Thanks for the great reviews! Though this chapter is rather short, I couldn't wait to write some much needed Leah and Vinnie action, and I figured you guys would be eager for some to. Enjoy!

Leah's POV

Chapter 20

"Vinnie."

I stood there motionless and in complete and utter shock. Never in a million years would I think that he would actually go to the lengths to actually come and find me. I was pretty convinced that, if anything, someone would have the decency to explain to him the circumstances so that I didn't have to.

Of course, the world doesn't care for me that much.

Even though I had an overwhelming sense of fear of what was about to happen as I stared at Vinnie, I couldn't help but admit that there somehow was room in me to feel some kind of comfort at seeing at him; that he did care about me enough to try and find some answers about what had happened days ago.

"Nessie, sweetie," I heard Esme's voice say politely, "why don't we go inside? It looks like it's going to rain soon." I never was more thankful for her kindness than that moment.

"Okay, Grandma," Nessie sounded confused, but seemed to understand that there was some privacy needed. She and Esme made their way back into the house.

"I was afraid you were going to run," he said when they shut the door.

"Why are you here?" I asked, ignoring his comment. I wanted to run –more than anything, I wanted to phase and just run away from everything at that moment –but I couldn't move from him. And I hated to admit it, but I knew that there was something in me that prevented me from doing so:

I missed him so much. Too much.

I knew it was dangerous to fall in love in the first place; I had learned by now that falling in love with a werewolf might as well be forbidden for me.

"I needed to talk to you."

"What is there to talk about?" I said harshly, my emotions once again getting the best of me.

"Why did you leave me?" The way his voice sounded –so desperate and distraught –was a tone that sent anguish through me, as if I was the one asking the question.

"Vinnie, we can't be together."

"Why not?" He stepped towards me, and I stepped back. He looked hurt at my action. "I'm so sorry for hurting you. I wouldn't have…" He hesitated in continuing.

"Wouldn't have what? Wouldn't have told me the truth? Oh, wait, you did do that," I spoke rudely.

"Sam told me not to. I broke the rules by telling you." He said it as if he deserved some credit for the act.

"Oh, big deal. So did Sam when he first changed. I thought you were different." I said quietly, looking away from his face.

"I am different. I'm not going to hurt you like he did."

"You already have." Somehow finding the will, I turned my back on him and began walking towards the forests in the back of the Cullen's estate.

I heard the grass crunch as he jogged up to me. "Leah, can't you let me explain?"

"You already did. You're a wolf. I'm a wolf. End of story."

"But that's not what I wanted to clarify."

I turned to him abruptly. "I don't want to talk about this."

"We need to."

"No. What you need to do is leave before I tear you apart." I started walking away from him again.

This time, he grabbed my wrist. "Leah, please."

I turned back to him looking up at his face. He seemed like he was being torn apart from the inside. "Don't leave," he said in an almost incoherent whisper.

I relaxed a little. If it was hurting him this much –which was hurting me that much –maybe I owed him the opportunity to explain.

"Hurry up," I said to him, my hand slipping out of his grasp as I crossed my arms over my chest.

His dour expression lightened up a little. "That day in the woods, you left me there. I didn't know what to do. You didn't even try and talk about it with me. You just ran."

"Don't judge me," I said harshly. I had enough people judging me for the past two years, and he didn't need to join that club. "I run so that I don't get hurt."

"I'm not judging you. And I used to do the same thing."

I eyed him curiously. "What are you talking about?"

He sighed and reached for my hand. This time I let him, and his touch still sent tremors through my body, even though I tried to ignore him Just as I was trying to think of a way to give myself motive to walk away from him at that moment, he said, "Leah, I love you."

Wait… what?

"Huh?" I asked dumbly. I wasn't sure if I heard him right. I must've been imagining it. I could've sworn that he just said he loved me.

"I love you."

I guess I did hear correctly.

Before I could shape any kind of response –and since I was pratcially frozen from the sudden declaration -he said, "I loved you back in high school, but you were with Sam. And I left to LA, thinking that I could get over you. But I still ended up back here." He lips curved up slightly in the corners. "I can't stay away from you."

I wanted to be happy. I wanted to be ecstatic. He loved me. And I loved him.

But it didn't matter. And that hurt more than anything these past few days; the fact that if it wasn't for this stupid werewolf thing called "imprinting", we would be together.

Without realizing, I started to cry.

His eyes went wide. "What's the matter?"

"We can't be together," I said simply.

"Why not? I don't understand why you keep saying that."

"Because you're a werewolf. You will imprint on someone." I was pretty sure that no one had bothered explaining the incident to him, so I went on talking. "It's like… Imprinting is something that you can't fight. You don't love anyone as much as that one person. She'll mean everything to you. You'll only want her to be happy. You won't care about anyone else like that.

"Sam imprinted when Emily visited. That's how I was hurt. And now, it's happening all over again. I can't go through this, Vinnie," I choked on one of my sobs which was escaping my body.

"You won't have to," he said simply.

I looked back at him, and surprisingly, he was smiling widely."What-"

"I imprinted on you, Leah.'

I was pretty sure I was going to faint, but my werewolf side probably fought against it. I stopped breathing, and I'm sure my heart skipped a beat.

Someone imprinted on me.

Vinnie imprinted on me.

"You're my soul mate?" I asked him quietly.

"Yeah."

"And you… you love me?"

"I always have. Imprinting never changed that. Now I just know for sure that we really are meant to be together, just like I hoped before."

I stood there frozen, not sure what to do next.

He took a step towards me and wiped the tears that were on my face. "Leah, please say something. What do-"

"I love you, too," I said suddenly.

His grin got wider than before, his happiness seeming to lighten the grey sky before the storm that was coming. My arms wrapped around his neck, the feel of his hair tickling me fingertips. In reaction, his arms made their way around my waist, securing me where I was.

As if I would want to be anywhere else.

I could feel a few raindrops on my shoulder and making their way onto his face, but it didn't change the fact that right now, right at that very moment, I was happier than I had ever been in my life.

Overcome with the feeling and thinking of only one outlet for it, my lips landed on his.

Initially, I wanted to just savor the feel of being with him again, trying to hold myself back and give a sweet kiss. But it was not enough after so long of not having him with me. I needed more.

He seemed to be on the same page as me. His lips were desperate against mine, and his arms held me flush against him. Every taste we shared was filled with passion and longing, and best of all, love. My hands ran through his soft hair, memorizing the feel on my fingers. Even for a werewolf, my heart was racing at every touch and caress he gave me on my back. For some reason, though we were as close as humanly possible to each other, I felt like I couldn't get enough of him.

His lips moved form mine to my neck, and gasped with air I didn't even realize I was lacking.

"Leah," I heard him whisper against my throat.

For the first time since our avid make out session, I opened my eyes and soon realized that the rain was pouring around us.

I laughed.

His lips came up from my neck as he smiled in curiousity. "What's so funny?" he asked.

"Do you know how cliché this is?"

He looked confused.

"We're kissing in the rain. It's a classic situation in any romance."

"Well, on this occasion, I don't mind being cliché with you. Unless you rather we stopped…"

"Oh, no. By all means, please continue."

He laughed as his lips made their way back to mine.

Yes, it is a little cliche... But that's okay every once in a while, don't you think?

I hope you guys are enjoying the New Moon Trailer as much as I am... Goodness, does Taylor look AMAZING or what? I mean, he was gorgeous before, but now... goodness...

Oh, and one last thing: Did anyone else hear how the part of Leah is going to have an Open Casting Call? My sister says its just a thing so that the fans think they get a say in this, and then they'll go ahead and pick someone else. I personally would rather it be some new or upcoming indie star. But hey, I'm even sending in an audition. I fit the description, so why not? I mean, I act and love Leah. What better role is there for me? haha.

Cocoa.