Disclaimer – I obviously do not own Twilight. But I do own Layla, as she is a figment of my imagination =]
A/N: WOW! You all are so amazing, and very fast readers sheesh! We'd like to thank these people for adding our story to their alerts/favorite stories: Shay Silverdawn, MySilentEmoSide, & Roxie I Do Byte. Thanks everyone! R&R!
POV: Layla
Oh my god! I knew the boys could eat but damn! I made yet another call to the pizza shop down the road. I might as well have a frequent flyer card for that place. That makes the third order in two hours. Someone's going to get suspicious. Or they would if the delivery boy was Brady! I laughed to myself, and joined Emily, and the other wolf-girls in their corner. I liked being with the boys, but I needed girl time too.
I fought with the sinking feeling in my gut. I knew exactly what it was; sadness. I would never be imprinted on like these girls that were so happily in love with their men. I love Seth, but there might come a day, when he imprints on another girl, and I would willingly let him go, if that's what he wanted. I knew I would, and even without telling him, he knew also.
"Layla? Laaaayla?" It was Claire. She had grown up over time, she was 10 now, and turning into a beautiful girl, with Quil attached to her at the hip. Her auburn hair pushed over her shoulder, reminding me slightly of Renesmee, sitting quietly in the corner holding her knees to her chest.
"Yeah Claire-bear?" my head darted to look in her direction, but my eyes focused on Nessie. Claire tugged at my sleeve, and pulled me outside to her swing-set. She climbed up to her swing, and kicked her legs. Just like Ness; never saying anything, just expressing. I pushed her higher, and we talked about school, and her crush Connor in her 4th grade class. I giggled at her confession to her tiny crush on her Qwiw. I smiled and told her that I think Quil likes her too, but not to tell anyone. She giggled, and zipped her lips, the blush spreading across her cheeks.
We went inside, and she ran to Quil, planting a kiss on his cheek taking him by surprise. I suppressed a laugh, and sat down next to Seth, his arm snaking around me. I scanned the room, taking in my surroundings: Jake and Ness settled in the chair together in the corner, Sam was helping Emily in the kitchen cleaning up the latest round of mess, Quil trying to figure out what Claire's kiss meant with her sitting at arm's length next to him, Jared and Kim sitting in a corner, Collin and the other boys were probably playing video games in some other room in the house. It was…quiet! In this house there is never quiet. I cleared my throat, and everyone's eyes flew to me.
"Okay so…who wants to tell me what's up? Why's everyone acting so weird?" I looked everyone in the room in the eyes. I wanted to know the answer, and one way or another I would find out. I caught my dad's eyes first, and searched them, but he knew my tricks, and kept his "poker face" on. Renesmee, my mother for all intensive purposes, -who was more like my best friend- was next. She avoided me all together lately, and it was starting to hurt. I skipped the lovey dovey couples, and plopped back down on the sofa. I buried my head in the crook of Seth's warm cinnamon neck. I placed light kisses on his collarbone, grazing my nails up and down his ribs.
POV: Seth
I shivered, and inched away, something I really hated to do. "Layla, come walk with me," I whispered in her ear, and practically jumped from my spot on the couch. I walked calmly out the door, listening to her footsteps behind me. I sighed, and strode over to Claire's swing-set. "Lay, baby, you know how that blo- err Riley and I have to…um fight for you or what not?" She nodded innocently. Well fuck! How am I supposed to tell her that that's tonight? She's going to flip some shit. Ugh…okay well just spit it out. "Well, Sam & Jake decided that the 'duel," I said putting air quotes around it, "is going to be…it's gonna be tonight babe." I searched her face for anything. She had Jake's signature "poker face" on. I ducked my head, and wrapped my arms around her. "Love…I-I'm scared." For the first time in my life, I admitted it. I was scared to fight a bloodsucker. She raised her eyebrow, and cocked her head to the side.
"Why are you scared honey? You've taken on a billion leeches before! Why should Riley be any different?"
"You mean…You don't care if I kill him?"
She sighed, "Well I mean if I had it my way, no one would fight, and I could have you both. But of course, life kind of sucks like that. Everything you wish would happen just doesn't. So if I had to choose, I choose you Seth. I've loved you since the first day I came to La Push. You were right by my side the first time I phased, trying to calm me down, stroking my fur. You were at my side in a flash when you found out about Cam…" Her voice caught, and I pulled her tighter. "You've never left me, and I know you won't."
'Unless you imprint,' said the annoying voice in my head. I wanted to scream at it to shut up and mind its own business, but it was right. I groaned, "I would never hurt you on purpose Lays. I just… I'm just thinking, what if I'm not right for you? What if I imprinted on another girl? I couldn't stand to see you hurt like that. Maybe Riley should win tonight." I looked away from her, and let the tears fall.