A/N: This chapter is dedicated to Rob Thomas, my rival in dreaming.
Truth: My OS crashed, and erased all my work with it.
Lie: That's why I didn't update.

Disclaimer: I refuse to claim ownership of a book that gave birth to a sappy character like Bella Swan.

CHAPTER ELEVEN- The long-ago you and me part I

And she only sleeps when it's raining
And she screams and her voice is straining
Says the rain's gonna wash away I believe in
-3 am –Rob Thomas/Matchbox twenty

Day one

"He's gone, you know that, right?"

I swiveled around on my stool reluctantly. "Well, you're certainly the last person I expected." I said coolly, smiling reassuringly at Dante, whose eyebrows were raised. "And since I'm in a generous mood, I'll let you think it's a pleasant surprise."

Bella Swan bit her rose-petal-like bottom lip in an expression that would have cast her as any clueless heroine in a chick-flick. "Edward." She said, at last, apparently deciding to ignore me. "He left. And he's not coming back."

I swirled my complimentary glass of champagne thoughtfully. "And you're telling me this, why? I already have enough reasons to party, as you can see. Maybe you could save it for a rainy day?"

Her eyes were growing colder, harder. "Save the crap, Leah. We know what went on with you and him." There was a hint of vulnerability in her quivering mouth, which she made no attempt to mask.

I smiled brightly. "Oh wow. Now that you mention it, I remember getting married and him whisking me away into the sunset."

"This isn't funny!" she burst out, and a few people turned to look at the drop-dead-gorgeous chick in the trailing midnight blue gown. Yeah, these vamps sure knew how to dress for the occasion. "Leah, I gave that guy up so you could be with him!"

I leaned back in my seat, trying to control my expression. "Actually, you ran away because you couldn't stand perfection."

"Maybe." She shrugged. "Maybe I just wanted to be with someone who didn't prefer to be so far away, so detached."

"Maybe you should have fought for him." I pointed out, still struggling to keep my outwardly calm aura.

"Maybe I would have lost anyway."

"Maybe she's perfect." Her voice was wistful.

His wedding ring, which she had been examining, was reflected in his eyes when he replied, with a smile, "Maybe you are."

"I'm perfectly lonely." She corrected him. "Because nothing's as close as it used to be."

"There isn't a map, you know." His words were thoughtful, and the shadows cast by the clouds moved to illuminate his face. "And it won't come to your doorstep. You have to fight for it, even though it seems like all you do is lose, you have to keep fighting."

Day two

"Ready to talk about the Unvisitation?"

Dante slumped on the chair opposite, his black hair flopping into his eyes. I gave him an innocent look.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

He shook his head. "Come on, Lee. Who was that girl?"

"What girl?"

"The girl everyone except for you remembers talking to you yesterday."

"Oh." I pretended to remember. "Just a jealous wife."

"Look beyond the sky, maybe you'll catch a glimpse of something that isn't so far away."

She laughed, her silver eyes sparkling. "Know what, buddy? It's 3 am. And I'm staying up with a vampire to talk about the weather report."

"Not just any vampire." His jaw was set. "A married one."

Day three

Leah, wake up.

No, I complained. No, I am not waking up.

Come on, Leah. I'm serious. You have to wake up.

NO.

Leah, WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, I'm waking up, already, I grumbled. And since when didn't you know better than to interrupt my beauty sleep?

Since this got serious.

What got serious?

You'll see.

I swore mentally. Stupid voice in head. Stupid urge to obey said voice.

I fumbled around for my phone, which had made the annoying buzzing noise that initially woke me up. Sure enough, it had lighted up and the screen told me that I had one new message. I groaned, and checked what it was as I stumbled out of my messy bed.

Then I groaned even louder. "Dante!"

That son of a bitch. He woke me up by texting to tell me…………….nothing.

Jesus.

I began searching for his name in my phonebook, making a mental list of all the names I could call him. Just before I found his name (next to a photo of him in full-Dante-the-ladies'-man mode, blue eyes sparkling, black hair untidy, the works) I glanced at the time. 5:28 am.

I changed my mind. I would just go over and strangle him. Tell me, who wakes other people up at 5:28 am?

But it turned out I had to go over anyway, since he wasn't picking up his phone. If I hadn't been so royally pissed at him, I doubt I would have bothered.

And if I hadn't been insisting that if you don't go, I'll complain your eardrums off.

Yeah, that too.

I began sneaking downstairs, keeping a wary ear out for the youngest Clearwater. It was harder to get past Seth than Mum, since he has the ultra-sensitive wolfy hearing. Trust me, I'm speaking from experience here. I've nearly been caught sneaking out of the house for inexplicable reasons (my stomach twisted uncomfortably at that) by my brother.

Anyway, the point is, I got out, and walked towards Dante's house, completely unaffected by the cold that had made the raindrops freeze into tear-like icicles. I glared at the pot plants he was neglecting due to sheer carelessness, and walked in.

Time and time again, I've told the bugger to lock his door, that though this place wasn't exactly the epitome of gang activity, it was still dangerous, but he never listened. Now, finally it seemed like he had paid the price.

My eyes widened in horror as I took in the upturned furniture, ripped books, and slashes on the wallpaper.

I knew the cause after inhaling just once.

Vampires.

A/N: Expect your inboxes flooded with moving pleadings to read this. *wink* God, I missed this story. The solution to the annoying mess I got myself into presented itself to me when I was doing an impersonation of a chipmunk with my best friend.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!