IV. The DS Screen is Brighter Than My Future

I scowled, the stack of college applications creasing in my tight grip as I stalked away from the school grounds.

After everything that had gone down last fall, Mrs. Littlesea had been the first person with enough balls to confront me on what I planned to do after graduation.

The reality was that all my plans with Sam had fallen to the wayside. I had avoided thinking about it, until today, when she had handed me a stack of pamphlets and applications, with directions to start thinking about what I wanted to do with my life.

And now, I had less than four months to figure my shit out.

I paused, long enough to shove the papers into my backpack, before falling back into a quick gait, taking the quickest route back to my house.

I was hiking through the shortcut in the woods when I recalled that the path ran near Jacob's garage, where he, Quil, and Embry usually hung out. As soon as I saw the familiar structure through the trees, I abandoned the trail and traipsed through the wet shrubbery, until I broke through the treeline.

Even from this distance, I could hear their voices inside.

"Just admit it, Jakeyou have no chance!"

"Shut the fuck up, Quil. What do you know?"

"Dude, she literally told us she has a boyfriend! I think I heard it's some kid named Edwin?"

"Pfft! So? With a dorky sounding name like that, I doubt―"

Without preamble, I shoved open the door to the garage and strolled right in. "Actually," I cut in with a sneer, "his name is Edward. And you probably shouldn't interfere, Jake. He's a Cullen." Despite my taunt, I sincerely hoped Jacob stayed the fuck away. Pissing off a coven of vampires was the last thing any of us needed.

The trio jumped, Quil toppling off the couch and Embry spilling Coke on his jeans.

"Hey, what's the big idea?!" Jacob demanded, shooting to his feet. "Were you eavesdropping?!"

I rolled my eyes and darted past him, tossing aside my backpack and dropping onto the couch before Quil could reclaim his spot. "Ew, no. But you guys aren't exactly quiet. Anybody with a pair of ears could hear you bitching about Isabella's beau."

Jacob turned red. "I don't know what you're talking about," he snapped.

"Besides," Embry said, "what does it matter that he's a Cullen? Is that supposed to mean something?"

Quil bounced onto the couch beside me, ignoring the glare I shot him when he nearly dislodged me. "Sure! Remember when my grandpa and the other elders got us together to warn us about them? Those old, paranoid codgers actually think we have a family of vampires living down the road!" Quil howled with laughter.

"Shit, I forgot about that!" Embry laughed. "Apparently it's okay though, because they don't feed on humans."

Jacob cracked a grin. "Yeah, Leah. Don't tell me you're afraid of a pack of bunny munchers."

My expression twisted in disgust. "Hysterical."

"Exactly!" Quil snickered, elbowing me.

I shoved him back. "Get off me!"

"Alright, alright," Quil laughed, holding up his hands in surrender.

"Whatever," I huffed. "How did those old stories go again? Astral projection, body thieving, wolf shifting?"

Of course, I knew the stories perfectly well. I wasn't sure if I could say the same for these knuckleheads.

"Who cares?" Jacob rolled his eyes. "Why are you even here, Leah? Don't you have your own friends to bother?"

"No, I can't say I do," I snorted. It was no secret that I'd become a bit of a pariah after my explosive fallout with Sam. No one wanted to be around me and my volatile temper, especially after Emily's betrayal came to light. "If you're trying to hurt my feelings, Jake, you'll have to try harder than that."

I jumped to my feet and strode out of the garage, feeling vaguely disappointed. At this rate, it was doubtful they would ever believe me.

I was nearing the treeline, when I heard Quil shout, "Leah, wait up!"

I turned, surprised to see him jogging after me.

"You forgot your backpack!" he said, dropping the strap into my hand. "And don't listen to Jacob. We'll totally be your friends if you want!" He looked a little red in the face.

I smirked. "Thanks, Quil. I'll see you around?"

"S-sure!" He grinned.

I nodded and resumed my previous trek back home.

Maybe there was some hope after all.


When I got home, I was struck with the faint smell of Febreeze. It was a little too similar to the overpoweringly sweet scent I'd encountered in chateau Cullen and I followed my nose into the small living room, where Seth was sprawled on the couch.

Quick as a flash, I darted over and snatched the DS out of his hands. On the screen, Yoshi lurched over the snow capped mountain trail and plunged into the abyss.

"No!" Seth wailed as he scrambled to get up. "Leah! I was almost done with the Cool, Cool Mountain Level!"

I wrinkled my nose. "Where did you get this?"

"From Isabella!" he said, expression brightening. "She gave it to me for my birthday! Isn't she so awesome?"

"Sure," I agreed with scoff, ambling off into the kitchen and grabbing a disinfectant wipe. What the fuck is her problem? Is she trying to drag Seth into this mess as well? Idiot.

"What are you doing?" Seth demanded, having followed me and now peering over my shoulder.

"It's filthy," I said flatly and wiped it down until it smelled like lemon Lysol. "Here," I said, turning and handing it back to him. "And don't accept any more gifts from her."

"In your dreams!" Seth scoffed, hurrying off and darting up the staircase.

I rolled my eyes.

The phone began to ring, before I could also head up to my room.

"This is Leah," I said once I picked up the phone from the mount on the kitchen wall.

"Leaaaaaaaah! I miss you!"

I laughed and leaned a shoulder against the wall, cradling the phone more comfortably between my neck and shoulder. "Hey there, stranger. How's the city life treating you?"

"You already know!" Rachel said. "It's you I'm worried about, still stuck on that tiny reservation. You need to come visit me! Maybe this time, I can convince you to apply to Washington!"

"You know my grades are shit," I reminded her.

"It's a public university," she argued. "The standards for acceptance are lower than you think."

"Let's fucking hope so," I scoffed. "Mrs. Littlesea has been on my ass about college applications."

"Someone needs to be," Rachel said with little sympathy. "I know the whole situation with Sam was a shit show, but you're a free woman now. Come over to the dark side and apply for student loans."

"Shut up, you're so annoying."

"You totally miss me!"

"Yeah," I agreed. "You and Rebecca just had to abandon me."

"Don't remind me. We were supposed to be roommates and now I'm stuck with this total weirdo. You have to join me in the fall or else I'll never forgive you!"

"I'm sure I'll live," I scoffed.

"Whatever," she grumbled. "How is everything, though? We haven't talked since winter break. Catch me up!"

"…Nope, sorry. There's not much going on around here."

I felt like a total hypocrite, refusing to tell her the truth, but I could hardly believe it myself on the best of days. What if she didn't believe me?

"Leah Clearwater, why are you lying?"

"What makes you think I'm lying?!"

"I talked with Seth the other day, because you weren't home," Rachel said. "He said you've been hanging around my little brother?"

I scoffed. "It was Seth's birthday party. Everyone was there."

"But not everyone went down to the coast afterwards," she taunted. "What's going on?"

"Look, it's complicated. It's not something we should talk about over the phone." Having dad nearly walk in on my previous conversation with Isabella had taught me better.

"Complicated? With Jacob? Leah, what the fuck?"

"Ew! Don't be gross! That's not what I meant!"

"Well, how the hell am I supposed to know?! You're being all secretive!"

"Ugh, I know. Just…I'll call you when I figure out how the hell to get to Seattle, okay?"

"I doubt that's likely," Rachel said. "Spring break is next month. I wasn't planning on visiting, but you're worrying me."

"Don't come," I said. The last thing I needed was for Paul to complete Sam and Jared's clown act and imprint on her. "I'll figure something out, okay?"

"Fine," she relented. "But I'll hold you to that. Preferably, come sometime during spring break. I have midterms coming up."

"Got it. I'll see you then."

I hung up before she could continue to hound me. Rachel had the tenacity of a bull when she wanted to know something.

"Leah, was that Rachel?" I heard my mom call from the front hall.

"Yeah," I said. "She was just checking up on me. Sends her love." Or at least, she would've, if I hadn't cut her short.

"I do miss those girls," she said, coming in and dropping into one of the kitchen chairs, still wearing her scrubs. "Did she say how her classes are going?"

I shrugged, leaning back against the wall and crossing my arms. "She said she has midterms coming up."

"Oh, I'm sure she'll do fine." She smiled, eyes crinkling. "Is she still on you about applying to University of Washington?"

I rolled my eyes. "Everyone and their mother is on me about applying somewhere."

"Good," mom said, fingers brushing back the hair strands framing her face, having come loose from her bun. "You're a bright girl, Leah. I'd hate to see you waste all your potential. But first, get your grades up. If I have to suffer one more call from your teacher, you'll be hearing it from me. Understood?"

I grimaced. "Crystal."


A/N: femmeatefatale tried to bribe me with drugs in exchange for an update, so here we are.

Also, I wanted let everyone know that I have to go on a small hiatus for a couple weeks, so don't be surprised by lack of updates!

And please review! :)

In Reference to A Body of Water and Bones: Chapter 26.