Hey, guys. =D So this is my new story as you've read the first chapter already. I hope you enjoyed last chapter, and I hope you'll enjoy this one as well. Please review when you're done. =) They make me very happy.

The Flower Called Azalea

2. Excuse You?

Azalea POV

For the past sixteen years, since we were born, Jake and I hung out every day. Usually with Quil and Embry, but still. Of course we fought, but we would always make up a couple hours later. And during the school year, we would go to each others' houses after school to work on homework and help each other out with anything that needed to be done. We never got bored. I smiled, thinking about some of the memories we shared together. Some weren't the greatest, but it was of me and Jake, so that made it worth remembering.

"Z?" Embry waved a hand in front of my face as we were heading over to Jake's house. Embry, Quil, Jake, and I were all going to the beach today, and we were meeting at Jake's house.

I looked at my brother. "Yeah?"

"You okay, there?"

"Yeah. Of course. Why?"

"You looked like you were spacing out."

"Oh. Well… I'm fine."

"You sure…?" he asked tentatively.

"Yes!" I said, exasperated.

"Okay…" I could tell he still didn't believe me, but I let it go. I didn't want to let it bother me. We spent the rest of the walk in silence and by the time we got to Jake's, Quil was already there. He looked like he was trying to help Jake with the Rabbit, but he really didn't know what he was talking about.

"Jake, but what about this thing?" Quil asked, holding up a piece of metal that had absolutely no place in a car. I tried to get a better look, but I couldn't tell what it was.

Jake rolled out from under the Rabbit and glared at Quil. "No. Quil, that's a pen. That does not go in a car. Anywhere. I need to find this pin…" And with that, he rolled back under.

I walked up to Quil and took the pen. "Here, try this," I said as I handed him the small pin that he was looking for. Quil looked at me, smiled, and went to get Jake's attention again.

"Hey, Jake," He said and I hid behind him. Jake came out from underneath again looking extremely agitated. "What about this?"

Jake was about to tell him off, but then saw that he was holding the right piece of equipment and stood up to walk over to Quil. "Yeah… that's it. Where'd you find it?"

"Oh, it was right over there," I smiled as I revealed my presence and pointed to his tool box.

Jake looked at me, Quil, then back at me and sighed. "I should've known it was you, Z."

I grinned. "Yes. You really should have. And I must say, I'm quite hurt that you didn't realize that it was me." He laughed and enveloped me in a hug. "Ew! Jake! Gross! You're all greasy and sweaty and disgusting!"

He laughed again and pulled away. "Says the mechanic girl."

"But I'm not dressed as a mechanic right now, so technically, I'm just a girl," I said and started to walk back to Quil and Embry.

He swatted my butt as I was walking away from him and I turned to face him with my jaw hanging open. "Yeah right," he said and we all burst into laughter.

"Well go shower so we can go to the beach. You stink," I taunted and he laughed some more and went inside.

We arrived at the beach and it was not crowded at all. Probably because the water was freezing. But we weren't there to swim. We were going to play beach volleyball!

"Okay! Just to make things interesting, I think Jake and Azalea should be on opposite teams," Embry called out.

"What? Why?" Jake asked.

"Because whenever you guys are teamed up, you always win," Quil pointed out.

"Okay, fine," I said. "I'll be with Embry."

"But he's your brother!" Quil argued.

"So?" You just said I couldn't be with Jake. You never said anything about Em," I smiled smugly.

Quil grumbled and muttered a 'fine' before sulking over to Jake.

Jake laughed. "Come on, dude. It's not that bad being on a team with me."

"Yeah, I guess," Quil joked.

I waltzed up to the net and met up with Jake, who stood on the other side of the net. "First team to five then?" I asked him.

"Sounds good to me," Jake said and we walked back to our starting positions. Embry served first and Jake returned it before Quil could fumble with it. Embry tripped over his feet before he could hit the ball, so I jumped up and spiked it over the net. It landed right next to Jake's feet.

He scowled at me. "Oh, it's on, Call."

I returned his facial expression. "Bring it, Black."

Fifteen minutes later, we were tied four-four. Jake and I were basically the only ones playing anymore. Quil and Embry still remained on the court, but neither of them really did anything except for stand in the back to help if they were needed. Which, most of the time, they weren't.

I served and Jake returned it to me easily. I set it over the net and he tried to spike it, but I managed to bump it back to him. He hit it back to me and I bumped it again. This time, when he tried to hit it back, he had to dive for it because it was a little farther away, and he missed.

I won.

"Hah," I grinned down at him as he laid there in the sand. "I win."

"Lucky shot," he grumbled.

"Yeah right," I sang. Because I knew that Jake would've done the same thing, I gloated. I started prancing around in the sand, making up my own tune as I continuously said 'I won'. Soon enough, Embry joined me, and we changed the words to 'we won'.

I should've seen it coming.

Jake and Quil tackled us.

We all started wrestling in the sand-me with Jake, and Embry with Quil. We continued to beat on each other playfully until Embry and my mom came out to get us for dinner.

Jake and Quil decided to join us tonight and as we walked back to our house, Jake was taunting me.

"Cheater."

"What? How did I cheat?"

"You used your girlish charm."

That caught my interest. "Oh really?" I raised my eyebrows mockingly. "My feminine wiles work on you?"

He stuttered and blushed slightly. "Uh… no. Psh… no…"

I laughed and hugged myself to him. "It's okay. You know I'm just teasing you, right?"

Most of his blush had gone away, but there was still a bit of redness left in his face. "Well, duh. Of course I know that."

I grinned. "Good."

After dinner, Embry and I had to take care of the dishes and my mother was in a horrible mood. It was painfully obvious. So, due to my mother's bitterness, Quil and Jake decided to leave.

We walked our friends to the door and I gave both Quil and Jake a hug. I lingered a bit longer with Jake, though. I couldn't help it.

"So I'll see you tomorrow?" I asked, smiling up at him.

"Most definitely," he grinned back at me and he left with my other best friend.

"Z!" Embry yelled right next to my ear, and I jumped. When did he get there?

"What?" I glared at him.

His face took on a playful and hopeful expression. "Did you tell him?"

"Tell him what exactly?" I asked, trying to play it off, but failing miserably.

He searched my eyes for a moment and then sighed heavily. "Why won't you just tell him already?"

I knew I wouldn't be able to escape this topic with him, so I decided to talk. "Because! It would change everything. If he doesn't feel the same way-which I'm sure he doesn't-then it would ruin our friendship. We would always be awkward around each other, and it would suck."

"Whatever. Either you tell him, or I will," he threatened.

My eyes widened in horror. "Excuse you?"

He just smirked at me.

"You wouldn't."

He grinned evilly at me. "Oh, I would." I knew better than to doubt my brother. He thinks that just because he's two minutes older, he has complete authority over me, and he would do anything to prove it. Including going through with his threat of telling Jacob how I feel.

I stared blankly at him for a moment and then huffed. "Ugh. Fine! I'll tell him!"

"By Saturday."

"What?" I screeched. That was only two days away.

"You heard me," he smiled.

If looks could kill, he'd have been dead within a millisecond. "I hate you."

His grin widened. "I know. Have fun with Jacob tomorrow!" he called and went upstairs to his room.

I had to tell him. If I didn't, then my idiotic brother would, and that would just make things even worse. No. He had to hear it from me. But… but…! Ugh. How could everything go from being so perfect earlier in the day to so completely shitty by the night?

I made up my mind. I was going to tell him tomorrow when I help him with the Rabbit.

Oh, boy. Tomorrow would be interesting.