Sorry I've been gone for so long. I've went through so much since I've been gone. I fell back in love with a guy, and moved into his home. Things worked out for awhile until his family and the two of us slowly drove one another apart. Then I moved in with my grandmother, and took care of her for awhile until she found out she had lung cancer. She'd been in and out of the hospital for the past three months having chemo, radiation, and surgery, until one day we took her because she was feeling weak and having nose bleeds constantly. When we got there we found out her hemoglobin level was low, so they gave her a bunch of medication and a blood transfusion and kept her overnight. However, her heart must have not been able to handle it all, and it stopped. It took them 15 minutes to resuscitate her, but at that point she was in a coma. Because she was weak and so far gone my mother, uncle, and aunt all decided that if it happened again that it was time to just let her go. I wasn't happy in the least with their decision, but regardless it wasn't my decision to make. The next day, after they made this decision, we got a call that her organs were shutting down, and that we needed to come to the hospital quick. My boyfriend (that I got back together with during all of this) drove like a bat out of hell all the way to the hospital, and we got there just in time. The rest of the family left except my mom, my boyfriend and myself. The decision was made that they were going to take her off the ventilator and let her go. I watched as my grandma took her last breath, all the while I kept whispering 'it's okay, I love you, and you can go now." It's a vision that's going to remain with me for the rest of my life, and it's the reason I haven't really had it in me to write a love story. However, I am sorry to all those who read this story. I will try to update when I can, but from here on out it will be kind of touch and go. Yet if you like this story just keep it on your alerts. Anyway, I hope everyone else is having a good day, and enjoys this chapter I've been saving just for you.
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight whatsoever, or its original characters. The only thing that I own is my own invention of characters and their background. So please don't sue me Stephanie Meyer. I don't have any money anyway lol. :-)
"Just when I think
I have learned
the way to live,
life changes."
-Hugh Prather
+Strange Things+
Still June 24th, 2008…Tuesday
Amber's P.O.V
'Ooooh yeah! Hunter definitely owes me for this,' I thought angrily, as I drove through the current downpour. Even though it had cleared up long enough for me to get the groceries into the house, now it seemed as if the storm wanted to drown the entire state of Washington. Which wouldn't be a terrible thing if I was back at home, curled up on the new couch, reading a wonderfully good book. I'd gladly die in peace like that, but nooooo! I have to come all the way out here to La Push to feed the ingrate that I had to call a cousin.
I gave a growl as I narrowly avoided another oncoming car. However, I had to restrain from laying into my horn; knowing that would only worsen the situation. Right now, I just needed to focus on the road instead of my anger. Though, I couldn't help but notice that the drivers here are just about as crazy as myself. It's starting to make me miss home, but you'll never hear me admit that to my mother. God only knows what she'd do if she'd heard those words come from my mouth.
Turning off the side of the road, I pulled into a driveway that led me a little ways back into the woods. Yet, before long, I began to see a tiny house in the distance; covered in tarps. There was no doubt in my mind that this was the house Hunter had described on my way here.
I parked the car in the makeshift driveway behind a few others, and then proceeded to look for my umbrella….and look….and look….and….
"Noooo," I whined, realizing I had left it back at the house.
I banged my head against the steering wheel, finally realizing that I'd have to go out into the merciless rain without protection.
"You definitely owe me now, Hunter," I hissed, before grabbing his food. Taking a deep breath, I unlatched the door, and as fast as I could I hightailed it for the nearest entrance.
I carefully made my way through the front door, dripping water as I walked. Peaking around the place, I looked around for any sign of life. Sure I heard a couple of noises coming from down the hall, but I felt something clench inside of me; something drawing me closer to wherever the noises were coming from. However, I found myself not wanting to go as fear overcame me.
It was like my body and mind knew something that I had yet to realize; almost as if they were trying to warn me beforehand.
Yet, without control of my own two feet, I began to move down towards the end of the hall. This is of course is where I stumbled upon Sam working away on the flooring.
Hearing my footsteps, he looked up, and smiled at me. However, I was in no control at this point, and instead my mind set a firm scowl upon my lips. Without a greeting to him, I asked, "So where's that no good cousin of mine."
Laughing, Sam answered, "In the room just over there, but be careful. There's stuff lying around everywhere. I can't catch you every time you fall."
Rolling my eyes at the mere mention of this morning's fiasco, I began making my way towards the room he'd motioned to; my wet, squeaky shoes obviously alerting the people to my presence as the sounds within ceased.
Before I even had a chance to utter one curse word, I felt my foot catch on something below when I turned the corner. Suddenly, I was falling, and almost immediately I prepared for an impact that was to never come.
Swift to act, someone wrapped their burning hot arms around my waist; warming me up through my soaking wet shirt. I sighed in content at the feel, but mostly at the mere miss. If he hadn't have caught me I'm sure he'd be calling an ambulance by now, and I probably would have ended up with quite a few scrapes.
I definitely didn't need to end up with anymore scars than I already had, and from the looks of a couple of nails below I can honestly assure you I would have.
"You okay," my savior asked, worriedly.
Giggling, as I got to my feet, I answered, "Yeah, just wondering how many times I'm gonna end up falling into someone's arms today."
Yet before the man could comment on that, Hunter's voice spoke up throughout the room, "Well, don't you look like a drowned rat?"
I looked up at him with a heated glare, but it seemed to have no affect on him. Though why would it when I obviously did look like wet vermin.
"I wouldn't look like a 'drowned rat' if I didn't have to come bring you food. Next time I'll just leave you to starve," I hissed angrily, before lifting my head higher into the air. There was no way I was going to let him get the better of me.
Carefully, I pushed my damp hair back behind my ears, and swung my gaze around the room to look at the other current occupants. However, as my eyes moved from one to another, there was one in particular that made me stop in my tracks.
I don't know exactly where the feeling came from, but suddenly I felt some weird warmth inside of me that I hadn't felt in a long time. Almost as if I felt safe, and secure here with this guy around; even as his beautiful brown eyes widen in shock, and transformed into a look that could only be described as a blind man seeing the sun for the first time.
I fidgeted slightly in place, not really being able to tear my gaze away from his…at least until one of the men within the room spoke.
"Well shit Embry! That's going to suck for Cary," the man laughed.
Coming out of his almost catatonic state, his eyes narrowed in my direction, before gazing behind me at another.
"Shut your mouth, Quil," and with that, he quickly exited the room; leaving an almost stunned silence in his wake.
I stood there for a moment, almost debating whether or not to follow him; see if he was alright or not.
Wait a minute! What the hell am I thinking?
Shaking my head, I held out the plastic bag full of Hunter's lunch.
"Anyway, here's your lunch dearest cousin. I had fun making it," I said with an evil smile.
Hunter blanched in mid-reach, before shouting, "AMBER YOU BETTER HAVE NOT!"
I gave a victorious laugh, before slowly exiting the room with Hunter right on my heels still.
"Please tell me you didn't. Come on, I'm starving," Hunter whined all the way to the door.
Turning my head just slightly so that I could eye him, I chuckled, "Payback is a royal bitch."
Still standing there, mouth agape, I exited the house into the pouring rain. Quickly, I ran back to my car, and opened the door. However, before I stepped inside I chanced a glance over my shoulder; feeling this almost hurtful tug at my heart.
My eyes fell upon Embry conversing with Sam; both of their eyes firmly set upon me now. What they were discussing? I had no clue. Though, whatever it was seemed to bring a great chill down my back.
Without a second thought, I jumped into the driver's seat of my car, and shut the door. With a quick flick of the key, the engine roared to life, and I instantly put my Legacy into reverse. I peeled out of there without another thought; intent on getting away from this weird feeling bubbling up inside of me.
Embry's P.O.V
"Well shit! That's going suck for Cary," Quil laughed from behind Hunter's cousin, as he brought me out of my reverie.
Shit, how could this happen? I didn't want this. Cary didn't deserve this, even if we were just friends with benefits. This could probably tear her to pieces.
My eyes immediately narrowed on the culprit who'd made this happen.
Amber…
It was a beautiful name, for an even more beautiful person. It seemed to flow like liquid through my mind, and GAHHH….
What am I thinking! Where's my man-card when I need it now?
My eyes quickly turned to Quil, who stood only a few feet behind my imprint. Growling, I barked, "Shut your mouth, Quil!"
With those few words he froze, and I quickly made my exit out of the room.
I couldn't be around her right now. She was clouding my every thought, turning me into some wuss that I knew I wasn't. All I wanted to do was slam her into one of the nearest walls, and claim her as mine in front of every wolf in that room; excluding her cousin of course. My inner wolf clawed at my insides, begging me to let loose on her; make her mine. Yet, I couldn't… I wouldn't. She didn't deserve this life; especially after the recent events she'd just gone through according to her cousin.
I would fight the imprint.
I had too.
"Where are you going," Sam called, as I exited the house, and out into the pouring rain.
Following close behind me, I got as far as the edge of the woods before he yanked me roughly back.
"I said, where... are… you… going," Sam huffed furiously. I turned around to look at him with all the anger I could muster before growling, "I hate this. It isn't fair. No one deserves to loose this choice?"
Taken aback, Sam just stood there trying to figure out what exactly I'd meant, until it finally dawned on him. Within just a moment my words just seemed to click inside of his brain, lighting a new fire to blaze brilliantly inside his mind.
Slowly, Sam's mouth began to move like a fish trying to breathe out of water. Words just kept escaping him, as he stared at me flabbergasted. I'm sure it would have been a picture perfect moment from the hilarious sight, but I couldn't find it in me to laugh at him. Not at a time like this.
"Please tell me you didn't. Not on her, Embry," Sam sighed pulling away from me. Placing his face into his hands, he backed up a couple of seconds trying to cool down, before stating, "You do know she's only here for the summer, right? For that matter she doesn't even have an ounce of Makah or Quileute in her. How could you even… it doesn't make sense!"
"I hate to break it to you, Sam, but things stopped making sense a long time ago," I said, as my shoulders deflated, and I shook my head.
"Do you even know what this means," Sam questioned, looking right at me.
Wanting to nod my head, I refrained, and let him answer for me.
"This means by summer's end she'll be gone, and she won't come back. You'll suffer… the pack will suffer… hell the whole tribe will likely suffer in her absence!"
"That's why I'm going to fight it," I muttered, earning a humorless laugh from Sam.
"Yeah, like I did with Emily," Sam mumbled darkly, before adding, "It won't work, kid. That little invisible string that holds you two together will only end up tightening more if you try to run away from it. It'll keep pulling, and pulling until you find you can't breathe. The worst part is you won't be the only one feeling it. I can guarantee she's going to feel it too, and she's going to be drawn to you like a moth to a flame. You're screwed…live with it."
Suddenly a sweet scent enveloped my nose, and not the kind a vampire possesses. No, this sweet scent smelled of sugar cookies, sweet ice tea, and honeysuckle. It was intoxicating, and strong…even through the rain.
Turning our heads, we noticed Hunter's cousin ambling on outside of the house. She got all the way to her car, and opened the door, before she suddenly stopped.
Almost as if she felt our eyes on the back of her head, she turned to look at us. Once again I was captivated by her angelic beauty, but this time I actually took in the darkness that seemed to surround her entire being as well. Her dark brown hair was black as pitch in the rain, and clung like a leech to her face. Her creamy-peach like skin that I had seen within her cousin's photo, was different. It was pale, ghost-like, and almost translucent. There were dark circles under her eyes like she hadn't slept in weeks, only worsening her complexion even more. Yet, the most shocking were her eyes.
What had once been a beautiful doe colored brown in the picture, were now an almost dark mahogany. Where the brown once ruled around the pupil, it now seemed to have a tiny circle of the darkest maroon I'd ever seen. Almost as if she were bleeding on the inside; and the windows to her soul were crying out for help.
… and all I wanted to do was help her.
"Like I said, you won't be able to fight it. No matter how hard you try, she'll just end up right within your arms," Sam spoke once more with finality in his voice, but I wouldn't accept it. I couldn't.
"Not if I fight hard enough," I whispered, watching her jump into her car. Within seconds she'd peeled out of the driveway, and back onto the main road. All the while this new string to my heart pulled harder, and harder, the further she got from me.
Amber's P.O.V
When I arrived home, Jasper was still there with Esme helping her set up the house along with Taylor. However, his wife was long gone.
'No doubt went home,' I thought, setting my keys in the ceramic bowl that rested within the foyer.
"Is that you, Amber," Taylor called out, as I squeaked my way into the main living room.
"Yeah, it's me," I answered, as I took in the wonderful sight before me. With all the new furniture, and decorations it really did look like a mansion in here.
"So, how do you like it," Esme asked coming to stand beside me.
"Wow, it's beautiful," I replied, with a dreamy look adorning my face.
"I would hope so. We've been working on it since you left," Taylor huffed, as she and Jasper came up to us.
"Well, it turned out great. Wish I was here to help, but sadly I was stuck feeding Hunter, and enduring the oddness of his coworkers," I chuckled, as they just now realized I was a soaking mess.
"Oh dear, go get changed before you catch a cold. Did you even use an umbrella," Esme wondered, as she followed me out of the room.
"Sadly, I left it here," I replied, as Jasper kept looking at me weirdly with a scrunched up nose; one that Esme was sporting just as well now.
"What," I asked looking between the two.
"Nothing, it's just… you seem different is all," Jasper replied, shaking his head of whatever thoughts he had.
"Oh, well it's probably because I look like a wet dog. Probably smell like one too, from all this rain," I replied, barely catching the humorous look shared between mother and son.
"Well, I'm going to go upstairs and get changed…"
"…and take a warm bath. It should help keep any cold away," Esme suggested kindly.
I gave a firm nod, before looking pointedly at Taylor, "Will you mind fixing lunch for me? All I've had today is a banana, and that coffee from this morning."
"Sure, no problem. I was getting ready to fix something for myself anyway. What about you guys? You want anything," Taylor asked turning to the Jasper and Esme.
"No, we're fine. However, we should get going before the family starts worryin'," Jasper replied nicely, before looking over to me, "By the way, we finished the Study a little while ago. When you finish with your bath, ya should give it a look. I think you might like it."
Smiling, I nodded my head, before Taylor and I showed them to the door. Saying our goodbyes, Jasper made sure to promise me that he'd call later. Apparently Alice wanted to get together sometime this week to go shopping; something that Taylor seemed excited for.
After they left, I hurried up to my bedroom to grab a change of clothes and a towel for my bath.
Once I found myself settled safely into the large Jacuzzi-like tub, I began to let my mind roam into uncharted territory.
Like for instance… why had I felt that unusual pull to that man earlier today? I've never felt so drawn to anyone in my life, and yet here was this total stranger I barely knew; whom I felt irrevocably comfortable enough to stare at unabashed. It was so odd. I mean, I'd never felt that way toward anyone, but here he was making me feel things I didn't quite understand.
Shaking my head, I tried to rid him from my thoughts, but he just seemed to keep popping up. Yet, could anyone really blame me? He was undeniably handsome, what with his 6'3" lanky, muscular build. Even his beautiful brown orbs shined brightly in my mind when compared against his sweaty, russet skin…
Okay, too far!
I will not let myself think like that again!
It'd been barely a few weeks since Jacob's death, and I was already thinking of another man in same light as I had him? It just didn't seem right.
I knew I wasn't still quite in love with Jacob, and if you thought I was then you must be terribly mistaken.
Jacob had put me through so much hell, and through way to much strife throughout the past two years. I couldn't still love him… could I?
No, I didn't.
I loved the 'him' he used to be.
I loved the Jacob who'd made me laugh when I wanted to cry. I loved the Jacob who would hold me when he knew all I wanted to do was run away. I loved the Jacob who'd been my friend, and my lover.
I missed him…
… but I don't believe I'm still in love with the guy. At least the one I'd met in the end.
That Jacob was scary. That Jacob looked tortured from the inside out, and was barely a shell of the man I'd loved. So, why would I want to mourn his death so badly?
I guess it was simple, really. I was mourning the Jacob he'd used to be; the one who wouldn't hurt me if his life depended on it.
That Jacob, I was mourning.
Slowly, memories invaded my mind of when Jake and I were younger. When in the beginning there was no hurt, and no fear lying ahead of us; just when we were friends.
"J-Jake, s-s-stop it," I giggled, as he ran his fingers across my ribs teasingly.
"No, not until you say 'Uncle,'" he laughed, as his beautiful long golden hair fell in front of his eyes.
"NEVER," I cried out, while trying to roll off the couch to escape him.
"Uh-uh, you're not going anywhere," he laughed, as he wrapped his arms around my waist, and proceeded to lift me high into the air.
Crying out mercilessly for someone's aid, Taylor only stood by on the sidelines laughing at us.
"TAY! HELP," I screamed in glee, as Jacob swirled the two of us around the living room.
"Sorry. I can't. You two look like you're having a lot of fun," Taylor chortled, as she flipped through the channels on my old worn out T.V.
"Yes, we are! Besides she needs to after stressing over her chemistry test all week. Not to mention she also needs a little torture after the whole ignoring me thing, might I add," Jacob smiled, as he finally dropped me down onto my feet.
Pulling me to rest against his chest, he placed a loving kiss on top my head. With his arms wrapped tightly around my shoulders, I cuddled even closer into his skin; trying to breath in the intoxicatingly familiar scent of cinnamon, and the slight hint of musk behind it.
"Oh, you know I'm sorry for ignoring you. It's just Mr. C has it in for me lately with my grades. He said if I didn't bring them up, then he's gonna fail me," I explained while casually rubbing circles into my friend's back.
"Fine then, I guess you'll just have to make it up to me won't ya," Jake asked with a suspicious smirk, one that Taylor now held as well.
"Oh, and how would I do that," I wondered, while looking up into his yellow cat-like eyes.
"Let me take you out to dinner this Friday," he replied with a smug look, as I went slightly slack-jawed.
"As in a date," I sputtered nervously.
"Yes, as in a date," he chuckled.
I just stood there for a moment frozen in a state of shock, before Taylor finally huffed in annoyance. Getting up, she came over to move my head in a nodding-like way.
"She says yes, Jake," Taylor laughed, as I mumbled out my best, "Uh-huh."
"Good, but only if your sure," he said nervously, still debating if my reaction was out of reluctance.
Finally gaining semi-consciousness, I quickly squeaked, "I'm sure."
Jake's face immediately broke out into a huge grin. Placing his head in between the crook of my neck and shoulder, he whispered, "That's good, because for a moment there I thought I was going to lose it if you didn't."
"Oh, you know I could never say no to you," I whispered sweetly next to his ear.
At least that's what I had thought so long ago. Now, I knew I would have eventually begun singing a different tune in the end. That someday I would turn my back on him for the mistakes he'd made, and the way he would hurt me.
However, what I still couldn't understand was why he tried so hard to make me admit I still loved him that night of the crash. Even though he knew those feelings would have eventually faded away with time, especially after the hell he'd put me through.
Yet, that night, he had still tried explaining it all to me, and I had been too stubborn to listen. Now, I wished I would have.
They were a few of his final words, and I was too stupid to listen to them. They were meant to be precious, and I had treated them like garbage.
"I love you, Amber. I always have, and always will. That's why I came back," he whispered, as his anger ebbed away just a little. Pressing his forehead against mine, I lost all thought for a moment as a sigh escaped my lips. However, I didn't let it last long, as I tore myself away from him.
"Fuck you, Jacob," I growled, ducking underneath him, as I sprinted back into the house. I knew he was hot on my heels, but I still made a mad dash through the crowd to Taylor.
I gave a shake of my head, as unshed tears began to burn at the corners of my eyes.
I didn't want to remember that night; even if most of those lost memories would help better explain what had happened. I just knew that it would open up old wounds still festering not far below the surface; ones that would bleed out until I take my final breath in life. Maybe it's just best to forget now while I still have a chance.
"Amber, lunch is ready," Taylor called from the other side of the curtain. Slightly startled, I placed a hand to my chest… as if it would help me from having a heart attack.
I tried to compose myself, before clearing my throat to answer, "Alright, just give me a moment."
I waited until I heard the soft scuffling of her shoes disappear from the room, before pulling back the curtain to the tub.
Reaching over the side of the marble, I picked up my towel to place it on the edge, while I pulled the knob to drain my bath. Once the water had finally receded, I stood up, and wrapped the towel around my tall frame.
'I guess it's time to finally face the world again,' I thought bitterly, as I forced myself to step out of what had once been a soothing bath.
A few minutes later…
Walking into the kitchen, I noticed Taylor already washing the dishes at the sink. Through her lips you could hear her slightly humming one of the newest Taylor Swift songs; 'Should've Said No,' I think was it's name to be exact.
Anyway, I couldn't help thinking with a loud chuckle, 'How ironic, and typical.' Though, I probably should have been a little bit quieter.
"What," Taylor startled, as she whipped her head around to look at me.
"Nothing, it's just…Taylor Swift, really?"
"Hey, she's not that bad!"
"No, not if you like some whiny child screaming through a microphone," I scoffed, making her place her soapy hands upon her hips.
"She's not some 'whiny child screaming through a microphone.' She sings about love, break-ups, and…"
"… and useless crap," I insisted, while taking a seat on the barstool nearby.
Taylor just continued to glare at me as if I was the devil incarnate sitting within her presence. However, she finally broke out into an evil grin when she realized her perfect comeback, "Fine then, if that's what you think, then I guess you don't want her number-one-fan's cooking."
"Depends on what her number-one-fan cooked," I shrugged, before Taylor motioned over to the counter.
Squinting my eyes, I could just barely make out what it was, but when I did I gasped.
"Oh that's cruel! You know I love me some good chicken and dumplings," I groaned, while reaching out my hands in a useless manner to grab it.
"Well to bad. You don't get it," she chuckled, before scooting it further away.
"Oh come on. I'm sorry for making fun of her alright," I cried out as she still kept my dumplings out of reach.
"Not good enough. However, I will give in if you say, 'Taylor Swift is the best country star ever,'" she said mischievously.
"But she isn't! That's Rascal Flatts's title," I whined, as she continued to hold my lunch away from me.
"Then I guess you really don't want this bowl of chicken and dumplings then," Taylor replied, before acting like she was getting ready to dump it into the trash.
"FINE! Taylor Swift is the best country star ever," I grumbled, as Tay gave a victorious grin my way. With a great display of pride, she delicately placed my bowl of dumplings in front of me.
"Eat up, loser," she teased, before going back to wash the rest of her dishes.
Muttering incoherently under my breath, I dug into my chicken and dumplings with evil thoughts dancing in my head of how I could get her back. Sadly though, everything I thought of bordered on psycho killer. Guess payback might have to wait a while.
After awhile Taylor even finished with her dishes, and came to join me with two bottles of Lipton's sweet tea.
Taking one of them from her, I chugged almost half of it down, before she spoke, "You know, I was thinking…"
"Oh dear god, we're all doomed," I chuckled, earning a sound smack on the hand from her.
Wincing slightly from the pain, I found she only chose to ignore it, as she went on to explain, "I was thinking that since the landlords said it was alright, and that they don't really mind, that we could… maybe… go out… tomorrow… and get a… dog."
The moment 'dog,' fell from her lips, I about choked on my spoonful of creamy chicken. I gave her an incredulous look, before exclaiming, "Taylor, we won't even be here that long to keep one!"
"Well, you won't, but I will. It's just that, Mom never allowed me to have one before, and I was thinking…"
"… you were thinking that now that you don't have to put up with her complaints, you could get one," I replied calmly, as I absorbed everything she'd just said.
I knew when Taylor was younger her mother had never allowed her to have any pets. Charlotte had always commented on them being dirty and germ-filled. However, that never stopped my friend from wanting one, so how could I honestly deny her?
I guess a dog couldn't be that much trouble and it would be a nice edition to have around the home. You know, like a guard dog or something?
"I guess it wouldn't be so bad," I shrugged, before Taylor suddenly launched herself upon me.
"Thankyouthankyouthankyou" she said in a jumble of words. Squeezing her arms around my neck tightly, I choked, "Can't…breathe."
"Oh, sorry," she laughed, before pulling away.
Taking in huge gulps of air, I mumbled, "Just don't let me regret it. That dog will be your responsibility, just so you know. You know how I feel about them as it is since that whole childhood experience of mine."
"Yes Mom," Taylor said with a roll of her eyes.
Sighing, I asked, "So, when do you want to go get the dog?"
"I was thinking tomorrow since I start work the day after," Taylor shrugged.
I winced slightly, forgetting that I had yet to tell her the good news. Though, she quickly caught onto my pained look.
"What? Is something wrong," she asked warily.
"Yeah, I sorta have to work tomorrow. I might have, by some stroke of good fortune, found a job already," I muttered sheepishly, while turning my eyes away from hers. However, I still noticed the glare she sent my way.
"So, when were you going to tell me," she asked tersely.
"Um, right now I guess," I mumbled nervously.
Taylor gave a long loud sigh, before she got up from her stool. Taking my empty bowl, she went to place it in the sink, before she finally decided to speak, "I guess it's a good thing that you've found a job. Though, I was hoping you would take this time to rest. You know Mom and Jimmy were all for it, and they would have helped you pay."
"I know, but you know how I hate people taking care of me," I whispered, noticing her hurt look, "Don't worry Tay. I'll be fine. Besides, think of this as a way for you to get half-off on books."
"What do you mean," she questioned, with a raised brow.
"I mean, you're currently looking at the new employee of the local bookstore," I said with a smug grin.
"Really, now ain't that wonderful," she said dreamily, while staring off into the distance.
"Yes, it is, because it means you'll have a shortcut around all those waiting lists," I smiled.
Biting her lower lip, Taylor gave a shake of her head. She knew this would be good for me, and for her. Yet, she was still slightly relenting.
"Do you think that on your lunch break you can still go with me to the animal shelter," she wondered, giving me a nervous side glance.
"If all is forgiven, then I'll make sure I can," I answered, while finishing off my tea.
"All is forgiven then," she smiled, coming over to my side of the island to give me a hug.
After our little moment, we found it broken apart by my cell phone buzzing next to my chest.
Taylor pulled away, as I reached into my tank-top to extract my phone from my bra (there were no pockets on my cotton shorts). Sliding the phone open, I pressed the speaker to my ear.
"Hello," I said, as Taylor left the room to give me privacy.
"Hey, honey. I was just calling to see how you were doing," came my mother's voice from the other line.
"I'm fine," I clipped.
I guess it wasn't too hard to realize I was still angry with her since that fight we'd had. Though, could you really blame me after what she said, and now here she goes trying to act all sweet? Yeah, it seemed a little messed up to me as well.
"Are you sure? Have you been taking your medicine, and..."
"I said I was fine, Mom."
"Oh, okay," she replied with a slight edginess to her voice; almost as if she was ready to start crying. The only thought going through my head at the moment was, 'Oh no. Not again.'
"Mom, is everything alright with you," I asked worriedly.
"Oh everything's alright, honey. Just had a fight with Rick is all," she answered with a forced laugh, but I knew that was a lie. Usually when she meant she had a 'fight,' with him, everything was definitely not alright.
"Did you call the cops this time," I whispered, hoping Taylor wouldn't hear.
"Amberlynn just let it go. He was just a little tipsy. It wasn't his fault. I mean, I was provoking him…"
"Mom, damn it! Next time you need to call the cops. Better yet, next time you should leave him when he gives you a black eye," I hissed angrily.
"But he makes me happy, and it's not his…"
"I swear if you say it's not his fault one more time, I'm gonna end this call right now," I warned her, before she broke down on the other end.
"Please just come home, baby. I-I need y-you," my mother cried through heart-wrenching sobs.
I fought rolling my eyes, because I knew it was wrong. However, she did this every time she got into a fight with that slimy boyfriend of hers. I would be somewhere, doing something important, or having the time of my life whenever she would call. Then, like a good little daughter, I would run home to cater to her wounds. I would tell her everything would be alright, when I know it wouldn't. I would beg her to leave him, when I knew she never would. Then, I'd leave, and she'd go right back to him to start the process all over again.
I was sick of it!
"Mom, you know I can't. I told you I need this. Why don't you just leave him, and be through with the scumbag. He's gonna keep doing this to you," I begged, making my mother just cry even harder on the other line.
"I-I can't. N-no one w-will ever love me a-as much as h-he does," she stuttered through shaky breaths.
"You know that's a boldfaced lie. I can count a lot of men who'd be lucky enough to have you," I declared, only it managed to anger her instead of soothe her.
"Yeah! Like whom," she hissed, "Nobody's ever going to want me! I'm deformed, and ugly."
This time I couldn't help rolling my eyes. My mom was such a dramatic, and I knew she was just speaking from her deep seeded insecurities. According to Gran, she'd been this way ever since her own accident. True she'd gotten pretty torn up in the crash, but what she was before was still mostly there (minus a few scars). She just didn't look quite so super model-ish as she once had, that was all. Why couldn't she just stand being average?
"You are not ugly," I said through gritted teeth.
"Yes, I am," she whined.
"No, your not. Now do I have to call Aunt Pat to come whoop your butt for me?"
"NO! Please don't tell her. She doesn't know anything about this, and I prefer it if she not," my mother warned threateningly.
I gave a loud huff, before finally yelling, "I don't know what you want me to do then! I'm sorry I can't be there for you right now. I have my own problems to sort through, so if you're just so unhappy with the guy, then leave him. If not, then stop whining about it," and with that I clicked the end button.
However, it didn't take long for the guilt to quickly set in.
Placing my face into my hands, I groaned. I really didn't need to put up with this right now.
"Hey, is everything alright," Taylor asked sticking her head into the kitchen.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I mumbled, earning a loud huff from her.
"No your not," she said with a roll of her eyes, before making her way over to me, "Listen, she'll get through it. She's not as weak as you think she is."
"Hmph, could have fooled me," I grumbled, as she placed a hand on top of mine.
… Sympathy... Worry…
I snatched my hand from hers, and got to my feet. Looking over my shoulder, I noticed her hurt expression, and it just about killed me. I wanted to explain. I wanted her to know why I wasn't so much the touchy feely person I had once been, but how could I explain that to her? How could I tell her I'd turned into a freak?
'"Yeah, I'm sorry I just did that, Tay. It's not that I don't appreciate the comfort it's just that I feel what you're feeling…empathetically." Yeah I'm sure that would go over real well,' I snorted slightly, only further worrying her.
"Are you going to be, alright," she wondered, with a slight edge in her tone.
"Tay, my mother is hurting. I just lost someone close to me, and not to mention I just came out of a coma only a few weeks ago. Do you honestly think I'm alright," I whispered with a slight sneer to my words.
"No, I don't think you're alright. I was just asking out of courtesy. That's what friends are supposed to do, so that's what I'm doing. However, if you want to act like some idiot then fine by me," and with that she stormed out of the kitchen, leaving me to my self-hatred once again.
Sighing, I picked up my phone and left the kitchen to find her. We had always been the kind of friends who couldn't fight for long, and I knew I owed her an apology. I just wasn't quite sure if I would mean it this time.
Embry's P.O.V
"Hey man, you home," came a voice from the front door.
Sitting at the kitchen table, with my head in my hands, I couldn't quite gather enough energy to answer Jake back. All I wanted was for him to go away, so that I could wallow in my own self-hatred. However, it didn't take long until I heard his footsteps coming into the room.
'Yeah like he'd really go away when I needed him too,' I snorted, as Jake took a seat opposite me.
"It really isn't that bad, Em. From what I've seen from the other guys' minds… when it comes to the older imprints…well let's just say you won't be unhappy," Jake chuckled, earning a silent sneer from me.
"Oh please, tell me he isn't still moping," Quil exclaimed coming into the kitchen as well, "Come on, this is something you should be celebrating." He gave me a slight shake to my shoulders, as if to rile me up, but all it did was anger me even further.
Shoving Quil's hands off of my shoulders, I hissed, "She leaves at the end of the summer. Did you know that?"
The two glanced between one another worriedly, before Jake finally got the balls to ask, "What are you going to do?"
"I honestly don't know," I shrugged, finally looking up at the two of them. Leaning back into my chair, I mumbled, "I told Sam I want to break the imprint."
"What'd he say," Quil asked warily.
"What we all know. It can't be done. He said I'd be better off just accepting it, instead of hurting the two us by ignoring it," I answered solemnly.
Jake shook his head, while Quil took a seat in the chair to my right. The room was quiet for a few moments before anyone spoke.
"You should accept it. She's hot," Quil finally smirked, earning a slap in the back of the head from me.
"What? She is. I mean she looked a little creepy, but in that dark angel kind of way," Quil explained, earning a glare from Jake as well.
"You might want to shut it, before he knocks you through a wall. You should know how wolves are when it comes to their imprints," Jacob warned him, but it still didn't seem to stop him from his next word vomit.
"Yeah, but seriously, he needs to accept it. Cary wouldn't even be able to give him half of what that girl could."
Okay, that's it!
Getting to my feet, I took a hold of his shirt, and shoved his face closer to mine. Hissing through my teeth, I informed him, "Another word about Cary, and I swear I'll take a chunk out of you. As for Amber, it's not going to happen, so you might as well let it go now."
"Sorry man, I was just giving you some friendly advice," Quil sputtered, as Jake came around to pry me off of him.
"Come on, let him go. He's just being an idiot, and you're starting to act like Paul," Jake teased at the end, bringing me back to reality.
I let Quil go, and took a deep breath. He was right. I was starting to act out of character. This was more Paul's M.O.; not mine. I think being inside his head a lot more lately was beginning to affect me worse than I thought.
"Sorry Quil. I'm just…I'm not right at the moment," I explained, earning a somewhat sympathetic look from him. However, it didn't last long as he went back to acting like himself, "No problem. Just go get laid, and we're all good."
"I-I'm not so sure I can do that," I mumbled, while taking a seat back at the table.
"The imprint," Jake asked.
"Yeah, I guess. I mean it's like I can't even look at Cary like that anymore. When I try to I feel like I'm betraying Amber. Shit, this is so messed up," I groaned, earning a friendly pat on the shoulder from Jake.
"Don't worry about it. You'll figure it all out soon," he insisted, before going on to say, "In the mean time, Sam says you have patrol tonight for skipping out on work earlier."
It was true. After the conversation I'd had with Sam, I'd high-tailed it out of there. How could I honestly continue to work, when I was emotional compromised? With my luck, I'd end up sawing off one of my fingers if I tried!
"Alright, I guess I owe him that," I sighed, while getting to my feet.
Heading to the door, the guys followed me out of the kitchen. When I went to turn the knob, I looked over my shoulder, and added, "By the way, if Cary comes by, tell her I'll be busy for the rest of the week."
"Sure, sure," Jake replied, before I walked out into the rainy night.
Shedding my clothes along the way, I just barely made it to the forest line before I burst into a giant wolf.
Immediately I was assaulted by two voices inside my head.
'He imprinted,' came Leah's snarky reply to the other voice inside my mind.
'Yep, on some pale face,' Paul chortled, earning a snort from Leah.
'Not like you weren't admiring her earlier today,' I exclaimed with a snarl.
'Hey there, Embry! Long time, no see, and no, I do believe I was admiring her sexy blonde friend… not your girl,' Paul said, as a flash of the other girl popped into his head. Leah just gave a roll of her eyes before replying, 'Figures you'd pick the blonde.'
'He always does,' I laughed, before adding, 'Man-whore.'
'Proud of it too,' Paul answered without skipping a beat.
Shaking our heads, Leah butted in to ask, 'So what's she like anyway?'
'I'm not gonna lie, Leah. She's a lot like you,' Paul teased before I could even get the chance to answer. 'Plus she's got a pretty expansive vocabulary if you know what I mean? Hell, she could probably best me in a word fight!'
'I think what he means is she's been through a lot before she came here,' I said butting back into the conversation, as I stopped right at the treaty line. Something didn't feel right, and I couldn't exactly pin-point what it was.
Lifting my nose to the air, I took in a long sniff before it hit me.
Vampire…
I couldn't miss that sickly sweet smell even if I tried. It was almost ridiculously to strong, which hinted at…
'Guys I think we got multiple vampires,' I hissed, sniffing the air once again.
It smelled like there were at least three or four of them maybe.
'Don't worry, we're on our way,' Paul thought, as he turned around to head back toward me.
'Just follow the scent for now, and we'll catch up,' Leah called, as she gave out a howl to alert the others.
Within minutes, other voices filled our heads, as we followed the track of putrid stench.
'What's going on,' – Quil
'What happened,'- Jared
'Is there a vampire,' – Seth
'How many are there,'- Collin
'Is someone hurt,' – Jacob
'Who's hurt,'- Brady
'QUIET,' came Sam's voice.
Immediately everyone stilled as they awaited his next words. All the while I kept my nose to the ground, as I followed the trail.
'Now what's going on,' Sam asked, as the group finally caught up to me.
'Vampires; at least four of them. I caught the scent by the border,' I answered.
'Is it any of the Cullens,' he asked warily. Shaking my giant wolf head, he instantly went on alert.
'Alright. Quil, Seth, Brady, Collin, and Leah…I want you to scout out the rest of La Push. See if they're still here on the rez,' Sam ordered, before he turned to the rest of us, 'Embry, Jared, Paul and, Jacob, you'll go with me. We're going to follow this scent, and see where it leads.'
Nodding our heads, we were all off. Instantly our every sense went on high alert. Every sound and every movement registered in our ears as we kept our noses on the ground, or high in the air.
Then, it happened.
Out of nowhere, three blurs flew past us, and then a final one following up behind them. Without much thought, we tore after the group.
"Awe you brought you some doggies, didn't you J," a woman's velvety voice screeched from in front of the one trailing behind her.
"What the hell are you…shit," the guy cursed, as he turned around to look at us. Immediately his speed increased, as did the other three in front of him.
"You can't catch me," one of the girls taunted from the front as she jumped from tree to tree, while avoiding me.
Suddenly, Paul was right at the blonde man's back. Reaching his jaws out, Paul tried snapping at him, but this one was crafty enough to swerve out of the way.
'Damn it! Keep on him,' Sam hissed through the pack mind, as he weaved in and out of the clusters of trees.
'We're on our way,' Leah called out, as she and the rest of the pack made their way toward us.
'NO! Stay back. We can't let them get any further onto the rez,' Sam screamed through our minds.
"Awe, such a cute wittle doggie," I heard, right before something hard slammed into me from the side.
I yelped in pain, as my body collided with a nearby tree. Though it did hurt, I knew the worst injury I would probably have is a couple of bruises, and maybe a big hit to my ego.
'Embry, get up! We need you out here,' Sam cried, as he reached out to sink his jaws into a raven-haired man's arm. However, his mate, I'm guessing, suddenly came at our Alpha full force.
With a vicious snarl she grabbed him by the neck, and threw him a couple yards away from them.
'SAM!,' the whole pack cried, as he tumbled across the ground.
'I'm fine, just keep on them,' our fearless leader hissed, with a slight whimper.
Though he tried to hide it, we all knew he'd broken a couple of ribs from the force of his fall. That was going to be painful to fix.
"Are you okay," we heard someone ask from his side. As Sam looked up, he saw the blonde vampire looking down upon him; his nose scrunched up in distaste at our smell.
Sam growled lowly within his throat; warning the vampire he was in dangerous territory. However, when he tried to move he felt the sharp sting of pain in his side.
"I can fix it. If you let me," the vampire whispered, trying to come closer to him, but all too soon Leah came barreling towards him; disobeying Sam's order to stay back.
'Get away from him you filthy leech,' Leah snarled, as her lips pulled dangerously back from her pearly white teeth.
'Shit, we lost them,' Jake growled, as the other vampires disappeared into the dark crashing waves below the cliffs.
'Don't worry about it now, get back here and help Leah,' Sam growled, as the whole pack took off back towards Sam.
"I'm not going to hurt him. I want to help him," the vampire whispered, trying to edge closer. Yet, when he was close enough, Leah snapped at him. The blonde instantly recoiled with a sneer.
"Fine, I'll leave your mate to you then," and with that the vampire disappeared like the rest of them; leaving Leah even angrier at his words than she had been before.
'Should we try to follow him,' Paul asked, as he came over to nudge Sam with his nose.
'No, I think he's leaving the rez,' Sam answered still a little dumbfounded at the vampire's kindness.
'Looked like he was chasing the other three, anyway,' Quil suggested, earning a nod in agreement from the rest of the pack.
'Had amber eyes too, so it wasn't a human drinker,' Leah snorted, as she came closer to her Alpha, 'You okay?'
'Yeah, I'm good Leah. Just a few broken bones, that will probably heal by morning,' Sam answered.
Suddenly Paul, Jared, Seth, and Collin disappeared from our minds; however they soon reappeared as they brought Sam a pair of cutoffs.
I knew what was coming before they even did it. With a painstaking howl, Sam cried out as the four guys held him down, and tried to reset his bones.
Not being able to take the pain through our pack mind, I quickly phased back; as did the rest of the pack.
"Hey, look at this," Brady suddenly called from nearby.
Looking in his direction, we found something blue lying within his hands.
"What is it," Leah asked, taking it from his grasp. Carefully she held it up for all of us to see.
"It's a hoodie," Jacob exclaimed.
"No shit, Sherlock! I think the better question is why did the bloodsuckers have it," Leah wondered, with a roll of her eyes at Jake.
Taking the material from her hand, I was instantly swept away by the intoxicating smell lingering upon the sweater.
Sugar cookies, sweet ice tea, and honeysuckle….SHIT!
"What is it, Embry," Jacob asked worriedly, as he watched my eyes widen in horror.
"Amber," I barely got past my lips, before I dropped the hoodie. Without worrying about ripping my shorts, I phased back. Then, before anyone could stop me, I was racing past the border.
'Embry, where are you going,' Sam yelled through my thoughts.
'Amber! That was Amber's hoodie! I would know that smell from anywhere by now,' I cried as my paws pounded against the ground below me, 'They're after her, Sam! They have to be.'
'Alright, but do you have any clue where you're going? You don't even know where she lives,' Sam huffed, before crying out in pain as Paul realigned another broken bone. Though, as he was withering in pain, I caught sight of Amber's house, and the way there in his thoughts.
'Embry, I'm sending Jake and Quil with you as soon as I phase back. You don't need to be alone right now with four vampires on the loose.'
'Alright,' I replied, as I followed Sam's directions to Amber's home.
'Just be careful,' Sam hissed, right before my mind went suddenly blank.
However, the painful silence didn't last. Before long Jacob and Quil's thoughts instantly began to intermingle with mine.
'What happens if we find the bloodsuckers? This isn't exactly our land to run anymore. This is Cullen's territory,' Quil warned, as I felt the tug on my heart grow less and less with each passing second. We were getting close.
'I know, but they're threatening my mate. We have every right to dismember them if they come near her,' I argued, as an English cottage styled home came into view.
'Shit, I smell lingering leech,' Quil hissed as the foul odor began to burn his nose.
'Wait a minute, that's not just any leech. It smells like four of the Cullen's have been here,' Jacob interrupted, as he stuck his nose to the ground, 'Yep, that's Jasper's, Esme's, Alice's, and Carlisle's stench.'
'I don't smell the ones we were chasing earlier,' I thought, as I rounded around the house. However, I caught sight of something in the second story window. Without thinking, I stepped closer to get a better look, and thank the merciful lord I did.
There, standing in all her lively glory, was my imprint.
She was safe.
'And do you see what she's wearing,' Quil laughed, as I finally took notice of her extremely short shorts, and little to nothing tank-top.
'Em, you got lucky, man,' Jake snickered, coming to flop down beside me.
'Hey, quit looking,' I growled as I shoved my paw into his snout.
'Yeah, like I'm really looking? Remember, I've got Nessie,' Jake laughed, as did Quil; whose mind instantly brought up a mental image of Claire.
Rolling my eyes at the two, I turned my attention back to the giant windows where Amber stood brushing her hair. Her long legs moved with perfect grace as she glided back and forth in a pacing motion. All the while her delicate arms moved like waves as she ran her brush through her silky dark brown hair over and over again.
'Still want to break the imprint,' Jacob taunted, with a shake of his head.
Sighing, I closed my eyes. With a painful whisper, I answered, 'Yes. It'd be better for her if she never even knew I existed.'
'Too bad. It looks like she could really use someone right now,' Quil muttered, as our eyes zeroed in on her once again.
Taking a seat upon one of the chairs near her window, we watched as her body slowly shook with what was undeniably sobs.
'I guess Hunter wasn't lying when he said she was going through a rough time,' Jacob sympathized, as I gave a long loud howl in pain.
It hurt me to see my imprint suffering. I mean, all I wanted to do was go to her, and wrap her in my arms; to tell her everything was going to be okay when it probably wouldn't. She didn't deserve to go through what she had… no one did.
Having heard my howl obviously, Amber suddenly stiffened from where she sat. Cautiously her head turned toward the windows to look out into the woods.
'Think she can see us,' Quil asked worriedly.
'No, we're to far back, but I'm sure the Cullens heard us. We better get going before they show up,' Jake warned, as he reluctantly began to head butt me further back into the forest.
With one last glimpse at my mate, I quickly shot back toward La Push with Quil and Jake in tow. However, the whole time I wished I could just turn around, and run back to her.
Amber's P.O.V
After apologizing to Taylor for our earlier conversation, I managed to settle myself onto the couch within the living room. Curling up into a comfortable ball, I pulled a book off the side table to busy myself by reading for awhile. However, it wasn't long before Hunter, and Sam came trudging in through the front door.
Casually, I got up from my spot in front of the fireplace, and made my way into the room to greet them.
"Have fun at work," I asked, wrapping my arms around myself.
"It was okay. At least until after Embry left. Then everyone just got kind of quiet," Hunter explained, as Sam winced from beside him.
"Oh, well I'm sorry," I mumbled, before looking up at Sam, "I know I already said this earlier, but thanks again for giving him this job. It's helping us out a lot."
However, Sam wasn't quite paying attention as his face contorted into a look of irritation. Something in the air must have bothered him from the looks of it, because he suddenly had this look of distaste marring his features; a look that only matched up when something smelled unusual rancid. Though, he finally came to his senses enough to answer, "Yeah, we're glad to have him too."
"Um, no offense, but does something smell bad in here. You look like you just came across something pretty foul," I boldly asked, ignoring the questioning gaze from my cousin.
"Yeah, something in here smells really sickly sweet," he said with a slight growl underneath his breath.
"Odd, that's the same reaction I got from Jasper and Esme earlier today," I replied with a shrug.
"You know the Cullens," Sam suddenly asked with a hint of fear.
"Yeah, they're our landlords," Hunter answered, as he slipped off his muddy shoes by the door.
"What!"
"I think my cousin said they are our landlords. You know, we pay them rent to live here," I replied with a snarky tone.
"I know what you mean, it's just…"
"… it's just the people on the reservation don't like them. Yeah, Alice and Jasper told us. Didn't mention why, just said that your people don't particular get along with them," I shrugged, as he narrowed his eyes on mine.
"You'd do best to steer clear of them as much as you can. They're not…"
"Okay, hold it right there," I said raising my hand up to stop any further words from falling past his lips, "Listen, I appreciate you giving Hunter this job. Really, I do. However, we are free to mingle around with whomever we want, and that includes the Cullens. As far as I can see, they're good people, and they've been especially good to us. So, I don't want to hear another word about them, is that clear?"
Sam only openly glared at me as Hunter immediately stepped in to diffuse the tension.
"I think what my banshee of a cousin might be trying to say is that we'll keep work and home separate. If we can't, then I'd better find another job, and just tell Jimmy…"
"No, don't worry about it. I get it. I was only just trying to warn you now, before something happens…"
"Which it won't," I snapped.
"…but if it does, just know that I at least tried to warn you, and that it was your own fault," and with that Sam walked to the front door. Though, as he opened it, he stopped. Turning back to look at Hunter, he replied, "I'll pick you up tomorrow morning at the same time. Unless you have a ride to get there on your own?"
"He doesn't," I answered for him, and with that Sam gave a final nod. With a flourish, he swept out the door, and slammed it.
"UGGH! The nerve of that man," I screamed, as Taylor finally came out of her room. Glancing down over the banister she asked, "Where does he get off telling us who we can and can't talk to?"
"The hell if I know," I hissed, as my hands slowly balled up into fists. Oh what I wouldn't give for a punching bag right now.
Noticing my distress, Hunter tried placing a comforting hand upon my shoulder. However, I merely stepped out of the way, while I began to pace back and forth to ease my growing temper.
Taylor knew that within minutes I would be in a tirade, and that I needed back up incase Hunter disagreed (He almost always did). So, she made her way down the stairs popping off at the mouth, "Next time he says another word about them, I swear I'll punch him for you."
"Not if I get there first," I chuckled darkly, while Hunter just stood there calmly watching the two of us.
"You know, if a whole reservation of people don't like them, then that has to mean something," Hunter commented, earning icy cold glares from the two of us.
"Are you seriously siding with him," Taylor snapped angrily.
"No, it's just… think logically for a moment. What do we honestly know about them? I mean these people have known them a lot longer than us, and they seem like they always make a good judge of character," Hunter argued.
Restraining myself from walking over there to slap him, I answered, "Yeah, we don't know them, but that doesn't change the fact that so far they seem like good people. Besides which, he came in here ordering us around like we were toddlers or something. He had no right."
"Maybe not, but it did seem like he was just trying to look out for us," and with Hunter's last words, we all found ourselves in silence.
Either we were too angry to speak, or we were to busy replaying his words in our minds. Either way, it seemed we'd all had enough of the arguing. So, with long sighs, we all dispersed from one another to be alone; so that we could think things over, and to cool off.
If we had let ourselves gone any further, we knew there would be a physical fight between one of us at any given moment. That was just how we were. We knew when to walk away from one another when our tempers were becoming too high.
Sadly that did not expand out to the rest of the world, as you can already see.
After a quiet dinner between the three of us, we all headed off to our rooms to tuck in early. There was no use lingering downstairs when we were in our current moods.
While putting on my night clothes, I received a call on my cell from Jasper. He and Alice were calling to see when would be the best time to go shopping together. Of course this required me to take a visit to Taylor's room to set a date.
While the four of us conversed with one another, Hunter had passed by the room twice to wash up for the night. As he glanced into our room, I couldn't help noticing the pitiful look upon his face.
I knew he was just trying to back his boss up, but it still hurt slightly that he was siding with him.
The worst thing about this whole little argument between us was the fact that Hunter and I never really fought like this. So, seeing him hurt brought about a new flood of emotions that eventually led me to his room to apologize.
He accepted, and in turn reciprocated it as well. Though, he backed it up with an explanation explaining that he was just trying to make me see both sides of the equation. He said it seemed unfair to him that I was just looking from one side of this whole argument.
I couldn't very well argue with that. I mean, I was being a bit pig-headed about this, but something about what Sam said rubbed me the wrong way. I don't particular know exactly what it was, but his words had just really affected me.
It wasn't until I was brushing my hair later, as I readied myself for bed, that I realized why it had bothered me so greatly.
To me it had seemed like Sam hadn't even given the Cullens a chance. Much like I had never really given Jacob a chance. Like Sam, I had just written him off as dangerous, and tried to discard him as if he never existed.
I alienated him.
So, when I had been sticking up for the Cullens, I was metaphorically sticking up for Jacob when I hadn't done it all those weeks ago. It was like I was trying to prove to myself that if I had wanted to… I could have taken back all the horrible things I had said to him.
Feeling the tears begin to prick at the corners of my eyes, I walked over to the baby blue loveseat sat between my bed and the large diamond paned windows.
Before I knew what was happening, my shoulders began to shake, and the tears were flowing freely down my cheeks.
I was crying… but for what, exactly?
Jacob?
Maybe I had been wrong, maybe there was still an ounce of care inside of me for him, and not just for the 'him' he used to be? Maybe I still wished that he was alive, so that I could take back all those horrible things I said; to tell him those three little words he had wanted to hear so badly?
AHHHRRRROOOOWOOO
The sound of a wolf's howl penetrated through my windows, like a hand dipping itself into water; without any restrain. The eerie sound of its cry made me freeze upon my seat, as I took in the painful sound of its call.
I'd never heard a wolf howl so loudly, or so close before. This creature had to be massive to make that sort of noise.
Slowly, I turned my head to look out the window. However, all I found was darkness clouding the outside world.
With a show of strength and courage, I got up from my seat, and walked over to the balcony's door. Reaching out my hand, I was just getting ready to pull it when…
"Was that a wolf howling?"
Half-screaming, I turned around and openly glared at Hunter with a hand to my chest. "Geez, give me a heart attack why don't ya?"
"Sorry, I just came in to check on you. I know how badly you're afraid of them, and thought you'd be freaking out by now," Hunter shrugged, coming over to open my balcony's doors. Walking out into the night, he took a glance around the property, before returning.
"There's no sign of it, but I can bet you it's still around. If I was you I wouldn't hang around outside at night from now on. No telling how wild the wolves here can be," Hunter insisted, as I gave a nod while still holding my hand over my chest.
"You okay," he questioned with a worried raise of his brow.
"I'm fine; just startled is all," I said, trying to brush it away with a few good nervous chuckles.
I knew he didn't buy it, but he decided to let it go for the sake of my sanity for once. Turning on his heel, he walked over to my bedroom door. With a wave of his hand, and an audible, "Goodnight," he left to his own.
I went to close my doors, and to make sure my balcony door was thoroughly secured before turning off the light.
As I slipped in under my baby blue comforter, my last thought was of the wolf's howl. Why, for some reason, did I feel like I should know what that meant; and why at all did it seem so familiar to me?
Closing my eyes, and trying to rid myself of such thoughts, I fell asleep to the image of a grey wolf slinking around deep within my mind.
Embry resisting the imprint! New vampires stalking around La Push! Now Taylor wants Amber to get a dog! OH MY!
Well, I hope everyone liked this chapter. It was a hard work editing it, and I'm sure there are still a lot of mistakes. Either way, hope you enjoyed Empathy's new chapter.
The songs for this chapter I listened to while writing it and revising it are…
Scars- by Papa Roach
Human- by Christina Perri
And here's something new. A preview of the next chapter.
It was like déjà vu as I gazed into the beast's wide and innocent electric blue eyes. My body seemed to freeze in place, as the creature gave a puppy-like howl, before lolling its tongue out cutely. It even wagged its tail in delight as I stood stock still; hoping that this vision would go away.
"He's half-gray wolf/half-husky, and barely a year old. Someone brought him in a couple of weeks ago; claiming they couldn't take care of him anymore. They said he doesn't really get along with anyone, but I've been trying to coax him out of that. This is kind of the first time I've seen him act so friendly toward anyone," came Collin's voice from beside me.
"He's uh… cute," I answered nervously, as the boy got a wicked gleam in his eye.
Taking my hand he pulled me forward toward the young wolf.
… Anticipation… contempt… curiosity…
"Wait, what are you doing," I cried, as I struggled within his grip.
"Don't worry. He's not going to hurt you obviously. I think the little guy likes you too much," Collin scoffed, as he brought my hand against the fence. Immediately the gray wolf reached up, and licked my hand playfully.
I squirmed in Collin's grip, but after a few moments of the young pup nudging against my hand, I reached further in to pet him.
…Loyalty… Friendliness… Love… Familiarity…
"Well look at that! It's a miracle. I think you've found yourself a dog," Collin laughed, as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Well, thanks for reading. Remember to review before you leave too if you can. Anyways, have a nice day, and take care.