Chapter 5: Have Some Faith

A few moments into the kiss, cheers and shouts burst through the peaceful silence. I pull away to find Quil, Embry, Lily, Kevin, Caleb and Michael smiling at us. Caleb, Michael and Kevin joined Jake's pack soon after they changed; they changed at the young age of fifteen. They preferred Jake's laid back Alpha stance as opposed to Sam's. Not to mention, the company of the Black pack is better than the company of the Uley pack. I look to Jake and smile as he sighs. He clearly wants them to disappear so he can keep kissing me.

"Hey guys!" I call to them.

"We must have missed something." Embry tells us with his arm around Lily. "When we left last night you two didn't seem interested in each other at all."

I shrug with a smile, "Things change." Jake's arm wraps around me. So that's what that feels like, I'd forgotten what it felt like to have someone's arm around you. It's so nice, it's like he's telling the world I'm his, he's not afraid of me, or ashamed of me, and he doesn't want to lose me. His arm around me is so warm; it makes me feel safe, but most of all it makes me so very happy.

…

The snow did stick. The pack had a snowball fight and afterwards Jake lay with me and Seth and Maggie and we watched movies as the snow kept falling. My mom made hot chocolate as she finished packing. It was the perfect snow day.

A few days later, I'm working at the diner and Seth walks in. Joy greets him and starts making his favorite menu item, a hot fudge sundae. Seth smiles to her appreciatively and sits at the bar. I serve one of the guests more coffee and I can feel him watching me. Before I can ask him anything Embry walks in. "Hey Joy! Hey Lee!" He calls and sits beside Seth. "Hey Seth, sorry I interrupted your conversation with Jake earlier. It looked pretty intense…" Then Embry seems to remember I'm around and he shuts up.

"What conversation with Jake?" I ask Seth as Joy sets down the sundae in front of Seth. Embry pulls the sundae in front of him and takes a bite before sliding it back to Seth.

Seth glares at Embry. "Sorry man… was I not supposed to say that?" Embry says.

"I was just talking to Jake about making decisions and going through with them." Seth says. "And I told him that if he was choosing to pursue things with you, then he needed to inform all of the Cullens, and he needed to distance himself from them. Did you know he's been over there all day? Are you okay with that?" Seth asks.

"Are you kidding me Seth? You talked to Jake about me? Of course I knew he was over there, he told me he was going over there today. What exactly did you say?" I ask Seth. I look over and my customer at my table seems to need help. "Hold that thought." I ask what the customer needs and I go to pick up his bill. I give it to him and then return to Seth. In a second, the customer is done. I thank him and tell him I hope to see him soon. Then he leaves. The diner has been pretty slow today, and no one else remains after he leaves.

"Okay Seth. Tell me what you told him." I tell him.

"He just seemed like nothing had changed with Nessie. But everything has changed. So I told him that if he plans on trying to make it work with you, he needed to be devoted to you. I told him that he needed to think about his decisions because right now they have a big influence on a lot of people's happiness right now. I said since he was choosing you, he needed to tell the Cullens and talk to Nessie so there is no issue with people believing one thing, and another happening. Then I went on to say that he needed to make sure he really did care about you like he says he does, and that he truly thinks that it's going to work out because he can't screw you over. And when Embry interrupted I told him if he hurt you I'd probably kill him." Seth says eating his ice cream.

I shake my head. "Seth… you shouldn't have done that. You've probably made him regret everything."

Seth shrugs. "I said what needed to be said Lee. And don't even try to say that you never threatened Maggie in case she hurt me. She told me your first conversation with her."

"That's different. I didn't tell her things to make her rethink everything from the past few days." I scrub the counter with a rag. Now, I'm very nervous that when I see Jake he's going to tell me he's rethought everything and regrets even starting this.

"Leah, we've been pretty slow tonight. You can go ahead and head home." Joy calls from the kitchen. "See you tomorrow!"

"Thanks Joy!" I call as I grab my bag and head for the door. "I'll see you guys later."

…

I walk up to Jake's door and knock. It takes Billy a moment but he answers the door with a smile on his face. "Hey Leah! Back already?" He smiles. I was just over here to have dinner with them last night. I've been spending a lot of time over here since Mom left and Jake told me that he thinks Billy gets lonely sometimes. I want Jake to be able to spend as much time with Billy as both of them needed. "Are you going to just stand out here or would you like to come in?" He smiles up to me as he rolls backwards.

"Coming in would be nice." I smile. "Is Jake here Billy?"

Billy shakes his head. "He's been away all day. I'm expecting him back home any time now. He said he'd be back before you got off of work, but I guess you beat him here." Billy says. He goes into the kitchen and gets a beer. He comes back into the living room. He offers me a seat on the couch and I sit down. Billy looks at me, "Is everything okay, Leah?" Billy asks.

"Everything just seems so complex, like one wrong move could make everything mess up. I don't want anything to mess up." I tell him and he nods. "Do you think Jake and I could really end up together? Do you think he could really pick to love me when he's supposed to be fated for Nessie? Are we just being foolish trying to fight fate?" I ask him.

"I'm a firm believer that we make our own fate, Leah. I'm pretty sure you and Jake feel the same way. You can sit around and wait to see where life guides you, or you can take control and decide where you want to go. I wouldn't have told Jake that he should go for it with you if I thought this would crash and burn. Just between you and me, I was really disappointed when Jake told me he imprinted on Nessie. I'd much rather he end up with a woman of the tribe, and I'd really enjoy it if that woman was you Leah." When he sees me smile he continues. "I think you sell yourself short, Leah. You are a lot better than you seem to think you are. I know it is hard; the odds don't seem to be in your favor, but have some faith Leah. I think you will be surprised, I think everyone will be surprised. Don't forget who you are, no matter what happens." And on that comment, I hear the Rabbit pull into the drive. It's strange that he drove the Rabbit, usually he just runs to the Cullens.

I smile to Billy. "Thank you. You always manage to say the right thing. I guess Jake gets that from you."

Billy smiles, "At least you don't eat all of our food like Paul. That makes you even better in my eyes." Billy winks.

We hear Jake walk in. "Dad! I'm home!" Jake calls as he walks in. He walks into the living room looking at the mail he picked up in the mailbox; he hasn't even seen that I'm here. "Has anyone stopped by while I've been gone? Paul didn't come over did he?"

"No, Paul didn't come over. Rachel and he were visiting some people and shopping today. Someone did stop by, the very pretty Leah, but I told her you wouldn't be coming home so she went home. She looked pretty upset." Billy smiles and winks to me.

"Dad!" Jake yells and looks up from the mail for the first time. His eyes meet mine, and his panic calms.

Billy starts laughing. "I wish you could have seen your face, Son. Priceless." Billy says. Jake smiles to Billy and then to me. "Leah just got here about fifteen minutes ago. Want me to fix something for dinner?" He looks to both of us.

I look to Jake and Jake nods. "That would be perfect. Lee, you don't have any plans right?" I shake my head. "Great." Jake smiles and walks over to me.

He's about to sit on the couch beside me but I stand up and take his hand. "Billy I need to talk to Jake. Do you need help getting started with dinner?" Billy shakes his head. "Okay, then we'll be right back." I say as I lead Jake out of the house.

"Am I in trouble?" Jake asks as we leave the house.