#and as they calm down Seth just gazes at them wondering how he found somebody so perfect | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

blazingtheway · 3 years

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Through the Looking Glass – Storyline 8 – Together - Part Five

Continuing on from...

↬Embry Call ↫ Since Mom got sick whatever free time I had, was pretty much spent with the pack and the imprints. I had almost forgotten how norms reacted to us eating... and especially Leah. People expected girls that looked like Leah to eat rabbit food, drink fat-free protein shakes and spend every spare second in the gym. She did look like she could have stepped out of the pages of a fitness magazine, but she wasn’t afraid to eat or drink what she wanted, when she wanted. She wasn’t one to put on airs for others. "Yeah." I nodded. "Never use Touch ID if you plan on falling asleep." 'You actually spent the night?' #Seth almost choked. "No, I made the mistake of taking her home... She had roommates. It won't happen again." I smirked at Leah. "I've instated a new rule." I smiled at her when she was talking about my undeniable talents. "I think I can get the crowd psyched up." I shook my head at #Mac and laughed. "Hey... You gotta give the people what they want. I can't promise it won't happen… It wouldn't be the first time I took my shirt off in this place or the last." #Tony almost choked on his food he laughed so hard. When we were all done laughing at #Seth getting slapped and finished eating, we got back to work. There wasn't all that much left to do on the stage, so #Tony asked me to set up the sound system with him. I couldn't stop myself from eyeing the keyboard. I had played an identical one in the store in Port Angeles, not that. 'How old were you when you stopped playing?' #Tony asked when he caught me. 'Your mom is something else when she plays... She still does, right?' "Mom?" I grinned and focused on the last part of the question. I always hated lying around Leah, she was honest to a fault and now that she knew all my dark secrets; I really didn’t want to start lying around her again. I didn’t really know why it was becoming so important to me. "Yeah, when she has a good day there's no stopping her. She’s never happier than when she's playing." ↬ Leah Clearwater ↫ I smirked, recalling him telling me about that chick, and the smell of her cheap perfume had seeped into his skin and his clothes to the point I could still smell her off him after he’d showered. My eyebrow raised at the ‘𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙍𝙪𝙡𝙚’ comment. But before I could say anything #Seth jumped in. ‘New Rule? What are you taking pages from Sis’s book of life now? Rules and regulations to follow?’ I knew #Seth only meant it as a joke, but it earnt an eye roll from me. “There’s nothing wrong with setting rules to live your life by Kid, it keeps everything and everybody in their right place. The world knows what to expect from you and you know how much you are willing to give.” He gave me an apologetic half smile and I waved it off. Wiping my hands, I pushed myself up from the table. With my stomach full now at least I knew I could go a few hours without the need to stop. “Okay, so what is next?” I ask moving back over to the far side of the bar. The guys had all done really well while I was out grabbing the food, and there wasn’t much of the stage left to pull together. ‘Let’s finish off the stage, then we can check the lights and place the instruments too?’ #Mac called out from the table as he was cleaning up with #Seth. I stood looking down to the stage, trying my upmost not to eavesdrop on #Tony and Call. It wasn’t hard for me to block people out, but sometimes when there was no background noise it was a little more difficult. But when I heard #Tony asks if Call and Ms. C still played I fought myself not to listen. Keeping my eyes down on the stage, I stood there pulling my hair up into a messy bun over the top of my head, before getting back to work on completing the stage. But it did occur to me then, that #Tony knew that Embry Call played the piano? ↬ Embry Call ↫ I smirked at #Seth when he made his comment about me taking a leaf out of Leah’s book. But everyone here knew me well enough to know that I was not good at following rules, mine or anyone else’s. Not for long anyway. I winked at #Seth.

“Would that be a bad thing?” I smirked. ‘No… because it’s never gonna happen!” #Seth teased. I shook my head at Leah and laughed, #Seth gave me a pointed look, as if to say ‘Told you so!!’ and he was right… The idea of one rule in my book shattered all around me at the mention of ‘𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚.’ “Your sister makes a good point.” I was teasing Leah but talking to #Seth. “New rule is scrapped.” ‘That lasted all of five minutes!’ #Tony mocked. Once the other started on the lights #Tony and I began moving the speakers to the stage. We were debating the complexity of the set up he’s brought. “Do we really need monitors for an open mic night?” I asked. “Seems like a lot when it will mostly be solo singers or musicians.” This, of course, completely horrified #Tony. ‘Uh! Yeah! Of course, we do.’ He insisted. #Seth started looking between the two of us. ‘What are you talking about? I don’t see any monitors?’ His brow furrowed. I had already surrendered the argument and was running the cables from the back to the front of the stage, keeping them along the edge so the main part of the stage was clear. I laughed at #Seth. “No, we mean the speakers.” I chuckled and pointed to the smaller ones; shaped like large doorstops. “You turn them away from the crowd so the artist can hear themselves.” #Seth’s mouth made a little O shape, and then he pressed his lips together. He dismissed us both with a wave of his hand and muttered something about musicians being weird. ‘Yeah… We’ll leave that up to you guys. Whatever you think will sound good.’ #Seth smiled and headed back to work. ‘He seems like a nice guy.’ #Tony said quietly; if only he knew that even a whisper wasn’t quiet enough in this room. ‘Bit of a joker.’ “#Seth?” I chuckled. “Yeah, he is. Too nice for his own good sometimes. He’s been like that his whole life. He’s more like his sister than you’d think, too.” ‘Really? They seem like polar opposites.’ #Tony glanced at Leah again and I smirked. “They are...” I laughed. “Polar opposites and exactly alike in different aspects. Both of them are honest to a fault. They look after everyone around them just in 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 different ways. They work harder than anyone I know. The Clearwater’s are good people.” I had forgotten the pair were still in the room listening. ↬ Leah Clearwater ↫ ‘To the left a little Lee.’ #Mac called out, we’d given up on #Seth helping as he disappeared off to speak with Call and #Tony. So, I climbed up on the ladder and was helping to attach the lights and then adjust them. I was always trying my hardest never to listen into the conversation around me. I was always somebody who liked to stay in my own head as it was a safer place to be. But I found myself mumbling about why they don’t just call the speakers 𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙧𝙨. ‘Did you say something Lee?’ #Mac called from in front of the stage. “Do you need this one to my left or yours?” I asked. And then adjusted it as he guided me to do so. By the time I was screwing in the last couple of the lights, #Seth was stood below me with the outlet, he reached up to hand it to me. The both of us were intensely listening to Call talking to #Tony. I cleared my throat really loud so to remind Call that he could be heard from this side of the room. It felt like for a moment he’d forgotten that #Seth and I were in the same room as him, and we could hear everything as clear as if he were shouting it off the top of the cliffs. ‘That is high praise coming from Embry there sis.’ #Seth muttered to me with a slight chuckle, but then when I looked down to him, his gaze was on Call with something amiss in it. I had to wonder if Call knew me or my brother at all. #Seth was nothing like me. He was kind, and sweet. Smiling from the moment his eyes opened in the morning, until the moment they closed for sleep again. My brother is always there for everybody and he never would kick arse if messed with. Instead, he would explain the mistake in a calm and caring way.

Taking the path of words than physical action. Me? Well, the 𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙖𝙧 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙨comment was at least correct. ‘He sees a lot more than you would like him to Leah.’ My wolf was sitting up a little amused as she watched from her hide away. ‘Perfect Lee! Right there!’ #Mac called out and I tightened the attachment and waited for both #Mac and #Seth to give me the go ahead before I came down. Looking at the time, I dusted my hands off. “Right, if you need me, I’m going to head behind the bar and get start up going.” Giving the work a once over I stepped away from them all leaving the guys to play with all their new toys. But Calls words got me to thinking. ‘𝙋𝙤𝙡𝙖𝙧 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙨’ What had he seen that he wasn’t supposed to? Had I let something slip when it should have been locked down? ‘You aren’t the same Leah, remember the lessons. Remember that Embry Call is on a journey of his own to discover himself and the world around him. If he is aware or unaware as it happens that’s one thing. But he is seeing a lot more than he did before.’ The tail of Truhoki, Kluskap and Skagedi was still fresh in my mind as I bought out the lemons, limes and oranges from the fridge under the bar out to slice and prepare for the night ahead. ↬ Embry Call ↫ ‘I can’t believe she can lift those lights… she’s not even struggling.’ #Tony chuckled, glancing up at her on the ladder. I had heard Leah clear her throat for my benefit, but I hadn’t said anything that would get my arse whooped and I was never one to filter my thoughts. So, I shrugged it off. “Yeah, she's tough.” I chuckled and could help glancing up. I knew Leah hated when people downplayed her strength, but sometimes we all had to, or claim that we worked out a lot more than we did… although few of us actually worked out. I did… because in my job staying in shape was kind of essential, and it would be hard to explain how I could take a guy down with ease and not needing to throw a punch without showing up to work out with them every once and a while. Plus, a liked burning off the steam. I was a lanky, skinny kid even after I phased; shooting up six inches in three months would do that to a guy. Working out in my human form is what got me the build I had today. Of course, the wolf in me meant I could lift heavier and go longer in the gym than any human could; so, it had been easy. I couldn’t help but chuckle at #Seth’s comment. I knew Leah was on top of that ladder now; reeling in her head that she was nothing like her brother. He was unfailingly kind and caring. He would hug a stranger to make them smile; go above and beyond to help someone. But, isn’t that exactly what Leah had done for me and Mom? Maybe she hadn’t done it with a smile… but there was no way that would have worked on the council, even if Mom was Quileute. And as much as I loved #Seth… like he was my brother, there was no way he could have done that. He didn’t have that type of determination in him; this wasn’t something that you could reason them into with kindness. But he would give his life if it would save Mom’s, I knew that. As would Leah. Leah’s way of caring for the people she loved was different, unrelenting and unstoppable. Especially when she knew she was right. Leah moved behind the bar and at my urging Tony started directing the guys on where to put what instruments. He was the one that knew what he was talking about; he set up a full stage a few times a month, probably more since they started the hire service. I couldn’t help but bite my lip as I coveted the keyboard; my finger ran over the buttons at the top with notations of different sounds and settings; I was already planning to YouTube keyboard tutorials when I went home, even though the button marked 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙘 𝙥𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙤was the one that appealed to me most. ↬ Leah Clearwater ↫ “Tough? Tough my arse” I muttered, slicing the lemons I knew that Call didn’t mean anything by using the word 𝙏𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝... We had to play down on

our strength in front of all those who didn’t know about the Spirit Warriors. But it still grinded on my nerves a little. ‘Relax will you, before you cut through the lemons and the chopping board too.’ My wolf was amused by all that was taking place today at the bar. I huffed at her. I was the woman who kicked more arses around this town than anybody in the packs. I told her. ‘Yes, and that has something to do with the fact that others used their words where as you choose to use your fists.’ My eyebrows pulled together. Telling her how I’d not hit another person in over….. ( Fine I had to think about it but not for long ). Well.. Since Seattle. ‘That was different, I’ve told you this before. One knew he was stepping into a ring with a woman and was looking for a payday. It’s his own fault he underestimated you when he saw you as a piece of meat, and not as the fighter you are. And the other… He is lucky to be alive.’ She was the one with the anger in her voice. But she’d helped to remind me that I’d been putting something off. I took out my phone and shot off a quick message to #Lucky. ( #Lucky was my underground fight Promoter and Organiser. The one person who’d helped me to become a name in the under-world fighting seen. Which in turn meant that I could help my Ma, #Seth and some of the members of the tribe with financial support. ) 𝚃𝚘 𝙻𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚢: 𝙰𝚗𝚢 𝙽𝚎𝚠𝚜 𝚘𝚗 𝚃𝚘𝚖 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢? -𝙻 As I stood hitting send, my wolf growled and then turned her back on me. ‘You are better than me on this one.’ She said, and I knew her anger was towards the mistakes I had made. The clues I’d missed. But she was taking it out on the memories burned into our mind for the rest of our life. I walked over to the music system turning it on. The sounds wouldn’t block out all of the conversations or the memoires flashing in my mind right now that I needed to push away. I wasn’t ready to face this mess here and now. But it would help if I turned my attention to other things. Singing in my own head was a good cheat to keep the voices of others out. https://youtube.com/watch?v=lnEU_dy7sW4&feature=share As the song started to play out of the speakers around the bar, I started to hum along low so that nobody would notice. “𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦” Other than #Seth that was, even when he wasn’t a wolf, his hearing was better than all of us put together. His head jerked towards me and he was smirking. He liked it when I let the music wash over me, he knew it was the only time in my life that I was myself. Even if it was for a flittering moment or two. #Mac called for #Seths attention, ‘Need some help there Seth?’ Mac asked and Seth nodded pretending he needed help lift the drum set into place #Tony had pointed out to them. As I moved my attention back, I did a double take. My gaze lingering on Call, watching his fingers moving on the keyboard. He had that look in his eyes, the same as the one he had when I witnessed him playing his mom’s piano, and then again at the hotel in Seattle. Biting the inside of my cheek as I began to think. (Music: Walls – Walking on Cars )

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↬ Embry Call ↫ I had to bite back the chuckle when I heard Leah mutter about my comment on her being tough. There was a chance I get a punch in the arm for that one next time I was within arm’s reach of her. I heard the knife hitting the chopping board harder and harder each time. I was definitely getting a punch when she could reach me. I couldn't help but grin at the song she put on, was this shuffle or was she a Walking on Cars fan? It was still shocking that we liked so much of the same music. I had crossovers with almost everyone I met; because I grew up listening to every kind of music imaginable. I

shared an artist or genre in common with most people. My fingers pressed down a few keys, they weren't un-piano-like, and they were much more polished, or at least newer, than the old ones on my mother's. Even having it tuned and cleaned professionally every year it still aged over time, I liked the slight roughness of the keys. But these glossy, polished ones weren't unpleasant but a long shot. But I felt a slight twitch work its way up my neck because, of course, nothing happened when I pressed the random keys... it was an electronic instrument, and nothing was powered up. That was irksome, if you press on a piano key it made a sound, even an out of tune one, sometimes even an unsettling sound at an unskilled hand... but it always made a sound. I was being ridiculous, though. There was nothing at all wrong with the keyboard as an instrument. If it wasn't for the fact my Grandfather gave us his piano after I was born; I probably would have learnt to play on one. The keyboard made it possible for a lot of people that never would have had a chance to learn, to play the piano in the first place. I cleared my throat and headed over to take a seat at the bar. If I was going to help out with this thing I needed to talk to the mastermind of the #HWH. "Have you decided when you want to do this?" I grinned. "We'll need the signup sheets and a little promotion online to get the word out." ↬ Leah Clearwater ↫ The garnishes were ready, and the metal containers filled, I washed and packed away the knife and the board. Having a knife laying around a bar where stupid people came to get drunk was never a good idea. And I hated to think it, but it was a known fact that one in ten people were without common sense. So, in my eyes these were the people who were classed as stupid. These were the fools who thought it was okay to feel up a girl when her back was turned, or to shout out some obscene comment, which would end with me kicking their arse out the door. These were the people who if they saw something they could use as a weapon, would take the opportunity to do so. Which also ended up with me or the guys kicking their arses out of the bar. Which meant that something as simple as leaving tools you needed ( a knife ) to do your job, had to be packed away. I moved onto refilling the mixed juices, taking half of them and enthused them with the fresh herbs that had arrived with today’s delivery. There wasn’t much call for them with the local crowds, but it was the townies who had gotten a taste from coming down to #HWH who always ordered the cocktails now. An idea that had been the brain child of #Mac and #Seth, but when they realised it wasn’t as simple as throwing fruit juice over a spirit, they started to back away from the drinks. Now it had become my bug to bare, not that I minded it. It was kind of like becoming a mad scientist, thinking up ways to infuse drinks and make them taste good. My back turned to the main floor, I gathered a few bottles and started to think what I could create with them as a special, and this was also a good way to sell the product that wasn’t flying out of the door as fast as we needed it to. My phone buzzed as I set the bottles and mixers on the bar, and I looked to see who it was. My eyebrow raised as I read the message and bit the inside of my cheek. 𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝙻𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚢: 𝙽𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝, 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍. 𝙴𝚛𝚒𝚔 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔? I knew that #Lucky would take care of things in Seattle, but it was the unknown of if he’d follow my request on how I wanted this issue to be dealt with. Which was the right way and not the way he managed his other businesses. Shooting him a reply: 𝚃𝚘 𝙻𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚢: 𝙸 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚖𝚢 𝚊𝚜𝚔𝚜, 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚖𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚝. 𝙺𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚖𝚎 𝚞𝚙𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍…. 𝙽𝚘 𝙿𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚏𝚞𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 – 𝙻 I set my phone to the side, I heard ↬Embry Call ↫clearing his throat, and then felt him coming

towards me. Combing my fingers through my hair as he took a seat, I motioned for him to come in closer. Reaching over the bar I smacked him up the side of his head. With no explanation as to why, then went to work on the test drink for the night. “Hmm… I was thinking the sooner the better.” My eyes on the cocktail shaker as I filled it with crushed ice. “Like I said Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are the days we need to bring in more of the younger crowds. So, do you think this coming Monday is too soon?” Licking my lips my eyes still down as I started to mix the spirits in. “With the promotional stuff, I know Seth had got an Insta set up for #HWH, only the Spirits know what he posts on it. With the signup sheets, are you talking in the bar, or can we do that online too? And—” Stopping I looked around finding the flyer #Tony had handed to me. “—Tony was saying we should get something like these printed and some posters to… What do you think we need to do?” I knew word of mouth would work on the normal crowds, but we needed to pull the attention of some new faces. And I wasn’t past hearing the opinions of others. Mixing up the drink I poured it out into a glass. It was a layer of Blue, green and a lighter green at the top. Setting a lemon garnish on it and slid it over the bar. “And tell me what you think about that.” I stood with my arms crossed over the bar, my eyes darting to my phone before looking back to him. ↬ Embry Call ↫ Leah was mixing up all the things she used to make the cocktails the townies liked so much. They were mostly fruit juice… but it still seemed to get them pretty wasted. I watched her run her fingers through her hair, I’d never noticed how often she did that before… Not that she did it a lot when I thought about it… but, why was I thinking about it? Before I could dwell on the thought, she slapped it clear out of my head. “Hey!!” I chuckled and rubbed the side of my head, mostly for the benefit of the humans and partly to fix my hair. I didn’t ask why… I knew. I had been expecting this…. Why couldn’t I dodge it? “Most of the open mics I’ve been to were on Monday’s, so I think that’s the best move. And I’m always free Monday.” I knew Leah had something to do with that. The rare occasions I patrolled on Monday’s it was early hours of the morning; then I had the day and night to myself, always. It let me get Mom to and from her appointments, get her shopping and do whatever she needed doing around the house. Not that it was ever much. #Sue kept the place immaculate. I took a look at the flyer she passed to me. “Yeah, something like this locally and in Forks… #Tony could pass a few out in the store. But online is really the best way to go. And if you make it monthly, you’ll get a steady stream of regulars.” I turned my attention back up to her when she handed me the drink, pulling my brows together I gave her a smirk. “It looks like antifreeze.” I teased but I lifted the glass and tasted it, it was sweet. Of course, the alcohol content was a lot lower than my preference, but it was more than high enough to get a townie drunk on two. “It tastes good for sure.” I couldn’t help but be curious about what was in it. I swirled the glass around and watched the denser blue liquid mix upwards, then slowly settle back down at the bottom. “What’s it called?” I took another drink and looked at it again. The colour would definitely appeal to the bunnies… I could imagine the duck face selfies with the cocktail in the frame flooding Instagram and Snapchat. “Hashtag #MermaidSpunk.” I grinned at Leah and laughed hard. #Seth cracked up across the bar; when he really shouldn’t have let on, he heard me. ↬ Leah Clearwater ↫ Rolling my eyes at him. “Your hair is fine, a little too much product. But fine!” Smirking at my own joke because only the pack knew that 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙩meant the forest and all she had to offer the running protectors. Resting my elbows on the bar now I listened to him. He knew more than he ever let on with all this music thing, and of course I knew that it was in

his blood. His grandfather loved to play the guitar and piano, and his grandmother loved to sing. From my recollection of his grandparents visits here to La Push, I recalled the sound of music always coming from the Call house. And then there was his mother. Tiffany Call. She took peoples breath away. She sang and played and was beautiful in every sense of the word. Ms. C and my Ma were two ladies all the girls in town wanted to take after. My sight was set on the guys working in the background, they were laughing and joking. #Mac trying to be the grown up and failing with #Seth and #Tony cracking up at his dance moves. “The Spirits” I muttered, looking down at the flyer too. “Okay, Mondays and Monthly, flyers and get something going online. Signup sheets and finding bands..” I nod my head the check list getting a tick beside it in my mind. “I’ll take on your runs on the Mondays you are here.” Lowering my voice as I said this part. It would mean I doubled up on my own time out in the woods, but if I were to ask him to help our business this was the least, I could offer in return. Also, at the thought of more time in the forest made my wolf stir a little and smile. “If we have the bands come and do their thing once a month too, but alternating the two things, it will keep the crowds coming for one reason or the other.” The clogs in my head were turning, until he took the drink. About to tell him to hush up and just drink the damn thing but he was on it before I could. He was paying a lot more interest in the glass than any of the others had done when I asked them to test something I made. Like he was actually going to rate the thing out of ten. My eyebrows raised at the fact that he liked it, and there was no smart-arse comment, and then I thought too soon. Dropping my head as his laughter filled the bar. Call’s laugh was one nobody could mistake for another. I looked back up at him. I wanted to punch him, to tell him to grow up, to stop talking crap and then… I just burst out laughing. A full belly, rolling laugh that I couldn’t stop. Dropping my head, I pushed back off the bar and leant on the counter in the back. ““Hashtag #MermaidSpunk? Really Call?” The words coming in between the laughs. The guys were looking in our direction as I spoke. “I don’t know what I should worry about more right now… The fact that you liked a cocktail.. or the fact that you know what Mermaid Spunk looks and tastes like?” I dropped my head; my hair fell forward covering my face as my shoulders rotated with my laughter. Brushing my hair back I finally looked up to him. “I am so putting that on the specials board Call.”

↬Embry Call ↫ I rolled my eyes and then settled them on hers, I was starting to notice eye contact made her squirm, especially when she was in public. Now that she drew attention to the 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙩 in my hair; I was highly aware that I needed a shower. Being a Spirit Warrior made most days a two-shower minimum. When she leaned on the bar, I was a little shocked, it wasn’t like her to stop working when she was listening to someone. Not that it was a bad thing; she was more than capable of doing both at the same time. I supposed it was her way of keeping a little distance; it was just how she always was. My brows pulled together a little when she offered to take my runs. “Leah, I hardly ever run-on Monday.” I said quietly “And not in the evening. Besides… Where else would I be on a Monday? Especially with live music; I’d be here regardless. You know that.” “If Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are the nights you want more people, I’d go with Wednesday. Bands have a hard time booking mid-week slots and you can get them to talk down their fees if you throw in a few free drinks.” I said this very quiet because I knew it happened to #Tony a lot. “Once the turn over goes up on those nights, you can start offering a little more for the gig.” I knew low-balling artists wasn’t something Leah would like to do, but it was a big expense. Was I actually giving Leah solid business advice? How the hell did that happen? I leaned back in the bar stool. “You cannot put that on the specials board, Leah! No one will order a drink called Mermaid Spunk. Seriously!” ‘Do it!!’ #Seth called out from across the bar. I was talking loud enough now that his hearing me was believable to the human. “#Mac! Back me up with this… You can’t advertise that name!” I was still laughing, highly amused as I watched Leah start to write on the board. #Mac was moving closer to hear us better. ‘I don’t know… a lot of cocktails have… you know, suggestive names: Sex on the Beach, slippery nipple.’ He shrugged, #Mac was not backing me up. “If you call it that, I bet cold hard cash that you will not sell a single one!” I grinned. “Or I would if I wasn’t broke as fuck.” ‘What else you got to offer Call? I’ll take that bet! What fun is it betting with cash anyway?’ #Seth’s brows shot up. And I realise I still had the glass of Mermaid spunk in my hand. ↬ Leah Clearwater ↫ Still standing back, the laughter had subsided a little. But there was still the aftermath of it playing on my lips. My eyes met his and I froze in place. He was doing it again, that look he’d given me that felt like he could see past the walls I had spent years building. And yet I knew it wasn’t the case. Nobody got past those walls, not even my Ma or #Seth. ‘Are you sure about that? He saw the real you in Seattle Leah. There was no hiding from what he stepped into there.’ My wolf whispered. Rubbing the side of my neck I pulled my gaze from his dark brown eyes. Clearing my throat, I wanted to tell him that the offer to do his run on the Mondays he was here in the evening was my way to pay him back. It was hard for me to ask for help, let alone accepting it. And of late it seems all I was doing with Call was taking help. I let it slide for now, knowing myself and knowing that I’d find a way to pay him back. ‘To grow is to accept help when it is needed.’ Again, my wolf reminded me of lessons I’d been learning. This was a harder one to formulate and action. I wasn’t just independent; I was the Beta of my Pack. I was the one to hold my family together. ( pushing the thought away that I was also the one who broke my family apart. ) I was the one who had the answers, so to be stood here. Now. like this. It was a big step; a step I wasn’t even sure I knew how to take. “Okay, Wednesday sounds like a plan I could work with.” In my mind I was trying to work out if the night were a hit how I’d need to move the staffing around to make sure we were covered. “Hmm..” I frowned a little. “Yeah, Tony offered to do the first gig for a few drinks. But it doesn’t feel right to me. I

can’t help feeling like that is taking advantage of his friendship with Mac.. And you now too... I don’t know. I’ll see what I can do for him.” I kept my voice low as I said it, my eyes moved over to see the guy’s stepping towards us, so I set out some sodas for them all. Shaking my head at the banter that was taking place, I saw the lost look in #Tony’s eyes. “Don’t worry Tony keep coming here and you will get to witness a lot more of this madness.” I winked at him and smirked and then laughed at the way his cheeks blushed a deep red. ‘By the Spirits, that’s twice now!’ #Mac grabbed a can and opened it. my questioning look gave him the go ahead. ‘Twice now I’ve heard you laugh your real laughter. One I’ve not heard in a long time Lee.’ He took a sip, and I threw a lime wedge at his head, hitting him between his eyes. “I laugh!” is all I said moving around the back of the bar again, looking for the chalk pen I knew we had laying around. “Found it.” I mused. My gaze moving between the guys. “Oh, Call I hear a challenge there in your voice. Seth, Mac, Tony? Did you three hear that in his voice too?” Walking up to the black board I stretched up and started to write with my back to them all. ‘I hear it Sis, Bry saying your cocktail making skills aren’t up to it.’ The Kid was flaming the fire of competition, knowing that I wouldn’t let it go without a bet. ‘I don’t know Call, I kind of heard it too dude.’ #Tony was stepping up too. ‘I’m staying out of this one, I can see I could end up paying in one way or another.’ #Mac chimed in. “Chicken!” I smirked and stepped back looking up at the sign, reading it out. ˜”*°•.˜”*°• 𝓢𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓲𝓪𝓵 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓝𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽•°*”˜.•°*”˜

𝑀𝑒𝓇𝓂𝒶𝒾𝒹 𝒮𝓅𝓊𝓃𝓀 $𝟙𝟘.𝟘𝟘 My lips curled up as I now turned my attention to the guys. “So, ↬ Embry Call ↫ , this is what I heard.. You don’t believe I can sell a single one of these #MermaidSpunk cocktails tonight? I also heard you don’t have the money to put where your big mouth is. So.. Like the kid said.. What have you got up for offer if I sell one?” My eyes narrowed, daring him to back out of what he started. I felt at ease now, a glint of mischief in my eyes. I’d not had somebody challenge me in a few days. ↬ Embry Call ↫ She was doing that internal conversation thing again, but she didn’t pull her eyes away as fast as normal this time. I tried not to smirk and earn myself another swat across the back of my head. “I wouldn’t feel bad about taking that offer. When it comes to the store; Tony is a great salesman. But with the band… he knows his self-confidence is a weak spot, but once a venue sees them on stage… he knows he’ll get called back. They are that good. Seriously, take the offer; he is really popular in Port… the place will be packed.” I watched #Tony’s whole face turn pink, then crimson when Leah winked at him. I rubbed my forehead… This guy’s game was beyond tragic. What the hell was I going to do with him? I laughed, but the sound of Leah’s was catching my ear. #Mac brought it to my attention how little she laughed like this. I mean she laughed… sure. But it was normally sarcastic. “#Mac actually makes a good point, Clearwater. You should laugh more.” I smirked; I couldn’t stop myself biting the corner of my lip when she stretched up to reach the board. It took less than a split second for #Seth to clock it and crack me across the back so hard the sound made #Mac and #Tony cringe. It stung a bit… but #Seth never hurt anyone in his life, at least not anyone that was alive. They burst out laughing and I just smirked. It wasn’t the first time I’d been caught checking her out… and probably not the last either. “Hey, I never said it wasn’t good… I mean it’s good for a glass of blue fruit juice with a splash of booze. But calling it Mermaid Spunk is the problem.” I shook my head laughing at the board, looking between all the guys. They were all challenging me. I wasn’t massively competitive but there were certain things that would get under my skin and this, apparently, was one of them. I think it

was mostly the way Leah was looking at me. “Okay… If you do 𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙡one of those, I will open the show on Monday.” I offered. “And no cheating, passing out freebies doesn’t count!” I pointed to the three that served the drinks. “And if you don’t… Leah closes the show with a song. I’ll even play as your back up.” I grinned at her. ↬ Leah Clearwater ↫ “Oh, I most definitely plan on taking Tony here up on his offer. And the beers will flow once their set is completed.” I was a business woman after all, but the not paying them part I knew was what I found a hard pill to swallow. We did it with the pups all the time. If they were drinking in the bar and the bottles and glasses needed collecting, we didn’t even need to ask it was done. And Rachel. If she saw the bar was busy and she was in, she never thought about it, she would get up off her stool at the bar and walk around to serve. But the Pack and the Imprints were different to this guy. #Tony didn’t even know us, however I knew at the same time this would opened him and his band up to another gig, and more people who would follow their music My eyes were on #Tony and his blush, it was that of a teenage girl. It was kind of cute seeing a man react in such an innocent way when a woman winked at him. With every passing moment with him in the bar I got a little glimpse into him, and it made me smirk to myself at the first impression he had given when he pulled up. ‘And you were going to kick his arse? Look at him. Just a smile and a wink from you and the boy is a puddle on the floor.’ My wolf was teasing now. There was a time that she would have told me to calm down, to give people time to show us what they were made of. There would have been a joke about my #HotHead getting the better of me. but right now, she was on guard with any man who approached that we didn’t know. “Mac actually doesn’t make a good point Call. I laugh just enough.” Staying put I throw a lime slice at #Mac’s head and hit him. Smirking I slowly turned my head a little just enough for him to see my smugness; “Golagi nigesvna” ( Idiot ). Then I turned my attention in between Seth and Call again with a raised eyebrow with #Mac and #Tony laughing I could guess what had happened. The Kid was fast at picking up behaviour in the pack towards me. ‘Wow Leah do you sing?’ #Tony was leaning on the bar now with his elbows on top and his chin resting in his hands. ‘Oh, this is getting interesting’ #Mac mimicked #Tony leaning on the bar, in turn making me straighten up and step back from it and cross my arms over my chest. #Seth stiffened looking between Call and me. The kid knew this secret of mine and was about to speak. But I raised my hand to stop him. Call was trying to get me to back out, and it would be a great plan if I were somebody to jump first in the game of Chicken. I knew myself and my selling skills. That grin of his was back and the Spirits I wanted to reach across the bar and hit him again. “You know what, I’ll make it interesting for you.” I told Call, “Forget about one. I will up it to ten. And you will need to up you’re offering to kick start Monday with a big musical number.” I narrowed my eyes, the tip of my tongue passing between my lips. Turning back to the board, I picked up the pen and made ten straight line marks on it. “For each one I sell, I will mark it off.” Pushing the cap back on the pen I set it down on the bar between us. “So, Call. Are you game?” I reached my hand out towards him, smirking ready to take him down. All eyes moving between the two of us. I had no plans to lose this one.

TBC...

#LeahClearwater #Leah #HotHeadSheWolf #SpiritsHotHead #EmbryCall #Embry #BADBOYEMBRYCALL #Twilight #TwilightRP #TwiRP #AUStories #Youtube

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