Leah.

I locked the Blaire's bathroom door and gripped the sides of the marble counter, staring myself down in the mirror. My eyes were blotchy; cheeks wet looking, and nose runny.

How attractive.

This is not me. The independent strong me is gone, and the emotional me is creeping back up. I splashed some water on my face clearing a little of the redness out my eyes. I blew my nose and walked out the door past Seth, Blaire, and Jacob and toward the woods and ran home crying myself silently to sleep.

"Come on, I thought you were ready!" I vaguely heard and then light poured into every corner of my dark room. I heard heels clicking against my wood floors and a door being pushed open. As my brain started coming back to life I saw Blaire looking through my sad excuse of a closet.

"Ever heard of, never mind put this on and hurry up! Ja'son doesn't take anybody who's late." Blaire said throwing fabric in my face.

"You mean Jason?" I asked groggily.

"No Ja'son."

Blinking I did my morning routine and threw on the outfit Blaire picked out. I ran downstairs past my beaming mother and a hungry Seth. I slide in the passenger's side and Blaire instantly zoomed out the driveway headed toward Port Angeles.

"Why weren't you ready I told you I was coming?" Blaire asked hitting the brakes.

"I didn't think we were still going." I shrugged since the only thing that stood out from last night were Byron's painful words.

"Well duh! First you're getting your hair done, then we get mani pedi's then a facial, of course a massage…" Blaire droned on but surprisingly, I was okay with that.

We got to the place and it smelled like minty shampoo. Laughs and "shut up" was heard all around as women sat gossiping with each other and talking about each other's outfits. Younger teen girls sat looking at the latest Vogue and Seventeen.

Blaire walked up to the front, chatted with the receptionist, and then sat back down by me on a nearby bench until I got called to go next.

"Hey lady!" a man called to Blaire and the two exchanged hugs.

"Hey! This is my friend Leah I was telling you about." she said pulling me forward and into a salon chair. The man turned the chair around so I was facing the mirror.

"I was thinking high lights and a cut to about a little below her chin." Blaire stated and Ja'son took my hair out my ponytail releasing my long silky black hair.

"No, no, no, no. Cut to a bit below the shoulders and low lights." he said taking my hand and leading me toward some bowls that people were getting their hair washed in.

"If you say so." Blaire said in a sing song voice.

The hot water ran down my hair and the minty smelling shampoo was scratched and rubbed into my hair. He continued scratching my scalp and continuing to run the water through my hair. Finally I was released and he took me toward the chair, turning me away from the mirror. From the corner of my eye I caught some silver and heard a snip as my long locks fell to the ground.

Blaire.

"Bye!" I waved as Leah stepped out the car. She was new and improved. She looked ten times hotter, had a whole new wardrobe, and a cool new confidence to go with it.

I have never been more proud of myself.

I threw my keys in a small bowl by the entrance and walked into the kitchen. I started chopping up some ingredients to for a yummy salad. There was a knock on the door and l stood on my tippy toes to see through the peep hole.

"Hey Jake, what's up?" I asked.

"Nothin, just seeing if Byron was here." He asked shifting awkwardly on his feet.

"No, um you wanna come in?"

"Sure, thanks."

He walked in and sat on the counter stool looking at the salad.

"Want some?" I asked putting the leafy goodness in my mouth.

"Sorry I'm a meatatarian. " he said innocently.

"Meatatarian?" I repeated giving him with the "WTF?" look.

"Meaning I only eat meat. Save the plants." he laughed.

"Well…that makes so much sense. Kinda."

"You now the best place around here to eat? Jerry's has the best steaks." he stated.

"Jerry's where's that?" I asked taking another forkful of salad.

"No, more salad. Let's have some unhealthy greasy food. We don't eat this in America." he said pulling the bowl away from me.

"Hey! I was eating that, and I took me a while to make!" I exclaimed as he threw the vegetables away. He walked out the room and grabbed my coat.

"Let's go!" he said motioning me toward the door. Laughing I followed him out.

"Oh wait, I forgot my keys." I said turning back.

"Well I have transportation provided." he said clicking the down button for the elevator.

We walked out the parking lot toward a red motorcycle.

"No! Jacob put me down!" I laughed as he carried me sideways and placed me on the motorcycle.

"Seriously Jacob I don't want to ride this thing." I begged but he wasn't listening.

"Helmet my lady." he said putting it on my head. He started the engine and we started moving. My head was buried in his shoulder as the air whipped my hair and I inhaled the Jacob's scent. I finally got the courage to look up and the scenery flashed by with the lights laminating the trees.

"This isn't too bad." I mumbled and he chuckled lightly. We pulled into a parking lot which wasn't too crowded since it was a Monday.

"Here we are." he said arms outstretched while I fixed my helmet hair.

Walking in the place had tons of booths and tables with the walls covered in posters and artwork. We followed the hostess to a big booth and I slid in.

"So what's good?" I asked looking over the menu.

"Everything, I'll order for you. Don't want to risk you eating healthy." he joked and I lightly slapped his arm.

"One time! One time I don't eat greasy Chinese food and I'm labeled vegetarian." I rolled my eyes.

"Whatever…" he mumbled and ordered as an elderly man took the order.

We talked, and had a great conversation. I had never realized how funny this guy was. We had been laughing about something I didn't remember about but then I noticed something.

"Where's your coat!" I asked looking at as if he was crazy.

"I don't need one, you know I'm always warm." he said wrapping his arms around me.

"No! You need a coat!" I said wrapping and tying my scarf around his neck laughing.

"You're choking me!" he fake coughed and I tightened the grip. He grabbed my hand pulling off the scarf as the food came. In front of me was nachos, a large steak, bowl of French fries and onion rings, and two hot dogs.

"Somebody's starving." I smirked as he shoved a fistful of fries in his mouth.

We loaded our plates down in the meaty goodness. I had to admit, this food was awesome. It had the perfect seasonings and everything was fried to perfection. The best five star restaurants had nothing on this.

Jacob.

Surprisingly Blaire had eaten more than I thought she would. Of course she was in no competition with me, but I guess me being a werewolf had an unfair advantage.

"I'm so full, I'm full." Blaire said stretching out her arms.

"That made no sense." I laughed taking a sip of my third drink.

"You don't make sense." she joked.

"Nice comeback." I laughed signing the bill.

We walked out the restaurant, the last people to leave. We got back on the motorcycle and drove her to one more place. The forest was dark, but surprisingly it didn't feel eerie. With the lights glowing below it was pretty.

"Where are we going?" I Blaire breathe in my neck sending shivers down my back.

"Somewhere…" I said vaguely and I drove out to the middle of the clearing. I stopped in the middle and held my hand out for her to take. She took it stepping off the ride and did a short curtsey.

"This is beautiful…" she breathed lying down on the wild grass.

I laid by her staring at the star filled sky. She rolled over so she was staring into your eyes and smiled her breathless smile.

"Thanks Jacob." she breathed out beaming. I felt fingers lace with mine and cold shivers run up my back for the second time today. Her touch was soft and delicate.

"No problem." I managed to say and these words managed to slip out my mouth unintentionally, "I think it's the best place for a first date."

My breathing stopped and muscles hitched, "I-I m-m-mean, neverm-mind…just never mind."

My breathing stopped short and I glanced at Blaire who seemed unfazed.

"First date huh, good choice." she smiled.

I looked over into her eyes and we leaned in and our lips connected.