Chapter 20

Things started to get bad after Bella came back. Jacob was more torn up than ever, and spent days and days in the forest. At least, that's what Embry told me. They couldn't get him to change back. And no matter how much anyone tried, he just couldn't get over Bella.

I hated her for doing this to my best friend. It was awful to see the usually lively Jake so sullen and withdrawn, just because of her. The bitch didn't know what she was doing to him.

And then things got even worse, if that was possible. Some stupid vampire was spotted in Forks, and according to the pack, she's here for Bella. So not only is she hurting Jake, she's endangering all of us. And the pack is spending more time than ever on patrol.

I haven't even spoken to Embry or Quil in the past three days. I tried calling them up every once in a while, but they were either on patrol or sleeping. I felt bad for disturbing them, and gave up calling altogether.

But I missed Embry. Not seeing him or hearing his voice was tearing me up. In the end, I just called him whenever he wasn't at home, so that I could hear his voicemail. How desperate am I? It's creeping me out, the way I'm more attached to him than ever. But I guess I should have expected it. He told me himself, it was bound to happen sooner or later.

So there I was, lying on my bed another lonely night, when I felt a sudden gust of wind. This was weird, because I never opened my bedroom window. That's when I saw a large figure gracefully sliding into my room. So I did what any sensible person would do.

I screamed.

Until a huge hand covered my mouth and made me shut up.

"Cherry! Relax, it's just me!" Embry's voice hissed. I felt my heartbeat slow down.

"Embry?! What the hell are you doing, sneaking into my room?"

"Look, we don't have a lot of time, I-" he paused suddenly, cocking his head. "Your parents are coming. Make something up."

And he slid into my closet, seconds before me mom burst into the room.

"Cherry! Sweetie, what happened, we heard you scream!" she cried, sounding worried.

"Oh, that… there was just a bee in the room." I explained. "But, um, I opened the window and let it out. It's gone now." I said, gesturing towards my open window.

"Oh." Mom said, relaxing a little. "Okay. Shut the window then. It's freezing in here."

"Yup. Sorry I scared you. Goodnight, mom."

"Night, sweetie."

She left the room, and Embry came out of the closet instantly.

"Okay, we don't have a lot of time." He said. "Grab a change of clothes, your cell phone, and laptop, whatever and let's get out of here."

"What?" I demanded. "Why? Where are we going?"

"Look, you trust me, right?" he asked.

"Well, obviously, but-"

"Then I'll explain in the car. Just get the stuff and let's go, please."

I was dying to know what was going on, but I could see that Embry was serious. I grabbed my backpack, stuffed in a pair of clean clothes, my laptop and my cell phone and turned to Embry.

"Okay, where are we going?" I asked. "And for how long? Will my parents notice that I'm missing?"

"Write a note saying that you went jogging." Embry said. "We'll leave it on the table, and they'll see it in the morning. You can come back around midday."

I nodded, grabbing a piece of paper off my desk and scribbling down what Embry asked me to. He took the paper as we went downstairs, left it on the dining table, and quietly crept out of the front door.

"Okay. Tell me what's going on." I said, as I put my seat belt on in the front passenger seat of Embry's car. "Where are we going?"

"I'm dropping you off at Sam and Emily's. You're staying there the night. Don't worry, Emily, Kim, Rachel and Claire will all be there."

"All the imprints? But why?"

"Because the pack's fighting tonight."

"Fighting? Fighting who, exactly?"

"The newborns."

I stared at him.

"The newborns? Like the army that the vampire who's stalking Bella created?"

"The same one."

"Why?" I demanded. "Why the hell are you fighting Bella's battle? Can't poor little Cullen protect her, or what?"

"It's a big army, Cherry. They need the entire wolf pack. And it could be really dangerous. That's why I want you at Emily's place, because Brady and Collin are going to be protecting it."

"And who's going to be protecting you?"

"I can take care of myself, Cherry."

"Embry, this is crazy." I said "You can't go. You're not risking your life for Bella."

"Look, we don't have time." Embry said. We'd reached Sam and Emily's driveway, and Embry stopped the car, getting down with me.

"Embry, don't go." I said, all of a sudden. I grabbed his arm and looked him in the eyes, hoping it would convince him. "Please don't go, Embry."

He looked at me, torn.

"I have to, Cherry." He said, picking up my bag and walking up to the front door. "Don't worry about me. I can handle it."

"But you'll come back. Promise me you'll come back." I insisted, taking the bag from him.

Embry looked pained.

"I promise I'll come back, Cherry."

But we both knew he wasn't sure.

"I'll miss you." I said. "Be safe. Please."

"I will." He said, taking my hand in his and squeezing it tight. "I love you."

"I-" I wanted to say it back. So badly. But I couldn't. "I'll miss you."

He just smiled at me. Then he leaned down, kissed my forehead gently, and walked away, disappearing into the darkness. The night never felt so cold.

It was nice not to be so alone. I thought I'd be the only one sitting there and worrying my head off, but Emily, Kim, and Rachel were all as tense as I was. Even Claire was acting restless, refusing to eat her dinner, or go to sleep even though she was yawning so wide I could see her tonsils every few minutes.

"We should really do something." Emily said. "There's no use in all of us sitting here and worrying. It's not going to change anything."

"I can't." Kim said. "I can't help but imagine what might happen if he doesn't come back. If any of them don't come back."

Rachel nodded in agreement.

"I wonder what's going on there." She said. "Emily, has Sam called yet?"

"I've been sitting in the room with you for the past 2 hours. Of course he hasn't called." Emily said. "How about something to eat? I think I'll make some cookies. It'll help us take our mind off things. You want to help, Cherry?"

"No thanks." I said. "I… I don't feel like baking. I'm not really hungry either."

Emily shrugged and walked into the kitchen, leaving the rest of us alone.

"How about a movie or something?" Rachel asked. "I swear, if I sit here idly for another minute worrying, I'm going to explode."

I nodded.

"Yeah. Put one in." I said, and Rachel walked over to a shelf where there was a stack of DVD's.

"Eugh." She said. "What's with all the old classics? Who even watches 'The Sound of Music' anymore?"

"Sam." Emily called from the kitchen. "He loves that movie."

"Okay…. How about Alvin and the Chipmunks?"

"No." Kim said instantly. "That's Jared's favorite movie. I won't be able to think about anything but him, while we're watching."

Rachel took a step away from the shelf.

"Well, that was a waste of time." She said. "No movies."

This was going to be one long, long night.