Chapter 9

There where no crocodiles, as Nessie's uncle had said, but it was beautiful. The yard was surrounded by tall, leafy trees and sunlight filled the space, making it so pretty. Through a gap between tree trunks, quite far back, I could just make out the river, sparkling blue. Nessie smiled at my wide eyes, "You should see it in fall. The colours are amazing, gold, butter yellow, maroon, brick red, chocolate brown. And in winter with the snow, its like a soft, white blanket covering everything" I bit back an exclamation of surprise at her words. They where so grown up for her age...or what I assumed was her age.

"Its beautiful now" I murmured.

"Are you guys gonna stand there all day and get poetic about some trees?" Seth called form by the gap in the trees. I hadn't even noticed him go over there.

"Some things must be looked at so they can be remembered as they can pass by quickly"

I turned to see Nessie's parents who had followed us out, though I hadn't heard them... I smiled as I nodded at Edward Cullen, then I turned to Nessie.

"So which way to the river? I'll race you there!" I realised as I said this that would be nearly impossible for me. I cussed myself inwardly as I new that my falling down would ruin the race for Nessie. But it was to late, I took several running strides and promptly tripped. My cheeks burned. Seth's loud chuckle was right by me as he helped me up. His warm grip made me blush even more as I remembered previous thoughts I'd had about him. I pulled myself gently away from him and straightened up.

"Okay you run Nessie. I fall down a lot, which doesn't make the race fair, you'd win anyway!"

Her twinkling laugh filled my heart with strange kind of love for the beautiful girl, almost still a stranger to me. I didn't care. I decided there and then. Maybe staying here wouldn't be so bad after all...

It had been just over a week since I had arrived in La Push, Washington. A week since I had first met Seth and Nessie. Six days since I went to the her house. And everyday after that was spent either there or on the beach or surrounding cliffs or forest around the town of Forks. And I had loved every minute of it. The first time I went to the Cullen's house had been daunting but that day had been wonderful. It didn't matter to me that Nessie was a child, because she kind of wasn't. Her parents where so lovely too. Bella, her mum seemed so understanding though I couldn't quite place why. It was as though she got me on a level I didn't even get myself. It was nice. I had met the rest of the family by the end of the week to. There where so many of them too! Carlisle had a niece he looked to young but I assumed he had a much older brother or sister), Rosalie. She was truly the most beautiful, with her soft golden locks. She seemed hesitant which for some reason I understood, but polite as well. She had a husband, Emmet. He was slightly scary at first, bigger arms than Seth and even Jacob! But that ended quickly, he was just so laid back. Alice was great, Edwards other sister, small and pixie like, she was so friendly and forward. Her boyfriend, no partner, no other half Jasper was the strangest of hall and only really managed a few words or hesitant smile. Shy like me I guessed and something more...

Seth had been amazing. I felt like I had known him all my life. We seemed to just connect. He was like my personal sun, I felt like I glowed all day long. My feelings for him became different to anything I had felt before. I thought love was to strong but it was something like that. But I kept it under wraps, I mean I'm sure he liked as a friend nothing more.

I had spent so much time out during the week I had hardly seen Aunt Lily or my brother. I had dinner with them but I found I mostly talked about my day and everything I had done. I immediately felt guilty, I had been neglecting my brother who I knew I should be looking out for. Aunt Lily didn't seem to mind my daily absence just glad that I was happy. Her work as a nurse in the local hospital kept her busy most days anyway. On the Friday night, I went to my brothers room, hoping to talk to him, let him know he could still talk to me and rely on me.

"Hey Ells" he said as I walked into his bedroom, which was messy of course. I bent down to pick up a t-shirt and folded it.

"Hey stop that I don't need looking after!" I smiled and rolled my eyes at him.

"yeah that'll be the day"

It was then I properly looked at him. He was almost a different person. The permanent tired that use to be etched in his face was gone and his eyes shone. He was lying back on his bed and he look totally relaxed. Something new for him. I pushed his legs aside and sat cross-legged on his bed.

"i feel like I havent seen all week. What have you been up to?"

He then smiled in a way I recognised. It was his excited I-cant-wait-to-share-with-you smile that I had missed for 3 years.

"Well I met this girl.."

"Ooh!! Who is she?" I grinned

"Well her name Is Leah, and honestly Ell, she's amazing..a year older but seriously I feel like I've known her for ages and we've hung out loads all week and...and...."He trailed off smiling off into the distance.

"That's great! Did you say her name was Leah?"

"Yeah Leah Clearwater. She's the older sister of the guy you've been banging on about for like forever"

"Jeez Jase and you never thought to mention this?"

"I would have if I could of got a word in edgeways" He poked me in the shoulder and I nudged him back. We ended up poking and nudging eachother so much that we fell off the bed laughing. We probably looked like a oversized kids, but to me my brother was back and for that I was glad beyond belief. Jason sighed and I looked at him. I studied his face and a slightly glazed look went across it.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked him quietly

"Leah......" That one word made me wonder whether he liked her more than he was letting on.

"Jason?"

"Ellie there's more to it...I think....I think....I think I love her and I'm pretty sure she loves me too..." And in that one sentence I believed him. But I also knew that this was more than love....