Seven Days – Thursday
Leah
I slipped into my bedroom via the window. Since it was well after midnight, my mother and brother would be asleep. Having them burst into my room to find me buck naked on the floor and smelling like sex and Edward would not be the ideal way to end my day.
After gathering clean clothes, I showered in a desperate attempt to wash Edward's scent off of me. Not that I wanted to get rid of his scent. Like I'd told him– he smelled like the sun, dry and clean, almost like laundry. It was strange, considering that when I'd first met Edward, his smell repulsed me, like every other vampire I'd met.
Then again, the first time we met…I already knew Edward was different. Today had only solidified that feeling. And then there were all the other feelings. The feelings that went against everything I'd ever known.
I let myself get carried away, something that never happened. Not these days anyways. These days I spent my time with the pack being careful. I was careful to not let them hear me and careful not to piss anyone off.
It wasn't that I actually cared about their feelings or what they thought. I was mostly looking out for myself. The difficult thing was having every thought I ever had out in the open for all of them to hear. So, I learned to turn it off when I was in wolf form and, according to Edward, while I was human, too.
The funny thing was that I didn't want to hide things from Edward. I wanted to tell him about myself, about everything I'd been bottling up. I wanted to have someone to talk to for once.
With a sigh, I wrapped a fluffy towel around myself and stood in front of the mirror.
"Shit!" I whispered loudly, finally getting a look at myself. "Rode hard and put away wet" would be a conservative way to put it. My lips were swollen and light, already fading bruises decorated my jaw, as well as my shoulders. I dropped my towel to see the rest of the damage, and then turned around. The scratches on my back were already pink and healed; the scars would be gone in no time. Funny, when I was pressed up against that tree getting hurt was the last thing on my mind...
I shivered pleasantly at the thought and pulled on a t-shirt. All the evidence would be gone in a few hours and then I'd only have my memories. I was positive it wouldn't happen again, no matter how much I wanted it. As right as it felt to be with Edward... I knew it was wrong...right?
Falling asleep that night was easy, though my dreams were filled with Edward yet again. Only this time my dream Edward didn't have red eyes and there was no body around him. These dreams were reminiscent of our day together. I could practically feel his cold hands on my skin, his lips on mine, and the way he felt inside me…it was no surprise when I woke up with the sun, sweating.
"Rough night?" my mother asked as she poured me a cup of coffee.
"No, it was fine," I muttered and tried to keep my face impassive.
She set the cup in front of me. "Did everything turn out the other night?"
I nodded and smiled a quick thanks for the kindness. "Almost."
"What's that mean?"
"We weren't- we weren't quick enough." I trailed off, swallowing hard, and let my gaze drift to the kitchen window. A figure moved between the trees and my eyes tightened.
"You can't save everyone, baby," my mother said softly; I felt the warmth of her hand on my shoulder and wished that I could accept the comfort she was offering. I shrugged it off and pushed myself away from the table.
"Then why do we even exist?" I asked before stalking out the back door, not even waiting for an answer.
"Is it dead?" Sam asked once I'd reached him.
"Yes. But so is the girl," I replied.
"Collateral damage, Leah. It happens." Sam shrugged. "You did well."
"Are you fucking kidding me? A girl died and all you can say is 'good job'? What the fuck is wrong with you?"
"It comes with the job, Leah. You know that."
"Well, I guess I expected you to be less of an asshole about it." I glared at him.
"It sucks, okay? But you did your best, right?"
"Yes," I muttered.
"Okay then."
"Is that all?" I sighed.
"That's all." He nodded. I turned away and started back to the house. "Oh, Leah?"
"Yeah?" I said without turning around.
"You need to be careful. With your new friend, I mean."
I froze, unable to move or speak. Surely no one had seen anything. There was no reason for anyone to be across our border…
"I don't understand," I replied, finally turning and meeting his eyes.
"He may be on our side, but he's still a vampire. I just want you to be careful."
"Oh, sure. I will be," I said with a tight smile. Nice of you to pretend you care, fucker.
Sam gave me a quick nod before heading back to wherever he came from. Most likely home to Emily.
The thought of Sam getting cozy with Emily made my heart contract in a way that it shouldn't. He was with her now, though the way he ended up with her was completely and utterly fucked up, it shouldn't still hurt the way it did.
I made my way back to the house and changed, slipping into a comfortable pair of running shoes and pulling my short hair back the best I could.
And then I ran. I ran to get away from the dull staring eyes of the dead girl and the odd ripping noise James's head had made when Edward ripped it off and from the sad reproach in Edward's golden eyes when he'd realized I was afraid of him. It didn't work, of course; the only result was that my lungs felt like they were going to burst from my chest. When I stopped, I was on First Beach, a few miles from my own house. I stopped and watched the waves roll in, the sound of them much like the rushing in my own ears. So much had happened in the last few days, my life hardly seemed real at the moment. The dead girl, the dead vampire…and Edward.
The feelings I had for Edward were completely unexpected. They were like nothing I'd ever encountered and I had no idea what they meant, or what to do with them.
"Fancy meeting you here," I heard behind me. I froze, though not in surprise, in fear.
I turned slowly, smelling what was behind me before I saw him. He was there in a clean-cut, hand-tailored suit, but the only thing I really saw were his eyes. They were blood red and didn't hold the smile that was on his lips.
I couldn't find my voice to speak…or scream.
"You know, I already told Edward this, but you are way out of his league, sweetheart." The vampire took a step toward me and stumbled back. "Your heart is pounding, but your blood is…different."
I nodded.
"You aren't human, are you?"
"I am," I replied, finally finding my voice. "One hundred percent."
"See, you're lying. I don't like being lied to," the vampire muttered and shook his head. "Bad things happen to people who lie to me."
My heart caught in my throat and I did the only thing that seemed reasonable.
I ran.
I ran down the beach and ducked into the trees without a backward glance. My heart thundered in my ears and the muscles in my legs burned. My vision blurred as tears formed in my eyes.
It all stopped when I collided with a solid object: a cold, hard body.
I gasped and tried to turn away, but its arms were tight around me, and when he whispered my name I finally managed to stop struggling.
"Leah." Edward's voice was soft in my ear and I felt my legs collapse with the sob that fell from my lips. He held me with my back against his chest, though I wanted nothing more than to see his face. I was certain in the past few minutes of running that I'd never see him again.
"It's fine. It's okay," he said as he turned me toward him. I sighed with relief and let him take my face in his hands and finally met his eyes. The warm gold soothed me more than it should have, and the cool of his skin was like home.
"Did he…? Where is he?" I asked as I turned away from him, the burn of his gaze too intense to handle anymore.
"Gone. He'll be back, but not for you," Edward told me, pulling my face back to his. "You're safe now."
I managed to nod before throwing my arms around his neck and pressing my lips to his. He let out a soft moan and tightened his arms around me. I let my thoughts flow freely, reminding him of our bodies pressed together, of the sounds that came from both of us, of how it felt to be wrapped up in each other.
My earlier resolve didn't even wave goodbye as it flew completely out the window.
"You're very good at changing the subject," he murmured against my lips.
I laughed and pushed myself away from him. "I'm sorry. I got a little carried away," I admitted.
Edward smiled and brushed a stray hair from my face. I watched his eyes tighten as he did. "I need to tell you something, Leah. I haven't been completely honest with you…" He trailed off and I stepped back.
"What is it?" I asked as my thoughts went immediately to the worst. So many things rushed through my head: he was leaving, involved with someone else, married, or fucking imprinted...with my luck he'd be the only vampire in history to have that happen.
"There are things that I haven't told you," he said softly. "Things that will make this harder on you…on both of us."
"What's 'this'? What are you talking about?"
Edward stepped forward as if to embrace me again, but stopped short with his hands frozen in mid-air, clenched into fists.
"Leah!" I heard my name from behind me and turned so quickly I nearly gave myself whiplash.
Jared and Seth were pushing their way toward us. Their faces were full of confusion at the sight of Edward and me.
"Are you okay?" Seth's voice was worried and his eyes were set on Edward.
"I'm fine, little brother," I managed to tell him, schooling my expression into one of neutral indifference. Last thing I needed was the pack giving me hell about my jungle fever.
"There was a vamp, but I guess you already knew that…" Jared muttered. His dark eyes bore into mine, and I knew he was remembering the night of the club.
"There was a different one," Edward said as he stepped forward. "He won't cause you any trouble, I assure you."
"And we're supposed to trust you?" Seth asked.
"Seth!"
Edward smiled. "I promise you he won't. He's not here for you, or any other humans. He's after me."
The gasp fell from my lips before I could stop it, and Edward turned to me slowly.
"Will you come to me? Later?" he asked, so quietly that even the others with their wolfy senses couldn't hear.
I agreed silently. Later.
Edward gave me a smile of thanks before nodding to Jared and Seth and disappearing like a light breeze.
Seth shrugged and walked away, but Jared kept his eyes on me. I could practically hear the words he was screaming at me.
You're playing with fire, girl.
I shook my head and pushed past him, letting Seth lead us out of the trees and back home.
"I need to go, Jared," I said as I paused at the door.
"You said it was over, Leah. The vamp's dead, right?" Jared asked with his eyes full of concern. If there was anyone besides Seth in the pack I could trust, it was Jared.
"Yeah, he's dead. It's just…" I trailed off and met his eyes. Jared shook his head but the look on his face let me know he didn't understand... but he wouldn't tell anyone..
"There's a park about three blocks away. It's safe to phase there."
"Thank you," I replied.
"Be careful." He grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the door. "I mean it, Leah. You don't know what you're getting yourself into."
"I know that, Jared. Don't you think I know that?"
"I'm not being supportive of this, just so you know."
A little laugh bubbled from my chest. "Right, because I need your support."
"You just might," he said as I flung the door open.
I nodded in agreement and let the door close behind me, eager to find Edward.
"He just looks like a regular guy," Seth said once we'd caught up with him.
"Who?" Jared queried.
"Leah's vampire." My brother shrugged. I shoved his shoulder.
"He's not mine," I argued.
"It sure looked like it," Seth teased.
"Shut up! You're such a child," I practically yelled as I stomped away.
They laughed behind me and I fought the smile that played on my lips.
Maybe he was mine…but I had a feeling that he wouldn't be for very long.