A/N: This chapter should have gone up yesterday, but the site wasn't letting me onto my account at all. (I kept getting error messages if I tried clicking on my username at the top. Because of that delay, I'm going to go ahead and post a second chapter for today in just a little bit. As always, thank you to the extremely helpful Jezebel Jai-Braxlin for beta reading.

August 6th, 2008

I tapped my fingers along the keys too lightly to actually type. This felt like it should be a bigger moment than it was. I'd been staring at my advisor's email for an embarrassingly long time as if it were going to change.

But it wasn't the email that I had expected to change. I'd expected some sense of relief over having a clear path, a major, but I didn't feel much of anything.

So I was finally a business major. I still didn't know what I was going to do with that after college. I still wasn't sure if I wanted to do anything with it after college. It was becoming clear why some people leeched off their parents forever. Finding your place in the real world was difficult, not to mention daunting. Living like a perpetual teenager would have its perks as much as its downsides.

I closed out the web browser, still feeling the same as always. I didn't feel like more of a college student than before. Picking a major was feeling more and more like a useless milestone. It didn't even feel worthy of being deemed a milestone.

It was supposed to give me a clear path, but the path was turning out to be as unclear as the maze I had been in before.

August 26th, 2008

"Are you ready to go back?" Embry asked me one morning while we waited for the sunrise. It had gone back to being a daily thing for the summer.

"Go back where?"

"To school," Embry explained. "It starts in less than two weeks."

"Right," I said, stomach sinking at the realization.

I found my stomach knotting up for different reasons than the year before. This September I would have Joselyn there to spend time with, and knowing that helped me feel like I actually belonged at school. The thing about this year was that Embry would be there too, and I wasn't sure how to handle that. Would we talk? Would we spend time together? How did we act around each other away from La Push but somewhere I knew some people and he didn't?

It felt like a challenge. I wasn't sure what our dynamics were supposed to be at college. Embry had yet to talk to me about what he expected. Should I offer to give him a tour of campus or something? It sounded lame, but I remembered getting lost the first day. He might appreciate it. Maybe he even expected it. Maybe he was upset I hadn't acted more excited about him coming to my school. I hadn't said anything to him about it.

I had no idea what the protocol here was, and it left me feeling unsure as I started another semester. I was starting to think the feeling was unavoidable on the first day of classes.

I shrugged in a partial answer to Embry's question.

"I wouldn't say I'm ready or not ready. I'm excited to see Joselyn every day again. I'm not as excited for studying and homework and everything else college is supposed to be about."

Embry nodded in acceptance. When it became clear he wasn't going to say anything of his own, I spoke up.

"What about you? You're going to be a freshman. That's more exciting."

I could barely hear Embry sigh.

"I'm excited, I guess. If I'm honest, I don't know how to feel about it."

"Why's that?" I asked even though I was familiar enough with the feeling to have a good idea why.

"First time attending school outside of La Push. I don't know what to make of that. It's going to be different from high school. I'm not a fan of the unexpected. I like things that I can fully understand."

"That's a nice sentiment for someone who's surrounded by things that can't be understood. But if it makes you feel any better, you'll know more people there than I did when I started."

I had been hoping that last comment would prompt Embry to say something about what our dynamics would be like at college. Instead, he focused in on the other part of what I'd said.

"And that would be why I have things like my imprint theory, Leah. To try and make as much sense out of our lives as I can. As far as I'm concerned, imprinting works the way I understand it unless something confirms differently. It makes me feel better about it."

I chewed on my bottom lip. I'd been debating telling Embry about the argument I'd watched between Rachel and Emily for weeks. I knew he'd be interested in how it aligned with his view of imprinting, and I wanted someone to discuss it with to work out my own feelings. But so far I had shied away from bringing it up because I was scared of some unforeseeable conclusion that Embry would draw from the entire thing.

"About imprinting," I began. My voice trembled from the nerves of bringing it up but grew stronger as I continued. I told Embry everything, knowing that nothing either Rachel or Emily had said was a secret. I didn't feel guilty for disclosing what had happened that night, but I did feel strange about it from some reason. A reason I didn't think I fully understood.

Embry nodded along for the whole story, and the sun was peaking over the horizon as I finished.

"I'd always thought Rachel viewed imprinting differently than Emily and Kim do," he admitted. "It was one of the things that prompted me to start thinking about imprinting more if I'm being honest. I wouldn't say she's an exception since there's Nessie and Claire. They must think of imprinting differently too considering their ages.

"Still, something about Paul imprinting on Rachel caught my attention. I grew up with Jake, remember? It's not like Rachel told us much, but I was around their house enough to catch on to some of her views. And it's not like Paul's ever been much of a romantic either. When he first imprinted on her, I figured that was a big reason why.

"Their relationship is destined to be different, and it doesn't have that mushy family stuff surrounding it that Emily and Kim both want."

Everything Embry said was stuff I'd already thought on my own, but it felt good to hear that someone else thought it too.

"How come you never said this before when you were talking about your theory with me?" I asked.

Embry shrugged. "When I said most of that to you, we were close enough to the guys that they could hear us if they wanted to. I figured it was best not to talk about them and their imprints as if I were studying them in a science experiment."

"But you kind of are," I pointed out.

Embry shrugged it off again. "A bit," he admitted. "But it's kind of natural to study people around you like that. Even if you don't realize you're doing it. We all analyze what the people around us do and make judgments based on it."

It was true, I supposed, even if most of us weren't turning our judgments into full fledged theories.

"But what you haven't told me," Embry continued, "is what you thought about what Rachel said."

I almost bit through the inside of my cheek, and I forced myself to stop, self-conscious about how Embry was peering at me. My shoulders jerked in a way that could pass for a shrug.

"It was interesting," I admitted, not willing to reveal much more. But Embry kept looking at me expectantly, and I knew I had to provide something else. Still, I held off, falling silent again.

"Interesting in what way?" Embry asked once I'd been quiet for longer than he liked.

I shrugged again, wishing there was a way out of this.

"Interesting in the way that Rachel's comments made me think about your theory in the first place."

"So it feels more valid to you now?"

"Your theory never felt invalid to me. What I said was that I didn't think it was necessary to speculate in the first place. Not when we can never know one way or the other."

It was Embry who went silent then, staring off at the sun that was now over the horizon.

"We may," he said finally, and I could tell he was choosing his words carefully. "I mean, if Rachel winds up deciding she doesn't want kids. Hell, if Paul winds up deciding he doesn't want kids. I could see that too. That would put a huge dent in the child theory, and there has to be another explanation."

"Maybe," I admitted. "But it still doesn't prove anything. Rachel and Paul deciding not to have kids doesn't mean they don't fulfill that theory. The theory is that imprinting provides a better chance that the gene will be passed on or make stronger wolves, right? Rachel could still fit that because of the potential if they have kids. They just wouldn't be acting on the opportunity. She is a Black. They're the oldest line we have."

"Yeah, but why would fate waste an imprint on someone destined to not have kids if it was about that?"

I took a deep breath. The answer came to me so quickly that it helped convince me that I was on the right track.

"Because the potential was there. We don't know anything about fate or the imprint fairy or whatever it is. How would we know if it sees the future or whatever instead of just the potential of genes?"

"Fair enough," Embry allowed. He was grinning in a way that showed he liked that I was challenging him. I could see from his eyes that he was working to find ways to counter every argument I made. "I could see why someone could take that view, but I still think fate can see more than that. Although, you do realize there's another test to the theory too? Even less foolproof, but still something."

"What?"

"Rebecca."

Embry paused after that, and I looked at him in confusion. I knew he had to mean Rebecca Black. It was the only Rebecca we both knew. I just didn't understand what she had to do with this conversation or imprinting when she hadn't stepped foot in La Push in years.

"What about Rebecca? She's in Hawaii."

Embry rolled his eyes, an unusual action for him. "Obviously, she's in Hawaii. That's why she's significant. She carries the Black gene just like Rachel does. They're even identical. Their genes are identical. If we follow the theory that imprinting is only about genes, then Rebecca and Rachel are both two of the best potential imprints, right?"

My mouth hung open. Somehow, that had never entered my mind. Probably because Rebecca was both far away and married.

"Yes…"

Embry continued, "And none of us wolves has seen her since we phased, so there's never been a chance for an imprint. But if imprinting is concerned about making more wolves or better wolves, it would be stupid to not pull Rebecca into the mix."

"But, Embry, she's married."

Embry nodded. He was doing that thing again where he stared off into space and thought deeply even as he spoke.

"I know. That's another big question, whether whatever influences imprinting would care. I mean, Taha Aki had two wives before his imprint, and the legends never say if he imprinted before or after the death of the second, just that she died of old age at some point. I'm not saying we should claim he imprinted before the second's death. My best guess is that he imprinted after her death. I'm just laying it out there as a possibility.

"Even without that, imprints could have broken up marriages in the past for all we know. If we're operating under the assumption that not everyone manages to choose their soul mate on their own, then imprinting happening regardless of marriage could work for any of the theories. I wouldn't be surprised. Think about you and Sam. Yeah, you weren't married, but imprinting didn't care about your relationship. It's not that far fetched to think it wouldn't care about a marriage if it didn't suit its needs. Whatever we say those needs are."

I felt like something heavy was sitting on my chest. I'd had a lot of negative opinions on imprinting over the years, but not once had I stopped to think about the possibility of imprinting obliterating marriages without a thought, even in my bitterest days when I cursed imprinting for ruining my own relationship. There had always been an unspoken acceptance in my mind that imprinting wouldn't go as far as ending a marriage.

Once I'd gotten over my shock, I asked, "So, you want to know if one of the wolves would imprint on Rebecca if they saw her?"

Embry nodded his head, not looking in my direction.

My mind had already gone to what that meant. "But, Embry, you'd be the most likely candidate for that, wouldn't you? You're the oldest un-imprinted wolf. Besides me, but that's different. I guess one of the younger guys, like Collin or Brady, could imprint on her, but if it's all about mating, you'd still be the most logical choice."

Embry nodded again, and at first I didn't think he was going to say anything. He looked conflicted.

"I've thought about all that. The thing is, if I did imprint on her, it would pretty much confirm that imprinting is about mating. Trust me when I say that I'm positive Rebecca isn't my soul mate, and I need you to remember that if I were to imprint and my mind decides that she is. It would confirm that all imprinting cares about is babies, and then I'd be wrapped up in it. I don't want that."

"But you don't think that'll happen. You don't think that's what imprinting is."

"No," he agreed. "But I don't want to find out I'm wrong either. Especially not like that."

We both went quiet, thinking about what that meant. Any chance of Rebecca coming back to La Push in the foreseeable future was slim to none. She would avoid this place for decades if she could get away with it. Still, it felt like there was a ticking time bomb, like I was waiting for Rebecca to come visit to see what happened.

"There are two other tests of the theories that I can think of," Embry said after a long period of silence.

The sun was so far up in the sky that, on any other day, we would both be gone by now, yet I couldn't bring myself to end this conversation.

"Wow. How have you thought about all this, Embry?"

"I told you I think about this a lot, Leah," he shot back.

He didn't say anything more at first, and I wondered if I had actually offended him. It seemed unlikely. I reached out to nudge him and gain his attention back.

"Seth and Al," he said without preamble. This time my mind flew to what Embry was talking about, and I was surprised I'd never had any thoughts about it before. "If either of them imprints on a guy, then imprinting can't be about mating. If Seth imprints on a girl, that's the most conclusive evidence that imprinting isn't about soul mates that I can think of."

It was the most foolproof of Embry's ideas, and I almost wished he had shared it first. It would be by far the most convincing for everyone if it happened. There was no way anyone could argue that a same-sex imprint couple was supposed to start popping out puppies. Seth imprinting on a girl could still be defended by some. I knew that. But plenty of people would be convinced enough by a gay guy imprinting on a girl to know there was a different motive than soul mates.

I would lose my shit if fate did that to my little brother. There was no doubt in my mind I would be angrier than I had ever been about Sam and Emily. Someone would pay. I wasn't sure who, but I would find a way.

I had to take a moment to push away my anger. Once I did, I thought of something else to say.

"But none of these things has actually happened," I point out. "And it's possible none of them will. You'd be hard-pressed to even get Rebecca here if you wanted to test that theory."

I could tell by the expression on his face that Embry didn't want to test it. I couldn't blame him. There was something terrifying about knowing there was a chance you could imprint on someone the next time you saw them. Even without being in that situation, I could imagine the dread. If Rebecca did come back to La Push, I wouldn't blame Embry for locking himself in his room the entire time, whether it would be a test of his theory or not. I may have grown warmer towards imprinting, but I still wasn't enthused by the idea. I'd never put myself in a situation where there was more than a minuscule chance of it happening.

Of course, I also had my doubts about being able to imprint as the only female. Those doubts were strong enough that I didn't worry about imprinting often.

"One day one of them might," Embry said quietly. "And then we would know. For now though, yeah, you're right. We don't know about any of them."

We both got lost in our own thoughts after that, and before the sun got much higher in the sky, we'd each went back home. I wondered if Embry's mind was as muddled and active as mine was after our conversation.