*Four Years Later*

Jacob Black Pov

AP Calculus flies by in a blur, and when the final bell rings, students immediately shuffle to their next classes.

In the hallway I bypass Leah Clearwater's locker.

No surprise Sam 'Blockhead' Uley is standing there before she could arrive.

He was like an ant and she was a caterpillar that needed to isolate herself from him to grow wings and fly.

On Friday is Leah's eighteenth birthday.

I've known Leah since we were in diapers. Icky, sandy, shaggy diapers. She had a heart of gold since our family camping trips.

"What's that?" Leah asks as Sam holds a book with a bow on top, in his hands.

I glanced down at Leah's long legs coming underneath a navy blue plaid skirt. The long sleeves of her white button down shirt had a key-chain on one arm and a bus pass on the other.

"It's a book.. About the Moon falling in love with the Sun, and having planets as their children." Sam stated.

I rolled my eyes, stopping to lean again on the opposite side of the wall. He clearly hasn't paid attention to any of Leah's disinterest over the last four years. Leah hates anything science related.

She's been an earth girl since birth. Maybe the warmth of the sun will get her in the mood, but it's the texture of cold grass that gives her life.

Ain't no way a person so organic could change in four years. I never even saw her wear makeup.

"What am I, seventeen going on five?" She retorted glared at him and I snorted.

"No. I thought about what you said, "I'm becoming spiritually aware of the galactic bonds, you know?"

"Ah, thanks.. but giving me a book I could give a two year old was not what I meant." She says annoyingly reaching for her locker lock.

He didn't care enough to give his gift any thought or heart. He doesn't deserve her.

"You don't like it?" He clarified the dumbest question ever.

"I don't get it. You know you could have just gotten me cheap candy. At least dark chocolate would benefit my health." Leah said to him.

Sam was usually good with cheesy girls gifts, but this one takes the cake.

He pulls her tightly towards him, then buries his face in her shoulder.

"I'm sorry, I'm just focused on football."

Leah wraps her arms around herself.

"It's fine, Sam."

"No, it's not. Not really." He says, as she stiffens for a moment, then relaxes into him.

The moment lingered for a moment, then Leah clears her throat and pulls away from him.

"Thanks, Sammy. I have to go."

Sam frowns as she makes no attempt on taking his gift.

I grinned, even though I had better sense, the doubts of her bond with him could screw up my plans.

The thing I held inside all this time is simple. She can do better. Way better than him. He knew it.

She knows what it's like to be unsure whether we belong. Somewhere. Anywhere in the crowd. Sam was just an old face that took a chance to win the race because Paul had a crush on her first.

Regardless of family pressures, I'm ready to beat him down on the field.

I've been taking it easy on him since making the team last year.

Everyone thinks he's the star, but at tonight's game I'm going to prove why he's not better than me.

My mother is planning Leah's party at our house Friday night.

Which is ridiculous because Leah's house is much bigger, but whatever.

My mother has a kind heart. She always has. I love her closeness to Leah.

My twin sisters are two years older than me. Rachel five minutes before Rebecca. Leah is their age.

Ironically my father's birthday was two months ago, on the same day as Leah's.

My father told Rebecca that Leah called their coach last night and begged to be in tomorrow night's game.

Leah had been playing on and off - taking a break from Lacrosse to rest her arm that she overworked. It sucked to hear that she couldn't play the last few weeks, not like she wanted to.

Already pushing off the wall, heading towards her, I removed the small purple rectangle box from my inner jacket pocket.

"Hey, Leah." I smiled. "Are you coming to my football game later?" I asked, ignoring Sam standing there as she turned to face me.

"Hey, yeah. I just have to work after school, though I'll be there."

I smiled, stopping close enough to smell her mangosteen blossom and amber copper skin. "I brought you a gift for your birthday. Figured I'll give it to you early." I handed my gift to her in hopes she could guess what it was.

"Thanks, Jacob. You didn't have to get me anything." Her hand touched mine and it was so warm it gave me chills.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. You've been saying that for the last four years, and I tell you the same thing every time.. It's no big deal because I wanted to."

Leah smiled and I went in for a huge hug.

Leah already knew, and instantly wrapped her arms around my neck.

I gave a small groan, rubbing her back smoothly.

Her curly long hair smelt like strawberries. It was out to her shoulders, and I tried my best not to be a creep and smell it.

Screw it.

I inhaled, then cleared my throat.

"Seriously, Jacob. You didn't have to, but I appreciate it." She tightened her grip, then loosen her arms too quickly.

I slowly stepped back enough that we were in arms length.

"It's a bit different than the all-you-can-eat-coupons, the glitter heels, the football ticket, the keyboard… I just thought you'd want something different." I smiled as she opened the box.

The gemstone bedazzled her.

"Wow, I- this is gorgeous. " Leah lifted the pendant high enough that the topaz and green butterfly was up in the light.

Sam's mouth drops glaring at me.

I grinned, raising my eyebrows in a teasing way.

"Man, Jacob. I cannot believe you brought this for me."

"Actually, I made it. It took some time but with the gem all I needed was the color that I needed. It's sterling silver, so it won't turn your neck green." I chuckled.

"Jacob, no one has even made something like this for me." She gave my arm a punch. "Seriously, this–"

"Hey, you're special to me. My family." I flashed my teeth at her.

The school bell rang for what was the second time because I didn't hear it at all.

"I'll catch you later." I say turning around fast to start heading towards my next class.