Chapter 11: The Party (Part 1): Jealousy and Slow Dances

"Was that your dream lover?" Rachel called from not ten feet behind me. I clenched my teeth and tried to fix my face before turning towards her.

"I don't know why I even told you anything? It's not like you're going to give me any advice I'm gonna use." I shoved my phone in my pocket. "All I really need is a dress for this damned function that everybody wants me to attend." Jacob had texted me earlier when I was in class four times begging me to go and then I got the call from Nahuel, not until talking to him on the phone did I realize how sexy his voice sounded. It was smooth like the other vampires, but it was nowhere near as high pitched.

"I don't know why you sought me out for advice either. Everybody knows that you're experienced … not only that you're the kind of girl that goes after what she wants. So just reach out and grab it." She giggled at her double meaning.

"I'm not as experienced as you may think," I shook my head I was finally going to set the record straight. I think Sam had everyone believing I was a slut but that most definitely wasn't the case. "The only guy I've been with is Sam and it was recent, like maybe three weeks before he imprinted. I guess that's why it hurt so much when he imprinted on my cousin. He had pushed and pushed for us to make love and when I finally gave in to him, he left … like it was the easiest thing for him to do." I shook off my self-pity and brought my attention back to Rachel's closet.

"I'm sorry about your lost. If makes you feel any better being on the other side of an imprint isn't exactly a bed of roses. I know how much my love means to Paul but I'm not sure my feelings for him are the same. I would feel really guilty if I found somebody that I'd rather be with than him. I know I have the power to completely destroy him and I don't want it." Her eyes saddened. "But you have the opportunity to bring the tribe's packs back together. By you finding another guy and Sam is slowly becoming more comfortable with the Cullens there would be no problems between you all." She smiled at her revelation; I didn't have it in me to tell her that her theory was totally flawed. I didn't have it in me to tell her that my fantasy was about a half vampire and that I was no better than her brother, actually I might be worse than Jacob. I was choosing to have these physical feelings for our immortal enemies while he was forced into it.

"I like this one," she changed the topic and handed me peach colored dress. I nodded it was most definitely different than anything I would have picked for myself.

"It's just dressy enough to let them know I put some thought into it but not too much thought." I smirked as reached for it.

"And the fabric grabs you just right so that if you decide to see your secret boo you'll be looking all hot and he won't be able to resist you." I she went to poke me in the stomach and I moved away from her. She was acting like I should be happy about the situation but I was in mourning. This wasn't like when we were in middle school and we got crushes. This was a new sick feeling that I wasn't used to. It is true I had been with Sam, but when we were together first time I felt like I was rushed. I mean the sensation was enjoyable after a while but it was most definitely not like I've read in all those smutty books. My desire for Nahuel came out of nowhere and is extremely intense. It's so intense that I'm to the point where I was scared to see him again. I was scared to lose the sanest person in my life to my damned hormones.

"I'm not going to sleep with him!" I snapped I don't know if I said it for Rachel's benefit or my own. "He's my friend that's all. I just got caught up in his damned book!" I took the dress into her bathroom and slammed the door. Luckily for me Rachel was used to dealing with a temperamental shape shifter so my outburst didn't affect her in the slightest.

"Leah, I've known you for years. Even though I may have been wrong about the Sam thing … you are impulsive and if this is weighing so heavily on your mind then it just may happen, whether you want it to or not." I opened the door abruptly after I had the dress on, Rachel almost fell into me because she was leaning on the door. She stepped back and looked at me all wide eyed. "God, I hate when you borrow my clothes you always fill them out better than me!" She pouted and then giggled.

"Yeah, I got it going on!" I teased and rolled my eyes.

"No, seriously Leah," she pulled me by the hand to her full length mirror, "you look amazing. If you were going to make a move, I'd make in this dress if I were you." I admired myself in the dress, it did play up my curves and screamed at the world Leah Clearwater is a woman. Sometimes I didn't think people really noticed that about me. Rachel had begun fussing over my hair, her words faded to background of my mind as I again envisioned Nahuel on top of me. This time his muffled moans rang clearer in my mind, the sensation felt was more authentic since I had just spoken with him. I sighed and closed my eyes.

"Leah, are you alright?" Rachel snapped me out of my brief forbidden fantasy.

"Yeah, just fine." I murmured.

The party was a dud just as I had expected. I sat in a house full of blood suckers waiting for two of their most annoying to return. I sat a table by myself waiting for either of the people who had invited me to this fest full of blah to show up. Twenty minutes of my life was wasted before Jacob came through the doors with some of the pack. I was shocked he was even able to pull Quil away from Claire. Quil's attention was consumed with his cell phone more importantly the time it possessed.

"An hour and I get to leave that was the deal Jacob," Quil warned. They all sat down at the table with me and only one of them bothered to speak to me.

"Leah, you look different," Embry took a moment look me over as did Jacob.

"Are you wearing a dress?" Jacob said in disbelief.

"Yeah, I didn't know if this was a formal thing. Besides, I'm a chick I can wear a dress if I want!" I rolled my eyes at all of them. I scanned the room once more, now I was starting to feel like I was back in middle school. Where was that no good leech that demanded that I be here?

"Who are you looking for?" Embry inquired noticing that my mind wasn't were it normally was where he was concerned. I used to spend most of my time making his life miserable but that got boring as soon as I started it. Truth is Embry isn't bad, matter of fact I think it annoys me that he's so good and laid back. He's kind of like my brother. Who wasn't here yet? I guess he was coming with our mom.

"I wasn't looking for anybody more something? I thought there would be food at this thing and I'm starving!" I held my stomach as it grumbled, I was glad it did, it made my lie more believable.

"I smell food they must not have it out yet." Quil finally looked up from his phone. "Wow! You do look good Leah!" He seemed mildly impressed.

"Why thank you Quil I'm so glad I've met your approval. Oh and welcome back to the land of the living!" I laughed and scanned the room once more, I did find one half breed but not the one that I was looking for.

"You Jake it's you little girlfriend," I barely got the words out and Jacob was gone.

"And then there was three," Embry murmured.

"My thoughts exactly," I smirked as I watched our alpha scoop Nessie up into his arms.

"I don't get why we have to be here if all he's going to do is spend his time cooing at her." Quil fussed.

"What Quil, are you mad you're not on the Res doing the same thing to Claire?" I said it jokingly, but I was serious. The boy was just jealous and seriously needed to get out more.

"I just worry about her," he murmured.

"That's the same excuse Jacob uses." Embry picked up teasing where I'd left off. I looked up once more to see that my mom, Seth, and Charlie had all managed to find their way into the house. Now all that was missing is one … I mean three. I guess we were all still waiting for Edward and Bella too.

"Alright, everyone they're pulling up! Hide behind something or someone!" Alice cut off the lights and we waited for about ten seconds and when we heard the door open we all yelled.

"SURPRISE!" The lights came back one and everyone went to greet Bella and Edward. I didn't really have the desire to talk to them so I took a step back and accidently stepped into someone. "Sorry," I murmured before actually looking at the person.

"Nahuel, where have you been all night?" I sounded angry and I do believe my upset fueled his ego.

"My aunt and I had something we needed to discuss," he said bluntly. I respected his privacy I was not the type of person to harp on family issues. "Have you been enjoying the party or have you missed too much to have fun." He smirked.

"Please you don't dictate my good time!" I scoffed and clicked my tongue. "However I was a little bored and since there is no food I was even more bored." I found myself moving closer to him. I didn't step back even though I wanted to. I didn't want him to think the act was involuntary.

"So food is the predictor of your mood?" He mused. "Then I will be sure to have you around food at all times." He inched closer to me as well.

"God, you make me sound like a pig!" We both laughed.

"Not a pig, but you do have the appetite of a very large man!" He moved toward the kitchen and I followed him. "They laid the food out in here so that people could eat when they are ready. I guess Alice forgot to tell everyone because she doesn't eat." Nahuel shrugged and handed me a plate.

"The nerve of some leeches! I can't even get a decent meal." I teased playfully.

"Some leeches try to feed you," he walked behind me while I filled up my plate. His closeness was making me uneasy and making it really hard for me to swallow all of a sudden.

"You're not a full on leech though, so it doesn't count." I corrected him as we walked back into the living room my seat had been taken by Nessie and her parents and Jacob where all huddled around her. Fortunately, there was an unoccupied table in the corner we sat across from each other and I took the moment to study him fully.

"You unbraided your hair?" I examined his ebony hair that fell past his shoulders and down his back. He wore his locks hair half up and half down. A lot of the guys from the pack used to do that too when their hair was long.

"Alice wanted me to cut it to fit in but this was the best compromise we could come up with. It's against my beliefs to alter my hair but so much." He toyed with a few strands I wished I could too. It looked so soft and inviting.

"Don't cut it," I scooted closer to him and reached out my fingers hesitantly allowing myself this weird moment. "It's pretty."

"Thank you," his tone was low yet amused, "I don't exactly how to respond to being called pretty. Isn't it a feminine attribute being pretty?" He asked and my line vision shifted from his hair to his eyes.

"A man can be pretty," I commented as my sights shifted once more … to his lips.

"Are you saying I'm pretty or just my hair?" He arched his eyebrow and seemed genuinely confused.

"You're a vampire by law you are pretty you have no choice in the matter." I sighed and repositioned in my seat attempting to get my hormones in check. It was hard he did look delicious in the black button down top he was wearing. "Okay on to a new topic because this one bores me!"

"Everything bores you apparently." He laughed.

"Yeah I am hard to amuse," but apparently not to stimulate sexually. I hated to sound like a man but sitting here with Nahuel was making me horny as hell. "You know what I am curious about?"

"No what peaks your curiosity Miss Clearwater?" He said as he took a piece of chicken off my plate.

"Why did you want me here so badly tonight?" He rolled his eyes at my question. "Don't act so annoyed you knew I was going to ask!" I giggled; damn the man had me giggling. I was most definitely out of my element.

"What if I said … I wanted you here so I could see how amazing you look in a dress?" The look he gave me was intentionally seductive and sent a chill down my spine.

"Umm, that was unexpected," I laughed nervously.

"I was trying not to bore you and flatter you at the same time. Did it work?" I didn't know how to respond. I knew I couldn't look up at the moment all of my flesh was hot. I figured that my cheeks had to be as red as two apples right now. I hunched my shoulders and tried to seem indifferent. I finally looked up to notice the guests of honor were headed our way.

"Wow, Leah I'm surprised to see you here!" Bella stated and I put on a fake smile.

"Yeah the things I will do for my Alpha," I murmured I decided to ask them a couple more questions so that I would have some time to cool down. "So how was your trip?"

"It was good," Edward narrowed his eyes and then smirked. He was in my head and just knowing that he was caused my hands to shake so I quickly placed them under the table.

"It was necessary. I just can get enough of this guy and with some many people in this around it makes it hard to have any alone time." They kissed in front of us which made me want to upchuck a little. I twisted my head to see that Nahuel was avoiding looking at their display of affection as well.

"I'm very glad to see that you have both returned safely," Nahuel stood and I did the same. I don't know why, the only logical explanation I had was that if he was going somewhere I wanted to go too. "If you will all excuse me I need some air." I followed him as he made his way to the front door. We were about half way to his goal and he turned around and looked at me. He pulled me closer to him and whispered in my ear. "I need a few non-human moments alone okay? I will be back shortly I promise." He left me standing in the middle of the make shift dance floor. I looked around the room looking for a replacement in entertainment. However I was quickly realizing that there just wasn't a replacement for Nahuel. I decided to follow after him anyway. I opened the door to see him sitting outside on the steps.

"This doesn't look non-human," I commented sitting beside him.

"You don't listen very well," he grumbled as he held his face in his hands.

"You're not the first to tell me that," I snickered a little and then hesitantly placed my hand on his back for comfort. "What's wrong?"

"Jealousy is a stupid emotion," he whispered so low that I don't know if he really meant for me to hear it.

"Who are you jealous of?" I frowned and he looked at me briefly with glassy eyes. My heart dropped I didn't know that he could cry. He got off the step and went to stand in front of the window.

"All of them. They are so happy I want to experience that happiness." I stood beside him and watched as the vampires and some of my pack moved on the dance floor.

"I don't mean to be insensitive but they all look a little stupid to me," I moved away from the window and venture out further into the yard. "All of that old school dancing looks weird; all that they are missing is big puffy dresses and white powdered wigs." I laughed and began moving in a fashion similar to what I'd seen in the window. I went to turn around and Nahuel was right in front of me. He took my hand in his and placed the other on the side of my waist.

"I think that you feel that way because you've never tried it," he began to lead me and teach me how to dance like the Cullens did. I laughed because I stepped on Nahuel's foot several times but he didn't seem to mind. The song playing from inside the house stopped and Nahuel released me.

"I don't know. I think I still like today's dancing better." A slower song came on and I wrapped my arms around Nahuel's neck and he placed his hands at my waist. We began to sway in rhythm with the song and his thumbs began to play at my sides. "Isn't this better?" I moved a little closer to him.

"It's different. We're closer … I feel more … of you." He cleared his throat awkwardly and I snickered.

"Please, this is nothing usually people are a lot closer … like this," I connected my body to his. I marveled at how amazing it felt just being in his arms. I felt special as sappy as it sounds. His touches were so gentle it was as if he really cares about me. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks, that's what I wanted, I want him to care. It wasn't just sex. If it were just sex it would be simple.

"Leah, I need to tell you …" as soon he started to talk we heard the front door open aggressively and Jacob and Quil stormed out. I quickly pulled myself away from Nahuel. I hated like I behaved as though he were some kind of dirty secret. He seemed pissed by it too.

"Jacob you said an hour and I have been here much longer than that. I'm going home!" Quil tried to leave but Jacob grabbed his arm.

"You should stay Nessie really like all of us being here and I'm sure Claire is fine." I scoffed at how hypercritical Jacob was being. I didn't want to get involved in their mini imprint war but Quil was never good at standing up for himself.

"Jacob, your being stupid, how would you feel if someone told you that you had to stay away from Nessie when you really wanted to see her? Let the poor boy go and be thankful that Seth, Embry, and I are still here." Jacob huffed out a sigh knowing that I was right.

"Fine go … and give Claire my love I guess." How in the world did I end up with an alpha that pouts? I turned around to return to Nahuel but he had disappeared. I really wished he'd stop doing that. After Quil pulled off I tried to move away from Jacob but he caught my arm.

"And where have you been?" He countered.

"Gee Jacob I didn't even realized that you knew I was gone, you know with all of your imprint loving going on!" I teased.

"Look Leah, I know you're jealous of Nessie," he said seriously and I looked at him like he'd lost his mind, "don't try to bull shit me Leah. Before I imprinted I realized that my feeling were changing for you and."

"Whoa! Shut up Black! I've never thought about you that way and I really don't want to know how you thought about me!" I cringed and shook my head repulsively. I couldn't believe that I'd miss that even through phasing at the same time as him I'd never witness him have a nasty or romantic thought about me.

"You mean you didn't?" He seemed confused.

"Nope, I just rag on you because the imprint thing is weird. I can't believe you thought I was heartbroken over you. Sam is the only one that I haven't completely gotten over but I do believe that I'm pretty much over that." My tone saddened not because of Sam but because of the new emotions I felt for Nahuel. I didn't want to wish for something that would only cause us pain.

"Wow, I had that all wrong," he sighed relieved, "I have to say I'm glad I didn't want to be the second guy to break your heart."

"Trust me Jacob Black our friendship is just as weird and dysfunctional as it ever was!" I threw my around his shoulder and headed back into the house with him.

Author's Note: I'm sorry this chapter took a long time to deliver. However, it is my longest chapter to date so I hope that makes up for the timing issue. Part 2 will be a little juicier so I hope you like lemonade because I just may make some. Also, I don't know if any of you are reading Remembering Leah but Stephycats made a trailer on youtube for it and it's pretty awesome please check it out! As always please read and review and no flames!