A/N: Hey! Thanks for all of your reviews. I really like to hear what you're thinking about my stories. Keep reading.

______________________________________________________________________________

We walked hand in hand down the beach.

The sun was just starting to set in the west. A light, misty rain drizzled down towards the earth.

We had kicked off our shoes, so we could now feel the wet, earthy sand beneath our feet and between our toes- leaving a trail of footprints behind us as we walked.

No one was speaking, other than the soft murmur of the waves and the whisper of the wind as it whipped my hair around my face and raised goosebumps on Eli's bare arms.

I wished that I could have goosebumps. Wished that it was possible. I wanted to be able to feel the temperature of my surroundings. I knew that I should feel cold. But now everything felt the same- well not necesarily the same, I could feel if things were hot our cold, it just didn't make a difference. I didn't matter. I would still feel the same.

I wished that I could feel the temperature of Eli's hand, tangled together with mine. Of course I could feel it. It just didn't feel the way that it should.

It was hard to explain the way I felt about these things- even to myself.

I sighed aloud- breaking the silence between me and my soulmate.

"What's wrong, Leah?" he asked softly.

"Oh ya know, inner turmoil- the usual," I muttered trying to make a joke out of it so I don't worry him. I laughed without humour.

Eli surprised me by pulling us to a stop. I could have easily kept going, but I wanted to know what he was going to say.

"I realized something today Leah," he started, holding both of my hands and gazing into my eyes, "and I don't know if it's going to make you feel better or worse. But I... I love you."

My mouth popped open with surprised, forming a small 'O' with my lips. Eli stared at the ground, watching his foot kick the sand- he seemed almost... embarrassed.

It took me a minute to organize my scattered thoughts. Those three simple words completely took down all of my defenses.

I blinked repeatedly as I tried to form a coherent sentence. I couldn't think of words to express my complete and utter... joy. I loved him too. I was in love with Eli. It had been so long since I've felt this wonderful. I loved him, and he loved me. I knew that someday this would probably happen. But what I wasn't expecting was how much I would love to hear him say those words.

Silent tears trickled down my cheek. But they didn't stay silent for long. They broke out into sobs. My knees buckled underneath me and I fell to the sand.

Eli crouched down beside me and pulled me onto his lap. "I'm so sorry Leah," he whispered against my hair.

I shook my head. I didn't want him to be sorry. Especially not for telling me he loves me. "Don't be sorry," I whispered. It was hard to get the words out as my chest heaved with sobs.

"No, Leah, I souldn't have said that to you. It was stupid," he muttered.

"No, I'm... I'm so happy... that you told me," I choked out.

He gave me a confused look.

"I love you too," I wailed, "I knew this would happen. I just didn't think I would be so happy about it."

My sobs quieted as he thought about this for a minute. "You love me?" he asked, mystified.

I nodded, fervently. "I really do."

His lips crushed down against mine. I happily kissed him back.

He pulled away from my lips to kiss down my neck. "I love you. I love you. I love you..." he chanted quietly as he continued to kiss me.

I giggled and pulled myself completely away from him. He looked at me questioningly.

"You should get home to your parents," I murmured.

"Why?" he asked.

"It's almost midnight."

"So?"

"So, you've got school tomorrow," I told him with a smug grin.

"I'll skip," he said decidedly and tried to pull me back to him.

I used my superior strength to hold myself away from him. "No chance in hell," I whispered triumphantly, knowing that I would win this argument whether he liked it or not.

"Who needs school?"

"You do," I said before pulling him up off the ground, "C'mon, I'll walk you home."

"Leah."

"Fine, I won't walk you." I started off in the other direction from his house.

He grabbed my wrist and spun me around. "Why are you pushing so hard on the school thing?"

"Do you really want to be a highschool drop out?" I asked,answering his question with another question.

He sighed, "I'm almost finished anyway."

"Exactly. Why quit now?"

He sighed again, knowing I was right.

"Now get your ass home and get a good nights rest. I can't believe your parents haven't called the cops yet. You haven't been home all weekend."

"Yeah, no offence, but the police force here is crap."

"Carefull," I said jokingly, "the police chiefs daughter is a vampire."

His eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Seriously? There are vampires here?"

"Uh, yeah thats kind of why the wolves exist."

"You guys fight vampires?" He looked like he was about to have a panic attack.

"Eli come down, we're friends with the Cullens."

"What?"

"I'll explain it all tomorrow," I told him, "after school." I grinned at him cheekily.

______________________________________________________________________________

A/N: Well there's another chapter. I hope you liked it. REVIEW!!!