Love poems (Leah Clearwater story)

Chapter 20 ~ Party fever

The week passed in a blur, and by Friday, there was a buzz around the school about a party happening that night at one of the houses on the edge of town. Vivienne wasn't sure she wanted to go, but when Leah caught wind of it, she insisted they should make an appearance.

"You've been settling in pretty well," Leah said as they walked down the hallway together after class. "I think it's time we show everyone how fun we can be."

Vivienne laughed, rolling her eyes playfully. "Alright, but only if you promise not to ditch me. These kinds of things aren't really my scene."

Leah grinned. "You've got nothing to worry about. I'll be glued to your side all night."

By the time they arrived at the party, the house was already filled with music and laughter. People were milling around the front yard, and the inside was packed with students dancing, talking, and generally enjoying themselves. Leah and Vivienne made their way through the crowd, greeting people they knew and grabbing drinks from the makeshift bar set up in the kitchen.

They found a spot in the living room where the music was loudest, and Leah immediately pulled Vivienne into a dance. Despite herself, Vivienne couldn't help but laugh as they moved to the beat, her nerves slowly melting away.

As the night went on, Vivienne noticed Leah becoming more energetic, her usual calm demeanor giving way to something more intense. It wasn't long before Leah started drawing attention—both from friends and strangers. She danced with Vivienne, but there was an edge to her movements, a wildness that seemed to captivate everyone around them.

Vivienne couldn't help but feel a little uneasy, especially when she noticed that Leah's eyes would occasionally flash with something more primal. It reminded her of the wolf she knew Leah could become, and for a moment, she wondered if the wolf was closer to the surface than usual.

Things escalated when someone made a passing comment to Leah, something innocuous but taken the wrong way. Vivienne didn't hear what was said, but she saw Leah's expression darken, her body going rigid. Without warning, Leah shoved the guy back, causing a ripple of tension to spread through the room.

"Leah!" Vivienne grabbed her arm, trying to pull her back. "Let's go outside, okay? It's getting too crowded in here."

But Leah was focused on the guy she'd shoved, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "Say that again," she growled, her voice low and threatening.

The guy held up his hands defensively, clearly not wanting any trouble. "Hey, I didn't mean anything by it, okay? Just chill."

For a moment, it looked like Leah might lunge at him, her muscles tensing as if she was ready to fight. But then, something in her seemed to snap back to reality. She turned to Vivienne, her expression softening slightly.

"Let's get out of here," she muttered, grabbing Vivienne's hand and leading her out of the house.

They walked in silence for a while, the cool night air doing little to calm the tension radiating from Leah. Vivienne didn't know what to say—part of her was still reeling from the sudden shift in Leah's behavior, but another part of her was worried.

When they finally reached the beach, Leah let go of Vivienne's hand and sat down heavily on the sand, staring out at the dark water. Vivienne sat beside her, waiting for Leah to speak.

"I'm sorry," Leah said after a long silence, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't mean to lose it back there."

Vivienne sighed, reaching out to gently touch Leah's arm. "What happened? You were fine one minute, and then..."

Leah shook her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. "It's hard to explain. Being part of the pack, it changes you. Sometimes the wolf... it takes over more than I'd like. I didn't want to scare you."