Quil and Embry walked off to the larger group while Seth stayed behind to talk to me.
"What's his problem?" I gestured with my head towards Embry. Seth shrugged, "I'm not sure."
"He likes her." I grinned at Seth's sudden change in demeanor. "How can you tell?" He looked at me not sure if he wanted to hear the answer.
"The eyes." I clicked my tongue and watch Emma on the Thruster. "Does she like him?" Seth looked at me, nervously.
"Eh." I stuttered, "I'm not sure! It didn't help that he was gawking at her like a fish gasping for water."
Seth laughed, "Fair point."
"Who is the new guy to your posse?" I asked taking a glimpse at the group of boys who were either talking or in the sand wrestling for the football.
"Who? Jake?" Seth turned to look at them.
"Yeah? I was there when he got back, but I didn't stick around."
"Oh, you were there. He isn't new…" Seth said awkwardly, stepping away.
I stared at him for a moment, taking the hint, before walking to pick up Emma's abandon clothing; Her phone fell out of the pocket of her hoodie, out of natural curiosity, I checked it.
"Shit." I whispered. There were several missed calls and a good amount of voicemails left from her dad. I clicked one of them and listened to the messages: He was on his way here.
"EMMA!" I screamed. I got her attention unusually fast and she began to paddle in. The one issue with the Thruster, it takes longer to paddle in. When Emma made it to shore, the look on her face told me all. She knew that I knew.
"He started it again." I growled, glaring at her, her phone clenched in my hand. "Didn't he?"
She nodded silently.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" I demanded.
Emma's dark brown eyes began to water, "I didn't want to you to worry…" She hiccupped, "You would of left and came and got me and that would of made everything so much worst."
"Hell yeah I would have been down there the moment you called." I sighed and ran my hand through my hair as the phone went off again. "I'm answering it." I declared and clicked the answer button.
"Hello." I snarled into the speaker.
"Hah. Shouldda known she'd run t'you." Lucas, Emma's father, slurred.
"Yeah, should of known." I said lazily as I moved towards my car, motioning for Emma to follow.
"I'm comin' fer her." He slurred threatening.
"No point, Lucas. No point." I said confidently.
He snorted, "Why's tha'?"
"Well, if you are still in that box you call a home, you will be getting a letter in the mail, oh…I don't know. A week? Saying you have will be signing custody over your daughter to my family."
Lucas began to swear and his voiced raise has he muttered out words that weren't understandable.
"Alright, Lucas. Don't try to fight it. We have proof of the abuse you've put her through for years. Just sit tight." I hung up the phone and opened my door to my car.
"We have no legal paper's saying that he doesn't have control over me…" Emma whispered.
"Not yet." I began to drive back towards Forks.
"Where are we going?" Emma sniffed.
"We are going to stop by the house first, then go visit Dad's boss, Charlie."
We drove to Fork's police station and asked to speak to see Officer Swan. The receptionist was, at first, unwilling to let us see him, but when I told her who my dad was she led us into a back office that was Charlie's.
"Hello, girls?" Charlie said awkwardly, unsure of why we were here.
"Hi. I'm John Evan's daughter, Aurora Evans." I said politely and put my hand out to shake. "And this is Emma Pulotu." Emma mimicked me and put her hand out.
"You look like you're from Hawaii or something…" Charlie pointed out awkwardly, "Sit down."
"I was born in Hawaii and moved to California with my dad when I was nine." Emma said and sat down.
"But that isn't why we are here." I said bluntly, trying to get to the point, "We would like to get a restraining order against Lucas Pulotu, her father." I handed him the folder.
"That's a fairly large request…" Charlie opened the folder, "and you are only 17, right?"
"Yes, but I wouldn't be on my own." Emma said quickly glancing between Charlie and the folder.
"This is a lot of evidence…" Charlie mumbled.
"After I met Aurora, she thought it might be a good idea to start keeping pictures and writing everything down after it happened." Emma whispered, her voice cracking.
"He's angry. He knows we are trying to get her out of there. He is very, very angry." I pleaded, "If you sign the emancipation papers, my family will adopt her. Or if we can show him the evidence and just have him sign over custody to my family, that would work too!"
"I don't know…" Charlie sighed, "Are you parent's okay with this?"
"That haven't agreed but I know they will say yes." I bit back the icy tone in my voice.
"You mean to tell me…" Charlie rubbed his temples, "That you've brought me all of this evidence…and you aren't sure your parent's will take her."
"No." I snapped, "I know my parent's will take her, they just haven't been notified of this event happening."
Charlie sighed, thinking it over. He looked exhausted, dark circles flowed around his eyes and he was very pale.
"I have reason to believe his is here. In Forks, La Push even. He is very dangerous…he will be drinking and he will have weapons on him." I whispered, trying to persuade this man into letting me take Emma way.
"Fine." He hissed, "I'm calling your father in. We will discuss everything here." Charlie began to call my father in. The call was quick and painless for the most part. It took my dad ten minutes to get to the station; he was taking time off to spend time with my sister.
"Charlie? What's goin—Why are you two here?" My dad glared down at us.
"Relax, John." Charlie cut into the conversation, "Sit down."
"What is going on?" My dad said very business like.
"Are you aware that Miss Pulotu has been being abused for the past few years?"
"I had a slight idea when we first met her, but after awhile the suspicion went away." John glared at Charlie.
"I have a good hand of evidence that the abuse didn't stop." Charlie continued, "Miss Pulotu wants to peruse Mister Lucas Pulotu to signing custody to you and your wife, Violet."
My dad relaxed, "This is what this is about?" He gave a nervous laughed, "Of course we will take her in."
"I told you." I hummed towards Charlie.
"Alright. I'm going to send a copy of this to Mister Pulotu in the mail. Your daughter, Aurora, has suspension to believe he is here in Forks and possibly La Push. I'm going to be contacting La Push's station and have them keep an eye out for Mister Pulotu. If you don't mind, I would like to get the make, model, license plate number, a photo of Mister Pulotu and a description of him." Charlie said, sitting up and pulling out a notepad.
Emma willingly gave him all the information she knew.
We walked out of the office with Dad following us, "Why didn't you just ask, Emma?" Dad asked as we stopped in front of my car. "It wasn't about asking or not. Not really…" Emma muttered, "I don't know. I'm sorry."
Dad gave a light chuckle and hugged her, "You've always been welcomed in our family. Let's go get something to eat. Do you guys want to eat at that diner in La Push?"
"It's up to you Emma." I shrugged as my stomach let out a loud growl.
"That's fine!" She laughed. Dad called my sister and told her where we were going, "Did Mom take her medication?" I quickly asked before he hung up. He repeated the question to sister, "She said yes."
"Alright! I'll meet you at Emily's Den!" I unlocked my car and Emma and I got in.
It took us about 20 minutes to get there. We pulled into a parking spot, "That kid, Embry, and his friends are in there."
I looked up through the diner's windows and sure enough, there sat Embry, Seth, Quil, Paul and others. "Do you want to go somewhere else?" I asked as I turned off the car.
"No, no. It's okay. Embry is just really weird." Emma pointed out before getting out of the car.
"He think's you are cute!" I grinned, "HEY!" I began to laugh, "Maybe since you are moving here now, you two can date!"
She glared at me, "That's not funny!"
"Oh come on! He just stared at you, guys use to stare at you all the time back home!"
"Not gawk…" She mumbled.
"Bull shit. He stared at your face, but all those other guys gawked at your fantastic butt." I giggled as she went to hit me but missed.
"Shhh!" She hushed me and walked inside the diner. Embry noticed her immediately and stared at her again, frozen. "See?" She said to me after we passed their table. We sat at the table in the far back.
"He's cute. Maybe you should give him a chance?" I suggested while picking up a menu.
"No, he's weird."
"Come on, he could be really sweet." I flipped the page of the menu.
"No." She huffed, "I'll be back, I need to use the bathroom." She got up and walked to the bathroom. I glanced back to make sure she was in the bathroom before I got up and walked over to Embry who was whispering to Quil.
"Seth, up." I commanded.
"Hey! Why do I have to move?" He protested. I gave him a look, "I don't have a lot of time. Move. Now." I hissed.
Seth reluctantly moved. I sat down in his place, receiving strange looks from his friends.
"For God's sake, stop gawking at Emma every time she walks in. You look like a dying fish." He looked at his friends for help, but none moved, "She likes Gerber Daisies. She hates scary movies, take her to one. The Woman in Black will scare the shit of out her. Oh, she's allergic to chocolate. She'll try to eat it, just don't let her. It can get nasty. Ask her to the movies five minutes after she sits down again. Got it?" I got up and went back to my table.
"Damn!" Quil laughed, patting Embry on the back. Seth was howling with laughter, "Aurora!" Even Paul was grinning like a mad man, holding on to another boy who I hadn't met or learn his name yet. Jacob, the one I spotted today was smiling sadly at Embry and turned to look at me, but I turned my head before he realized I was staring.
"What's going on with them?" Emma asked as she took her respective seat.
"Oh I don't know, Seth made a joke, I think." I shrugged before looking at the menu again, trying not to give anything away.
"I think I'm going to get the steak and potatoes." Emma hummed, "Oh…Oh, no." Emma kicked my foot, "Aurora he is coming over here…"
"Hmm?" I hummed and looking up at Embry who was nervously standing next to Emma.
"Oh, hello Embry!" I said cheerfully.
"Hey…" Embry looked at me nervously, "Emma…I was wondering…" Embry scratched the back of his head, "Well, I wanted to see if…" He trailed. "I mean, I understand if you don't…"
I mentally slapped myself as he continued.
"Yes. Tomorrow. Movies, right?" Emma hummed, glaring at me before smiling at Embry.
"What? Wait, what! Yes! Yes, the movies, yeah!" Embry rambled, realizing what she said, "I'll pick you up at 7 at night!"
I grinned as Embry walked back to his table, signaling he scored a date with her.
"I hate you." Emma mumbled as she scanned the menu. My family walked in a few moments after, "No you don't!" I grinned and waved towards my family.
Dinner went smoothly and before we departed from the diner Emma walked up to Embry and handed him a napkin with her phone number and my house address. Embry grinned, stood up and hugged her. Emma left with bright little red cheeks that were very obvious even with her dark skin.
"You love me!" I sang all the way to the car.
"Hush." Emma hushed me as we drove home.
We stayed up all night talking and watching movies, doing the normal girlie things until we passed out. It was obvious when Embry was texting her because she would get this goofy grin on her face.
It was a quiet Saturday morning. Mom and Dad were both off working and Molly was off jogging around Forks. Emma and I ate a quick breakfast before driving to the beach to surf.
That is when I realized I didn't have my long board. "Em, you go on. I'm going to go find my long board."
She looked at me puzzled, but grabbed the Thruster and swam into the mid-day waves. I walked barefoot towards Emily's house, my suit hanging around my waist. I knocked on the door but there wasn't an answer. I heard laughter coming from the back, so I made my way behind the house.
"Dude, her eyes, they are so gorgeous and that smile!" I heard Embry's voice. "Excuse me!" I hollered as I walked around the corner.
"Aurora! Hi!" Embry said flustered.
"'Sup!" I grinned and put my hand on my waist.
"Hey Aurora!" Quil and Seth said in unison. Paul gave me a head jerk and the boy who was sitting next to him stood up, "Hey, Shark Bait!" He grinned, "I'm Jared!"
I smirked, "'Sup!"
"Wha-What are you doing here?" Embry muttered out, "Is it about Emma?"
"No, sorry." I shrugged, "I'm here because I was wondering were my long board went, after…my accident."
"You mean when you pass out?" Jared laughed, elbowing Paul who began to laugh too.
I snorted, "Not like I could have helped it. Anyway, that does not help me. Where is my board!"
"It broke." Paul sneered at me.
"Shit, seriously?" I pouted.
"I have no clue." Paul smirked.
"Thaaaanks." I hissed, "Seth?"
"I honestly don't know. I didn't pull you out." Seth shrugged, "Quil?"
"I think it's at Jacob's place." Quil said as he took a large bite out of a loaf of bread.
"That's nice. Where's that?" I moaned, "You guys are terrible."
Embry laughed, "I'll take you to him. Relax, Shark Bait!"
"Yes!" I jumped up, "Thank you!"
Embry walked in front of me as I struggled to keep up with his long legs He was 6'4" and even with me being above the average height for a girl, 5'8", it was hard to keep up with him. "You know, we all can't be blessed with long legs. Mind slowing down?" I complained. Embry laughed and slow down a bit, "So what else can you tell me about Emma?" Embry grinned.
"Don't give me that grin, I know you've been texting her!" I chastised, "It's kind of funny watching her read the texts messages…she gets this huge retarded grin on her face."
"She does?" Embry said getting excited.
"Oh yeah! Don't tell her I said that. She'll be embarrassed!" I gave a cheeky grin.
"This is Jacob's place. I think he's in the garage." Embry walked towards a shed that was suppose to be the garage. "Jake!" Embry screamed before he walked around the corner and into garage.
"What's up Embry?" A voice came out from underneath a car.
"Aurora is looking for her board."
"And there it is." I said annoyed. My lime green surfboard was now covered in grease, oil-tattered towels, and had a bunch of old car tools on it. I resisted the urge to push everything off it and run off with it so it could be cleaned and safe once more.
The boy that was Jacob rolled out from under the car he was working, "Oh? That's yours?"
I gave a dramatic sigh, "Yes." 'My poor board' I thought as my eyes stayed on my board.
"My bad!" The boy said cheerfully and began to take the tools and rags off the board. I sighed as he passed the board to me. "Please tell me this grease can come off?" I asked rubbing my hand over parts of it.
"It could." He said solemnly.
"Man…this is going to need to be cleaned completely and waxed again!" I whined as I grabbed a semi clean rag and began to scrub at it. I was happy to see some of the grease come off the board.
"So…is Emma at the beach?" Embry asked casually.
I kept my eyes trained on my board, as I scrubbed more, "She's surfing."
"So she is?"
"Yup." I popped the 'p'. I could practically see his grin, "Dear God, go see her."
Embry gave a hoot before running off to see Emma. I shook my head as I heard him leave. Ridiculous.
The silence between Jacob and I just deepened as I scrubbed the board and he went back to working on his car. "Do you mind if I play music?" He suddenly asked.
"Huh?" My head shot up and looked at him. He was hunched over the front in of his car, looking at the engine. He had short, but shaggy black hair and deep russet skin that was a dead give away that he was Native American. "Music?" He said again, not looking up from the engine.
"Oh, sure!" I went back to scrubbing my board. I heard him move to the radio. Lollipop by Lil Wayne was the first song to come on. "Please tell me you are changing that." He chuckled and clicked what looked like to be his iPod. Dance (A$$) by Big Sean came on.
"Okay, you've lost your right to control the music." I commanded as I put my board down and made my way to the iPod. He laughed and pulled the iPod away from my hands, "What you don't like it?"
"Oh yeah, I love songs that go like 'How your waist anorexic and, then your ass is colossal like whoop, drop that ass make it boomerang, take my belt, off bitch I'm pootie tang, tippy tow tippy tay you gonna get a tip today, fuck that you gonna get some dick today, I walk in with my crew and I'm breaking they neck'" I rapped with the song.
Jacob gave a barking laugh and smiled. I snatched the iPod from him, "Let's see." I clicked through the songs, "Oh!" I exclaimed and liked on the one that said Pantera. I played 'Walk' and put the iPod down. "Now this, I said pointing at the speakers, "Is music."
Jacob was laughing as he worked on his car. I made my way back to my board and began to scrub it again. "I am sorry about that. I didn't realize it was someone's. I didn't even know you had been around the day I got back." He took a wrench to the engine.
"I heard everyone getting excited and exclaiming that someone was back, so I left. You know, awkward moment when it is clear that you aren't wanted in an area." I said bluntly.
"Yeah I understand that." I heard him place down his wrench; "I can help you with that, since you know I'm the one who got it filthy."
"Uhm…" I stared at the board, glancing at all the sticky, black spots, "Yeah. Can you first get some warm water though?"
"Sure thing!" He moved to leave and get some warm water from inside his house. I sat there for a moment before walking around the garage. There was a picture next to a toolbox; it was of him and a pretty girl with long brown hair. She didn't see really happy but was trying to force it. Jacob on the other hand, looked extremely ecstatic. I put the picture down as I heard him come back out.
I stumbled back to my board as he came around the corner. I looked at his hands: a bucket of warm water and two clean towels. "Here" He said as he handed me a clean towel. I went to grab it but our hands touched on accident, which sent a strange shocking feeling up my finger and all the way to the top of my head and down to my toes.
I, automatically, looked up at his face: our eyes met and he stood there frozen. His eyes wide, like he just discovered something important.