Sorry for the lack of response to the reviews I've gotten for this story, for some reason all fanfic emails have been going to my junk mail. I will respond to your reviews as soon as I get home from work tomorrow morning. Enjoy this newest chapter and hopefully it answers some of your questions in the meantime.

Chapter 13

Angela sucked in a deep breath in attempt to calm herself before she lifted her hand to knock on the door of the little red house she knew belonged to Jacob Black. The house was quite and she wondered if anyone was home, this was her last hope. She'd already been to Emily's and it came as a shock to her when the place looked deserted. As her fist connected with the worn wood on the front door she held her breath. A few minutes went by with out and answer before Angela knocked again and waited. After what felt like an hour she heard a door smack what she assumed was a wall and a grunt. The footsteps on the other side of the door grew louder until the door swung open and a wall of muscle filled her vision. Embarrassed by the sight of Jacob Black standing in front of her practically naked Angela ducked her head while asking if Jake knew where Bella was.

"I'm right here." Bella's soft voice came as an answer.

Angela's head snapped up so fast she nearly gave herself whiplash, and while Bella was red as a tomato she was fully dressed coat and all. Before Angela said anything else she turned looking out at the driveway wondering if she'd missed Bella's beast of a red truck. When the search for the truck came up empty she turned back around her face nearly as red as Bella's and noticed that Jake was now missing.

"I was- I've been trying to get a hold of you all weekend."

Bella's lip instantly went into her mouth, a sure sign that her friend was about to shut her out even before the conversation got underway.

"I tried to call Emily too and I went over there before I came here I'm sorry that I um, that I interrupted but I was worried."

"Oh," Bella said as her face grew an even deeper shade of red, "you didn't interrupt anything, and we were just," the lip went to her mouth again, "just talking."

"Bella is everything ok?"

Angela watched as Bella's eyebrows rose before she turned to search for Jake.

"Everything's fine."

"Alright well." Knowing that everything wasn't fine Angela gave her friend a pleading look in hopes to draw something out of her friend. When Bella didn't budge Angela stepped forward to embrace her, "if you need to talk to me about anything I want you to know that I'm here Bella, please don't shut me out again."

Still holding her friend Angela felt her shudder and then a warm hand slipped onto her shoulder, looking up Jake wore a sad expression on his face. For a split second Angela worried that they were fighting or worse breaking up.

"Embry got in a motorcycle accident yesterday." He spit out sounding angry as the hand on her shoulder began to shake slightly.

"Oh my gosh is he alright?" Angela gasped pulling herself away from Bella.

"He will be."

"Is that where everyone is, is he in the hospital?"

Jake didn't answer instead he looked down at Bella who was wearing a frown, "no he's at the Clearwater's Sue is the nurse at the clinic on the rez, instead of keeping him there she's taking care of him at her place."

"Can I - I mean I know I don't know him that well but is he allowed to have visitors?" Worried as the words came out of her mouth Angela wondered if Jake was going to tell her she was crazy, for some reason she wanted to know that he was ok.

A smile slowly pulled at the corners of Jake's mouth as he pulled Bella to his side and nodded yes, "I have to get ready for patr- I mean for my shift on the watch so I can show you how to get there." With a quick squeeze to Bella's shoulders Jake turned and made his way down the hall.

Following Bella into a tiny kitchen Angela had so many questions going through her mind, when Bella spoke she jerked against the counter caught off guard.

"Charlie and Billy went fishing this morning, since Billy's truck isn't running they took mine."

"You girls ready?" Jake asked as he made his way in the kitchen to Bella's side.

~U~

When they pulled up the gravel drive to the Clearwater house Angela had to bite her bottom lip so her mouth wouldn't fall open. This house was by far the nicest that she had seen on the reservation, while there were many two story homes dotted along the gravel and dirt roads none of them were quite as beautiful as this one. The yard while overgrown with grass had wildflowers growing throughout, the house stood tall yet weathered just enough to give a homey feel. Still taking in the house as her car came to a stop Angela didn't realize that the front porch was full of over grown men and their women. It wasn't until Jake's muffled curse and her car rocking from his exit did she realize that they were stopped.

As Jake lumbered forward it was then Angela scanned the crowd on the front porch there was an older man sitting in a chair with a cane that she didn't recognize but everyone else she knew, all of Embry's friends were either sitting or standing on the porch except, her eyes scanned for the man she was looking for and came up empty. Paul wasn't there. Fighting the frown Angela followed Bella who was only a few steps ahead of her and shot a quick wave to Quil who was smiling at her like the loon she'd come to realize that he was.

When she stepped onto the porch Quil slowly slid his hand under her elbow, something she thought was odd until he stirred her toward the man with the cane, "granddad this is Angela Webber, Paul's friend."

Daring a look at Quil she noticed that his eyes were wide as he nodded his head in her direction, the man in front of her chuckled before rolling his eyes, "nice to meet you young one, have a sit." Nodding his head toward the porch swing Angela quickly slid herself into the empty space beside him.

"You've come to check on Embry?"

Angela's body seemed to suddenly be full of nervous energy unable to speak she nodded her head while her fingers pressed together in her lap.

"No need to be nervous young one, you're fine here, surrounded by family."

Angela nodded unsure what he meant by that, family?

The screen door smacking against the jam grabbed Angela's attention, when she looked up she sucked in a surprised breath. The girl that had fought with Sam in his front yard, Leah was standing on the porch looking a little worse for wear but still capable of shooting a death glare at Sam before her eyes zeroed in on Angela.

"You want to see him too?" Leah grumbled while jerking her head in the direction of the house.

Angela's eyes widened and the words stuck in her throat, "I-"

"Come on he probably won't be awake much longer and these assholes have been up his ass since he got here."

Angela shot to her feet, then quickly made her way toward Leah who was now impatiently holding the door open while taping her foot.

Once Leah shooed her into the house she made her way around her and made a follow me gesture with her hand. As they made their way up the curved staircase Leah stopped suddenly almost making Angela smack into her, "what did they tell you?"

"That he was in a motorcycle accident."

"Assholes," Leah grumbled while shaking her head in disgust. "He doesn't look nearly as bad as he did yesterday but he still looks like hell. He's on some heavy shit so don't really pay attention to the things he says if he starts talking crazy."

"Ok."

At the top of the stairs they passed a room overflowing with sports equipment and Star Wars memorabilia, before they came to a stop in front a room with the door barely cracked open, "seriously don't listen to a thing he says if he starts talking crazy." With that Leah pushed open the door and made her way into the room.

From the looks of the soft purple walls decorated with half naked rock gods Angela figured this was her room. The full size bed that took up most of the room was completely over taken by Embry who was sprawled out on his back arms and legs flung spread eagle. His mouth was hanging open as he snored slightly both of his arms were in casts and his bare chest was wrapped with gauze, while one of his legs tangled in the sheets the other was in a splint his foot twitching slightly.

"He's a sight isn't he?" Leah's voice was so close to her ear Angela jumped and nearly bumped heads with her.

"I should go, I don't want to wake him, I just wanted to make sure-"

"He's going to be fine," Leah said in a soft voice as she came around Angela and fought to untangle the cover that was wrapped around his leg.

"How do you know him?" Leah asked stopping Angela from retreating from the room.

Angela swallowed the lump that was in her throat when she saw the look Leah was giving a still sleeping Embry, were they together?

"We went to the movies once," she stuttered out watching Leah's face closely when the girls fists clenched at her sides and her nostrils flared Angela fumbled for words, "he- I mean we went as a group thing me, Bella him and Jake as friends. We went as friends."

Ever so slowly Leah's fists unclenched and a shaky hand smoothed a hair out of Embry's face, "that's right because you're Paul's."

Angela's eyes widened and her heart rate quickened, Paul's, "oh we're just friends."

"Sure you are."

Angela wanted to snap back, what was that supposed to mean, but Leah looked up at her with sad eyes, "I wish we could be just friends, but I- we," the girl looked up and grit her teeth before her eyes snapped to Angela's, "you done here? He's fine should be up and around in a couple of days?" The sudden change in her demeanor put Angela on edge, nodding her head she backed slowly toward the door and bumped into a wall of muscle.

As soon as his hands hit her hips Angela let her body sink into his, "I need to talk to you." The deep rumble of his voice nearly pulled her under, but Angela quickly remembered that she needed to talk to him too. Jerking out of his hold Angela spun on her heel and shot him a look, "I want to talk to you too." Behind her Leah snorted and then door closed with a soft click.

With the door at her back and Paul at her front Angela was completely surrounded by him, the smell that was only his wrapped around her urging her to give into the depths of his eyes, but she couldn't do it not this time. Ducking under his arm Angela took the steps as quickly as she could and shot out of the front door nearly plowing over Bella in an attempt to put distance between her body and his own. She needed to have a clear level head, and when he was close to her that never seemed to happen.

Just as she reached for the door handle his hand engulfed her wrist and pulled her away from the car and toward the woods. She jerked in his hand as a zip of electricity surged in her body but followed him nonetheless.

When they were deep in the woods surrounded by nothing but tree's and moss he dropped her hand and spun on her, "I can't make this work between us like I thought I could."

The words were like a slap and Angela responded as so, lurching back her hand went to her chest to halt the gasp that was so close to the surface.

"Fuck that's not what I meant," Paul said while making a move toward her but quickly stopping when she jerked back.

His hands shot into his hair and a snarl ripped from his lips, "I don't want what they have up there," he shouted while pointing in the direction of the house.

"Leah is a crazy bitch half the time and Embry's been in love with her since who the hell knows when, they're trapped now. I wish you knew why."

"Tell me."

"No"

"Why not"

"Because you don't need in any further into this shit than you already are."

"Into what?"

"This- us my-" Paul gripped as his hair again while pacing in a circle.

"I fucked a girl last week and Mindy last night."

Bile rose in Angela's throat at his words, a pain slid into her chest as she backed further away from him.

"That is what I need from you right there."

"What" Angela whispered clearly confused.

"Distance, I need you to not want to be close to me."

"Why"

"I can't fucking think when you're near me, and when you give in, you can't keep doing that."

"Then I won't come around anymore Paul, you don't need to tell me about your nights with Mindy, I just won't" turning Angela took three steps away from him before her chest slammed into his back, his face was buried in her hair.

"Don't walk away from me, don't you walk away from me." This time the nip at her neck wasn't meant to excite, it was almost as a warning.

"I'm not telling you to go away; I'm telling you to be stronger. I can't do this on my own."

"Do what on your own."

"Be friends."

"I don't understand."

His breath fanned across her neck in frustration, "I can feel when you want me, I know when you're going to give in."

"Like"

"Right now, hearing I fucked Mindy last night there's no way in hell I could get your legs wrapped around me and your lips on my skin."

"Paul"

"You need to think about it, every time before you see me, think about me fucking Mindy because that's the only way this is going to work for you, and fucking her is the only way its going to work for me."

"You're sick," Angela growled as she jerked her body away from his.

"I'm right."

"I can't do this"

"You told me you wouldn't leave me again."

"Then stop! Don't tell me about you and her; don't ask me to think about you and her!"

"You stop giving in!"

It was Angela's turn to grip her hair in frustration, "I don't know how to do that, I don't know how it happens it just seems natural when I'm around you."

Paul opened his mouth as if he were going to say something then thought better of it.

"We need to figure something out because, this isn't going to work we either need to be together-" Angela held her hand up when he opened his mouth, "which is something I know you aren't into and honestly I don't think I'm ready for something like that or we need to be friends without all the contact."

"No contact?"

"Physical contact, it might be useful for what you want with other girls but it's hurting what you want to want with me."

Angela watched as Paul's jaw ticked twice before he closed his eyes and then slowly reopened them, "I'll try harder."

"Me too."

Angela smiled when Paul stuck his hand out an eyebrow quirked at her a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, "deal?"

"Deal" Angela shook on it while hiding the shudder that worked her way up her arm as their hands made contact.

*U*

With their new deal in place Angela and Paul made their way back to the house, coming out of the woods was awkward when every one was staring at them with expectant looks, from behind her Paul grumbled and their attention went elsewhere. Angela spent the rest of the day on the porch, talking to the girls and avoiding Leah every now and then when she came out of the house to glare at Sam and Emily separately. As the day went on she noticed how much space was between Sam and Emily and how little space was often between Bella and Jake.

*U*

"So" Bella drew out the word as she sat in Angela's desk chair that next afternoon, "what's going on with you and Paul."

Angela who was standing in her closet searching for the dress Bella was going to borrow for prom; backed out and cocked an eyebrow at her friend, "I could ask you the same thing about you and Jake."

Bella's face instantly flushed red and she swiveled in the seat, "I don't-"

"Bella," Angela said on a sigh, "when you're ready to talk to me about him I'll be here I'm not going to push you."

"Thank you, so you and Paul. Jessica cornered me today wanting to know if Jake had any non crazy hot friends, that could kiss the way Paul was kissing you the other day."

Jerking the now found dress off the hook Angela made her way out of the closet and plopped onto the bed ignoring the horrified look on Bella's face when she looked at the dress, "he is so frustrating Bella."

"I can see that."

"No I mean, he wants to have this friendship with me and I want that too but, he does these things, things I assume he does with the girls he is with that drive me crazy sometimes."

"Like"

"Ugh, like breathing on my neck! I was with Ben for months and he never did that! We can be having a conversation and he'll breathe on my neck and my mind just short circuits and all is forgotten. Or he'll press up against me and it has the same result. It's so confusing because I loved Ben, Bella I really did but I never felt the way about him that I feel when Paul does that too me, and it's so frustrating because I'm not one of those girls. I don't want to be one of those girls. I'd rather just be his friend, but it's hard when he does those kinds of things because it feels so good, and it's confusing because I feel like this hussy. I mean you've seen me right, I don't drool over his near nakedness every time he walks around without a shirt on, so why does him breathing on my neck do that to me." Flinging back on the bed Angela covered her face with the dress in frustration and let out a scream of frustration.

"Are you attracted to him?"

Jerking upright Angela looked at Bella like she was nuts, "of course I am, but it's not in the I want to jump his bones Jessica or Mindy way, it's the; his body is built to protect me, keep me safe and hold me way."

"So what are you going to do?"

"Not touch," Angela snorted, "honestly I doubt that it's going to work because Paul and touching seem to go hand and hand when it comes to the opposite sex, but we're going to try, and Bella I want to get to know him you know."

"He doesn't really let people get close."

"That's what I've gathered, but he seems to want this friendship as much as I do so we're going to try and see what happens."

"I really hope it works out for you two."

"Me too, now" Angela said perking up, "let's try this dress on."

Bella's face paled as she took in the gold sequin dress, "I don't think-"

"I do, now try it on at least."

When Bella stepped out of Angela's bathroom a few minutes later her mouth dropped open, "Oh my god Bella you have to wear that dress!"

"It's a little um short."

"At least it hits right above your knees! When I wore it my butt was almost sticking out, and I was bridesmaid for goodness sakes."

"I think Charlie would lock me up if he saw me in this thing."

"Bella you look amazing in it."

Bella's face flushed as she shrugged her shoulders.

"Really Bella it looks great on you, it's not to short and it might be a bit form fitting but you're so small and it looks amazing on you, Jake is going to love it!"

"Holy shit!" Jessica squealed from just outside Angela's door, before snapping her mouth shut and closing the door. "Why didn't you show me this dress?"

"You're boobs wouldn't fit in this dress." Angela said while rolling her eyes.

"Are you really going to wear that to prom Bella?"

"I-"

"Yes she is, aren't you Bella." Angela gave her an encouraging look, smiling when Bella nodded her head ever so slightly at Jessica.

~U~

"You look like a damn idiot," Paul muttered as he shoved Jake to the side. The stupid smile the baby Alpha was wearing was really getting on his damn nerves.

"You don't even know if they're going to let you in."

"Nothing is going to stop me from going to prom with her Paul, nothing."

"What about that redheaded bitch that's after her and the fact that Embry is still out of the game?"

Jake's face clouded over as he caught up with Paul, "she's on borrowed time, we're going to get her."

"Yeah I keep telling myself that too."

"I'm serious Paul; we're going to stop her before anyone else gets hurt."

~U~

Embry never thought having nearly every single one of his ribs would be a good thing until now, gently a cool rag slid over his forehead and down the side of his face. Fighting a moan Embry looked to his right and took in the sight. Leah was leaning over him a basin of water sitting on the nightstand next to the bed at the ready, she'd been cleaning him up for a couple of minutes already and he wasn't about to ruin it by pissing her off.

"What are you staring at Call?"

"Nothing, thank you Leah."

"Don't thank me, this is my job now remember."

Embry's eyes slammed shut as his least injured fist clenched, "you're not my damn maid, if you don't want to be here you don't have to."

The rag splashed into the water just before he heard her huff of frustration, "why'd you do this to me?"

Embry slowly peeled his eyes open pain gripping his chest in a much more intense way then it had been before, "I just wanted to you to be happy Leah. I thought if you understood."

"If I understood! I'll never understand why fucking someone makes them yours forever even if you don't love them!"

Embry wanted to yell back that he did love her, that he'd loved her since the day on the porch, but none of that mattered, she wasn't talking about him and the feelings he had for her, she was still stuck on Sam and Emily. It was always Sam and Emily and her heartbreak. As Embry laid his head back on the pillow and Leah stormed out of the room he wondered if she'd ever really love him like she still loved Sam.