This one actually hurt me quite a lot to write. To my shame, I realise now that I have never really thought much about Leah Clearwater. So I decided that she deserved a drabbleI was trying to work out an appropriate time-scale for this all to be happening, and decided that it must have been during the lost months. (October, November, December, January) It seemed sort of appropriate for it to be here, I suppose.

WARNING: This is angsty, and it has swearing in it. This fic is rated 'T', so I can get away with that. It's just to let you know. I don't want to offend anyone.

Date: 8th November

Character: Leah Clearwater

Stimulus Word: Cynic

Leah Clearwater used to believe in fairytales.

Even long after she had stopped reading them at night before she fell asleep, she was firm in her belief that somewhere, her Prince Charming waited for her.

When she met Sam Uley, it felt like all her fantasies were real. Here was the handsome Prince, come to whisk her away on horseback (or at least in his battered truck). He was perfect.

It seemed right that he felt exactly the same way about her. Meant to be.

He occupied her dreams, her every waking thought. She loved him. And he said that he loved her. She had imagined marrying him, someday—she'd like that. Leah was one of those girls who had spent hours, as a little girl, planning her own wedding. Sam fit right in.

That all changed when Emily came to stay.

Leah had introduced them, wanting to be polite, and then…and then…

And then her fairytale had dissolved. Like the crap it truly was. It was like her fluffy, happy view of the world had finally changed, and suddenly, she was in the real world. A world of betrayal, and heartbreak, and cynical hatred.

The harsh reality, where there was no such thing as true love. It was another of those stories. Another fairytale that never would come true.

She burned her cherished collection of stories, ones that she had had since a child. She hardened her heart and her exterior, became the ice queen. Inside, she thought she knew what it might be like to be an ugly sister. An ugly fucking sister.

Abandoned; Lost; Hardened; Cruel; Cynical.

Oh--I'm still looking for Shakespeare quotes. I have a few good ones which I'm working with, but are there any more? They would be appreciated. Thanks!!