So, I just realized that in the last chapter I put Embry instead of Brady. Brady was supposed to be the one walking with Seth when he meets Kat.
Oh crap. I thought to myself, as I watched my sister fume and snap out replies to Embry several times. What did I do now?
I separated myself from Seth when he got swallowed up by all the guys. I could hear some of Val's rant as I quietly walked up to them.
"It's not OK Embry!" She cried, stamping her foot. "She's too young. He's too old. And they're at that age. I don't like it. I don't want her going through what I have to go through every day."
"Is it really that hard for you Val?" Embry asked, sounding hurt. "Are you that miserable?"
"Yes Embry, it's hard, but I'm not miserable. I'm so happy here. But she won't be. She can't handle it. She can barely handle being here, just here in La Push. She hates it here. And she's putting on an act. For me." Her voice hitched and she paused, closing her eyes. When she opened them, fire blazed. "And I'll be damned if she ever feels like she has to stay any longer than necessary. He will not weigh her down. She's going back home. Hell, she can go back tomorrow if it'll help her case."
Whoa. I've never seen her that worked up about something before.
"Babe, he's already seen her, imprinted. It's too late. And that's not fair." Embry said gravely.
"I don't care if she bloody fell-" she snapped her mouth shut, spotting me for the first time since she stopped glaring at Seth.
She forced a smile. "Hey Kit-Kat. We're going home now, ok?"
I opened my mouth to protest, but didn't get a chance. Val stormed past me, dragging Embry behind her. I think she was actually trying to find Seth. I plopped down into an empty seat on the couch and as I waited, reviewed her rant in my head.
She didn't want me seeing Seth apparently. I mean, that was who she was talking about obviously. But I'd seriously just met the guy. We talked for ten minutes tops. And yea, he was pretty cool, and really, really attractive, and had big muscles and I felt fire when we touched, but that didn't matter. It could seriously be nothing and she's freaking out. Overprotective much?
And what was that thing that Embry said, about it being too late? What was too late? Just, what?
And she knew I was faking. She could see right through my big fake smile and false cheeriness. She'd always been able to. Why would now be any different? And the saddest part? I'd only been back for a handful of hours. I glanced at my watch and put my head into my hands, wanting to scream in frustration. Nine hours, I'd been here nine freaking hours and Val could already see I was miserable. And she was miserable because of it. I straightened up, glancing around for my sister. I would stop faking it from now on, because this wasn't about me, it was about Val. And if faking it was upsetting her more than just being me, there was no call for it.
Embry and Val whispered the whole ride home, Val waving her hands around and practically crying. I could barely make out what they were saying; stuff about me and Seth and again with the printers!
Embry pulled up to the house and I walked inside, giving Val and Embry some alone time to finally sort things out without me around.
Dad's old pickup was in the driveway, and he was parked in his old recliner, the same one he's had my whole life. He was asleep.
I stood in the entryway of the living room, watching him. I had the sudden urge to go crawl in his lap like I did when I was five.
Val came crashing through the front door, nearly knocking me over. "Sorry!" She cried, grabbing onto my arm for support. Dad bolted upright in his chair and smiled at us. "Good evening girls," he said quietly.
"Hey Dad," I said awkwardly.
"Did you girls have fun?" he asked, hugging us both.
Jan crossed her arms over her chest and huffed. "No, we did not have fun!"
"Why not?" He asked, looking at me curiously. I shrugged.
"We… just… We didn't! That's all!" She sputtered, spinning around and stomping up the stairs and slamming her door.
Dad turned to me, an eyebrow quirked. "Don't look at me, I don't know," I said, turning around and following Jan up the stairs.
Dad came in a few minutes later, knocking lightly before entering. I set aside the book I was reading, seeing the serious look on his face.
"Yea Dad?" I asked, sitting up in my bed. He came and sat next to me.
"I just wanted to say welcome back. I missed you and I'm glad you're ho-here." He smiled at me and patted my leg.
I smiled back. "Thanks Dad. Goodnight."
He leaned over and kissed my forehead. "Goodnight," He said. He looked like he wanted to say more, but no words came out. Instead he stood up and left, shutting out my light and closing the door softly.
I awoke to the sound of pots and pans crashing downstairs. I sat up and rubbed my eyes, slightly disoriented. This wasn't my-Oh, yea.
Yelling was following the crashes.
"No!" Crash! Bang! "… Printing of Katlyn…" Bang! "This'll just make things worse!" Crash! Slam! "… So leave!"
I ran downstairs to see what the commotion was all about, colliding with someone hard as rock at the bottom of the staircase. I fell backwards, tripping over the steps.
"Ow!" I yelped as my head smacked against the edge of the hardwood steps.
"Oh crap! Are you ok?" The person I'd rammed into, a guy apparently, asked.
I blinked rapidly several times, my vision slightly blurred around the edges. Seth was leaning over me, hands frozen midair, as if not knowing what to do. Our eyes locked and the room started spinning. Although that was probably just the concussion I just got.
"I thought I told you to leave," Val said, entering the living room. "God, what happened?" She stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at the offender.
"I… she…" Seth stuttered, motioning to me and then the stairs.
I sat up slowly, holding the back of my head. I winced as the world started tilting.
"You ok?" Val asked, kneeling down beside me. She was fuzzy around the edges and I blinked rapidly, trying to focus.
"Uhm, yea, I'm OK." I said, shaking my head slowly, trying really hard to clear my vision.
Val sighed dramatically. "No, you're not. Oh jeez, you're bleeding Kat."
She helped me stand up and I swayed slightly in her grasp. "What did you do to her?"
"I said I'm fine Val," I snapped, pressing a hand to my head. I winced at the bump forming and when I pulled it away, blood was smeared across it. Crap.
"Yea, you're definitely going to the hospital," Val said, using her no nonsense voice, catching me while as I swayed. She started walking me outside, instructing Seth to grab a dishtowel and ice. I didn't fight anymore because I was getting a killer headache.
Seth gave me the ice-pack and I pressed it against the pulsing spot on the back of my head.
She suddenly whirled around, causing me to sway unsteadily again.
"Just where do you think you are going?" She snapped at Seth, who had followed us out the door.
"The hospital," he said simply, shrugging his shoulders.
"Oh no you are not! You can march right straight back to the pack. In no way are you coming around her ever again, especially if this is what happens when you come around." I winced as she screamed in my ear, really letting Seth have it. Val doesn't typically scream, and when she does, it come out shrill and ripping, from vocal chords unaccustomed to be raised over normal tones.
"Val" I groaned. "Shut up. You're making it worse."
My sister scowled at Seth before whirling back around and re-supporting my weight. She helped me up into her Escape and glared as Seth climbed into the backseat. But she didn't protest.
Eight stitches, a bald spot and three hours later, I walked out of the emergency room feeling slightly fuzzy from the painkiller the young Dr. Cullen had given me. I didn't have a concussion. Seth looked relieved, Val just looked incredibly pissed. We got in the car silently. The tension in the car was so thick it would take a cleaver to chop through it.
I wobbled a little as I slid out of the front seat and landed uncertainly on my feet. Seth's hand reached out to steady me and even through the fog of painkillers, I could feel the warmth spreading through my arm, slow and steady.
"Thanks," I mumbled. He smiled and I felt my heart skip a beat.
"Go home Seth," Val ordered as soon as she came around from the driver's side. "That's enough for today. Don't come back again."
I watched as he walked down our driveway, casting a look over his shoulder at me. I was reminded of a wounded dog as he slowly looked away.
I glared at Val and rolled my eyes. She didn't have to be so mean. I stormed into the house, well as easy as storming in can be when your head is all fuzzy from medicine and you're still a little of balance at the minor concussion you received.
Val didn't chase after me. I stomped up to my room and lay down in my bed.
When I woke up a few hours later, my head was killing me again. I blinked rapidly and sat up, letting my covers fall into my lap. I slowly made my way downstairs, where a note was taped to the fridge.
Lil Sis,
Lunch is in the microwave, meds are on the counter. Make sure you eat when you take your pills. I had to go to work early. Feel better.
-Val
I found the orange bottle of ibuprofen in the middle of the counter next to the stove. I popped one of the large, 800 mg pills and pulled a cool bowl of soup out of the microwave. I reheated it, taking it to the couch and turning on the TV.
I was dozing on the couch, Suite Life playing in the background when there was a knock on the door. I jumped awake and glanced around groggily. There was another knock, louder this time. I pulled myself up from the couch and shuffled to the door. The third knock was even louder, more impatient. "I'm coming!" I snapped and the knocking stopped. I swung the door open, glaring angrily outside at the offender. My expression softened when I saw Seth standing in the doorway. I always felt bad for the people my sister was mean to.
"Hey Seth," I said, feeling suddenly uncomfortable. I glanced down at my pajamas, realizing that I hadn't changed earlier. I blushed, crossing my arms over my unsupported chest.
"Hi, is your sister home?" He asked worriedly. I shook my head and he visibly relaxed. "Thank God," he muttered, then, upon seeing my raised eyebrows, began to apologize profusely.
"Don't apologize." I say, shaking my head. "Val's a lot to handle. I'm really sorry about the way she's been treating you. It's not like her. Do you want to come in?" I stepped aside, motioning for him to enter.
He nodded, walking inside. I shifted uncomfortably, shutting the door behind him.
I cleared my throat. "I'm going to go get dressed," I said awkwardly, turning away and jogging to my room. "I'll be right down!" I called.
I quickly changed from my soffee shorts and tank top to a t-shirt and jeans. I yanked a hair brush through the messy mop on top of my head and, careful to avoid the stitches. I brushed my teeth and washed my face before going back downstairs.
"Sorry," I said, when I found Seth in the living room standing awkwardly. "So, what's up? What did you need?"
He shrugged. "I just wanted to check on you. And tell you I'm really sorry about this morning. Is your head ok?"
I nodded, feeling the gauze on the back of my head and wincing. "I'm better. And don't worry about it. Val tends to get a little overprotective sometimes. Don't let her get to you. I'm really, really sorry she's being so hateful towards you."
He shrugged again, nonchalantly. "Don't worry about it. I can take it." He smiled at me reassuringly and I felt myself start to melt. He was trying to make me feel better.
I stood there rubbing my arm for a minute, just staring at him and trying to think of something to say or do.
He really was an attractive man. He was tall, super tall, at least 6' 4". He had broad, strong shoulders and you could see the definition of the muscles in his chest through his black t-shirt. The color brought out the deep tone in his russet skin. His worn out jean shorts fit his hips snugly, and they reached a few inches past his knees. Just standing there he looked strong and protective, invincible. And yet he let a little 5 foot flat squirt order him around like a slave. I shook my head, clearing away the thoughts. Maybe he was just being a gentleman.
"Would you like something to drink? Eat?" I asked, mentally slapping myself for staring so long.
"Uhm, sure, what do you have?" He answered, following me as I walked to the kitchen.
"I honestly have no idea, but I'm sure I can scrounge something up." I said, opening the fridge. I began listing off the foods which included all of the following:
A jar of open jelly
Half empty jug of milk
Three expired yogurts
A bottle of mustard
One beer left of a six pack
Leftover Spaghetti from last night
"Do you like spaghetti?" I asked, reaching for the Tupperware container. "It's either that, or expired Yoplait."
He nodded, and being very experienced with microwaves, my mom and I spent two years on diets like Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig, I began to reheat the leftovers.
We stood quietly, the silence stretching between us. I caught the corner of my lip and began to skim my teeth over it in my habitual chew.
This is soo awkward! I yelled in my head, having no idea what to do. I tapped my fingers on the counter impatiently, listening to the hum of the microwave, waiting for the stupid beep. Seth, however, obviously didn't feel the same way I did. He seemed to be content to just watch as I shifted from foot to foot and shot hurry up glances at the microwave. When the contraption finally goes off, alerting the world that finally, finally the spaghetti is off. I sigh in relief. Those were the two most awkward minutes of my life.
I busy myself scooping the leftovers onto a plate and grabbing the appropriate silverware. I set the table, give him a glass of water and wait for Seth to sit down. When he begins to scarf down the food in front of him, I turn to the dishes in the sink, rinsing out the bowl and setting it in the dishwasher. With nothing else to do, I go and sit across from Seth.
"So…" I say, trailing off before catching the corner of my lip between my teeth nervously.
"So…?" Seth says, trailing it off into a question. He looks at me expectantly. I can't take the pressure of the silence. It's deafening. So, I let the first thing in my brain pop out.
"Why is Val so mad at you?"