A loud noise ripped me out of my sleep. All I could think was that I was going to have to kill a blood sucker for deciding to chop down trees with a chainsaw at this ungodly hour. I couldn't help but burst out in laughter as I looked over and realized the noise was coming from Charlie's mouth as he snored loudly from his chair. At the sound of my laughter, he sat bolt upright and looked around the room in a panic. "What is it? What's wrong?" he said before turning back to me and giving me a glare with no real anger behind it when he realized that I was laughing at him.
"I'm sorry, Charlie. I wasn't laughing at you. Well, maybe a little," I added, an apologetic smile on my face as I sat up and swung my legs over the side of the hospital bed. "I'm glad you can get some amusement from this situation," he grumbled. Of course the poor boy was grumpy. He'd slept in what looked like a really uncomfortable chair and his back was probably killing him. I got to my feet and offered him a hand up, but all I got in response was him looking at me like I was Jesus walking on water.
"We heal really fast," I explained once I realized why he had that expression on his face. "But a few years ago…Jake…I mean…" His eyebrows were knitted together like they always were when he was trying to work things out. That was one more thing I could add to the list of things I knew about him. "That was just an act, Charlie. Jake was completely healed the next day. It was all for you, really." I smiled and ran my fingers through his hair as he frowned.
I knew how much he hated knowing what had been kept from him, even if he did implement his own "need to know" plan of operations afterwards. "So, you're okay, though? No more pain?" I smiled down at him, secretly loving how worried he looked. "I'm fine. Good as new. You want me to carry you downstairs to prove it?" I had to grin at the look of shock that crossed his face. "Uh, no, no that won't be necessary. Really. Ever," he said as he finally took my hand and let me help him up. The wince of pain I saw once he stood caused me so much guilt. I never should have made him sleep in that stupid chair.
Quickly I moved around behind him, putting my hands on his lower back, carefully massaging his sore muscles with my fingers. "I'm so sorry, Charlie," I said as he moaned in relief,"I'll find you some advil or something and I'm sure that will help." Not that I was planning on doing that any time soon. As much as I wanted him to feel better, I wasn't going to give up a chance to spend time with him, especially when he was voluntarily letting me put my hands on him. I'm pathetic, but I know it. I don't need it pointed out to me, thank you very much.
Charlie surprised the hell out of me by saying "What you're doing is working just fine." I wouldn't let myself get my hopes up to think that he wanted me to touch him. I just kept telling myself that I was really good at massages or he was really desperate for relief from his back pain. Maybe both. Of course this amazing moment couldn't just go on like I wanted it to.
Jake popped his head in the room, grinning broadly. "Sorry to interrupt, I heard moaning and thought Leah might be in pain." I couldn't see Charlie's face, but I knew from the fact that Jake looked smug as hell that it must be 15 shades of red. "You're lucky Charlie doesn't have his gun on him, Jake. Because right now, I'd really like to shoot your dumb ass," I threatened as I glared at him from behind my imprint's back. "Hey, hey, I was only looking out for your well being," Jake said, trying to look innocent as he had his hands up defensively in front of him. I couldn't let him get the best of me. I was trying my best to show Charlie that I was an adult and not the hot-headed teenager that he knew.
"Well, now that you've established that Leah is just fine, is there any reason you're still standing there, grinning like an idiot?" Charlie asked, sounding annoyed. Have I mentioned how much I love my imprint? Jake rolled his eyes, but the smug smile was gone from his face.
"Esme wanted me to let you two know that breakfast is ready. And you might want to hurry if you actually want any. Seth, Quil and Billy are putting down the food faster than she can cook it." Of course Billy was there. Mom, too. I let out a deep sigh and moved around to face Charlie as Jake ducked out of the doorway. I could tell he was thinking the exact same thing.
"Well, this won't be awkward or anything," I muttered as I put my hand on his chest, keeping my gaze on it and not his face. "Yeah, you think there's any chance of us sneaking out the back door without them noticing?" he asked hopefully. I lifted my face to look at him, smiling wide at the fact that he wanted to leave with me. "Let's see, you want to escape with at least three wolves and countless va- uh, Cullen's in the house? I think the M's have a better chance of being in the Series." I didn't want to mention that everyone in the house had heard the entire conversation, so there really was no chance. Well, everyone but Mom and Billy, but I'm sure someone would be more than happy to fill them in.
"Maybe we could try the window then," he playfully added. This. This was heaven. I would take that beating every day of my life if it meant getting to be with Charlie like this. "You jump, I jump, Jack." He looked so confused. "Nevermind," I quickly added, slipping my arms around his waist. "Maybe you can just fake a police emergency and get out of here before things get awkward. Oh, wait, too late." I returned the small smile he gave me as he cautiously put his hands on my shoulders. It was probably the only safe place he could think of at the time, but I didn't care. "I wouldn't want to run off and leave you to deal with all this mess on your own, you know."
I took a deep breath and looked up into his eyes. It was now or never. "So don't," I whispered as I rose up onto my toes, leaning up to kiss him. All that was running though my head was a silent prayer of please don't back away, please don't back away. His eyes closed and his head came down towards mine. I could feel his warm breath on my lips, which were now only a few inches from his.
"Jesus, Leah, what the hell is taking you so long?" My brother's voice broke through the silence and Charlie and I quickly pulled back from each other, both of us bright red. Charlie looked away, but I looked over at my brother, who was wearing a shocked look on his face as he stood in the doorway. At least he had enough sense to high tail it and fast when I gave him a murderous gaze. He yelled "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to!" as he flew down the stairs. Great, now everyone was going know. I finally turned back to my imprint, who was staring intently at the floor in front of us.
"I'm sorry, Leah, I… I shouldn't have, uh…" he broke off his muttering with a sigh. I knew he was looking for something else to say to try and break the tension, but I wasn't going to let things go like this. I had almost lost him twice yesterday, once when the vampires went into his house and the second time when I almost died, and I sure as hell wasn't going to give up what could be my final chance. I took his face in my hands, waiting until his eyes finally found mine. My heart and his were both pounding in our chests as I moved in, pressing my lips against his before anyone could interrupt us again.