California Girl

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Cross Promotion Time: I have another story all about Scarlett and Seth, so if you like Seth/OC stories, check it out :)

Disclaimer: I do not own anything you recognize, but I own the characters of The Bird Family, The Hunter Family and friends. Thanks!

All mistakes are my own, I'll try and correct any as I see them.

Chapter Song Def Leppard

5. Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad?

Thanks for the anonymous reviews!

Have you ever wanted someone who you just couldn't have?

Carmen POV

I stood in my room, looking out the window at the woods. I was looking for bears, wolves and couples getting frisky.

Bears were always dangerous and apparently promiscuous here- I'd heard of two attacks already. One on Scarlett, one on her friend, Emily.

Wolves roamed in the woods, I knew that for sure. The howls carried on all through the night, until last night, when I got up, opened the window and started yelling at them to shut up. They seemed to listen, and I heard significantly less howls.

The frisky couples were just to keep me from being bored.

I was standing in pajama pants and my University of San Diego sweater, my hair pulled back into a ponytail and my face clean of makeup. I was about to go to bed, when something caught my eye. In the line of trees, something huge and grey stood. I squinted my eyes to see it, but I couldn't make it out in the dark.

I don't know what possessed me to do so, but I pulled on my tennis shoes and ran out of my room into the darkness of the hallway. I snuck through the backdoor and into the back yard. The huge grey blur seemed to have disappeared, but I could see something through the branches. I ran out further, ignoring the cold and ignoring the voice telling me to run inside and hide under my bed until Mommy and Daddy rescued me.

"Hello?" Because a giant grey monster is gonna say 'hey, how are you?'.

I was about to step into the line of trees when the giant grey monster stepped into my line of sight. I jumped backwards. I thought it was a wolf, but it must have been on steroids or something. It was huge! Easily the size of a horse or bigger. I tried to scream, but no sound came out.

"Go!" I grabbed a twig from the ground and threw it at it. It didn't react, instead it just stepped forward. "Go away!"

It walked up to me and put it's head down, I stood completely still. I'd wait for it to get bored and run away... or eat me. It lifted it's head up again and I jumped backwards. It whined as if it was hurt that I was afraid.

"Y-You, leave me alone." I took another step back, but it walked forward to me and put it's head down again. "What do you want from me?"

It bumped it's nose into my stomach, it's head still lowered. I hesitantly put my hand up and slowly moved it over to it's head.

"Y-You want me to p-pet you?" I asked, my hand hovering over it's head. I think it nodded, so I let my hand touch lightly on it's head.

It's fur was a lot softer than I had expected. I scratched behind it's ears and brought another hand up. It's eyes fell closed and it made a sighing noise.

"You're like a big puppy." I giggled. It made a whining noise, but it sounded happier. "Are you a boy or a girl?" I went to duck and check, but it bumped me again. "Well, someone's shy."

It bumped me again and then lifted it's head up and licked me.

"Ew, that's gross, don't do that!" I wiped my face, but it did it again. "You must be a boy." I muttered. It nodded it's wolf-head and I think it smiled. Or showed it's teeth to scare me. I tried to think positively, so I went back to scratching his ears.

He lay down on the ground, so I sat down and crossed my legs. His big paw's sat right in front of me. I stroked them, which made him put his head down and close his eyes. I got that weird feeling in my stomach again. Butterflies.

"I'm Carmen, just so you know." I instantly felt stupid. "Not that you understand. You're a wolf." He looked up, like he was listening. "Can you understand me?" He nodded. "Woah."

He did the wolf-smile/intimidation-thing again and put his head back on the ground, watching me.

"You have pretty eyes." I murmured. He did his wolf-smile and watched me as I reached to stroke it's wolf-cheek. "I've never had a dog before. My mom's allergic. I wonder if she'd be allergic to you."

He did what I think was a laugh.

"You better not be laughing at me, wolf." I grinned. Look at me, best friends with a wolf. "You need a name. What can I name you? Walter?" He shook his head, no. "Walden?" No. "William? My dad's name is William. Is your name William?" No. "I'm running out of W's... How about... Mr. Wolf?" He nodded, smiling.

Seriously, this wolf is my new BFF.

"You can be my best friend, if you want." I told him. He nodded. "Okay, Mr. Wolf, we're best friends." I laughed at the thought. "So, do you have any wolf-friends?" He nodded. "Do you have a wolf-girlfriend? There's a name for that... I'll Google it later." He shook his head, profusely. "Okay, okay, you don't have a girlfriend..."

I was about to talk more, when he snapped his head in the direction of Quil's house, before he stood up.

"Is someone coming?" He nodded. "I better get inside..." He nodded again and turned to leave, looking sad. "Will you come back?" He wolf-smiled and nodded. I stroked his back one last time, before running back home, Mr. Wolf ran into the woods, just as the Ateara backdoor was opened and Quil walked onto his back porch before I could walk inside.

"Carmen? What are you doing out here?" He asked, suspiciously. He glanced between me and the woods. Had he seen me sitting with the wolf?

"Just taking a walk." I fake smiled and walked inside before he could say anything else. I ran into my room and checked the time. One AM. What was Quil doing up now anyway?

Embry POV

I headed back to patrol and ran along the border when Quil's thoughts hit me.

Oh, hey, Quil.

Dude, were you just phased in front of Carmen?

He was pissed, I knew that.

Of course I'm pissed! I don't think that you would her her... but...

He thought about Emily. She was proof that a wolf could hurt his imprint. I would never hurt Carmen, though! I would never put her in danger!

I just don't think you should be phased around her.

But... She only likes me when I'm phased...

Em, don't. I'll see you later.

He phased out, leaving me alone in my mind.

Carmen POV

I ran through the woods as fast as I could. I was running from something, but I wasn't afraid. I came to a clearing and turned around. The giant grey wolf with black spots on his back that had sat with me in my backyard tonight ran up to me. I grinned as he ran into the trees.

"Where are you going, Mr Wolf? Come back!" I yelled, but he didn't, instead, Embry walked out and came over to me. He pulled me into a tight hug.

"I love you."

Friday.

I sat up and checked the time. Five AM. I rubbed my eyes and accepted that I wasn't going back to sleep. I got out of bed and went into the kitchen. I fixed cereal, before packing my purse for school. I chose my outfit- a yellow sundress with a denim jacket and my high heeled boots. Six AM. I heard Grammy go into the living room to watch the news. When the TV turned on, I went in the shower. I was ready early, so I sat with Grammy, watching the uneventful local news. I glanced out the window to see rain.

"Not the best day for such a pretty dress, sweet girl!" Grammy commented. I frowned, but smiled at her.

"Thank you." I didn't care about the rain. As long as I looked cute. Thank god I'd worn waterproof makeup today. I really didn't want any cute guys thinking I was a raccoon. "I'm gonna head next door to wait for Quil."

"Have fun at school, dear!"

My umbrella had worked fine when I got to the Ateara porch. I let myself in, not wanting to wait in the cold just because I was to shy to listen.

"Quil?" I called out into the house, walking through to the kitchen. I rolled my eyes as Embry and Quil sat eating.

God, what? Is he obsessed or something now?

Because it's not obsessive to have a dream of him saying 'I love you'.

I shook off the thought and put my umbrella down at the front door.

"Carmen!" Embry abandoned his breakfast and came over. "You look really pretty."

"Thanks." I mumbled, walking passed him. He was seriously weird.

"So... uh... Carmen... you were up late last night." Quil said, nervously. Why was he nervous?

"So were you." I sat next to him. He glanced back to Embry, and the two seemed to have a silent conversation. "So, school?"

"We have Study Hall together." Embry grinned. I nodded.

God. I forgot about that. I would be nice (or really mean) to Chucky and get a reaction from Jacob and I wouldn't even have to talk to Embry!

Wow, I'm a genius.

The entire day I was told by people that Embry was great guy. I got involved in PE so that I wouldn't have to talk to him, but while we were changing, Lexi told me how great he was. I had been given no refuge during Spanish- Scarlett hadn't even come in to class. Bitch. At lunch, I sat at my table. Lexi and Kim sat down with me.

"What the hell do you freaks want?" I asked. Kim looked a little offended, but then looked down, nervously.

"We're being nice." Lexi scoffed.

Nice. Girls are never nice to each other!

"So... what'd you do last night?" Kim asked, shyly. There seemed to be something else to it... Had Quil told Jared and her?

Had Quil even seen me and my wolf?

"Had dinner with Quil, Jared, Leah and Embry." I said, simply. She rolled her eyes slightly.

"I knew that."

"So, you and Jared done it yet?" I changed the subject. She blushed bright red and I swear that at the guy's table, Jared choked on his drink as if he'd heard.

"That's, uh, th-that's none of your business!"

"That's a no." I rolled my eyes.

"How do you know?" Lexi asked, honestly curious.

"I have a sixth sense for it. You're not a virgin."

"She's right!" Lexi gasped. I rolled my eyes again. She's so damn annoying.

"Obviously." I scoffed. "So, Kimmy-"

"It's Kim."

"Kimmy, why haven't you and Jared done the deed yet?"

"It's personal!" She blushed bright red and her voice raised thirty octaves. "Why haven't you and Embry?"

"Me and Embry? No way. I don't go for desperate guys."

"What?"

"I don't like it when guys are clingy." I explained. "Like, my last boyfriend, Vince, totally in love with me, but he was a total jerk when I first met him. It was hot."

"That's not a good thing!" Lexi scoffed.

"I mean, with casual sex, it's all about hotness, you know?" I told them. "I guess I could do a one night stand with Embry-"

"Don't do that with Embry!" Kim gasped. I shrugged and picked up my purse.

"I'm going to nap in the nurses office. Tell Chucky I'll miss her." I turned and walked out.

"My headache is much better, thanks." I faked a smile at the non-caring nurse and walked to Study Hall.

"Hello, Carmen." Mr Jet said in a monotone voice, not looking up from his computer screen.

"Hey, Mr Jet." I walked further into the room and groaned. Embry was sitting alone at the table me and Jacob usually sat at.

I'd rather sit with my new enemy, Jacob, than creepy-stalker-desperate Embry.

I sat down in my usual seat and pulled out my notebook. When people had started to talk about how awesome Embry was, I'd started doodling. By third period, I had drawn the outline of Mr Wolf. I wasn't artistic, and it wasn't very good, but it made me smile, thinking about seeing him again.

"Hi, Carmen!" Embry grinned. I gave a small, fake smile and went back to shading my wolf. "Do you feel better now? Kim said you went to see the nurse."

"I was tired... I couldn't sleep last night..." I muttered. "I took a nap."

"Oh... Why couldn't you sleep?"

I had a dream about you and my wolf.

"Just couldn't." I mumbled, hoping I wasn't blushing or anything.

"What are you drawing?"

I pulled my book back against my chest. He'd think I was crazy if I told him about my wolf! I didn't want to show him, but as he stretched his arm out across the table and his very familiar, deep, brown eyes bore into mine, I placed my book in his hand.

Embry's POV

Me! She'd drawn me! It was beautiful as well. She was truly putting effort into making a drawing of me look good!

"It's really nice." I murmured. I didn't trust myself to look into her eyes. I'd spill all about wolves and phase for her to see if I looked into her beautiful hazel eyes. I handed it back to her, carefully. She took it and began shading it again.

"Thanks."

"...So..."

"So..."

"You doing anything later?"

"I don't think so." She kept her head down. Do I ask her out? She did say she didn't like desperate guys...

"Oh, okay." I looked down, but I didn't miss the surprised look on her face.

"Are you doing anything?"

"No, I don't think so."

"Oh... Maybe I'll see you at Quil's or something?" Was she almost asking me out? YES.

"Maybe."

Carmen POV

Embry didn't ask me out.

What?

But... He likes me... Right?

I practically asked him to meet me at Quil's house and all he did was say 'maybe'.

Maybe.

MAYBE.

I officially hate that word now.

"Okay, kids, get out, don't die over the weekend. Bye." Mr Jet said in his monotone voice as we left the room and the bell rang.

"You need a ride home?"

There it was.

"Thanks." I smiled as wide as I could and followed him to his car.

He had an old truck like Quil's, but it was more beat up and had even more scratches on the paintwork. He opened the door for me and even helped me inside.

"Where abouts in La Push do you live?" I didn't mean to sound like a stalker; honestly. I was just trying to make small talk.

"Where I've always lived." He said, as if it were obvious. I tried to think about how Quil used to get to Embry's house, but all that I could think of was when I'd kissed Embry. Did he remember?

"I don't know where that is." I didn't expect him to seem so... hurt.

"Uh, a street over from yours." He mumbled. I nodded, trying to act as if I couldn't tell he was upset. "So... uh... you like wolves, huh?"

"What?"

"Your, uh, drawing, of m-, um, the wolf." He motioned to my bag. I just nodded. "You're a great artist."

"I'm really not." It was a doodle. Paul had told me that it looked like a donkey twice during Math and he (definitely) wasn't trying to get into my pants so I trusted his judgement more.

"You are." He said, firmly.

"So, you're just, like, taking me home, right?"

What do you expect in return?

"If that's what you'd like."

Oh, I know what you'd like.

"Thanks." I murmured.

He pulled up to Grammy's house and turned to me.

"I'll see you soon, I guess."

"Uh... sure." I smiled and jumped out of the truck, not looking back as I walked onto the porch and into the empty house.

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Let me know what you think! :D:D:D:D:D