A/N: I have no idea what weirdness happened with chapter 3 the first time around, but i hope this fixed it!

Chapter 3

The trip to the nearest out of town grocery store had been hell. Despite having stuffed her face, her stomach, and her backpack, Bella was exhausted. Which was why she wasn't on alert as she parked her motorcycle in its hidden spot like she should've been. She didn't even realize something wrong as a presence crept up behind her, only feet away.

"What are you doing here?"

Bella instinctively jumped away from the person in shock, nearly stumbling backward onto her ass as she let out a curse. Thankfully, the person who had asked reached out a hand to grab Bella and steady her. The person attached to the hand was weak, however, so as Bella fell backwards, she only succeeded in pulling whoever it was with her.

Bella let out a grunt as the wind was knocked out of her, and judging by the person's muttered curse, the person who had tried to help her hadn't fared much better. Bella didn't bother checking on the person who had landed on top of her just yet, keeping her eyes closed as she struggled to get her breath back.

"Did you have to drag me down with you?" The grumpy voice was so familiar, Bella already knew who it was.

"It was your fault for sneaking up on me like that," Bella grumbled in reply.

"And for trying to help you after I did, apparently." Bella could almost hear the wry smile of the other girl as she let out a huff, partially out of exasperation, partially in a laugh. "I've never seen you so scared before, Bella."

"I have my reasons to be a bit jumpier these days." Finally, Bella felt like she could open her eyes. Even in the darkness, the other girl's face was as clear as day; Leah Clearwater was hovering over her. Making no move to get off of Bella, either. "What are you doing here, Leah?"

"I asked you first," Leah said in response. Even in the darkness, her eyes seemed to sparkle with that bit of stubborn challenge, the hardass part of her that was always tight under the surface.

"You also nearly gave me a heart attack."

"But you dragged me to the ground when I tried to stop you from falling."

"Accidentally," Bella shot back. "You're the one who landed on top of me and nearly crushed me."

"Accidentally," Leah parroted, frowning at the stubborn brunette below her. "You're lucky I recognized you. I almost called the cops when I saw you creeping around in the bushes. What are you doing here, Bella?"

Seeing no way out of explaining herself, Bella sighed. "I was buying some food while I stayed at Jake's." Food that was now most likely nothing but crumbs after getting crushed by both Bella and Leah.

Leah frowned down at Bella. "At three in the morning, why? Billy never cares if you eat his food." Bella could do nothing but curse Leah's for having such a big brain as realization dawned on her features only seconds layer. "Unless Billy doesn't know you're here."

"Please don't tell him," Bella blurted, not even going to try to deny it. "Please don't tell anyone."

"Why not?" Leah had a mischievous, evil light to her eyes, one that immediately faded when she saw just how panicked Bella was. For whatever reason Bella was here, hiding out in Jake's house, it was serious. "I won't tell anyone," Leah promised, and immediately felt Bella's body relax under hers. Oh, right, she was still on top of Bella. She should probably do something about that.

"Thanks, Leah." Bella's voice distracted Leah as she started to get up, and now Leah found herself straddling the other girl in a pretty intimate position. It made Leah feel pretty flustered, realizing just how weird this would look to anyone who came across them...especially since she was dating Sam.

"Don't thank me yet," Leah said, making sure to quickly scramble off of the other girl. "You owe me one, Bella."

"Yeah, I know." Bella got to her own feet, brushing herself off. "I'll definitely pay you back for this, Leah. You have no idea how much it means to me."

You're right; I don't. But I already know you're not going to tell me more. That was one of the most aggravating things about Bella Swan. Ever since she was a little kid, the girl had been way too good at keeping things to herself. If she didn't want you to know something, nothing you could do would ring that information out of her. At most, Bella would get upset with Leah for badgering her.

"You still have my number, right?" Leah asked as Bella started to turn away from her. Bella paused, glancing over her shoulder in confusion. Yeah, Leah asking now did seem a little weird, didn't it? "So I can call to collect, I mean. There's no way I'm going to let you escape before paying me back." Leah definitely didn't want Bella to escape. She was definitely worried for Bella, and she'd be damned if she couldn't keep an eye on her.

"Actually, no. I don't really have a phone right now." Bella sighed, clearly frustrated with the lack of phone, doing that thing of hers where she pushed both hands through her hair. That's when Leah saw it; a long cut along the side of Bella's face, hidden by her hair. It wasn't old, either

"Bella, what…?" Leah gasped, and immediately rushed to the younger girl. Unlike with Jacob, Bella didn't bother trying to stop Leah as Leah cupped Bella's face in both hands, turning her head to the side to try and see the cut better in the darkness. When she couldn't clearly see it, she ran a finger over the wound, tracing it from Bella's temple, behind her ear, behind her jaw, down her neck...Bella did everything she could to stay still and suppress the shivers as Leah's fingers danced along the sensitive broken skin, leaving a warm trail in her wake. When Leah's hand continued along the cut, dipping under Bella's shirt, following the line in a near circle on Bella's shoulder, then continued over her heart, Bella immediately grabbed Leah's hand with a gasp. She knew how far the wound went, and she knew she couldn't let Leah trace it any further. It would be too dangerous for Bella to handle.

"Bella, what…who…?" Leah looked up into Bella's face, didn't even try to pull out of Bella's grasp. She watched as Bella's expression slipped from wariness to fear, then shut down completely. However, a little pain entered her eyes, and it was enough to make her want to just hug Bella and never let go.

"Please, Leah. Don't ask."

Leah knew, if she pushed, she would drive Bella away. So she nodded, silently agreeing to drop it, if only for now.

Bella sighed, the tension leaving her body in relief as she let go of Leah's hand. She really had to stop that habit of hers, otherwise she'd reveal the wound to every person she met before the damn thing healed.

"Thanks, Leah. I'll talk to you later." Bella really didn't think she could handle anymore, she was nearly run down by the sudden exhaustion that overtook her. Which was why she knew she just had to get back to Jacob's room before she collapsed, whether Leah was ready for her to leave or not.

"I had a fight with Sam," Leah called after her, making Bella freeze and stare back at her, both worried and confused. Before she could figure out if she would seem like too much of an asshole if she still left, Leah continued. "You asked me why I was out here. Figured I at least owed you a reply for that." Leah shrugged and looked away, clearly uncomfortable admitting it. "It was afight over something stupid. So I left to get some air, and there you were."

Leah hated talking about her personal problems, and both she and Bella knew it. But this was all Leah could think to do to show that she trusted Bella. That Leah trusted Bella, and that regardless of what Bella was dealing with, Bella could trust Leah, too.

Message received, Leah. Bella nodded in understanding, turned around to leave, but this time, stopped herself. "Sam's a dickhead." Leah blinked at Bella's words, then let out a surprised laugh.

"What did you say?" Leah asked, still laughing.

"He's a dickhead." Bella gazed seriously into Leah's eyes. "A double dipped dickhead with extra shit brain sprinkles, too, if he doesn't try to work whatever happened out with you."

Leah couldn't stop from smiling. "Thanks, Bella."

"Of course." Bella stopped herself before she could say anything more personal. She didn't want to get weird. "It's the truth."

Flustered by the intensity behind Bella's eyes, Leah glanced away, trying to compose herself. When she looked back up, however, Bella was gone