Fourteen-Mila

Being back in Michigan was great but the feeling I got as soon as I stepped out the car back in La Push was pure bliss. We had only been gone for about two days but it felt like years. Leah and Ava were waiting for us when we pulled up to the house.

"How is Caleb doing?" Ava asked after hugging me.

"He's good. His mom is doing better. They expect a full recovery. Look Ava I just wanted to say I was sorry for how I was acting. You were just trying to help and I went crazy on you."

"Its fine Mila. Trust me we have all been there before. So are you tired? Do you need to rest?"

I shook my head no. Embry finally made his way into the house and sat my bag in the doorway. He waved at the girls before gently grabbing my elbow. I held a finger up and stepped over to him.

"Is it ok if I stop by after work tonight? I wanted to talk to you about something. I was thinking we could go somewhere that's not here and talk."

"Sure," I said smiling at him. He smiled and leaned down to plant a kiss on my cheek. It was quick. So fast I barely had time to register what happened before he was running out the door and to the car. I watched him drive away with my had covering my cheek. I never wanted to wash my cheek again. I was still standing in a daze before I heard giggles behind me. I turned around and saw Leah and Ava standing looking at me. I opened my mouth in an attempt to explain but Leah shook her head no.

"Spare me the details. Are we going shopping or not?" she asked turning towards Ava.

"Yes we are but you," Ava said pointing to me "You have some explaining to do." I laughed and shook my head. There was nothing to explain. There wasn't anything going on. It was a harmless kiss on the cheek. It wasn't like he asked me to marry him. But I had to admit the kiss felt great; even if it was just a peck on my cheek.

We rode in to Port Angeles and spent the rest of the afternoon shopping. Leah was so much fun to be around. We were people watching and having so much fun. We had just stepped in a clothing store when I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket.

Hey can you be ready around 9? –Embry

I sure can J Is there a dress code for this 'talk' –Mila

You would look fine in whatever you wore. But make sure you're comfortable. –Embry

Alright see you then J -Mila

I walked over to a table covered in jeans and thumbed through them. I had clothes to wear but I wanted to look nice. I found a cute of pair of blue jeans and a nice short sleeve pearl white shirt. I stepped out of the dressing room and found Ava and Leah trying some shoes on.

"Hot date tonight?" Leah asked laughing. I rolled my eyes and went back to look in the mirror. The outfit was the one. Ava walked over with a pair of tan flats in her hand.

"I don't know where you guys are going but these shoes will go great. Their casual enough to blend in anywhere." I thanked her and went back into the dressing room. After putting my own clothes back on I walked out. Leah was talking to some girl. I couldn't read lips but the conversation looked very awkward. The other girl was all smiles and very animated. Leah stood with a nervous grin on her face and just nodded saying nothing. Ava turned around and saw me watching them. She stepped in front of me blocking the view.

"Who is that girl Leah's talking to?" I asked her.

"Just a girl from the res. You ready?" she quickly asked me. She didn't bother waiting for an answer before grabbing the clothes out of my hand. She grabbed the box of shoes and headed towards the register. Leah finally excused herself from the conversation and followed behind Ava. I followed behind them when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and saw the same girl standing with a smile on her face. She stood staring and smiling at me but saying nothing. This was getting awkward very quickly.

"Hi," she said after a few seconds "I'm sorry I'm so rude. Just over there talking to Leah and I never introduced myself. You're Mila right? You just moved in with Ava?" she asked me.

"Yea," I said slowly. She held her hand out. I slowly shook it. "I think my boyfriend and his friends helped you move in. How are things going? I'm Bree by the way," she said pointing to herself.

"Things are going good actually. I didn't know Collin had a girlfriend. I didn't see you at Emily's."

"You've been to Emily's?" she asked surprised. Oh great here we go again, another person from the res who thought they knew it all and actually knew nothing. I was about to answer her question when Leah called out my name. She held the bags up and I turned back to Bree. "Well umm it was nice meeting you I guess," I said before turning around and following Ava and Leah out the store. Once we were in the car and heading back to La Push I couldn't help but ask.

"What is going on with Sam and Emily? Why is it Jeff and that Bree girl were so surprised that I had been to their house?"

"Sam and Emily are very private people. They don't really open their house to anybody," Leah said before turning the radio up. I didn't appreciate her turning it up on me like I was a child. And her statement made absolutely no sense. If they were so private, why was it Jake, Embry, Collin, Brady and the even Leah were there at least once a week? How could you be private but always have your house open to people. And it wasn't just the guys that were always there. Kim had been there at least three times I went over there. Something was going on and I was going to figure it out. It was obvious Ava wasn't going to tell me, so my best bet was to ask Embry. I just hoped he wasn't going to lie to me like everyone was obviously doing.

I had done everything I could possibly do while waiting for Embry to show up. I finished up the homework I had missed being out of town, did next week's assignments, cleaned my room, helped Ava make dinner, at said dinner, and gotten dressed. Now that I was dressed there was nothing left for me to do other than wait. I got off the couch and walked over to the front window for what had to be at least time number 357 in the past hour. Ava came out the bathroom, squeezing water off her hair and was jumped in shock.

"You're still here," she said to me. She was just as confused as I was. Embry had text he would be there to get me at 9 but he was late. And not just late but really late. Embry was exactly 30 minutes late and I hadn't heard anything from him. I checked my phone for a missed call or text but there was nothing.

"Maybe he got caught up with work," Ava said attempting to reassure me. I dialed his number again but just like the last 12 calls, I got no answer. Last time he stood me up it hurt but not as bad. I mean he didn't have my number last time, so he couldn't call or anything. But he had my number and he had set up this date...or talk…or whatever it was. He'd set it up and now he was blowing me off. I refused to cry over this but I could barely hold it together.

"I need some air," I said quickly. Ava opened her mouth "I know stay out the woods."

I stepped out on the porch expecting Embry to be there, smiling but looking so apologetic. He wasn't there and he still hadn't text me. I promised Ava I would stay out of the woods so instead I headed towards the beach. One of the best things about living in La Push was everything was relatively close. The moon was high and reflected perfectly over the water. The waves slowly hit the shore as I walked over to a small group of rocks. I had to take my shoes off in order to climb up. I got somewhat comfortable on the rocks and just watched the water. This was so peaceful and beyond beautiful. But I was very hurt so I couldn't really enjoy it.

This whole thing with Embry was beyond confusing to me. I didn't understand what exactly was happening between us but I knew there was something. At least I thought there was something. There had to be something. When he wasn't around I missed him like crazy. When he was around I never wanted him to leave. Everything seemed so perfect between us. Maybe not perfect but it just clicked. From the moment we first talked we clicked. The man was afraid of heights and got on a plane for me! He faced a fear for me it had to be something there. I thought he felt the same click that I did. I thought that he could tell how I felt but I was wrong. And that really hurt. Before I knew it tears started falling down my cheeks.

"A pretty girl like you shouldn't be out here all alone you know. Strange things can happen."

I looked up and found Embry sitting on a rock right next to me. He was smiling until he looked me in my eyes. How did he get there? I didn't even hear him come up. The slight pain in my chest instantly started to leave. I didn't want to admit it but I was happy that he was there. But just as quickly as I was happy, I got pissed off again. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and shook my head.

"You've got some nerve Embry. You're exactly one hour and forty-seven minutes late! You didn't have the decency to call or text me. Then you come over here and act like everything is fine?"

"Mila I'm sorry. I would have called but I-."

"Save it Embry," I said standing up on the rock. I jumped down and started walking back towards Ava. I wasn't about to do this with him again. I wasn't about to keep playing this game whatever it was. Embry ran up to me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I let out a squeal and felt the smile spreading on my face. He stepped in front of me and grabbed my hands.

"Mila I am so sorry I didn't call you. But I left my phone at home and I wanted everything to be perfect."

The look on his face let me know he really was sorry. I wanted to stay mad at him but I couldn't.

"What's everything?"

"Come on,' he said leading me back in the direction that we had just come from.