CHAPTER 9

Leah POV:

We spent the next couple of days just hanging out. We went to the beach and Seth and Embry played Frisbee while I read a book. Then we would all swim. We brought a cooler with lunch in it and we took a break to eat. Jared and Kim came down and hung out, too. I realized how little I knew Kim. I had stayed away from everyone for so long. It was nice to get to know her a little more. She was kind of shy, but she was coming out more and more.

The next day, Quil brought Claire. It was hilarious to watch those two. They tried to build a sandcastle, but Quil would get a wall built and Claire would knock it down. Then she would run toward the water and Quil would run after her and bring her back. He would set her down, and she would take off again, giggling the whole way.

Embry shook his head and laughed. "That guy has a lot more patience than me. I'm glad I didn't imprint on a toddler!"

I got really quiet. Just like I always did when I heard that word. He looked over at me and said, "Sorry, Leah. I know you hate that word. But I mean it. Oh my God! I couldn't stand it!"

I had to laugh then. He smiled and leaned over and kissed me. "Come on. Time for a swim." He pulled me up and out into the water. We played in the waves for awhile then walked back on shore and plopped down on our towels.

"Embwey, build a castle." Claire brought Embry her sand bucket and he smiled and said, "OK, Claire. You won't knock it down will you?" She gave him a big grin and shook her head. He just laughed and started filling the bucket with sand. I sat back and watched. She was so ornery, but so cute.

Seth talked Bella into coming to the beach with us while Jake finished a truck he was working on. He said he would come out when he was done. Seth was sitting with her and they were engrossed in some conversation about a book he had read. Seth? Read a book?

I had known Bella a long time. Her dad was my one of my dad's best friends. And Billy Black's. So, as kids, we were all thrown together. She was shy as a kid, and didn't always join in. Jake had always been in love with her for as long as I can remember. She didn't come around as much after her mom and dad split up. She came in the summers and we would see her. But Jake never gave up. When she moved in with her Dad, they struck up a friendship again. I had spent a lot of time not liking her when she was with her bloodsucker boyfriend, Edward, not only because he was, well a vampire, but because she was supposedly Jacob's best friend, but I always thought she treated him like shit. I was trying really hard to change my opinion since she dumped her bloodsucker and hooked up with Jake. I knew it was really important to him that we all like her. So, I was trying.

Just then Jake came running up behind Bella and plopped down beside her. She jumped a mile. "Hey Bells!" he laughed. She smacked him and then he kissed her. "So what' going on?" he asked us.

"Not much, bro. Just hanging," Embry said as he shoveled more sand into Claire's bucket. She had left him and was asking Quil for a juice box.

"Nice sand bucket, Em," Jake said with a grin. Embry slipped him the finger. Jake laughed and said, "Man, I need a swim. Anyone want to go into the water? Anyone, huh?" He looked at Bella, who said, "No way. Water is not my thing, you know that."

"OK, Seth. Me and you. Let's go!" Jake stood up and took off his t-shirt and threw it so it would land on Bella. She rolled her eyes at him, but I noticed she checked him out. Jake was pretty hot, I had to admit. He turned and ran to the water with Seth following him like a little puppy. It was pathetic, really. But kind of cute. Claire took off running to join them, so Quil picked her and took her into the water.

Embry looked at me. "Oh good grief. Go! Play!" I told him. He grinned, kissed me and took off to play with the other boys. I looked over at Bella and said, "I guess it takes some boys longer to grow up."

She smiled. "It's good to see you happy, Leah," Bella said.

"Um, thanks."

"I know it's none of my business, I'm sorry. It's just, I hated seeing you in so much pain," she said.

I nodded. What do I say to that? "Embry has helped a lot."

We looked out at the guys in the water. Embry, Jake and Seth were body surfing on the waves. Quil had Claire in the shallow water and she was splashing him. "He's a great guy, Leah. And he is crazy about you."

I looked at her. "What?"

"Can't you tell? I've never seen Embry act this way around any of his bimbos," she answered. "He's got it bad, Leah. Are you OK with that?"

I wasn't sure I wanted to have this conversation. Let alone with Bella. "I like him a lot. But I don't want to rush into any relationship right now, you know. We're just hanging out and having fun. He knows that."

It got quiet between us so I picked up my book and pretended to read. I just didn't want to talk to her about me and Embry. She's right. It wasn't her business. Plus I didn't want to think about a relationship. I knew Embry wanted more. I could feel it. But, as always, the terror would creep in and I just couldn't think about it. She picked up her book and we sat there like that until the boys came up on the beach and shook water on us. They always found that hilarious, for some reason. Bella used Jake's t-shirt to dry off. Embry laid down next to me on his stomach and said, "I'm starving! I say it's time for pizza. Who's in?"

Jake, Quil and Seth said, "I'm in!" at the same time then they laughed.

Claire jumped on Embry's back and said, "I want pizza!" He looked at me, laughed and said, "Give Leah the lip, Claire." Claire gave me the sad puppy eyes and stuck her little lip out.

"Alright, alright! Call her off, let's go," I said laughing.

Claire clapped her hands and said, "YAY!" Quil picked her up off of Embry and we gathered all of our stuff and went back to my house to order pizza. It was a fun night just hanging out, eating pizza and laughing. I had missed out on so much . . . it felt great to just let go and have a good time.

Embry POV:

Jake and I had spent a lot of time in the garage the next couple of weeks so I didn't get to spend as much time with Leah as I would have liked to. Billy and Charlie had spread the word around and we always had work now! We had a car we were repairing right now for a friend of Charlie's, and it needed a lot work. Brakes, alternator, fan belt, you name it. I had put new brakes on the front and back and we were bleeding them right now. I hoped after this was done, we could take a break.

Jake looked at me and said, "Looks good. I'll take it for a test drive and see how it does." He was wiping his hands on a shop rag. "Then I gotta shower and get dressed. I gotta hot date tonight!" He grinned.

"Really? Where you taking her, dude?" I asked.

"We are going to the movies. I promised her I would take her on a real date since I've been working so much lately. Hey, why don't you call Leah and we'll all go?"

I smiled. Might get me out of the doghouse, too. Leah had been a little distant. I had been working a lot. "OK, let me call her while you take the car out."

He nodded and got into the car. It started right up and he took off down the road.

I dialed Leah's number on my cell phone. "Hello?"

"Hey, baby. Jake and Bella are going to the movies tonight, and he invited us to go along. Wanna double with them?"

She was quiet for a moment. Uh-oh. Not a good sign. "Um, yea, I guess. What time?" she asked.

"I don't know. I forgot to ask! We just finished up this car we were working on and he took it for a test run. He said as soon as came back he was going to shower and get dressed then go. So, about an hour, maybe? Is that OK?"

"Yea. I'll be ready. See ya then. " Click. What's up with that?

I put our tools away and cleaned up a little while I waited for Jake to come back. He drove the car into the drive and turned it off. He walked in and said, "Works great! I'll call the guy in the morning and tell him to come and pick it up." He put the keys with the paperwork on the bench. "So you call Leah? Is she up for the movies?"

"She said she was. I told her about an hour, is that OK?"

"Yea."

"She sounded weird on the phone. I'm not sure what that's all about," I told him.

"She pissed because you've been working so much?"

"I don't know. I guess I'll find out," I told him with a smile. "I'm heading home to clean up. Meet you at the movies?"

"Yep. Starts at seven. See ya!" Jake took off for the house.

I got in the truck and headed home to clean up.

Leah POV:

I hung up the phone and just sat there and looked at it. The movies? With Jake and Bella? Were we dating now? I had no idea what was going on with us. Ever since that night we had pizza with everyone, I had hardly seen Embry. I know he and Jake had a lot of work, which was great. Embry loved working on cars, and being with Jake, and he needed the money. But I guess I was feeling a little neglected. I didn't have as much to keep me busy.

Gave me too much time to think. I hated thinking. Time to think about Sam and Emily, and how I was getting over that whole situation, but I hadn't made any strides to talk to either of them. I still avoided them like the plague.

I also had too much time to think about Embry, and where this was going. If it was going anywhere. I liked him, I knew I did. He was a great guy! He was fun, he made me laugh, but I could talk to him, too. And he was pretty hot, I had to admit. I loved kissing him and daydreamed sometimes about doing more than just kissing. I knew I wanted to be with Embry physically, but emotionally, I was still a wreck. I was really into letting go and just enjoying the physical side of our relationship and not thinking about the emotional side. I really did not want to fall in love with this guy.

I finally got up and tried to find something to wear. I picked out a red tank top and a pair of blue jean shorts that were a little too short and put them on. I looked in the mirror and laughed. I looked like one of Embry's bimbos! He would probably LOVE this outfit. I took them off and threw them on the floor. I wanted to look my age, so I pulled out a sundress that Mom had bought me last week. I wondered then why she bought it. I never went anywhere. I put it on, and I really liked it. It was black with white flowers embroidered around the bottom. It looked good with my black hair, but it showed a little more cleavage than I would have liked. I didn't even realize I had cleavage! Hanging out with boys all the time, I dressed very simply in t-shirts or tank tops and shorts. At 108 degrees, I wasn't real comfortable in much else.

I brushed my hair until it shone, and added a little eye shadow, mascara and lip gloss. Not bad. I took a minute to really look at myself in the mirror. I couldn't quite see what Embry saw. He always said I was beautiful or gorgeous or my personal favorite, hot! I didn't see that, but I did feel, well, pretty. I heard him pull up in the truck downstairs. I added silver earrings and a bracelet and ran downstairs just as he knocked on the door.

I opened the door and there he was. He had on his khaki shorts and a black v-neck shirt that hugged his body. Wow, he even smells good! Is that cologne? "Hey," I said.

A slow smile grew on his face and he said softly, "Hey." He stared at me for a moment and said, "Wow, Leah. You look really . . . beautiful!"

I smiled. Wow! A "beautiful." "Thanks. I'm ready to go, if you are," I said.

He stepped inside and took me in his arms. "In a minute," he said as he bent his head then put his lips on mine. He kissed me very slowly, like he was trying to savor every second. I had my hands on his shoulders and I could feel him quiver a little. He pulled back and smiled. "I've really missed you, Leah. I hate not seeing you every day."

"Me, too," I whispered. He kissed me again and I felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He pulled the phone out and looked at it. "It's Jake," he informed me. He flipped it open and said, "What's up?" He kept his arm around me and kept me close to him. Wow, he smells so good. I leaned in a little closer.

He listened and said, "Oh, OK. No problem. Tell her to get better. Hey! Um, I'm taking tomorrow off, is that OK with you? Since we finished that car, and no one brought anything to us today . . . yea, OK. Thanks, bro. See ya."

He put the phone back into his pocket and said, "Bella came home from work sick, so they're not going. But we can still go if you want to? I mean, you look so pretty, I wouldn't mind showing you off a little." He grinned at me.

I rolled my eyes and said, "Yea, I guess. Maybe we could go get something to eat instead? I don't really like going to the movies much. Not since me and Sam . . . well, you know. We used to go every Friday."

"Sure, that's fine. No problem. Any place in particular?" he asked.

"Not really. I'm not picky. I do like Mexican though."

"Mexican, it is!" he took my hand and we walked to the truck. He opened the door for me and then went around and got into the driver's seat. He said he only knew of one Mexican restaurant in Forks. I told him that was the one. "My mom and I go there sometimes. One of the nurses at the hospital took her there one time, and she really liked it."

As we drove to Forks, we chatted a little. He told me about the car he just finished and I told him that I had decided to sign up for a couple more online college classes. "I'm taking an American History class and a math class. I'm not crazy about the math class, but I need to take it so I might as well get it over with."

"You need to take it?" he asked.

"Yea, um, I've been thinking about getting a degree . . . and teaching at the school in LaPush."

"Really?" he said as he parked the truck at the restaurant. "When did you decide that?"

"Well, I've had a lot of time on my hands lately and I've done a lot of thinking. I need to do something, and I remember how Dad used to talk about how the school was going to need more teachers. The ones we have are getting older and not many younger people have been interested in teaching. So, I just thought, maybe I could do that. I'm taking online classes now, but I've been thinking about checking out a couple of the local schools and seeing what they offer."

He got out of the truck and opened her door for me. I climbed out and he shut the door and leaned down and put a quick kiss on my lips. "I think it's great, Leah. You'll make a really hot teacher!"

I rolled my eyes and smacked him. "You WOULD say that."

We walked into the restaurant and were seated in a booth. I sat down and Embry scooted in beside me. He leaned close and said, "Do I make you nervous being this close?"

"A little. But I kind of like it," I admitted. He laughed and picked up the menu. We ordered our food and ate 4 baskets of chips and salsa. He asked me more about wanting to teach and I told him what I had been thinking. I asked him what he wanted to do.

"Well, I want to be done with school, but I promised my mom I would graduate. I need to keep that promise, so I'm going back for my senior year, I guess." He took a drink of water then said, "Jake isn't going back. He has decided that he's going to get his GED and keep working on cars. I'd like to do that , too, but . . . Anyway, we've been talking about saving some of our money toward buying a shop of our own."

"Really? That's a great idea! You both love working on cars, and you're good at it. You guys could make a pretty good living doing that." The waiter brought our food and set it down. I picked up my fork and dug in. I was hungry.

"Yea, I guess. I mean, it's not like we have many choices, do we? We can't leave the rez and go off to college or anything. Werewolf rules."

I sipped my drink and thought about that. He was right. As a werewolf we were bound to the reservation to protect it. We could only go so many miles away from it before we were drawn back. I used to hate that rule the most. All I wanted to do was run far, far away and never look back. Now, well now things were different.

"You got awful quiet over there. You OK?" he asked me.

I smiled. "Just thinking how I used to hate that rule the most. I wanted so badly to run away and never look back. Now, here I am thinking of becoming a teacher at the rez school. Weird how things change, huh?" I said.

He nodded and shoved the last of his taco into his mouth. I laughed and said, "Well, I guess not everything changes. You eat like an animal!"

He growled at me and I kept laughing. "Stop it!"

We finished our meals and Embry paid the bill and we got back into the truck. "Thanks, Embry for dinner. It was really good. And I enjoyed talking to you. You know, I haven't even told my mom yet about being a teacher."

"Really?" he said as he started the engine and took off on the road back to LaPush. "Why not?"

"I don't know. I think because I used to think I wanted to be a nurse like her. We used to talk about it all the time, and she seemed excited that I wanted to do that. But now, I can't go to nursing school. And, I supposed I just don't want to disappoint her."

"Well, I'm sure she'll understand, Leah. At least she knows your . . . uh, situation. My mom knows nothing. And she keeps harping on me to finish high school, because I need a good education. Why? I can't go to college! She just doesn't understand, and I can't tell her. It sucks."

I nodded. "Yea, that would suck."

We got quiet for awhile, lost in thought. Then Embry asked, "Where to now? Any place in particular?"

"I don't care. Wherever."

"Well, I know a little spot where . . ."

"Really, Embry? One of your famous make out spots?" I said to him.

"Well you said 'wherever.' When a girl says that, it means she wants to make out," he answered.

"Geez, Embry. I heard a lot of stories about you, but I really didn't believe them all. Maybe I should have. Do you have any idea how many girls you've made out with?"

He looked a little uncomfortable at that question. "Yea, I do. But you won't like it."

"Really? That many?"

"It's not really that many. I mean, considering there aren't that many girls at our school, but some of them go to other schools . . ."

I cut him off with, "HOW MANY?"

"43," he said sheepishly.

"What? Did you say, 43?" I said in absolute awe.

He looked at me and said, "Yea. Are you pissed?"

I don't know, was I? He made out with 43 girls! "Am I number 43?" I asked.

He nodded with a smile. "Come on, Leah. I told you you wouldn't like it. I mean I've been counting since the 7th grade. It's not like that's all in the last year or something. I mean, 43 girls in 5 years, that's not a big deal."

"Well it must be to you considering you kept count. God Embry! How gross!" I couldn't believe his ego.

He pulled the truck over and stopped then looked at me and said, "You're really pissed, aren't you? I can't believe this!"

"Yea I'm pissed! I told you before I'm not one of your bimbos, Embry. And are we just talking about making out, as in kissing, or we talking about going further? How many of those girls went all the way for you, huh? How many did you have sex with? Are you keeping a count of those too?" I yelled at him. Man, I was really losing it! Why?

"Are you fucking kidding me? God, Leah! What kind of an asshole do you really think I am? Yea, I like kissing girls, big deal. I like being around girls and making them laugh and having a good time. So sue me. But I am not the kind of guy that goes out with a girl to put another notch in the bedpost, as they say. So I kissed 43 girls. Big fucking deal! But I am not like my father, Leah. I don't fuck a girl and dump her, OK? I can't believe that you would think that!" He jumped out of the truck and slammed the door so hard I thought the truck would tip over. He walked out in front of the truck and put his hands on his hips. Huh. He looks just like Sam when he does that. I never noticed that before.

I felt awful. Why did I get so mad at him? Didn't I just decide tonight that I didn't want to fall in love with this guy? That I just wanted to have a little fun? Then I start a fight over how many girls he's been with. God, what a bitch I am! I sat there for a minute to give him a chance to calm down. I opened the door and got out of the truck. I walked over to him and stopped in front of him. "I'm sorry, Embry. I don't know why I got so worked up back there. It was pretty stupid of me. I don't have a lot of dating experience, you know. One guy compared to your 43 girls. I guess I got a little intimidated."

He looked down at me, but didn't say anything. I didn't know what else to say or do, so I just stood there. Finally, he said slowly, "Leah, I have tried to explain to you that you are different than all of those other girls to me. That was just playing around, nothing serious. I never did anything to any of those girls that they didn't want to do. And, for the record, I didn't have sex with any of them. I could have, but I didn't. I am not like him, Leah."

"Embry, I'm so sorry. I know you're not like that," I said.

"I want you to know right now, before this goes any further, that I haven't even looked at another girl since I started hanging out with you. I want to be with you, Leah, because I like you. Do you get that? I like being with you. And yes, I really like making out with you. Can't help that! Like I said, I like kissing girls, and you are no exception. But Leah, you are going to have to start trusting me or this isn't going to work. "

I nodded. "I know, Embry, you're right. I don't know why I got so pissed, really. I guess I got jealous or something. I don't know." I reached out and touched his arm and said, "Embry, can we forget all of this happened and go back to our very nice date?" I looked up at him and smiled.

He gave me a small smile, "It was pretty nice, wasn't it?"

I nodded and stepped closer to him. "I promise to be good." I held out my hand. He took it and I led him back to the driver's side of the truck. I opened the door and got in, and he followed. I didn't go to the other side. I stayed in the middle, close to him. He smiled and started the truck. He pulled back on the road and I laid my head on his shoulder as he drove. "Is that spot very far away?" I asked him.

I heard him laugh and he said, "No, just up the road. Are you sure?"

"Mmmmm, yes."

He pulled into a little lane and drove down it and parked. I reached out and shut off the engine. He looked at me and smiled. I put my arms around his neck and said, "Do you still want to make out?"

He grinned and put his arms around me and pulled me close. "What do you think?" he asked as he leaned forward to kiss me. I gave into the feeling of kissing him. Just feeling his lips on mine, his hands on my back, burning through the thin material of my sundress. I opened my mouth to him, and he slid his tongue in ever so slightly to tease me. I pushed myself closer to him, and wound my fingers into his hair. I was very physically attracted to Embry. My body was reacting in ways it never had before. It was frightening and exciting at the same time. His hands ran up and down my back, especially where there should have been a bra strap. I think he just figured out I wasn't wearing a bra tonight. This sundress was a halter style that tied at my neck. I didn't want my bra straps to show, so I didn't wear one.

His lips left mine to travel down my throat and onto my neck and down to my shoulder. I tipped my head back and sighed. He put his mouth near my ear and whispered, "Leah, you're so beautiful . . ." and he kissed my ear. I put my hands on his face and brought his lips back to mine. It felt so good to just let go and feel. I wanted to feel his lips on mine, his hands all over me. I was getting carried away, and I didn't care. I pulled back and took a hold of his t-shirt and pulled it up and over his head then threw it on the floor. I leaned forward and kissed him on his chest and ran my hands over his shoulders and down his arms. I wanted to feel his skin. I wanted to feel it on mine. Whoa, girl. Slow down. I kissed him on the lips and sucked his bottom lip into my mouth. I could feel myself getting more aggressive, but for some reason, I couldn't stop! I pulled back and reached up to my neck and took a hold of the ties on my sundress. I could see Embry's eyes grow huge as I pulled and the ties came undone. I looked into his eyes as I let the straps fall. I leaned closer so I could feel his skin on mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed closer. I put my lips on his and devoured his mouth. I wanted him to want me. I wanted to drive him crazy! I reached down and touched the zipper on Embry's shorts and . . .

"Leah! Leah, honey, stop," he said against my lips. What? Stop? Why? I pulled back and said, "What? Why? Did I do something wrong?"

"No, God no!" he said with a smile. He was trying to keep his eyes on my face and not my chest. "Baby, what's going on? I'm just kind of surprised here, I guess. "

"Why? Embry, I don't want to think, I just want to feel! What's wrong with that? Come on! Kiss me, touch me, it's OK." I took his hand and placed it on my chest. "Please, Embry," I leaned in and kissed him. He couldn't resist and his hand moved over me until I was crazy with desire for him. I reached again for the zipper on his shorts and his hand stopped me. We were both panting. "Embry! What the hell is wrong with you? I feel like I'm raping you!"

"Leah, I don't want you to do something you will regret tomorrow. Believe me, this is very hard for me. I want you, Leah. I really, really want you. And I don't want to, and have you be upset about it, you know?"

I looked at him and said, "What the hell, Embry? When did you turn into such a girl?" I shook my head and grabbed the straps to my dress and retied them. "Take me home." I slid over to the other side of the truck.

"Now wait a minute, Leah. You're not going to get pissed and clam up, OK? I'm trying to do something nice here!"

"Oh yea, rejection feels so fucking 'nice.' "

"REJECTION? Are you fucking kidding me? God, Leah! Give me a fucking clue here will ya? A half hour ago you jumped down my throat for being with 42 other girls, and you told me you weren't like them. Now you're all over me, taking off your clothes! I have no idea what you want, Leah. Help me out here, will ya?"

I closed my eyes and laid my head back. Oh God, he's right. What is wrong with me? I'm acting like such a whore! "I don't know, Embry. I don't know what's going on with me." I opened my eyes and looked at him. "I really, really like you. I want to be with you. But, I just am sick to death of worrying about all of the 'falling in love' bullshit. I don't want to think, I just wanted to give in and just feel what it's like to kiss you and touch you. I feel such a physical pull to you, I can't explain it. And it feels really good. I wanted more of it. I'm sorry, Embry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"Well, I'm uncomfortable right now, but in a good way, if you know what I mean," he said with a smile.

I got what he meant and rolled my eyes and laughed.

He scooted closer to me and put his hand on the side of my face. "Look, baby. I don't have a problem being with you. I just don't want to go too fast and lose you. I don't want you to do something you will regret then not want to be with me. And, I don't really want our first time to be in the truck, you know? You're too important to me. Understand?" I nodded. "I am not rejecting you. Not at all. There is no one I want to be with more than you." He leaned over and kissed me very softly on the lips. "OK?"

"Yea, I understand. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to act like such a slut. But . . . I kind of liked it."

He laughed and said, "Yea, me too! Too much." He leaned forward and kissed me again. We sat there for some time just kissing each other, lightly, playfully. Not too intense. He pulled back and put his forehead on mine and said softly, "I don't know how on earth I will get to sleep tonight. I know all I will see is you dropping those straps and letting your dress fall. God, Leah, you are a beautiful girl. I almost lost it right there." He was rubbing my back with his hands while he talked.

I smiled. Good. You just think about that. "I know you don't want to rush into anything, physically, I mean. I'll try to be good, but I can't promise."

He put his head up and looked at me. "Oh man. I'm going to be taking a LOT of cold showers."