A/N: So, we get to see her date with Embry today… ;) Hope you enjoy!

As always, Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight and all related characters, etc... I just own the plot of this little diddy...

Thanks go to my lovely beta girlies, prettyflour and ninmesarra! You guys are amazing!

~*C2C*~

I dropped my phone and keys in the bowl on the table by the closet and kicked my shoes off under it. Thankfully, this week was less eventful. Although there were no car issues and no improper advances from colleagues to be had, I was still tired. The company did offer me a promotion, and I'm waffling back and forth. I'm afraid that I will hate it and it will take too much of my writing time up- time I'm not really willing to part with. When I feel most sane is when I'm tapping out the next idea and seeing the words appear on the screen before me. It's my dream, no matter how hard it is to achieve. One day… I will. On the other hand, I'd been working over my regular hours all week to try and catch up on the ex-boss's slack. That is no easy job, let me tell you! I did manage to accomplish my own work and catch up on two of Jerry McDick's projects.

I felt like hell all week. I was pretty sure that I had caught a cold from the drenching of last weekend. It was not a pretty sight. My nose was Rudolph-red and my eyes showed proof of the crummy sleep I'd been getting. You know how when you lay down and your nose automatically clogs? And your chest feels like a band is tightening around it, so all you can do is cough? Yeah, that was me. I went in the kitchen to take some cold medicine. Reading the label, I took the required dose. I needed to nip this in the bud- Yes; I really did quote Don Knotts there.

Checking my watch, I took note of the fact that I still had two hours before Emory… er, Embry, would be here. He was determined he'd be able to teach me how to bowl. I was praying to all the deities I could remember names of that I didn't break his toe by dropping the ball on it.

A long soak in the bath tub sounded fabulous. I really needed to loosen up a little or I wasn't going to be any fun. I just hope he isn't expecting some super-hot, super-talented, super-amazing girl. I'm pretty average; my talent consists of sarcasm and writing. I'm rather boring and really, the only super thing I have going, is that I'm super-klutzy. Ugh, some days I hate my life.

Tying my hair up to keep it dry, I grabbed a towel out of the cabinet and put it within reach of the tub. I finally sank down into the water, releasing a sigh. The heat felt so good and soothed my aching muscles. It didn't take long for the water to turn tepid. Quickly washing and rinsing, I hurried from the cooling water to dry and get dressed.

Deciding on the new eyelet lace top from the thrift store and my skinnies, I shoved my sock-clad feet into my new chucks. The great thing about this date is the casual dress code. It's really hard to bowl when you're dressed to the nines. I pulled my hair out of the band and styled it in a low side ponytail, since the ends were curling so well. A little make-up and I was ready to roll.

I went back down to the kitchen. I couldn't for the life of me remember if I'd taken my cold medicine, so I went ahead and took the recommended dose, hoping I hadn't just over-medicated myself. A few more minutes passed in silence and there was a knock on the door.

Running to answer it, I tripped on the rug and had to catch myself against the door. I was hoping the "Shit!" I exclaimed wasn't as loud as I thought. I pulled the door open and looked up. And up, and up, and up. Embry turned out to be a huge man! I believe he was taller than even Emmett- and at 6'6, Emmett is huge. This guy was well-muscled in a lanky way. His tight black t-shirt clung to his biceps and his jeans encased his legs beautifully. Realizing how rude I was, just standing there staring, I shook myself from my beautiful-man-induced stupor. "H-hi. I'm Bella. Bella Swan."

"I thought you must be. You're even prettier than Rosalie said! I'm Embry, by the way," his huge hand swallowed my small one. It was almost reminiscent of my childhood, when I would cling to Charlie's hand so I wouldn't fall.

I met his dark eyes with mine- and noticed his long, dark hair was pulled back in a queue at the nape of his neck. His eyes were like molten lava with the heat I could see in them. This was not exactly promising. As beautiful as I found him, I was just not feeling him the way he appeared to be feeling me- at least not yet.

I grabbed my jacket, purse and keys and locked up my little home. After pocketing my keys, I was a little shocked to feel Embry's hand encompassing mine again. I was feeling a little dizzy and tried to shake it off. He opened the door of his truck and gave me a boost up. He'd had it lifted and without a ladder, I'd never have made it on my own.

Embry's choice of music surprised me. I don't know why, but judging from his looks, I'd have pegged him as a rap kind of guy, but when he started the car, the twangy sounds of George Strait pealed from the truck speakers. I could tell he was nervous- he turned the volume up a little with an apologetic glance my way and sang along, discouraging any conversation. Being a lover of music, I belted out the lyrics with him, and we ended up having a grand ole time on the way to the bowling alley.

Once we were there, he parked the truck and ran around to help me out. He lifted me from my perch and set my feet on the ground. Grabbing my hand, he headed towards the door. I was practically running to keep up with his long-legged stride. "Um, Embry? Could you maybe slow down a little? My- my legs aren't as long as yours!"

He glanced down at me and realized he was dragging me inside, "I'm so sorry! I never even thought about- God, you're just so… tiny! I'm really sorry!" his words tripped over themselves in his nervousness.

"It's okay. Really. I don't mind reminding you!" I giggled up at him and he continued inside at a much slower pace.

Wait. I giggled at him? When the hell do I giggle? Crap- I must have taken too many cold pills. That's just great.

I told the clerk my shoe size and was glad that he sprayed them with disinfectant before handing them over. Embry led the way to the lane we'd been assigned and once our shoes were on, we picked out balls. I hefted mine up in both hands, thrilled that I'd found a teal one that sparkled. Embry laughed at me. "What's so funny?"

"Well, that's a twenty pound ball. And the finger holes are three times the size of yours. Can I help you find one that will work better?"

"Sure! I'd be glad for some direction. I do not need a hernia from playing with balls."

His face turned red and he busted out laughing. I replayed the sentence in my head. When it clicked what I'd actually said, I could feel my face flaming like a rocket as it heated with a blush the shade of a tomato. "Oh my God! That's not what I meant! I meant, I'd get a hernia because those balls are huge." He laughed harder. Yeah, apparently cold medicine, when doubled, makes Bella lose her verbal filter. Wonderful. "Ugh. You know what I mean," I finally said.

"I'm sorry Bella, but you have to admit, that really was funny- here, try this ball," Embry handed me a purple and pink swirled ball with a ten printed on it and to my relief, it was perfect. The finger slots were just right, too.

"Thanks!"

"No problem," he said, as he took my ball to go back to our lane.

While he input our names into the computer scoring system, I fidgeted. When the silence had lasted too long, I broke it with, "Did Rosalie tell you that I suck at bowling? And that I broke my friend's toe last time I came? And that I have the worst luck ever?"

He chuckled, "Yeah, she did. But, I'm pretty sure we'll be alright. And just in case, I put on steel-toed socks."

"They make steel-toed socks?" I asked in wonder. "I need to get some of those!"

He laughed again- at me. "Bella, I was only kidding. They don't make steel-toed socks, at least not that I'm aware of, but I promise I'll be fine. And if you break my toe, it'll be worth it to have gone out with such a pretty girl."

I eyed him skeptically. "If you say so…"

His smile was answer enough. He had put my name in first and so I picked up my ball and hurled it down the lane, thankful that it didn't end up behind me, but sighed in defeat when it went into the gutter after just three feet. Embry got up and waited for the ball at the return. "Can I help you?"

"If you think you can!"

He showed me how to hold the ball, then, with a hand around my waist, showed me how to take a starting walk, line up the ball and roll it without throwing it halfway down the lane. We reached the foul line and he released me to try again. It was a good thing, too- his breathing was picking up, like he was excited to be that close to me. That was awful fast, and I'm just not that kind of girl.

I did just what he told me to, and managed to knock down three pins. My happy dance drew attention, but I didn't particularly care at that moment. Yep, I was feeling good. No headache, my nose was clear and my throat was fine. Embry was laughing as I took my seat beside him.

"If that's the way you act after three, I'll have to help you get a strike. That ought to be one hell of a victory dance," he said between chuckles.

"You don't like the cabbage patch? And what have you got against the dougie?"

"Who doesn't? And nothing, I promise. I just never saw them combined like that before."

He turned back to take his second turn, picking up a spare. I bowled three sets of gutter balls again before he showed me how to do it again. He was kicking my ass at this game. I managed to get seven total, but not all at once in the fifth frame and by the last frame, Embry helped me get a spare and strike. It was the best game I'd ever bowled. I scored a whopping forty-six points! And out came the Dougie again. This time Embry followed my lead and we laughed at ourselves as everyone stared at us.

His stomach rumbled so we returned our shoes and went back out to the truck. Once he'd stashed me inside the cab, he climbed in and turned the radio up. We sang to Toby Keith something about talking about me on the way to the café for dinner. I couldn't help but giggle when the song changed to Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy, and he started car-dancing to it. That was a sight to see! He pretended to tip his hat at me and wink before pretending to lasso something and shimmying in his seat.

He told me to stay put and hurried around the front of the truck to help me out when we arrived- like I could have made it out without falling on my face! He was very courteous- that was a point in his favor. I noticed as we were crossing the gravel parking lot that I was tripping more than normal- but shrugged it off.

We sat down and ordered and before long, our food was delivered. I was really having a hard time concentrating on conversation. My head was fuzzy- almost spinning- and I swear I felt drunk. I laughed so hard when he dripped ketchup on the table. Embry was looking at me like I was a lunatic. "Bella?" he said, "Are you okay?"

I waved him off emphatically, declaring loudly, "I'm just peachy! Pert near to perfect! Isn't it oblivious? I mean obvious?" I fanned my face with my napkin, "It is hot in here!"

"Bella, I really think there's something wrong with you. Your face is bright red, and I think you lips are swelling up."

"Huh?"

"Your lips- I'm pretty sure they are swollen."

My hand immediately flew to my mouth and I gasped. I knew they weren't supposed to be that big. "Oh my God, what was in my shake?"

"You ordered a chocolate covered strawberry shake, I thought?"

I slapped my hand to my forehead, "I wonder if any of it touched a banana. I'm highly allergic and didn't even think about it. Can you ask?" Because my lips were swollen, my words weren't coming out normally- think Elmer Fudd and Daffy Duck on crack.

Embry hurriedly stood up, cracking his knee on the table in his haste and flagged the waitress down. She confirmed the berries were stored in the bin with the bananas. The gentle giant that was my date wrapped his arm around me and hurried me to the truck. "Do you need to go to the hospital?"

"No, if we can stop at a pharmacy, if you'll grab me some Benadryl, I'll be fine."

"Okay," he responded, already driving towards the closest one. When he parked, he dashed in and was back out in less than five minutes. I took the lid off and started drinking from the bottle. I knew it was going to be a little bit before it kicked in, so I asked if he would want to watch a movie instead of whatever else he had planned. He begged off- I'm sure me looking like Daffy Duck's twin- my lips felt like a duck bill- didn't exactly help matters. At all!

He drove me to my house, and helped me inside. After he had me settled on the couch, he pulled my phone out of my fingers and asked who I wanted him to call. Without thinking, my automatic reply was, "Eddie."

His brow creased and he studied me for a moment before scrolling through my contacts to find Eddie's number. Pushing send, he held the phone to his ear and waited for it to ring. The speaker was on, so I heard him answer, "Hello beautiful! I thought you had a date tonight?"

Embry cleared his throat and said, "Well, never having seen you, I can't say the sentiment would be reciprocated. She did have a date- with me- but had an allergic reaction and she's been acting weird all night- even before that- like maybe she was drunk? I don't know. I'm Embry, by the way. Normally, I'd just stay and make sure she's okay, but, I gotta get going. I have to be at work early tomorrow. She said to call you."

"She did, did she? Let her know I'll be over in about twenty minutes. Oh, and can you ask her if she needs anything?"

Embry leaned over to ask me, and then I hear him say, "She's mumbling something about emeralds and pianos?"

Eddie's melodic laugh caressed my heart over the distance. I heard him ask for my address and listened as Embry gave it to him. I tried to mumble apologies through my swollen lips at Embry, but he waved them off, saying it was fine. He'd check on me in the morning to see how I was feeling.

I heard a knock at the door and Embry's voice greeting my visitor. The reply was muffled but I recognized that voice. It was the sex-god's voice. I registered the door shutting and then a cool hand touched my forehead. "I'm here now, Bella. Just sleep."

~*C2C*~

A/N: Again, I can tease you, but only if ask for it! I don't want to spoil it for someone that doesn't want to be spoiled. And of course, I want to know what you think!