We set off for home pretty early the next day. I've made Seth promise to ring me everyday. I'm worried that without Mom here for the next week the kid will just run wild. Literally. I'm not sure Billy is the best person to watch over Seth, but whatever.

Both Lizzie and Sharon are out when we get back and Joel has to dash off to work. I have a yoga class in an hour or so, but I can't really be bothered to go to be honest. I pull some sneakers on and go for a walk.

I browse through the shops, but I've left my purse at home. When I come out of one I see a very sexy dark haired guy on a motorbike. Whoa, he's hot. His hair and eyes are similar to Sam I can't help but notice.

I try to stay calm as he saunters over to me with a smile-actually more of a smirk if I'm being truthful- and stops in front of me.

"Hey, I'm Toby." God he has a sexy voice. Kind of...gravelly.

"I'm Leah." Stop drooling! What are you, fifteen?

"You from round here?" he says, indicating at the town.

"Me?" Of course. Who else would he mean, Bigfoot? "No. I'm from La Push, further north, but I moved here. I've been here about a month." I'm babbling. Shut up shut up, come on quit while you're ahead.

"A newcomer like me."

"Not quite as new as you." I reply with a smile.

"Maybe you could show me around then, if you're not such a newcomer."

"Yeah, maybe." And maybe you're a complete player.

"How about tonight?"

Wait. What? Did this guy just ask me on a date?

"Sorry, what?"

He laughs. "Would you like to go out for dinner tonight?"

Is this for freaking real? I've only just met him! This is bizarre...

"Sure. 8?" I cannot believe I just said that. I feel like I'm in a film, or a story or something.

"I'll see you here then." He says. "Bye for now...Leah."

I want to pinch myself, but Toby's getting on his bike and he might think I'm crazy. Instead I float through the rest of the day. Lizzie helps me to pick an outfit and Joel teases me about the stupid smile on my face.

At five to eight I arrive at our meeting place. I'm in a little pink dress and I've straightened my hair, and taken much more care over my make up too.

8 o'clock. Time for the fun to start.

10 past. God, I hope he hurries up.

20 past. Where the hell is he?

Half past. If I ever see Toby again I'm going to kick his ass.

20 to. Right. I'm going home. And I am going to get that bastard back. Stupid manwhore. If I see him again I'm going to kick him in the-well he's not going to like it, I can tell you that right now.

I storm home, practically punch the door open and slam it shut so hard it nearly comes off the hinges.

"Leah?" Joel comes out of the sitting room, looking surprised. "What are you doing back so early?"

I bite my lip and fight the urge to break something. Preferably Toby's leg.

"Did he try something?" Joel's getting protective.

"Try something? TRY SOMETHING? HE WASN'T THERE!" I shriek. "The bastard STOOD ME UP!" I clench my fists and battle for self control. I cannot phase here.

"I'll be in my room!" I yell and run up as quick as I can. I do some yoga positions and manage to calm the shaking. There's a knock at the door. I'm still majorly pissed, but the haze is fading. I'm confident I won't burst out of my clothes and into a wolf anyway.

It's Joe, carrying two glasses ad a bottle of wine. Thank god for Joel. I gulp my first glass down. Joel refills it.

"Sorry your date stood you up." He says quietly.

I grunt in anger and down the next glass. Joel pours me another one. Half the bottle is gone now.

"This was my first date in two years," I snarl "and look what happened. My life sucks." I drink my third glass slowly, in between my ranting.

I'm not sure what time I fall asleep but I have a pretty bad headache when I wake up the next morning. Stupid wine. Stupid Toby. Stupid life. I'm such a failure.

I somehow manage to drag myself to work and sit through the day in a hangover-induced sulk. As soon as I get home I crash on the couch.

Joel wakes me up when he gets home, at about 7. I feel much better. I have a shower and change, and then go for a walk.

Unfortunately, just as I'm starting to chill out, I see Toby. I'm inwardly debating whether I should kick him in the balls or just pound his pretty face to a pulp as I march up to him.

"Leah!" he starts.

"Where the hell were you last night?" I growl.

"I was at the hospital. My sisters there and she took a bad turn. I would have phoned you, but I didn't have your number and I had no idea where you lived." He defends himself quickly.

I glare at him.

"You can ask her if you want. Just believe me." He pleads. "Her name's Ashley, Ashley Tamworth."

My jaw drops open. Ashley? Ashley, who I saved from the leech? My friend Ashley? She has a brother? Her brother is Toby?

"I know Ashley." I choke out. "I helped her."

His lovely eyes are warm. "So, you must be the brilliant Leah Clearwater. And you gave the impression that you were just plain old Leah."

My insides are squirming.

"We can go see Ash if you like, to validate my story." He offers. I shake my head.

"It's OK."

He smiles and gestures to the restaurant across the road. It's pretty much empty. "Shall we have our date then?"

We eat there and it's...wonderful. Toby is flirty and funny and kind and cute. I'm having a lot of fun, surprisingly.

He pays the bill and we walk through the town, hand in hand. It's dark and the stars are twinkling above us. We stop near the block of apartments that he lives in and he turns to face me.

He brushes a strand of hair out of my eyes and lets his hand run down the side of my face. Then he's kissing me.

I pull him close and kiss him back. He leads me to the apartment and into his room and I don't hesitate once.

After, when he's asleep, I sit on the edge of the bed and watch him. My heart feels a little more whole than before. My stomach does a flip just looking at his face. The feeling is just amazing.

It may not be imprinting, but hell I'll take it.