Joshua Black Pov
"Josh? Dude. Are you okay?" I looked up to see Shane standing above me with a brown paper bag.
Glancing down, I was sitting in the hospital cafeteria.. Clearly not studying.
Sleeping on my books, a perfect sign that I was not okay. "Yeah. I'm fine. I just zoned out for a second, I guess."
He pulled a chair beside me and sat down. "Man you're totally out of it. You should go home."
Shane, my best friend, knows me best. I cleared my throat. He never fails to tell me the truth.
"No way. I'm on a fifteenth hour shift. I can't go back to the dorms now. I have hours to make up."
"Dude, as a long time childhood friend, the medicine filled isn't right for you. You smell and you haven't eaten in two days. I'm not saying go home to the dorm, I'm staying home in La Push."
I narrowed my eyes and leaned my head down to sniff my armpits.
They gave off a whiff of onion scent.
I shook my head a bit. "Look, you know out of all people there's nothing left for me there. I'm not going back. I promised my dad a long time ago that I would make something of myself, and that's what I'm going to do. Plus, my mom loves the idea that I can finally finish college. It's pathetic how Daniel managed to finish before me, if he hadn't injured himself in that Marine-boot camp- who knows where he would be." I say.
"No offense man, but you'll fail more than just your parents if you continue practicing here. Go out there and do what you love."
I sighed. "I know. Music is my passion but it won't get me as far as finishing med school. You know that?" I said to him.
"I know that following someone else's dream, such as your parents… is a one way trip to misery and you're on that train. Take it from an only child, your parents won't be too upset as long as you're happy." He said and it made me wonder about his parents.
If his mother never got sick from cancer, then later having to quit the medical field; Would he be a doctor or something else? I'm sure there's some pressure on his shoulders to make something of himself more than I know.
"Hey, Shane? Can you come here for a second?" One of the new temp nurses called from behind us and I didn't even turn around to look at her.
"I'll see you later man," He said, giving my shoulder a shake while getting up.
"Yeah, see ya." I muttered looking down at my study books.
For the last two years I've been studying to be a Cardiologist, while Shane who's in his fourth year here has been practicing as a Neurologist. He's way more smarter and cut out for this doctor stuff than I am.
My first two years of college I majored in Marketing. Huge mistake for me.
Marketing or Medicine, I have no passion for either one and I don't have the heart to tell my parents.
My mother has been paying my way ever since she wrote her first book. I've been meaning to pay her back, but I'm finding myself much deeper in debt than anyone would ever know. I've gambled my entire savings away and even my best friend Shane had loaned me his last, but nothing has been enough.
Maybe he's right, maybe I should just drop out and go home.
Maybe my dad will understand. Maybe.
*Flashback*
16 Years Ago
"See'ya guys later." Uncle Seth waved bye to us from his car.
Running up onto the porch with Daniel, he paused. "That took too long."
I was just so happy to be home.
"I love uncle Seth, but I hope we never have to help aunt Taylor out again." I say.
While uncle Seth was working, aunt Taylor was driving us crazy, just barking orders around their house for no reason.
She clearly only wanted us two to be busy, so we wouldn't destroy her antique doll collection. They were creepy, if you ask me.
Danny and I were bored out of our minds, we actually wondered if Caleb was having fun without us.
Flipping on the light, I walked straight for the kitchen seeing Caleb at the kitchen table in his booster seat eating. "Josh! Danny!" He screamed jumping from his chair instantly. "Where were you?" He said as we raced in the kitchen.
"We were out." I say.
"Oh dinner looks great Dad." Daniel said moving over to where Dad stood by the sink.
"You cooked?" I was surprised.
"Yeah. Wash your hands." Dad said low with a frown.
I narrowed my eyes feeling something was wrong. He's always sarcastic and playful.
"Where's mom?" I asked.
"Sleeping. She's tired." Caleb mumbled with his mouth full.
"Eww. Chew your food before you talk." I said taking my seat
"Josh, wash your hands." Dad said walking to the refrigerator.
"My hands are clean." I said, picking up my fork.
"Josh!" He said through his teeth.
"Wash your hands." Caleb says, staring at me with a stink eye look.
"You did touch the door knob, that thing is filled with germs." Daniel says, washing his.
"Ugh. Fine." I said jumping up and going to the sink.
Daniel then turned to sit over at the table to eat.
I miss my dogs, and at times I hate being away from them.
"Are Chaste and Keusch back?" I glanced over at dad who was putting the food up.
"Why wouldn't they be?" He mumbled.
"I don't know, because you didn't go pick them up last night when we got home." I say, turning off the warm water. "Is something wrong?"
"Can I have some juice?" Caleb asked as I went back to the table to eat.
"No. finish the rest of your food." Dad says.
"But I'm thirsty-"
"Caleb!" Dad yelled, startling me.
I looked over as Daniel fork dropped on the floor and Caleb sat back apparently mad.
No surprise as he pouted, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I'm not hungry then." Caleb said, pushing his plate even harder away, to the center of the table.
"Stop, Cabe, before you make a mess." Danny said standing up, and walking towards the sink.
"I want some juice." Caleb mumbled.
"Stop being a baby, and eat." I stated.
"Shut-up." He whinnied.
"Caleb, eat or get out." Dad warned.
"I want mommy." Caleb mumbled.
"Doesn't matter, she's not going to give you anything to drink." I said, as Danny sat back in his seat staring at Caleb.
"Shut-up-"
"CALEB!" Dad yelled so loud I jumped, almost falling out of my seat.
Caleb squealed, shoved his plate onto the floor and jumped out of his chair, almost falling on the floor.
Danny and I looked over at each other, hearing Caleb running up the steps.
I sighed, sliding my chair back, wanting to clean up Caleb's mess.
"Just leave it." Dad said, tossing a spoon into the sink.
I rolled my eyes, turning in my chair, not wanting to argue.
"Okay." I mumbled to myself.
What's with him today?
Can he still be mad about mom and sam? Or mom and aiden? Or mom and school? Or mom and work? Or mom in general?
Hearing loud barking in the backyard, I looked at dad who looked out the small window above the sink.
"What is it?" I asked, and the dogs barking turned into loud growling.
"What's wrong with them?" Danny asks also worried as Chaske and Keusch barking and growling turned more viscous, as if they were really angry at something.
We all jumped as something crashed into the back of the house, causing the wall to shake.
"Dad?" I said knowing there had to be something bad out back to make the dogs freak.
"I think I'll go get ready for bed now." Daniel said getting up from the table fast.
I didn't want to follow him, I wanted to know what the dogs were going all crazy for. Suddenly the back door swung open, and the dogs rushed in.
"DANNY!" I yelled, and he instantly jumped on me already watching as Chaske and Keusch headed straight for him, knocking a chair to the floor.
Me and Daniel glared over at the dogs with wide eyes, as they ran back to the back door barking.
Continuing to bear their teeth, and jumping all over each other.
The moment I squinted my eyes out the door, I saw two figures in the dark and I hurried to put my hands over Danny's eyes.
Never seen a vampire before, but I'm sure it'll scare the heck out of Danny way more than they would me.
Before I could look back, Dad slammed the backdoor so hard it shattered the glass. Then grab both Chaske and Keusch collars and pull them into the basement.
When they pushed the door back open barking, Dad shoved the door shut and continued to close the door shut until the wood broke.
My eyes widened when the noise finally stopped, then we all heard a few wolf howls.
I couldn't move. They must be chasing a vamp or something out there.
Frustrated Dad picked one of the glass cups on the counter, then threw it fast across the room.
I flinched as it shattered against the back door, making the window break completely.
My heart raced, though the beating wasn't as loud as Danny's who seemed too calm.
"Danny? You alright?" I ask, wanting to stand up from the chair.
"Danny?" I said, shaking him.
"Danny-"
"I'm fine! Stop touching me." He snapped, pushing me away, then ran towards the living room.
"Whoa, whoa. What's wrong?" I heard mom say from the living room, but I couldn't see.
Pausing to wait for them to come into the kitchen, they didn't and after a minute I heard her bedroom shut.
I sighed, looking over at dad who leaned down grabbing the broken chair that the dogs knocked over.
I wanted to ask him if he was okay, but I knew it wouldn't come out right.
Biting down on my lower lip, I watched as he tried to place the leg back together though it was clear the chair was just broken.
Dad let out a long huge breath, leaning over against the sink.
This was more than him being upset at mom.
Something was major wrong.
Sitting on the floor, letting the chair drop out of his hands. Dad didn't say a word.
I was still frozen.
The only time I ever saw him even close to sad, was when mom was sick or in the hospital. Even then he would only show toughness, instead of anything else.
I guess what makes things worse now is that he and mom are always fighting. I guess you can say I started everything by wanting to go to school. Then the crap with Aiden and her brother Noah Cullen, Sam, and the vampires made stuff ten times worse.
Days like this I wish we all were normal and human.
Looking over at dad still frozen, he ran both his hands over his hair tirelessly then lifted his head up to me.
"What?" He whispered, and I glanced down before opening my mouth.
"It's getting bad, isn't it?" I asked, looking over at him.
"What makes you say that?" He said normally.
I shrugged my shoulders. "Mom, the vampires, Sam, Aiden and Noah. I'm old enough to understand."
He sighed, nodding his head.
"I don't have to start school. Mom probably is better off with us here, that way it gives her less reason to spend time with Sam while you're at work."
"Josh-"
"Maybe we should move. Being around Aiden isn't okay anymore, Right? She's half human, half vampire. She's trouble, just like Nahuel's other kids- Right? Especially with the vampires being back…. The Cullen's will be too. Danny and Caleb wouldn't be able to handle it all. Mom doesn't like it here, I hear her complain many times. I understand. I always wanted to move." I said, still staring at him.
"Since when?" He said low.
"Since I realized who we are. I don't want to be a wolf. I know Danny doesn't want to be one. I overheard mom talking about it with Aiden once, and how much she will hate it. I'll hate it too."
"Trust me, you don't have to worry about that." Dad says.
"I already do, and that's not the only thing I worry about." I say looking over in the living room.
"What?" He asked.
I sighed. "It's not how it used to be. It's no fun here anymore. You and mom are changing... more than everyone else." I said standing up from the kitchen table.
"Where are you going?" He asked fast.
"To take a bath, and brush my teeth. Night." I said moving towards the living room, and to the stairs.
My home has been taken over by darkness-vamping-sadness. I had to make things stop in order to get my family back.
*End Of Flashback*
Daniel Black Pov
Pulling my key-card out of my pocket, I slid it through to open the hotel room door. Hearing the beep, I walked in the room, surprised that all the lights were on.
"Hey, you're back earlier." Mom said, glancing over from the bed.
"Yes, the jacuzzi was pretty crowded." I said honestly. "So what are you watching?" I ask, sitting on the edge of the bed looking at what looks to be a movie I have never seen before on television.
"It's called 'Memoirs of a Geisha'." She answered.
"Oh." I glanced at the nightstand on her phone. "Have dad called?"
"Nope, How was your video chat with Hazel?" She asked, still seeming a bit upset about dad's behavior.
"It was alright. Miss her a lot." I say honestly.
Hazel can be a handful but I miss seeing her face and having fun with her.
"I know. Don't worry, the tour is almost over."
"No worries. I'm enjoying my time here with you." I said honestly, smiling and she glanced at me with a smile but her face instantly turned green in panic.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
Mom shoved the bed sheets from her legs and jumped to the floor, straight for the bathroom.
Alarmed. The sound of her vomiting made me stand.
"Mom?" I said, struck with fear.
She continued vomiting.
Oh no, she's sick.
Moving towards the bathroom doorway, as the toilet flushed on its own.
This isn't good for the tour.
Mom sat down on the bathroom floor, putting her back against the bathtub.
"Are you okay?" I asked, grabbing the nearest cleanest towel and damping it with water.
"It must have been the seafood." She said out of breath. "I only had the salmon. Remind me to never eat it again."
"Here." I said, handing her the towel. "I'll go get you some cold water."
"No. no. I'm fine." She said and I had a feeling that she wasn't at all. Her chopper skin was orange and sweaty.
I kneel down, touching her hand to grab the towel and she was abnormally hot.
"Mom, this is not just because of the salmon." I was more worried than before. "You're feverishly hot."
"It's alright….. It'll pass. My body's just…. Tired, from all the running around." She said, closing her eyes.
"You've been sleeping most of the day." I muttered.
"Don't worry Daniel, alright." She said and I remembered how emotional she was this morning.
She wasn't understanding what I was implying at the time.
"This morning you were crying in your sleep, and now you're getting sick." I remembered the signs, back when she was pregnant with Sarah. Back then she tried her best to hide it from my brothers and I.
We were young, yet we knew. Before dad was sent away, they were fighting more than usual. It was a horrible stressful time. My anxiety was off the wall back then, yet it was Josh who shifted young.
Closing her eyes, completely out of energy, I reached over and touched mom's belly.
I remember when I first phased Haylie was telling me the story of how Noah found out that she was pregnant. He sensed a heartbeat from her.
Closing my eyes to concentrate, laying my fingers flat.
I instantly felt a heartbeat beneath my mother's warm and hardened stomach.
"Daniel?" She said seeing the expression of shock on my face as I took my hand from her stomach.
"You're pregnant." I breathed.
"What?" She whispered as though she didn't hear what was said.
I laughed to myself.
"That was so cool. I'm a wolf, I can't believe I couldn't sense it before." For the last three month of traveling with her, I can't believe I'm just figuring it out now. "You're pregnant."
"You've got to be kidding me." She muttered. "That's impossible."
"Is it?" I was confused as she was.
"No." She shook her head then stopped to stare blankly at the red colored tile floor. "I haven't had my menstrual cycle since the tour began."
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"Crazy as it sounds, I thought it was just stress." She muttered.
"We traveled all around and here when we're almost finished the tour. We found this out.…." She trailed off as tears ran from her eyes. "This is not happening." She said becoming completely consumed by her emotions, as she started sobbing.
"Hey." I said pulling her into me. "It's alright, it's all going to be okay, I promise."
I'm seriously going to have another sibling.
Never saw this coming.
"What are we going to do, Danny?"
"Shh, we'll figure it out. Mom."
"How?" She asked, talking through her tears. "We should go home. I'm sorry for keeping you from Hazel. I shouldn't have allowed you to come."
"Mom, don't say that. I offered to join you, remember?"
"No, no Jacob was right. I should be there, you too." She continued to cry.
"Mom these are the hormones talking and I understand if you don't want to do this alone. so if you think you're ready to just be home. Say the words and I won't question a thing. I'll work things out with the tour agents."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, of course. Do you want to go home, back to La Push?" I asked.
"Yes, I do. I want us all together. We can't tell anyone about the baby alright. Not yet, but I... I need him." She said clearly speaking of dad. "I need to be home with him."
"I understand." I nod still holding her in my arms.
I'm happy that she could admit to needing dad right now.
"I'm not sure how I could ruin this book tour, but it's always something." She muttered.
"I know. I know, but there hasn't been anything ruined. Alright? We'll leave right now. Okay? We'll go home." I disagreed, and felt very relieved that she wanted to leave.
Sarah Black Pov
*Dream*
Walking through the empty halls of my middle school, the floor and ceiling looked the same but everything else was different.
"LOOKOUT!" Someone shouted.
Then next thing I knew, I walked face first into an opening door.
Hitting me hard, I fell right on my butt.
"What the heck." I exclaimed, feeling the pain in my face.
"You okay?" Someone asked as I rubbed my forehead.
"You should really watch where you're going." The familiar voice said.
I removed my hands from my face and opened my eyes.
"You alright?" His dark brown eyes asked as I looked up.
"Embry?"
I had to know his face anywhere if it wasn't here in school.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Looking for you. What else?"
"I would have thought you'd be searching for a cheerleader, with blonde wavy hair and a mini-skirt." I say back with a grin.
"Not my taste, I prefer feisty girls who play softball."
"Well, you found one and she is so happy to see you."
He smiled at me, and I knew he was pleased that I said that.
"I like when you smile." I told him then realized I'd just given him too much of a compliment.
Why was I flirting with him? This is going to be so weird and awkward later.
Hopefully he won't think i'm totally crushing on him and tell my parents.
"I love when you do two." He said turning around. I followed him towards Hazel's purple house.
I could have sworn her house was green.
"What are you doing later? Maybe we can play soccer on the beach?" I said to him.
"Yeah, that sounds great. Sounds fun." He smiled.
"Then go out for ice cream since you don't like sushi."
"Sounds like a plan. We can definitely do it." He says.
"I'm sorry for not hanging out with you more, I'm just trying not to smother you. I want you to fall in love with me the right way." I told him the truth.
"It's fine, Sarah. Whatever you like." He stated, and I watched as the anger filled his face.
His teeth are so white, big, sharp and beard.
His eyes are huge and dark at night.
My werewolf.
"Embry?"
"What's the matter?" He asked.
"You...you look...Like a mean ...mean grizzly dog."
"It's fine." Was all he said.
"Okay..." I tried my best to put away my fear. He was a werewolf, that was okay because I loved him. "It's not about what you are, it's about who you are." I said.
"You should love me, even when I look like this." He said moving closer and I shook with fright. "I will do anything for you."
"No, please don't." I fearfully said as his eyes turned red and his fangs grew longer and a growl sound roused from his throat. "NO."
*End Of Dream*
...
My eyes flew open.
Feeling out of breath, I jumped.
"Sarah?" Looking around me to find a room of eyes staring directly at me.
I looked up at my tan skin muscle fit teacher. "You have a drool on your chin." Mr. Cameron said and the entire Health class busted out laughing.
Touching my chin and cheek to find it was dry. Mr. Cameron laughed. "No sleeping in my class, kid." He said, turning to walk away.
I rolled my eyes.
How humiliating. What a jerk-head.
The class was still snickering a bit as I wiped my face to make sure no paper or anything was stuck to me.
"Now that we're all awake. Finish up reading, we only have a few more minutes." Mr. Cameron said and I glanced down at my book completely lost on where we are.
Hate this guy. He's had it out for me since freshman year. For a guy who was once so close to my dad and Embry, he surely doesn't seem to like me very much. Every chance he gets, he humiliates me.
He could have just nugged me quietly awake, so no one would notice.
Everything about being a teen and not feeling like you fit in is just magnified by being a weirdo whose mother has written stories about vampires.
Bad enough that my family gene-pool means I may morph into a giant dog someday. but the simple fact is that high school is the same to millions of people across the world. Doesn't matter what language is spoken or what type of country, it just sucks. Friends or no friends, Intelligent or unintelligent. The years before eighteen are brutal.
They say it's natural for teens to feel more unhappy than most. All I know is that there are very few films or plays or anything about really happy people with perfect lives. Everyone is usually screwed up in some way and that is usually where the work comes in, figuring out how to make it believable and make it real to present someone's problems that you don't necessarily actually know anything about.
I mean it is not challenging to be happy all the time. Mr. Cameron is obviously one of those unhappy people who's out to make other people feel like crap.
Yet, my mind for the last year has been so focused on softball and Embry that I rarely have time to notice much else. I needed to cut both, cold-turkey.
I grew up watching loads of romantic-comedy movies. Everyone somewhere feels that maybe, perhaps they're life would end like one.
In a typical romantic comedy the two lovers tend to be young, likable, and apparently meant for each other, yet they are kept apart by some complicating circumstance; such as class differences, parental interference; a previous girlfriend or boyfriend until, surmounting all obstacles, they are finally wed. A wedding-bells, fairy-tale-style happy ending is practically mandatory. Yep, the usual happily ever after, the end. Very unrealistic, though that doesn't stop a girl from dreaming.
It wasn't until two years ago that Embry introduced me to the likes of sci-fi movies, and might I say… I'm very proud that I am a geek. I wish I was a cool geek like Embry.
Who knew science-fiction could be so addictive? I've seen a lot of sci-fi movies, from Dune to Alien, 2001, ET, Batteries Not Included... All these films I go crazy for. But never Star Trek... until last year. Star Trek is what Embry and I live for. It actually happens to be one of the few things we have in common.
I tend to be very picky, so I look for the perfect man to crush on but of course it'll be obvious who I chose. So if Spock and Kirk were to combine in some comic-colastic bomb, they'd become my perfect man. That's the kind of guy I'd go for. I don't only go for muscles, I don't only go for brains. You just need to have a little bit of a bad boy and a geek and then you've got the perfect guy, but then again… that'll make Embry. The best of both worlds.
When I watch movies, I always notice there's a difference between celebrities, and movie stars. While celebrities fade away, the movie stars stick around forever… forever known as legends. To say that's how high school is to me. At this moment I'm a celebrity because of sports and who my ancestors are, but my parents and Embry are movie stars.
There's not a place we go that they don't get recognized. It once made me happy, but now it's a bit annoying. When there are fans, haters follow.
It reminds of how shape-shifters who have never or unable to Imprint on someone constantly look at others who have. There isn't a person on the planet who hasn't been envious or jealous of someone. I remember when I was younger I was once jealous of Hazel's mom Haylie. It was way before I was born that she dated Embry, but I always wonder what he saw in her that made him think to be in a relationship with her for nine or ten years. Even if it was on and off.
Far as I knew she was and still is his only relationship, he never talks about anyone else. No one does, in fact Embry's past is completely unknown to me. I read all about that in my mom's first book that she wrote a year after I was born.
According to history. There have only been six successful 'imprintings' first; Sam Uley and Emily Young, second; my Health teacher Jared Cameron and Kim… I don't know her last name, third; Quil Ateara V and Claire Young, forth; Paul Lahote and my aunt Rachel, fifth; my brother Daniel and Hazel Lakes and sixth; would have been my father and Renesmee Cullen but she chose another half-vampire, which was a result of him and my mom getting together so that leaves me and Embry as the sixth in history to have a successful imprinting relationship.
There are stages to imprinting, especially if the shape-shifter imprints on a child, or otherwise someone very young. Like the day I was born, at the hospital right after my mom had to get a cesarean section. Embry said there was something pulling him into the room and even when a nurse said he couldn't just walk in, he took one look at me and boom.
For a while he was like an older sibling to me, yet deep down I always knew he was something so much more. Embry masters everything so sweetly.
The Second stage of imprinting is as the imprintee grows older, the shape-shifter will also come to be their best friend. Embry has done that like a boss, he is actually one of my best friends… beside Hazel and my cousin Henry.
The Third and Fourth stage of imprinting of course will be becoming intimate friends, meaning, the feelings for one and other will change into romantic feelings. Falling in love. When the imprintee is old enough, the shapeshifter's feelings grow into romantic love.
I can only hope that Embry will fall in love with me and not `see any other girl other than me. I want to be all he ever cares about and for us to never leave each other's side.
I remember reading in my mom's book how her ex-boyfriend Sam, who imprinted on her cousin, came around years later and confessed he was still in love with her… or something like that.
Which proves that shape-shifters have a choice on who they want to love. The reason for imprinting is unknown. Sam believed that a shape-shifter imprints on the person with whom they have the best chance to reproduce with.
How this applied to my dad and his at the time imprint; I have no clue. My grandpa Billy, thinks that imprinting is designed to make the shape-shifter stronger.
Embry belief on why werewolves imprint isn't too far from Billy's. Embry says that It's during the most stressful and sadden time of a shape-shifter's life that they are in need of someone, the person who may provide the greatest support is when a wolf will imprint.
My mom is well on the fence about that one, because when she first phased it was due to her dad dying. So far, only male shapeshifters have imprinted on girls or women, regardless of their ages. While Sam Uley, Paul Lahote, Jared Cameron and Daniel have imprinted on teenage girls or young adults, Quil, Embry, and my dad have imprinted on babies... In Quill's case it was a toddler.
The school bell rang, and everyone stood up from their seats.
I closed my Health book and hurried to follow the class out the door.
"Sarah!" Mr. Jared Cameron called and I paused right before the door.
Slowly turning to face him, he leaned up against his desk.
"Yes?"
"I'm giving you a warning, and not because you're the kid of one of my brothers but for the simple fact that I can be nice." Could have fooled me. "Next time you rest your eyes in my class. I'll give you two weeks detention."
"What? That's ridiculous." I said as he was abusing his power.
"Like I said, I'm giving you a warning." He said with a ugly grin on his face. "Don't make me regret it."
"Fine, whatever." I muttered.
"You can run along now." He turned away from me and I turned for the hallway.
I bet my dad and Embry will thank him for that, then give me a lecture.
"Hey, boo-bear." I heard Hazel's energetic voice coming up on the left side of me.
"Hey."
"You know I still can't believe you quit softball, this was going to be our year." She says, squeezing my shoulders a bit.
"Right, well now that Sam Uley is going to be coaching… I would rather not. Besides, I'm tired of busting my butt when not even a single one of my family can come to my games."
"Yeah I know that feeling, yet not a real reason. So, How was class?" She says.
"Boring like usual. I zoned out and fell asleep again." I admitted. Hazel laughed and her long wavy fuchsia pink hair bounced. "Mr. Cameron-jerkhead, threatened to give me detention if I fall asleep again."
"Ugh, screw him."
"How was the gym? Kick any jockheads in the crock lately." I joked.
"Not since last week." She laughed. "Gym was kinda boring. Danny wasn't there to make out with me under the bleachers, but he video called me from Japan and we had a beautifully amazing talk." She said playfully.
Ugh. "Ew. That's the last thing I want to hear you complain about, making out with my brother." I said as we were getting close to the exit that lends towards the student parking lot. La Push reservation high school had only one floor but was extremely long and huge. I remember my freshmen year I kept getting lost and confused.
"I miss him so much, you're so lucky you get to see Embry whenever you like."
"Not true at all. Besides, I need a little Embry break."
"Oh really? That's not what I got last night." She smirked.
"What do you mean?" I was confused. For the last month or two I've been spending most of my nights at her house. They have a cool guest room but last night we fell asleep watching 'Xena The Warrior Princess' in her room.
"What were you dreaming about last night?" She asked, amused. "Or should I ask who?" She grinned. "You were talking in your sleep again." She said amused stopping to stand against the school brick wall, I turned to stand with her as more kids rushed past us to get out of the school.
"Really? No. What did I say?" I am curious.
"I don't know. At first it was a bunch of mumbling and then you said 'My Embry." She smiled.
"What?" I said shocked, "No. I couldn't have. I don't talk in my sleep."
"Yes, you do. Usually it'll be profanity words but this time you said 'My Embry'."
"That's so weird." I said a bit embarrassed, yet she of all people knew I was in love with Embry.
She understood my secret emotions about it all.
"What's weird?" Hazel and I both heard someone behind us and we turned.
"Embry, we were just talking about you." Hazel said fast and I shield my eyes at the blinding sun.
Embry, who was only six feet tall, wore dark blue jeans and a black buttoned up shirt with black sneakers on.
His russet skin was glistening and his brown eyes brightened looking at me.
"Sarah, close your mouth." Hazel said and I hadn't noticed it was open. "Well I got practice so see you guys later." She said fast and before I could say wait, she was running back in the building.
Embry eyes didn't follow after her but looked steady on me and I looked at his cut hair which was wet. "Why is your hair wet?"
"I took a shower before I came." He said and I noticed the deep dark circles under his eyes. I didn't want to stare at him for too long.
"Where's Caleb?" I asked, walking past him to the parking lot towards the cars.
"He's at the cafe helping your dad, it's pretty busy today."
"It's pretty busy everyday with tourists." I clarified.
"Yeah I know." He said and I spotted his police cruiser instead of his 2017 Chevy impala.
"You know what I hate? When you bring your cop car to pick me up from school. It's not a good look for me." I stated. "It's like your fifth time bringing it and you keep doing it." I said annoyingly stopping at the passenger door.
Embry paused to look at me. With a strange unreadable look on his face of confusion it made me narrow my eyes. "What?"
"Nothing." He said shaking his head pressing the unlock button and the car beeped.
He opened the door for me and I took off my book bag and got in the car. "Thanks." I mumbled.
To my surprise the first thing I smelt was vanilla scented candles.
I knew the smell because it's the same as my grandma's bathroom spray.
The car started as Embry walked around the front.
I kinda wish my dad or Caleb could have picked me up. if I knew he was coming I would have taken the bus.
"So where to?" He ask shutting the door and put on his seat-belt.
"My home, where else?" I mumbled grabbing my seat-belt.
"What's up with you?" He asked as my seat-belt clicked and I looked up at him.
His eyes looked so dead and tired, I wondered if he even got any sleep in the last twenty four hours. "What do you mean?" I ask.
"I mean… you're extra snappy. What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Just tell me." He said, with a bit of desperation.
"There's nothing wrong, Can you just take me home?"
"I'll take you home when you tell me the truth." He stated.
I sighed glaring out the windshield. I'd rather avoid him than talk about my feelings. It's too soon.
It's of course obvious that it's up to me to choose whether to accept him as my 'soulmate' or not, but I'm afraid if I act too soon on my feelings Embry will get freaked out and ignore me.
Hazel tells me all the time how months after my brother Daniel imprinted on her that he was so freaked out that when she kissed him he ran away to Makah Reservation and didn't return for three weeks. Like seriously... what the hell. They eventually decided to take things slow, but now look at them. They're way past all the imprinting stages, even though he's across the country with my mom.
I have no idea how he can stay away from her for that long. It's been three months, all they do is video chat. His self control is darn amazing and strange. Embry never stayed away from me for that long. Embry never left me for even more than a week.
I guess every wolf is different.
Just because I'm ready to start a relationship with him, doesn't mean he's ready. I don't want to screw up and ruin us. Falling in love with someone is the surest highway to hurt. Especially when they don't fall along with you.
I'm not ready to lose him completely.
"Is it your mom?"
"No?" I answered.
"Is it school? Did you quit the softball team? Is that why you're not going to practice? Why would you quit? I'm not a mind-reader, Sarah. Can you please just say what's going on?" He said and I looked him deep in the eyes.
"Have you ever wondered why a female wolf loses her menstrual cycle when they shift even though a normal dog can have up to twelve puppies at a time?" I stated.
Instantly he rolled his eyes yet, I can tell he was annoyed and he closed his eyes shaking his head. "Sarah?" Was all that came out of his mouth and he put the car in reverse, then sped out the school parking lot.
I laughed softly to myself, and tried extremely hard not to show too much amusement.
We had only driven past four huge trees when he cleared his throat. "If you ever shift, promise you won't go through it alone. Alright?"
"Trust me, I'll let my parents know first." I say, though I'm praying that I never have to. What my parents went through isn't something that's on my to do list.
"So are you going to tell me why you quit the softball team?"
I rolled my eyes. "I'm tired of going to practice."
"You quit because you're tired of going to practice? That is not a reason." He said offended.
"Well it was my decision and it's done."
"What is with you?" He said utterly upset. "You're being distant, snappy and now this?"
"Just leave it, Embry." I said.
It was better if he didn't know the truth of my mood swings.
He quickly turned the car to the side of the road and I grabbed hold of the seat with both hands.
Staring at him with horrified eyes. "What the hell?" I said and he got out of the car.
The door slammed and I took off my seat-belt and opened my door.
Embry hands landed on top of the hood, laid out as if a cop just asked him to spread them.
The words 'what's wrong' came to me but I couldn't say them as the expression of deep agony flashed across his face as he looked at me.
"I'm trying." He said low. "I'm really trying."
"Trying what?" was all I could say.
"This. You. Me. Us. Do you get it?"
"NO!" I yell. I was completely lost. "What the heck is in your head?" Clearly he has gone insane. Embry pushed off the car and came towards me. I froze as if he was an unhinged dog off its leash.
He exhaled twice and I felt my breath catch in my throat.
Worry filled me. "Just tell me." He said and I had no idea what he wanted to know.
"Tell you what?"
"Are you angry at me?" He asked.
"No. No. No one comes to my games anymore. It's no fun without all my family together, dressing up and celebrating at the cafe like the old days. Besides, Sam is the new coach, and gym teacher. He's my mom's ex boyfriend. I don't like him. I needed to take control." I said honestly, but I knew that's not really what he wanted to hear.
"I'm scared to be around you." He said suddenly calm.
I narrowed my eyes, totally surprised.
"What? Why?"
"I imprinted on you." He said and in my mind it was… Duh!
"So." I mouthed.
"So. I think you should make your own decisions."
"I already do." It's clear that I do, but not when it comes to dating.
"You do." He said glaring down at the ground but it wasn't a statement or a question.
"I'm sixteen." I said and his eyes were back on mine. Not sure what my age has to do with anything, but I don't want to rush him and from the fear in his eyes, he's feeling pressure.
I don't want to pressure him.
"Are you scared because of my family?" I ask.
"I just want you to have your own mind. I want to have my own mind. We never talked about this or the stages. Jacob managed to break his tie from Renesmee."
"You mean when his imprint lied, chose to create a family with another hybrid? Is when he was able to break-free?" I clarified.
"Yeah." He mumbled.
"I love you, but yeah… maybe we should go really slow, or break. You know, hang with other people and stuff." I said turning away from him. I couldn't tell him how I felt when he had that fear in his eyes. "You're like my best friend Embry, and I'm in my loner stage. I guess... So let's just um.. Wait." I said then turned back around to look him in the eyes.
"Really?" He said low with a bit of hope and I sighed.
No not really you egghead.
"Yeah, of course."
"Then you read my mind." He said smiling.
Ouch. Jeez, with him swinging from one emotion to the other so quickly I have no idea how to take this.
Should I scream and yell or should I just kick him in his crotch?
Knots twisted in my stomach and I felt like I was going to be sick.
"I..." was all I could whisper.
"I only ask because I got a job promotion and I'll be leaving for Seattle soon." He says fast.
My eyes grew in horror. "What?" I said both sadden, shocked and confused. "Seattle? You're leaving me?"
Embry eyes blinked twice and he shook his head. "I… I just… it's a really good job, Sarah. You're my imprint but this is my career."
This changes things.
"You can't go!" I said angrily. "This whole time you're screaming how something is up with me and you've been hiding the fact that you're moving. Are you kidding me?" I yelled.
"Sarah, I can't stop my life for you." He yelled.
I flinched. The hell he can. "Yeah you can." He snorted. "You said it, I am your imprint. You do what's best for me, you can't go to some stupid Seattle and forget me." I snapped. Embry shook his head, then turned to walk towards the front of his car. "Hello? Not finish talking." I yelled.
"Well I'm done listening. Get in the car, so I can take you home." He said, opening his door.
"No. I'm not getting in your stupid car. You want to leave, fine. Bye. Have fun in Seattle, hope an earthquake erupts and crush your impala." I said turning just in time to see my grandpa Billy and his wife Kelly dark gray Honda SUV drive up the dirt road.
"Sarah?" Embry called, but I ignored him.
I ran towards their car and was surprised that their daughter-my aunt- Keira was behind the wheel. "Hey, What's wrong?" She asked, as grandpa Billy was asleep in the backseat.
"Ah, nothing. Can you give me a ride home?" I asked, a bit out of breath.
Without glancing at Embry, Keira nodded. "Sure, come on."
Running to the passenger seat, Keira didn't ask any questions as she hurried to drive me home.