A/N: So some have asked if The War was cast who the actors would be. So here is my list so far:
Lucas Westcott - Ian Somerhalder
Leah Clearwater - Jordana Brewster
Tabatha - Yvonne Strahovski's– 18 year old version
Annabel - Kristin Kreuk
What do you think?? This is my cast but by all means, I'm sure most of you may think of someone else as Lucas or Leah so feel free to imagine them as whoever you would like. Thanks again for following this story. I apologize for the lateness of this next chapter. Please forgive me! I will try not to post so late this time.
It was a beautiful, sunny day today. The weather matched my mood perfectly. I was walking on air as I made my way to my class. I was having one of those rare days where everything went right: no line at Starbucks, I found a twenty dollar bill left in my jean pocket and the homeless man that I pass every day said I was looking good instead of asking for spare change. There was a definite skip to my step.
I made my way up the steps of the building that held my class. I looked at my watched, noticing that I had arrived to class a bit earlier than what I expected. Walking down the hall, my ears perked up when they picked up on Lucas' voice. A smile couldn't help but form on my lips, happy to see he had beaten me there.
"No, Max. I made my decision," I heard him say. Immediately I slowed down my steps, walking carefully, trying not to make a sound. I never really mean to eavesdrop on conversations but it's near impossible when you have my good hearing.
"You can't keep avoiding him. He has been requesting you all week," I heard Max say.
"I know."
"Lucas, I'm just trying to understand. I mean…what is it about this girl?"
"Please…just drop it," he urged.
"What about your people? What about your duty to them?"
I stopped by the door waiting for him to respond. My heart slowly began to drop and guilt started to wash over me. Was he avoiding his father because of me? The last thing I wanted was to be the one creating a rift in his family or his obligations. I started to feel the forecast of rain coming in on my great day. I waited for a minute but when I realized that Lucas wasn't going to respond, I decided to open the door and stepped in. I looked up at the seats and saw Lucas smiling, so brightly at me, gesturing towards the empty chair next to him. I grinned back. It seemed that my sun wasn't going anywhere today after all.
I made my way towards him and took a seat at the desk.
"Hey," he said to me as I sat down.
"Hey," I responded back.
I looked over to Max who was eyeing both of us with very concern and confused eyes. Lucas noticed my attention to his friend.
"Um…this is Max. Max this is Leah," Lucas said.
I reached over Lucas's desk and held out my hand to shake. He gave it a small shake back and slightly nodded to me without saying a word. I gave him a timid smile back. It was obvious that he had some sort of reservation about Lucas and me. I started to fidget a bit with my pencil as the silence was making me nervous. I took out one of my notebooks and started doodling in the corner. Students started to filter into the classroom, chatting amongst themselves. I felt a set of eyes on me and I slowly turned my head towards Lucas to find him staring back at me. He reached over and wrote on the corner of my notebook.
Skip?
I shook my head. I wasn't letting him get his way that easily.
"Really? Economics is that interesting?" he said as he spoke quietly to me, leaning his body towards me.
"I find it incredibly fascinating," I lied flashing him a flirty grin.
"Sure you do."
He turned back to the front of the classroom with a cute frustrated look on his face. I bit my lip to prevent myself from forming a full on smile. He sighed and turned back to me.
"We're ditching," he stated.
I cocked my eyebrow to him.
"Oh?"
"Yes. Either leave with me now willingly or… I'll drag you out."
I snorted. "Yeah, that'll be the day." No one told me want to do.
I reached down and pulled out my economics book. I slowly put it on my desk and opened it up, cementing the decision that I planned on staying for class. I looked back and gave him a challenging smile. He looked back at me with a look of madness in his eyes. I'm sure no one had ever told him no before. I went back to my book, trying to look at least slightly interested in what I was reading.
"Leah…" he said very quietly. I inclined my ear to him ever so slightly, my eyes still very much focused on my book. "I'm not joking."
"Really?" I causally said as I turned the page of my book.
Before I knew it I was picked up and hanging over Lucas's shoulder as he made his way down the stairs.
"Lucas! Let me down," I yelled, hitting his back with my hands.
"Yeah… I don't think so."
I looked up to a classroom of students watching this scene. Some were amused, some annoyed and maybe a few were jealous. One face in particular caught my attention for a moment as Lucas just about made it out the door with me. It was Max, his face mixed with disappointment and worry. I placed my hands over my face trying to hang on the least bit of decency I had left. I kept my face hidden even when I felt him place me back on my feet. I groaned when I felt him tug my hands away from my face. I shook my head and turned my back to him.
"I can't believe you just did that," I said.
"In all fairness Leah, I gave you warning."
I felt him come up from behind me and wrap his arm around my waist.
"You're not upset are you?" he asked.
"Slightly."
"I only wanted to have you for myself today," he charmingly said as he leaned down into my ear.
I turned around to him, his arms never letting go, to look at him. I saw his beautiful smile; easily erasing why I had been upset in the first place. He pulled me closer to his body and a kiss on my cheek and then on my neck.
"Are you still mad?" he mumbled against my neck as he tickled the sides of my waist. I pushed him away and leaned up against the wall of the school hallway.
"Yes." I wasn't.
He walked over to me and tried to wiggle his way closer to me but I pushed him back away. His eyes got tense again.
"I don't…I'm not use to…." He struggled. "Just…come and spend with day with me."
I bit my lip and looked up at him. He looked so delicious today. The way his jeans hung just right ever so slightly below his hips, that seemed to only be held there by a belt and the way his preppy green Ralph Lauren sweater snug tightly against his chest, it was hard to stay mad. He was more than gorgeous, more than beautiful…he was dangerously sexy. He shoved his hand in his pocket with the other scratching the back of his neck. I knew very well I would have done anything he asked. It was just much more fun to put up a fight.
"What about my books and my bag?" I asked.
"Max will get them."
I paused for a moment to keep him sweating.
"Well, if I'm skipping class. It better be for something good," I tried to act nonchalant.
My favorite smile returned as he held out his hand out for me to take it.
"I promise it'll be good," he said as I placed my hand in his. "Today will be the best day of your life."
~*~*~*~
I found myself in Time Square following Lucas through the crowded sidewalks. I was holding his hand, trying to keep up as he pulled me along as he walked with determination. I stopped abruptly when I realized I was standing outside of the Viacom building, also known as the home of MTV. As Lucas felt me tug his hand he turned around with a confused expression.
"Something wrong?" he asked.
"Taking me to TRL wasn't what I imagined being part of my best day ever."
"Well…one I wasn't planning on taking you TRL, two TRL has been cancelled for quiet some time and thirdly…any day with me is your best day ever." He shot me a cocky smile while I rolled my eyes. He gently tugged my hand urging me to follow. We walked through the revolving doors and rode up the escalators. I slightly paused at the security guards as we made our way pass the bank of elevator doors. I was wondering if he was going to stop us, but they let us through with a polite nod to Lucas. An empty elevator door opened and Lucas led me in with his hand on my back. I watched him press a series of numbers and then felt the elevator pull us down. It was then I figured out then where he was taking me.
"You have to be kidding me," I said leaning against the side of the wall with my arms across my chest. "This is utterly ridiculous."
"Ridiculous?"
"Yes. You're telling me that the way to get to your secret underground world is through the elevators in the Viacom building?"
"I don't really see how this is ridiculous. What did you expect? Jumping down a sewer, ninja turtle style?"
I shrugged my shoulders. It was actually exactly what I was thinking. A silent few minutes passed and I was wondering when this ride was going to stop. Before I could ask how much longer it was going to be I felt the elevator falling faster.
"Almost there," he said with a grin.
I held my breath as I heard the quiet ring announce that we arrived at our destination. The doors of the elevator opened into the streets of a downtown city. I took in the sight for a moment before I felt Lucas reach for my hand to pull me along. It was beautiful. It looked like any other small city I might have visited, but somehow, and I couldn't place it, different…wonderfully different. The streets were lines with different types of boutiques, restaurants and stores. There were no big box retailers…no Target, no Walgreens or Best Buys. Rather than cars filling the streets; only golf carts, bikes and Vespas rode through them. I watched the people walk by us as, each smiling and nodding their head towards Lucas and in turn he did the same to them. I was taken aback at how everyone treated Lucas. I'm not sure what I had expected. I only knew that Prince William could never just walk to streets of downtown London without causing some sort of hysteria. Everyone here was cool, saying hi as if he was just another one their friends.
"Lucas!" I heard two giggling children running towards us. "Prince Lucas!" They ran underneath our hands that were still holding, jumping in front of us.
"Hey guys," Lucas said with an apologetic smile as his eyes met mine briefly.
"Who's your friend?" the blonde hair boy said.
"Yeah… who's your friend Lucas?" the red hair boy with freckles repeated.
"This is Leah," he said to them and turned back to me, "And this is Braxton and Jet."
"Nice to meet you." I smiled awkwardly.
"Leah, do you like soccer?" Braxton asked without missing a beat.
"Um… sure."
"I'm awesome at it," he stated proudly.
"You're such a liar, Brax! Just because the ball accidentally ricocheted off your head and into the goal, does not make you an awesome soccer player," Jet said as he slightly nudged him in the arm.
"It wasn't by accident, Jet. I head butted it in there!" Braxton nudged him back. "Prince Lucas, you should have been there. It was wicked awesome!"
"Sure it was," Jet rolled his eyes.
I watched Lucas laughed at the exchange that was taking place.
"It was!" Braxton yelled and punched him in the arm.
"Punch me again and you're going to be sorry!" Jet yelled back.
"Guys, you wouldn't want to get into a fight in front of Leah, especially when you just met her right?" Lucas asked.
"Right Lucas," Jet said apologetically as they both nodded their head. But then Braxton punched Jet in the arm again and took off running down the street laughing. I watched as Jet caught up and before he pounced on him his head and his hands shifted into a werewolf. I gasped thinking he was going to hurt Braxton. My heart just about stopped. I heard Lucas laughing and I turned to find him looking at me.
"They're fine, Leah. Just horsing around," he stated trying to reassure me.
I looked back to the two boys to find Jet licking the side of Braxton's face, just before he took off running again.
"Eww!! Gross!" Braxton moaned loudly as he wiped his face with his arm and took off running to catch Jet.
I laughed as my heart began a steady beat.
"Wow…that just…caught me off guard," Not knowing exactly how to word what I wanted to say. "Usually when I shift it means I'm ready to fight… like seriously tear someone apart fight."
"I guess I can see that. Especially if your emotions help ignite the shift," Lucas said as he pulled my hand to follow him.
"So where are we going?" I asked.
"To meet a really good friend of mine."
"A best friend?"
"Of sorts."
"Is Max a best friend too?"
"Um…no. I mean, he is a friend…now. But really he was just hired help in the beginning."
"So why do you need a bodyguard?" I tugged his hand wanting him to answer me honestly this time.
He stopped to turn around and looked at me. I raised both eyebrows at him waiting for an answer.
"Leah," he sighed. "I'm the last heir to the thrown. If something should happen to me…."
I looked at him waiting for him to continue. His eyes got very dark and stood closer to me.
"Let's just say that the war against the vampires would not be the only war my people would have to worry about."
He turned around and started to pull me along again but I wouldn't move. I didn't understand and I needed him to explain more.
"Who else would you be at war with?" I said trying to hold my ground. He sighed when he realized I wasn't going to let this go.
"Other werewolf packs. When the royal line becomes eliminated, that begins the fight to the death for which leader will take over. Anyone can challenge for the spot, even other Kings from different clans. There are many packs who want control in this area. We have an alliance with the witches and we have a whole city underground. There are not many who are as large, wealthy and secure like ours."
I nodded my head in understanding and let his arm wrap around my shoulders.
"Anymore questions before we continue?" he asked.
I shook my head.
"Are you going to come with me willingly now?"
I nodded my head.
We continued to walk through the streets and rounded the corner. It opened up to a large park. There were many people who were enjoying this area. The fake sun beamed brightly down on everyone as the enjoyed the afternoon. I wonder if they ever make it rain down here sometimes. It would drive me nuts if the weather was the same day after day. Lucas continued to lead me around the large fountain that kids were playing at and the mothers trying desperately to keep dry. There were restaurants and cafés that surrounded this small park, all of them out in the open, with only a few awnings. A small amusement park could be seen in the far corner of the park.
"So who is this best friend of yours?" I asked.
"Tabatha."
A girl? I thought.
"Is she… like you?"
"Nope. She's a witch."
He continued to shuffle me along while I mused for a while that the name Tabatha seemed like pretty perfect name for a witch.
"Are witches immortal?" I asked.
"No, their lifespan is the same as a human."
I didn't say anymore as I we approach an outdoor café/bar of sorts with a sign that hung above that said 'The Cauldron.' A pretty girl was working hard behind the bar. When she spotted Lucas she gave him a quick wave and held her finger up to tell him it would be a minute. She looked busy as she tried to push her stray hairs that were falling out of her ponytail behind her ear while mixing and pouring drinks at the same time. We took our seats at the far end of the bar waiting for her to finish with her customers.
"Hey Lucas," she said as she made her way over.
"Tabatha. This is Leah," he said gesturing to me. "Leah. This is Tabatha."
"Hi," I said as I smiled at her as she smiled brightly back. She had a sort of glow around her. It drew you in, making your body unconsciously lean into her. I was surprised to find myself instantly liking her…very much, like I wanted her to be my new best friend. It must have been the witch aura that Lucas had talked about. Usually it takes me quite some time before I can get comfortable with someone.
"So this is Leah? The shape shifter?" she asked.
I nodded my head as she reached her hand to shake mine.
"I've never met a shape shifter before," she said.
"I never met a witch."
She leaned forward to ask, "So can you change it to anything you want?"
"Um…yes. I don't shift into many different kinds of animals that often. I usually tend to stick with just one."
"Like what?" she prodded even more.
"Usually I'm comfortable with as a wolf but I did a panther once and a bear."
Her eyes lit up as she nodded her head.
"That would be amazing to see!"
Hoping that she wasn't going to ask if I could show her, I tried to change the conversation to her.
"Do you cast spells?" I countered.
She shrugged her shoulders. "On occasion."
I felt my eyebrows rise, curious at what types of spells one might cast.
"Do you want to see a magic trick?" she asked with a smirk on her face.
I turned to Lucas who was nodded his head at me with encouragement. I looked back, nodding my head, urging her to continue. I watched as she rubbed her hands together fast. She blew on her right hand and then reached behind my ear. I couldn't help the frown that formed on my face when she "magically" pulled a shiny coin out of my ear. The same magic trick my father would perform when I was young. I could hear Lucas laughing.
"Impressed?" Tabatha asked.
"Um….not really," I couldn't help but be frank.
"Honest. I like her Lucas," she said turning to Lucas laughing.
She placed the coin on the bar as she laid her finger on it. She looked back up on me.
"Ready?" she asked. "Watch closely."
I nodded my head for her to continue.
She pressed her finger on the coin and I watched it slowly melt into a small puddle. The puddle began to boil on the bar surface and then began to form, manipulating itself into two small dancers, only 5 inches in height. The danced across the table and then back to us before melting back into a coin.
That was pretty cool," I said. "Probably the first magic trick I have ever truly been impressed with."
"Well today seems like a day of firsts. A drink to celebrate?"
I looked at Lucas, not sure what to order.
"She'll have a full moon," he said. I bit the side of my mouth trying hard not to crack up. Really? The Cauldron? A drink called a Full Moon? I thought.
"You guys sure know how to cheese it up here," I said as they both laughed.
"What's kind of life is it if you can't make fun of yourself?" he said.
"One Full Moon coming up and Lucas, the usual?" she asked.
Lucas nodded his head and turned back to me. He smiled as he took my hand giving it a light squeeze.
"This place is…" trying to think of the best word, "…amazing."
"Yeah, it's a great place to live."
"Why would you even want to go to the surface? I would be just fine staying down here forever."
"Actually, not many people down here have actually ever been to the surface. Tabatha being one of them. Unfortunately for me, what happens on the surface unfortunately affects what happens down here."
I watched Tabatha coming back with drinks, setting them down in front of us. Lucas had some sort of beer that I had never heard of and my drink was blue with a cloudy clear liquid swirling around. I held the martini glass up taking a closer look. It was pretty but didn't look at all that appetizing.
"Um…you should be careful with that drink. It's pretty strong," Tabatha said as she observed my hesitancy towards drinking it.
"Oh, don't worry. Alcohol doesn't affect me at all," I said.
"Leah, remember things are a bit different down here," Lucas said a bit cautious now as if he wasn't sure if that was the best idea to order me that drink.
I shrugged it off and took a sip. It was tasted like candy, a bit sour but with a strong alcoholic after taste. I had never tasted anything this strong before. My lips puckered up and I could hear Lucas chuckling. I rolled my eyes and took a larger sip this time. I could feel my insides getting a bit warmer and I could feel my cheeks flush a bit. All of sudden I felt this wave of contentment and happiness was over me. I grinned widely at him. All of a sudden I was absolutely pleased that I was with him and relished the fact that he seemed to want me here with him too. I had never felt this happy before. All of those years I had felt so alone…the blackest sheep amongst the black sheep. But now I felt whole and complete. Like I found a place where I fit and absolutely tickled that it was with next to Lucas.
Out of nowhere I started to giggle. I didn't know if it was because I was just so unbelievably happy or if it was because of my drink. The harder I tried to stop giggling the more I started to laugh. I looked at Lucas who joined in on the laughing as he was finding my uncharacteristic behavior amusing.
"I told you it was pretty strong," Tabatha said laughing as well. "She's this giggly? After one drink?" She mused to herself.
"Tabatha," A man down on the other side of the bar called for her raising his empty glass in the air. She rolled her eyes and went over to fill his drink. I looked back at Lucas whose excited eyes were glued on me.
"Are you happy?" he asked.
"Undeniably so."
"Me too."
~*~*~
The rest of the day went on with us hanging out at The Cauldron. We talked and laughed, while we drank and eventually ate. I observed the people around us, all of them in high spirits, enjoying each other's company. Lucas was right; it was turning out to be one of the best days ever. After Tabatha's shift had ended, she sat down with us and relayed some embarrassing stories of Lucas.
"You know, Leah, when I was a little girl I had the biggest crush on Lucas," she said while shaking her head and Lucas laughed along with her. "I grew up in this bar, my family owns it. I spent nearly every day of my childhood here. Anyways, every day I would hope that Lucas would come in. When he did he would pick me up and prop me right up on this bar. Do you remember all the stories you use to tell me, Lucas?"
"Vaguely," Lucas said looking at her as if he was trying to remember the time that Tabatha was a little girl. "That crush only lasted for a month, until Julian came in."
"Julian?" I questioned.
"My older brother."
I looked at both of them as their expressions instantly changed to sadness and longingly. Tabatha tried to put a smile back on her face.
"I still remember the night I knew he was the one for me," she said.
I watched Lucas cock his eyebrow at her. "Tabatha, you were 9."
"Hey, when you know…you know." She turned back to me. "We use to have karaoke night here and well I'm sorry to tell you this but Lucas is a horrid singer. Even though he claims he is better after a few drinks, don't believe him. Don't let him anywhere near a microphone. It's just awful."
"Thanks Tabatha," Lucas interjected and I laughed.
"Just warning her, Lucas. Anyways, his brother, Julian got up there and let me tell you, he was amazing!"
I laughed as I watched her eyes danced excitedly as she told her story.
"And that was when I fell in love."
I could hear Lucas chuckling. "I remember that night. You were bouncing in your seat as if you were teeny bopper worshiping their teen idol. After that night, I was no longer your favorite."
Tabatha simply shrugged her shoulders.
"I have no doubt in my mind that if he was here now, he would have fallen madly in love with me eventually. He would have never been able to resist me now that I'm older," she said.
Lucas laughed a bit more.
"I'm going to run to the bathroom," he said as he got up and made his way still chuckling all the way there.
I looked back at Tabatha, thankful for Lucas giving me some time with her alone so I could ask her the questions I was too afraid to ask Lucas.
"What happened to Lucas's brother?"
"Murdered by a vampire. Lucas saw the whole thing," she said softly. She reached for my hand and gave it a light squeeze. "Leah, I just wanted to let you know that since you came into Lucas's life, it's the first time I've really seen him smile since his brother's death. They were very close and well…Lucas hasn't been the same since."
"How did you handle it?"
"I don't know, I guess I never grieved… never really believed he was gone. This may seem weird but in my heart I feel like he is still out there. Somehow I just know he is alive. Maybe its just useless and pathetic hope."
"Always trust you instincts," I said as saw Lucas coming back.
~*~*~*~
We sat lazily on the steps next to each other on the steps of the fountain in the center of the park. I could still hear the faint music coming from the band, playing old 40s big band music. We watched the magic sky slowly turn from day into night. The stars once again sprinkling the night like glitter dust thrown in the air. I saw a few kids run around playing flashlight tag with no qualms about their parents worrying about them being alone or strangers snatching them away.
"This place…is just… wow. I could stay here forever," I said as I leaned back, resting against my arms.
I watched Lucas sit up and turn to face me. His face suddenly became very serious.
"Could you? Stay here forever?" he asked.
My smile faltered a bit when reality set in the first time tonight. "I would love nothing more but to stay here forever. But unfortunately I have obligations up on the surface… to my pack."
He nodded in understanding, grazing his finger on my arm sending shivers through me.
"One day," he said absolutely sure of himself.
I didn't argue as I wished with all I had that he was right.
"I love how kids can run freely here, even at night without any worry," I said as I watched a little girl with pig tails chasing a boy trying keep her pet frog in her hand and a flashlight in the other.
"There is no crime here. There is nothing to worry about. Kids can play freely. A parent's only worry is their children's first love getting out of hand."
"It's perfect."
The little girl with frog tripped, forcing her to let go of the frog that quickly leaped away from her and left her crying after she fell to the ground. I watched the little boy turn around to run after the frog catching quickly then making his way back to her with a serious concern in his eyes as he bent down to check if she was okay. He handed her back the frog as he inspected the knee that she had scrapped. It was the most endearing thing I had ever seen as he seemed to lean down and brush his lips on her knee trying to make her feel better. I was surprised how easily he picked her up and carrying her away with no struggle at all.
"He has werewolf blood. Most were-kids are stronger than human adults."
I nodded my head. Today had been a day of learning. I was grateful to learn anything about Lucas and his kind. I daydreamed of what it would be like to live down here forever, silently wishing that I could be so lucky to see kids of my own playing so freely and innocently in this type of world. No fear of evil lurking around dark corners. Though I didn't know if I would ever be that blessed, I was satisfied that I at least found this bit of happiness for myself. Right now…right at this very moment…this very second – life was perfect.
A familiar Frank Sinatra song started to be played by the band. I closed my eyes, listening to the man who sounded very much like him. Unexpectedly, I felt warm lips touch mine lightly and all too suddenly pull away. I opened my eyes and saw Lucas hovering over me.
"I'm falling for you Leah," he said as he brushed my hair lightly from my shoulders.
"Oh?"
"Yes."
He bent down again, only this time kissing me a bit harder. He wrapped my waist with his arm and pulled me a little closer to him. I couldn't help but lightly lick the tip of his lip, wanting to taste him. My hands ran up his arms grabbing his biceps to pull myself even closer to him. I felt his lips move from mine down my face and leading to the side of my neck.
"Stay with me tonight," he whispered into my neck as he paused for my reaction.
"Okay," I said.
A/N: Thanks again to Courtney! Please review and let me know what you think!
