The Tale of the Brokenhearted

Chapter 11: In Deep

Edward's POV

I drove slowly across town and through the forest. At about twelve thirty, I approached my house for the first time in quite a while. I kept asking myself why I hadn't tried harder to get Leah to go with me; then I felt guilty, thinking maybe she was getting tired of me using her as a crutch. There was only one thing I was really sure of at that moment, and that was that I really didn't want to be there. I let myself in and found everyone gathered in the living room as I expected them to be. Everyone was cuddled up with their respective partners and I was going to have to sit here alone.

"Where's Leah?" Alice managed to ask before I could even decide where to sit..

"At home," I answered bluntly. I wanted to be at home with her; I wanted to be in the little bubble we'd created away from everyone else.

"Why didn't she come? Didn't she know she was invited?" Alice pouted, and I shrugged.

"She thought you all wanted quality time with me, you know, family time." I attempted to relax but something didn't feel right. I was missing the strands of ebony hair that normally fell into my lap. I was missing Leah's heat.

"No offense," Rosalie commented, "but we've had almost a century of family time with you, Edward. We all thought Leah was coming, too, I feel bad leaving her home alone. Alice you should call her."

"Already on it!" Alice had pulled out her phone and asked it to call Leah.

"I already tried to get her to come. I think she wanted to have some time to herself." I said, knowing that my words were falling on deaf ears.

Alice POV

I couldn't believe my crazy brother! How could he not know the invitation meant to include Leah as well as him? I waited for Leah to answer my call but it just went to her voicemail. I refused to be ignored, so I called again.

"Maybe you should let her be, babe," Jas cooed at me. I hated when he did that, especially when I felt what I was doing was something necessary. For some reason, and I didn't know why, I felt that Leah needed to be here tonight. I held my hand up so he wouldn't continue.

"It's ringing, she'll answer." I whispered and he sat back down.

"Hello?" Leah's voice was dry and tired.

"Leah?" I was concerned, but I didn't want to alarm Edward so I moved into the dining room area. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just phased. It's a draining process." I could hear that her breathing was irregular.

"Were you mad because you thought that you weren't invited to movie night?" I was worried that she felt hurt. "Of course we would want you here, Leah. You're practically family now, and you complete our little circle." I was rambling, I heard Leah chuckle.

"It wasn't that. I just, uh… Seth came over a few minutes after Edward left. He was catching me up on things on the Res. He was telling me some if the things people are saying about me. It just hurt to hear some of the things he said… it made me angry."

"And so you phased," I finished for her.

"Yeah, look, I appreciate the invite, Alice, but I just want to be alone. I know Edo, and if he can hear this conversation he's going to try and come to me. I don't want him to. I want him to stay at home and have a good time. Please make sure he doesn't leave, okay?" she pleaded.

"I'm not sure I can do that, but I'll try, Leah. And hey, don't dwell on that stuff. One day your family will realize what a stupid mistake they've made." Now I was the one doing the cooing.

"I appreciate that Alice, but you can't see my future so you don't really know. I'll talk to you later." There was a click as she ended the call. I felt bad. I should've made sure that Leah would come tonight. Then she wouldn't be sad now and would not have phased. Then again, she needs to phase so that she can …

"Be with him forever," I whispered under my breath.

"I'm leaving." I turned around to see Edward in the entry way to the dining room.

I immediately moved to get right in his face. "She wants to be alone Edward!" I argued.

"I know what she said, but I know what she needs!" He snapped back as he started toward the front door.

"And what's that exactly, you?!" I was quick on his heels.

"She needs someone lean on," he hissed. I couldn't believe he hissed at me.

"FINE, so I'll go!" I stepped past him and out the door. "Enjoy the movie, Edo!" I shut the door and I was surprised that he didn't follow after me.

"What are you doing here?!" Leah groaned and demanded grumpily as soon as she opened her apartment door.

"It was either me or Edward, and you told me you wanted him to stay put. This was the best I could do to compromise. Plus, I was worried, too. You didn't sound yourself when you were on the phone." I slipped past her into the apartment.

"That's because I was, and still am, tired," she followed me back into the living room. She curled up at one end of the sofa. She was watching The Hulk on TV.

"Good movie!" I sat down beside her.

"Yeah, I find The Hulk relatable." She murmured sulkily.

"You're not a monster, Leah," I chided her for thinking such a thought.

"Neither is he, most of the time, but when he gets to angry… it sucks. It sucks being controlled by something you don't understand." She said almost as a whisper.

"Oh honey." I wrapped my arms around her. "I know how you feel! Think about this way, at least you get to turn it off. I'm consumed by my thirst all day, every day, for eternity." She nodded and then drifted into a daze for a moment. "What?"

"You all handle it so well! I can never really tell when he's thirsty." She was in deep thought.

"It worries you?" I couldn't help but giggle.

"Well yeah, I mean I do have blood. What if he gets hungry, I mean thirsty, while he's here! He's always here!" She jerked up and started to pace in front of her television.

"He would never do anything to you, Leah, he cares about you!" I was a little offended by her fears.

"Hmph, does he really?" she stopped pacing with her back to me and crossed her arms.

"Yeah," I sighed. She was worried about more than just what Seth had said. "Does that worry you Leah?"

"What? No, not really." She took a deep breath and blew it out. "I just wonder when Bella is going to get her wits about her and come home." She came back and plopped down beside me again.

"Who knows? She might not come home." It was a hard reality that I was now facing, Leah and Edward needed to face it too. Leah's face had become grim; I had never seen her look so sad.

"She has to. She can't leave him so unhappy."

"You care about him too, huh?" She wouldn't look at me.

"I just don't want her to mess over two decent men." She shook her head a couple of times and passed her hand over her face. "You're her best friend; you should do something to get her to come home!" I noticed that her hand had started to shake.

"I can't make decisions for her that way." I grabbed her hand and she looked at me abruptly. "I can't make decisions for you either."

"I just wish she'd come home." A tear ran down her cheek. She was in deep and she needed a way out. I pulled her to me, put my arms around her and held her. I was surprised she let me. I think it was because she was confused and tired. I was really glad I'd come over, I think she needed some time away from Edward to sort everything out, and she needed a sounding board. I could give her that.