Chapter Seven

I'm sorry! It's a day late because I've just lost all track of time and dates. Completely.

Disclaimer – I do not own Twilight but I do own Hetani and Elisha.

Hetani POV

"I thought you'd vanished off the face of the Earth!" Elisha cried dramatically as I walked up to join her. Due to the semi-hot weather, I had dressed in cropped white trousers with pink flip flops and a pink off the shoulder sweater and put my hair in pigtails over both my shoulders. I smiled at my best friend, feeling guilty that I had abandoned her for a few days.

"Family drama." She nodded instantly and didn't ask questions, as I knew she wouldn't. And I couldn't exactly tell her the truth anyway.

"So, how have you been?" she asked as she led the way to English. I shrugged, adjusting my black shoulder bag as we reached our classroom.

"Stressed," I replied, taking her bag as she shrugged out of her hoodie. Elisha was taking a lazy day, I noticed, as she was wearing her favourite blue sweatpants and a black tank top. Her hair was thrown up in a wayward ponytail. "Bella's been around a lot. I don't like her." The simple statement not only showed my dislike for the girl but caused my best friend's face to fall. I sighed unhappily.

"Is Jake fawning over her then?" she asked miserably and I nodded in answer. "I hate her."

"So do I." We both proceeded to sit next to each other towards the back of the room.

"I noticed Embry dropping you off this morning," Elisha whispered in a conspiring voice which caused me to grin.

"He goes here too – it's not dropping me off if he stays, really," I pointed out and she rolled her bright blue eyes exaggeratedly.

"Fine, I noticed that he gave you a lift. I also saw you blushing and him looking at you like you are the best thing to ever happen to him. Are you sure family drama is ALL that happened?" she inquired cheekily and I blushed, knowing I had been caught. But it wasn't what she thought, as much as it chagrined me to admit that.

"Unfortunately." Her excited smile fell once more as she realised she couldn't live vicariously through my escapades.

"But you want it to happen," she teased in a quiet voice. I simply gave her a look that said 'obviously' and looked up as our sadly still alive English teacher walked in. He looked us all over before grunting and placing his ancient butt on the spindly, squeaky chair behind his creaky desk. It was going to be a long hour.

XXX

"Please tell me that you took notes," Elisha begged despite the fact that she'd seen me sitting still during the entirety of the lesson. I loved English but I hated the teacher so I studied harder at home because of it.

"No." She huffed.

"Alright, can I come over to yours after school where I know you will be studying?" she asked hopefully. I couldn't tell whether it was hope to understand the English language or hope to see me older brother that motivated her.

"Ok. Jake won't be there." She shrugged, obviously not caring much. Or, she was pretending not to care.

"Thank you!" she called before skipping off to algebra. I smirked and went towards Spanish. Feeling eyes on me, I glanced up and beamed widely at Embry who was across the corridor. Sadly, school regulations insisted that he needed to wear a t-shirt but he pushed the rule, meaning me (and the rest of the school) didn't need much imagination to know what was beneath the white fabric. I really wasn't complaining but all the ogling he was getting was kind of annoying. But we weren't together, so I wasn't allowed to care. I gave him another smile before heading for Spanish. Embry was perfect – perfectly untouchable. Besides, romance wasn't in the cards as I had wanted! But I did want it. The talk with Elisha had thrown it right out there in the open. I wanted to be able to hug Embry Call, hold hands with him and kiss him. I wanted a caring relationship with someone I knew I could count on and Embry could give that to me. However, I was so shy that the thought of asking him out caused me to blush and imagine my horrendous stuttering. I decided that it would be best to leave it alone and never mention it to anyone ever again.

XXX

Embry POV

It was the first day of Spring Break but it sure didn't feel like it. Sam had everyone running double patrols because we knew that the red head (Victoria) was after Bella. Jake was far from happy about that fact and Hetani was furious that Bella really was the reason for us wearing ourselves thin. It was very easy to take my imprint seriously when she was angry because she was rarely loud but she was so cute when she was riled up that I had just sat there and watched with a goofy smile. I had had to leave her (AGAIN) to patrol and she had looked disappointed. I didn't want her to be disappointed but my ego was pleased that she had wanted me to stay and had won over the side that didn't want to leave.

Oh shut up, Paul pleaded and I rolled my eyes. Sam had lost his mind, obviously, as he had put Paul and I together on patrols. The non-imprinted people should have been together as they just complained when they were with the imprinted wolves.

I can't wait until you imprint, it'll be funny, I joked back, sniffing the ground and finding an ancient trail left by the leech we were after. I focused on the run to spare Paul my thoughts on Hetani, despite how well the hot headed wolf got on with her.

I get on with her – I'm not in love with her like you, Paul bit out and I shrugged, causing me to stumble as my front paws left the ground. I didn't reply because I couldn't think of anything and continued running, loving the feeling of the wind in my fur. Hetani hadn't seen me in wolf form and I was mildly happy with it but I felt like I hadn't had her acceptance until she'd seen it for herself. She hadn't seen any of us as wolves but Jake was all too thrilled to keep it that way and Sam's perspective was obvious on that front. I could feel Paul's irritation as our patrol and I realised I had spent the previous two hours breaking my resolve on not thinking about Hetani.

Sorry, I apologised before phasing back to avoid Paul's angered grumbling. I pulled on my shorts and padded barefoot through the remnants of the forest towards Hetani's house. It was her birthday the next day and I was putting my pride aside in order to ask Jake what to get her. As it turned out, imprinting did not provide us with a probable gift list when required.

"Hey Jake," I greeted, walking through the door without knocking as usual. Instinct kicked in and my head slowly rotated as I glanced about for Hetani. The only scent of her in the house was old.

"She's out but I guess you knew that. What do you want?" Jake asked as he came through from the kitchen with an armful of food. He looked worn out and his hair was up at odd angles. I realised that he'd just gotten up and the vast amount of food was his breakfast.

"It's Hetani's birthday tomorrow," I pointed out as casually as possible, sitting myself on the other end of the couch from Jake. He momentarily stopped chewing on a jumbo bag of crisps to raise an eyebrow at me. After swallowing, he spoke.

"You're not allowed to ask her out," he warned before shoving more crisps into his mouth. I glared and grabbed my own bag, munching on them thoughtfully.

"I wasn't going to. But, for curiosity's sake, why am I not allowed to?" I asked cautiously and Jake glared.

"You keep telling us all that she's too young for romantic interest. You don't really think that, do you?" Jake asked slowly and I sighed, knowing he would hear the truth in my head eventually.

"My feelings for Hetani have changed. She's my whole world, Jake. At some point along this complicated line, my feelings grew and I can't imagine not knowing her. I guess the imprint really is romantic," I admitted, blushing as I stared avidly at my knees.

"She's my little sister, Embry." I knew what was coming. "But she's a good judge and I know you which means I know you would never hurt her – even before the imprint. If that's what Hetani wants, then she can be with you. But do not force-." I cut him off.

"I would never do anything that she doesn't want," I promised, grinning like a goon. Jake shook his head in amusement.

"What did you really come here for, anyway?" he asked.

"I don't know what to get Hetani for her birthday," I told him and he shrugged.

"If you ask her out, she'll be the happiest person on Earth." He gave me a look when I opened my mouth to ask so I closed it. "But just think like you and it'll come to you." With that strange advice, Jake left to take a shower and I sat on the couch in contemplation. The idea came to me in seconds and I sprung off the couch earnestly, knowing just what to get for her.

XXX

Hetani POV

I woke up on my birthday with a huge smile on my face. I was fifteen – FINALLY! Before I could get out of bed, Jake came in carrying a box wrapped in sparkly gold paper. I had long ago accepted his quirky habits and let it go as he rested the heavy looking box on my bed. Then he gave me a massive hug and kissed the top of my head.

"Happy birthday, baby sister," he whispered, sitting on the edge of my cream and pink duvet cover. I eagerly grabbed the box and lifted the lid. I squealed excitedly, lifting the book out of the box. Fairytales had always been my favourite kinds of stories when I was younger (besides the legends) and the book Jake and dad had given me was modern Fairytales – no damsels in distress in those stories.

"Thank you so much!" I gasped, pulling him in for a tight hug. He grinned wolfishly at me before departing from the room. It was going to be an excellent day.

Next chapter is the bonfire and just wait to see what happens! Love Bianca (with sincere apologies) :) x