Chapter 2: La Push, baby, it's La Push
I strolled over to the Cullen's filled with annoyance. It had been two weeks since we chased the Volturi away and in the happy bliss of the aftermath Sam and Jake had decided to make a one-day exception to the treaty. Nahuel and Huilen had finally gone back to the Amazon forest yesterday, so today was to be that very day and everybody was meeting at the First Beach. This whole charade was designed so that Nessie could meet some of the other Quileute's and Bella could catch up with her old friends apart from the members of my pack.
Of course Nessie regularly saw my mom at Charlie's and occasionally Billy too, so I really didn't see the whole point of her meeting more members of my tribe. Bella was another thing, obviously. During the leeches' absence, she had made many friends among us. But she knew La Push would be off limits when she made her choice and it really didn't matter that Edward turned her to save her life in the end. She was already determined to become one of them before Nessie's birth made it a necessity to survive, so according to me, she might as well deal with the consequences of that choice.
I let myself in, only to conclude that the Cullen's were already in full preparation of their trip to the beach of La Push. None of them took notice or offense of my sudden entrée in their home. They never did, obviously my smell was as clear an indication of my arrival as a bell ringing or a knock on the door would be for humans.
"Hey, Leah, while you are here, you might as well make yourself useful," Jake told me when I had been leaning against a wall for about ten minutes.
"Is that an order, oh, almighty Alpha?" I asked sarcastically.
"Oh, come on, Leah, you know better than that," Jake replied, sighing.
Unfortunately he was barely really put up with me; on the contrary, he seemed more worried than anything else. Pity, I would have liked the excuse to send part of my annoyance his way. Not that I needed the excuse to vent, but it just was no fun when he was so patient and caring.
"Imprinted people," I muttered under my breath, but I should have known better. Of course Jake's sensitive wolf ears would pick it up as easily as if I said it out loud.
"Nessie, can you continue here for a while without me? I need to talk to Leah, okay?" I heard him say to Nessie. I assumed she showed him she didn't mind, since he came straight my way.
"Let's take a walk, Leah," he told me, softly but firmly tucking my arm and directing me outside.
"So, what's up? I don't need to phase to see that something is really bothering you lately," he stated matter-of-factly.
Lying would be of no use, he'd see right through me anyway, regardless of the fact that he'd know for sure next time we'd be wolfy. He looked at me intently. It was not the authority of a leader who needs to get his soldiers back on track that I saw in his eyes. His gaze was the one of a caring friend who was genuinely worried.
I sighed deeply. Authority was something I could fight, especially since Jake would never force an Alpha order on me. But this love, no, that made me defenseless. So I did the only thing I could do and I took a deep breath and let it all off my chest.
"It's all this happiness, Jake, it's unbearable," I complained.
"I see nothing but people in love around me, including those stupid leeches. It's not fair!"
"At home, it would be one big happy family if it weren't for me. Mum is so clearly in love with Charlie that it's almost painful and Seth is just a happy kid by default. Even Billy joined in, since he is still so obviously thrilled to have Rachel back around! And then I have not even started about all those bloody imprinted people! It makes me wanna sink my teeth in some stinky leech so badly."
"When is the wedding again?" Jake asked, talking about Sam and Emily's marriage.
"In three weeks," I replied, sighing, not really looking forward to having to smile in the midst of more cheering people.
"Well, if you are in luck, your Mr. Perfect will be one of the guests," Jake teased, smiling.
"Hmpf," I tried to be stubborn, but Jake had a point and his laughter was contagious.
But Jake was already serious before my faint laughter died out.
"You know, I've been there. I wouldn't hold it against you if you went all-wolf to escape," Jake pointed out.
"It's not that, Jake, I love Emily too much to hurt her like that. And Sam too, for that matter. Being in a separate pack really sped up the healing process, plus I've seen enough of imprinting happening to understand they had no choice. It's just, I feel like such an alien, Jake, surrounded by all these happy people. It seems like I no longer belong in their world and I hate it."
"I see," he said and I knew he really did. After all, before he laid eyes on Nessie, he'd been there too.
"I mean, I was okay with all this, as long as we were facing a crisis, but now I feel so useless and out of place," I concluded.
"Well, we can always ask Alice to find us some bad-ass leech to kill. That surely would prove you are needed in this world," Jake chuckled.
"Now, there's an excellent idea," I grinned and I really did feel better. Since even though I didn't believe Alice's visions were that good, it made me realize I still had a purpose here. Maybe I wasn't part of the happiness yet, but I surely could protect the ones that already were. As long as evil leeches like the Volturi existed, there was a place for me in this world.
"I am gonna go for a run, now. Maybe today is my lucky day," I announced.
Jake just nodded and warned me not to start a party without me, before inevitably wandering back to his imprinted one.
I phased as soon as he turned his back on me and let the smell of the forest fill my longs before enjoying the thrill of speed. The icy ground and the frozen leaves were no match for my well-equipped oversized paws. Soon I was at top speed, not even hindered one bit by the slippery underground. The forest filled my senses and I was one with nature now, breathing it in with every bit of air I sucked in. It felt so damn good, that I almost regretted not taking Jake's offer to go all-wolf. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all, just for a few days, perhaps… If I returned in time for the wedding, nobody would get hurt, right?
A/N For those of you who haven't seen the movie, or haven't seen it quite so many times as I have (yeah, I know, I am addicted, lol, but admitting is the first step to healing, right?), the title refers to a quote of Eric, when trying to convince Bella to join the group trip to the beach. Bella replies "Yeah, I'll go if you stop saying that." On which Mike comments "Seriously, Dude, it's creepy!"
