CHAPTER FOUR: PART ONE

Leah's POV

What am I doing…? I questioned myself. I was standing in front of the mirror for the 5th consecutive time – decked out in a clingy white shirt and a pair of dark blue jean shorts. It was probably the nicest thing I owned, and still nowhere near good enough.

Oh well , I told myself. This is as good as it's getting. Who did I have to impress anyway? Sam wouldn't dare look my way and… thoughts of Jacob flickered to my mind. Oh, yeah right Leah! The guy had one conversation with you that was half decent. Plus… he's a kid! You gotta be at least three years older than him.

These conversations between myself, really needed to stop.

I grabbed my things and began my retreat downstairs.

Seth was already gone, he decided to help set up for Claire's party. My mom was perched at the kitchen table, enveloping a small card.

"Hey Sunshine", she beamed.

Sunshine, I hadn't heard that in so long. It was a nickname my dad had given me when I was younger. He said I would always be his little ball of light Hah. If he could see me now…

"Hey mom." I took a seat across from her.

"You look nice. Waiting for Jacob?"

Oh my God. How did she know?! I didn't mention it to anyone, not even Seth. Sensing my discomfort, she leaned over the table and grasped my hand.

"I'm your mom, kid. I know things."

It was impossible to use my defenses on my mother. She saw right through me every time. I didn't even bother to lie.

"Yeah, he's suppose to be here soon."

"Jacob Black is a nice boy. One of the nicest I have ever met, Leah." Okay… what was my mom getting at?

"Anddd?" , I pushed her along.

"And… if he makes you happy…let him."

I. was. LIVID.

"Mom! What are you talking about? Jacob is… Jacob doesn't even want.. and even if… MOM!!" I was at a loss for words. My mom was jumping to major conclusions after one friendly invite to a toddler's party. What did she think was next? A marriage proposal?!

"Calm down, calm down. I'm just saying, you don't always have to be tough sweetheart. Over the last few days, you've been different."

"I feel different", I gave in.

"Good. So if he is even remotely close to being the reason behind that, well, I love him already. Do you know how long it's been since you smiled?"

She had a point.

As if on cue, there was a knock. In synchronized glances my mom and I looked towards the door, and then back at each other.

"Well, that's him mom. Love you, be home later." I kissed my mom's cheek and with a stifled giggle, made my way to the door.

CHAPTER FOUR: PART TWO

Jacob's POV

I slammed the door to the Rabbit and it stammered shut. I had just pulled up to the Clearwater's. Time to face the ice queen I mumbled. It may have been more believable, if I hadn't been smiling the whole time. As I approached the steps, I could clearly make out the voices in the house as Leah and her mom.

"Do you know how long it's been since you smiled?" I heard Sue say.

I didn't wanna intrude on their private banter so I knocked to make my presence known. A few noises and shuffles later, and the door opened.

As Leah stepped out onto the porch, I think my mouth literally fell open. She was pretty, it was like the day at the beach all over again. This time, with less sand.

"What?", she said self consciously, scrutinizing my face as I scrutinized her body.

"Uh, nothing. You just look different."

She grimaced and crossed her arms over her chest. "Is different code name for fat?!" I had to laugh at her assumption – it was so off-key. That was probably better than her knowing what I was actually thinking though.

"No, Leah. You look nice."

She relaxed her tense posture a little and cleared her throat.

"Whatever, Black. Let's just go to this thing and get today over with." She brushed passed me, elbowing me in the ribs; which I'm sure wasn't an accident.

"You coming?", she said, reaching for the car door handle.

Any other day, this attitude would have irritated me, but today it was just funny. The way her nose scrunched up in annoyance was almost cute.

"Yeah, Leah. I'm coming."

"We're here." I coasted into Emily's driveway and shifted the car into park. I took a quick glance towards Leah, who was fidgeting with the seatbelt.

"You ready?", I asked, pulling the key out of the ignition.

"Yeah, It's just a party, right?" Without another word, she jumped from the passenger's seat and waited for me to join her in front of the car.

Together, was walked to Emily's backyard. It was the perfect example of a 4yr olds' dream. There were balloons everywhere , tables set up with decorations, the whole nine yards. I could see Seth at the far end of the yard helping Paul set up the piñata, Embry and a few others were attacking the food table, and Quil was getting hit upside the head by the birthday girl herself.

"Qwilll! I wanna play wiff thaaat toy!

"Which one, Claire bear?"

"The pwetty dawl!"

I guess that was as good a place as any to start. Leah and I made our way over to Quil and Claire.

"Hey, munchkin", I started. "Happy Birthday!" I pulled a small sack from my pocket and placed it in her little hand. "It's a surprise, don't open it until after your party."

"Thaank you Unca Jake!", she squeaked. Claire squirmed from out of Quil's hands and ran to Leah's legs, encouraging her to pick her up.

"Happy Birthday sweetie!" The little girl laughed as Leah swept her up and swung her around.

Being around kids lifted every bit of bitterness she carried away. She loved kids, though she would never admit it. It was some cruel fate, she would never be able to be a mother, though she would be so perfect for it.

"I want cake! Cake!" Claire clasped her tiny fingers to Lee's face. She chuckled in return.

"I'm going to take this little bug to get some grub, Jake." She turned away and made her way over to the food, my eyes following her the entire way there.

"Well, well, well!", Quil sniggered behind me. "I see the happy couple's doing just fine!"

Great.

I knew this was coming. I turned around slowly to face my friend. His face was lit up with elation, he thought this was the funniest thing that has ever happened.

"Shut up Quil."

"Hey, I'm not protesting. Leah's hot! I just can't wait to see what Sam has to say about this ha-ha-ha." I was really considering making that doll a permanent part of Quil's anatomy.

There was nothing going on with me and Leah, and at the end of the day, it didn't really matter what Sam thought. Leah's pain reminded me of the burn in my chest, the same pain she felt for Sam, I felt for Bella. I really had no apologies for Sam, regardless of the situation.

Speaking of the devil, Sam and Emily came out of the house, laughing and smiling. Ugh. There was that lovey-dovey stuff again. It was almost as bad as Paul and Rachel's.

I searched the busy yard for Leah. I bet she had spotted them and decided to make a run for it.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll talk to you later Quil."

I punched him in the arm and kept it moving to the front of the house, opposite of Sam and Emily's direction. Just as I figured, Leah was there, mumbling a few profanities and kicking up dust.

Without a second thought, I walked over, grabbed her hand, and started pulling her into the woods.

"What the hell, Jacob! Where are we going?"

"I know you don't wanna be here.

"So, we can't just ditch!"

Just come on. Let's go for a walk."

CHAPTER FOUR: PART THREE

Leah's POV

"What the hell Jacob!" I was right in the middle of sulking in my own self pity, when Jacob grabbed my hand unexpectedly, and began pulling me towards the woods. "Where are we going?"

"I know you don't wanna be here." He was right about that. Still, I protested.

"So, we can't just ditch." For a brief second he stopped and turned to look at me. The way he stared at me pretty much made me stop breathing for half a second. It's been ages since anyone looked at me with any type of emotion close to that.

"Just come on. Let's go for a walk." He grabbed my arm again and we were off into the woods.

"You know, you don't always have to do that." I picked up a pebble and heaved it a few feet in front of us.

"Do what?", Jacob asked curiously. We had been walking in silence for a few minutes, matching one another's pace.

"You don't always have to play the hero, Jake. You're a good guy, but I don't deserve it." The truth of my own words hit me hard. I knew Jacob was looking for a way out of this mess he caused for himself. It would be wrong for me not to give it to him.

He placed his hands on my shoulders and stood in front of me.

"Do you think that's what this is, Leah? You think I feel guilty?"

"Don't you?", I mumbled. No way could I look into his eyes.

"Look, Lee. I… know how it feels to have your heart broken in half, to feel like you aren't good enough to be with the one you love."

I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. Of course Jacob knew. He fought his hardest for that Swan girl. And in the end, it still wasn't enough.

We were like two different branches on the same tree. Yes, our stories were different, but they rooted from the same source. We felt the same pain; the hole in my chest, the ache every second of the day, I know it matched his.

I could feel the heat of his hot hand ease up the side of my face. He wiped away a tear, that I had unknowingly let fall. I felt so weak, so helpless. I had never let anyone see me with my guard down. Then again, no one had ever tried before.

"Being with you, it makes it easier. I don't think about, her, that much. You block it out. You numb it."

Me? I was stunned by the fact that anyone, especially Jacob Black would think of me that way. I was use to people avoiding me. And this kid was telling me I was wanted? That I made life better? I guess he really was crazy.

I was quiet this whole time. I probably should say something, I figured.

"So where do we stand, Mr. Knight in shining armor?" I tried to make my tone easy, to lighten the mood.

"Friends?"

Something inside me debated if that was enough…

"Friends." I retorted back. He smiled, and looked over my head.

"Let's get out of here." We turned around to head back to Emily's.

"Um, I'm NOT going back to that party."

"I didn't plan on it. We can go to Billy's old cabin. It's not too far away from here."

He put his broad arms around my shoulders.

A friend. I think I can be okay with that.