End of Time (Embry Call)

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

"Oh Embry!"  Emily began. "Victoria stopped by to um... say hi." She awkwardly directed her head towards the girl on the chair. As soon as she finished her sentence, the other girl jumped out of her chair and ran towards our direction.

"Emmy!" Victoria squealed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. I stumbled to the side and felt my heart weigh heavy. "I've missed you so much." I could hear my heartbeat pound violently against my chest. I didn't like the sight of this and I had grown extremely jealous.

"Tori– Victoria." Embry sternly spoke as he pried the girl off him. It was definitely his ex girlfriend. "What are you doing here."

Just when I️ figured things were spick and span between Embry and I️; my world came crashing down. His ex girlfriend was here just when he and I️ began to get cozy. Just when I felt his lips against me. When we finally allowed ourselves to get closer to each other. Here was the beautiful blond ex girlfriend back to try and woo him away. Embry had a certain look of distaste on his face. He tried his best not to grab his ex by the arm as he asked to speak to her outside. Seth, Alexis, and Emily had shielded me away from them. They pushed me further into the kitchen the second the other two made their way out.

I️ happened to look over my shoulder the second his ex had. My eyes met with her piercing green ones. She had a devilish smirk on her face when she saw me. Tory. She looked extremely familiar. I️ probably had a class with her and didn't even realize it. Alexis shot me a small frown, which silently asked if I️ was okay. I️ had to shake it off, I️ was after all in the coming of others... Others who threw me the same pensive looks.

"Emily!" I️ threw my arms up with as much effort as I️ could. "It's so great to finally meet you!" We embraced. "The guys are always telling me you feed them a lot!" She chuckled and thanked me for taking them off her hands some days.

"This is Sam, my fiancé." A man Emily's age appeared. He had an authoritative look on his face, he clearly was an advisor to these guys. Now I️ realized, they all had the same tattoo on their shoulder. I'd be sure to ask about that another time. I️ tried my best to ignore what Embry and his ex discussed outside. It was none of my business after all. If he said he had feelings for me, I'd believe him over anything. What did he gain by lying? Absolutely nothing. After the formalities we're out of the way, we gathered around the table. We all made conversations between one another. Emily was very motherly and very sweet as well. I️ knew we'd get along. "Are you girls coming to the bonfire tonight?" Emily asked, that's when I️ noticed it was near 6:30 in the evening. Embry has been out here for almost an hour. Alexis and I️ looked at each other simultaneously. She had wide eyes that practically begged to go.

"Kim will be there." Jared quipped before he continued to eat. A bonfire didn't sound like a bad idea. I'd have to shower and change with my sister though.

"And you'll get to hear a bunch of tribal stories!" Seth included excitedly. He had a sense of wonder in his eyes. Alexis looked equally as excited as Seth. I️ told them it wouldn't be a bad idea but Alexis and I️ would have to freshen up.

"No way, come into the water with us after!" Quil offered. Night swimming? In Washington? Absolutely not. It would be freezing!

"You're insane." It was Alexis who spoke up. "It's going to be so cold."

"You have me to keep you warm." Seth mumbled, but he hadn't realized Alexis heard. Her face turned bright red before she tried to hide it.

"We promise it's not that bad at night." Jacob tried to reason with us. "Just give it a try."

"Besides we're starting it soon." Paul slapped a hand on my shoulder. I had a brief solemn look on my face. Paul seemed to notice it and pull me to the side. "Are you okay?" We were several feet away in the living room. Everyone was preoccupied with each other. I mentioned the length of Embry's absence. "Don't even worry about. Tori's got nothing on you." Paul snickered. "The only thing she has is a fake chest." I huffed either way. I was still very upset even though I knew he tried to lighten up the mood. "He feels strongly about you. I wouldn't worry." For some reason his words comforted me. I gave him a hug. An awkward cough separated us. It was Embry. He had a glare fixated on Paul. "Don't even start." He snarled barely enough for me to hear, let alone Embry. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. Needless to say, he backed off completely and went towards the living room. I

Embry didn't need to say anything to me. He motioned his head outside. I followed suit without another word. My heart thumped against my chest. This was it. He was going to tell me he wanted to get back with his ex. We walked in silence for a few moments. The sound of the leaves and branches crunching beneath our feet as we walked towards a nearby creek filled our ears. The sounds of some birds chirping and bugs singing also filled the silence between us.

"I'm sorry." Were the first words that came out of his mouth. What was there to apologize for? He truly didn't do anything wrong. It was no lie I was extremely taken aback by her sudden appearance, I didn't think I would ever have to confront her. Let alone on a day I was being introduced to someone who was somewhat of a mother figure to these guys I've grown so close to. My eyes trailed back from the direction we came from. I envied Alexis at this point. The love she blindly had for Seth was never going to be challenged the way I had with Embry.

Love.

The word was foreign to me.

I couldn't deny it any longer. The feelings I had for him were growing each moment we spent together. Each second we were apart it grew stronger. The sight of his ex and the flare of jealousy in my chest only proved it more. I loved the man before me.

Embry Call.

The Quilette boy who stole my heart.

"Tris—" He had a nervous look on his face. As if he didn't know how to mend things. There was nothing to mend though. We had nothing. We were just friends.

"It's okay Embry, we're just friends." I shrugged nonchalantly, I masked my true feelings. I didn't want him to know. I couldn't bare the fact that he quite possibly still loved her. I couldn't lose him altogether. It was then did I finally realize what Alexis had meant. To be in the company of the person she cared for so deeply, yet not being able to have all of them. I would make that sacrifice for him. If it meant he was in my life, I'd take it. "I understand if you want to get back together with her–" Embry scoffed at that reply.

"Tristan, if you think I'd ever want to get back with her you're greatly mistaken. If you don't realize how strongly I feel for you then–" That struck a chord inside me. Any normal person would be overjoyed to hear this. Though I read between the lines; he felt what I did... then why aren't we together?

"Why aren't we together then? Why haven't you made a move?" I snapped at him. There were many things I was feeling at the moment. The jealously lingered alongside anger, frustration, and confusion. "Why haven't you tried to –"

"It's not that easy!" Embry raised his voice towards me the way I had with him. That shut my mouth. Obviously there was more to it than meets the eye.

Before I could utter another word, he grabbed my face in his hands and crashed his lips against mine. I couldn't help but stifle a moan when it occurred. I had yearned for the feel of him against me for so long. A fire burned within my body when I finally touched him. His lips were silk... soft to the touch but his kiss held fire, passion. I followed his movements as I pulled his body closer to mine. The distance between us felt like miles. I couldn't be apart from him any longer. I wanted Embry. All of him. His bare chest pressed up against me. It was then did I realize I was still in my bikini top. I finally had him. Before his tongue slid into my mouth we were interrupted.

My cell phone trilled and I begrudgingly pulled away from him. I held the phone to my ear to hear who was on the other line. The person on the other line spoke...

Just like that my world had shattered.