Letters

Day Two with Jake
POV: Jake

I watch Leah stretch backwards, the front two legs of her chair in the air, a crumpled paper in her hand. She shoots the wad of paper toward the recycle bin. The makeshift ball bounces off the rim to land amongst a whole nest of similarly smushed paper projectiles.

She mutters a curse and shakes her head, then turns back to her pen and paper.

"Do you always wear that shirt, Leah?" I ask scratching my back as I pass her, moving towards the kitchen. She makes a noncommittal noise through her nose. I smile and make a loud sniffing noise. "Still stinks to high heaven."

I smirk as she narrows her eyes at my back.

"Sleep well, Beta?" her voice holds an irritated tone.

What's with the Beta, stuff? I don't ask, though, because it sure beats 'jackass.' Truth of it is, I actually had an awful time sleeping in Bella's bed without her, but that's another story for another day. So, I just nod, preparing some coffee. I watch Leah bend over a pile of paper again, deep in concentration. And then I watch her repeat the earlier action.

Sigh...

Crumple...Crumple.

Lean back.

Toss.

Miss.

Start all over again.

Her aim sucks.

The coffee is done and I pour us both a cup. "Milk and sugar?" I call to her loudly.

"Yeah, thanks," she calls back, preoccupied. "I like a little bit of coffee with my warm milk and sugar."

Funny, I thought her hard-as-nails self would just like it black. But then I'm nice and sweet and I like it black. I chuckle at my morning thoughts. I prepare her coffee and carry both steaming mugs out to the table where Leah is again hard at work.

"Girlie-wolf, what the hell are you doing?" I ask after my third sip and her second toss at the garbage bin since I sat down.

"I'm writing a letter."

"To whom? Oh wait. Let me guess," I cock an eyebrow and watch a pretty blush rise to her cheeks. "Yep, knew it. Embry."

She nods.

I look over to the recycle bin. "So, have you decided to tell him through a letter?"

She rolls her eyeballs at me and replies, "Yeah, right Jake. Like I could even if I wanted to. Besides, what would I say?.. Oh, by the way, Embry, I've imprinted on some green-eyed monster. I've been fighting it since Labor Day, but then, the guy came back from wherever he disappeared to and magically called out to me and I proceeded to dry hump him against a wall. I'm sorry, I couldn't fight it. Fortunately his equally monstrous sister kicked me out on my ass and, well, now I'm really looking forward to seeing you again, at my ex's wedding?!"

I shrug.

"Yeah, that would work pretty well," I reply casually, sipping my coffee. "I'd take out that part about the dry humping, though."

She crumples up the paper and then tosses it. It hits me square on the forehead. Her look is unhappy and annoyed.

"Why don't you just tell him?" I ask, flicking the paper ball back at her.

"You know I can't," she replies, catching the ball up and squeezing it. The frantic look returns to her eyes.

"You could fix that pretty fast, Leah, and you know it," I say challenging her. "Don't you think Embry deserves to know what's going on?"

"We aren't-" she stops to stare at me. "It's not like that between us. There are no strings."

I let out an incredulous huff and deliberately run my eyes over her body, wearing the shirt that Embry wore on the day Bella saw him and Leah kiss. Leah turns even redder than before.

"Whatever, Leah, that's a pretty big, green string you're wearing right now," I toss off, finishing my coffee. "If you ask me, it seems like you're in denial about how you feel about Embry."

She scowls at me and looks as if she's ready to scream in frustration.

I sit, nonplussed, waiting for the verbal attack. Instead, she stalks off and for some reason I'm disappointed in her refusal to fight.

As I stand to pick up the mugs, I grab hold of one of the papers on the floor by the bin. I unwrinkle it and read...

I miss you, Embry.

I wish we could be together.

I'm sorry for being such a disaster.

I think I-

I recrumple the paper and toss it into the basket. I do the same for all the others laying on the floor. I go and wash the mugs and after I dry my hands, I pull my phone from my back pocket and stare out into the woods.

I make up my mind and I begin to dial... 1... 9...4...1.

An Offer of Assistance
POV: Edward
Setting: Cullen Manse, the day following the bizzare encounter in the forest.

I worry over every word. I even ask my assistant to look over the letter to make sure it reads OK. She smiles after she scans it. She tells me not to fret, that it's fine and urges me to re-read it only once to make sure it says exactly what I want it to. So, I do...

Dear Jacob,

I guess by now, you know it's me. I was in town for the night, stopping over on my way to Italy, to hunt.

I hadn't intended for anyone to know. But I was nearby and stumbled onto something I think you should be aware of.

I thought I caught Bella's scent. It was late. I followed it, thinking she, or you, might be in trouble.

I know it's not any of my business, not anymore, but I was worried and old habits die hard.

Instead of Bella, I found a lynx. I tried to hunt it, but I think it shifted, into something else - a bird.

Do you already know something about this? I certainly hope you do.

And, Jacob, it gets worse, I think it can read minds, as well as project into them.

I saw into his. I'm sure it was male.

It's after Leah, Jake. I thought you should know... You were on its mind, too. Please keep Bella safe.

Call me if you need to.

Sincerely,

Edward

212-505-8267

Satisfied, I fold the paper and place it in the envelope. It's my last day in Forks, so I track down Angela, who I know has been Bella and Jake's friend despite how weird the three of us must have seemed to her. I hope she'll be OK with giving Jacob this letter for me. I can't leave the country without knowing I've tried to do all that I can to ensure they both stay well.

Day 3 Last Day With Jake
POV: Leah

I'm sitting on the porch gazing at the forest, thinking how much I enjoy the quiet here when Jake tumbles out the door and interrupts my musings. I cast an annoyed glance his way, but don't say anything. Not that I'd admit it, but the last two days has me appreciating having a friend like him. He seems to know just when to say stuff, enough to rattle my thinking, but not enough to make me crawl back into my well-worn armour of pissed-offedness. What is most pleasing is that he also seems to know just when to shut up.

"Hey, Leah, want to go out for a run before I have to take off to the airport?"

"As wolves?" I ask, already knowing the answer.

"Yeah, it's been a long time and you know we're far enough away we won't hear the other guys."

"But you'll be inside my head."

"Are you bothered by that?" he seems unperturbed at me being inside his.

I look at him and find that, besides Embry, this is one of the pack brothers I'd trust with my life. So, yes. It would be OK to let him in, a little.

"You sure you're up for it?" I ask with a warning tone. "I'm pretty messed up inside."

He seems a little surprised at my admission.

"Messed up about what?"

I stare open-mouthed at him. What did he think he was doing here? What did he think... ugh. Stupid wolf.

"My situation, Jake."

"No, I mean, is there are particular person you're messed up about? Your imprint? or Embry? or..."

"Stop saying he's my imprint. And, geeze, Jake, how many guys do you think I can handle in my life?" I give him a wry smile. He's still staring. "Fine! Mostly Embry."

"Is that who you're thinking about now?"

"Yeah, so what, Jake?" Why the hell did it matter?

"Oh, good, whatever, that's fine. Let's go!"

I catch up to him. He's already halfway into the back woods. I find a bush to change behind and shiver into wolf form. I see Jake's wolf head behind a big boulder and move toward him. He looks at me and motions with his head to follow him. His feelings and thoughts directly transmit into my head. It's been such a long time since I've taken on one of the pack's emotions.

He really misses Bella and... he's really worried about me and ... Embry.

I bark, and send him a mental message to wait a minute.

There's a niggling in my brain. Someone else. I've lost sight of Jake and work to clear my head since I don't know who that someone else is.

Happiness... strong and bright yellow enters my mind.

... and love, pure and sweet.

Who's there? my question rings in my head.

What's up, Buttercup?

Embry?!

The reply thought he sends me fills me up like a warm embrace. There's no one else with us and I know immediately that this was all Jake's doing.

Hey, how come I can hear you so clearly? I ask him. The last time I tried a bi-coastal mind-meld it was like watching a black-and-white movie, listening to thoughts through a snowy radio channel.

I'm still in Florida. We're on the same coast and maybe because I'm totally focused in on you, he replies.

How did you know I'd be...

Jake called, said you were not yourself when you left for New Hampshire.

Oh. I try not to think thoughts of murdering the meddling wolf who I'd just come to think of as a dear friend.

I hear Embry's chuckle in my head. Don't be mad at Jake, Leah. He worries. You OK?

For a flickering moment, I want to let loose all of the frustrated crazy thoughts that are in my head. But I don't want to do it this way. I can't anyway. So, I think about Embry. I've been doing that a lot lately, so it's not difficult to crowd out thoughts of Stefan.

My thoughts of Embry travel across miles to plant in his head. I wonder at that. I can feel his internal smile.

I miss you too, Buttercup.

I shake off the foreboding I feel for the future and solely focus on the moment with him.

I can't wait to see you in two weeks, I reply, my thoughts turning a little to begin our regular exchange. So, Embry...

Leah! Knock it off!

I can feel his angry growling in my head.

... have you ...

If you keep saying what I know you're going to say, I am going to phase out! His furious threat is tinged with something else... vulnerability?

I stop a minute, skip the opening line and speed onto the one that riles him up most.

Well, I guess not, then. You know it would make my life a whole hell of a lot easier of you did.

Dammit, Leah!

I don't know why I do this. A test, I suppose. It would be easier to lose him this way. So, I wait to feel him shut off his feelings for me. I can feel the anger and annoyance. I can feel the worry and fear that I don't reciprocate his feelings. I feel the twin of my feelings for him - the ones I've been beating back so he doesn't see - the very same one inside of him that throbs ever brighter, reaching out to mine. I'm too cowardly to touch it in either of us. I'm afraid it's going to overtake me and I'll again be left with no choice. I push against it, not ready to take it in. I'm not yet whole and I feel ready to break apart at any moment because of the stress of my growing feelings for him and the visceral pull of the other...

Leah, why don't you get it? I lo-

DON'T SAY IT! DON'T THINK THE WORDS! I shout at him.

I feel the hurt slam into him and I yelp out against it.

Please, Embry, I can't, not yet. I send every warm, caring, loving feeling that I have for him into his head to act as a salve. I send him my desperate want for him to be beside me, to feel his arms wrapped around me, to feel his kiss against my lips, to lose myself in the power of him.

I feel him calm.

OK, then, if you won't let me tell you, let me show you.

And he does, he brings back every memory he has of me. There is no sound, only the strength of his feelings filled with care and tenderness.

The day Sam crushed me with news of his imprinting and his desire to hold me through the storm even then.

An image of me sitting by the bonfire, my eyes flashing, my head resting against Seth.

The image of my naked back in the forest, watching Jake get mended. The feel of my arms around him, riding on his bike.

How he felt when I asked him to stay that night, how he didn't pity me when he held me as I wept.

Shopping for Jake's shoes and the jealousy there. Watching me dive, staring at me with desire, sitting on his t-shirt - mine now.

A lingering memory of the day he discovered I smelled of buttercups along with the other wildflowers of the forests. I feel him smile satisfactorily at that. This is something he holds tight to because Sam doesn't share it, this little bit of knowledge about me is something no one but him knows. I return the internal smile.

Then he thinks about his surprise at my reaction to what he thought of imprinting, how he never wants to hurt me like that again.

Then, I feel his annoyance at me for tarting up his shirt with my perfume. His regret over that first rough kiss on Jake's back porch.

I don't regret that at all, my mind sends the thought to him. I feel his heart lift.

He thinks of watching me sleep on my night of drunken debauchery. I watch amazed at how he holds me in my bed, after I'd reached out to him in my dreams. I know he hides parts of this memory and his feelings during it from me. I don't blame him, considering how callous I've been with him so far.

Then he sends me his most treasured memory of the parting kiss that he wishes was our first.

Only then do I realize that werewolves can shed tears.

I miss you, Embry.

I miss you, too, Buttercup.

We both phase back at the same time.

I climb into my clothes and build up a small fire of fury against Jake as I do. By the time I'm fully dressed it's close to a blazing inferno. I stride over to the house, my sweater in hand, and throw Jake a hateful look.

"Tell me when you're going to do that, next time," I seethe.

"You were lost," he patiently replies, as he shoves his clothes into his backpack. "Seems like now you've found some stuff out."

The truth of it deflates me. Forgetting my anger, I throw myself into the nearest chair and run my fingers through my hair.

"What am I going to do, Jake?"

"Whatever you decide, Leah," he stops to put a gentle hand on my shoulder, "I'll be there for you, no matter what."

"Will you help me fight this thing with Stefan?" I ask hopefully.

"I promise to do everything I can to find out what you can do to fight it," he says solemnly.

I grab hold of his fingers. "Thank you, Jake."

"Sure, Leah, sure."

Return to Forks
POV: Jake

I drop my hand, still holding the letter from Edward that I discovered next to the T.V. and stare up into the sky. It is lighter out than even a month ago at this time of the evening. The clouds block the moonlight, though slivers of its rays peek out every so often, bathing everything in the front yard in a silvery glow. I gaze absently at the paper in my hand. At least there's nothing in it that indicates Bella might come to harm. Not really. I wrinkle my forehead, deep in thought.

I know the girl, Felicia, is back in New Hampshire. Leah sent an e-mail just this morning. No sign of the guy, though.

My paranoia, I think, stems from the fact that I feel like I am lying to Bella about how much I know about the blond twins. She knows I'm keeping stuff from her though it is a lie of omission. She understands, of course, since I am under Alpha command not to share any of this with anyone outside of the pack. If it means our pack safety, I have to abide by Sam's wishes. Sam isn't even telling Emily everything. I also don't want Bella to be worried about something that could be nothing at all. She's already got it in her head that Leah imprinted on Stefan anyway.

I think about Leah and then I think about me, both of us in this thing's mind. If there is a way Ed can help, how can I not ask for it? I promised Leah I'd do everything in my power to help. But If I do ask, how will I keep it from Bella? I've never kept anything this big from her.

I sigh and ask the inevitable question of myself, the true reason for my hesitation. If I drag Edward into our lives now, will I be able to keep Bella from falling for him all over again?

I sigh, making up my mind.

Then I reach for my phone.

Author's note: Many thanks to Kei Kat Jones for the inspiration on how Leah might sarcastically reply to Jake about what she would write to Embry. Kei Kat's post made me laugh. I added a few embellishments to her words. Hopefully what I added didn't detract from the original sarcastic intent.