AN: Much apologies for the delay. I hate leaving you guys in the dark like this, and the sad thing is it will probably take another week before I can update again, which will leave you in the same position once more. Hope you don't hate me too much, and that it doesn't have you guys not enjoying this chapter. Thank you to my reviewers. This is all for you guys.

Chapter 11. One Of Those People

"At least there isn't any passionate love affair that you can see," Jay remarked, crossing her legs and tossing back her head, her attitude more suited for some Hollywood diva than the rural city of New Albany. "I mean, they could be down there kissing… all over each other. I mean, besides us and them, there's no one else here."

"You don't have to be passionate in public for there to be love," Will could not conceal his sadness. "He is resting his head on her shoulder and they are sitting there perfectly content. I've never seen Leah so tender. Caught in such a situation. When she was with other guys… when she was with me… she was all fire."

"Thanks to me," Jay laughed. "I remember her running over to me during a party crying, demanding we leave because she had made out with some guy and felt so guilty. I don't think she felt any remorse after that really, although I doubt she did any more than that. Leah wasn't one of those girls men could take to bed casually. She has her morals."

"And you?"

"I tried to have morals, and it tore me up. It's better having no restrictions."

"A sense of right and wrong?"

"Well, there are laws." Jay grinned. "I'm not that dense, of course. But in all honesty, can you picture me married? I'm bound to be some spinster all my life, so I might as well pounce upon the opportunity for temporary love before even that walks out of the door."

"That's not true, Jay."

"Come on, Will. Let's be candid. Have I ever had a relationship that lasted more than a week or two?"

"That's because you always break up with them."

"Well, maybe I would keep them if they didn't keep me on edge all the time."

"What, scared of a little commitment?" Will teased.

"Not at all," Jay answered confidently. "More like I get what I want and then get rid of him before he gets rid of me first. And now… the passion will come."

"I don't think so," Will shook his head when they watched Ethan help Leah up. "Just being a gentleman."

"But then they'll come back together…"

"Leah's not that kind of girl."

"None of us know what kind of girl Leah is."

"Damn rain," Jay frowned when a few drops escaped through the leaves of the trees.

"I want to hate him," Will lowered his head, his fingers digging into his hair. "But he's good for her. I can tell. Giving her his jacket to shield her from the rain. Holding her in a way that not many men would if given the opportunity to spend time with someone like Leah. I don't know how he can resist. How he can…"

"God he's perfect!"

Jay moaned, observing Ethan pick up a dandelion and hand it to Leah, who decided to blow it away. All the particles headed towards Ethan, and Leah tossed her head back in laughter, happier than either two people on the bench had ever seen her.

"I've never seen her smile like that before."

"Will any guy ever go out and pick me a dandelion?" Jay pouted. "It's like some little kid cliché, a boy giving a girl a weed, and yet it is sweet in its own way."

"I could grab you one, if you'd like." Will suggested, eyeing a few that rested beneath the bench.

"It's from you, Will, and you don't count." Jay stood up now. "Okay, I think I'm going to go. Watching these two together is making me realize how alone I really am, and I think I'll go out and make myself so not alone."

"Okay."

"You going to come along?"

"No," Will shook his head. "I think I'm going to sit here for awhile. Think… you know?"

"Brooding," Jay gave him the thumbs-up. "Gotcha."

Returning to the house, Ethan had suggested that he go and surprise her with a home-cooked meal, so Leah had decided to spend her time outside, resting on Mrs. Hendrickson's patio set, basking in the wilderness that surrounded her. Tall oaks with leaves that fall had painted gold and bronze for the time being, contrasted with the dark pine needles. So different from the artificial sounds of the city, polluted with car exhaust and smoke.

"Hey there," a little girl had turned the corner of Mrs. Hendrickson's house, pigtails swinging in the faint breeze. "Whatcha doing?"

"My friend wanted to cook a surprise dinner and I'm out here waiting for him," Leah answered, smiling when the girl sat down opposite of her on the furniture, completely comfortable conversing with a stranger. "What are you doing out here? Where are your parents?"

"Oh, I'm a big girl now and my parents let me go outside alone to play." she explained proudly. "I wanted to go for a walk. I was just on my way home."

"I see," Leah felt a warmth within her, talking to this little girl. "What's your name?"

"Abigail," she stuck out her tongue. "But I don't like that name. Everyone calls me Abby. My brother calls me Abs."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I love my brother. He's the greatest."

"I don't have any brothers or sisters. I'm the only child."

"But that's boring!" she exclaimed. "Who plays with you? And keeps you company? And listens to the rain while drinking hot chocolate with you? But the chocolate has to have little marshmallows."

"I live off of hot chocolate nowadays."

"Only at night or when it's cold," she replied. "But why don't you have a brother or sister? Don't you get lonely?"

"I guess, but there are other people there that are just as close as any sibling."

"Like your friend?"

"Yes," Leah smiled. "My friend is one of those people."

"My brother can't cook," she told Leah. "But he likes making me cereal."

"So you are a cereal kid?"

"Yup," she beamed. "But my mommy likes me eating a bigger breakfast."

"It's the most important meal of the day, you know."

"She tells me that!"

"Leah!" Ethan's holler had Leah standing up and turning around to face the screen. "Dinner is ready when you are."

"Oh, there's Ethan. I'm sure he would love to meet you." Leah walked to the door and opened it. "Ethan, we have a little company tonight."

"Always ready to welcome company," Ethan emerged from the door. "Leah… what company?"

Now facing the furniture Leah had sat at less than a minute ago, conversing with the little girl, she found no traces of any other person sitting there. Perplexity filled up Leah at this sight, and Ethan noticed how she caught her breath at the sight.

"She might be in a rush to go home."

"Nonsense… there is no way she could have left that fast. I had my back turned for only a brief moment." Leah moved to the seat the girl was seated in and pressed a hand to the cushion. "I swear to you, Ethan, I had company here on the patio while I was waiting. She was the sweetest little girl."

"I would never doubt you, Leah." Ethan rested a hand on her shoulder, as his other skimmed hers on the cushion. "But the chair is cold as can be."