Crushing Gravity

Chapter 15

It's peaceful when I wake up, even though I open my eyes to blackness, which is strange.

I remember my nightmare started. I was being taken away from Lyla again, thrown over a shoulder as I kicked and screamed, and she just stood there in the doorway to our apartment, arms crossed over her stomach and tears not yet falling from her eyes as a woman talked to her.

And then I was eight in the bed of my fifth home, and the door creaked slowly open. My foster father was standing there, hesitating, and I glared at him so fiercely because I hated it here. I hated it anywhere they placed me and I was hoping that if they couldn't find someone to take me in, they'd give me back to my sister.

He came into the room, shutting the door and locking it, and kneeled on my bed.

I was confused. It was the middle of the night.

And then he crawled on top of me and covered my mouth when I gave a startled cry. He ran his large hand over my chest and rubbed me between my legs, and I didn't understand what was happening, but I knew I didn't like it, so I punched at him, kicked, struggled. My fists were still raw from the fight I got in earlier in the day. But he was so much bigger than me.

He ripped my shirt off, pushed my pants and panties around my ankles, and I cried. I was so scared when he started pulling off his own clothes, I tried to get away, but he only grabbed my ankle and pulled me back into him.

A thrill of terror spasmed my entire being when he ground that bulging thing hanging between his legs, into my private area.

I didn't like it, I wanted him to stop, begged him to stop, and then I was suddenly in the forests of the reservation with Wolfe, Leah, and we were looking out over the cliffs we had jumped off of. She was leaning into me, shielding me from the cold wind and warming me all the way to my toes.

I stroked her silvery grey fur, and breathed in her woodsy smell, and I was happy. I was far away.

I felt the first regrets of not wanting to be moved to a new home. I didn't want to leave that place.

And that was the strange part of my dream. It didn't finish like it normally does. It changed.

I breathe in the woodsy smell, and pull away from the black fabric. More color reaches my eyes, deep brown with golden flecks, and I blush.

Leah is just looking down at me, petting my arm. She moves to push a strand of floating hair behind my ear before I get the chance to do it myself.

"How long have you been up?" My voice croaks, horse with sleep, and I stretch against her, pointing my toes to the end of the bed, hands above my head, and my chest pushes out as I arch.

She smiles softly. "Not long."

For some reason, I just stare at her. I don't know why, but she looks...kind of pretty. Her face is completely relaxed and she's looking at me in such a soft way, that I can't look away.

It makes me feel...odd. Like, my chest is spasming again and my stomach feels like it's in knots.

"Um," I duck my head, tucking myself under chin, and her arms wrap around me instantly. "Can we just stay here a while?"

"Anything you want," she responds quietly.

I wonder if she had stopped like liking me yet, and if not, am I hurting her? I don't mean to be. She's so nice... But I've never had something like this with anyone before, and I don't want it to end.

A snarl rumbles beneath my hand, and I giggle, sitting up.

Leah blushes. "I'll go see what's for breakfast," I tell her, and walk towards the door.

"Morning, dear!" Mrs. Fuller greets as I enter the kitchen. "Is Leah up?"

"Yeah," I answer. "And she's pretty hungry so I hope you made a feast."

She smiles over her shoulder.

"Trust me, Brady eats just as much, so I always make too much."

"Cool; do you want me to go wake him?"

"That would be great, thanks."

I don't know why I'm being so helpful; maybe I kind of, maybe, like it here, but I just go to Brady's door and fling it open.

He's twisted up in the covers with his head shoved under a pillow.

"Breakfast is ready," I call to him. He groans, shifts, and half-heartedly tosses his pillow in my general direction.

I shrug and walk away back towards my room.

I push the door open, and freezes for all of two seconds with a gasp.

Leah is very toned. I knew that for a while, could feel it through her hugs, saw it yesterday as her clothes were plastered to her body. But I didn't know until I saw her smooth, bare skin.

She is up, standing in the middle of the room with her shirt halfway over her head. Her stomach muscles are stretched taut, the dark tan skin that all the Quileutes have, is smooth and rippling in muscles.

It's her breasts that my eyes widen at. Perky round mounds and standing erect as her arms stretch over her head, caught in her sleep shirt.

"Oh!" I slam the door closed, clenching my eyes shut.

A strange feeling had shot to my lower stomach, and now there is a tingling...down there.

I lean heavily against the door, heart racing, and I squeeze my legs together. It's a very uncomfortable feeling, that I want to stop, and I don't even know what it is.

The knob turns and I leap away from the door before I can fall in. My head is pounding with how hot it feels.

"Sorry- I didn't know- should have knocked- um," I stutter. I can't bring myself to look at her.

She laughs just a little. "Don't worry about it, it's not like you haven't seen any before."

I don't know how my face can burn even hotter.

I haven't really seen any before. I don't like to look at my body, so I just quickly wash and change with my eyes straight ahead. I haven't really...looked before.

"Um," I curse myself as I stutter again. "Breakfast is ready."

"Great, I'm starving," she starts to walk past me, but pauses and places a hand on my arm. "Hey, are you alright?"

I take a deep breath and shove down the embarrassment to look up at her. Her face is concerned, and it grounds me enough for my painful blush to slowly cool.

"Yeah," I answer. "You go ahead; I'm going to get dressed."

"Okay, put something comfy on; I think today we could just stay in and watch some moves, and you need to study some for finals."

I groan, the earlier incident completely erased from my mind. I absolutely hate school!

Well, not really. Between Leah getting Kim to start tutoring me, and her own assistance with my homework, it's been a lot easier to understand. I'm actually getting caught up.

...

Leah fell asleep.

Twenty minutes into the movie, her breathing got deeper and her head fell the rest of the way into my lap.

Her lashes cast little shadows over her cheeks, and he eyes move slowly back and forth behind their lids.

Her lips are parted, jaw slack as little puffs of breath blow at a wisp of misplaced hair.

I reach down without even thinking, and gently put it back in place, trailing my finger over the shell of her ear. Her breathing pauses, and so does mine, but then she smiles and turns her face into my hand.

I giggle softly under my breath, moving my finger to trace her jaw. Her skin is so warm and smooth.

The movie no longer holds any interest to me; all my attention is on my friend's face and her hitching breath as I gently touch her lips.

They are a gentle swell, full and pink, and recently moistened. Her eyes flutter slightly, and then flicker open.

Her lips part slightly.

"Shh," I whisper before she can say anything.

My fingertips move upward, tracing the ridges of her nose and curve of her brow. She stares at me the entire time, an unintelligible emotion boring into me.

I don't know what I'm doing, or why; I just want to touch her. And she lets me, holding perfectly still.

Her eyelids flicker, and then close when I sweep my thumb across the underside of her eyes and caress her cheek.

And then I lay back into the couch and turn my attention back to the television, feeling more confused than I've ever been.

I can feel Leah's eyes on my face for the longest time before she turns into me and falls back asleep. I let out a breath.

I don't know why I did that.

A/N: Your guys' reviews make me so happy and eager to update!

To answer a question, yes, the Cullens will make an appearance. If fact, they show up in the next chapter so hurrah to that. Spoilsports, ruining the surprise... Anyway, review!

~Silver~