Mermaids☽ Leah Clearwater

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Leah Clearwater was misunderstood.

That itself was the understatement of the century.

Everywhere she went she was disliked. People would take one look at her, taking in her beautiful face and her toned body. They would soak up the vibe that radiated from her, they would find it odd. They would be met with her cold glare, her bitch resting face scaring them to look away.

They quietly whispered about her.
Automatically frowning down on her. Already having negative thoughts and feelings towards her despite the fact that they didn't even try to get to know her.

It wasn't that Leah hated everything and everyone. On the contrary, she was just a cinnamon bun, a misunderstood cinnamon bun. She was a kind soul, she cared for her family and friends. She had dreams and ambitions, just like everyone else. It wasn't her fault that her face was naturally cold looking. It was a mystery to her as to why people didn't like her. She didn't think of herself as someone with a reason for people to hate upon meeting.

It confused and hurt Leah.

Leah acted as if it didn't bother her, but it did.

All her life she had dealt with the whispers, the nosy glances, and the disapproving glares.

Even her family treated her with much disdain. Her grandparents, her aunts and uncles, her cousins and even her own mother and younger brother.

Over the years, she became stronger. She willed herself to grow stronger, to grow thicker skin. She learned to ignore the harsh criticism thrown her way, the words simply went in one ear and out the other. Leah grew to pay no attention to the unpleasant look in people's eyes as they burned through her.

Leah wouldn't let any of that get under her skin anymore. It caused her pain but she endured it.

She would occasionally speak up, defending herself. Although, that only made people dislike her more. How dare she talk back!? How dare she treat her elders that way?! Leah believed respect was earned. She believed in treating people the way they treated her. If someone talked disrespectfully to her, she would return the icy tone laced with attitude. If someone gave her a nasty glare, her glare was ten times meaner.

Leah knew that her tribe wasn't every fond of her, but she still cared for her people. She yearned for accepting, although she knew it would be a miracle if they ever truly accepted her.

There were only three exceptions when it came to Leah; her father, Emily, and Sam.

Henry adored Leah. She was his little girl, he would always stand up for her whenever his wife, or any other relative would try to bash her. He'd tell them to shut the hell up and to leave Leah alone. Henry wasn't one to put up with all that bullshit, he'd gladly defend his daughter. Leah had done nothing wrong in his eyes, she certainly didn't deserve all the hate she got.

Emily Young was not only Leah's second cousin, she was her best friend. Emily was the sister Leah never had. Leah loved Emily, she trusted her with everything. She told Emily everything. Emily knew things about Leah that no one else did. There couldn't possibly be any other pair of cousins closer to each other than Leah and Emily were. They had each other's backs. They vowed to stay sisters forever, and that nothing would ever tear them apart.

And, lastly, Sam Uley. Sam was Leah's boyfriend, and the love of her life. She loved Sam more than she loved anyone else in the world. He meant the world to Leah, he was her world. Sam had been one of the few who didn't judge Leah based on her appearance. He took the time to get close to her and get to know her. He befriended her, not out of pity, but out of curiosity. He wanted to know the real Leah. The Leah that was hidden behind the rumors. And he ended up falling in love with the Leah he had found.

Leah's life wasn't perfect, far from it actually. Still, Leah was happy. As long as she had her father, Emily, and Sam by her side, that was all that mattered. As long as she had them, her bundles of joy, then her she considered her life perfect.

Nothing could ruin it.

Or so she thought.

Leah didn't know that she would lose it all. Her bundles of joy, the only sources of happiness in her life, would be ripped away from her before her very eyes. All of her happiness would be shattered in a course of three days.

And if that isn't enough to destroy a person, then what was?