A/N: I don't own Twilight. We've made it! Here is the final chapter of Static. If you got a notification that two chapters have been posted, it's just because the next one isn't a chapter at all - it's just a really long A/N that's actually a commentary. You don't have to read it, but I have a lot to say about the story in it.

Thank you so, so, so, so, SO much. And of course, enjoy.

LXXXVIII.

every single night, pray the sun will rise
every single time, make a compromise

One cool, early morning in the middle of August, Leah woke up before her alarm and gently stroked Kim's hair. She had moved into Kim's bed permanently—Leah's own bed sat in the corner of the other side of the room, essentially naked and collecting dust. She didn't mind, though. Kim's bed didn't just feel like home—it was home.

Kim stirred, slightly agitated. It had now been two and a half weeks since the nightmare at the beach had occurred, but she was still shaken about the entire thing. The slightest things bothered her these days. Work had become unbearable—at least, when she had gone to work. Kim called out more often than not.

Kim's eyes fluttered open. Leah tried to act like she wasn't staring, but Kim knew her better than that.

"Are you going to work today?" Leah asked, her voice just above a whisper.

"I'm scheduled to start in about half an hour," Kim murmured. "I don't want to, though."

"Maybe you should go," Leah suggested. "It'd make you feel more normal."

"Nothing's normal," Kim sighed.

"Yeah."

"Do you work today?"

"No."

"Maybe I'll stay home, too," Kim said. "We should clean up the place, you know. Get a little more organized. I'll cook something nice and unhealthy for you. We can watch Selena and make out on the couch."

Leah smiled. "You're so domestic."

Kim nudged her. "So what do you say?" she asked. "How about we take a day off? Just you and me?"

"That sounds good," Leah replied, "but you need to go to work."

"Maybe I should."

"No, you have to."

Kim just stared at Leah. Leah stared back. They sat there like that for a moment when Kim finally nodded her head and got up. Uninspired, she stripped from her t-shirt. Leah watched her tentatively as Kim dressed herself in the usual—leggings, a sports bra, and a tank top. Watching Kim get dressed was nearly as mesmerizing as watching her get undressed.

Kim entered the bathroom attached to the bedroom and left the door partially open behind her. The door was closed just enough that Leah had to lean over to see inside. Not caring how desperate she looked, she leaned over.

Kim stood right in front of the mirror, quickly applying makeup to her face. Watching her do this was like a movie to Leah—she was so good at it.

"I see you checking me out," Kim said, still staring into the mirror.

"Yeah?"

"Mm-hm."

"Is that a crime now, Bambi?" Leah asked, her eyes tracing Kim's soft curves. She was still the prettiest person she'd ever known.

"Not at all." Kim paused. "Can you make me a coffee, Lee?"

"I mean, I guess."

"Thanks."

Leah padded off to the kitchen and started to brew a pot of coffee.

Thank God she's not with that frou-frou shit, Leah thought. Black coffee is so easy.

The dinosaur of a coffee maker took a while to brew the coffee, but when it was done, Leah called, "Do you want it now?"

"No, I'm still doing my eyeliner," Kim called back. Then she must have checked her watch, because she suddenly whispered, "Fuck."

Leah poured herself a cup of coffee and went into the refrigerator in search of milk. She couldn't help but stare at the refrigerator door, though, with the pictures of her trinity of dead favorite singers.

I have a goddamn problem, she thought.

She opened the fridge and failed to find any milk. Her head was still in the fridge when Kim ran out of their room.

"Bye, Lee!" she called, and then the front door slammed shut.

Leah leaned against the counter with her cup of plain black coffee. Maybe she'd take it like Kim did. "Bye, Kim," she murmured. She took a sip and nearly spat it out. "Ugh."

Leah had been wallowing in a coffee-less, tired limbo for an hour when she finally got dressed and drove to La Push. She meant to call Emily first, but she guessed that she would be home. (If she was at work, then it would be a waste of a trip but Leah wouldn't be mad.) She also guessed that she would still be living with Sam despite the fact that they were broken up.

Leah didn't want to be right, but she was.

Emily opened her front door, and while her eyes always had a certain sadness to them, she couldn't even hide it today.

"Hey, Em," Leah said, a genuine smile on her face.

"What's up?"

"I'm really hungry. If I drive and pay, will you come to the coffee shop with me?"

"You don't have to drive. That's a waste of gas."

"You always drive," Leah countered.

A real smile spread across on Emily's face. "Just go wait by my damn car, Leah."

Once they got settled in the coffee shop in Forks, Leah finally brought herself to asking why Emily still lived with Sam if they weren't together.

"I'm surprised you didn't ask the second I opened my front door."

"I thought that'd be rude."

Emily pursed her lips and squinted her eyes. "Since you're concerned with coming off as rude, right?"

Leah rolled her eyes. "I'm working on it," she said. Then they both laughed.

"I'm still living with Sam out of convenience," Emily told her.

"Em, that's so—"

"Me and Embry are trying to move in together, but he's been really busy."

"Oh, like, at work?"

"Yeah. And on top of that, people are harassing him about Quil on the Internet and in real life."

"Why?" Leah asked. "Embry didn't kill anybody." Quil was still going through a lot things with the law—he hadn't been able to update his social media followers on his life since he'd announced his first show, which he hadn't attended, of course. The only person who knew what he was doing these days was his mother and possibly Embry.

"Like they give a fuck about Quil killing someone," Emily replied. "People really loved his mixtape."

"That says a lot about the general taste of people around here, then," Leah said bitterly. "Quil just goes on about the dumbest shit."

"People don't listen to music for the lyrics," Emily pointed out. "They listen for the beats, and Embry did a good job."

"I'm not discrediting him, Em, I just think that's fucking stupid."

"No, me too. 'Free Delinquent V' is still trending and I get a month shaved off my life every time I see it."

"Thank you," Leah said. "People make it sound he's going to prison because of weed, but this kid straight up killed somebody."

"White girls love Delinquent V."

"God. What's Embry gonna do now?"

Emily shrugged. "Keep telling people that Quil didn't end up with Bambi. It turns out that's everyone's favorite song. Embry doesn't think it'd make a good single, though."

"Wow. So you and Embry are still together?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"You think so?" Leah asked.

"I'm trying not to be so fixed in things, you know?" Emily asked. "Nothing's been stable. I should just take things as they are now."

"That's funny," Leah said. "You and Embry are some of the most fixed people I know."

"Well, you know how that shit goes."

Leah smiled. "I'm happy for you, Em. I'm glad you're moving forward." Everyone really is moving on without me.

"Thanks, Lee. It took me a while. I spent a week alone in the house for a week after everything happened."

Leah nodded. "It's been rough on everyone."

"How's Kim been? It's like she fell off the face of the earth."

"She's…" Leah trailed off. "She's been better. You know how she is. She wears her heart on her sleeve."

"She's so tough, though."

"God, yes," Leah agreed. "The toughest girl I know. But she's been real upset lately. I know it's definitely gonna be hard to get over, but… I just don't know if she will, and that scares me. She's been missing work a lot, too. She has money, anyway, but it's not healthy. I just want her to be okay. That's it. I'm ranting, huh?"

Emily nodded. "A little bit. You really care about her, huh?"

"Oh, man, what made you think that?" Leah asked sarcastically. "But yeah. I do."

"I was gonna ask if you were together. You never hold her hand in front of other people so I got curious."

Leah felt a sudden punch to the gut even though it was true.

"I don't know if we're together for sure or not," she admitted. "I've known her longer than I've known… anything. Or anyone."

"Knowing someone forever doesn't mean anything," Emily said glumly. "

"Maybe not for you," Leah replied. "And maybe not for Sam. But for me and Kim, I think that means something. She means a lot to me."

"Aww," Emily said semi-teasingly, punching Leah in the arm. "And you had me thinking Seth was the gay cousin all this time."

Leah rolled her eyes to the moon and back. "It's called bi—look it up."

After an amicable breakfast with Emily, Leah managed to kill the rest of her afternoon in La Push. While she hadn't had a normal summer since the one after her freshman year of high school, summertime in La Push didn't hurt when First Beach was so beautiful. She was trying to turn all her pain into beauty, trying to look on the bright side. It was working, even if it hurt.

When she returned to Forks at around four thirty, Leah went to Sue and Charlie's house, but both of them were away at work, so she relocated to the Thriftway, in search of milk.

She idly pushed her cart as she listened to music blaring from her earbuds, connected to her MP3 player. Leah didn't mind being alone—it was something she did often and very well—but she wished somebody would bump into her. She wished she could randomly see Paul or Bella or Jacob or maybe even Quil and catch up with them, but they were so far away. Jacob was more accessible than the rest, but he hated Forks. He hated La Push. He hated all of it. Leah couldn't be mad at him for it.

Leah just wished she had gotten to say a formal goodbye.

At the store, she paused her music and called her mother. Leah knew that Sue wouldn't always be around, but she was still the most stable, static person in her life. She had to be.

Sue picked up quickly, like always. "Hey, baby," she said. "How've you been?"

"I miss you," Leah said.

"Aww, I miss you, too. Since we're already on the phone, I thought I'd ask you to do something for me."

"Sure."

"Seth's moving down to L.A. at the end of this month and my job won't give me the time off no matter what I tell them. I'll give you some gas money if you can drive him down."

Shit, okay. "Wow."

"You gonna help me out or what?"

"I'll do it," Leah promised. I'm gonna get fired, but I'll do it.

"Thank you so much, sweetie."

"No problem, Ma. I've gotta get home, but I'll talk to you later. Love you."

"Love you."

Leah hung up, paid for the milk, and drove home.

God, I am so fucking fired.

Leah noticed Kim's car was back when she parked next to it, and she was excited to see her. She knew Kim was going through a lot, but maybe getting away again for a little while would do her some good. Kim loved the sunshine; it might bring her back. Leah just wanted her back.

When Leah entered the condo, she was elated, but the moment she saw Kim sitting tensely on the couch—thick, black mascara running from her big eyes and her winged eyeliner completely uneven—that feeling went away and was replaced with the worry that had plagued her before.

Leah carefully sat down on the other end of the couch. "How was your day?" she asked.

"I got fired."

"You didn't."

"I did."

Leah sighed. "It's not like I can ask why, I guess."

Tears welled up in Kim's eyes. She tried to catch them before they all came flooding out, but she failed. All she did was further ruin her already uneven eyeliner.

"I fucking hate this," Kim muttered. "I'm such a fuckup."

"Kim, it was just a receptionist job at a gym," Leah said. "There are so many other places to get work around here. You're gonna be okay."

"What if I can never get a job again, Lee?" Kim demanded. "I lost this one because I've been so out of it. I don't know if I'll ever stop being out of it."

"You can't assume you won't move on," Leah assured her. "When one bad thing happens, you always assume it's the end, but then you get your shit together and move on. You always, always move on."

"You make it sound so easy."

"You have to dust yourself off and try again," Leah said. "That's all there is to it. And I know it's not easy—I've done it before. But I made it work, and, honestly, you have a way more positive mindset than I do, so it should be even easier for you."

"You don't know that."

"God, Kim, could you stop being so hard-headed?" Leah asked, exasperated. "I literally want nothing but the best for you. Can't you just let me try to help? Shit."

Kim just clenched her jaw and shook her head.

"What does that mean?" Leah asked her.

"Since when do you want the best for me?" Kim asked quietly.

"Since I decided I actually give a fuck," Leah said, rolling her eyes. "I've always wanted the best for you."

"So you figured it out? You figured out what you want, exactly?"

Leah couldn't answer her. She still didn't know how she felt about Kim, for sure, or what kind of role she wanted her to play in her life. All she knew now was that she wanted her here, and to have a shell of the girl that Leah wanted around wasn't enough.

"I think I'm gonna figure some things out for myself," Kim told her, then she got up from the couch.

"Kim, wait," Leah said.

Kim turned, still tense. "Yes?"

"I'm in charge of driving Seth down to L.A. at the end of the month," Leah told her. "My mom can't get the time off work, and I really don't wanna go alone. Would you come with me?"

"I don't know," Kim said like she hadn't even thought about it.

"Please," Leah begged, desperately grabbing her hand. She was so fond of holding Kim's hand when they were at home, but Emily's words echoed in her head. They never held hands in public. Leah had never been ashamed of what she and Kim had. She had only decided that it didn't matter if people knew what they had. But didn't it? Didn't it matter?

Why couldn't Leah see her and Kim together in public? Why couldn't she see them? Everyone else could.

"Please, Kim," Leah continued. "I know you've been feeling awful, and I know you don't like leaving the house that much anymore. But if I leave you behind, I know you're not gonna get any better. You're gonna stay inside all the time and… I'll feel awful because I let that happen to you. Please, Kim. Come with me. Come out and feel the sun. Please."

Kim shut her eyes and squeezed Leah's hand. But she didn't let her win—not this time.

"I don't know," Kim repeated. Then she let go.

Things were quiet in the condo for the next few days. Kim stayed home the entire time. Sometimes she lied in bed for most of the day, only getting up to make coffee. Other times, she didn't leave her bed at all. Back when Kim had been okay, Leah would come home to music playing. Kim always had music playing. These days, Leah met a silent, eerie, saddening home.

One hot, slow Wednesday evening, Leah was scheduled to close at Floriano's, the restaurant where she worked. She left the condo on time, having said goodbye to Kim, but on the way to the restaurant, she realized that she hated it. She hated working at Floriano's. She especially hated her boss. She didn't even mess with Port Angeles like that. It wasn't her style.

So she went in, quit her job, and drove back home to Kim.

She drove home listening to one of the many burned CDs she had—none of them had writing or anything on the outside, but she knew which one was her favorite. It had some of her and Kim's favorite songs—the songs they would bump whenever they had long car rides—and listening to these songs made Leah's heart ache the entire way home.

Why wasn't it obvious before? Leah asked herself.

When she was entering the condo parking lot, she called Kim from her cell phone.

Kim answered promptly. "Are you okay?"

"Come down to the parking lot."

"Lee, are you okay?"

"Just come down."

Kim hung up. By the time she slipped on her flip-flops over her socks and opened the front door, she heard her favorite Destiny's Child song—with four members, not three, so she would know it was real—blaring from Leah's car.

She headed down the stairs, and the song only got louder. When she got down, she saw Leah—in one piece—just standing in front of her car, the door to the driver's seat still open. They could both hear all the neighbors within a quarter-mile radius yelling under the music, telling them to turn it down, but Leah didn't do anything about it.

"Why aren't you at work?" Kim asked, coming closer to her.

Leah shrugged. "I quit."

"Why?"

"There are always gonna be waitress jobs around here," she said. "I even have money saved up. I just hated it there, though. And, anyway, I told my boss that I needed to be with my girlfriend 'cause that's more important."

Kim, being the sap she was even with her tough disposition, looked like she was about to cry, but in a good way.

"I figured out what I want," Leah told her. "Finally."

Then with their favorite Destiny's Child song (with four members, not three) playing, with the sun still out, with the sky still bright, and with the neighbors watching and still yelling for them to turn down the music, they interlaced their fingers and met in a kiss as hot and slow as that Wednesday evening in Forks.

The night before Leah and Kim had to drive Seth down to L.A., everyone got together at First Beach. It was one of the last nights of August, and it was warm but not uncomfortable.

With the gentle waves crashing, the seven of them—Leah, Kim, Emily, Embry, Sam, Seth, and Jacob—set up a bonfire, and it was like they were all fifteen and sixteen again. It felt natural.

Leah sat between Kim, whose hand she finally held in front of everyone else, and Jacob, who finally wasn't regretful to hang out with everyone. He had been wary at first, but Seth wouldn't be the only one leaving tomorrow. Jacob and Lizzie would be moving down to Portland first thing in the morning. While Jacob was excited, he still had to give a proper goodbye to the badlands and the people he loved there.

Around the fire, the seven of them shared plenty of stories and more than enough laughs. They spoke of Quil. They spoke of Paul. They even spoke of Bella. To the seven of them, they were all the only people they'd ever really known. They were all the only people they'd ever really needed, and even though some would be moving on, the feeling would remain relatively the same.

So many things had changed within the last few years, but they were no longer afraid of change itself. They weren't as static as they had thought they were. They were brave. They were alive. Most importantly, they were free.

They were truly free.

all the things that humans do
to leave behind a little proof

*.*.*

Static

fin.