A/N This chapter has Jacob's pack talking while in werewolf form. To make it easier to understand who says what (I don't know about you but I got bloody confused in Breaking Dawn) they all have different fonts.
Leah: Normal.
Jacob: Italics.
Seth: Bold italics
Embry: Bold.
Quil: Underlined
LEAH!
Hey little bro.
Where have you been? Mom's really pissed at you. She wants you to call. Why have you been human?
Seth, shut up. Hey Leah.
Hey Embry.
Hi!
Hi.
Quil? Jake? Why are you all on patrol?
There's some leech wandering up and down, and we're trying to kill it.
Oh, ok. I thought there was something wrong.
Nope.
No.
Where are you?
In this town, near Seattle, I…actually don't know the name. Anyway I've got a place to stay. I'll drive up to the rez soon, I need my stuff.
No way! Your not actually leaving are you?
Yes.
But why? Mom and Charlie's wedding is soon. You've gotta there for that!
Well, I'll use this fantastic invention called a car and drive up, stupid.
Did you hear about Jared and Kim?
They're engaged.
Great.
Will you come back for their wedding?
Yeah. Fine. Whatever.
Weddings can be your thing Leah.
Shut up Seth.
What about Sam and Emily?
What about them?
Their wedding. You're bridesmaid.
Yeah, yeah, yeah I'll be there. Look I have to go. If Joel finds out I'm gone…
Who's Joel?
Joel?
Joel? What kind of a crap name is that?
What kind of a crap name is Quil?
Whoa! Scent!
Everyone to Embry! NOW!
Lets get this parasite!
I'm going now then. Seth, tell Mom I'll call tomorrow.
Yep, yep. See you soon Leah.
Bye.
See ya!
Bye!
It's a relief to phase back, to not have Seth or Quil wittering away, or Jacob or Embry being all nice, and understanding. I pull the pyjamas back on and set off back to the house.
I sleep easily and deeply, dreamlessly for once. When I wake it's nearly half 10. I have slept in for months. I stretch and yawn, then look around my room. There's a neat pile of clothes on a chair with a note.
Hey Leah,
These are for you. Lizzie put them together before she went to school. I go to work at 12 and finish at 8. This is just in case I'm gone when you wake up.
Joel.
The pile includes jeans, a few t-shirts, a hoody and underwear. I hastily dress and trip downstairs. Joel is in the living room watching some comedy. I stand silently in the doorway for a moment and watch him. I wish I wish I wish I could just make myself imprint on him. He's got an infectious laugh, and it makes me smile. The feeling is unfamiliar. I don't smile much anymore.
I clear my throat and Joel jumps.
"Oh, hey Leah." He stands. "Feeling better?"
"Yeah, thanks."
"Breakfast?"
"Please."
He leads me to the kitchen and whips up the best cooked breakfast I have ever eaten.
"You should be a chef, you make amazing food."
He laughs. "I want to be. I start a course soon. Until then, I'm stuck serving Big Macs."
"This is even better than my Mom's." I tell him.
Mom. I need to ring her later. I must remember.
I watch TV with Joel for a bit, curled up in an armchair. We laugh at the same jokes; wrinkle our noses at the same crap music. I may not have imprinted, but I think I've made a friend.
When he stands to leave I feel irrationally disappointed.
"Joel, do you mind if I ring my mom?"
"S'Fine. Lizzie'll be back about half four, probably with one of her giggling friends, so if you want privacy ring before then." He grins and goes, before popping his head back in. "Help yourself to any food."
I wait ten minutes for Joel to go. Then I wait twenty minutes more. Eventually I sigh. I can't wait any longer. I switch the TV off and decided to dial Mom. I stab in the numbers. She picks up after two rings.
"Leah?"
"Hey Mom."
"Finally! I've been waiting since last night!"
She prattles on and I pretend to listen. She's been worried. Charlie's been worried. Billy's been worried. Whatever. She was scared the bloodsucker around La Push and Forks had got me.
"Lee, when will you be home?"
"I'll be up in a few days to pick my stuff up."
Silence.
"Mom?"
"Are you staying there?"
"Yeah I think so. Start to have a life, you know?"
More silence.
"Mom? I have to do this."
"I know you do honey."
Honey? Mom never calls me that. She's saying goodbye.
"I'll see you soon."
I love you. I can't say that anymore. To anyone.
"Bye, Leah."
I end the call and hopefully with it, the end of my life in La Push.