Defining Normal | EMBRY CALL

Kindness

It's strange, Embry thinks, the way time seems to slow down when he's with Lex. Time at Kim's home seems to stretch out like an unfurling carpet, enveloping them in an aura of comfort and peacefulness. Being with Kim seems to have killed Lex's nerves, and Embry's stunned by their easy conversation and playful rapport. He resolves to spend more time learning about Lex, really listening to her, determined to pick up on whatever cue he's clearly missed. Lex is different with Embry, more reserved, but is noticeably more comfortable after their conversation at the coffee shop. It bothered him to pretend that he wasn't sure about dating her - shit, he'd take her out in a heartbeat if she'd let him - but Jared and Sam have thoroughly drilled it into his head that he needs to take things slow. So, in the hopes of avoiding taunts from the rest of the pack, who have been following along through the trail of memories he leaves behind on patrol, he reluctantly eases off.

Kim, being quite possibly the best imprint alive - aside from Lex, of course - is surprisingly adept in getting the two of them together. He wasn't expecting Lex to want to stay too long, but they're roped into countless rounds of board games that pit the two of them against Kim and Jared. Embry and Jared are hopelessly competitive, loudly taunting and teasing each other, going as far as wrestling at one point. Lex can't help but laugh - they're idiots, but in a stupid, adorable way, a way that gets her heart racing when she looks too closely at Embry. Watching him fight playfully with Jared, seeing that mischievous spark in his eye, noticing the way he smirks when he leans in to whisper conspiratorially in her ear - her heart is ready to leap out of her skin, a wonderfully new and confusing feeling. There's something about Embry, some kind of strange magnetism that draws her in close. Even though she agreed to be his friend, she can't help but let her mind drift towards other possibilities; possibilities that are most definitely out of the question. Damn Kim, getting under her skin and taking over her brain. Curse that girl talk.

Regardless, Lex feels a little more relaxed in his presence. Aside from the fact that she would strongly consider jumping his bones anytime, anywhere, she feels like she could actually sit beside him now and not instantly burn up with nervousness. She puts this newfound comfort down to his gentleness, his measured movements that show his cautiousness. He's always there, always close to her, but can somehow read her mind, giving her that slightest distance she needs. His movements towards her always come with a pause, as if waiting for her approval, and she respects that about him. He is patient. That in itself is trustworthy to Lex, and she can actually see herself getting close to Embry, getting to know him like she's coming to know Kim. Lex resolves to spend more time with the man - if Kim, easily the most dependable person she knows, appreciates his company, then surely she can give him a shot. Kim is yet to lead her astray, and until then, Lex will trust her.

The following week drags on like the world's most tiresome marathon. And, God, is Lex exhausted - three late-night shifts at the gas station in a row followed by college is an absolute killer. She gears up for her Thursday shift like she's going to war, packing a formidable supply of snacks and energy drinks into her ratty old backpack and setting off across town. The four-mile walk to work gives her plenty of time to think, her mind jumping from topic to topic in rapid succession. Embry crosses her mind frequently - she's barely seen him all week, only in fleeting glances here and there - and she briefly contemplates texting him. Lex shakes her head as if trying to dislodge the thought from her brain. No, she can't do that - that'll definitely come off too friendly, just like she's sure her constant, thinly-veiled searches of campus for him are. Instead, she settles for sending Kim a brief text, knowing that she'll surely be up late into the night. Excellent entertainment for a long, uneventful shift.

Her arduous walk to work takes her through a succession of spooky, dimly-lit Forks streets. She'd been steadily saving since she'd moved, but working at the gas station really made her long for a car - shit, anything would be fine. Between rent and tuition and all sorts of bills, Lex was stuck walking for the foreseeable future, but she was sure the adrenaline made her late-night walks even speedier. She made it to work in excellent time, noticing that it was absolutely dead - not a customer in sight, as usual. Lex truly could not understand how the business was profitable - she saw maybe one customer per hour on her busiest nights - but money was money, and she knew better than to ask too many questions. Her father taught her that.