Thanks so much to all of you who reviewed! I'm glad so many people seem to be enjoying this story. I'd like to thank Momentarily Infinite for being the only one to comment on how cute Claire and Quil were last chapter. Enjoy!

Vinnie's POV

Chapter 5

I felt like giving myself a pat on the back after finally asking Leah about her dating life. I was a little surprised –but not in any way disappointed –about her reaction to her and Jake going out with each other. I suppose I didn't ever consider them to be more like siblings rather than involved with each other.

She seemed a little taken aback by my comment about "future references." I was pretty sure she was kind of angry at me at one point. We had spent the majority of the party in each other's company, but she seemed to try and persistently avoid me after I talked to her. Maybe I had been too forward with her. I had never thought about that. I only counted the remark as an ego booster for myself, not to intimidate her.

Of course, I would think it would take a lot to intimidate that woman. She had always been rather… I don't know, maybe raw is the best word. Not anyone to be taken advantage of; Not one who seemed to keep her guard down for too long for any one person. She's always been like that: reserved, outspoken at times. Not an outcast, because everyone noticed her, and you couldn't very much ignore her, whether it be her looks, confident and cool demeanor, or sarcastic back talk to teachers and peers alike.

I, at the very least, found it hard to ignore.

What I did realize, however, was that while subtly giving me the cold shoulder, she always stayed in the same room as me. Whether it was in the kitchen, dinning room, or living room, she was always on the opposite end of it, sipping from her drink and sneaking side glances at me that I don't think she noticed me notice.

At one point, I found the separation to be so unbearable that I got up from where I was sitting in a chair in the dinning room and pulled one up right next to hers.

She stared down at her fidgeting fingers.

"Are you done?" I asked.

"Done with what?" she mumbled quietly.

"Ignoring me."

She sighed and looked at me finally. "I'm sorry."

"No, I should be the one apologizing. I shouldn't have been so forward."

"No, no, that's fine," she said quickly. "I'm just… I'm not really used to being asked questions about myself where dating is concerned."

I raised an eyebrow. I found that hard to believe. She was a wonderful woman. How could someone not want her?

She caught my face and chuckled, rolling her eyes. "I know it may seem impossible, but I don't get asked out too often around here."

"Really?"

She nodded, but looked back at her hands. "You've been gone awhile, Vinnie. Things have changed. I'm not so great anymore."

I snickered at the impossibility. "You've always been great, and you always will be. I can say that with confidence."

She shook her head.

I got an idea, another one probably too forward for her liking –or rather, unexpected –but there was no going back once I got the idea.

"Well," I began, "why don't we debate about this matter over dinner tomorrow evening?"

She looked at me, her nearly black irises wide open. It was almost like she was trying to see if there was a façade she should've seen through. There I was, hanging on a line like one of those tortured worms, trying to see if I'd get caught by the pretty fish or not.

"Like a date?" she asked curiously.

"Like whatever you want to call it. I don't care. I'd just like to…" It was my turn to look away and fidget with a loose string on my pants. "… to be with you," I said quietly.

A warm hand went on my shoulder and my head shot up. It was hers, of course.

"I'd like that," she said to me, smiling just so subtly. Like she had been when she assured me she was alright after mouthing off to Sam before. I could only hope I could make her smile more, maybe even bigger.

Eventually, I would love to get her to smile like the idiot I was probably looking like at the current moment after what she said. If I felt a pat on the back before, this was a time for a victory dance. I was that happy, relieved that she had agreed.

I calmed down off my high as best I could. "So, I'll pick you up tomorrow at six then?"

She nodded. "That sounds good."

Suddenly, Seth came into the room. "Leah," he said, "we gotta go."

She looked at him and arched her eyebrows. "Go where?"

He gave her a meaningful look, as if she should've known what he was talking about.

She groaned. "Can't Jake just-"

"No, I don't think so."

"Fine," she mumbled. Seth hurried and left out the room.

"Is everything alright?" I asked her, a little nervous.

"Yeah, I just have to skip out of here. You should probably head back to your house, too."

"Why?"

She sighed. "You know how I told you that you could be nosey?"

I smiled a little and nodded.

"This is one of those times. Just do it."

She stood up and was about to leave, but I caught her hand in mine before she left completely from me. She turned quickly and stared up at me.

"I'll see you tomorrow then?" I asked sheepishly. I had to make sure the whole conversation wasn't a dream.

Her tense demeanor changed to an almost relieved one. She smiled up at me. "Yes, I'll see you tomorrow." Her hand slowly slipped out of mine, but we didn't loose eye contact with each other. "Goodbye, Vinnie," she said just before leaving my sight completely.

"Bye, Leah."

I had followed her advice and left about ten minutes afterwards. Pretty much everyone left when Seth, Leah, and Jake headed out, including Embry, who said he'd be back late and not to expect him home too soon. I never did hear him come in, and I stayed up well past midnight in anticipation for the next day.

By one in the afternoon the next day, I was starting to think I should have scheduled a day date. I felt like I had nothing to do but wait for the tome to come to pick her up at her house. I only wished I had a proper excuse to just go to her house.

When Embry managed to finally drag himself out of his bed, he eyed me almost disappointed as he walked down the stairs.

"What?" I asked him, confused.

"Really, Vince? You really had to ask her out?"

I was surprised. I didn't think she would tell him. Not that I was ashamed or anything –I was actually pretty proud to be the one to go out with her- but the way Embry said it made it seem like it was a crime for me to have made such an action.

I sighed. "Yes, I asked her out."

His eyebrows scrunched together in frustration. "Why?"

"I like her, Embry, you know that."

"Yeah, and I like Jessica Alba, but you don't see me asking her out, do you?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that you and her-"

"Leah."

He sighed. "You and Leah don't have to go out. Why can't you and her just be friends? Why do you have to date her?"

I couldn't believe the way he was talking about her. "You talk about her like she's the Black Plague."

"That's one way to describe her," he mumbled.

I felt like I was nearly shaking in anger. "Look, I like her, you don't have to. I'm the one going out with her tonight, not you. So could you please stop talking about her like that?"

He looked down and shook his eyes.

I tried once more. "I really like her, Embry. I like her a lot."

"I know, Vince," he said it almost like he was sad, "I know."

Finally, five fifty came around, and I finally made my way out to my car, driving far too fast for my own good to her house. Sue answered the door, giving me a warmhearted smile when I came in.

"It's nice to see you again, Vincent," she said to me.

"Thank you."

She let me though the house and shut the door behind me. "Leah will be down in a moment," she said to me as she walked into the kitchen. "You can wait in the living room if you want.

"Alright."

I made my way into there, saying hi to Seth who was already in there.

"So," he started off a little quietly, "where exactly are you going with my sister?"

"Not completely sure yet. Out to dinner somewhere." I hadn't exactly made a decision as to where we were heading. I wanted her to decide. I sort of hoped in the back of my mind that she wouldn't request some expensive restaurant out in Port Angeles. I had the feeling that I would probably spend my life savings on her if it would make her happy. I just didn't think my mother would share the same feelings.

"Oh," Seth said simply. We sat for a moment in silence, until he said, "So, you and Leah are dating now?"

"Yes."

Another pause. "Vince, you're a good guy and I like you, but I think if you hurt my sister… Well, let's say I'm not too sure how much I'd like you after that, okay?"

I nearly smiled. He was looking after his sister, just as any brother would, even if he was about five years younger than her. It seemed nice that for once, someone was looking out for her. I was getting the feeling from Embry that people didn't too often do that for her. "I understand, Seth," I replied.

He nodded, seeming as if he was relieved to finally get the speech off his chest.

I heard the stairs creek, and looked up to see her walking down them. She was wearing a tight to the skin deep purple sweater that looked wonderful on her skin. Paired with it was a dark grey pair of jeans, and heels that matched the color of her sweater.

She was gorgeous. How could I have expected any less?

When she saw me, she smiled a little. "Hi, Vinnie."

I stood up quickly and made my way to where she was standing at the bottom of the stairs. "Hello, Leah. How are you?"

"Good, thanks."

"You look wonderful." Like that could even describe her at the moment.

She smiled a little sheepishly. "Thanks. You look nice, too."

I looked down at myself. I was wearing a white and green striped button up and a pair of denim jeans. I was nothing special, especially compared to her. "I clean up pretty nice."

She chuckled, almost a laugh, which I had yet to hear from her.

"Are you ready to head out?" I asked her. I sure was. I couldn't wait to be with. Just me and her.

On our first date.

She nodded. "I'm ready."

So, how was that? So sorry for any grammar errors. I proofread, but mind you, it's nearly one in the morning and I really wanted to give you guys a chapter for this week.

I personally thought it was sweet for Seth to threaten Vinnie like that, don't you? And Leah avoiding Vinnie will be better explained in her perspective next chapter. Review and alert, I can't tell you how happy it makes me when you do.