"The broken locks were a warning you got inside my head
I tried my best to be guarded, I'm an open book instead
I still see your reflection inside of my eyes
That are looking for a purpose, they're still looking for life."
-Broken, Lifehouse
Time is relative.
I know I'm not the first person to realize this, and I'm far from the most famous, it has absolutely nothing to do with energy or mass, or the speed of light or anything Einstein might have postulated, Hey don't look like that, I actually paid attention in Physics. But mostly it had to do with the drag of hours that I waited for Jacob and Seth to return.
"You really shouldn't have hid it." Embry says breaking the silence.
I roll my eyes and groan. I much preferred the whole sitting in silence thing to him talking.
Lecture, blah, blah, blah. Who the hell really cares if I've been seeing Jacob?
"At least," He says thoughtfully, "You shouldn't have lied."
I'm not really in the mood for this.
"It really hurt him you know." Embry says softly.
I know he's referring to Seth, so I don't say anything. I know I hurt Seth. I saw the look in his eyes. I don't need a damn reminder douche bag.
"So why'd you guys lie? Why put on that show?" Embry asks.
We're sitting in the living room—it's the closest room to the door.
"It wasn't your business." I snap.
"Yeah it was." He argued.
I'm not in the mood for this. My brother, and Jake are along in the forest talking about god knows what, and I get to sit here, with the dumbass, and talk about when I decided I wanted to start doing his best friend.
"Just in case you didn't know, he loves you a lot." Embry says quietly.
I know that Seth loves me. He's probably one of the only few people in the world that I haven't scared off. I'm about to tell this to Embry when I take a look at his face.
The way that he's looking at me makes me realize that's he's not talking about Seth.
"How the hell do you know that?" I say accusingly.
He just shrugs.
"I've known for a long time, we've all known—It was just getting the two of you realize—well let's just say that you've got some competition when it comes to complete stubbornness."
"How long have you known?" I ask.
"Probably before it happened. Although for the past month, I swear I never even saw this coming, you guys sure know how to convince people that you hate each other." He say chuckling.
At least I know my acting skills are up to par.
I hear Embry laughing in his seat. I turn to glare at him.
"What's to funny jackass?"
"This." He says laughing.
"You. And. Jacob!" He chokes out between the laughter.
"The town is going to flip!"
Damn it.
"They're not gonna find out." I tell him threateningly.
He doesn't seem to get the hint because he only laughs harder.
"What the hell?" I scream. "What's so damn funny?"
"You think Jacob's not going to tell everyone now that Seth and I know?" He challenges.
"Hell, he practically jumped for joy when he said you guys were together, and I know Jake quite well, the boy's been dying to tell someone."
He's right. Damn it.
"You're a big pain in the ass." I tell Embry.
He snorts in response. ,"Well you're no picnic either sunshine."
"Just—" He starts, I can tell that he's trying to figure out how to word it. It takes him a minute, but he finally gets it, "Can I be there when Sam finds out?"
Then he burst into a fit of laughter.
I will forever be surrounded by teenage boys.
Ugh.
Now he's talking about Sam.
Damn it.
Damn it all to hell.
"How about you go run over to Sam's place and tell him right now." I offer.
Embry gulps.
"I think I'll pass. Or at least wait till Jacob's back. Damn, "He says snapping his fingers, "This is gonna be better than their last party."
Now he looks like a 10-year-old boy.
"God, go away." I grumble putting my hand on my forehead. He's giving me a headache.
"Sorry dearest Beta, but I'm here till our all-mighty Alpha returns with your wayward crazy brother."
I don't say anything in response to him, maybe if I ignore him he'll get the hint and leave.
No, I'm not that lucky, hello assward land, it's been far too long.
Embry surprises me by standing directly in front of me.
"What now?" I ask.
He doesn't say anything, but he has a serious expression on his face.
He asks point blank, "Do you love him?"
I'm stunned, Embry's always been the level headed out of the three of them, and here he is asking me questions I don't want to give the answer to.
He seems to realize my reluctance, so instead he says, "Jacob is a good guy Leah."
Guess Seth isn't the only one with a man-crush on him.
"He loves you, god help him, and I'm pretty sure he's gonna do whatever it takes to keep you. He not a love 'em and leave 'em kind of guy."
He doesn't say it, but I know what he means. He's talking about the imprint. About little Renesmee Cullen, who adores him.
I'm almost afraid to ask, but it's out before I even have the chance.
"You think so?"
I know he knows what I'm asking about.
"I'd bet everything that I have that Jacob would be the one person that would break the imprint." He says almost in a whisper.
I'm about to argue back, say something witty, or intimidating, about how it doesn't really matter, because I don't expect anything from Jacob, that were just having fun, that I'm not thinking about the fact that he could very well leave me for his child-bride in a few short years, because those are things that I try not to think about, no one wants to be the girl that keeps getting dumped by the guys they love.
Embry seems to pick up on the change in atmosphere because he starts to say something, but he's interrupted by the door bursting open and banging into the opposite wall. Good thing I didn't lock it, not like it's my door to be locking, but just the sheer fact that, that is the exact way Jacob Black opens a door makes everyone seem to forget to put the lock on. He does like to make an entrance, the stupid drama queen.
He comes strolling in, he looks tired, but he quickly takes a seat next to me.
"Well?" I ask.
"Well what?" He snaps back.
I could kill him.
He knows damn well what I'm asking about, yet the jackass seems to get some pleasure in holding out information from me. Stupid cocky bastard.
My arms are crossed, and I'm about to tell him the many ways I could possibly shove my foot up his ass, when Embry asks, "Jake, where's Seth?"
And the stupid bastard answers the other bastard.
Jacob lets out a breath, and I know what's coming next. Seth hates me. I've finally succeeded in pushing the only good thing in my life away.
Jacob seems to have notice me tense up because he quickly look at me. "He's okay." He tells me shortly. "He's not in the best place right now, but he's okay."
"Should I—" I find myself asking, should I what? Go after him? Hunt his ass down and make him listen to me?
"No. Probably not." Jacob says answering my unfinished question.
"He just needs to clear his head."
Which means he doesn't want to see you.
I don't know why that bugged me so much. I've spend most of my life trying to get Seth out of my hair, while at the same time protecting him, and the fact that it's really my fault. Damn, this really sucks.
"Did you hear me Leah?" It's Jacob who's asking me a question.
"Hmm? What did you say?" I ask.
"He said that he would talk to you later, once he's cooled off. He was really upset."
"Oh." I say unexpectedly.
I guess he doesn't hate me. That should make me happy, right? But I hear the trace of 'I told you so' that Jacob has laced in that statement, and it makes me want to slap him.
"Stop looking like that Leah." Jacob says. "It's not like he punched you."
Well he probably should've.
"He shouldn't have punched you either." Jacob says.
I hate his ability to read my mind.
In response I stick my tongue out to him, and he replies by winking at me.
I hear someone coughing in the background. Then he clears his throat.
"Umm…guys, I hate to break up your umm…love fest crap. But we kinda need to talk."
"Fuck you." I reply automatically.
Embry just smiles then says, "Nah, I'll pass, I don't want the Alpha to go all territorial on me."
And instead of backing me up and telling him where to shove it, Jacob laughs along with him.
"As if I could own her." He replies back to his friend.
I respond by throwing the remote at his head, but his reflexes are so fast that he catches it and places it down slowly on the table.
"Just kidding Leah." He says smiling.
Jerk face.
It should've pissed me off, but somehow I ended up letting out a small chuckle. I was laughing with them, even though I really should've been completely pissed, they were my family, and it was either love them, or murder them while they slept. For now I choose to love them, in small amounts of course.
"So…" Embry says calmly, "The two of you huh?"
And Jacob breaks into his stupid grin, and nods energetically.
He's like the stupid stray puppy that followed you home and would never leave.
"You both suck for hiding it from us."
And that's about the time I had it with Embry talking.
"Get out. Go find Seth, and go bitch with him about this. I'm sick of hearing your voice."
"I—"
"Actually go and find the other half of your brain, and go bitch to him, don't influence my brother."
"So I can tell Quil?" Embry says jumping up just as eager as Jacob was earlier.
Fuck.
Jacob just laughs.
"Get. Out." I threaten.
And Embry does as he's told. At least I haven't lost that yet.
But before he leaves he turns to Jacob and says, "Geeze, and I thought getting laid was supposed to mellow out a chick. Apparently you're not doing it right." and runs out the door before either one of us and throw something at his face.
"I hate your friends." I say turning to Jacob.
The smile on his face is gone now.
"You okay?" I ask quietly sitting next to him.
"I'm fine." Jacob says softly, but I know that he's lying.
I sigh loudly.
Jacob doesn't flinch.
My patience starts to wear thin, and I finally say, "Just tell me already."
"I love you, you know that right?"
That wasn't what I was expecting.
"Yeah…" I say worriedly. I know he loves me.
"And you feel the same way?" He asks hopeful.
"Of course I do." I answer with no hesitation.
That seems to be what Jacob wants to hear, because he relaxes.
"What did Seth say?" I ask.
"Just the usual, how pissed he was, and how if I break your heart he's gonna break my face." Jacob replies nonchalant, but I don't buy it.
But I don't press on it.
Eventually we sit in silence, but it's not that awkward silence, it's a calming one. Which is strange because I seem to be calm a lot these days, it probably has to do with him sitting next to me.
"What are you doing tonight?" Jacob suddenly asks.
I look at him questioningly.
That's when he responds with, "For dinner I mean."
Again I look at him questioningly. Is he asking me out? Like on a date?
So I ask him, and he laughs at me.
"Yeah Leah, like a date."
"Aren't we a little bit past that?"
He laughs and grabs my hand then says dreamily, "Yeah so what if we are? You gonna let me take you out tonight or what?"
And I laugh. That's another thing I've been doing a lot of recently. Laughing. God I really hope I'm not going soft.
What the hell though we're way past dating, but that's where it all started from right?
"Fine." I tell him smiling. "You can take me out tonight."
"We can even hide in the shadows, and I'll drop you off a block from your house, if that'll make you feel better."
"You're such a dweeb."
"What time should I pick you up? Do I even get to meet your mom?" He teases.
Great, it's just like being back in high school.
"Hmm…" I say pretending to be lost in thought, "I think my mom might be busy tonight, you know since she's dating the police CHIEF," I emphasize the word, not like it really matters, because it's just Charlie.
But Jacob knows I'm just joking, and plays along with me.
"The police chief huh?" He muses. "I guess I have to be a complete gentleman then."
I shake my head to nod, but then think better of it, instead I lean in close, and whisper, "Maybe if you're luck I'll let you get to second base."
***
Okay this is kind of exciting. I haven't been on a date in a while, well unless you count Paul and Rachel's wedding, but that doesn't really count, I just dragged, what's his face there just so I didn't have to hear Rebecca blabbering on about how cute I would be with her baby brother.
Oh yes, don't even remind me of the fact that I'm not dating/sleeping, etc, with my best friends little brother. Because I like to suppress those thoughts.
But by the time I get home Seth's sitting out on the porch waiting for me. I really wish this 'talk' didn't have to happen. At least he looks a lot calmer than he was earlier.
As I approach he looks up. He stares at me until I'm right in front of him.
"Sit." He commands.
And I have half a mind to tell him that he has absolutely no right to order me what to do, then I think better of it. The simple fact that he's actually talking to me right now is a miracle.
"You shouldn't have lied." He says point blank.
"I hate that you lied."
"I—" I start to say, but Seth cuts me off.
"You don't get to talk right now."
Touché.
Is this how annoying I sound when I'm talking?
"I blamed myself. I believed that you were miserable. That you and Jacob somehow threw your chance of happiness away. Then come to find out you guys were sneaking around behind ALL of our backs."
"It sucks that you did that. It pisses me the fuck off that you did that. What the hell were you thinking? It's not like we didn't want the two of you together. It's not like I didn't push you to and talk to him! Damn it Leah, he's been in love with you for a long time, and we were all waiting for you to realize that you had feelings for him. What the hell is going on in your crazy head that actually makes you believe--and I say believe because there is no possible way that you actually think that anyone would care that much—that any of us would have a problem with it?"
He takes a breath, and I think he wants me to talk, so I start to say his name but he cuts me off again.
"It's still not your turn to talk." He hisses.
God I hate bitchy Seth.
"We all knew, Leah! We all wantedit to happen."
That's a lie, I can think of at least two people who would disagree.
"You're an idiot for lying. A complete idiot." His hands are on his face.
I hate that I've done this to him.
"Why didn't you just talk to me?" He says softly.
He looks up from his hands and directly at me. This time he actually looks like he wants me to answer.
"Because…" I say slowly, not sure if he's gonna cut me off again, "I can't lie to you as well as I can lie to myself."
That doesn't seem to be good enough for him.
"I was scared—that it was too good to be true. He has an imprint, I'm not under any delusions about it, but still, I just didn't want to be disappointed when it goes badly. I can't be the pathetic ex-girlfriend again."
"You have to have a little faith Leah," He says tiredly, "Not everyone you love is going to leave you."
"I know that now."
"You are my one and only sister, and you can always confide in me. You are bound to me, in blood and in heart, and there are few things in this world closer than that."
That actually made me smile.
He really was a good brother. A little strange sometimes, but I can't complain, especially when he's been the only one that's really been there. My own personal cheerleader I guess.
***
By the time mom comes home Seth and I have reconciled, basically I told him I'd do his chores for a week, if he'd just get over it. He agreed. That boy is probably one of the easiest people to please.
We're sitting in front of the TV playing a violent game, when she enters the house. She looks at us in the living room, and says loudly, "Look Charlie, my children are actually behaving themselves today."
Seth and I look at each other and snort, then proceed to shove each other.
Mom huffs about ill-bread children, and we go back to laughing.
"Are you gonna tell her? Or are you going to wait till Jacob gets here?"
Stupid Brother.
I completely forgot about that.
I get up, but I make sure to make lots of noise by banging my feet, and announcing my presence…I really don't need a repeat of old people courting.
"Mom?" I call out sauntering into the kitchen.
Charlie's sitting at the kitchen table smiling at my mother.
They're actually pretty cute together.
I'm not sure where to start, usually she's out with Charlie, but of course, tonight of all nights, she's here.
"Hey honey." She greets me.
Charlie smiles in my direction and waves.
I'm really not sure what I'm gonna say. Oh by the way, tonight I'm going out with Jacob Black, you know our Alpha, the one who imprinted on your boyfriend's half-vampire granddaughter? That's hardly kitchen talk. But instead I go with the basics.
"I've...umm…got a date tonight." Smooth Leah.
My mom smiles up at me.
"That's nice honey. Any one we know."
"Uhh…yeah kind of." I mumble.
And I swear Seth is laughing in the living room. I think I liked it better when he wasn't talking to me.
"Should I leave?" Charlie asks, and I can tell that he can tell that I'm extremely uncomfortable.
"No, sit." I hurriedly tell him.
He's actually gonna save me from the glare of death that's soon gonna come.
Mom's always on her best behavior when Charlie's around.
"Well, who is it?" My mom asks.
Apparently she's caught on to the tension in the room.
"Jacob." I blurt out.
I'm waiting for the reaction now. The throwing down of the pan and forbidding me to see him.
Surprisingly it's Charlie who says something first.
"Jacob? Jacob Black?"
I restrain myself from snapping at Charlie.
Of course it's Jacob Black! How many other Jacob's do you know?
"Yeah, Jacob Black…"
I'm still waiting for my mom's reply, I'm waiting for her head to explode actually. There really is no way, she's gonna be calm about this. I mean really? I'm pretty sure that the entire town knows that Jacob and I don't get along.
But she surprises me and says, "That's nice honey. He's such a nice boy."
I'm pretty sure my head just exploded. That's all? 'That's nice honey. He's such a nice boy?' That cannot be everything she has to say! Right? I'm watching her, looking for any indication that she means 'When Charlie's gone I'm gonna kill you'. But no, it actually looks like she's happy.
The only person who's on edge is Charlie. He looks like he's ready to explode with excitement.
"Hey Seth?" Charlie calls.
"Yeah?" Seth says bouncing happily as ever into the kitchen.
"What day is it?"
What the hell? Who cares what day it is?
"The twenty-third." Seth says smiling.
Damn kid has way too much happiness for his own good.
Charlie looks like a kid on crack. He's bouncing as happily as Seth is.
"What's so special about today?"
"I win!" He says excitedly.
"I knew it was going to happen before Christmas!"
I look over to my mom, and she's reaching in her purse, she pulls out a ten-dollar bill, and hands it over to Charlie.
"Mom?" I say in disbelief.
She only rolls her eyes at me.
"Really Leah? Don't look so shocked. It took you guys this long. I was sure the two of you would've given into the sexual tension a long time ago."
Sexual tension? Did that really just come out of her mouth?
Its official, I'm back in assward land.
I look over at Seth. There is no way in hell he knew anything about this, especially because he just threw a huge hissy fit.
At least something is constant in my life, because Seth looks as dumbfounded as me.
"Sorry honey, but we all knew it was coming."
Damn it.
***
Getting ready took less time than I thought. Jeans and a nice top, casual, but still sexy. I throw on some mascara, and even some lip-gloss.
God I feel like an idiot.
I mean it's not like he hasn't seen me naked before. But I mean this is different right? We're dating…we're going out in public. I'm not ashamed to be with him…
I'm just scared as fuck.
Fifteen minutes later I hear someone knocking on the front door. That actually is the thing that surprises me. No one ever knocks any more. Especially Jacob. He usually has something smart to say to me, so he just strolls on in like he owns the place, or he breaks down the door.
But tonight's different. He's not my Alpha—well I mean he is. But he's actually the guy that I'm dating. He's kind of my boyfriend. We haven't really discusses labels, but I doubt he'd care if he was referred to as my boyfriend. I'm pretty sure he's called me his girlfriend behind my back to his imaginary friends.
By the time I come down stairs, Jacob's sitting in the kitchen talking with my mother and Charlie. That's actually weird. None of my dates have done that…but then again none of my dates used to get their diapers changed by my mother.
And the whole Charlie thing—don't even get me started apparently, Jacob's number-one fan at the moment. He's usually number-two, but I think considering the circumstances Charlie's got Seth beat.
Jacob stands up when I walk into the kitchen. Which is very gentlemanly of him, which I need to make a mental note to tease him about later.
But one look at him makes me forget about the fact that I need to tease him, because he looks hot. I mean, hot. He's smoking only wearing only his cutoffs, but damn. He's actually wearing jeans, jeans that go down to his feet, and long sleeved button-up shirt. He looks hot.
"You look really nice Leah," He says kind of blushing.
And he's smiling at me. He's at my side before my brain starts to work again, and he's holding out a flower. It's not a rose, or a lily, or something stupid like that. It's a tiny purple flower, that actually looks like it came off a weed, but it doesn't matter to me. It's cute. And he's cute, and everything seems perfect.
Well as perfect as it can be with your mom and her boyfriend 'awing' in the background.
"Have fun!" My mom calls out, as we're leaving.
I smile. I actually feel normal, and it's nice.
A/N: Merry Christmas! This is my Christmas present to all of you. Because you've been so amazing with your constant support and amazing responses to my chapters. I don't think I can say this enough, but thank you so much from the bottom of my heart fro being such great reviewers.
I couldn't stop writing after my last update, and this chapter came out. This is longer than I've written in a long time. I think I'm spoiling you with all these updates. When classes start up again you all are going to hate me. But I can't help it—I'm just as excited as you all that they're finally together…now who wants to see Sam flip out again? Haha.
I got some mixed views on how Seth reacted, but over all I believe Seth would've reacted that way, especially because they were making him go crazy. He was bound to flip out. But underneath everything he's still Seth, and he still loves his sister more than anything in the entire world.
Happy Holiday's all. :) And please Be Safe!...~Till next time.
