IV
"I'll just use my connections and blackmail my way out."
February 25, 2005
"What's wrong with her?" Leah nodded towards Bella's retreating form as the door softly closed behind the youngest Swan twin.
Even as Leah asked this, she was restless, pacing back and forth in front of Teddy. The younger girl was watching her with furrowed eyes, teeth biting gently down on her lips before replying.
"I'm not sure. A boy from school has been ignoring her since the car accident and she's been, well, moping." Teddy smiled sheepishly with a shrug before leaning forward, blue eyes bright. "What's up, though, Leah?"
The older girl finally came to a stop and threw herself onto the desk chair across from where Teddy sat legs crossed on top of her bed. Brown eyes met blue ones and Leah sighed as she ran a hand through her hair. She glanced over at the room, eyes lingering on Bella's side.
Leah hasn't officially met the other girl since she's arrived. The other Swan had mumbled an awkward hello before disappearing to give her and Teddy space. Leah hasn't seen Bella since Bella last visited Forks when she was eleven.
Looking away, she turned back to Teddy, skin too warm and body still shaking from the news that Emily had shared. She wasn't sure why, but when she got off the phone with Emily, Teddy was the only person she could think of seeing.
"Sam," Leah winced, eyes closing briefly before she continued, "has been going to the Makah reservation."
Teddy's eyes widened before narrowing. "The Makah reservation? But why-"
"Sam told Emily that... that he's in love her." Leah's chest squeezed painfully.
Soft pink lips opened, then closed before Teddy whispered, "what." A pause. "Emily? As in our Emily?"
At Leah's nod, Teddy's whole face changed and in a flash, it was Teddy who was pacing the room, arms crossed and hands fisted as she huffed and puffed. If the situation was different, Leah would have laughed at the sight of a ferocious Teddy Swan. The girl, at 5'3, was a sight to see, but it was also because Teddy rarely displayed anger. Listening to the curses being thrown from her usual happy voice caused Leah to raise her brows in surprise.
"Teddy," Leah called out and when the younger girl only continued to glare at the ground and pace, Leah sighed, eyes softening as she watched Teddy. A small smile made its way to her face, chest ache waning away as she tried not to laugh.
Her eyes looked away as she realized that coming to see Teddy was a good decision. She could only imagine what telling her parents would have done. Maybe her dad would have just continued with his, 'it's for the best' speech followed by her mother's 'it'll be okay.' Smile disappearing, Leah glowered at the wall. Teddy's voice broke through her thoughts, though, and she turned back to the Swan girl. Teddy was no longer pacing and was instead standing across from Leah, arms still crossed. Her fists were no longer clenched, though.
"How's Emily?" Leah's brows furrowed in confusion at the question but disappeared when Teddy continued, "more specifically, how's her hand? Sam's head is pretty thick, after all, and I would hate if Emily broke some fingers punching him."
The smile came back as a smirk before Leah replied with a shake of her head. "No one got punched, Teddy. Emily did turn him away when he told her his feelings last night, though. She called me this morning."
"I guess it's up to me, then," Teddy muttered as she turned towards the door. "If I get arrested for assault and battery, tell my dad before the station does." Leah, realizing how serious she was, quickly got out of her seat and crossed the room to grab Teddy by the waist, whirling the girl away from the door.
"Whoa!" Leah couldn't help the sudden laugh that broke from her throat. "You're half Sam's size, Teddy. And I think getting a charge on your record will ruin that plan to join the force."
Teddy struggled for a split second before sagging against her arms. "I hate it when you use logic."
"Only because you don't have any, idiot." Leah didn't fight the smile this time as she moved them towards Teddy's bed. "Go back to bed."
"If you join me, yea," came a teasing reply, Teddy's umber ringlets falling over one shoulder. She met Leah's eyes with hers, the blue shining brightly as she smiled up at Leah.
Leah blinked at the comment, breath hitching. Her skin grew warm, arms tightening unconsciously around Teddy before she became very aware of their current position. Letting the other girl go abruptly, Leah stepped back as she watched Teddy stumble forward at the sudden lack of support.
The other girl turned to Leah, blue eyes looking down at the floor with white teeth biting on pink lips. With a fresh blush blooming against her cheeks, Teddy floundered under Leah's gaze.
"I mean, I- that wasn't, what I meant-"
"If it stops you from getting charged with assault."
Leah fought down the warmth creeping up her neck, heart pounding as she forced out a laugh. Instead, she watched as ivory skin reddened, Teddy flushing prettily underneath her gaze before Leah took pity on her and looked away.
"Whatever," the younger girl mumbled and Leah heard as the bed creaked under Teddy's sudden weight. She looked back and saw as Teddy crossed her arms, skin flushed still with a stubborn tilt of her chin. "Punching Sam would be worth it."
"Well..." Leah shrugged and slowly stepped towards Teddy before sitting next to her. "I don't think he's worth jail time."
Teddy gave her a sideways glance, lips grinning and, with a blink of an eye the awkwardness of whatever that had been, disappeared.
"What makes you think they'll throw me in jail? I'll just use my connections and blackmail my way out."
Leah scoffed lightly, head shaking as she nudged Teddy. "I think Charlie might have a word or two about that plan."
"Probably." Teddy laughed and nodded her head in agreement. "So, do you want to officially re-meet Bella and stay for dinner?"
Leah was about to object, but then remembered what awaited her at home. Sighing, she nodded.
"Sure. Who's cooking?"
"I am!"
Leah pretended to frown, arms crossing as she tilted her head and looked away.
"Oh, nevermind then. I'd rather take my chances somewhere else."
"Leah!"
Teddy scooted off the bed and pushed her, light laughter spilling from her lips. Leah rolled her eyes and refused to budge, forcing herself to remain still despite the hands pushing at her arm. This only caused Teddy to glower before she reached for a pillow and chucked it at the older girl. Ducking, Leah quickly took the thrown pillow and waved it mockingly at Teddy.
"Missed," came Leah's reply as she smirked, eyes bright.
Blue eyes glared at her before the younger girl whirled around, ringlets flying. Leah's smirk grew into a burst of laughter when Teddy opened her bedroom door and called out to Charlie.
"Daddy, Leah's being mean to me!"
The Swan girl turned back to Leah, blue eyes shining with mischief as she stuck a tongue out at Leah.
With a scoff, Leah made a grab for Teddy, but the girl twirled out of the way, disappearing through the door and down the stairs. Leah laughed when she finally caught the girl in the living room, hiding behind Charlie. Forks' sheriff only laughed when Leah tried to grab Teddy who escaped by running around Charlie, all the while complaining about how 'mean' Leah was being.
It took a while, but Charlie finally calmed Teddy down and Leah was officially re-introduced to Bella, the other Swan twin watching her closely with narrowed eyes and a small smile. Leah ignored this, though. Despite Bella's weird reaction, Leah drove home that night with a large smile, chest light.
In her dreams, she dreamed of blue.
...
The younger Swan twin studied the older Swan twin wave goodbye to Leah Clearwater. Bella could just imagine her sister's wide silly grin. Teddy leaned against the door frame, Bella observing the sudden softness that fell over her twin's body. She watched Teddy, watch Leah go.
Bella was... Bella wasn't sure what she was at the moment.
She'd just spent the past hour watching her twin and Leah Clearwater. She knew how Teddy felt about Leah. But tonight, it was painfully obvious just how much Teddy was into the girl and how painfully oblivious Leah was to it. During dinner, Bella saw the way Leah drew her sister in, Teddy gravitating around the older girl like a lost planet.
A brush of shoulders, a touch to the wrist, and even moments where Teddy unconsciously reached for Leah just to retreat as fast as she reached for her. Then there were the not so subtle glances Teddy made in Leah's direction or the way Teddy seemed to just glow underneath Leah's gaze, eyes crinkling and smile softening.
And whenever Leah spoke...
Bella shook her head as she remembered the way her twin's body would turn towards Leah's as soon as the other girl began speaking. Each time, Teddy had a smile ready with expressions so so open for whatever Leah was about to say.
She furrowed her eyes as observed her twin from the top of the stairs. She caught Teddy's soft smile as her sister closed the door and turned towards her view. She swallowed audibly when Teddy made her way up the stairs. She couldn't help but smile, though, when Teddy looped arms with her and dragged them both to their room.
"How do you like Leah," Teddy inquired as soon as the door closed.
Teddy moved away to let her hair down, already changing out of her clothes to head to sleep. Umber ringlets cascaded down, a humming sound erupted from Teddy's throat.
"Do you," Bella paused as she thought about how to ask this question. "How is everything with Leah, Teddy?"
Teddy froze, pausing midway on putting her nightshirt on. The humming stopped. Slowly, she fitted the shirt over her head before turning to Bella. A small smile played on her lips, eyes suddenly closed off to even Bella.
"Great?" Teddy turned away. "What a strange question, Bella Bear."
"I mean- Teddy." Bella slowly walked towards her sister, hands reaching for Teddy as she pulled the other girl down to sit next to her on Teddy's bed. "That's Leah, right? The same Leah you've..." Bella pursed her lips before continuing, "she's getting married to that Sam guy, isn't she?"
To her surprise, Teddy shook her head, eyes still unreadable.
"No. Sam, ah, they were never engaged and Sam actually broke up with her about a month ago."
Bella's eyes widened, lips falling apart. A moment of silence as she took in that information.
"So what does this mean for you and Leah," Bella asked after a while, the silence breaking between them.
Teddy's eyes widened, the mask breaking as her twin opened and closed her mouth like a fish. Bella almost laughed because Teddy looked so much like Charlie at the moment.
"No-nothing!" Teddy stood up, pulling away from Bella. She began pacing the room. "I mean, Leah's as straight as - I wouldn't try - they just broke up and Leah's still hurting and Sam, urgh, Sam is such a bastard, Bella!"
Teddy paused, eyes narrowing as she turned to Bella, arms crossing.
"Sam's at Edward Cullen's level of bastardry. BOYS! They're so, urgh!" Teddy threw her hands up in the air. "I mean, Sam goes and break things off with Leah without any reasons and now he's suddenly all over Emily! Emily, Leah's cousin and best friend! A-and then there's Edward! Edward flirts with you to just ignore you for weeks on end! What is this?! I mean," Teddy shook her head and Bella, unable to hold it in anymore, laughed as she stood up.
"Teddy, calm down." Bella reached out and wrapped Teddy up in a hug, amusement slipping from her voice as she continued, arms tightening around Teddy. "Are you okay?" She paused, eyes closing. "I know that it hasn't been easy for you, especially with Sam and Leah. Are you... are you okay?"
Teddy's body relaxed against hers and Bella didn't question it when Teddy returned the embrace, arms tight and body suddenly trembling. Bella could only watch her sister with sad eyes when Teddy let her go after several more minutes of silence. She didn't question it when Teddy only smiled at her and said goodnight.
Her sister has never been good at talking about her emotions, especially when they weren't happy ones. Bella has learned to not force her sister to talk about something she didn't want to talk about.
That night, when Teddy slipped into her bed, Bella simply scooted over to make room.
And when Teddy cried, Bella only held tightly onto the fingers that searched for hers in the dark.
A/N - Unrequited love burns.