A/N: I own no part of Twilight. Also, I'm sorry. I got super behind because life got in the way for a minute and I couldn't find the time to write the entirety of this chapter in one focused sitting. Hopefully, I think the wait was worth it. This chapter (I'm pretty sure the longest one yet) contains: revelations, a fake apology, and a whole lot of Leah x Paul.

Enjoy.

XXXVI.

if i told you that a flower bloomed in a dark room, would you trust it?

"I just wanna see Kim," Leah lied to Sue. "I miss her."

Sue was in the kitchen cooking lunch for one. It was her first Saturday day off in a while, and she was going to treat herself. "You see Kim damn near everyday," she replied. "I don't know why you have to see her now."

"She needs to talk to me."

"About?"

"Family issues," Leah said on the spot. "She could really use my support right now."

Sue gave Leah a wary look. "Is she okay?"

"Yeah. She just needs someone to talk to. We're gonna go hang out. Probably get something to eat. Talk it out, you know."

She peered out the window in the living room. Paul's car was still patiently waiting in the driveway. She hoped Sue wouldn't see it. She also hoped Sue wouldn't notice the minimal makeup she was wearing. Since she had bought makeup (actual quality makeup that would have cost an arm and a leg) for Venice, Leah had fallen into an epic infatuation with eyeliner and mascara. And if Sue saw the black crop top she was wearing under her hoodie (to go with her expensive-looking white jeans), she would never make it out of the house alive. Most of her new clothes were with Emily or Kim or Bella since they had all gotten mixed up during their departures from Venice, and while she wanted them back, she wouldn't mind if Sue didn't know about the majority of them.

"You're grounded," Sue reminded her.

"Mom," Leah said sternly. "I've been going out a whole bunch anyway."

Sue sighed. "I knew you would."

"And," Leah added, "I'm about to start college. I would really like to hang out with my friends before I can't anymore."

"Aren't all of you going to the community college, anyway?"

"Mom, please."

"Whatever," Sue said. "Go ahead."

"And I can spend the night?"

Sue rolled her eyes. "You're probably going to, anyway."

Leah picked her purse up off the couch as she ran to the front door. "Thanks!" she called behind her. She slammed the door behind her.

Lying just keeps getting easier, she decided.

Leah and Paul had gotten as far as his driveway when he finally asked her what she wanted to do tonight. All they had done was listen to music and share innocent kisses in his car.

She propped her arm up against the dash and leaned forward, looking at him from the side. "I don't really know."

"Well, what are you in the mood for?"

"Honestly?"

"Honestly."

"You're gonna laugh," she warned him.

"I laugh at everything you say."

She pursed her lips. "Mm-hmm."

"What do you wanna do, Lee?" he asked. "What are you just dying to do right now, in this given moment? Hit me."

"I wanna go and party."

"You wanna go and party?"

"Mm-hmm."

He laughed (which was inevitable, really). "Sheeeeiiiit. Didn't know you had it in you."

"Why not?"

"You don't exactly seem like a bundle of fun," he said. "No offense."

"Some taken," she replied. "And besides, it's not like you know me that much."

He put his hand on her left thigh, slightly rubbing his thumb towards the middle. "Keep on telling yourself that, Lee-Lee," he said. "Ain't nobody know you like I do."

He was wrong, but she didn't fight it. Instead, she moved his hand away, unzipped her hoodie, and took it off, throwing it in the backseat. She sat with her back against the window, exposing her sleeveless black top, which revealed just the right amount of her flat, tan stomach. "It's not like I got all dressed up for nothing," she said.

Oh, damn, Paul thought. He tried to play it cool. "I guess I'm obligated to show you off."

She smirked at him. "I know."

He sat back and rubbed at his stubbly chin. "You could just show yourself off, though," he suggested. "Since you've got all that power and shit."

"Oh, really?" Her smirk grew wider. There was just something about power that made her feel a certain way. The fact that Paul, one of the most self-serving, self-empowering people she'd ever known, was telling her this made her feel even better.

He put his hand against her thigh again, and she didn't push it away. Instead, she inched it further up.

"You need," she said, "to learn how to keep your hands to yourself, Lahote."

"Listen, Clearwater," he replied, "I could keep my hands to myself, but when you're sitting there looking like that, why would I want to?"

She all the way leaned forward and gave him a swift peck on the corner of his mouth. He had started to quickly move his hands to get a good grab of her backside, but she had already backed up again.

"Try harder," she whispered with a mischievous smile. Then she unlocked her door and started to get out.

"Going home already?" he asked.

She shut the door and made her way to the front steps of his house. She looked at him over her shoulder and nodded her head over to his front door. "I am home."

She ended up spending the night, but they hadn't done anything less innocent than make out. Leah liked to tease Paul. It was wonderful and long-deserved to have this much power over him. She wanted to slap her old self for making Paul immortal and perfect in her head. She loved him, but he was going to have to work for her. She was comfortable being a little demanding, and he was up for the chase. Of course he was.

She got dropped off Sunday morning, and after chastely kissing him goodbye, she made her way to the front door of her house. Sue's car was in the driveway, but knowing how tired she usually was whenever she was home, she had to still be in bed. Leah was able to breathe easily, but when she entered the house, she really wished she hadn't.

Leah saw the back of her mother's head before anything else. Sue usually sat in front of the television, but it was hardly ever on mute and she often greeted whoever walked into the house, which meant she was in a good mood.

It was absolutely silent right now.

Leah stopped breathing.

"Come sit down, Lee," Sue said.

Leah rounded the corner into the living room and sat on the loveseat in the corner. Sue sat on the other couch, sitting straight up. On the floor between them was a large black garbage bag.

"What's in the bag?" Leah asked.

Sue dumped the bag's contents onto the floor. All sorts of clothes—the new clothes Leah had bought for the trip—fell out.

"You tell me," Sue said.

Leah was dead silent. Sue gave her the Death Glare. That one used to make Leah pee herself when she was little, but it didn't work now.

"So I buy you this bikini," Sue began. "It's real cute, a little two-piece purple one with polka dots. I buy it as a surprise for when you get home from Seaside and I remember to get it out of my car. I'm about to drop it off in your room when someone comes up to the front door, and it's Kim. You remember her, right? She drops off this big-ass bag of clothes—and they're real pretty-ass, expensive-ass clothes, you know—and she's about to leave. I'm all, 'What are these for?' She's like, 'They're Leah's.' I ask her where you are since you told me you were with her, and she tells me to go ask Paul. 'Go ask Paul'?"

Leah remained silent. She was shocked but strangely relieved, seeing as Kim could have easily told Sue the complete truth.

"Where the fuck did these clothes come from, Lee?" Sue demanded. "Because I know we don't have shit like Forever 21 around here. I don't even know what in the hell that is. You better say something to me."

"Paul," Leah croaked out, acting fast. "Paul gave me the clothes."

"And how the fuck was he able to afford all these nice clothes, Leah?"

Leah shrugged. "I… I don't—"

"Don't give me that shit!" Sue exclaimed. "Tell me how the fuck he was able to afford these clothes."

Leah was silent again. She was so wrapped up in the lies that she couldn't even be confident in the false facts of them.

"Oh, right," Sue said condescendingly. "You don't want your little boyfriend getting in trouble, right? You don't want him getting arrested again and going where the big kids go, 'cause you know you'll never see him again."

Leah bit her tongue and balled her fists up against her thighs.

Sue noticed instantly. Her voice was as sharp as a knife. "You're not gonna try to punch me like you did Bella," she spat. Then she made her tone softer, as if she was trying to understand Leah. "Now, I need you to tell me why you've got Paul buying you clothes. What do you owe him? I know things have been tight around here, but I can't see why you'd have to do things with him for—"

"Mom, it's not even like that," Leah interrupted, her voice whiny.

"Well, that's what it sounds like, Lee."

Leah widened her eyes and raised her eyebrows. "You legit think I'm sleeping with Paul for clothes. Mom, that is so not me. Like, at all."

"Are you sleeping with him?" Sue demanded.

Leah could either lie and get murdered or tell the truth and make her mother cry. "I only did it once," she said quietly.

Sue frowned and knit her eyebrows together. She was about to cry, for sure.

Oh shit, Leah thought. Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit.

"Mom," she said sternly. "We were being safe, I swear. I promise. It was a really long time ago. And we didn't do it because he bought me clothes. He bought me clothes because… because he likes me—a lot. And I really like him, too."

"I've always thought that boy was trouble," Sue murmured.

Leah nodded. "I know," she said, her voice soft, "but he's changed and—"

"Child, please. What do you know about change? You don't know anything about people changing, because when they say they do, they always end up doing the same shit."

"He's changed for real, though, Mom. I promise."

"The boy's bad," she went on. "Ever since you've been with him you've lost your scholarship and got into fights, and now you're having sex. I don't like it, Lee."

Leah looked at her mother with pleading eyes. "Mom, I really like him," she repeated. "And none of that happened because of him. He actually makes things better. Could you please give him a chance?"

Sue side-eyed her, but didn't say anything.

"Please," Leah said. "I like him a lot."

"I know, I know, you like him." Sue sighed. "Okay. I'll give him a chance, but I'm not gonna keep quiet on it."

Never thought you would. "Thank you, Mom."

"Mm-hmm," she replied skeptically. "Now take those clothes and go to your room."

Leah tried to keep her attitude in check as she went upstairs. Kim just fucked everything up, she thought.

She passed by Seth in the hallway. He was heading towards the kitchen with an empty plate.

"So you found a sugar daddy," he said. He was seventeen now, six-foot-three, and with minimal facial hair growing over his baby face, so he thought he was all that. "You think you can get him to pay our tuitions?"

"Shut the hell up," Leah muttered.

Leah tried not to stay angry, but it was around three when she remembered that she had the worst attitude on the planet; there would be no use in ignoring it.

She went to the kitchen telephone and dialed Kim's number. Leah remembered Emily calling her petty and not a nice person and heartless and a self-righteous asshole. Leah didn't take any offense now that she thought about it. She was all of those things and she could admit it because she preferred to live in honesty when it came to judging herself. That was what really mattered.

She was also honest at judging other people. And that mattered, too.

Kim never picked up the phone, so Leah left a courteous message in her absence.

"Hey, Kim," she began, "you're not fucking fair. Thanks for telling my mom about Paul. She appreciated it. I did, too, and I especially appreciate the fact that you're a fucking hypocrite. For the longest time, I didn't say shit about you having a boyfriend, even when you didn't talk to me. I kept quiet about Jared until it was okay for you to say you were with him. Then the second you got your feelings hurt, you decided to throw me under the goddamn bus and let my mom know about Paul. That was really fucking sweet. Thanks for not saying anything about the clothes, though. I guess you're not as much of a bitch as you could be."

She hung up. She had gotten a lot off her chest, but she didn't feel any better.

Maybe she could start lying to herself.

After Sue had cooked dinner that night, the telephone rang. Since Seth was closest, he got up to answer the call.

Leah snapped her head up. Who is it? she mouthed.

"Oh, hey, Bella," Seth said warily. "What's up? Oh, you wanna talk to Leah?"

"I'm not here," Leah said loudly, making sure Bella heard.

Seth rolled his eyes. "She's not here right now," he said slowly, giving his sister a peculiar look.

Sue got up from the table and took the phone from Seth.

"Sorry 'bout that, hon," she said into the phone.

Hon? Leah thought. She doesn't even call me that.

"Leah's here," Sue explained. "She's just a little busy right now. What did you want to tell her?" She waited patiently. It was the only thing Leah had ever seen her mother do patiently.

"Mm-hmm," Sue said in understanding. "Okay. Dinner sounds great. We'll all be there. I'll have to check with my work schedule, but I think I might be off by then tomorrow. Six, right? Okay. Okay. Sounds good. Thank you, Bella. Tell your father I said hi. Take care." She hung up and turned to her kids, who were each wondering why she had gotten so nice all of a sudden.

Ignoring their looks, she announced, "We're having dinner at Charlie's tomorrow night at six."

"Who's we?" Leah asked.

"All of us," Sue clarified.

"She tried to kill me, like, three days ago, remember?" Leah exclaimed.

"Oh, sweetie, she didn't mean it. And what she's doing is really nice of her. She's trying to make peace."

"She can go die in a hole instead," Leah grumbled under her breath.

Sue didn't hear her. "Bella is such a nice girl," she said. "She's got manners. You ought to be more like her."

Leah rolled her eyes. If she wasn't so tired, she'd be more offended. "Do I have to go, though?" she asked.

"She's having the dinner for you," her mother explained. "So, yes, you do."

"Can I bring Paul?"

"Does Paul live under this roof?"

"Mom, I'm not gonna go unless I can bring Paul."

"It's not my house," Sue said with a shrug. "You have to ask Bella yourself. So you better get to it."

Leah got out of her chair and called the Swan residence.

"Hello?" Bella asked.

"It's Leah."

"Oh, hey. How's it going?"

She is so full of shit, Leah thought. "I was wondering if I can bring Paul over tomorrow. For dinner."

"Uh, I guess," Bella said nonchalantly. "Go ahead."

"Thanks." Leah hung up before she could hear anything else.

All Sue did was shake her head. "That boy better fix your attitude tomorrow before I do," she warned.

The following evening at six o'clock on the dot, Sue rang the doorbell at Charlie and Bella's house. Charlie answered it and warmly greeted Sue, Leah, Seth, and Paul (even though he didn't really know Paul) with handshakes and a brief hug for Sue. Leah could smell the falseness on him. Did he teach Bella to be that way?

Bella was in the kitchen finishing up dinner when the Clearwaters and Paul arrived, so Leah didn't feel the need to greet her. She instead saw Jacob and Billy, and decided to say hi to them. While she didn't find Jacob particularly interesting or smart, Leah thought he was better company than Bella. Anybody was. However, Seth practically stole Jacob's attention from her, and they engaged themselves in a conversation that seemed to have been going on for months based on how deep it was. Leah had trouble decoding the context.

So Leah and Paul sat patiently on the living room loveseat, talking among themselves. She supposed they didn't really need anybody but each other, and Sue wasn't any help since Charlie had offered her a beer and she hadn't refused.

Leah cupped her cheek in her own hand and leaned forward, putting her elbows on her thighs. "I'm bored already," she said.

Paul shrugged, his eyes attached to the giant plasma screen in the middle of the room. SportsCenter was on, naturally. "Guy's got a nice TV, though."

Leah didn't say anything for a while after that; Paul was clearly enthralled.

Dinner was ready only a few minutes later, and the second Leah sat down at the dining room table with Paul and the six other people, she really wished she hadn't come at all.

Charlie Swan wasn't necessarily a bad guy to her; he was just a little clueless and overly trying to be inviting. He didn't seem to be attempting to take the place of her father on purpose, but the way he spoke could mean otherwise.

"So," he began, looking straight at Leah from across the table, "how's basketball going?"

She tried not to look offended. "Well, uh," she said politely, "I haven't played since I was sixteen."

"Oh. Sorry." Charlie went back to eating, and Leah decided she didn't hate him. He could have done worse; he could have asked why she wasn't playing basketball anymore.

It just now occurred to her that she would be twenty in November. Twenty. Since she had lost that scholarship at the tender age of seventeen (and right near her birthday, too), she hadn't done a lot to make up for it. She'd graduated, sure, but it didn't mean much. Reality had long settled in and she wasn't going anywhere big. Nothing like the University of Pennsylvania. She had gotten arrested, into fights, and simply fucked over. She was going to attend community college after a gap year.

She simply wasn't shit in the world. She wasn't half the shit she had been brought up to be. Maybe it was just the verity in her role in society that had brought her down as opposed to bad luck. Maybe it was just inevitable.

So she didn't hate Charlie for asking why. She'd give him that.

Dinner was an overall time-consuming experience. Bella never officially said sorry for almost killing Leah, the food wasn't even really seasoned, and Sue's "one last beer" became three over the course of a couple hours in front of the television and Charlie. Leah and Paul made their escape in his car. She'd never seen that little pimp mobile drive so fast.

They ended up in the First Beach parking lot. He parked far in the back, and within minutes, she had forgotten about the awful dinner party, had forgotten about Bella's forced truce-making, and had even forgotten her own name. All she knew was Paul's name, and she wore it out in sighs of pleasure as he explored her body in the front seat.

"I love you, Leah," was what he told her.

She grew quiet as she thought about it, and then she became still altogether. They hadn't gotten very far, and she wasn't very close to naked, but she suddenly felt the need to cover herself up again. Why had she bared herself like that to him when it would only culminate to this?

"You mean that?" she asked.

"Why wouldn't I?"

"I just… I don't know."

"You don't trust me," he concluded.

"It's not that," she argued, "it's just that—"

His voice wasn't as angry as it was reflective. "It's exactly that. You don't trust me, Lee."

She closed her eyes and focused on the warmth of his hands. His hands were burning against her cold ones. Maybe he'd help thaw her out. He was good at that.

"I'm finding it hard to trust you again," she said. "I just get so worried you're gonna change all of a sudden. And you know I don't do well with change. It doesn't like me."

"I know."

"So please don't rush this," she whispered. "I wanna take my time. I wanna know that what we're doing is right."

"Baby, I promise it's right," he told her.

"Then keep it."

She opened her eyes, and he brought her hand up to his mouth. He gently pressed his lips to the back of her hand and slowly placed kisses on each of her fingers, all without breaking eye contact.

"Can you promise me something?" he asked.

"Yeah."

"Don't have me waiting too long."

She giggled softly—it was more air than laughter, since she was trying to be quiet for no given reason. "You just can't wait to get into my pants," she accused him.

He smiled back. "I don't even feel bad about it."

"I'm traditional at heart," she told him. "You've gotta court me with porch swings and iced tea and romantic walks down the beach, you know? I love that sappy shit, and I'm high maintenance, anyway."

"Trust me," he replied, "I already know."

She punched him in the arm. "As if that's a bad thing. It's guys like you that give girls like me a bad rep."

"Yeah, okay," was all that he said, letting her win. She appreciated the gesture; he clearly knew what was right for him.

The next few days consisted of Leah constantly calling Paul on his cell phone. She had learned his cell phone number and memorized it in virtually no time. She called him often, especially late at night when she needed to hear his voice.

Monday night's call led to her falling asleep sitting in her kitchen chair. Tuesday night's call turned into a Wednesday breakfast date at three in the morning. Wednesday night, he couldn't talk; he just got a job at the convenience store on the rez and was closing that night. Thursday night, the second she called, he told her he was in her driveway. They went to his house, just down the street.

She sat down on his bed, and just by her body language, all tight and uncomfortable, he knew something was different.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Well, since you asked," she said, looking over at him, "my uterus has been trying to kill me for the past couple days, but I'm fine."

The realization settled in slowly but surely. "Oh. Oh." He got up and picked up his car keys.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"To the store." He was already halfway out the door.

"What are you getting from the store?" she called to him.

"Don't worry about it. Just put on some TV."

The front door slammed behind him, and Leah exhaled sharply. She'd never understand him; getting used to that fact would be really difficult.

She turned on the small, box television and tried to drown out her cramps with trash reality TV.

For as long as Paul had been acquainted with the county, he really didn't see that much of Forks. Ever. The town didn't mean much to him. It had meant so little to him over the years that, in fact, tonight was his first time at the grocery store.

What do you know? he thought. This dinky little town even has a grocery store. I've been getting all my instant Ramen noodles at the shitty convenience store on the rez all this time.

Another thing he didn't know: women had it hard. And fucking expensive.

He nearly had to tilt his head back to get the full view of options regarding feminine products. What did Leah like? Pads? Tampons? He got packages of both, and since the medication was nearby, he got her a bottle of ibuprofen. He knew that the cramps hurt. Leah was damn near Superwoman, and if she was in pain, it had to be bad.

She's gotta eat, he decided. Girls like to eat, especially when they're on their periods. No, no, you can't get something cold; that never helps. She needs something hot… like soup. Soup! Chicken tortilla soup is probably spicy, too. She'd like that.

Paul put his wallet towards anything he could think of that Leah might like. It was all worth it.

He found Leah curled up in his bed, watching TV. She had his quilt pulled up to her nose as she tried to stay warm, even though it was just about August and the nights weren't that cold anymore.

"I was starting to think you disappeared on me," she said, her voice bleak. She didn't move.

He brought the plastic bag of groceries over to the bed. "Cheer up, buttercup," he said as he started to empty the bag's contents.

"You're not allowed to call me that," she said seriously. "Whatcha got there?"

"Check it out for yourself."

She sat upright and looked down at the bag. Her expression turned less hostile and more pleasantly surprised. "Oh my God," she cried. "You got me gummy bears? And chocolate? Oh my God."

"Nuh-uh," he said, "you've gotta have dinner first. I got you chicken tortilla soup."

"I don't have a cold," she reminded him. "I'm on my period."

"Okay, but you're hungry, right?"

She pursed her lips. "Right. Fine." She kept rummaging through the bag. "I love green tea. That's my favorite tea. And ibuprofen is my savior, thank you very much. Also, why did you buy me a toothbrush?"

"For whenever you spend the night."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "And I guess that's also what the condoms are for?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "That's for later."

She nodded. "Nice, Lahote. Real nice."

He pecked his lips on her cheek. "The nicest. Now come on, let's make you some soup."

Leah awakened before Paul the next morning, Friday, and in the overcast light, she realized that she had all the luck in the whole world.

He was hers. She was his. They were real—finally. She didn't have to worry about him disappearing anymore because he had nothing to run away from. All he had was her, and she was okay with it. All she really needed was him. Now they had a sort of balance that was easy to maintain. She had felt so inadequate back before she knew they had the capacity to be equals. Now, she felt okay. She felt deserving because she was.

He snoozed softly, his cheek pressed against the pillow. He looked tranquil for the first time in his entire life. Some people, like Embry, had been born smart. Some people, like Leah, had been born complicated. Some people, like Emily, had simply been born sad. Paul had been born angry. He'd practically kicked his way out of the womb, and while he was an adult who had been through treatment for it now, he was still that angry kid. Leah hadn't seen much of it recently, but she knew he still had the capability to be the kid who had kicked teachers in the shins, who fought with fists instead of words. Paul was better now—a lot better—but he was who he was. She loved him enough to not want to change him for anything, even if he could be crazy.

She wondered if he loved her enough—through her complications and all—to not want to change her for anything. But somewhere, she knew that if one of them lost the other person, they'd lose a part of themselves. She was afraid of change and she had always been that way, but she was mortified by loss. The two experiences together were a deadly duo. Because of this, only one question rang in her head, haunting her by the minute.

What will I lose if I change?

"Paul, you better tell me where the hell we're driving or I'm gonna fling myself out of this car."

"No, you won't."

She wouldn't. "Yes, I will."

Despite driving eighty-nine miles an hour on the highway, he turned to look at her. "We're going to Tacoma," he said.

"Tacoma?" she asked incredulously. "For what?"

"'Cause you wanna go and party."

"I'll actually wanna go home if you keep fucking with me."

"I want you to meet my mom," he said. Then he looked back at the road.

Her mood didn't soften. "Then why didn't you tell me to dress better?" she demanded. "I'm wearing jeans and this top that makes me look like a ho and—"

"You look perfect," he stated as if it was a fact.

"I'm meeting your mother and I've got my stomach out."

"She's not that traditional," he promised. "I swear."

"Is she inviting us over for dinner?" she asked. "I should have brought something."

"It's not that formal," he said, shaking his head. "Especially not for us. It's just for my prima. Her name's Camila and it's her quince."

"Aren't quinces typically formal?"

"Don't worry about it."

"I hate when you say that," she said, frowning. "Don't worry about it. It only makes me more worried."

"Have I ever done anything to make you worried when I say that?" he asked.

She couldn't lie to him. "No," she said through her teeth.

He took a hand from the wheel and put it on hers. He was really fond of that. "Then don't even worry about it," he told her.

She squeezed his hand gently. "It's a good thing you're persuasive."

The trip to Tacoma was long, but there was a lot to look at for Leah. She had never really gone anywhere else in the state besides Seattle and Olympia, for basketball. Tacoma was right in the middle of the two cities. She didn't understand how she had missed it all those times.

The party was held at a hall just outside of the city, and from the moment they entered the parking lot, Paul and Leah heard the traditional Mexican music blasting. They were late, but it didn't really matter.

Paul offered his arm to her once they got out of the car, and she held on; he could feel her nerves. "Lighten up, buttercup," he told her. She didn't even fight the horrendous nickname.

"I'll try," she said.

"You wanna go and party," he reminded her.

"You're the worst," she groaned.

"Lighten up," he said again. "You look hot as hell, you know that? It'd be a damn shame if I couldn't show you off."

"If you say so."

They entered the building just as somebody else was exiting. The second Paul entered with Leah, he was instantly recognized and Leah was instantly lost. Her high school Spanish education, most helpful for describing colors of clothing with correct grammar, was of no use to her now, so she merely looked pretty and said Hola back when somebody addressed her.

Suddenly, a shorter woman gave Paul a hug big enough to compensate for her tiny frame. She had to have been his mother. She gave him kisses on the cheek as he leaned down to her height. As they talked, Leah wondered why everyone's mom but hers was so nice. She also regretted wearing a top that showed as much of her stomach as it did.

The woman then turned to Leah and started speaking to her, looking at both her and Paul; Leah had no idea what she was saying. All she heard was bienvenida and maybe novia.

"No habla español," Paul said to his mother once he caught sight of her frantic eyes.

"Oh!" she said. Then she pulled Leah in for a hug and kissed her cheeks. "Your name?" she asked.

Leah relaxed and smiled. "Leah."

Paul's mother smiled back genuinely. "Rosa."

Leah couldn't understand how she had never met Rosa before today. She loved her already.

The party lasted for hours and hours, until the sky was black. After saying their last goodbyes, and Paul promising his mother and cousins he'd be back soon, he and Leah retreated to his car.

"So what'd you think?" he asked.

"Your mom is the sweetest person I've ever met," she said, "I can't dance as well as I thought I could, and my feet hurt."

He laughed. "That's what I thought you'd say."

As he began to pull the car out of the parking lot, he asked, "What did you and my mom talk about?"

"Life," Leah said. "You. I think she likes me, but I can't be sure. She seems nice enough."

"She's nice to everyone," Paul replied. "But you can tell when she really likes you. I think she does. She's gotta."

"Because I'm so sociable and personable, right?"

He laughed again. "Mm-hmm."

Knowing he wasn't going to make the drive home tonight, he got them a hotel room. She realized she didn't have any overnight clothes with her, and she began to strip for him in the dim lighting.

"You're not fair," he said to her, sitting down on the bed. She threw her top to the corner of the room, and his eyes didn't follow it.

"Why's that?" she asked.

"Aren't you…?"

She shook her head. "It ended this afternoon." Then she smiled.

He grabbed her by the hips and brought her close to him, between his legs.

She giggled. "God, you're so eager, Paul."

His voice was low. "I want you, Lee," he said. "Remember that one night when I drove you back from Port Angeles? Remember what you told me?"

Playing with the hair at the nape of his neck, she nodded. She had never forgotten.

"I want you for real," he told her.

She ran her tongue over her lips. She really considered if she believed him or not, and if she trusted him. But when she looked into his eyes, she felt silly for even doubting him. She knew he wanted her for real. It was only clear.

Then she let him prove it.

A/N: I'll update very soon.

Thanks as always,

HS