Cue the Epic Training Montage

This is that part in the movies where we have our cliche training montage that showcases our training progress. One would probably imagine some funny moments and maybe a few scenes of the trainer shaking his head because the trainees did something dumb or tries to be funny or whatever. Then comes the improvements.

Yeah, it doesn't work out like that in reality. Full offense, it was as boring as the Fields of Asphodel. Well, watching them play-fight was. My cousins and I were itching to pull out the dangerous weapons and attempt to cut each other's heads off. Without actually doing so, of course.

Because that would be bad.

"Hey, I have a question!" announced Natty as she raised her hand. I'm sure the monsters had heard her--super-hearing, duh--but they seemed to like ignoring her. She'd been jumping up and down trying to get their attention for some time now.

"Yes, Natty?" It was Sam who had acknowledged her. Jasper, the vampire in charge of this whole training thing, didn't seem to have the same patience but nonetheless he didn't kill Natty's annoying butt on the spot. The vamps and the wolves looked at my cousin attentively.

"What exactly are you expecting us to do? We're bored out of our minds right now," said my cousin. "I mean, we're awesome but that awesomeness come from practice. We're not doing that right now."

Most heads turned to Sam, but Sam snuck a glance at Embry. I groaned at the implication.

"Sam says it's best if you guys just watch the battle and let the younger ones know if any newborns head to the rez."

Natty and Andi both made a sound of protest. The violent thrill-seekers in them were more than annoyed at this order. I, for one, had had enough.

"Em!" I called. I saw Embry's furry head look over at me and I knew I had his attention. Jumping down from the tree, I landed in a pretty graceful and well-practiced roll and hopped up to my feet. I probably looked cool and would have made a comment out loud, but I had other things in mind. "Why do I get the feeling this has something to do with you?"

A rhetorical question since I already knew the answer but Eddie just had to confirm, meaning Embry was owning up to this. I sighed and pulled out my dagger from its sheath.

"So, why don't we come to a deal. I battle one of you guys, vamp or wolf," I gestured over to both groups, "I win, we train and fight with you guys. I lose, then we follow that stupid plan of yours."

I didn't get an answer. Instead, Embry zipped off into the trees. I cursed out loud, in english, and ran after him. No one followed after me and I was kinda thankful. I would rather not have an audience for when Em and I fight for real.

I found Em just as soon as he had shifted back into the human Embry. Meaning, he was in the middle of putting on a pair of shorts. Despite my frustration, I screamed in that exaggerated oh-my-eyes-are-burning scream.

Bad idea.

Embry turned around, still in the process of pulling up the shorts, and I got a good glimpse of . . . him.

Haha. Hahahaha. Yeah, now was not the time to turn into a blushing mess. My train of thought . . . Well, it was best not to follow it.

Embry screamed as well, and somehow fell to the ground. I took a step to help him up but then decided it was better to stay away. At least until he finally had his shorts on.

"What are you doing here?" Embry asked, a slight hint of panic and embarrassment in his voice.

I crossed my arms, still gripping my dagger. "I was angry, and you just ran out."

"Because I need to talk to you, face-to-face," he explained. He sighed. "You better pray we're out of range or else Cullen would be laughing his head off right now."

I just grinned. "Yeah, let's not talk about that right now." Seriously, let's not. I had things to say and I wasn't interested in forgetting what they were. It was serious matter to be discussed. I couldn't let myself be distracted.

"Okay then. So, I'll start," Embry said. He mirrored me, crossing his arms in front of him. "What are you trying to do?

"What am I trying to do?" I just looked at him, bewildered that he would even ask that. "If it weren't obvious already, I guess I have to spell it out for you. I'm trying to help you guys."

"Well, you're not. It's too dangerous." He crossed his arms. "This isn't the time to fight about this. I just don't want you getting hurt. You can't fight with us."

"You're forgetting who here actually has experience fighting a bunch of monsters." I rolled my eyes.

"I know you can fight." His eyes softened, and I hated how I couldn't stay angry at him. Not when I could finally see the hidden fear in his eyes. It was subtle, and I wanted to be angry. But I wasn't.

"Can we please not fight about this? I just... Let me protect you."

I blinked, his words slowly processing in my mind.

"You keep going on about how you can protect yourself, and I don't doubt that. You're scary when you want to be, Lee, and I know you're as badass as you say you are. But I can't... I don't want you getting hurt. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if...."

"You really are an idiot, Embry Call," I whispered before I leaned forward. He wasn't expecting it when I kissed him.

He was surprised at first, but he relaxed and kissed me back. It was him who deepened the kiss, and I didn't stop him. I don't know who pulled who closer, but I was fairly aware that we were pressed up against each other with no space to fit even the smallest grain of salt.

I broke away first, leaning onto his chest for a second before looking up at him.

"I see your point," I started and his groan cut me off.

"I'm not changing your mind, am I?"

I shook my head. "Nope."

"We better head back now," he said with a sigh. "And don't think I'm letting you out of my sight once we're on the battlefield."

I rolled my eyes. "You'll get yourself killed that way."

"So you better protect me, then."

"Gladly." I started my trek back to the field, stopping short to turn around and say, "Oh, and I was serious about that deal earlier. I know you've agreed already, but I wanna go against one of them just once before we start training."

"It's not like I can stop you, Lee."

I grinned as I continued on my way back to the field.

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a/n:

It's been way too long and no one is probably even reading this anymore. If you are, then I salute you for being so patient with me. No promises on the next update, though. Just an apology bc this book isn't really high up on my priorities these days.

Confession: I was going to make this chapter end with an innuendo or a comment about what she walked in on but it just sounded awkward bc i'm awkward so that didn't happen. So.... yeah....