Leah's fingers tapped impatiently on the empty mug they were wrapped around. She glanced down at her watch, noting the forty second time difference since she had last checked it. She could've sworn it was longer.
Rosalie wasn't late; Leah had arrived twenty minutes early. She couldn't help it. As she busied herself around home, cleaning out the oven of all things, the scenarios going through her head were starting to drive her crazy.
Had Bella seduced Emmett away from Rose? It'd be true to character for the skank.
Had she found out something about Rose and threatened to tell him, causing Rose to break it off against her will?
Had she bribed him with information obtained during one of her visits to the station to see Charlie? She knew her way around his police files better than he did, Leah was sure of it. Emmett had been in a cell a few times, being friends with Rose's younger, trouble-making brother. It was possible she had some dirt on him.
The speculation alone was draining and it angered Leah that she was wasting so much time and energy on the Swan girl once again. Sick of waiting, she drove into Port Angeles and decided to pass the time at their lunch destination in the hope Rose would be early. She wasn't, of course, and so she sat, waiting for the one person who held the information she was dying to know.
She pulled out her cell phone and checked it for any signs of a missed call or message. Nothing. It occurred to her that Sam would be at work at this time of the day. There was no cell reception in La Push but being that he worked closer to Forks she had a shot at getting in touch with him. She dialed his number, almost grateful that it was branded in her memory. It rang and continued to ring. He was avoiding her call.
It's Sam, leave a message.
"Son of a bitch," she muttered after the tone.
She called him back and this time it went straight to his voicemail. He'd switched it off.
"I'm not in the mood Sam; just call me when you get this, okay?"
She threw her phone onto the table. Patience was a virtue she didn't have and Sam Uley avoiding her phone calls did nothing to help her mood.
"I hope that anger isn't directed at me, I'm only five minutes late."
The tall, golden haired girl's voice sang every word she spoke. It was melodic yet harsh, filled with undertones of the same bitterness in her eyes.
"Ten minutes, actually." Leah replied, holding back her annoyance. She didn't know why she did it, especially since she'd held back less for people she actually loved.
Rose glided towards the seat to Leah's right. A young man around their age approached the two ladies with a small, flip notebook in hand. His eyes fell on the beautiful Rose and Leah could see the concentration it took for him to pry them away.
"Would you like another ma'am?" He asked quickly before allowing himself another glance at Rose. She completely ignored him as he made an idiot of himself, making no attempt to hide his eyes as they lingered her cleavage. It seemed like nothing new to her.
"Ah..." Leah cleared her throat "Another strong black, two sugars."
He scribbled something on his notepad without taking his eyes off of Rose.
"And for you?" he asked, his voice suddenly becoming husky. Rose, again, refused to make eye contact with him.
"Latte. Large. Strong. One sugar."
His head bent down to try and make eye contact with her.
"Will that be all?" he asked with a flirtatious grin.
Leah had had enough.
"If you're waiting for her to ask you to undo her pants with your teeth, it's not going to happen. No, there is nothing else we would like. Yes, our coffee orders will suffice for now. Okay, thanks."
His jaw dropped to the ground as his face turned about twelve different shades of pink. He stood dumbfounded for a second before forcing himself away.
Leah looked at Rose's expressionless face and considered apologising for a moment.
"You know, I was going to ask for a muffin." She said, and Leah knew there was no need for an apology.
"If the pervert has the balls to come back out here you can ask then." She replied.
Rose gathered her long blonde hair into a pony tail and pulled it all forward over one shoulder. She was fidgeting, anxious. Leah knew she was doing her a favour and she should allow her to take her time with the information she had to share. She knew it, but her brain couldn't care less.
"Look, Rosalie, I'm really not looking for small talk. I want, no, need to know exactly what is going on with Bell.."
Rose cut her off.
"I know, just don't get upset if I'm not entirely forthright. I've never told another person what I'm about to tell you and, no offense, you're still a total stranger to me."
"Then why are you sharing? You're the one who offered you know..."
"...I know. And it's because you need this information. It has nothing to do with me or with Emmett. I just wish I had taken this more seriously. You don't think someone you're friends with could turn on you so fast. Could be so truly sick inside..."
Leah let an unimpressed sigh escape her lips. She was still unconvinced Bella deserved to be as feared as she was. She was just a spoilt child who was used to getting her own way.
Rose moved towards her to begin to tell her story when a new waiter approached their table. He eyed both of the girls with a look of contempt as he placed their coffees down in front of them. He opened his mouth to say something when Rose shot him a glare so cold he quickly moved back inside. As soon as he was out of sight Rose launched herself into her story.
"Bella and I were friends, for lack of a better word. Well, I thought we were. Alice, the little pixie-like one you mentioned before, she and I had been friends since Junior High. She was the only one who would put up with my...'attitude' as it has often been called."
Leah recalled seeing Alice occasionally. She was small and bubbly, a tiny little thing with a very big personality. She was always hand –in-hand with a tall, blonde, southerner.
"Emmett and I had been dating since middle school, right around the time Alice started dating Jasper Hale. He and Emmy were best friends, Alice and I became the same. We were all very close, almost like a family. We rarely ever let people into our small group. At first, when Bella arrived at school, Junior year, she didn't even make my radar. Then Alice kept insisting she was a good person who I should give a chance, but there was just something about her..."
"You were a good judge of character then...sorry, I'll shut up."
Rose flashed her a 'well I know that now' glance and continued with her story.
"I gave in when she helped pull some strings to get Edward out of trouble. When mom and dad split up he just went off the deep end. I know that had she not helped him he would be in juvie right now, or worse. Chief Swan organised counselling for him as well as involving him in community projects. At the time I was grateful, I welcomed her into our circle. She was very receptive, always there when you needed someone to talk to, always knowing just what to say. Alice and I had so much history; it was nice to talk to someone with a fresh perspective."
Leah hated herself for it but she was growing impatient once again.
"I get the friendship side of it. I get that you and Emmett were high school sweethearts. I get that Bella lied to make you see her as this perfect friend, but where did it all fall down?"
Rather than be annoyed, Rose seemed to understand and quickly moved the story along.
"I too saw something I shouldn't have with someone I loved, deeply. I caught her in the act and she changed before my eyes. She was vicious. I had exposed her for the person she really was. Had she had the strength I think she may have beaten me into the ground at the time. What she lacks physically, however, her sick mind is more than enough to make up for it. She threatened me. Made sure I was aware of what would happen if her secret got out. I too doubted her, she was nothing more than a panicked school girl who had been busted. I honestly thought her bark was worse than her bite, but I was wrong."
Her eyes darkened as she neared a painful place. Leah sat and watched, knowing that even if she extend a hand towards her that Rose would never take it. She let her pause and take her time rather than rush her. She took a deep breath and bravely continued on.
"It started only a week or so later. We had planned a weekend away previously, booking hotel rooms and all. It would be just Bella and I while the others attended a state sports event representing our school. I obviously wanted to back out, and came pretty close to it, but she promised me I would regret it. I'd paid for the rooms already, I figured if I went I could convince her to stop fooling around with the person I had caught her with and then slowly cut her out of my life. I had a plan. In hindsight I was naive and blind. But...I just, I thought..."
She stopped again. She was focusing hard on a spot on the table. Her cold, sorrowful stare was almost enough to burn a hole through that very place.
"Rose." Leah started."I know it's hard, I know you want to stop but whatever she's done to you she may be planning to do to me. Really, I really need to know, and I might even be able to help you get back Em..."
"She told him I had an abortion Leah. She said that I had confided in her and that I had had his first child killed behind his back."
Leah was stunned for a second as her mouth hung open and the words escaped her. Rose was watching her face as all she could do was look back at her in revulsion.
"But...you can't be serious. How did she? Why would she?"
"She had the whole story planned out. While we were away I suddenly got violently ill. I was sick the whole time and when we returned I was off for another three days. Em insisted I see a doctor but I swore it was just the 'stomach flu'. I have no idea how she did it but I swear that bitch was responsible. It was too well planned that it happened around my stomach, the very area I supposedly had the baby removed from."
Rose took a sip of her now cold coffee, her fingers trembling around the mug. Revisiting this place seemed to be taking a toll on her.
"You don't have to finish." Leah offered.
"Yes, I do." She replied. "For a week or two Bella had been planting seeds in Em's head. Implying all sorts of things happened on our weekend away. I replay that time over and over in my head and it makes sense to me now. The constant questioning about that very weekend... At first it was playful, just Em messing around, but then it turned aggressive and he insisted I tell him what had happened. I honestly had no idea what he was talking about and he accused me of 'acting dumb'. Then, all of a sudden he wasn't in school and..."
"...How do you know it was Bella? And why didn't Emmett believe you over some chick he barely knew? I'm sorry, I just... you cannot make false accusations like this about someone and be able to get away with it."
"I know it was Bella because she told me. She told me this was a warning, that Emmett was the least of what I could lose. She told me that she could supply him with documents if needed and that I was wasting my time thinking up an argument to 'prove myself'..."
"Wait, documents? Are you fucking kidding me? How would she have documents, unless she was able to get them through someone in the hospital? But your dad, Dr. Cullen, he would know about that right? I mean, he would be able to help you prove if the documents were a fake."
Rose's eyes fell to the ground as a hate filled her face, making it angular, making it hard. Leah suddenly realised who the man that Rose had sacrificed Emmett for was.
"Oh, oh Rose. Your dad and, and Bella?"
Her eyes flickered towards Lee as a sign of acknowledgment. She moved her head slightly in a nod. They sat in silence for a moment as Leah's head raced to pull all the pieces of the puzzle together. Rose started talking, interrupting her tangled chain of thought.
"I'm really not ready to go back to the stuff with my dad. I know it caused enough of a rift for my mom to give up on him. I don't think that was Bella's doing, he brought that on himself, but I don't want to go into that now."
All Leah could do was nod sympathetically at the now justified harshness in Rose's tone.
"So, Emmett. How could he just take her word over yours?"
"He wouldn't speak to me for weeks. He let this whole idea ripen and twist itself in his head. Eventually, after multiple desperate pleas via Edward, Emmett agreed to meet me. When he did he was no longer my Emmett. He was hurt, bitter, and angry. He refused to let me touch him, let alone make eye contact with me. I tried to convince him of the truth but my words sounded like lies, even to me. He told me I was sick and to stay away from him. He then started with the accusations. 'I did it because it wasn't his' or 'I did it because I didn't want to lose my figure. Horrible, painful claims that were things he would never have thought up on his own. He was using Bella's words against me; I could hear it in his tone."
"Oh god, look, I'm so, so sorry Rose. I'm still finding it hard to believe that Bella was capable of this. I mean, I don't know the girl but I never saw this potential..."
"I knew her and I was blind to it. She'll only let you see what she wants Leah. That's why she's so dangerous. She is purely out for herself and if you get in her way...well, I pity anyone who does."
Leah's phone rang and startled her out of the shock she was in. It was Jake's number and she looked at Rosalie apologetically. Rose nodded her permission for her to answer it.
"Look, Jake this isn't the best time. Can I call you..."
"Hi LeeLee." A bright and fake voice answered from the other end of the phone. "It's Bella here."
Leah squeezed the phone so hard so thought for a second it would snap in her hand.
"What do you want Bella, and why are you calling me on Jake's phone?"
Rose shifted in her chair as a look of fear crossed her face. Leah couldn't believe how much of an effect she had had on her.
"Jake's in the shower, stayed at my place last night. Almost woke up Charlie too, he gets a little carried away sometimes, if you know what I mean."
Leah gritted her teeth together, careful not to throw her phone into the path of a passing vehicle.
"What. Do. You. Want."
"Just to check how your little meeting with Rose is going? Alice told me all about it. Are you ready to take me seriously yet?"
"You're pathetic Swan. Why do you even care if Jake finds out? It's not like you love him. What's the problem?"
"The 'problem' LeeLee, is that I have a reputation to uphold. Charlie likes Jake; he doesn't care much for Edward. Also, I'm pretty fond of the boy. He's amazing in bed. It took me a while to get him there but now he's like a trained pup who knows just what to do with the simplest of commands. It's really rather fantastic."
"I'm done with this shit. You can go fuck yourself Swan. Jake is going to find out and then the whole town will see what a vile, slut bag you are. And you know what? You brought this all on yourself, so you can take the blame for it and stop pushing it onto other people."
To her surprise Bella just laughed.
"Oh LeeLee, no wonder Sam strayed. You're wound up pretty tight. I feel bad for Embry. Perhaps I should pay him a visit."
That did it. The phone snapped and the sound of Bella's piercing voice faded. Rose was pulling money out of her wallet to place on the table.
"She knows about our meeting?"
"Your friend Alice informed her."
Rose looked around the open street and sighed.
"She's not my friend anymore. You're as close to a friend as I have now."
Leah felt slightly uncomfortable at the statement but she understood. She still had a lot of questions left but from the looks of it Rose was packing up to leave.
"I'm sorry, I think it's best if we end this here. Next time, do you think we can meet up in La Push? I'm pretty sure I know where you live. I can visit you there."
"Yeah, of course. You can stop by anytime. I don't think I'll be going into work for the rest of the week."
Leah pulled her wallet out of her bag when Rose stopped her.
"My treat. I'll come see you in a day or two, until then just take care of yourself. And please, be careful Lee."
She nodded her head and forced a smile at the girl. It was rare that she ever let anyone call her Lee but for some reason it didn't bother her when Rose did it.
"Not much can happen in a day Rosalie. I'll be fine."
Rose looked like she wanted to say something but left it instead. They each made their way back to their cars and Leah sat in hers for a moment longer. The one-and-a-half hour drive home would help her filter through the information she was just supplied.
Regardless, Bella Swan was not going to have the upper hand. This whole situation was petty and ridiculous. Jacob deserved to know what had happened; he deserved to move on in his life without Swan. Leah would make sure it happened.
A/N:BTW guys, THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE REVIEWS! Srsly...I didn't think this story would get so many. It's banana's. I'm saying this now because the next chapter is rather traumatic I'm thinking I may lose a few of you. But for now ILY and thanks for following this bizarre story :D