Loretta's POV

The room was spinning around me as I leaned my head against the bathtub. Why did God want me to suffer? I don't know how long I sat there for. I just stared at my hands. I looked over towards the mirror and my face looked awful. I didn't care. I heard a knock on the door and heard Thea's voice asking to come in. I mumbled, "I guess so". She walked in trying to look composed but I could tell she was worried at my current situation. She kept apologizing. It wasn't her fault; it totally could have been a treadmill. I laughed at that thought. That would be cruel, you're parents would have wanted you to have this. Thea told me left her cello in the bathroom at the airport. I wish I had been there when the security guards found it.

Thea and I had a moment, like a serious sister moment. I wasn't handling life and she was. She was so worried about me that she even suggested that we play the game of Life, my favorite game. I nodded eagerly, while she groaned. We talked over the game. She spoke about Kevin and Jacob. I told her I approved of Kevin and she almost gave a smart-ass remark. However she held it in. I applauded. I told her about my giving Paul odd clothes to try on.

"You? Sweet, do-gooder, angelic Loretta tried to play a trick"

"Yup!" I beamed. She looked flabbergasted, then quite proud. We went to bed shortly after that. I slept dreamlessly. We woke up to hear Grandma on the phone.

"Yes, I would like it to be tuned today, thank you" she saw me walk into the kitchen. "Oh, honey the tuner is coming so you can play for me later!" she said excitedly and left. I no longer felt like eating. I heard them come into the house and I heard him play the beautiful keys on my piano. I turned on my music as loud as I could. I heard the doorbell ring at two. I eventually wandered downstairs and saw a pile of books on the floor. Grandmother and I walked into the front room where my sister was intertwined with a very large guy on the couch. It took all of my strength not to drop the books. All I got out the conversation were the words, "My boyfriend, door closed, and biology" I handed him his books and "reproductive systems". I could not believe my sister. My grandmother watched her walk away, open-mouthed.

"Tell me she isn't like that at home"

"Grandma-this is our home. And yes, that is my sister"

"Ma'am the tuning is all done" All the joy I felt previously from watching my sister, sank to the floor. Grandma walked the man out, thanking him.

"I didn't realize it took five hours, I thought it was an hour process?"

"Yeah…" he said rubbing the back of his head " It's a really nice piano, I wanted it to be perfect" She returned to where I was standing.

"Okay little girl- go play"

"Umm, Grandma not now"

"Go Loretta- I didn't just pay to get that thing tuned so it can look pretty"

"You didn't ask me if I wanted to play it!" I yelled.

"Of course you do, child- now go" I walked slowly over and sat on the bench. My fingers hovered above the keys. I felt like I was going to puke. Again. "Loretta, play something" Her voice echoed in my head. I closed my eyes and began to play. It was beautiful; the sound had gotten even better. I played the whole song. I was vaguely aware that Thea and Jacob had come downstairs. I played until I was sobbing and hitting wrong keys. I looked at my grandmother.

"There, happy?" I ran outside, grabbing the car keys from the hook. I jumped into the car and took off. I drove, not knowing where I was going, until I ended up at a movie theater. I jumped out, bought the first ticket and sat down. I hadn't grabbed my jacket and I was cold with the air conditioner. The previews began. I felt someone warm sit beside me. Annoyed I turned and looked at the person and was surprised to find Paul. "Paul? What are you doing here?"

"Shh-the movie is starting" he put his hand against his lips. I felt his arm go around me and I pulled away. He took my hand, instead. I laid my head against his shoulder. How did he know I was here? Why didn't it bother me?

The movie ended and Paul still didn't let go of my hand. We stood up silently and walked out the door. We walked to my car and he got in. I looked at him curiously.

"I got dropped off, I don't have a car" I nodded at him. I went to start the engine but his hand stopped me. "Care to explain what you were doing here?"

"Seeing a movie, you?"

"Coming to find you"

"How'd you know where I was?"

"Why are you here alone?"

"It's fine to go to the movies alone, people do it all the time"

"Why?"

"There are no complications"

"Like-"

"You get to choose the movie, you can buy whatever you want and you don't have to share and you don't need to explain when you go to the bathroom" I spat.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, how did you find me?"

"Your sister called"

"And?"

"We knew which direction the car went and we drove around till we found it"

"How'd you know what movie?"

"I asked the girl at the counter, there is no one else here today"

"Why did you come?"

"I was worried about you"

"Thank you but I am fine"

"Were you still going to come to dinner?"

"I wouldn't bail on you, that's not right"

"Would you have told me that you took off from home?"

"No" I was being honest. I started the car and began to drive back into town. "I am going to change before dinner, Jacob is at my house so if you still want to go…" I trailed off. Why was screwing this up?

"Yeah, I'll keep an eye on them" We pulled up to the house and I was met with very angry glares of Grandma and Grandpa. Thea looked at me pitifully, Jacob smiled. Drama Drama Drama.

Teddy's POV

"It was so perfect, Kevin you should have seen it. There was a Ferris wheel and a merry-go-round and everything!"

"Oh my God that sounds like so much fun!"

"It's the best! I'm taking you there next weekend, so you don't even have to drop hints."

"You know me so well."

"Jacob even won that strength test, you know the one where you hit the scale with a hammer to dig the bell?"

"Really no one wins that."

"I swear he is all muscle, it's… wonderful." We sighed at the same time and I giggled.

"He even let me drive his motorcycle."

"Oh well it was good while it lasted."

"I am a perfectly adequate driver!"

"Uhuh. Speaking of driving, are you while on the phone?"

"Yes."

"I'm hanging up till you park."

"To late I already am parking. Oops"

"Oh God."

"It was an ugly bush anyways."

"What ever you say dear."

"I just have a bit of a led foot."

"A bit?"

I stuck my tongue out at the phone.

"So if your driving didn't scare him away, are you going to see him again?"

"He's coming over tomorrow, we're putting off homework together."

"OOOOOO Miss. Theodora Tremaine are you going to get some Quileute tail tomorrow?"

"No…maybe…oh God I hope so he is so beautiful."

"Speaking of getting some tail, does he have any single friends?"

I stopped trying to open the front door and slapped my forehead, "crap, I completely forgot to ask."

"I'm sure you did, what to distracted by his mere presence?"

"No." I laughed, yes.

"So on to less jealousy causing topics, did you see what Myra Harris had in her hair today?"

"I know it looked liked she shot a bird and clipped it to her head." I switched on the light in the front room and stopped breathing. Oh God.

"Teddy! Teddy are you alright?"

"Kevin I'm going to have to call you back."

"No Teddy, tell me what's wro-"

I couldn't take my eyes off of the piano in the middle of the room. This was what they brought? I only remembered to inhale when the hall light switched on and my Grandmother entered the room.

"Isn't it a beautiful instrument?"

I couldn't answer. Loretta was alone when she opened this. She was alone because I was hurrying to my date and could be bothered. I took a deep breath, but it didn't help.

"What a wonderful thing for Julian to have delivered. Loretta surly must have been missing it."

"Excuse me Grandma, I'm suddenly very tired."

"Of course."

I had barely made the stairs when the first tears fell, how could he do that to her, but more importantly how could I do that to her. Stupid Teddy what else comes in a giant piano sized box!!! I heard small hiccups coming from her bathroom and I wiped away my tears before knocking on the door.

"Loretta?"

"What?" her voice was in that falsetto she always used when she didn't want anyone to know she was upset. It made me hurt.

"Can I come in?"

There was an eternity of pause before a soft "guess so" floated through the door.

Opening the door cautiously I had to take another deep breath. She was sitting against the tub, arms hugging her knees and head bowed. I felt the bile rise in my throat when I saw the vomit in the toilet. I flushed and lit the decorative candles to try and get rid of the smell. I didn't want to face her, I couldn't. Not when it was all my fault.

I finally blew out the last match and slid down next to her, "I'm so sorry Loretta. I didn't know, I didn't even think. Like usual." She stayed quiet; that was the worst. Grabbing a roll of toilet paper from under the sink I blew my nose.

"You should have done what I did and leave it in the JFK bathroom." I laughed.

She finally looked up at me, "you left that unbelievably expensive cello in a bathroom at John F. Kennedy Airport?"

"Mhm," I nodded. "And it wasn't that expensive."

She laughed, it was dry and humorless but it was a laugh. She would be ok if she could laugh.

"I can't believe you did that."

"You're just jealous, I told you to play a smaller instrument." She laughed again and I smiled. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and laid my head against hers, "are you going to be ok?"

She nodded, "eventually."

"Do you want to get out of the bathroom?"

"No not really."

"Oh, well that was more for me, I have to pee."

She gave me a shove, "you selfish brat."

"But you love me," I replied tightening my hold on her.

"Amazingly I do."

"And despite all your repelling faults I love you too."

"Thank you."

"I'm sorry I wasn't there when you opened it."

"It's alright. You didn't know."

"What else could it have been? Defiantly not one of my brightest moments."

"Well there are so few…"

"Oh shut up."

And for the first time since I could remember she did, and hugged me back. And I knew we were going to be ok.

We actually talked, and it was horrid. I haven't cried so much in my life. Loretta was nowhere near her usually perky self and that piano was still in our front room. We hated it for our different reasons. I hated it because when ever Loretta was sitting at it I was suddenly the valued child, and Loretta hated it because it reminded her of dad. I just wanted to set it on fire and it didn't help that a tuner had been here since eight in the morning plucking and playing the damn thing.

"You can stop now!"

"Theodora! Let the man do his job."

Why did oblivion run in the family.

By 2 o'clock I was ready to pull my hair out so when the obnoxious doorbell went off I was more than happy to relieve all my anger on who ever dared to push that fucking button.

"WHAT?!"

"Is this a bad time?"

"No-yes- its complicated. What are you doing here?"

"It's 2 o'clock, I thought we were going to hang out."

"Crap," I slapped my forehead, "I completely forgot."

"Are you alright? You look…frazzled."

"Frazzled? Yes frazzled in a good word to describe what I am right now." I caught sight of the look that was on his face, "it's complicated."

"I could leave, give you some space, and time to relax."

I launched myself at him and he barely had time to drop his books before I collided with his body and held on for all I was worth.

"I don't want space space is bad space is very very bad I don't want to think anymore please don't make me think anymore."

"I wont." His tone was very calm and the warm hands that were gently rubbing my back made everything better. I didn't even know I was crying until he took my face in his hands and wiped away the tears.

"What's the matter?"

"It's long and complicated."

"Long and complicated? Well we are putting off homework so I couldn't ask for a better thing to procrastinate with."

I laughed " trust me when I say your better off not knowing."

"And trust me when I say that I want to know every part of your life, even the long and complicated parts."

"Really?"

"I would rather spend eternity with you and your complicated parts than anywhere else on the planet."

"Really?" it came out really high and whiny but I didn't care.

"Absolutely."

I sobbed. Not really the reaction a guy would normally hope for after such a declaration, but Jacob didn't seem to mind. He just rewrapped my arms around his neck and lifted me up as if I weighted as much as a feather. We settled in and overstuffed armchair and I snuggled as close to him as I could.

God this was why I hated crying, the migraine that followed my outburst had been building all day and now it was pounding away in my head.

I sniffed, "I'm sorry I ruined your shirt."

I felt him shrug, "that's alright I hated it anyway."

I laughed the stopped, no laughing.

"Sorry." I felt his fingers on my scalp and I practically purred. "Good Kitty."

"I see you two are having fun."

I looked up. Crap. I immediately detangled myself from Jacob and stood pulling him with me. "Hi Grandma, Loretta." I scowled at her.

Grandma blinked, "and this would be?" she waved in Jacob general direction.

"Grandma, Loretta I have the pleasure of introducing you to my boyfriend," I shot him a look, "Jacob Black."

Grandma squeaked, and Loretta mouthed 'boyfriend?' with a raised eyebrow. I nodded and grabbed his hand our fingers intertwined automatically.

"I'm sorry he's what."

"Her boyfriend." Jacob answered in a slightly louder voice and I had to bite my lip to keep the smile off my face.

"Come on Jacob lets got study in my room with the door closed."

"Ok, I sure hope it's biology." He said it with his most charming smile as he took his books from Loretta. "Damn reproductive system gets me every time."

Grandma squeaked again, and Loretta held in a laugh.

"Nice seeing you again Loretta. Race you to the bedroom." How Jacob could be so perfect I had no idea.