Chapter Thirty Five
Less than a week! Yay for me, right? Anyway, thank you all, as always, for the reviews and alerts and favourites for this story. The response has been overwhelming and I appreciate it IMMENSELY! PS, I have no idea what the weather is like in NC, so bear with me.
Disclaimer – I do not own Twilight but I do own Hetani and anyone/anything else unrecognisable.
Duke campus was absolutely stunning. And the weather in North Carolina was a lot hotter than Washington. After my first week, I was thankful for the slight adaptations Rachel had made to my wardrobe. After the first month, I was seriously thrilled that Embry had made me go because I absolutely loved it. The classes were enticing, the study groups were fun and, for the first time since Elisha, I had made friends on my own. I didn't have many but we were a close-knit group that I would trust in time.
"Hetani, you're daydreaming," Lara, a tall girl with about six inches of height on me and a cheerful grin, reprimanded jokingly. We were gathered in the library with three others to complete any assignments we were missing. Having finished the last bit of the only one I had missing about half an hour in, I figured daydreaming wasn't out of the question.
"Yes, but I've done my work," I replied, teasingly sticking my tongue out at the blonde haired girl. She scoffed but turned back to her work, chewing a pen as she stared at her laptop screen.
"I'm stuck at nine hundred words," Ian, a boy with light brown hair and piercing green eyes and a strong build (though not like the pack), complained, tapping his own laptop as though it would magically produce more words. Sighing, I shifted so I was next to him and did a quick skim read of his work.
"You did it again," I pointed out and I knew he would get it. All our lecturers gave him criticism for not developing his points enough and, two months in, he was still adjusting. I dreaded to think what would happen if he never learned to do it and got into the second year – where work was harder and there was more of it.
"Well, please help me, short bum," he pleaded, using his creative nickname for me. Looking at him sideways, I grinned at him and he looked back with an adorable pout.
"Just develop. Add more to it. I can't give more advice than that," I said and he sighed dramatically, placing his head on the table. Martha and Jo, the other two with us, smirked at him but returned to their own work. Martha was like me – timid, small but with quite a temper. She had cropped red hair around her pale, pixie like face and big blue eyes that reminded me of Elisha's. Jo was more outgoing, like Elisha, with long, brown hair that was dip-dyed with golden blonde. Her eyes were a paler green than Ian's and she had slightly darker skin than Martha. She was also British and had transferred over a year before, taking the necessary tests to gain access to Duke.
"Oh my," a new voice said and I turned to see Mark – muscular, with a wide, natural grin and dark brown hair with dark brown eyes to match. He was tanned but it was the result of growing up in California and he had been my first friend at Duke, showing me to my dorm room. He was a sophomore, whilst the rest of the group were freshman and he was eyeing Ian with an indulgent grin.
"I don't want to hear it," Ian mumbled from his arms and I rolled my eyes at Mark. He ruffled my hair playfully before sitting next to Ian and stroking his back.
"Come on, let's go for a walk. It'll clear your head." I knew, as well as everyone else there, that those two wouldn't just walk. They were almost as bad as Paul and Rachel with all the making out they did. At least they were leaving the sanctuary of the library to do it.
"Ugh, fine," Ian grumbled though I could tell he was perfectly fine with it. The pair disappeared and both Jo and Lara burst into amused giggles. Martha and I just grinned before returning to our respective tasks – she on a Shakespeare analysis and me to counting the days until the Christmas holidays.
XXX
"EMBRY!" I squealed, launching myself out of the car and into his waiting arms. With university life being really distracting, the ache of being away with him had been temporarily numbed but I never stopped missing him. Being back in his arms, though, was like coming home for real and the safety I felt only with him wrapped around me in a soft blanket.
"Hetani," he breathed like it was a prayer and clutched me closer. Once we'd finished our embrace, our lips collided passionately, three months of want and love poured into one act of adoration.
"Can I see my sister please?" Rachel's voice begged (well, ordered) and we split apart grudgingly, still clinging to each other. Rachel wasn't having it though and snatched me up in a hug of her own. My fingers linked with Embry, unable to part with him too soon. We broke apart and I was welcomed by the rest of the pack that were present – pretty much everyone. Throughout it all, Embry's hand never left mine, which I was thankful for. I felt like splitting from him would tear me in half at that moment.
"Well, I have to go get Claire," Emily said casually. Sam automatically went with her and Quil was speedy to follow. Everyone else mysteriously dispersed as well, including my father, who went to see Charlie.
"That wasn't weird," I said sarcastically and suspiciously as I turned to look at Embry. He just kissed me softly and I felt his arms wrap around my waist, pulling me as close as possible. I quickly realised that the others were giving us privacy to have our own extended reunion. It was both embarrassing and very sweet but I quickly forgot about it completely as I was lifted to wrap my legs around his waist.
"God, I've missed you," he gasped against my lips, leading the way into his house where I'd insisted I be dropped off. His mother was strangely missing as well.
"I missed you too . . . so much," I stuttered back, my head rolling to accommodate his lips that kissed their way across my chest. It was good to be home.
XXX
"I refuse to wear that," I snarled, glaring at the tiny white dress in Jo's hands. She simply looked at me the way Elisha would if she were silently ordering me to do something but I refused to crack. It was a strapless piece – simple but clingy and she was holding up deadly looking sparkly silver heels to go with it. Somehow, my group of friends had convinced me to go out clubbing to celebrate our exams being over and the year almost ending but I wouldn't cave to their sartorial demands.
"Right, OK, I understand you have standards. I have a back-up," Jo said and I rolled my eyes, well aware that she would have several other ideas. I was much more comfortable with her next idea: a pair of tight black skinny jeans and a shiny silver top that clung to the torso but hung over the chest area. Clearly she intended me to wear the death heels with whatever she came up with.
"That's reasonable," I agreed and she gleefully handed it over to me. Whilst she sifted through her wardrobe for her own outfit, I looked at the small vanity in her dorm room with slight trepidation and changed into the clothes, even the heels which I would have to get used to.
"Let's keep your waves and, as I know what you want, I won't make you up too much," she said, coming out from behind the door dressed in a short red skirt, a tight and glittering black top and knee high black boots. I nodded approvingly before plonking myself at the vanity and letting her work.
True to her word, she kept my natural and just gave my waves some extra volume. We went to a local club with the rest of the gang and partied hard, obviously not drinking. Mark and Ian spent most of the time making out in a corner but I danced until I could hardly walk with the pain in my feet.
"Hello cutie," a deep voice said into my ear whilst I was getting a drink. Uncomfortable and alone, I turned my head to see a tall guy with dark skin, darker than Embry's, and nice light brown eyes.
"Hey," I said so I wasn't rude but my drink was delivered and I took it, ready to turn away. His hand snaked into mine and I kept my drink well in my sight, knowing that anything could be slipped in. The stranger's eyes bored into mine and I tried not to look too desperate.
"Do you want to dance?" he asked and I knew from the smirk on his face that he fully intended on dancing like the others on the floor – practically having sex in public.
"No, thanks," I responded, moving to leave again. His grip held, increasing in strength as he continued to look at me. "Get off," I ordered, pulling uselessly.
"I really think you should dance with me," he said and I shook my head.
"No, I really think I should leave. Get off," I repeated but his grip only tightened. "Leave me alone!" I cried, causing a few heads to turn our way. I made the struggle obvious so they would see me trying to get out but he leaned towards me dangerously. My fuse snapped. The hand holding my drink twisted and threw it in his face. The shock caused him to let go as he stumbled backwards, spluttering.
"That's my girl!" Jo yelled as she appeared next to me then glared at the stranger. "Back off or I'll make you," she threatened. I gave him a nasty smirk before walking off to dance with Jo. University was making me stronger.
XXX
"I really like this Christmas present," Embry whispered as we lay curled up together on his bed. His fingers ran along the lacy black negligee I had purchased especially for him. He had definitely appreciated it.
"You're welcome," I murmured against his chest, pressing a kiss there affectionately. I never would get over his impressive physique and I knew he liked the attention I gave him.
"So, how's university?" he asked casually although I heard the pain. I loved that he asked despite how hard it was for us to be away from each other because, above everything else, he wanted me to be happy.
"It's great. My friends are a good bunch and the atmosphere is wonderful. Part of me adores it and I'm so thankful that I got to go – but I always miss La Push," I answered, probably not making things any easier but knowing it had to be said. In response, he pulled me tighter into him and let his fingers ghost over my back softly to soothe me.
"Three more years, my love. Until then, we'll just have to make do," he said comfortingly. I knew it was true. And, in honesty, it was slightly less than three years but it was still a long time.
"And I will – for you. For us."
"For us," he breathed before kissing me sweetly.
XXX
"What are you working on?" Martha asked as she sat next to me in the library. It was junior year and I had been furiously working since Easter of my sophomore year on my little secret. I didn't look at her, slightly embarrassed, and continued typing quickly as I desperately tried to put all the ideas in my head on the document.
"Just something," I answered vaguely, sticking my tongue out as I fixed some punctuation. Martha understood my secrecy though, so she sat down across the table from me and pulled out a recent assignment that I'd already done with the motivation of writing keeping me going.
"Hetani, have you done this?" she queried after another fifteen minutes and three pages of work from me. I pushed the laptop screen down a bit so I could see her confused expression and nodded. "Can you . . . help?" I grinned, saved my document then closed the laptop before moving around to sit next to her.
"Oh good – helpful Hetani has shown her beautiful face!" Ian cried dramatically as he sat down in my recently vacated seat. His loud voice received reproachful looks from other library patrons but he ignored them.
"Have you not done this either?" I asked in amusement, watching him pull out the same assignment and place it on the desk with a grimace. He had, thankfully, learned how to flesh out his arguments and explain himself but that didn't mean he was motivated in any way. Mark was completely swamped with senior work, so he didn't have much time for anything anymore. Being Ian's main sense of motivation, he wasn't doing so well. Plus, he rightfully missed his boyfriend. At least his went to school with him – mine was across the country.
"No, I haven't. Please help me," he pleaded and I smiled indulgently. He almost let his head fall to the table but I held it up with difficulty as I was across the table.
"Come on, if I offer help, you need to pay attention," I ordered and he gave me more eye contact, not looking so hopeless. I wondered what I looked like with Embry if Ian was looking so lost.
"Aye, aye Captain," he replied with a mock salute and I rolled my eyes before settling down to explain everything to him.
XXX
When I got back from Duke for the summer, it was to the largest shock I'd ever had to endure – and that included the wolf and imprint secrets. Embry had picked me up at the airport and, although he was happy to see me, I could tell something was bothering him for the whole journey. When I got back to my house and saw Nessie crying on the floor with Jake holding her close, I knew it had something to do with his mood.
"What happened?" I squeaked, dumping my bags and skidding next to Nessie on my knees. She wiggled out of Jake's grasp, looking scarily like a thirteen/fourteen year old and hugged me instead.
"They're gone," she whimpered and I looked to my brother for help as I held her comfortingly. He stared back with an expression of mixed fury and hopelessness, eyes constantly turning to Nessie with a need to comfort.
"Who, sweetie?" I asked softly, stroking her lovely red curls as she continued to cry against my shoulder. Embry sat on the sofa directly across from me and tried not to look too angry. At my question, Nessie wailed loudly and the tears increased. Jake was the one to answer.
"The Cullens have left Forks. They told Nessie she had to go with them but she said no – only Bella was slightly on her side. Everyone else didn't care that Nessie and I would be torn apart – and we wouldn't get to see each other like you and Embry. So they left her here eventually." I froze at the statement, angry at the Cullens and hurt by Jake's words. Jake silently took Nessie back and I let him, sitting on the floor with my legs tucked under me. I felt numb.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Embry asked quietly as he crouched next to me and held me much like Jake had held Nessie. I snuggled into his warmth and wrapped my arms around his waist like a vice.
"Do you . . . d-do you think I've torn us apart?" I asked brokenly against his chest. He tensed up and I figured he did think that. All of a sudden, I was on the couch, in Embry's lap and he was gazing at me like I was all that mattered.
"No, I don't. I love you, Hetani and I don't want you to ever think that again. We're together and that's the way it will always be." He was so passionate, so resolute that I almost cried. I didn't though and just cupped his face in my hands, smiling widely.
"I love you too."
"Good – so, are you hungry?" Laughing jubilantly, I let him drag me from the house to a little diner in Forks where we ate together, never looking away. And I knew everything would be just fine.
Not long to go now. I don't really have much to say except: DO YOU WANT A SEQUEL? I've started one, as mentioned, but haven't got much further. Would you read one about the kids? It would probably be a lot shorter than this one but there would be romance etc with my healthy (OK, unhealthy) dose of drama. Tell me what you think! Love Bianca :) x