Okay, I'm sorry this one is short, but I felt so bad for waiting that long to update that I wanted to give you another one, finishing up the date. Fair enough, right? Here's chapter seven, it's called Dinner, Epiphany, & a Goodnight Kiss. Hope you like it!

DISCLAIMER: Stephenie Meyer owns anything and everything Twilight and Twilight-character-related!

I couldn't stop grinning the entire ride to Port Angeles. I felt like an idiot with a huge goofy smile on my face, but how could I not smile? Sam, of course, held my hand throughout the entire ride up and we talked about a range of things. Seth came up a lot; we both really cared about him.

It amazed me how I could spend so much time with Sam and still not be able to get enough of him; he was everything I wanted and more. Although it was early in our relationship, I couldn't ever imagine being with someone else, I didn't even look at other boys. He pulled up to a small restaurant and parked the truck. We walked hand-in-hand through the front doors where a waiter greeted us and Sam gave his name for the reservations he had made.

We sat down at our table, which was secluded and very private. The waiter handed us menus and announced that our server would be with us shortly. We both started to read the entrees and I noticed for the first time that it was a steakhouse, and had to keep from laughing out loud. Sam loved his red meat.

I looked up from the menu, meaning to steal a glance at Sam, but failing miserably to be conspicuous when I froze in shock at his mere excellence. Every line and contour of his face was absolute perfection. His skin was soft and clear, and I noticed how perfectly shaped his lips were. At that thought, my lips began to ache, as if in memory of our kiss and urging me to kiss him again. No, I thought, arguing with myself, we're here to eat dinner! The thought was tempting, though.

He noticed my analysis and smiled at me, melting my heart. How cheesy. But there was no other way to describe it; Sam literally melted my heart. His perfectly white teeth gleamed against his russet skin and his eyes lit up when he smiled at me like that. He reached his hand across the table to hold mine. I smiled back timidly, feeling my cheeks warm.

"Order whatever you want," he informed me, "The sky is the limit." He winked.

I laughed and said, "Oh, you shouldn't have said that! Now I'm going to get the…" I quickly glanced at the menu for the most expensive thing. "…House Special Filet Mignon."

"Good. Splurge," he said teasingly.

I stuck my tongue out at him and he returned the gesture just as our server walked up to the table. "Hi, my name is Michelle, and I'll be your server tonight. Can I get you two something to drink?"

I looked up at her and answered, "Water," feeling slightly embarrassed that she had just witnessed our kindergarten banter.

"Coke," said Sam, flashing her a smile.

She smiled and said, "Be right back with those." Sam turned his attention back to me and I realized the funniest thing. I was so different. I was the new and improved Leah. Before Sam, if I had been on a date, I would have analyzed every girl in the room as potential competition. And that smile he just gave her—that would have sent the old Leah over the edge. But Sam gave me a confidence I'd never experienced before. I trusted him like nobody else, completely secure in the fact that he would never hurt me. There was no need to worry about how pretty our waitress was, because he was interested in me. I smiled at the thought.

"What?" Sam asked, looking at me intently. I hadn't even realized that during my personal epiphany, I had been slightly dazed.

"Huh?"

"What's that smile for?" he clarified, smiling warmly at me again.

"Oh…" How was I supposed to explain that? It all sounded just fine it my head but it would sound silly out loud. "Nothing."

He squeezed my hand and said, "That wasn't a nothing smile."

Just then the waitress returned with our drinks and set them on our coasters. "Have you folks decided what you'd like for dinner?" she asked.

"Yes, ma'am," answered Sam, winking at me, "I'll have the House Special Filet Mignon. Medium."

I rolled my eyes and said, "And I'll have the Steak and Chicken Salad."

"Okay, coming right up," she replied with a smile, scribbling our orders on a notepad and walking away.

"I thought you were getting the filet?" Sam asked playfully.

"I don't want to dent your wallet too much," I answered with a laugh.

"Fair enough," he answered, dazzling me with his smile. "Now what were you all smiles about a minute ago?" I bit my bottom lip. "Come on, Lee-lee, tell me. Don't you trust me?" He unleashed the full force of puppy dog eyes.

I broke. "That's just it," I said matter-of-factly.

"What is?" he asked seriously, confused.

"I do trust you. It amazes me actually. I was just thinking about…" I struggled for the right wording, "…how perfect you are…for me. And how much I've come to trust you. It's incredible."

Sam's lips turned upward again until he was grinning from ear-to-ear. "That is the most beautiful thing you could say, Leah." He chuckled. "And here I was thinking you were laughing at me for something."

I laughed. "Silly Sam, don't you know I'd just tell you if that were the case?"

Dinner was delicious and it went on pretty much like that the rest of the night. Sam had become so much more to me than just a boyfriend—he was my best friend. I couldn't think of anyone I trusted more, or anyone else with whom I could completely be myself, free of worry about being judged. He appreciated me and liked me just the way I was.

When he dropped me off that night, he walked me to my door and caught my hand, pulling it away from the knob before I unlocked the door and went inside.

He got very much in my personal space and looked intently into my eyes, freezing me on the spot. "Wait," he whispered, his warm breath touching my lips and lighting my senses on fire.

With less suspense this time, he closed the distance between us, and his lips softly crashed against mine, moving rhythmically in time. All too soon, he pulled away and smiled down at me. He tapped my nose with his finger and said, "Goodnight, Lee-lee." Then he quickly pecked my lips once more and bounded down my porch steps.

"Night, Sam!" I called as he hopped back into his truck. He smiled, and I turned, opening the door and going to my room, reveling in what was quite possibly the best night of my life.

Okay, I really hope you liked it! You know what to do, so please review! (Sorry I haven't been very good at replying to you guys, I'm going to try and do better at that!)

Heads up to everyone, I'm thinking maybe a few more chapters of pre-Sam-phases-ness. Of course I'm sure we'd all love to read fifty chapters about Sam & Leah's good times in high school and every event of their relationship, but then my story would become way too long and pretty much all of those fifty chapters would be pure fluff, and that's just not how it's going to work (sorry!). Keep in mind though, after Sam phases, it won't be the end of Sam & Leah yet, there should still be plenty of them ahead. I think I'm planning on a decent amount of time before Emily comes to visit. So don't fret! (But DO be expecting that later, it WILL inevitably come!)

Review, please! It encourages me to procrastinate my homework longer and update faster!