Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyers owns Twilight. I do not. I do however, own my 'gang'.
A/N: Also thanks to my awesome Beta, Blueboarderchick.
Thank you to my reviewers.
Chapter 30
"So, you say he doesn't remember anything at all?"
"Nope. Not a thing."
We were lying on blankets in the grass, out by the lake. I'd turned to Angela for a sympathetic ear after having been laughed at and teased by Leah for not, as she put it, being able to close the deal. I spent the better part of the morning blushing like an idiot every time Taylor spoke to me. Liz and Ryan kept shooting stupid, sneaky smiles at me, so I knew Ryan had opened his big mouth once again. Zach was much too preoccupied with chasing Leah to make any of his usual perverted remarks.
"Do you want him to remember?" Angela inquired gently, and our eyes noticed Leah sitting alone at the picnic table. She was watching Liz and Ryan kissing in the lake. Her eyes were sad and bitter as she watched them. I could identify with how she felt, and I too was envious of what they had.
I opened my mouth to say no, but then I decided to be honest. "I don't know."
"He likes you, you know? I can see that much." Angela commented, looking at me out of the corner of her eye.
I don't know why Angela's observation gave me a tiny thrill but it did. "I'm beginning to realize that."
"Do you like him?"
"What's not to like? He's…" My voice trailed off as I watched Taylor's form, effortlessly gliding through the water. I began again only to pause again, trying to think of all the things that made Taylor who he was. "He's…" wonderful, talented, beautiful, sexy, sensitive, intelligent, funny as hell… "He's Taylor. But…"
"But what?" Angela prompted.
I sighed. "It wouldn't work out."
Angela was clearly annoyed as she rolled her eyes. "And why the hell not, Bella? Guys like Taylor don't come along every day. You could have something really special together."
"That's exactly why I can't date him." I turned to face her and lowered my voice. "There are things that I can never talk about, Angela. Secrets I could never tell anyone. How can I have a real relationship with anyone if I can't be honest?" In the corner of my eye I saw Leah turn her head slightly in our direction, so I knew she was listening.
Angela, being the astute woman that she was, chose not to question me about my secrets. "I guess I can see your point." Angela's furrowed brows created premature wrinkles on her forehead.
"Besides, I'm not looking for anything serious right now." Or ever again. My past experiences had taught me that there wouldn't be a happily ever after for me. Sooner or later something would come along to ruin things, and I just didn't have the courage to risk having my heart smashed again. I'd had enough of love kicking my ass.
Angela shook her head and cooed, "That's a shame because the girl that lands Taylor will be the luckiest girl in the world. That man's a keeper."
"Well then, if you think he's so great, why don't you ask him out?" I teased.
"Because I'm not the one he wants to bend over a table." Angela quipped.
"Angela!"
I heard Leah cackling at us over by the table. Eavesdropping heifer.
Just at that moment, Taylor came jogging out of the water Baywatch style, drawing Angela's and my complete attention. It was a beautiful sight. Rivulets of water ran down his well-sculpted chest and stomach. Oh, to be one of those water drops right now. His dark blue board shorts hung dangerously low on his hips, exposing his V-lines. Raising a strong muscular arm, he brushed his wet, black hair away from his face.
My stomach flip-flopped, and I mumbled in awe, "Good lord."
Angela was just as mesmerized as I was. "You said it, sister."
I was so caught up in my ogling that I didn't see when Leah had moved off the table to snag a spot on the blanket next to me, until she said, "The man's body is a work of art, Bella." I almost jumped out of my skin at the nearness of her voice.
"That's what I've been telling her. She should totally tap that." A wry grin lit up Angela's face.
My head swung in her direction. "Angela!"
Leah crossed one gloriously long leg over the other and smirked. "I bet he's real good in the sack too. Probably God-like even."
"Yeah, I can definitely see him being a tiger in bed. All rough and dominating." Angela then tried to imitate Taylor's voice with the Spanish accent. "He'd be like 'Bella, drop those panties, now!'"
Leah laughed and added in a voice that was supposed to be mine, "Yes, Taylor! I want you to put some Spanish in me." They then broke into peals of laughter while I groaned in mortification. Oh God! Why me? I was beginning to regret telling them about what almost happened last night.
Cheeks burning, my head turned back to Leah and I blurted, "Just shut it, Leah!" At the rate they were going I would have whiplash by the end of the day. The two bitches were tag teaming me. They were like two little she-devils sitting on my shoulders, trying to get me to do bad things. Preferably, to Taylor.
Having safely made it to shore, Taylor face broke into a smile as his piercing green eyes landed on me, and he waved. Redness engulfed my face as I waved back halfheartedly. He grabbed his towel off the grass and set off in the direction of the house. Just as Taylor disappeared into the house, Zach emerged holding Suzie Q in his hands. Zach's eyes lit up as they found Leah, and he made his way over to us.
He sat down next to Leah. "I'd like you to meet my Suzie Q." Instinctively, Angela and I shrank away to the edge of the blanket. We knew the snake wasn't dangerous. She was even kind of cute when she curled herself into a ball trying to hide. We just weren't that crazy about snakes in general.
Leah shocked the hell out of me as she complimented Suzie Q. "Wow, she has a beautiful color. Chocolate brown with a yellow underbelly. Gorgeous." Suzie Q turned her head in Leah's direction and flicked her tongue. Leah lifted a finger and gently stroked Suzie Q's head. I didn't know Leah was a snake lover.
Zach looked like a proud papa as he beamed at Leah. "Do you want to hold her?" What? Zach never let anyone hold Suzie Q. This was a big freaking deal. Angela raised an eyebrow at me, and we both waited with bated breath for Leah's answer.
"Okay, sure." Leah replied, and I was bowled over. What the hell is this? Leah was actually being somewhat nice to Zach and his snake when I'd actually expected her to toss them both in the lake. What the hell happened between them last night? Zach placed the snake on Leah's shoulders and Suzie Q quickly coiled herself around Leah's neck, imitating a weird necklace.
When Suzie stuck her head down Leah's shirt, Angela giggled, "I think she likes you, Leah." I couldn't help but giggle too. On a regular day, Leah could be as friendly as a rattle snake. So, I supposed Suzie Q might have recognized a bit of herself in Leah.
Zach grinned lecherously as he perused Leah's cleavage. "I think Suzie Q has the best ideas. I would love to trade places with her right now."
Rolling her amusement filled eyes; Leah gently uncoiled an overly curious Suzie Q from her neck and handed her back to Zach. Happy to be back with her owner, Suzie Q tightly wrapped herself around both of his hands.
Leah chose that moment to lean in close to Zach. Placing one hand on his leg and the other on his shoulder she asked in a low, sultry tone. "So, you think Suzie Q has the best ideas?" Leah looked like a captivating seductress as she smiled sexily.
His Adam's apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed thickly. In the same tone Leah asked breathlessly, "Do you really want to do what Suzie Q just did?" With glazed, hazel eyes Zach nodded as if hypnotized.
Allowing her hand to trail further up Zach's thigh, Leah leaned in close until she was a breath away from kissing him. Zach closed his eyes in response, savoring her closeness. Leah paused then whispered, "It's never gonna happen."
And with that said, she stood up and walked back toward the house, leaving me and Angela rolling around on the ground, practically hysterical with laughter. Meanwhile, Zach remained sitting in his spot staring after Leah's retreating figure with stars in his eyes. A look I've never seen on him before.
It was at that moment I realized that Zachery Grey had finally found his match and her name was Leah Clearwater. God help us all.
Leah and Zach's interaction was hilarious to watch. He would use every opportunity he got to hit on Leah, and she would always put him in his place which was a good thing, because Zach could be such a tool sometimes. But the odd thing was that they both seemed to be enjoying their little battles. The air would sizzle with intensity around them as they argued. He even had an adorable little nickname for her. He called her Lee. The first time Zach did it, Ryan spit soda on Taylor which resulted in Taylor smacked him in the head. Zach was definitely crushing on Leah, big time. They were both sinfully attractive and seemed to balance each other out. I was already imagining the beautiful kids they would have together and they weren't even together yet. They would make the perfect couple, and I knew Leah would be able to keep Zach's wondering eye in check. That was, if Leah didn't murder Zach first.
I knew she was attracted to him even when she pretended not to be impressed by his muscles. Whenever Zach pranced around shirtless like a male peacock displaying its feathers in a ploy to snag a female, she would roll her eyes and even yawn. He would follow her around like a love-sick puppy and she would even… shudder… help him feed Suzie Q. Zach was good for her. Leah needed someone to make her laugh and remind her not to take herself too seriously. These days Leah definitely smiled more. And it was a beautiful thing to see as it transformed Leah's features making her even more alluring.
Here, Leah was a different person. She had the chance to be happy and start over again. But I knew she had to return to Washington in a few days. I wished she would stay and maybe even move to Hanover, but I understood that she had responsibilities and couldn't leave the pack right now. I wasn't looking forward to her going back. And now, having snagged Zach's undivided attention, I didn't think he looked forward to her leaving either.
The day of Sam and Emily's wedding rolled around, and I organized a small paintball war in the vain hope of keeping Leah's mind off of it. We were divided into two teams. Girls against boys. It might have seemed a little unfair if not for the fact that the girls had a secret weapon. Namely, Leah and her super hearing and smelling abilities.
Leah was like a real life mercenary, ruthless to the core. I told her this after she used Angela as a human shield and to take out Danny. She caught Liz and Ryan groping in some bushes and shot them both. Liz, she shot on the grounds of treason. Zach took at shot for Leah while protecting her from Taylor. Leah shot Zach again in the foot after he asked her how she planned to reward him for his sacrifice. Using me as bait, she shot Taylor after he shot me. It was safe to assume Leah was working out her aggression, but I knew she was enjoying herself also.
That night we sat in the grass outside and watched the lake in silence. Leah had been in a somber mood and didn't want to join the others in their ping pong game. Even Zach, sensing her melancholy, was keeping his distance. I knew Leah's mind was on Sam and Emily. They were probably dancing the night away at their reception right now. Laughing and looking into each others eyes with love; talking about their future together while Leah sat here alone probably feeling like a part of her heart had just been ripped out of her chest. It just didn't seem fair.
"You know, I was there when it happened." She picked up a stone and tossed it into the black, reflective surface of the lake creating ripples.
"When what happened?"
"I was there when Sam imprinted on Emily. It happened right in front of me."
"God, Leah." I murmured. At that moment, I couldn't think of anything more awful.
"I got to see the exact moment Sam fell in love with Emily. One minute I was introducing my fiancé to my cousin and best friend who I hadn't seen in years and the next…"Her voice trailed off as she slipped the hardened mask back on her face. It was the first I'd seen of it since her visit and I wasn't the least bit happy to see its return. "The next minute Sam's calling off our engagement and telling me that he's leaving me for my cousin." Her laugh was bitter and full of hurt.
God, what a nightmare. Once again I was grateful I wasn't there when Jacob met Carmen. Witnessing something like that would have destroyed me. There wasn't anything I could say to comfort her, so I wrapped my arm around her and lay my head on her shoulder instead.
"You do realize you're hugging me, right?" She made no attempt to move away.
"Oh shut it." I grumbled softly.
Leah leaned her head against mine. I knew all too soon, the day would come when I would need a hug from Leah. The day when Jacob married Carmen. I felt Leah's shoulder shake slightly, and I realized that she was crying or at least doing her best to hold back her tears. It wasn't long before my own tears made hot trails down my cheeks. We both shared the same pain.
After a moment, I pulled away, wiping at the tears on my face. "No, Leah. We're not doing this anymore. We've cried enough tears over those wolves to last a lifetime. I want us to make a pact." I was sick of it. Here we sat, crying over men who were not crying over us. I wasn't going to do it anymore.
Leah wiped the tears off her face with the back of her hand and asked, "A pact to do what?"
"Let's make a pact to never shed one more tear over Sam and Jacob. Deal?" I held my hand out.
Pausing for a moment to consider my proposal, Leah reached out and shook my hand. "Deal."
A slightly cold breeze rustled the tree leaves causing me to shiver a bit. My t-shirt was way too thin for this kind of night action. "Hey, you wanna head in now?" I pointed my thumb in the direction of the house.
Leah shook her head. "Nah. I think I'll hang out here for a bit. I'll be in a little later." She offered me a small smile. I knew things would be harder for Leah, having Emily and Sam shoved in her face and mind constantly would be a hard thing to get over.
"Okay, then." Deciding to give her some space, I stood up and walked back to the house. As I neared the porch steps I saw Zach and Taylor sitting next to each other at the bottom of the stairs. I wondered if they'd been there long enough to see our moment.
Zach's eyes were filled with concern as he looked at Leah's lone figure sitting by the lake. "Is she all right?"
I couldn't believe what I was about to ask. "Zach, I need you to go over there and hit on my friend." Leah definitely needed some cheering up right now and Zach would be a great distraction.
"You're actually setting me loose?" He asked in disbelief.
"Easy, boy. I didn't say you could bring out Zach the lecher. Just be nice about it, okay? She's having a tough time."
Zach the pervert receded back into the dingy depths of his mind. "Oh, okay." Maybe he really did like her. Zach pushed himself off stairs and set off in her direction while I took his spot next to Taylor.
Taylor wrapped an arm around my shoulder, and I leaned into his embrace. "Are you okay?" His scent made me think of a Mediterranean island breeze, woodsy and aromatic.
Doing my best not to think of how good he smelled, I mumbled. "I will be." I wouldn't allow myself to keep living in the past. This was the only life I had, and I planned to get on with it. Letting go was not a one and done thing. It was something you had to do over and over again.
A/N:That scene with Leah and Angela teasing Bella was so fun to write. So was the paintball craziness.
What do you think of Leah leaving Zach huffing and puffing?
Coming up next:Bella examines Taylor's tattoo up close and they have some fun together.
More Leah/Zach teasing.
Someone gets naked and a certain blue-eyed guy gives Bella a call.
If you want your chapter before next Thursday you know what to do.Review!