fourteen: returned

Wolf-Leah cowered under the scratchy blanket on the lumpy mattress, emitting low whimpers. She tried to breathe, to calm down enough to phase back. Her long legs and arms hung off the tiny bed uncomfortably, and she couldn't get her position right no matter how much she shifted. Her nose and muzzle weren't hidden under the blanket, and all the familiar scents of her high-rise in downtown met it. Her beady black eyes stared out at the tiny room, seeing the shreds of her pink t-shirt and gray denim skinnies. Chunks of foam that used to be flip-flops littered what was once her outfit, dotting it like sprinkles on an ice cream sundae.

When her intercom buzzed, Leah jumped. Suddenly able to phase, Leah shimmered into her human form and tore through her drawers, looking for acceptable clothing. She ended up in an oversized t-shirt that she had gotten from her dad the birthday before he died that read "Fishing Kicks Bass" and light blue jeans. She stabbed the button, impatiently sighing, "What?"

"Jacob," reported the concierge.

Leah first wondered why Jacob was showing up. He could have at least called or something, to spare her the mad rush to get human. Then she remembered, vaguely, calling him before she'd lost control and phased. She remembered what she'd said now: "Jake, it's me...help." She exhaled in relief. "Send him up."

Thirty seconds later, Jacob was at the door. He eyed her t-shirt, raising an eyebrow. "'Fishing Kicks Bass'?" he read incredulously.

"Shut up," Leah snapped. Jacob looked hurt. "Sorry. That was uncalled for. I'm just feeling a little pissy is all," she hastily apologized. Jacob's eyes changed from wounded to curious.

"Why are you pissy?" he asked. "You were fine this morning when I called. Then, that message you left me...well, it scared me shitless, Leah."

As she bit down on her lip in contemplation, Leah felt kind of like Keenan. Leah remembered the way he'd been screwing with his lip ring as he watched her. Should she tell Jake? She decided not to leave anything out; he was her best friend, after all. "Well, I was fine this morning, but then I decided to find Keenan, which totally backfired on me. I saw him in Starbucks and he saw me and then when I looked at him I couldn't look away and then when I did all I did was run..." Leah choked off. "This afternoon," she continued, "I'd just made it home. I called you and then when you didn't pick up, I left you a message, hung up, and then lost control and phased. I've been a wolf until you got here."

"Oh, Lee-lee," Jacob sympathized, his eyes darting from Leah's face to the shreds of her clothes, then back again. The old Leah probably would have flinched at the old nickname Sam had given her years ago, but the nail bed Sam had once been in her life had turned into a goose down pillow, thanks to the power of the imprint. If Keenan ever did something like that to her, it would be more than a nail bed: it would be a knife to her heart.

Hesitantly, Jacob came closer and wrapped his arms around Leah's back. One tear trickled down her cheek, and she brushed it away fiercely. "I just want to find him and talk to him this time. No chickening out," Leah mumbled.

"I know," Jacob whispered soothingly, rubbing Leah's back in a comforting, familiar way. "I know."

-----

If I were Leah, where would I be?

Keenan knew it was a stupid question. He knew it was stupid that he was so infatuated with Leah Clearwater, but yet, he couldn't stop thinking about her. There was so much in his life he just couldn't deal with right now. And he really, really needed a beer.

At the moment, Keenan was sitting on a bus, taking him away from the center of Seattle and back to the suburbs. He was going to tackle one thing on his list at least, and was determined to make up with Tori. If everything worked out, he'd be back in Tori's apartment in no time. Then he could feed her an apology and get back in her good graces soon enough. With a roof over his head, he could figure out what he was going to do about everything.

Impatiently, Keenan yanked the stop rope and the bus skidded to a halt at the corner of the street Tori's apartment was on. He made sure he had both the bouquet of red roses, her favorite flower, and the gold-and-red box of dark chocolates before hopping out of the crowded bus. The trek from the stop to the complex was short, and Keenan was at apartment number thirty-one in no time. Cautiously, he knocked three times, each a short, loud rap. The door swung open.

"Keenan?" Tori asked, her voice aghast. Keenan gave his (ex?) girlfriend the once-over. She had on a black denim miniskirt, the same one she'd worn yesterday, worn over leather leggings. He noticed she had on his royal blue hoodie over her gray Slinky t-shirt. Her long hair was pulled over one shoulder and tied into a loose ponytail. Her blue eyes were only the smallest bit bloodshot—from what, Keenan had no clue—and were expertly lined in her signature cat-eyes style.

"Hey, Tori." Keenan shifted awkwardly from foot to foot. He presented her first with the bouquet, then the box. She took them in her arms, eyeing Keenan with curious wariness. "Um, I just came to say that I was sorry. For being a jackass and kind of ruining last night."

"You think you're the jackass?" asked Tori, surprised. "I'm the one who was a jackass. I totally overreacted about yesterday. I guess I kind of asked for it. I'm the one who asked you to tell me what you were thinking. And so what if you were thinking about other girls? I'm no Megan Fox, so I suppose you have the right..." Tori trailed off, an obvious hint. Keenan knew what she was getting at and decided to give her what she was looking for.

"Megan Fox has nothing on you, babe," he whispered seductively. He looked down at her with an alluring half-smile on his lips. "Can I come in?"

hey ppl! just wanted to tell you that all chapters from here on out will be split between Leah and Keenan. review! and thanks for all the other reviews. read my other fics and enter my contest and vote in my poll pleaseee!