Phoenix

Chapter 3

The rain continued to poor down around them, soaking their naked forms. He kissed her again, slowly this time, deeply. She responded in turn, tasting the moisture on his lips. He traced her face lightly with his fingers, treating her like something precious, his movements once more touching her in a deeper place. When Jacob pulled back her eyes were moist. He rolled off of her to sit up in the damp grass. Leah studied his profile from the ground. He wasn't the little kid she used to know anymore. He'd grown up suddenly, thrust into an unknown and strange world, torn from everything he thought he knew, and expected to deal with it, to ignore his feelings. She realized that he was just like her.

Leah took one of his hands in hers from where it lay on the ground.

"How long have you…" she began tightly, her voice still choked with unshed tears. He didn't look at her when he responded,

"I'm not sure. Maybe always, maybe only just now. All I know is, this is how I feel." He squeezed her hand tighter.

"I understand."

She sat up too then, wringing out her hair as best she could. She suddenly felt self-conscious, remembering where they were, and stood, searching around for her clothes. Most of them were in shreds on the ground, even her most comfortable jeans! She groaned, frustrated. She could feel his eyes again.

"What are you looking at?" she asked, another smile gracing her lips. He grinned,

"You." She rolled her eyes,

"Come on, let's go inside."

His cheeks were tinged a light pink as he stood and they both ran inside. It had begun to rain harder then, a slight wind whipping through the trees outside the house. She grabbed a blanket off the back of the couch and threw it over her shoulders. She turned to look at him, standing awkwardly in her living room. She tried not to look at his gorgeous body and instead focused on his eyes. He was smirking at her, having followed her gaze. Leah bit her lip,

"I'm sure you can borrow something from Seth." She headed upstairs and into her brother's room, rummaging through some of the drawers. Thoughts were swarming around her head, and yet, not the ones she expected. She should've been thinking, there is a naked boy in my living room who I just made out with in the grass outside. Instead she was wondering how she hadn't seen this coming? Why did she suddenly feel this way about him? And, more importantly, how did she feel?

"Why so shy around me all of a sudden?" She yelped and spun around.

"Jake! Holy crap!" she said breathlessly. She knew he was quiet but, honestly. He grinned,

"You've never called me that before."

"That's nice." she said dismissively, turning around to face the dresser again. She needed to not look at him anymore, his gaze was intoxicating. "Umm.. This should do." she continued, handing him some plaid pyjama bottoms and a white T-shirt. He took it and she quickly headed out the door.

"I'm just going to change." she called.

"I kinda like that look on you though." he called back from across the hall. She could hear the smile in his voice and shook her head, ignoring the comment. She wasn't used to smiling so much, especially all in one day, but she could get used to it.

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When she opened her door, towel-drying her hair, he was waiting.

"Can I help you?" she asked sarcastically.

"Ha ha ha." he replied dryly, pushing past her.

"Hey!"

"I've never seen your room before." he stated, seemingly ignoring her fuming.

"Well great."

"I like it." he continued, examining her desk. Her room was fairly plain. There was a small double bed, a desk, a vanity, and a bookshelf. Her walls were painted a pale orange, which had been there since she turned sixteen. Back then she thought it was less girly, and she was afraid to let boys in her previously bright pink room.

He was now sitting at her desk, looking at the pictures covering it. Most of them were of her and her father, or her brother and mother. A few had some friends, but most of those she'd destroyed a long time ago, because they all had them sealed into photo. Jacob picked one up, examining it closely. It was taken the night of semi-formal, way back in grade ten, thankfully of her and her dad. She was wearing a pale cream dress, the one she'd picked out a year before. Her dad was holding her around the waist, his cheek pressed against the top of her head. She remembered complaining about them wasting time, but then… She knew who was taking that picture, how could she forget? He told her to smile her wonderful smile, and she had, looking into his eyes behind the camera. It hurt her from both ends of the spectrum, her father on one end… and Sam on the other.

"You look beautiful." he said simply, still looking at it. She sat on her bed, or fell rather, her knees suddenly choosing to no longer support her.

"Thanks." she replied tonelessly. He turned to look at her, surprised by her expression.

"Was this semi?"

"Yeah."

He looked earnestly at her, his eyes soft.

"It hurts… doesn't it." It wasn't said like a question. She met his eyes,

"His guilt is the worst."

"Because it doesn't replace love."

"It just cuts deeper."

"Makes it harder to hate him."

She stared at him for a long moment, and she saw herself in his eyes. She nodded, looking down into her lap where her vision blurred from the tears. She heard him move the computer chair towards her, taking her hands in his. They were so warm, so strong. Hers were slim and looked small in his. She wanted to take all his hurt onto herself, but she had so much inside of her already.

"I'm sorry." she said quietly.

"What for?" he asked. She looked up at him,

"All of it. I'm sorry for getting angry at you, I'm sorry for making everyone wary of me, I'm sorry… that she doesn't love you, I'm sorry that I've made everything so difficult… all I wanted… I just felt… I…." she couldn't say anymore, her words were lost in her sobs. Real, wracking sobs, from deep in her chest. She'd never cried like this before, never let all of it go; not when he'd left her, not when her father had died, not even when she found out what she was. But suddenly, feeling so vulnerable with him, knowing someone still cared to know her inside, she couldn't keep it in anymore.

She felt him wrap his big arms around her, pulling her to him till she was in his lap soaking the front of his shirt. He squeezed her tightly, running his fingers through her damp hair, kissing the top of her head. He didn't tell her that it was going to be alright, or that she'd soon feel better, but his heart beating next to hers was more than that.

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Awhile later, after she'd finally cried herself dry, they remained in their embrace. She realized dully that she'd wet the second dry shirt he'd worn that day. But he didn't seem to care. He hadn't said anything, just continued reassuring her with his touch. Eventually she knew her body was going to cramp, so she sat up slowly. Her eyes found his, they were intent, though she was certain hers must look drained.

"I'm hungry." she stated. He laughed lightly, "What?" she asked, not unkindly.

"I haven't heard a word from you in half an hour, I was starting to think you'd fallen asleep or something."

"Yeah… Thanks for-"

"Don't. You don't have to apologize anymore." Leah smiled in relief at him, then leaned down and pressed her lips to his in a chaste kiss. He frowned when she pulled back, wanting more, but she giggled and stood up.

"Umm, did you just giggle? You, Leah Clearwater?" he asked with false incredulity. Her eyes narrowed and she smacked his forearm,

"Shuddup!" she said, dashing out of the room and hopping down the steps into the kitchen. She began rummaging through the fridge.

"What time is it?" she asked, her head still stuck inside.

"Umm, two-thirty."

She put some leftovers on the counter from dinner; mashed potatoes, baked chicken, steamed vegetables: a boring well-balanced meal, curtsey of her mother. Jake walked up next to her, grabbing some plates from the cupboard. She started popping things into the microwave.

Soon after they were sitting at the dining table eating.

"So, do you think… I dunno, Sam planned this or something?" Jake asked.

"Warsh yeh mea?" she said through a mouthful of food. He frowned, and she gulped down some water, "Sorry, what do you mean?" he smiled briefly,

"I mean, do you think he knew this was going to happen or something?" She snorted,

"I highly doubt he secretly planned a Dr. Phil session." Jake grinned,

"No… but he knew we both needed someone to talk to, and we're both quick to argue…"

"Yeah… I guess so. If that's the case, then I guess we have him to thank." she said thoughtfully, standing to put her plate in the sink.

"Thank, or curse." he replied lightly, following her. She frowned,

"What?"

"Well, I figured cursing was the closest thing to being the opposite of thanking." She irritably shook her head,

"No, no , no, I mean, why on earth would you want to curse him?"

"For putting us in this horrible situation, or, me at least." she spun around,

"And what is that supposed to mean?" she said with a glare. He shrugged,

"You know, now I have these crazy feelings for a prima donna who can be a real pain in the ass someti-ow!" he said as she smacked him upside the head.

"Really? I'm a prima donna? And what does that make you? A home wrecker?"

"Oh" he said, putting his hand over his heart, "That was a low blow. Clearly just your drama queen tendencies acting up of course." he said dismissively, patting her on the head. She growled, shoving him in the chest, forcing him back slightly.

"And I suppose you're denial is just some prick tendencies right?" she asked,

"I never said I was perfect." he shot back,

"Yeah far from it." she said bitterly,

"Then I suppose we're even." he replied in a low voice, coming back at her and pinning her hands behind her back before she could smack his arm again. They were nose to nose, breathing slightly laboured. They glared at each other, but neither shook with controlled tremors, so she knew she wasn't truly angry at him.

"Do you enjoy pushing my buttons?" she asked breathlessly. He nodded, smiling widely. His whole body was pressed tightly against her.

"Mhmm. It's a lot more fun than a giggling puddle of mush, I hate chicks like that." he breathed, leaning down to kiss her neck.

"Well I can assure you, I'll never be that way." she said quietly, gasping when he bit her lightly, then ran his tongue over the spot.

"Good." he whispered against her skin. She shivered as he kissed his way to the hollow in the base of her throat then back up the other side towards her ear. She strained against his hands, wanting to run her fingers through his soft hair, but he held tight. She giggled again when he kissed her ear then stopped abruptly when he sucked on her earlobe.

"Jake…" she hissed. He chuckled, moving to kiss her full on the lips. Finally he released her hands and she quickly wrapped them around his neck, standing on her toes to reach him. He groaned as she ran her fingers through the hair at the back of his neck, and she took the opportunity to deepen the kiss. His neck was still straining towards her though, so he quickly grabbed her waist and lifted her onto the counter so they were on eye level. She was a bit startled, but soon resumed, locking her ankles behind his back as he ran his tongue over her teeth. His hands played over her back, up her shoulders, down her sides, touching the exposed skin at her waist, and the warm mounds of flesh on her chest. Her senses were filled with him, his scent, his touch, the sound of his breathing. She hadn't felt like this in ages, but it was so overwhelming, so much more intense than what she'd felt with Sam. She wanted to burn herself into him, get close enough to touch his soul.

Suddenly he ripped away from her with a groan, spinning so his back was to her. She almost moaned in protest when the front door opened and Seth, Embry and Paul came in. Leah's face flushed and she quickly hopped off the counter, finger combing her hair. The others didn't notice them at first, thankfully, giving them time to straighten themselves out. It was Seth who first saw them standing awkwardly in the kitchen.

"Oh hey." he said. They mumbled some response. "Whatsup?"

Jake opened his mouth to answer but was quickly cut off by Paul,

"Man Jake you are so lucky you missed it today. Boring! We found nothing." he said, flopping down onto the couch.

"Yeah, we were basically chasing a shadow all day. But I dunno, Sam seemed pretty determined to stay out as long as possible." Seth added, reaching into the fridge next to Leah. "Umm.. Jake, why are you wearing my clothes?" he asked suddenly, causing the others to look at him. He flushed slightly, then recovered.

"Um, my clothes got wet in the rain, I had to grab something from my house, and it'd already started to come down."

"Oh, ok." Seth replied, then took in his sister, in sweats and a tank top, and raised an eyebrow in question. She shrugged,

"I went with him." she replied. There was an awkward silence, filled with unasked questions.

"Where are the others?" Jacob said, his voice surprisingly calm.

"Back at Sam's." Embry replied. "We came by to make sure you two were still alive."

Paul laughed,

"Yeah, what did you guys do anyway? You look like you're still in one piece, I'm amazed." Jacob shrugged, ignoring the jibe.

"Nothing really."

Seth looked questioningly at Leah but she didn't say anything.

"Well, I told Kim I'd meet her later, so I'm going." Paul said, stretching. Embry stood as well,

"I'll go with you." he said, "Jake, you coming?"

"Euh, no I'll stay a bit, help with the dishes from lunch." Paul and Embry snickered together,

"Yeah ok, bye." And they left.

Seth looked from Jake to his sister,

"Umm.. I guess I'll leave you two to wash dishes then." he said in a puzzled voice before going upstairs. The pair looked at each other for a moment, then burst out laughing.

A/N: There we go! FIRSTLY! Thanks so much to the reviewers, though few, your comments still mean a lot. And you guys certainly hopped on it fast. SECONDLY! I apologize for the slight fluff, but I figured they both must have a lot of things pent up inside them, and it needs to come out. And LASTLY! Please review! I would like to hear your feedback, what did you like, not like, what do want to see, etc. Just let me know J Till next time!