Beautiful.

Everyone always told her she was beautiful. Or at least… that's what they used to say. Until she became this… this bitter creature, full of rage and pain. Sometimes she imagined herself as a block of ice, or stone statue, unfeeling, unloving… just cold.

But how? How do you go from being on top of the world, senselessly in love, looking forward to the future, and then bam! You've hit rock bottom… all it takes is a moment, or a word, or a look in his eyes…

Hurt didn't begin to describe it, sad didn't begin to describe it. She'd forgotten what it felt like to laugh, with the bold happiness of someone who truly feels content.

Now, Leah Clearwater had become far from beautiful, or happy, she was lost.

She knew what everyone thought, "Poor girl", "Poor thing", "It's heartbreak". And if they didn't think that, like the pack, then they despised her. The only people who had faith in her were her mom, and Seth.

She lay in her bed as the sun rose outside signalling another day. She sat up slowly, her dark eyes alert since she'd been awake for awhile now. She always had trouble sleeping. She got out of bed, not feeling the chill, dressed in her underwear and a tank top. Her thin body moved gracefully to the bathroom.

Throwing on a T-shirt and some jeans, she walked downstairs and into the kitchen. Her mom was on the telephone, already dressed for work. She smile briefly at Leah then returned to her conversation. Leah poured herself a giant bowl of cereal and put some bread into the toaster. On the fridge was a picture of her dad and her on the dock. It'd started to rain, and they were both wet, and grinning from ear to ear, her dad holding the large fish they'd managed to catch that day. She remembered how she was supposed to be doing something else that day, maybe going out with some friends or something, but instead she'd decided to go fishing. Presently she tore her gaze from it, sticking her head in the refrigerator. Even now looking at it made her eyes burn.

While she was sitting at the table with her meal, Seth trudged down the stairs, and her mom hung up the phone.

"Morning honey." she said brightly, though Leah wasn't sure to which "honey" she referred.

"Morning mom." Seth replied.

"Well, I have to run. I won't be home too late tonight, maybe about six, you guys be good, I'll see you later. I love you!" she called, making her way out the door.

Leah put another spoonful of cereal into her mouth as Seth sat at the table. He was looking intensely at her.

"What?" she asked.

"I'm going to Sam and Emily's for breakfast, everyone's gonna be there. Do you… want to come?" Even after all this time, his name still bit at her. She creased her forehead, a natural habit at this point.

"Do I have a choice?" she asked sarcastically. He shrugged,

"Come on Leah…"

"Oh give me a break." she sighed. He did too then, and stood.

"Fine, but we're going on a patrol tonight, and Sam says he wants you to be there."

"Ok, whatever." He glared at her, then left.

She shook her head when he was gone. He was her brother, and she did care about him a lot. She remembered how it had scared him when she'd nearly gotten herself killed by one of those bloodsuckers, he'd been in so much agony, terrified for her life, and he couldn't do anything. She'd heard his voice in her head. And then Jacob had saved her. The thought alone made her blood boil. She hated feeling helpless or vulnerable. Jacob… he was in love with one of them. Though she mightn't actually be one of them yet, she would be soon enough.

But Leah pushed those thoughts aside and finished her breakfast.

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That evening she made her way through the woods towards Sam's house where the others were already. She'd decided to stay in human form, she enjoyed walking, it was refreshing, a nice escape, especially in these dense forests. The cool evening breeze tickled her, but she still only sported a simply T-shirt and jeans. She'd stopped being worried about her appearance awhile back.

Leah inhaled the smells of the woods, the dampness, the sharpness. She listened to the sounds, her feet crunching over the ground, birds in the tress. She let it all consume her, let her coldness drain away till she was nearly the girl she remembered. She liked this person much better.

Regrettably she exited the woods and approached the tiny house. She reached the front door, but simply waited there. Her long hair blew in the breeze and she stood there. Suddenly the door burst open emitting the group of boisterous males. They were laughing and talking loudly, their voices echoing in the evening. Seth saw her first and smiled.

"Hey Leah." Jared said. She nodded.

"Turned anyone to stone tonight?" Quil asked, laughing.

"No but you can be my first victim." she bit out. She rarely gave in to their teasing, but she felt on edge that night. He grinned at her,

"I'd love to see you try."

"Don't push me." she growled, low. The others only laughed. Seth threw her a lopsided smile, and her hearth warmed slightly.

"That's enough." Sam called, finally coming out of they house. She took a breath, and looked at him. He looked the same, always the same. And although she'd been with him plenty of times, it just didn't get easier. He nodded briefly at her, then led the group away from the house.

Leah felt Emily's eyes burning into her through the curtains, but she couldn't bring herself to look back. So she just let go, broke free, in sync with the rest of them, and let her body feel freedom. All she had to do was run.

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A few hours later, they walked back towards the house, down one of the main roads. It was late by that time, and they were all back in human form. Another night had passed uneventfully, besides the constant bickering. At one point Leah had thought she smelt something, but she lost it too quickly.

In front of her on the road Jared and Embry talked animatedly to Seth. Behind her Sam and Jacob talked in low tones. They were always serious.

"I'll go ahead of you guys, and let Emily know we're coming." Sam said suddenly, runny ahead of them, soon enough he was gone.

"Ha ha, which is code for, I want to make out with her while you guys aren't around." Jared snorted, then glanced sharply at her, "Oh… sorry." he said sarcastically.

"Fuck you." Leah said bitterly, not looking at him. His gaze narrowed,

"I was trying to be nice, but I guess you don't deserve even that."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" She asked, glaring at him. They others had gotten suddenly quiet, and they were slowing down.

"I mean, get over it. You can only be empathetic for so long, then it just becomes ridiculous."

"You don't even know what you're talking about!"

"Yeah I do, I can read your mind remember!"

"But you'll never know what it's like to be in my shoes!"

"Guys! Guys!" Jacob said, trying to push Jared back.

"There you go, letting Jacob come and save you again! Because you're always getting into things that you shouldn't be!" Jared yelled, standing his ground, but just barely.

"If you had been through even half of the things I have in your pampered little-"

"Oh, woe is me! Cry me a river!" They were both shaking by this point, and Leah could feel her control wavering, her muscles vibrating.

"Jared, calm down." Seth said firmly, grabbing Leah's hand. "Come on Leah, don't worry about it." He said soothingly.

"Forget it!" she said, ripping her wrist from his grasp and turning away. "I'm sick of this!" she stated as she stalked away.

"Oh sure, walk away, just like a girl!" Jared called.

"Jared!" Jacob yelled, but it was too late.

Leah froze and turned around, her pulse racing, hands shaking, and her gaze narrowed on him. She growled and ran at him, her body exploding with a loud ripping sound. Giving in to her anger she sped towards him, and in seconds he'd transformed, the others forced to back off. They jumped at each other, thoughts indistinguishable in the blindness of rage. She clawed at his belly, biting his neck. He flipped her off, biting at her exposed nape. She felt a slight stinging where he scratched her, but it hardly registered. She knew that he was larger than her, but she was certain her anger was much stronger. She pinned him to the ground, her claws digging into his flesh. He howled and freed himself. They went at each other again. Suddenly Leah was being torn from him and thrown to the ground. Sam's loud thoughts glared in her mind, like a splash of cold water.

STOP IT! BOTH OF YOU! THIS IS RIDICULOUS!

Leah shook herself, slowly calming down, her thoughts clearing. She realized suddenly that it was Jacob who'd grabbed her roughly, and he was still standing imposingly above her, while Sam stood near Jared. Sam's anger and disappointment washed over them in waves.

I cannot believe you two. He thought bitterly.

Leah's guilt burnt away, and she glared icily at him. He looked sadly at her.

I never wanted- he began

Save it. Leah said, cutting him off.

She stood, feeling her wounds healing already. Jacob looked warily at her, but she shrugged it off and sped away, disappearing into the night, ignoring their thoughts calling out to her.

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Jacob sat in Sam's kitchen staring out the window. Though it really was Emily's kitchen, she did all the cooking, and she'd decorated it. At the moment she was stirring a stew in a huge pot on the stove. Sam stood in front of the kitchen table, too agitated to sit down, looking at Jacob.

"We can't go on like this." Sam stated. Jacob nodded,

"Yeah. I know."

"I mean, we've always had disagreements, but yesterday was serious, they were really trying to hurt each other. If we hadn't stepped in…"

"I know." Jacob repeated, his dark gaze moving to stare into the space before him.

"Well… someone needs to talk to her." Jacob laughed humourlessly,

"Why don't you. You seem to be the only one willing to give her the time of day."

Sam was silent for a long moment.

"I… I owe at least that to her…" he said quietly. Jacob sighed. Sam blinked, coming out of his stupor,

"Anyway. Tomorrow the Cullen's have asked for our help. They think they've found a scent near one of our borders, and leading north."

"Great. Where are we meeting them?" Sam paused as Jake looked him in the eye.

"We, as in Paul, Embry, Quil, Jared, Seth and I, are going to be meeting them near their home, you on the other hand are, staying here."

"What?" Jacob asked, sitting up straight.

"You're going to be staying here, with Leah."

"Are you serious?!" Jacob asked, standing from his chair.

"I'm very serious." He replied, sounding very much like Jacob's father.

"What the hell Sam?"

"Look, just… just stay with her. I know she won't come after yesterday, and I don't want her doing anything stupid. And I trust you."

"I'm not being a bloody babysitter to a sulking drama queen! Why can't Seth do it?"

"Because Seth has had to deal with her enough, he needs some freedom, to not worry about his sister. And in any case, she's not a burden, she's just hurting."

"This is ridiculous." Jacob said in a low voice.

"Deal with it. You might be surprised." Sam stated calmly.

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