I HAVE SOME NEWS. APPARENTLY I LOST TRACK OF MYSELF AND DIDN'T MENTION THAT THIS, AND THE EPILOGE ARE THE FINAL CHAPTERS-
Characters: What? How come you didn't say anything? We're all getting really deep into this!
Sothe Sage (BETA): WHAT? How could you forget something as important as that! I'm your BETA for God's sake and you didn't even tell me!
Me; *frowns* If you would just…
Paul: Seriously! It's low down!
Jacob; yeah! I mean, this is like telling your friends that you're moving two days before you do!
Me; *face palm* I think that's a bit…
Leah: You should have warned us!
Me: THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING IT NOW! IF YOU WOULD JUST LET ME FINISH YOU COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON GODAMNIT!
Everyone; *cricket sounds*
Me; Good…Now, don't freak out like they did. I understand this was quite sudden and that you probably won't be happy with me. But since there are some kinks I have been ignoring, I have decided to write a few outtakes that will not be featured in the epilogue. So think of it as an apology present for this sudden news…so is everyone done going bananas?
Embry: *walks in.* What happened? What about bananas?
Me; Believe me, you don't wanna know. Now places people! *everyone scrambles away*
SSage; You do keep everyone in a very straight line…
Me; It's what I do. And oh yeah, I don't own anything.
SSage: I still think you should've told us sooner…
A little less than two weeks later-the Day of the skating tournament-but far from the time it begins.
Quil sat in his crappy lounge chair with a beer in hand, staring at that one piece of paper that brought so much anxiety. It had been two weeks since Paul gave him Embry's number and he still had yet to call. Each time he tried, Embry either wasn't home or he chickened out. He pushed his thick framed glasses up his nose. He had started wearing his glasses again and…strangely he felt better. He felt a little more like himself. He always saw them as a burden but lately they had been more of a comfort. He remembered the day he came to practice wearing them.
Flashback
Quil walked through the rink door, music flowing from the ear buds of his iPod. He trotted into the locker room and heard the yelling and whooping of the team. He set his duffel bag on the bench and stripped off his shirt, humming to the song that was playing
"DUDE!" Quil jumped when he hear Tyler's voice boom through the locker room. He looked up to see a confused Tyler staring at him like he had three heads. He shifted uncomfortably under his teammates eyes.
"What?" He quipped. He felt a familiar rush of awkwardness-one that he hadn't felt since high school.
"I thought you got rid of those chick repellant specs!" Tyler tried to snatch the glasses off his face, but Quil took a step back. Alex noticed what was going on and nudged Paul. The both of them watched the strange interaction between the supposed friends.
"I got sick of my contacts and I wasn't going to walk around blind as a bat." Quil calmly retorted. Tyler gave him a look of distaste. He thought he got rid of this Quil! Quil slid off his jeans to change into his sweats.
"Yeah but…dude, you look like a dweeb with those things on; especially with your curly hair!" Quil scowled at Tyler and threw on the rest of his workout clothes.
"Gee thanks; that's what every guy wants to hear from his FRIEND!" he put his duffel bag in one of the lockers and slammed it shut, the noise echoing throughout the changing room. He stormed out of the locker room leaving behind a shocked Alex and Tyler. Paul jogged after him. Quil was speed walking down the hall-fists clenched. Paul grabbed his shoulder to stop him.
"If it helps, I think you look more like the old Quil I saw in those old albums your mom has." The shorter skater looked at him with surprise before a small smile spread across his face. He patted Paul's arm.
"Thanks Paul." Paul grinned and the two walked down the hall, ignoring Alex and Tyler trying to catch up.
End of flashback
Quil huffed and got up to chuck his empty beer bottle into the trash. He just couldn't do it-he couldn't handle the thought of hearing that one voice that snapped him out of his trance, the voice that made everything so clear. It would be worse to look him in the eye but…either way he was going to end up crying.
"ARGH!" he bellowed and punched the frame of his kitchen entrance. He did this repeatedly until he was out of breath and his knuckles ached. Someone above him stomped on the floor in code of 'shut up.' He leaned his head on the same spot and groaned. He slid to the ground until he was on his knees. God why was this tearing him up? If only his grandfather saw him now, that old man would tear him a new one and yell what he always did when Quil acted stupid.
"C'mon you little midget! I love ya, but quit acting like a pussy!" Quil chuckled as the strangely comforting words echoed through his head. He sighed and forced himself off the ground to get ready for the celebration at Sam's house. He pulled on his coat and walked out of his first floor apartment.
Xx
"Something's up Harry." A pissed off Sam muttered as he watched the team joke around. The old coach looked at the younger man with concern. He smiled a little when he saw Quil and Paul talking, Quil pushing up his glasses once in a while.
"Well I know the sky's up." He joked and rolled his eyes when Sam scowled. Paul laughed at something Quil said. Sam clenched his jaw. First Paul is acting weird and then Quil… What was going on? Was his thought of Embry being involved true? It would make sense; Paul was always close to Embry. Quil got freaked out by Embry that one fateful day…no. No, Embry couldn't be what was going on. Paul never liked Sam, and Quil was always a headache. They could possibly just be showing that he doesn't have full control over them. But Quil had been so willing when they met him at that party.
The guy had been all alone, gliding slowly on the sheet of ice from a recent storm. They had approached him and he was butter. He listened to all of Tyler's advice and became his twin. But that didn't mean he would stay that way. Paul never fully listened anyway…so wait, does any of that have anything to do with Embry? ARGH! He was giving himself migraines thinking like this!
Quil came ever to the small table of refreshments and quickly shoved half a cupcake in his mouth. He stopped when he saw Sam staring at him. He shifted his eyes over to Paul who was slapping Alex upside the head. So what Paul told him was true-you felt absolute chills when Sam stared at you. He swallowed his mouthful of cake and rushed back to Paul.
Sam narrowed his eyes at his retreating form. He guessed it would be best to make his announcement.
"Alright, shut up for five seconds." His baritone voice rung through the room. The team looked at him curiously.
"Out of request from Ty, we will be attending the figure skating tournament tonight." Paul dropped his jaw. He turned his angered eyes toward a smirking Tyler.
"Why the hell do you want to go to figure skating tournament!" Tyler looked at him like he was stupid, making Paul grind his teeth.
"For all the sexy chicks. DUH!" Paul took a step forward-images of his hands around the leaner males neck. He felt a pressure on his stomach and looked to see Quil shaking his head. He was right. They would wonder why that would get such a reaction. They probably think he's crazy for responding like he did.
"Whatever." He ground out. Quil patted his back. The two of them had become good friends in such a short time; it was almost baffling. He relaxed and scowled at Tyler one more time before he left to use the bathroom,
Xx at Embry's place
"Jake and I will be watching!" a happy Leah chirped through the screen of Embry's lap top. The scarred man chuckled and rested his chin on his hand as he smiled at his sister's face. Bella was an absolute wreck with worries about the tournament, driving James crazy. He kept telling her she would do great, Embry would help by kissing her head and she would be calm, but ten minutes later she would be back to freaking out.
"'I'd say I'll tell her, but then she'll just worry more-two more pairs of eyes on her." Leah sighed and cradled the slight buldge on her stomach.
"The poor things really that stressed?" Embry nodded. Jacob was sleeping in the background- his snores were very prominent.
"Well, tell her we say good luck. She's Lucky she has you." Embry blushed at her words. He and Bella had gotten closer. They spent many nights at each other's houses a lot and constantly went to the beautiful field they found with Leah and Jake-to the point he had that talk with Charlie. Talk about awkward. Embry smiled at Leah.
"How's the baby?" a motherly smile spread across her face. She ran a hand over her stomach.
"Growing. Jacob nearly had a heart attack when we went to see its progress." Embry smiled genuinely.
"Still not big enough to see the gender?" Leah shook her head.
"It's getting there though." Leah heaved a sigh. "Well, I'm gonna let you go Em. Jake's bound to wake up any minute and let's just say he has his eye on some names in the baby book!" Embry grinned.
"Okay Leah. Call me after the tournament."
"Will do." Embry tapped a button on his laptop and the Skype logo flashed onto the screen. He leaned back in his couch. He still couldn't get over how his life had turned around- how things felt so much lighter than they used to, how laughing doesn't seem to be impossible. Bella was a little firecracker- harmless until you light the fuse. She was sweet and playful…she brought out a side of him he didn't even existed-that no one knew was inside of him. He turned the volume back up on the TV as they talked about the skating tournament.
"Well folks, today is the day of the first annual figure skating competition being held here in snowy Colorado! Hope you got your tickets because they are SOLD OUT! Apparently there are a lot of figure skating fans around here! Who knew?"
Embry rolled his eyes at the overly perky man and turned the channel to discovery. He set his hands behind his head and listened to the sophisticated voice talk about brown bears eating habits. He jumped when he felt the vibration of his phone on his back pocket again. It was a text from Seth.
I'll be there tonight-S he shook his head with a smile. Seth and Bella got along so well it was strange. Bella said she always wanted a little brother for her and Emmett to teach. Seth missed Leah, so things worked out quite well in their relationship. He decided to get ready, since he was in sweats and his hair was a mess. He threw on a plaid button up and a pair of jeans ran a hand through his hair and plopped back on the couch.
He watched something bizarre about frogs until his phone went off. He looked at the text.
We're leaving. See you there." –E. He grunted and got off the couch to retrieve his thick jacket.
The streets were crowded with people-all eager for the tournament. Embry shuffled his way through the large groups of people, accidentally stepping on someone's foot, until he finally reached the entrance of the skating rink. A sweet blonde girl smiled at his hooded form. Yes, he still wore a hood in public, but it was more out of habit now.
"Ticket please." He handed the girl his ticket so she could punch it. She handed him back his ticket and he walked through the tiled halls. He saw an exasperated Emmett pacing with Victoria's purse in his hand. He snickered.
Emmett saw him and sighed.
"Thank god you're here! Neither James nor Victoria can get Bella out of the changing room, maybe you can do something." Embry shrugged and pushed the door open. Victoria walked out with a smile of encouragement. He leaned against the wall and watched a distressed Bella scrutinize herself in the mirror. Her skating suit was half black and half red, beautiful pearl swirls joining the two colors, the sleeves slightly translucent. Her hair was pulled up in an elegant bun and her make up gave off a mysterious smoky look. (Costume on profile) Bella released a sound of distaste as she placed her hands on her hips.
She frowned at her reflection and huffed.
"You look great." She squealed and spun around when she heard his voice. Her face went crimson as she saw her boyfriend leaning against the door.
"Em! Who let you in? Only the coaches and other females are allowed in here!" Embry pulled his hood back, a smirk on his face. She childishly stuck her tongue at him and tried to hide. He chuckled as he pushed himself off the wall and gripped Bella's hip. He pulled her towards him until her back was flush against his chest. He kissed her cheek.
"You look beautiful…what's the matter?" Bella relaxed in his arms, letting out a sigh. She gingerly touched his ring in an attempt to stall.
"Bells…" he chastised. She turned in his hold to look at him with tears brimming.
"I…I'm not like all the others. I'll do something to mess it up!" He smiled.
"That doesn't explain why you were criticizing yourself in the mirror." He gently remarked. Bella bit her lip.
"I feel exposed!" Embry couldn't help it. He laughed lightly at her response. He brushed his lips over hers once, twice-until she was purring. He trailed his thumb across her cheek.
"Bella, you are exposed-But in a positive way. You're so nervous about this when deep down you know you'll do great." He rested his forehead against hers. She snaked her arms around his back to give him a hug. He grinned.
"Besides…I think you look sexy." She made a sound of defense and slapped his back.
"I love you too." He laughed.
He pulled away to give her one more kiss before leaving the room so James could finish getting Bella ready. Emmett slapped his shoulder.
"C'mon. My dad saved us some spots." The duo left to find their spots for the show, Victoria already gone in need of the restroom and leaving Bella to sit with James until they were called.
In the bleachers at the same moment.
"Quit stealing my jerky Alex!" an angry Tyler hissed, elbowing the other member. Quil rubbed his temple. How did he hang out with those stooges? Paul chuckled next to him.
"Shut up the both of you!" Sam whispered shouted to the supposedly dumbest skating members and slapped the both of them upside the head. "You wanted to watch this shit so watch!" the two shut their mouths and watched a small blonde skirt across the ice elegantly, her costume nothing but pink, some annoying bubbly music playing. Quil looked at Paul with disgust. Paul looked just as disturbed. Let this end soon! Sam sighed as he looked at the two friends up front. He wished his head would shut up!
In a different section
Charlie pulled out his video camera while Alice hurriedly got out her cell phone. Emmett and Victoria sat together near the middle, and Embry sat at the edge, waiting for Bella's turn. The short haired brunette finished her dark themed routine and a chorus of claps filled the rink. Someone cheered her name before she left through the exit.
"Isabella Swan." Renee screamed at the top of her lungs as Bella emerged at the edge of the rink.
"THAT'S MY BABY!"
"Renee, sit down-people are staring…" Charlie scolded. Embry smiled, but it quickly vanished as Bella's gentle melody began. She pivoted into a fast glide when the music went a little faster. A small spotlight followed her in her movements as she did a quick twirl that made her a blur for a second. She seemed to sink into it, becoming the graceful mystery her costume was supposed to give off. She did a back spin and someone whistled in the audience.
She glided into the center of the rink, getting ready for the finale. She twirled smoothly and shot herself up in the air-ready for the landing she practiced so much. But what she and no one else in the rink saw, was a crack just wide enough for a skating blade.
Bella felt relief at first when she landed, then horror when her foot didn't move. There was a sickening crack and then darkness. Horrified gasps filled the rink as Bella fell unconscious on the ice. Embry's heart exploded and out of instinct he flew out of his seat and started to climb the fence, feeling no time to run around the entrance.
"Sir you can't do that!" A burly man shouted at him, but he didn't stop.
"Go fuck yourself!" Embry retorted as his boot landed on the ice. He sprinted across the rink, sliding the last few feet on his knee, ignoring the burn and the fact his hood fell off. He grabbed Bella's face and looked at the growing lump on her head.
"Jesus!" he muttered as he lifted her off the ice. Emmett rushed over and took her from his arms as Victoria dashed to the car so they could get to the hospital. As Embry pushed through the crowd he heard the shocked whispers of the audience.
"Is that Embry Call?"
"I thought he died!" he growled as people stared at him.
"Jeez, I didn't know that accident would screw him up…" he whipped around.
"WHY DON"T YOU FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO GAWK AT?" He roared at the crowd before he pushed through the doors, into the halls.
He jogged out of the exit and into Emmett's jeep. When he was in, Emmett wasted no time slamming his foot on the gas, driving in the direction of the closest hospital.
In New York-just before the accident.
Leah clapped her hands as Bella arrived on the ice, Jacob chuckling next to her.
"God, her costume is gorgeous!" she squealed.
"Yeah, Embry's gonna have fun ripping that off." Jacob muttered, earning a scolding slap by Leah. They watched her routine with admiration-with the music playing and the light following her every move. They watched her jump. The couple gasped in horror when they saw Bella collapse.
Leah choked on her tongue when she saw Embry's form sprint into screen and scoop her up. She gripped her fiancée's bicep.
"Call Em!" Jacob whipped out his phone and dialed Embry's number. Surprisingly he answered on the first ring.
"What do you want?" his voice was strained.
"Embry it's Jake, we just saw what happened- where are you?" he rushed out.
"We just got into the hospital! They just took Bella away…God, there were hundreds of skaters! It just had to be my Bella! Godamnit!"
"Em, just calm down…"
"Calm down? How the hell am I supposed to calm down knowing Bella has a head injury bad enough to kill her?" Leah sobbed, hearing every word he screamed through the phone.
"Jake I gotta go-right now I need to focus on something else." Jacob was met with the dial tone. He dropped his phone to comfort his fiancée. She was sobbing hard- tears rolling down her face.
"He just-got better! He can't-lose her!" she buried her face in Jacob's chest, letting the shaking take her over.
At Sam's place-after the incident.
Paul stared at the cream colored wall blankly, Quil sitting next to him while the team raged about the tournament being ruined.
"I get it, the chick was hurt, but they didn't have to cancel! What was with Em popping out of nowhere!" Tyler ranted on. Sam watched Paul with interest. The guy was acting very strange-the look of horror when Bella fell, and now...just sitting there. Paul shot up.
"I'm leaving. Quil are you coming?" the fellow skater nodded and pushed his glasses up. Sam narrowed his eyes and followed them.
"Where are you going?" he demanded. Paul glared daggers at him.
"None of your concern." He bit back the rage bubbling that had been in him for so long. Sam growled.
"It is if you're going to bail on us like this!" he shot back. "You act like you're not a member of the team and you have Quil following behind you like a lost puppy!" Quil scowled.
"I made my own choice Sam! I'm not your puppet!" he shouted. Sam took a step towards them.
"This has something to do with Embry! Tell me what's going on!"
"No!" Paul spat back.
"If you value your positions on this team, then you will tell me what's up with you; NOW!"
Something hit Paul that made him smirk. He looked at Quil who understood his intentions. They both ripped the pins off their shirts that symbolized their spots on the team and threw them at Sam. "Then consider our positions open." Quil stated. Before he could respond, they ran off, leaving a shell shocked Sam standing in the snow.
At the hospital
Embry was slumped in a chair, his face hidden by his hands. Charlie and Renée sat across from him, complete messes; Emmett and Victoria had passed out from the stress not too long ago; Alice was sobbing into her phone-telling Edward everything; and James sat next to Embry just as stressed out as he was. Embry couldn't ignore the growing lump in his throat, or the burning of his eyes. He clenched his jaw. No. He wouldn't cry- not now. He laid his head against the too hard wall of the hospital and let a restless sleep take him.
He was standing in that field again-the one he, Leah, Jacob and Bella found. Except now there was no snow on the ground and the vegetation looked dead, almost as if its life source decided to let them suffer. Embry dropped to his knees and touched the dry grass. It was strange how this field seemed to mirror his emotions.
"She'll be alright." He jumped and turned around to see the old man again. He felt anger rise and thunder echoed through the sky. The old man raised an eyebrow.
"What, you don't believe me? After all the shit I've been right about, you still doubt me!" Embry scowled and the thunder got louder. He stayed in the kneeling position in the middle of the field. The old man dropped down next to him.
"You have hard head." He muttered gruffly.
"And you make me feel crazy." Embry retorted, thunder booming through the sky. The old man rested a hand on his shoulder.
"I wouldn't do that if you would believe me." Embry slumped his shoulders and the thunder seemed to tone down. He let one sob shake him, a few drops of rain coming down before he sucked in air to compose himself. The old man patted his back.
"Your diamond is durable-you won't lose her easily." He murmured. Embry swallowed the lump in his throat as the trees around him started gaining some color. This little movement made hope flare inside him, making the plants burst to life into vibrant and bright shades of green-the sun shining proudly. Bella would pull through. The old man grunted as he forced himself up.
He gently hit the scarred man up the head. He shook a finger at him.
"Don't doubt me anymore!" Embry held his hands up in surrender. The old man chuckled.
"You gotta get to your diamond." Embry frowned in confusion until the old man pushed him and…
"Embry!" Embry's eyes flew open to meet Pauls' gaze. The bulkier friend pulled him into a tight embrace as he hurriedly whispered his consultance.
"I saw everything Em. I'm so sorry I'm sure she'll pull through." Embry was still disoriented when Paul patted his back. His head started to clear when Paul pulled away, still gripping his shoulder.
"You okay?" Paul asked while studying his face.
"Yeah…just-ahh…gimme a second." He rubbed his eyes, trying to wake up. When he could stand up he stretched out, hearing several pops and snaps. He rubbed his lower back as he turned towards his friend.
"What time is it?" He muttered. Paul handed him something wrapped in paper. He ripped it open to see a burrito.
"It's ten at night. You slept for a couple hours." Paul responded.
"How long have you been here?" Paul rubbed the back of his neck.
"About an hour…Bella's parents left for the night; I managed to get Emmett to get some rest, and Alice left a few minutes ago."
"Is she awake?" Embry asked eagerly. Paul nodded. Embry grabbed his shoulders.
"What room?" Paul gulped.
"221 but-"Before he could finish Embry was already halfway down the hall. Paul ran after him-their feet making simultaneous tapping noise. Embry pushed the door open and froze. Quil's surprised face was the one thing he noticed for a second. Embry growled, but stopped when he felt Paul grip his shoulder.
"Relax Em. Quil has some stuff to say." Bella whispered, her eyes drooping. Embry studied Quil. His once messy hair was controlled, His face held a pair of thick framed glasses and he seemed tired. Quil swallowed and walked towards Embry. He removed his glasses as he looked down at his boot clad feet.
"Embry," he murmured. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not supporting you when you first felt a fear over the ice-I'm sorry I never called to check on you; I'm sorry I scared Bella, and I'm SO sorry I let Sam get his claws in me!" Tears were streaming down his face now. Embry looked at him with shock, before a sad smile crossed his face.
"Apology accepted. You're a good guy Quil-you just let Tyler get a hold on you." Quil gawked at him until Paul pulled on his arm.
"But…" He started.
"C'mon, let's give them some time to themselves." Paul said as he dragged a shocked Quil out of the room. Embry rushed over to a sleepy Bella and pressed his lips to hers- tears falling.
"You don't know how bad of a scare you gave me!" he whimpered. She let out a small sob and wrapped her arms around his chest.
"I love you." She whispered. He brushed hair out of her face-his lips barely skimming over her bandaged head. He breathed a sigh and rested his head next to hers. They sat in silence while Embry caressed Bella's face almost like he was a drug addict. Bella kissed the bridge of his nose.
"Do you know what the damage is?" she mumbled. He retrieved the clipboard from her bed.
"You broke your leg in three places and you had a mild head injury…not too bad." Bella scrunched her nose. Figures-she would find a way to destroy herself just by slipping in a crack. Embry kissed her hand and smiled at her.
"You know you're never going to leave my sight now right?" She giggled and carefully moved her body to face him.
"Yeah, I kinda figured that." They shared a small laugh before a nurse came in to tell Embry visiting hours had ended twenty minutes ago. The nurse injected something into Bella's IV that made her head drop to her pillow-fast asleep. Embry smiled before he left. Paul was shaking a drowsy Quil.
"Well, it's been an emotional day for everyone. Why don't we go to my place and get some sleep?" The two friends grunted and walked with Embry out the door towards Paul's car. The ride was filled with silence, mostly because Quil had passed out and Paul looked about ready to. When they entered Embry's apartment, he shut the door and all three men fell to the floor, not moving until morning.
Looks like things were falling back into place.
WHEEEEE! So glad I managed to make that chapter make sense and put in all the moments I wanted! Remember, epilogue, some outtakes and then our next project! I have so much fun with this!
Jacob: Am I in the next story?
Me: Of course!
Seth: Who gets to make out with Bella next?
Bella: *slaps him in the back of the head* Jerk!
Me: Bad Seth!
Seth: What? I was just asking a question!
Embry; A stupid one…
Seth; Shut up!
Embry; Make me! *scuffle ensues*
SSage: They're a headache … *shakes head* but if it's any consolation Seth, I think you should be next…
Me: *Smacks SSage* If you want that then you should write your own fic!
Seth: Yes! See? Even your BETA wants it!
Me: *Facepalms* I know…and Now we're going to be attacked with questions about the next story SSage…
SSage; Good God… I swear I don't know anything about the next fic! *Waves hands in front of him*
Me: JERK! *Starts chasing SSage*
SSage: Seth? Embry? SOMEONE HELP ME!
Seth, Jacob, Bella & Embry: *laughing so hard that they're coughing*
SSage: Guys?