CHAPTER 25
Lucky One – Taylor Swift
Exiting the night club, they observed Leah flirting with her group of admirers. All of them vying for her attention, trying to prolong being in her company.
"Are you truly alright with this?" Felix asked quietly Demetri, as he and his friend stood apart from the others in their company.
"Hmm?," Demetri asked, sounding genuinely confused. "Well, I'm hardly Edward Cullen. I would never begrudge such a beautiful woman her amusements. Besides, our kind is known for our vanities. Far be it for me to be hypocritical."
Felix remained silent, wondering at his friend's denial. He was very much affected by Leah Clearwater. But was he aware of it?
"You know, you'll have much better luck with your courtship of her, if you would stop acting the Casanova and simply have a discussion with her. The she-wolf had proven to be quite the intellectual. In some ways, the two of you could make quite the match. Both of you like literature, and are curious about humans and their innovations."
No, he was most certainly not aware.
"And you would be alright with that? You are fine with the idea of me bedding the woman?," Felix pushed.
Demetri frowned and, for a moment, Felix thought he had managed to break through.
"Well, yes… so long as you tell me afterwards for my own amusement." Demetri laughed.
Felix made a non-committal, "Hmm…"
The next day, Leah was relieved to find herself (mostly) alone in the garden. The Cullens were milling around indoors. Demetri was reading one of her books, sitting on the grass under the shade. He's developed a habit of picking up books that she's finished reading and had discarded.
Leah put on tango music in her headphones, and would sway to the music while assembling jewelry pieces with beads she purchased in a shop. She was vaguely aware of Demetri nearby, and was oddly not disturbed by his presence. He was always nearby, often debating with her or just staring blankly at whatever she was doing with her hands. Leah was always drawing, or writing, or making something.
She felt, sensed, the approach.
She was up and behind the presence before it could touch her. Claws drawn, heart pounding.
Renesmee stood surprised, looking around confused as Leah vanished in front of her, her hand still suspended in mid-air.
"What are you doing?," Leah demanded.
Renesmee spun around, startled.
"Oh! I just… I just wanted to show you something."
"I know your parents don't teach you manners, but in most parts of the supernatural world, sneaking up on someone and using your powers on them could get you killed. And you're wasting your time. It doesn't work on me."
Leah was partly angry at the rudeness, partly angry because for a brief moment she thought Demetri had attacked. A sobering reminder that they were on enemy territory, and that she was getting too comfortable. And in-between, there was a feeling of hurt she could not explain.
The subject of her thoughts sat quietly watching the exchange. But deep down, he knew what Leah was thinking. And it made him sad, for some reason he also couldn't grasp.
Renesmee looked crestfallen. "You don't like me."
"Does everyone need to like you?" Leah asked rudely.
"Well, I just… I was hoping…" Renesmee faltered. Leah sighed impatiently, and raised an eyebrow.
"I was hoping that you would because you're amazing," the hybrid said in a rush.
"Huh?" Leah asked. She had been nothing but rude so this is surprising.
"You travel all over the world. You live by yourself in a big city. You do so many amazing things! Like dancing without practicing the steps beforehand. And you read interesting books. And you drink cocktails! And you say whatever you want, even bad words! And you listen to music not allowed at our house."
Boy, this kid is sheltered sheltered. Those things are perfectly normal.
"What music is not allowed in your house?" Wait, do I really want to know?
"Well… my dad only allows me to listen to classical music. One time Aunt Alice played jazz, and he got mad but she didn't care. But I don't think I liked it very much anyway… and… and…" Renesmee looked embarrassed.
"And…?" Leah pressed.
Renesmee took a deep breath like she was about to make a big revelation, "I think I like Taylor Swift."
Leah blinked.
"Dad says it's terrible music. He says popular music is uncultured and corrupting. He doesn't like me listening to them because he says it will ruin my taste. He teases me when I do," she steeled herself for another big reveal. "But Jacob and Seth let me listen to the radio every once in a while, and I think I like her songs a lot."
The corners of Demetri's lips quirked upwards in amusement. Of course, young Edward would be uptight about music. He is such a dweeb, to borrow a term he had heard humans use many times before, but only appreciated after Miss Clearwater used it. He thinks she has an interesting way with insulting words.
Leah felt like she was looking at Renesmee for the very first time.
She really was a child, no matter her appearance, or how quickly she's grown, or that she can recite an encyclopedia backwards and forwards. Her family had kept her away from everything, controlled her completely. Whether that was to protect her, or a judgment call for her upbringing, Renesmee had experienced less of life than even an actual nine year old human.
Leah confronted her animosity towards the hybrid. To be honest, the bulk of it was extension of her strong dislike for her family, especially her parents. OK, there was that one time when Renesmee was a year old and she bit her. And the whole Miracle-Gro development thing was (actually, is) freaky. But Leah can be the adult in this situation. After all, she stopped making fun of Renesmee's name a long time ago. If she could do that…
"Sorry, I won't bother you anymore," Renesmee said, looking so sad, Leah can't help but feel bad for her.
Renesmee turned to walk back into the house.
And I've got a lot to pine about
I've got a lot to live without
I'm never gonna meet
What could've been, would've been
What should've been you
Leah started singing.
Demetri raised an eyebrow at the lyrics. And Leah's choice of them. Hmm…
Renesmee perked up. "You like Taylor Swift! But you are so amazing! I didn't think you would know who she was!"
"She's not exactly an underground indie artist, kid," Leah replied. Renesmee didn't catch the sarcasm, nodding as she sang.
The idea you had of me, who was she?
A never-needy, ever-lovely jewel
whose shine reflects on you
Demetri raised both eyebrows. Oh…
And just a glimmer of an insight, Leah understood Renesmee just a little bit more.
Wasn't she also, once upon a time, that people-pleasing girl who got paraded around when she was pretty and accomplished, then thrown away when she was no longer shiny?
Didn't she express her frustrations and pain through more adult versions of a tantrum?
"Let me tell you a few secrets, kid," Leah said. Renesmee nodded eagerly.
"First, you don't have to do everything your parents or your family tell you. Or be everything that they tell you to be.
Second, parents don't know everything. They make mistakes and bad decisions, too. They're not perfect. No one is. And adults can be just as confused about life as kids.
Lastly, you're allowed to like whatever you like without feeling ashamed. So long as you're not hurting anyone else."
Leah had to chuckle at Renesmee's expression. Like she had just heard the wisdom of heaven.
"Tiny bit of rebellion, kid. Go ahead and listen to Taylor Swift. Read your bad books. Cut your hair…"
"I've always wanted to have short hair," Renesmee whispered reverently. "Aunt Alice won't even let me pick my own clothes."
"Sure. Yeah. Whatever. It won't kill you."
"Renesmee! Come inside! Grandma Esme made lunch for the wolves, and it's hot out," Rosalie called from the house. And maybe Leah imagined it, but the blonde was kind of staring at her meaningfully.
"I'm coming!" she looked at Leah like the she-wolf was some kind of hero before going back into the house.
"That kid is depressed," she muttered to herself. And yeah, maybe she wanted to talk to Demetri.
A little bit.
"You manifest your kindness in the strangest of ways," Demetri said.
"Shut up," she muttered in reply, to his amusement.
Their remaining time in Rome, Leah would get in the same van as the Cullens and commandeer the sound system, playing Taylor Swift albums.
"You know what's awesome? She has so many songs we can listen to her pretty much the whole entire time we're driving," she said to no one in particular.
When Edward complained, she turned up the volume.
NOTE: I think I want to write a bit more of Felix. Also, Rosalie interacting Leah.
