the grudge , e. call

one; four months ago

....::::**•°✾°•**::::....

Four months ago, Maliah Ateara and Embry Call hooked up drunkenly in the bathroom of Sam Uley's party. This was pre Sam supposedly abusing steroids and before Maliah and Embry had even shared their feelings with each other. But alcohol statistically lowered inhibitions and in Maliah's case, it gave her the courage she needed to interrupt Embry's beer pong game and start making out with him.

One thing lead to another and Maliah's bra was found by Mrs. Uley hanging off the shower head in her son's bathroom. So naturally, Sam was grounded and couldn't see Leah for the foreseeable future. And to retaliate, Sam hand delivered Maliah's bra back to her house and put it in her mothers hands. "Your daughter left this at my house. You might want to get together with Tiffany Call about educating her son on safe sex. There were no condoms in the bathroom she left her bra in."

After Ilene Ateara had a talk with her daughter and grounded her, Embry snuck into her second story window.

"We had sex last night."

"Sam Uley just carried my bra for two miles to my house," she said. "If I didn't remember it before, I will certainly never forget it now."

Embry shifted on the balls of his feet. "So.... what does this mean for us?"

Maliah sat down on her bed and looked up at her best friend. "I think we both know what's next," she said. "I've liked you a really long time."

"Me too," he smiled. "Mal, I want you to be my girlfriend, so we can... do what we did last night, but sober. And so I can hold your hand at school. I think that could be pretty cool."

She scooted over and pat the mattress beside her for Embry to sit down. Embry's large hand-bigger than probably normal for a fifteen year old-cupped the side of her face and his lips crashed into hers. His head was clear and Maliah's lips were soft and nothing felt more right to him in that moment.

....::::**•°✾°•**::::....

One month ago, Tiffany Call had to go see her sister and niece up at the Makah Reservation and Embry was home alone. He called Maliah as soon as his mom's car was out of the driveway.

"Happy birthday, Maliah," he said in a singsong voice as soon as she picked up the phone. "Come over this weekend. My mom's up at the Makah Rez. I want to see you."

She sighed. "I don't think my mom will let me come over if your mom is out of town, though."

Embry laughed. "I didn't tell you to ask."

And then Maliah understood. Later that evening, she helped her mom make dinner. "Hey, Mama," Maliah started. "Leah called me earlier. She's still really struggling with her breakup and she wanted to know if I could come spend the night with her. You know, so she doesn't feel so alone."

Ilene agreed and had enough trust in her daughter and Leah Clearwater that she hadn't bothered to check her story. So Maliah, later that night, walked to Embry's house and knocked on his door. Her backpack was filled with pajamas, a change of clothes, and her toothbrush which left her notebooks and pencil case for school thrown on the floor of her bedroom.

She knocked on the door and when Embry let her in, the lights were dimmed and candles illuminated the darkened space. On the table there was wine glasses and plates of fancy Italian food that most likely came from one of the few restaurants in Forks. It was a very romantic scene.

They ate dinner and made conversation with each other; the girl that pissed Maliah off at school and how freshman Seth Clearwater had almost beat Embry for the open spot on the soccer team for the spring season. When they were finished with dinner, Maliah and Embry did the dishes together and put them away.

Then Embry kissed Maliah, passion leaving his lips and settling on hers until a trail of their clothes led them to the couch.

When they were finished, Embry grabbed the blanket off the back of the couch and wrapped the two of them up in it. He put on The Breakfast Club, which happened to be Maliah's favorite movie and kissed her forehead.

"I love you," he said at the end of the movie.

Maliah pressed a kiss to his chest and said, "I love you too."

He was the first person she said "I love you" to outside of her mom and brother. Maliah wasn't the kind of person who easily handed her trust to people, especially boys. But this was special.

Embry was special.

....::::**•°✾°•**::::....

ivy speaks!

bit of a short one but it's important for the plot, don't even worry about it. next chapters are longer and they serveeeeee