I was grinning when I walked in the door to see yet another episode of the Clearwater evening routine. The butterflies in my stomach were still dancing as if I had kissed Edward goodbye thirty seconds ago as opposed to thirty minutes. I had decided on my drive home to tell my parents about Edward. If they didn't like it then too bad, I was eighteen and free to date whoever I wanted. It dawned on me that in all reality, what could they possibly say? No young lady, you may not date him, the legends of our tribe forbid it.. and also he's a vampire.

"Hey mom, have you heard any updates about Emily yet?" I called, slipping out of my boots and jacket and stretching out my sore toes. I had just gone up a size the month before but lately it was feeling like these were getting too small too. I frowned at my already larger than average size 10 shoes, dreading the idea of having to go any higher.

"I called you but it went straight to voice-mail. Remind me again why we pay for that thing if you aren't going to use it to communicate with us?" She responded from the kitchen.

I pulled my phone out and saw that I had several new voicemails.

"Sorry I didn't realize I had gone out of service. So? Is she awake?" I urged, slipping the phone back into my pocket.

"Yes they woke her up around four, she's doing well. Eating has been a bit challenging. They are going to do the eye exams in a week or two, apparently it could take a little while for the connections to repair themselves fully. So far everything's really blurry but she's able to pick up on light and shapes."

I nodded sadly. "Did she say anything about the attack?"

"No, she says the last thing she remembers is leaving our house that morning. But according to that doctor it's normal." She said, curling her lip distastefully.

"Dr. Cullen? What, you don't like him?"

She sighed and shook her head. "It's nothing. Where have you been off to today? I hope you're not still looking for Sam. You know we love him but that boy is trouble- just like his father."

I shook my head softly knowing that that comparison would crush Sam if he heard it. "I was in Forks. I decided I needed a drive to clear my head and figured I'd go thank Charlie for my birthday gear in person." I wasn't ready to tell her about Edward just yet. I needed more time to gather my nerves, and I would rather wait until everyone was together so I didn't have to repeat myself. Choking the words out once was going to be hard enough.

"Oh." She said, eying me with eyebrows raised. I wasn't fully convinced she believed me but she didn't push like she usually would.

"I'm gonna go throw my stuff down and change."

"Set the table when you get back." She said without looking up from the tomatoes she was dicing.

I went upstairs and changed quickly into pajama shorts and a large tshirt, then threw my hair up in a lazy bun. I figured someone must have forgotten to turn the heat off that morning because our house felt like it was now located on the surface of the sun. I launched happily onto my bed as Edward's perfect face appeared in my mind to remind me that he loves me. I sighed dreamily before rolling over to plug my phone and heaving myself back up off of the bed.

I slid down the bannister enthusiastically, launching myself as far as I could without hitting the couch and landing expertly on the balls of my feet. I giggled softly at the image of Edward leaping across the creek, albeit with slightly more grace, that popped into my head.

I went back into the kitchen to gather plates and utensils and then set the table for my mother, who came out a few seconds later with a piping hot casserole dish. She set it in the middle of the table and went back for the salad I had seen her assembling while I finished up.

"Dinner!" She called, setting the salad next to the casserole. I took my seat and started helping myself immediately. The smell was amazing and it was making me ravenous. I shoveled several steaming bites into my mouth not caring when it burned my tongue.

My dad and Seth took their places, and my parents started asking him about his day. Once the usual topics had been gone through and our plates were almost empty I decided it was now or never.

"So it's not really a big deal or anything but I've been hanging out with this guy lately and he asked me if I would, like, be his girlfriend today and I said yes. I was thinking maybe he could come over for dinner next weekend?" I said the last part with more force than necessary. I knew once they found out who he was there would be no chance of that actually happening, and honestly it pissed me off.

"I knew it." My mom said, slapping a hand down on the table and pointing at me playfully. "You've been way too chipper considering everything that happened with Sam on your birthday."

"So Leah, who's your latest victim? Sunny told me his boy had it pretty bad for you last year, guess he probably saw his chance and decided to take it." My dad teased dryly.

"Yuck." Seth said, sneering with disgust. I threw my fork at his head but unfortunately he ducked before it could meet its intended target.

I tried not to look as nervous as I felt but it was useless, I was sweating bullets. It didn't help that it was so hot. I could feel my nerve slipping away.

"Actually lets just forget it, it's too new. If I introduce him to you lot he'll probably never talk to me again." I rolled my eyes and scooped another helping of casserole onto my plate. "I'm gonna go to bed early, I'm tired. It's Seth's turn for dishes tonight." I said and he immediately started whining, something my mother couldn't stand. I used the opportunity to slip upstairs so I could text Edward.

I swapped my plate for my phone and flicked it open, stretching out happily on my bed. The voicemail notification icon was irritating me so I pressed send to clear them out.

"Leah, it's your mother-" delete.

"Leah-" her again. Delete.

"I'm so sorry Leah. I swear I didn't know." Edward's voice came through the speakers taking me completely off guard. I replayed the message so I could listen better this time, sure I had misheard him.

"I'm so sorry Leah. I swear I didn't know."

I couldn't process what that could possibly mean. I dialed his number to demand an explanation but all I heard was:

I'm sorry, but the number you dialed is no longer in service. Please hang up and try your call again.

So I did. Over and over and over. I tried texting but they wouldn't go through either. I threw my phone angrily and it smashed through the wall in my closet. I looked at the hole, fuming, and then stomped my way down the stairs and straight to the front door, every part of me shaking.

"Woah what's going on? You know we were just kidding right?" My mom asked, coming towards me. My dad set a large hand on her shoulder and shook his head in warning.

"Best to let her go blow off some steam before you go prying."

I grabbed my keys off the hook without bothering to grab a jacket, I was looking forward to the cool rain on my sweat covered skin.

The drive to Forks took less time than ever before. If Charlie had seen me going that fast on his roads he would probably have taken back my FPD gear. When I was through to the other side of Forks I slowed way down and turned my high beams on, scanning the edge of the forest carefully. It took me almost as long as the whole drive had to find the well hidden artery through the woods leading to their home.

There wasn't a single light in the clearing now. What had just been blindingly bright with his love and light hours before was now pitch black and utterly lifeless. It was hard to believe I had come to the right place.

I slammed my car door in warning of my arrival and then stormed up the stairs to the front door. Looking in the large windows I couldn't see anybody, but the house was just as beautiful inside as it was on the outside, like something out of movies and not real life. The furniture was all draped with white sheets turning it into indistinguishable white lumps scattered about the wide open space. I pounded on the door already sure that nobody was coming to answer. I tried the door but it was locked. No one lived here any more.

I was shocked when I heard someone roar, and even more shocked when I realized it was me. I sprinted down the stairs and around the house on the path Edward and I had just walked. It was pitch black outside now, the only light shining from a small sliver of Crescent moon, but my eyes had adjusted and I found my footing easily. Tremors rocked through my body as I tried not to let the thoughts come. I told myself that when I got to the creek he would be standing there, smiling, asking me what's wrong.

But he wasn't.

Pain erupted in my chest as I fell to my knees and buried my face in my hands, shaking so hard my teeth felt like they would shatter. I heard a sharp ringing begin in my ears, getting so high pitched it started to hurt. I scratched at my ears trying to force the sound to stop. I knew I was screaming but I couldn't hear myself over the horrible sound.

It started in my fingers, one by one my bones all felt like they were being snapped in half. The sensation moved up both of my arms and legs simultaneously, each bone snapping and causing new screams to erupt from deep within my chest. I couldn't handle the pain anymore and I could feel myself slipping away. The sound in my ears subsided and I fell into the comforting black.

*** Okay! That's a wrap on part one. I hope you all are having as much fun on this journey as I am. Stay tuned for part two, coming soon I have lots of plans for Leah's story***