Hey, hey, hey! I drew the new front cover for this story, it's of Michelle! You can't really see the length of her hair, but I am extremely proud of it.
Thankyou to TheGreatDesign for being my beta reader, you are awesome!
Last Chapter:
"I suppose it's my turn to push you out the door now?" Seth called, his head poking out the doorway.
"How about, no."
"What's this about pushing people out of doors?" Sue raised an eyebrow at her son who was still peeking out from behind the doorway.
"Well, it's a funny story really-"
"-That we are going to save for another day," I glared at Seth, but my mouth twitched with humour. Let's not discuss how embarrassingly wrong I was. I mean, mistaken. I wasn't wrong I was just... mistaken.
"Uh-huh," Sue said warily before speaking to Seth. "Are you going out now?"
"Yeah, Leah's coming down in a few minutes." Seth's eyes flickered towards mine for a millisecond, and he visibly cringed. What's that all about? I raised an eyebrow at him, but he didn't respond.
"I'm sorry to chuck you guys out so early," Sue said, looking rather embarrassed. "But I also need to go out and attend to a few things, could you come and visit another time, maybe?"
"Of course, Sue." Kim smiled kindly at her and stood up. "Both of us are staying at Sam and Emily's at the moment, so you can come and see us there anytime if you want." Sue nodded and also rose from her chair.
"LEAH!" She suddenly bellowed and all three of us jumped. "GET YOUR LAZY ASS DOWN HERE, WE HAVEN'T GOT ALL DAY!"
"COME ON, TWO MORE MINUTES!" A voice from upstairs shrieked back, Sue's eyes narrowed menacingly. I bit my tongue hard to try and stifle the laugh that was creeping up my throat. God, this must have been how me and Mom sounded when we yelled at each other, I wonder how Seth ever kept a straight face.
"I'M GIVING YOU TEN SECONDS MAX!"
"MOM-"
"Nine... Eight... Seven..." Sue counted, crossing her arms and glaring hard at the staircase where Leah would be entering if she actually came down at all.
"FINE."
There were several bangs and crashes and heavy things rolling around upstairs, I was starting to think that she had created a fort around her bed with her bedroom furniture. But just as I was about to suggest that Seth –definitely not me, I value my life too much- should go and drag her out of her room, a rather murderous looking Leah stomped down the stairs and into the living room. Her hair was spiking out at all angles and she had big bags under her eyes.
Just as Leah took in a deep breath of air to probably scream at her Mother, I took this time to make my presence known. Yeah, that wasn't my finest moment.
"Hello, Leah." I grinned at her. "You are looking beautiful this morning."
They all stared at me incredulously; Leah's eye actually twitched and a shudder went through her body. Uh-oh, common side effect of steroids among clones. ABORT! ABORT!
"Thank you," Leah sneered at me. "It's a shame I can't say the same for you. Compared to you a plastic bag looks like a wedding dress."
...Well.
"Did it take the same amount of time to think up that insult as it did to cut your hair?" I shot back, taking a step towards her.
"Why you filthy-"
"We're leaving!" Kim squeaked out, grabbing my arm and pulling me to the front door. Seth's booming laugh and Leah's angry protests followed us out. "You certainty have a way with people." Kim breathed once we were a few houses down the road.
"It's a gift," I shrugged and Kim rolled her eyes.
"You better hope she doesn't make your life miserable now." She warned, brushing her blonde hair out of her eyes. "She's getting quite good at that."
I simply raised an eyebrow at her.
Kim sighed, "Well I guess I should tell you what happened with her, she hasn't always like this. She actually used to be quite nice."
"Wow."
"Yes, it's shocking. I know."
"Well I guess in my case, I don't need a reason to be a conceited bitch."
"You special child," Kim grinned at me. "Anyways, here's the scary part: Leah and Sam used to be engaged."
"...They what?"
"Uh-huh." Kim nodded at my horrified expression. But, Sam and Emily... they looked so... "Six months before the wedding, Sam met Emily, and I guess you could say he met his perfect match."
"So he just... he just called it off? 'Oops, there's been a mistake, I'm meant to fall in love with your cousin, not you. Buh-bye now.' Who the hell does that!?" I yelled, getting some strange looks from people passing by.
"Leah was upset for a long time and she hasn't been the same since. She has suffered so much; she seems to think it's her job now to make people suffer as well. It's not like she hurts people," Kim backtracked quickly. "But she likes to bring up things with the guys that they would rather not think about."
"That explains some things," I muttered, thinking of the exchange between Leah and Emily on my first visit. Poor Leah, it must have been terrible for her. I wonder why she spends so much time at their house if she's so resentful. "Poor Leah."
"Yeah, and now she's going to be a bridesmaid for their wedding." Kim cringed, probably thinking of how horrible it would be. "Don't be mad at Emily though, it's not really her fault. These things happen."
Pfft.
Ruining your cousin's life by marrying their fiancé and then making them the bridesmaid, just another day in La Push. These things happen, my ass.
"I'm serious, Michelle." Kim said, obviously seeing the glint in my eyes. "Emily is already insecure about it, and you do not want to face the wrath of Sam Uley."
"I'm terrified." I deadpanned, but Kim did have a point. Sam was one scary dude. "Okay fine, I won't say anything. But only because you said... and her cookies are good."
"Oh! That reminds me; Emily saved some cookies for us today." Kim giggled and pulled me along into a slow jog. "Quickly, or else someone will find them and eat them!"
"For the last time, woman." I swatted her hand off my arm. "I can walk myself!"
"Well then walk yourself faster!" Kim latched back onto my arm and continued to drag me.
"I give up," I said, letting her pull me along. Who knew Kim was so food possessive?
We finallymade it back to the house. I was panting, and Kim was beaming as she walked straight in without knocking. You'd think that she'd be the one tired, since she had practically carried an extra sixty kilograms. I had tripped over several tree roots, rocks, pebbles and air particles because I couldn't see where I was going.
"Emily!" Kim sang, searching for said woman and leaving me alone in the lounge room.
"Is she looking for the cookies?" Paul called out from the sofa.
"Yeah." I replied, trying to catch my breath.
"Well it looks like there's no more midnight rendezvous' for Jared for a while." Paul snickered and I burst out laughing. After all that, it was Jared who ate her precious cookies. I held onto the back of a chair for support as I gasped for air between laughter. I must have looked like a dying horse, or a horse giving birth. I suddenly froze mid-laughter.
I just laughed at something Paulsaid. Paul.
What.
The.
Fuck.
"Michelle! Michelle, are you alright?!" I blinked a couple of times to refocus and immediately shrank away from Paul's face that was inches from mine. What did I tell you about the bubble!?
"Yeah, I'm fine, just a bit dehydrated." I mumbled and blushed at his close proximity. Ew... I did not just blush.
"I'll get you some water!" Paul declared and filled up a glass in record time.
"Uh... thanks?" I stared at him for a few seconds before taking the glass and downing the water in one go. I stood there awkwardly, drumming my fingers on the sides of the glass. Thankfully Paul wasn't standing as close as before.
"What's your favourite colour?" He blurted out randomly, I thought about the question for a moment before answering.
"Anything that reminds me of death, or the horrors of war and vampires."
"Really?" Paul frowned deeply and his fingers twitched.
"No, that was sarcasm." I replied.
"Very funny."
"I try."
"What's your actual favourite colour?" Paul said, leaning back against the back of the couch. Wait a second, where was everyone else? And where the hell did Kim go?
"Why do you care?" I retorted and folded my arms across my chest.
"Just answer the question!" He yelled and his hands started twitching violently, spreading up to his broad shoulders.
"Okay! Calm down!" I stepped forward and placed my arm up on his shoulder, his shaking stopped immediately and he stared down at me in wonder.
"Sorry about that," He muttered, looking ashamed but not keeping his eyes off mine.
"It's alright," I gave him a small smile. "By the way, my favourite colour is light blue." Suddenly, I realised that my hand was still on his shoulder and pulled it off like it was on fire. "I'm just going to go and tell Kim the good news." I said hurriedly and walked swiftly from the room.
Half of me was gagging at touching him for that length of time, a quarter of me was swooning over how huge his muscles were, and the other quarter was wondering where the hell Kim went.
The telltale sound of women giggling interrupted my thoughts. I tip-toed closer to hear what they were saying.
"Did you see that!?" One of them whispered excitedly.
"They were having a moment!"
"Who was having a moment?" I rounded the corner and raised my eyebrows at Kim, Emily and Claire. I should have guessed, it's not like Embry and Brady went gossiping about other people in their spare time. Although that would be quite funny... and weird.
"Er, well... Emily?" Kim spluttered and turned to Emily, who muttered something like 'traitor' under her breath.
"Well... um," She started hesitantly.
"Go on."
"We were... discussing the movie Titanic." Emily said lamely. I snorted; Titanic can be turned into an excuse for anything.
"Yes!" Claire jumped on that excuse straight away. "We were discussing the part where Rose is about to commit suicide and then Jake saves her and sweeps her up in his strong arms-"
I rolled my eyes at her dreamy voice.
"When her evil fiancé's man-bitch comes in and RUINS EVERYTHING!" Claire threw her hands up in the air. I didn't think Claire was one to swear, but I guess Titanic brings out the worst in people.
"Oh, I hated that guy." Emily agreed. "I loved the part when-"
Kim cleared her throat. "I think Michelle got the overall point."
"Uh-huh."
"Sorry," Claire grinned meekly. "I got a bit carried away."
"No kidding. Oh and by the way, Kim, Jared ate all your cookies."
"...HE WHAT!" She shrieked and stalked towards the kitchen.
"He's not there, Kim!" I called out to her and laughed as I heard her stomp her feet. Paul must be having a real ball watching this.
"Don't worry, Kimmy!" Emily yelled as well. "He'll be back within the hour!"
I waited for forty seven minutes and when Jared finally came -followed by Embry and I think Quil- Kim decided to disappoint us all by dragging him outside and yelling at him out there. I think Paul was rather gutted too, who wouldn't want to see their best friend yelled at by his girlfriend for taking her cookies.
Claire and I sat on the sofa and laughed soundlessly as Jared tried to defend himself.
"But babe, if I had known they were yours I wouldn't have taken them."
"So you'd only take cookies from other poor helpless people? Good to know, Jared. Good. To. Know."
Seth and Leah didn't come until dinner time and Seth burst out laughing as soon as soon as he saw me.
"What?" I stared at him as he clutched his stomach for support and roared with laughter. Everyone else had fallen silent and was looking back and forth between us.
"Man, you are hilarious." He managed to choke out, he was laughing so hard that he wasn't making any noise at all.
"...I didn't even do anything."
Seth just kept laughing.
"Well, I'm just going to go eat." I backed away slowly. "Don't kill yourself."
"Should we go help him?" Emily muttered to Sam as I sat down next to Leah.
"...Nah," Sam replied, filling his plate with potatoes, peas and numerous pieces of steak.
"Your brother is weird," I said to Leah as she filled her plate to the edges as well.
"Hn," She glared back at me and started munching on a carrot.
"Hey, you're not still mad about before, are you?" Her reply was a rather loud crunch of the carrot. "Come on, your hair looks fine, but you do look a bit tense today..."
Leah growled.
"Tense and beautiful," I finished quickly. Leah rolled her eyes, but grinned at me. "You got a little..." I motioned to her front tooth that had a bit of carrot around it. Leah's smile immediately dropped.
Before I realised what her intentions were, she picked up a piece of potato and squashed it into my hair.
"You got a little..." She mocked and pointed to the top of my head.
I picked up my piece of steak and flung it at her face, sauce and all. She gasped as it rolled down her face, over her eyes and onto her clothes. Everyone at the table froze and waited for Leah's reaction as she took deep breaths.
"Why you little bitch." She thrust forward her glass of water and I screamed as it splattered all over my face. I was vaguely aware of the laughter and egging on from the guys. "These were new shorts!"
"Stop them, Sam." I heard Emily protest. "This is my favorite table cloth."
"Alright, Leah. That's enough," Sam said, his voice full of authority. He has got to teach me how to do that.
"Yeah Leah, stop now before you get food in your hair." Leah lunged at me and I squealed, jumping out of my chair and running out of the room laughing. I haven't had a good laugh like that in years; there must have been something in the water here. I waited five minutes before peeking my head out the doorway.
I took one look at Leah and snorted, not very tactful, I must say. Leah looked up with an angry look on her face, before breaking into fits of laughter. I fell into the room and started laughing as well. We both must have looked ridiculous, my hair full of potato and my t-shirt and face completely wet -they were huge cups-, Leah had tomato sauce and meat all over her face and singlet, and we were both doubled over with laughter.
Everyone was shocked into silence, they probably hadn't even seen Leah smile before, let alone laugh.
Leah managed to get up from the floor and, still laughing, dragged me out of the room. We managed to calm down enough to catch our breath, and Leah grinned and shook her head at me.
"...Emily, what the hell did you put in those peas?" We heard Embry say from the kitchen.
This chapter is a bit shorter, I know. And these are BIG helpings of potato and steak, so it was very messy. A tiny bit of PaulXMichelle in this one! Hope you enjoyed it!
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