Chapter 5: Betrayal

A/N: This chapter goes over a bit of what the last chapter covered, just in Sky's point of view. Hopefully it's not too repetitive!

Sky's Point of View

All day long Sky had this terrible feeling in the pit of her stomach. It told her something bad was about to happen. She didn't know what it was and had no clue how to stop it. She had attempted to talk to Seth about it but he had just gotten upset about it, telling her he wouldn't let anything bad happen to her if he could help it. Sky knew that the promise was hollow, but didn't say a word, rather accepted the hug he offered. Everything about him made her feel safe. She would be entirely lost without him.

They had both climbed up into Emily's car in tense silence. Sky wasn't really paying attention to anything around her but nodded when Emily asked how their day was.

Emily frowned and looked up in the rearview mirror at her. "What happened, Sky?"

Sky answered a little too quickly, "Nothing."

The rest of the drive home was silent but as soon as they parked in the driveway, Emily turned towards her and placed a hand on her wrist. "Sky."

Sky wasn't sure she wanted to tell her because usually she talked about this sort of thing with Leah but she didn't want to overwhelm Leah with everything. Looking up into Emily's eyes, she spoke softly, "I have a bad feeling about today and I just can't shake it and when I told Seth he got angry and said he wasn't gonna let anything happen to me, but I am afraid he can't stop what's coming." Sky inhaled deeply, glad to get some of this feeling off her chest.

Emily's response was anything but comforting. "Sky, don't worry about it. You are safe in Auntie Sue's house. Nothing to worry about." She offered the younger girl a small smile. Sky shook her head and climbed out of the car, making her way to Seth's outstretched hand on the porch and dragged him inside. He waved back at Emily.

"Everything okay?" His ever caring voice held the strength Sky needed on a day like today.

She was about to respond when she heard a soft crying. Looking at Seth, she knew he heard it too. He pulled her in the opposite direction of the stairs, towards the living room and the source of the crying.

Once in the living room, they saw Leah's best friend Kim talking to her and rubbing her back as Leah's head rested on Kim's lap. The two kids knelt in front of their big sister.

"Hi sis." Seth said quietly.

"Lee Lee, I love you." Sky whispered. Leah tried to offer a smile back. "I hope you can try to be happy for your birthday." Seeing Leah's eyebrows knit together, she expanded. "It's on Monday. And I will be here every second I am able to." With a small nod, Seth towed her towards the stairs.

As they passed the door, there was a loud knock on the front door. "I'll get it and meet you upstairs." Seth said as he let go of her hand.

She didn't make it up 2 steps before she heard the cold drawl of a man she wished she never had to see again. A shiver went down her spine as she realized her month in paradise was over.

"She isn't here." Seth said, flat out lying to the older man.

Steve scoffed. "I have eyes, I can see her right there. Hello..." He swayed as he talked, having to concentrate a little too hard to remember her name. Sky gulped realizing he was already drunk. "Sunny. Come on, we have to get back to the house."

"Sky, but close this time." Sky bit her tongue just a second too late and regretted letting the comment escape immediately when she saw the look flash across his eyes.

He lunged faster than any of them could have expected and grabbed a tight hold on her arm. "Do NOT talk back to me!" He whispered menacingly into her ear as he started dragging her back to their house.

A look from the corner of her eyes told her that Leah and Kim had broken out of the living room and were scurrying towards them as fast as Seth was. "I-It's alright you guys." Leah and Kim warily stopped, clearly wanting to continue. "Dragon. Stay." She mouthed to her best friend. He immediately stopped following, but intense pain filled his eyes.

Sky was so mesmerized by the gaze she shared with her best friend that she didn't realize they had made it across the yard until she was shaded from one of those rare sunny days in La Push. Steve threw her on the couch and told her to stay put. Sky knew better than to try anything so she wouldn't end up in the hospital again.

Sky's mother came storming into the living room and it would be clear to anyone that both of them were ready for a fight. They screamed back and forth, and the entire time, Sky's mind kept singing 'I knew it!' and it was right. Sky knew something bad was going to happen and that Seth wouldn't be able to stop it.

Sky anxiously kept glancing between the two of them and the clock as hours ticked by. She knew it was getting late and soon the yelling would be directed at her, asking her why she hasn't started dinner yet. But she also knew better than to stand up without his permission, or dare she try and interrupt them.

It wasn't more than five minutes later that Steve turned his steely eyes on her. "Why the hell aren't you making dinner, you little whore?" He yelled so close to her that she could feel the spit litter her face.

"I will get right on that." Sky spoke softly and went to stand up. It took him all of three seconds to shove her back down.

"Yeah, you better get on it." Sky bit back her frustration this time. How could she start if he wouldn't even let her up?

Avoiding eye contact, he eventually turned back to her mother, who was also scowling at her. She took the opportunity to move slowly to the kitchen. She looked frantically through the cabinets, unable to locate anything she could whip up for dinner. The stress in her shoulders lightened as she opened the last cabinet and found a box of spaghetti and a can of sauce. Plenty for her parents, maybe not quite enough for her.

She put the pot of water on the stove to boil and leaned up against the counter while she waited. It was then that she actually tuned into the conversation in the next room.

The screaming had lowered to normal levels, and she couldn't make out everything, but she did hear words like divorce, house, the burden. Sky straightened up. Were they finally getting a divorce? Who would she be forced to live with? Would she have to move? She felt her panic increase as she thought over the questions. It was the sound of the water boiling that reminded her she needed to get a move on.

When the food was prepared, she put their plates on the table. "Steve, Julie, dinner is ready for you on the table." Her mom was first through the doorway, swaying her hips in the way that all fake girls do. She was the epitome of a Barbie: bleached blonde hair, the dark roots poking through, and 90% plastic surgery. Not that it did her any good. She looked like one of the ickiest people on Earth to Sky.

Sky thought she was lucky to get only the good qualities about her mother, her eyes and her skin tone. They shone sapphire, with a dark blue ring around the colored part of them. Her skin was dark enough to be considered tan, not quite the level of the Quilletes though. The black hair came from the both of them. Though Sky's was just the right shade where sometimes it glinted blue.

As suspected, Steve went up and got seconds, clearing out the rest of the dish and leaving none for me. Sky waited until they were done eating and cleaned their plates while they went back to arguing. When she had finished up and all dishes were away as if she had never cooked dinner, she realized they were not paying her any mind. She crept down the hallway and slipped into her room. She tossed and turned, worry plaguing her as she drifted into a fitful sleep.

It was no more than 3 hours later that she was woken up by the resumed arguing. What could they be yelling about in the middle of the night?

Sky contemplated staying put, thinking it might be the safest option. But as usual, curiosity beat out safety. She slowly took one step at a time towards the living room. As she neared it, she heard every word. Even though she already knew it was how they felt, the words were like razors to her heart.

"No way are you making me keep that... kid!" Julie yelled loudly.

"Well, I'm not keeping that pain in the ass! What a burden!" Steve retorted, making sure he was louder than his soon to be ex.

"I don't care, just leave her out on the streets or somethin-"

Sky felt red hot rage fill her tummy and was shocked when she heard herself cutting off her mothers sentence- "If you guys don't want me, why don't you just give me away?! I'm sure Mo- Sue and Harry won't mind me living there!" Luckily Sky had the presence of mind to not call Sue Mom in front of them. That would have ended even worse than it already was going to.

Julie's voice rang out. "I hate to admit it but she kind of has a point. That way neither of us have to deal with it."

"Her, you ninny. I'm a girl. Not an it!" How could her own parents be speaking like this? She looked over to Steve shocked he hadn't retaliated yet, and saw he had a dangerous gleam in his eyes. It sent more shivers down her spine. For the first time in her life, he looked her up and down, smirking as if he was seeing her for the very first time.

"You, shut up. No one cares for your opinion." Sky felt tears brimming as she turned on her so-called mother.

"I will just excuse myself and head to the Clearwater's for the night." She turned on her heels and ran for the door. She was more than surprised when she didn't get any sort of resistance.

As the door rattled in place and she was safely on the other side, she looked up in time to see Seth making his way to her, at a full on sprint.

Sky started running too, not caring that she was barefoot, and they collided into a heap on the ground. Sky blushed as she saw the rest of the family and buried her face into his chest. "Will it be okay with mom if I stay another night?" He nodded and got up, reaching for her hand. He went to let go, but Sky grabbed on even tighter.

Seth whispered to her as they got closer, "You never have to ask." Sky nodded, but wanted to be polite. She always feared upsetting the balance and losing out on her small slice of peace.

"Hey mom, is it alright if I stay the night?" Sky couldn't bring herself to look up at her, or the rest of the family huddled together in front of their home.

Sue grabbed Sky's chin with two soft hands and brought her gaze up to her own. " Seth is right, you never have to ask. You will always be welcome." Sky could feel the tears pricking again and nodded curtly as she tugged Seth's hand towards the house and yanked him upstairs.

When they got to the landing, Seth started for Sky's room but she was quick to change the direction, shaking her head.

Once they got to her destination, his room, welcoming as always, she made her way to his dresser. She grabbed one of his shirts and had him close his eyes. Changing, she walked slowly over to where he was sitting on the edge of the bed. He felt the bed shift under Sky's weight as she sat beside him. He scooted up to the headboard and opened his arms wide. She slid in and he wrapped her in a tight embrace. He knew better than to think she wanted to talk right now. He knew her well enough that if she was feeling a way strong enough to put on one of his shirts, she needed to feel wanted.

It could have been a couple minutes, or an hour, Sky wasn't sure. But she broke the silence. "Why don't they love me, Sethie?" The words opened the dam and all those bottled tears began falling.

Seth brought his hand up to her cheek and wiped away each individual tear. "Because they are fools. If they can't see how perfect you are, then there is something seriously wrong with them. You deserve to be treated like the angel you are, Sky." Sky's hold tightened on him and they sat in silence until they were both yawning. At that time, he lowered them under the covers and Sky curled as close as possible up to his chest. That overwhelming safety that came along with being close to Seth encompassed her.

The next morning, Sky was quick to remember that the night before wasn't a dream. Sitting up, she pried herself out of Seth's arms as gently as possible so as to not wake him up. She grabbed a book off his dresser and laid back down with Seth again, not ready to leave the comfort of his side.

It was about an hour later that Seth awoke to the turning of the pages as I read. He gasped, "Sky! If you were awake you should've woken me up!"

She smirked at him. "Never Sethie, never." He rolled his eyes and sat up.

"I am surprised dad didn't come in and carry you to your room or anything." Sky shrugged, because she was surprised by that too.

One thing she treasured about Seth was their ability to sit in such comfortable silences. It only lasted another 10 or so minutes before Mom was calling them downstairs as lunch was ready. Opening the bedroom door, Sky was greeted with the smell of her and Leah's favorite meal.

Leah trailed behind Sky and Seth as they all made their way to the dining room table. Mom and Emily were setting the table, and Dad was likely off fishing. It was a quiet lunch as everyone took in the fresh tear tracks on mine and Leah's face.

No one said a thing at all, until there was a knock at the door. Mom glanced around anxiously before she stood up and took slow steps to the door. Sky was having a hard time registering anything until she heard the familiar swears leaving Steve's mouth as he called Mom unforgivable names.

Slamming her spoon down onto the table, Sky stood up sending her chair flying backwards as she made her way to the door. "YOU DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT TALK TO HER LIKE THAT!" A chilling smirk covered his face as he reached for her earlobe and began dragging her across the Clearwater's yard into his own.

In a moment of deja vu, he threw her onto the couch as Julie appeared beside him. "We are going down to the courthouse and finalizing the divorce as well as setting up all other arrangements. You will be staying with your father and I get to be a free woman!" She practically sang. Sky didn't know if she had ever seen a bigger smile on the woman's face. She stopped herself before she retorted 'Good for you lady!' thinking better of it.

"Okay... Why did I have to be dragged over to hear this?"

Steve shrugged. "So you know who you'll be living with?"

"Thanks... I guess. Can I go back to the Clearwaters' after you leave?" Sky knew she was being bold, but also felt like a clock was ticking and time was running out. Julie rolled her eyes and walked out to her car before zooming off.

Steve came up to Sky and lifted her by the throat until she was standing. A forceful punch to the gut, and a round of her coughing later, he leaned close and whispered, "You ungrateful little bitch. Run off to your friends, but make sure you're back by 6 to make me dinner." Sky was still gasping for her breath but made sure to nod. He walked out briskly without turning to look at Sky sprawled on the floor and gasping for air.

When Sky was sure she could pretend everything was fine, she got up from the floor, wincing as her tummy squished and made the new injury throb. She took a deep breath and started her way home to the Clearwaters'.

As she opened the front door, she saw Mom, Leah and Seth scurrying quickly into the car. She rushed as fast as she could, hoping to catch them in time before the car took off. As usual, Seth was so attuned to Sky, that he locked eyes with her as if she had called him.

"What happened?" Sky gasped as she jumped in the car beside Seth.

Each family member had their own look of horror. "Emily has been attacked by an animal, she was brought to the hospital in Forks." Leah's tone was clipped, worry edging its way in.

"Hit the gas!" Sky called as soon as her seatbelt was buckled. Sue did as she was told and the family began speeding off towards Emily.

Leah's Point of View

As soon as mom had parked the car, Leah was out and running towards the entrance to the hospital. Once she got to the desk, she was greeted by a plump woman with a smile on her face. Why was she smiling like that?

"Emily Young? Where is she? She was just brought into the hospital from an animal attack."

The woman nodded and looked her up in the system. "Doctor is still with her, she is not ready for visitors yet. Please stay in the waiting room and the doctor will be out to update you as soon as he can."

"Okay..." Leah turned and headed towards the arrangement of seats the woman had pointed towards.

She stopped short as she saw the love of her life pacing back and forth, eyes puffy as if he had been crying. She felt a lump forming in her throat. Looking around wildly, she sat as far from him as she could manage, trying to resist the urge to comfort him for whatever he was experiencing.

The doors banged open again and Seth, Mom and Sky came rushing in. Leah picked up a hand and waved them over.

Sky was the first to speak. "How is she? Where is she?"

Leah took a deep breath, and tried to not glance at the man across the room as his gaze came back to her. "I don't know how she is, she's with the doctor right now. He'll come out and tell us how she is when he can." Crap, she definitely looked at him when he resumed his pacing.

Sky, observant as always, followed her gaze and saw him. At first Leah could tell that recognition hadn't occurred because of his strange growth spurt from his disappearance, but as soon as she saw his face, the anger that flashed across hers was hard to mistake.

The little girl got up from her spot next to Leah and stormed over to him and bashed her little fists against him. "You. Stupid. Stupid. Boy!" It perplexed Leah to see him do nothing to stop her.

Leah steeled her courage and made her way to her little sister. Grabbing both of her wrists, she whispered in her ear. "Baby Sky, it's okay. Stop hitting Sa-" His name caught in her throat as if she had been eating a jar of peanut butter. The ever familiar tears began forming. "Sam."

Sky had a wild look in her eyes. "But he- I hate him!"

"Sweetie, you don't hurt people when you hate them. You don't have to even acknowledge them, but you DO NOT hit them, okay? Violence isn't good. And you are." Sky nodded and made her way back over to Seth, glaring at Sam every chance she could. Leah continued looking down at her feet as she talked to Sam. "I'm sorry about her..."

He used his finger to lift Leah's chin so that she was forced to look into the beautiful brown eyes she loved so much. "Don't be sorry Lee Lee." She winced at the use of her nickname. "I-I'm sorry about everything. I wish things could work out. I wish they were different, but they can't and they aren't."

A single tear escaped despite Leah's best efforts and without another word she turned to walk back to her seat.

Maybe a half an hour to an hour later, a handsome blonde doctor walked into the waiting room. His eyes were a weird topaz that Leah had never seen before. What almost sounded like a growl came from Sam's direction as he approached the Clearwaters.

"Emily Young's family?" Leah immediately stood up, listening to the velvet sound of his voice. There was something about him that screamed danger, but not enough to chance missing out on knowing her her cousin and best friend was doing. She would walk through fire for Emily.

"That's us." Sue called out from their corner as the family made their way to the doctor.

"Hello, my pleasure meeting you all." His lips moved again but no words seemed to escape his mouth. He shook their hands and Leah gasped at the temperature. "My name is Dr. Cullen."

"Oh." Recognition was clear in Sue's voice, though she didn't speak as to how she knew him. "How is she?"

He frowned a little before smiling. "She will be fine. She lost a lot of blood but the transfusions have helped. The scratches were stitched up and bandaged. Emily is sedated and will wake up at some point tomorrow."

"Can we go in and see her?" Leah couldn't help the hopeful tone of her voice.

Nodding he said, "Make sure you don't make too much noise. Room 118."

As soon as the number was out of his mouth, Leah took off towards the room. She stood outside the door for a minute, just staring at the handle before she took a deep breath and walked in. When she saw Em, there was no way to hold back the gasp. There were thick bandages covering the entire right side of her face and her right arm. What happened to her?

Leah inched towards her cousin slowly, afraid that even the wind would hurt her. She sat gently in the chair on her left side so that she could hold Emily's good hand. Everyone else had followed Leah into the room, but Leah's main focus was the girl in front of her.

Leah didn't know how much time had passed before the spell of the room was broken by Sky's small voice. "Mom?"

"Yes sweetie?"

"Steve says I have to be home by 6." Leah could hear the worry in Sky's voice. A protective growl seemed to come from both her and Seth, and whoever else was in the room. A growl? What? If the circumstances were better, Leah might have laughed.

"Steve? What do you mean Steve? Is he back?" The back of Leah's eyes stung as she heard Sam's voice again. Why on Earth was he here?

"Not that it is any of your business but yes he is back." Sky's voice was so cold it could have frozen the ocean. Leah's heart swelled at her little sister's protectiveness.

Mom was next to speak. "Well, why don't I bring you home?" She seemed to think about it for a moment. "The doctor said she wouldn't wake up today, so why don't we all go home and get some rest? We can come back first thing in the morning."

Leah nodded her head before getting up and placing a kiss on Em's good cheek. "Get better, cuz." After everyone else said goodbye to Emily, they all headed to the car, leaving Sam alone with her.

The rest of the night went by in a blur. By the time they got home, they received a call from Dad saying he had a very important Elder's meeting to attend tonight and wouldn't make it home for dinner. Leah didn't even know what they ate, she was so out of focus between what happened with Emily, and seeing Sam again, on top of the ever present worry about Sky.

Leah had prayed for a dreamless sleep, but of course she wasn't that lucky.

Leah was sitting in the corner of the hospital room looking at the hospital bed. It was Emily. She was sporting the same injuries, but this time she was awake. Before Leah could be relieved, movement caught her eye.

Sam leaned over and kissed Emily on the cheek. "Em, I was so worried, I-I thought I was going to lose you. Leah doesn't matter anymore. I don't want her, I want you. You are mine and I will love you forever."

She woke up gasping for air at her dream best friend's betrayal. It took her a few minutes to realize it wasn't reality. All the dreams she's had since he ended things have been pretty much the same. Nightmares. Clawing at her heart. They all had Sam in them, telling some other girl that he loves her and that Leah didn't matter anymore. Though she knew the second part was probably true, the whole thing crushed her.

Shaking off the dream, she went to take a shower, knowing sleep would evade her yet again.

When she was ready, she went downstairs and started a pot of coffee. She single handedly drank half of it before deciding it was late enough to go get Sky.

Knowing her mom would be up, she yelled, "I'll be right back mom! I'm going to go get Sky."

With that, she jogged the yard to the neighbors door and knocked loudly.

There was shuffling behind the door before it opened halfway revealing the disgusting man that Sky had the unfortunate circumstance of living with. A grin that could make a dead man's skin crawl, took over his mouth. "Well, hello there little lady." His eyes raked her up and down. Creep.

"Hi... Is Sky home?" His face turned into a scowl before he was able to compose himself.

"She can't go out today. Sorry." And with that the door was abruptly shut in Leah's face.

Leah meandered over to the car where her family was loading in. "Where's Sky?" Seth asked, concern evident in his tone.

Leah shrugged. "Her dad said she had to stay home." No one asked any more questions, knowing that answers weren't going to be available. Once they got there, Leah made her way to her cousin's room and found it empty. She occupied the same chair she did yesterday.

She grabbed Emily's hand and squeezed it tight to let her know that she wasn't alone. Leah settled back into her chair. A few minutes passed before Emily's lips started moving. Leah leaned in to make out what she was saying. "Sam." With that single work, Leah felt daggers pierce her heart. She let go of Emily's hand as if it had burned her. A sinking feeling that her dream had not been that far off.

The air was too stiff in the hospital. Leah sprinted for the hospital doors. Running by her family she apologized briefly before continuing her sprint to the fresh air. As soon as she had made it through the double doors, she collided with what could have been a warm brick wall. A wall made warmer by the searing hot liquid that covered the front of her. Leah looked up to apologize to the person she ran into, only to be greeted by the last person she wanted to see.

Leah hit him a good few times before she felt all emotions fall off her face. In what probably looked like an expressionless mask, she managed to say, "Looks like she wants you." The tears stopped coming in that moment, and she shook off his hold on her and walked in the direction of her land. Not once did she turn around again, no matter how loud he called after her. Not once did another tear fall. Leah could feel her emotions shutting off as she walked the distance to her house.

There was no way she would ever let another person hurt her like this.

A/N: I am SO sorry for the delay. Hope y'all liked it!