14. Kim Being Helpful
"What do you think is happening?" I asked nervously.
"I don't know. Its either the vampire or Paul being stupid. Most likely the second one." Emily shrugged, standing to pick up the empty plates and dirty dishes.
"How long are they usually gone?" I asked picking up the rest and following her into the kitchen.
"I don't know, it varies depending on what happened. If Paul was being stupid, then they should be back shortly. If its the vampire, longer." Emily shrugged as water poured into the sink.
"Aren't you worried?" I asked her as I found myself agitated since Jared had left.
"Sometimes. It's totally normal to feel on edge and nervous while he's gone. I've just gotten used to it so it's not as bad for me anymore. It used to be real bad when he left to go protect the tribe. He was the only one so I was petrified with fear whenever he left." Emily explained.
"I guess that makes sense." I nodded sitting down and fidgeting with my fingers.
I stayed like that for a little longer and watched as Emily cleaned every available item or surface. I guess that was how she coped now by cleaning. Just as I was about to stand up to help when warm hands wrapped around my own to stop my fidgeting.
"There was no need to be nervous." Jared whispered huskily in my ear.
"What happened?" I asked turning so I could face him.
"Embry Call phased." Jared told me softly.
"Really? Then where is he and the other two?" I asked anxiously.
"He's still trying to phase back." Jared explained.
"That means Sam's going to be gone all night." Emily moaned, walking back into the kitchen.
"Not necessarily." Jared replied hopefully.
"Oh yah and how long did it take you to phase back?" Emily asked sarcastically.
"Not all night." Jared retorted.
"What's so special about phasing back that takes awhile?" I asked confused.
"Phasing back gets easier the more you do it but you have to be calm. After the first phase you are anything but calm. Paul was livid, he stayed wolf for over a day. I was just pissed off but eventually managed it. For Sam it took awhile because he had no one to help him, he didn't know what triggers what. Embry never had much of a temper so he should phase back shortly but he's too freaked out." Jared answered my question.
"Why aren't you helping them then?" I asked.
"Sam sent me back here to check on the two of you. He told me to tell Emily that the house is spotless it doesn't need to be cleaned anymore. And I just wanted to see you again." Jared smiled at me lovingly.
"He knows cleaning helps me cope." Emily chided.
"What's he so freaked out about?" I asked softly.
"The normal stuff. That he'll scare people and such." Jared replied calmly.
"I got an idea to help. Can we try it?" I asked Jared as I batted my eyelashes up at him.
"What does this plan entail?" Jared asked warily.
"Me talking to Embry while he is phased BUT no one else can be phased in. I need you to tell them." I vaguely explained.
"I can't guarantee I won't be close by." Jared replied hesitantly.
"That's okay but no purposeful eavesdropping." I warned.
"Let's go." Jared smiled.
"Em! We'll be right back!" I called as Jared pulled me out the door.
"Wait here." Jared instructed me after we had a little way out into the woods by the house.
"Okay." I agreed.
I saw Jared disappear behind a tree and then a huge chocolate wolf appear. The wolf let out a short bark-like sound that made three other wolves appear almost instantaneously. I could tell the giant black one was Sam and the grey one was Paul but I didn't recognize the third dirty brown wolf and assumed it to be Embry.
"Jared." I said calmly as he looked at me worriedly. Jared nodded his big wolf head slowly before he and the other two disappeared.
"Hey Embry." I said softly, sitting down on the forest floor. I saw the wolf do the same but as far away as it could get from me in the small clearing.
"Jared tells me that you're pretty freaked out. I think I would be too if I turned into a giant wolf, no offense of course." I started slowly. Embry moved his broad shoulders up and down slowly that I interpreted as a shrug.
"I just wanted to know why you are so freaked out so I tried putting myself in your shoes. Is it because your mom doesn't know about this? Or because Jake and Quil don't know and you aren't allowed to explain to them?" I asked knowingly.
All I got was a nod of the head.
"You know I'm right here if you want to talk about it, right?" I asked.
Again all I got was a nod.
"I have an idea that will help you phase back. Because you're so worried about everyone else, just try something for me okay?" I asked.
This time the nod looked hopeful.
"Think about all the things that make you human. Like your mom. Jake. Quil. I don't know just try it." I prodded him, feeling only slightly insane sitting in the woods talking to a wolf. The wild stood and started trembling before taking off.
I stood there got a split second confused.
"Jared? Did I do something wrong?" I called knowing he would hear.
A mere ten seconds later Jared emerged and swept me up into his arms.
"Nope. You did everything right. Perfect." Jared said exuberantly.
"Then why did he run off?" I asked confused, enjoying my spot in his arms.
"When we phase our clothes are shredded. When I phased back in to tell him your plan, I also told him where we keep some of our spare clothes hidden. That's probably where he ran off to." Jared explained softly setting me down but keeping arms around me.
"Dude congrats. You officially phased back faster than any of us did our first time." Jared smiled as an ashamed looking Embry stepped out of the shadows.
"It's because of Kim." Embry said ducking his head shyly.
"Hi Embry." I said softly.
"Let's go get some food." Jared offered.
"Jared, we just ate!" I exclaimed.
"Yah but Em's making muffins." Jared countered.
"It's your job to save me and Embry some when we come inside. I promised I'd talk to him." I told Jared slowly unwinding myself from Jared no matter how much I wanted to stay with him.
"Okay but don't be long." Jared said shooting Embry a glare.
"Thanks for that but I'll be okay." Embry said softly.
"I promised I'd talk to you if you phased back so here I am." I said opening my arms.
"Well you were right about everything you said. Mom is going to freak out because I missed school without a good explanation. Jake and Quil are going to be super mad at me for being a traitor and joining Sam. But even more then that I don't think the pack likes me." Embry said.
"What? Why do you think that?" I asked shocked.
"I never really cared about who my father was and never pressed Mom about it. But now that I've phased, it means that my father was Quileute. But everyone whose family has the werewolf gene was married when Mom got pregnant with me. That means either Billy, Harry, or Sam's dad cheated on their wives with Mom. They are all hoping it's Sam's dad, he wasn't much a father anyway. So me phasing, means somebody just got a half-brother." Embry explained, sullenly.
"I'm sure they don't hate you. They are just confused. And if anybody gives you a hard time, you come to me and I'll put them in their place." I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. He just kind of dumped that on me. I told him, I'd be there and I meant it but I hadn't expected that drama.
"I doubt that you could scare a werewolf." Embry scoffed.
"You'd be surprised." I said as we walked back to the house.
"Kim, you are pretty much the size of my pinkie. You couldn't hurt anyone if you tried." Embry laughed.
"I don't appreciate the sarcasm." I said.
"Whatever shrimp." Embry said, playfully shoving me.
"Oi! Don't push me!" I said, slapping him.
"Whatever." Embry rolled his eyes and held open the door for me.
"Jared, did you save me a muffin?" I sang, walking towards the kitchen.
"Yes." Jared replied, holding one above his shoulder as I walked in.
"Thank you." I sand, taking a bite of the blueberry muffin.
"Yum." I complimented Em. The boys, including Embry, had all managed to stuff their faces with easily 5 muffins in the time frame, I'd been inside.
"Thanks darling." Emily said, plopping herself down on Sam's lap.
"Shoot. School's out." I said, looking down at my watch.
"Thanks for the food and everything." I said, standing as I smiled gratefully at her.
"Do you need a ride home?" Jared offered. I gave him a look before kissing his cheek and walking towards the door.
"Wait," Jared called after me and stopping me on the porch. He took my hands in his and said, "Does this mean you're no longer mad at me? That I can take you out and kiss you whenever I want to?"
"Maybe." I said, looping my fingers through his belt loops.
"Good." Jared replied, kissing me quickly. "I'll see you tomorrow then."
"Yup." I said, popping my p.
"Okay." Jared said, hugging me to him and kissing me one last time before letting me go to the car.