"Lee?"
She felt the cold air tear at her skin as the quilt that had provided her source of warmth was pried off of her face.
"Are you feeling well enough to join us for dinner? You've been asleep for five hours now."
Her eyes struggled to open as she slowly understood the words from the deep but soft voice above her. Still lost in a haze, she could see from the darkened room that she had slept through to the evening. Lifting her heavy lids, she could now make out the face that went with the voice. It was Jake who sat above her, his expression full of concern. His gentle hand brushed through her hair as he tried to get a better view of her face. Letting it rest on her forehead for a second, he furrowed his brow further in disapproval.
"You're burning up. I really think you should see a doctor."
"I've just emerged from a cocoon of heat genius, of course I'm hot. I'm fine; I just need something to eat."
He smiled to comfort her but the concern didn't leave his eyes. It was clear he knew something was wrong and, for now, seemed to think it was physical. She didn't mind, the 'illness' card could come in handy if used wisely.
"Although I am a little woozy. Better not push myself."
He nodded quickly to show he approved of her sudden concern for her own welfare. His face was so innocent, so full of trust and yet she sat opposite him lying to cover a secret that he deserved to know. But why was she lying? Because Bella Swan made a threat? Because Rosalie Cullen backed its severity up? Or because she couldn't bear to be the one to take that innocence away from him. The way he looked at her was so warm. It had taken a long time for their friendship to get to that point. He was stubborn too, just as stubborn as her. Once he was hurt he could forgive but never forget. This was what she was afraid of.
"I need to talk to you about something Jake."
A light flashed through his eyes.
She wished it hadn't.
"You know you don't have to ask Lee. Is everything alright, health wise? Whatever it is you can tell me. Living with Rach and Bec has me prepared for anything, 'female issues' and all."
She almost laughed at how lightly he was taking the whole situation. A health crisis she could deal with, but this...
"It's about Bella, Jake."
He looked confused now but a shift in his posture showed he was already on the defensive. She sighed and wished it didn't have to be like this.
"You guys are getting pretty serious huh?"
She felt like a coward as she delayed the inevitable.
"I don't think we are. You know my parents were engaged at my age so, if anything, I think we're taking it pretty slow. She reminds me of you Lee."
Leah almost swallowed her own tongue. Careful with that you say next Black she thought.
"I mean, a lot of people have a misconception of how she really is without putting in the time to get to know her. When you do you feel- ah, don't worry. I sound cheesy and lame"
"Regardless, finish what you were saying."
He smiled at her with a look of pride on his face.
"Well, you feel privileged. It's like, it's not easy to get to know either one of you and when you open up you both give yourselves to someone entirely. I know it sounds lame but I also know how lucky I am." He paused for a second. "To have both Bella and you…as a friend."
The last part was tacked on as an afterthought but Leah was too filled with annoyance to notice the slightly awkward way Jakes eyes lingered on her face. She bit her bottom lip in frustration, hard, concentrating on calming herself down. Her confession sat heavy on her tongue, desperate to be free, to assault itself on Jacobs's ears and be released from her conscience. She didn't know what part of her was stopping it from bursting forth, her brain or her heart, but she couldn't do it. She couldn't bring herself to be the person who extinguished his light again. But she would be. As much as he would hate Bella she was sure she would be blamed in some way for being the messenger.
So, like a coward, she stared into Jakes face, swallowing back the words that could free him from his unhealthy obsession. Swallowing the words that could make him hers.
"What is it Leah? God, you look so intense right now."
"You know what Jake?" She answered with a quiver of cowardice in her voice. She spoke fast, afraid she could burst into tears at the start of each new syllable. "Food sounds good after all. How about you go into the kitchen. I'll be right behind you."
Jake looked reluctant to leave her. He had flinched at the pang of sadness in her tone and she knew he wanted to take it further.
"Just go Jacob. I need to change out of what I'm wearing. You can stick around if you want a show but then you'll have Embry to deal with."
Her failed attempt at a joke seemed to work. The conversation was over. Reluctantly Jake stood to leave. He turned to look at her and she gestured for him to continue out the door. As soon as it was closed again she raised the covers over her head, mentally scolding herself for passing on the perfect opportunity to reveal Bella's dirty secret. She lay for a moment, trying to piece together how she could convincingly tell Jake.
She needed evidence and the one person who would be able to help her had just added themselves to her phone's contact list that afternoon.
Rose Leah suddenly remembered her new ally. I need to call Rose.
Looking frantically through her room for her phone she realised it was in the kitchen with the guys. There was no hiding from it. She needed to join them for the dinner they had prepared. To put on her happy mask and pretend that today was just like any other. She was suddenly grateful for the excuse of her supposed illness. At least they would have a reason for why she seemed 'off'. She wasn't the most convincing actress.
She got to her feet slowly and opened the door to hallway. The scent of slow roasted meat greeted her, as did the inviting warmth from the fireplace in the living room. It reminded her of days she had lost, when she and her mom would spend the afternoon preparing her dinner for the self-proclaimed 'men of the house'. Her dad and Seth would often head out with Billy and Charlie early on a Saturday morning, returning with their catch of the day. Her favourite part of the evening would come at dinner time when Harry would take his first bite. Although they cooked like this for him every weekend he would always make a point to compliment both Leah and Sue as if they had served him the food of the gods.
"You ladies have outdone yourselves. This is better than anything you'd find at a fancy restaurant. You two could be making a killing with your culinary skills." He'd smile at her and take another bite. Often he'd wink and she'd roll her eyes.
She wished she hadn't. Just once, if she'd said thank you instead of pretending it was cheesy...
The memories of her father, as happy as they were, were something she still had not come to terms with. They would often flash through her mind in this old house and although she liked to think about him she still had no control over just how much she did it or how close it would bring her to tears. Rather then dealing with it she did what she always did and pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind.
Moving into the dining room, Seth's beaming face welcomed her as Embry stood behind the head of the table holding the top of a chair he had pulled out.
And then her heart dropped.
Sitting to Embry's immediate left was Bella Swan. A rampant flood of emotions ran through her as it knocked the wind from her lungs. Hate and resentment, anger and confusion. They were the strongest of the lot. She wanted to kick her out, literally. To grab hold of her hair and drag her out the door.
"What is she doing here?" She seethed, surprised she was able to hold back so much of her hate in her tone.
Embry and Seth exchanged quick 'I told you so' glances with Jake. She and Bella had never been friends so this would be something they had planned on.
"I can go if you want" Bella said as she stood up. She was playing the role of the martyr beautifully and making Leah look like a bitch. The fresh wounds on Leah's knuckles started to throb as a reminder of their last encounter.
"We had to cheat Lee." Jake started, instantly trying to diffuse any hostility. He was also prepared. "We realised three cooks with little experience didn't add up to one master chef like we had hoped. After a few failed attempts and phone calls with Sue, Bella offered to come around and bail us out. I invited her to stay because I knew once you heard how much she had helped out you would insist upon it yourself."
She looked at Jake's raised eyebrow and thought about the relief she would get from slapping him across the face right now. He half looked like he wanted her to say thanks. You're fucking dreaming Blackshe thought. Not willing to let Bella Swan look like the bigger person, she sucked up her pride and forced out her words.
"Well, at least if I die of food poisoning then we'll know who can cover the funeral costs."
It was as close to polite as she could be bothered with. She gestured for her to sit as she let Embry push her chair in from behind. All three of the guys knew not to push her further and she was glad. If pressed, Bella's little secret would instead become an announcement. The other boys took their place. Seth's self satisfied grin stayed in place as he chose to ignore the hostility at the table. Leah would be money that he was the one who decided on the dinner idea. He of all three boys would know just how much this meant to her.
She looked at the large assortment of food laid out. Dry rubbed ribs, roast potato and pumpkin, green beans, homemade dinner rolls, just to name a few. They really had gone to a lot of effort. She felt her cheeks flush slightly, unsure of why they seemed to think she was so deserving of their love.
"You guys know I'm not dying or anything, right? I'm just not feeling the best right now. It's probably just a bug. This is all really unnecessary."
The three of them exchanged some sort of glance she couldn't read. She assumed they had run over a few scenarios already or they would not have felt the need to host a dinner such as this. Seth spoke up and confirmed it.
"You know it's not just today…"
"Not now" Embry said quietly. "Let's all eat up before it gets cold okay?"
Leah ignored his comment as four sets of eyes stared back at her hungrily. They were waiting for her to plate up first. Her stomach let out a small growl and she suddenly realised how hungry she really was. The last thing she had eaten was a bite of apple that morning and, as much as didn't want to admit it, she was salivating already. As soon as she had the first spoonful of mashed potato on her plate the guys took that as their cue to dig in. Bella sat with her upper lip curled as she looked at the food in front of her and cautiously grabbed the plate of corn. She placed a small spoonful on her plate and look down on the rest of the food like it was some sort of disease. Leah could care less, if she didn't want to eat she could get the fuck out of her house.
"What's wrong Bella?" Seth asked innocently, the corners of his mouth were already accented with a glistening brown from the sauce. "You gotta try the ribs, at least we got them right."
"I don't eat meat. I don't eat anything that had a life and a family."
The boys all paused for just a second as Leah's knuckles started to throb again. It would be worth reopening the healing wound if she could punch Swan in the face.
"Oh, I always wondered why you were so pale. Some iron would do your skin a world of good." Leah said, surprised her brain stopped her from adding the additional expletives she wanted to. She grabbed a knife full of butter as she pulled open a freshly baked roll. It was still warm as the golden nob melted into a glistening liquid. She took a bite and the light fluffy roll melted in her mouth. It really was lovingly prepared. Her attempt to savour the moment was ruined by Bella's piercing voice.
"Aside from that reason, I also find meat is too fatty generally and hard to digest. I see you aren't afraid to go straight for the fat there hey Leah? Must be where you get those womanly curves from. I couldn't eat like this all the time because I'm pretty health conscious, but hey, if you can, even with a family history such as yours, then more power to you."
Her words were said with a plastic smile making her oblivious boyfriend pay no attention. Seth stiffened in his chair as Embry placed a hand on her knee. It took her a second to realise she was snarling. If she didn't leave now there would be blood on the table any minute.
"You know what? My headache is back and it's splitting. Thanks for dinner guys, really, its so great. I'm just going to go back to bed."
A chorus of "No" sung out from the table as they tried to convince her to stay.
"But I have to start work on your car?"
"You've only just started."
"We still have desert. Oh wait, Jake made that…never mind." Seth's contribution to the plea's.
"No, actually Rachel made it so it's safe."
"Ooooh Rachel made it, you have to stay for that Lee."
"Yeah Leah, stay for desert. You know what they say about chocolate and endorphins. In fact you should eat the whole thing, could do you a world of good. " Bella added with a smirk.
"That's more than enough." She said, pushing her chair out and getting to her feet. She looked at each of the boys now. "Honestly, thanks guys. You're too sweet. Jake, my keys are on the table."
"Do you want me to come with?" Embry asked.
"Don't be silly" Bella chimed in. "She wants alone time. When a girl makes a dramatic exit like that it's clearly for a reason. Just let her be. Right Lee?" She winked at her and Leah thought she would throw up right then.
"Good night guys, thanks again."
"Night" the three boys said in unison, clearly saddened by her early departure. After all of their hard work she felt bad to just up and leave them. Then, the reason she left them made it easy for her.
"Nigh Night Lee Lee"
Leah stood still for a second as her eyes went straight to Jake. Lee Lee was the nickname Sam had called her and it sent ripples of pain through her to think it, let alone hear it out loud. He sat up straight away and gave her a I'll take care of it look.
She wished he could.
Crawling into bed, she pulled the blankets over her head once again and hid herself from the world. A part of her hoped the last day would disappear when she woke up.
Leah's eyes opened to a darkened room. She could feel Embry's back pressed against her arm and hear his slow, deep breaths. She opened her eyes, completely awake and refreshed. Glancing at her clock she could see it was two thirty in the morning.
I guess that's to be expected when you sleep off your whole afternoon.She thought in annoyance.
Laying in bed for a few minutes more, the thoughts of Bella and Edward fucking on Charlie's kitchen counter took hold. They instantly increased her temper and she knew if she kept this up she really would make herself ill. She had to talk to Rosalie before she let this hurt her anymore. If Bella Swan thought she was going to fold over so easily then she was seriously deluded.
Leah got up from the covers, careful not to wake Embry. She thought for a second about calling Rose but she didn't know her well enough to judge how a call at two in the morning would be received. Instead, she put on the running shoes and headed out the front door.
A recent rainfall had left the ground damp and the air clean. Inhaling deeply, she took the pain of the icy cold air in her lungs and used it as motivation to start warming up. Running through the familiar streets she passed the same houses she had everyday of her nineteen years. It was eerily quiet, with only the faint sound of the ocean in the distance to cut through the silence. She ran, pushing herself further and hoping the pain that was burning through her lungs would help to distract her.
There was a glow above Sam's house that caught her attention in the otherwise pitch black town. Curious, she slowed to a jog as she re-routed herself to include his house. She stopped abruptly, almost tripping over her feet, at the sight of a familiar red truck parked outside his house.
Bella's truck.
The porch light was on and both Bella and Sam stood speaking in hushed tones, probably in an effort not wake Emily. Leah was paralysed for a moment, scared to move and be detected. They seemed to be in a heated discussion and she slipped around the side of Sam's house quickly. They were speaking too low to be in earshot but this was as close as she knew she would get. She crouched down and glanced around the corner for just as second. Sam had moved to intimidate Bella by towering over her. She stood tall, ignoring his show of masculinity and said something that instantly made him shrink back.
Sam shifted his stance and Leah quickly darted back behind the side of the house. There was a small silence before she caught the words "caution" and "four hours" followed by car keys clattering and the sound of a heavy truck door open. There was a last muffled exchange before the door closed and the noisy engine roared to life.
Sam closed the front door and the light that had exposed her disappeared with a 'click'.
She slumped down into the damp ground. There was a sinking feeling in her chest that spread throughout her entire body. All she knew was that no good could come from a secret meeting between Bella Swan and Sam Uley.