Chapter 3 – Later On In Life

Early March 2006

College has been great, using my spare time catching up with people I haven't been able to see with two years on campus.

Rachel has been great and supportive to my cause, as she calls it.

Mum has put a lot of understanding with letting me move away.

Seth, he catches me up with all the school gossip and the latest La Push rumours.

And dad? Well, we don't talk much. Ever since he stood up for the council and Sam. I don't think I'm ready to forgive him, not for him standing up for someone who broke my heart.

After Sam broke up with me, my heart broke and I cried for days. I couldn't even look at either him or Emily or even my own father. He went straight from me, who he had been dating for years, to my cousin, who he had just met.

The finals were coming in, and I was studying, all day and well into the night. On the weekends I like to play sports with all my classmates, considering I don't have many friends these days. Or, when I'm not playing sports I like to catch up on sleep. I seriously love those days, I miss out on so much sleep, lately especially.

Interrupting my wonderful thoughts of sleep my mobile was ringing. "Hello," I answered on the first ring, totally forgetting to check the caller ID.

"Leah?" My dad asked on the other line.

"Dad? Are you okay?" I haven't heard from dad since Christmas. It was kind of a silent agreement. He would call on birthdays, Christmas and Easter. And I, in return, would give him an update, both of us completely avoiding the topic that was always on my mind whenever I thought of dad. Sam and Emily.

"Yes, yes. Everything is mostly fine," he's sounding older and more tired. I started to worry.

"Mostly?"

He sighed on the other line. "It's different here without you, princess. I-I just want you home baby girl."

"Dad," I start.

"No. Leah, do you what makes you happy. But, just listen, okay?" I nod, not noticing he couldn't see me until he asked me again.

"Sure," I abled the whisper.

"Leah, I'm your father and I love you with all my heart. Okay, well, most of it. The rest belongs to your mother and brother. I know that, in your eyes, I betrayed you in standing up for …Sam. And now, that I think about it. I think, maybe you're right. I stand up too easily for the Council. My first priority should be my family. From now on, that is exactly the way that I will run.

"Leah, I'm so sorry for the trauma you would've had to endured, I am sorry. I really am," he paused. Taking a breather, he sighed. "I know…I just apologized. I-," he paused again. "Your mother is making a huge deal of my fifty-fifth birthday coming up. I-I really want you there Lee. Please? Can you come?"

"What kind of deal is mum making of this?" I asked, really trying to hold in my tears of forgiveness and my laugh of joy.

Dad laughed. "You know your mother. She has invited everyone that is either relative or close friends, to people that I hardly know!"

I lost my smile. "Everyone?"

Dad also lost the joyful moment. "No, not them, Lee, I made sure of that, so did your mother. Even your brother made sure. And you know Seth, it's hard for anyone to be on his bad side."

Yeah, it is hard to be on Seth's bad side. He is always so smiling and joyful. Always laughing and playing. Truly the best brother anyone could ever have and he is the best person you will ever meet.

"Well, I'll think about it and try to organise something. I'll call you back later. Bye dad."

"Love you, Leah."

-0o0-

On my cheap-o laptop, I checked the timetable for any events coming up. The summer break was only a few weeks away. I decided that, considering I haven't seen my family or friends in years. And with the promise that neither of that couple will be anywhere in sight, I really considered it.

Booking the cheapest flights I could to Seattle, I starting a light packing for the next weekend.

I grabbed my mobile and rung my parent's home phone that I knew off by heart.

"Clearwater residence," says the older version of my little baby brother.

"Hey Seth, its Leah," I say, a huge smile on face.

"Hey Leah!" Seth was enthusiastic when he heard my voice. I heard mum in the background.

"I just wanted to let you know, I'm coming next weekend. I got summer break."

Seth laughed, supposedly with joy listening to the jumps in his laugh.

"See you all next weekend," I smile and hang up.

Just for a moment, I forgot about everything that had ever hurt me. Everything that had ever ruined my perfect relationships, my perfect life.

For that one moment, I was happy.

-0o0-

"Take your seats Ladies and Gentlemen; we are about to land in Seattle, Washington. I hope you enjoyed the flight and have an enjoyable time in here and my your travels be a safe one," the Captain/Pilot says in a fake pitched voice. I roll my eyes. But soon realise that was a bad mistake. I rubbed my aching headache. It was strange. I almost never get headaches. And something tells me, that this is just the beginning of a very painful week.

A/N: Hey again guys! Im really overjoyed atm! I got 3 reviews in one day! :DD Thank you, TheSilentPrincess and brankel1 ! It's a great start. And honestly, I didn't think anyone would review but really thank you guys so so so much! Anyway, I bragged on enough already! Enjoy and review! Love, wolf-gabby23 ! :DD