A/N

Changing the timeline around a bit

All rights belong to Stephenie Meyer

Warning: alcohol, swearing

Chapter 8: February Part 2

"How would you feel about eating some real food instead of candy and chips?" Aaron said the following Monday, marking week three of Forks High patrol.

Leah hummed, not looking up from her sketches. "That depends. Do you have a sirloin steak in there too?"

"Is that something you'd be interested in? Sirloin steak, maybe see a movie after?"

Leah noticed his tone for the first time, no longer the languid, slightly teasing voice he'd used so far, but something more keen, slightly hopeful. She waffled. "Look, Aaron, not that I don't appreciate it - I'm just not uh looking for something right now."

Disappointment crossed his face but he nodded, giving her a small smile. "S'okay, Leah. Just figured I should ask. I'd be a fool not to, eh?"

For that, Leah had no response. She was quiet on the way to the reservation, letting Bella chat about the apparently pleasant date she and Jacob recently went on. A trip to the cinema and dinner, of all things.

Leah was genuinely happy for their tentative but sweet progress, so much so that she didn't mind pretending she hadn't noticed their clasped hands under the table, couldn't see their threading fingers moving softly against each other as they both looked studiously at the textbooks in front of them.

She was just about to tease them when she heard a croon, low and manmade, and most definitely coming from her backyard. She sniffed discreetly, immediately clocking in Embry and Jared's scents at the tree line behind her house. Her excuse was weak but the happy couple paid her no mind as she slipped out the back and ran along the side of the house to meet the pair.

"Does Sam know you're here?"

"Sam gave us the night off. He has Paul checking the parameter but he's long gone by now."

His face had a grimness to it that didn't fit at all. She turned to see Jared with an identical expression. "What's going on?"

"Enough's enough, Leah. It's time to tell Jacob with or without Sam's permission."

Leah was already shaking her head. "He's never going to take back the order."

"But there's gotta be a loophole," Jared said. "If we can just get him to figure it out first, or get Bella to tell him."

"Bella has no idea, he won't let me tell her and I'm almost positive the leeches never told her about their friendly werewolf neighbors either."

Embry growled in frustration, running a hand through his hair. "I just can't stand the idea of lying to him for so long. He's distracted by Bella now but sooner or later he's going to ask again and I don't think I have it in me to lie to his face again."

"Would he even believe you if you could say? Would you have believed me if I had told you?"

"Dunno," Embry muttered. "Maybe?"

"Would you have truly wanted to know?"

Jared and Embry exchanged a look. Neither one answered.

"Hey are you alright?" Aaron asked from his picnic table.

Leah paused, noticing for the first time how her leg was bouncing anxiously. "Yeah, yeah I'm fine."

Aaron looked at her carefully. "You know, I get stressed out too sometimes."

"Who says I'm stressed?" she demanded.

Aaron glanced down at her fingers, clenching the life out of her poor pencils, before looking back up at her face. He closed his laptop, folded his arms under his chin and gave her his undivided attention. "Skittle for your thoughts?" he held up a Skittles bag like a peace offering.

She rolled her eyes but accepted the bag he tossed at her, popping a few of the sweet candies in her mouth and just letting them melt. She had allowed four to disintegrate in her mouth by the time she spoke again, giving Aaron a serious frown. "Have you ever had things go too right?"

He blinked. "I don't follow."

"Like," she ran her hands through her hair. "Like something was wrong, really wrong, and the reason was staring you in the face. But now everything that was wrong is fine again, perfect even. But the reason was never resolved, and is still floating around, ready to come back when you're least suspecting."

"And you know for certain this thing is definitely bad?"

"Terrible."

"And you're sure it hasn't popped up anywhere else in your life?"

"It hasn't been found yet."

Aaron hummed. "I think at a certain point you just gotta learn not to look a gift horse in the mouth."

Leah groaned. "But what if it's not a gift horse! And it's just watching, waiting until you let your guard down so it can go in for the kill."

"I believe the word you are looking for is a Trojan horse," he replied. "And well, what's the likelihood of that?"

It was Leah's turn to blink now. "Huh?"

"I'm a pretty anxious person, Leah, underneath all these sweets and junk food and bad jokes. I had to learn a while ago that the real world is never as bad as I originally thought. Trojan horses and war and fighting, that's all myth. We live in a world where things are rarely so life and death."

Leah felt her shoulders slump, her jaw tighten. What she wouldn't give to be part of a world like that. Where the most dire situation she could get herself in didn't involve savage vampires or a pack of werewolves. "Yeah, yeah, you're right."

"Hey, wait, that's not-" Aaron shook his head, brows knitting in concern. "I'm sorry, that came out wrong. I didn't mean to say it wasn't important. I just didn't want you to stress over anything minor. Not that it's minor. Not that I think you should be stressing. I just-"

It was the most flustered she had ever seen him, in the short three weeks they knew each other. She found herself smiling slightly despite herself. "I get it."

"And, I am a good listener, if you needed one," he added, still looking a little frazzled.

She rolled her eyes, taking a skittle out and flicking it at him. He lurched, ducking practically all the way back to catch it. "I know. You're right. Life is hardly so serious."

"Where are you going after high school anyway?" Aaron asked the next day.

"How do you know I'm going somewhere?"

"Because who in their right mind would want to stay in Forks, Washington their entire lives?"

Leah smirked. Boy was finally talking sense. "Point taken. I don't know, somewhere in a big city, but then every small town girl says that, don't they?"

Aaron nodded, face solemn. "Yes, right before they sing a choreographed number full of self expression and personal freedom. You should go for it, Leah, it's always quite a touching scene."

Leah huffed. "It's not like I have any delusions about living in the city. I know the rent will be murder and the sanitation a joke. But there's something, I dunno, appealing about having a fresh start. Being in a place where you can get pissed at three A.M. and then go to a farmer's market the same morning. Sounds nice."

"Sounds like you haven't really lived yet," Aaron countered, shaking his head. "That is your big dream? Pick out some fresh produce with a hangover? Tsk, tsk. You can do that here any old day."

"Oh really?" He was full of shit and she was going to call him out on it. Her eyes gleamed at the prospect as she folded her arms across her chest and raised a single brow. "Any day? Anything?"

"Yes, ma'am, you name it and the good people of Forks have got it."

"Alright then. A fruit salad and a shot of whiskey. Go."

"Say no more," he grinned, and shot up out of his seat.

They had only five minutes left until the end of the day and he clearly knew that as he ran full speed into the nurse's office, only to pop back out minutes later with something in his hand. Before she could get a clearer look he was whipping around and running full speed to the greenhouse at the back of the grounds. Leah heard the sounds of grunting and vines breaking for a solid minute before a triumphant cry.

It was a minute before the bell rang by the time Aaron came charging out again, arms laden with an indistinguishable bundle wrapped up in his jacket. He nearly tripped over the slushy pathway in his haste to reach Leah in time.

"Voila! Bon appetit," he said, panting hard but looking supremely satisfied with himself as he brandished a fully grown watermelon onto the table, adding a bottle of isopropyl alcohol, perfect for cleaning small cuts and wounds according to its rather sterile looking label.

"I forgot to cut it into cubes," he said mournfully, wheezing from his run.

Leah laughed, a real, loud laugh that brought tears to her eyes and her hands to her stomach as she took in the utter ridiculousness of the boy with his stolen goods in front of her. Aaron, who was still bent over struggling for breath, cracked a grin at the sound, eventually joining her as he fell down onto the bench in an exhausted heap.

The bell rang and Leah rose from her seat, gathered up her things, and cradled her new watermelon in her hands. It would make a delicious snack.

"Forks, one. Big city, zero," she assured him as she moved to join the crowd of students. He grinned widely at that, and before she could think about it, Leah found herself returning it in earnest.

Leah was in a surprisingly good mood when she went home that day. Sam, clearly running out of steam after so many empty patrols, was letting her off the hook for tonight.

Jacob and Bella were out on one of the first few official dates they'd planned. Leah was left in her room, flying through the work for her online classes with ease and absently waiting for Bella's inevitable call which would no doubt include an overview of said date.

Leah didn't mind. She had memories of once doing something similar with Emily and vice versa during the early years of high school, although not nearly as often nor in as much detail, but she supposed it was sort of a right of passage. And besides, the girl had never had a human boyfriend before. She was allowed to indulge in normal human teenager things.

Her phone rang and she didn't even look at the screen, instead picking up and shoving it to her ear with one hand as she continued typing away with her other. "I don't need to know if he frenched you but if he happened to bite your tongue please cough twice. Mama has a bet to win." Curtsey of Embry, who seemed to delight in teasing Jacob with his newfound relationship.

A surprised chuckle that was definitely not from Bella came from the other end. "Well I'm sorry to disappoint but alas no one has frenched me nor do I have any bet money for you."

Leah shot out of bed. "Aaron! Hi - uh, hello!" she kicked herself. She had forgotten she had given him her number.

"Hello!" He replied brightly, laughing once more. "Look I just wanted to call because I felt a little bad about giving you that disinfectant stuff. It could have killed you in high doses."

She rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't have taken it."

"Well yes, obviously, because it could have killed you in high doses," he said, as if it was the simplest thing in the world. "Anyway I'm with a few buddies right now and I just had to ask: purple or green?"

Uh. "Excuse me?"

"Go on. Pick one."

"Is this some kind of candy? You give me food nearly every day, Aaron, you don't need to give me more."

"It's not candy. Think of it more as me making up for that atrocious attempt of humor." His voice had a smile in it. "Please, Leah?"

Leah sighed, leaning back in her bed and shaking her head. He was a ridiculous boy. With the corniest sense of humor she knew and an absolute refusal to feel uncomfortable by anything. To him, the biggest problem in the world was having the right selection of food on hand. She found herself answering without thinking. "Purple, of course."

"Of course." He was grinning. "Well, Leah Clearwater, prepare to be amazed tomorrow at school."

She rolled her eyes, hanging up with an exasperated smile on her face. The idiot.

The next day she refused to admit she glanced at the clock once or twice (or twenty-seven times), eagerly counting down the minutes before the last period when Aaron would come out to join her. She couldn't help it, she rarely got surprises anymore, and hardly any good ones.

He came out just as the bell rang and smiled at her from across the grounds. He was still smiling when he plopped down next to her and presented her with a hastily wrapped but incredibly soft pair of fingerless gloves.

Leah took them gingerly, marveling at the delicate cotton that was dyed a deep royal purple. She put them on, wiggling her fingers experimentally and finding they moved with zero resistance despite the snug fabric.

"For your poor fingers," Aaron explained. "They looked too blue too often, drawing away in the freezing cold. Figured they should have a break."

Leah had absolutely no idea how to respond. She couldn't stop touching her gloves, marveling at their color, touched at their purpose. She shut her mouth after the fifth thank you left her mouth and found Aaron sitting across from her, a smile plastered across his face that mirrored hers.

Leah was holding the bag of funyuns over Bella's head as they walked towards the Black's house, laughing as Bella jumped to get it only to miss horribly.

"Leah!" she sighed, swiping her hand again. "Why did you offer if you're just going to be mean?"

"Because Seth grew taller than me about a year ago and I have no one else to do this with."

"What - about - Claire!" Bella said, jumping (and missing) with each word.

"Nah, that wouldn't be very nice, would it?"

Bella huffed, snatching the bag at last and glaring at her delighted friend. Before she could open her mouth a shout sounded from somewhere in the house.

Leah was sprinting inside at once, Bella stumbling to keep up. They found the commotion in the kitchen, where Sam and Billy were speaking in low voices to an incredulous Jacob, who seemed to be glaring daggers at Paul.

Paul, who looked to be standing guard next to a lovely woman with long black hair and a bright smile.

"Rachel!" Leah said immediately. All eyes went to where she and Bella stood at the door, but Leah's attention was still focused on Jacob's older sister.

Rachel returned her grin easily, shaking off Paul to catch Leah as she ran in for a hug. "Leah! Jeez did you get gorgeous. Who said you could grow up so much? You'll be bigger than Jake here in no time."

Leah rolled her eyes. "Don't need height to take him down."

Rachel laughed, squeezing her one more time before noticing Bella still hesitating by the doorway. "Oh, hello. You must be Bella? I'm Rachel, one of Jacob's twin sisters. You're even prettier than Jacob described."

Bella flushed, looking wary and still hyped from running, but she returned the hug naturally. It was impossible to be too uncomfortable in Rachel's warmth.

"Leah, Bella," Billy said with his usual jovial smile that was somewhat strained as he put a hand on his still glowering son's arm. "You caught us at a bit of an awkward time. Rachel here returned last night to surprise Jacob and myself with a visit." His eyes shifted from Paul to Sam. "She has appeared to have met Paul already."

"You're dating him?" Jake cut in. "After not even being back for a full day? Rach, are you insane?"

"Jake," Rachel said, looking so forlorn Jacob's scowl faltered. "It's difficult to explain." She met Leah's eyes and suddenly Leah understood. The tone, the unease, the mysterious new relationship. Leah's eyes darted to Sam to find they were already looking at her. He nodded once, and she suppressed a sigh.

"I don't understand," Jacob said, face so lost and confused Leah found herself pleading silently with Sam to just retract the stupid silencing order. "You haven't been home in years. I didn't even think you remembered Paul. And now you're together? Shouldn't you be off dating thirty year olds or something?"

"I'm twenty-two, Jake," she said in exasperation. "And Polly just turned twenty."

Leah used every ounce of her self control not to fall to the ground laughing at the ridiculous name.

Jacob didn't seem to find the humor in the situation. Instead he stared from his sister to Paul with narrowed eyes, flickering briefly to Sam in suspicion. "This is part of it then? What you all won't tell me. Rachel has been here all of twelve hours and she knows before me?"

He didn't wait for a response, instead turning on his heel and storming out the back door. Bella sent a sheepish smile at a frozen Rachel, before untangling herself from their embrace and walking out after him.

That Friday marked the third week without any disappearances in Seattle, and absolutely no hint of the leeches in all of the Pacific Northwest. Even Sam could not deny it, and cut back on their patrols. Not a lot, but enough to give everyone a breather. When he let her off the hook of Forks High patrol, she shrugged and merely told him she didn't mind keeping a look out.

"Jared and I will still be keeping an eye on the parameters for both the reservation and Forks. The leech is unlikely to get past us and infiltrate Bella's geometry class any time soon."

Leah shrugged, not bothering to look at him as she strolled past. They were in their human form, donning light summer attire despite the near freezing temperatures. "I don't mind continuing. Better safe than sorry, no?"

When she looked back, Sam was staring at her with an unreadable expression. She raised an eyebrow and he turned away, disappearing into the woods to return home to Emily.

And so came the last week of February, the first time Leah allowed herself to be completely relaxed all month.

"What's got you so happy?" Bella asked curiously as they drove up to school.

"Monday's are a lot better when you don't have to dissect frogs at eight in the morning," Leah said, snickering when Bella turned slightly green.

"Ugh, don't remind me. I still can't believe we're doing something so gross the same week the guys are planning the party. I'm going to pass out from all this excitement."

Leah rolled her eyes. "You'll live, princess. Besides, they're teenage boys, not gremlins. It can't be that bad."

The guys had indeed planned to host Jacob's long awaited birthday celebration, now combining it with Quil's birthday who would be turning eighteen this weekend. They could hardly keep Quil out of their heads during planning, but had sworn everyone else to secrecy to at least give Jacob somewhat of a surprise.

"Why did they insist on doing it in the middle of the week?" Bella groused.

Leah winked. "Res's school has got the entire week off. Sucks the Forks kids can't say the same."

Bella groaned, moping off to class, leaving Leah to head off once more to the now familiar benches. She was in a good mood, and was able to finish several pieces by the time Aaron meandered over, a usual skip in his step.

"Hiya, Leah."

"Aaron," she said, noticing for the first time the large notebook that accompanied his usual laptop. "More homework than usual today?"

"This? Nah, I'm just working on some coding and thought it'd be easier to have my notes in front of me."

That's right, he'd mentioned his love for coding before, and had shied away from admitting his clear talent for it. Leah shook her head. "Coding and candy. You're going places, kid."

"That is the dream, Leah dear," he said with a fake simper. Then he winked. "Just like you're going somewhere with those sketches of yours. Maybe our paths will cross again one day?"

"Yeah." Leah found herself not completely hating the idea. "Maybe they will."

The following day was a Tuesday and, more specifically, marked nearly a month since the leeches had disappeared apparently for good. As a result, every corner of the reservation was rejoicing. After so many weeks of not daring to step foot outside their own front doors, there were bonfires in nearly every neighborhood as they celebrated deep into the night.

Leah sat and watched in delight as they claimed a large section of the beach for Jacob and Quil's joint birthday party and at last the boys' Port Angeles haul was revealed.

They had apparently bought a pop up volleyball court along with a beer pong table set, both of which were set up next to a huge stereo that blasted music even above the loud chatter of everyone present. Most people, however, were huddled in front of the huge bonfire burning at the very center of it all, shivering in the cold February night.

Those who had shifted, however, were enjoying themselves just fine. Sam had already wrapped his arms firmly around a now warm Emily, swaying with her as the music floated across the beach. Rachel was next to them doing the same with Paul, and while not quite as close, definitely close enough that she was no longer shivering. Jared and Kim had a similar solution, but had instead taken it one step further and had started canoodling rather obviously near the edge of the group. Quil was sat with Claire, speaking quietly to her as they both lounged in front of the fire, lost in each other's eyes.

"They're sweet together," Bella said, catching her eye. "So are Kim and Jared. I didn't know Kim was in our year."

"Yeah, Jared and Kim got together about two years ago." And he had imprinted on her last year, when he phased. Leah forced herself not to see the similarities in her own dating history, with one obvious difference.

"They're very uh, affectionate," Bella said, flushing slightly as the couple got more than a little enthusiastic in their own little bubble.

"Yes well we can't all gaze lovingly into our soulmate's eyes like old Quil here," Leah teased, laughing when Quil lifted a single hand to flip her off without breaking eye contact with Claire. "They got together last summer. I suppose we can expect the PDA sometime next year if they're following Jared and Kimmy's schedule."

"Give it a rest, Leah," Jared came up for air to say, turning to throw her a sly smirk. "You're just jealous you're the only one not getting some tonight."

"Oh?" she said in mock surprise. "And what does it mean that I have Jacob's girlfriend here with me instead of over there with him?"

"Oy!" Jacob shouted, running back from where he was setting up the volleyball net with Embry. "It's not my fault you all abandoned me while we were still setting up."

"Go," Claire said quietly, smiling softly as she nudged Quil away and shifted closer to the fire. "It's your birthday celebration. Go enjoy it."

Those seemed to be the magic words as Kim also pushed Jared away and sent him off before scooting down to join Claire by the fire.

Leah remained where she was on the other side of the bonfire, subtly warming Bella with her own heat while allowing the girl to get the bulk of the fire's warmth. She still shivered as game after game passed, and even after when more people showed up and joined in the festivities. Two hours in and nearly everyone from the reservation's high school had wandered over.

Eventually Jacob came to steal Bella away for a dance, which basically consisted of him swinging her around while she shrieked and hung on for dear life.

Seth and his friends showed up, and Leah kept a careful eye on how many beers he, Colin, and Brady had between them. She stepped in when that number came up to three.

Leah chatted with a few classmates from her grade, played several rounds of beer pong without needing to take a single sip, and meandered around the beach mingling until all but their original group remained.

"T-they are such a bad influence," Bella said. She had found her way back over to the bonfire sometime within the last half hour but her teeth were still chattering slightly. "A dozen cases of beer, and all these sporty things out. People are going to get hypothermia and die. Or get drunk and get hypothermia and die. Either way it's bad news."

"Jacob and Quil seem to be enjoying it," Leah pointed out. They were indeed laughing raucously as they joined forces with Jared and Embry to play against Paul, all alone on his own side of the net. Needless to say the four basically pelted Paul nonstop, who was determinedly swiping the air in vain.

"He's still a little shaken up about Rachel and Paul," Bella said quietly. "I think it was just the suddenness of it. I mean, his sisters never come home, and now that one does she just immediately gets together with Paul and decides to stay longer than she has in years? It's a little odd."

Leah laughed once without humor. "I'm not sure Rachel ever dreamed what was waiting for her back at home."

Bella turned to face her, staring at her intently in the bright bonfire light. "He's right then? This is all connected to that thing you won't tell either of us about."

Leah sighed. "It is."

"Then why can't you just-"

"I have an idea," Embry said, bounding over to where the two of them sat and plonking himself down in between them. "Jacob, isn't it time you told your girlfriend the legends of our tribe?"

Jacob rolled his eyes, snatching a ball from the sand and chucking it at an unsuspecting Paul's head. "They're just old wise tales my dad used to tell us to be cool, Em. I'm not going to bore her with that."

"Oh but it's tradition," Embry said, leaning back and slinging his arms across their shoulders. "Emily heard it, Kimmy heard it, Claire heard it. Bella, don't you want to hear it?"

"Embry," Quil said quietly.

"Relax, Sam and Paul left an hour ago," Embry waved. "Besides, what better way to end the night than with a little campfire story, eh?"

"Oh why not," Jacob said, sighing as he came over. He bodily moved Embry out of the way and wrapped his arms around Bella, shifting when she curled into him. "Embry won't shut up about it unless we just get it over with."

"Right you are, Jake!" Embry said brightly.

And so, he told the legends they had all grown up hearing, the legends they had all scoffed at and chalked up as old men holding onto fairytales. Leah couldn't understand how neither Bella nor Jacob noticed everyone's rather somber looks, the furtive glances being shot at the couple and Claire in turn, who was also in the dark even if she had been told the legends before.

But Claire simply had her eyes closed (literally and figuratively) and seemed content to just sleep through the entire monologue even as Embry raised his voice pointedly.

Bella and Jacob seemed equally unbothered, now firmly curled into each other and alternating between listening and making soft comments to each other, no matter how many times Embry stopped the story to tell them they were missing the best part.

Embry was a trooper, and held out for a good two hours before they finally had to take away his soapbox. He protested, but only half-heartedly, as his voice was already hoarse from talking so much.

They picked up the mess within minutes, stashing it away easily in both of the cars available. Leah and Bella were each assigned as the designated drivers, despite the fact that those who had drank (bar Jacob and Claire) had already burned the liquor through their system during Embry's storytime. Still, the police chief's daughter stood firm, and they all hopped in without a word.

Leah raised an eyebrow as Jacob lugged an exhausted Embry, Jared, and Kim into the car before moving to the passenger seat and buckling himself in.

"Is there a reason why you're not riding with your girlfriend and sticking these three with me?"

"We drank the most and Bella doesn't want to risk getting pulled over in her dad's cruiser with us," Jacob answered.

Leah glanced in the rearview mirror to see Jared and Kim fast asleep against each other and Embry already conked out and snoring next to them. She shook her head. Embry's story put everyone to sleep apparently. She would bet her last commission dollar that Bella's cruiser was in the same predicament.

She started the car and put on the radio at a soft volume, just to add a bit of background music to the three sets of snores from the backseat.

"Happy belated birthday, Jake," she said quietly as she turned off from the beach, Charlie's police cruiser following directly behind. "How have you been?"

"Can't complain," he said, voice just as low and warm with contentment. "Gathering some pieces for Bella's new car. I'm hoping it will be ready by summer."

"Oh right, she told me about that." Bella had been over the moon to purchase a heavily used car for practically nothing from one of Charlie's old friends. It worked, but was even slower than her truck if that was possible. Jacob had made it his new mission in life to repair it with all the speed and safety features it could handle.

"Mmm," he said. "Yeah, she is brilliant, isn't she?"

Leah snickered at his dreamy tone. "I'll take your word for it, Romeo."

"I'm not joking," he said, staring at her with such a serious expression she stopped laughing. "I've always had a crush on her but, I don't know, I just never thought it would come to anything, you know? And now that it has I can't believe how good we are together."

Leah smiled now and listened to Jacob continue on about Bella. Neither of them were in love quite yet, but both were well on their way to it. He had the same bright eyes and slightly colored cheeks she did whenever the other was mentioned. He spoke of possible dates, and plans after high school, and perhaps prom this year. There was no talk of forever or having babies to pass on the wolf gene or giving up their mortality for a whirlwind romance. It was normal, and it was beautiful.

When they finally reached the Clearwater's house it was to the insistent shushing of Leah as the gaggle of sleepy teens crept into the sitting room. Luckily, everyone was too tired to make a fuss, and instead collapsed into an exhausted sleep within minutes.

Leah woke hours later with absolutely no idea what had caused it, her head too heavy from sleep to really figure it out.

She sat up from where she had fallen asleep on the armchair, noticing Bella and Jacob curled up on the couch while Jared and Kim were tangled together on the other couch. Embry laid spread eagle on the inflatable mattress in the center.

But Claire slept alone on the inflatable mattress in the corner of the room, the spot beside her strangely empty.

Leah crept out of the room, sniffing deeply and clocking no new scents to be concerned of. She did find Quil's and followed it out to her backyard where he sat perched high in a tree, snapping the brittle branches off one by one.

"Room for one more?"

He didn't look surprised by her voice, but nor did he look particularly thrilled. Still, he scooted over in silent invitation and she hoisted herself up, settling down next to him at the base of the trunk.

"I didn't mean to wake you."

"You didn't."

They sat in silence for a while, simply staring at the full moon or the many branches falling to the ground. She had known all of the boys since they were practically in diapers. He would talk when he wanted to and not a second sooner.

"Do you think there's something wrong with Claire and me?"

Leah startled, nearly falling out of the tree. "What? Why would there be?"

"Well look at Jared, Paul, and uh, Sam," he glanced nervously at her but she simply stared at him to continue. "I just thought I was bound to imprint on Claire. And now that I haven't I can't help but wonder if I'm doing something wrong. Leading her on or something."

"The elders have always said imprinting is rare. It's just a happy coincidence there are so many in the pack."

"The pack is bigger than it has been in generations, maybe there should be more imprints."

"Quil," she said. "What's this really about? Do you want to imprint?"

"No! No, not at all. I just," he bit his lip, refusing to look at her now. "I saw how it was between you and Sam, and how he still went with his imprint anyway. And then Paul and Rachel were as good as strangers apparently but she's already the center of his world. The one good thing I saw was Jared already loving Kim, and he imprinted on her." He sighed breaking a rather large branch clean off. "What if I'm just stringing Claire along and setting us both up for disappointment later?"

Leah was silent for several moments. When she spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper. "I don't have an answer for you, Quil. But you can't turn yourself off from love just because you're afraid of something that might not even happen."

"But if it does, I would have no one to blame but myself for letting it go that far," he said miserably.

"Did you choose to become a wolf?"

"Leah-"

"Answer me, please. Did you decide to get attacked by a leech and shift into a wolf?"

"No."

"So it will never be your fault, Quil."

"Do you blame Sam?"

Leah faltered, closing her eyes. "I have a lot of feelings towards Sam, but blame hasn't been one of them. Not since I found out about the imprint."

"But you don't love him, not anymore," Quil said carefully. "Would you go back and undo everything if you could?"

Leah thought about that. Never loving Sam, never losing Emily. She wanted to tell him that no, to love and lose was better to not love at all. That of course she would never wish the memories away. But a small part of her thought of the absolutely perfect picture that would have made had this entire mess not happened at all. Leah, standing proud and eager next to Emily as she married the man who had made her his entire universe. She didn't love Sam anymore, not like that, but she loved Emily enough to wish for that alternate universe with all her heart.

She looked at Quil's face, so desolate in the bright moonlight, and could not bring the lie to her lips. His mouth pressed into a thin line, trembling very slightly. He looked away.

She threw her arm around his neck, letting his shaking breathing eventually fade into even puffs of air. "Fuck the wolf gene. Fuck imprinting. Fuck it all. You love that girl with all your heart and don't let anyone, even yourself, stand in the way. Do you understand me?"

She was squeezing him so tight he would have probably been uncomfortable had he been human. But he wasn't human, he would never be fully human again. He merely nodded once against her neck, squeezing her back.

"Hold off telling Jake as long as you can, yeah?"

Leah nodded against him. It was too late for her and her brother and Quil and nearly every other boy from the reservation's main families. But not Jacob. Jacob who was still human, who still had a shot at falling in love naturally and living a life of his own choosing. Leah would give anything to keep it that way.

Leah drove Bella to school the next day to continue Forks High patrol, which at this point was more a formality than anything. Soon enough Leah found herself bored much sooner than usual and half tempted to go track Angela too just for something to do.

There was no need, however, as before she knew it Aaron was joining her at their picnic table once more. Sometime during the month she had found herself at his table, and she didn't bother to switch back now.

Instead she listened as Aaron spoke animatedly, brown eyes sparkling with excitement and blonde curls swinging around as he gesticulated passionately. Leah found herself entranced with the story, or perhaps his overwhelming enthusiasm, and didn't even notice until it was too late when one of his hands knocked over his coffee and sent it spilling onto her sketchbook.

She snatched it up before it could get soaked, grimacing at the now sticky surface.

"Leah! Oh my god, I'm so sorry!"

"Don't worry about it," Leah waved away. Her sketchbook was fine, if a little stained on the front. Only a few of the pages had gotten wet.

"I'm sorry! I'm such a klutz. Are the pages damaged? Here, let me replace it. Oh but the sketches - maybe we could make a photocopy and-"

Leah thought she ought to be more annoyed than she was, but it had truly been an accident and a rather minor one in the grand scheme of things. Still, Aaron's face twisted in sorrow as he babbled apologies.

"Hey, don't worry about it, seriously," Leah said. "They'll be easy enough to redo."

Aaron smiled thinly, but his eyes still looked guilty. He stared at her as if it was the very worst thing he could have ever done. Aaron, with his ability to make her laugh at dumb jokes and believe just for a few hours how utterly normal it could all be.

"Why don't you make it up to me, then?" Leah said before she could think about it. "Dinner, Friday night?"

Aaron's responding grin was so genuine, so bright, Leah found herself returning it easily.

Just because Leah was going on a date didn't mean she couldn't have a little fun with it. She chose her combat boots, black skinny jeans, and her leather jacket, looking just as hot as she had on Halloween if she did say so herself.

Aaron confirmed it, if his wide eyes were anything to show for it. He wolf-whistled (how appropriate, Leah thought) before taking her hand and giving her a little twirl. "Leah, you look - amazing."

Leah grinned back, laughing at the outfit he had chosen. A bubblegum pink button down with khaki pants and red sneakers - the exact opposite of her.

"Come on," she said, walking into the small diner they had decided to meet at. She had refused to allow him to pick her up at the reservation, mostly because she wasn't quite ready to let anyone know about him yet, and as such had used Bella as an excuse for her parents.

Bella had looked at her strangely when she was asked to be an alibi, nodding with curious eyes that implored Leah for answers. Later, Leah had decided. For now, she rather liked the idea of keeping this one thing to herself.

And so Leah found herself seated at a nice and quiet diner with Aaron Lenox. Leah had found it on one of her patrols. It was just outside of Forks and had always had such amazing smells.

"Please, get whatever you want," Aaron said, flipping open his menu.

"I invited you, so I'm paying."

"What kind of date would this be if I made the lady pay?"

"One set in the twenty-first century," she said. "Come on, after all the free food you've given me? Think of it as a reimbursement."

"Mmm," Aaron mused. "Okay. Only if you let me pay for date number two?"

Leah rolled her eyes, lips twitching. "Date number two it is."

The meal was exactly what Leah had hoped for. They talked about nothing important but still had a pleasant evening. She ordered the garlic fries and onion rings and pizza topped with anchovies, and he rolled his eyes and asked if she honestly thought that would be enough to scare him away.

He was so easy to be around. Bright and warm, with none of the seriousness she had been so used to since she phased. She found herself laughing at stupid jokes, answering his many questions, and allowing him to link his hand with hers as they walked to the small adjacent plaza to get ice cream, despite the cold weather.

They ate in his truck, mostly because Leah didn't want to risk her brother smelling a new scent in their dad's and figuring it out. She rolled her eyes as he dug into his huge bowl of soft serve, filled to the brim with all thirty flavors the tiny ice cream parlor offered.

"You're just being greedy at this point," she said, licking her own cone neatly. He had scoffed when she had chosen something so small, accusing her of holding back just because he insisted he pay for dessert. She had stuck her now raspberry blue tongue out at him and said she planned to steal most of his anyway.

"I am not!" Aaron insisted. "What if they closed tomorrow, and took all thirty wonderful flavors with them? And I had been here, depriving myself of tasting them because of the arrogant assumption they'd be there when I returned? What would you say to me then?"

Leah sighed heavily. "You are the reason millennials get such a bad rap."

Aaron winked. "Someone's gotta do it."

Leah actually did have to help him in the end, as the ice cream melted in the warm car and he had already had quite a bit for dinner. She took a spoon and polished off the chocolate mint while he went to town on the remainder of the orange sorbet.

"You are a hero," Aaron sighed in relief, holding up the empty bowl as if offering it to the heavens. "A saint. An angel among men."

"A simple thank you will do," she said, but didn't stop him. The boy clearly had some points.

Aaron turned to her, stashing the bowl somewhere in the backseat before putting his ice cold hands on her cheeks, laughing at the indignant face she made.

And when he leaned in, there were no fireworks, no gravity making him the center of her universe, no supernatural love chaining them together. There was just his lips against hers and the taste of sorbet on his tongue. His hands warmed, and he repositioned them to cup her face gently instead. Leah leaned in, and kissed him back with equal enthusiasm.

A/N

And we're back! Part 2. Gotta say I enjoyed writing Part 2 more than Part 1. I can't say when the next chapter one will be, mostly because I didn't even plan to write so much for February nevermind have it out so soon. I will say we are finally getting closer to the actual plot of the story so ANY comments / kudos are welcomed and greatly appreciated! I do have an outline and general idea of the main plot points but I have deviated so much from it so far who knows. I can only think of a handful of things that will definitely stay, the rest is up in the air.

Thanks for those who have already reviewed - I love getting that email!

This is more for my benefit than because anyone asked but here are the relationships so far:

Sam and Emily: engaged, imprinted pair

Jared and Kim: dating, imprinted pair

Paul and Rachel: unknown relationship atm, imprinted pair

Quil and Claire: dating

Jacob and Bella: dating

Aaron and Leah: unknown relationship atm, went on one date

And here are the Ages / School Years:

Rachel (and her twin Rebecca): 22, college grad, working

Paul: 20, high school grad, working

Sam: 19, high school grad, working

Emily: 18, high school grad, working

Leah, Bella, Jacob, Embry, Jared, Kim, Quil: 18, senior year of high school

Claire: 17, junior year of high school

Seth, Colin, Brady: 16, sophomore year of high school

P.S. I have absolutely no hate for Forks, Washington, I just grew up near a small town and know the mindset of everyone there. Most people, like Aaron and Leah, have wanted to leave since like, yesterday, lol.