"I Thank The Fates And All That Helped End My Single Life"

"Lee, there's something I have to tell you," Embry mumbled.

"What is it?" I watched him carefully -- in a non-creepy way -- as he tried to figure out what to say.

I tried being patient but then for some reason my mind wandered to the memory of what happened before he started avoiding me and the other guys. Hopefully I wasn't blushing. Not that Embry noticed because he was still trying to get words out.

"You're not confessing your love for me, aren't you?" I blurted out and he blinked. If I could just find a shadow so I can shadow-travel out of here...

"Uh... I, uh, what?"

"Oh gods, I'm embarrassing myself," I muttered.

"No, Lee, you're not," Embry said, stopping me from mentally banging my head on that tree that stood a few feet away from where we were. "I, uh, I kinda am. I, I've always liked you. I had a crush on you for a few years now."

Well, that didn't help the butterflies in my stomach go away. Gods, please tell me this isn't some cruel joke by Aphrodite. I swear, if Aphrodute is doing this just to mess with me...

I felt something fall on my head and I lifted my hand to find out what it was. My fingers touched something wet and I moved my hand away from my head.

I looked up just in time to see a white dove fly away. Since when were there doves in La Push?

Note to self: don't threaten a goddess. Especially if that goddess is the goddess of love and you're standing in front of the guy you like.

"Well, that was a mood-killer," Embry muttered, holding in his laughter.

"Oh shut up, Call."

"Why don't we go inside and get you cleaned up. There's still something else I have to tell you," he said. Or at least that's what I thought he said. I couldn't tell since tried to keep his mouth shut, still trying not to laugh. Yeah, he couldn't hold it in any longer and burst into laughter.

I glared at him. "It's not funny," I muttered.

"I'm sorry, Lee," he called after me as I stormed toward Emily's place. I ignored him as he called my name.

I walked into the house, instantly regretting doing so when everyone turned their attention to me.

"What happened to your head?" Paul asked, not even bothering to hide his grin. At least tge others had the decency not to laugh.

"Come on," Emily muttered, holding her hand out to me. "Let's get you cleaned up."

I took her hand just as Embry walked in. "C'mon, Lee," he called but I pretended I didn't hear him. "I'm sorry for laughing."

"Trouble in paradise?" Jared questioned jokingly and I rolled my eyes.

I followed Emily to the bathroom and got cleaned up. She gave me an extra shirt since mine had been ruined. I put on the shirt then headed back to the kitchen where everyone else was.

"Lee," Embry muttered. I looked away, showing no emotion. "Aww, c'mon. You're not mad, are you?"

"Well, if it wasn't obvious..."

"Shut up Paul."

"Make me, Call." This eventually led to a battle of who could come up with better insults. Paul was winning.

"Okay, is it always like this with you guys?" I chuckled.

"Lee! So you're not mad at me?"

"Please, I'm not that much of a drama queen, Em," I said, "Besides, if I were angry, well, I have a Celestial bronze knife and I've killed monsters with it before."

Embry winced and I laughed.

"So, Lee, you know how to fight with a knife? That's pretty hot," said Paul. He winked at me and a low growl came from Embry. Unfortunately for me, a blush crept its way to my cheeks. I mean, it's not every day some guy calls you hot. It's not the kind of compliment I wanted but, hey, beggars can't be choosers. Not that I'm begging for compliments.

"Don't call me Lee," I muttered. "Seriously, don't. We're not friends."

Embry scoffed. "And you'd rather be called Ashley?"

I shrugged. "'Lee' just seems like a name I want only the people closest to me to call me."

"Wow. Never thought you were the sentimental type," Paul muttered.

"Shut up Paul."

"And you even sound like Embry. No wonder you two are meant to be."

No, I was not blushing. I was not blushing. Why would I be blushing?

"Seriously, Paul, shut up," Embry hissed. "I haven't told her about that yet."

Okay, so now I was confused.

"Well, why haven't you?"

"I was going to but then..."

"The bird decided to take a dump on Ashley's head," Paul finished and I scowled.

"You guys do know that I'm right here, right?"

"Uh, I think Embry and Ashley have something to talk about. Alone," Sam muttered when no else said anything.

"I, uh, how about me and Lee go to the guest room and talk there?" Embry suggested. Emily nodded.

"Hey, no funny business, you two," Paul called as I followed Embry. Embry held up his hand, middle finger up, and I heard Paul laugh.

"I'm so sorry about Paul. He can be a jerk sometimes."

"Not as much a jerk as some guy who kisses you then avoids you afterwards," I mumbled absent-mindedly. Wait, what did I say?

Filter, Lee! You need a filter! Wait, can I use filter paper? Can you, like, stick it your brain so you can filter whatever is on your brain so you don't end up saying something stupid?

"I had a good reason for that," Embry mumbled. "I got home and I just Phased. Sam found me in the woods. I should probably apologize, though."

"Probably?"

"I should apologize," he corrected. "I might have avoided you even if I hadn't turned into a giant wolf."

I frowned. "Wasn't there something you had to tell me?" I asked after a while of silence.

"Oh, uh, remember when I told you that I've liked you for years?" he asked and I nodded. As if I could actually forget. Probably the happiest moment of my life if that damned bird didn't ruin the moment...

I mean, of course, I remember. It's not every day your beat friend tells you he has a crush on you.

"Wha-"

"We're meant to be," he blurted out.

"Yeah. Okay, that did not make you sound like you're obsessed or anything."

"Lee, I mean it," he said.

"So you are obsessed with me!" I accused jokingly. "You stalk me, don't you?"

Embry sighed. "Lee, I'm serious," he told me. "You remember the story of the third wife?"

"One of your ancestors stories again? Em, I'm not Quileute so I don't exactly know your stories by heart."

"Well, the story goes like this..."

And he told me the story of Taha Aki and his third wife. It didn't exactly make any sense to me. And that's probably why I was so confused when I realized Embry was looking at me expectantly.

"I like you, Em, but I'm not sacrificing my life for you. Ask me again when we're married or something." Again, I need to stop blurting out whatever pops into my head.

"That's not what I meant," he said and I was relieved when I realized he hadn't caught my second statement. "I mean, the third wife was Taha Aki's soulmate, his Imprint."

"Imprint?"

He nodded. "It's like when you see her, it's not gravity holding you down. It's her."

"And you're telling me this because?" I had a feeling I knew where this converaation was going but I could be wrong.

"I Imprinted. On you. You're my Imprint."

"So, we're soulmates?"

He nodded.

"Do you have anything else to say? Or ask?" I wondered and he shook his head. Well, this conversation wasn't going the way I planned. I mean, I was basically asking if he was going to ask me to be his girlfriend but I guess him being a little dense isn't really helping.

"Well, I guess I better head home. Mom's probably getting worried," I said and he shook his head.

"I basically told you that you're my life and you're not going to say anything about it?"

I shrugged. "I dunno. I've never had a boyfriend so I'm not sure what to do or say."

"Say you'll be my girlfriend?" he asked and I had to pinch myself to figure out that I wasn't dreaming and this was, in fact, real.

I didn't realize I was an Aphrodite girl deep down.

"Sure, I'll be your girlfriend."

And I thought getting a boyfriend would be nore exciting.

And I was proven wrong when Embry's lips touched mine and we were caught up in a battle of tongue and passion.

Nah. I'm kidding. The kiss was short and sweet, only lasting for maybe 10 seconds. Not that I was counting. Really, I wasn't counting.

And just before I could thank the Fates for deciding I needed a boyfriend, Embry spoke. "So, how are you so sure we'll get married?"

A/N:

Is it just me or is this chapter longer than my other chapters?? I dunno. I'm writing this on my phone so I'm not too sure.

Completely unrelated to the story but it's my school's Intrams or sports fest or whatever you wanna call it and I'm the senior's representative for scrabble (the teams are by year level). Just before my game vs the junior's representative, my friend (who was sitting on the other side of the room) yelled that if I win, I'll marry Connor Stoll (he's from PJO, co-counselor of the Hermes cabin, if you don't remember) Not sure if you guys know this but I kinda have a crush on him... xD Anyway, my friend just yelled that my future w/ Connor depends on if I win. We were in a room full of students playing board games. There's a teacher in the room. Worst part is, I lost the game.