Chapter 79

Masen took a deep breath and looked at himself in the mirror. He styled his short, curly blond hair in a way he felt made him look best. The buttondown shirt he threw on over khakis complimented him well, and he completed the outfit with a pair of Carlisle's leather shoes. He had just hunted and his eyes were practically shining.

The doorbell rang and his eyes lit up. He threw his wallet in the back of his pants and headed downstairs.

Alice let Leah inside and gave her a welcoming hug as she entered. "You look amazing," she told her.

Masen entered the room. He felt his heart leap out of his chest. Leah looked beautiful. She wore a red dress that stopped just above the knee and a shimery silver necklace that matched a set up silver hoop earrings. Black heels completed the outfit. No model in the world could compare to the way she looked at that moment. Her perfume triggered his senses and the pupils of his eyes became dark and enlarged.

"Hi," he said, looking visibly stunned.

"Hi," Leah said wit ha smile, "You don't mind if I drive you do?"

Masen shook his head, "If that's what you want."

Alice smiled at the two of them, then looked at Masen, "I'll leave you two alone. Have fun." She pinched his cheek as she went by, and he laughed.

Leah smiled, "So, are we ready for a night out?"

"Ready," Masen told her. The two of them looked around the empty room, surprised that no one had come in to interrupt them, whether purposely or not. When no one did, Masen escorted Leah out the front door.

When they arrived at her car, Masen opened the driver's seat door, allowing Leah to enter first.

"Thank you," she said, finding her place behind the wheel.

Masen then jumped into the passenger seat and let Leah lead the way. About twenty minutes later, they arrived at a little comedy club that was tucked away in the downtown area of Forks.

"Where are we?" Masen asked with a smile.

Leah cut the engine, "This comedy club I used to come to quite a bit," she told him, "When I wasn't so happy all the time, I used to come here to kind of escape. It gave me a reason to laugh and feel okay, even if just for an hour." Leah saw Masen's expression grow slightly sad, "I heard even Jerry Seinfeld came here once," she said with a smile to bring the mood back to light.

"He's the one with that show, right?" Masen ask, returning the smile.

Leah laughed, "I forget, he was a little before your time. But yes."

Masen continued to smile, then let it fade. "How come you were so unhappy before?"

Leah shrugged shyly.

"I don't mean to pry," Masen told her, "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

She raised her eyes to him, "I wasted so many years of my life being miserable, Masen," she shook her head in disgust, "I hated my life. I hated myself. I hated love."

"Was it because of Sam?"

Leah nodded, "Partially, yes. I couldn't accept his and Emily's relationship at first. I thought we were in love, but now I realize that it was just a big crush; a first love. I let those feelings drag the rest of me down. I didn't like seeing anyone happy, I was rude to everyone..." She laughed briefly then became serious again, "When I first saw you, all of that changed. I felt alive, and as much as I initially tried to fight it, I was so naturally happy. I couldn't even make myself feel sad if I tried."

Masen listened intently, and nodded.

"Now, don't get me wrong. When I first met you, I didn't have those lovey dovey feelings you get when you fall in love with someone," she smiled, "I felt like more of a big sister at the time. I wanted to protect you, and just be there for you."

"How do you feel now?" He asked.

Leah felt butterflies in her stomach, "My feelings have started to change," she admitted, "To be honest, it wasn't until a few days ago that, you know, I looked at you and I finally did feel those types of feelings," she laughed, "Those 'lovey dovey' feelings."

Masen smiled, "So, you didn't have them when I kissed you that time?"

She laughed, "Not exactly... but that was very bold of you."

He laughed with her, "Yeah. I don't know what I was thinking."

They looked at each other for a few seconds before Leah said, "Are you ready to in?"

Masen nodded, "Yeah." He got out of the car and headed over toward her side. Leah had already exited the car, "Oh, I was going to get that for you," he said.

"Oh, sorry," she said, "Thanks."

Masen held out his arm and Leah grabbed a hold of it around his elbow with a smile. They entered the small comedy club, and Masen paid for the pair of tickets. A man was already on stage, spouting out jokes and make the audience crack up in unison, making fun of a few people in the front row on occasion.

Leah and Masen sat toward the back and watched the local comedians as they paraded out one after another, trying to get the approval of the strangers before them.

"Can I get you something to eat or drink?" Masen asked.

She nodded, "If it's not too much trouble."

He shook his head, "Of course not. What would you like?"

"Want to share some popcorn and a Sprite, or root beer?" Leah asked, then took her words back, "Oh.. yeah.."

Masen laughed, "I'll get you both. Had plenty of... food.. before you came over. I'll be right back." He went to the snack bar area and came back momentarily with a medium sized popcorn and a large root beer soda. "They were out of Sprite."

Leah smiled, "Thanks." She felt on top of the world in that moment. Even in her previous relationship with Sam, she now realized how little he actually did for her. He wasn't a bad guy or anything, but Masen truly put himself second in the short time that they had been in each other's lives. She could see it in his eyes how genuine he was.

A laugh escaped Masen's throat at one the jokes that had just been told by the comedian on stage. Leah looked over at him, finding herself lost in his laughter. He was more than she could have ever dreamed of, and she was lucky enough to have him at her side. It was in that moment when her feelings truly hit her and came to the surface. She clutched the necklace she was wearing with one hand, and felt her face begin to feel flush and hot. Before tonight, she was certain that she and Masen would end up together, and was overly happy knowing that. She recognized days before that her feelings were beginning to change and develop for him, but it wasn't until right now in this specific moment, that she really felt it deep in her heart. She had completely fallen for him.

Masen stopped laughing, as the man on stage waved his hand and thanked the audience before leaving the stage. Another man took his place and gave closing comments as the show came to a close. People began to trickle out of the exits and a clean up crew appeared from all angles to make the place look presentable for the following night.

"Shall we?" Masen asked, reaching for Leah's hand.

She swallowed hard, as if seeing him for the first time, "Yes."

He grinned and lead her by the hand back to where the car was parked, opening her door again before joining her inside. "That was fun," he said.

"I'm glad you had a good time," she started the car, trying to dull the overwhelming feelings in the pit of her stomach that were becoming impossible to ignore.

Masen put an arm on the back of her headrest and crossed his feet, trying to calm his mind of the questions he was asking himself. It didn't help much, as the little voice in his head continued to ask, 'Do I kiss her, or do I not?'

Most of the car ride home was silent, and music played at a low volume on the radio. Both of them were appearingly nervous after a very fun night out together. It wasn't long before Leah's car swung back into the Cullens' driveway and came to a hault with the engine still on.

Masen looked at her with a half grin, "I really had a good time tonight," he said, "And I feel bad that you had to drive."

Leah smiled, "It's totally fine. Thank you for paying for the tickets, and for the popcorn... and the soda." Her heart melted, looking into his golden eyes that had just a hint of black peeking through the middle.

"It's no problem," he said, not breaking eye contact. He looked down at Leah's hand, and pushed the car from 'drive' to 'park'. Leah's foot left the break and she leaned over on Masen's lead and kissed him. He unclicked his seatbelt and tossed it to the side, making sure her lips didn't part from his. Their brief make out session lasted a few minutes before Leah pushed him away with a wide smile.

Masen leaned back into his seat and there was a silence before both of them laughed together, that sounded more like a giggle. "Well," Masen said, "We should probably do this again some time."

Leah nodded, still giggling, "Some time soon?"

He smiled, "Very soon."

"Okay." She reluctantly unlocked the doors and Masen leaned in one more time to kiss her before he smiled and got out of the car. He waved as Leah pulled away and headed back to her house.

For a few minutes, he stood in the driveway, watching as her tail lights disappeared around a bend, beforing heading back inside. He knew for sure he would get interrogated by his brothers the second he stepped inside.