Vampires, Werewolves, and... Love? Oh My!

"So, who was that girl you were at the beach with yesterday?" Rick asked after school.
"None of your frickin' business. Why?"
"Well... I was thinking that we could double. You know, me and you, that girl and Mike."
"Well she doesn't go for sleezeballs. And I already have a boyfriend."
"I know you do. You already told me that, remember?"
"That's not what I mean. I'm not going out with Jace anymore and I'm not going to keep being a slut."
"Then who-" His expression turned to a scowl. "You don't mean that kid from the rez?"
"What if I do?"
"Come on, Liz. You know damn well that he's not good enough for you. He's just a stupid kid."
I glared daggers at him. My fist slammed into his nose and blood spurted down his chin. It would've hurt him a lot more if I had used my right hand, but it was still sadly in a cast from punching Jake. "Don't you ever say shit about Jacob. If anything, it's the other way around. So fuck you!"
Emmett was laughing when I walked up to the car. Bella shook her head in disappointment. "Do you always have to punch people?" she asked.
"Just stupid boys," I shrugged. "Rick was asking for it. What would you rather I'd done? Let him talk crap about Jacob, who is your best friend, need I remind you."
Bella sighed exasperatedly. "You know that's not what I meant, Lizzy. You just need to stop being so… intense. You don't have to punch someone for no good reason."
"I don't punch people for no good reason. I think I have good reasons."
"I think it was pretty funny," Emmett laughed.
"You would," Rosalie muttered. "But it was pretty good, even if I disagree with why you did it."
"That's just 'cause you don't like Jacob. I, however-" I cut myself off. My cheeks got slightly rosy from embarrassment. I mean, I almost told a bunch of vamps I was in love with a werewolf.
"We already know, Lizzy," Edward said. "You're not very hard to figure out."
"Yeah," Alice chimed in, "and between Edward and me it's impossible to keep a secret from us."
I stuck my tongue out like a five-year-old. "You know that you two suc-"
This time two short beeps from a horn cut me off. I spun around to find Jacob smiling from his motorcycle. My lips immediately broke into a smile. I know, I'm turning into a stereotypically shallow girl. So sue me.
"Hey Jake. What are you doing here?"
He shrugged and got off his bike.
"Look what the dog dragged in," Rosalie sneered. "Can we go now?"
"Good idea," Jasper said. "It's starting to stink."
They got into Edward's Volvo quickly plugging their noses. "Lizzy, can Jake drive you home? Edward and I have a project to do so I'm going over to his house."
"Um Jake?"
"Sure, sure. That'd be fine."
"Thanks Jake. I'll see you at home, Liz."
"Yeah, yeah. See you Bells."
Bella's red truck drove off quickly after the Volvo and both zoomed out of sight. I turned back to Jacob with my arms crossed. "You never answered my question. What are you doing here?" I asked climbing behind him on the bike.
"Oh yeah. Well I never got to say good-night to you."
"Yeah sorry about that. I guess I was just so comfortable last night."
"No problem. Hey, do you want to go the beach before I take you home? I think that Emma’s over there with Embry. Those two are practically inseparable."
"Sure, that'd be fun. But that does explain why I haven’t seen Em around that much lately.”
"Hey Lizzy," Leah called excitedly when we got to the beach. She ran up to hug me with Seth at her heels. I saw Emma off by the water walking hand-in-hand with Embry.
"Hi Leah," I answered hugging her back.
"So are you two together yet?"
"Seth!" his sister and Jake yelled at him.
"Sorry! I'm just curious. Are you and Lizzy dating now or not?"
"Seth!"
"Ya know, Seth, that's a good question," I said. "Jacob? Do you have an answer?"
His eyes dropped to the ground. "Well I'm not sure. If you want..." It was really cute how nervous he was.
I shrugged and tried not to smile like an idiot. "Okay. I already told someone that you were my boyfriend anyway." His face lit up in a smile. Damn he was so fricking hot! Wait, stop it, Lizzy. Settle down.
"Hey Liz. Do you want to stay for dinner at our house? And then we can watch a movie."
"Uh, I'm not sure, Seth. I think Bella was cooking dinner."
"How about tomorrow, then," Leah asked. "It's Friday so you can just stay the night at our house. Seth has patrol with Embry and Jake so we can just make it a girls’ night."
"Sure. That sounds like fun. I think Alice invited Bella to stay at their place."
"Your dad doesn't mind your sister staying at her boyfriend's house?"
I laughed. "She stays with Alice. Well, she sleeps in Edward's room but he's too noble for anything dirty."
Leah rolled her eyes. "Noble vampires? Well that's new."
"Tell me about it. After that one vampire tried to kill me and Emma when we didn't even do anything, it’s pretty hard to believe vamps can be good guys. Hey, Jacob, whatever happened to him?"
"Embry and Bella's vampire took care of him. You don't have to worry about him anymore."
He was hiding something. There was more to it that he wasn't telling me. I gave him a confused look that he ignored and turned back to Leah. "Well the Cullens are pretty cool. Rosalie's the best"
"The blonde chick?" Leah scoffed.
"Yep. She and I sort of just connect. Rose and I are both bitches. That's why you like me. You're one too, just like us."

*JACOB'S POV*
Leah's eyes narrowed dangerously. She started growling deep in her throat. My heart stopped and I froze. I was ready to intervene if need be and it looked like so was Seth.
Lizzy rolled her eyes. "Come on, Leah. It's true and you know it. Just accept it, hon."
Leah's face softened and she burst out laughing. "I guess you're right. I am a bitch."
"Just a little. But that's why you're one of my best friends."
"Cool. You are my best friend. You're pretty much my only girl friend."
"Yeah, well you get to hang out with hot guys all the time. It's always fun to have guy friends over girl friends."
"Hot guys?" Seth asked. "Which one of us do you think is the hottest?"
"Oh definitely Paul," Liz joked. "How about you, Leah?"
"None. They're all stupid kids."
"What about S-" I clamped my hand over her mouth. Leah looked down. Lizzy's gaze dropped and she looked almost sad.
"Come on, Leah. Let's go talk in private. I’m just warning you that I suck at this girl talk though."

*LIZZY'S POV*
"So, what's the deal with Sam?"
"What do you mean?"
"I can see there's something between you two. Or at least there used to be. So what's the story?"
Leah sighed. "We went to high school together. We used to be together until Sam met Emily."
"So what? He left you for her?"
"He imprinted on Emily."
"I'm sorry. That must have been hard for you."
"It was. But it gets worse. Emily is my cousin. She was more like a sister to me growing up." Big fat tears were sliding down Leah's cheeks.
I wrapped my arms around her. "I'm sorry. I really am."
Well that explains Leah. She has a reason to be so bitter. But what was my excuse? I was just so fucked up because I’d wanted attention when I was younger. I guess some habits were just too hard to break.