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.
After a cursory conversation with her coworker, she settled in at the register for a long night ahead. It took Lex an hour, tops, to complete her short list of closing tasks, hastened by her consistent lack of clientele. A little cleaning here or there, if she felt inspired enough, and then the rest of the night was hers to wile away in between customers. Typically she worked on college stuff - her worries from her first week were soon proved correct, and the coursework seemed to pile up faster than she could complete it. Even Kim was struggling to keep her head above water, and Lex knew that didn't bode well for her own chances of success. Nevertheless, Lex dutifully continued her nightly study, even roaming the store at times to ward off sleep. As comfortable as she was with her work, she'd never chance a nap at the register. At least, not yet.
It took until 3 AM for her first customer to pull into the lot. Thankfully she wasn't expected to offer assistance outside - safety concerns aside, she could not handle the chill - and so she abandoned her books to wait for the man to finish filling up. As the tall figure approached the store, she couldn't help but raise her eyebrows in disbelief. Quil? And sure enough, as he ducked to pass through the door frame, she was certain.
"Quil!" Lex called, sounding far too excited for this time of night. Blame it on the caffeine and total lack of human interaction, she thought, feeling a little satisfied by his clear surprise.
"Lex? Since when do you work here?" Quil scrunched his face in thought, squinting at her. Oh right, 3 AM. Not really socialising hours.
"A few months, actually. I normally only do nights though, so I don't see too many people while I'm here. You're up late," she commented, glancing across at his furrowed eyebrows and tense expression. Weird.
"Nights? All the time? Dude," he muttered, saying something indistinguishable. "How are you getting here? Do you live close?"
Lex was caught entirely off-guard by his concern. She'd met Quil what, twice?, and here he was, openly worrying about her safety. It was both touching and strange, but she didn't really have too many other friendships that she could compare it to. Regardless, it was kind of nice to have someone worried about her. Sometimes she thought that if she didn't come home, Liz and Maya might not notice until rent was due. She really needed better friends.
"Uh, my place is a bit of a walk from here. It's fine. I need the exercise," she joked, trying to lighten the mood. Quil's frown only deepened.
"Lex, you can't seriously be walking all around town at night. It's not safe. Shit, you're the size of a pop-stick, how the hell are you going to fight someone off?" Quil rubbed his hand across his face in frustration. "God, just send me your schedule. I'm not letting you walk here at night. That's bullshit."
Lex wasn't sure if her eyebrows could move any higher on her forehead. She hesitated for a moment before taking his outstretched phone to type in her number, quietly agreeing to text him some details. Quil was acting weird with a capital W, but surely it was just some odd middle-of-the-night mood. Why else would a near-stranger care enough to offer her indefinite lifts? Quil took his phone back, nodding in approval at her compliance.
"What time do you finish?" he asked, pacified.
Lex glanced at the clock for a moment. "Six," she said, guzzling another sip of her drink. "It's fine though, it'll be a lot lighter by the time I get home."
Quil jerked his head in a rough shake. "Hell no. I'll get one of the guys to pick you up. And Lex, I swear to God, if you leave without a lift I will be pissed."
One look at his expression cemented that he was deadly serious. The thought of arguing briefly crossed her mind, but in all honesty, she'd love a lift. There was only so many layers of clothing she could bundle on to try and stave off the cold, but Lex didn't think she owned a sufficient quantity of coats for that. So, in an act of total compliance, she agreed with a quiet thank you, processing his fuel payment and sending him off into the darkness with a wave. She didn't understand Quil's motivations, not like she seemed to understand Kim, and it kind of left her uneasy. Why did he care? Really, why did any of them care about her? None of the people she knew back in Beaver would stick their necks out for a stranger as they did, and they did it with no expectation of thanks. It's not like Lex could possibly have anything that they wanted, either - she was as average as could be, with nothing that alluring or exciting about her that could draw someone in. Why?
Her ruminations were interrupted by her phone buzzing. An unsaved number. Schedule, please. Quil was nothing if not persistent, a trait he seemingly shared with his large array of friends. Lex dutifully replied with a picture of her shifts, inwardly cringing at the thought of him running around all week after her. She knew that arguing was futile, but it still bothered a tiny sliver of her that hated dependence. Lex was resolute in saving for a car, but this was a definite motivation to clean up her act and purchase something, anything, that could get her away from walking. Lex sighed. Goodbye, motivation, she thought, opening a tab in her browser to peruse her options. Completing her coursework was truly a pipe dream.
Running the night shift with a bunch of pups was pretty close to hell, Embry thought, ignoring the protests of the cubs that shared his mind. Two nights in a row of roaming the Rez really diminished his capacity for kindness, especially since he'd rather be tucked up in a warm bed, dreaming of his gorgeous imprint.
Ugh, gross, Collin thought. Also, not a cub.
Dude, you're sixteen. You can't even drive alone yet. You're basically a kid. Mind your business.
God, you're so grumpy.
For God's sake David, if I wanted your opinion, I'd ask. Just run the Eastern boundary for the love of God.
Finally, merciful silence. Nights on patrol had turned into daydreaming about Lex while running, but thinking of her was a fully enmeshed part of his routine now. Wake up, think about whether she slept well. Drive to college, wonder how she's getting there today. Sit in class, imagine her adorable pouty face as she thinks hard about something. Rinse and repeat. Lex lived rent-free in his head and he'd come to relish it - Embry'd been hesitant about imprinting at first, but with every day that passed he'd found more and more reasons to adore her. He couldn't deny that he was quickly hurtling into sappy piece-of-shit territory, the kind of man he'd loved to mock when he first phased, but loving Lex was far too enjoyable for him to stop now.
Embry felt the rippling of the pack mind as another wolf phased in. Quil.
Dude, I just saw Lex. She's fucking working, alone, and she says she walks there! In the dark! Jesus Christ, man, I just wanted to take her home. I didn't know how strong the pack pull would be without you there.
Embry frantically scans Quil's memories, taking in her tiny figure hunched up behind the counter. Her eyes were rimmed with dark, deep circles that seemed to make her pale skin glow an eerie shade of white. Lex looked haggard, frazzled, and he couldn't help but wince as he felt the sharp tug of the bond, his inner need to protect her rising to the surface.
It's okay, man. I've got her sending me her work schedule so we can protect her. She finishes at six today. I told her to wait for someone to come get her. You good to grab her after hand-over?
Embry replies in the affirmative. Sam's coming in early today, a nice 5:30 AM start, leaving him with plenty of time to grab his truck and swing by the gas station. He feels like the world's worst protector. Fuck, he's had nearly a fortnight to learn her routine, figure out how to protect her, and she's been alone at night this whole time? The thought of her in danger causes pain in his stomach so strong it makes him retch, his belly cramping in a futile effort to evacuate the pain. He knows it'll settle when he sees her, but nearly three hours of Lex Lex Lex worry is a long time. Quil phases out shortly after, reassuring him for a few brief moments before the adrenaline settles and the fatigue creeps back in. All too soon, Embry is left alone with his thoughts - and the distant hum of his younger pack-mates - and a slow count-down of when he can be with her.
In an effort to distract himself, he returns to thinking about Quil's project car idea. Sure, she'd resist the thought of accepting a gift, but he knows that he can't let her roam alone at night, and he doesn't want to be the kind of guy to stop her from doing something entirely. At least with a car, something safe and reliable, she'd be able to get to work safely, and the guys could include the station on the patrol route until she finished for the night. It wasn't his preferred option - he'd much prefer her tucked in nice and safe in his bed - but it would have to do for the time being.
Nice going, Casanova. Make sure you mention the part about her in your bed when you bring up the car.
Collin, you piece of shit, get your ass over here so I can kick it.
Lex's eyes are on the clock for what feels like an eternity, watching the minutes tick by at a snail's pace. She normally isn't so eager to leave - sure, she'd love a good nap - but knowing that there'll be someone waiting for her, hoping that it's Embry, is more than enough to get her keyed up. She has her things packed and ready so that she can bolt in an instant, craving nothing more than a toasty warm car ride in the comfort of a friend. Slowly but surely the hours pass and her relief arrives. Lex darts from the gas station in an instant, hesitating at the absence of a familiar face. She promised Quil that she'd wait for a ride, and she's been counting the seconds as they passed, but what if no one was coming? She resolves to wait for ten minutes before trudging through the sleet covered streets. Her coworker's giving her a strange look - probably because she's jumping around the lot in an effort to stay warm - but she tries to ignore him, thinking only about the cold and Embry and various attempts at distracting herself from Embry thoughts.
And sure enough, in a moment that makes her wonder why she ever doubted him, Embry's car pulls into the lot. Lex diverts her eyes as he approaches - what is she supposed to do, wave? - before finally giving in and jogging over to his car. As per usual, he leans across to swing the door open, greeting her with a tired yet still luminescent smile.
"Hey, stranger. Long time no see," he teases, clearly enjoying her embarrassment.
Lex rolls her eyes as she buckles her belt. "Hey, I'm not the one skipping class. You should work on that, mister." Delightfully, Embry's the one to blush this time, clearly not expecting to be teased back.
"Ah, busy week with work. College doesn't really jive with my sleep schedule." It's a lame excuse, but he doesn't really want to get into the specifics of patrol and how freaking exhausting it gets.
"Damn, we're really going to have to graduate without you. Shame," she taunts, and he can't help but picture her in one of those cheesy graduation gowns. Now, if that isn't motivation to actually go to class, he doesn't know what is.
"So, now that you've twisted the knife nice and deep, I guess you'd better give me directions. I need something to distract me." His fake theatrics actually pull a laugh from her, a light chuckle that relaxes every muscle in his body like a pleasant shot of whiskey. He follows the directions as they come, taking the drive nice and slow so he can spend more time with her. Embry's sure she notices his leisurely pace but thankfully says nothing, opting instead to curl up like a cat on the passenger seat. She's closer to him than she was last time, close enough that he could wrap an arm around her if he dared, and the thought of her becoming comfortable with him makes him smile.
All too soon he's pulling up in front of her home, the small building dimly lit by the muted glow of the street lamps. As he clicks the handbrake into position he weighs up his options - should he chance a hug, some kind of touch, or will he ruin what they've only just managed to build? Lex seems to linger for a moment in the cab, and that gives him the single shred of confidence he needs. Embry lifts his arms slowly, cautiously, as if approaching an untamed animal. She blinks hard at his outstretched arms and he thinks she's about to run and then, all at once, she's wrapping her thin arms around his body. Holding her close feels natural, as easy as breathing, and for a moment, the ache in his belly disappears entirely. He closes his eyes, relishing the feeling of her softness against him, her palms pressing against his back, memorising every detail of her touch. All too soon, the moment's over, and she's saying goodbye and disappearing into the house, and all Embry can do is stare after her and wish he could follow. He craves that closeness, needs Lex beside him, but he'll take the win. Finally, a fucking hug. Who knew he'd be so excited at the slightest level of human contact, but he's driving back to La Push holding the wheel in one hand and whooping and punching the air with the other. Finally. His excitement is so great that he even resolves to go to class later - shocker - if only to catch a glimpse of her in the commons. Embry briefly contemplates shaking Quil awake to share his excitement, but one look at his scrunched up sleeping face and his foundation-shaking snores dissuades him. Instead, he stretches out on his worn mattress, replaying his moments with Lex on a loop until sleep consumes him.
Lex manages to squeeze in a blissful three hours of sleep before she's awoken by a series of raps on her bedroom door. Groggily, she rolls out of bed, padding over to swing it open. Liz is standing before her, looking slightly confused.
"There's someone here for you? Her name's Kim. She's sitting in the kitchen," Liz states, shrugging as she walks away. Kim?
Lex tries to hurry as she pulls on the first presentable clothes she comes across. She hates to keep people waiting, especially when they're visitors to her home. Within moments she's descending the staircase, taking the steps two at a time to try and compensate for her slowness. And sure enough, Kim's sitting at her kitchen table, scrolling through her phone aimlessly as she waits.
"Kim?" Lex queries, confused. Did she make plans and forget?
"Hey! Quil said you needed a ride to class today. I thought I'd come early so I'd catch you before you got the bus."
Lex checks the time. Shit. Without Kim, she would have definitely missed the bus, missed class. Kim takes in Lex's dishevelled appearance, her ashen face streaked with old mascara.
"Go get ready. I'll make you some coffee."
She obeys, still in a post-sleep haze. Again, Quil's coming in clutch with acts of unexpected kindness, and she mentally thanks him for looking out for her twice in one day. Lex resolves to hook him up with free gas the next time he comes by, figuring it's only fair. Her father always emphasised the importance of leaving no kindness left unrepaid, which typically meant her getting roped into doing a myriad of hard labour tasks around the plantation. Nevertheless, Lex carries on the tradition in her own way, with more of a focus on helpful favours than physical labour, which was never really her forte anyway.
One hot shower later, Lex is dressed and semi-presentable for the day ahead. She gratefully accepts the steaming thermos of coffee from Kim, who is staggeringly peppy this early in the day. Kim surely owes it to a full night of sleep, but Lex is pretty sure that excess energy is just encoded in the woman's DNA. Kim's enthusiasm makes up for Lex's exhaustion, even going as far as to summarise the week's content during the short car ride to campus. It's confirmed: this woman is an angel. Mercifully, their morning lectures aren't too taxing, freeing Lex's mind to wander, settling too often on thoughts of Embry. She keeps thinking back to hugging him earlier in the day, relishing in the heat of his body against hers. Friends, she thinks. He is your friend. Don't get it twisted. She returns to her notebook with renewed vigour, attempting to tune in to the lecturer's words. Her knowledge of psychology is a little shaky, and it feels like she's scribbling down every word the woman speaks. Class is an excellent distraction from her thoughts. It's working, too, at least until she feels her phone vibrate in her pocket. Lex surreptitiously slips it out under the desk, smiling as she reads his name on the screen. Coffee for the lady? God, she has wonderful friends. She replies a simple please, tucking the phone back away. How did she get so lucky?
True to his earlier words, Embry does attend his late-morning class. If it wasn't for his previous experimentation in Jake's shed, he'd be well and truly behind, and Embry resolves to attend class more often. Quil and Jared both have perfect attendance thus far - a fact they love to brag about - which is mildly shocking to Embry, especially considering their high school attendance. He makes a mental note to speak to Sam about switching patrol schedule to better align with college and Lex. The shit shifts tend to get allocated to the non-imprinters, mostly due to the fact that the non-imprinted wolves tend to avoid dating. Even though imprinting's become rare over the past few years, they've all been immersed in the Sam-Leah-Emily drama long enough for it to shape their dating lives. Embry's still working off his old schedule, the pre-Lex routine of lots of late nights and early mornings, and it really doesn't get him in a good space for college.
Before Lex, college was just something to do, something that made sense considering their shared daydream of opening a shop. Embry didn't often think about the future, opting to pretend that the guys moving out and settling down with their women wasn't an inevitability. He'd always imagined himself ending up on his own, maybe some kind of weird spinster living out the back of the shop. With Lex in the picture, his depressing daydreams seemed to take on a new light. Living in La Push, but having someone to come home to. Working in the shop to provide for someone else, to make a living for someone other than himself. She had become a real source of motivation for him to get his shit together, to stop moping around and bugging Quil, and the guys were clearly appreciative of his increasing independence. Embry guessed there was only so many times he could annoy Quil before he'd snap, and they were likely hurtling towards that unknown quantity faster than he knew. As cheesy as it felt to admit, Embry was sure that Lex was turning him into a better person. Shit, he had even started calling his mom every few days, which she seemed to appreciate (at least, after the first call, when she'd had a coughing fit from the surprise). Lex was infusing colour back into a world that had become bleak when they'd phase. She made him forget the stresses of the tribe, his existential woes, his perceived inadequacies. She made him want to be better, and that was enough.
He didn't hesitate to text her the moment class finished, offering to run across the street to pick up a coffee for her. He could only imagine her exhaustion, having worked all night, and all he could think about was how he could make it better. Embry had already promised Quil a six-pack for obtaining Lex's schedule, and he fully intended to make the most of that intel to spend more time with her. Surely with enough time, enough coffee, she may just text him first. Embry had always been patient, happy to sit back and let others set the pace. He was a real go-with-the-flow kind of guy, willing to let things happen as they may. It was hard to extend that same energy towards Lex, especially when all of his being was dying to be with her, though Sam's threats of commanding him to relax did help him to remember his usual approach. Still, he would chase, and he could only hope that she would eventually respond in kind.