A/N: So here's chapter 7! I'm trying to break my horrifyingly slow speed barrier here, so it might not be the best ever, but I tried my best!!!!!!!!!! Review please!!! For the sake of my sanity!!!!

7. Interviews

Jake noticed the scent too. His muscles tightened as he began sniffing the air. I quickly scanned the room, searching for the source of the sweet aroma that could belong to only one thing. A vampire.

"Over there," Jake growled under his breath, nodding his head in the direction of two familiar faces.

"Luke. Raine," I breathed.

"Those were the vamps you were talking about," his statement wasn't a question.

I nodded and began walking towards them, only to be interrupted by yet two more familiar faces.

"Renesmee!" Ally sounded ecstatic, "we finally found you! I mean, you'd think it wouldn't be too hard, the size of this town and all. But we didn't have a chance to talk to you before class and you left to fast, we couldn't find you," she babbled on.

"What she means is do you want to come sit with us?" Vanessa—Ness—offered.

"Um… sure, just a sec," I replied with a sheepish grin. "I think I see someone I know from Spain." I picked up Jake's hand and pulled him towards Luke and Raine.

"Is this really a good idea?" he muttered.

"Not sure," I answered truthfully. We walked straight past them, our shoulders brushing in an "you'd better come with me" gesture. Sure enough the two shocked vampires followed us out of the noisy cafeteria.

Jake led the way through the maze, people instinctively moved out of his way. You had to admit, he was quite intimidating.

Luke and Raine followed us out the door of the cafeteria. I led us through the shadows of buildings, never into a patch of sunlight. We stopped in a shady area that was out of view of the cafeteria.

My parents walked out from behind a building, keeping in a defensive crouch. They looked at Luke and Raine for a few seconds, then said in synchronization, "Follow us."

Then my father, still glaring at Luke and Raine, Luke mostly, "Renesmee, Jacob, take the car. Meet us at home."

Jake nodded we began walking towards the parking lot. I put my hand on his arm, if anyone asks, family emergency. 'Kay?

He nodded, picking my hand up in his.

Dad? I thought, knowing he could hear me, Don't hurt them, please? They aren't bad people, they were just here at a bad time.

We walked quickly, the gray sidewalk, warm and bright looking in the sunlight, stretching out before us. It wasn't long until we reached my new car. Jake unlocked it and unnecessarily helped me into the passenger's seat.

I squeezed his hand, still intertwined with his. He smiled at me, making the sun's warm glow finally feel complete.

Love you, Jake, I thought, forgetting for a moment my hand interlaced with his. The warmth of his palm traveled up my arm, causing heat to fill my cheeks.

"You know I more than love you too," he stated, "especially when you blush."

I smiled as he turned on the ignition and sped out of the lot.

My parents had, unsurprisingly, beaten us home. They were waiting outside the house, just staring at Luke and Raine, waiting for the rest of the Cullens to come.

My mother and father's eyes focused on me as I got out of the car, Jake standing protectively in front of me. I didn't see why this was such a big problem. I had survived one day without Luke or Raine attempting to kill me, I did much better than that, actually. I had become friends with them. They couldn't be that dangerous.

Alice and Jasper came out of the house at the exact same moment that Carlisle, Esme, Rosalie, and Emmett ran out of the forest, the bright midday sun reflecting off of their skin, making it look as though they were covered in chips of crystal, glittering in the light.

My parents, Luke, and Raine remained in the shadows created by the trees, and the rest of us quickly came to stand next to them.

"So these are Luke and Raine," Carlisle said with a kind smile. "Renesmee, here, has told us quite a but about you two."

"Did she," Luke answered, neither happy nor angry — monotone. "Why's the mutt with you?"

This comment earned him a loud snarl from Jake, followed by two more as Seth and Leah came out of the trees.

"Correction, mutts," Luke glared at them.

"Luke!" Raine scolded him and stood up. My parents lowered slightly, not to a crouch, but pretty close. "Sorry about him. He doesn't seem to appreciate the fact that we haven't been killed yet." She stopped to glare at him again. "We're sorry about the invasion of your territory, but the werewolves in La Push said that there were no vampires here. Of course," she motioned to Leah, Seth, and Jake, "those three weren't there when we made the treaty."

"So I propose that we make a treaty. I do not want this small dispute to become a full out clan war."

I saw Carlisle and Esme's faces nod, lost in thought. All the other's faces remained indifferent. Maybe a spark of hope in my mother and Alice's, but they quickly smothered the show of emotion and refocused on the task at hand.

"A treaty…" Carlisle mused. "Are there any others of our kind with you?"

Raine looked at Luke, her eyes full of question. Then, suddenly, as if he had answered her questions —wait. Maybe he had — she turned back to Carlisle.

"Yes," she began, "Our… parents — in a sense. Much like you two."

"Then can you two take us to meet them?" Carlisle asked.

"Uhm…" Raine stuttered.

"Yes." Luke stepped forward. "They've always wanted to meet the Cullens. The original group of 'vegetarians.'"

"Would it be to imposing for you to take us to them then?" Carlisle had slowly moved forward, he was now standing between my parents and Luke. "Please," he added on a kinder note.

"Now?" Luke asked, stunned, almost.

"Yes, now would be best," stated Carlisle.

"But… um… they're kind of… how should I say… In class?" he answered.

"In class?" Emmett answered. I could tell he was about to burst out laughing. "What are they in high school?"

"No," Raine answered defensively, "they teach at Forks High School," This earned her an elbow in the ribs from Luke.

"Really?" Esme was suddenly all too interesting in the conversation, "What subjects?"

"Chinese and P.E." Raine answered happily, all her stressed just seemed to have disappeared. Another elbow to the ribs, "Ow…" she mumbled and stepped away from Luke.

"We don't want to interrupt their classes," Luke stated diplomatically, still visibly uncomfortable. "We could leave a message on their phones?" he offered.

"I think not," my father said calmly. "I'm sorry to have to show this much distrust in you, but I think we'll wait till classes end and go meet them personally."

"I'm, also, terribly sorry about this," Carlisle sighed, "but my son is right. Would it be to much of an inconvenience for you two to stay with us until school ends and we can meet your parents?" he asked, but I knew it really wasn't a question.

Yes, I thought I saw Luke mouth, but he and Raine answered "no" at the same time.

"Come inside," Carlisle suggested. "Since we have so much time, I'd like to ask you some things." This was Carlisle. He was not going to torture them or anything. But I had a feeling that he wouldn't be giving them job interviews either.

Everyone walked inside except for Jake, Leah and Seth — who had remained so quiet the whole time I had almost forgotten they were there — and me. My mother gave me her, "I'll be back in a little while, don't get yourself into too much trouble" look as she closed the door behind her.

Something seemed off. I looked more carefully at Leah and Seth. Then I noticed it. Something was off on Leah's face. Her permanent scowl had softened, almost invisible. Her eyes were filled with something… odd, for her. Pure passion. Apparently Jake noticed it too.

"Hey," he said, concern flooding his voice, "Leah, what's wrong?"

A/N: Hope this works!!

Leah POV (*hopeful*) Why?

I stepped out of the woods at the exact same time as my wonderful, idiot brother, Seth (Though I would never admit to anyone that I was fond of him). Only to be met with the words, "why's the mutt with you?" Seth and I snarled. Good little brother. "Correction, mutts," the voice said. A voice that turned out to be coming from a vampire. Great. Another one.

I kept my eyes on the ground, not wanting to see the face of another leech. My mind was battling itself, half of me had an odd, curious urge to look up and see what this stupid leech looked like, the other half of me wanted to keep my eyes closed and never see another pale-skinned bloodsucker again in my life.

A few seconds of trying to ignore the leeches conversation later curiosity won out, I looked up.

The small motion of turning my head brought my nose to a really bad angle. Somehow this angle made it possible to smell the bloodsuckers a hell of a lot better. The sickly sweet smell of them made my nose hurt, but there was something off. The half breed. I assumed, she had always smelled funny.

There were two of the dumb leeches. One of them, the one closer to me, was a short girl with some odd shade of light brown hair. To my despair and utter hatred, I had to admit that she was pretty. All of her features matched so perfectly it was unnatural. But it was unnatural. Immortal leeches. I scowled at myself, for even thinking that one of these… things could look nice.

My gaze moved onto the male next to her. Only… seeing him wasn't exactly how I imagined it would be. Instead of feeling a pang of disgust at the unusual creature, something… well… clicked. Suddenly the whole world came into balance. I wasn't standing on nails, trying to hold up the sky anymore, he was. My world, my universe, my stupid, crazy, broken, messed up self was… was… was all centered around him.

Everything in my body, from my heart to my last strand of raggedy hair, wanted to be with him. This… feeling, no. It was more than a feeling. It was like a law of nature. I was his, and I hoped with all my heart that he was mine. He had to be mine! I would die if I couldn't be with him; my heart told me that. Skewed perspectives righted themselves, and I… think I'm in love.

I took him in. Beautiful ivory skin. Smooth as satin. Endless golden pools of eyes. I could see myself brushing his cheek, feeling its texture. Full lips, curving in a cupid's bow, hiding bright white teeth naturally smiled slightly. Lips. Teeth… Fangs. Oh my God. Vampire. I just fell in love, imprinted, on a vampire.

A vampire. A vampire! That proved how messed up I was. I could finally fall for a guy, love someone, for crying out loud! Freaking imprint on someone! And it was a vampire. Did the world hate me that much? No. He was the world— did God hate me this much? To finally let me find something good in my life, the one good thing that I would hate. And that would hate me…

No. It wasn't God hating on me. It was just me. I was cursed. Cursed to live in this damn life, without love. Without happiness. And when one of those did come. It was gone, like that. I found my life, my soul. And it would never be mine.

I stood there for who knows how long. The conversation going on around me was irrelevant. Thoughts churned in my head, giving me a headache.

A vampire, I thought, why? Why a vampire? Why couldn't one stinkin' thing in my life be normal. Why couldn't I be like Quil? Or Jared? They imprinted on a human! Why couldn't I be like Paul? Or even—… even… Even. Even Sam.

Someone said my name, pulling me out of my trance.

"Leah, are you okay?" Jake asked, his hands holding my shoulders, if I didn't respond he would probably start shaking them.

"No!!!" I cried as I shook myself from his grip and ran into the forest.

I phased, not caring if I destroyed the clean clothes I was wearing before. If I stayed human any longer, the tears were sure to come. Even in wolf form, with the strength and speed of a true wild animal, my eyes began to water.

I ran as far away as possible, as quickly as possible.

Thump, thump. Thump, thump. I listened to the sound of my heart. My cold, mangled heart, as I ran blindly, trying to escape the reality of my reality. Jake had done this once, he ignored all of his human nature, only answering to the wolf. I wondered, past the aching pain in my chest, how long I could do that.

Don't, Leah. Jake was suddenly there.

No. You don't know what this is like! You can order me to do anything else, but you can't stop me from doing this! I screamed internally, a choked whimper escaped from my throat. Didn't you see him! That! THE WHOLE FREAKING WORLD HATES ME!!!!!!!!!!! I fell onto the wet moss and rocks of the forest floor in anguish. Phasing back to my human form to get away from Jake and Seth.

Rain began to fall, clouds obscuring the sun. Just like my completely screwed up emotions. The rain, rain that I assumed to be freezing cold, fell on me, soaking me to the bone in seconds. Broken twigs and sharp rocks made the ground uncomfortable. But, hey, didn't I deserve that too? Heh. Why don't I just savor the pain? Enjoy it? God was just making fun of me. Watching my soul be chipped away and torn apart in his game. Are you entertained? I thought, Are all of you entertained, just watching me? Want anymore entertainment? I'm going to be used up soon. I'm just an empty mannequin, with a broken heart and broken lungs. I'm suffocating, dying slowly. Only question; how much longer until I breathe my last breath? I might have already. I don't know. Too much weight burdening me, pushing me to the ground. Why don't I just lie here forever?

Don't think, Leah. Don't think. Fall into the realms of sleep. Sleep was less painful than reality.

◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊

I woke up dry and comfortable in a warm bed. They found me, was my first thought. I looked around and inhaled an all too familiar sickly sweet scent. Yep.

I didn't move, breathing slowly and deeply, attempting to feign sleep. Why couldn't they have left me alone on that forest floor? Alone so I could wallow in misery without witnesses. I felt my eyes begin to water. Crap. I had thought I cried the last tear out of my eyes when Sam left me for Emily, apparently I was wrong. This was worse. A hundred times worse. I'd rather take Sam leaving me a thousand times than this endless torment. A loved one leaving you? That was nothing compared to loving someone who would never love you. Nothing.

I cried into the fluffy white pillow on the bed for what must have been hours. Only when I had cried to the point where I had no tears left did Seth come up to my room with a tray of delicious smelling food. But I just wasn't hungry.

"Jake told me about it," Seth said sadly, "I'm sorry…"

To my own surprise I leapt out of the bed and wrapped my arms around his neck, making him drop the tray of food he was holding, and found my tears again.

He, too, was surprised by my sudden action, but he played along, wrapping his arms around my back and letting me cry into his shoulder like the good brother he was. We stood there in silence, other than my rabid sobs over my horrible life, for what seemed like eons. And after I had thoroughly ruined his shirt and stopped crying, again, I let him go and sat back down on the bed.

"Sorry 'bout that…" my voice cracked, making me sound as pathetic as I felt.

"No," Seth sat down next to me, "you haven't cried since… then. And you have a good reason." He smiled his smile, one of the things I lived for, "plus, I needed a new shirt."

I laughed, more like choked and coughed at the same time.

"Sorry—" he cut me off.

"No more apologizing."

"Fine. I express my greatest distaste that I left you and Embry all alone."

"Left us alone? How?" he asked stupidly, sounding more like the little brother I knew him as.

"I imprinted."

"Oh…" he didn't expect that. "Oh! Oh! Well... You… imprinted! On… on…," the realization hit him, ruining his jubilation and replacing it with shock. "Well… in this situation, I don't think either of us mind," he offered, pulling me onto his warm shoulder, reminding me of what Sam used to do when it rained, which was all the time.

"So how long was I out?" I tried to put on the tough act, for Seth if anything else.

"Only a few hours. Everyone but me went to go meet the parents. But I couldn't just leave you here all alone."

"How long was I here?" I asked, surprised.

"Since about three minutes after you passed out in the forest. Jake went looking for you, made me stay here."

Embarrassment mixed with anguish, creating an extremely painful combination.

"Can we get out of here? It stinks," I wanted to leave for more reasons than that, but he didn't need to know.

"Sure, I guess, but where do you want to go?"

Anywhere but here, I wanted to answer but said instead, "howabout to the beach? We haven't gone swimming in ages." I tried to smile, I wasn't sure if it was a success or not.

"But it's raining…" he nodded towards the window, covered in raindrops.

"And since when has rain stopped us from doing anything?"

Ten minutes later Seth and my miserable self were at the beach, changed and ready for a swim. We must look insane, I thought. After all, here we were, in La Push, grey skies and rain falling on us. The waves were small, rolling in on the hard packed, already soaked sand.

"You sure about this Lee?" Seth asked. He did have a point, the water looked cold. Not that I ever felt cold. Not since… since I turned into a monster.

"You chicken?" I mocked, knowing that would be enough to convince him.

"No!" he responded immediately, making him seem more like the young kid I knew before this world of monsters and mayhem was thrown on us.

"Then c'mon!" I said, faking another smile as I ran towards the crashing waves. He followed close behind, his feet making shallow footprints in the hard sand.

I stopped right before my knees went under water, leaving him to run ahead of me, face first into the waves.

"Hey!" he scrambled back to where I was in the shallow water. Suddenly I tasted salt in my mouth and expected to find tears on my cheeks, instead I was met with a face full of ocean water that Seth splashed in my direction.

"Ack!" I said spitting out the mouthful of overly salty, and not to mention freezing, water before splashing him back.

We continued our game of splash tag for the next hour. Seeing Seth's carefree smile was the highlight of my day. For him, this game was a way for him to forget what was going on in his life, it wasn't so simple for me. There was almost nothing, nothing that could make me completely forget. Completely forget Sam. Completely forget my dad. Completely forget him. Frick. I didn't even know his name. And yet, I knew he was the one I loved. We were enemies. And yet, I knew he was the one I've just been waiting for. God's game of life. Ha. So far, my game? It's sucked.

A/N: Okay. So that was chapter 7. I decided to mix it up a bit and develop Leah's character a little more, I hope it's okay, it might be a little to angsty or a little to non-angsty, but I hope it works for you guys! Reviews are appreciated!!!! But please, if you have any flamers, find a more disciplined way to bash my writing, thanks! =D