A/N: I normally don't take this much time to update, I just couldn't figure this fic out. It's gonna be a long and hard battle, folks. And a big thank-you to all those who reviewed and gave me feedback, else I won't be writing this right now.

Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own Twilight.

CHAPTER ONE- Adapt

We're all as lonely as wanted to be

You're just you, I'm just me

But it's only true if we believe

-Jack Johnson- People watching

"Leeeeaaaah!"

Youngsters. So cute. So adorable.

"Leeeaah!!!"

And so cute and adorable, the way they don't get the gist of short vowels. Aww…..

"Leeeeaaah!!!!"

"SHUT UP, YOU OVERGROWN RETARD!" So maybe the anger management thing isn't all that successful. But only when it comes to that brainless, perpetually happy alien I call my brother, I swear. "I'M COMING!"

I yanked on my denim trousers, the fourth in the last three months my Mum had to buy. Which was progress. Normally, I shred a trouser/shorts a day. The whole new anger management thing really worked.

"Get down here, already!" That loser was yelling. "We're gonna be late! Jake's there already!"

I snorted. "Well duh, brain damaged brother of mine. It's his creepazoid imprint."

He seemed to be thinking it over. "Yeah, you're right."

I sighed. Children nowadays. They never used their brains.

"Why the hell are you stalling so much, anyways?"

Because I'm totally tired out after spending the whole night talking with a sappy bloodsucker. Wow, that sounds disgusting. So why did I enjoy it so much?

Dress now, I thought impatiently, as I heard Seth pace around in the kitchen downstairs. Think later.

I pulled on the top Mum had picked out for me, and dabbed on some lip gloss and mascara. Hey, a girl has to have some glamour once in a while. Especially me. Glamour is pretty overdue for me, what with running around with a bunch of huge wolves-slash-boys Cupid tried target practice on.

Are you sure it's not because he'll be there?

I hate those voices on the back of my mind. They use really inconvenient times to pipe up. Like now, for an example. I'm in a hurry, for crap's sakes.

Looks like someone wants to avoid the question.

Yeah, right. You wish, Creepy Voice At The Back Of Mind.

Wow, I'm really losing it.

*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*(*)*

"Yo, Seth. Met any cute girls lately that I might have to warn off?" I said, cheerily, as we neared the border. Yeah, you can stop staring now. So what if I'm in a good mood? Jeez, can't I take a break from the angst every now and then?

He, much to my surprise, went red. I mean, he went so red that the red was visible even on his dark skin. "Actually, there is someone……."

I raised my eyebrows. Little Sethy had a crush? Wow, the world really was changing fast. "What's her name?"

He gave me a half-suspicious look, like he wasn't completely sure of his oh-so-protective older sister. I'm hurt. "It's Hayley." He pronounced it weird, kind of breaking it up to two syllables. I blinked. I could tell a lot from just that. "Wow, bro, you really like her."

He nodded, still that unhappy red. I frowned again. "Not an imprint, right?"

"Nah." He probably wouldn't tell me even if he had, given my Imprinting is only for Pathetic Losers campaign. "Just, you know, high school stuff."

I frowned again. More flashbacks. "Take care, okay?"

The car swerved, and he cursed and regained control. "Leah just said that? To me?" he asked the world in general. I rolled my eyes. Younger brothers are such drama queens.

"Take care of her was what I meant." I added, just in case he got the wrong signal and thought it was bonding time. No thank you. "And no imprinting, okay?" I said as the familiar landscapes of Forks whizzed past us. Soon, the surroundings got greener, and we were near the outskirts.

The Cullen house is nothing short of imposing. I mean, I've seen it up close plenty, hat with the whole rebel-pack thing we had going on within the regime of the pathetic lovebird, Bella the 'Betrayer' with a capital B.

I clenched my fists and hoped heartily that she found out that I was the one who had started calling her spawn Nessie. I mean, what living/non-living being would name her kid Renesmee? Hadn't she heard of the concept of making fun of names? The spawn was likely to be called weird names for the rest of her life if not for my interference. So, once you really think about it, I had done her a favor.

Dammit! I had done her a favor.

My good mood instantly evaporated. God, I hated that leech. She's such a hypocrite, you know? First, we have to treat her like she's the Second Coming, and then she takes off with another weirdo spawn as soon as her spawn reads a bit of Tennyson. I mean, geez, woman. At least you could tell that lovesucker of yours that you were going. I mean, didn't she think that he'd been through enough for her?

Vampires suck. Only rational conclusion to be drawn from this incident. They seriously, seriously suck.

"Thank God you guys came." Embry was striding across the lawn towards us. Wow, things change so quickly. I never thought there would dawn a day where Embry Call was glad to see me. "Things are getting completely out of control with Jake and Quil and Nessie and Claire. I think Edward's enjoying watching my thoughts, the evil bastard."

Seth laughed, and my heart leapt. My thoughts were running along the track of 'yay, he's here' and it was annoying. Thank God I have that mental barrier thing.

You see, when I started hanging with Edward, I found that I could block my thoughts from him when I really tried. He described it as the opposite of She Who Shall Not Be Named's talent, that my shield was manual when hers was automatic.

My manual shield was activating as the three of us strode into the Cullen household, ready to take on the Gathering of the Imprints.

"Leeaah!!!!" Claire was coming towards me via Quil. She was giggling like mad, and my 'brother' occasionally swerved and nearly hit various items of furniture on purpose. She held on to his short hair tightly. "Me and Qwil are having a tea party!"

Heaven above. "And is Jake and Ness with you?" I had my fingers crossed for a negative answer, but hope never works, and she nodded vigorously.

"Jakey made a cake with icing!" She squealed, and her noble steed piped up, "And what color was the icing, Claire-bear?"

"PINK!!!!" She screamed with her tiny lungs, and he grinned like she had found the cure for cancer. Imprinting is so gross.

It also can break hearts pretty easy.

Never underestimate imprinting. You never know when it'll blow up in your face.

"Why don't we all adjourn to the living room to enjoy the cake our manly Alpha made?"

I stiffened. Every single one of my senses were going haywire. I knew that voice, and there was only one in the world like it. Nothing else could be that deep, and musical at the same time.

I turned around, and Edward Cullen's perfect, honey-gold eyes met mine in a secret promise.

I cleared my throat as my brothers shuffled obligingly. "Hello, Edward." My voice sounded quiet, and I closed my eyes. The sight of his utter perfection gave me sensory overload.

When I opened them, he was standing in front of me, the slight breeze catching his bronze hair. "Leah. Good to see you again."

I inhaled deeply. The sickly-sweet stench wasn't over-powering anymore. It was just pleasant. "How-how's Nessie?" I managed as we walked towards the living room. This is beyond pathetic. The guy shows up and I go weak-kneed? Shame on you, Leah.

He gave me a slightly crooked smile, and I tried to breathe evenly. "Actually, Jacob would be the best person to ask."

I nodded. "How's the music, then?"

He laughed, a uniquely beautiful sound that was extremely addictive. "It's fine. I'm planning on wrenching Nessie away from Jake long enough to teach her."

I nodded again, as we entered the living room. The imprint-ers and imprint-ees looked up briefly. "Hi guys." I said, grinning at the Spawn. The kid wasn't all bad, really.

We sat down for the tea party, and Edward's eyes met mine again, and we smiled.

We were adapting to our new lives, both of us.

A/N: Okay, this chapter really sucks, but review anyway. I normally update once a week, but I was stuck with this. Thanks for all the encouragement and support already given. So, I hope all of you are satisfied thus far, and PLEEEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!