The Beast Within

Leah's POV

I loved the new part of my job. I loved talking to people and the more I talked the more they tipped that part of it was great. I got to wear better clothes and not feel like I worked in the trenches. However, I didn't know taking a position was going to cause me to face an awkward sensation with my best friend. I now hated Denise's laugh. I hated it with a passion. She just seemed to be giggling all the time especially around Edward. Edward had actually been pretty respectable he didn't force himself on me or talk of his nonsense like he normally did. He seemed consumed with making my best friend laugh. I didn't care. I just wished she would focus more on bussing tables and less on chit chatting with Edward. Tonight I decided I wasn't going to talk to either of them I was just going to do my job and go home to Dave. Dave who lately had been begging me for some type of official move. He kept bringing up marriage or at the very least he wanted me to move in with him. I was extremely hesitant. This was the first time I had the opportunity to be live on my own. I wasn't ready to give that up. I sighed deeply before putting my third load of dishes in the kitchen for the night. I wasn't supposed to be doing that part but I couldn't pry Denise away from Edward to tell her to do her fucking job.

"Hey Lee, I swear it feels like I haven't seen you all night," she came over and pulled the tub of dishes over and gave them to Edward. She probably hadn't seen me she had been so up Edward's ass I'm sure she hadn't seen anything but his shit.

"I've been here," I said dryly.

"You look so cute tonight show a little skin and what not," she teased and I gave her a small muster. I looked for Edward to turn around and he didn't. I felt a little put out even though I wasn't wearing this for him. I wore it for Dave ... my boyfriend.

"Thanks, I had a date with Dave before I came in tonight," I muttered.

"Oh yes the good nurse Dave. How is he doing these days?" Denise asked and I shrugged. He was more than good last night and this morning. So much so that he proposed … again. Our date went like they normally did. He did a lot of talking he opened the floor for me to say something but I had nothing to say. I just … I don't know.

"He's good. I gotta get back one of my tables ordered dessert," I explained lazily as I waved her off. I looked back to see if she left the kitchen she stayed. She placed her hand on Edward's back and all of a sudden my hands … my hands started to shake really badly. It had been so long since I felt this kind of rage. I placed my tray back down and gripped my stomach.

"Oh God," I groaned quietly as I tried to fight the heat within me. This monster … this beast within me had been tamed. Why was this happening? Why now? I stood there with my eyes clamped shut until I smelled his too sweet scent in my area. I became even angrier but couldn't say anything for fear something really bad would happen. He took my tray and barely glanced in my direction.

"You need to take a break … now," he advised. "I'll handle this." I didn't want to listen to him but he was right. I needed to get out. I need to stop fighting the inevitable. After years of being dormant my beast was going to reemerge and the shit was going to hurt.

I was drained and I wasn't sure exactly where I had traveled to. I sat on the cold ground ready to sob like a baby. All my work to stop phasing was now gone. It was his presence that's what did this to me. I had learned to control and now it didn't matter. I gathered my knees to my chest and sat there for a moment. I was probably fired. Never have I ever walked out on a shift before and I had no idea what time it was but I knew I'd been out here for a long time. I looked up to the heaven and wondered if there was another woman like me. Another woman that the tribe shunned so much for being different that her tale was never passed down like it should be. It made no sense that I would be the only female with this gift or curse. There was nothing special about me.

"I know for a fact that's not true," he said quietly making his presence known.

"Eat shit Edward," I spewed my words at him and as if on cue my body started to shake again. "Why are you ruining my life?"

"I don't think I am. You are angry because you are trying to mask what you're really feeling," he said calmly as he came even closer and sat beside me. I turned away from him.

"Don't do that it's childish Leah, and neither of us are children. Let's just be real for a moment shall we? You were angry when you came in today. Actually you've been angry the last few times you've come into work. Why?" He asked and it genuinely looked like he was expecting me to answer.

"Denise hasn't been pulling her weight. I've had to do her job and mine to," I explained.

"That sucks I'm sure," he responded. "Is it hard to do both of your jobs?" I shook my head.

"No, I can handle it fine. I just shouldn't have to. We worked as a team and she spends all her time preoccupied," I spoke carefully and he chuckled.

"In the kitchen with me?" I looked down at the ground and said nothing. "You know, no answer is a response all in itself."

"She's a very pretty young woman Denise … very intelligent." He went on and I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah."

"And your jealous," he said bluntly.

"Fuck you!" I scrambled to my feet and the dirt off my behind. "I'm not jealous of anything Denise possesses. She is my friend she was supposed to be helping me. It pissed me off she was thinking with her twat and not her head!" I went to storm away and he grabbed my arm.

"And that's all," he asked at a breath of a whisper. "Nothing else made you angry?"

"Get off me Edward!" I shoved him and I was actually strong enough to break his hold. "I don't know what makes you think you have the right to put your leechy hands on me but you don't!" I waited for a moment so I could calm down. "I don't … I don't want you! I have a great life and I may be getting married soon." Edward scoffed and ran his hands through his hair.

"I can read minds and this conversation is pretty pointless. I know how you really feel all you're doing is blowing hot air in my direction," he muttered and started to leave. I wanted to be happy about his departure but I wasn't. It made me feel ill and angry.

"Fine! I didn't like it when she put her hands on you … satisfied!" He turned back to me and gave a little smirk.

"You want to know what I don't like?" He asked I really didn't care but he was going to tell me anyway.

"The fact that after you come in you start thinking about all the shit you've been doing with this Dave guy. He seems like a lousy fuck by the way. I sit there and stew because some scrawny little human is fucking what's mine," he explained through clinched teeth. I took a staggered breath in.

"I'm not yours … Bella is yours," I whispered.

"Legally … nothing that signing a piece of paper wouldn't change," Edward explained.

"We've been through this before you say these things and then you back out. You stay for Renesmee or so you claim. I think you just like having both of us. I refuse to be your side chick and I deserve better. I deserve Dave. I can't … I can't continue this conversation it's going to make me sick." I moved away from him quickly and instead of phasing like I thought I was going to I vomited. I wanted to cry but I didn't. I said what needed to be said. I was truthful and logical about the whole situation. Dave was great and he was good for me. He was who I needed.

Author's Note: I love this chapter. It shocked me it wasn't how I was planning to have it go. I hope you are are still with me and enjoyed the chapter!