~Catching Sunlight~

I

"It's okay..."

January 16, 2005

Leah Clearwater was tired.

She was tired of everyone telling her it will be 'okay'. Tired of her dad's instance that 'everything was for the best'. Tired of being told to forgive Sam. She was just tired. It's been only a week since Sam broke up with her and Leah's already feeling like the world could go screw itself.

She slammed the door shut behind her, groaning as she threw herself onto the bed. She curled into the soft blanket, chest tight. She didn't stop the tears as they fell.

Sniffling, Leah sunk more deeply into her bed. She didn't even notice when she fell asleep, awakening only when there was a knock at her door. Blinking, Leah rubbed her eyes as she turned onto her back and looked at the door.

Scowling, she turned away again, intent on ignoring whoever it was. Curling deeper into her blanket, she sighed and closed her eyes.

Another knock and Leah tightened her grasp on the blanket, covering her ears.

More knocks. Leah squeezed her eyes, throwing the covers over her face.

A sound from behind the door, the handle shaking and a few moments of shuffling from outside.

Then the door creaked open.

"Leah?"

At the familiar voice, Leah groaned as she took her pillow and placed it over her head on top of the covers.

Why was she here?

"Leah, come running with me." Leah ignored the voice, arms tightening on her pillow as she scooted towards the wall. The bed dipped and Leah scooted even further away as she felt a hand gently nudge her. "Come on, Leah. Get up."

"Go away," Leah mumbled as she reached the wall, knees knocking into it.

A tug on her blanket followed by "Your mom told me you've been in here all week, Leah."

Leah gave no response, eyes closing as she tried to go back to sleep. The bed justled and suddenly, her pillow was gone. Leah grunted in contempt before simply hiding into her blanket. The dip disappeared and Leah relaxed, happy that the other girl was finally going away. Sighing, Leah relaxed, ready to return to a blessed dreamless nap when her blanket was suddenly stolen from her, the cold air hitting hard.

Leah whipped around, eyes glaring daggers up into grinning blue eyes. "What the hell, Teddy!?"

Theodora Swan, best known as Teddy by everyone who has ever met the girl, shrugged off Leah's glare with a grin. The younger girl wore an irritating bright red sweater that seemed to engulf her, jet black leggings hugging toned thighs and calves. All of this paired with neon orange sneakers.

Only Teddy would think neon orange sneakers matched such an annoying red.

"Come on." Teddy tugged at Leah, pulling her stiff body from the bed. Leah only moved an inch before rolling back to her spot, shooting a glare at the other girl and her disturbingly bright outfit.

"Go away, Teddy," Leah grumbled as she attempted to take back her stolen blanket. Teddy simply pulled it away and threw it aside, leaning over Leah as she tugged Leah towards the end of the bed.

"No!" Teddy laughed, avoiding Leah's shoving hands. "Come run with me, Leah."

Leah tried rolling away, but then Teddy threw herself onto the older girl and Leah grunted at the sudden weight on top of her. She stiffened when soft limbs curled around her. She groaned and glared down even as Teddy looked up at her with smiling cobalt eyes, a lopsided grin on her face.

"Come on, Leah Leah," came the slow whine, Teddy's voice holding back another laugh. "Please? What if I forget my way home? Or fall into the water!? Think of my dad, Leah! What would he eat if I wasn't there anymore, huh? He'll come over all the time and eat you guys out of your house! Or what about Seth?! What would he say when he realized you let his favoritest person in the world wonder the perilous shores of the beach? I could fall into quicksand or-"

Leah rolled her eyes before shoving Teddy away as she threw her legs over the side of the bed. She ran a hand through her hair, looking down at her feet before she squeezed her eyes shut.

"You're so annoying," Leah mumbled, opening her eyes and standing up with a deep huff. "Fine! Get out so I can change, idiot."

"Yes!" Teddy did a little dance, twirling on the spot before flashing away, a red and orange blur.

"And return my room key," Leah shouted after her, but the door slammed with a shut.

Sighing, Leah simply rolled her eyes even as she heard the light shuffling of feet moving away from her door. It took Leah only a few minutes to grab an oversized hoodie and some baggy sweatpants. She tied her hair into a low ponytail, scowl permanently painted on her face even as Teddy only smiled at her when she came out of her room.

It took a bit longer to drive down to the beach and Leah let out a deep sigh when Teddy dragged her to the edge of the water as soon as they were out. The other girl's hands were cool and damp against Leah's hotter skin.

Teddy let go when they hit the water and Leah quickly shoved the freed hand into her hoodie pocket. Nothing was said, an odd silence settling between them as Teddy led Leah down the beach, the two walking side by side. After a few more moments of just walking, Leah finally broke the silence.

"I thought we were going for a run," Leah muttered as she looked down at her feet, taking in the way the sand squashed beneath her shoes.

"Today feels more like a walk, wouldn't you say?" Teddy's response was light and Leah didn't need to look to know that Teddy was still smiling.

Leah only grunted in response. She really didn't understand how today felt like a walk-day, whatever the hell that meant. Leah gazed over at Teddy's feet, the neon orange contrasting drastically to the dull and dark sand. Slowly, she lifted her gaze and studied Teddy.

The other girl's brown curls were tied up into a messy bun, hair strands escaping despite the attempt to tame it. She almost looked like a ghost against the ocean sky, her pale skin blending into the grayness. If it wasn't for the bright red hoodie, Teddy would be a ghost, except that no ghost would dare wear such happy colors. The younger girl's hands were tucked away in her side pockets, a low humming sound escaping her throat. Leah blinked when Teddy turned to look at her, blue eyes catching her gaze before Leah looked away.

There were no words shared between them as they continued on their path. Leah didn't know how much time passed until Teddy finally stopped. Leah looked up and watched as Teddy turned towards the water, catching only the pale of Teddy's neck and the messy ombre bun.

"It's okay, you know," Teddy whispered softly, her voice falling into the sea.

Leah frowned (when did she ever stop?) before crossing her arms. "What's okay?"

"That it's not okay." Teddy response was even quieter than her first words. Before Leah could question her, Teddy turned to her and Leah blinked. Teddy wasn't smiling, her blue eyes unreadable. "It's okay that you're not okay. It's okay to be hurt and to be angry; to feel like nothing will ever be okay again." A pause. Teddy looked away. "It won't be okay for a while...maybe never. And that's okay, Leah, because you loved him." Another pause before Teddy whispered, "even now you do."

Leah's arms tightened around her as she took in Teddy's words. Leah swallowed audibly, throat hurting as she took in a breath. At her exhale, Teddy turned back, eyes catching Leah's. It was only for a split second and then, Teddy twirled around and started walking back the way they came, pale hands slipping into red pockets.

Leah didn't follow, staring after the other girl as she thought back to Teddy's words.

Teddy stopped in her tracks, turning back to her. Leah blinked at the grin on Teddy's face. Pale hands moved up to cup chap lips, blue eyes that were so unreadable before shining brightly at Leah from the small distance between them.

"I'll race you to the car," Teddy shouted, even though she wasn't that far from Leah, "winner gets to drive home!"

Leah rolled her eyes at the girl, head shaking. Then, when Teddy turned and started sprinting, Leah sighed and quickly followed, picking up her feet.

She yelled after the laughing girl, "you can't even drive!"

Teddy won in the end. Of course, Leah smirked at the pouting girl, the idiot forgot that Leah had the keys to the car. Leah stiffened as they neared the car, eyes watching Teddy closely. It was only a split second, but Teddy froze a few steps from the car, blue eyes suddenly staring into space, the younger girl lost somewhere Leah couldn't follow. It was brief, but Leah's heart steadied itself as Teddy she bounced forward, stopping by the passenger side. Leah unlocked the car and the two were soon pulling out of the parking lot in no time.

"Do you want a ride home," Leah asked as she turned out to the main road heading for Forks already.

"Sure!" Teddy tugged her hair from the bun, curls cascading around her shoulders as she shook her head. "I'll ask Jakey to get my bike when they bring Bella's car over tomorrow."

At the mention of Teddy's twin, Leah glanced over at the other girl. "Bella's coming already?"

"Mhmm," Teddy hummed as she rolled down the windows and glided her hand against the wind. "Charlie is picking her up while I clean up our room."

Leah scoffed, head shaking, as her lips quirked upwards. "I thought you were supposed to have the room ready last week after we helped move everything in?"

Teddy shrugged, Leah catching the movement from the corner of her eyes. "I was busy last week."

"With what," Leah asked as she turned down onto the first small road leading to the Swan house.

There was a brief pause before a mumbled, "stuff with Sophie."

Sophie Snow was one of Teddy's closest friends from outside the res. Leah's never met her, but she's seen the girl around because she was part of the tutoring program between Forks and La Push. She glanced at Teddy, eyes narrowing at the other girl's obvious lie, but the younger girl was looking out the window, hand still gliding through the air.

Leah didn't push it because she knew how stubborn Teddy could be. If pushed, the younger girl will only dig her feet and insist that she wasn't lying, going as far as to spin tales to cover it up. Leah sighed inwardly.

When they got to the Swan house, Leah pulled over. She'd only put the car in park when Teddy was already reaching for the buckle at her side.

"Thanks for the ride, Leah," chirped the other girl as she freed herself and opened the passenger door. She shot Leah a grin, turning to leave the car. But before she could slip out, Leah grabbed her wrist. Teddy looked down at Leah's fingers before looking up, eyes furrowed. "What's up?"

"Thanks." Leah let go of her and turned away, fingers tightening around the wheel.

There was a silence before Leah looked back at the girl. Teddy's eyes were watching her, lips and eyes revealing no emotion, not even the usual smile.

The two only stared at each other before Teddy broke the silence with a huff as she exited the door, saying over her shoulders at Leah, "Sam's an idiot." Then she closed the door and leaned across the open window screen and looked seriously at Leah. "Tell Seth that I'm still up for that hunting party."

Leah's lips quirked, but she fought down the smile. "Yea, yea. You idiots can do whatever you want."

"I'll take that as your blessing," Teddy replied without missing a beat, grin wide. "We'll send you his head. Or would you prefer his di-"

"Teddy." Leah finally cracked, scoffing down a laugh with a shake of her head. "Go home already."

"Okay, okay!" Teddy stepped away from the car, hands in her pockets as she leaned on the heels of her feet. "Just his head then." A pause and Leah looked away to shift the car forward. "Bye Leah Leah."

"Cya," Leah responded without looking at her, before driving away.

A/N - It's been YEARS since I read Twilight so I am using the 'Twilight Lexicon' timeline *shrugs* just found it online so hopefully it's accurate.

*Warning: This is basically a rewrite of Twilight, but with Bella's twin sister affecting canonverse. No like, no read.*