Second Chances
Disclaimer: I own nada.
A/N: Just wanted to put on more fluff and make Madison fall in love with Embry. I want to make her see that he's not just a horny werewolf. He actually cares for her.
Stay With Me
"OMG!" I hissed in irritation. I was really getting tired of spending so much time with these three guys. They were constantly procrastinating and the task of finishing all the work was falling on me. I knew it! I practically ended up doing all the work.
"Damn, Jacob! I thought you would've finished the part that was assigned to you." I mumbled angrily, closing my binder.
"Madie, I had to work late last night. We all had to stay late for work. It was a difficult night. I didn't have time to do my part of the assignment." Jacob said, running a large hand over his face. "I'm sorry!"
"Look, I understand that you guys have to work. I also work every afternoon and I still have time to do my part of this damn assignment. You guys promised that you would help me. I've been up extra early all this week trying to finish the homework. I want to get an A! I don't want to fail. We have three more days before we turn in the work… I just want you guys to actually help me." I said, leaning back against the cold wall.
The school library was practically empty and we were sitting on the floor, on the back corner behind Quileute History and The American Women History bookshelves. Jacob and Embry looked exhausted and haggard. Quil had fallen asleep on the floor, his Washington State University hat was over his eyes as he snored softly. Embry's head was on my lap and my red sweater was on his face, blocking the light.
"We're going to help you. It's just that last night was a very hard night. We practically stayed up all night." Jacob said, resting his face in his hands. "We came to school, because we didn't want to let you down. "
Embry took the sweater off his face and looked up at me. His beautiful smile made my heart skip faster, but I needed to be strong. I wasn't going to let him know how he affected me.
"I came to school to be supportive of you. I knew how much you would miss me." he said teasingly, placing his hand on my face. He caressed my cheek tenderly. "We should leave. It's already past five and the school building closes at six o'clock." he said, sitting up.
"No! You guys can go if you want. I'll stay until they close. I have to finish this tonight. I have two essays that I have to also finish by Thursday. I don't want to be strained and pulling my hair off because of the stress. I already have enough on my plate." I said, taking a deep breath and placing my hand on Embry's thick dark hair.
It was so strange to feel so relax the minute my hand made contact with Embry's warm skin. He was so soft and the way he looked at me made my heart beat so fast. His beautiful eyes were enough to keep me sane. Never have I felt this way. I knew that I was extremely attracted to his physique, but maybe I was growing fond of him. I knew that the way I was feeling towards him was changing. I felt comfortable around him. He was kind to me and very overprotective of me.
"You should go, Em. Take Quil and Jake with you. The three of you definitely need to rest. We'll meet here tomorrow." I said, pulling Embry's head off my lap. "Go home and sleep."
Embry shook his head and reached for me. "I will stay with you. I want to stay with you!" he whined, resting his head on my shoulder. "Jake and Quil can leave."
Jake stood up and kicked Quil on the stomach. "Wake up!" he hissed, but Quil continued to sleep. "Oh look! It's Clare-bear. Ohh, she looks so cute with that blue dress." Jacob said in Quil's ear mockingly.
Quil quickly sat up and looked around. "Where is she? She doesn't like blue dresses!" he muttered, rubbing the sleep off his eyes.
Embry and Jacob were both laughing at poor Quil. "Ugh, damn fuckers." he bleated, throwing his cap at Jacob and punching the wall. "I thought it was Clare-bear. I haven't seen her in three weeks." he complained, standing up and narrowing his eyes at Jacob.
"I tried to wake you up, but you were just being a dick. So I used the only method that works." Jacob laughed, picking up his books. "Plus, that trick never gets old." he sniggered. "It's always funny to see you fall for the same trick."
"Whatever, bitch." he mumbled, intentionally bumping hard against Jacob. "I'll get you back." he threatened.
Quil waved goodbye and left us as he mumbled and cursed angrily.
"Well, I'll call you tonight with the answers, Madie. Take care and see you tomorrow." Jacob said, tousling my hair and kneeling to give me a friendly kiss on the cheek. I slapped his hand and rolled my eyes at him.
"Embry, remember that the backdoor is open so you can go in without bothering Billy." Jacob said, kicking Embry on the sheen. "Try not to stay out too late!" he said, wriggling his eyebrows playfully.
I smiled and watched as Jacob walked out of the room, leaving Embry and me alone. I started putting my binder inside the backpack, when Embry began to help me put my stuff away. He was serious and I couldn't help think why he'd to stay at Jacob's house.
"Thanks for staying behind. I guess that I should get going too, before it gets real dark and I have to walk home alone. You really didn't have to stay." I said softly, closing the front zipper of my bag. "I know how tire you are. I bet you're hungry too." I said, offering him a small smile.
He grinned and nodded. "Don't worry about it. I like your company. And I'm usually hungry around this time." he laughed, taking my hand in his. "Do you want to stop at that diner on Hail St. It's nice and the food is OK." he said, rubbing circles on the back of my hand with his thumb.
"Like a date?" I asked curiously. Embry nodded. "OK, but I'll pay for the food since you stay behind to wait for me." I said, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.
"OK, but I get to take you home afterwards. I don't want you walking alone at night. It gets dangerous around La Push at night!" he said softly, pulling me up to a standing position.
"I heard from my Uncle M, that there are wild animals as large as trucks that roam around at night. He said that they look like large wolves." I said, holding his hand.
Embry nodded and kissed my forehead. "I doubt those large wolves are dangerous." he said.
"I doubt it too, but it's best to be on the safe side. I wouldn't want to come across something like that." I said, shuddering at the thought of coming across a large beast or wolf.
"Don't worry, you'll be fine as long as you don't wander off to the woods." he said sternly. "Let's get going. I'm hungry and I want to eat. I also need a hug, a kiss and more hugs from you to feel completely happy." he chuckled, pulling me against his chest.
"Why do you treat me like this?" I blurted out. "I mean, I guess it's nice to have a guy doting all his attention on me… but why? I don't understand why you care so much for me." I uttered.
Embry looked down at me and kissed my forehead tenderly. "You won't believe me if I told you!" he whispered, bringing his lips to mine. The kiss was soft and gentle. He barely used his tongue and his hands remained on my back. He was the perfect gentleman.
"I'll be the judge of that." I said breaking the kiss and resting my hands on his chest as I stared into his honey-colored eyes. "Just tell me, please!"
He smiled and reached down to grab my backpack and turned around to face the bookshelves. "I'll tell you eventually. Let's go Madie-baby." he muttered, and began walking. I followed after him, trying to keep up with every stride he took. For every step he took, I had to take three steps in order to try to catch up with him.
"Wait for me, Em." I whined, running behind him. "You walk too fast!" I complained, as I ran down the empty corridors of the school.
Embry slowed down and stopped to wait for me. He smiled down at me and took my hand. Together we walked to the school's parking lot where his old Ford Ranger was parked. He opened the door for me and helped me in. He got in the driver's side and placed my bag in between our seats.
"Diego's Diner here we come!" he said excitedly, turning on the ignition and looking at me. "Ready, princess?" he said, taking my hand and kissing the back of it carefully.
"Yes, I'm very ready to eat!" I chortled. We drove for ten minutes, before we were pulling in to the small diner's parking lot.
"It's full tonight." he groaned. "Look at the line of people waiting to be seated." he said, placing his hand on his forehead. "I'm so fucking hungry that I don't feel like fucking waiting. Shit!"
We stared at the long line of people waiting to be seated. It was ridiculous how a small diner was so crowded. I felt sorry for Embry. He'd worked all night and had gone to school the next day. I felt compelled to invite him to my small house. I had leftovers from the other night.
"We can go to my house. I'll feed you." I said nonchalantly, leaning towards him to have a better look at the front of the diner. "My aunt and uncle aren't home and I have leftovers from last night; you can stay for dinner if you want. I can prepare more food to go with the meatloaf I prepared last night."
He positioned his hands on the steering wheel and quickly glanced at the long line of Diego's Diner. He frowned and pouted as he continued to stare out the window.
"I can have a complete meal in less time than it would take us to order and wait!" I said, caressing his stomach. "I know you're hungry Embry-baby, I can feel your stomach growling." I teased.
He gave me a quick smile and slouched on his seat. "OK." he mumbled sadly.
"Are you that hungry, Em?" I said, pinching his cheek. He nodded as he put the car on reverse. We drove down the main road for about fifteen minutes. "Make a right where you see a weird anchor-shaped mailbox." I said.
He made a right turn and we drove down to the end of the dirt road. "We made it!" I said happily, removing the seatbelt and taking my backpack in my hand.
The sun was slowly setting over the tree tops and the cold evening breeze blew softly. I opened the passenger's door and closed it behind me. Embry still remained in the truck staring at me.
"Are you staying there all night?" I asked a little annoyed, as I walked to the side of his door.
"Come on, get out." I sighed, opening his door, leaning over him to unbuckle his seatbelt.
"Who lives in those houses?" he asked curiously, pulling me closed to him and resting his chin on my hair.
"Oh, well," I said, sitting on the edge of his seat. "My Aunt Ryona Moon and Uncle M live on the large red brick house and I live in the small yellow house. You can see how cute I keep it!" I said proudly.
"You live alone?" he asked baffled. I nodded and got out of his truck. "Why? Aren't you scared of being alone?" he asked worriedly, getting out of the truck and slamming the door shut.
"Nope!" I said casually. "I've always been alone. Plus, I have Siobhan. He's my baby Siberian Husky." I said smugly. "It's better that I live alone. My aunt and uncle are always traveling. Even if they are around, they rarely talk to me. I work hard to have food and to pay for my bills, so I really don't see the problem in it." I said, taking his hand and guiding him to the front porch.
"But-" he said quietly, "what if something happens to you? There would be no one to help you." he said concerned.
I released his hand and began to search under the floor mat for my house keys. "It's ok. I can take care of myself. I've done so must of my life. My father was always working and my older brothers were never in the house to help. My mother left me when I was six, so I practically got used to it." I said, trying to hide my sadness. I opened the door and walked in. Embry followed me and took off his shoes.
"But it's not OK. How do you pay for utilities and for your food?" he asked, closing and locking the door behind him.
"Oh, my father sends me eight hundred dollars a month. I also work part-time as a translator over the phone. I use my brother, Alexis' name and social security number. I have direct deposit and that's how I stay afloat while going to school. I'm also saving up to buy myself a car." I told him.
I took off my coat and hung it neatly in the closet. "I know it's a small house, but it has everything I need. I'm actually content living on my own. I have internet, basic cable and my cell phone, so it's alright."
"How many bedrooms?" he asked, walking around the small living room/kitchen area. "And bathrooms?"
"It's fairly small. There are two bedrooms and one bathroom. There are three closets, a very small laundry room and no basement." I said, walking to the kitchen and turning on the oven. I opened the freezer and pulled out a few vegetables steamer bags.
"Em, we're having meatloaf with red tomato sauce and mixed vegetables and russet potatoes. What do you want to drink? I have Sierra Mist, OJ, Root Beer and water." I said, turning around to see Embry glorious face.
He was leaning against the counter, his arms crossed over his chest and a sad smile on his face. "Thanks, Madie-baby. I'll have Root Beer, please." he said softly.
I placed the meatloaf in the oven for twenty minutes and retrieved two plates from the cabinet. Embry helped me set the table and placed the steam vegetables in the microwave.
"The food is ready!" I shouted happily, taking out the meatloaf out of the oven. I placed it on the table and motioned to a very tired Embry to join me at the table. "Come on hungry man, you don't want the food to get cold."
He grinned and sat facing me on the table. We said our prayers and I poured Root Beer on his glass and gave him a large serving of the meatloaf, steamed veggies and potatoes.
"This taste great!" he mumbled with his mouth full of food. He took a sip of his drink to wash it down. "This meatloaf taste great. You should marry me!" he exclaimed, taking another bite of his food.
"Ha!" I said sarcastically. "I will never marry someone like you." I said, drinking some of my soda. Embry stopped chewing and stared at me, his face a mixture of sadness and confusion. "You'll probably enslave me to the kitchen. I cook real well!" I quickly added when I saw his saddened expression.
"Oh," he muttered. "I thought that I wasn't worth it… you know, be worth to be married to." he said, looking down at his food.
"Oh, no, no!" I said, trying to fix my mistake. "I think you're a great person. I really don't know you well, but I can say that you're a nice individual." I said, putting down my fork and taking the napkin in my hands. "I just don't believe in marriage!" I said abruptly.
Embry stared at me curiously. "Why don't you believe in marriage?" he asked, placing his elbows on the table and leaning towards me as he rested his head in his hands. "I think marriage is nice!" he added quickly. "I've never been married- I'm not even Christian, but wasn't it sanctified by the Lord?" he asked inquisitively.
I shrugged my shoulders and slouched on the chair. "I don't really know. I guess it's because of the great example my parents gave me." I said mockingly, playing with my potatoes. "Are your parents still married?" I asked interested.
Embry shook his head and took the fork in his hands. "I never met my father." he said, looking down at his plate.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to snoop in to your life. I-I'm… sorry." I muttered sadly, not feeling hungry all of a sudden. "I always make comments that are out of line." I said self-deprecatingly.
Embry reached forward and took my hand in his. "Baby girl, don't say that. You're perfect. There's nothing bad about you." he said caringly, kissing the back of my hand. "You can ask me anything you want. I'll answer as truthfully as I can." he said softly, caressing his face with my hand.
I looked up at his beautiful flawless face. His honeyed eyes were glistening softly, under the light of the lamp over the dining room table. I nodded at him and continued to eat my dinner in silence.
"Em?" I asked, stabbing the vegetables that were left on my plate.
"Yes, Madie-baby." he answered gently.
"What are you? You said that I've to stay with you to find out. Is it something bad?" I asked nervously.
Embry laughed. "I can't tell you yet. I need the aura of mystery for a little while longer."
I rolled my eyes at him and giggled. "You're so full of it!"
When we were finished, he helped me clean the dishes and organize the kitchen. It was almost seven thirty at night when we finished. Embry really looked tired, so we sat in the living room and watched some television. He dozed off into a peaceful slumber and I continued to watch the news. It was about nine o'clock when my cell phone rang.
"Hello," I said casually, slowly placing Embry's head on a pillow as I stood up from the sofa and sat on the floor next to him.
"Madison, it's Tom!" said the male voice on the other line. "I know it's strange that I call, but I just wanted to hear your voice. I miss you, baby!"
My hands suddenly began to tremble as I held on tight to the cellular. "I thought you didn't want to speak to me. Last time I checked, you totally blew me off and told me to forget you." I said, trying to sound casually.
"I was wrong." he sighed. "I never knew how much you meant to me, until you were gone. I asked your brother Adrian if he could give me your address. He gave me your cell phone number and told me to ask you for your address. I want to visit you during our Christmas break, if it's alright with you." he said hopeful.
I scratched my head nervously, afraid to wake Embry up. I didn't want him to hear the conversation I was having with my ex-boyfriend. I truly felt like I was cheating on Embry. I didn't want to hurt him. I was so confused. I really didn't know what I felt for them anymore. I missed Tom, but having Embry beside me was enough to help me forget the four year relationship I had with Thomas.
"How the fuck did you get my number?" I asked him, ignoring what he said. "I don't want you to call me anymore. I have decided to start a new life here in the West Coast. I don't want to have anything with you anymore. I think you made it clearly to me that afternoon. You said that you had enough to worry about in life and that you didn't want to pursue a long distance relationship." I said curtly.
"Baby, I was angry at your father and I took it out on you." he replied quickly. "I was an idiot and I take all those words back. I should've stood up for you when your father found us fucking." he said desperately.
"Oh, so now it was fucking? I thought you called it love-making! I see how it is!" I said sharply. "Please, don't call me anymore. I've forgotten you and I found solace in the idea of having a fresh start around people that don't know anything about me. I'll appreciate if you don't call me anymore. And please tell Adrian that I don't want him to give away my personal cell phone number to anyone. Good night and leave me alone!" I shouted, snapping the cell phone shut.
Embry jumped up, startled by my screaming. His eyes were staring down at me worriedly. "What happened?" he asked concerned, sitting on the floor beside me. "What happened?" he asked again, taking me in his arms and hugging me.
"Nothing," I said, holding back tears. "It was just a wrong number." I said, faking a smile.
Embry caressed my face and kissed my cheeks. "What happened?" he asked softly, kissing my neck so tenderly.
"Why don't you tell me what happened? Who was the person that called you?" he asked, taking the cell phone from my hand. He pulled me closer to him and with his other hand opened the cellular phone and checked the number.
He looked down at me and arched his eyebrow. "Who called you?" he asked more sternly, pulling me up to his lap. "Was it your father?" he asked intrigued, curling his index finger in my hair. "An ex-boyfriend?"
I looked in to his eyes as tears roamed freely down my face. "I-I told h-him to leave m-me alone!" I mumbled gloomily. "He called me! I didn't call him… I swear!" I cried, wrapping my arms around his neck and crying on his chest. "I didn't call him, Embry."
He rubbed comforting soothing circles on my back. "Hush, Madie-baby, it's alright. I believe you!" he whispered softly, as he rocked me in his arms. "I believe you, beautiful!"
I held on tightly to him and buried my face on the crook of his neck. "Embry, why are you so kind to me? What did I do to deserve such kindness from you? Why did you leave your girlfriend of two years for me?" I sobbed, clinging tightly to him.
Embry caressed my face with his chin. "It's hard to say, Madison, I can't even describe it. I promise someday I'll tell you!" he whispered.
"You're so mysterious, dummy." I tried to laugh, but the tears were still falling copiously. "Embry, don't go to Jake's house tonight. Can you stay with me?" I asked, snaking my arms around his neck, bringing his face closed to mine.
"I don't have any clothes. All my stuff is at his house." he said softly, leaning forward to kiss me.
"Then let's go over to his house to get your clothes. You can stay with me as long as you want. I have two bedrooms and they're fully furnished." I said, running my hand through his dark locks.
"Do you really want me to stay?" he asked expectantly. "Won't it be too much trouble? You already cooked for me. I don't want to be an inconvenience for you."
I shook my head and stared into his eyes. "No, there's no inconvenience. My aunt and uncle won't mind. They aren't like my father. They don't give a flying fuck about what I do. As long as I stay out of trouble, drugs and the police, they are ok." I said, smiling at him. "They're hippies."
We stayed holding each other for a little while, until my phone rang. It was Jacob and he'd finished his part of the assignment and wanted to give me his answers.
"Jacob, can you give me the answers tomorrow. I don't have my notebook with me at this moment." I said, playing with Embry's t-shirt.
"But I worked my ass to do them, because you were complaining and whining about how irresponsible we were. I can't believe that you would be so heartless." he teased, laughing heartedly on the phone.
"You're such a drama queen." I chortled, straightening Embry's collar. "Hey, I have someone that wants to talk to you."
"Who? Is it Embry Call?" he asked, feigning surprise. I laughed and handed Embry the phone.
"Dude, it's Embry. I'm going to stop by your house to get some of my clothes. I'll be staying at Madison's for a while." he said, his cheeks turning red with embarrassment.
"Fuck, no! Go to hell, Black. I hope that your imprint gives you hell for saying such a thing!" Embry chuckled.
He nodded and laughed at whatever Jacob Black was saying. Embry's eyes sparkled as he looked at me. "Yeah, I guess I'm lucky. Anyways, I'll be there in like five minutes. See ya!"
He closed the phone and stared at me. "You know what crossed my mind?" he asked seriously.
I shook my head and moved away from him. "Jacob has your number and I don't. That kinda bothers me."
I shrugged. "You never asked." I said nonchalantly, getting to my feet and looking down at him. "Let's go get your clothes. You need to take a shower and go to bed. You need to sleep, so I can finish our Chemistry homework. And don't worry about your part; I'll do it for you!"
I've never seen a young man jump so high. He held me in his arms and planted kisses all over my face. His smile was so radiant that I couldn't help grinning