over, his teeth gritted tightly, looking like he was about to explode.

"E-Embry?" I stammered, placing a hand on his arm.

"DON'T!" Embry yelled, yanking his arm away. "Get out of here, Cherry!"

"What?" I asked, starting to get scared. "Embry, what's going -"

"Cherry, just run, right now! RUN!" he yelled, and I froze, staring at him, as he shook even more violently. "RUN!" He yelled again, and I did. I ran.

A/N - Yeah, I know, it's not that much of a cliffhanger since we all know thta he's shaking cause he's gonna phase. So just bear with me though, yeah? I know It's not thta great, but I'm kinda blank right now, i'm having a serious case of writer's block!