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Chapter Eighteen: The Bro Code

BPOV

"Embry? Embry!" I leaned back a little to get a better look at him, and couldn't help but squint in the dim light. We were standing in a narrow hallway, connecting the main room of the club to the rest-rooms and Embry wasn't saying anything.

"Why do you keep staring at my mouth?"

"I'm not-" he shot back abruptly, letting his jaw hang open for a moment, but still he didn't continue.

"Oh, so you haven't lost the power of speech."

His lips disappeared into a thin line as he folded his arms, straightening up to his full hight and shooting a defiant look down at me. I hated when they did that.

"I don't have to tell you anything," he said mutinously, but the tiniest spark of uncertainty in his stare would have given him away, even without the prominent bob of his throat.

"You really think that's going to work? What are you, seven?" I said with confidence – I'd get it out of him, the easy way or the hard way. "Why the hell are you here, Embry?"

He appeared to chew on his tongue for a minute while he thought up the right answer.

"If you have to think about it, it's not the truth," I said, unable to hide the annoyance from my tone. My eyes darted between his, willing the answer to present itself,but he fixed his stare anywhere else he could rest it.

I felt like my privacy had been invaded, and the one time I'd been able to go off somewhere and have a normal, teenage experience, he'd tainted it. His very presence here was a reminder of the danger I was in – was it too much to ask that I could forget about it, just for a night?

"I'm here to meet girls," he said finally, almost triumphant that he'd managed to string another sentence together.

"Oh yeah? Girls like Lauren? 'Cause you didn't look very happy to meet her. Why else would I have had to rescue you."

He looked at me strangely then, as if just remembering something. "Yeah, why did you do that? You didn't have to." Then it was my turn to look perplexed. I gestured towards his chest with an upturned palm.

"You're my friend, she's a pain, and you looked like you were being bothered. Why the hell not?"

He gave a slight shrug, looking at me head-on with a thoughtful glint. "I don't know. Guess I didn't figure you'd really care. I haven't much seen you like that before."

"Aggressive?" I snorted, relaxing my posture and taking a step back from him. I was aware he was changing the subject, but something behind that closed, mysterious expression was tugging at my curiosity. I could never tell what was going on behind those eyes.

"Protective," he corrected, and there was something akin to pride in the statement. The corners of my lips curled slightly, and he was looking at them again, but I wasn't going to stray off the path this time.

"Like you'rebeing? You're not a liar, Embry, so I know you wouldn't be feeding me this crap if you didn't have something to hide. What is it?" My attention was drawn once again to the cellphone in his hand, which was lighting up at regular intervals with new notifications. "Who is it you're talking to?"

He lifted the phone slightly when I mentioned it, turning the screen upwards, and one name stood out on the display –Jake calling. My suspicions were confirmed instantly. I saw red.

"Hemade you come, didn't he? That's why you're here." I blew out a breath and moved to pace the corridor. My blood was boiling. "The one night I come out to blow off a little steam, and he sends you along to report back. Jesus Christ."

Embry's face was a mixture of guilt and indecision, and I threw my hands up in annoyance. "Oh for fuck sake, answer it. We can't have him worried, can we?" He looked apologetic for a moment before holding the phone to his ear and turning away.

"Hello? Yeah, man... it's okay but-" he turned his head to glance at me from where he was pacing, clearly unsure whether to continue. His eyes went wide and a hand buried itself in his hair. "I think the jig is up. She found me out, man. I might crack under this kind of pressure."

I rolled my eyes at his attempt to lighten the mood and approached him, holding my hand out for the phone. He looked at it and raised a brow, shaking his head when he met my eyes again.

Really reaching the end of my patience, I sighed, dug him hard in the stomach with my finger and grabbed the phone when he winced in pain. He wasn't the only one - my damn finger felt sprained.

"Jacob?" I ground out, "Care to explain why you've got Embry here doing your dirty work?"

"Uh... Hi Bells," he replied nervously. It was a low move to use that pet-name.

"Well? I wasn't aware I was under house-arrest. I'm out with Leah! It's not like she'd let anything happen to me."

"Bella, look, I was just trying-"

"I don't care, Jacob. I'm sick of people making decisions for me. Leah's the only one who seems to think I'm not fucking helpless!"

"Is she with you right now?" he asked. Shit... that was a good point.

"Well, no, but-"

I lowered my voice as a group of girls laughingly made their way past me and into the bathroom. Jacob took my half-sentence as an opening to put forth his argument.

"That's what I thought. I couldn't be sure you ladies wouldn't get separated in a place like that." The note of triumph in his reply grated on me.

"You're such a chauvinist pig!" I growled, my fist clenching angrily. I had no doubt that had it been one of the other guys I was out with, he would have been content to let me go.

"This isn't about you being girls, it's about the both of you being so hell-bent on proving everyone wrong that you'll put yourselves at risk. I'm not just going to stand by and let you get hurt, Bella."

"You mean hurt again Jake," I said coolly. "Believe me, I'm a lot tougher than you think – we both are. Maybe there's a lot more that we can handle these days."

"Bella..." he said, sighing at the entendre of my words. "I'm sorry things have to be this way, but I stand by my decision. You're not going to convince me otherwise."

"Don't worry, I'm done trying to convince you of anything Jacob. Just do me a favour in future. If you're going to interfere in my life, at least have the balls to do it yourself."

I hung up the call after that, turning to toss it at Embry as I grunted in frustration and kicked at a small trashcan. He let the clatter echo though the corridor and just watched me.

"I guess you agree with him," I said, still facing the wall. I turned to take in the thoughtful look on his face as he huffed out a breath, burying the phone back in the pocket of his jeans.

It was odd to see Embry dressed this way, and for the first time I noticed the carefully pressed shirt he was wearing and what looked like product in his hair, giving it a dry, tousled look. He'd obviously planned to come here tonight pretty carefully, and the thought only fuelled my aggravation.

"Not exactly, but I get where he's coming from," he said, breaking the pause between us. I shook my head.

Of course.

He stumbled to correct my assumption, clearly reading my angry expression. "It's not that I think you're helpless, or that we can't trust you with your own safety, but you and Leah seem so hell-bent on asserting your independence. It's admirable, but it doesn't mean the rest of us won't worry - and we don't trust vampires. It was too much of a risk."

"So you just followed his orders like a faithful little pup?" I said. I sounded so cutting, but I was sosick of being rescued.

He shook his head, "Jake may be my Alpha, but I volunteered to come." I took a step closer to him, searching his face for a lie, any indication that he was still defending Jacob.

I let the new information sink in – Jacob had taken control of the Pack, finally, like his birthright dictated. I instinctively knew that Melanie had something to do with it – with her by his side, he finally found the inner strength I always knew he'd had. I just hadn't been able to draw it out.

Once again, the feeling of inadequacy rippled within me, and I wondered if he'd been right about me. Maybe I was affording myself more confidence than was warranted. Maybe I never would be worthy.

They certainly weren't busting their tails trying to save her all the time, and she'd never been hunted down like an animal. I was nothing more than a thorn in each of their sides, someone who had to be babysat twenty-four-seven because I was a danger to myself and everyone who came in contact with me.

I couldn't fathom how Embry didn't seem to think so.

"Why? If you think I'm so strong, that I don't need to be protected from myself, why willingly come here, knowing that it'd piss me off?" He clearly thought as much from the way he'd hidden his presence at the club from me.

"It was either me, or Jake would have come here himself... I uh," he paused, looking sheepish, but I couldn't figure out why. "I guess I thought that you'd be less upset to see me here."

I couldn't argue with that, and felt my anger softening. He was right – as mad as I was, setting eyes on Jacob tonight would have had me seething.

"You thought right," I finally said, approvingly. "Guess you're a lot smarter than he is."

Embry smiled then, and I felt the rest of my anger slip away. It was easy to see how everyone seemed to like him so much. He was as loyal and thoughtful as they came, and I felt lucky to have his friendship.

"So why are you telling me this? Why not blame Jacob and plead your innocence?"

He shrugged, his mouth twisting in contemplation before his eyes melded to my own. "Because it's the truth, and you deserve that, at least. Maybe I think you should have all the facts before you decide who you're going to be mad with."

I returned his smile with appreciation. If anything, the mere consideration that I deserved all the details was one of the nicest things he'd ever done for me. I stood before him, looking at my friend in a brand new light. He regarded me openly, his face betraying nothing, but his eyes were once again on my lips.

"Seriously, Embry, why do you keep looking at my mouth?" I demanded, and his stare darted to the wall behind me. Even in the low-lighting, and contrasting with the tone of his skin, there was no mistaking the rush of heat to his cheeks. What the hell was on his mind?

"You look really uh, different, tonight Bella." My hand shot to my mouth automatically, hiding the imperfection in my make-up he was obviously too polite to point out. Goddamn it, nowI was blushing.

"Shit, what's wrong? I still haven't gotten used to wearing this stuff..." I stammered, shooting a look towards the ladies room and wondering how I could make it without anyone seeing. I needed a mirror, and fast. His eyes crinkled at the corners in a smile and he shook his head.

"No, what I meant is... it's not... You look good, is what I meant to say," he clarified, looking at me again. "I like how you look." My blush was back and I glanced away, laughing softly.

"Oh. Well um, thanks, I guess."

"'S no problem. Just telling the truth." The expression on his face was so open, I had no problem believing that he actually meant it. "In fact, I think... well it's something I notice-"

"Why don't you have a girlfriend, Embry?" I asked, cutting in. I didn't mean to be rude, but the question had been recurring in my mind since talking to Leah earlier. He looked slightly taken aback for a second, and just blinked at me.

"What?" he said simply, suddenly looking like he'd rather be anywhere but here.

"I don't mean to pry, but it's just.. well, Leah said something earlier, and I got to thinking. You're a really nice guy. How come no girl has snapped you up already?"

I couldn't determine the expression on his face as he shrugged. "Not sure. Most people on the Rez know my family history – or lack thereof. And off? Well, I guess no-one's really caught my attention that way."

I studied him closely, the discomfort written all over his face as he avoided eye contact. He looked like he was lying – about the last part at least, but we weren't close enough for me to press the issue – yet. I relaxed my penetrating gaze a little, brushing off his answer as acceptable.

"Well, that sucks, because you're a catch," I smiled, and he returned it shyly. "In fact, since you came anyway, why don't you see if there's anyone here that you like. Maybe I can play wingwoman. Girls are much more open to giving you a chance if you've got another girl vouching for you." I frowned slightly, not exactly confident in my theory. "Well, at least that's the way it is on TV..."

The look of horror on his face was, I felt, a little too extreme for the situation. "No way, Bella. I am not picking up chicks with you."

"Why not?" I pouted, remembering my advantage in the equation. "It's the least you can do after crashing my party."

He looked indecisive, but knew I had him. "Don't you want to meet some guys?"

My eyes widened, aghast. "Hell no! That's not what tonight was about. I just wanted to get out of the house for a while. Out of my comfort zone." I smiled, looking him up and down. "Besides, I don't think I'd get approached much with a six-foot Quileute beside me – it kind of negates the single-girl thing. I narrowed my eyes again in disbelief. "You really think I want to meet someone in a nightclub?"

"You seem to think I do."

"Touché," I smirked. "Alright. We won't actually approach anyone, but I'm still curious. What is it you look for in a girl, appearance-wise?"

He wet his lips for a beat, but before he could answer, Leah burst through the door like a damn typhoon.

"Jesus Christ, I half-expected to find you two banging in the bathrooms!" she announced, approaching us with confidence. "You've been in here like ten minutes."

"You knew where I was?" I asked, actually surprised.

"What do you think I am, an amateur? I've known where you are at all times tonight. Bravo for actually getting off your lazy ass and dancing, and bravo even more for putting the Barbie skank in her place," she smiled proudly.

"You saw that, huh?" I giggled. It wasn't my best moment, but the satisfaction of actually standing up to Lauren was hard to shake off.

"Fuck yeah, I did. He looked like he was going to piss himself when she came up to him," she said jerking a thumb at Embry. He opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off. "Don't even try to argue, Spidey. One look at her tits and you lost all coherent thought."

I couldn't help but laugh at his expense as he struggled to defend himself. "I wasn't – I mean yeah, they were pretty on-show, but anyone would have-" he stammered and Leah laid a condescending hand on his shoulder.

"It's okay dude. You like boobs. We get it. At least we can put the rumours to rest," she winked.

He frowned slightly, about to ask what rumours she was referring to, but somehow I didn't think it'd do his ego any good to hear them. "Actually, Embry was just about to employ me as his wingwoman. We're gonna check out the local talent and see if we can figure out why he's been single all this time," I said with excitement, looping my arm through his. Leah looked between us, her gaze lingering on Embry.

"Oh I think I know why," she said, laughter in her eyes. "But if you really think it's a good idea having Bella set you up with someone, go right ahead, Call." She was looking at him knowingly, and a slow expression of recognition seeped into his features.

"Is that a dig at my track record with relationships?" I asked, trying to figure out the knowledge that was passing between them, but Leah shook her head.

"Not in the least, Swan. Just making sure Embry here knows what he's getting himself into, and who with."

I frowned, still unsure how that wasn't a snide comment directed at me.

"I know fine," he said stubbornly. Leah shrugged and held out her hands. She still couldn't keep the knowing glint from her eyes.

"I'm just saying, Jake sure chose badly sending you here. I mean, it's one thing to be afraid of vampires, but afraid of girls, too?"

"Did you know he'd been sent here?" I asked, wondering how she'd managed to keep her cool. I still wasn't completely over it.

"I guessed as much when I saw Bambi here," she jerked her chin towards him and he folded his arms.

"Yeah, well, if it hadn't been your bright idea to bring Bella to a dive like this, I wouldn't have had to come."

"Bella can handle herself," she shot back, and I felt a swell of pride that Leah Clearwater would say something like that about me. "And me? Well, show me a guy in this place I couldn't take in a fight." She gestured one hand out towards the rest of the club challengingly.

"Don't doubt that," he conceded. "But couldn't you have picked somewhere a little better to let off some steam?"

"Desperate times, young Skywalker," she said, and I smiled yet another nickname she'd bestowed on him. "Point me in the direction of somewhere better and I'll go – but this is fine for now. I'm not after much."

She looked at me with fake sincerity, straight in the eye. "I'm about one kick in the teeth away from becoming a stripper."

I snorted in laughter and covered my mouth, feeling guilty for finding the thinly-veiled confession so funny.

"Jeez, Leah, can't believe it's gotten so bad," Embry said dryly. "I almost feel sorry for you."

"You should," she said in mock earnest. "The last guy I saw naked was... well, you. Mama needs some brain bleach." I was trying not to laugh, I really was, but it wasn't working out.

"Shouldn't you be out there asking someone if he's 'DTF'?" He sneered, and Leah threw her head back in laughter.

"Oh please, if I could still get drunk enough to channel my inner-Snooki, I'd be Jersey Turnpikin' my ass all over this place," she snickered. Embry rolled his eyes and snorted.

"Sure, but just remember, 'no means no'."

"Honey, when I turn on the charm, none of 'em are saying 'no'," she said, flicking him under the chin. He smiled despite himself and shot me a 'can you believe her?' look, raised eyebrow et al.

"Alright then, I'm gonna leave you guys to it. There's a sweet-lookin' nineteen-year-old in there just begging to be corrupted," she said, turning back to the direction of the club's main room. "I'll see you guys at the end of the night."

I was doing a piss-poor job of being a wingwoman. Embry had pretty much clammed up the moment I led him back out to the main room, and he crinkled his nose at every girl I pointed out. Some of them were really stunning, so beautiful that even I could imagine laying one on them, but nothing seemed to be doing it for Embry.

"Alright, let's get back to basics," I called over the music. "Blondes, brunettes or red-heads?"

He pressed his lips together for a moment, looking around the club as he thought. "Brunettes," he said. I nodded, scanning the dancefloor for someone suitable. He'd chosen well – there were plenty of dark-haired girls around.

"Alright, what about her?" I asked, pointing to a tall, Amazonian creature who would give Leah a run for her money. He shook his head.

"Too tall. Why would I want to be with someone who could lift me up or split me in half? Girls are supposed to be soft, and delicate, not training for the WWE," he said, and I giggled at the mental image, even if it wasn't strictly true.

"Alright... there's a little one, and she looks like you could carry her under one arm."

"Too tan," he said, shaking his head and sipping his drink. Embry could have gotten served if he wanted to, but didn't see the point when it'd burn off in his blood stream after several minutes anyway.

"But you're Native American!" I laughed, and he rolled up his sleeve, displaying a taught, muscular – and russet-brown- arm.

"This?" he said, holding his wrist up, "All real, baby." He smirked devilishly and held his drink out towards the dancing girl. "That, is fake as can be. And it smells terrible – like stale cookies," he complained, scrunching up his face. I coughed as I swallowed my drink, tying to reign in the laughter.

"You can smell that from here?" I asked, patting my lip for the remnants of my soda.

"Can't you? Seriously, she stinks like three-day-old muffins."

"Alright, I get the point," I giggled. "Why don't you point someone out to me. Show me what you like." He was thoughtful for a moment and glanced at me from the corner of his eye.

"I don't see anybody," he insisted. "Really."

I sighed – I wasn't getting anywhere, and the game wasn't much fun if he wasn't going to play along. "Alright, I am defeated. You are impossible to wingwoman for."

He smiled triumphantly and gulped down the rest of his drink.

"Good, you're finally getting it. Now. We get to do what I want to do."

I frowned warily and turned to him. "And what's that?" I asked, but I got my answer when I followed his gaze to the dancefloor. I shook my head. "No way, Embry Call. I am not dancing with you," I vowed. His eyebrows shot up pleadingly and he looked to the ground, toeing it sadly, appealing to my softer side.

"That's not going to work," I said confidently.

"But you danced with that other guy! And you didn't even know him!"

"Exactly. I'll never have to see him again, therefore it didn't matter that I had two left feet!"

Embry's shoulders rose and fell in a deep sigh, and I found myself struggling to say no – until an incredibly cheesy song floated out over the speakers, and his eyes shot to mine again in a silent plea.

"If I do this, you're not allowed to think about it in front of the others, and you don't get to mention it again," I warned. He nodded, a smile pulling at the corners of his mouth and led me by the wrist to the dance floor. I spotted Leah immediately, and moved towards her until we were standing close enough to all dance together. The song was a huge hit, and the in-sync moves Embry and Leah were throwing out meant I was doing more giggling than dancing – but I liked it that way.

When the song ended I made my escape from the dancefloor before I could be coerced again, and Embry looked triumphant in his success.

"Happy now?" I asked, as we took our seats after ordering another drink. He laughed lightly – more genuinely than I'd seen in a long time.

"Yeah. I got what I wanted," he shrugged, "you're too easy, Bella." He gave me the same pleading look, this time sniffling slightly – it was well-practised, and I had definitely been played. I smacked his arm in reprimand and sat back in the seat.

"I knew what I was doing, it was a one-time-only thing. Do not get used to it." He smiled and nodded, regarding my face still with the self-satisfied look on his own. The music slowed down a little to the point where I could actually hear myself think. "And Embry?"

"Yeah, Bella?"

"You're still staring at my mouth."

A/N: Eep. This was so fun to write, but I was trying to be careful not to have either of them too OOC. I hope I succeeded.

Things are starting to get a little more familiar between those two, huh? I know a lot of you wanted a kiss, but it's just not the right time yet. I'm sure you can tell, though, Embry's been thinking about that a lot, too.

It was really nice for Bella to have a little fun for once, and Leah.

This story is this week's Weekly Wolf Fic on Twific Central, and I am absolutely stunned. It's amazing to get the recognition in the same week I won two JBNP awards for my other two Twilight stories. Thanks to everyone who has voted and I hope to keep turning out chapters you all enjoy.

Until next time, please let me know what you think.