IT'S MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! TIME FOR ANOTHER CHAPTER! DISCLAIM. I DON'T OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS IN THIS LITTLE STORY!
"Just take a deep breath." Embry grips the side of the rinks guard wall as he started hyperventilating. He wasn't wearing skates, the point was just get him across and back on his own two feet before putting blades under him. He clenches his eyes shut, the smell of the once comforting scent of ice making him dizzy. He breathes through his mouth and takes one tiny step. James watches with a completely professional look. Bella's rocking on her heels, biting her lip in concern. James insisted to make Embry go on his own the first try, if he couldn't make it, then Bella would get involved. She didn't like the idea, but James never led her wrong before, so she obeyed.
Embry suddenly feels like his chest is too tight, he takes another small step, keeping his eyes tightly shut. He stops in an attempt to collect himself. He clenches his fists taking a deep breath. In, out, In, out…he open his eyes, he hasn't gotten far, but when he looks down, the crack that had haunted him so long ago appears. It expands when his eyes widen. He wants to let out the most blood curdling scream he can, but swallows it, whirls around and runs off the ice, right into Bella, gripping her tightly. He bet he looks like an overgrown kid, but he can't help it.
Bella nuzzles his neck whispering it's no big deal; it's the first try, its okay. James blows a gust of air out. Yep, this was going to take a while.
"I'm going to use the restroom." Embry mutters as he slowly lets go of Bella and walks away. She sighs. She felt James watching her, and turns around to put her hands on her hips, giving a look that said 'well?'
"You need to be there, at least the next couple of times. It's too soon to make him go on his own…god, three years." She nods and looks at the rink, she found it as one of the few sanctuaries she held, but to Embry…it held good, and one horrible memory. She knew she was going to try her hardest to give Embry his hobby back.
Embry splashes his face with water, letting the warm liquid sink into his pores. He holds the counter tightly and looks into the mirror. He suddenly notices the bags under his eyes. Has he really not been getting sleep? He hangs his head as memories flood his mind. 'I wonder why.' He thinks bitterly. Was he really that unbearable? That his team just dumped him? He feels the sting of tears, but freezes…as he has a sudden realization, so sudden he jerks his head up. It's not his fault! He didn't make the ice thinner; he didn't suddenly decide to become scared of the very thing he enjoyed! He hated what happened! And he hated that cluster of liars known as his former team. Something cracked inside him, it wasn't as strong as when Bella accepted his scars, but it was there. He breathes in with such relief. He had let go, he had found that they were users, and it was a good thing he was out of their grasp. There was still so much in his heart, but he felt better. He let out a little laugh, barely audible, but there. He leaves the bathroom, ready to take another shot at the ice.
Bella turns around and smiles at him, James standing by her. He webs his fingers with Bella's out of habit.
"Ready to try again?" he nods.
"Bella's going with this time, just let go of her hand when you think you can." Embry and Bella stand at the edge, gripping each other hands tightly. Embry inhales and exhales before he takes one shaky step, squeezing Bella's hand harder. The crack starts to appear, so he freezes and closes his eyes. Bella murmurs comfortingly to him, giving him a caring hug. He opens his eyes again, the crack still there. 'Don't be afraid.' He keeps his eyes open as he takes another slow step, the crack getting bigger. His heart speeds up, but he takes another step, keeping his eyes on the expanding crack.
He breathes through his nose, the ice sending a chill through him. He suddenly remembers his happy place. He closes his eyes, letting sweet memories fill his mind.
"Say uncle!" Bella laughs as he assaults her neck with his fingers.
"Okay, okay, uncle!" the way he felt so free, that one moment playing in the snow with Bella. He feels a smile come across his lips, and starts walking easily, slowly walking as he does. He loosens his grip on Bella's hand until he lets go all together. Bella grins and stops walking to watch him. He looks down, the crack is still there, but it's shrinking…shrinking…until it's just a hairline crack. He bumps his head against the fence of the barrio. He looks up to see he's across!
Bella's jumping and clapping, James laughing at her. He raises his arms with a huge grin on his face, though it's not over, he still needs to get back. He takes a deep breath and just…walks! He doesn't freeze, though in the corner in his mind he's scared. Bella grips James arm laughing with glee. She jumps right into Embry's embrace when he was back on the regular ground. He twirls her around making her squeal.
"Embry you were awesome!" she laughs and he can't swallow the relieved laugh that comes up. James smirks as he watches Bella hold Embrys face talking excitedly, he notices a slight tint in Embry's cheeks…oh boy. He snickers quietly. The boys getting the hots for Bella!
"You did such a good job! You were so calm, and got across all by yourself on the second try!" he grins.
"Yeah, I did, didn't I?" he gives Bella a big hug. James gives a couple claps.
"Well done, Embry, just to be sure we're going to do this for a few days to solidify your comfort, and then we'll get you in a pair of skates." Embry nods holding Bella to his side. James smiles and jerks his head to the door.
"Go celebrate kiddies." Bella waves and pulls Embry out the door, where they practically run to Embry's apartment. Bella giggles as Embry carries her onto the couch and wrestles her, feeling horribly playful. Bella turns on the radio, and I wanna lose control, by deathray was playing.
Uh oh, uh oh,
Uh oh, uh oh
Uh oh, uh oh
I wanna Lose Control
Uh oh
I can't wait to let it go,
Just can't keep on going with the flow
Here we go, the great unknown,
Now we're gonna' break out on our own.
Oh, I wanna lose control,
Embry twirled Bella around, dipping her and whipping her back up, making her squeak. He has an unrecognizable smirk on his face, Bella wasn't much of a dancer, but Embry just acted silly moving around with her. She jumped on his back and laughed as they fell back onto the couch.
Uh oh,
Oh, uh oh, uh oh.
I wanna lose control
Never meant to hurt no one,
I just want to have a little fun.
Have a laugh, and I don't know,
Maybe I won't feel so all alone.
Oh, I wanna lose control,
Uh oh,
Oh, uh oh, uh oh.
I wanna lose control
Embry grabbed her waist and started tickling. She screamed and wiggled when he wouldn't give, so she flipped around making them topple to the floor, she set her elbows above his shoulders, straddling his waist and started her own tickle attack, he laughed to the point his entire body was shaking, begging her to quit.
"No!"
"Aww!" he threw his head back as he let more laughter shake him, finally Bella quit, breathless from her own laughter.
Uh oh.
Uh oh, uh oh.
I wanna lose control
Uh oh.
Uh oh, uh oh.
I wanna lose control
Uh oh.
Oh, uh oh, uh oh.
I wanna lose control
Uh oh.
I wanna lose control,
Uh oh
Uh oh, uh oh
I wanna lose control,
Uh oh
The song ended and they both got off the floor. He smiled and nuzzled her neck sighing, he felt lighter than he ever had, he knew he wasn't fully recovered, but it felt so good how much he released that day. He plopped down on his old couch, Bella resting her head on his chest, hearing his steady heartbeat. It was faster than usual, probably because of how much wrestling they had done. Bella eyes start to droop, until they're fully closed and her breathing is steady. Embry watches her, the music just a background noise. This girl had completely changed him, made him smile when he thought he forgot how to, made him laugh when he used to cry, he kissed her forehead, feeling her shift slightly. She mumbled something. He frowned. Did she talk in her sleep? Come to think of it he always fell asleep with her, so how would he know? She mumbled again, clearer.
"Embry…" his eyes widen. She scoots closer to him in her sleep, making him smile; he wonders what she'll think if he tells her she talked in her sleep. She whined.
"I'm going to kill you Emmett…" he grins. He rests his head against the couch and watches her sleep, not feeling tired at all.
"Embry…I…" he bites his lip, what's she saying?
"So happy…" Embry closes his eyes, letting Bella's mumbling lull into his own sleep.
Xx
Emmett shuts the door on the small house looking for Bella.
"Bells?"
'No answer, she's probably out with Embry.' The thought makes him freeze, that was three hours ago, surely she would have called him by now! He gets his phone out and hits Bella's cell.
'Hello?" she sounds groggy, and he hears Embry mutter something.
"Bella, where have you been? I left the house nearly three hours ago!" she sighs.
"Relax, Embry and I just fell asleep, nothing to have a cow about." He hears Embry…laugh? No, that couldn't be right, the guy was nice, but he never laughed.
"Well, can you head home? It's getting late."
"Alright. I'll be there soon." Bella hangs up and sighs. She feels like pouting, she wants to stay and cuddle with Embry. She blushes when she rewinds her mind. She looks at Embry who's still groggy.
"You gotta go?" she nods. He actually does pout,
"Damn, I wanted you to stay." She smiles and slips on her jacket.
"You and me both." He stands up and opens the door for her. She turns around to say goodbye, but feels Embry give her another kiss on the cheek, he lingers long enough to mumble in her ear.
"See you tomorrow…bells." He smiles, watching Bella walk down the stairs before he chuckles and shuts the door. Bella's heart was fluttering, that was completely unexpected, she had noticed Embry had gotten braver, and he had already kissed her cheek, but…for some reason it seemed so different. She closes the door and slides against it, something was happening, but she couldn't tell what…
"Bella, that you?" she stand upright as her older brother come through the kitchen
"Yeah, how was Christmas shopping?" He shrugs and crosses his arms, taking a serious look at his sister. Her cheeks were flushed, more than normally and she seems out of it.
"Same as every year, lots of crazy women trying to kill me." Bella smiles; she takes off her shoes and walks past him.
"Well I'm going to take the shower, so just do whatever." He chuckles.
"Always do." He sighs. His little sisters falling for somebody…looks like he'll need to behave even more. He kind of owes her, she behaves in front of Victoria, and he pushes himself off the frame of the door into the living room, where he turns on family ABC. They were already advertising their 25 days of Christmas special.
Embry sits on his couch, thinking about what he did. It was pretty damn bold…he groans and rests his head in his hands. He kind of wishes not getting that 'girls and how to get em' book, though the way Bella reacted made him think he was doing okay…he groans louder. Maybe he could call Leah for some advice. GOD! All of a sudden there's so much going on its overwhelming, yet nice. He had secluded himself so long that all of the things going on felt comforting, especially all the time he spent with Bella. He chuckles as he remembers her saying his name in her sleep, her eyes wide when he kissed her cheek, her snuggling into him. Bella was something precious, his sunshine, melting the ice of his past; he wanted to keep the sunshine forever.
FREAKIN AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW! DID ANYONE CATCH WHAT HE SAID? I BURIED IT UNDER A METAPHOR…I THINK, IF YO CAUGHT ON GOOD FOR YOU! IF YOU DIDN'T, THINK ABOUT IT! AND SERIOUSLY GUYS, I NEED SOME VOTES, ITS NOTHING HORRIBLE I JUST NEED SOME HELP WITH CHOOSING THE NEXT STORY! ANYWAY, LUV, PEACE, EMBRY! GOODBYE!