Author's Note: Welcome to the 11th chapter! Sorry it took so long again, I'm suffering from sever writer's block, ugh!

Disclaimer: Reece and her mother are mine :)

Poor awkward turtle.

It was most definitely dead after all of the awkwardness in the Cullen household. That's how awkward it was. So awkward that the awkward turtle was overwhelmed with all of the awkwardness and went into cardiac arrest, survived, then offed itself.

Poor, poor turtle.

So basically I'm in the middle of a hideously weird and tangled web of 'what ifs' and 'what nots' and 'had this happeneds'.

Apparently, had Edward remained a human he would have died forever ago and never been in Bella's life and therefore she most likely would have ended happily ever after with Jacob. That, however, is clearly not the case.

Obviously.

And so now Carlisle is hypothesizing that if Bella and Edward had not got down and dirty (Ew! Think happy thoughts! Think happy thoughts! Crap, I'm scarred for life.) then Nessie would never have come along and Jake would have somehow ended up with me. But, as it is, Nessie exists, and Jake imprinted on her. But now he's torn because I was his other 'option'. Jake had a lot of options in his life it seems.

However, unlike his first option of Bella, there is no vampire territorially protecting me. Instead there's just Jake's pack member. God this is so fucking confusing. And now I'm sitting precariously on one of the Cullen's many couches, contemplating my future and what the hell is going to happen in it. Because even though it goes against everything anyone knows about imprinting, Jake has a choice. A choice between Nessie. Or me. And I have a choice too. A choice between Jake. Or Seth.

And Bella has to choose between killing me and making herself feel better (she's a little ticked off that Jake has the option to ditch her daughter) or leaving me alone. I have a feeling she really wants to choose the first one, but that would definitely anger a few of the werewolves, and I doubt that would be a good thing either.

Right as I'm about to combust from the amount of tension in the room, occupants being Carlisle, Jake, Edward, Bella, and I, I glance at the clock and start in surprise at the time. "I have to get home," I blurt, for once not using that line as a lie. I mean, not only would my mom be freaking out right now and probably calling the Clearwater's house every minute because it was so late (having to stay at the Cullen's all day with Bella wanting to kill me and her child trying to become BFF's is not my idea of an amazing Sunday, thank you very much) but Jake and I also had school tomorrow. Not that I worry myself too much with school, but I know that Leah was probably about ready to strangle my mother, whose incessant phone calls would drive even the most patient and caring of werewolves insane.

And so, Carlisle set us free, but not without a warning: "Drive safe."

Thanks Carlisle. That's precisely what I wanted to hear at a time like this when your adopted daughter wants me to be taken care of by the mob, my new best friend is a werewolf that has imprinted on said adopted daughter's daughter even though he kind of likes me, and said werewolf's follower is head over heels in love with me. Then again, with all that bouncing around in my brain, I suppose a car crash might be likely. So hopefully Jake does heed Carlisle's words. Because I really don't want to find myself wrapped around a tree at this point in my life.

Sure enough as we pulled into my driveway my mom came hustling out to the car, bangles jangling around her wrists, hair frizzed out in a million different directions, eyes wide (although this is pretty usual for my mother), screaming "Where on God's green earth have you been?!"

"Just hanging out Mom; I thought you'd be happy I have friends," I stated in a very monotone manner, not exactly in the mood to tell my mom every single detail of my insane weekend.

"Nobody answered the phone when I called!" my mother chastised. "And I called several times!"

"You always do," I pointed out. "Besides, we were outside, getting some fresh air, which I hear is good for you."

My mom blinked. "Well you could've at least called to say you were going to be so late," she quipped matter-of-factly before turning on her heel and heading towards our front door, which I noticed she had painted bright, eye-burning yellow at some point today. I tell you, God only knows what goes on in that woman's head.

I turned to Jake. "Thanks for the ride," I said awkwardly, about to following in my mother's footsteps (now there's a scary thought). Right as I turned he reached his hand out and grabbed my arm, effectively stopping me dead.

He pulled his hand away so fast, as if an electrical current had sparked through him and our eyes clicked together, staring. "No problem," he quickly mumbled, and then sped away in the direction of La Push.

And that's when I realized I had felt that electrical current too.

Shit.

*

I really did not want to get up. First, I hated school. Second, I hated Mondays. Third, I hadn't done any homework. And fourth, I did not want to face Jacob Black.

Why, you ask? Maybe because as he drove away a horde of butterflies decided to move into my belly, despite the acidic juices that digest my food, and drive me half crazy all throughout the night thinking about how it had felt when Jake had grabbed my arm, brushing my hand in the process. And then thinking about how much I really would not mind holding that hand, or having that hand run through my hair and whatnot.

But after all of those weird and happy thoughts, I guilt tripped myself all the way home when Seth's image proceeded to dance in front of my eyes. How could I possibly feel such things for Jake when I was totally meant for Seth, literally. I mean, fate had chosen us for each other, who was I to fight that. Yet, I didn't want to let Jake go so easily. But I didn't want to find out if he felt the same. Because either way it was going to end badly.

If he didn't feel the same, I'd be torn apart, wondering endlessly like some pathetic girl why I wasn't good enough for the great Jacob Black. If he did feel the same, I'd be torn between him and Seth, and I just didn't want to hurt Seth.

And that is why I faked the flu, complete with nasty mucus (which was actually left over mac'n'cheese cheese that I had found in the fridge) and dear dear mommy let me stay home. "Well, we'll see if you ever go to spend time with that friend of yours again," she grumbled to herself.

I shook my head, not wanting my mom to be mad at Leah for something that was most definitely not her fault. "Nah, it's okay mom, it's not a big deal," I tried calming her, "For all you know, I caught it at the shrink's office."

My mother stood up abruptly, going very stiff. "Dr. Gardner would never allow his office to become contaminated by such a thing," she defended. I raised my eyebrow. I had no idea why my mom was so protective all of a sudden, nor did I know why she thought some dude would be able to prevent the flu from ravaging his office's waiting room, but whatever.

"Chill mom, I was just saying, I could have gotten it anywhere," I glanced at the clock wearily. "Besides, you're going to be late for work."

And BAM, my mother was back to being herself, bustling every which way to make me comfortable and reminding me that there was soup in the cupboard and if I needed something, anything, she was just a phone call away.

I nodded to all of this, the entire time silently praying she'd just leave so I could plop down on the couch and watch old TV shows on TVLand.

"Okay, well, I best be going," she chimed, flitting out of the room finally, allowing me some breathing room.

Once I heard the tires of her car driving down the road I crept down the stairs and opened the fridge. You have to have munchies if you're going to watch shows like Bonanza and Leave It to Beaver, specifically popcorn, Oreoes, and peanut butter. As I excitedly set my banquet out on the coffee table before nearly sinking into the couch, I was interrupted by the doorbell.

Now who the hell was at my door at nine on a Monday morning disrupting my marathon of amazing old shows? Embry, apparently.

"Hello?" I said, raising my eyebrow perfectly.

He grinned. "I was assigned to spy on you today," he informed me, "But since you're not even going to school I thought I may as well join you." He grinned again.

I rolled my eyes and opened the door wider. "Seth know about this?"

Embry chuckled, "Yeah, he knows who's scheduled when. He's not too happy that he has to share you, but Jake insisted that everybody take a turn. So here I am." He crashed down onto the sofa, grabbing up my bowl of popcorn and taking a handful. "So what're we watching?"

I wasn't really in the mood for werewolves that day; I needed my alone time. "Chick flicks." Embry's eyes widened slightly, but it still hadn't scared him off. Yet. "I think I'm going to start with The Notebook, it's such a good one, I always end up sobbing," I informed him, emphasis on the sob part.

The boy gulped. "Ya know what, I should probably go back outside, ya know, in my wolf form, in case one of the guy's wants to get a hold of me…" He threw the bowl of popcorn back down on the table, bolting for the door. "See ya later Reece!"

And he was gone.

Never underestimate the fear of tears.

Author's Notes: Don't forget to leave a review! Also, I now have a Twitter that you can follow me on if you feel like it! My username is _Corkster_