AN: Another chapter for the story. Thanks to Sendok98 for your wonderful review and thanks to my two unnamed readers for reviewing the story. I really appreciate your reviews, it really means a lot to me and the story. I hope you enjoy this chapter too. I will be looking forward for your amazing reviews eagerly. Once again I am sorry for any grammatical mistakes and you are most welcome to point out the faults in the story.

Chapter 10: Voice Of Reason

The following day I called Nissie and apologized to her for ruining her birthday party by creating such a scene. I was feeling very guilty for that but she said it wasn't my fault. That I didn't have to feel guilty for whatever happened and that I had no reason to apologize for. Bella also told me that I didn't kiss Michael on my own. He had some sort of power that got me carried away and made me do what I did.

The Cullens were very sorry for that and felt themselves responsible for all the commotions that happened in the party last night. Nissie wanted me to come over to their house so that she and her family could make it up to me. I would have loved to go there but the things I found out from Collin and Brady last night made me decide to stay away from both the Cullens and the wolf pack. So I had no choice but to decline Nissie politely. Though it got her upset anyway. I felt terrible to do that too.

I knew from the beginning about what happened with Sam, Emily and Leah. I didn't want a situation like that for myself. Besides I would be leaving this place just in one month and less than two weeks. Another reason to why I shouldn't have any feelings for Seth at any cost. It would be best for me, Seth and his still unknown imprint that I stay away from him. And perhaps Seth decided to do the same as he started avoiding me every where as if I was a disease or something worse.

Collin and Brady would just say hi to me or smile at me once or twice when at the school but Seth would never look at me. Not even by mistake. I would sit alone in the cafeteria for the lack of friends. I was so wrapped up with Seth and the wolf pack that I never realized that I haven't made any friend outside of them. Students around the school made up their own stories and believed that Seth dumped me. The girls were extremely happy for that but they never stopped trying to get to me. Now that Seth was not there to protect me from them constantly, they were succeeding in making my life a living hell.

I even made mom worried because I would always talk with her in a fake cheery tone of voice and she knew right away that something was going on wrong with me. Mom would ask me again and again about what happened to me, so I lessened talking with her to avoid her questions. One week passed like that and no matter how hard I tried to be normal and be happy like I was used to, I couldn't do that. The memories of the times I spent with Seth, haunted me every night. It made me want to cry loudly. I missed him, I wanted to talk to him but I couldn't do that. And because of him I couldn't even meet the others from the pack whom I missed a lot as well. Heck I even missed Paul and his arrogant remarks.

I was miserable and so was Seth. I wouldn't see Seth much like before but whenever I saw him, he is always sad and upset. I knew by then that not only Seth but I was in love with him too. We both loved each other but couldn't get together because someday Seth will fall in love with someone else just by looking at her once. Someone who he will be destined to be with forever and no one else would matter to him anymore. After he would meet her. No one would matter. not even me. It seemed like a forbidden love where fate was separating us. For me it was more like a punishment for a crime I might have done unknowingly or in my past life. I just wanted to get out of La Push and be away from him. Watching him everyday but not being able to be with him or even talk to him became a painful thing for me. And it happened before I knew it. But each day seemed to take the time of a year to pass by.

Only one month left of my stay in La Push but things kept getting more tensed and more suffering. Then one day the unthinkable happened. Leah came by grandpa's house looking for me. I was both shocked and scared.

"Come with me." she ordered me and I followed her out of the house without making a single noise. We got into her car and she drove us to the third beach. It was completely empty and peaceful. All kind of bad thoughts were crossing my mind. We walked up to the shore line of the sea and stood their quietly for sometime. Leah took a deep breath before turning around to face me. I thought she would have a sharp angry look on her face but I was wrong. Her gaze was soft and friendly, not a usual thing for Leah Clearwater.

"I know what happened between you and Seth." I gulped down my fear along with the gasp that wanted to come out of my mouth. Was she here to confront me for hurting her brother? Everyone knew Leah loves her baby brother more than anything else in the world. Is she going to lash out on me?

"I know that both of you love each other and trying to resist that love because Seth didn't imprint on you. Seth saw what it did to me and he doesn't want the same thing for you and you probably have the same reasons to avoid him." I nodded my head slowly.

"We are not meant for each other Leah. We better forget-" Leah cut me off right away and snapped angrily at me.

"You are denying yourselves the true love for some supernatural shit. I shared the same thought as Seth before I left La Push for a month but now my opinion has changed on this. When a werewolf imprints they are forced to love that person. When Sam left me for Emily, it hurt like hell but we fell in love naturally just like you and Seth. Neither Sam nor Seth was forced by fate to love us. You can only get true love for once in your life. Don't let it go just because later it might cause pain. I hated my pain but I never regretted being in love with Sam for once. I think you should accept your love and live it as long as you can. You might not get another chance to fall in love."

Later that night, I was lying on my bed staring at the ceiling like a dead person. What Leah said at the beach did make sense to me but I couldn't act on her opinion alone. I needed to talk to the person who understands me the most. So, after thinking a while I called mom at an unusual time. Mom sounded worried and desperate when she picked up the call. She really wanted to be with me at the moment knowing that her daughter wasn't perfectly alright.

"Mom, can I ask you something?" My voice sounded unsure and shaky even to myself. I didn't want to talk about this with mom but I had no other choice.

"Yes, sweetie. You know you can ask me anything." Mom sounded more concerned. I usually don't ask for her permission before asking her a question. My behavior definitely seemed strange to her and it was making her more worried.

"Mom, do you regret falling in love with dad because he left you in such short time? I mean you could have been with someone else and live happily for a longer time. Do you ever wish you hadn't fallen for dad?" The question must be hurting mom as it was hurting me to ask. I never wanted to ask her something like this but I had to do it so that I could understand my own situation and then make a decision about it.

"Why do you ask this, honey?" I was relieved to hear mom talking to me without any anger but she sounded sad which I disliked the most. I took a deep breath and thought about explaining the situation to her as much as possible without letting out any secret about the pack.

"Mom, what if I have fallen in love with someone who can leave me any moment, what would you do in my place? Would you accept his love for the short time being or never let it happen?" The question she asked next, I saw it coming from miles ahead.

"Laila, who did you fall in love with?" There was no point in hiding that to her anymore.

"I fell in love with Seth, mom." For a few moments we stayed completely quiet and none of us said anything. I heard mom clearing her throat obviously trying to speak up again.

"Does he love you?" I made a short yes sound.

"Are you upset because you have to leave him in one month and that's why you couldn't accept his love for you." I wish that was the only reason but it was so much more than that.

"No, mom that's not the reason we can't love each other. There are some other problems. Seth could leave me any minute if we do start a relation." I only hoped she wouldn't ask me too many questions and give me the answers that I wanted.

"Does he have some serious health issues?" I responded positively to that, better thinking that than knowing the real truth about Seth and his brothers.

"Mom, what should I do? I am lost." I said helplessly just the way I was feeling at the moment.

"Laila, when I met your father and fell in love with him, it was like heaven and it felt like I have achieved the whole world. When I lost your father I felt like dying and had no purpose to live on my life. At first I thought myself if I hadn't met your father in the first place then I wouldn't be going through the pain of losing him. I thought too that my life would be much better then it was at that time. But later I realized that not knowing your father would be worse than losing him. Everything has its bright side Laila. Yes, I did suffer from pain but the moments I got to spend with my love worth everything." Mom was saying the same things as Leah did.

"So, I should give us a chance?" I still needed some self persuasion on the matter though even if mom says yes.

"You are not me, Laila. You have to decide for yourself. If you think you can handle the pain then I think you should. But if the pain is too much for you then you could break beyond repair. It's up to you if you are willing to take the risk or forget the love." Even after talking to mom, I had to think over and over again to make a decision. And in the end I decided to talk to Seth tomorrow about it.

The next day Seth ignored me as usual but I went up to him myself. "Seth, I need to talk to you, it's important, meet me after school at the first beach "

I didn't let him speak because I knew he would deny to come but now that he didn't get the chance to say no, I was sure he would show up. And I was correct about that. Seth came with a very serious stern face and looked really annoyed. I had everything planned in my mind about what I would say to him when we will meet but now that he stood in front of me, I couldn't say anything at all. After watching me standing there like a mute for a few moments Seth started speaking up.

"Why the hell did you ask me to come here?" He tried to sound angry but couldn't do it properly. Every negative emotion he ever showed towards me was fake from the beginning and this time I could see that clearly. He doesn't hate me and it's visible in his eyes. I gathered up all my courage and thoughts. I will say all the things that I came here to say no matter what.

"Seth, I am tired of this ignorance we both are showing towards each other." Seth didn't say anything to that but his silence said that he wanted me to continue.

"What is this getting us except for pain and misery? I think it's time we should accept the truth that we love each other." All on a sudden Seth grabbed my arms and pulled me closer to him. A loud furious growl escaped from his chest. We were face to face with each other and he looked really angry. It did scared me but I tried to remain still.

"You are out of your mind. You know everything about Leah and what it did to her. The same things could happen to you too and then you're gonna get hurt, badly. So, it's wise that we forget about each other." Seth whispered every word through gritting teeth and he shook violently the whole time as if it hurt him even to say all these things to me. If only he knew that Leah herself came to me and wanted me to accept our love but I couldn't tell him that. Leah asked me not to mention her visit to anyone and I promised her that I won't.

"I can't stop loving you and neither can you, I know that. We have tried hard enough. Tell me, could you stop it? Stop thinking about me, stop caring for me, stop loving me because I couldn't do it, Seth. I just couldn't do it." Seth let go of my arms and looked away from me.

"Seth, I am not saying that we should be like a couple right away or start dating each other but I want my friend back. All my life I never had a friend like you and I don't want to loose you. Seth, I will leave this place in one month and may never come back again. Why spent these remaining days trying to hate each other? How hard could we fall for each other in just one month if we think ourselves just as friends? I know after what happened between us it would never be the same again. But I am sure nothing horrible would happen and our time together would be wonderful memories for both of us."

I understood that Seth needed some time to think about it so I left without saying another word to him. I could only hope that Seth would want to be my friend again. That's all I needed to remain sane for the time being.