Chapter 7

I sat in the living room with Jasper waiting for everyone to come downstairs so that we could get this night over with. Ever since Jasper assumed that I had taken indecent liberties with Leah we have not communicated much. This was actually the first time since then that we were in the same room for any period of time. He inhaled deeply and repositioned his tie on his chest and looked up toward the ceiling.

"Hmph," he laughed, "your imprint is not happy, I would go as far to say she is quite pissed." As soon as he finished his statement we hear her voice bellow through the house.

"I'm serious get that thing away from me!" She yelled. Jasper and I both laughed.

"This is the first time Leah has had to deal with Alice's . . . beauty techniques, if that's what you would call it." Jasper commented. "At least she hasn't phased and tried to rip her head off." Emmett came downstairs and joined us.

"Have I missed it?" He plopped down on the couch.

"Missed what?" I asked.

"No they haven't come down yet," Jasper shook his head, "I think Alice knows by now what you call it." I continued to stare at both of them confused.

"It is the parade of the hot bodies, it used to be called the parade of the wifies but since a Ren and Leah are a part of it now I had to change the name." Emmett laughed.

"Interesting concept," I said, "but why would you be concerned with seeing anyone besides your wife."

"Of course Rosalie is my number one, meaning she is the hottest most wonderful thing in my life, but this gives me the chance to do the count down." Emmett laughed and Jasper groaned.

"Oh no, not that stupid list again it is completely pointless you know?" He countered. I again I felt completely out of the loop.

"The list is this stupid thing that Emmett came up with pretty much ranking our wives," Edward answered my unasked question.

"Yep," Emmett said, "this gives me a chance to update the list a little, I know we have known Leah for a while but this will be the first time I rank her with the rest."

"What about Ren?" Jacob asked.

"Dude, I'm her uncle . . . that would be gross!" Emmett pretended like he would vomit at the thought.

"Yeah sometimes I forget." Jacob shrugged, "Hey where's Seth?"

"He went to pick up his date." Edward answered; sometimes I felt sorry for him, it truly had to suck knowing everything, he had to feel like a human security camera.

"Interesting analogy," he laughed then looked up to the stairs, "they're coming." Everyone now looked to the stairs as the women descended down to us like angels. How beautiful I found myself thinking, even though I had become used to seeing them on a daily basis that was nothing in comparison to seeing them all know. They all looked so elegant and lovely I could almost understand how Emmett could rank them.

Leah was the last to come downstairs I barely caught glimpse of her feet in the thin strapped stilettos that Alice picked out before backing myself out of the room. Watching her from her would be safer for her. As soon as she came completely in view I frowned the dress . . . that dress was pure sin, it was so tight on her body and short enough to stop my breath. She looked around at everyone else in the room and her eyes saddened. I decided to enter the room and join her even though my thoughts kept drifting to pinning her to the wall and raising her dress over her hips . . . figured I could still try my best to be social. She glanced at me as I approached her, and then turned in a different direction she moved toward the door and waited for everyone to begin loading the limo. I imagined that she must still be sore with me for what I had done yesterday, if only I knew what I had done to make her so upset.

While in the limo Rose badgered Emmett about his list. "Why would you create such a thing?" She hit him.

"It wasn't a conscious effort dear, it was a completely impulsive thing I did one day and you are number one so why does it matter!" He groaned.

"Who's number two!" She crossed her arms aggressively.

"I don't reveal my ranking all I can tell you is that you my love are number one," He kissed her on her cheek. She turned to Edward.

"Who's number two?" She raised her eyebrow at Edward, and he almost looked baffled.

"I don't know?" He lied, and it was a horrible attempt at best.

"The night's turning out great don't ya think?" Leah rolled her eyes and murmured to Renesmee, she sighed and crossed her legs causing her dress to climb her thigh every so slightly. I involuntarily licked my lips and leaned forward, which was something I immediately regretted because Renesmee noticed my change in positioning and touched Leah's knee grinning all the while, Leah still made no eye contact with me she just smirked slightly.

"You will tell me or you will not make it back home tonight and that is a promise!" Rosalie continued to badger her husband.

"It's good to know after all these years you still get jealous over me." Emmett gave her a big smiled and she slapped him in the face, and then smirked a little. "Ow Rose damn! Fine even though I think Bella looks lovely and Alice looks fantastic . . . Leah is rocking the hell out of that dress!" Emmett clapped his hands.

"Wow . . . please, please hold your applause." Leah said sarcastically. "I am really honored to be your second choice . . . but to be honest that happens to me a lot . . .I'm always someone's second choice." She rolled her ankle back and forth I was beginning to think it was some sort of nervous tick she had, but all it did for me was bring my attention back to her legs that had this shine to them tonight that made my desire to touch them magnify.

"Hey what about me!" Renesmee pouted.

"You will always be Uncle Emmett's pretty little princess." He reached over and pinched her cheek.

"Thanks a lot." The sarcasm had now spread from Leah to Renesmee.

"Of course you are the most beautiful girl here!" Jacob whispered in her ear, if I could hear it I knew everyone could.

"Your opinion Jacob is the only that matters." She rested her head on his shoulder. Leah glanced in their direction and rolled her eyes, I knew that look she was jealous of what they had, I knew because I was jealous too. She grabbed her neck, closed her, and arched her back into a stretch. With her eyes closed it gave me the opportunity to capture every inch of her with my eyes. Jasper cleared his throat and the emotion that went through me changed, to more of a relaxed emotion instead of such an aggressive one.

When we arrived at the school and entered the gymnasium it was decorated with tiny little lights surrounding the room, rich with decoration full of black, white, purple, and blue. Alice and Jasper led the way to a table in the farthest corner of the room. We all sat down Rose and Emmett were still engrossed in there conversation. Everyone else seemed just as focused on their dates I think that Leah and I were the only one's to notice Shelly and Seth enter the room. The girl looked lovely in her cute albeit quirky bright green dress. Leah waved to her and the girl looked as if she was going to approach the table but Seth took her hand and instead led her to the dance floor.

"Looks like Seth has the right idea," Jacob smiled at Renesmee and extended his hand, which she of course took, all the others followed suit. Which left Leah and I sitting awkwardly at the table, as she sat there she seemed so uncomfortable, she kept adjusting the top part of her dress maybe she was concerned that it would fall down, but as tight as the dress was I couldn't see how that would be possible. After the slow songs ended the others came back to the table. Renesmee came back only to grab Leah.

"We love this song Leah come on!" She pulled her up right.

"But I don't wanna . . ." Was the only thing I heard her say, after a few pokes and pleading on Renesmee's part, to my dismay Leah began to dance. I forced my eyes to remain glued to the black tablecloth before me. Unfortunately, after a couple of fast songs past my curiosity got the best of me and looked up to find both girls still on the dance floor enjoying themselves a little too much.

"Don't worry the DJ is thinking about playing a slow song next." Edward tried to console me; the bizarre thing was I wasn't sure if that was really what I wanted, this was the kind of punishment that I think any man could get used to. Besides, if Leah wasn't on the dance floor then I would be forced to sit here with a sulking Leah that refused to look at me.

"I think I am going to get something to drink . . . excuse me." I got up and made my way to the punch bowl, which smelled as though it was more alcohol content then anything else. Unfortunately the effect would be lost on me even though I felt as though I really could use it.

"You look as delicious as I thought you would!" Melissa voice came from behind me, when I turned to her she was so close that she practically had her head on my chest.

"And Melissa you look . . ." I searched her to find something nice about her but I was left with nothing, "intoxicating, or intoxicated . . . which ever one means you've had too much alcohol." I went to walk past her.

"Hey! Don't think that you aren't gonna dance with me!" She said grabbing my arm, "It's my birthday!" She pouted.

"It's not your birthday" I chided.

"Yes it is! Don't you see my tiara?" She pointed to her silver plastic crown. "You wouldn't deny me my one birthday wish would you?" She pouted.

"Fine, let's get on with it then." I opened my arms to her.

"Wait this is not a good location . . . the lighting's bad." She grabbed my hand and I allowed her to pull me to the center of the gym floor. That's when a whiff of Leah's scent came fell down on me and directed my attention to the gymnasium door. Leah stare was vicious she looked me dead in my eyes and looked as if she could kill me. She busted through the door grabbing the attention of most of the people in the room. I left Melissa standing in the middle of the floor maneuvered past all of the children and followed Leah's scent out into the night.

Leah was right she was fast; she had traveled at least twenty miles from where the school was located in approximately twenty minutes. When I found her she was in the process of kicking off her shoes between sobs, her hands were shaking horribly, she went to unzip her dress, I assumed that she was going to phase because I really couldn't see how streaking could help her emotion stature at the moment.

"Leah," I said to her in a tone that was meant to be soothing. She needed to calm down. We really weren't located in an ideal place for her to phase, even though we weren't on the side of the road if she were to phase people would most definitely be able to make out what she was.

"WHAT, NAHUEL WHAT? Is this what you want! You want to see me cry over you!" She turned to me with tears running down my face and something inside of me felt as if it had died. How could I have caused this, I never wanted to see her like this again.

"Leah," I grabbed her arm and pulled her toward me. I had to do something, anything to make her pain stop. She buried her face in my chest and sobbed harder. "Shhh. Don't cry, I'm here don't cry." It sounded like something a father would say to his child but it was the only wording I could think of, I rubbed her back in small circular motions and her heartbeat began to slow.

"I don't know what you want from me Nahuel." She said still trying to recuperate. "I can't just be okay with seeing you with . . ." She began to cry again, "It will kill me." She grabbed her at chest, "I'd rather you'd just bite me at least that would be faster!"

"Never say that. I don't think I could survive in a world where you didn't exist." I smiled slightly at her, I remembered where I my words came from. Edward had told me how he came to the conclusion that he had to be with Bella, he simply couldn't live without her, he wouldn't be able to exist anymore, and that was exactly how I would feel if Leah were to depart this life.

I offered her my hand and she took it, in my other hand I carried her shoes which she had completely abandoned. As we walked back to the school she seemed as if she was a trance, it very robotic the way she place one foot in front of the other. It took us thirty minutes to reach the gymnasium and the dance was almost over. Once inside she blinked a couple of times and shook her head and took a deep breath, she let go of my hand and started to walk away from me. I couldn't let her do that. I couldn't pretend that I didn't want what I desperately wanted anymore. I led her to the middle of the dance floor and held her in my arms. I wasn't completely sure if I was in my right mind, or how this was gonna work but we had to do something, because on my life I never wanted to see her cry again.

The dance was over and was now becoming a fading memory in everyone's mind except for mine. Leah would wonder what tonight meant; yet again I had confessed my feelings for her and ignited her hope. The question I now had to ask myself was could I follow through.

"Good move tonight man," Emmett said allowing himself into my room, "for a second I thought you were going to be stupid enough to let her suffer alone."

"I couldn't . . . but what now?" I said simply, Emmett shrugged. "I'm not the one you should really be talking to about that." He was right Leah and I needed to have a calm and rational talk.

"You're right tomorrow I . . ."

"Tomorrow, what is with you and tomorrow? Leah's not asleep you should talk to her now! Why make her suffer another night of not knowing? I'm just saying . . ." Emmett left the room as he did memories of her face haunted me.

"WHAT NAHUEL, WHAT? Is this what you want! You want to see me cry over you!!" The words echoed through my mind.

"No I don't," I said to myself tonight I would end this, it would either be the start of something great or my last night in this house. I crossed the hall to her room and knocked on her door. She answered the door in an oversized t-shirt and barely noticeable shorts, not the best outfit to wear as far as my concentration was concerned.

"May I have a word?" She stared at me with a smirk on her face; she smoothed her hand over her now unkempt hair.

"Of course," she moved to the side allowing me access to her room. I felt that talking in her room where her scent was so heavy and she looked the way she did would sway my decision so I decided to change the venue to my room, a neutral as far as I was concerned.

"I have been hurting you; I don't want to be the cause of your pain." I spoke the words honestly and freely I could feel relief from the confession already.

"All you have to do is not bite me!" She jumped up from the bed more aggravated than I expected, "You don't have to avoid me like the plague and you REALLY don't have to become involved with other women." Her look became violent again she backed away from me leaning her weight on the dresser in my room.

"I know this seems easy for you but it wouldn't be." I tried to envision us as a couple but all I kept thinking about was kissing her and how limited the action would have to be.

"Why?" She moved closer to the door. She was giving up on me I could she the hope fading in her eyes.

"I want to love you fully, and you deserve someone who can give you that. Our love would always be a shell of what it could be . . . I wouldn't even be able to really kiss you!" I said trying to explain my point.

"Nahuel, look at me," She knelt in front of me, "I could never love anyone more fully than I love you, you are my every thought, need, and desire," she ran her hands playfully through my hair, "kissing be damned!" She smiled and laughed at me, her confession made me, want to do the one thing that I was unable to do.

"Saying that only makes me want you more," I laughed an uneasy laughed. I caressed the side of her face there was no way I could let any harm come to something so perfect, "It is impossible."

"Well . . ." She said thoughtfully placing herself back on the bed with me, "we could do this." She placed her head on my chest and her arm around my waist, I inhaled and took in her sent and placed my lips on the top her head. "Not bad huh?" I chuckled silently as I rubbed her back. After a while of talking she positioned herself so that her head was resting in my lap and she drifted off to sleep.

"I really have to stop boring you this way." I joked with a now unconscious Leah. "I wonder . . ." I scooped her up in my arms and traveled across the hall to her room. "Now Ms. Clearwater let's see if you can have a good night's sleep in this room?" I laughed as I put her into bed, "and since technically we are an item now" I said justifying my actions before I climbed into bed with her; she immediately repositioned herself so that her head rested on my chest as it had before. I was no where near being tired but I could think of nowhere I wanted to be more.

Night turned into day quickly with Leah in my arms. She moved away from me as she began to stir. She stretched and placed her hands on her head.

"He loves me," She murmured and then rolled over onto her stomach; she seemed completely unaware that I was in the bed with her.

"That he does." I laughed, "I am, of course, assuming the he in which you speak of is me." She rolled over and smiled at me and I can't help but return the action.

"Of course." She grabbed the collar of my shirt and pulled herself towards me, then wrapping her arms around my waist. I draped my arm over and give her a small kiss on her forehead to greet her good morning, it was the first time the opportunity to taste her skin presented itself, I quickly lick my lips so that none of her essence would be missed. Leah laughed it must have seemed ridiculous me licking my lips in such an aggressive manner.

"What amuses you?"

"You're getting closer." She smiled seductively and traced the side of my face with her finger. It was crazy how my body buzzed from the simple touches she gave me, each touch was like a shot of ecstasy.

"Leah I cannot get much closer than I am already."

"I know," she connected herself even closer to me, I could feel every inch of her and I had absolutely no problem with that, "Closer to this." She kissed me three times on the mouth, not opening her mouth but it was too close, and completely unexpected, she should have known better. I accidentally pushed her too hard causing her to fall out of the bed.

"Owww!" I heard the thud from her hitting the floor.

"I'm sorry," I quickly placed her back on the bed.

"It's okay," She touched my face and her captivating like stare put me in a trance, she leaned once more, the woman seemed to be a glutton for punishment.

"Don't . . ." I pleaded with her as I held her at arms length, "I don't think I have much control left." She smirked at me and kissed me anyway. She pressed her closed lips onto mine and the heat from her being so close for so long intensified the buzzing I felt before and made me desire more, I grabbed at her waist demanding it, until reality sat back in.

"Leah!" I whined between clinched teeth.

"Okay, okay!" She pulled away rolling her eyes, she curled up in my arms and sighed.

"When did we move into my room, I don't remember?" She sat up and looked at me confused.

"You shouldn't you were asleep," I couldn't help but laugh at the confused look on her face. "I carried you. I was curious why you could not sleep in this room. You are always turning back and forth, but you slept fine last night. Maybe I was the missing factor." I said proudly.

"Smug much," she punched me in the arm, she probably didn't realize how much force she used. It made me wonder momentarily why all the women in this house were so violent. I had now been pushed and punched, and last night Emmett had been slapped, maybe it's some weird way they show their affections.

"Just stating a fact, may I make one more observation?" I smiled at her.

"Yeah sure," I watched the desire filled in her eyes as I stretched.

"You seem content not to leave your room today, and it is bordering on 1:00PM, did you have plans today?" She frowned at me in confusion. Edward had told me a couple days back about plans to go hiking.

"No, not really." She pulled her knees up to her chest.

"Well, would you like to go hiking with the Cullens? They will be leaving shortly, and camping in the woods tonight." The look she gave was hilarious and adorable at the same time. If I could read her mind, I would imagine it saying along the lines of yeah right as soon as I admit to wanting to jump off a cliff.

"Do you want to go?" She cringed slightly making her face wrinkle. I knew if I said yes she would go but I wanted her to make the choice.

"Yes and no," I said as I walked over to her kissing on the forehead once more, "but there will be more time for this later." I waved my hand over the bed and she laughed. "I will leave you dress." If I left the room I new if would give enough clarity to make a decision. I stepped into the hallway and into my room, I couldn't describe the feeling that was over me, it was as if I was lighter than air itself. Leah was mine and I had just had the best night of my existence.