Embry'sPOV

"Good morning," I yawn, reaching across to pop open the passenger door for Winnie.

"Um, thanks for the ride again." Winnie says, ducking out of the rain to climb in. I almost grin at her when she settles into the seat, happy to see her even this early in the morning. I don't even care how she gets my interior damp with her mossy green raincoat. After years of not speaking to my imprint, it's nice to have her right next to me. She fits nicely into the seat, like it was meant for her to ride in it this entire time. My eyes flick to the rearview mirror to check there's not a stupid grin on my face, my hand rising up to cover my mouth and straighten out the lines of my face just in case. Thank god I'm too tired from patrol, or I might have stretched across to take her up in my arms and give her a peck good morning. If I did, Winnie would probably walk to work instead, right after trying to sucker punch me.

"Not a problem." I shrug off, cranking up the heat for her so she'll dry off.

It's early. Too damn early. The sun is not even out yet, the sky is still a dim blue and the street lights are still on. I was out all night patrolling with Jacob, running from coast to boarder all across the res with him till the sky began to lighten, then I came straight here to pick up Winnie. I struggle to keep my eyes open behind the wheel, my head feeling heavy with my drooping eyelids, which makes Winnie eye me worriedly. Shifting right back, then jumping into my van meant I'm not dressed for the weather again, only in cut offs and I don't have shoes to push the pedals with. The rain is too icy today instead of humid, which I know makes me look odder.

"Did you sleep okay?" I ask, genuinely concerned if she got enough rest for work, or if she just tossed and turn all night over her car.

"Ugh, yeah. I did." Winnie responds after a beat. We've barely held a conversation between us, never really saying much than a meal order till now. "Did you?"

"Err, I worked late last night." I say in-between another yawn. I can see Winnie pause, her brown eyes narrowing in thought, and I can already see the internal clock ticking in her mind.

"You worked late last night?" She asks, her face deepening into a frown when I nod.

"After you gave me a ride? Wasn't that around midnight?" Crap, she's putting two and two together. I stall a moment, but nod anyway.

"It's six now." She checks the dash. "Did you even sleep?" I wince, not admitting to anything. She finally turns to me, giving me her full dismayed attention.

"You should have said something. Did I make you late for work?" Winnie presses in quiet disbelief.

"No, don't worry about it." I shake my head, hands going clammy against the wheel. "You were stuck on the side of the road at one AM. I wasn't going to just leave you out there."

"And now it's six in the morning. You could be sleeping right now, not driving me all over town." Winnie sits up in the seat, and I almost grin at how she's worried about me. If we were closer, if the night at the beach hadn't happened, I'd tease her about it. But all things I would say and want to say sit at the base of my throat, just clogging up my wind pipe with would haves and could haves.

"It's not a problem, Winnie. It's just an extra fifteen minute drive." I assure her, "I have all day to sleep. Just let me take you to work." She doesn't relax back into the seat, but doesn't bring it up again. Winnie keeps doing sidelong looks at me, her eyes flicking worriedly between the road then back to me. I clamp down on my jaw to keep myself from laughing, a chuckle or two nearly slipping through whenever she gives me big concerned eyes.

I couldn't tell anymore if I was driving slow because I'm so tired or because I get to enjoy her company the longer we drive. When the van does pulls up to the Lodge I try not to let it bother me.

I miss her already and she's not even inside yet.

I could tell her right now. I could just blurt out she's my imprint, maybe try to convince Winnie before she runs for it and sends the men with the butterfly nets after me. Sighing, I softly throw my head back, I already talked myself out of it.

Will there be a good time to tell Winnie? The way she's rushing to unbuckle her seatbelt tells me there never will be.

"Seriously, thanks again." Winnie is almost out the door.

"Yeah," I nod.

"Hey, Winnie," I call after her, stopping her before she opens the door. She hesitates but allows me an extra moment.

"Thanks for the other day, you know, for not kicking me out." I never did thank her for defending me. She was inclined to at least demand me to put a jacket on or something. She didn't have to go head to head with a load of truckers over me.

"Don't mention it." I can't tell if she means that literally or not.

"See ya at two." I add, earning a curt nod from her.

Winnie's POV

"Hi, welcome to the Lodge, what can I—oh." I freeze up. "Hey?"

"Hey." Embry nudges his chin at me. He's in his usual spot at the counter, but during the lunch rush on a Wednesday. It's not Sunday. In addition to the fact that I just saw him this morning. He's different, I almost didn't realize it was him. His usual cutoffs are gone, instead he's fully dressed in a gray t-shirt, a denim and sherpa jacket, black jeans and some sneakers.

"Is it two already?" I ask, one hand reaching behind me to untie my apron, the other to glance at the watch mounted on the wall. I was sure just five minutes ago it was barely 12:30.

"No." He shrugs.

"Oh, okay." A long moment drags on. Then another. Then two more.

"Menu?" Embry holds out his hand.

"Right, right." I blink, trying to shake the image of Embry of out my head. It's not Sunday. I'm always ready for him on Sundays, but he stunned me, completely threw me off. With one hand I give him a menu, the other I pass him a mug then stop myself before I grab the four packets of sugar.

"Coffee?"

"No, I took a nap after I dropped you off." How is this more awkward than when we weren't saying a word to each other? I stall, completely dazed how he's here. Is he going to start coming by whenever I'm working? The thought makes my skin go hot.

"Water is fine?" I ask, suddenly all my years of waitressing just vanishing.

"Sure." He shrugs. It almost bothers me how he's so causal and fine about this. I hate owing him. I almost sigh in relief when he orders. It's just as gargantuan as his breakfast orders; three burgers, each double patted with onion rings, fries, and every slice of cheese we have, plus with a side of cheese fries.

"Did you eat?" Embry asks when I bring him his food.

"Not yet." I answer, feeling nerves buzz in my stomach from just his one question. He nods solemnly, running out of conversation topics too. There's not that many topics for 'We knew each other in high school, but didn't talk then, don't talk now.' Or the category of 'Traumatic high school memories'. Asking how are you sometimes feels too demanding. Since Embry is helping me out, I pen him the same crap I say to customers I try to avoid. "enjoy your meal."

It was just as awkward when I went back to ask if he wants dessert and he said he'd eat a whole banana cream pie. We still have to go to the garage together. This is going to be a long, long, long day.

When Embry made a left for La Push instead of the right for Forks when he pulled out of the Lodge that's when I knew my day was only going to get worse rather than better.

"I thought we were going to a mechanic's garage." I didn't want to sound nervous when Embry pulls up to a small red house instead of a shop, but I can hear the unease in my voice. God, please don't let this be a prank or something.

"We are." He nods, "My buddy's garage just happens to be attached to his house. It's out back." Embry explains, putting his car in park behind a chevy truck and a Volkswagen Rabbit. I hesitate for a beat too long, staying in the van for a moment till Embry holds opens the passenger door open for me. A small trickle of rain drums against his broad shoulders and arms, but he doesn't seem to mind while I slide out.

The mud swallows my weight, making each step forward more difficult than it is, yet Embry crosses the yard in a few strides, despite being three times my size. Waiting for me at the door, he looks back at me over his shoulder. I hate how he makes me feel whenever he looks at me. He does so much of it.

"We're here, Jacob," Embry calls into the garage, bending at the waist to make it through the half open garage door. I nearly hit my head on the door when Embry announces who his friend is. Jacob as in Jacob Black. I feel moronic. It's a small town where everybody knows everybody. Of course it's Jacob. There's not that many locals who own a shop in La Push. I should have known Embry was talking about Jacob Black.

The hot sensation on my skin is less of a blush and more of a rush of nerves. My hands don't know what to do with themselves, struggling between crossing my arms or buttoning my coat. Seeing me fidget with my raincoat, Embry gives me a confused look, his mouth already forming a 'What's wrong?' Before he understands why I'm so anxious.

Jacob Black has seen me completely naked.

Half of La Push did in freshman year. It's why I avoid the beach, why I work in Forks, why I did everything but sleep off the res.

"Winnie," Embry looks mad with himself, and I understand with full certainty he didn't mean to put me in a tight spot. Embry thought he was just bringing me over to one of his buddies. Now he knows I would have probably have said no if I knew sooner. "I didn't realize..."

"Hey Embry, man this buggie—" Jacob Black finally comes in from the house, only to immediately stop. His eyes widen when he sees me, despite trying to play it off as best as he can.

"Right—hello, hi." Just as nice as high school, Jacob takes it upon himself to cross the garage just to greet me. He offers me his hand for a fumbly handshake, both of us preferring to stare down at our knuckles rather than each other. "It's nice to meet—no—I mean, you look wel—" Jacob stumbles through his greeting, having no idea how to start a conversation with me.

I avoided him just as much as Embry. I avoided all of Embry's friends during high school.

"I'm Embry's mechanic friend—Jacob." He finally settles on something neutral, giving my hand one final low shake, before scratching the back of his neck. Jacob's eyes go everywhere but mind; to Embry's eyes, the ceiling, our shoes before finally running up the length of me to meet my eyes.

"Yeah... we knew each other in high school." We did. Jacob and I have known each other as Embry and I and everyone else on the res—since diapers. Every crevice and line of my body itches horribly, as if I'm fifteen and drunk on that sandy beach all over again, I have to remind myself I'm still not on that beach.

I don't talk to a lot of locals for this exact reason.

"What about the buggie, Jacob." Embry breaks off Jacob's and I's awkwardness.

"Right, right, the buggie." Jacob scratches the back of his head, his black hair just as short as Embry's. As if he's a teenager again, Jacob goes red. A heated, steamy hue that reaches his ears. It makes me wish the ground would swallow me whole. "I didn't know the Buggie belonged to you, Winifred. Embry just said he helped some local who got stuck."

"Yeah, I'm the local." I mutter, still sucking at this whole small talk thing. I've always been okay at it at the Lodge, all the way in Forks. Talking in La Push is significantly harder. "I go by Winnie." I add, not making the situation any smoother.

"So how's things been, Winnie?" Jacob struggles, unintentionally directing his question at Embry rather than me as they exchange a look. Embry's jaw is in his hands, looking as miserable as I feel right now. I always feel exposed walking around the res already. Incidents like this just prove no one has forgotten what I look like butt naked. I almost want to tell them the last four years have been awful, complete crap, and how I thought being known as the naked girl all throughout high school was just a rough patch, but even four years later I'm still La Push's residential nude.

"How's my car?" For all our sake's I change the subject, seeing the relief on both their faces.

"It's savable." Jacob admits, with a honest hood natured grin that reminds me of the polite kid from high school. "Your car is from the late sixties, Winnie. Sooner or later you're going to have to replace all of it."

"Or get something newer?" I ask lowly, fondly running my hand over the hood.

"In the long run? Yeah. I don't know where you got your hands on this car, but you're in procession of a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle punch buggy. You could sell it, and make a pretty decent chunk of money. More than enough to buy a new car if you sell it to a collector." Jacob explains.

It's not mine to sell. I couldn't make money off a car I never paid for.

"So, how long would option one take?" I ask Jacob.

"About five days if I order a part. Maybe two weeks if I rebuild it."

"Two weeks?" My voice sounds hollow.

"It's the cheaper option. I'd need time to go to shops, maybe the scrap yard to look for parts." Jacob explains.

"How much cheaper are we talking?" I question, already wincing.

"Err," Jacob shoots Embry a look, who gives him a warning look back. "Much cheaper. I'll tell you the total after the labor."

"Okay, Okay," I pinch the space between my eyes, feeling a few inches shorter. Maybe I could just live off ice cubes, crackers and cereal for the next month. This is probably going to cost all my tips. "Thank you, Jacob."

"Sure thing, anything for Embry's imp—" Jacob doesn't get to finish before Embry's hand goes flying up to jab Jacob's arm.

"Embry's what?" I didn't miss that. I can feel my face paling, my hand rising up to my mouth while a flash of Embry kissing me back at that party flares up in my mind. What? Do they still call me what everyone else called me in highschool?

"...Embry's friend." Jacob sheepishly says, his brown eyes darting back to Embry who looks just as uncomfortable.

We're not friends.

Something in me gives, completely crumbles, then the guilt hits. I've treated Embry like the plague even while he drives me everywhere, finds me a mechanic, generously tips me for years, always there to help me when no one else does, and I've given him the coldest of shoulders.

I'm not Embry's friend. I'm his problem.

"Here, Winnie," Embry hands me the keys. "Would you mind heating my van? I'll be there in a second. Jacob just wants to show me something in the house real quick."

"Yeah, sure,"

Embry's POV

"That was your imprint!" Jacob catches me by the arm, looking like he wants to give me a congratulatory hug. "You brought your imprint here!"

"She needed some help, and you're the best mechanic on the res." I shrug.

"After all these years, did you two finally makeup? Did you tell her?" I should have debriefed Jacob on the circumstances. He's happy for me, like about to ask if he's the best man at the wedding happy for me. But I can't blame him. Imprinting is soulmate business.

"No, Winnie still hates my guts." I sigh, rubbing my hands over my face. The whole situation is headache inducing, even all these years later.

"Shit," Jacob blinks, his face falling. "That's a massive grudge." Such a big grudge I'm not even sure if Winnie ever even felt the pull when I imprinted on her. Kim still talks about when Jared imprinted on her. She says it was the most beautiful moment of her life, and Jared just looked over his shoulder at her in their sophomore English class. Emily talked about when Sam imprinted on her in her wedding vows. Yet, Winnie has barely looked in my direction since.

"Yeah," I groan, leaning against the wall for support. "So keep it quiet. I don't know if she's sticking around." The only reason Winnie is even attempting small talk is because she thinks she owes me a favor. This is nothing. I would do anything for her.

"She's your imprint. She's your other half."

"Jacob, she's my everything." I breathe. "This is killing me."

"I don't know how you've stayed away from her for this long." Jacob claps his hand on my shoulder, but nothing will make me feel better except Winnie.

"I don't know either." I almost choke, feeling more tired than I have ever felt in my life. More drained than any patrol or battle with the leeches. "There never was a right time."

"This could be the right time. This is the first she's spoken to you since freshman year. It's probably now or never, Embry."

"How am I suppose to even tell her? You saw how standoffish she is with me. She hates me."

"She doesn't hate you. She's your imprint." Jacob waves off. "Maybe start with sorry. See how things go from there." I nod along to Jacob's advice, but I don't feel any better.

"Hey, Jacob. Don't charge Winnie for the work. I'll pay for it." I state.

"She's your imprint. She's part of the pack. It's on the house."

"I'm not always this rude. I promise I'm not." Winnie says the moment I climb into the van. Halfway into the van, half still in the rain, I give her a confused face. At first I thought she was mad. She sits on the edge of her seat, a frown deep in the lines of her face. Then I notice her eyes pleading with me, her cheeks going pink. "I swear, I don't have an attitude problem."

"I know you don't, Winnie." She doesn't look like she believes me when I say it. The hurt look on her face makes me want to duck inside and hold her till she feels better. Instead, I climb in and turn the van on, trying to act natural.

"I give you so much shit." She says under her breath. "Even though you always save me."

"Not always." I mumble, my hands clutching the steering wheel. That video of her is still being passed around on the res. We're both in it, but she's the one still being called the "The La Push Sure Thing." while everyone still congratulates me for getting to first base with her after she was exposed on the beach. It's not fair.

"I should make this up to you. You've been helping me out all day." Winnie offers sheepishly. "At least let me pay you for gas."

"I'm not a taxi, don't pay me. You don't owe me." I almost roll my eyes. "And I know you're not a mean person. I know better than anyone you're not. So, please let me take you home, Winnie."

"Okay," She sighs, sinking into the seat with a guilty look on her face.