"Leeeaahhh.. I- I cant wear this." I squeaked as I tried on a LBD that had a plunging neckline and rather tight from the waist down. It ended right a few inches above my knees. It was nice, but it wasn't my kind of style.
"Can I come in?" asked Leah from the other side of the fitting room. I flexed my legging covered leg this way and that before opening the door. Leah stood for a moment almost inhaling the air, being really quiet before walking in and shutting the door softly. Suddenly, this room felt way to small, I admit I was feeling a bit claustrophobic. Leah hasn't said a word yet, so I ample up a big breath and let it out slowly, meeting her eyes.
I gasped. She had this look on her face, her eyes were roamed everywhere before stopping on my face. She jaw moved from side to side like she did when she was frustrated, or thoughtful. But her hands were in constant movement, clenching and unclenching at her sides.
I looked down and shuffled some more.
"umm, I know, t- this looks a bit too.. Much, I mean we are only going to dinner..." I said in whisper, fumbling with one of the openings on the dress, which was the deepest part on the slit that went between my breasts a little past my sternum. I tugged it closer. Leah put her hand on the side of my ribs, her thumb grazed the exposed part of my body, I tensed.
"Maybe you should change into something more.." she cleared her throat. I nodded, and brought down the zipper on the side of my dress and shrugged out of it until I was only in my leggings and black bra. I hung up the dress back in it's usual hanger, when I noticed Leah was still in the room. I inadvertently flashed her. Oops. I quickly shrugged on my long striped tank and tugged my sandals back on. Before grabbing the dress and opening the door.
"Ready?" I mumbled. She stood beside me, not saying a thing, as I hung the dress back in its proper place.
A sliver of blue caught my eye amidst all the black and white. I pulled it out to examine it, and was met with the softest fabric and beautiful lace detail all around. I knew, I wanted this dress, without checking the price, I pretty much skipped to the fitting rooms again, shrugged out my clothes and donned it on. Racertop style with a rather short skirt, down to my thighs. But with the pair of leggings I had on, it looked amazing. I smiled at my reflection. I wondered briefly if Leah would like it, then if I should wear my hair up or down. I quickly shrugged out of it, and went to pay at the register, when I noticed Leah was no where to be found.
With my dress tucked into my own tote, I didn't want to risk her seeing it, I figured it'd be a surprise. I bit my lip as I looked around to search for her, I stopped instead and tugged off the cap to a nearby perfume and took a whiff from it. Oh my gosh, it smelled incredible. It was men's cologne, I always loved the smell, well some smells of colognes but this one was smelled so good.. I nearly groaned out loud when I felt a hand on the middle of my back. I jumped ten feet in the air. Leah's laugh was heard behind me.
"you scared the bejeezus out of me." I put a hand to my racing heart.
"Sorry, you looked like you zoned out." she ran a hand from the top of my shoulder to my elbow, eyeing the cologne in my hand.
"does it smell good?" she asked pointing to it.
"hm, it's men's cologne but it smells really good." I held it up to her nose as she sniffed.
She wrinkled her nose a bit. "it's alright." she took it from me and put the cap back on, setting it back on the glass plate.
I checked the time on my cell phone. 5:49. The dinner was at 8pm at a swanky restaurant in Portland, it would take us a good half hour commute. Good thing, I had taken a shower before coming here, my hair fell in a thick rope of hair down the middle of my back. I sighed and motioned to Leah I was heading to Sephora. Their bright lights assaulted me as I made my way around their store, rubbing my fingers on the soft brushes and eyeing their color palettes. When Leah joined me a little while later, she'd been awfully quiet. I nudged her side lightly to get her attention.
"Hmm?" I switched my tote from the right side to my left. "you've been quiet, is something the matter?" I said softly as we got to her black bmw. It was surprisely clean, despite the dusty roads.
"no, I'm fine, I just.. It's nothing." she ended. As she drove me back to my hotel I thought about the phone conversation I had with my mother this morning. She said I had sounded like I was happy, I wasn't so 'down and dead'.
Natalie hasn't made frequent visits either.
I kissed Leah on the cheek, before making my way to the hotel lobby and checking myself in.
LPOV
I ran a hand through my hair before turning on the radio, I had to admit my heart raced a little more than usual right now, my mind flickering back to the fitting room where Naleigh had that black dress on, her scent had intensified in that small room. Peaches. She was fumbling with the cut down the front of the dress, putting it closer together between her fingertips.. And the way she bit her lip right then and there. Oh, how I wanted to ravish her.
I squeezed into a pair of black liquid leggings and a form fitting black dress with slits along the rib line. Charlie has invited us to dinner to a fancy restaurant in welcome his daughter Bella into her permanent residency here in Forks. He cared a lot to be able to do this. Whereas I couldn't care less about that stupid clumsy girl. I briefly wondered what Naleigh was doing as I slipped on a pair of pumps on my feet. At the store, I saw her pick out a dress but walked away before I could get a look at it. I figured she didn't want me know by the cautious glances she was doing as she walked out, where I saw her fawn over a cologne she was smelling, she obviously liked it by the deep whiffs she was practically inhaling from it.
I pulled out the same cologne from the brand store Naleigh had practically drooled over, spritz it a couple of times and donned on a sleek black leather jacket. Before I got into my bmw and drove to her hotel.
I went back to the part in my mind where I had taken her home from the bonfire on the first night, she looked so peaceful, like a child. It made me think about all that she's been through. As I pulled into the parking lot and got out, I shoot her a quick text to confirm if she's ready, I started my descent to her room, earning glances from the men. I dismissed them and got into the elevator, when I received the text from her, I smiled. The cologne did smell good, even for my wolf senses. It wasn't overpowering, but subtle, the effect was still there, as I viewed the another woman beside me, her nostrils flared as soon as I walked in. Unaware she subconsciously started to lean towards me. Soon enough the doors opened to Naleigh floor and I walked out. The woman in the elevator took a step back and fumbled with the buttons to the lift, I smiled a bit. Arriving at her door and knocked a couple of times, with my wolf senses I heard rustling and what seemed to be heels clicking on the linoleum. Heels? I swallowed audibly. Naleigh in heels. Oh fuck.. I heard the knob turn in its place before the door was pulled open, and standing there beneath the doorjamb was heaven.
She had on a bit of light make up, with dark blue and black colours that made her green eyes pop. She had on a bit of this pink berry stain that accentuated the color of her lips. I wanted to kiss her, badly,but I withheld that thought as I finished taking her in. My eyes roamed up to her hair, which was up into an intricate bun exposing skin of her beautiful tanned shoulders, my eyes traveled lower to her dress, it was gorgeous, a navy blue that hit right at her thighs, she wore the same pair of leggings she had on earlier and ankle boots.
I wanted to tear away those leggings with my fingers, I wanted her barefoot, in nothing but that short ass dress on, her hair down and splayed across my pillows as she moaned, but I was content with her at the moment, she shyly looked at me up and down too,taking me in. I took off my glasses as I heard her give out a soft gasp, she always did that when I looked at her this particular way, like she was surprised she could elicit such an emotion. But it was more than that with her, during these past few days I learned a great deal about her. My imprint. She was someone I would fight teeth and nails for, even if that meant making her stay, but first I needed her to get past her fears.
"Are you ready?" I asked. My voice spilled out a bit more sex laced than I intended to. Couldn't help it, her eyes widen for a fraction of a second before she cleared her throat and nodded. She walked in her room and grabbed her jacket before shutting and locking the door, as she walked down to the elevator and walked in, luckily it was empty, she turned to face me, as she inhaled and gave me this suspicious look. I rose an eyebrow at her. She merely grinned and stepped closer, inhaling.
"where'd you get that cologne from I wonder." she whispered softly as she wringed her hands together and her mouth twisted up into a small smile.
"I saw that you liked it a lot, so I bought it." she cocked her head to the side and smiled again, but it was a slow almost teasing smile and her eyes had a sort of mischievous glint. Hoooly crap.. That look was sexy.
"thank you, It was a nice gesture." she said softly. I smiled back as the doors opened and I slipped on my shades again as we walked out, I laced my fingers through hers and found her giving me a little squeeze back. I looked down as she looked away, her cheeks were red. Was she not comfortable with public displays of affection? I started to pull back my hand only to have her grip my hand tighter. I automatically relaxed.
"Have you seen Bella?" She asked, as I opened the door and let her get adjusted in the car, I went to the drivers side and hopped in. The clock on the dash read 6:45.
"yeah, a couple of times. She used to come here every summer. ." I watched her nod and turn the stereo on popping in a CD. "I found this CD when I went shopping the other day, it's called The Weeknd, have you heard of them?" she asked again. She wringed her hands together again. She was nervous?
Soft music played out throughout the car "once or twice, Kim, you remember Kim right? Jared's im- girlfriend, she plays this kind of music."
"oh yeah, I remember her." she said quietly, she looked out the window, I could sense something was troubling her but I figured she was nervous about tonight. I took her hand in mine, she turned to look at our entwined hands between us, and up to me, then she did the most unexpected thing, she brought our entwined hands up to her face and kissed my knuckles.
~000~
She kept glancing at her cell phone during the meal, she'd converse with Bella, and the two seem to reach a 'silent agreement of friendship' how two people could become friends without talking was beyond me, but they seemed to be doing well. Those would could attend the dinner where welcomed, which was mostly everyone here, given it was a all you can eat buffet, they'd given me approving glances of Naleigh, which I ignored. I took her hand in mine from under the table as she squeezed back as she slightly relaxed. I felt on edge about Bella though, and Jake acting like a love sick puppy with a new toy.
NPOV.
I walked the beautiful Chinese restaurant and saw Charlie seated between a much older women, and to his right, who I assumed was his daughter. Isabella. She was pretty, with long dark brown hair and equally brown eyes. She was taller then me, and lean. I waved hello to Charlie as turned to look at all the men and their girlfriends with smiles on their faces. My eyes widen, as I looked down and murmured hello to everyone. They all said their hellos and how are ya's. Leah grabbed me gently by the arm, and prompted me to go grab our food. I sighed. " thank you." I whispered. She grinned. "your pulse did beat a little faster back there, thought I pulled you away before you ended up with a panic attack." she murmured. How anyone could stand there and read pulses, had good observation skills. She most likely had seen the panic etched on my face.
Talking to Bella was normal for me, she took in my awkwardness and in turn, fumbled with her own words, it provided a great deal of distraction, away from my social anxiety as she told me about her family. "yeah, my family's pretty dysfunctional.. I know." she whispered towards me. I picked up a napkin and dabbed the sides of my face.
"mine is too." I said quietly. Her mom -as she described her to me- was a bit liberal, and Bella was a nice girl for her to be able to get out of her hair and let her mother live her life with Phil. She smiled at me. "you're not from around here.." she stated at once I nodded a no. "California" I popped a piece of chicken in my mouth and chewed. "Phoenix." she replied and sighed, weaving her hand into her hair. "you'll miss it soon enough." I spoke quietly stealing a glance at Leah. I smiled. "I already do, all these.. Trees." she laughed. "Are you going to school here or what?" she asked. I looked at her, then at her bouncing leg. "Oh, I don't live here in Forks, I'm visiting.. Um someone." I added quietly. Leah turned to me, I gave her a small smile, and squeezed her hand, I felt her stare even though she wore her shades. Charlie asked if I was to be staying in here in Forks. I nodded a yes. "for a little while more, most definitely.. school for me doesn't start in a couple of months." Leah tensed and I regretted not telling her sooner. When I thought she might pull away, she pulled me closer, nuzzling the back of my neck. I laughed softly. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner." I whispered into her ear. "tis' okay." she murmured when I heard a clearing of throat. I looked up to see Bella shocked eyes, and ignored all the rest, heat filling my face.
Soon enough, dessert came and went. We all got along really well, all the girls decided at some point that we were to have a girl's day out soon. Just to mingle and get to know one another I bit better. I saw Leah's scowl from the corner of my eye, dinner was over at around midnight, I said goodbye to Bill his son Jacob who seemed to have liked Bella a lot, and his friends, I finally said goodbye to Charlie, all the boys and Bella, she handed me her house number so that would hang soon enough too. I walked back to Leah's BMW, leaned on the door and heaved out a huge sigh.
"you look tired." I murmured as Leah walked over and opened the door for me. "yeah, it's been a long day." she murmured back, yawning. She stood there staring at me for a moment, before I averted her gaze, I looked up at her again. Bringing her left hand up she cupped my cheek, her right made its way across the small of my back. "you looked beautiful tonight, and the news made me happy." she said quietly. I ran a hand down her leather clad arm, feeling heat on my cheek. I looked down to her arm, "it's about time I needed to get over my past you know? I'm tired of it haunting me." I didn't know if she heard that, I said it so quietly even though we were so close together. "If you ever want to go to first beach again, you know.. just tell me." Her thumb brushed the side of me face. I nodded. I felt so warm despite the night air, it had been a bit rainy and really cold this morning.
I thought back to the first day here, or first night, the hospital, the kiss in my hotel, the obvious attraction from each other and my own towards her, I noticed we never really said much about what we do to each other, we more or less confirmed it with prolonged hugs, heated stares and one or two kisses here and there, never anything past that. She slowly unwind herself from me and opened the door. I sat inside for a few seconds before the door opened again and Leah started the car.
I didn't want to ask but I wanted to know.. If we were something else, I didn't want her to think that I needed this because of how much I'm hurting inside.. I really do like Leah a lot, I mean, she's caring and strong, she's beautiful. If I ended not pursuing this 'relationship' that we have, I frowned at the thought, I wasn't the type to hit it and quit it, like most teens my age do, because it's 'convenient' or 'just for fun'. I would be sad if that was what Leah wanted. What if Leah didn't want anything serious with me? I shuffled in my seat and looked out into the darken forest, the bright moon outlining the road and houses.
I didn't see the glowing eyes coming from deep into the woods, but I did hear the snarl that seemed to rise from Leah's throat. I looked over at her with wide eyes as she pressed her foot further into the accelerator, her eyes searching the trees, her body tense as she palmed her phone, punching in a number without even looking at the screen, a voice was heard on the other line as she spat out, her voice quivering. "Sam, we have a fuckin problem."
So sorry, my loves. I've been swamped with college work. But now that my class is almost ending, I'll definately start posting more. FYI: I have no outline to this story, I'm just kinda going along with the flow, if it seems slow, I apologize. *bows* Things will start to pick up from here on out, I know theres a bit(a bit? A LOT!) of plotholes here and there but those will be resolved as the story is being written.
-Kimochy.