Disclaimer: Versions of these characters belong to Stephenie Meyer in another time and place. I am making them have lesbian sex with each other.
A/N:
this chapter is the longest so far and maybe my favorite. oh i just dont know. thank you to erica and irene for looking this beast over. it took us a while, but we did it. YAY. i just wanna show some loving to ONLabbit, Twilightboy, Harlow, bethbluth and Hunterhunting. you guys have just made my week. Flor, where the fuck are you? Mila, im sorry i made you cry. Whitemocha, youre cute! Angelface, I love you. Touch me! Aiden, you are the only chinaidian man for me. ill love you always.
Chapter 16: Pictures of You
...i've been living so long with my pictures of you that i almost believe that the pictures are all i can feel...
I always seemed to handle my misery the same way. I'd give myself a few good hours, at most a day to sulk, or scream and cry. Then whatever feelings I hadn't dealt with I shoved aside and moved on to happier things. The problem with this was I often left things unresolved.
At the moment I had an even bigger problem. Not only was I not dealing with my problem, but I had left town. I didn't have to look at Rose or Alice, our house, our beds, or Leah for two whole weeks. I could escape for a little while to Forks and to Dad, but I knew when I came back to Los Angeles I was going to have to face Leah and find some way to deal.
I had my dad to thank for my current distraction. Charlie was the most predictable person I had ever encountered. He'd had the same four pairs of Wranglers for the past ten years. Every Saturday he fished. Every Thursday he had coffee ice cream for dessert. "Well, Hell," was his curse phrase of choice. He didn't smoke, but he drank two beers every night before bed and he smiled about once every five years.
But he was smiling now. Well more like smirking at my reflection in the mirror. I was standing in the bathroom we shared whenever I came to see him. My hand was frozen on the toothbrush that was frozen in my mouth. The toothpaste was starting to drip.
Moments before he'd asked me if I had plans for the day.
"Of course not," I teased. "You're the only person I know in this whole state." My stomach twitched involuntarily. That wasn't exactly true. I knew a few Native American guys – and a girl who lived in Washington state. I just didn't know where. If I did of course, they – she wouldn't want to see me. I blinked focusing back on my dad.
"Why, what's up?" I urged.
"Well...I wanted you to meet my girlfriend."
That's when I froze and when dad actually smiled, a little. The corners of his soft brown eyes crinkled a bit as the right side of his mouth turned up. The news and the smirk were beyond unusual. "That shocking to think your old man's dating?"
I spit and chuckled. "Well since you mention it –". We both laughed. He stood there while I rinsed my mouth out and gave me the abridged-Charlie-like version of the story. His new lady friend, Sue, was widower. She lived down on the nearby reservation and she had two kids around my age. Charlie's best friend Billy also had a little crush on her. They had a falling out over the lady's affections, but Dad won her hand. Him and Billy had since made up.
I realized I needed to call home more.
"So d'you wanna head over there for lunch?"
"Sure," I said with a smile. He nodded back and left me to get dressed. I didn't take long.
I rode shotgun in Dad's cruiser. As we drove I looked at the wet, half frozen countryside. I was secretly grateful my dad hadn't fought for custody. I loved my father, but Forks was fucking cold.
We passed out of the small town and continued for another twenty minutes or so to the coast. I'd remembered being by this way one time. I was thirteen. Dad had to pick up something from a friend of his, probably Billy, but I'd stayed in the car.
Soon we arrived at Sue's. The house was cute - an old, dusty red rancher that was in the process of renovations. You could clearly see that the original porch had recently been replaced and construction on at least one additional room had begun on the right side of the house.
There was a brand new black Jetta in the dirt driveway. I wondered for a moment whether this was a windfall from her husband's death or whether Dad was using some of the child support he didn't have to pay anymore to treat his girlfriend. Either way it didn't matter, especially when I saw the look on his face when Sue came out on the front porch.
Apparently Charlie and I had similar taste in sarcastic Native American women. I could feel the smile spread across my face. Sue was such a Mom, wiping her hands on an apron that said "I love my kids… Sometimes." She had very pretty round face brightened by a warm smile. The look was made complete with a Rodham-Clinton haircut.
"Officer, are you lost?" she teased. Dad blushed to purple. I had to laugh. Someone was actually flirting with him.
We walked up the porch and Sue waited patiently for a proper introduction.
"Just came to see if you wanted to take in another kid. She's not much for heavy lifting, but you can put her to work in the kitchen," Dad said. It was one of the longer sentences I'd ever heard him utter. He must really like this woman.
"Perfect, I could use some help. Bella, I'm Sue." Her outstretched hand was coupled with a dimpled grin. I felt instantly welcomed.
"Hi." I took her hand and she quickly pulled me close, lacing her arm with mine.
"Come on in. We do have some cooking to do." Dad and I followed Sue into her newly remodeled kitchen. Lunch was nearly done, but the preparations for a massive Christmas dinner seemed to be under way as well.
Sue reached into the fridge, pulled out a beer which she promptly handed to Charlie, then sent him towards the living room and his midday SportsCenter. The whole exchange was quick and natural. He blushed again when she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, but beyond the embarrassment of being treated like a toddler in front of his own kid, he looked extremely happy. I liked Sue already.
"How are you with frying?" She nodded towards a huge metal bowl topped with chicken breast covered in floured seasonings. Sue got right back to work mixing dough for pie crust.
"I think I can manage," I said brightly.
"Good. My bum kids forgot my pie fruit for tomorrow. Sent Marley to the store and Junior insisted on going too so I wouldn't put him to work." I laughed out loud at her tone. Sue was such a Mom. Her humorous contempt for her kids was something I'd missed from my own mom. I was glad Charlie had her. She was clearly taking better care of him than anyone ever had.
"That's them now." I turned my head in the direction the sound. The front door opened and I could hear muttering and a lot of laughter, followed by some more muttering. "Sethie! Leah Marie! Get your asses in here! Come meet Charlie's daughter!" Sue yelled.
My head whipped back towards the counter and then I froze. My whole body went rigid except my eyelids, which actually started twitching.
There's no way. There is no, no fucking way.
"Ma, calm down," the voice I knew all too well, grew closer then entered the room. I couldn't help the way my body reacted. My palms started sweating and anxiety gripped my chest. I closed my eyes tightly and bit down on my lip.
"Bella, this is my boy Seth –" I swallowed then whipped around, forcing a relaxed smile.
Seth huffed, smiling. Leah gasped and turned an interesting shade of green. It was Leah all right. My Leah. Our Leah.
"—And my Marley, Leah."
"Marley?" My arched eyebrow was a challenge to Leah, not her mother. Leah knew it.
"It's a stupid nickname she has for me –" she trailed off just as shocked as I was.
"Of all the white dudes in all of the world –" Seth barked.
"Young man. Watch your mouth," Sue scolded. Seth walked over to me and draped his huge arm around my shoulder. It was nice to see him again, but Leah was still standing there looking at me and that sucked all the nice out of the room.
"Mommy. Do you have any idea who this is?"
"Um yes, Junior. I do."
"Well in that case. Let me introduce myself. Bella is it?" I nodded, yes. Half laughing, half trying to keep my nerves from making me puke. "Excellent. Bella, Harold Seth Clearwater Jr. And please let me introduce you to my sister. Leah Marie Elizabeth Clearwater. The only." Sue glanced at Seth like he was nuts and then over to Leah who was also fighting the urge not to choke on the awkward air in the room.
"Bella. I'm sorry. My children usually behave like normal human beings. I'm not sure what's gotten into them today." Seth was almost on the floor laughing now.
"Oh shut up Junior. – Ma this is B," Leah said, avoiding my eyes.
"So? Oh, OH! Your B?"
Leah cringed before she spoke again. "Yeah Ma. That B."
I saw the weight of the recognition flash over Sue's face. It was gone quickly, but it was there. She knew WAY more about my relationship with her daughter than I think her or Leah would ever let on. Just as soon as the anxiety flashed over her eyes, it disappeared.
Sue cleared her throat and wiped her hands on her apron. "Well great. Marley –pies," Sue said ditching the dough. Patting us both on the shoulder, she dragged Seth to the living room to entertain Charlie. I don't know if she was trying to give Leah and I few moments or what, but I took a stab at it anyway.
"Your B, huh? I was under the impression I wasn't your anything."
Right on cue Leah said nothing. So I gave up. I finished the chicken and after she as done mixing a first round of dough, she made some salad and rolls for lunch.
I thought lunch was going to be a nightmare, but Sue seemed to know exactly what to say to keep things going. I watched her and Leah carefully though. Leah would tense every time Sue addressed me. Clearly she was paranoid that I would let some bit of information slip or that Sue would tell me something I was never meant to know. I also paid very close attention to what kinds of questions Sue asked. I was interested to see just how much Dad had told her about me and just how much came from Leah. I listened for tidbits of information that could have only come from within the walls of my house.
It was perfectly awkward, but we made it through the meal. Seth and Sue picked up any lulls in the conversation and Leah managed to engage Dad in a way he could handle.
Dad had to swing by the station and even though I wasn't exactly sure how I felt about the afternoon, I was dying for a nap. After we ate we decided to head home.
I excused myself for the restroom right before we left. I could have held it, but I was so glad or I would be later, that I'd decided that my bladder did not have the strength of thirty minutes.
In the dimly lit hallway I could see artfully mounted photographs lining the wall. I figured family portraits, just like my school pictures that lined Dad's mantel, but I was wrong. Sort of.
The first photograph was a black and white piece of gorgeous young woman, She sat against a white back drop. The lack of color was a stark contract to her copper skin. She was nude, her body wrapped around itself, her long hair sweeping over knees, trailing all the way down to her ankles.
The next photograph was of the same girl, still nude, this time a close up of her back, shoulder and her shadowed face filled the frame. From the kitchen to the bathroom there were ten photos. All the same gorgeous figure, all Leah.
It took me a moment to realize why these photos were so interesting to me. The fifth picture I knew I had seen before. But I couldn't figure out where. I racked my brain trying to place the image. I slipped into the bathroom. Suddenly while I was watching my hands, I gasped, the pieces coming together.
Those weren't pictures Leah had taken to share with her mom. They were part of a national campaign for a new line of Dove body lotions. Another bizarre bit to add to the list. I didn't know how often or when but Leah was modeling, professionally. I stored this info away. It would keep me company while I'd tried to sleep over the next few weeks.
It wasn't a big deal, but just a further testament to the fact that no matter how intimate we'd been I knew absolutely nothing about her.
I'll admit was a little sad to leave Sue's place. Obviously things were fucked up between Leah and I. The last time I'd seen her I told her I loved her and she essentially spat in my face, slapping me with rejection. But the masochist in me wanted to stay. I loved Seth. He was hilarious. And I wanted to be around Leah. Unfortunately Leah and I had crossed over to that point where I wanted her to be the one to comfort and hold me. It used to be Rose. I would happily turn to her to heal my emotional wounds. Now I wanted it to be Leah. I was so angry with her still. The pain was still raw, but she was the only one I wanted to touch me. She was the only one I wanted to tell me things would be okay. She was the only one who could make me believe that it was true.
But she wouldn't do that and I knew that meant things between us would not be okay. I would have happily spent the afternoon curled up in her lap watching TV and snoozing. Instead I spent the afternoon on Dad's couch, reading and drifting in and out of a restless sleep. I wanted to text the girls, but I just didn't have it in me. It was a long afternoon, evening and even a longer, lonely night.
Dad stopped me on my way up to bed. "You mind if we head back over there tomorrow? She does a big thing with the cousins and all I –" Christmas Eve wasn't exactly bumping in the Swan house so there was no reason to object.
"Dad of course. Sue's great. We can absolutely go." Oh and I'm psycho and I want to stare at Leah all day.
A few minutes later I was changed - into an Alice t-shirt and pair of Rose's sweats, and I lay in bed looking at my phone.
I love you. Goodnight, I typed on my blackberry. I addressed it to Rosalie and Alice. My finger lingered over the send button, but for some reason I didn't press it. I made one quick correction and before I could rethink it, I hit send.
Within minutes I got replies. Three of them.
My whole family consisted of four people. Eight if I could included Alice, Rose, Emmett and Angela in the mix.
Leah's family and group of friends that were treated like family, numbered twenty. I was in Sue's kitchen at 10 am mixing pie filings and I was most certainly not alone.
Dad and I were the first to arrive. Shortly after, Jake's friend Quil and his girlfriend Claire arrived with Quil's mother followed by Paul and Jake's sister Rachel and then Jake himself, who'd brought his father. My father's best friend, Billy Black.
"All the white boys in Washington and Ma Sue is dating your Daddy," Jake's booming laughter nearly shook the house. The comment got him three smacks on the back of the head.
The rest of the boys with parents and siblings trickled in as the day went on. Sue had the best house on the reservation for entertaining. And she was the best cook.
Claire and I were on pies and cookies. Rachel and Sue were finishing up the random bits of the actual meal. Leah was playing hostess, making sure the guys weren't tearing up the house. She came in and out the kitchen periodically, grabbing napkins or plates of snacks that Claire and I had finished arranging. If I hadn't seen the boys eat a cow a piece when they had been down to visit I would have actually thought they were about to ruin their dinner, but this was all just a warm up.
I tried my hardest to enjoy myself, but constant glimpses of her body or her silky hair out of the corner of my eye always reminded me exactly where I was and whose eye contact I was trying to avoid and desperately craving.
I only had myself to blame. It was my fault and my fault alone that I was pissed at her all over again. I decided to torture myself and ignore the replies to my texts until the morning. Either way I knew I wouldn't have had a good night's sleep.
There were only a few ways things could go. Leah would ignore my text and that would make me upset and even more restless. Or she would reply. Considering the circumstances there was no reply - nothing that could be said via text that would erase everything that had happened between us. There was no emoticon that said I love you, I never meant to hurt you, I'll never do it again.
I woke up to Charlie knocking softly on my door. I took a quick shower and being all together too lazy, knowing I'd be put work in Sue's kitchen all day I threw on a comfy green thermal, my favorite pair of jeans and my glasses. Unfortunately Alice had talked me into a pair of Uggs. They were hideous, but they were warm and comfortable enough to stand in all day.
I focused on getting ready and I didn't brave looking at my phone until I was buckled into the cruiser. There were three replies.
Rosalie wrote: I love you too sweetie. Can't wait to see you again. Call me if you get bored.
And then a text from Alice: Miss your sweet pussy. Call me when you're available for a little phone sex.
And then one final text message from Leah: I'm not sure that you do. Goodnight.
All three responses were perfect. Love from Rosalie, a display of perpetual horniness from Alice and further assurance that any effort on Leah was wasted.
Sprinkling cinnamon on a fresh batch of Snickerdoodles I found myself wondering why I cared for her so much. It wasn't that I couldn't identify the feelings. I loved Leah, just as I loved Alice and Rosalie. I loved the way she made me feel and I loved being able to make her smile, but why. It had been nearly six month and even though I was standing in her mother's kitchen garnishing her favorite cookies I still knew nothing about the real Leah.
She was just as sweet and funny around her family and friend as she had been with us. It was genuine. She was great with Charlie, not forcing him into useless chitchat. I just couldn't understand why she and I couldn't seem to make things work at all.
I finished the cookies. Sue gave me a plate so I could bring them out to the boys.
I turned towards the door when Sue stopped me. "Bella, honey. Bring Marley her phone." Her hand was extended, holding the iPhone out to me. Her head was down though focused on the beginnings of an enormous vat of gravy.
"Sure." I gripped the plate in my left hand and grabbed the phone with my right. I made it about two feet into the hall before I almost dropped the phone and the cookies.
There were two text alerts from Alice, but that's not what caught my attention. The image on the wallpaper was a picture of me. I was laying on my stomach in bed. My cut off sweatshirt was pushed up over my breast that I had intentionally pushed together on the sheets. My boobs looked huge, but you couldn't see my nipples, thank God. I'd kept my glasses on under the suspicion that she liked them and I was leaning forward slightly, blowing Leah a kiss.
I remembered taking the picture. She'd sent me a text telling me how shitty things were on set that day. I wanted to cheer her up. That night when she got home she showed me just how much she'd liked the picture and the five others I'd sent her that afternoon. I never thought to ask what she did with all of those pictures, but I knew now at least what she did with one of them. I just had no idea why.
"Eh! Bella!" I blinked and looked up quickly searching out the source of the voice. Jake sat on the couch, Leah tucked comfortably into his side. She was looking at me curiously. "Whatcha got on that plate there?"
"Oh, sorry. Um- here." I handed Jake the plate of cookies and Leah her phone. Before Leah and I could make the most awkward of eye contact, I spun around and booked it back to the kitchen. I did not want to be standing in front of her when she realized what I had just seen on her phone.
"Thank you, hun," Sue said. She was pulling off her apron and wiping her hands. "Can you handle the gravy?"
"Sure," I took a deep breath and forced a smile. "I think Charlie misses you too." She laughed, swatting me on the butt on her way out the door.
My mind was racing. I knew Leah liked the pictures I sent her, but to have one on her phone – I didn't even know what to think about. I picked up the large spoon, ready to settle in for several more hours of emotional torture. Before I could begin to pick at the scab, Claire caught my attention, tensing up as she peered out the window.
"What?" Rachel asked.
"Emily's here," Claire said quietly. Before I could stop myself I leaned over looking out the window just in time to see the end of a long black mane trailing up the front porch. Right behind it was Sam.
"Hmmph," I muttered turning back to the gravy. The doorbell rang and we heard Seth run to answer it. There were a volley of pleasant hellos, Seth inviting Sam to join them in the living room and mentioning to Emily that Rachel and Claire were in the kitchen. He didn't mention me. I took a deep breath, ready for another weird moment.
I turned as Emily entered the kitchen. Luckily I held in my gasp. Emily was pretty, tall with perfectly shaped body. Her face though was massively scarred. The entire right side was distorted, the skin puckered in patterns of what looking like burn scars and scratches. She was smiling though, playfully pulling Rachel in for a hug. Her face was clearly something she was comfortable with.
"This is Bella. Charlie's daughter," Rachel said.
"And Leah's roommate?" Emily said holding out her hand. Her tone was not cute. Instantly I could feel my face drawing together defensively.
I shook her hand and said, "Charlie's daughter most importantly, but yes, Leah's roommate as well."
Emily just smiled and shrugged then turned to Claire. I wanted to slap her, but then again I would be much of an upstanding human being if I slapped a pregnant girl. Emily made a show of taking off her jacket and that was when my eyes were forced away from her face down to her massive stomach. Emily was easily eight months pregnant.
"Expecting?" I asked sarcastically.
"Oh, Leah didn't tell you? Yeah, any day now. I'm ready to pop." She rubbed her belly lovingly, ever the proud Mama.
What the fuck?
"I'm gonna go say hi to Sue. I'll be back."
"Take your time," Claire said with a fake smile that Emily didn't catch. I turned towards the gravy, trying not to laugh. Claire must have been counting or listening for confirmation that Emily was out of earshot, because almost on cue she grabbed my arm and pulled me over to sit at the table in the far corner of the kitchen, Rachel right on her heels.
"So she's a bitch, right?" she whispered.
"Um- yeah. Leah dated her?" I asked. No wonder Leah was all fucked up.
"Oh you have no idea. Okay so here's what happened –" I sat there enthralled as Rachel and Claire plied me with about ten years worth of dirt.
Leah had figured out that she liked girls early on and Emily had been the first object of her affection. Afraid of what her parents would say and what Emily might do, she kept her feelings to herself and started dating Jake, who she apparently gave her virginity to. Emily started going out with Sam, who it turns out, is Jake's cousin. Sam was a few years older than them, but at the time he was the reservations golden boy, so Emily's grandmother didn't mind that Sam was old enough to be in college, while Emily was only fifteen.
One day, during the fall of their senior year, Sam showed up at their school to pick up Emily on his motorcycle. He was drunk. They made it out of the parking lot, but didn't get much further before Sam wrecked his bike and Emily's face. He has some cuts, but apparently from the way they went over, Emily braced his fall.
The weeks and months that followed were miserable for the entire reservation. Every pulled together to pay for her medical bills. Leah was beside herself. That was when she ended things with Jake. Leah would spend hours by Emily's side while she was being nursed back to health, Claire said.
"I don't know exactly what happened, but Paul said Leah just snapped one day and confessed her love for Emily. I guess at first Emily was shocked and a little weirded out, but she had seen just how much Leah cared for her. You know, how she'd been there everyday."
"Yeah, Sam's stupid ass. He didn't visit Emily in the hospital once. He said it hurt too much, but we all knew he was just being a pussy. He didn't want to face up to the fact that it was his fault she was in there," Rachel added.
"Geez, so then what happened?" I laughed at myself at little, realizing just how wrapped I was in the story.
"Well Leah told her mom first that she thought she might be gay and that she was really scared cause of what Senior would do," Claire continued.
"Why, what was up with her dad?" I asked.
"Well you know there's only like twelve of us," Rachel laughed. "And I mean some of them don't care, but the rest of our parents want us to marry within the tribe, you know."
"That make sense," I nodded for her to continue.
"Well my parents and the Clearwater were so excited when Leah and Jake got together. I mean Jake's next in line for Chief and Leah's like our strong princess. So of course they were hoping they'd have a bunch of babies and what not."
We all giggled at the thought, Leah as a mom and wife, to Jake no less, was a little ridiculous.
"But Sue was cool with it. Talked Senior off the ledge and even got Emily's grandmother to come around."
Rachel and Claire continued on with their story and I nodded, totally caught up in the drama of it all.
Things started off well for Emily and Leah, but for some reason Emily wouldn't let Sam go.
"It was weird to watch. She was all dedicated to Leah, but every time Sam would come around someone would always catch Emily staring at him," Rachel told me. Leah couldn't understand how Emily had forgiven him, but she had.
Finally Leah, realizing that Sam might always be an issue, Leah packed up her Bronco and her girlfriend and left for LA.
"So what happened? Sam was out of the picture," I prodded. That's when things got interesting.
Rachel and Claire paused dramatically and looked at each other before Claire turned back to me. "Back in March, Emily came home to see her Grandma and well – Sam was waiting for her."
"Get the fuck out," I hissed. I had a feeling, but to hear it confirmed –
"Ha. I know right. And it wasn't like some drunken one night hook up. She was at his house for like three days or something like that. She wasn't taking Leah's calls or anything and the whole time Leah's thinking Emily's grandmother is deathly ill."
"Yeah, what about that?" I asked.
"She ain't sick. She is healthier than you and me. Just did a 10k fun run in Seattle not three weeks ago," Rachel said.
"What?" I felt my face drop with disgust.
"Yup. Leah's thinking she's gonna have to help with funeral arrangements and Emily's here shacking up with Sam. So anyway. Mid-july Emily gets busted by your other roommate?" She peered at me questioning the term.
I laughed, shaking my head at her. "Sure, roommate works fine."
"Well your roommate Rosalie, busted her making an appointment with a baby doctor. Emily'd been covering everything up pretty well, but I mean it's hard to hide a freaking pregnancy from people you live with. So yeah, they kicked her out."
"Wow," I leaned back in my chair.
"The worst part was I heard she was apologizing to Leah and stuff, but not. Like she basically told her she loved her, but she couldn't really expect her to spend the rest of her life with a woman. Leah was pretty messed up about the whole thing," Claire said.
"So Emily moved out –" Rachel commented slowly.
"And I moved in."
"Yeah. Emily's been being a mando bitch ever since. There was some serious drama for a while, but Sam's family and all the elders were just excited about the baby so everyone just kinda got over it. And he proposed to her so you know, everything's forgiven. But she still acts like she's better than all of us cause she got pregnant first," Rachel's tone dripped with venom for the girl. No one likes a braggart.
"But don't worry. I'm about to steal her thunder." Claire leaned back in her chair, rubbing her stomach.
"Claire, you're pregnant?" I gasped. She was barely showing. Unintentionally I searched her hand for a ring. I let out a small sigh of relief when I saw the gold band on the forth finger. Not that it really matter, but she couldn't be any older than eighteen.
"Yes ma'am. Twins. Emily doesn't know though yet. I can't wait to tell her to suck it."
"Quil's a proud papa already," Rachel giggled.
"How's the gravy girls?" Our heads all whipped toward Sue, who was standing in the doorway, unimpressed with our lack of commitment to Christmas dinner.
"Sorry," Claire shrugged with a guilty smile.
"It's okay. Go take the break," She nodded towards the living room. We all jumped up and scurried away before she changed her mind.
I was glad to get a break from cooking and baking, but I wasn't so jazzed however, to see Leah cornered by Emily near the window. Rachel and Claire instantly retreated to the laps of their significant others. I was torn between the arm of Charlie's chair and the vacant spot on the couch next to Jake.
Emily made up my mind for me. I watched as she gently, but almost mockingly ran her finger down Leah's cheek. Leah pulled her face away, gripping Emily's wrist. I didn't know exactly what to do, but I had to do something. Leah owned me a HUGE explanation, but there was no excuse for Emily to rub whatever feelings she knew Leah still had in her face.
I took a deep breath and started across the room. I was taking a huge gamble. If my little plan of rescue worked I'd be forced to keep up the charade for the rest of the night, if not for the rest of my stay in Forks. But my feet were already moving. I didn't think, just acted the way I knew I should.
When I reached them my arm automatically went to Leah's waist. She started a bit, but relaxed when she realized it was me.
"Hey honey," I kissed her softly on the neck. "Food's almost ready. How are things going?"
"Good. Um- this is Emily." Leah spoke cautiously, but her arms came around me and she pulled me closer.
"Yes ,we've met," I said, trying to remain calm. I was still pissed at Leah, but I wanted to claw Emily's eyes out for hurting her.
"We have. Bella, enjoying the mattress I left for you?" Emily challenged.
Deliberately I looked at Leah, gazing at her bottom lip which I suddenly really wanted to suck on, if only to shut Emily up. "Not really," I said slowly. I realized then that Leah was looking at me too, gazing at my mouth. "I don't sleep on it much. I typically spend the night else where."
It had only been four days, but the second her lips touched mine I knew just how much I'd missed her. I was so angry with myself. I couldn't seem to stop what I was doing. I missed her taste, her smell, her soft skin. It didn't matter that we were in a room full of Leah's friends and family, not to mention my dad who was dating her mom. I missed kissing her and I didn't want to stop.
"Ahem," Emily coughed annoyed. I opened my eyes, blushing. I caught a glimpse of Jake and Embry quickly turning around on the couch. "Well, it seems like things have worked out nicely for you." She glared at Leah as if she had a right to be mad.
Charlie walked over to us then, quickly interrupting the pleasant conversation. He nodded to Emily, muttering something like "Nice to see you again," and then turned to Leah and I.
"Bells, I need you and Leah to do me a favor. I left Sue's gift at the house. Could you two go back and grab it?"
"Ah – sure," Leah said.
"I can't drive his cruiser. It's 'against the law' for a 'civilian' to operate it," I sighed.
"Oh, sure Charlie. Not a problem," Leah laughed.
"Thanks girls."
Leah and I didn't bother saying bye to Emily.
I felt slightly triumphant. Leah and I had just given the bitch a little taste of her own medicine. Once we were alone in Seth's truck though, all the pain Leah had caused me filled the air. We drove in silence the whole way, which just made things worse.
I knew she'd been hurt. I couldn't even imagine what I would do if my childhood sweetheart had behaved so cruelly towards me, but still, that wasn't an excuse. And now the situation between us had become all the more unbearable. I'd spent the last two days with her amazing family. She had a fucking picture of me on her phone. I'd swooped in and saved her from the dreaded ex. I told her I loved her via text and then that kiss – that kiss that made me knees weak and my panties a little more than damp. All of these things had happened, but still the silence in the truck stretched on.
We were finally alone. She had to know that I was on to at least some of Emily's bullshit, unless I wouldn't have stepped in the way I did. All of this and she still wouldn't talk to me. She still refused to open up.
We pulled up to my house and it occurred to me that I hadn't given her directions.
"On Monday, before you got back, we came over for lunch," she said quietly, staring straight ahead.
"But you still –" how had she not figured out I was Charlie's kid.
"You're dad's not exactly a chatter box," she replied, answering my unfinished question.
"Oh. That's true."
Leah followed me inside, but waited in the kitchen while I went up to Charlie's bedroom to get the ruby barrettes he'd been neatly wrapping the night before. It took everything I had not to stomp up the stairs and a little extra effort not to slam his bedoom door.
She was so – infuriating. I wanted to kill her.
I grabbed the small box and stormed back downstairs.
"You ready?' I growled looking at my feet. When Leah didn't answer, I looked up. She was playing with her fingernails. A little to her left, I noticed Dad had left the milk out. I set Sue's present down and walked across the room to rescue the abandoned carton. When I reached for it, Leah grabbed my wrist.
My nostrils flared. Her skin was like fire against mine. The small amount of moisture that had started to build a half hour earlier was now followed by a thorough rush. I had to get away from her.
"Let me go, please," I whispered.
"No," Leah murmured, turning my wrist slightly in her hand. She was looking down at my fingers.
I swallowed. The fire had spread all over my body. "Let. Me Go."
Leah's eyes met mine. They were burning just the same. "No." We both just stared at each other, neither of us breathing, neither of us moving. I hated her so much and wanted her even more.
She lunged for me, but I quickly I turned my head to the side. I couldn't handle her lips on mine. It was too much for me right now. Way too much. That didn't stop her, though.
She was at my neck, licking and biting. I don't know how sincere my struggle was, but I was trying to get away from her. It wasn't working. She pulled me closer, her kisses becoming more insistent. I was helpless against her. I'd missed her so much and I knew now that if I wanted Leah I would have to take her however I could get her, no matter how much it hurt.
Her hands went down to my jeans and she started to undo my top button.
When this is over she is gonna walk away, I told myself. This is going to hurt. I pushed her back against the counter. I think the both of us thought I meant to stop but I didn't. Instead I popped the button on her jeans and tugged the zipper down so hard that fabric was yanked instantly off her hips. I spun her around just as quickly pulled her pants down to her knees. She didn't have any panties on.
I pressed her into the counter, grinding my zipper into her ass. She moaned, the first genuine moan of frustration I'd ever elicited from her. I liked it.
With more skill than I knew I had I grabbed Leah's hair in my fist and yanked her head back against my shoulder. My other hand shot down in front, instantly finding the soft wetness between her legs. I knew then I wasn't the only one affected by that kiss. Too bad the affect on Leah was only physical.
She gasped and whimpered this time, struggling to breathe. I was relentless, rubbing her swollen clit fiercely, teasing her with my fingers. I stroked down the hood with my middle and forefinger, ignoring the tip and massaging the length, a little something Alice had taught me.
Leah stuttered a few incomprehensible words, her body trembling against mine. She turned her head then and tried to kiss me.
"No," I growled, pulling harder on her hair. I knew I was being rough, but I didn't give a shit. She was due a little pain and I was in no mood to be gentle or patient with her. But of course she didn't mind. The tighter I gripped her hair, the louder she moaned and the more she ground her pussy into my hand.
I loved the sounds that she was making, but for some reason I was so angry that she was experiencing this kind of pleasure. Something had told me that I was the only one who had ever made her feel this way and still I knew she wouldn't open up.
I pulled my hand away from her clit and braced it on the small of her back. I bent her over the counter the way she had done to me that night on the porch. I moved so quickly that my fingers were inside her, fucking her dripping pussy from behind before she could make a move to protest. She seemed to enjoy this even more.
"Bella -," she whimpered. She'd never said my name before. I thought I was about to lose it, but I was instantly calm. I knew in some way the tables had turned.
"You still think I don't love you?" I growled. She didn't respond, realizing her mistake. The tables turned, yet again. I ignored the few tears that ran down my face and continued to fuck her, at times letting her ride my fingers at will. I only let her come once. Just as I felt the muscles inside her clench and sudden rush of moisture, I pulled my hand out.
I backed away, refusing to look at her as she quickly stood up and started adjusting her jeans.
I licked my fingers, having missed the taste of the rest of her. "I don't know how I could either, but I do." I didn't bother waiting for a response. I grabbed Sue's gift and went outside to wait by the truck.
ok. so right now my only thought is of what leah taste like. mmmmmm.
im gonna post a sampling of pictures that bella would have sent to leah. its a lot of pictures.
follow me on twitter if you wanna know when im having sex, REAL TIME!