Zach finishes up cleaning his car. After visiting the property where his new house will stand within a month, according to Alice, they all headed back and he decided to polish his car.

He has washed the car and now he is vacuum cleaning on the inside, taking out the mats, sucking up every grain of dust and pebbles that have been dragged in from the outside.

"Hey!"

Zach's heart almost jumps out of his chest. He drops the vacuum cleaner head and straightens up. Wishing he hadn't done that; he just hit his head with the car frame, he back slowly away before standing up.

Leah stands there. Just stands there, a few feet from the car, looking at him working. She smiles.

"Hey there," Zach says back. He turns off the vacuum cleaner. "What are you doing here?" he asks, not sounding rude. He's never seen Leah among the Cullens or even near the Cullen house since the party.

"Uh…I just came to speak with Jake," Leah lies, not missing a beat. Zach doesn't look overly impressed, but just nods. Apparently Leah doesn't want to tell him everything, which is fine for him. In all honesty, they don't know each other.

"Cool. He's inside with Renesmee. As always."

"I know. And he won't go with the first, so I'm just waiting."

"Really? Because then you will have to wait for a long time." Zach gives Leah a smile and winks. She laughs. Like actually laughs.

"You're right," she chuckles. "But I'm patient. Or, I can try to be. Anyway, he'll come around soon I guess."

"Nothing too important then?"

"Nope." Leah shakes her head. "Was it dirty?" She looks over at the shining car, trying to find something to talk about other than Jacob.

"Uh, kinda…? Or, I just wanted to clean it. I ain't got too much to do so… You know, I like to have my stuff on its place and clean. And besides, a dirty car is never as good as a shining newly washed one."

"Oh yeah?" Leah raises her eyebrows.

Zach nods. He crosses his arms over his chest.

"Yes," he emphasis, look at her with a stern look, "it's a fact."

Then his serious face disappears. He laughs.

"Nah, okay then. I'll admit it, because you know, that sounded so cheesy, but yeah, I guess the car works anyway. But I just like to take care of my things. And especially this car, I've used a lot of money and time on this and I don't want the result
to look bad. And the dirt road up to the house is horrible after is has rained or even when it's raining."

Leah nods in approval.

"Yeah, I see your point."

It's silent for a bit and Leah swallows. How is she supposed to tell him all about the wolves and imprinting and that she imprinted on him? Maybe she could invite him to a bonfire so he can hear the stories before she tells him? But there are no
bonfires on the schedule now. Anyway, she can just invite him and then have a bonfire set up? Jared did that when he was about to tell Kim about the whole imprinting thingy.

"So…uh, you know, my tribe…"

Her voice kills itself.

Zach looks confused.

"Uh, yeah, you're an Indian?"

"Native American," Leah corrects him. "It's a big difference."

"Yes, yes, of course. I apologize. So yes, you are a Native American. That is pretty cool. Your tribe is…oh, what was the name again? Quilete?"

Leah nods.

"Yep. You know much about us. Our legends or stories or something?"

"Ah, no…?" Zach says uncertain, scratching the back of his head.

Leah smiles.

"That's fine," she assures him. "Yeah,no, that's cool. Really. I mean, it makes it all much better. For you, I mean."

"Oh yeah?"

Now Zach's really confused. What is it Leah wants?

"So…" Leah shuffles her feet, looking to Zach's left while talking, "I thought you might wanted to come to one of our bonfires? We sometimes have a bonfire where we just eat and hang out with the tribe and the tribe's elders and they tell us stories.
The stories are our legacy. The legends we have, there are only a few outsiders that will ever hear about them. At least some legends are very secret."

Zach looks interested. He uncrosses his arms as he nods.

Thank you, spirits, for that.

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. And the bonfire will be somewhere in the weekend. And you don't have to bring anything, my mom and others will cook very much food. I promise you, some of the food are something you've never eaten before."

"Cool. But yes, I would really like to come. But…" His forehead scrunches up. "How come I am invited if I'm not supposed to hear about the stories? Is it like the Cullens and their vampirism?"

Leah's hearts misses a beat. She takes a shocked step back. So he really knew about them?

And he still lives here? What the hell is wrong with him? Does he want to die? Or is he just as stupid as Bella?

"Are you okay?"

Zach steps forward, looking concerned at her.

"You know about them too, right? I mean, I know that you all know. Everyone that comes here knows about the secret, and I know that your tribe knows about them too. I just thought, you know, that I could mention it to you. Casually, because… It's common
knowledge. Oh, also, I've heard from Seth and Jacob that the tribe really doesn't like the Cullens. But they are still here, and you show up too… So I thought you were like accepting and stuff. They're not so bad, you know? And they're not going to
kill me. At least, they say so. But I can never know for sure. Though, if they want to kill me, their job is pretty easy. I can't really fight back."

Leah listens to his nervous babbling and smiles. How cute. And how stupid of him to still live here. He even says that he knows about the danger and that he fully doesn't trust the vampires, and still, he's stuck here. Why doesn't he go home? And never
come back. Forget the house they're making for him. Leah got the news from Seth who told her right before she phased. Seth got the news from Zach himself.

"Uh, yeah. Whatever, it's fine. Listen, yes, you're invited, and yes, you're one of the few who will ever hear about our legends, but not because of the Cullens. Not really. It's because… I really think you should hear them. Besides, it would be nice
to get away from Forks for a change, right?"

He nods.

"You have no idea." Zach grins. "Okay, so text me or something when you know something more? Like the place and time?"

"Sure. Oh, the place I already know. We'll be on a field where the cliffs are. Like, we have our spot there. It's really big and it's like half a mile from the actual cliff so no one is in danger of getting hurt."

"And I shouldn't bring anything with me? You sure? I can take with some refreshment or something?"

"No, really, don't worry about it. We got it covered. Just take with you a camping chair if you don't like sitting on lumber."

"Okay." Zach smiles, giving her his thumbs up. "Got it. What should I wear?"

"Uh, normal clothes. And take with you clothes that can protect you from the wind. It will be windy in La Push where we'll be when the night falls."

"Great. You know what? I feel excited now."

And he looks excited too. She has to chuckle again. How weird it is, to talk to Zach. Now she doesn't feel anxious, or irritated. Actually, she feels like a huge weight has been lifted from her shoulders. How good it felt, to talk with Zach, to see him,
to see him smile. He is kind of safe, and she will stay to watch out for him. The sooner he moves into his house, the better. Then she can relax a bit. But until then, she'll have to make a detour to the Cullens when she's on patrol to check up on
him. As he said, he can't take of himself while handling against a vampire. But she can. And after she has spoken to Zach, she feels as she is on the way to get to know him better. After the bonfire, he will know so much more about her, her tribe
and traditions, the legends and maybe she'll tell him then?

At least, for now, everything's okay. Zach isn't really in an immediate danger, Leah knows that. The leeches haven't killed him yet, so they probably won't do it either. But on the other hand, she doesn't trust them and she doesn't like it that he lives
in the same house as a bunch of vampires. Luckily, Jakes spends lots of time with Renesmee in or near the house, so he could watch out for Zach, and Seth comes in too. Maybe she has to visit Zach more often. It'll make her calm and she would be able
to function on daily basis.

"Good. Me too. So… I see you later?"

She has to go now. She can't stand seeing him too much because she's afraid that if she stays too long, she'll just blurt out the whole shitty thing. And then the bonfire will go to waste. Even though it technically doesn't exist. Yet.

She just needs time. That is what she's doing now. Getting some time so she can figure out a way to tell Zach everything: to confess that the spirits messed with her and pointed out him. And that she in fact didn't want it and have never wanted it. But
she doesn't want to hurt his feelings, so she has to think of a way to say it all while being honest and kind and not rude. And after telling him… Well, then she will also tell him that she really needed to leave La Push because she got plans for
her future and it all got set on pause because of him. And that he needs to let her go. She has to explain to him that he has to tell or, order her even, to leave La Push and to not come back until she has gotten a college degree.

She has to be honest and hard, but she can't hurt his feelings. It's important. If she hurts him, she'll hurt herself too. And that she can't stand. She really doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings, though with her pack brothers it easier when they pick
on her, but in fact, she really isn't that horrible as everyone imagine. She was just bitter, but that's changed. That was the past. Leah doesn't want to hurt anyone, she just wants to leave.

"Yeah, sure. I'll see you around. You will come back, right? To fill me in when you know some more?"

"Yes, of course. I'll come back. Maybe tomorrow?"

"Are you asking for permission?" he wonders.

Leah bites her tongue.

"Maybe? So if I am?"

"Then I would tell you to come back whenever you want, but since I don't actually live here, I'm only a guest, I'd advise you to talk to Dr Fang over there."

Dr Fang? Haha. At least my imprint has some sense of humour.

"Uh… He's pretty laid back when it comes to Seth and Jake coming over," Zach continues, "which I'm sure goes for you too."

"It does," Leah mumbles. She knows it does. It goes for everyone. "But I don't want to intrude or act rudely. My mom wouldn't like it."

I don't even like being here, and that's why they others don't see me around. And that's why the open invitation is sort of weird to accept. I feel rude. And if I come and go just like Seth, it'll be really awkward since they're not used to it. Neither am I. And it would just feel like I'm imposing or some shit.

"Well, you can always come back to visit me and we can get out of their hair so they can't complain later," Zach suggests.

"Yeah, we could."

Jeez, don't tempt me!

"Okay, really, I didn't mean it like that. Seriously, just forget that, please! It wasn't meant to sound like that. Really, Leah, you're actually very interesting and cool and not to mention superhot, not sexually intended, really! But I am no flirting
with you. I mean… I mean that you're everything I said you were, no doubt, but I'd like to think of you as a friend or something before I even begin to think of something more. Which I don't. Of course I don't. I just don't make friends hoping that
they will come in bed with me."

Leah laughs again. She throws her head back and laughs hard. Every vampire and shape shifter within the radius of ten miles can hear her, but she doesn't care.

"I see," she finally gets out. "Don't worry, I'm not offended. I'm…flattered."

"Good," Zach breathes out in relief.