cold -embry call-

four

I wake up in the morning to three missed calls from Embry along with seven texts. He gave up around midnight. I sigh, ignoring them and walking downstairs. "Hey, I'm headed to a movie with Jake and Mike, wanna come along?" She asks. I shrug, shaking my head. "Please, it'll be less awkward with you there." I sigh, nodding, motioning upstairs. "Go get dressed." I walk back down to find her waiting at the door. "Let's go." At the theater, I stand beside Jake, his arm around my shoulders. Jake and I have gotten pretty close, we text a ton too, he relates with Embry leaving.

"So, Face Punch, huh?" He asks, trying to start a conversation with Mike to be civil. "You like action movies?" "Not really." Mike answers. Jake chuckles slightly. "I heard it sucks. Bad." "You know, are you two even old enough to see this movie? I mean, you know, without, like, adult supervision?" I growl at Mike, glaring at him. "Right, yeah. Well, she's buying our tickets for us." Jake says, scoffing slightly. "Buying it, okay." Mike nods. Bella comes over, tickets in hand. "Jessica bailed, and Angela got the stomach flu, so Eric's taking care of her. It's just us four." Jake smiles. "Great."

"Great." Mike scoffs. I sit on the opposite side of Jake as he sits beside Bella. I look over at Mike to see how he's doing to find him quite literally green. Soon enough he speeds out and we're all following. I walk into the girl's bathroom to check my phone, more missed calls from Embry and one from an unknown number. I start to walk out when I hear Mike. "What's up with your sister? She's so quiet." "She's dealing with something." Jake snaps. "She's weird is what she is." Mike scoffs. "Mike." Bella scolds as I step out, my eyes on the floor. Jake drops his arm around me again.

"I need to go home," Mike says, his eyes slightly guilty as he looks at me. He says he was feeling sick before the movie, defending himself against Jake's hard glare. I don't pay attention until I need to push Jake back, pushing him away from Mike. Bella and I both practically have to hold Jake back from beating Mike up. I realize quickly that his temperature went up like Embry's did when I made him upset. Jake isn't gonna stay around for long. He's gonna be another Embry. Not too long after Jake storms out, Bella and I are in the truck, riding home silently.

We pull up to the house to find an unknown car outside. I walk in first, almost running into someone, my stomach drops when I realize it's Embry. I push past him, walking up the stairs. He follows. I close my door in his face, sliding my back down it. "Come on, Andria, open up." "You left me." My voice cracks from not speaking in so long. He breathes out a breath of relief upon hearing my voice. "I had to. You don't understand. Sam doesn't even know I'm here. I had to talk to you." I go silent again, what would it matter if Sam knew. "Alexandria, come on, open the door."

"Leave her alone, Embry. You did enough damage." Bella states. "What's that supposed to mean?" He accuses. "You got her attached then left. You can't just do that to someone, especially not Alex." "I didn't mean to." She scoffs. "You can't not mean to leave someone. Embry, you got my sister attached to you, as soon as she started to open up, and make progress, you left. She's literally shut down." Bella snaps. I've never heard her this protective over me, it's nice to know someone is there. Charlie comes up the stairs next. "I think it best if you leave." He tells Embry. Embry scoffs.

"Andria, please." He taps on the door when I don't answer he says, "I'm leaving." Walking quickly down the stairs, slamming the front door behind him. I sigh, pulling my knees to my chest as my phone buzzes with a message. I'm sorry is all it says. I feel bad for ignoring Embry when he came over, he was trying but I just couldn't. I lie down, curling in on myself. Bella's right, I was making progress and then he left. I sigh, standing up, and walking out. "Alex, hey, have you eaten?" Charlie asks. I shake my head, sitting at the table. "Let me get you something." He settles on cereal.

He hands me a bowl and a spoon, setting the fruit loops beside me. "I won't even sit down here with you, so you can eat." "Please," I whisper, needing someone to be with me. His eyes widen slightly and he nods, sitting beside me. "What's so special about this Embry guy?" He asks. "I don't know," I mumble, looking down as I eat. "Um, can I ask why you don't call me dad?" "We haven't been close enough. I feel like I don't deserve to call you dad." I shrug, my stomach churning when I look at the almost empty bowl. "You always deserve to call me dad." He states with furrowed brows. "Who let you think that?" I shrug, sighing.