Leah:

When I walked through my front door all eyes were immediately on me. I tried to muster up the emotions needed to excuse my poor behavior but it was honestly a struggle not to just smile at them. Emily was looking at me like I had a third head and honestly I didn't blame her. I felt like I was floating on cloud nine, still too wobbly with whiplash myself to adequately prevent the same for them.

"I really can not tell you all how sorry I am. Sam and I broke up and it upset me more than I thought it would but I'm honestly fine now. It's been a long time coming to be honest." I said, awkwardly shoving my hands in my pockets. Nobody said a word, they all just stared at me with shocked expressions.

"Is it too late to party?" I asked, wincing.

My Dad broke the silence first, bless his soul. "Little girl, if I teach you one thing in your lifetime let it be this. It's never too late to party!"

We all laughed and proceeded with the party as planned. My mom had kept my dinner warm for me in the oven and after I was stuffed with ham, mashed potatoes, and green beans I got to top it all off with a huge slice of my Dad's amazing cake. In keeping with tradition I swore to him it was even better than the year before and he patted me once on the back before kissing my forehead.

I unwrapped my presents, laughing when it occurred to me that I probably looked as eager as the ducks had running to retrieve their bounties. My parents had gotten me a new stereo for my car which I desperately needed. Mine was still an old fashioned tape deck and I had been dropping not so subtle hints about the uselessness of my vast CD collection. I hugged them both and Dad promised to install it for me the next day.

My aunt and uncle had gotten me a camera that printed the photos right when you took them, a small colorful photo album with travel themed pages and a copy of the Dr. Suess book Oh The Places You'll Go. I hugged them both with tears in my eyes. Emily looked at me from behind them with the guilty expression of a scorned puppy and I rolled my eyes before walking over and hugging her too.

"You should still stay in my room tonight so we can talk." I whispered in her ear. When I pulled back she nodded solemnly and I turned back to my last unopened present.

Charlie wasn't able to stay and wait for me to work through my drama but he had left his present to me behind, a medium sized box wrapped with newspaper and way too much tape. Inside was a jacket and hat, each embellished with the Forks Police Department logo. I ran my fingers over the embroidery and smiled, excited to wear my new unofficial uniform to work next week.

Once the energy had died down in the house we all settled into our familiar sleeping arrangements. My aunt and uncle took Seth's room, he took the couch, and Emily got the pull out bed underneath mine as usual.

I gathered pajamas and changed in the bathroom, brushing my teeth and pulling my hair into a long braid. When I returned to my room the light was already off and Emily was under the covers. Okay, I see how it's going to be, I thought to myself while closing the door softly behind me. She wanted to do this the old fashioned slumber party pillow talk way, it must be pretty bad then. I took a deep breath, bracing myself for the next segment of the day that just would not end.

Once I was settled under my own blankets I waited to see if she would break the silence first. When she didn't I sat up on my elbow and started.

"Three months ago I went to the movies with Raven Evergreen and her boyfriend Steven. Well little did I know Steven had to bring his younger brother, Marcus. The kid is in the same grade as Seth. I thought absolutely nothing of it, because it was absolutely nothing. But later on when I told Sam about it he went absolutely insane, accusing me of all sorts of ridiculous things. Said he was going to find Marcus and kick the shit out of him for going on a date with his girlfriend." I paused, taking a long breath. Emily was motionless.

"I know now looking back that that fight was the beginning of the end. I thought maybe if I was just careful enough, if I tried my best not to make him angry then maybe he would go back to being the Sam that was my very best friend above all else." My voice started to crack but I pressed forward.

"I will always love Sam. But after everything that we've been through these last couple months; the mood swings, the lies, the disappearing acts. Somewhere along the way I just stopped being in love with him. He's just too different now… and maybe so am I." I stopped again waiting for her to say something.

Emily finally whispered, "You looked pretty in love with him earlier today."

I was halfway expecting that but luckily I had already decided the reason for my extreme reaction in the car ride home from Forks.

"Sam and I grew up together like two trees planted side by side. So close together that our branches grew woven into one another's. Having those ties break has been an immensely painful process and today was the peak. But I can honestly say I'm over it now and ready to move on with my life and grow in my own direction."

Emily rolled over and I could feel her eyes searching for my face in the darkness. "How are you being so… so… freaky zen about all of this? Where did you go today?"

I was grateful she couldn't see the red splotches decorating my cheeks. I flopped down off of my elbow and onto my pillow, staring straight up at the ceiling.

"I'm not telling. Not yet anyways. And I won't ask what you and Sam talked about after I left either." I said knowing she would go back to her former silence and I would finally be free to go to sleep like I desperately needed to.

I was right.