Enigmatical
By wired2damoon
Chapter 8: Fights And Firsts
A/N: Okay, so I decided to post all my new chapters on the one day, aren't you guys lucky? I'm still a little disheartened about the lack of reviews, so I'm asking am I doing something wrong? If you think there's anything I can improve on, constructive criticism is appreciated. Hopefully review-wise things pick up. Thankies to all the loyal people who have reviewed, it means so much to me! Love, wired2damoon. Xx
- Claire's POV -
Erin had been quite excited all day about going to Sam and Emily's and I had a sneaking suspicion why.
"So…who'll be there?" she asked me, trying to sound nonchalant.
She certainly wasn't fooling anybody, considering the fact that we spent all last night discussing exactly who will be there, and somehow the conversation kept reverting back to Embry.
"Well…" I paused, pretending to think, "Sam, Emily, their son Daryl, Quil, Seth, Jacob, Paul, Jared, Colin, Leah, some miscellaneous others, me, you and uh…who am I forgetting?" I paused again, just to add dramatic (if not cruel) effect, Erin's eyes bulged, "oh and Embry of course."
Her eyes lit up at the sound of his name and yet again I was mesmerised at the wonder that was imprinting.
Imagine, being so attracted to someone so deeply within only knowing them twenty-four hours, its quite remarkable really, if not a little creepy.
I'm so glad I'm not imprinted on.
Liar, a voice rang in my head.
Okay, okay, I admit, once, maybe twice, alright a few times, I've imagined what its like to be imprinted on, to have someone care for me so much, for Quil to love me that much…
Whoa, wait, hold up. I didn't mean that, Quil has got nothing to do with this.
Moving on…
Whether I want to or not, I find myself already drifting away from Erin into my own little dream world where I'm not going on dates with hot guys to try and distance myself from my best friend (who I fall deeper in love with every frickin' second) so I won't end up getting crushed when he imprints…
Oh, wait, I haven't mentioned that before have I? You know, the whole finally admitting to being insanely attracted to Quil, if not head over heels for him?
There's one thing you have to remember, I bathe in denial.
Well…up until last night that is.
Yep, up until last night I was perfectly happy to remain "ignorant" to the fact that I'm falling in love with my best friend.
But unfortunately for me, last night is when Quil got the faithful phone-call…
-Flashback-
Nessie, Erin, Quil and I were all eating pizza (Erin marvelling at the speed and the quantity Quil ate) and watching a movie, when I decided I desperately needed a glass of coke.
I stumbled into the kitchen and was pouring myself a glass when I heard someone shuffle around in the backyard.
I craned my neck to the side, listening for who it was.
The voice was hushed and obviously talking on the phone.
"Hey Courtney," I stilled, it was Quil, talking to his…date.
"Oh yeah I'm great, not much up, just hanging out. Yeah sure, Saturday's still good, yeah and I can't wait to meet you either. Alright, see you soon, bye."
My heart panged painfully in my chest as I heard the excitement in his voice.
He was really looking forward to this date, the date I set him up on.
A rush of blood flew through my veins as a chill ran up my back.
What the hell was I thinking?
Had my sanity taken a leave of absence?
Who in their right mind would set up their amazing, gorgeous, funny, sweet, kind best friend on a date with a girl they don't know and could end up being a crazed serial killer?
Me that's who. Ok so, right mind may not be an accurate description.
Before I could further contemplate my impending insanity however, I heard a rustle from the doorway as Quil stepped into the kitchen.
"Oh, Claire, I didn't know you were in here," he mumbled, obviously startled and looking like a deer caught in head-lights.
I kept my backed turned to him as I spoke, "oh yeah I was just grabbing a coke for me and the girls, who was that on the phone, Jake?"
There was a pause in which I could hear Quil shuffle his feet back and forth, "uh no, it wasn't Jake, it was Courtney, you know the girl you set me up with."
Yeah don't remind me.
"Oh really? Cool, what was she saying?" I asked before I could stop myself.
I could feel Quil's stare burning into the back of my head, "oh well, y'know, she was just confirming our date on Saturday, that kinda thing."
He sounded like he was trying too hard to make it sound like it wasn't a big deal.
Maybe this meant more to him than I thought.
Shit.
"Oh cool…" was the only thing I managed to say and I couldn't even make them sound enthusiastic.
This is where I began questioning myself, why was this bothering me so much? I set Quil up with a girl so I could successfully date Cody without a seven foot werewolf breathing down my neck.
But this is not what I expected.
This was not what I was ready for.
What if he actually liked this woman?
What if he imprinted on her?
But wasn't that the plan?
What am I freaking out now that the plan is working?
Because, you want to his dream-woman, a voice sang in my head, Nessie's of course.
My eyes widened and my hands reached out to clutch the sink as the shocking revelation turned my legs to mush.
I heard Quil leap forward, "Claire! Are you alright?" his arms were around me, turning me to face him before I could even take a breath.
So, there I was, trapped between the sink counter and my best friend's very warm, very muscular, very inviting chest, breathing erratically, as I further thought about my recent discovery.
Had I really been living in denial all this time?
How long had I fooled myself, two, nearly three years now?
Wow…that must be some sort of record, even for me.
Slowly, I dragged my eyes upwards, craning my head so I could look into those gorgeous chocolate orbs - oh leave me alone, it's not sickening when I'm talking about Quil - and said with a shaky voice, "y-yeah, I-I'm fine, I just-just stumbled that's all."
His hands were like a roaring fire, burning my back and leaving hot flames against my skin as he brought them around my waist.
"You sure?" he asked, his voice sounding husky as his eyes gazed into mine, alight with something I couldn't quite put a name to.
Concern was there yes, but there was something else behind his gaze…
Suddenly, all of it began to get over-whelming, his looks, his touch, his voice, everything and I did the first thing that came to mind, became defensive and irritable.
"Yes I'm sure Quil, geez stop being so annoying," I snarled, laying my palms on his chest and giving him a rough shove.
My force didn't move him an inch of course, but he stepped back automatically, his hands jumping from my waist as if wounded. I desperately tried to ignore the look of hurt on his face, failing miserably.
"Right, sorry, uh, I'll be going now, pack stuff, you know," he mumbled, his eyes adverted from mine, making his way towards the back door.
I frowned as I watched him go, guilt eating away at my insides, my heart heavy as I realized he forgot to give me his usual good-bye hug.
Well, he probably didn't forget, it wasn't like I deserved one…
"Wait, Quil," I half-shouted as he stepped outside.
I saw him still immediately, turning to face me as I frantically thought of what to do next.
But it seemed my body had a mind of its own and I needn't have thought at all.
I was at the door in a nano-second, wrapping my arms around his waist and burying my face in his chest. I felt him tense for a moment before relaxing and hugging me back, lifting me off my feet, pulling me even closer to him and resting his chin on top of my head.
I always loved Quil's hugs, you know, even before I fell in love with him or anything, they were always so warm and made me feel…loved.
"I'm sorry for being a bitch, I'm grateful you look out for me, please forgive me," I mumbled into his shirt as I brought my arms around his neck.
I felt his chest rumble as he laughed, "of course I forgive you Claire-bear, and you're not a bitch."
I snorted at that and was about to tell him how very wrong he was, when suddenly the kitchen door burst open.
"Claire there's someone - oh."
My head whirled around at the voice and I saw that both Nessie and Erin now stood in my kitchen, Erin with a look of embarrassment and shock on her face and Nessie with purely knowing eyes and smug smirk.
"There's someone what?" I almost growled as Quil set me back on the ground, stepped away and shoved his hands in his pockets.
"At the door for you," Nessie finished, looking from me to Quil and back again.
My brow furrowed, who could be calling for me? At this hour?
"Uh sure, thanks Ness, I'm coming," I mumbled, my eyes darting everywhere, mainly the floor.
I could feel Quil's gaze following me until I was safely passed Nessie and Erin and out of the kitchen.
Frowning, I made my way into the hallway towards the door.
The shuffle of feet dragged my eyes upwards and I stopped in my tracks.
"Cody?" I whispered, peering against the dim light.
He flashed me his pearly white smile, but all of a sudden, it did not seem as attractive as before.
I wonder why…
"Hey Claire, sorry to just drop in like this," he murmured, looking slightly uneasy.
"How-how did you know where I live?" I asked, not knowing whether or not to be creeped out.
He looked a little sheepish, "uh, well, I-I live three doors away actually."
My face must of conveyed some sort of pissed expression because he was suddenly apologetic, "oh, I would have let you know sooner its just that I didn't want you to think of me as-"
"-Wait, did you sat your house is three doors down?" I interrupted him loudly.
"Um…yeah…" he replied nervously.
I realized now why he was reluctant to tell me where he lives…
"So you live in that massive, new house by the Johnston's?"
"Yeah."
"Wow."
A slightly uncomfortable silence engulfed us then, before I realized the draft that was coming from the open door.
"Oh it's cold Cody, why don't you come in?" I asked politely, stepping aside.
"Oh no, no thanks it's fine, I just wanted to stop by to let you know I'll be a little late meeting at the cinema on Saturday 'cause my car's in the shop, so is eight okay instead?"
I was stumped. To be perfectly honest, I completely forgot about my date this Saturday.
"Uh, yeah, sure that's fine," I muttered, offering him a small smile.
He smiled back and we said our goodbyes, his gaze lingering a little longer than mine.
I shut the door with a dignified snap.
"Who was that?" came a cool voice from behind me, startling me violently.
"Geez Quil, don't do that!" I exclaimed loudly, whirling around to face him, my hand on my heart.
He didn't look sorry, in fact his expression was quite hard, "who was that Claire?"
His voice didn't sound too pleased.
Hello Mr Over-Protective, nice to have you back.
"Just a guy I know," I replied shortly, making my way to the kitchen.
He stepped in my way, successfully blocking me.
"Does 'this guy' have a name?" he asked, his tone edgy.
I couldn't refrain from rolling my eyes, "that is his name. ' This' is his first name, and 'Guy' is his surname."
Quil's face hardened and I sighed, "of course he has a name, it's Cody, Cody Daniels."
"And what does Cody Daniels want with you?"
Jesus, this was getting more and more like the Spanish Inquisition by the second.
"He wants me to help organise trips to UFO landing sites to see if we can hitch a ride to Mars," I said sarcastically trying to push past him.
Unfortunately, he's like a boulder.
"Claire…" he hissed sharply, his eyes like slits.
I put my hands on my hips and glared up at him, pushing up my chin and standing on my tip-toes. It really is hard to look menacing when the person you're trying to intimidate is over two feet taller then you, a lot heavier and a hell of a lot stronger.
But I do my best.
"What!?" I snarled, jaw set.
His eyes burned into mine but his voice was oddly calm as he asked quite clearly, "are you dating him?"
Well, that was the 64000 dollar question wasn't it?
I mean, up until recently I had been hell-bent on going out with Cody to get my own love-life. The only thing I didn't realize was the real reason why I wanted to go out with him was to take my mind of someone else, and now, that same someone else was asking me if I dating.
Wow, had my life turned into a soap opera over night?
"I'm going out with him Saturday night if that's what you mean…" came my clear cut response.
I eyed him intensely, almost grimacing at the thought of whatever lecture I was about to receive but yet again, Quil surprised me.
"Why didn't you me?"
Well, that wasn't exactly what I expected.
Humm…now, how the hell do you let your friend down gently when you also have to get the point across that he's majorly, annoyingly, embarrassingly over-protective and you'd rather tell your grandmother you were pregnant with genital herpes from sleeping with your English teacher who's married with kids then tell him that you were going on a casual date with seventeen year old boy from California?
"Uh…I didn't tell you because you already have your own dating stuff going on with Courtney and you know, I didn't think you'd care about my stupid teenage stuff."
Okay, so I know I'm being a bit unfair here but I tend to say the automatic thing that springs to mind, and unfortunately my automatic mind is a bitch so, sue me…
Quil frowned at my words, "but…you were the one that set me up on the date?" he mumbled, posing it as a question.
"Yeah…" I replied slowly, not really knowing where he was going with this.
"So, does that mean that you set up on a date so I would be too wrapped up in my spending time with Courtney to bother to ask you about your stupid teenage stuff?!" he snarled all traces of his eerily calm tone gone.
I gulped. Oh shit, how the hell was I going to get out of this one?
Might as well bite the bullet kid, he'll know if you lie to him, he always knows.
"Uh well, yeah, I mean Quil you do need a little bit of a life you know, so I thought it would be nice to set you up."
Stupid, stupid plan Claire.
His eyebrows arched in disbelief.
"But eh…I-I also think that sometimes…just sometimes, you can be a little, um, a little over-protective when it comes to me and guys and I didn't want to worry you so…" I was getting more pathetic by the second.
Quil seemed to think so too.
He folded his arms and glared down at me, his teeth clenched tightly, a sure sign he was majorly pissed.
Oh fuck.
"So basically what you're saying is, now stop me if I get anything wrong, a sixteen year old thinks I've no life and need to get out more so she sets me up on a date. But, its not all out of the kindness of her heart, oh no, not only is she setting a poor, lifeless, pathetic guy up, but she's also getting him off her case so she won't have to put up with him being protective and caring so she won't get her heart broken by some jackass with a boner who promises her the world just to get her in bed. Is that about right?"
Ow, he really did paint some picture.
I wanted to defend Cody, tell Quil that he wasn't like that and that I'm not stupid, but the thing is, I don't really know Cody and well…I'm hardly a genius when it comes to guys so instead I minutely nodded my head as words stung me.
"Even though minutes ago you told me you like the fact that I look out for you?"
"There's a thin line between looking out for and completely controlling," I mumbled bitterly before I could stop myself.
When I saw his face I instantly regretted it.
"Quil I-"
"-Well if that's how you feel Claire, I won't bother in future," he said, his voice dangerously quiet.
"Quil what-"
"-You know, I should've known better coming from you."
Okay, now I'm pissed.
"And what the hell is that supposed to mean?" I snapped, stepping forward and angling my head so I could glare right up into his face.
He stepped forward and jerked his head down so our faces were mere inches apart.
"What I mean is, I should of known better where you're concerned Claire. Of course you'd act like a spoiled, immature, selfish little girl because that's exactly what you are."
The world stopped. The universe crashed down around me as his words echoed in my ears.
Never, not once in my entire life had Quil ever had anything bad to say about me.
But boy, for a first-timer, he sure knew the right buttons to push.
It bought some satisfaction to me that as soon as the words left his mouth, he instantly regretted them, his face twisted with guilt.
Good, then this will feel even sweeter.
"Claire I-"
"-Get out," I said, adopting his once cool tone.
He looked like I just slapped him, hard across the cheek.
"What?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You heard me, I said get out, go, now," I repeated in the same calm tone, stepping away from him and pointing to the door.
His eyes shifted from me to the door and back again.
"Claire-"
"-I won't ask you a-again Quil," my voice broke, this was getting harder by the second.
With his head bent, he trudged towards the door and put his hand on the door knob. I saw him hesitate for a fraction of a second, his head turning ever so slightly, before opening it and stepping outside, closing the door with a snap.
I blinked. I was now alone.
The phrase retreating with his tail between his legs came to mind.
Suddenly, I was over-whelmed and one solitary tear rolled down my cheek.
Well, isn't this just fantastic?
-End Flashback-
And so I crawl back to the present where I'm sitting in my Mom's car with Nessie and Erin, babbling on either side of me.
Nessie, (somehow predicting my fight with Quil) brought Erin outside into the garden during it so she was none the wiser, thankfully my mother was at her bridge game too, but I still couldn't escape Reneesme's knowing glances.
And by now, the packs more then likely know.
Perfect.
As if my life wasn't dramatic enough, I'd now have to endure hours at Sam and Emily's with nearly everyone in the room shooting me either sympathetic or teasing glances.
Better suck it up now.
"We're here," my mother called happily as we pulled up the driveway.
The dread clenched in my stomach.
Nessie gripped my hand for a moment, reassuring me with her pleasant thoughts.
Sighing, I squeezed her hand back and stepped out of the car, walking up to the front door.
Mom rang the doorbell and me, Nessie and Erin hung back.
I shifted uncomfortably and my mother threw me a questioning look but had no time to ask as the door started to open.
And my scared but beautiful Aunt Emily was revealed, her lob-sided smile beaming.
"C'mon in," she practically sang, stepping aside to let us pass.
This was going to be the longest three hours of my life…
A/N: And that's the second chapter I wrote on vacation. More to come, probably in a few hours so keep checking back, I'm being speedy with my updates for once ha! -wired2damoon- xx