A Year And A Half Ago

Leah sat on the cliffside, catching her breath as she contemplated. She had just finished dancing her ass off in an attempt to relieve her tension from the day. It had been weeks since Leah had ended things with Sam. She was handling things surprisingly well, all things considered. Other things had shifted as a result, however. Rather than Leah and her constant bitterness driving everyone crazy, it was Sam. Every night, Sam went home to confront the scars he had left Emily with. Every day, he battled his guilt while his heart still ached for Leah. Lately, the guilt and bitterness seemed to be all Sam ever felt.
Leah found no joy in his pain. She was half the source of his guilt, and being around her too long began to set off his temper. Leah knew all too well that people tended to let their anger out on those they were closest to rather than deal with the real problem. She was all too guilty of it herself. Sam, however, was insanely careful to not bring his anger home. He had harmed Emily enough. Instead, he was short with the pack, snapping at them more often than not. Paul was all too aware that Sam took his frustration over Leah out on all of them and had no qualms about telling him off over it. Paul complained to such an extent that Sam alpha ordered Paul to not speak or contribute to the pack mind commentary for two full days. An extremely social person, the silence was driving Paul mad.

For the first time since her initial phase, Leah had two whole days of complete silence from Paul Lahote. She had been so tickled about it that the others in the pack enjoyed her company for a change. Unfortunately, it would not last forever. When he was allowed to speak again, the first thing Paul did was tell Sam to fuck off. When Leah burst out laughing, Paul ran up on Leah and bit a chunk from her hind leg.

Leah squealed, Motherfucker, that hurt!

That's for all the shit comments I couldn't reply to for two days, Paul growled at her. Leah slammed her shoulder into his side, tackling Paul to the ground. She was up and off in a flash, barely escaping another snap of his sharp teeth.

Leah complained, Next time, just fucking text it to me, dumbass.

Sam yelled, Knock it off, you two. Paul, go patrol the southeast border.

Paul snapped, Dude, that is on the other fucking side of LaPush.

Then you better get going, Sam grumbled. He kept his eyes trained away from Leah for once as she phased to human to tend to her injury. The bitemark burned as her skin patched itself together in front of her. As it began to darken into purple scars, Leah rubbed her sore calf muscle. She groaned as she phased back to her wolf, and her calf cramped up painfully. The holes had closed in less than a minute, but she knew from experience that it would hurt for at least a full day.

Paul should have been a tick. Damn vampire teeth, Leah grumbled.

Sam chuckled softly before turning to look at her. A soft whine escaped as he asked, You okay, Leelee?

I'm fine, Sam. Same shit, different day. For the first time in a long time, Leah realized that she was doing fine. In comparison to the last eight months, she was doing great. It was almost as if being the one to set boundaries between herself and Sam had somehow allowed her to let go of her sadness. For the first time in far too long, Leah wasn't angry all the time. Of course, her newfound friendships might have had something to do with that as well.

Since making peace with Bella, Leah had found herself actually liking the girl. Their growing camaraderie had not surprised anyone more than Leah herself, despite seeming very surreal for everyone at first. The night of their argument had created a connection with Quil as well. He began to seek out her company, and Leah was pleasantly surprised to find she didn't mind. They talked about the most random things, confessed their true feelings about life in general, and Quil had even begun to show her how to play his guitar. They were not often left alone and patrolled together frequently. Leah was honestly afraid for Sam to know that she had gotten closer with Quil. Sam would sometimes forget himself and get jealous when she became too playful with the rest of the pack. It made her hesitant to be too open with how she had been spending her time.

With encouragement from Quil, Leah finally worked up the courage to ask Sam to give her different shifts to put more space between herself and Sam. All that had been accomplished was raising suspicions, and Leah was given a blatant refusal.

Your wolf is so much smaller than the rest of us, Leah. I worry about you being alone out there all night, Sam had claimed. Leah had wanted to call bullshit but let it go. She would continue to make due for now. Eventually, things would have to change for the sake of everyone involved.

Sam pulled her attention again as he said, Hey, Leelee? You can go home if you would like. It has been quiet today. Well, except for Paul. Paul remained silent, though they could feel him perk up at the sound of his name.

Leah asked, ``Are you sure about that?

Yeah. Go rest your leg. Paul can just run a double perimeter. Serves him right, Sam grumbled.

Right on. You don't have to tell me a third time. Leah's chuckle was met with Paul growling as she turned to leave.

Don't even start it, Paul, or I'll silence you for two more days, Sam threatened. It was the last she heard of their bickering as she tuned them out and ran for home.

Sue was surprised to see Leah home early until she caught sight of the bite mark on Leah's leg. Leah was in the middle of explaining what happened with Paul when there was a knock at the back door. She scoffed as Quil poked his head inside cautiously. He glanced around quickly, grinning when his eyes finally landed on Leah.

Quil said, "I heard the warden let you free early." Sue glanced between them suspiciously as Leah's mood immediately lifted.

Leah grinned and said, "Yeah. I was going to come and see what your dumbass was doing."

Cheerfully, Quil greeted, "Hey, Sue!"

Sue laughed and teased, "In or out, V." She had been saying that to him all of his life. Sue had frequently babysat Jacob, Quil, and Embry as children, and Quil tended to hover in doorways. He stepped into the house and hugged Sue warmly.

Sue asked, "So, when did you two become chummy?"

Leah scoffed and said, "We share thoughts, Mom. Kinda hard to not make friends."

Sue glanced pointedly at Leah's leg and grumbled, "Tell that to Paul, will you?"

Quil scowled down at the mark and asked, "He bit you?"

Leah huffed and said, "Yeah. It was kind of worth it, though. He was pissy, and it was hilarious. He got in trouble for cussing Sam. Then he bit me, and Sam took my side." Leah grinned proudly, gloating over the small victory. Quil frowned at her suspiciously. Leah said, "What? I'm tired of being the goat and Paul constantly talking shit. It's about damn time Sam had my back a little bit."

Despite the suspicious look on his face, Quil laughed and asked, "So, did you bite back?"

Leah said, "Nah. I tackled him."

Quil burst out laughing and said, "Badass."

Leah glanced toward her mother and found her watching Leah as suspiciously as Quil had been. Leah huffed and asked, "What? Is there something on my face? Why are you both looking at me all weird?"

Sue shook her head and smirked as if to say, I don't know what you're talking about.

Quil quipped, "Paranoid much?" Sue laughed at them as Leah lightly backhanded his chest.

Leah shoved Quil toward the door and urged, "Come on. Let's go see what Jake is up to." Quil playfully leaned back toward her, blocking her. Laughing, Leah pushed him outside with both hands before saying goodbye to her mother and pulling the door shut behind them.

Leah and Quil took the back trails to Jacob's house. Quil purposely tripped her, and she stumbled but did not fall. He pretended to be shocked before he snickered and walked ahead of her. Leah hurried after him and delivered a swift kick to his rear-end. Quil jumped, grabbed his behind with both hands, and growled at her as she walked ahead of him. Leah kept her back to him, snickering. It wasn't long before he found another trick to gain the lead. They continued along this way, bantering back and forth as well. It was easy to be playful with Quil as long as Sam was far out of sight. They found Jacob standing in his driveway, kissing Bella through the driver-side window of her clunker.

Quil chuckled and said, "That poor girl. Yiiiip." His loud, annoying attempt at getting Jacob's attention went ignored. Quil teased, "He is gonna suck her face inside out one day."

Leah cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled, "Come on, Jake. Don't drool all over her. That heap is rusty enough."

Jacob was stupefied, his lips still puckered as Bella yanked away from him. She leaned out the window and yelled, "Be nice to the truck!" Jacob grinned as she kissed him on the tip of his nose and turned the ignition. They waved goodbye to her and waited, as always, while Jacob watched Bella back onto the highway. He finally started walking toward them, a foolish grin stretched across his kiss-swollen lips.

Quil asked, "Where is she rushing off to?"

Jacob said, "She couldn't stay. She just wanted to see me for a minute. With the funeral, patrol, the Cullens, school, and her coming graduation all going on, we are exhausted. Plus, Charlie is being weird about her staying the night over here."

Quil said, "You sleep there all the time."

Jacob laughed and blushed as he said, "Yeah, Charlie doesn't always know that, though. We have specific rules. He only lets me stay over sometimes because she has fewer nightmares when I'm there." His brow furrowed with worry as he said, "She wakes up screaming a lot if she's alone."

Quil guffawed and said, "Oh, we are aware." Quil lowered his voice and leaned toward Leah as he said, "Though she wakes up screaming either way."

Leah snorted. Thank God Charlie hasn't caught them yet, Leah thought. Over the last couple of weeks, she had seen and overheard too many private moments accidentally shared among the pack and cringed. Far too many people assumed Bella to be a timid little mouse, as had Leah only a few weeks ago. Bella, however, was loud in the bedroom and temper, both. Everyone in the pack and half of the Cullens had heard all of her and Jacob's business. Bella didn't know that, but it was true nonetheless. The big tick, Emmett, and Paul seemed to get the most amusement from the situation.

Quil asked, "She needed that imprint contact, huh?"

Jacob laughed and said, "Yeah, I think so. Me too, though."

Quil grumbled, "We could tell. Thought you were gonna suck her face off, Black."

Jacob teased, "Don't be jealous."

Leah cackled and said, "Seriously, Quil? You too? I swear half the pack has the hots for Swan."

Quil barked out a loud laugh. "I am not jealous of you kissing Bella, dude."

Jacob said, "Nah, you're jealous of Bella kissing me."

Quil joked, "Oh, yes, sir. You are my dream man."

Leah teased, "Jesus, Quil. Pick a fucking cousin already."

Sarcastically, Quil groaned out, "Oh, you are just hilarious."

Laughing, Jacob gestured for them to follow him into the garage.

Jacob said, "Thank God that I don't think half the pack has the hots for Bells. The pack mind just makes everything weird like that. At least that's the thought that keeps me from slugging Paul lately. Bells is mouthy these days, and Paul likes that shit. Quil just has the hots for women in general. He's worse than Paul."

Quil grumbled, "I am not worse than Paul. I don't sleep with every girl I talk to."

As he began picking up around the garage, Jacob absently mumbled, "More than you do, if you could, though."

Confused, Quil laughed and said, "What? Was that even a sentence?"

Leah shook her head at them as she sunk onto the old sofa. Jacob is practically incoherent, and this fool barely comprehends English, Leah thought and laughed. She said, "Jacob said you would sleep with more women than you do if you could. You aren't choosing to not get any. You just aren't getting any." Jacob sank onto the seat of his motorcycle as he roared with laughter. Leah teased, "You can't speak in shorthand around here, Jake. You know Quil needs shit spelled out." She playfully nudged Quil's thigh with her foot. When Quil reached down to grab her ankles, Leah expected him to shove her legs off the couch. It was no less than what one of the other boys would have done. Instead, Quil lifted her legs and sat down, dropping them across his lap.

Leah chuckled and said, "Well, alrighty then." She wiggled around until she became comfortable and put her hands behind her head.

Quil grumbled, "Are you fucking done yet?"

Leah grinned and said, "Yep."

Jacob laughed and said, "God, I'm glad at least some of us can get along around here."

Quil looked over at the old, broken mini fridge and asked, "What the hell is that?"

Jacob glanced toward the bottle of Wild Turkey sitting on top and scoffed. He said, "That would be me pissing off my dad. His blood sugar is messed up. It gets worse when he drinks too much. Between the brain fog from the high blood sugars and being grouchy because he feels like shit … Well, let us just say, whiskey makes all of it worse. I gotta get him back on a diet. I'm gonna have to tell Bells to lay off the rich stuff for my house for a while." Leah giggled at the genuinely disappointed look on his face.

Leah teased, "I bet you're heartbroken."

Jacob looked up at her and grinned, rubbing his belly as he said, "Nah, she feeds me at her house, too." Changing the subject, Jacob asked, "So, what are you two doing, anyway? Lee, I thought you had patrol."

She said, "Sam sent me home early, and we are just out being stupid." Leah looked over at Quil, who shrugged and laughed. Leah turned back to Jake and said, "You, Quil, and Embry are the only ones I don't want to maul daily, so..."

Quil gently touched the fresh, purple scar on her calf and asked, "How does it feel, anyway?"

Jacob asked, "Huh? What happened?"

Quil grumbled, "Paul bit her today! That's why Sam sent her home." Leah laughed as Quil lifted her leg and said, "Look!"

Jacob snickered and said, "Ouch. That fucker has sharp teeth. Outside of that, you seem like you're doing a bit better lately."

Leah said, "As long as I'm away from Sam, Paul, and Jared, I'm fine."

Quil looked at her suspiciously again and asked, "What's up with that, anyway? Sam has been acting weirder than usual about you lately. Way more protective and moody."

Leah rolled her eyes and lied, "The hell if I know." She knew all too well why Sam was being weird. Her mind was a steel trap in terms of thought control, especially after Sam enforced his bullshit Alpha order. Sam wasn't always so successful at controlling his thoughts, and Leah constantly feared he would slip. She was finally letting go of Sam but felt guilty as hell for what they had done. Leah simply wanted to be at peace with it all.

Jacob grumbled, "Mmhmm. You guys get into another fight out in the woods or some shit?"

Seriously? That's too much of a coincidence, right? Had any of them accidentally learned something from Sam? Besides, the guys all complain about my bitchiness and try to tune anything about Sam and me out. Why were they both so interested now? Leah literally could not form the words she wanted to blab to her two closest friends now. She needed to talk to someone that could help her stop hating herself so much. Instead, she choked on her words and sat in uncomfortable silence.

Quil asked her, "You okay over there?" He patted her leg affectionately, and she anxiously burst out laughing.

In an attempt to redirect them, Leah teased, "You two are fucking gossipy."

Jacob laughed and said, "Bells calls our dads the Gossipy Old Birds. I'm more like Billy every day, apparently."

Leah deadpanned, "Ya think?"

Jacob chuckled before breaking into a yawn. He stretched and rubbed his face. "I hate to bust up the party, but I gotta sleep." Leah moved her legs off of Quil's lap, preparing to leave. Jacob said, "You guys can hang out here for a while if you want. I don't give a shit. Just turn the radio off before ya leave. Bells put soda in the cooler the other day."

As Leah slumped back on the couch, Quil said, "Right on! Thanks, man."

Leah yawned and said, "I doubt we will stay long. That shit is contagious, Jake." Jacob gave them a tired grin and walked out of the garage. As soon as his steps were out of earshot, Quil hopped up to change the radio station.
Leah gave him an appreciative grin. Referring to Jacob and affinity for metal music, Leah said, "I like some of that shit. Just not all the time."

Quil laughed and said, "Same. Depends on the mood. Music is always about mood."

Leah teased, "So you have said. You tell me every time you show me something new on the guitar."

As he sat back down on the couch, Quil said, "Well, it's true."

She was surprised as he reached down for her legs, pulling them back into his lap. Leah chuckled and said, "You don't have to do that, you know?"

His green eyes sparkled with mischief as he asked, "Do what?"

Leah guffawed and said, "Do what? You know what." Don't pretend I have not watched you charm more girls than I can count since you were five years old. Quil was practically buzzing with nervous energy. Leah was surprised to find herself amused and somewhat flattered rather than annoyed. It had been a long time since anyone besides Sam attempted to be so playful with her, let alone flirtatious. Leah had bitterly convinced herself that she didn't want or need friends for months after Sam had dumped her. However, life had been lonely as hell. Leah had not necessarily sought out a friendship with Bella or Quil, but she was grateful to have friends to talk to again in any case.

Quil said, "I don't know what you are talking about." He was trying to hold back his grin as he turned away from her. Leah realized at the last moment that he had draped one arm over her legs to hold her in place. It was something he had done as small children, cheating at wrestling by tickling the hell out of her.

Leah threatened, "Quil, don't you dare!" His hand slid to the back of her knee and lightly tickled just above the bend. The effect was instantaneous, and she squirmed to get away from him. "You bastard," Leah panted through her laughter.

Gleefully, Quil held on tighter. He yelled, "I haven't done this since we were little." Quil switched his assault to her other knee reaching between her legs to do so. Leah tried to push him away again, her nails scraping down his back in the process. Instantly, Quil froze. He dropped her legs and laughed awkwardly. Holding his hands up in surrender, he said, "Okay, Leelee. I give."

Concerned, Leah asked, "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

Quil slowly turned back toward her and relaxed somewhat. He said, "No. It didn't hurt." Embarrassed, he forced a grin and tugged lightly at the collar of his t-shirt.

Leah moved her legs off of him and sat up to adjust her already barely-there crop top and shorts. Like a slap to the face, Leah could smell the change in Quil as a hint of lust permeated the space. She glanced over to find Quil readjusting his sitting position and his eyes trained on her midsection. Leah burst out laughing again and covered her face in her hands.

Quil teased, "Well, that took ya long enough."

Leah could not stop grinning despite her embarrassment. Sarcastically, she said, "If I had known I could get a guy to stop tickling me by giving him a boner, I would have utilized that trick ages ago."

Quil laughed and said, "Shit, I'm half surprised you didn't punch me in the dick."

Leah blurted out, "Listen, I'm a bitch, but I'm not cruel. Punching dicks isn't what I would call a good time. There is better shit to do with one than that." Quil roared with laughter. Leah was mortified as she realized what she had just said. "That … that didn't come out right," she stammered through her laughter and stood. Leah grabbed two sodas and contemplated swiping the bottle of whiskey. Quil laughed as she snatched it and walked back to the couch.

He said, "I hoped I wasn't the only one tempted to do that." She handed him a soda and sat back down.

Leah took a swig straight from the bottle and grumbled, "It makes me wish I had a cigarette."

Quil chuckled as she passed it to him. He asked, "When were you a smoker, Lee?"

She admitted, "When Sam was missing. I was pacing in the kitchen, absolutely driving my dad nuts. He pulled out a cigarette, handed it to me, and said, "Smoke this and calm the fuck down."

Quil laughed and said, "Please say you are kidding." He passed the bottle back to Leah, and she took another drink before answering.

Leah sat the bottle down on the ground between them and said, "I wish. The truth is, I'm surprised it was a cigarette and not a joint. I was mad at first. Then I grabbed it and went to my room. I sat there in the fucking window frame and smoked that cigarette. I coughed my fucking lungs out, too. The weird thing was, I liked them instantly. It didn't matter that my throat felt like shit. I wanted another one. I know they are awful, but my dad was right about one thing. They calm me down."

Quil asked, "You know why, right? Nicotine constricts the blood vessels. Your body thinks it's struggling and relaxes so it can get more oxygen. Meanwhile, your blood pressure is higher because your body needs more oxygen. This makes you lightheaded, like a signal that you need to rest."

Leah leaned back, surprised. She asked, "Where the hell did you learn about that shit?"

Quil grinned and said, "I am a fountain of fun but useless information, thank you very much." He picked up the bottle, and they each took another swig.

Leah poked his bicep and teased, "Yeah. You're a nerd inside of a bodybuilder. It's an odd contrast sometimes." She laughed as he grinned proudly and shrugged.

Quil held up the bottle of whiskey and said, "It's too bad we would have to drink half of this to feel it."

Leah teased, "Like you really drink that much, anyway."

Quil said, "Not much lately, that's for sure. Me, Embry, and Jake used to steal Tiffany's alcohol once she got smashed and passed out sometimes. We would get a good buzz and jam on the guitars."

Leah scoffed and said, "Thanks for the invite, fuckers."

Quil said, "You would not have come. You were different back then."

Leah muttered, "I'll say. I wasn't a bitter harpy back then."

Quil said, "You have every right to express your pain, Leah. What Sam did …" Quil paused, looking her in the eye sympathetically before shooting her an almost shy, sweet smile. "He is an idiot."

So am I. I should have never … Leah sucked in a deep breath and pushed back the surge of guilt that threatened to envelop her. Leah wasn't sure if she would ever forgive herself for having sex with Sam. She had been wrong when she thought the last time wouldn't make her feel any guiltier than she already did. Leah said, "Enough about that shit, though. When are you going to teach me some more?"

Quil asked, "Oh the guitar?"

Leah rolled her eyes and said, "Yeah, on the guitar. What the fuck else?"

Flirtatiously, Quil said, "Depends on what you want to know." Leah laughed, unable to help herself. The truth was, the closer their friendship became, the more confused she felt about the growing attraction she felt toward him. Sometimes he was charming, though not usually so flirtatious with Leah in the past. Sometimes Quil was incredibly kind, like the night he had caught her dancing. He had sought her out there twice since then. Once, to check on her after another fight with Sam. The second time was to warn her the pack was nearby so she could get the hell out of the area. She had appreciated his loyalty to their newfound friendship more than he knew. Sometimes, Quil was just a dumbass, making bad jokes and embarrassing the hell out of everyone. Recently, however, minute details in his mannerisms and features were suddenly fascinating to her. Such as the soft green of his eyes and how his mood slightly changed their color. She enjoyed the way his chipper mood lingered just under the surface, always. He was rarely in a foul mood and calmed down quickly, despite the influence of his often angry brothers.

Quil had once been a short, skinny youth. He had begun lifting weights in his early teens. Quil had started to bulk up long before the rest of the pack besides Sam. Suddenly Quil, like the rest, had gained a foot in height and aged years practically overnight. He now stood taller than Leah by at least six inches when she had once loomed over him. Quil had straight teeth thanks to the braces he had rocked for four years, and his confidence made him more attractive rather than swelling his ego. His face was handsome in a traditional sense, though Leah had never considered him particularly attractive in previous years. He looked far too much like a cross between his father and his cousin Charlie.

Leah shook her head and looked away from Quil to keep from further scrutinizing his features. She chuckled softly and said, "You keep that shit up, Quil, and you're going to put your foot right in your mouth."

Quil said, "I'm pretty sure there are worse things for people to put in their mouths." He poked her in the ribs playfully as she cackled. When she finished laughing, Quil asked, "So, have you been out dancing in the woods lately?"

Again, Leah laughed with embarrassment. She said, "I have. Thanks for not ratting me out to anyone."

Quil turned to look her in the eye. He said, "Hey, I can keep a secret. I'm just glad I got to see it."

Leah burst out laughing in embarrassment once again. She had been dancing her ass off when Quil had found her the last time.
My very, very naked ass.

Softly, Quil said, "You're an awesome dancer, Leah." He was being sincere, no longer laughing, though the smile had not left his face. "I mean, I don't know much about that shit, but you sure looked amazing to me."

Leah scoffed and said, "Whatever, Ateara." She took another swig of whiskey.

Seriously, he said, "No, I mean it." He snatched the bottle out of her hand and took a drink. The bottle was nearly half-empty, now. Jacob would surely be able to tell that they had gotten into it.

Leah said, "We're going to have to quit that."

Quil chuckled and said, "I'll replace it." As if reading her thoughts, Quil said, "Jake will know we got into it anyway."

Leah said, "You are barely eighteen. How are you going to replace it?"

Quil said, "I'll tell mom I broke the bottle or something and just swipe one from the store."

Leah said. "Ha! No way my mom would buy that bull."

Quil said, "Sharp as a fucking tack, Sue. I never got away with anything over there."

Leah said, "I don't know how she never knew how often I snuck out to see Sam. Then again, I used the window a lot."

Quil asked, "Did part of you kind of enjoy that, though? Sneaking around? I used to hate it. Now it is almost like," he paused, searching for the right words. "Like second nature in a way. I feel like I'm constantly hiding my thoughts or what I'm doing from somebody."

Leah admitted, "It feels the opposite for me. I have gotten good at controlling my thoughts when I want to. I used to sneak around to see Sam. I had to keep quiet about all the screaming going on at home. Now it seems like everything is just out there in the open. Everyone knows my business. The second one of the pack hears the slightest peep."

Quil asked, "You mean Paul?"

Leah laughed and said, "Yeah. Loudmouth mother fucker. I kind of miss having secrets. Good secrets, though. Stuff that they don't all know about."

Quil asked, "Like dancing?"

Leah nodded and confirmed, "Like dancing."

Quil passed the bottle again and asked, "Are you worried at all? About this upcoming battle bullshit?"

Leah scowled. She had been trying to keep her thoughts away from the supposed upcoming battle. The psychic had not confirmed when it would happen yet, leaving everyone on edge as they waited for the anvil to drop. Just contemplating fighting beside the Cullens made many in the pack uneasy. Leah wasn't looking forward to it. She was sure as hell not looking forward to possibly being killed.

Of anyone being killed, she thought. I never wanted any of this shit. She admitted, "I don't even want to think about it, really. Next question."

Quil laughed and said, "Well, then. Are you going to the party at the Cullen house this weekend?"

She complained, "Blegh. And smell them all night? No, thank you." Leah had liked parties once upon a time. However, the thought of a crowd being ushered into the house by vampires set her on edge. She was afraid she would just have to run out to phase. She had nothing suitable to wear, either, but that was beside the point.

Quil said, "I dunno, Leah. I think you should come. Jake, Embry, and I are going. You could teach me some dance moves or something. There might be someone there that you like. You never know."

Leah grumbled, "Outside of you three and Bella? I doubt it. Got any more questions, Ateara?"

Quil grinned and mischievously asked, "Do you wish you could get laid one more time before we potentially die?"

Leah laughed and asked, "That is all you think about, isn't it? Getting laid?"

Quil snickered and shrugged his shoulders. He said, "Most guys do."

Leah said, "Girls like sex, too. We just aren't all as open about it. It's still a taboo thing for most women to talk about their sexual appetites openly." Leah rolled her eyes and said, "As far as dating goes …"

Incredulously, Quil interrupted her and asked, "Dating?" He scoffed loudly. "Hell. The wolf and imprint shit make wanting to date anyone hard to even contemplate. Like, what if I have an imprint out there? What if you do?"

Leah laughed bitterly. "I don't want an imprint," she grumbled. "I'm certainly in no position to drag some poor outsider along for the ride. You, on the other hand, have nothing stopping you from hooking up with anyone." Leah was surprised to find herself slightly disappointed about that. Quil moved along quickly. There would always be a prospective "next" for him.

Quil said, "I don't know about that. There is one chick I've thought was pretty cool for a while now. For a few years, actually. She didn't know I was alive for a long time, though."

Quil digging on someone for a few years? Unfathomable. Tentatively, Leah asked, "Who is that?"

Quil laughed and said, "You, you dumbass. Can you not tell?"

Leah opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. I didn't think he was being sincere … She could see his confidence wavering just slightly as she sat in shocked silence. He grabbed the bottle of wild turkey.

Quil said, "Never seen you speechless before, Lee."

She chuckled nervously and said, "There's a first time for everything."

He took a swig and said, "You know what I think, Leah?" Quil tapped her upper arm with the bottom of the bottle and whispered, "I think you dig me, too."

She asked him, "What if I admit that I do? Would you quit fucking around and be serious for a goddamned minute over here?" Quil burst out laughing, shaking his head. Leah took a swig from the bottle of whiskey and chased it with a drink of her soda.

Observing her, Quil asked, "You think I am just giving you shit?"

Leah laughed and said, "Yeah, I kinda do. For one, you can hear my thoughts and already know I'm a total bitch most of the time. For two, you just said you wanted to get laid. Also, I happen to know you value your right to breathe, which Sam would probably revoke for you."

Quil burst out laughing and yelled, "Revoke? That's hilarious."

Unable to stop grinning, Leah said, "Quil, I'm serious."

He nodded in understanding as his laughter subsided. Ignoring the warning entirely, Quil asked, "So you dig me, huh?" He kept his eyes trained on hers as he lightly trailed his hand up the side of her leg.

She sucked in a sharp breath as Quil glanced down the length of her body and back to her face. Leah asked, "What the hell are you doing, Quil?" She fought the urge to squirm, anticipating another assault on the back of her knee. Quil hesitated for a moment before he pressed further, spanning his large hand over her thigh. Her breath caught in her throat and her heart began pounding as butterflies exploded in her chest. She was unsure of what to do as he slid his hand upward at an agonizingly slow pace. He stopped at the frayed end of her shorts. Leah finally released the breath that she had been holding. Quil looked into her eyes and grinned mischievously before looking directly at her crotch. Suddenly, Quil grabbed both of her thighs and yanked her toward him, her ass now resting against his thigh. Quil slid both hands along the outsides of her thighs and just barely up the legs of her shorts. Warmth spread through her limbs and straight to her core as Quil gently massaged her thighs with his hands. She tilted her head back and whimpered as his hands swiped across her inner thighs. Her eyes flew open as he repeated the movement, inching closer to her sex. Watching her reactions, he chuckled softly.

Jesus, Leah, what the hell are you doing? What the hell would happen if the pack found out? They were treading dangerous territory, but Leah didn't want him to stop. All clarity fled her as his hands slid over her hips and under her shirt. Trembling, Leah whimpered again as he continued massaging her stomach and sides. His hands grazed against her breasts, though he did not attempt to touch them. She desperately wanted him to.

Why the hell was this supposed to be a bad thing, again? His hands felt incredible as he kneaded her flesh with long, smooth strokes. She was melting under his touch, becoming positively limp while he explored. When the radio squelched with a weather alert, reality brought Leah back from the line she was dangerously close to crossing. Her eyes flew open, and she pulled away, attempting to sit back up.

Quil watched her worriedly as she took a deep breath. Apologetically, he asked, "Are you okay? Did I go too far?"

A little too quickly, she blurted out, "No." Shit. She took another calming breath and said, "This has to stay between us." Quil grinned at her conspiratorially and nodded for her to go on. Leah said, "Look, I still am not sure if you were serious or just trying to get some, but the truth is that I am," Leah laughed as she stumbled over her words, "really attracted to you lately. If you keep touching me like that, we are both going to have a lot of trouble."

Quil grumbled, "I know Sam might not be thrilled, but you guys broke up a long time ago." Leah sighed and stood, shaking her head at him.

Does he not care about his safety at all?

Quil said, "Leelee ... If you aren't interested, you can tell me. I'm not going to be offended. You are my friend first. I hope you know that." As she turned to look at him, he gave her a beautiful smile and said, "I had to try, though."

Leah tried to warn him as she bluntly explained, "That is not it. Believe me, I'm interested. I just fucking admitted I am attracted to you, and my apparent disinterest is what you're taking away from the conversation? Quil?" Leah crossed her arms in aggravation and stopped pacing to look at Quil. He was grinning, practically gloating, and leaned back cockily.

This motherfucker just wanted me to admit it twice! She rolled her eyes and said, "I care about what happens to you. Sam might not slap the hell out of me, but he would sure pound the fuck out of you."

He would just get me back some other way, she thought bitterly. The mental image of her recent poor decisions made her shudder. If Sam had ordered Leah to stay quiet about what they had done, what other bullshit order was he capable of enforcing? What if Sam forces me to stay away from Quil? The thought of it bothered her more than she wanted to admit. How had he become so important so quickly?

Quil looked away from her and sighed as she began pacing. Tentatively, he asked, "Leah, are you and Sam … are you two completely over with?"

Leah forced a laugh and said, "Yes, we are over with. I'm pretty sure everyone from here to fucking Canada knows that."

Quil asked, "Well, does Sam know it?" Leah glared at Quil anxiously. He said, "Hey, I'm just asking. He is being weird about you lately. You have been different, too. Sneaking around to avoid him whenever you can, but somehow he ends up wherever you seem to be anyway. It's almost like you two broke up all over again, and you're scared to be around him."

Leah gaped at Quil guiltily for a moment, and he smirked as he nodded to himself. She lied, "That-that's not how it is."

But that is how it is. Leah squeezed her eyes shut as she bit down on the inside of her cheek, fighting back her anxiety. She was not sure when she had climbed onto this emotional rollercoaster, but she was ready to get the hell off of it.

Leah opened her eyes as Quil patted the couch seat next to him and said, "Come here. Seriously, sit and talk to me. I won't try anything if you don't want me to." Leah slowly sat back down next to him and pulled her knees up to her chest. Carefully, Quil asked, "What happened, Leah? Something must have."

Leah blinked back tears and shook her head as she said, "Some shit is just better left alone, Quil. My hesitation concerning Sam is over your safety." She desperately wanted to admit that she was afraid of Sam, now. If she was honest with herself, she would also confess that she had been wary of his temper long before Sam had phased. To say it out loud made the fact of it too real. It made her question her real motives for giving in to his advances as wilfully as she had, for being unable to tell him no when she knew it was the right thing to do. Admitting it also gave away too much power should Sam ever see the memory. There were some things Leah would always keep to herself. Sam had known that about her, though. Leah would never want the others to know how much of a hypocrite she was after she had tormented them with her misery for months.
Sam knew that shit, too. It made his silencing order all the more insulting. In fact, to Leah, it had been unnecessarily cruel.

Quil said, "I know you are worried about Sam whooping my ass, Leah, but I'm not. You know we don't have to explain anything to anyone, right? We are friends, and friends hang out sometimes. We care about each other. I trust you, Leah. I hope that you trust me."

Her voice cracked as she said, "You know I do. You and fucking Swan are the only two people I do trust these days."

Quil said, "Waiting for some magical imprint that might never happen is not how I want to spend my life, Leah. Is that what you want?" He turned toward her and lightly brushed the hair out of her face to see her more clearly. "The way I see it, what you want to do with your body is your business. I am into you, Leah. I dig you a lot. You said you are into me, too. We don't have to be together in any official status to enjoy that connection."

Leah turned to gape at Quil again and said, "You are seriously asking me to do what? Be your friend with benefits?" She was finally beginning to understand how he had earned his reputation. Quil Ateara V is bold as brass.

Quil laughed as her cheeks flushed pink. Leah wasn't the type to fluster or swoon where flirting was concerned. She liked to flirt, and she was good at it when she was happy. Somehow, the young man in front of her made her feel like a fucking sixteen-year-old virgin again when she was almost three years older than he was.

Leah was stunned by how nonchalant Quil seemed as he said, "Call it whatever you want, Leelee. It would be our business. I mean, I would not give a damn who knew, but you obviously do, so ... I can leave that up to you. I'm okay with that."
Leah leaned back on the couch, considering his words.

Sneaking around and hooking up with no one knowing? How is that any better than what I did with Sam? At least Quil doesn't have a fucking fiance. Not like he can knock me up or anything, either.

Bluntly, she asked, "Are you clean?" He burst out laughing, and she playfully slapped his leg. She said, "I'm serious. When was the last time you were tested?"

Quil looked up at the ceiling and laughed again. He said, "Oh, wow. Two months ago? I haven't been with anyone in a while, though. A lot longer than two months ago. I talk a lot of shit sometimes, and I flirt a lot. I have only been with a few people. I'm not as bad as some of the shit people say. "

Leah took a deep breath and nodded. She said, "I have not been with anyone but Sam. You know that, right?"

The soft, affectionate smile he gave her made her heart skip a beat. Quil said, "That doesn't matter to me. Does it matter that I have been with a few?"

Leah chuckled and said, "Not really, no." Leah dared to reach for his hand, threading her fingers between his much larger ones. She said, "I don't know right now, Quil. Let me think about it?"

Quil grinned at her and said, "That's fine. May I try something to help you make up your mind?" Leah looked over at him wide-eyed, unsure if she wanted to know what that would be. Quil leaned over her and cupped her cheek in his palm. He said, "Close your eyes, Leah." He laughed again as she glared at him suspiciously. Softly, he said, "Just trust me." The grin on his face was her undoing as she immediately grinned back and relaxed. As she closed her eyes, Quil leaned in to press his lips to hers. Soft and inviting, his kiss was warm and tender. When she parted her lips for him, his tongue invaded her mouth and sent a thrill through her body. A renewed rush of desire flowed between them. Instinctively, Leah wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing him closer. When he lightly tugged on the hair at the base of her skull, she whimpered into his mouth. Leah clasped the front of his shirt in her fist and pulled him over her. She moaned as her back sunk into the couch with his added weight resting over her. Leah slid her left leg upward against his thigh and wrapped it around him. When she finally broke the kiss and drew away for air, Leah discovered herself underneath Quil. His knees were between her legs as he braced himself with one hand buried deep into the cushion at her side. When she freed his t-shirt, he chuckled and stood. Leah was panting as she sat up again, hornier and more baffled about what she should do than ever.

Quil said, "Let me know when you are done considering it. Goodnight, Leah." He turned and walked out of the garage, leaving her sprawled on the couch, the open whiskey bottle on the floor, and the radio still blaring in the corner.