OKAY, I MYSELF GOT IMPATIENT FOR A VERY IMPORTANT MOMENT, I COULDN'T RESIST, I SKIPPED A FEW DAYS TO CHRISTMAS EVE! I DON'T OWN ANYTHING, IT'S NOT MINE, ALL THAT JAZZ, OKAY LET'S GO! XD
Christmas Eve
"No." Embry crossed his arms when Leah thrusted a pair of skinny jeans in his face. She pouted.
"Why not?"
"Because one, I'll look stupid, and two, it's 10 below zero outside!" Jacob chuckled and sipped his coffee, sitting outside of Embry's bedroom door. Oh how he missed the ridiculous arguments the two siblings would have. Leah huffed and threw the jeans on his bed. She obviously wasn't going to get anywhere. She held a dark blue button up shirt towards him, daring him to disagree on more than one thing. He sighed and took the shirt from her, showing he was accepting it. She grinned and scampered back into his small closet to see if she could find a decent pair of pants to compliment the shirt. If not, she was sticking with the skinny jeans even if she had to tie Embry up!
"Are you nervous?" She threw a pair of loose dark washed jeans onto his lap. He bit his lip-he had mixed feelings; the same excitement he had when he was spending time with Bella, but larger amounts of fear and nerves. He sighed and fell back on his bed, his sweat pants snugly stuck on his hips, so his shirt rode up to show some of his six pack. Leah stopped digging through her 'special' bag to give her friend a sympathetic look.
He was never good with girls-his cockiness always disappearing when a girl would approach him. He was good looking, nice of course, but he wasn't any good with turning on the charm. She remembered how once in middle school she had watched the rowdy boys try to throw French fires in each other's mouths. A girl with badly dyed blonde hair had approached and immediately started flirting with Embry. His nerves got so bad that he spilled soda all over the girl's skirt…and she was standing. Leah had laughed when Embry said it was good thing it hadn't been on her wig. She had screamed at him about how he was a jerk, getting a good punch on the arm by Leah.
She grabbed his hand, holding her bag, forcing him into a stool in the bathroom. She tapped her lip with her finger, circling the man. She patted his cheek, making him frown.
"Keep the stubble." Jacob snickered from his new spot leaning against the bathroom door. It had been a couple years since Embry had facial hair; his scars had required a special ointment for a year that made sure hair didn't grow in the deep scars to keep it from getting infected. She got a comb and quickly ran through his short hair a few times. She gets something from her bag and pours a light green liquid in her hands; she rubbed them together before she patted Embrys cheeks again. His eyes widened and his hand whipped up to touch his face.
"Holy fuck, that burns!" Leah slapped his hand away, trying to not laugh along with her fiancée.
"Language." She sounded just like her mother.
"What is that?" she held the bottle up for him to see. 'Summer sizzle.' what the hell?
"It's aftershave. Haven't you used it before?" He shook his head, trying to ignore the now fading burning in his face that was being replaced with a tingle. Why would he use something like that?
"Besides making my face hurt what does it do?" she grinned.
"Makes you smell nice." He glared.
"Are you saying I stink?" she huffed and slapped Jacobs arm when he released another laugh. He covered his mouth to conceal it, but it was just too funny.
"No! It's supposed to stimulate feminine attraction." She said as if it was the most complex thing she ever said while she put the bottle away. Embry only had a blank look on his face.
"In English please." She threw her head back and groaned. Jacob fell to the ground, his laughter making it difficult to stand and breath.
"Girls will like it!"
"Oh…" she studied her friend one more time. She snapped her fingers and dug deeper in her bag. She brought out a black container, gold lettering on it. She scooped a small helping of goop onto her fingers, rubbing it together and burying her hands into Embrys hair. She molded it into a subtle spiky look, his natural spike gone from showers. She clapped her hands together satisfied with her light work. She checked the clock; twenty minutes before they had to leave and pick up Seth. She pulled Embry up and pushed him into his room.
"Get dressed so I can see it all put together." He rolled his eyes and slipped into the clothes Leah had picked.
Xx
Bella looked in her mirror, frowning. She wanted to do something different with her hair but she didn't know any tricks. Her nice fitting blue jeans worked just right with her light gray sweater that complimented her curves, her dark brown boots adding that fun type of feeling. But her hair, it was dull. She let out a small whimper. She covered her face with her hands. She had everything planned out after the dinner with her family, but she had skipped out on fixing up her hair.
"Knock, knock!" Victoria popped her head in view, a sweet smile on her face-her chaotic bright red hair tied in a pair of pig tails. She walked in holding a curling iron and hair spray.
"I thought I might help; because I doubt leaving a pair of hot plates with Emmett is good idea!" she laughed lightly. Unlike Rosalie, she took Emmett for everything he was-a big, clumsy, silly, sweet teddy bear. She gently pushed Bella towards the bathroom, plugging in the iron. She hummed as she stared at Bella's hair. Bella looked in the smaller mirror at the woman who had stolen her brother's heart. Victoria got some of her hair and twisted it with the iron.
"Victoria?"
"Hmmm?"
"How much do you care about my brother?" the sweet red head chuckled.
"About as much as you do. He's good man; I feel sorry for that Rosina girl. She lost something special." Bella grinned. She forgot her name! Silence filled the room as Victoria twisted more hair.
"Tell me about Embry." Bella blushed.
"He's great."
"Great as a good friend, or great as a sexy guy?" Victoria giggled hysterically as Bella's jaw dropped, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of crimson. Victoria stroked the shy girl's forehead.
"You can tell me Bella-I won't say anything to Emmett."
"Promise?"
"Of course! Girl secrets always are kept away from the guys!" Victoria curled the final section of hair and reached for her hairspray.
"I might think he's…cute." Victoria gave her a look through the mirror that said 'spit it out'. Bella laughed.
"Okay, okay. I think he's hot!" Victoria spritzed the Bella's hair to keep volume. She rustled it a little. Her hair was very manageable, so the job had been quick.
"I know it's a lot to ask, but could I give you a little make up? Just to make your eyes come out." Bella shrugged.
"It's not like I'm pretty." Victoria tapped her shoulder.
"Yes you are! You're what my mother calls an unknown beauty; not a lot of people see you, but those who do will be forever mesmerized by you."
"Your mother sounds very nice." Victoria put a small layer of lip gloss on Bella's lips. She grabbed her chin and looked at her face to get a good look at her.
"She is. It was always just me and my mother when I grew up. Close your eyes." she brushed a slightly darker skin toned eyeliner on Bella's eyelids. She backed away, packing her stuff. She smiled. She motioned for her to stand up and do a twirl.
"Bella, you look wonderful!" she squeezed her shoulders.
"Thanks Victoria. I'm glad you're around." She moved a strand of hair out of her face. They walked through the hall into the kitchen where Emmett was getting a glass of water.
"Could you come in here Emmett?" Victoria asked sweetly. He turned around and spit his mouthful of water when he saw Bella. He puffed his cheeks, his forehead started turning pink. He waved a hand towards her, absolutely speechless.
"Bella, you look…"
"Sexy? Hot? Drop-dead-gorgeous?" Victoria said each with a bob of her head. Bella nudged her with her elbow. Emmett hugged his sister, lifting her off the ground. He looked at her with his blue eyes full of love.
"Beautiful. My little jelly-belly's grown up. You're making me feel old Bells." She smiled at her big brother.
Xx
Embry took a deep breath, standing right in front of Bella's door. She had called him to confirm the time. He rolled his shoulders trying to get the nerves out of his body. He was filled to the brim with nerves; so much that it took a couple minutes to even get himself out of his apartment. He finally knocked on the door. Emmett answered with a ginger bread man in his mouth. Embry swallowed. The larger man narrowed his eyes at his hooded form. He took the cookie out of his mouth, the head gone. He jerked his head to motion for him to come inside. He moved quickly. Emmett left to join Victoria in the kitchen, calling Bella.
"Bells, you masked stranger is here!"
Embry removed his jacket, not wanting to sweat. The smell of the ginger bread men and the low volume Christmas music had him rocking back and forth on his heels, looking around the house. It was always fairly neat, in order. He heard light footsteps that were very familiar. He looked up and his jaw dropped. Bella stood there in nicely fitting sweater and jeans, her hair curled and her cheeks flushed. Ho-lee shit. She smiled. Embry's uneven eyes were wide, his mouth hung open, and his button up shirt moving with his arms. He once again had stubble. She was starting to think he was doing it one purpose.
She looked down as she walked towards him.
"Hi Embry."
"H...H…" he tried his hardest to get that one word out, but it was caught in his throat. He cleared his throat and shoved his hands in his pockets.
"You, err…look nice."
Nice em. Just stamp virgin on your head while you're at it!
"Thank you."
"So, ready to go?" his voice pitched just a little higher than he liked.
Bella grabbed her coat on the couch. While she was turned around Embry face palmed himself, mentally kicking his own ass. He mouthed idiot a few times, stopping his rants just as Bella turned around. He slipped his jacket back on and offered his hand to Bella. She grinned as she gave him her hand, and he clasped her hand within his. She said her goodbyes to Emmett and Victoria before they left the house, into the cold air. Christmas lights already glowing through the streets, small flakes of snow descending from the sky. Emmett sighed as he looked on from the kitchen window. Victoria kissed his cheek and wrapped her arms around his chest.
"She's a doll." He chuckled.
"Yeah…I wish I could keep my baby sister for a little longer." Victoria playfully smacked his ass, making him yelp.
"You still have her, she's just not a baby anymore."
The walk was silent; their hands together, people walking everywhere, making them walk closer together. Bella looked at all the sparkling lights in downtown as they walked to the main section where the tree lighting would be held. Bella laughed when some toddlers toppled over each other in the snow, their mothers rushing over to get them out of the pile of snow. A huge crowd of people are around a tree about ten feet tall, un-lit bulbs coating it. Embry jumped when he felt something hit him in the chest.
A group of teenagers scrambled away, yelling at each other, blaming the others. Usually this would drive someone crazy, but Embry just rolled his eyes, his mind fading to the years he spent doing the same thing with Paul and Jacob. Bella wiped the snow off him with a gloved hand. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and continued walking. The company that sponsored the tree lighting had set up a small light show, a meet Santa event, and even a small ice skating rink. Embry couldn't believe how crazy they went that year.
"Embry! Their giving out eggnog! Do you want some?" he shrugged and let go of Bella so she could go over to a table with two young women giving out plastic cups of their businesses' eggnog. He nearly tripped over a little girl that was staring at him, her dirty blonde hair in cork screw pigtails, and a candy cane in her mouth.
"Hi mister." He kneeled to her level, being sure to avoid any serious light so the little girl wouldn't see his scars.
"Hi. What can I do for you? Are you lost?" she shook her head, her ear muffs nearly flying off. She raised her arms in a message saying she wanted to be picked up.
"Oh sweetie I can't do that."
"Why not?" he moves a little closer to brush some snow off her red and green coat.
"I'm a stranger, and strangers can't just pick up kids like you." The little girl frowned.
"Why?"
"People will get the wrong idea." The girl gets a sweet look in her eyes.
"What if your girlfriend picked me up?" Embry's eyes widened and that's when he heard the crunch of snow underneath feet. He stood up and saw Bella coming towards him with Paul and another girl. She handed him a cup of eggnog with a grin.
"Look who I ran into!" she looked down to see the little girl next to him. She kneeled down and scooped her up in her arms.
"Who's this cutie!" the little girl giggled as Bella gently twirled her around.
"I'm Tabby. I'm here with my mom." Paul elbowed Embry, waggling his eyebrows. Embry punched his arm as his face heated up.
"Well, where's you mom?" the girl pointed to a flustered looking woman in a black coat looking around desperately. She spotted her daughter in Belles arm and rushed over.
"Tabitha E. Denali! Don't do that! You nearly gave me a heart attack." The little girl pouted.
"I just wanted to meet the boyfriend and girlfriend. I saw him carrying her through the streets a couple days ago." Embry bit the inside of his cheek and walked up next to Bella. She put the little girl down, who was only scooped up by her mother once again. The woman smiled.
"I hope she wasn't any bother." Embry raised a hand.
"Oh no. I think she's a sweetheart." The woman chuckled and held her hand out for one of them to shake.
"I'm Irina." Bella shook her hand.
"Nice to meet you." Paul pulled Embry away to go over to a table where there were little trinkets to buy.
"Anything yet?"
"No! We just got here! By the way, who's the girl your with?" he shrugged.
"My twin sister, Angela."
"I didn't know you had a twin sister…" he waved a hand.
"That's because she lived with my dad, while I was with mom. She's visiting her boyfriends' family." Embry looks at a little ceramic figure of a pair of kids under mistletoe, the little boy kissing the girl on the cheek. It was cute.
"So why is she with you?" Paul chugged half of his eggnog, smacking his lips together. The thick liquid required a second swallow the get the excess off his throat.
"Mom thinks we need to spend some time together." Embry picked up a wooden carving of Santa Claus. He traced the pattern with a gloved finger.
"Seems like it's a little late for that; you're both in your twenties now." Paul threw his cup in one of the many recycling bins around. He pushed his friend jokingly.
"So you seriously haven't made a move?" Embry slapped the back of his head as he passed him. The two friends playfully punched and pushed until they were once again with their companions. Embry grasped Bella's waist, not to scare her. She turned in his arms to give him a sweet smile. A portly man with a balding head tapped on a microphone.
"Hello citizens of Bayfield Colorado. Welcome to the annual Christmas tree lighting for our humble town. Also thank our sponsor, Pine River Valley Bank for helping us make this wonderful evening all the better." He signaled for something and Christmas music slowly rose through and then, the large tree flashed alive, arrangements of blue, red, green, and many other colored bulbs wrapped around it, the gold star on top shining bright. It released a warm glow through the downtown, cheers were heard, kids yelling or crying.
"Wow…I see it every year and it never fails to mesmerize me." Bella whispered. Embry set his chin on the top of her head, his arms still wrapped securely around her waist. He looked at the lights in awe; he wouldn't say it, but it was the first year going to the tree lighting he could remember. He might have gone when he was younger, but certain things were blurry ever since he hit his head during his ice disaster.
Bella felt a gooey warm feeling through her when Embry pulled her closer until there was hardly space between them, their winter wear making it harder than it usually was. She could feel his heartbeat and the steady rise and fall of his chest. His arms held her in such a gentle way she started to melt in his grasp. The wind started to get worse, making Bella shudder. She didn't want the moment to end; but the air was seeping through her coat and biting at her arms and face. Embry noticed this and bent his head so he could whisper in her ear.
"Are you getting cold?" his warm breath tickled her. She stifled a giggle.
"Mmm hmmm." He chuckled and separated himself from Bella just for a moment before he pulled her into his embrace again, this time to walk away from the lights. He waved goodbye to Paul, who was actually hugging his sister close to him. Looks like everyone was going to have a good night.
They jogged through the blowing snow to get to Embry's apartment building. Bella rubbed her arms with her icy hands, her teeth chattering. Embry nudged her towards the couch while he got some hot chocolate, it being too late for coffee. He removed his jacket when he passed his tiny closet. He stuck his whistling pot on the stove to get the water started and got out coco powder, milk, sugar, chocolate syrup and whipped cream. When the water was hot enough, he poured some in two coffee mugs, putting in the ingredients he needed and then dropping three marshmallows in each. He walked back in to see Bella zoned out.
He put the mug in front of her face with a grin.
"Oh! Thank you." She sipped the warm drink and sighed as the liquid ran down her throat, leaving a warm trail. Embry took his own sip, nestling comfortably in the old sofa. It had been through a lot; him and Paul had wrestled on it for years, beers had been spilled, pizza dropped…it was funny how certain things held so many memories. His mug was set firmly in his hand on his thigh, letting himself drift into dangerous memory territory.
Flashback #1
"Ugh! Not so hard." Paul grunted.
"I'm trying you dimwit!" an unscarred Embry growled. He pushed his hands down hard on the other skaters back and heard a satisfying 'pop.' Paul sighed. Embry fell back onto his butt on the thin carpet of his apartment shaking his head.
"Next time don't let the guy get you between the shoulder blades." Paul stretched, his back feeling loose once again after a dick from another team elbowed him between his shoulder blades, where he had a horribly sensitive nerve point.
"Thanks Em."
"No problem."
Flashback #2
"Fuck no!" a fourteen year old Embry yelled when Paul stuck a worm in his face. It was freshly washed and struggling to get out of Paul's hold.
"c'mon, I dare you. I'll pay you twenty bucks. Thirty if you swallow it."
"It'll get caught in my braces!" he waved the long pink bug in front of his face.
"Then just stick it your mouth for…ten seconds, and I'll pay you fifteen bucks!" Embry hesitated; he could really use the money to buy the video game he was lusting after.
"Fine." He takes the squishy bug from Paul, blanching. He lifted it to his mouth and dropped it in. he clenched his fists and kept his eyes shut as the insect wiggled in his mouth. Paul watched, trying his hardest not to gag. He couldn't believe Embry was actually doing it! Embry's bravado vanished. He gagged and spit out the worm, which dug itself into the moist ground. "Bleh!" he spit saliva out of his mouth, trying to get rid of the taste. Paul handed him a ten and five dollar bill.
"You went 11 seconds, 11 more than I thought you would." Embry grinned.
End of flashbacks
"Em?" He turned to look at Bella, who had a curious and…surprised look.
"Yeah?" she blushed.
"D-did you put up that mistletoe?" she pointed towards the ceiling right above them. Embry pales when he sees the decoration hanging on the white ceiling. He didn't even own…LEAH! He quickly looked back down to Bella, who was blushing madly. God, he was going to KILL Leah! He wanted nothing more than to crawl into a hole and hide.
"I…I didn't…" he tried once again to get words out, but the more he looked into Bella's eyes, the harder it became. Wait! This was the perfect moment; it was cliché but, to him it seemed just right. He built up as much courage as he could and pulled Bella closer. She squeaked and placed her hand on his chest, feeling how fast his heartbeat was. He inhaled deeply, trying to calm down just a little. With his free hand he brushed his fingers against her flushed cheek.
"Bella." He murmured. She squeaked again, but inched her face a little closer. Embry did the same. They moved closer…closer…until they're centimeters apart. Embry swallowed the growing lump in his throat, feeling sudden fear. What if he did something wrong? He would ruin their friendship while trying to take a new step. They stayed still for what felt like hours; until Bella let her eyes flutter shut and closed the remaining distance between them. His lips were warm, soft and tasted like the hot chocolate they were drinking. The new sensation for her made her gasp as Embry exhaled, making the chocolate flavor stronger. Embry moved his lips against hers gently, and they started a steady, gentle pace, though both of their hearts were nearly beating out of their chests.
Embry buried his hand in her long hair, pulling her face closer. Bella started purring again, setting both of her hands on his chest. She pressed her lips a little harder against his. This time, the world faded away and stayed like that as they shared their first kiss. When air became necessary, they broke part only enough to get air before they returned to each other. After several more minutes, Bella pulled back panting while Embry kissed her eyelids, her nose and skimmed his lips against hers once more before he fully pulled away.
"Wow…" Embry whispered, absolutely breathless.
"Yeah." Bella smiled at him in a different way that had his slowing heart speed up again. He sets his forehead against hers.
"Bella, I…I like you more than just as a friend. I have for a few weeks. I just didn't know if-"she hushed him and wrapped her wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing his scarred cheek.
"You're not the only one." His breath caught in his throat as he pulled Bella into his lap to bury his face in her neck. She purred low in her chest. They both jumped when Bella's' cell phone went off.
getting late, tomorrow's x-mas.-E she whined. Embry raised an eyebrow.
"I have to go hoooome!" she huffed, snuggling closer to Embry. She didn't want to leave! She was cozy nestled in Embry's lap.
"I'll walk you home if you want." She smiled slightly and nodded. She grudgingly let go of Embry to get her coat on. They walked through the cold air, Embry's arm around her waist. People were still walking around from the tree lighting, some drunk and some carrying children that looked pooped. They reached her house and walked up the porch, Embry didn't remove his arm. His leaned in to whisper in her ear once again.
"I'll see you soon?"
"Mmm hmm." Embry grabbed her chin and gave her a sweet kiss.
"Merry Christmas Bella." She hugged him, wanting to drag out each minute she could.
"Merry Christmas Em. I had a great time." He grinned.
"Which part was your favorite?"
"The part at your house." She rested her head on his chest, feeling his heartbeat speed up once again.
"Me too... I better go, I have a feeling you brothers going to rip the door off its hinges if he has to wait any longer." He turned to leave, but jumped back to give Bella one more kiss and whispering his goodbye before he jogged down the stairs, leaving a giddy Bella behind. She walked into the house to see Emmett and Victoria snuggled on the couch.
"How'd it go?" Emmett turned his attention from the late night Christmas movie. Bella swayed side to side, her fingers going up to her lips that were now tingling. Victoria giggled, Emmett looked lost.
"It was…great." She mumbled and went to her room.
Xx
Embry lied in bed, staring at the ceiling with a grin. Now he wasn't sure whether to kill or hug Leah when he saw her tomorrow. But at the moment all he knew was that a certain ice skater would be in his dreams that night. It was truly a day to remember…though he was hoping the day would repeat from that point on.
HOOOOLY SHIT! I TOLD YOU THERE WOULD BE A TURNING POINT! WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO THE END, I THINK…ANYWAY, I'M LETTING THE POLL STAY UP A LITTLE LONGER BECAUSE NOW THERE IS A TIE BETWEEN "BLIND FRIENDSHIP," AND "IT TAKES TOW TO TANGO." I REALLY NEED SOMEONE TO BE MY TIE BREAKER! PLEASE! UGH…OKAY, FAREWELL UNTIL NEXT CHAPTER THIS CHAPTER BETAed BY SOTHE SAGE