CHAPTER 11...part 3

( Bewitched — Laufey )

   LET'S make something perfectly clear; Alma Uley was a taken woman. 

   She had met Toby Carson one fateful autumn day as she was making her way to physics class. It was her first week of university and Alma was (for lack of a better word) lost. Lacrosse practice would not happen for a couple of weeks, and everyone was far too early into the school year to even begin to make friendships. 

   Now, Alma would think she is quite good at reading directions – she has lived her entire life surrounded by trees and beaches; she was basically a pro explorer at this point. 

   So, there she was, brows pinched as she tried to garner what in the ever-living fuck anything on this map meant. If there was anything Alma Uley was, it was stubborn (and map-blind, but do not let her hear you say that). So, even if time was ticking for her to get to the science building in a timely manner, there was no way in hell Alma was going to ask for help – she was far to prideful.

   Her fatal flaw, her Achilles heel. And yes, maybe it would screw her over in the long run and sure, she would probably have a full-blown heart attack if her grades suffered for it – but that was a future Alma problem, so she persevered. 

   With her eyes glued to the map in her hands, she did not see the 6'1" (185.42) blond about to ram into her.

   It was terribly clique, like something ripped straight from a romance book as the collided (though this time around Alma was abundantly aware of how much being knocked over can hurt).

   "Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" Alma exclaimed, cheeks burning in embarrassment as she scurried for her papers. Mortified, didn't even begin to cover how she felt, she moved at an impossible rate, hoping to get away from the scene before anyone could even comprehend what had occurred. 

   The man merely smiled, waving her off in a laxed manner as he helps her collected the rest of the scattered papers. "I wasn't looking where I was going either, so we can call it even." It was then that she noticed his features, the man was quite handsome, tanned in a natural manner that made him look sun kissed. His eyes were an impossible shade of blue, like the oceans in Greece. 

   "I'm Toby – by the way." The man, Toby, said awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck.

   "Alma." she responded, a light blush coating her cheeks. 

   With her lips closed, Alma smiled, bobbing her head up and down as she started walking to where she hoped her next class was. 

   "Wait!" Toby exclaimed, jogging back up to her as Alma turned around – waiting for him to speak. "Would you want to get coffee sometime?" He was toying with his thumb, a boyish charm to his obvious nervousness.

   She lifted a brow, shyly smiling as she contemplated. "Sure," Alma nodded, her heart fluttering as Toby beamed. He moved to walk away, before Alma spoke again; "Don't you need my number?" She chuckled out, shaking her flip phone in the air. 

   "Right, sorry." He hurried out abashedly. He typed in his number, taking a photo for the contact as Alma did the same.

   "I'll see you later then, Toby." Alma softly spoke, hugging her binder and map closing to her chest as she smiled at him. 

   "See you later, Alma." Toby smiled, a spring in his step as he walked away.

   From then on, Toby and Alma were perfect. Their friends saw them as the standard for dating, acting like their love was the impossible standard. By all means, they should've been engaged by then (a little over 4 years they'd been dating), but both agreed that now wasn't the time to get hitched. It was easier to wait until they're lives became less crazy.

   Hell, Toby was currently travelling for his job, making sure to call Alma every night. And if he could call? Toby and Alma would still make sure to text. It was perfect, it was easy – and maybe easy is what Alma wanted.

   In fact, easy was far kinder than what fate dealt to her in La Push. Staying home would be like staying on a sinking ship – stupid and futile. Bad memories weighed down on her like a ton of bricks, never allowing her to move forward.

   Toby helped her forget. 

   He was the first to listen to her woes, never once trying to tell Alma that 'Sam's a good guy' or 'They still care about you' - instead assuring her the validity of her hurt. Something that Alma appreciated greatly. She spoke of her desire to leave the past where it lay, to move forward with the overbearing weight – and still, he remained at her side. 

   For the first time in what felt like years, Alma felt understood – she felt loved.

*** 

   Alma Uley loved strawberry shortcakes.

   She vividly remembered being all but six years old, clutching her Strawberry Shortcake doll as Sue Clearwater made and showed Alma the dolls namesake. Her eyes lit up when that first spoonful hit her taste buds. The sweetest summer strawberries burst and swirl together with cool, homemade whipped cream, the light fluff of the angel food cake so delectably sweet and so perfectly paired with the other components. 

   From then on, for every birthday, every event – Alma always requested Strawberry Shortcake. Sue loved making it for her, positively beaming whenever Alma would pull on her apron (one made of white lace and embroidered strawberries her mother made) and roll up her sleeves to help.

   Embry Call had never felt so stressed making one.

   Whenever they were younger, Alma wouldn't let Embry within three feet of the Shortcake – 'you've burnt toast Em,' she'd tut, flowing effortlessly around the workspace. Now he understood why. 

   After mixing up baking soda for baking powder and using a tablespoon instead of a teaspoon of salt, it was safe to say that Embry Call finally began to find validity in the fact that he truly could not be trusted in the kitchen.

   It was innocent enough, Alma Uley's birthday was closing in as the days of November counted down. The man was incredibly insistent that he could make it, nothing but perfection for his imprint – but as a sad lump of a cake starred back at him, Embry was ready to just call the best bakery all the way in Port Angeles. 

   "Oh my god, what...happened here." Tiffany Call looked wide-eyed at her son, now covered in flour from the tips of his hair to the ends of his toes. "I thought we agreed you're banned from using the kitchen?"

   "It was one time Ma." He muttered, rubbing the nape of his neck sheepishly. "Alley's birthday is this Friday and Mrs. Uley and Emily were planning a surprise party for her..."

   "And they needed you to bake because...?" 

   "I sorta...volunteered." At her raised brow he hurriedly explained: "I know I'm not exactly known for my baking skills," an understatement, "but I wanted to give her something special, you know?"

   Tiffany gave her son a soft, knowing, look – smiling at Embry's obvious lovestruck look. Hell, she'd seen it way back when, when Embry and Alma remained attached at the hip. Even if she knew why Embry stopped speaking to her, Tiffany couldn't help the disappointment when Alma stopped showing up at the Call residence. 

   "Well first you're gonna have to throw out whatever that is you've made and help me clean up the mess so I can show you how to make something edible."

   He blushed then, looking down and laughing as his mom patted his cheek.

   "There ain't no way you're gonna win that girl with...this."

   His eyes widened further - if at all possible - as Tiffany gave him a look that screamed 'don't you try to lie to me'.

   "I won't badger you, but I will say this; girls like her don't just settle, you've got to earn her Embry and it won't be easy."

   And that was just what he planned to do; Embry Call was gonna win back Alma Uley.

KOREY SPEAKS !

It's been a minute but i'm back y'all! I took a wee break but I think I should be back, especially for the fall season! This one was a bit of a filler, just to build up to what's gonna go down next chapter *hint**hint*. I wanted to show a bit of Toby and Alma and how they met since Toby hasn't really been involved much. And how sweet was it that Embry was trying (and failing) to make Alma's favorite cake!

What do y'all think the next chapter is gonna entail? How did y'all enjoy this one?

Anywhore, vote and comment my loves!!