"Okay, note to self," I muttered as I loped off in the direction of Billy's. "Try not to me such a gigantic idiot around your imprint. Way to go there, Black. 'You look really pretty today'. Smooth."
Billy was used to my night-long absences by now, and didn't even bat an eye when I showed up, covered in dirt at our doorstep. He might have shown a little more emotion had he known exactly what I'd been up to last night and with whom, but I wasn't ready to tell him. I needed to get everything sorted out in my own head and with Leah before I started notifying my father.
I showered, changed into fresh jeans and a clean t-shirt, and ate nearly half a loaf of bread's worth of toast with jelly before I finally felt more like myself. I could only thank God I didn't have a hangover. I didn't think I'd be able to face the leeches with a hangover. It was going to be hard enough as it was.
I chilled out around the house for awhile, staring up at the clock every so often. It hadn't taken me anywhere near two hours to shower and eat, but I had no idea how long it took girls to get ready. It always seemed to take my sisters forever, but Leah could be completely different. Finally, I sett off back to where we'd last seen each other, only to find her waiting there for me.
I blinked in surprise. Se was wearing a dress. For the life of me, I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen Leah in anything but cutoffs and t-shirts. Her clean hair shone in the sunlight--a rare occurrence here in La Push. The sundress showed off the lean muscles of her arms and legs. She looked every bit a match for any of the leeches as far as looks went. I smiled at her.
"Are you ready to do this?" I asked, holding out my hand.