Just Another Day With My Idiots

My mom had dropped me off at Quil's house. She didn't have to since I had my own ride but I refused to get behind the wheel of that old thing. I had to beg her to drive me to La Push. Of course, she relented but dropped me off at Quil's because I have no idea why.

I mean, its not like I could tell her to drop me off at Embrys 'cause then I wouldn't hear the end of it when I get back home. She finally stopped teasing me when it came to my best friend since our fight last week. I didn't need the teasing to start again.

Anyway, I waved at my mom as she drove away and just awkwardly stood on the Ateara's driveway before realizing that Quil wasn't going to be coming outside anytime soon if I don't pick him up.

I knocked on the front door and Quil's mother was the one to answer it.

"Is Quil home?" I sure hoped he was. As efficient shadow-travelling was, I still hated it.

Mrs. Ateara nodded and went to call him.

"Hey," Quil greeted. "What are you doing here?"

"You could at least act like you're excited to see me." I pouted, hoping I could pull off that cute little puppy dog face that Andi finds so easy to do.

Quil made a face. "Why would I be excited to see you?"

I gasped, feigning hurt. "Because I'm your best friend and it's been weeks since I've seen you."

"So, you missed me." He smirked and I rolled my eyes at him.

"You're an idiot, Ateara." I started walking and Quil followed behind me.

"Hmm. I wonder what Em's gonna say about that. Did you miss him at all while you've been hanging with the pale faces?"

"It's kinda hard to miss someone when the last time you've seen him is the day before. And the day before that. And the day before that. And--" I shut my mouth before I could say anything else that would embarrass me any further.

"So you've been hanging out with Em without us?" I could already see the smirk forming on his face. It was a good thing I couldn't see it or else I would have tried to wipe it off his face with my fist.

"Shut up, Ateara," I muttered and the only response I got was a chuckle.

We made it to Embry's and Quil just couldn't stop talking about how cute a couple me and Embry would make. Fortunately, Embry and I were able to turn the tables around and make fun of his love life, or lack of it anyway.

We headed on over to Jake's house and knocked on the front door. It was Billy who answered it.

"Hey Billy," I greeted. "Is Jake here?"

"Yeah," Billy replied. "He's out in the garage, I think. A friend came to visit."

"Thanks, Billy."

We started for the little garage behind the house.

"Jacob?" I shouted.

So, Jake had a friend over. And I thought it would be just another day with my idiots. I mean, can you imagine all the stupid things we couls all be doing today? That'd be hard to do with some stranger hanging around with us.

"Jake? Are you there?"

"Yeah!" I heard Jake shout back.

There was a somewhat short silence as we strolled around the corner into the shed.

We stopped when we spotted the brunette with Jake. It was Bella Swan. What was she doing here? And why was she hanging out with Jake?

"Hey, guys," Jake greeted us.

"Hey, Jake," Quil said without taking his eyes off of the girl. Bella smiled at him in response. Quil winked at her. "Hi there."

I rolled my eyes, biting my tongue to stop myself from making some mean remark or something.

"Quil, Embry, Lee, this is my friend, Bella," Jacob introduced. Not that he needed to introduce her to me. I already knew who she was. I probably knew more about her than he did.

"Charlie's kid, right?" Quil asked, holding his hand out to her.

"That's right," she confirmed, shaking hands with him. I shook my head when I realized he was probably trying to flex his bicep to impress her. Embry probably had the same thought because he snorted.

"I'm Quil Ateara," he told her before releasing her hand.

"Nice to meet you, Quil."

Embry was next to introduce himself. "Hey. I'm Embry, Embry Call." He smiled shyly and waved with one hand.

"Nice to meet you, too." She turned to me and I could see the curiosity in her eyes.

I faked a smile, though I wasn't sure if anyone could tell that it was fake. "Ashley Robinson," I told her. "Everyone calls me Lee, but I prefer Ashley."

"You look familiar. Have we met?"

"Uh, no. I'm also from Forks so you've probably seen me around school or something."

"Oh, well it's nice meeting you."

"So what are you guys doing?" Quil asked.

"Bella and I are going to fix up these bikes," Jake informed us.

'Bikes' seemed to be the magic word because the boys immediately went to examine the bikes. I sighed, feeling out of place. I walked on over to where Bella was sitting in the Rabbit.

"You'll get used to it," I muttered. She looked up at me curiously.

"I mean with the guys. Once they start talking machines, they'll leave you out the conversation unless you can actually understand what they're saying."

"Oh," she mumbled.

A few minutes had passed when I heard her sigh and she slipped out of the Rabbit.

"We're boring you, aren't we?" Jake asked her.

"Naw. I just have to cook dinner for Charlie," she replied and I couldn't tell if she was lying or not.

"Oh . . . well, I'll finish taking these apart tonight tonight and figure out what more we'll need to get started rebuilding them. When do you want to work on them again?"

"Could I come back tomorrow?"

Quil nudged Embry's arm and they exchanged grins. Jake was so not going to hear the end of this.

"That would be great!" Jake exclaimed and I stopped myself from laughing at how excited he sounded.

"If you make a list, we can go shop for parts," Bella suggested. I don't think she caught onto his excitement.

"I'm still not sure I should let you pay for everything."

"No way. I'm bankrolling this party. You just have to supply the labor and expertise."

"That doesn't seem right."

"Jake, if I took these to a mechanic, how much would he charge me?" Bella pointed out.

Jake smiled. "Okay, you're getting a deal."

"Not to mention riding lessons," she added.

I groaned as soon as the words left her mouth. Quil was probably going to make some innuendo or something and-- wait. There's that grin. I shook my head as Quil whisperd something.

"That's it, get out," Jake muttered to the three of us. I was about to protest that I wasn't doing anything but Bella spoke before me.

"No, really, I have to go," she said as she headed for the door. "I'll see you tomorrow, Jacob."

When she disappeared through the door, chaos erupted in the room.

Jake chased Quil around the room as me and Embry watched. I think I remember a scene just like this. Except, it was on the beach and Jake was covered in pink paint instead of grease. Now, I'm just waiting for the moment when my mom calls Embry and I have to get home.

"If any of you set so much as one toe on my land tomorrow . . ." Jake muttered.

"Hey, I have done nothing wrong!" I protested.

"I know. You haven't done anything, yet."

I shrugged. He was right. I would probably start making fun of him soon. I could probably embarrass him in front of Bella and I probably wouldn't care.

The rest of the day went by and I was still hanging out with the guys. It had rained a while ago but it stopped after an hour. It was almost midnight now but I could make myself go home just yet.

"Hey, Lee, you need a ride home?" Embry asked me.

"Yeah. Why are you asking?"

He held up his phone and I figured my mom contacted him and told him I had to get home. I sighed, getting up.

"How are you gonna get home?" Embry asked me just before I could walk out of the door.

"Weren't you offering?"

"Who told you that?" he responded as he got up.

"Jerk," I muttered.

"But you love me anyway." Way to make me blush, idiot.

We waved good bye to the other two, who were still working on the bikes.

"You didn't seem to like Bella," Embry muttered, breaking the silence that shouldn't have existed.

"What do you mean?" I asked. Of course I didn't like Bella. She used to hang out with vampires. Anyone in their right mind would understand why I wasn't too trusting around her. But then again, they don't know that she used to hang out with vampires. 

Embry shrugged. He was about to speak when I slipped. I grabbed onto his arm for support but ended up bringing him down with me.

It was like everything was in slow motion. I closed my eyes as I braced myself for impact. A jolt of pain shot through my back as I hit the ground and I opened my eyes.

Time seemed to stop for a moment and I couldn't breathe as I stared into his eyes.

Wait! Why couldn't I breathe? Oh yeah. He was pretty much crushing me under his weight at the moment.

"Can't breathe," I tried to get out. "Get off of me, you stinkin' tuna fish." Why I said tuna fish, I have no idea. It was the first thing that popped into my head, and it's not even related to the situation I was in.

Embry shook his head, chuckling. I felt the weight being lifted and suddenly I could think straight again.

"Uh, I gotta get home," I muttered awkwardly.

Embry nodded and I followed him through the dark to his house.

I can't believe I was in that cliche moment where the girl slips and the guy somehow ends up on top of her. I mean, how does that even happen?

Alright. Who did that?, I wanted to yell at the sky. It wasn't something Zeus would do and Athena would think of something smarter. It was Hera, maybe, or Hermes. Being a demigod who has fought monsters for years, I was pretty sure I could keep my balance on wet grass or soil or whatever.

The ride to my house was pretty awkward, which I was so not used to. I mean, it's never awkward between me and Embry but damn that thing that happened earlier ruined that.

I was still stuck in my thoughts when Embry pulled up in front of the house. I didn't realize this until I felt Emry's hand on my shoulder.

"Uh, we're here," he muttered. I just nodded, muttering a thank you.

My hand found the door handle, and I was just about to open the door when Embry stopped me.

"Lee," I heard him say. I turned around to face him.

"What?"

He didn't say anything and I was getting impatient. I went to open the door again but was stopped when Embry leaned closer to me. I was so not expecting him to go ahead and kiss me right there, but he did.

I was too surprised to react and he must have taken that as a bad thing because he soon pulled away.

"Uh, sorry," I thought I heard him say.

I didn't know whhat I was supposed to do. I mean, it's not every day your best friend kisses you. Was there some sort of rule book for this sort of things or something because I was freaking out inside.

"Uh... I, uh, I gotta go," I said, opening the door and rushing into the house. My mom was in the living room and had started questioning me as soon as I shut the front door behind me. I ignored her and made my way up to my room, not really in the mood to hear her lecture about staying out late.

I made it into my room and my first instinct was to go and check if he was still there outside. He was. I waited a few more minutes until he drove away. I stayed there by the window for a few more seconds before collapsing on my bed.

How did my day start out with hanging with my friends to kissing my best friend?

Not that I actually kissed him back. Oh gods, my best friend just kissed me! What the Hades am I supposed to do now?!