Thanks for the reviews! Keep them coming! This is a little shorter, unfortunately, but there's more to come! Enjoy!

Leah's POV

Chapter 4

I hated to admit it, but I was nearly keeling over in anticipation to see Vinnie. I had to actually phase into a wolf just because I thought that if I did, I wouldn't think so much about seeing him. It didn't work, of course, and as I changed back in the forests just on the outskirts of Quil's house, I could see Vinnie come outside, seeming as if he were searching for something.

I was sort of hoping it was me, though I highly doubted it. With my luck and bad karma, he was looking for some other girl. But I couldn't help but notice that soft smile on his face –the one that seemed to send his eyes scorching onto my own –when I finally did approach him after he wandered around a tree.

We went into the house together, and Jake harassed me about my outfit. I saw that coming. I was truly anticipating that if it got Jake's attention, it would somehow be able to catch Vinnie's eye.

Only a few minutes later, after I introduced Vinnie to Colin and Brady, who didn't know him as well as Jake and Quil did, Sam ran into me by accident.

"Sorry, Leah," he said quickly, trying to avoid any bait into an argument. He took a look at me, and began walking the opposite direction. He stopped and turned around for a minute, looking puzzled.

"Leah, why are you dressed like that?" he asked, almost accusingly so.

I got pissed about that. Jake could say that, because he said it in such a carefree, sarcastic way. When Sam said it, as if it even mattered to him how I looked, I got defensive.

I didn't scream or anything, but I did comment, "I can dress however the hell I want, don't you think?"

He seemed almost hurt by my words, but walked off to the kitchen, no doubt finding quick condolence with Emily. Probably telling on me, too, the weasel.

I felt a hand grasp the top of my arm, and I quickly turned around. It felt cold compared to the rest of the people at the party.

Vinnie seemed worried as he looked at me, his hand not leaving. "Are you okay?" he asked me.

I was a little taken aback to be honest. No one, aside from Seth and Jake every once in awhile, bothered to ask me that anymore. I was always fine. Well, that's what I said, but most of the time, I was just putting on a brave face, if even that. I was better than I was, of course; being a part of a new pack helped me patch up from the whole Sam incident more than anything else had. But it still kind of stung.

And for him –someone outside of my new family –to ask me if I was alright kind of meant something.

I smiled; a little one, but a real one nonetheless. "I'm good, Vinnie," I told him.

He didn't let go and looked down at me, like he was trying to make sure I was telling the truth.

"I'm alright," I assured him.

He nodded and moved his hand slowly off my arm, its presence still seeming to linger there.

We all gathered around the dining room table for Quil to blow out his candles. Just as we were about to begin, Quil said, "Wait!"

Everyone seemed a little shocked, but I didn't. I had a feeling I knew what he was going to do, because I bet Jake would have done the same thing.

He looked over to where Claire and Nessie were standing, Claire standing on my side holding unto my hand –I really liked her. She was sort of family, anyway –and trying half heartily to go on her tippy toes to see the action. Quil saw this and held a large hand out to her.

"Claire-bear, would you like to help me blow out my candles?"

Her eyes went wide. The crowd moved to the sides, like the Red Sea parting for Moses, so that she could go up to him. She let go of my hand and went to his side, tugging on his pant leg. "But Claire not birthday girl, Qwil is," she said in her little baby voice.

"But Claire can help if she wants. Would you like that?"

Claire nodded her head quickly, smiling like crazy, and reached up, grabbing at Quil to pick her up.

He smiled widely –that look in his eye that every imprintee got the honor of from their counterpart –and pulled her onto his lap.

Now that everything was settled, Claire led the 'Happy Birthday to You' song loudly for everyone to follow with her. Her cheeks filled up and emptied quickly as she blew like crazy onto the cake, her eyes squeezing shut. They only flickered a little, but before her eyes opened, Quil blew all of them out.

When she opened her eyes, she turned and beamed at him "I did it, Qwil!"

He kissed her forehead. "Very good, honey."

We all got pieces of cake, even Nessie. She usually didn't care much for human food –God, I hated leeches and their ways –but I learned from Jake that he had gotten her a few treats and she found them nearly as appetizing as blood.

Jake's thoughts, not mine.

Renesmee and I were… well, we were. She loved everyone and everything, except of course the Voulturi. She herself, the actual girl Renesmee Cullen, was a good kid. She didn't seem to bother much –except for igniting that near war –and kept Jake busy. Once in awhile, if it were some rare moment when I forgot what she was, I actually liked her. The only thing was that I wasn't particularly fond of what she was born into, her other half she was now raised by instead of humans like the average person. I admit I'm not pretty average, but at least I was wholly human in my own way. Her family was now bonded to me, seeing as how every imprintee was like a family member, half leech or not. To be honest, the only thing I truly disliked about her was the fact that she linked me inadvertly to the bloodsuckers.

I got my piece of cake, about as full as the plate itself, and sat in a corner, my legs folded under me.

I saw feet come next to me as I started eating. "Mind if I joined you?" I recognized the voice already and I didn't bother looking up. I was a little afraid more of those shivers would be sent down my back.

"Sure, knock yourself out."

Vinnie sat cross legged next to me, out backs both leaning against the wall behind us.

"I feel like you bruised my ego," he said sadly.

I saw confused and looked up at him,

He sighed, having a dramatic effect on it. "You got a huge piece of cake, and all I got was this measly sized one. I feel like less of a man."

I laughed. Still that dorky, cute humor he had yesterday. It wasn't getting old. "I'm sorry."

"I'll try and get over it. I warn you, I may need therapy, though. You're definitely gonna have to pay the bills for it," he winked.

"I'll find the money, promise."

His smile went wide, like it had been when I thanked him for the flowers. "It's fine. I hate girls who get those sliver sized pieces that say they're trying to lose weight, even though their already 30 pounds underweight as it is."

I held up a pinking finger to him. "And that thin," I played along.

"Yes, that too. Though, you were pretty tiny when I left, if I remember right.

I shrugged. For the guys, they grew muscles and a foot in height. For me, I gained a few inches and a little weight, but all of it going to its proper places. Like they had reached adolescence and became men, I became a woman when I first began to phase.

"I like you better now, though," he said quietly.

I felt my ears prickling with heat at his raw honesty. "Thanks," I said simply.

"Can I ask you a personal question?" he asked me.

I looked up to him and glared. I hated anything concerning the word 'personal'.

"You don't have to answer if you don't want to, but like you said earlier, I'm nosey."

I sighed. What was there to lose if I just heard him out? "Okay."

"What happened to you and Sam?"

I nearly choked on my cake. No one had asked me that before. Everyone who bothered even remotely caring already knew, and those who didn't know simply didn't care.

I shook my head, the only answer I could give him.

"I'm so sorry," he said quietly, fully apologetic and for once, someone didn't pity my situation. Actually, if anything, he was pitting himself. He felt guilty. "That was stupid of me." He put a hand to his forehead and slammed his eyes shut. "I can't believe I asked you that. Embry said it was a complicated breakup. I can't believe I asked her that," he trailed off, talking to himself now.

I felt kind of bad. I didn't like seeing him in this pain, all because of me. I took his hand away from his face. "It's okay, Vinnie. Stop beating yourself up over it."

He nodded and looked over to me, his eyes seeming sad.

"Vinnie, get that look off your face. Please."

He smiled a little but, probably trying o make me feel better. After a silent moment, I realized that my hand was still on his, resting now on the ground between us. I put it back on my lap, my hand having an odd tingling sensation at the lost of contact. I wasn't used to that. It almost scared me.

"Can I ask you a different question?" he asked. "Nothing to do with the past, I swear."

"Only if you answer mine."

He nodded. "Seems fair enough."

"Why did you come back to La Push?"

"I told you that. School was boring."

I rolled my eyes. "I don't believe that. Trying to get away from some stalker ex?" I teased. I wouldn't doubt it. I couldn't see how he didn't bring a girl back home with him. I half expected him to only be here to announce some engagement to a tan, blonde dimbo he met in California. I guess he's smarter than that.

He chuckled. "No, actually. Quite the opposite, but that was another question. I get mine."

I nodded, taking a scoop of my cake. I didn't bother asking about what he meant by it being "quite the opposite." I wasn't sure if I would have liked hearing the truth behind the words.

He took a breath. "Are you and Jake seeing each other?"

This time, I did choke on my cake.

He handed me a napkin and his bottle of water quickly. "Was that too personal?"

I chuckled as I wiped my mouth. "Not too personal as much as too impossible. Jake's like my big brother." Now that he was my alpha and I his beta, we had somehow grown to not only stand, but actually enjoy each others company, something unimaginable in Sam's pack. Jake wanted what was best for me, just like Seth did, and I cared about him for that.

But us, together? Liking each other like that?

No way in hell.

"Besides," I continued, "the only girl in his life is Nessie." That wasn't giving away too much, with imprinting and the pack and everything. It was just a true statement.

"They seem so attached," he commented. "So does Quil and Claire. It's like they share this crazy bond with each other."

He was picking up on the imprints, and he hadn't even realized it. I hadn't realized until then how perceptive he was.

"So, no you and Jake?" he asked.

"No me and Jake," I confirmed.

"How about you and…" he trailed off.

"I'm not with anyone, if that's what you're asking," I said quietly.

He nodded, and it seemed like it was in satisfaction. "Good." He stood up off the ground where he was sitting next to me.

"Good?" I asked. "What do you mean 'good'?"

"You know, for future reference and such."

I was still confused. "Future reference for what?"

He smiled down at me, his eyes twinkling. "You're pretty nosey, Leah." And with that, he walked out of the room, leaving me speechless.

I never thought me being single could be a good thing, but Vinnie was more than welcomed to do what he wanted with the information.

Hmm... Vinnie sure is getting a little bold, isn't he?? I think Vinnie confronting his fear of Blackwater was a little funny.

Review! I need more to keep writing, or else I don't think people are actually reading this!

Cocoa