I cowered in the woods as I saw him coming down the back steps, shotgun in hand and a murderous look on his face. I'd never seen Charlie mad before and it wasn't something that I ever wanted to see again. "Who's out there?" He yelled as he looked around the yard. "I saw you, so there's no point in hiding. Now why don't you grow a pair and show yourself?" I was really starting to regret destroying my clothes when I phased. I took a deep breath and felt my body quickly slide back into its normal form before stepping behind a tree, just in case Charlie's vision had gotten better over the years instead of worse. "I-it's me, Charlie. Leah. Please, don't shoot," I muttered, pathetically. "Leah? What the heck are you doing in my back yard?" Charlie started towards my position, but stopped in his tracks when I yelled out "don't!" The poor guy looked so confused.
"I'm sorry, Charlie. I don't, well, have any clothes." Were there any holes around here that I could crawl into and die? Because that would be great. "Oh, uh, well," he stuttered as he nervously rubbed the back of his neck, trying to decide what the best course of action to take. Could he be any cuter? I shook my head again, trying to stay focused. "Here, take this," I heard him call as he took off his flannel over shirt and tossed it toward the tree line, turning around so that I could get it in privacy. I carefully stepped out from behind my tree and grabbed the shirt, putting it on. It smelled like heaven. And by heaven I mean everything that I ever associated with Charlie Swan. A little bit of beer, gun powder, and a hint of greasy diner food. Oh, God, I was turning into a sap. I quickly buttoned up the shirt, thankful that it covered everything important, and finally took a look at the man standing in front of me.
Charlie's back was still to me and he looked tense. His arms were crossed across his chest and all I wanted to do was press myself against his back, taking him into my arms. I forced my eyes to the ground in front of me, knowing that thoughts like that were only going to get me into trouble, and whispered "I'm sorry, Charlie". He turned, cautiously, and finally faced me once he was sure he wasn't going to see anything he wasn't supposed to.
"Leah, what the heck are you doing," he asked with an annoyed tone in his voice. "You could have gotten yourself killed." I kept my eyes on the ground, feeling like I was 5 years old again and being lectured for breaking one of my parents' stupid rules. I heard him step closer and finally looked up at him, worried that I would find more anger in his face. I never wanted to upset him.
Instead of anger, all I saw was concern as I looked into his eyes. "Come on, honey," he said as he put his hand on my upper back, leading me back towards the house. "Let's get inside and I'll call your mom to come get you." Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. FUCK! How was I going to get out of this? My mom could not find out that I had been in her ex-boyfriend's yard. How could I even explain it without sounding like a lunatic or a stalker? Or, you know, telling her the truth?
I nervously blurted out "you don't have to do that, Chief. I can make it home just fine. I'm sorry I bothered you." I couldn't decide if I should stay and try to deal with my mom or bolt and have him think I'd gone mental. He kept his hand on my back, which I wasn't about to complain about, but wouldn't stop as he lead me up the steps. I guess I was just going to let him make the decision for me. "I'm not just going to send you on your way wearing only a shirt, Lee." Of course he wouldn't. He was too decent a man for that.
He left me standing in the kitchen as he told me he'd be right back and headed upstairs. I nervously fidgeted with the bottom corner of his shirt when I heard him calling my mother while digging through a dresser. Shit. Now it definitely was too late to flee. I stood in the same spot, like an idiot, trying desperately to come up with some explainable excuse. I thought I smelled a vampire? Yeah, no shit, they were always over here. Saying it wasn't one of the Cullens would just get everyone all riled up, so that lie was out. I couldn't tell her that I was here to report a crime, because then I'd have to come up with one to report and I was pretty sure that was a felony.
I still hadn't come up with anything when I heard his footsteps coming closer to me. "Here, these might fit. They were Bells'. I mean are. I don't know, just take 'em," he said as he handed me an old pair of gray sweatpants. "Thanks," I mumbled as I took the sweats, not sure what I should do next. Obviously, my brain didn't want to function when I was this close to him. I looked up just in time to see him nod and leave the room, I guessed to let me get dressed in private.
The couch springs creaked as he settled in and I quickly pulled on the sweats, eager to join him. They still smelled like leech, but at least I wasn't half naked anymore. I walked into the living room and cautiously sat down on the couch, careful to keep plenty of distance in between us. He seemed pretty focused on the news, so I was hopeful that we could just sit in silence until my mom made it to Forks. "So," he stated, startling me, "you wanna tell me why you were looking in my windows, kid?" Damn it. Just my luck.
Clearing my throat, which felt like it was going to close up on me, I quickly said: "I wanted to apologize!" I hung my head, hating that I couldn't get ahold of myself. "I mean, for running into you earlier. I wanted to make sure you were home before I knocked," I pathetically added. That seemed plausible, right? "Mmhmm," I heard him mumble, knowing he wasn't buying it. Luckily he let it slide and we sat in silence, waiting, me constantly sneaking peeks at him when I thought he was wrapped up enough in whatever the news anchor was saying for it to be safe.
I had just started to relax when I heard a knock at the door. Could this night get any worse? I forced myself off the couch, wanting to be the one who answered the door instead of Charlie, and heard him following after me. Worried sick about how I was going to get out of this mess I'd created, like an idiot, I took a deep breath and pulled open the door. Well, that answered that question. It was my life, so of course it could only get worse.