A/N: Okay, so I might have made a few changes in the last chappie, which, thanks to my being half-drunk the day I uploaded it, sucked in many different levels. If you can't be bothered checking out the changes, it basically says that Edward whispers Leah's name before he kisses her. This chappie is special, 'coz the guy to whom I dedicated this to, namely my bro, turned 21 a few weeks back. Love ya, bro.

Disclaimer: Me: Yaaay!!!!!! I own Edward!!!!!!!!!!

Edward:*turns on velvet voice* Don't think so, love.

Me: *goes starry eyed* did you just call me love? *faints*

Edward: *chuckles evilly*

CHAPTER EIGHT- Second best

Comparisons are easily done
Once you've had a taste of perfection
Like an apple hanging from a tree
I picked the ripest one
I still got the seed

-Katy Perry -Thinking of you

"Leeeeaaaaah!!!!!!!"

An odd feeling of déjà vu crept over me when the first thing I heard this morning was Seth's shrill voice screaming my name.

"IF YOU WANNA GET A RIDE OFF ME, YOU'D BETTER GET YOUR BUTT OUTTA THE BED RIGHT NOW!!!!!!"

Who knew that little brothers could get PMS-y?

I decided not to ask, and dragged myself out of my messy bed instead. My legs felt like lead, and I was sure I looked like crap. The lack of sleep was getting to me, time-hardened she-wolf that I am. I glanced uninterestedly at my mirror. Yep, suspicion confirmed: I did look like crap. I attempted patting down my hair, which was, of course, a losing battle. I cursed the whole of shape shifter-kind as I stumbled into the bathtub. Sure, at first, it was cool, but this whole supernatural lifestyle I could deal being without.

The water of the tub splashed over the edge as I swirled circles with my fingers. I touched some solitary drops on my skin, but the feeling that this was all just a bad dream didn't waver. Even as I raised myself out of the water and dried myself, I couldn't accept that this was reality.

How could it be? I mean, my life was never perfect, but the last few months hadn't sucked as badly as they could have. Hell, they had been great. I'd had fun, I'd come the closest I'd ever come to being a happy, normal person.

Shows how much the mere presence of one person could change another's whole life.

I mean, it's not as if Bella did anything to me. It was just her existence that was messing with me.

It was annoying, and worst of all, it made me feel totally insignificant.

"Who's Mum talking to?" I asked Seth after I heard the sound of Mum's laughter came through the windows as I poured cereal into a bowl.

"No one. The new guy." He said, contradicting himself. He seemed pretty impatient to go. "Come on, hurry up."

"Alright, already. I grumbled. We both left the house, slamming the door behind us. I caught a glimpse of a tall figure talking to my mother before I got in the car. I really needed some supplies, seeing how I was stuck alone at home. Seth had promised to drop me off in town.

"Leah?" Seth's voice was quiet after we'd both scrambled into his car. "Leah, what happened yesterday?"

My expression turned blank. "Where were you?"

He shook his head. "You don't remember Mum telling us to come over to Charlie's place after coming back from the Cullen's house?"

I was confused. "She said that? When?"

He gestured impatiently as he revved the engine and set off. "Never mind. Just tell me what happened." His voice went even lower. "Is it true? Did she really come back?"

I crossed my arms. "Sure did." I stared out of the window. The drizzle made it hard to see outside, but I wasn't paying attention anyway. "She says that there's this creepy-ass hunter after them. Not a tracker, or a twisted vamp, but a scary hunter." My voice dripped with sarcasm. "According to her, he or she is hunting down half-breeds like her precious love Spawn."

Seth looked confused. "Ness?"

I snorted. Must be nice to live in Seth's little world, I thought for the millionth time. Everything seems to be as they should be over there. "No, you dumb nut. Nahuel."

Actually, I felt sorry for that stupid dork. Nahuel, I mean, not Seth. He seems to think that Bella wouldn't just squash him underfoot like she has done to so many others around here.

Take it from someone who knows, Nahuel, my man; Bella Swan was major bad news.

"Oh." He turned to the parking lot of the CD store. "So, what did Jake say? What did Edward say?"

I shrugged. "They both basically welcomed her back with open arms."

He caught my tone, and gave me a warning look as I opened my door. "Leah, don't try to pick a fight with Jake.'

"You think he did the right thing?" I asked, incredulously.

"At that time, maybe he didn't have a choice, you know?" He got that weary, mature look that hadn't been there before he had the added burden of being a shape shifter.

I shrugged just to get him off my back. "Whatever. See you later."

With that, I scrambled out of the car and slammed the door before he could yell out a cliché at me.

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

"Big Disturbed fan?"

I looked up, startled, from the Disturbed CD I was holding to meet a pair of impossibly blue eyes. "Excuse me?"

It was a guy, around my age. Really hot, too. I mean, I don't normally like many guys, but this one was……….handsome. Without being too pretty.

"I was asking whether you were a Disturbed fan." He said, his eyes twinkling. "Because you've been staring at that album for like fifteen minutes."

I was taken aback. "Whoa, the whole stalker vibe doesn't make it too likely that I'll answer your question."

Even as I said it, I kind of knew he wasn't that weird. But you never know, and it never, ever hurt to be careful.

The doubt evaporated even more when he laughed. It was a nice laugh. Friendly, and warm. "Yeah, sorry about that. Slight personality malfunction. The thing is, you looked familiar. Do I know you from somewhere, by any chance?"

I raised my eyebrows. "Like that excuse is gonna work, stalker." But I was grinning when I said it, so he didn't take it too seriously. "No, I don't think I've seen you anywhere before."

"My, my, aren't we paranoid." He shook his head, smiling. He stuck out a hand. "Introduce yourself first, ask questions later. My name's Dante."

I shook his hand. "Leah."

His brow furrowed. "Clearwater?"

I nodded, surprised. "Did I just win the lottery?"

He laughed, and shook his head. "Better. Your mum told me about you. Guess I'm your new neighbor." He shook his head in disbelief. "Now that's what I call coincidence."

"That's what we here in the rez call living in a tiny town." I informed him. "Around here, coincidence is run down by pure fact."

A corner of his mouth went up. "So, there are a lot of intimidating and huge guys around here for such a small town, I noticed."

I knew it! I knew there was something wrong with this guy. If the boys scare him, no way in hell was he straight. "So you swing that way?"

He laughed exasperatedly. "No, Leah. I'm straight, but I admit that the huge eighteen-year-old that threatened me not to even dare to look at this toddler this morning was just a bit scary. Considering the fact that the toddler was, to the true meaning of the word, a four-year-old."

I laughed. Wow, this guy managed to make me laugh more than I've laughed the whole past week within ten minutes. "That was probably Quil. He's, uh, kind of protective."

"Of kids?"

"Of one kid in particular." I said, even though I would have liked to make Quil sound like a total freak to the new guy. "Claire. Claire's special to all of us in La Push."

"Reservation mascot?"

I laughed again, and was annoyed. Who was I, a ditzy twelve-year-old girl at a Jonas Brothers concert? Because I sure was acting like one.

But when you laugh, it's easier to forget.

I bit my lip, and Dante noticed. "Anything wrong?"

No need to let the cute, funny guy know my abrupt mood swings. "Uh, it's nothing." I lied.

He seemed to notice that I wasn't being truthful. "Oh, come on. I thought we were over the I-think-you're-a-stalker phase."

"I just realized that I'll have to walk home in the rain." I made up quickly. "But it's not that huge a deal. I'm used to the rain."

"But is that a reason to turn down a lift from your neighbor, who just might be a stalker?" His eyes were twinkling like crazy.

"Do you want me to come, or not?" I asked, half-laughing.

He shrugged. "Just letting you know where you stood."

"I'm coming." I decided. What was the worst thing that could happen? I could turn into a wolf, for crying out loud. That should at least have the perk of letting me chill when a stranger offered a ride home. Besides, Dante wasn't a stranger. Not exactly.

But he's Dante. Not him.

A/N: Me: Pleeease review, even though Edward didn't put up an appearance today. *Pouts*

Dante: *looks around wildly* who's Edward???????

Edward: *looks disgusted* you may be in this chapter, but did you honestly think that you're the hero in this fic?

Me: *Clears throat* uh, he IS kinda hot.

Edward: *looks hot*

Me: *feels like a ditzy twelve year old at a Jonas Brothers concert* okay, you win. You're the hottest f them all. *faints when Edward winks*

Edward and Dante: That got rid of her. Whew.