p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"Hello again! I know the story is going a bit slow right now, but I don't want it to be too rushed. I rather you get to know the characters a bit more, but I know that can be boring, so I apologize for that./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAs we walked at our faster pace to the field, I noticed the lightning and thunder were getting nearer./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Don't worry, Alice makes sure the rain doesn't get to us," Embry said after looking at my worried face. "That's why we try to play whenever it's possible since it doesn't happen all that often."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What about your mother, though? Will she be alright all alone?" I didn't feel comfortable leaving her like that, especially with a storm coming./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanEmbry's face immediately hardened and looked away. "She'll be fine. She won't be alone."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWas he talking about his dad? Not wanting to make it any more uncomfortable between us, I changed the subject. "How's it like being the beta? Do you get to boss a lot of people around?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"It's alright, don't get to give any orders actually. Jake is almost always around and if he's not, he's a wolf so we can talk to him." He laughed at my weirded out face. "It's not that bad, reading each other's minds… okay, maybe it is." He added after I raised my eyebrow./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I would hate it. I love the Cullen's, but that's why I hate spending the day with them because I know Edward knows EVERYTHING." Just thinking about it made me start blushing. God only knows how many times I caught myself thinking about some of the guys back from school or even worse, those lonely nights in my apartment…/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Hmm, with you turning that color, I would like to know what goes through that head of yours." A wicked smile rose to his lips and I couldn't help another wave of blood to my face. Dammit Sofia!/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanLaughing at me again, he nudged me. "Don't worry, we all have that issue. We are part human, you know?" Then he winked. I had to hand it to him, he was charming and his good looks didn't make it any better. He reminded me of Sam, well they all did, they were all dark and tall, at least six feet tall, with a very muscular build. Embry was leaner and not as tall as the others, but not the shortest either. His hair was also short and his face, when relaxed wasn't as stern as Sam's, it even had some softer features that made him look younger. Then his dark brown eyes turned to look at me, "What are you looking at?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You," I answered, blushing a bit. Ugh. "I never really looked at you because I thought you would get mad at me. You kinda scared me." I confessed, avoiding his eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"That's my fault and I'm sorry," He said stopping and placing his hand on my shoulder. "I'll make it up to you, alright?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanLooking into his eyes, I knew that I could trust him. "I'd love that."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Now c'mon, or we're going to be late for the game." He smiled as he grabbed my hand and pulled me further into the woods./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAs we approached the clearing, I heard the voices of members of the pack messing around with one another and Jacob teasing Nessie. The Cullen's were at a distance away, setting up the field and talking amongst themselves. Before anyone could hear or smell us, Edward was already looking at our direction with a smile. I waved shyly as we walked into the clearing/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Sofia! You came!" Nessie yelled and rushed over to me, embracing me in a hug as Embry made his way to the pack. Missing the comfort and love from my dear friend, I hugged her as tight as I could. Without looking up, I could hear Claire rushing to us./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm sorry for isolating myself," I whispered to Nessie. "I wasn't as good of a friend as you are."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanBefore she could respond, Claire pushed Nessie out of the way to hug me. "I missed you! You hermit! Don't ever do that again!" With that, she slapped my shoulder and I laughed as she tried to do it again, but I held her in a hug. "Don't worry human, I don't plan on ever doing that again," I promised. "How about you teach me how to play some baseball?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You've never played?" Emmett's booming voice filled the field. "Oh, this will be fun!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"How will we split up the teams? We already had seven on each team?" Rosalie muttered./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanBefore I could opt to just watch the game, Embry spoke up. "Sofia can play with us. Let's make it Cullen's versus the hybrids." He joked which made me and the younger wolves laugh, but I could tell Jacob and the Cullen's didn't find it all too funny./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI watched as Edward, Jasper, and Emmett spread out to field while Bella, Rosalie, and Carlisle chose a base to stand next to. Esme was of course the umpire, but she watched the game at a distance, sitting next to Claire to keep her company, and Alice was the pitcher./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe game proceeded once Seth went up to bat and I quickly learned the rules and objectives. When I didn't understand something, Nessie was there to explain and give me tips on what to do and of course chat throughout the entire game. It was also funny seeing all these tall, dark, bulky men act like kids and run so quickly from one base to the other, when it was possible. The Cullen's were very fast and made it almost impossible for anyone to make it back to home base./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWhen it was my turn, I was so nervous and praying I wouldn't make a fool out of myself. Walking up to base, I positioned myself the way I had watched the previous players do./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Relax! Do what feels most natural, Sofia." Embry said from third base. He was the only one that hadn't been caught and needed me to do well to score us a point, which only made it worse for me. That's when I felt a wave of comfort hit me, relaxing me immediately. I looked up at Jasper and smiled, then closed my eyes and got ready./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThis was going to be a good style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span/p
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