(A/N: THANKS PANDA4488, and EMILEE, PRINCESSANGELBABE YOUR REVIEWS REALLY MADE MY DAY! I HOPE YOU ALL LIKE THIS!)

CHAPTER 05:

SOMEBODY'S WATCHING ME,PT 4

( A WEEK LATER)

"Yeah, Leah.. There is no way in hell you're shoving me off of a huge rock that's god know how high in the air, and I'm landing in water.. For one thing, chicka, I hate heights.. And another? I can't freaking swim."

"What?"

"You heard me, Seth."

"No, I didn't. You whispered that last part." Seth said as he moved, ducked the shove she gave him as the three friends walked down the beach at La Push, barefoot along with Embry, Jared, Paul and Quil.

"I can't swim, damn it."

Jared choked, trying not to laugh.

Paul groaned and palmed his face as he asked aloud, "So you thought what.. You'd be a spectator while we dove off? I think not, Half pint."

Embry growled and elbowed him in the ribs as he said quietly, with a hint of a smirk, "She's not going to.. Because I'm gonna dive with her. I can swim." he pointed out as Quil spoke up and said "Betting 20 dollars she won't budge."

Courtney eyed the cliff with a look of intense determination as she asked Embry, "Big guy?"

"Yeah, Bambi?"

"About how high is that?"

"Maybe 2 or 3 stories, tops." he guessed as he looked at her and tried his best not to laugh as he asked, "Wow.. You really are afraid of heights."

"Fucking petrified."

Her head snapped around and she glared at the nearby woods. "What the fuck is it with me lately?" she muttered as she held up a finger to keep the others quiet and knelt down, picking up a large hard rock and slipped off her boots, tiptoeing towards the woods, a larger group of bushes nearby the beach they currently stood on.

"Where the hell is she going?" Jared muttered to Embry who shrugged right as the scent of leech hit him in the nose. He growled and remembered that he couldn't phase on her yet.. Sam was only barely letting him spend time with her right now, because he'd been impressed with his iron will at the wedding, even though he'd lectured him about kissing her just yet.

Quil groaned as Seth called out, "Damn it, Coco, drop the rock and get back over here. Now."

"The hell I am, Seth. This bastard is about to piss me off."

Leah snickered and elbowing Embry said "You might wanna go grab Juliet, Romeo, she's about to completely wild out."

Embry groaned and took off at a run, catching her, picking her up over his shoulder as he said "Hey.. Whoa.. calm down, Bambi. I'm here, nothing's gonna happen."

"Wanna bet? Let me hear that shit for brains whispering stuff to me on the wind again. His head will be flat."

"C'mon.. Let's go back to Emily and Sam's okay?"

"But.. The cliff."

"It's gonna rain soon anyway." Embry said as the others all nodded and Jared said "Oh don't worry.. You're gonna dive.." as Paul smirked and said "You were gonna do what with that rock?"

"Smash his fucking head in, duh."

"Like that would have worked."

Embry grumbled as he turned and growled a little at Paul. He was half tempted to phase and just beat the shit out of him, but he let it go for now. He'd get him later when he was showing off for his imprint.

He hoisted Courtney on his back and the group took off for Emily and Sam's, arguing noisily amongst themselves. Emily smiled as the door opened and she saw everyone coming in. Courtney groaned as she smelled muffins and then said "You.. I love you." hugging Emily who held out a muffin to her. She saw Embry's pout and then nuzzled against him, whispered, "Hey.. No jealousy, big guy.. " casually as she gave him her best wide brown eyes and grin, wink.

"Oh my god.. I'm in freaking heaven.. It's got chocolate chips." she muttered as she took a huge bite and licked chocolate off her fingertips before holding out the muffin to Embry, offering him a bite before saying to Sam with a mock pout, "I think Seth and Leah were gonna sacrifice me."

"What the hel...?Why?" Sam asked, hiding a laugh as he looked at her.

"They wanted to throw me off of a cliff and into water."

"And she hates heights, and can't swim."

Courtney laughed, hid her face in Embry's neck as she said quietly, "Never should have said that."

"You lived in Florida.. Near a beach.. And you can't swim?"

"Nope.. My first time on a surf board was my last one, sir.. Woke up in the ER with stitches in my forehead. I still have the scar, wanna see?" she asked as she pulled her bangs over slightly, showed them the fading scar.

"How'd that.." Sam started as he muttered, "Nevermind.. I'm talking to the girl who tripped up the stairs when you all came in the house earlier today."

Embry snickered as Courtney pouted and playfully punched his arm, before adding, "I fell off the board, the board hit me in the head after the water sucked me down.. And no, I couldn't swim then either, Sam." to answer Sam's question. Emily laughed and shaking her head asked, "If you can't swim, why surf?"

" Wanted to say I tried it."

"What? It was kinda funny when you fell earlier.. And I helped you up, Bambi."

"I know, Big guy.. My hero as always." she sighed mocking wistfulness as she pinched Leah's leg with her toes, laughing when Leah gave her a dirty look.

"So.. I'm guessing you have tonight off?"

"Mhmm. I got Jett to fill my spot tonight. I think lack of sleep was driving me a little nutty. Keep seeing and hearing this really, really creepy red eyed guy everywhere. I went to mase him in the parking lot the other night outside the station, the creep touched my lips and then vanished.. Meanwhile, my useless ass is standing there, frozen, unable to even move to trigger the spray nozzle on the Mase." Courtney explained as Embry gripped her bare leg tighter and looked at her in concern.

He hated her working nights at the station, but as Jake's father pointed out, as Sam pointed out, college wasn't exactly cheap. Which he understood, of course, but he had the feeling that whatever this leech wanted with his imprint, if he were going to 'get her?'

It'd be when she left work one night, at the station. The lot was small, dark, had no security cams on the premises. And he was at least an hour away, here in La Push.

"You okay, big guy?" Courtney whispered as he said quietly, "Just worried about you."

"Don't, big guy.. I'll be fine.."

"You can say that, but you don't know that, Bambi." he muttered as he looked at her and then said quietly, "Just know your temper."

She sighed and stood, holding out her hand. If HE wasn't gonna mention their growing 'friendship' or the feelings they both obviously felt, apparently it was time for her to be a 'woman' step up and do it herself.. And explain to him that just because they felt this way, it didn't mean she was helpless, or defenseless, or that she expected him to do every single thing for her, whenever she asked.

She just wanted him, plain and simple really.

"C'mon." she said as he looked at her, brow raised. "I'll be back in guys." he said as he let her pull him up, lead him out the door of Sam's house.

"What's up?"

"Look, if you're not gonna act on it, then damn it, I will.. I.. I'm starting to feel things for you, Embry.. I can't explain them, I'm not sure if I LIKE feeling things for someone, because I have the tendency to be hurt often, but I do.. And you seem to act like you feel.."

He pushed her against the wall of the house, pulling her into a kiss to shut her up as he let out a breath he'd been holding in since she'd dragged him out here.. "Why bring me out here to say that, Bambi?"

"Because, big guy, that's not all I'm gonna say.. Just because we're doing this, trying to explore our feelings for one another, big guy.. Doesn't mean that you're expected to be at my beck and call, nor does it mean that I need saving every single time that something like last night happens.. I could kinda see in there, you were freaking out, blaming yourself maybe for not being there? Am I even close to right?"

When he didn't answer, she smiled a little and then said casually, as she leaned on her tiptoes to kiss him, "It's sweet you feel that way, big guy.. But sometimes, you're not gonna be there, and i'm gonna have to think for myself. I just wanted to let you know that when that happens, because it will, trust me, we're not gonna have this perfect relationship.. You can't worry and obsess or blame yourself. You're just gonna have to.."

"Let me guess.. Be happy you're okay and I'm okay?" Embry asked, looking at her. She smiled and nodding said "Basically, yes.. If it helps, as I was swearing and trying to make the stupid mase can work, I was telling how my big strong sexy man would probably rip his ass apart limb from limb.. Just sayin."

Embry chuckled and the fat raindrop hit them both on their heads, they looked at one another as Embry said "Now this.. I can save us from both catching cold.. Let's go back in before Paul eats all the damn muffins."

"And I have to go tiny ninja person on him?"

"Nah.. Because then I'd have to kick his ass."

"And I know you probably would." Courtney said as he laughed, carried her in the house again on his back, ignoring the raised brows, sitting her in his lap.