Disclaimer: If this story was mine... why would I be calling it a fanfiction?


Chapter 9
The Flickering Flames


Jacob guided me up a winding pathway to a large cliff. It continued up and up for many feet beyond where we paused. "This," he explained to me, "is where the smart people stop walking. Are you a smart person, Leah?"

"What do you mean?" I inquired.

"Do you want to be a fool and jump from impossible heights, possibly killing yourself, or will you be a wise person and take your leap here?" he questioned, a cocky grin presenting itself on his face.

"Quitters never win," I retorted.

"And winners never quit," he finished, chuckling. "But those who never win and never quit are idiots." I laughed openly at his new spin on the old saying.

"Then I guess I'm an idiot," I murmured. He smiled even wider and took my hand, leading me up farther. He guided me carefully out onto the cliff face.

"All you have to do is jump," he told me. I was overcome with fear so powerful that I nearly turned back, but reminding myself of the pain that would confront me if I left, I steeled myself and stepped off the rock face.

I felt a sudden rush as the ground disappeared beneath me, as I flew quickly through the empty air. I heard a loud whoop of joy as Jacob joined me, flying all those many feet above the ground. We spiraled down to the water and hit it with a loud splash before emerging, laughing.

The sensation was amazing – I felt so free and happy, like I owned the whole world. I wasn't cured, that was for sure… but I was better.

I felt a happy grin spread on my face as I swam strongly to the shore. I saw Jacob behind me wearing a similar expression. A pang of sorrow stabbed through my heart. The grin faded and I turned my back on him, walking away with no particular destination in mind.

A few minutes later, I found myself at a house that was familiar even though I couldn't have visited it more than once or twice.

Sam's.

The familiar, rustic building, full of happy memories… why had I brought myself here? Another arrow of despair found its mark on my heart. I sunk to the floor, tears prickling in my eyes. I heard loud, quick footsteps behind me.

Jacob's voice called out, "Leah!"

"Go away," I cried, a sob ripping out of me. I heard a worried sigh and retreating steps.

I sat there on Sam's doorstep for some time, bawling my little heart out. It seemed like I was there forever, tears pouring from my dark eyes.

Eons later, I heard the soft click of a door opening. Two loud footsteps sounded, then someone was holding me in their arms. The sobs continued as I shook in fear and pain.

"Leah," a beautiful, soft voice whispered. "Leah, it's all right."

"Sam?" I gasped, feeling my heart tearing up into even smaller pieces.

"It's all right," he repeated, not answering my question. "It's okay, honey. I'm here."

"Sam," I said again. It was not a question.

He stood and I with him, relieved to just be in his arms, not caring about why he was here or even how. No anger penetrated my bones, no fear at all. All I wanted was to be with him.

He lifted me and somehow managed to open the door simultaneously. He slammed it behind us as he brought me once more into his home.

He carried me over to a couch similar to the one in my house, the one where we'd shared our first kiss… the one where he had looked at me with those beautiful eyes and smiled his heartbreaking smile…

He set me on it easily. I leaned into him, wanting a kiss or at least a touch. He turned away from me, guilt plain on his perfect face.

"Sam… what is it?" The worry in my voice was clear.

"I'm so awful, Leah," he told me, the guilt in his equally apparent.

"How are you here, Sam?" I asked, letting reason, not desire, take over my mind for an instant. "I thought you were dead."

"Leah, I wasn't dead. I was never dead." A sardonic smile spread across his lips, so familiar. He reached over and pulled me into his arms, then lifted me onto his lap. He held me there, his face so painfully close to mine. "You, on the other hand, might have been." He pressed his mouth to mine and kissed me.

For half an instant, I was happy. Then the fire came back, the poisoned arrow. It forced its way into my very being, and I was overcome in that moment with desire sharp as a dagger and a throbbing pain just as jagged. I tore my mouth away from his as the burning overcame the want.

"Leah, I love you," he murmured, trying to bring me to him once more.

"I love you, too, Sam," I agreed, tearing my way out of his arms and standing. "But the flames burn hotter than the need." I left him there with a puzzled expression on his wonderful face.

I ran to my house, heart thudding in my ears. "Leah," my mother began as I raced through the door. I completely ignored her and moved on into my room.

I collapsed again on my bed, feeling as torn as I had been on that first day when I heard that Sam was gone. Tears overcame me once more.


A.N. I am so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so SORRY! I did not… I had no idea… I didn't realize how close to Twilight this was turning out. I really intended no relation – I needed… sorry. I'll… I'll fix it, I'll distance it, I'm sorry…

Wow, this is about to get really hectic! My schedule, I mean, not the story plot. I'm on vacation, and I'm still working on three stories at once now, "Born in Shadows," this one, and a few others that have yet to be released. Also, I'm doing regular updates on two FictionPress stories. I am so confused. Did I mention that I'm on vacation?

I promise I'll get a BiS release out soon. That story is rather hard to write – I don't know exactly where I'm going with it. Yippee!

Yes, this was a short chapter. It was a bridge. Some stuff is about to start happening – convenient plot twists, all that nonsense. Here we go! Step onto the ride.

And I sincerely apologize for not updating recently.