The Imprint or the Blood Singer

Chapter 7

 It was the fourth day Embry hadn't shown up for art class. Or eaten lunch with the guys. Or answered Maisie's texts. She wasn't sure what the problem was. When she went over, Ms. Call told her she was worried too but a visit from Maisie's father assured Ms. Call that it was just mono. However, she warned the young girl to get tested just in case Embry had passed it on.

Ms. Call was going to her book club but agreed that Maisie could come over to give Embry some soup. She was worried about her friend, boyfriend. Maisie used the spare key to let herself in. If Embry was as sick as the mono was making him out to be, she didn't want him to get up just to answer the door. Maisie set down the soup in the kitchen, confused when she heard laughter and noise. How loud did Embry have the television?

It wasn't the TV Maisie saw when she entered the living room. It was four shirtless men with short hair, laughing at something. One of them being Embry.

"So much for the mono. You roll with Sam Uley now? Think it's cool to ditch classes now?"

All of them looked up at the girl, clearly not expecting anyone to be there.

"Maisie?" Embry asked. He made a move to stand up but one of the guys, she recognized as Paul, grabbed his arm.

"And you have a tattoo?" Maisie looked at the arm that Paul grabbed.

"And I thought I was being a good girlfriend bringing you soup and everything. I knew I should've stayed away like Dad asked."

"I thought you said she was chill," Jared piped up.

Embry knew she was offended at that and Sam gave Jared a look to shut up.

"She is, let me talk to her."

Paul let go of Embry.

"Mai..." Embry stopped as he looked the girl in the eye.

The other boys grumbled.

"Of course everything works out in his favor," Paul muttered.

"Embry?"

He quickly snapped out of his thoughts and strolled over to her.

"I really was sick a couple days ago. I'll explain it soon, Sam's been helping me."

Maisie looked at Sam and back to Embry. Something made her feel safe with him. He must've been telling the truth, she could feel the increased body temperature. He was probably still fighting off whatever it was.

"It's like Edward," she whispered.

"Edward?"

At the mention of a Cullen name, Embry started to shake slightly. He had forgotten they were her friends. The thought of any of them near Maisie made him sick. He only calmed down when Sam abruptly called out his name. Embry centered himself back on her.

"He had some secrets," she tried to phrase it in a way to keep her friend's secret. "Weird things I had to accept on a strictly need-to-know basis... is this a need-to-know, Em?"

"Yeah, need-to-know. And I promise you'll know all soon, once I'm better." Embry kissed her on the cheek. "Go home now, Mai Mai."

"You're sick and you still kiss me? Your mother was right, I'm gonna need a mono test."

All the boys laughed. Embry went to kiss her other cheek, Maisie tried and failed to avoid him.

"Quil keeps asking about you. I think he likes you, Bells." Jacob was putting the finishing touches on the motorcycles.