Embry Call

"Call! Take out the trash!" My annoying, fat, son of a gun boss shouted out.

"Okay!" I shouted back.

I've only been working here for a couple of weeks and I already feel like chopping my boss's head off!

Don't get me wrong, this job's fun! I get to stand behind a counter and load cash and flirt with the cute girls that come in for coffee – and occasionally I wait tables (which sucks but not when I'm waiting for cute girls).

I can't complain if I'm totally honest. Being a barista doesn't pay much back in Washington but the Starbucks here, wowza! And the tips aren't so shabby too.

After tossing the trash in the dumpster, I went back to the backdoor but halted when I heard the sound of cat-meowing from the trash bags beside me and a large cult of stray cats emerged, yelping at me.

I growled.

I pulled out the eggrolls I stole from the kitchen and threw them into the other direction where I watched the cats charge and fight for.

I smirked, shaking my head.

"I hate cats." I muttered, slipping my headsets into my ears before heading back into the store.

As I made my way back into the store, I stood at my original spot behind the cashier counter.

"Yo! Em! Table 5 at 9 o'clock!" Jose Martinez, probably my best fellow barista in this rabbit hole of a Starbucks, whistled at me.

I followed his gaze to see a strikingly beautiful blonde staring at the menu.

Oh I knew those perfect, long blonde locks and emerald green eyes anywhere!

I gnawed my bottom lip and glanced back at Jose.

"Dibs!" I told him, gesturing to her.

He just laughed. "We'll see about that! Imma just stand here and watch this trainwreck." He said, refilling the muffin barrel.

"Yeah, while you go off on all those muffins, I'll be marking my territory!" I warned him.

Jerika, a cute twenty-five year old girl who was basically just one of the guys roared in laughter, glancing back at Jose as she carried her tray of latte and coffee with bagels and donuts.

Jose mocked her.

I sauntered confidently up to the girl with my suave, smooth walk and charm. I had that je ne sais quoi – or whatever fancy French term non-French people say nowadays – in my step because I felt confident in this encounter even though I'm pretty sure she'll try to bite off my head but that only intensifies my attraction to her.

"Good morning, malady. How may I take your order?" I greeted huskily, with my best charming flair as I cocked my eyebrow at her and grinned –my best Elvis Presley impression – as I flipped my pad and pulled my pen out of my apron.

You'd think no man in the world looks hot in an apron but me? I make it work my friends!

She lifted her head up to notice me.

"Oh good god! No! No!" She half-whispered to herself as our eyes met. "You're literally everywhere! I can't! You work here? I can't even…I just can't even…I can't even!" She shook her head in disbelief, covering her face in frustration.

I furrowed my eyebrows, skimming my eyes around the room.

"I'm sorry, do I know you missy?" I asked, still keeping with my Elvis Presley charade with the cocked eyebrow, smugy grin and everything. All I needed was the suit and I was all set!

Dammit! I cannot wait for Halloween day in a couple of weeks.

Jennifer narrowed her eyes at me before shooting up from her seat.

"You know! I came here to get coffee from a professional and I'm not spending plus-minus ten dollars on Starbucks from someone unprofessional." She groaned.

"So I take it you're still deciding what to order?" I asked.

Her eyes widened and she groaned as she stomped away from me.

"Is it something I said?" I frowned before shrugging my shoulders and turning around to see Jose and Jerika giggling at me in the corner.

The boss noticed this encounter between Jennifer and I and I could hear his groan of scrutiny along with eyes of disapproval darted towards me. We currently had eyes on us. He gestured at me to fix it or else I'll be fired –from what I interpreted.

I sighed.

This is definitely screwing up my plan!

I ran over to stop Jennifer from leaving.

"Hey! I'm sorry okay! Let me be professional and offer you the best coffee on the menu. Medium Americano." I told her.

She looked at me before rolling her eyes and walking up to the counter desk. I sighed as I noticed the eyes focused on us.

"Nothing to see here folks. Everything's all right. You can get back to your coffees, milkshakes, bagels, donuts, cupcakes, egg sandwiches, cinnamon rolls, eggrolls, etcetera." I waved before making my way to the cashier counter where I faced Jennifer who I noticed tried to avoid my gaze.

Man. She seemed really pissed?

Was my Elvis Presley impression too much? Nah! Was it a turn off? Of course not. But maybe it was to her.

"I'll just have a Pumpkin Spice Latte with no foam and a biscotti to go." She said.

I punched in the order.

"Uh…that'll be $5.50." I told her.

She pulled out her wallet and pulled out five dollars. She placed it on the counter before rummaging through her bag in search for the fifty cents I suppose and when she was in luck, she handed me to me.

Hmm. She was pretty precise!

"Thank you." I said.

After a minute of awkward and agonizing silence, her latte came along with two biscotti's. I rolled my eyes. Okay! I don't think she's that pissed she'd want another biscotti, she craved blood for Pete's sake –I wonder who this Pete everyone refers to.

"Here you go." I said, handing her order to her.

When she went to take it, our fingers touched for a brief second but that brief second might as well been forever as it ignited a jolt of electricity I never thought I'd feel.

She didn't seem to feel it as she just walked away without even a breath of a 'thank you'.

I sighed. "Well, you're welcome." I hummed, tossing the cloth over my shoulder and leaning against the counter.

"Call! What was that?" My fat boss came up to me.

"Sorry! It was just…Sorry! It won't happen again." I told him.

He gave me a warning look.

Pfft! Like that's gonna make me piss my pants!

Dude, if you turn into a large sea horse or something, yeah sure, I'll probably twinkle a little.

"It better not." He warned me before walking away.

I could hear Jose's laugh in the background.

"Yeah dude, you can have her!" He laughed as he walked past me, not without ruffling my hair and mimicking the situation with Jerika who laughed along.

I shook my head as I stared down at the counter.

I didn't even notice the bedazzled Hello Kitty wallet placed against the cash box. I frowned.

She likes Hello Kitty?

I grinned as I took it.

Oh this should be good.

… …

Jennifer

After getting coffee from Starbucks –where I had a horrible, unnecessary encounter with that annoying specimen of a being – I decided to take a walk around the Oakland Woods Park.

I took a seat on one of the benches facing the pathway and large field with the small lake acres away.

I ditched the pep rally at the high school today because I felt it was pointless trying to blend in with self-absorbed, naïve, immature humans and pretend to be one of those self-absorbed, naïve, immature humans.

I always asked myself why I started high school. Trying to fit in was partially the reason but the main reason was I just wanted to know what it was like to be human but now I just realized what a waste of unnecessary time that was. I couldn't see why Renesmee, someone like me, found all these gullible humans endearing but I guess I understood why since she came from such a modernized coven of vampires.

I always found Renesmee – I wonder what language that was because I've never heard of such – or Nessie, as everyone called her, to be pretty peculiar to me and I was confused as to why I was so envious of her.

Yes! I was envious of an inexperienced hybrid who probably hasn't seen the world in a heightened focal point as I have.

However, it's not hard to see why I felt this way. I don't particularly like the girl, but I see why everyone might love her. She's a breath of fresh air. She draws anyone in without even trying –which is the messed up part of this whole thing, she doesn't try at all.

I'm mostly envious of the type of environment she's exposed to. She's always been protected and nurtured by a huge family like the Cullens. She never had to be on the run. I don't see her ever being in a sticky situation where she was all on her own and had no one out there to help her.

Not like what I endured in the past.

She's loved by many, both the supernatural and human world.

And most importantly, she's got a man who loves her so much that he'd literally defend anything that came her way and die with the consequences so that she may survive. I've never seen that kind of love in my life. I thought it was just young love but that's the love I see lasting for a lifetime.

And then there's my despicable brother. He's got his whole mind, soul and body wrapped around her little finger and the sad part is she's too preoccupied to even notice, or even care. He was wasting his time but at least he had something to keep him here.

Thinking about this got me thinking, everyone seems to be busy and settled in their own lives –however screwed up they may seem.

Where does that leave me?

I don't have anything to show for in my life.

I don't have anything I can truly call my own in this town.

So why do I belong here?

What am I doing here?

I felt warm tears stinging my eye socket as I watched kids running around, couples holding hands and spooning as they walked on by, parents and children feasting together in their little picnic circles, all happy.

I gulped in a heavy breath as I dug into my handbag and pulled out my phone.

I began dialing the number and placed the screen against my ear.

About two seconds later, the call was answered.

"Hello?" I heard the familiar strong, thick yet feminine voice I knew all too well.

"Maysun…uh, it's Jennifer." I said, laughing at my introduction. "Of course you knew that because you probably saw my Caller ID!"

"Young one," My second oldest sister began, in her thick Algerian accent. "What is the matter? You sound under the weather?"

You mean sad?

"Oh! It's nothing." I said with a chuckle but I knew it was far from convincing. "Okay! I'm lying. I'm not okay, sister. I know you and I don't usually talk about our emotions, I mean we never do but I feel a lot closer to you than Serena, or Nahuel right now." I cried.

"Jennie. What is going on?"

I put my focus onto the ground, sniffling slightly.

"I don't know what's wrong with me. I thought I would be fine but I lied. I thought a change of scenery would be nice but I was wrong. I don't belong here. It's just too different here, I mean I spent almost half of my childhood in this country yet I feel like an outcast. Nobody likes me."

"Isn't that what your talent's for, no?"

"But it's not the same. I do not want to cheat my way into making people like me, not anymore that is."

"Why are you trying so hard to please these mere humans? It's not like they'll be around for much longer."

I chuckled. "Yeah well, that's precisely why I don't feel okay being here. This vampire family that Nahuel helped, they're nice and all but they're too modernized which makes them blend it. I mean, I try to blend in as much as I can but I do not seek to keep up this charade forever. I thought being around brother Nahuel would be enjoyable but as far as I'm concerned, he's too busy in trying to woo Nessie to even notice my existence."

"Nessie? Who may this be?" She asked in Algerian.

"Oh! Sorry! That's Renesmee, the young hybrid Nahuel and his aunt helped save eight years ago."

"Renesmee? I have never heard a language with such a name." She told me in her native tongue again.

I chuckled. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

"You do not like her, yes?" Maysun asked me.

I think my silence answered her question.

"Just hang in there, young one." She tried to comfort me. "Remember. You be strong. Don't give in to your emotions."

I nodded my head.

Yeah! It's easier said than done. Maysun was practically the toughest out of all three of us –I excluded our oldest sister because she pretty much disowned us after the whole fiasco of our father being killed by a vampire cult. Serena was always Joham's favorite child and when she found out that Nahuel practically set up our father's doom and the fact that Maysun and I knew about it because we also wanted the multiplying of offspring to end, she just vanished from our lives.

"It is a good thing you called me because I have some news." She began. "Serena approached me after eight years of no notice, to inform me that she believes Joham is alive."

My heart immediately sank as she said that.

"W-what?" I stammered. "Joham's alive?"

"That is what Serena believes. She didn't give me the minutiae. She just said that she's off to search for him." She told me in Algerian.

I replayed what she said to me and couldn't hide my shock.

I wiped my almost dry tears away.

"Do you believe it?"

"I do not know, young one." She replied.

I could feel my nerves kicking in. The thought or even mention of my father was never pleasant to hear.

"I have to go, young sister." Maysun informed me.

"But do not tell Nahuel about this. We do not want him to freak out about this." She said in Algerian.

I nodded. "Okay…Um, before you go, May." I told her. "I…I miss you."

That's the first time I've ever said that to her in the past twenty years I knew her.

"I miss you too, Jennifer." She told me before the line went off.

God! I needed to find something to drown my sorrows.

Maybe a corndog and a tub of ice-cream from that ice-cream truck will help?

I dug into my purse for my wallet only to realize it was nowhere in sight.

My eyes widened.

"What?" I gasped as rummaged through everything I had but finding no luck.

I must have left it at Starbucks.

I was never going to get it back.

Man! Whoever got ahold of that was sure going to be lucky.

Or not since all I have in that purse was ten dollars and loose change. I never kept my money in my wallet. Well whoever has it was ten dollars richer!

I sighed as I shoved my phone back into my bag before slinging purse onto my shoulder and standing up.

As I go to walk away, I heard the rustling of leaves coming from the bushes behind me. I darted my head to see a figure hiding unimpressively behind it.

"Who's there?"

Silence.

"I can hear you!" I warned.

Finally, after a couple of contemplated seconds, the figure emerged and I was disappointed to see it was just that Embry character.

"Oh you are becoming a pain, vermin!" I yelled. "You are everywhere I go. Would you stop –?"

"You left your wallet on the counter and I thought I'd return it to you before someone decided to steal it." He said with a weak chuckle.

I didn't want to ask how long he was hiding out there because I didn't want to know. He probably heard the entire conversation –but I'm hoping for a latter of him possibly not paying attention to it.

"You followed me here?" I snarled.

"Yeah, well! Your scent's pretty easy to catch up to. I actually stopped for some gas and some candy at the gas station for ten minutes before looking for you. Did anyone tell you, you smell like orchids?"

"No! Not really." I replied.

He attempted a sly smile but it came out as a slight grimace as he played around with my half-bedazzled wallet.

"Oh! Here!" He said, handing it to me.

I tried my very best to ignore the familiar jolt of electricity I felt when our skins touched earlier today.

"You can check if you'd like! Your ten dollars and loose change are still in there." He said with a genuine smile. "No need to go on a killing spree."

I narrowed my eyes at him.

He groaned, banging his fist against his skull.

"Right. Sensitive subject, sorry!" He joked.

He was referring to my brother running on a killing spree a couple of months ago. I guess the Cullens filled him in on certain things. Or maybe it's Jacob? Whatever! I don't really care.

I scoffed.

He looked at me up and down and his small smile fell.

"Were you crying?" He asked me.

I frowned.

Why…What is even the point of that question? Why does he even bother asking? He doesn't care!

"No!" I answered defensively.

He nodded. "Oh! Well. It's too bad…" He laughed. "Because I really think you look beautiful when you cry."

He said it with a smile.

And not just any smile he would normally flash me.

It wasn't cheeky or flirtatious at all, it was genuinely…well genuine!

It was nice.

"Thank you?" I replied uncertain, not quite knowing what to say to that.

This is the second time he caught me all emotional. The first at Nessie's party and now here in the park.

He definitely has horrible timing.

"No problem." He said to me.

Okay! Bye!

"Where are you off to?" He asked me.

"That's really none of your business."

But really I was just going to grab some ice-cream and slump in my crappy, yet affordable apartment that was fifteen miles from here.

"Okay. No need to get all feisty on me! I'm just like any other person you know just trying to offer you an innocent ride home before the rain drenches that pretty little head of yours." He told me with a goofy look.

I pressed my lips together, trying hard to stifle my laugh.

He may put on a 'mucho, player-type' front but he had an odd dorky side to him which I found hilarious.

Ugh! Jennifer. Don't entertain it!

But I really did need a ride home.

"Okay!"

He smiled. "Yes! She finally agrees!" He exclaimed out as I walked up to him.

"Don't push it." I warned him as he and I walked over to his old Bobcat truck.

"Okay! I'll chill out." He said, raising his hands in the air and opened his driver door. "So I guess you'll oppose if I opened the door for you?"

I nodded. "Yeah, pretty much."

"Well I guess I'll just throw warning you that that door has trouble opening in the air." He said.

I frowned as I tried opening the passenger door but found troubles doing so – even with all my hybrid might.

I groaned.

"Wait!" I called as he went to go into his seat.

He laughed as he excitedly ran to my side.

"Having troubles, huh there sweetie?" He teased with a laugh as he did some trick with the edge of the door and suddenly opening it as if it was super easy.

"I mean, I'm sorry?" He shrugged as he gestured for me to into in a 'gentleman' way.

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, whatever!" I said, hopping into his truck.

I heard him laugh as he jumped into the drivers' seat beside me and winked at me. I rolled my eyes as he started the car and drove off.

I eyed his metal-cologne smelling truck. I noticed his dashboard was cluttered with papers and multiple soccer, baseball and football players' bubbleheads. I laughed tapping Alex Rodriguez's head.

"You have dolls in your truck?"

"Hey! Don't judge the man-cave!" He warned. "And they're not dolls. They're figurine bubbleheads."

"Yeah, that's just a fancier term for dolls." I laughed.

He shook his head. "You're one to talk, Barbie wannabe."

I gasped, punching his arm.

He winced. "Ow! When did Barbie start lifting weights?" He joked.

I rolled my eyes. "You're an asshole, you do know that right?"

"Great! 'Coz I love ass holes." He stated.

I snickered, shaking my head at his idiocy.

This was going to be a long ride.

A/N: The concept of Nahuel and his relation to his three sisters always intrigued me so I am pretty interested in hopping onto that story. Throughout the story, I'll probably expand their story –focusing on their past and their present.