Chapter 7
Two months and a half later…..
Annalise's POV
"Annie," Momma calls out.
"Yes?" I walk towards the stairs, more like wobbling as I just woke up. I'm clumsy early in the morning.
In a flash she's standing by me. "Sweetheart you know the rules about standing to close to the stairs this early?"
"But Momma you were calling me," I hold her cold but smooth hand.
"I know honey, I was just wondering where you were. Want to go hunting with me and Daddy?" she smiles her gorgeous smile. I frown and shake my head. She chuckles. "Why not baby?"
I look up at her sheepishly. "Can I go to Embry's?" it's been a month and a half since I've seen Embry. After we had finish the construction in our very own cottage Momma and Daddy decided it was time to take a family vacation. I was angry that I couldn't take Embry with me but I did have some fun. We went to Alaska to visit the Denali's. They said so I can meet my other family. We also went to Grandma's Island and Portugal. It was fun but something was calling me to return. We came back yesterday. Even though I talked to Embry on the phone every day, I miss seeing him.
She looks away probably so I couldn't read her expression. She sighs after a while and looks at me. "But I will miss spending time with you,"
"Momma we spend all the time together in Alaska," I giggle.
"And I wish I had spent more time." she smiles and presses her cold lips on my head. "You can go honey but not before we say hello to the family. We came back late and you were asleep."
"Ok, thanks Momma," I hug her neck and she whoosh's out of our cottage our family made for us and make to the main house in less than a minute.
"Baby Annie!" I hear Nessie run towards us.
"Nessie!" I missed her. We hug.
"My little Annie Pie, how did you sleep?" Daddy asks standing next to Nessie. He picks me up. The nickname of pie happened after they bought me a apple pie that turns out I love eating and had pie all over me. Since then I am Daddy's little pie.
Nessie giggles, "Annie Pie?" and we explain the story.
"Daddy to answer your question, I slept really well," he smiles and sets me on my feet after he gave me a huge kiss on my cheek.
"Come on Annie," Nessie skips away too fast for me to follow. Therefore for now I relay on my sense of smell. Following her scent I wobble slowly towards the living room where it stops.
"Welcome back Annie," Grandpa carries me and hugs me hard.
"Thank you Grandpa," I hug him back.
For the next hour I'm passed by every family member saying their welcomes. Everyone comments that I look bigger; which I like to hear. They talk about the trip and all my reactions which was embarrassing. We hand all of Nessie's gifts. We didn't buy the others anything because they pretty much have it all.
I tug on Daddy's shirt. He is very tall for my tiny figure. He looks down and carries me. "Daddy can I now go to Embry's?"
Before he can answer I smell the forest walking in. "Hello Jacob," Daddy greets him curtly.
"Hey Jake" Nessie hugs him.
"Hey Nessie. Hey Anna, when did you guys come back?" he asks as he sits Nessie in his arms.
"Yesterday,"
"Embry is going to be excited. Actually I came to pick Nessie up to go to the garage, want to come?"
I look at Daddy with pleading eyes. "How can I say no to my little pie?" I giggle. "Yes, you can go sweetie," I kiss his cheek and hug him.
"Thanks Daddy,"
"Tell Embry I want you back and eight no later," he warns.
I nod and run towards Jacob waving goodbye fast before someone changes their minds. I take a hold of Jacob's hand and drag him out as he laughs. "In a hurry Annie?"
I raise my eyebrow. "Yes," I answer truthfully.
He laughs some more and helps me into his car. I'm bouncing in my sit as we take the route to La push. "Annie how was the trip?" Ness asks with a smile on her face.
"Good. Uncle Garrett was very interesting, always made me laugh. He had more stories about wars then Uncle Jasper. Aunt Kate tested a few theories, I can touch the lighting. Turns out her powers don't work on me. Aunt Carmen and Uncle Eleazar told me stories of their time. Aunt Tanya took me soaring. After that we went Isla Esme and it was beautiful. I cover the sun every time we ran into humans. After a week and a half there we went to Portugal, the history was to die for. Momma and Daddy spend all the time with me," I sigh remembering my trip. I stare up since after I finish the silence followed. They are staring at me open mouth.
"No wonder you didn't want to return," Jacob says jokingly.
I frown. "Yes, I wanted to return, I miss Embry,"
"And he has missed you," Nessie sighs. "He kept asking if I knew what you were doing every day and how you were doing,"
"Really?" I asks surprised. I know he cares for me but it makes me all gooey and warm to know he cares that much.
"Yes, and he will be happy to see you," Nessie's squeals make me even more excited.
We make it to the run down, wooden, in need of paint, garage. My excitement had my hand throwing the door open and with my small legs I ran to the woodsy scent I love. I follow it until it comes to a stop at the bottom of a smashed car. I hear the clanking of the tools and him rolling out from under it. His smile is so wide I'm pretty sure it split in half; or won't be able to go back to normal. His hair more tussled than normal, his chocolate eyes seem to melt ever more. His perfect teeth in display. I missed him.
"Annie!" he hugs me spinning me around.
"Embry!" I scream with equal force.
His boss, Jacob, gave him the day off and tomorrow. We all know he wanted to spend time with Nessie too. I talk none stop about my trip for hours, and he listens like there isn't anything more important in life. Which in turn makes me feel good. He buys me some ice cream and we sit at the beach. Small warm breeze passing through, soft sand under us… I yawn.
"Someone's sleepy," he comments with a smile.
"Yes, but I don't want to go," I complain and lay my head on his arm. He wraps it around me and squeezes me towards his body.
"Sleep Annie, I'll carry you back," I smile feeling the warmth that always radiates from his body. What should I expect? He is a werewolf. And I still think that makes him look cool, awesome as the humans say now in days.
I'm startled awake by a movement that seems to be putting me down gently. My eyes flutter open but my tiredness seems to close them. "Shh," he coos.
"Embry, can you stay?" I think I'll sleep better if he was here.
I don't hear anything until a huff, I think it belonged to Daddy, and a chuckle startles the silence. "Yes, I won't leave," and that sends my tiredness in a happy sleep.
I wake to a low snoring and the sweatiness of my right hand. My eyes open seeing a ball of curly hair. I peek at the bottom and see Embry's head pressed on my bed and him looking down, asleep. I must say he looks uncomfortable. But I get the same gooeyness feeling again; my cheesy grin appears. I take my hand out of his hot hold and climb down. I tip toe my way to him making sure I don't wake him up; yet.
As I near him I lean down and kiss his cheek. His eyes pop open and smiles at me. "Morning Princess, how you'd sleep?"
"Good, and you?"
"Besides getting the whole rule about sleeping in the floor, I slept well." His eyes become wide and he looks around. "What time is it?"
With my half-Vampire eyes I look at my watch that is semi-falling form the pocket of my sweater shirt. "Seven thirty," I answer.
"I have to patrol in thirty minutes," he solemnly says.
My eyes fall. "Oh, ok. Don't worry. I can do something with Nessie, I guess," I shrug.
"I can ask Jacob to move my-"
"-No Embry, is fine really," I offer a small smile.
A knock on the door interrupted. "Sweetie, Alice wants us to go with her to the mall and we're bringing Bella and Nessie, want to come?" Momma asks with a smile from the door.
"Yes," I look back at Embry. "See, don't worry about me," I kiss his cheek once more and stand looking at Momma. "Can I shower first?"
"Of course honey," I hop up after I hug Embry and run to my big bathroom.
I hear a small whispering conversation outside my door but I ignore it. I love taking a shower, makes time for thinking and also feeling that freshness when you're done is the best. As I finish I wrap the white fluffy tower around me and walk into my huge closet; that is connected to my bathroom. I pick out some cream leggings and brown sweater. I raise my wet hair in a ponytail. Slipping on my fluffy boots I walk out.
I see Embry yawning sitting at the end of my bed. "Done," I proclaim.
"And you look pretty," his smile never bores me. He stands and stretches his hand. "C'mon,"
I look at his hand. "Embry?"
"Yes,"
"Can you give me a piggy back ride?" I ask suddenly embarrassed.
"Sure," he bends down so I can jump up. "Get on," I do and a fit of giggles suddenly erupts from me. "Ready?"
"Yes!"
"Bella, try it on," Aunt Alice encourages her. We all have more than a several bags full of clothes, shoes, accessories. But Aunt Bella refuses to buy anything saying she has to much already. We currently stand in New York in Company, in the mall. One of Momma's favorites.
"Alice I said no," Aunt Bella scowls.
"Well whatever, I already bought you clothes anyways," Aunt Alice huffs.
"Nessie, is it always like this?" I question whispering.
"Yes, I would say all the time," she whispers back.
"And she's gotten better over the years," Momma adds making us giggle.
"Still needs more improvement," Aunt Alice mumbles.
"Hey, can we not talk about me like I'm not here?" Aunt Bella fails in sounding serious. We laugh.
The bickering comes to a complete stop when I start to smell something. My nostrils flaring. Spinning my head I bare my teeth, lip curling when I see a young women who has giving herself a cut by the knife in a store in front of us. With my half-Vampire vision I zero in at the scene a good seven yards away. The blood oozing from her finger, delicious drops dripping to the floor. I growl.
"We need to get out," Aunt Alice panics.
The beating of her heart sounds more intense. Like speakers directly to my need for blood. I take my hunting stand still looking at her with hunger. We're all hissing, trying to control it. I take a step forward but before I know I'm in the bathroom of the mall being pinned by Aunt Bella. I cover my nose to stop from smelling the deliciousness, but my throat begins to hurt from the need of it. "Momma, it burns," I clutch it; staring at the side I see Momma holding to the wall in dear life hissing uncontrollably. Aunt Alice sits on the floor looking away from the door; her eyes shut hard.
"We need help," Nessie says gasping in pain.
My nostrils begin to hurt, burn. I feel like my throat caught on fire and I need it to put it out. I can see Aunt Bella is also struggling but still has me pined against the wall in one of the bathroom stalls. Everybody is still, frozen in their spots scared that if they move then they'll run towards the exquisite smell.
"Aunt Bella hold me tight," I say through gritted teeth. She does as I say and I feel more crushed against the cinder block wall that I feel with one more push we might make it collapse. I begin moving my hand down until I reach her phone. I bring it back and I dial the first number I see.
"Hello love, how's the shopping?" Uncle Edwards voice purrs.
"Uncle Edward," my teeth grind hard, almost out of breath.
"Annie?" he sounds confused. "What's going on?" now his worried voice hits my ears.
"Help…blood." I gasp out. It hurts too much. I begin crying, I can't with the pain.